A small delight of a city just 125 miles (200 km) north of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh is a relatively young city that has seen a wealth of movement since its inception in the 19th century. It found prosperity through a booming mining industry brought on by British colonization, and though things have since cooled off, Ipoh has become a relatively quiet town known for its delicious cuisine and regal infrastructure. With the added benefit of being nuzzled in the depths of Malaysia‘s distinctly unique terrain, Ipoh affords the opportunity to explore jungles or go cave diving, making it an ideal weekend trip from the regular hum of Southeast Asia.

1. Ipoh Padang

Once you’ve settled down in your accommodations, going to Ipoh Padang is a great spot to admire the city’s general qualities. Surrounded with some of the city’s best landmarks, visitors and locals alike assemble at this wonderfully manicured field to play sports, have a walk or just sit for a while. With historical sites a plenty, including the mammoth St Michael’s Institution, the Federated Malay States (FMS) Bar and Restaurant, the HSBC building and colonial Ipoh courthouse, not to mention the stream of modern shops and eateries, Ipoh Padang is the best way to orient yourself with Ipoh.

2. Old Town Heritage Walk

Ipoh's City Hall - photo courtesy of BertholdD via Wikimedia Commons

The next thing to do is take the free guided Old Town Heritage Walk, setting sail from the Ipoh railway station every Saturday at 8 am. What better way to get to know a city then a free three-hour tour? Exploring more than 30 historical sites and locations such as the Birch Memorial, which commemorates the first British resident in town, the tour also acquaints you with Ipoh’s modern landmarks, such as the Town Hall, High Court, and St John’s Church. In order to get this tour be sure to call in advance.

3. FOOOOOOD!

Although Penang is hands-down Malaysia’s (if not all of Southeast Asia’s) first and foremost destination for food tourism, Ipoh isn’t so bad either. Just a few hours from the food capital, Ipoh wields an impressive selection of delectable cuisine you’ll definitely want to try. Ipoh Sar Hor Fun is a local dish consisting of chicken, prawns, and noodles that you can find in many restaurants and also at very cost-effective hawkers. Ipoh is also known for its curries, satay, and superior tasting white coffee, which uses coffee beans roasted in palm-oil margarine combined with condensed milk.

4. Gua Tempurung

A look inside the Gua Tempurung caves near Ipoh - photo courtesy of Calvin Teo via Wikimedia Commons

A no-brainer destination for all Ipoh goers, the more than 1.2 mile (2 km) long cave in Perak, known as Gua Tempurung, is a spelunker’s dream. Lain beneath a limestone hill, this glorious cave, brightly lit and complete with walkways, contains a complicated network of rock formations. The breathtaking beauty of gargantuan stalactites, rock and stalagmite formations are estimated to be 10,000 years old. Walking through it is simply other-worldly. Just 15.5 miles (25 km ) from Ipoh these caves are a treat not seen enough by Ipoh passers-through. The caves are chalk-full of interesting lore and history, so be sure to do your homework and quiz your guide.

5. Sam Poh Tong (Cavern of Triple Gems)

Located just outside the city, this Chinese Temple built within a limestone cave is a Buddhist temple discovered early in the 20th century, and now draws droves of visitors for its beautifully decorated pavilion, lavish garden, and fish pond. The temple contains a plethora of religious trinkets and traditional décor, and even has a small pathway leading to a tortoise pond. The temple itself is only half of the appeal, as it is surrounded by limestone formations and mountainous terrain that can only be described as exotic.

- Philip Heijmans

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Top 5 Attractions in Ipoh, Malaysia by Philip Heijmans from Viator Travel Blog

Sardinia coastline and the Mediterranean Sea

Situated west of Italy, Sardinia boasts remarkable coastlines, picturesque beaches and a strong, yet varied, culture. When DH Lawrence travelled to the island, he wrote: “Sardinia, which has no history, no date, no race, no offering…Sure enough it is Italian now, but there is an uncaptured Sardinia still.”

We started our trip in the capital city, Cagliari. Our bus dropped us at the base of the Via Roma – the hub of the city. Essentially a wide a road that runs adjacent to the city’s port, the Via Roma is littered with upmarket roadside bars and shops, hidden by swooping arches.

Stop off the side of the road to see amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea

Cagliari is built around a large hill, so as you head inland the narrow streets meander up the incline. About half way up the slope is a large, flat strip of land called the bastions. From here, you can place the city in the context of its surroundings. To the south, the Mediterranean Sea sprawls out – uninterrupted until Africa.

Head to Il Bastione for fresh seafood, pizza & pasta

We headed west, to the botanical gardens. These display a beautiful array of flowers and shrubbery, while providing the foreground for the island’s amphitheatre. Carved out of the Cagliari hillside, the amphitheatre is an impressive reminder that Sardinia was once owned by the Romans. Built largely out of a complicated mainframe of wooden bars, the amphitheatre is a testament to the ingenuity of the Roman Empire.

As you snake up the hill you come across more designer shops, but it’s in the dark, residential side-streets that you encounter the true identity of the city – in the small restaurants and bars. Our favourite was the Il Bastione, where they make your food from scratch in front of you. Expect excellent seafood, as well as fresh pizza and pasta.

We hired a scooter for the rest of our trip and drove down the south coast. The drive from Cagliari to Villasimius should be compulsory for anyone travelling to Sardinia. The winding road weaves through the hills, showcasing picturesque countryside to the north and the twinkling Mediterranean Sea to the south.

Every cove that you encounter defies expectations to be more beautiful than the last, with sloping green hills, pale yellow rocky beaches and the clear turquoise sea gently lapping against the shore. Scattered around the island, you may notice a series of small stone huts, which are burial sites and are thought to be unique to Sardinia. These sites often boast some of the best views on the island, so its well-worth pulling over to take a better look.

With so much to offer – views, history, cuisine and weather – it’s no surprise that Sardinia has grown to become such a popular Mediterranean destination.

- Ben Ashwell

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Italy tours and things to do, Italy attractions, and Italy travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Cagliari for a customized tour!

The Sea and South Sardinia by Laura from Viator Travel Blog

I first visited Amman in the winter of 1980.  It was cold, wet and windy and the capital’s 500,000 inhabitants retreated behind the stark concrete walls of their houses and apartments that stretched over the hills surrounding the city. It was relatively small compared with bustling Cairo or Damascus and appeared to have little of their charm, intimate architecture or extensive historical heritage. There were just two international hotels, the Intercontinental and the Holiday Inn, and these were packed with consultants, businessmen and the occasional traveller.

Look and you will find a mix of ancient and modern in Amman, Jordan

Returning there in 2010, I was shocked by the scale and density of the city with its population now standing at over 2.4 million – almost half that of Jordan.  High-rise tower blocks dominate the horizon, a testimony to Amman’s new status as one of the Middle East’s major business and financial centres; luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons, the Royal, the Meridien and of course the Intercontinental illuminate the night skies; and mile after mile of apartments and housing blocks sprawl over every inch of the hillsides. Urbanisation has been on a massive scale with the car being the dominant and all consuming mode of transport. Yet, scratch beneath the surface of this urban sprawl and you will find wonderful pockets of the ancient civilisation that once prospered here and a society that is warm, welcoming and proud of its heritage and newfound wealth and status.

History of Amman

Rebuilt by Ptolomey II (283-246 BC) and renamed Philadelphia, the city became one of the key centres of the Decapolis, the 10 Graeco-Roman cities in the region before succumbing to the Arab conquest and reverting to its early Semitic name, Ammon. It remained a powerful cornerstone of the Umayyad dynasty until the centre of the Islamic world was moved from Damascus to Baghdad in the 8th century under the Abbasids. After that its decline was rapid and by the 15th century it was practically abandoned and in ruins. Some sign of re-emergence took place in the 19th century when the Ottoman Turks settled the Circassians here, but its resurrection only really began after 1921 when Amman once again became the capital. Layer after layer of civilisations, therefore, lie beneath the concrete and tarmac of the new metropolis, and the ardent traveller does not have to travel far to unravel its secrets.

What to see

A good starting point is the Citadel, perched high over the city. Here in the Jordan Archaeological Museum are numerous artifacts showing Jordan’s past, the most important of these are the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found on the Western shore of the Dead Sea in 1952. Just across from the museum is the Roman Temple of Hercules, dedicated to the co-emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus and, behind it, a raised platform providing panoramic views of the downtown area and the amphitheatre below. If you are lucky, you will just be able to see the black and white Abu Darwish Mosque on the hilltop behind Jabal Ashrafiya, built by an eminent Circassian in 1961. Just near the museum is the site of a small Byzantine church. Beyond it are the Umayyad Palace and the remains of an Umayyad city with the Great Audience Hall covered with a recently restored wooden dome.

