*Popular for the color of the water, the incredible landscapes, the ancient cities and islands.  Visit in the fall or the spring. It is way less crowded, prices are lower and the weather is pleasant. Travelling by bus is best throughout the country, although they tend to take more time than advertised. Renting a car is also a good idea for places off the beaten path. Bring water shoes as most of the beaches are not soft sand, but hard stones.

Split- A good mix of city and beach and very photogenic too!

• Diocletian’s Palace
• Enjoy Split’s food scene
• Take a walk on the Riva Promenade and get a meal. While a lot of the restaurants on The Riva look lovely, they tend to be more expensive than the restaurants tucked away a few streets back. It’s definitely worth checking a few menus and reviews before you decide where to go.
• Climb Split’s bell tower (You’ll need to pay in cash to climb) or Marjan Hill for stunning views of the city
• Enjoy a meal by the water
• I’d recommend hopping on a boat tour and exploring some of the nearby islands, perhaps Šolta, The Blue Lagoon and the medieval town of Trogir.

Dubrovnik- more touristy and refined but a lot to do!

• This is a popular place for people who like Game of Thrones!
• Walk the old city walls
• Catch the cable car up for great views of the city
• Kayak through the turquoise waters
• Hop on a boat to the island of Lokrum  
• Enjoy sunset drinks (and watch the diving daredevils) at Buza Bar which is tucked into the edge of the city walls
• Dine al fresco in the main square

Zadar- More of an arty, modern scene

• Enjoy dining al fresco
• Visit the ancient St. Donatus’ Church
• Wander the city walls and venture through the Land Gate and Sea Gate
• Walk over The Greeting To The Sun at night
• Listen to the sounds of the Sea Organ

Other popular towns- 

Rovinj, Zagreb and Pula and the Islands of Hvar and Solta.

Croatia is famous for its beautiful waterfalls. I’d recommend visiting one of two national parks. Krka National Park (the closest to Split), where the water is a green blue, is the only Croatian National Park that allows swimming in the water. 

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a little farther away with 16 terraced lakes, interconnected with waterfalls (including the Great Waterfall, Croatia’s tallest waterfall) and wooden trails and bridges.

Paris

Food

• Falafel on Rue de Rosier in the Jewish Quarter
• French Onion Soup on the Champs-Elysee
• Hot chocolate anywhere
• Crepes in the Louvre Restaurant
• pastries
• Bouillon Chartier
• Le Grand Colbert (It’s pricier so go for lunch)
• Le Quincampe
• Le Select
• L’As du fallafel
• creme brulee

Visit

• Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre
• Catacombs 
• Eiffel Tower 
• Arc de Triomphe 
• Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre
• Giverny
• Versailles
• Seine River dinner cruise at night! 
• Notre Dame
• St. Chappelle
• Shopping on the Champs-Elysee
• Tuileries Garden for a picnic

Tips: Paris museum pass is a good idea. It’s the cheapest way to see all the best places! Plus you can skip the lines! Also going to the top of the Arch of Triomphe is a must as well! Free bathrooms in Mcdonald’s. If you go to the catacombs, book a skip-the-line tour with “walks” tour guides. Buy Tickets online first, for Eiffel Tower and other sites. Book at the tour office in Versailles  to not have to wait in line. Use the metro to get around. Be mindful of pickpockets. 

• You must try the Greek salads, Fresh orange juice, Gelato and pastry wrapped feta with honey! Try Greek yogurt topped with fruit and honey.
• You can ferry between islands inexpensively. Local buses from docks are cheap too. 4-wheelers are popular to get around on the islands.
• If you go during off season be prepared for popular spots/tours/beaches/restaurants to be closed.
• Doing a day trip on a catamaran is a must do!! We went with The Sunset and they made us a traditional lunch, and took us to see many islands.
• Choose your airbnb locations wisley and you can walk to everything!

Athens-

• Try the food tour from @withlocals.
• Eat at Liondi’s. It’s phenomenal! Super authentic and nice family!
• When you visit Athens, check out one of the oldest neighborhoods called Anafiotika. It’s just on a side of the Acropolis hill near the Plaka- very charming.
• Athens for History. 
• When visiting the Acropolis, buy your tickets online beforehand. 
• Eat at the Bread Factory, for Ice cream and desserts.
• Don’t rent a car, take the metro.
• If you are visiting the Acropolis, get there right when it opens to avoid the crowds.
• Go to Lukumades for dessert.
• Take a day trip to Naxos. It is a quaint place to stay and there is a bus ride that takes you further inland to such a cute little village. It was fun to shop and eat there. There is a ferry that goes from Athens to Naxos that is a cool experience. 

Santorini and Mykonos-

• Stay away from the port area, it is way too crowded. Walk toward Oia to get away from the crowds. It is a beautiful walk through the whitewashed buildings and about a mile in you will have the beautiful views all to yourselves! Eat at Blue Sky!
• Santorini has one of the coolest hikes I’ve ever done! It’s only a few hours and so worth it overlooking the whole island climbing along the cliff side. Fira to Oia, along the caldera, around 6 miles.
• Santorini is nice for Couples, very romantic. 
• Don’t rent a car in Santorini or Mykonos.
• Mykonos is beautiful but mostly a party island.
• Go to Dellos! It’s a smaller island with ruins, which can be accessed by a boat on Mykonos.
• Stay in Kamari, it’s a beautiful city with a large beach. It’s way less crowded than Fira and Oia. 
• Go in peak season June-October for a better experience on santorini. 
• Expect store owners and shop owners to really haggle with you, just the nature of the beast.

Crete-

• Samaria Gorge was a tough hike, but well worth it in the end.
• Rent a car to get around.
• Visit the Elafonisi pink beach.

Meteora-

• Meteora is absolutely breathtaking and is a must see. However it is about 5 hours from Athens so it’s not a good option if you have limited time. 
• Rent a car here to get around.
• Eat at Feel The Rocks.
• Visit the monasteries. (Wear or rent a skirt to wear for the women)

Other small islands and spots to visit-

• Pelion peninsula in Agios Loannis is beautiful! It is very “Greek”. Very few people speak English, the beaches are sublime and empty and the food is very authentic.
• Other excellent choices are Delphi, Epidravos, Monemvasia, Nafplion, Ancient Corinth, Mycenae. 
• If you go to the mainland make sure you check out Kalabaka!
• Rhodes – super cool architecture. 
• Check out Hydra.
• Go to the island of Paros. It isn’t crowded with tourists but it is still as beautiful.
• Visit the little city of Monemvasia, on the coast.
• Take a ferry to Aegina, rent an ATV for the day and ride to the Temple of Aphaea.

“6 Go-to spots”

Mount Pilio-

The port city of Volos serves as the de facto entrance to Pilio, a rugged, mountainous peninsula known as the birthplace of centaurs in Greek mythology. Pilio remains remarkably pristine; the area is home to some 70 traditional villages that poke through dense forests of oak, chestnut, beech, and walnut trees. As you hike or drive through the area, you’ll catch glimpses of the sparkling sea. It’s quite popular for city dwellers during the winter, when the ski center in Hania is open. It’s also beloved in the fall, when the region’s best-known produce — mushrooms, chestnuts, apples, and petimezi (grape syrup) — are at peak production, and you can ride on Europe’s narrowest train tracks (60 centimeters!) between the villages of Ano Lechonia and Milies.

