Viator Travel Blog

What makes a city European if it’s not actually in Europe? Well, that depends on what each traveler thinks of as European. For the purposes of this article, we’re looking at places in North America that have a Euro-style look, and that will give you the sense that you’ve landed in Europe when you actually haven’t. To really experience Europe, of course, you have to go to Europe – but these places offer the next best thing.

While it might seem like a strange thing to add to your vacation to-do list, visiting cemeteries when you travel can be an interesting way to learn about a place’s history – not to mention see some of its most beautiful landscapes. Of course, what constitutes a “beautiful” cemetery will depend on the viewer’s opinion. Some will be painstakingly landscaped, some will be historically meaningful, some will be haunting, and some will have stunning views. But in this selection of final resting places around the world we think everyone will be able to find one that deserves “beautiful” as a descriptor.

Sometimes you’ll find out that a story set in one place is actually filmed in another place entirely (or, worse yet, on a soundstage or studio with a green screen!) – but in some cases, the location is so important that it almost becomes a character in the story. Here are some of the best film and TV tours around the world that will let you get up close and personal with the destinations behind your favorite shows.

There’s nothing quite like visiting a place when it’s in the middle of a party – especially if it’s the kind of celebration that doesn’t happen every year. In addition to the many festivals and events that occur annually around the world, there are some that are on a far less frequent schedule – some will only happen this year.

Here’s a selection of some of the must-see festivals and events happening exclusively in 2013.

For many travelers, the trip to South Africa is a long one, which means it ends up getting relegated to “once in a lifetime” status and often gets put off in favor of trips to places closer to home. But Cape Town – and, indeed, all of South Africa – warrants more than one visit. Not only that, if you keep putting it off, who knows when you’ll ever get there.

Most of us are familiar with some of the most famous Carnival celebrations in the world – Rio, Venice, and New Orleans among them. But Carnival is celebrated all over the world in nearly any place that has a strong Catholic background, so there are plenty of places where you can enjoy Carnival festivities even if you’re not in Brazil or Louisiana this year.

Visiting Italy during the Christmas season offers two bonuses – you’ll avoid the high summer season tourist crowds, and you’ll get to see the country decked out in all its holiday finery.

There are 25 haunted spots featured on this list, and plenty more around the world besides what is listed below. How do you pick just one each year in which to spend your Halloween? Well, the good news is that these places retain their scary reputation year-round, so even if only one of them makes the cut for October 31st this year you can turn the rest into a frightening world tour if you want. It may not be a relaxing trip, but at least you’ll keep your adrenaline going at full speed.

For many Americans, July 4th is a family holiday – it involves backyard barbecues, maybe a parade through town, and a local fireworks show. Some people, however, have grander dreams of celebrating the nation’s birthday with more pizzazz. Thankfully, there are plenty of options around the country that deliver Fourth of July festivities worth traveling for.

These 11 places around the US each offer something special for July 4th, whether it’s a stunning backdrop for fireworks or a party that makes you forget the fireworks altogether.