The Roman Theatre, one of the best preserved monuments in Amman

Returning to the downtown area, the Roman Theatre, cut into the hillside, provides an insight into the importance of this city and is one of the best preserved monuments in Amman. Seating over 6,000 people and built in the reign of Antonius Pius (AD 138-61), it is still used for concerts to this day and on warm, summer evenings can evoke the mood and atmosphere of a by-gone age. Nearby are two museums, the Jordan Folklore Museum and the Jordan Museum of Popular Tradition. Both are worth a visit to learn about the differing cultures of the country and its diverse folk traditions.

Modern attractions

However, if you really want to see the hub of modern Amman and the place where people throng at the weekends, then head towards Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street at the First Circle. Here the streets are filled with cafés packed with young and old who have come to smoke the argeelah, drink coffee, play taowleh (backgammon) or just chat. At the end of Rainbow Street, to the right is the famous Books@Cafe, which was the first internet café in Amman and a place where young Jordanians go to avoid traditional conventions and indulge in Western food, watch films or browse the extensive bookshop on the ground floor. If on the other hand, you want something a little more up market, then try Abdoun on the outskirts of the city at Fourth Circle with their exclusive Café de Paris and Café Makka. This is the suburb of the rich and famous, and million dollar houses line high-security tree-lined streets.

Amman's upscale suburbs are lined with giant homes

Amman may appear somewhat cold and austere from a distance, a far cry from the intimacy of neighbouring capitals. Delve a little deeper, however, and you will find a city where the old and the new come together in a vibrant and flourishing environment. Stay a while and you will soon discover its hidden secrets.

- Graham Walker

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Amman, Jordan by Graham Walker from Viator Travel Blog

Think Aqaba. Think Lawrence of Arabia and that wonderful scene in David Lean’s iconic film with Peter O’Toole, in full Arab regalia, astride his camel, shouting ‘tut, tut, tut’ as the Arab tribesmen gallop across the desert toward the unsuspecting Turks, holed up in their impregnable fortress, overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba. Or Omar Sharif, making his screen debut, emerging from the shimmering mirage and shooting Lawrence’s manservant dead for daring to take water from his tribe’s well. Shooting a man dead for simply filling his satchel with water would appear abhorrent to the average Westerner, regardless of the time setting. But venture out into the desert around Aqaba at the height of summer when temperatures exceed 122°F (50°C),  and you will understand that water is the life-blood of this region and its scarcity is a perennial problem, exacerbated by the increasing demands of Amman and its voracious consumers.

Aqaba Fort

Background Info

And yet it is water that attracts businessmen and tourists to this town, which has grown from a small fishing village to a city of 110,00 people in less than 20 years. Jordan, for all its size, has a coastline of only 35 kilometres, all of which is around Aqaba and 20 kms of which was purchased from Saudi Arabia in the 1960s. Its only port and container port is there and seventy five percent of all trade into and out of the country passes through here. It has even designated a special authority, ASEZA, to supervise its development and this has become one of the most powerful institutions in the land, with its huge Kafkaesque building dominating the skyline.

It is, however, its crystal clear waters, together with its year-round warmth that attracts tourists, Jordanian and foreign alike. As Amman shivers, like the rest of Europe, through the coldness of winter, it is still possible to swim in the sea, to imbibe the refreshing sea air or to indulge in the one of its luxury hotels hugging the coastline. The government is implementing extremely ambitious plans to move the existing port down the coast near the Saudi Arabian border and to transform the waterfront into a major real estate and tourism project funded by Abu Dhabi investors, making this the Monte Carlo of the Middle East.

What to see and do in Aqaba

So what are the attractions of Aqaba? It has a beautiful climate if you avoid the intense heat of July and August. Its luxury seaside hotels like the Intercontinental, the Movenpick, the Kampinski and further up the coast, the Tala Bay and the Radisson, all have secluded beaches and private diving facilities.  Some of the best diving sites in the Middle East are all along its coastline. There is easy access to Wadi Rhum- a UNESCO World Heritage Centre- offering a landscape of almost lunar proportions, and of course the wonderful Nabathean City of Petra only a hour and a half -hour’s drive away up the Desert Highway.

Beaches line the coast at Aqaba

While the town may be in need of a facelift, the old fort is still standing by the waterfront and a visit there will take you back in time and conjure up images of marauding Arabs attacking from the desert. Even the old execution chamber is still standing replete with its wooden hanging beam and the old ornate doors are testament to its past. Nearby is the promenade overlooking the public beaches where fishermen and glass bottom boat owners vie for business. Renowned for its seafood, you can dine by the waterfront at the Royal Yacht Club on the marina or in the beach restaurant at the Movenpick and indulge in fresh hammour, sea bass or sea bream.

View of Aqaba from Movenpick Hotel

Aqaba is also in a unique geographical location with Israel’s pristine resort, Eilat, just across the bay; the Sinai and its key resort of Taba, just a 45-minute hydrofoil ride away, and just down the coast, Saudi Arabia.

It’s only 35 minutes by plane from Amman to Aqaba but it is like entering another world. Gone is the congestion and oppressiveness of Amman and in its place is peace, tranquility and a town where everything slows down and swallows you up in its charm. Try it and relax.

- Graham Walker

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Aqaba, Jordan by Graham Walker from Viator Travel Blog

What do you get with a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw, two weeks, 72 teams and a tentative route through India that spans nearly 2,000 miles?

You get the Rickshaw Run, that’s what.

The Run is a triannual adventure offered by a UK-based company called The Adventurists. Working under the mission, “Fighting to make the world less boring,” they currently offer seven trips around the world, such as the Mongol Rally [driving 10,000 miles from London to Mongolia] and the Mototaxi Junket [a motorcycle journey across Peru]. But it was the Rickshaw Run that my friend Citlalli and I arrived in India to complete.

The idea is to take an auto-rickshaw, powered by a 145.45cc, two-stroke engine more likely to be found on your backyard lawnmower, and steer it an impossible distance across India–from Shillong in the eastern Meghalayan hills to Jaisalmer, on the far western edge of the Rajasthan desert. While the rickshaw is perfectly suited to city travel, taking it out on the open road–where potholes, traffic jams and uneven bridges awaited us–would be another story altogether.

Getting Started

After landing in Calcutta, we made our way to Shillong, an old hill station tucked away in India’s remote northeast corner. The area was only opened to tourism four years ago and the road down the hills showed it: when a monsoon-like rainstorm struck on our first day, potholes became miniature rivers we were forced to cross. Waterfalls appeared on the sides of red-clay cliffs, and both Citlalli and I were soaked without any walls on the rickshaw to protect us.

The rickshaw didn't offer much protection from the rains!

Once we passed the tea plantations of Darjeeling and crossed into West Bengal, we headed south down to Bihar. This state was the one place we were cautioned to avoid. Rumors of bandits and robbers were spread from team to team and some chose to put their rickshaw on a truck or train and bypass the state altogether. We took a different approach, forming a convoy with three other teams in the hope that safety truly is in numbers.

As we moved through the rural villages, where huge swathes of land were still submerged by floods, we were surprised to find the locals not dangerous but simply curious. No matter where we stopped, be it for lunch at a roadside dhaba restaurant or to fill up at a gas station, hundreds of villagers would immediately crowd around us. The roads through Bihar were the worst we encountered all trip, with a few miles of rocky terrain that seemed more like rubble taking us hours to cover.

The local people were curious to see what was going on

Halfway There

After surviving a fifteen-mile traffic jam through Bihar’s capital, we took a day off in Varanasi, getting up even earlier than normal to take a boat ride along the Ganges at sunrise. Watching priests light candles and perform the morning ritual of puja on the ghats was eerie in the pale dawn light. That night, we returned to the Dasaswamedh Ghat to watch the evening Aarti ceremony. Seven young Hindu priests gathered on a platform, chanting and swinging lamps of incense to the River Ganga. Taking a day to explore India’s holy city, learning about its traditions and past, added another layer to the trip.

Soon, though, we were back on the road, heading north towards Delhi to Agra and the Taj Mahal. The closer we got to the Golden Triangle, the better the roads became–going from rural and unpaved to three-lane national highways complete with toll booths and toilet stops. Every time we entered a new city, we had to switch into another mode of driving from the country roads–preparing ourselves to dodge anything from dogs, goats and cows to bow-legged camels pulling loaded-up wagons.

The rickshaws had to share the road with all kinds of animals

From Agra, we pushed hard to Jaipur, covering close to 300 miles in a single day after fifteen hours of driving. The sandstone used in many of Jaipur’s buildings and palaces is what makes it also known as the Pink City, and we spent an evening wandering through the back streets of its bazaars, admiring the dazzling colors of saris and bangles on offer in the shops.