Kimolos-

Broadly speaking, there are two types of Greek island vacationers: those who want to see and be seen in a glitzy place, and those who seek nothing more than the simplicity of the sun and sand. The latter head to Kimolos, a 400-person island in the Cyclades that was ruled by the Venetians. There’s one town, two bakeries, strange rock formations that rival Milos, and a bunch of pristine beaches only accessible by water taxi. Greeks — mainly from Athens — tend to come here in the summer, when there’s regular boat service and fewer crowds than neighboring islands. It’s the sort of place where time stretches as endlessly as the horizon; people will come here for a week and wind up spending two or even three.

Tinos-

Greece remains a deeply religious country, with a large portion of the population being practicing Orthodox Christians. And there is no more important holiday for the Greeks than Easter. It’s also the busiest travel time of the year, and Tinos is one of the most popular destinations, thanks to its stunning Panagia Evangelistria church. Worshippers crawl on their hands and knees from the port to the church as part of the pilgrimage. In the past 15 years or so, though, less religious Greeks have been flocking here, to one of the last “authentic” Cycladic islands. There has also been a food and wine renaissance on the island — Tinian products (particularly their grapes and artichokes) are well known. The destination is especially popular from April through October, when Greeks come to spend their summer holiday, enjoying activities like swimming, hiking through the granite boulder-strewn landscape, and of course, eating.

Metsovo-

The first time I visited Metsovo was also the first time I cried while eating grilled meat — specifically kokoretsi, a village specialty that consists of lamb liver wrapped in intestines and spit-roasted to perfection. Nestled in the Zagori region of the Pindus mountain range, Metsovo is a high-altitude hamlet of traditional stone villages (there are 45 others in the region). The smell of firewood is omnipresent, as are the stunning mountain views. It’s best visited in the winter, when snow dots the landscape and you can trudge back to your B&B for a fiery shot of tsipouro (distilled grape liquor) after a day of hiking. You’ll need a car to get around to the various hiking spots (think stone bridges, slate forests, and adrenaline-pumping cliff edge walks). It’s also a trek from Athens or Thessaloniki, and Greeks prefer to spend at least three or four days. 

Lefkada-

One of only two islands that can be reached by car, Lefkada has long been an easy family destination for Greeks on the west coast. Plus, the recently completed Ionian highway means it’s even more accessible for Athenians. The Ionian Sea is the main draw here: an electric, almost otherworldly blue that never loses its allure. It’s most popular during the summer months, with people splitting their time between beaches like Porto Katsiki and Kalamitsi and the green, mountainous middle, where there are traditional villages and great hiking spots. Many people also come here for more adventurous sports — Lefkada is particularly beloved for windsurfing and paragliding.

• The Northern Lights. One of the major attractions of Iceland and one of the most spectacular settings to see the aurora borealis 
• Skógafoss, One of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland
• Reynisfjara beach, close to the town of Vik and famous for its black sand
• Thingvellir National Park, a beautiful landscape of water-cut lava fields 
• Diamond Beach, where the icebergs wash up on shore 
• Reykjavik, the classic Scandinavian city with Viking heritage
• Hallgrimskirkja, the main landmark of the capital with incredible views over the city and dark Atlantic Ocean.
• Sólheimasandur plane crash, the crash site of a United States Navy DC plane. All crew members survived and now the wreckage is an interesting photo spot.
• The Golden Circle, consists of three equally stunning locations in southwest Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss waterfall.
• The Blue Lagoon, One of the most popular geothermal spas located in a lava field near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
• Heimaey, a Gorgeous Island with great camping and puffins 
• Fjadrargljufur Canyon, an incredibly photogenic canyon, 100 meters deep and 2 kilometers long, made from glacier erosion.
• Svartifoss, One of the most popular waterfalls in Skaftafell (Vatnajökull National Park) It is known for its dark lava columns.
• Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe
• Godafoss Waterfall, the “waterfall of the Gods”
• Seljalandsfoss, one of the best-known waterfalls in Iceland. It is 65 meters tall and breathtakingly beautiful
• Múlagljúfur Canyon, offers almost everything Iceland is famous for, canyon, river, waterfall, volcano and breathtaking view from the top.
• Eyjafjallajökull, take a hike to the beautiful volcano
• The Secret Lagoon, a lot more secluded and less crowded than the Blue Lagoon

• Make sure you eat the hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stand or just get them anywhere! 

Dublin- 

• Grafton Street for Shopping 
• Trinity College and College Green- Book of Kells
• St. Stephen’s Green
• Christ Church Cathedral
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Dublin Castle

Ireland as a whole: 

• Hike Mahon Falls (Waterford Co.)
• Kayak at Ross Castle (wear a swimsuit under your clothes and shoes that can     get wet. They provide the wet suits) 
• Cliffs of Moher (Wear all weather gear, but no umbrellas, it is too windy!)
• Castles!!! (We liked the Clifton Manor House) 
• Skellig islands (where they filmed Star Wars, you need good weather!)
• Killarney National Park
• Kylemore Abbey
• Galway- large and fast paced town
• Limerick
• Kiss the Blarney Stone
• Giant’s Causeway
• The Rock of Cashel
• Cork
• Glendalough
• Aran islands
• Muckross House
• Slieve League Cliffs
• Silver Strand Beach in County Donegal
• Buy a heritage card and have access to many historical sites: https://heritageireland.ie/visit/heritage-card/

Cobh:  

This is a quaint and quiet little town with beautiful colored houses. It’s pronounced, “Cove”.

• Eat at Quays! Sit outside next to the sea and try their Seafood Chowder!
• St. Colman’s Cathedral

Dingle: 

• Stay at the Pax House! Such an incredible and quaint place. I wish I could have spent my whole vacation there! Dingle has great pubs for traditional music and dancing and has the most beautiful harbor. Dingle has great shopping too!
• Drive the Dingle Peninsula. It is way less crowded than the Ring of Kerry and more beautiful, in my opinion. 

*If you bring a credit card, then bring a Visa. They don’t really accept anything else. Buy a wool sweater and cap and go walking along the path to the lighthouses. If you rent a car, get the insurance! 

Roma

Get a Roma Pass. Bring a water bottle and refill it at one of many natural spring fountains throughout the city. Bring your walking shoes! 

