Travel guides

Practical city guides: when to go, how to get from the airport, where to stay and what to book in advance.

Paris

Paris is best from April to June and in September and October, and three to four days covers the main sights. Reserve a time slot for the Louvre and book the Eiffel Tower summit in advance, and use the RER B or Metro line 14 from the airports.

Rome

Rome is best in April to June and September to October, and three days is enough for the main sights. Book the Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Borghese Gallery ahead, and take the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino.

Florence

Florence is compact, and two to three days is enough for the main sights. Reserve the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Duomo dome in advance, and use the T2 tram from Florence airport.

Venice

Venice is best in spring and autumn, and two days is enough for the main sights. Day visitors pay an access fee on selected days in spring and summer. The 2026 trial has ended, and the city has published fee days for 2027, so check the official rules for your dates.

Milan

Milan works best in spring and autumn, and two days covers the main sights. Book The Last Supper well ahead, and take the Malpensa Express train from Malpensa or the M4 Metro from Linate.

Barcelona

Barcelona is best in May, June, September and October, and three days covers the main sights. Book the Sagrada Família and Park Güell with timed tickets, and use the Aerobus, the R2 Nord train or Metro line L9 Sud from the airport.

Madrid

Madrid is best from March to June and September to November, and three days covers the main museums and neighbourhoods. Use Metro line 8 or the airport express bus from Barajas, and book the Royal Palace and the big museums.

Seville

Seville is best in March to May and October to November, and two to three days covers the main sights. Book the Real Alcázar and the Cathedral in advance, and avoid midday heat in summer.

London

London is good all year, with May to September the warmest, and four days covers the main sights. Pay for transport with a contactless card or Oyster, and use the Elizabeth line from Heathrow.

Istanbul

Istanbul is best in April, May, September and October, and three to four days covers the main sights. Use the M11 metro or a Havaist bus from Istanbul Airport, and get an Istanbulkart for public transport.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia is best in April to June and September to October, and two to three nights covers the main sights. Fly into Kayseri or Nevşehir, and plan extra days for balloon flights, which are cancelled on many days because of weather.

Antalya

Antalya is best in April to June and September to November, and three to four days covers the old town and nearby ruins. The airport is close to the city, but resorts like Belek, Kemer and Side are farther, so check distances before you book.

Dubai

Dubai is best from November to March, when days are warm rather than hot, and three to four days covers the main sights. The Metro links Terminals 1 and 3 of the airport to the centre, but the city is spread out, so plan taxis for many trips.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is best from November to March, and two to three days covers the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Corniche and Saadiyat Island. There is no metro, so plan to use taxis or ride apps.

New York

New York is best in April to June and September to November, and four to five days covers the main sights. Use the subway with a contactless payment, and reserve tickets for the big viewpoints and the Statue of Liberty crown.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is best in March to May and October to November, and three nights covers the Strip, Fremont Street and a show. Distances on the Strip are longer than they look, and many hotels add a daily resort fee, so check the total price.

Orlando

Orlando has mild weather from February to May and from October to November, and four to five days covers two or three theme parks. A rental car or ride apps are the main ways to get around, and park tickets and dining should be planned ahead.

Tokyo

Tokyo is best in late March to early April and in October and November, and four to five days covers the main areas. Use a Suica or Pasmo card on trains, and book the Ghibli Museum, teamLab and Shibuya Sky ahead.

Kyoto

Kyoto is best in late March to early April and in November, but both periods are very crowded, and three days covers the main temples and districts. Kyoto has no airport of its own, so most visitors arrive via Kansai Airport or by bullet train.

Osaka

Osaka is best in spring and autumn, and most visitors need 2 to 3 days in the city. Kansai Airport is linked to the centre by two train lines in about 35 to 50 minutes.

Bangkok

Bangkok is coolest and driest from November to February, and 3 to 4 days covers the main sights. Suvarnabhumi Airport has a direct rail link to the city in about 30 minutes.

Phuket

Phuket has its driest, calmest weather from November to April on the west coast beaches. Plan 4 to 6 days, and note that there is no train, so airport transfers are by road.

Bali

The dry season from April to October is the most popular time for Bali. Bali has no train, so most trips from the airport are by road and traffic is slow in the south.

Athens

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for Athens, and 3 days covers the main sights. The metro links the airport to central Syntagma in about 40 minutes.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is at its best from April to September, and 2 to 3 days covers the main museums and canals. Trains from Schiphol Airport reach the central station in about 15 to 20 minutes.

Berlin

Berlin is most comfortable from May to September, and 3 days covers the main sights. BER Airport has fast trains to the centre in about 25 minutes.

Lisbon

Lisbon is best in spring and autumn, and 3 days covers the main areas, with extra time for Sintra. The Metro Red Line connects the airport directly to the city.

Vienna

Vienna is best from April to June and September to October, and 3 days covers the main palaces and museums. Trains and a coach service link the airport to the centre in about 20 to 30 minutes. The S7 train runs a shortened route until October 2027.

Prague

Prague is best from April to June and September to October, and 3 days covers the main sights. Buses and the metro link the airport to the centre in about 35 to 50 minutes.

Budapest

Budapest is best from April to June and September to October, and 3 days covers the main sights and a thermal bath. Airport buses and metro link the centre in about 40 to 60 minutes.

Cairo

Cairo is best from October to April, and 3 to 4 days covers the Pyramids, museums and the old city. Traffic is heavy, and the airport has no metro link, so taxis and apps are the usual way in.

Marrakech

Marrakech is best in spring and autumn, and 3 days covers the medina and main sights. Airport transfer to the old city takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

Seoul

Spring and autumn are the best seasons for Seoul, and 4 days covers the palaces, markets and neighbourhoods. The AREX train links Incheon Airport to the city in about 45 to 60 minutes.

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is warm and humid all year, with June to August slightly drier, and 3 days covers the main sights. The KLIA Ekspres train reaches KL Sentral in about 30 minutes.

Hanoi

Hanoi is best in October to December and March to April, and 3 days covers the Old Quarter and main sights. Noi Bai Airport is about 45 to 70 minutes from the centre by road.

Cancun

Cancun has its driest weather from December to April, and 4 to 6 days works for beach days plus day trips. The airport is about 20 to 40 minutes from the hotel zone.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio is hot and sunny for most of the year, with May to September cooler and drier, and 4 days covers the main sights and beaches. Galeão Airport is about 40 to 60 minutes from the beach districts by road.

Sydney

Sydney is best from September to November and March to May, and 4 days covers the harbour, beaches and a day trip. The airport train reaches the city in about 15 minutes.

Bodrum

May, June, September and October are the best months, and three days cover the main sights while a week adds beach and boat days. Milas–Bodrum Airport is about 36 km from the town, so plan your transfer and choose where to stay on the peninsula before you arrive.

Fethiye

The best months are April to June and September to November, and three to four days cover the main sights. Most visitors fly to Dalaman Airport, so choose where to stay with the onward journey in mind.

Marmaris

The best months are May to October for swimming, and three days is enough for the town, Dalyan and Sedir Island, or a week for a beach holiday. The airport is Dalaman, roughly an hour or more by road, so plan the transfer before you arrive.

Izmir

The best months are April to June and September to October, and three days cover the old centre, Ephesus and the Agora. İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport is about 14 km from the centre and has a direct suburban train, so a base near the seafront or Konak is simple to reach.

Pamukkale

April to June and September to October are the most comfortable months, and one full day covers the terraces and Hierapolis, with a second day for the museum, Cleopatra’s Pool and Laodicea. Denizli Çardak Airport is far from Pamukkale, so most visitors reach the site through Denizli bus station.

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