All the inspiration and top tips you need to take that next big adventure

Everyone&rsquo;s heard of Los Angeles, which means you probably have some preconceived notions already. What do you picture? Movie sets? Palm trees? Sunshine? Traffic?&nbsp;
Well&hellip; you&rsquo;re not wrong, LA is all those things. But it&rsquo;s also&nbsp;big. Like really big. There&rsquo;s a lot more than the movies show, and seeing it all in a single trip is impossible.&nbsp;
Luckily, there&rsquo;s an army of Jack's Flight Club Navigators (including some former LA residents!) working around the clock to bring you the best tips and real-world info available. Rather than making you run a million Google searches, dig through a million blogs, and watch another million videos, we&rsquo;ve done all that for you, a million times over!&nbsp;
The result of all that work? This handy little guide with everything you need to know for a visit to the City of Angels, including sections on day trips, Hollywood, theme parks, getting around the city, and so much more.

Note: We&rsquo;re not affiliated with any of the outside links we use here &mdash; we recommend the sources we think are the best, not the highest bidders. You&rsquo;re getting our honest opinions, nothing more, nothing less.
So without further ado, here&rsquo;s your no-BS guide to visiting one of the biggest (and most daunting) cities in the US: Los Angeles.

<h2>Table of Contents</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="#things_to_know">Things to Know Before You Go</a></li>
<li><a href="#getting_there">How to Get There</a></li>
<li><a href="#getting_around">Getting Around Town</a></li>
<li><a href="#food">What to Eat</a></li>
<li><a href="#things_to_do">Things to Do Around Town</a></li>
<li><a href="#day_trips">Day Trips from Los Angeles</a></li>
<li><a href="#events">Events in Los Angeles</a></li>
<li><a href="#resources">Recommended Resources</a></li>
</ul>

<h1 id="things_to_know" dir="ltr">Things to Know Before You Go</h1>
<h2 dir="ltr">Visas</h2>
Whether you need a visa to enter the United States depends on your country of citizenship. Visitors from <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states">Canada</a> only need a passport for visits up to six months. If you&rsquo;re coming from the UK, most of the EU, or <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html">anywhere else that qualifies for the Visa Waiver Program</a>, you can skip the visa and fill out an <a href="https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta">ESTA</a>.&nbsp;
The state of California and the city of Los Angeles have no local requirements for entry.
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html">US State Department website</a> for more information.

<h2 dir="ltr">What to Bring</h2>
Los Angeles has warm, sunny weather year-round, so you&rsquo;ll want to pack lightweight clothes, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. It never gets that cold, but the temperature does drop a bit in the evenings, so layers will definitely be your friend. If you&rsquo;re planning on hiking (and you should plan on hiking), bring comfortable shoes and a hat to keep the sun off your face. You won&rsquo;t find much natural shade in the desert.
You might want to bring a swimsuit, although a word of warning &mdash; the Pacific Ocean can be surprisingly cold if you&rsquo;re used to warmer shores, even in sunny SoCal.
If you forget anything important, you can likely find a replacement at any big box store like Walmart and Target.

<h2 dir="ltr">Internet and Cell Service</h2>
Wi-Fi is abundant in the city and can be used at most caf&eacute;s and restaurants. It&rsquo;s also the norm for all hotels, so remote workers should have no trouble <a href="https://dola.com/p/best-places-to-work-remotely-in-la">finding their oasis</a>.
SIM cards and eSIMS are also widely available.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.esim.net/guides/los-angeles-sim-card-guide/">This site</a> has everything you need to know about getting hooked up with mobile data.

<h2 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h2>
Los Angeles is big and varied enough to satisfy most travel goals. Family trip to Disney? Couple&rsquo;s vacation by the beach? Wellness retreat at a top-tier spa? Fulfilling childhood dreams of movie sets and shooting locations? You can do it all within a week!

While it&rsquo;s not the most budget-friendly city, you don&rsquo;t need to go all out with Beverly Hills luxury either&hellip; although it&rsquo;s always an option! Grab a hostel in hippie-friendly Venice for under $40 a night, or blow your savings on the $1000+ per night Ritzes and Waldorfs &mdash; we won&rsquo;t tell you how to spend your money.
What you won&rsquo;t find within the city itself is any real wilderness for a nature escape &mdash; but you can skip town for a day trip just a short drive away.

<h2 dir="ltr">Safety</h2>
Like any major city, LA has both safe and unsafe areas. Generally speaking, if you&rsquo;re there to see the major attractions and wander the most famous neighborhoods, you&rsquo;ll be pretty safe. Just follow the typical city advice (i.e., keep your wits about you and look out for pickpocketing) and if you drive, make sure all your possessions are hidden out of sight when you&rsquo;re parked.&nbsp;
This&nbsp;<a href="https://carriegreenzinn.com/is-la-safe/">article</a> breaks it all down nicely, with some general safety tips and the best neighborhoods to stay in.
It&rsquo;s also one of the safest cities in the country for LGBTQ+ folks and minorities. While every city has problems, the diversity of Los Angeles makes it safer for everyone. We&rsquo;ve found Reddit to be a good way of hearing what it&rsquo;s like on the ground there for locals, like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskLosAngeles/comments/ze4zk7/should_i_be_concerned_as_a_tourist_visiting_la/">this thread here</a>.
Solo female travelers should feel pretty safe too. You can expect the usual dangers that come with city travel, but there are so many women out alone that you&rsquo;re unlikely to draw much attention.

<h2 dir="ltr">DIY-ability</h2>
Since LA has everything you could possibly need at your fingertips, it&rsquo;s an easy place to plan your own trip. Just pick a neighborhood as your home base, and a primary mode of travel (rental car, metro, etc.), and you&rsquo;ll be on your way.
The only exception is if you can&rsquo;t or don&rsquo;t want to drive, but still really want to stretch out and explore the area outside the city. In that case, you&rsquo;ll likely need to book a tour to cover the whole area.

<h2 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h2>
You won&rsquo;t have to worry too much about this one! LA really doesn&rsquo;t have seasons. It can get a little sweaty in the summer (think mid-80s F/around 30 C) and there&rsquo;s occasional rain, but that&rsquo;s about it. Even in the dead of night, in the middle of winter, temps rarely drop below 40 F/ 4.5 C.
One concern is the crowds &mdash; since weather&rsquo;s not an issue, tourist season follows the holidays. Summer vacation and the winter holiday season are the busiest, especially at the theme parks and other major attractions. And if the beach is what drew you to LA, you might have to brave the summer crowds on the sunniest days.&nbsp;
The other main concern is fire. Officially, fire season is June-October, but they can happen at any time of year. However, it's not likely to ruin your trip. The January 2025 fires were an unusually catastrophic event for LA. Most fires occur far from tourism areas and are quickly controlled by the fire department. Nonetheless, they can affect air quality and traffic, and major firestorms are always possible.&nbsp;
For visits during late summer or fall, we&rsquo;d recommend booking accommodations with free cancellation, and making sure you have comprehensive travel insurance.

<h1 id="getting_there" dir="ltr">How To Get There</h1>
The vast majority of international flights to and from Los Angeles go through LAX, so you&rsquo;ll likely be landing there. If you&rsquo;re coming from Canada or Mexico, there&rsquo;s a chance you&rsquo;ll be landing in John Wayne Airport (SNA) instead, over in Orange County.
Most domestic flights also land in LAX, but a handful go through Hollywood Burbank (BUR) and Long Beach Airport (LGB) as well. It doesn&rsquo;t make a huge difference where you land, though &mdash; all of these airports are within an hour&rsquo;s drive of one another and close enough to the busiest tourist areas.