Visit:

• Accademia to see  “The David”
• Piazzas! Signora, del Popolo, Navona, Venezia
• Market at Campo de’ Fiori
• Ponte Vecchio
• Trevi Fountain
• Climb the Spanish Steps
• Colosseum 
• Visit the Vatican with St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
• Aventine Keyhole
• Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
• Pantheon and Piazza della Rotonda
• Take a walk past Vittorio

• Visit the Villa Borghese, the gardens and the gallery

Places to eat:

• Giovanni Fassi’s gelato
• food trucks on side of the road
• Della Palma Gelato
• Campo di Fiore 
• Little Roman
• LA Fraschetta do Castel Sant’Angelo
• pizza a taglio at a roadside stall 

Positano 

• Gorgeous little town on a hill with pretty beaches and delicious, authentic Italian food.
• Definitely pack some good walking shoes!! The city of Positano is on a hill and has a lot of cobblestone. If you are staying higher up on the hill, I would pack a bag of what you’ll need for the day so you don’t have to hike back up. 
• Take a boat ride along the coastline of the beautiful “Amalfi Coast” to go see the “caves” and I promise you will not regret it. 
• I would go a little farther up from the beach front for food and drinks because they will be slightly cheaper and more authentic!
• A lot of the beaches make you pay for a chair or have you buy a drink to use them, just a heads up! 
• You can also take a ferry to Capri, Italy which is a little island. Look into it! 

Sorrento 

• If you’re flying into Naples, you can take about an hour bus ride to Sorrento, Italy. From Sorrento, you can take another bus to Positano that winds through the city and you can see the beautiful views! The buses are super cheap and easy to navigate.

Milan

Food

• Presso Trattoria da Franco

Visit

• Day trip to Lake Como
• Day trip to Verona
• Take the train one hour to Bergamo and walk through città alta – the upper city. Hands down one of the best kept secrets in northern Italy.

London-

Good Eats:

• Nandos (African Piri Piri chicken)
• Kebabs are really famous
• fish and chips from basically any “chippy”
• Greggs for quick and cheap lunches
• Dishoom for Indian Food (Get a reservation)
• Colosseo Restaurant for gnocchi. 5 minute walk from Westminster Abbey
• Da Mario’s, Kensington, 15 Gloucester Rd. Was Princess Diana’s fav local joint and she went frequently. 
• Hung Drawn and Quartered & Quartered 
• Hummingbird Bakery
• Pret A Manger (healthy salads, smoothies, sandwiches and quick)
• Do a high tea and try the scones.
• You should go to KFC and Mcdonald’s.. just for the experience because they are very different from America.
• If you love hot cocoa/coffee, get Pret A Manger subscription, and then cancel. 5 Drinks a day and the first month is free!
• Bread Ahead Donuts
• Maitre Choux for eclairs
• Go to high tea at the Wolseley
• Cafe in the Crypt

Visit:

• National Gallery
• British Museum
• Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and Westminster Bridge
• London Eye, buy tickets online beforehand and skip the line
• Buckingham Palace
• Hyde Park or Green Park
• Visit Camden and Borough Market
• Tower of London and Tower Bridge
• Eat some dinner in Covent Garden then see a Broadway show
• See a show at the Queen’s Theater and the Globe Theater (Get the Globe Theater London Pass) They are way more affordable than in NYC!
• Churchill War rooms
• Warner Bro’s Studio, Harry Potter tour
• St Paul’s Cathedral
• Shop at Harrods
• Natural History Museum
• Stamford Bridge
• Day trip to Oxford and tour Magdalen and Christ Church.
• Take a bus tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath. You can do them all in a day. (Eat the buns with clotted cream and jam in Bath!)
• Book free tickets for the Sky Garden, for 360 degree views of the city.
• Head out to the countryside! So many options- Bath, Oxford, Seven Sisters Cliffs, Cotswolds, Rye, etc.
• Go to East Sussex and visit Pooh Corner and the Hundred Acre Woods
• Visit the white cliffs of Dover and fly a kite!
• Fat Tire bike tour
• Visit Brighton and the Seven Sister Cliffs
• Take a history tour like this one or a sightseeing tour like this one.
• Browse the shops at Covent Garden
• If you have extra time, we like to visit Greenwich. Go to the Greenwich Market and get a Brazilian Churro! They are sooo good! Stroll Greenwich Park, it has beautiful views of London!
• Taking the train to Paris is always fun too since it’s a pretty short train ride!

Tips:

• Use Tap for payment on both the tube and buses in London. It is amazing. Don’t worry about Oyster cards anymore.
• Get a London Pass which gives you access to over 80 sightseeing spots around the city. Plus you skip the long lines!
• Try staying in the city. Commuting in from an outlying town can get expensive. AirBnB is very comparable.
• Take the fast train, not the night train.
• Don’t take the black cabs, they are very expensive.

*Driving is a great way to get around Portugal. Cities are comfortably within driving distance to each other. There are lots of toll roads, so keep that in mind. Lisbon is a great place to ditch the car and take public transport.

Lisbon-

• Explore Lisbon’s neighborhoods of Alfama, Bairro Alto and Chiado. Lisbon has a rich history! Consider a walking tour of the neighborhoods.
• Go on a sailing tour on the Tagus River. 
• Check out some of Lisbon’s traditional eateries 
• Go shopping in the Baixa, next to the Placa do Comercio.
• Get a unique souvenir from Livraria Bertrand, the oldest bookstore in the world.
• Visit the LX Factory
• Enjoy a pastry break at one of the many cafes in town.
• Visit Belem for cream pastries and the Saint Geronimo Monastery.

Sintra-

• Visit the Palacio de Monserrate and the Palacio da Pena. Buy tickets online to avoid the lines.
• Castelo dos Mouros, a Moorish Castle
• Quinta da Regaleira, a beautiful estate used by by freemasons
• Pena National Palace

Lagos- This town has some of the most incredible beaches and jaw-dropping views in the world. Try and avoid during the summer months, but if you can’t, it is worth it anyway!

• Explore Lagos Old Town
• Go kayaking and explore the caves up-close
• Enjoy the many beaches
• Marvel at Ponte de Piedade
• Go hiking

Porto- Porto is known for its picturesque riverside, charming streets, vibrant culture and wine. Get yourself a transporter card to get around on the excellent public transportation.

• Eat some pastel de nata
• Try a walking tour of The Old Town. This is a European photography hotspot!
• Visit the Porto Cathedral and enjoy the beautiful architecture and some of the best views of the city.
• Visit the Ribeira District along the Douro River. São Bento train station and Praça da Ribeira
• Take a bridge cruise along the river and go back to the Dom Luís I bridge at night for a spectacular scene.
• St Francisco Church
• azulejos tiles

-Visit the region of Alentejo for the most beautiful little villages. Obidos, Elvas, Monsaraz and Evora are just a few. They each have a distinct personality and plenty to explore.

-Also, don’t miss out on the Vineyards in the Douro Valley. It has some of the most gorgeous countryside in the world.

-Visit the most photographed church in Portugal, the Bom Jesus Church in the city of Braga

-If you can, travel out to the islands of Madeira or the Azores!

The Algarve Region-

• Ponta da Piedade
• Top beaches: Sea cave at Benagil Beach, Praia da Marinha, Praia do Camilo, Praia da Falesia, Praia da Dona Ana, Praia da Bordeira, Praia da Rocha

Madiera- “Hawaii of Europe”

Best time to visit is May through August.