The Final Countdown

The last place we stayed before finishing was Jodhpur, or the Blue City, called so for the vibrant color many of its houses and buildings are painted. While it might have been easier to stay outside the city center, we decided to take a chance and brave the mad dash in Jodhpur’s old town, weaving our rickshaw through narrow alleys and around dark corners.

The landscape changed yet again once we left Jodhpur behind and entered the Thar Desert. Hills in the distance gave way to long stretches of sand dunes and brush and we even passed a number of air force bases and firing ranges, telling us how close we were to the Pakistan border. Reaching Jaisalmer, also known as the Golden City for the amber-colored walls of its fortress, we finally crossed the finish line, coming 24th out of the 72 teams.

72 teams competed in the Rickshaw Run

Two weeks in a rickshaw might not have been the easiest way to get across India, but it was definitely worth the ride.

- Candace Rose Rardon

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The Rickshaw Run: A Ride through India’s Wild Side by Candace Rose Rardon from Viator Travel Blog

Most people who visit New York start and end their trip in Manhattan. The real New York, though, is not that fancy city of lights you always see glamourized in typical New York travel articles. Though Manhattan has its amazing parts – Broadway, for instance, has soured me to any and all community theatre attempts – the images that most people see of the Big Apple only scratch the surface of the wonderful place that surrounds it. In fact, the treat of a New York vacation is just as tasty on the outside as it is in the creamy Manhattan center.

If you take the time to look around, you will find that you can enrich your New York experience in ways you never thought possible by looking outside the obvious. Here are four of my favorite spots that showcase the whole of New York in ways that Manhattan alone can never touch.

The Bronx Zoo

Typically, people equate the Bronx with one thing: the Yankees. While a visit to “The Stadium” certainly enhances any New York trip, there is so much more than meets the eye in New York’s northern-most borough, starting with the Bronx Zoo.

If you are staying in Manhattan, the Bronx Zoo is a quick bus ride away and offers far more in terms of total experience as compared to its most famous Central Park counterpart. The zoo is a total of 265 acres, houses animals as diverse as the red panda and king cobra, plus offers visitors the option of several rides (such as a bug carousel and Dora & Diego’s 4D Adventure) when they purchase the Total Experience package.

See a Siberian Tiger and lots more at the Bronx Zoo

The zoo is a full day event and an especially good choice for those traveling with young children. Anyone under 3 gets in for free and you are welcome to bring your own food and beverages to eat at one of the many pavilions and picnic areas. The zoo is also a really great day trip for any time of the year. They are open in the fall and winter from 10-5, when the cooler weather allows the animals to be more active. Die-hard animal lovers may also benefit from purchasing one of the zoo’s membership packages, which offers unlimited access to the Bronx, Central Park, Prospect Park, and Queens Zoo as well as the New York Aquarium.

Harlem

Okay, I admit that this one is a cheat since, technically, Harlem is geographically on the island of Manhattan. But I feel like this amazing cultural stop always gets short-changed somehow. I mean, as a young adult, I always knew coming over on Metro North that we were “almost” to the City when the Harlem/125^th Street stop was announced.

Harlem, however, is a rich cultural wonderland of sights, experiences, food and art. It has been an epicenter for African-American cultural advancement specifically since the early 20^th century, but also contains other important ethnic pockets. The most notable is Spanish Harlem, which sits on the east end of Harlem between the Harlem River and East 96^th Street.

No trip to New York is complete without a tour of the Apollo Theater as well as a quality walking tour around the streets of this amazing neighborhood. As you traverse Harlem’s streets, you can hear the sounds of Duke Ellington and Lena Horne on the stages of the Cotton Club and see the inspiration for men like W.E.B. Du Bois and poets like Langston Hughes.

Find the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem

Woodbury Commons

New York and shopping are about as synonymous as cookies and milk, but the big mistake that many visitors to our fair isle make is to believe that New York and exorbitant prices are just as synonymous. Unless you have a penthouse on the Park, you don’t actually do your shopping in Manhattan; you economize and do it in Rockland County instead.

Situated just outside the city limits on the border with New Jersey, Woodbury, NY is famous for two landmarks: the entrance to the New York State Thruway toll plaza and The Commons. Both will cost you cash, but the latter will leave you with style.

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets currently showcases 220 outlet stores that range from Polo and Armani to the Disney Store and Yankee Candle Co. Several New York tourist options actually include a bus pass to The Commons in their package making getting there a breeze.

Get your outlet shopping fix at Woodbury Commons - photo courtesy of NHRHS2010 via Wikimedia Commons

Listen, I know what you’re thinking, and you may have outlet shopping near your hometown, but I guarantee you the experience is nothing like this. Take it from a self-appointed Outlet Mall maven, there is no outlet in this country that can come close to Woodbury in terms of selection, and the prices as compared to 5^th Avenue will leave you with a whole lot more for your money.

Met Life Stadium

My final suggestion will have many die hard New Yorkers shun me for life, but with the 2014 Super Bowl right around the corner, no sports fan’s visit to New York is complete without a trip to the home of New York football: New Jersey.

In the 2010/11 season Met Life Stadium (then called The New Meadowlands) opened its gates to the sporting world and became the only stadium in the country that is home to two professional teams from the same sport: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. In addition, Met Life Stadium plays host to international soccer, concerts, college football and more.

In May of 2010, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that New York/New Jersey would be host to the first modern outdoor cold-weather winter Super Bowl in February 2014. The brand new stadium is an amazing sight on Sunday. If you are lucky enough to travel during the football season, having two home teams usually ensures a home game is played weekly. They also host daily tours for both individuals and groups that include the opportunity to run out on the field where legends will be made. The best part is that Met Life Stadium is fully accessible through New Jersey’s transit system.

Traveling to New York is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but in many ways the diversity of the City as well as its outer boroughs and suburbs offers tourists enough to come back year after year.

- Ed Kim

Editor’s Note: This post is from Ed Kim, the founder of the tourism web site Vacation Pass, a review of money saving tourist passes around the world.

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s New York City tours & things to do, New York City attractions, and New York City travel recommendations or book a private guide in New York City for a customized tour!

4 Must-See New York Locations that Aren’t in Manhattan by Laura from Viator Travel Blog

If you’ve only got a day to see this jewel of the Adriatic, there are a few ground rules that you need to obey. Firstly, be selective in what you want to see. Don’t try to cover everything. Venice is such a treasure trove that it would be impossible to do it justice in just one day. Secondly, set off early and get to the principal sites before the huge crowds descend on them and make life unbearable. Thirdly, don’t try and walk everywhere. It will be exhausting, especially in August when the temperatures are at their highest. Invest in a day pass on the vaporetti (water buses) and use the traghetti (gondola ferries) whenever possible–they cost only 50 cents. Lastly, combine visits to key sites with places off the beaten track where you can catch your breath and relax. There are many hidden campos just a stone’s throw from the major tourist spots.

Get around Venice easily using water transportation

Piazza San Marco

A good starting point is Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) where you will have the chance to indulge in its splendour before the crowds converge on it around mid-morning. Napoleon called this place the ‘Finest dining room of Europe’ and the view from the Piazza certainly bears this out. Feast your eyes on the magnificence of the 900-year old Basilica di San Marco with its five beautiful ornate domes that evoke the merging of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture.

Originally built to house the body of St. Mark, rescued from Alexandria by Venetian traders, it became the chapel for the ruling Doges in their beautiful palace next door. If you look up towards the balcony, you will see four horses above the central doorway. They are copies of the originals which were plundered from Constantinople in the disastrous 4th Crusade in 1204 when the Crusaders rampaged around the Mediterranean coast without ever reaching the Holy Land. If you have time, visit the Basilica just to admire the magnificent, glittering ceilings festooned with paintings of the Apostles. Be careful, however, with the undulating floor–a stark reminder of the constant threat from floods.

On the left of the piazza is the Torre dell’Orologio (Moor’s Clock Tower) with its distinctive clock face and two moors standing on top and hammering the large bell on the hour. To the right is the Campanile, towering over the piazza and offering a panoramic view over Venice if you take the one minute lift ride to the top. Originally built in AD 900 and reaching the height of 324 feet, it collapsed suddenly in 1902 with the only casualty being the church cat. An identical replica was built in 1912 and intensive efforts are underway to stabilise it.

Piazza San Marco is a good place to start your day in Venice

Moving through the Piazza San Marco and its two granite columns signifying the gateway to Venice is the magnificent Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). Nicknamed “the wedding cake”, it is difficult not to appreciate the beauty of this building, dominating the waterway with its wonderfully ornate arcades and its façade covered in pink Verona marble and Istrian limestone. Do not be deceived by its beauty, however. This was the seat of the Republic’s power until 1797 and the delicate exterior masked a world of political intrigue, rapaciousness and ruthless ambition. Those who fell foul of the system soon found themselves making the short walk across the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) from the interrogation rooms to the prison and the dark, damp dungeons below.