Here&rsquo;s what to expect from airfare to Los Angeles:
From within the USA
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $100-$250 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8-10</li>
</ul>
From Canada
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $300-$500 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 6-8</li>
</ul>
From the UK
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &pound;350-&pound;550 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 5-6</li>
</ul>
From Europe
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &euro;500-&euro;700 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 5-6</li>
</ul>

Pro-Tip: There aren&rsquo;t a ton of train routes serving Los Angeles, but if you&rsquo;re coming from elsewhere in SoCal, then <a href="https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/">the Surfliner</a> is a solid option. You can also take a <a href="https://www.greyhound.com/bus/los-angeles-ca">Greyhound bus</a> from most cities in the US, although it won&rsquo;t be much cheaper than a domestic flight and take far longer.

<h1 id="getting_around">Getting Around Town</h1>
Walking isn&rsquo;t good for much in Los Angeles besides exploring individual neighborhoods &mdash; it&rsquo;s a sprawling city, where most of the sights are very far apart. Here are your options for getting around town:

<h2 dir="ltr">Public Transit</h2>
Despite being heavily car-centric, LA actually has a decent public transit system (by American standards) that can save you a lot of money and headaches. It&rsquo;s a great option if you just want to get a neighborhood or two over.
The two main services are the bus and the metro rail. Here&rsquo;s a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.metro.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/bus-rail-system-detail.pdf">super detailed map</a> of all the routes. Both buses and trains cost $1.75 per ride and include two hours of free transfers. Your payment options are cash, Apple Pay, a metro (TAP) card, or the <a href="https://www.taptogo.net/articles/en_US/Website_content/TAP-App">TAP app</a>.&nbsp;
We usually find the TAP cards to be the most convenient if you don&rsquo;t have an iPhone. These are prepaid metro cards that you can purchase from vending machines across the city, or at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bigbluebus.com/uploadedFiles/Content/Fares/TAPVendorDirectory_WEB_ENG.pdf">TAP vending location</a>. The card itself is $2, and you can load it with more money for fares.

<h2 dir="ltr">Driving</h2>
While transit can get you across town, a car is still the best way to cover long distances or take day trips.&nbsp;
A few words of caution before you put down that car rental deposit: driving in LA can be&hellip;&nbsp;intense. Traffic is frequently miserable, and rush hour often lasts from 2pm all the way to 8pm on weekdays. It also involves a lot of freeway driving, difficult/expensive parking, and road rage. If you&rsquo;re not used to driving very much, you probably won&rsquo;t enjoy LA&rsquo;s roads.

Another word of warning: since the traffic is so lousy, we recommend leaving plenty of extra travel time when you&rsquo;re making plans. A 15-mile drive could take you anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours, depending on the time of day.
You&rsquo;ll have numerous options for car rental agencies. Prices vary greatly depending on dates and location, but anything from $75-$150 per day is common. Note that the minimum age limit for US car rentals is 25 as standard, but most places will let you rent at 21 if you pay a higher premium. It&rsquo;s also common for agencies to solely accept credit cards (not debit).

<h2 dir="ltr">Rideshare, Taxi, and eBikes</h2>
Rideshare apps (e.g., Uber and Lyft) are usually cheaper than taxis in LA, but both options are readily available.&nbsp;
For shorter journeys, you might want to consider an ebike or escooter. These can be found scattered around the city, and you can grab any vehicle off the street by using the app associated with that brand. Note that these services require a valid driver&rsquo;s license.&nbsp;

<h1 id="food" dir="ltr">What to Eat</h1>
You can get any food in the world&nbsp;somewhere in Los Angeles, but there are a few cuisines the area is known for:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mexican - There&rsquo;s so much Mexican food in LA that you can find every region represented. Here are a few <a href="https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2022-09-23/classic-mexican-restaurants-los-angeles-reader-favorites">local recs</a>, with La Casita Mexicana and Guelaguetza coming up regularly. If it&rsquo;s tacos you&rsquo;re after, you can get a good taste test with <a href="https://latacocrawl.net/">Angel&rsquo;s Taco Crawl</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Korean - LA&rsquo;s Koreatown is obviously a hotbed for Korean food, especially KBBQ. You&rsquo;ve got dozens<a href="https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/restaurants/best-korean-bbq-restaurants-in-los-angeles-koreatown"> of options</a>, but Park&rsquo;s BBQ and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Hr67IaraQ">BTS-approved</a> Aghassi Gopchang are frequent faves.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Vegetarian/Vegan - Plant-based food is also a <a href="https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/restaurants/best-restaurants-in-los-angeles-las-best-vegetarian-friendly-restaurants">big cultural staple in LA</a>. You can find a vegetarian or vegan version of basically anything, making it a true veggie-lover&rsquo;s paradise. And be sure to try a locally beloved staple &mdash; smoothie bowls!</li>
<li>In n&rsquo; Out - California&rsquo;s most iconic fast food chain draws a lot of tourists who expect it to blow their minds, but that&rsquo;s just not the point. If you want fast food that&rsquo;s cheaper than McDonald&rsquo;s and ten times better, go to In n&rsquo; Out. If you want to shell out for a genuine top-notch burger, check out one of the thousands of independent burger joints in town.</li>
</ul>

<h1 id="things_to_do">Things to Do Around Town</h1>
<h2>Explore Hollywood</h2>
LA's most storied neighborhood is a pretty popular jumping-off point, so we'll start there! Here's a few things to do in Tinseltown:
<h3 dir="ltr">See a Movie</h3>
The bar is high for movie theaters in Los Angeles, and these are the best of the best. We&rsquo;re talking classic films, director Q&amp;As, and ruthless ushers &mdash; be prepared to get kicked out if you check your phone during the movie! We&rsquo;re also talking real film projectors for that warm color and gorgeous grainy texture, so unless noted otherwise, assume these screenings are all 35mm or 70mm film prints.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">New Beverly Cinema - The New Beverly is a little cramped and there&rsquo;s only one screen, but the vintage posters and memorabilia on the walls send a clear message: this place is by movie nerds, for movie nerds. It should come as no surprise, then, that the theater is owned by Quentin Tarantino, the biggest nerd in Hollywood. Check out the schedule <a href="https://thenewbev.com/schedule/">here</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Vista Theater Hollywood - Although it shares an owner with the New Beverly, the Vista has a more elegant atmosphere (and more legroom!). Keep an eye on the <a href="https://www.vistatheaterhollywood.com/">schedule</a> for Q&amp;As with your favorite directors or check out the summer-only <a href="https://www.vistatheaterhollywood.com/cinema-club/">Video Archives Cinema Club</a>, 20-person micro screenings of cheesy old genre films on VHS and 16mm.</li>
<li>Grauman&rsquo;s Egyptian Theatre - <a href="https://www.egyptiantheatre.com/">The Egyptian</a> is a piece of bona fide film history &mdash; it hosted the very first Hollywood movie premiere way back in 1922. If you happen to visit during one of their rare nitrate film festivals, try to score a ticket &mdash; this theater is one of only five on the planet that can still play nitrate-treated film reels from before the 1950s.</li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Tour a Studio</h3>
If you&rsquo;ve ever wanted to see how entertainment sausage is made, a studio tour is a great way to take a peek behind the curtain. <a href="https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/go-behind-the-scenes-at-the-best-studio-tours-in-la">Here&rsquo;s a rundown</a> of the most popular tours, covering Universal, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Sony Pictures.

<h3 dir="ltr">Filming Locations</h3>
You don&rsquo;t have to take a studio tour to step into the world of your favorite movies. Hollywood productions film scenes literally all over the city, so you can easily track down the shooting locations that interest you the most. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/list/53-essential-l-a-filming-locations-how-many-have-you-visited">This guide</a> will get you started, although it&rsquo;s just scratching the surface.