The southern part of the island is the sunniest and the warmest at sea level. However, the temperature drops quickly as the altitude increases. Since the roads on Madeira are extremely steep, you can get 5°C drop in temperature in just 10 minutes drive. This aspect is extremely important when choosing your accommodation. Make sure you check specific cities for a weather forcast, if you will be hiking or traveling to different parts of the island.

Madeira seems to be a small island. In reality there are a lot of hills, rivers, valleys, ravines, that you have can’t go over. If 2 points seem close on the map, the driving distance might be way greater than what you expect.

Public transport is very well organized on Madeira, and covers extensive parts of the island. However, you might have to waste a lot of time waiting for some of them.

Busses are good options even if you have a rented car, but want to do some one-way hikes and need a ride between the start and the end of the hike. There are usually bus stops relatively close to trail heads.

Renting a car is a good idea on Madeira. When choosing a car you should keep in mind that Madeira has a lot of narrow and steep streets. Also, almost all roads have asphalt, so you don’t need a SUV. Smaller cars are recommended, but you do need a good engine. We personally had a Ford Puma, although not the smallest, we were perfectly fine with it.

Porto Santo is also part of Madeira. This island is known for its beautiful golden beaches, which the main island of Madeira lacks. There are 2 options to get to Porto Santo: by ferry or by plane.

The ferry trip take 2 hours one way, while the plane takes only 30 minutes. However, you might find the flight a bit too expensive. Check the ferry timetable before planning your trip to Porto Santo.

Dengue does exist on the island and mosquito repellent is your best friend. Make sure to have some during the summer months!

Want some fresh, local fruit? Locals do their groceries the old way: there are trucks with fruits and vegetables moving around the island and stopping wherever people want to buy something. It’s like a moving market with fair prices: the sellers make a profit, and you don’t get ripped-off. They might be hard to spot for the untrained eye, but whenever you hear a car talking something on a megaphone or people gathered around a car, just go and check it out. I would avoid the tourist market in Funchal, as the fruit is over-priced.

• Bring bird food and hold a bird in your hand.
• Take a walking tour
• Pico to Pico Hike
• 25 Fontes hike
• Check out the Santana’s traditional houses
• see the sunset at Pico do Arieiro
• Dolphin or Whale watching tour by boat
• Visit one of the world’s top botanical gardens, Monte Palace
• Visit the black sand beach at Seixal
• Drive under the waterfall at Cascata dos Anjos
• Go snorkeling at the Garajau Nature Reserve
• Eat Espatadas at Restaurante O Polar
• Take the cable car over Cabo Girao

*Getting around is easy on the rail system, biking or walking. It is the diamond trading capital of the world! It contains over 1,000 windmills and Cannabis is legal, but only in designated shops.

Amsterdam- 

It has 165 canals and more bridges than Venice! 

Destinations: 

• modern art museum instead of Van Gogh Museum, 
• If you do the river tour, take the “small boat” it’s cheaper and you get to go through canals that the bigger boats can’t fit through! It was by far our favorite thing we did in Amsterdam. 
• Go see other parts of the Netherlands. The train system is easy and amazing. I suggest den Haag. 
• Take walking or biking tours—so helpful to learn about where you are, what to do and see while you are there. 
• If you want to go to the beach, Zandvoort aan Zee is the place to go. It’s beautiful and you can see the North Sea. You can take a 30 minute train ride out of Amsterdam Centraal. 
• Mike’s Bike Tour was perfect! Riding bikes around the city, to a windmill, and a cheese factory/wooden shoe maker felt so quintessentially Dutch! 
• Buy tickets months ahead of time for the Anne Frank House. 
• Just wander the streets and canals. 
• Take day trips farther out from the city.
•  Stay in Haarlem, less expensive and quieter then Amsterdam but so close you can still see all Amsterdam sights easily. Haarlem also has an amazing canal system. 
• Wander and eat in the Jordan district. 
• Visit Leiden. 
• Take a train to Bruges, Belgium, it is the most beautiful intact medieval city in the region and Flemish food is so delicious. 
• Climb the Belfry tower too! 
• Visit Haarlem, Keukenhof, Delft, Kinderdjik etc. 
• Polaberry is a must! 
• See the windmills. There are the cutest fishing villages-Edam, Volendam and Maarken (an island you can ride the ferry to)
• Reserve Anne Frank tickets early online and do a canal tour right after AF located just outside their building. (There are two companies I saw, I used Flagship) I recommend the Museum visit + introductory program. (Nice 30 min live presentation to familiarize yourself with history and Anne Frank & family before entering the museum) Don’t bring large bags, they make you wear them on your chest.

*Quite a few places don’t take Visa cards so don’t rely on those!

Food: 

• Winkle cake, traditional Dutch food, a must try is The Pantry! But get a reservation! Eat all the stroop waffles. The Pancake Bakery-near the Anne Frank House is so good! Get an appletaart too.
• Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum- get tickets well in advance
• Anne Frank House- Get tickets well in advance
• Take a “Gracht Tour” on the Canals or rent a boat and take your own tour!
• Bike the city and visit Vondelpark
• Buy some bulbs at the Bloemenmarkt and check out the Weesterstraat street market
• The Red Light District for the non-conservative folks
• Shop the 9 Streets
• Peruse 2nd hand books and original paintings in the Oudemanhuispoort.
• Have fun at the LEGO flagship store
• Keukenhof Gardens

Eat a Stroopwaffel, Bitterballen, Poffertjes, Drop Licorice or at any of the many pancake houses! Eat apple pie at Winkel 43, have dinner at the Foodhallen food trucks, get a milkshake and a loaded hot dog at Bulls and Dogs Milkshakes.

Rotterdam

The biggest port in Europe and famous for its architecture

• Eat at The Netherlands first rooftop farm- Op Het Dak
• Help people get back on their feet by eating at Heilige Boontjes
• Eat the menu choice of the day at De Matroos en Het Meisje
• Visit the botanical gardens
• Enjoy old and new art at the Boijmans- van Beuningen museum and the De Kunsthal museum.
• Discover the Markthal, the cube houses, Delfshaven and plenty of more must-sees in Rotterdam by taking a tram ride
• Walk the red and green lights at night
• Check out the skyline of Rotterdam at the Euromast
• Take a picture with the Erasmusbrug bridge

The Hague 

“The Royal City by the Sea” Home to the royal family as well as the Dutch seat of government.

• Escher Museum and the Mauritshuis museum
• See the world’s largest circular painting, “Panorama Mesdag” 
• Visit Madurodam, all the proceeds go to charity
• Relax at the beach in Scheveningen

People watch at the Binnenhof

• Take a tour of the famous “Peace Palace”. Book ahead of time and know that it is only open on the weekends.
• Visit the Hague Market
• Enjoy Vietnamese food at Little V
• Have Indonesian food at Warung Bude Kadi
• Jump at Planet Jump, a former church filled with trampolines.  
• Explore the Unesco-recognized Passage

Giethoorn

The “Dutch Venice” Many of the houses in the village is only accessible by boat, bike or on foot. There are no roads to get around, only canals. 