The Waterfront

If you carry on along the waterfront past San Zaccaria on the Riva degli Schiavoni, you eventually arrive at a bridge leading to the Arsenale, the symbol of the Venetian Republic’s military strength from the 12th to 16th century. At its zenith, over 16,000 arsenalotti worked here, turning out fully fitted and armed galleys in under 24 hours.  Although you can’t enter this military complex, the short walk is worthwhile just to see the wonderful triumphal arch at the entrance, the Porta Magna, flanked by four marble lions. The café in the square outside is good place to take a breather and a coffee.

From here, take the vaporetto to Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) along the Canale Grande and see the most important bridge in Venice built, interestingly enough, by Antonio da Ponte in 1591. It is the simplicity of the design, the construction material–Istrian stone–and its 24-metre span that make this one of the most iconic sights in Venice.

Ponte di Rialto, the most important bridge in Venice

Rather than dwell too long on the bridge, however, turn right and descend into the Pescaria and Erberie, the fish and vegetable markets. The former is housed in an arcaded loggia and is filled with stalls selling every type of seafood imaginable including octopus, mussels, swordfish and sea bass as well as sea turtles, eels and crabs. The vegetable market is in the Campo della Pescaria next to the Grand Canal and bustles with locals and chefs shopping for every variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. Make sure, however, that you arrive before 12.00, when the market closes for the day.

Sample the gondola and take the traghetto, next to the market, across the Grand Canal for the sum of 50 cents and head off to the Cannaregio district in the North East and the church of Madonna dell’Orto near the Canale delle Fondamenta Nove. Weave your way through alleyways, across bridges and savour the peace and tranquillity of this area, much less frequented by the crowds. This was Tintoretto’s (1518-1594) local church and he spent much of his working life here leaving a legacy of masterpieces including The Last Judgement, The Apparition of the Cross of St. Peter and The Martyrdom of St. Paul.  He is buried near the altar and his home is nearby in the Fondamenta dei Mori.

The Ghetto

Moving south across Fondamenta Misericordia, you come to the Il Ghetto (The Ghetto). Built in the 16th century as a refuge for Jews from all over Europe, it was subjected to draconian measures by the Senate. The population was herded into a narrow strip of land with the gates locked and guarded each night and the residents were forced to pay the wages of the guards. In the Second World War, all the residents were deported to concentration camps and only 8 survived. Today only 33 Jewish residents live in Venice. The Ghetto contrasts sharply with the opulence and splendour of the rest of Venice and is dominated by narrow alleyways, significantly taller buildings due to demographic pressures and a somewhat stark environment. In the Campo Ghetto Nuovo, 7 bas sculptures hang on the stone walls with a barbed wire fence above depicting the holocaust. On the opposite side of the square is a small but interesting museum, Museo Communita Ebraic.

Journey back down the Grand Canal

From here, take the bridge at Ponte de Guglie and head towards Ferrovia, the main railway station at Santa Lucia. Having been on the move for most of the day, take the strain off your feet and relax on the vaporetto down the Grand Canal back to San Marco. A 20-minute journey will take you the 4 kilometres down Venice’s most important thoroughfare past beautiful hotels, museums and some 200 palazzi built between the 12th and 18th centuries, including the Ca d’Oro (The Golden House). At the end, just opposite San Marco is the dominating church of Santa Maria della Salute (The Church of St. Mary of Good Health) often referred to as La Salute and built as a token of thanks in 1630 at the end of one of Venice’s terrible plagues that claimed the lives of 80,000 Venetians.

Returning to Piazza San Marco, you can finish your journey and listen to the orchestras in the Caffé Florian and Caffe Quadri compete with each other, or alternatively indulge in one of their coffees at the princely sum of 15 euros a cup. After such a long day, you deserve it.

- Graham Walker

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Venice in a Day by Graham Walker from Viator Travel Blog

Beijing is a city that embodies China’s ancient civilization and rich political and cultural history. Alongside all of the historical buildings, temples, and gates is the juxtaposition of a modern China filled with skyscrapers, luxury shopping malls, and a vibrant art and music scene. Here are suggestions of what to do when you come to the capital of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Day 1: A Taste of Chinese History in the Present

Start your day with a dive into China’s ancient history. The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1840). For nearly five hundred years, it served as the palace for emperors and their families, and was the political center of the Chinese government.  The Forbidden City is the world’s largest surviving palace complex and a UNESCO Heritage Site, consisting of over 900 surviving buildings with 8,000 rooms. Inside the Forbidden City visit the Palace Museum to witness China’s largest collection of ancient art works.

The Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Just north of the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square, a large city square in the center of Beijing. At Tiananmen Square, you’ll see the gate to the Forbidden City along with the iconic Chairman Mao portrait. Tiananmen Square was the site of a number of political events and protests. Now, Chinese visitors from all over the country come to Tiananmen Square to visit Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and pay their respects.

Go for a late lunch at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant located south of the Forbidden City. Here you’ll take in Beijing’s local specialty dish. The Beijing duck is known for its thin, crispy skin and is usually wrapped up in a pancake with hoisin sauce and spring onions.

After finishing lunch, head to the Temple of Heaven. During the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor of China would come to the Temple of Heaven to make sacrifices to heaven and offer prayers for good harvest. The Temple of Heaven is an architectural masterpiece and the design of the temple halls in circles and squares reflects the ancient Chinese belief that heaven is round and the earth is square. Nowadays, you’ll find the park inhabited by retirees playing Chinese chess or practicing tai chi.

Chinese architectural masterpiece, Temple of Heaven in Beijing

Next, take a cab to the Drum and Bell Tower, then wander in the alleys (also known as hutongs) that run between compounds of housing built inside courtyards. These housing complexes are quickly disappearing as more and more high rises are being built. Lastly, climb aboard a rickshaw and visit Prince Gong’s Mansion, Beijing’s largest and best preserved Qing Dynasty royal mansion.

Near the Drum and Bell Tower, you’ll find Houhai (Back Lakes), where you can unwind after a long day with a classy meal and a glass of wine while enjoying a view of the night lights around the lake.

Day 2: From the Great Wall to Beijing Opera

No trip to Beijing is complete without a trip to the Great Wall. Get up early in the morning to beat the traffic and crowds at the Great Wall. There are several sections of the wall you can climb. Badaling is the most visited section of the wall and provides stunning scenery of the wall snaking into the distance. Mutianyu is a less commercial section of the Great Wall and is known for its guard towers and its awe-inspiring views.  If you like to climb steep hills, Simatai is the choice for you.

The Great Wall of China, stretching for 5,500.3 miles (8,851.8 km)

After a day of hiking, take a bus back into the city and visit the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace was the vacation spot for the royal family. Inside the Summer Palace, you’ll find gardens, pavilions and lakes where Empress Dowager Cixi once frequented.

In the evening, take a seat at Lao She Teahouse and experience Beijing opera, a form of traditional Chinese theater, which includes cross-talk, music and acrobatics. Enjoy your show in a traditional teahouse and sip some green tea and enjoy light refreshments.

Day 3: Exploring (and Tasting) the Beijing of Today

Begin your morning at Panjiayuan, a lively weekend market selling a variety of antiques. This market is the best place to pick up art, crafts and antiques. You’ll find calligraphy, Tibetan beads, Cultural Revolution memorabilia, and a variety of knick knacks. Be prepared to bargain intensely before making a purchase.

After stepping through the history and culture of ancient China, soak yourself in Beijing’s modern architecture and art. First, visit the China Central Television Tower in Beijing, a 44-story skyscraper in Beijing’s Central Business District constructed in 2008. Then head over to 798 Art Zone to view artwork by up-and-coming local artists. Finally, take a trip out to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games site to view the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Stalls at Beijing's Dong Hua Men night market, Wangfujing Snack Street

Finish your evening snacking your way through Wangfujing Snack Street. Food vendors and restaurants are lined up on Wangfujing Snack Street sell a variety of food including lamb kebabs,  fried pancakes, candied fruits and even fried insects!

- Amy Zeng

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Top Things to See in Beijing by Brittany from Viator Travel Blog

In many ways, Prague is the perfect city break option. It is crammed full of so much gorgeous architecture – from many eras – that most other cities should be insanely jealous. You walk around the streets cooing at buildings, most of which have been lovingly preserved and repainted. There’s also a remarkable number of museums, many of which have such narrow subject fields that they’re worthy of visiting for quirk value alone. If you’re interested in particular historic figures, there are museums devoted solely to Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Kepler and Franz Kafka, while other highlights to browse through include medieval torture instruments, chocolate, toys, marionettes and ghosts.