<h2 dir="ltr">Check Out Some City Parks</h2>
There are over 600 city parks in Los Angeles, but we&rsquo;ve narrowed that list down to a few of our favorites:
<ul>
<li>Griffith Park - Home to the famous Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park is a little slice of wilderness in the heart of the Hollywood Hills. We could spend five pages just going over all the museums, hiking trails, and IG-worthy vistas in the park, but <a href="https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-09-04/beginner-guide-griffith-park">this guide</a> covers it all pretty well.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Barnsdall Art Park - Barnsdall looks like your typical city park&mdash;green grass &amp; shady trees&mdash; but the real attraction is the park&rsquo;s connection to LA&rsquo;s artistic community. There are a variety of gallery spaces, including the <a href="https://lamag.org/">Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery</a>, artist studios, a theater, and one of Frank Lloyd Wright&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.barnsdall.org/hollyhock-house">earliest LA buildings</a>. Check <a href="https://www.barnsdall.org/events">their website</a> for a schedule of the park&rsquo;s famous summer wine tastings.</li>
<li>Echo Park Lake - Once a municipal reservoir, Echo Park Lake has been transformed into a gorgeous public park, with lotus flowers and palm trees set against a backdrop of the downtown LA skyline. For $13 an hour, you can rent a <a href="https://wheelfunrentals.com/ca/los-angeles/echo-park/">swan boat</a> and get out on the lake itself.</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Go Shopping</h2>
Shopping is practically a way of life in Los Angeles, and you know what they say &mdash; when in Los Angeles, do as the Angelenos do. You may already have heard of <a href="https://www.rodeodrive-bh.com/">Rodeo Drive</a>, where the movie stars and other millionaires shop, but here are a few spots we&rsquo;d recommend that aren&rsquo;t quite as pricey:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jet Rag - If you love thrifting, you&rsquo;ve definitely come to the right place. Stop by on Sundays to take advantage of <a href="https://www.establishedcalifornia.com/estca/jet-rag-sundays">their weekly sale</a> (everything for a dollar!) but be prepared to battle it out with a ton of other deal hunters.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Melrose Ave - Melrose Ave isn&rsquo;t quite as hip as it used to be, but it&rsquo;s still an eclectic shopping stop with some of the best stores in the city. Check out <a href="https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/the-guide-to-melrose-avenue-west">this guide</a> for some tips on where to visit, or just start at the Santa Monica Boulevard cross-street and walk west on Melrose.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Citadel - You might have seen outlet malls before, but never like this. Over 130 stores selling directly from manufacturers like Kate Spade and Armani, a full-service hotel, and a <a href="https://laist.com/shows/take-two/why-las-citadel-looks-like-an-ancient-assyrian-palace">massive facade complete with battlements</a>, all just a half-hour&rsquo;s drive away from Disneyland.</li>
<li>The Grove - Right in the heart of old Hollywood, the Grove is LA&rsquo;s over-the-top version of an outdoor mall. The regular stores are great, but make sure you check out the <a href="https://farmersmarketla.com/">Original Farmer&rsquo;s Market</a>, take a ride on the antique trolley, and snap a pic in front of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taLLK4jKJZM">Dancing Fountain</a> too.</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Visit a Theme Park</h2>
If you&rsquo;re visiting SoCal (especially with kids), you&rsquo;ll most likely be spending at least one day at a theme park! Here&rsquo;s what you need to know about each of them:&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://disneyland.disney.go.com/">Disneyland</a></h3>
The iconic park is located in Anaheim, around an hour from downtown LA. Its sister park, California Adventure, is right next door but requires a separate ticket (or park-hopper passes). It&rsquo;s no secret that this place is pricey. Single day, single park passes range from $104-$194. And that&rsquo;s just the entry fee &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/cost-disneyland-17801824.php">it doesn&rsquo;t end there</a>.

If those admission fees break your bank, you can get a small taste of Disney magic by wandering around <a href="https://www.wdw-magazine.com/downtown-disney/">Downtown Disney</a> for free instead.

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us">Universal Studios</a></h3>
Prices at this Hollywood Hills park rival Disneyland, ranging from $109-$154 for a one-day pass. They have a fantastic backlot tour, but if it&rsquo;s film history that brought you to Hollywood, you&rsquo;re probably better off booking a tour at&nbsp;<a href="https://westsidelosangeles.com/best-studio-tours-los-angeles.php">one of the major studios</a> for less. That said, Universal definitely has major appeal to the little ones with Minion Land, and the Wizarding World is on plenty of bucket lists.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain">Six Flags Magic Mountain</a></h3>
Rollercoaster enthusiasts need look no further! Thrill riders are pretty much guaranteed to walk away from Magic Mountain satisfied, but be forewarned that the park doesn&rsquo;t offer much besides adrenaline. If you have a family member who can&rsquo;t ride coasters, you might want to pick a different park.
Tickets here are much cheaper, at $49 a pop. It&rsquo;s all the way in Valencia (about 90 minutes from downtown) so it&rsquo;s a bit of a drive.
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.knotts.com/">Knott&rsquo;s Berry Farm</a></h3>
While it&rsquo;s certainly not the largest or most famous of SoCal&rsquo;s attractions, Knott&rsquo;s is the most local &mdash; what started as a family-owned farm is now a kid-friendly, California-themed park.&nbsp; A one-day pass is $60, and attractions include a model ghost town, a Mexican village, Camp Snoopy, and a horse stable. While the key demographic definitely skews young, there&rsquo;s some solid thrill rides to keep the teens happy too.
<h3 dir="ltr">Smaller Parks</h3>
Those aren&rsquo;t your only options! The LA area is also dotted with carnival-sized attractions. Santa Monica Pier is easily the most famous, but there&rsquo;s also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adventurecity.com/">Adventure City</a> and <a href="https://www.theeldoradofrontier.com/plan-your-visit">El Dorado&rsquo;s Frontier Park</a>.
Head further south to San Diego County, and you can visit Legoland, SeaWorld, or the Zoo.