• Rent a boat or go on a boat tour
• Eat at Restaurant De Grachthof and sit outside and people watch
• Museum de Oude Aarde
• Schreur shipyard
• Have a picnic on one of the islands

Visit

• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park- You can kayak, paddleboard, canoe and even hire jet skis in the summer. There are 30 islands on Loch Lomond to explore!
• Oban, Staffa and Fort William- It has a beautiful harbor and in summer you can do a ferry tour out to some of the islands. Try and find the Devil’s Pulpit, a hidden waterfall. Fort William is known as ‘the gateway to Ben Nevis’, which is the UK’s highest peak. It’s also close to Steall Falls– the second highest waterfall in Scotland (In one of the Harry Potter films!) The hike is about 2.5 miles.
• Take the ferry to the Isle of Skye and stay a few days! The Old Man of Storr on the Isle is really impressive and so is the Fairy Glen.
• Harry Potter sites!  Glenfinnan Viaduct, Loch Shiel, Loch Eilt and the island of Eilean na Mòine.
• Take a boat trip on Loch Ness
• Urquhart castle, Gylen Castle, Stirling Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Culzean Castle, Rosslyn Chapel
• Cities: Inverness, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Glen coe
• Duncansby Stacks
• Roam the Scottish Highlands and see a highland cow
• Fourth Bridge
• Watch the Puffins on tiny islands of Lunga
• Orkney island and Skara Brae
• Saint Kilda
• Visit the Outer Hebrides and hear traditional Gaelic
• Drive along Route 66 and stop at the fishing villages
• Visit Pitlochry and Arbroath. Cute, small towns.
• Go on some hikes in the Glencoe area.
• Dunottar Castle is a stunning castle on the Northeast coast. Then, end the day at the chop shop on the waterfront in Stonehaven. Definitely one of the best chip shops in the country and a great setting too!
• Buy a Historic Scotland Pass.
• Book tours through Rabbie’s Tours. Affordable, small groups and good guides!
• Pack warm and waterproof clothing. Always carry a jacket.
• Go to the pubs and try the fresh haggis.
• Check the dates and times available before you go. The days are short in the winter and places tend to close early.
• Visit the cemetaries. They have a lot of history!
• Plan on eating dinner a little earlier in the day.
• The bus system in Edinburgh is great, so don’t worry about renting a car there. 
• Take a ghost tour of Edinburgh.
• Eat at Mary’s Milk Bar.
• Mercat Tours Historic Underground Vaults in Edinburgh
• The hostels are beautiful so consider a night’s stay
• Visit the little towns of Arbroath and Braemar. 
• Get a membership to the National Trust of Scotland and get access to multiple historic sites.
• Tour the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
• Tour the Glenfinnon Viaduct.
• Quaraying Hike on the Isle of Skye.
• Travel by bicycle. It is a great way to see things from a local perspective.
• Try the Outlander Tour

Barcelona: 

• Go check out the famous cathedral Sagrada Familia. It’s been under construction since 1882 and will be completed in 2022.  Barcelona is a nice coastal city lively in the art scene.  
• If you’re into art I suggest waking through the city and look at all the fascinating architecture. You’ll see a lot Gaudis work. He’s also responsible for the construction of Sagrada Familia. His life and story is deeply rooted within Barcelona.  
• One place I really enjoyed in Barcelona was Park Guell, a UNESCO world heritage site. Antonio Gaudi designed the whole neighborhood. It’s a beautiful park now filled with unique architectural buildings and unique landscape features 🙂 It’s a good place to go if you want some nature in a big city.  
• Also if you want some unique exposure go to southern Spain. Places like Malaga and Algeciras are cool because you see a unique blend of middle eastern and European cultures with it being just across the water from Morocco.  
• You might want to catch a ferry ride to Morocco and spend a few days in Tanger, Morocco. It would make for a unique experience.  
• You might consider visiting the British province of Gibraltar, located next to Algeciras in Spain. It’s another fascinating place where there’s also a unique mixture of British and Spanish culture. If you’re there I recommend going to the rock of Gibraltar, it offers a beautiful view of the Spain’s coastline and you can glance across the channel and see Morocco.
• San Sebastian is a cool little city/town that has a lot going on but also has very cool beach vibes as well. Pretty much everything here is walking distance, so you can just park your car. There is great surf here & he recommends renting surfboards off the street because they are cheaper than the stores. San Sebastian is not just known for their surf, sailing and chill vibes, but it’s also a must for foodies. Grab some tapas and pinxtos, which are delicious small dishes. There is also a hike to a Jesus statue on top of a hill called Monte Urgull (very similar to the statue in Rio). Overall, everywhere you look is beautiful with gorgeous views of the ocean. 
• Palau de la Musica Catalana

*I took trains mostly when I was there. They were very easy and fast to get from city to city.

Madrid

• Has some amazing restaurants. I would suggest La Mallorquina for lunch or dinner, Cafeteria Europa for a quick breakfast and Chocolateria San Ginés for the best churros con chocolate! 

• I would also suggest the bus to El Escorial to visit Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It is an amazing tour!

Spain overall

• Tossa De Mar- The only fortified town that remains on the Catalan Coast. Has a 12th century castle and walls that surround the city.
• Besalú – A rich, Jewish history and a 11th century, fortified bridge.
• Almeria
• Alhambra, Granada
• L’Oceanografic
• Toledo
• Alcázar de Segovia
• Magdalena Palace
• Salobreña
• Guggenheim Museum
• Seville Cathedral
• Plaza Espana, Seville
• Casa de Pilatos
• Mezquita, Cordoba
• Balcón de Europa 
• Elvas

Places:

• The Interlaken + Lauterbrunnen area is great to spend a few nights (Hapimag in Interlaken is a great option)
• Take a boat trip on the lake in Interlaken
• Take the train up to Jungrau Joch from Lauterbrunnen 
• Several cathedral tours
• Take a train to Zermatt to see the Swiss Alps/hike around the Matterhorn
• Rothorn and Harderkulm are wonderful!  You can eat at the top. It is good food and they have entertainment.
• Lucerne is a must-go city and eat lunch by the bridge.
• Harderkulm is the peak that you get up to by taking the funicular. It’s in Interlaken.  
• Rothorn is a short train ride from Interlacken then a ride to the top on a steam train.  At the bottom you can take a boat ride across the lake back to Interlaken. 
• Visit Mount Titlis, if you want to get out of the city. Taking the train up there is so easy and worth it! Have a drink at the top of the Swiss Alps.
• Check out the lion carving in Lucerne and the clock in Bern. 
• Check out Alpenventures. It’s a company that helps you plan hikes and provides you with routes and huts to stay in, also food provided throughout your backpacking trip! 

Basel 

• Great art museums
• Several great places to hike nearby (all levels)

Transportation 

• Swiss rail pass included busses, trains, and boats

Bratislava-

Beautiful little village with cobblestone streets and winding little roads that have fun shops tucked in weird places. Be sure to visit the Bratislava Castle. It has tours of the inside, but the outside is charming as well, as it is located right on the Danube. 

By the castle at night, they have a waltz playing and there are places to dance and some really upscale restaurants that over look the water. Italian food especially is really well done there. And there is a sour cabbage soup that is really great too, it’s kind of iconic of the area. It’s called Kapustnica.