Statue on Charles Bridge & Prague Castle

Museum of Communism

If you have to pick one single Prague Museum to visit, however, it should probably be the Museum of Communism. Ironically sited between a casino and a McDonalds, this takes you through life during the era of Communist Czechoslovakia. It traces the history of Communism back to its origins in Marx and Engels, but is at its best when it explores the effects that the Soviet-imposed regime had on local people. For all the posturing, marching and military displays, most people were interested in just getting on with life as well as possible. The displays go into how supply and demand always won out through the black market and the expectations put upon people to put the system over the well-being of their neighbours. To not report ‘criminal’ (or anti-State) activity was a criminal activity in itself, and officials were given handsome rewards for eliciting confessions through torture.

The mock interrogation room should be enough to send a chill down the spine, but the products used and the pictures of people struggling on are weirdly more compelling in terms of getting an idea of everyday life during the Communist era.

Boat passing under Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge

Prague does have a rather obvious tourist trail, however. You don’t really need anyone to point it out – just follow the herds along it. They will all, at some point, be found on the Charles Bridge. For many years, this was the only bridge across the River Vltava that Prague had. A huge stone construction built under the orders of Charles IV in 1357, it has turned into something of a circus in recent times. If you ever want to buy jewellery of dubious quality, have a caricature of yourself drawn or listen to buskers of varying ability, then this is the place to head to. But the towers at either end are undoubtedly impressive, while the series of statues placed along the edges of the bridge are pretty much a Czech history lesson.

Of course, the best views of the bridge aren’t from the bridge itself – either head to one of the neighbouring bridges, or duck under the bridge to Kampa Island on the Mala Strana side. Some of the best snaps can be taken from the children’s playground next to the upmarket Kampa Park restaurant.

David Cerny’s public artworks

Also accessible by ducking to the north of the Mala Strana end of the Charles Bridge is a pleasant courtyard outside the Kafka Museum. Taking pride of place in the centre of it is a rather striking sculpture. Two men, carved in slices to make them look like they’re appearing via a patchy relay in a sci-fi film, can be found relieving themselves into a pool that’s the shape of the Czech Republic. The sculpture – Proudy – is by David Cerny, a man who has brightened up many corners of Prague with some seriously odd public art. In the Lucerna Palace shopping centre, a man can be found riding on an upside-down horse, while a man can be found dangling one-handed from a pole high above Husova Street in the Old Town.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, although it does look more like a small town within the city than a stereotypical moats-and-ramparts castle. This, of course, means that you could easily spend a couple of days exploring it. In fact, you could happily spend a day in the castle gardens alone. Once you get inside the castle, you’ll find a network of courtyards and palaces. There are a few museums, cafés and other assorted attractions to check out, and various entrance ticket combinations get you into various parts.

Viator’s Prague Castle Walking Tour is much better than most, as you can tell by looking at the misery on the faces of those being herded round in groups of fifty or more. The last stop is the Basilica of St George, where the red baroque facade is completely contradicted by the simple, tranquil, Romanesque interior. The Old Royal Palace is also included in the tour, but while many of the rooms are impressive, none hold a candle to the incredible Vladislav Hall. It’s 124m long and 33m high, with a knock-out lattice vaulted ceiling. It was once, unbelievably, used for jousting contests – it’s that big that horses can charge around it.

St Vitus’ Cathedral

Arguably the star attraction within the castle complex (and it has got plenty of competition), is St Vitus’ Cathedral. The eagle-eyed will notice that it is split into two parts – the original, more blackened Gothic half and the cleaner, much newer neo-Gothic half. The building somehow manages to combine a monumental simplicity with lots of intriguing detail.

It’s the sort of place where having a good guide brings more to life. For example, there are numerous parts of the cathedral that have links to St John of Nepumuk, a character that somehow failed to crop up in my school history lessons. Apparently King Wenceslas IV (that wouldn’t be the good king Wenceslas of the carol fame, needless to say) had him thrown off the Charles Bridge. He now lies inside the gaudiest silver coffin you can possibly imagine, covered in equally silver decorative angels and cherubs. Whoever is employed to polish all this silver does a sterling job.

The highlight of St Vitus’ Cathedral, however, is the one chapel you can’t walk into. The St Wenceslas chapel (yes, this was the ‘good king’) is a blizzard of decoration. Every sliver of wall or window is frescoed, stained, painted, gilded or adorned with giant precious stones. OK, so he was murdered by his jealous brother, but this is a pretty special way to be remembered…

- David Grant

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Highlights of Prague, Czech Republic by Patricia from Viator Travel Blog

To read more and see photos from their spectacular drive off the beaten path, visit Anne D‘s profile on Viator.com.

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A Spectacular Drive Off the Beaten Path by Anne Stiles Davis from Viator Travel Blog

Most visitors to Rome want to scratch beneath the surface of the Roman Empire, probably the most important historical aspect of Rome. That’s why an itinerary exploring Rome’s ancient past is something that should be a part of every visit to Rome. Here are a few of ancient Rome’s essential highlights.

The Colosseum in Rome

The Colosseum (Colosseo)

The most recognizable monument in Rome, the Roman Colosseum is technically known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, inaugurated in the year 80 AD. The infamous gladiator battles that the Colosseum is famous for were hosted here up until 435 AD. In modern-day Rome, the road leading up to the Colosseum is used to host a free outdoor concert in the summer, with musicians such as Simon & Garfunkel or Paul McCartney drawing crowds of around a million people.

Nero’s Golden House (Domus Aurea)

Built by the Emperor Nero after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, this is a well-preserved example of ancient Roman architecture. Lavish interior decoration included gold leaf, ivory veneer and ceilings covered with semi-precious stones. The emperor’s palace was also rich with frescoes in the grotesque style that inspired Renaissance artists like Raphael and Michelangelo.

Ancient Rome’s port city (Ostia Antica)

Next Stop: Ancient Rome

About a half hour train ride outside of Rome, Ostia Antica is the site of ancient Rome’s harbor and was the hub of commerce during the period. On a walk through Ostia Antica one can still see examples of daily life in ancient Rome ranging from mosaics that decorated the market to public toilets. The area of Ostia Antica is three times as large as Pompeii, so it’s best to bring comfortable walking shoes.

Appia Antica & the Catacombs

Ancient Rome’s most famous road, the Appia Antica remains an excellent example of the ancient Roman style of building roads (e.g., in a straight line). While walking the Appia Antica, or perhaps riding a bike over the rough stones, you can still see the tracks left by carts that used the road for transport in ancient times. Ruins of statues and tombs, as well as the original aqueducts, line the street. Along the Appia are also various sites of ancient Roman catacombs, including San Sebastiano and San Callisto. The underground catacomb tours give visitors a look into the burial practices of the first Christians. 

The Capitoline Museums (Musei Capitolini)

The Capitoline Museums on Capitol Hill (Campidoglio) are a great way to explore ancient Rome, especially on a rainy day when it’s not practical to be outdoors. Founded in 1471, the museums house many important sculptures and other artifacts that have come from excavations of various sites of ancient Rome. In the Hall of the Faun, you can see the statue of the faun brought from Emperor Hadrian’s villa, while the Hall of Emperors has an impressive collection of busts of Roman emperors from the Imperial Age to the late ancient period. 

The Roman Forum

The heart of political and commercial life in ancient Rome, the Foro Romano still has several important archeological artifacts that have survived to this day. There are ruins of several temples as well as arches constructed by various emperors to celebrate triumphs. While many ruins are still visible, in order to fully appreciate the vast history of the Roman Forum, a guided tour is recommended.

The Pantheon

Another of Rome’s most recognizable monuments, the Pantheon was originally used as a temple and was destroyed by fire in 80 A.D.; the structure we see today was commissioned by the Emperor Hadrian and completed in 125 A.D.

The famous ‘oculus’ or hole in the ceiling is a constant source of fascination to those who visit, and every year on Pentecost, red rose petals are released down through the oculus by Roman firefighters.

The piazza surrounding the Pantheon is one of the major gathering points for tourists in downtown Rome. 

Vatican Necropolis & Scavi Vaticani

Reservations are required through the Vatican’s Excavations Office and often visitors are unable to choose the exact day and time of their visit. But if you can manage to get a ticket to either of these underground tours, it is well worth the work. The Necropolis (Via Triumphalis) tour commenced in October 2006, after three years of preparation. The area was discovered while breaking ground for a parking garage and archeologists have given it Pompeii-like status in the world of ancient cemeteries. The Scavi (Via Cornelia) tour covers excavations that were undertaken to locate the exact place where St Peter’s remains were buried, and above which St Peter’s Basilica was built.

