Viator Travel Blog

Barracks, a water tower, a brewery, a power station, a postal and telegraph center, a tobacco factory, a bank, a slaughterhouse. What do they have in common? Well in the Spanish capital of Madrid, these functional buildings have all been reconditioned to enjoy a fruitful afterlife as cultural centers.

Include them in your Madrid itinerary and you’ll not only encounter some hugely impressive feats of architectural repurposing and a wide range of artistic offerings, you may also discover neighborhoods you wouldn’t otherwise visit. Grab a cheap ticket for the excellent subway service and spend some time getting to know some of Europe’s most exciting cultural spaces in six easy stops from north to south.

Paris has been the world’s most popular vacation destination for years. This means that if you want to see the City of Light’s most famous sites, you’re going to have to plan ahead – and even then, you’re going to encounter lines, crowds and, honestly, a bit of dissatisfaction. But there is a way to avoid the hassle, even at the height of the tourist season. For the less-stressful, low-crowd version of touring Paris, you just have to look to the locals.

HURRY! Book by March 29, 2012 to save 50% on the recommended retail prices for Paris City Segway Tour, Pompidou Center Private Viewing & Walking Tour, and Versailles Day Trip from Paris. This exclusive offer applies to all scheduled departure times and dates through end of 2012. This offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

**Viator’s Video Team will be at NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences this Thursday and we want YOU to come!** In the next 24 hours, we’re giving away 3 pairs of tickets (6 tickets total) to NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences for this Thursday, March 29, 2012. We’re looking for fun, engaging [...]

The history of Barcelona stretches way back to the ancient Romans and beyond, but most visitors to this Mediterranean port have just one name on their mind: Antoni Gaudi. The exuberant and eccentric architecture of this devout Modernista artist has become a signature byword for the city, from the spiky towers of La Sagrada Familia to the snaking roof line of Casa Batllo.

Here are the top 5 don’t miss Gaudi sights in Barcelona – before you set off though, save time by prebooking your tickets as the queues are often horrendously long for these popular sights.

Located on the southern tip of Malaysia, the city-state of Singapore offers more than just a stopover en route to other exotic locales. But with a tropical rain forest climate and its location only one degree north from the Equator, there are plenty of days when the humid weather takes a turn for the worse and clouds roll in dropping rain on everyone. In fact, on average, Singapore has more than 170 days of rain each year, so the chances of encountering some of the wet stuff on a visit is definitely a possibility.

But don’t despair.

Rain doesn’t mean Singapore cannot be explored. In fact, there are plenty of options for experiences in Singapore that don’t depend on the weather.

The second part of the 18th century was marked by a new style which overtook the previously popular Baroque style from the first half of the century. The difference was so striking, it seemed that all the new buildings were stripped of all the elaborate moldings and fancy sculptural decorations which were so characteristic to era of Elizabethan baroque. My previous article about the Smolny cathedral helps to elucidate the psychology and manifestation of suppressed alter ego of Elisabeth, who was real party animal during her reign.

From shopping to culture, from centuries-old Moghul heritage to more recent historical events, there’s hardly an end to what Delhi has to offer–no matter how long you have in the city. If you’re keen to explore the many sides to this diverse, exciting capital, here are five ways to make the most of your time in Delhi.

Everyone raves about Scotland’s alternative capital, Glasgow – its down-to-earth locals, grand civic buildings from the days of the British Empire and tucked-away inner-city squares and gardens. Let’s put this city on the Clyde to the test and see what it has to offer during a day out on the town.

For those who happen to find themselves in the vastness of India, there is southwestern city built on seven hills that embraces by the Arabian Sea. It is a city that is both known for its plentiful waterside terrain and rich history, full of religious relics, and ancient landmarks. It is a popular destination to both foreigners and native Indians alike. Named after the serpent god Anantha, mythical and all-powerful, the city of Thiruvananthapuram is the jewel of the emerald necklace that is the Kerala.