There is a clock tower in the town square that does a cool little show at certain times. Try the food at the dungeon restaurant! The bakeries are amazing as well!

Fascinating city with an old town and a new town.

Attend concerts, operas or ballets in some of the most beautiful locations:

Concert Hall

St. Nicholas Church in Old Town Square

St. Salvator Church

Spanish Synagogue

Klementinum

Prague Castle

Tyn Church

Municipal House

The best way to see the old town is to just wander and not plan too tight a schedule, because there’s lots of fun things to stumble upon. Prague has a really lovely art scene, lots of concerts and museums, a lot of them free. Shopping is great in the old town and has a lot to offer. There are a lot of great restaurants and most of them have live music on the weekends. The people are friendly and open.

• Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea
• Skytree for amazing views of the city of Tokyo
• Ramen museum
• Tokyo aquarium
• Go to the interactive art museum- teamLab Planets
• Stay in a traditional Ryokan
• Take a tour of Lake Ashi, in Hakone, on a Pirate ship, for spectacular views of Mt. Fuji 
• Akihabara for some electronics shopping
• Chocolate turnovers from Mcdonald’s. 
• Gold temple in Kyoto is amazing.
• Kyoto monkey hike is definitely a fun experience. 
• If you are wanting day trips to get out of the hustle and bustle, I highly recommend Nikko and Kamakura. Nikko is known for its famous red bridge and the temple where the see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil monkeys are and some beautiful waterfalls. 
• Kamakura is famous for a tall bronze statue of Buddha, and the beach.
• Try some Indo curry. It’s AMAZING! 
• Cheese nan is a must. 
• Stop at Don Quixote to buy Japanese goodies to take home. 
• Go visit shibuya. Busiest intersection in the world! 
• Don’t skip Hiroshima 
• The Children’s Peace Memorial was a humbling experience. 
• Take the time to visit Osaka and Nara.
• Learn about etiquette and bath in an Onsen 
• Take the train and ferry to Miajima and the tram to the top of Miajima. Some of the most beautiful views of the Country we had. 
• Nikko

Tips: Beware there are no public trash cans so bring a little recycle bag to carry any trash you may accumulate for the day. Take public transportation instead of taxis. Get portable WiFi. You can pick it up and return it at the airport. That way you can use your phone like normal, and google maps work for the trains. You’ll never be lost. Take plenty of Yen with you. Very few places accept credit cards. Please learn and respect the culture! (No eating/drinking while walking, no talking on your phone on the train, no pda, etc) Also, when going up the escalators notice which side people are standing on, one side is only for standing and riding it while the other is for people who are in a hurry so they can run up it. Definitely get a JR rail pass and an IC card.

I recommend using rome2rio and google maps. Naver is also good but sometimes it doesn’t work so well unless you know korean.

https://www.reddit.com/r/korea/comments/8xkn2d/how_to_change_naver_map_language_settings_to/

You can try downloading Naver maps and it might be in English. There are also Kakao maps and it is pretty much the same as Naver maps. Both are korean map companies.

But to be honest you could just see the general options in rome2rio then go to the bus or train station that rome2rio shows you then ask any korean that doesn’t look busy. Korean people are usually very helpful and friendly if they are not busy and if you are polite. (maybe people in Seoul are more busy.

There are lots of places to visit. Korea has a lot of ancient history also. Gyeongju is my #1 recommendation because there are a million eye opening things you can see if you look for them. Also this restaurant has REALLY good barley bibimbap: 숙영식당 (Suk Yeong Sikdang) for only $11 or so. It’s a lot of food and actually you’re supposed to go with a group of people but they give you the same amount of food if you just go by yourself.

Some restaurants in Korea won’t let you sit down if you are just one person for this very reason. Set menus are not adaptable to individual portions and “food is designed to be eaten with friends/family to increase the taste.

Bangkok

• Wat Pho
• The Royal Palace 
• Check out the Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets – walk around & enjoy the food while eating “thai style”
• Try the canal rides 
• Shopping malls if that interests you (MBK and CentralWorld are a couple)
• Take taxis and the Skytrain to get around. 
• Take a tuk-tuk to get around the city (so much fun!)
• Visit the Bangkok Arts & Culture Center
• Get a Thai massage
• Find a night market to visit while in the city
• Rent paddle-boats at Bangkok’s “Green Lung” park
• Check out the Emerald Buddah, & Reclining Buddah
• Eat as much street food as you can: Victory monument, Yaowarat, and Ratchwat Market are good places to eat.
• The Grand Palace in Bangkok. Over 200 years of breathtaking history.
• Island hopping. Koh Lipe, Koh Tao, Koh Samui … take your pick! 
• A huge draw of Thailand is the incredible coastline and stunning island.
• Chiang Mai. Fascinating city in the mountainous north. Get to know the local friendly Hill Tribe people.
• Find a rooftop bar/restaurant to get dinner & watch the sunset

Phuket 

• Scuba dive and explore the beaches in this world famous setting.

Chiang Mai 

• Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (ethical & sustainable elephant sanctuary where you can feed, bath, & admire the amazing elephants there, no riding), 
• Go to Pansawan Boutique Restaurant (a relaxing little restaurant hidden in the beautiful mountains w/ delicious food)
• Go to Doi Suthep National Park (an amazing park w/ temples located on top of a hill)

*Going to smaller cities which aren’t touristy will be the most rewarding but it can still be dangerous. Information online is often out of date. It’s best to just plan to stay a couple of weeks and then try to make the most of it once you get here. Hardly any of the cheaper hotels are listed online. Don’t try to overplan before going. You can find a budget hotel that is $10 per night for a double bed in every city but almost no one outside the main tourist places will speak English.

• If you are interested in city life, Hanoi, the capital, is a great place to start. Try the street food and visit the many museums and temples. Be aware that the cities are quite dangerous with terrible traffic.

• Halong Bay is one of the most popular tourist sites. However, if you want to enjoy the beauty of the area without most of the crowds, head to Cat Ba Island for trips to the less-visited but equally alluring Lan Ha Bay.

• Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park has mountains, tropical forests and underground rivers. It’s known for its ancient limestone karsts and vast network of caves. These include the huge Sơn Đoòng cave and Phong Nha cave, which are big enough for boats. The area’s rich wildlife includes tigers, black bears and elephants.

• Hoi An is an ancient town with temples, pagodas, canals, and bridges.Visit the riverfront Hoi An Central Market for silk, fresh fish, and spices. Once night falls the city is lit up with beautiful traditional lanterns, providing quite a beautiful atmosphere.
• Visit the deep valleys of Sapa, surrounded by a backdrop of the Hoang Lien Mountains. You will see some of the most beautiful vistas in all of Vietnam. This is one of the top trekking destinations in Vietnam.

• Phu Quoc Island- Full of beautiful resorts, beaches and wonderful seafood. It is also a great place for diving and kayaking!

• Dalat- Witness some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam!

• Visit Hue, “Vietnam’s Imperial City”. There are temples and pagodas in this old city, eat a delicious banquet dinner, and spend some time relaxing by the Perfume River.