-Shelley Ruelle

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Ancient Rome: A Beginner’s Guide by Shelley Ruelle from Viator Travel Blog

Tokyo is a wonderful place. It used to be very expensive, but 20 years of economic slowness has made it quite affordable. You can indulge yourself in history, modern culture, consumerism and lots of food. I’ve been to Tokyo many times and when people ask “what should I do in Tokyo” I can finally stop repeating myself and tell them to read this blog.

Here’s what I’d consider to be 2 perfect days in Tokyo.

Day 1: Modern Culture – let’s have some consumerism fun!

Kick the day off with a cheap brekkie – you can get a Japanese curry for less than $5 at one of a million different eateries. Just head towards your local JR or subway station and you’ll find something. Try for less than 400Y.

Shibuya

Now let’s head over to my favourite suburb, Shibuya. You can get there via Subway (or JR) so it’s easy to access. Our goal here is to absorb the main pedestrian crossing where seemingly millions of people cross the street at once. It has to be seen to be believed. Once you’ve absorbed this spectacle from street level a couple times, head up to Starbucks and enjoy a latte while you marvel from above. You might need two coffees as most shops don’t open until 10 or 11 am, so take your time.

Guitars, mate! Shibuya has it all.

Once you are caffeinated and have given the shopkeepers time to awake it’s time to dive into the surrounding streets to take in the consumerism-gone-mad experience.

Some of my favourites include Bic Camera (many stories of electronics, cameras, computers, etc), Tokyo Hands (a massive multi story craft and hobby shop – everything from doll houses to sheet metal) not to mention all the shoe, music, fashion (go to Shibuya 109), and everything else you could ever dream of shops.

Harajuku

From here we will walk to the wonderful weirdness of Harajuku. You might pass some cheap ramen shops on the way, so if you’re starving, grab some lunch on the way. Harajuku has been a hangout for alternative dressers for many years.

You’ll see lots of youngish (teens and twenties) guys and gals wearing everything from lacy maid outfits to anime character costumes. It’s best in the evenings and Sunday afternoons, but there’s always something to see. Must-sees include the costume and fashion shops where the displays pour out into the lane. Fashion accessories, cheap jewellery, crepes and Häagen-Dazs – what else could you want?

2 days in Tokyo? Yes, just 2. Street scene in Harajuku

Ueno

Ok – we’ve seen enough fashion – let’s head off to the markets of Ueno for some bargains and a great feed. Ueno is famous for three things – shopping, a big park and eating. It can be reached easily on the JR line or by subway.

This is where the locals come to get stuff cheap – clothes, bags, shoes, seaweed, snakes, fresh seafood and lots more! Merchants range from tiny market stalls to massive department stores. When you get off the train, simply walk across the major road and lose yourself in the alleys of Ueno.
As for dinner – the backstreets of Ueno provide a multitude of choice and fortunately most restaurants display their offerings in the window or a glass display case out front.

Recommendations? Try Izakaya for a wide selection of “bar foods” to enjoy with a beer or some sake. Yakiniku is the Japanese take on Korean BBQ – great fun in Ueno with many offering all you can eat and drink packages and you’ll even get a bib to keep the BBQ flavour off your clothes!

Day 2: History & culture

This is a busy day, so wear comfortable shoes!

Tsukiji Fish Market

First up is Tsukiji is Tokyo’s fish market and it’s huge. Every morning very early (like still the night before for many of us), there is a huge auction for the giant frozen tuna. Some fish will sell for US $40,000 or more so apparently it’s quite exciting to witness although I’ve never made it there on time to see that happen. (You can also sign up for a Viator Tokyo walking tour that includes the fish market with a local guide, very helpful.)

Getting there by 6 or 7am will still allow you to see more types of sea creatures then you could ever imagine. Barrels and tubs filled with mysteries of the deep. You can grab a slab of tuna or salmon sashimi for later consumption. Aisle after aisle of merchants display their specialties in the main huge warehouse.

Check out the ice-cutting area: they saw through massive blocks of ice in order to dole it out to the fish mongers. There are some old style noodle shops in the area so you can grab some breakfast nearby once you’ve exhausted your fishy smell tolerance.

Asakusa

Our next stop Asakusa, the home of Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. The best way to get to Asakusa is on the Tokyo Cruise Ship Company’s ride up the Sumida River departing from Hinode Pier. The river boat passes under 12 low bridges and you can sit back and enjoy the views of all sorts of old and new buildings and factories as you sail towards the temple at Asakusa.

Jeff on his way into the shrine at Asakusa

Watch out for the golden poo – I have no idea what it signifies, but it’s my favourite weird architectural feature.

It’s only a couple minutes walk from the pier to Senso-ji where you can engage in some quiet meditation in the temple before exploring the grounds and surrounding markets. (You can also take a guided tour of the shrine.) Other attractions in the area include a traditional drum museum and a lot of cooking utensil stores including some that sell the famous plastic food replicas, so you can bring your favourite Japanese dish home with you!

If you’re into Beer History as I am, you can visit the Kamiya Bar – possibly Tokyo’s oldest. The morning I dropped in there were elderly patrons sipping beer and nodding off around the place and you can join them for a glass to whet your appetite for some lunch if you so desire.

Asakusa has been a popular entertainment area through the 20th century so there are lots of choices for lunch. Keep your eyes peeled and you might even catch a glimpse of one of Tokyo’s few remaining Geisha’s who reside in Asakusa.

Otemachi & the Imperial Palace

From here we’ll be jumping on the subway to get to either Otemachi or Tokyo station, from where we can walk to the Imperial Palace East Gardens entrance. Japan’s Emperor and his extended family live in the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace consists of a large mostly green area in the center of Tokyo with one area open to the general public – the Eastern Gardens. Be sure to check that they are open on your planned day. They contain the ruins of Japans tallest tower in 1638 as well as a devine traditional Japanese Garden.

You can easily spend a couple hours wandering around absorbing the beauty and history here. (Here’s a tour option that includes the Imperial Palace.)

Tokyo's Imperial Palace

Marunouchi

To wrap up the day I’d recommend strolling over to Marunouchi to enjoy the views and sunset from one of the restaurants from the 36th floor of the Marunouchi Building. We visited “Breeze of Tokyo”, a modern Japanese fusion place whose concept is “A high-quality amusement place for adults”.

I wouldn’t claim it lived up to that but the views over Tokyo Station and The Imperial Palace are wonderful and we even saw the sun setting over Mount Fuji. There are also a number of other restaurants on the Marunouchi Building’s top floor including a more traditional Japanese food option for those wanting to keep up the historical theme.

-Jeff Lewis

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Tokyo tours & things to do, from Tokyo walking tours to Tokyo day trips and day tours. Also, browse Viator’s Tokyo Attractions and Tokyo travel recommendations.

Tokyo in 2 (Perfect) Days by Scott Mc from Viator Travel Blog

I wish I lived in Paris but I don’t. So on a recent 3-day trip to Paris I decided to live the life I often wished I had. I pretended I really was Parisienne.

To start in the right frame of mind, I caught the Eurostar to Paris and made sure I got to St Pancreas station in London early. This is a gorgeously restored train station, I recommend you head upstairs to the Champagne Bar and indulge in a glass of Champagne with a bowl of strawberries and cream while sitting under the soaring roof – oysters are another good option. (Note: if you’re in London and simply want to visit Paris on a day trip via Eurostar, you can book that too.)

After whisking across the channel in no time at all, I checked into my cute little boutique hotel in the Bastille area and was ready to explore.

Plus de vin? Oui.

Paris is a great walking city, with the metro to fall back on if your legs get tired. I walked down Rue de Rivoli to near the Louvre, and found my way to a French wine tasting in a very old stone underground cellar. Olivier, our charming sommelier, talked us through our sampling of wines from Champagne to the big reds, and with his endless supply of facts and anecdotes it was interesting and enjoyable for everyone from beginners to fanatics.

Wine tasting in Paris

The samplings were generous, as were the bread and the cheese platters, so a good party mood developed fast. So much so that at the end of the two hours, about 10 of us who had been complete strangers a couple of hours earlier asked if we could buy some bottles and stay and drink them in the cellar. This may not be a standard outcome of the wine tasting, but Olivier was happy to oblige and soon joined us as well.

Before long it was 10pm and we persuaded Olivier to join us for dinner in a café he recommended in the Marais where we practiced our new knowledge on the wine list to help wash down the delicious bistro dinner.

Now I can’t guarantee that if you do a wine tasting all these extras will happen as well, but I am fairly sure you’re going to have a good time anyway.

