Venice is a city which seems to dazzle everyone who enters. It glows. It sparkles. It surprises. But behind all that shimmer and shine, there are all those same dark corners and less than perfect experiences to be had. Avoid all the following things to ensure you have the best vacation in this magical floating city.
Salzburg being such a small city is the perfect place to explore on foot. Due to the fact that the city’s tourist popularity only took off in the late 19th century, the magnificent baroque architecture and the incredible natural environment was left preserved and without huge areas of modernization. This makes it a dream for photographers and Instagrammers alike. I’ve provided a google map to all the different locations and put them in an easy to follow sequence so you can actually use this guide as a walking tour as well as Instagram guide.
The Grand Canal or Canalazzo is the heart of Venice. Ever since the founding days of the Venetian empire, this canal served as the major thoroughfare for the Venetian people. The most important historical palaces and famous Venetian buildings wrap around the edges of the canal. Once upon a time, the Grand Canal was the like the Rodeo Drive for Venetian aristocrats. The who’s who of Europe could be seen relaxing in gondolas, wearing the newest and most extravagant fashions, cruising up and down the river.
Osaka is one of the most vibrant cities in Japan, and while it’s also one of the largest, exploring key parts of this historic town can easily be accomplished in one single day. While spending more time here is always recommended to get to know the inner workings and subtleties of the city, if you’re just stopping over you can easily fill your day with exciting things to do and amazing places to eat.
Les Baux-de-Provence is situated at the top of the picturesque Alpilles mountains. It is less than an hour away from many of the major cities in Provence, making it an easy day trip, or even a great place to stay overnight on your way to your next destination.
Prague is one of the captivating cities in Europe. It feels like walking through a baroque dream. While you can spend an entire weekend here just wandering the streets, there are a few things to avoid to ensure your trip is as stress and chaos free as possible.
Hakone is one of the most beautiful day trips you can take from Tokyo. It’s only a short 2-hour train ride away and transports you from the out of the metal metropolis of the city, into the lush green landscape of the Japanese countryside. Hakone is famous for their hot spring onsens, stunning view of Mount Fuji across Lake Ashinoko and unparalleled natural scenery.
Vienna is the capital and largest city in Austria, and as of 2001, the entire town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been named the “City of Music” or the “The City of Dreams” and for good reason. Vienna is home to some of the most interesting architectural masterpieces in Europe.
When it comes to taking long-haul flights in economy (which let’s face it, almost 99.9% of us fly economy), there is no real way to be completely at ease BUT there is plenty you can do to make it as enjoyable as possible. The number one tip I have is to be prepared long in advance. There’s nothing like stress to set off your trip on the wrong foot. I tend to pack a full few weeks in advance, and while I don’t recommend this necessarily, it is good to have all your ducks in a row a few days before your flight.
The Great Market Hall or “Nagyvásárcsarnok” is the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest. Despite the dozens and dozens of tourists with their cameras out, this place is a favourite with locals and the best place to come to get fresh produce, Hungarian specialities, a quick meal or a sweet treat.
Night time is one of the best time to get out and walk the streets of Venice. Many of the hoards of cruisers are back on their ships by the time the sun goes down and many other tourists who stay in the cheaper hotels on the mainland have also departed, leaving the streets almost empty.
Traveling to Iceland without visiting the Blue Lagoon (or a similar Hot Springs Spa) would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower or travelling to Rome without passing by the Colosseum! It’s an activity anyone will enjoy as it lets you experience a truly unique aspect of Iceland’s earthly power.