• If you are looking for a quiet and serene place to visit, Phú Quý is a calm island about 6-9 hours by ferry, from the mainland.
• Da Nang is quite a large city but is a good entry point as it hosts the international airport. Visit the beaches or ride a scooter along the Son Tra Peninsula and explore the Marble Mountains.

• Take a boat ride in the Mekong Delta, near Ho Chi Minh City. It has a variety of fruit orchards, coconut palms, and sugar-cane groves, monkey bridges, water channels and rice patties.

• Ninh Binh City is very touristy but has some very interesting sites. King Dinh Tien Hoang Square is built in memory of an ancient hero. Another attraction is the Phat Diem Cathedral, often said to be one of the most beautiful churches in Vietnam. Another one is the Bái Đính Temple, which currently holds the world record for having the largest Buddha statue ever. Take a boat tour of Tràng An and visit Skull Island.

• Visit the Ha Giang Province to view the beautiful mountainous area of Ha Giang. If you like ethnic things, then try to visit the Meo Vac market on a Sunday morning, and you’re sure to find something.
• Head to the Đắk Lắk Province and see the famous waterfalls and lakes. You can get into the primitive forests of the Chu Yang Sin, Yok Don National parks or take a tour to Dak Lak’s historical vestiges like Bao Dai Palace, Yang Prong Tower, Buon Ma Thuot Prison and Dak Tua Cave.

Food: Com Tam Sua, street vendors, Pho.

Laos is a communist nation, so you might consider hiring a guide to get you across the border. It might also be required for certain activities.

Consider taking a flatboat ride down the Mekong River. There are many options from fancy to bare minimum. Just make sure to check if there is a working bathroom on board. Some provide catering and bottled water as well.

Some boats will even stop at the local villages along the way, so be prepared with cash to buy handmade items and handicrafts.

Luang Prabang-

Cutest little French-influenced town. Wonderful market and temples to visit. The food is excellent and contains french items like croissants and macarons. Make sure you wash all fruit with clean water, and don’t drink the tap water.

The mango shakes are to die for and incredibly cheap. The massages are also very cheap, so get as many as you can while you are there!

Things to do:

Visit the Swamp Buffalo farm and milk a buffalo. Try their homemade ice cream!

Visit the Kwang Si Waterfall and bear zoo.

Take a ferry across the river to the village of Chan Nua, to learn how to make pottery. The Lamphet family has maintained traditional methods and incorporates an amazing effort to hire and teach those who might not otherwise have a way to earn a living. 

Note: Tuktuk drivers will charge for both ways of travel and will usually hang around till you are done with your activity. Do not send them away or you may have no ride back.

Hike up to the see the view and the Phousi Temple.

Check out the Sala Prabang Hotel.

Go see Ankor Wat and defnitely go for the sunrise! Bring water or cash because it is hot and you will need a lot to drink! View the monkeys from a distance as they are quite aggresive.

Visit Pub Street and get a fish pedicure or shop at the 7-11.

The markets are awesome, but sharpen your bargaining skills! You will need them.

TukTuk drivers are the way to get around, but always try paying online before your ride, so the price is clear and you won’t get scammed.

Go see a cultural performance of traditional dance.

September 18th is their National Day. There are lots of festivals and food!

Good Eats

• Try the Bread and Empanadas
• Pastel de Choclo
• Eat all things with Manjar (dulce de leche)
• If you want to eat seafood and typical food, ‘Mercado Central’ is your place. Right in front of it, you have ‘La pionera’ (typical but not fancy) bar where you can have a very typical drink from Chile: The Terremoto.

Places to Go

• Plaza Dignidad: an important spot in the city (right in the middle of the city, and it splits the city into two parts and has a statue which makes itself easy to realize you are in the middle of Santiago).
• Bellavista town: very famous for being a place where young go to party and other people go to eat because has many restaurant around.
• San Cristóbal Hill: you can get to the top by lift and see the whole view of Santiago. -Costanera Center:shopping but it’s a tall building and if you want, you can go there to see the view of Santiago as well.
• Santiago: ‘La Moneda’ is the president’s office.Right around it, you have downtown places and walking-streets that take you to ‘Plaza de Armas’ (like 5 minutes walking) and walking a few more blocks from Plaza de Armas, you can get to ‘Mercado Central’.
• Top three ski resorts close to the capital: Valle Nevado, Colorado, Farellones and Portillo. I would recommend that you visit ‘Nevado’s de Chillán’ or if you want to go even further, go to ‘Corralco ski’ resort which is in Villarrica/Pucón (two beautiful cities that have a Volcano and a beautiful lake). Last season Valle and Colorado weren’t very good to ski at, so I would definitely suggest getting tickets for Portillo/Nevado de Chillán or Corralco in case you want to go further.

Must see places in Santiago:

Downtown:

• “La Moneda”
• Bandera (walkstreet)
• Barrio Lastarria
• San Cristóbal hill
• Costanera

Must see places near to Santiago:

• Viña del Mar (90 minutes away) Gorgeous beaches and ocean, plus sand dunes.
• Ride the cable cars in Valparaiso
• Farellones (90 minutes away, better in Winter because you have all the ski resorts)
• Cajón del Maipo

• Lake Atitlán: A U.of U. former professor has the best restaurant there right on the water, the hotels are great, but it is so close to Antigua that we sometimes stay there. Wonderful place to visit, be sure to go to the Jade museum and the Underwater Sunken City museum, both really great!!
• Tikal

Bogota-

Visit:

• Go to Monserrate for the best view of the city- You can either hike/walk up for free or pay for the funicular/teleferico
• Gold Museum
• Go to Zipaquira to see the Salt Cathedral
• Andres Carne de Res
• Mundo Adventura y Jardin Botanico
• Go on a street art or mural tour!

You don’t need a visa to enter Peru as a US citizen.

Don’t drink the water and use bottled water to wash any fresh fruit. Keep you mouth closed in the shower!

Many flights from the US to Lima arrive rather late at night, and folks on a tight schedule might want to take a connecting flight to another destination like Cusco or Iquitos early the following morning to get a jump on their itinerary. If that’s the case for you, there is one hotel that’s attached to Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), the Wyndham Costa del Sol. You can walk across a pedestrian bridge to it, making it an ideal base for a short overnight stop. By contrast, many of the city’s other nice hotels are at least a 30-minute drive from the airport.

Because it’s the only decent hotel close by, it tends to book up early, and rates range from $120 per night up to more than $200 per night the closer you book. You can also book it using Booking.com. There’s another Wyndham Costa del Sol in the city several miles away, so don’t get the two confused!

Though many traditional guidebooks suggest acclimating to the high altitude of the Peruvian Andes in Cusco before heading to Machu Picchu since you have to fly into Cusco anyway, you’re actually better off going straight to Machu Picchu. Cusco is 3,400 meters (11,150 feet) above sea level, while Machu Picchu is about 2,400 meters (7,900 feet), so you’ll have a much easier time there before heading back up to Cusco.