Learning about French wines... almost as goos as tasting them

And as I stumbled back to my hotel at 1.30am I felt I was off to a good start in my new Parisienne life style.

Paris, Sunday stroll on the Left Bank

The sun was shining on a late-summer morning, so I headed off to place St-Michel on the Left Bank to get my first coffee for the day. My plan was still to indulge in as many things Parisian as possible, while capturing as much of it as I can on my camera so I will have those reminders forever.

I head west into the St Germain area, and stopped for breakfast in the lovely little Rue de Buci – cobblestones, cafes and sunny on both sides of the street, and lots of locals in the cafes as well, not just tourists. I try not to stare at the very parisian young man with the lime-green smoking jacket and the two extraordinarily large dogs sitting across the way from me – perhaps I should get a dog too?

Suitably prepared for the day now, I continue down to where Rue de Buci meets Boulevard St Germain, turn right and browse the lovely little markets, lots of jewellery, clothing, shoes and arts and crafts to tempt me. I only just managed to resist the temptations at the stall full of wonderfully bohemian summer sandals, and was unable to resist the modern and stylish designs at one jewellery stand, where I acquired a lovely new bracelet.

Then I headed down to Boulevard Raspail, where every Sunday the median strip of the road converts into a fantastic farmers market. Not only can I sample the cheeses and fruits and patisserie, but it’s a photographic paradise as well, the whole Latin Quarter and St Germain is, so don’t forget your camera, too. This is a market full of local people doing their shopping though, so be aware of the other people around you who may not want their shopping interrupted when you are trying to line up that perfect shot.

Next on my list for the day is Musee d’Orsay, but first I have one more stop, at Eric Kayser, Artisan Boulanger, on the corner of Rue be Bac and Rue de Verneuil, just before the museum. It is impossible to walk past a shop with this quality and range of drool-inducing breads, tarts and patissieries. It would be a crime not to sit down, have a coffee or hot chocolate and sample one of the enticing wares, the only hard thing is deciding which one!

My tips for Paris’ museums and galleries

Paris is full of art galleries and museums, with enough diversity to have one for everyone’s tastes. My favourite is Musee d’Orsay with its sculpture and Impressionists all perfectly displayed in the beautifully converted old railway station.

I am not alone in this, when I saw the queues to get in I was glad I had purchased my Paris museum pass in advance and could head straight in through the signposted door on the side and not have to wait. The bonus feature is that after I have wandered the galleries and soaked up the beauty, I could head to the top floor (5th) and out onto the little external terrace, which gives me a birds eye view of Sacre Coeur. There is also a spot inside on the top floor where you can take a picture of Sacre Coeur through the back of the massive clock face, very cool, I am feeling very arty by this stage.

Over the bridge to the Jardin de Tuilleries, I can see the Arc de Triomphe to the left – however, today, I am heading right towards the Louvre. I’m not going to do a second museum today (save this one for later), but if you’ve always loved those pictures people take from inside the glass pyramid looking out at the old façade, you can join the queue that goes in through the pyramid, as this takes you down to the entrance hall where you would buy your entrance ticket.

But instead of buying a ticket today I just ride the escalators and take the stairs and take those photos and leave again without spending a cent. Instead I head over Pont de Neuf to Notre Dame – the climb up to the top to see the gargoyles properly is well worth it. Then I strolled round the back of Notre Dame so I could see the famous Flying Buttresses and then headed across the bridge to Ile St-Louis. Time for another rest and relaxation break, its been quite a bit of walking.

The streets of this tiny island in the middle of the Seine have a great range of cafes and bistros – I certainly enjoyed my long slow lunch of parmesan and artichoke soufflé with a glass of chardonnay. These are also good browsing streets, with many jewellery stores and upmarket food stores, as well as about 27 outlets of the famous Bertillon sorbets and icecreams, with a queue at every single one.

My own private Montmartre

Next morning I head to Place de Abbesses in Montmartre, and had a restorative breakfast in the sun. There is a funicular up the hill to Sacre Coeur but I love the winding backstreets here, so I walk up – take Rue Yve le Tec lined with all sorts of trendy and interesting shops, and then go left on Rue de Trois Freres, right onto rue Drevet and up the classic Paris steps at the top.

I then find myself in Place du Tertre, the picturesque but oh so touristy heart of Montmartre, right next to Sacre Coeur. Apart from the crowds it is quite charming, and although I didn’t want to sit for a portrait or caricature this time, I liked standing back and watching at least a dozen other people being drawn, from amongst the fifty or so artists filling the square – this is a competitive business!

I took the 300 step climb to the top of Sacre Coeur for the fantastic view – look for the signs to the side of Sacre Coeur for the crypt and climb – you are at an equivalent height to the top of the Eiffel tower at the top here. The crypt is worth a look too and is free – the climb costs 5 euro.

After resting on the steps for a while in the sun, I headed back towards Place du Tetre but turned right just before it and headed a couple of blocks down Rue du Mont Cenis – there’s another classic set of Montmartre stairs here, and look out for the house on the corner with the large mirrored window – you can do some neat photographic tricks with it.

Down the steps and a block to the left is a strange sight for most cities but makes sense to me in Paris – the Montmartre vineyards, still in production apparently, but closed on a Monday so I couldn’t sample the wares. Back up a couple of blocks on Rue des Saules to Rue Lepic, I cant resist the original old windmill on the corner, I guess the Moulin Rouge did not think of it first after all. A couple of blocks further on, at the corner of Rue Tholoze, I pull up a chair with a fantastic view and order a cold beer while I rest.

Jumping on the metro, I head east to the Cour St-Emilion stop, in the lovely Bercy suburb where old wine warehouses have been converted into a complex of wine bars, shops and restaurants, all with great outdoor seating, perfect for my sunny day. After browsing the shops and sampling another nice wine, I head towards where I am staying in Bastille and pass by the Viaduc des Arts.

Paris in black and white, taken on my Segway tour

I enjoy stretching my legs on the Promenade Plantee, a stretch of old railway line along the top of the viaduct which has been turned into an urban garden filled with everyone from joggers to families to grandparents out for a stroll. The walk back along the same stretch at ground level is just as good, the viaduct runs for many blocks and houses clothing, homewares, jewellery and all sorts of eclectic stores. I am excited to find a favourite of mine, Cecile et Jean – I have previously shopped in their San Francisco branch and knew if was French but hadn’t known where their shop was – to celebrate this happy co-incidence I add a new large cocktail ring to my jewellery collection.

I fall in love with the Paris Segway tour

As evening approaches I head west again to Trocadero. It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, I get a real thrill seeing the Eiffel Tower, whether its through the trocadero fountains or from directly underneath. Today I am here to try something different – I’m going sightseeing around Paris on an evening Segway tour.

Me on the Segway

Now I confess this doesn’t sound particularly Parisien, but with the wonderful array of parks, walkways and bridges in Paris, as well as being flat, it’s an ideal spot for these wonderful machines. Some locals living in the area have been so intrigued by seeing the tours go past that they have signed up to try them out, so I figure that’s good enough for me.

In the first five minutes of learning how to ride them (and that’s really all it takes) I realize this is about the coolest machine in the history of travel and I want one of my own. But for now I settle for about five hours of whizzing around from sight to sight on Segasaurus (no, I didn’t pick the name) in my little group of 8 seggers (yes, that is the official name for us riders) and our guide, getting a fun ride, a history lesson and great photos all in one.

We stopped off for dinner near the Louvre and headed back past the Eiffel tower after 11pm, which in summer time is when the light show on the tower comes on for a couple of hours. It was somewhat of a test of my balance and segway control to try and take photos of the Eiffel tower lit up at night while trying to stand still on my Segway, but I got away with it without visible bruises. I had to save the convivial drink until after we gave the Segways back, as it’s not very cool to be drink-driving on these lovely machines.

The nighttime tour is advertised as about 4 hours, but they were very flexible to the group and since no one in our group was in a rush to go anywhere else afterward, we got a whole 6 hours including our leisurely dinner stop. So for my final night in Paris, I head home late and happy, just how I imagine my life in Paris would always be.

Footnote: prebooking my airport transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport for the next morning did slightly ease the pain of having to leave.

-Vicki P

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My Other Life in Paris by Scott Mc from Viator Travel Blog

The Story of Masada

Residing 1,300 feet (400 m) high on a gigantic rock overlooking the Dead Sea, the remains of the desert fortress known as Masada tells a story of tragedy, pride and perseverance that makes it one of the most sought pilgrimages of the Jewish people. Anybody with an interest archeology or Jewish culture should plan to make a visit; however without a working knowledge of its history, the trip to this beautiful and unique, yet slightly disturbing site is practically meaningless.