<h2 dir="ltr">Check Out Some Museums</h2>
LA has too many museums to count, so we&rsquo;ve broken them down into a few categories to give you the highlights. Forgive us if we fail to mention your fave &mdash; there are well over a hundred museums in the area.
<h3 dir="ltr">Art Museums</h3>
There are dozens of smaller galleries around town, but these are the three big art museums:
<ul>
<li>LACMA - the Los Angeles Contemporary Art Museum in La Brea houses works by Picasso, Matisse, Rivera, and more.</li>
<li>The Getty/Getty Villa - The Getty is in Brentwood and features centuries of European art, including Van Gogh&rsquo;s Irises. The Getty Villa is over by Malibu and houses Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art. Both have free admission.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Broad - Another large contemporary art museum downtown, this one featuring works by Koons, Warhol, and Basquiat.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Science Museums</h3>
If your interests run more towards the scientific, we&rsquo;ve got you covered there too:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Natural History Museum - often just called the Nat, this museum south of downtown is the largest of its kind in the western United States.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">La Brea Tar Pits - these Ice Age <a href="https://tarpits.org/experience-tar-pits">tar pits</a> are free to view in Hancock Park, and you can visit the accompanying museum to learn more about them. Located right next to LACMA.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Griffith Observatory - an icon of the city, perhaps most famous for appearing in films, but it&rsquo;s also a pretty neat astronomy museum with telescopes that visitors can peek through.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">California Science Center - free to enter and aimed at kids, this spot has exhibits on fire safety, space travel, ecosystems, and more. Located right next to the Nat.</li>
<li>Aquarium of the Pacific - not technically a museum and not technically in LA, but this Orange County aquarium is massive and not to be missed.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Pop Culture Museums</h3>
If there&rsquo;s one thing LA does right, it&rsquo;s entertainment, so it&rsquo;s no shocker that two of the best pop culture museums in the country are right here.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Grammy Museum - downtown space packed with memorabilia, costumes, and interactive exhibits related both to the Grammys and past winners.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Academy Museum - where you can find film props, behind-the-scenes footage, red carpet gowns, and exhibits on the history of cinema. Located right next to LACMA and La Brea.</li>
</ul>
You&rsquo;ll also find plenty of Hollywood kitsch along the Walk of Fame, in places like the Wax Museum, Madame Tussauds (another wax museum), and the Hollywood Museum. These are as tacky and touristy as it gets, but if you&rsquo;re willing to cough up the inflated admission fees, they&rsquo;re a goofy way to kill time and get some fun pics.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Museums of History and Culture</h3>
Los Angeles has a complex and multicultural history, and plenty of places to learn about it. Here&rsquo;s a small sampling:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Autry Museum of the American West - contains Indigenousart and history, cowboy artifacts, and information about life on the frontier. Located near the zoo in Griffith Park.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">California African American Museum - this space off MLK Boulevard covers history and art of the Black diaspora, with an emphasis on California.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Skirball Cultural Center - Jewish heritage and artifacts dating from the Bible all the way to more recent pop culture like Star Trek. Located in the hills, right by Mulholland.</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Hit Up the Beaches</h2>
No trip to Southern California is complete without a beach day, and you&rsquo;ve got a lot of options in the LA area:
<h3 dir="ltr">Venice &amp; Santa Monica</h3>
The boardwalk in between these beaches makes them perfect for a 2-in-1 trip. The main attractions here are shopping and sightseeing &mdash; while there is a long stretch of good beach, it&rsquo;s usually packed. So don&rsquo;t go for the beach; go to soak up the (very stereotypically Californian) vibes!

Venice Beach tends to lean more towards the hippie, boho side, with lots of street art, vendors, and skaters. Santa Monica has the amusement park on the pier, but it&rsquo;s otherwise a little more upscale, with plenty of fancy hotels and restaurants.
<h3 dir="ltr">Malibu</h3>
Despite its Barbie-dreamhouse fame, Malibu is a lot quieter and more secluded than other LA beaches. It&rsquo;s a bit of a drive from the city and lacks the &ldquo;beach town&rdquo; atmosphere of other spots.
If you want to actually swim, surf, or otherwise relax at the beach, it could be worth the drive.
Here&rsquo;s a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.malibubeachinn.com/beach-hoppers-guide-malibu/">detailed summary</a> about some of the 36 beaches in Malibu. The highlights? El Matador and Leo Carillo for natural beauty, and Surfrider for (what else?) surfing.
<h3 dir="ltr">South Bay</h3>
We think this is the go-to spot for beaches in LA. It&rsquo;s just popping enough that there&rsquo;s plenty to do, but not so full &amp; touristy that you can&rsquo;t find any peace. Redondo, Manhattan, Torrance &amp; Hermosa Beach all have nice oceanfront spaces with restaurants, shops, beach clubs and piers.&nbsp;
You could also rent a bicycle from any shop on the water and ride up the Strand, one of the country&rsquo;s most scenic bike rides. Don&rsquo;t worry, it&rsquo;s all flat, and you can usually rent an e-bike too.

<h1 id="day_trips" dir="ltr">Day Trips from Los Angeles</h1>
When you're ready to leave the city, you have plenty of options to choose!
<h2 dir="ltr">National &amp; State Parks</h2>
As great as LA&rsquo;s city parks are, the 100+ state and national parks scattered across SoCal are even better. Here are a few of our faves to get you started &mdash; and don&rsquo;t forget to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, especially if you&rsquo;re visiting in the summer!

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua Tree is the perfect introduction to the wild SoCal deserts. The hiking trails are easy, the landscape is quietly picturesque, and the night sky is ideal for stargazing. It&rsquo;s about 3&ndash;4 hours away from LA, but the drive out is pretty scenic in its own right.</li>
<li>Death Valley National Park - Infamously the hottest place on Earth, Death Valley is not for the faint of heart. However, if you <a href="https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/wildflowers.htm">time your visit right</a>, you&rsquo;ll see the desert landscape&nbsp; transformed by massive fields of colorful wildflowers, making it well worth the 3&ndash;4-hour drive from Los Angeles.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Red Rock Canyon State Park - This state park offers <a href="https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/red-rock-canyon-state-park">plenty of trails</a> with great views of the desert cliffs, buttes, and canyons that are so iconic to the American Southwest. Best of all, it&rsquo;s only 2 hours away from downtown LA, so you&rsquo;ll be back in time for dinner.</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Ghost Towns</h2>
The American West is covered in abandoned trading posts and mining towns, many of which are open for the public to explore. Here are a few haunted highlights within driving distance of Los Angeles:

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Amboy - This town was once a thriving stop on historic Route 66, but only the gas station attached to Roy&rsquo;s Motel and Caf&eacute; is still open these days. If you don&rsquo;t mind a 4-hour drive, the remnants of its mid-century <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/googie-architecture-of-the-space-age-122837470/">Googie architecture</a> make it worth a visit.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Silver City &nbsp;- <a href="https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/silver-city-ghost-town/fa654570-64cd-43c2-b7f9-84ffc3a0bbd1">Silver City</a> is more of an architectural cemetery than anything else. The 20-plus historic buildings on display here are kept in a state of &ldquo;arrested decay,&rdquo; giving visitors a historical window into the Sierra Nevada during the final days of the gold rush.</li>
<li>Mentryville - Tucked away in the hills of Santa Clarita, Mentryville was once a booming Old West oil town. Local legends claim that founder Charles Mentry&rsquo;s ghost still haunts the Mentry mansion to this day, although the town remains a <a href="https://m.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=mentryville,%20california,%20usa">popular filming location</a> for Hollywood productions.</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway</h2>
The Pacific Coast Highway, or the PCH as locals call it, is easily the most beautiful highway in California, winding along the Pacific coastline for almost the full length of the state. <a href="https://www.rovingvails.com/road-trip-itineraries/pacific-coast-highway/">This guide</a> covers the highlights pretty nicely, including some stops closer to LA.

<h2 dir="ltr">San Diego</h2>
San Diego is only a 2 or 3-hour drive from LA. If you prefer public transportation, take the <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/pacific-surfliner-train">Pacific Surfliner train</a> from Union Station to Santa Fe Depot or Old Town (3 hours), and then take the bus or trolley around the city.
San Diego has a ton of stuff to see, but if you only have one day there, head straight for the zoo!
The&nbsp;<a href="https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/plan-your-visit">San Diego Zoo</a> is not your typical menagerie. It&rsquo;s absolutely massive, housing over 12,000 animals, and constantly graces lists of the best zoos in the world. It&rsquo;s also just a beautiful place to walk around, so definitely plan to spend most of your day there.

The zoo is located in <a href="https://balboapark.org/">Balboa Park</a>, the museum quarter of the city. Highlights include a botanical garden, the iconic California Tower, and a ton of old Spanish-style architecture.&nbsp;
And before you leave the area, stop for a smoothie from <a href="https://senormangos.com/">Se&ntilde;or Mango&rsquo;s</a>!