If you have time, consider staying somewhere in the Sacred Valley like Tambo del Inka or Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, which are at about 9,400 feet above sea level, before going back to Cusco. You’ll have a better time adjusting to the thin air gradually.

Though the town of Aguas Calientes outside Machu Picchu is a tourist trap, think about spending a night there before your visit to the mysterious citadel. There’s one good reason to do so: In the morning, you’ll beat the day-tripping crowds taking the train in from Cusco, and it will be much less crowded for the first hour or two of your visit.

There are only a set number of trains running from Ollantaytambo and Urubamba to Machu Picchu and they can sell out in high season (July through September). Take the stress out of it by purchasing your fare from PeruRail ahead of time and just picking up the ticket from one of the company’s offices at either the Lima or Cusco airport when you get to Peru.

For the same reason, reserve your Machu Picchu tickets ahead of time.

Get a guide, you will gain so much more from your visit.
If you are feeling adventurous, hike the Wayna Picchu hike. (Not recommended for children. It is a strenuous hike, but she said definitely worth the challenge for the view at the top). You’ll need a permit for this hike.

Keep in mind that the day you visit Machu Picchu, you’ll need to show your passport to get in.

Eat cocoa leaves to prevent altitude sickness

Though it’s good to have a few bills and coins in small denominations in case you want to buy souvenirs here or there, there’s one main reason you want to have some change: to use the bathroom. Public bathrooms at historical sites and even Machu Picchu require a fee, usually one or two soles, to use. Often that includes a ration of toilet paper and paper towel to wash your hands, but if you’ve got room, pack some tissues as well just to be safe.

Folks make their living by charging tourists for photos, so don’t snap any pictures of them unless you want to be harangued into paying. On a related note, if you visit local communities, such as the Uros people of the floating islands in Lake Titicaca, even on a prepaid tour, you’ll be expected to buy a handicraft item or two as a goodwill gesture.

Tipping is typical in Peru, though perhaps not quite up to US expectations. Plan to dole out about 10% of your final tab in tips and add on a few extra bucks if the service is exceptional.

Uber works very well there.

When you land in Lima, after you collect your checked bags but before you get to the arrivals hall, there are a few taxi service desks that will vie for your business.

US electrical sockets are 120 volts while those in Peru are 220 volts.

If you plan to visit indigenous communities in the Amazon or the Andes, bring along some school supplies for the children. Before your trip, call your hotel or tour operator and ask if there are any village visits planned and what supplies might be good to tote along.

Visit Miraflores and eat as much as you can!

In-country flights are cheap! Get out of Lima and visit Cusco or Lake Titicaca.

Backpack the Inca Trail into Macchu Picchu.

Try the Lomo saltado, Ceviche and avi de Gallina.

In Cusco:

Visit San Pedro Market
Eat at the Inca Grill
Take a tour from Cusco to visit the Sacsayhuaman Inca ruins.
Eat at Moreno restaurant – get lomo saltado beef
Rainbow Mountain
Visit museums

• Guanacaste – known for beautiful beaches and good surf. Check out  “el dia ria hotel” and the Farmer’s Market!
• Stay at Baldi Hot Springs and buy a day pass to enjoy the hot springs.
• Stay at the Tabacon Resort
• Explore the Guanacase National Forest 
• Liberia is the capital/urban part of the city with shopping and food! 
• Manuel Antonio has the best beaches and visit the national park. Be aware of the mokeys!
• Plenty of gorgeous hikes 
• Check out the Mulguri Waterfalls!
• Rainforest tours 
• Waterfall reppelling
• Hanging bridges hike/tour
• Lots of quaint and cute hotels 
• Butterfly farm – gondola to the river, food up top … you can ride bikes through it 
• Cafe Britt (cool coffee plantation) tours available 
• Playa Conchal – Beautiful paradise-like beaches
• Rincon de la Vieja National Park is a “must-see” with volcanoes and tons of wildlife. There’s tour guides that can take you around! 
• Corcovado National Park (southern region) – amazing biodiversity and tropical rainforests 
• National Museum in San Jose
• Go ziplining at Monteverde

Good Eats-

• Cosechas for smoothies
• Local Coffee, sweet plantains, arroz con pollo, gallo pinto

Tips-

• Always have a jacket or poncho
• Bring Bug Spray

Visit-

• Go to historic places from El Viejo San Juan, Camuy Caverns, or Ponce Museum. 
• Hit the inland beaches like Gilligan’s Island or Boqueron. 
• If you truly want to see the real culture, get a hotel in Cabo Rojo, sit at their Plaza, and enjoy homemade Ice Cream. 
• Take the ferry to Culebra. It is the #1 most beautiful beach in the World! 
• The island of Vieques is always a good idea.
• Go hiking and swimming in the river systems.
• Try out a Bio Bay tour at night. El Yunque NF in old San Juan.
• Worth renting a car. Transportation is not very easy to find.
• Head to the West side of the island and visit Mayaguez, Rincon, Aguadilla.
• Horseback riding on the beach. A good tour is Tropical Trail Rides.
• Gozlandia Waterfalls are a must see!

Eat-

• On the weekends, get some pinchos.
• Eat mofongo.
• Get an original Pina Colada in Old San Juan at Barrachina.

Try and stay at least two weeks and visit several islands, as most people only ever get to visit once in a lifetime!

Visit Bora Bora!

Moorea:

Rent a car in Papeete and take a ferry to Moorea.

Activities:

-Take a snorkel cruise! Even if you’re not into snorkeling, we really enjoyed our half day boat ride along the island coast that included some history of the island, snorkeling with manta rays and (gentle) reef sharks, and a delicious lunch of local cuisine. We booked with Albert Transport Tours. The only thing I would recommend is bringing your own snorkel gear or booking a company that definitely provides it. This one didn’t and we were sad about that. If you’re bringing a checked bag and like to snorkel, I would recommend bringing your own gear as it will be cheaper than buying or renting it on the island.
-Go hiking. We went on three different hikes during our trip. Here is a link to some trails on Moorea. We hiked numbers 1, 3 and 10 on this list. If you’re an avid hiker and have time, all three were worthwhile. If not, number 3 on the list to Afareaitu Waterfalls was short and fun, my favorite of all the hikes we did. You can bring a swimsuit and enjoy the waterfall at the end of the hike. 🙂
-We weren’t there during whale season, but if you are you can take a tour to swim with the whales, which I’ve heard is life-changing. We plan to go back during this season at some point.
-All of the beaches are beautiful. We drove around the entire island one day just exploring and spending time at the different beaches. Even if you don’t snorkel, the water and sand are so stunning!
-Tour the Rotui juice factory. This wasn’t a must-do, but it was fun, so if you’re passing by I would recommend it!

– Swim with sharks and stingrays.
Food:
We really liked trying some of the little food vendors along the roads and never had a bad experience with those, but here were some of our favorite food tips: Allo Pizza, KE’IKI, smoothies and acai bowls anywhere, a fresh baguette from the market, poisson cru, chocolate in any form, but I especially loved the chocolate croissants and chocolate spread like Nutella (it’s French chocolate, so good!).