Snake Path

A Story of Tragedy

After the Romans destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple around 70 CE, the remaining expelled Jewish population fled to the nearby stronghold of Masada located in the Judean desert, where they settled for 3 years. In 72, inhabitants of Masada could see the Romans marching towards them as they began their siege of the settlement. Lasting several months, the on looking population laid witness to the day to day development of at least 8 camps, construction on a siege wall, towers, and the assault ramp that would lead to the Romans conquering of the settlement.

According to the one recorded account of the city’s final moments, rebel commander Elazar ben Ya’ir delivered a speech to the remaining 960 inhabitants that the Jews should rather be dead than slaves to the Romans, and with that, the men killed their wives and children, and then themselves, leaving a virtual mass grave for the arriving Romans.

A Story of Pride

Today Israeli soldiers carrying torches proudly climb the Snake Path from ground level leading to the former settlement at the end of their military training and take an oath exclaiming “Masada shall not fall again.” It is a testament to both the endurance and pride of their people.

If you are planning on hiking up the famed Snake Path, it is recommended that you do so before sunrise as to not face exhaustion from the beating sun (that can reach 100 degrees before 8:00am). On the bright side to getting up so very early, Masada is also known to have one of the most majestic sunrises in the world. Another option for those who are not early-risers, you may take a cable car that runs to and from its grounds regularly throughout the day. Regardless of how you decide to get to up to Masada, it is recommended that you bring tons of water along.

A Story of Perseverance

The remains of the city after its excavation 1965 show original and insightful remnants of the old fortress, and unveils how its inhabitants were able to survive in its seemingly fruitless desert location for so long, from water cisterns and channels that collected water from the nearby bodies for freshwater called wadis, to the intricate workings of existing Roman style thermal baths, where perforated clay pipes helped to drive hot air.

Ruins of the thermal baths

Although much of Masada is restored, developers were careful to outline and preserve the remains of the old fortress, making it easy for visitors to tell what is original and what has been restored. You can visit remains of Herod’s Palace (who first built the stone-top fortress), the Northern Palace, as well as see where they held supplies in storehouses and synagogues. There is also a Byzantine church that is dated to have been constructed 1,500 years ago.

In a moment that will put you back in the 2nd century, you will discover along the west side of Masada that the ramp built by the Romans to infiltrate the city is perfectly still in existence.
While you are scheduling your trip to Masada, make sure you leave enough time to see some of the other major attractions that reside nearby. Very close to proximity is the Dead Sea, which is comprised of so much salt that swimming it makes you feel like a human buoy. Mud left aside by the sea is also said to be very medicinal, so many people cover themselves in it before wincing off. If you’re still feeling limber, make sure to also visit the stunning oasis Ein Gedi, also nearby and located just west of the Dead Sea. Ein Gedi provides a gorgeous hike that known for its breathtaking springs, caves, and fauna.

- Philip Heijmans

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Israel tours & things to do, especially the Masada Day Trip from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

Retracing Masada by Philip Heijmans from Viator Travel Blog

There’s enough to do in Paris to keep a visitor occupied for weeks, but for those who do wish to venture further afield, there are a series of awesome destinations that can easily be checked out in a day trip from the French capital. From cathedrals and palaces to wine tasting and architectural gems, these five pack in an awful lot for the day-tripper.

Château Thierry in Champagne

Versailles

Around 17km (10.6 miles) southwest of Paris, Versailles is to all intents and purposes a suburb of the French capital. It is also the most popular day trip destination from Paris, and that’s due to the famous château. What began as a simple hunting lodge under French king Louis XIII became the most important building in France under his son. Louis XIV had the lodge expanded into an opulent palace, and moved the entire French government there. It was his way of making sure he had absolute control of everything. Nowadays, it is still used for some state functions, but most of the visitors to the château are tourists. They come for a good old gawp at how the other half lived. The apartments of the king and queen are lavishly decorated as they would have been during Louis XIV’s heyday in the 17th century. The highlight for many is the Hall of Mirrors. As the name would suggest, it features 357 mirrors and has been the venue for many historic occasions. These include the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which divided the spoils after World War I.

Although the palace interiors are what most visitors wish to see, it’s the gardens that often leave the biggest impression. They’re extensive, beautifully designed and take considerably more work than mowing your back garden does…

Château de Compiègne

Compiègne

A 50-minute train journey north of Paris, Compiègne also plays home to a royal château. Compiègne’s version is a little more understated than the one in Versailles. The rooms have been restored to how they were in various eras, making the tour around the building a somewhat eclectic experience. Napoleons I and III are heavily represented, and the best story is about one of the bedrooms. It belonged to Napoleon’s second wife, Marie-Louise, but due to cost factors she wasn’t allowed to decorate it as she’d like. So she got to sleep amongst a hideous blaze of pink, chosen personally by Napoleon’s first wife, Joséphine. That must have gone down a treat.The gardens are enormous, disappearing into the forest and accommodating an equestrian cross-country course.

Aside from the château, Compiègne’s highlights are historic in nature. First up comes the spot where French heroine Jean d’Arc was finally captured, but more interesting is a railway carriage in a forest clearing. Unfortunately, the carriage is a replica (the original was burned during World War II), but the site is hugely significant. This was where, in top secret, Germany surrendered to end World War I. In World War II, Hitler insisted on making France surrender in exactly the same carriage, in exactly the same spot. Now the clearing hosts a small-but-fascinating museum and one of France’s major war memorials.

The Champagne region

True bubbly fanatics are probably better off staying overnight in Reims or Epernay, but those just wanting to sample the fun of the fizz can enjoy a whistlestop charge through the Champagne region in a day from Paris. The distance from Paris to Reims is around 145km (90 miles), and a return trip can easily be conquered in a day by hire car or train. It’s a city of churches, public squares and Roman remains, but the obvious draw card is the World Heritage-listed Cathedral de Notre-Dame. It’s an enormous Gothic monster, and easily one of the most impressive in Europe.

However, the real highlights of the Champagne region lie in the vineyards. They’re not adequately served by train, and self-driving provides the slight problem of not being legally able to drink the good stuff. Thus the tour option becomes the best bet. Epernay is the hub of the region, but the major champagne houses are spread out. Amongst the big names that can be visited are Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Dom Perignon and Mumm. It’s not just the sampling that makes such a trip worthwhile, however – the drive through vineyard scenery is usually enough to bring a contented smile to any face.

Metz Moselle River and Temple Neuf

Metz

A few years ago, it would be absurd to suggest Metz as a day trip from Paris. But with the recent installation of a high speed train line, it only takes 82 minutes to get to the eastern city from Paris’ Gare de l’Est. It’s a wonderfully good-looking city, and contains a real hodge-podge of architecture. Some of the more pompous, grandiose buildings in the south of the city date from a period of German rule, while there are Roman remains dotted throughout and a stunning if (slightly sinister-looking) Protestant church in the middle of an island in the Moselle river.

When darkness falls, Metz is brilliantly lit up – big sums have clearly been spent on showing the city’s buildings off in the best possible manner. Therefore, if going on a day trip from Paris, it’s a good idea to go in winter time when days are shorter. Show up in November or December, and you also get the benefit of the awesome Christmas markets. In terms of cultural attractions, the big two are the Musée de la Cour d’Or – which covers everything from fine art to full-sized peasant houses – and the recently-opened Centre Pompidou-Metz. The latter is the first regional branch of Paris’ Pompidou Centre, and it houses a seriously impressive collection.

Nancy Chamber of Commerce

Nancy

Nancy is another city that has reaped the extraordinary benefits of the high-speed rail link to Paris. The journey takes just 90 minutes (again from Gare de l’Est), and there’s ample time during a day to cover the city’s highlights. Nancy is mostly famous as an epicentre of Art Nouveau architecture. There are buildings throughout the city decorated with the movement’s trademark flowers and curves. The Chambre du Commerce et d’Industrie is a good example, with its ironwork and stained glass, but the Banque du Crédit Lyonnais on rue St George is the real jaw-dropper. Nip inside and look up – the stained glass ceiling is an enormous work of thoroughly impressive detail.

Real devotees should head to Musée de l’ École de Nancy. It’s a grand villa packed with works by Nancy’s Art Nouveau movers and shakers. It’s utter overkill on the floral and natural influences in many cases, but it’s undoubtedly worth a visit. If just a taste is enough, abandon the Art Nouveau trail and head to Place Stanislas. Ringed with café bars, this huge square is arguably one of the finest public squares in Europe. It’s huge, and acts as the central social hub in this instinctively likeable city.

-David Whitley

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Day trips from Paris, from trips to the Champagne Region to Giverny tours, or even tours to Mont St Michel or a Loire Valley Castles day trip.

Top Five Day Trips From Paris by David Whitley from Viator Travel Blog