<h1 id="events" dir="ltr">Events in Los Angeles</h1>
There are more events than we can count happening daily in LA, but here are a few of the biggest ones:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Tournament of Roses Parade (January 1st) - This iconic parade of flower-covered floats takes place in Pasadena (the north end of the county) to celebrate New Year&rsquo;s Day. It&rsquo;s pretty hectic to get a seat and see it in person, but the official website is <a href="https://www.visitpasadena.com/events/annual-events/rose-parade-guide/">packed with tips</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Academy Awards (late winter) - You can&rsquo;t attend the Oscars unless you&rsquo;re famous, but you can fight for a spot overlooking the red carpet for some star-gazing. It&rsquo;s run on a<a href="https://www.oscars.org/enter"> lottery system</a> though, so unless you&rsquo;re one of the chosen 700, you&rsquo;ll probably just want to avoid Hollywood that day.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Coachella (April) - While the famous music festival is technically in Indio (about three hours from the city), &lsquo;chella is massive for Los Angeles. Tickets are in high demand for this one, but you can usually <a href="https://www.coachella.com/passes">join the waitlist</a> if you miss out.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Film Festivals (year-round) - Unsurprisingly, there are film festivals happening almost constantly here. <a href="https://www.lafilmfestivals.com/">LA Film Festivals</a> has a good array of options for any genre. As for our favorites &mdash; <a href="https://screamfestla.com/">Screamfest</a> is the most significant horror festival, <a href="https://fest.afi.com/">AFI</a> is one of the most prestigious in the country, and <a href="https://www.lashortsfest.com/">LA Shorts</a> is where Oscar-winning short films often premiere.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sports (year-round) - There&rsquo;s <a href="https://los-angeles.events/sports/">always a game on</a>! Some of the most iconic teams in the US play in Los Angeles. Here are the seasons for the major leagues: 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Baseball (Dodgers, Angels) - late March/early April to late October</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Football (Rams, Chargers) - September to February</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Basketball (Lakers, Clippers, Sparks) - October to June for the NBA, May-October for the WNBA</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hockey (Kings, Ducks) - October to June</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Regular season tickets aren&rsquo;t usually too tricky to get, but definitely book in advance if you can. Big names like LeBron James and Shohei Ohtani can make LA sports tickets cost more than they might in other cities. 
If none of these events sound like something you&rsquo;re into, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/events">the calendar</a> for even more.

<h1 id="resources">Recommended Resources</h1>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/">LA Tourism Board</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskLosAngeles/">r/AskLosAngeles</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.visitcalifornia.com/region/los-angeles-county/">Visit California - LA County Guide</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://capturetheatlas.com/los-angeles-map/">Capture the Atlas - Maps of Los Angeles</a></li>
</ul>

Jack's Guide To: Los Angeles

Canada

Grab a <a href="https://timhortons.co.th/product/double-double/#:~:text=A%20Canadian%20classic%3A%20two%20shots,Categories%3A%20All%2C%20HOT%20BEVERAGES">double-double</a>, pack your toque&nbsp;and get psyched for some frolicking in Canada's crunchy maple goodness.&nbsp;
When you think "Montreal," do you imagine strolling through cobblestone streets scattered with blossoms, the sound of jazz floating in the air? Are you drawn to cozy plaid-bedecked hiking under fiery fall foliage? Or do you believe that Canada is a winter wonderland meant to be experienced as you lazily snowshoe through a blanket of glittering white snow?
A good portion of our team is either Canadian, has lived here, or has traveled to Canada. We&rsquo;ve crowdsourced the best travel tips and wrapped them up in a neat little package for your upcoming trip.
A quick note on the links in this guide: we&rsquo;re not affiliated with any external sites we&rsquo;ve chosen to include, so we&rsquo;re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you decide whether this destination is for you.

<h2 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h2>
Some people swear that winter is the only time to visit Montreal, others think it would be mad to go anytime but summer. Personally, we are partial to the sugar-shack insanity of spring&mdash;or the crisp Canadian fall.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s break down what you can expect in each season:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">In spring (March&ndash;May), picture vibrant gardens, lively festivals, and mild weather. The average temperatures of 10&ndash;20℃/50&ndash;68℉ make the sidewalk caf&eacute;s and rooftop terraces comfortable whenever the sun comes out.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Montreal starts to fill up as it transitions to summer (June-August). The 23&ndash;26℃/74&ndash;79℉ weather has outdoor events popping up throughout the city. Enjoy bustling street festivals, night markets, and temporary nightclubs.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fall (September-November) in Montreal is quintessentially Canadian, with bright foliage and crisp 10&ndash;23℃/50&ndash;74℉ temps.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">In winter (December-February), the city transforms into a frosty wonderland, with ice skating in Old Montreal, skiing on nearby hills, and the entire place decked out in festive lights. The season includes the Montreal en Lumi&egrave;re festival, and is a magical (but chilly!) -5 to -1℃/23&ndash;30℉.</li>
</ul>

Pro tip: It&rsquo;s pretty common to experience a freak snowstorm in the spring (or even summer!), and winter temperatures can often drop to -20℃/-4℉ for a shocking week or two. We recommend wearing merino wool, packing layers and staying flexible with your plans!

<h2 dir="ltr">Pre-trip Checklist</h2>
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Visas</h4>
Find out <a href="https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp">if you need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada</a> via <a href="https://ircc.canada.ca/english/visit/visas.asp">the government&rsquo;s handy interactive tool</a>.
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Vaccines</h4>
Disclaimer: We aren&rsquo;t medical experts, so always check which medications and vaccines are recommended by your local healthcare service before traveling: 
<ul>
<li>UK:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/north-america/canada">NHS Fit for Travel</a></li>
<li>EU: <a href="https://consular-protection.ec.europa.eu/travel-advice_en">Travel Advice for EU citizens</a></li>
<li>USA: <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/canada">CDC Travelers&rsquo; Health</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Check the weather and season</h4>
Refer to our Seasonality section above for more information, but double-check that the list of things you want to do in Montreal lines up with the time of year you&rsquo;re visiting. For example, you can&rsquo;t plan to enjoy sugar shack season in the summer.
<h4 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Language</h4>
Although English is widely spoken across the city, we recommend learning a few <a href="https://urbanguidequebec.com/helpful-fun-french-words-phrases/">basic Qu&eacute;bec French words</a>. Local Francophones will appreciate it, since Quebec is proud to be a <a href="https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/few-differences-between-french-spoken-quebec-and-france">distinctly French-speaking region</a>:
<ul>
<li>Hello: bonjour or salut</li>
<li>Thank you: merci</li>
<li>Please: s&rsquo;il vous plait</li>
<li>Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais?</li>
</ul>

FYI, the emergency number in Canada is 911, the same as the USA!

<h2 dir="ltr">Cash and Currency</h2>
The currency in Montreal is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). You might want to bring some cash for street vendors, but credit and debit cards are widely accepted.&nbsp;
ATMs are found everywhere, the best ones are Canadian banks &mdash; Bank of Montreal, Scotiabank, CIBC, RBC and TD &mdash; since they are the most reputable and have the lowest fees.
In Canada, tipping 15&ndash;20% is customary in restaurants, taxis and hotels. It is especially important for servers, since most places require the staff to combine tips between restaurant staff. Some restaurants even &ldquo;tip out,&rdquo; which means an employee is docked 4&ndash;6% of their total sales at the end of the night for the establishment to divvy up, regardless of the actual amount received.

Montreal is a major travel hub for eastern Canada, accessible by air, rail, or road. It serves as the gateway to greater Qu&eacute;bec, as well as Ontario to the west and the Atlantic provinces to the east, and is one of the most well-connected cities in Canada alongside Toronto and Vancouver. Montreal&rsquo;s primary airport (YUL) is especially popular as a connection for international travel, with about 70% of its passengers taking non-domestic flights.

