Italy. The land of pizza, gelato, beautiful blue water, vineyards amid rolling hills, and so, so much history. You could travel for a lifetime in this incredible country and never get bored. The country has 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the most of any country in the world (tied with China). But if you […]
Tag Archives: Historical sites
Painted monasteries are one of the highlights of traveling in Romania. They’re works of art coupled with historic religious institutions. Many of them are in beautiful, remote corners of the country where few tourists go — like the Bucovina monasteries near Suceava. Independent travel in Bucovina is challenging and adventurous. Many villages have no […]
When you hear “Transylvania,” you probably think “vampires.” Known as the birthplace of Dracula, this region of Romania is famous worldwide for its castles and mystique. And there’s no better place to start exploring than Bran Castle — the real-life Dracula’s Castle. Bran is an easy side trip from Brasov, the cultural heart of Transylvania. […]
Central Vietnam is the cultural heart of the country. The region’s biggest draw for travelers is Hoi An, the riverside town with Chinese temples and great food. But just a few hours north is often-overlooked Hue — the 19th-century capital of the Nguyen emperors’ rule. Today, imperial relics from that time are among the best things […]
Istanbul is an enormous city that you could spend weeks exploring. It has ancient history — from the Roman times through the Ottoman Empire. It’s culturally vibrant, with modern galleries sitting side-by-side with traditional bazaars. And the architecture is simply amazing — Istanbul has a minaret-dotted skyline unlike any other on the planet. But if […]
Traveling to Istanbul can be the experience of a lifetime. With one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, this is a city like no other. You could spend weeks exploring its mosques, bazaars, and palaces. Istanbul is an enormous city, and it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Carpet scammers attempt to […]
Colombia is the kind of place you could easily spend months in and barely scratch the surface. From isolated Caribbean beaches to epic trekking peaks, buzzing cities, and coffee haciendas, every region offers something different. But don’t worry — even if you have limited time to travel, you can still plan a great trip to […]
Isaan — the far east of Thailand — is the least-visited region in the country. It’s the one place on your Thailand trip where you can escape hordes of tourists. But that doesn’t mean it’s boring — far from it. It has some of the country’s most important ancient temples, including the fascinating Phimai Historical […]
Phnom Penh is one of the most interesting cities in Southeast Asia. It’s the seat of Cambodian government and the center of Khmer culture. At the same time, it’s full of reminders of the horrifying rule of the Khmer Rouge. The ideal Phnom Penh itinerary includes an exploration of the city’s history — but also […]
Central Thailand is the heart of Thai history and culture. The ruined ancient cities between Bangkok and Chiang Mai tell the stories of the empires that bred the modern Thai identity. And the most fascinating and atmospheric of them is Sukhothai. You can cover the top things to do in Sukhothai in just one day, […]