<h3>By Air</h3>
We've done a deep dive and dug up some Jack's stats on the cheap flights to Montreal we&rsquo;ve seen from Europe, the UK, the USA and Canada, just for you.
From Europe:
Average expected price: &euro;400s return How many Flights we expect in a year: 10+ Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;150s return from Stockholm
From the UK:
Average expected price: &pound;390s return How many Flights alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10+ Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;250s return from London
From the USA:&nbsp;
Average expected price: $270s round trip How many Flights we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8 Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $90s round trip from Orlando
From Canada:&nbsp;
Average expected price: $200s round trip How many Flights we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10 Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $90s round trip from Toronto
Montreal is well-connected to most North American and European cities through Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), which is a 40-minute ride away from downtown on the <a href="https://www.admtl.com/en-CA/parking-and-transport/transport-services/buses">747 Express bus</a>.

Pro tip: If you don&rsquo;t have Canadian dollars in your pockets when you land, buy your 747 bus ticket at the machines inside the airport with your card for $11 CAD. You can also buy the ticket on the bus, but you&rsquo;ll have to pay the exact amount in change (they don&rsquo;t accept paper bills or card payments).

Most flights are served by local Canadian airlines&mdash;Air Canada, Air Transat, and WestJet&mdash;but pretty much every major carrier will have a route to Montreal. <a href="https://www.flightsfrom.com/YUL">Here&rsquo;s a list</a> with all the non-stop connections flying to YUL.

<h3>By Rail</h3>
You can reach Montreal with <a href="https://www.viarail.ca/en">VIA Rail</a>, Canada&rsquo;s national railway, from the largest cities in the country. From Montreal&rsquo;s Central Station, there are multiple local daily departures on the following routes:
<ul>
<li>Ottawa&ndash;Montreal</li>
<li>Montreal&ndash;Quebec City</li>
<li>Toronto&ndash;Montreal</li>
</ul>
In addition, a 10-hour train connecting <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/new-york-city-montreal-amtrak-adirondack-train-route-7374841">New York City to Montreal</a> runs once a day&mdash;it's served by Amtrak, the national passenger railroad company of the United States.

<h3>By Road</h3>
If you&rsquo;re coming from elsewhere in Canada, you can easily reach Montreal by picking up the <a href="https://transcanadahighway.com/">Trans-Canada Highway</a> and taking it all the way to the city. American road trippers can head for the closest border station in Champlain, NY, about 45 minutes from Montreal, although it might be faster to cross the border elsewhere and follow the TCH from there.&nbsp;
You can also take a bus directly to Montreal from the eastern US and Canada, typically for $30-$70 CAD. From the central bus station, you can reach the <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/guide-underground-city-shopping">underground pedestrian network</a> by following signs for the Berri-UQAM metro station.&nbsp;

<h2>Public Transportation in Montreal</h2>
Montreal has a great metro and bus system, alongside suburban and regional trains. It&rsquo;s also super reliable and <a href="https://www.stm.info/en/info/fares">affordable</a>, with a one-way ticket costing under $4 CAD. You can buy passes for shorter durations, such as a <a href="https://www.stm.info/sites/default/files/pdf/fr/tarifs2023.pdf">single trip or a three-day trip</a>, or save money by purchasing longer durations. We'd suggest buying your passes in advance from a kiosk in the metro station, since you'll need exact change (no notes!) if you buy your ticket on the bus.
As a visitor, you&rsquo;ll probably use the metro to get around during your trip. There are four numbered, color-coded lines that connect 68 stations, with the entire service running underground&mdash;a big advantage during the harsh winter months!
Each line has slightly different operating hours, but generally, they run from 5:30 am to about 12:30 am, Sunday through Thursday, and until around 1:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Late at night, the bus may be your only means of getting around besides a taxi or an Uber. There are <a href="https://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus-network-and-schedules-enlightened/all-night-service">around two dozen all-night bus routes</a> across the city.
Most of the central neighborhoods are walking/<a href="https://www.bikabout.com/montreal">biking-friendly</a>. You can use Google Maps for directions, as it has reliable navigation and shows bike paths and public transport info in the city. Plus, you can rent a bike through the top-notch city <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/bike-montrealer-bixi">bike-sharing program</a>.
<h3>Underground City</h3>

Downtown Montreal has one of the coolest pedestrian networks out there: the Underground City. Officially called R&Eacute;SO (like r&eacute;seau, French for &ldquo;network&rdquo;), these tunnels run under the city center, connecting 10 metro stations and over 1,500 buildings. It&rsquo;s kind of like a huge underground shopping mall, and it&rsquo;s a great way to walk around downtown when the weather gets chilly on the surface. <a href="https://gotourismguides.com/montreal/montreal-underground-city-map/">Here&rsquo;s a map</a> to help you get the lay of the land.

<h3>Ridesharing&nbsp;</h3>
When it comes to ride-sharing apps, Uber is available and works well in the city. That said, it&rsquo;s best not to rely on taxis/ride-sharing apps during the day since the price can get quite steep.&nbsp;
<a href="https://museumsandmiles.com/is-lyft-in-montreal/">This comprehensive guide</a> should give you a good idea of all the taxi options available in the city.

<h2>Internet and Cell Service</h2>
<h3>Mobile Service and Data</h3>
The main cell service providers are Bell, Rogers, Telus, and Videotron (a regional carrier with strong coverage in Qu&eacute;bec). In most places, you&rsquo;ll get a speedy 4G or even 5G connection.
<h3 style="text-align: left;">SIM Cards</h3>
You can buy a physical SIM card from the main providers at the airport when you arrive, or place an order online for a <a href="https://fizz.ca/en">Fizz SIM card</a> if you&rsquo;re planning to stay for a month or longer&mdash;their plans tend to be cheaper than their competitors.
However, if your phone supports it, we recommend buying an eSIM instead. Mobile data is infamously quite pricey in Canada, and companies like Fizz and <a href="https://www.airalo.com/">Airalo</a> sell prepaid data plans that allow you to get connected before you arrive&mdash;and at a better price.

Pro tip: Always remember to check your existing phone plan to see if they give you any kind of coverage in Canada or Qu&eacute;bec before spending money on an international package that might not be necessary.

<h3>Wi-Fi</h3>
Basically every caf&eacute;, restaurant, and shopping center provides free Wi-Fi to customers.&nbsp;
The city also has a free public Wi-Fi network, <a href="https://montreal.ca/en/services/mtlwifi-internet-access-free-charge">MTLWiFi</a>, which you&rsquo;ll be able to connect to in many downtown areas, parks, and public spaces. Plus, some STM metro stations and buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi as well.

Remote working is easy in the city, with numerous co-working spaces, such as WeWork, Regus, Notman House, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/crewcollectivecafe/?hl=en">Crew Collective &amp; Caf&eacute;</a>, which have flexible membership plans and amenities for remote workers.&nbsp;

Pro tip: Navigator Fran has worked remotely in Montreal plenty of times and recommends&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/anticafe_montreal/?hl=en">Anticaf&eacute;</a> as a lovely spot to get your laptop out without judgment.&nbsp;

<h2>Travel Style</h2>
Montreal is an excellent destination for solo travelers and family groups alike. There&rsquo;s plenty of variety to be found in the metro area itself, and it&rsquo;s easy to take day trips elsewhere in Qu&eacute;bec for natural beauty. In general, Montreal is an extremely safe city, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fueledbywanderlust.com/montreal-solo-travel/">women</a> and <a href="https://www.villagemontreal.ca/en">LGBT+ travelers</a>. Organizing a DIY trip shouldn&rsquo;t be too challenging&mdash;it's a very easy place to visit.

<h2>Montreal Area Guides</h2>
<h3>Plateau Mont-Royal (the Plateau)</h3>
Located to the northeast of downtown Montreal, the neighborhood is renowned for its distinctive Victorian architecture, packed with colorful, narrow, two or three-story buildings with wrought-iron staircases and balconies. Head to Square Saint-Louis to see some of the oldest and prettiest examples of this style.
The two main boulevards are Saint-Laurent Street and Saint-Denis Street:
<ul>
<li>Saint-Laurent (or &ldquo;The Main&rdquo;)&mdash;a major commercial artery filled with shops, restaurants, and nightlife spots. It is also known for its street art and murals.</li>
</ul>

Grab brunch at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/patatimontreal/?hl=en">Patati Patata</a>, do a little shopping at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evabvintage/?hl=en">Eva B</a>, and finish with drinks at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bar.darling/?hl=en">Le Bar Darling</a>.

Spotlight on: Saint-Laurent

<ul>
<li>Saint-Denis Street&mdash;famous for its European ambiance, featuring a wide variety of boutiques, bistros, and theaters.</li>
</ul>
Accommodation: In the Plateau, you can expect a mix of low-key hotels, a couple of hostels, and plenty of unique Airbnbs.

Pro tip:&nbsp;The Plateau Mont-Royal is predominantly francophone, with a significant proportion of residents being bilingual. You can get by just fine with English and an apologetic tone, but picking up some French phrases wouldn&rsquo;t hurt.

<h3>Mile End</h3>
Right next to the Plateau, this historical working-class neighborhood has transformed over the decades into a bohemian hub for artists, musicians, and young families. The area is well-known for its <a href="https://everythingzoomer.com/travelhub/2018/04/20/montreal-cafes/">caf&eacute; culture</a>, with numerous literary caf&eacute;s and <a href="https://tastet.ca/en/reviews/boulangerie-guillaume-a-superb-bakery-on-boulevard-st-laurent/">bakeries</a>. Here are the three most important streets in the area:
<ul>
<li>Laurier West Street&mdash;connects the neighborhoods of Outremont and the Mile End. It&rsquo;s the place to be if you&rsquo;re interested in shopping from local designers and small boutiques, or if you&rsquo;re looking for a trendy restaurant for brunch.</li>
</ul>

When you finish shopping at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ecoledepensee/?hl=en">&Eacute;cole de Pens&eacute;e</a>, grab Montreal's best brunch at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/larrys.gram/?hl=en">Larrys</a>.

Spotlight on: Laurier West

<ul>
<li>Fairmount Avenue &amp; Saint-Viateur Street&mdash;aka <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/the-famous-montreal-bagel">Bagel-land</a>. Besides the puffy, sesame-y deliciousness of their famous bagels, both streets are well known for a variety of caf&eacute;s, bakeries, and second-hand/boutique shops.</li>
</ul>

Snack at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fairmountbagel/?hl=en">Fairmount Bagels</a> or at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stviateurbagel/?hl=en">Saint-Viateur</a>&mdash;be careful <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/what-are-montreal-bagels-the-best-fairmount-vs-st-viateur-rivalry-canada">which one</a> you choose, though&hellip;

Spotlight on: Montreal bagels

Accommodation: Around Mile End, you&rsquo;ll mostly find artsy design hotels and lots of Airbnbs.

<h3>Downtown</h3>
The neighborhood revolves around the <a href="http://placedesarts.com/index.en.html">Place des Arts</a> cultural complex, home to the Montreal Opera and Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Grands Ballets Canadiens. Plenty of festivals are also held in the area, such as the <a href="http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/default-en.aspx">Montreal Jazz Festival</a> and <a href="http://www.justforlaughs.com/">Just For Laughs</a> comedy fest.
You&rsquo;ll see all the city&rsquo;s biggest cultural institutions here: Montreal&rsquo;s central library, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the National Theatre School of Canada, right next to the main commercial area on <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/shopping/sainte-catherine-street">Saint Catherine Street</a>.
Accommodation: Downtown features a solid mix of high-end, business-type hotels, basic Airbnbs, and some hostels.

Pro tip:&nbsp;Downtown is predominantly anglophone, though a significant proportion of residents are bilingual.

This historic neighborhood located along the St. Lawrence River is one of the city's most popular destinations, thanks to the historic buildings, waterfront views, cobblestone alleys, and sites like the Notre-Dame Basilica. It&rsquo;s a little bit touristy, and it can get crowded, but the streets are gorgeous, and there are a bunch of top-notch art museums there. Plus, you can pop in and out of all the cute shops selling Qu&eacute;bec-made products. We recommend leaving your car at the hotel for this one, though, since parking is impossible and the area is well-connected to the metro.

Pro tip:&nbsp;If you don&rsquo;t feel like having food in the Vieux Port&rsquo;s pricey alleys, <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/discover-neighbourhood-montreal-chinatown">Montreal&rsquo;s Chinatown</a> is just a couple of steps (and a paifang gate) away&mdash;it's considered one of the best in North America!

Accommodation: The Vieux Port mostly has luxury boutique hotels.

<h2>Food in Montreal</h2>
<h3>Traditional Food</h3>
Central Canada&rsquo;s cuisine (Quebec and Ontario) has a unique mix of First Nations traditions, as well as French and British colonial influences. And, like any major city, Montreal is chock-full of great restaurants from all over the world, especially Lebanese, Vietnamese, and Italian food.
Qu&eacute;bec cuisine is known for French dishes like <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/the-meaty-history-of-quebecois-tourtiere/">tourti&egrave;re</a> (meat pie), ragout de pattes (pork stew), and pea soup.

But ask a Qu&eacute;b&eacute;cois about the most iconic Qu&eacute;bec dish, and they will tell you: poutine. Made of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy, you&rsquo;ll find variations with additional toppings like pulled pork, bacon, or foie gras. You can get poutine just about anywhere in the city, but our favorite spot is <a href="https://becomingtia.com/patati-patata/">Patati Patata</a>.&nbsp;
Speaking of sweets, get ready for plenty of maple syrup&mdash;a quintessential Canadian (and Qu&eacute;b&eacute;coise) staple&mdash;in desserts like tarte au sucre (maple pie) and pouding ch&ocirc;meur, but also in candies and as a topping for pancakes and waffles. It&rsquo;s a key ingredient in savory foods as well, such as caramelized onions, bacon, or even beans (it&rsquo;s called f&egrave;ves au lard&mdash;<a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/guest-post-from-4-88245">look it up</a>!).

<h3>New Qu&eacute;bec Cuisine</h3>
People come from all over North America to eat in Montreal.
But it&rsquo;s not only traditional meals they&rsquo;re after&mdash;Montreal's cuisine has a distinctive focus on unusual local ingredients, putting it on par with other foodie cities like New York or Chicago. Head to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vinpapillon/?hl=en">Vin Papillon</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cafe_miracolo/?hl=en">Miracolo</a>, or even funky <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pumpuimontreal/?hl=en">Épicerie Pumpui</a> to taste this experimental version of the farm-to-table strategy.&nbsp;
And what&rsquo;s better than unique wines to accompany some innovative cuisine? The city has one of the most elaborate <a href="https://tastet.ca/en/lists/where-to-drink-good-organic-wine-in-montreal/">natural and biodynamic wine scenes</a> in the world. So, if you enjoy your natural wines, get ready to drink!

<h3>Montreal Smoked Meat</h3>
A culinary tradition with roots in the city's Jewish immigrant community, Montreal&rsquo;s answer to pastrami features cured and smoked brisket that's thinly sliced and piled high on rye bread and topped with yellow mustard.&nbsp;
One of the most famous places is Schwartz's Deli, founded in 1928 and located on Saint-Laurent Street, but there are also some <a href="https://cultmtl.com/2024/05/best-smoked-meat-in-montreal-best-of-mtl-schwartzs-smoke-meat-pete-dunns-famous-snowdon-deli-lesters-deli/">great options</a> all around the Mile End neighborhood (the city&rsquo;s Jewish quarter).

<h3>Vegetarian &amp; Vegan Options</h3>
Montreal has an incredible variety of veggie-friendly spots&mdash;have a look at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/oplante.ca/?hl=en">OPLANTE</a> to get your vegetarian sushi fix, or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lacalepubzerodechet/?hl=en">La Cale</a> for some dairy-free vegan poutine.

<h2 dir="ltr">Events in Montreal</h2>
Fact: There is nothing that this city loves more than a good festival. From couch potatoes to adventure aficionados, Montreal has something for everyone. Here are some of the highlights:

Welcome to &ldquo;the coldest music festival in the world.&rdquo; Every year, from mid-January to early February, people dress up in their most fashionable snowsuits and brave temperatures as low as -25℃/-13℉ with thousands of other electronic music fans. Although it&rsquo;s an all-ages event, the crowd is mostly 18&ndash;35-year-olds.&nbsp;
Hot tip: We recommend splashing out on VIP tickets for a better heat lamp to festival-goer ratio. Not to mention much better bathrooms! For tickets and a list of this year&rsquo;s artists, <a href="https://igloofest.ca/en/experience">check out their website</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGETMVbPb9U/?hl=en">CC image</a> of Igloofest, courtesy of igloofest_mtl on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/igloofest_mtl/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.

Spotlight on: Igloofest

Quebec produces 78% of the world&rsquo;s maple syrup, and this all comes to a head in March&ndash;April when <a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/sugar-shack-101">sugar fever hits the province</a>! Sugar shacks are traditional establishments where maple sap is boiled into syrup. The actual forests are located outside the city, but the fun can be found everywhere, with pop-ups and restaurants partnering with the shacks to celebrate.
Expect maple split pea soup, freshly poured taffy (cooled on a bed of snow, the most Canadian treat)&hellip; and anything that includes or can be smothered in maple syrup.
<a href="https://www.authentikcanada.com/ca-en/blog/top-5-sugar-shack-in-quebec">Check out this list</a> of the sugar shacks closest to Montreal. As well as syrup, you&rsquo;ll usually find horse-drawn carriages, snowshoeing and sleigh rides.
Hot tip: Since the maple season varies slightly depending on the weather, we&rsquo;d recommend timing your visit for the beginning of April.

Spotlight on: Sugar Shack season

For the most explosive event on the calendar, look no further than this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/l-international-des-feux-loto-quebec">multi-day international fireworks competition</a>. Launching from La Ronde Park on &Icirc;le Sainte-H&eacute;l&egrave;ne, there are usually about 9 events spanning late June to mid-August, with 6&ndash;9 countries competing for the top spot.&nbsp;
The best place to watch the show is from the grandstands at La Ronde (<a href="https://lesgrandsfeux.com/en/ticketing">check here for tickets</a>), but we heard a rumour that <a href="https://chasingpoutine.ca/montreal-fireworks-top-5-places-to-enjoy-the-competitiontop-places-montreal-fireworks-competition/#:~:text=Clock%20Tower%20in%20Montreal's%20Old%20Port%3A%20Timeless%20Views!&amp;text=The%20riverside%20parks%20around%20the,folding%20chairs%20and%20a%20blanket.">you can get fantastic (free) views</a> too.

Spotlight on: Montreal International Fireworks Competition:

At its core,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livelikeitstheweekend.com/osheaga-music-festival-a-first-timers-guide/">Osheaga</a> is a multi-day music festival taking place in August in Parc Jean-Drapeau. Spotlighting a mix of already-iconic and emerging local talent, you can rock out to over 100 artists across the island&rsquo;s 6 stages. Although it&rsquo;s less well-known than festivals like Coachella or Glastonbury, there&rsquo;s something magical about Osheaga. The <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/osheaga/comments/15ejccz/osheaga_is_my_favorite_music_festival/">crowd is wild</a>, the headliners have as much fun as the attendees, and the <a href="https://osheaga.com/en/food-and-drink">food is top-notch</a>. Although it changes every year, you&rsquo;re going to want to head for the food trucks &mdash; if it&rsquo;s there, we recommend <a href="https://mandys.ca/en/signature-salads/">Mandy&rsquo;s Salads</a>, for a refreshing change from the usual festival burgers.
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGETMVbPb9U/">CC image</a> of Osheaga, courtesy of kikisoflyy on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/igloofest_mtl/">Instagram</a>.

Spotlight on: Osheaga

<a href="https://curiocity.com/montreal/">Check out this website</a> for festivals, pop-ups, new restaurant openings and the upcoming calendar. Montreal was also the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, so <a href="https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/canada/montreal/deals">keep your eyes peeled</a>&nbsp;for local performances and themed events.

<h3 dir="ltr">Recommended links:</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca/explore/seasons/fall#the-2024-fall-colors-map">Fall foliage map</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/best-sugar-shacks-montreal">Sugar shack experiences</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://tastet.ca/en/">Tastet</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://curiocity.com/montreal/">Curiocity Montreal</a> (for events and pop-ups)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://weather.com/en-CA/weather/monthly/l/Montreal+Quebec?canonicalCityId=19b2d92840c0bce6dff7bdda91a120023ec1f7e8b45d1b6db3fc1239d6adba56">Month by month weather conditions</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.bonjourquebec.com/en-ca">Tourism Quebec</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.mtl.org/en">Tourism Montreal</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Outdoor Activities &amp; Day Trips From Montreal</h2>
One of the main draws of Canada is the great outdoors, and Montreal is no different. Here are our favorite activities that you should add to your list:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hike in the inner-city Mount Royal Park (or foray slightly further out to hike alpine lakes and dramatic mountain peaks at Mont Tremblant, only a short 1.5&ndash;2-hour drive away)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Relax on the <a href="https://www.oldportofmontreal.com/activity/clock-tower-beach">urban beach at Clock Tower Quay</a>, smack-dab in the Old Port of Montreal.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Snowshoe in the powder-white wonderland that is <a href="https://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/en/snowshoes-activity-nature-winter-montreal/">Parc Jean-Drapeau</a>. Looks like Narnia; is accessible by metro instead of a wardrobe!</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ice skate under the Clock Tower at the Old Port.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ski/snowboard under the stars at <a href="https://www.sommets.com/en/discover-les-sommets/sommet-saint-sauveur-winter/">Mont Saint-Sauveur</a> (and then get your apr&egrave;s-ski on in their charmingly lit ski village)</li>
</ul>

<h3>Day trips:&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://chelsea.lenordik.com/en/">Nordic Spa Nature</a>, an outdoor spa that melts into the surrounding forest, offers a thermal circuit with a chilly arctic plunge and plenty of steaming hot pools. Don&rsquo;t get scared off by bad weather &mdash; there&rsquo;s nothing quite like a hot soak in the midst of a snow flurry! (2-hour drive)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.kanatha-aki.com/laurentides-quebec/en/">Dog sled at Kanatha-Aki</a> for full-day excursions through the Laurentian forests. We especially like Kanatha-Aki for their ethical encounters and the chance to learn from mushers about their dogs, as well as a deep dive into indigenous culture. (1.5-hour drive).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Live out a fairytale at the <a href="https://www.valcartier.com/fr/hebergement/hotel-de-glace/">Chateau de Glace</a>, which <a href="https://youtu.be/3bOixTv71Vc?si=X4O3GwDgZDWxznUM&amp;t=55">Disney animators studied to create the art for the Frozen movie</a>. Sure, you can sleep in their on-site hotel, but the true bucket-list-worthy experience is sleeping in a building carved (almost) entirely of ice, in a room built from ice, on an actual bed made of ice! Don&rsquo;t worry, the mattress is nice and warm, and the entire experience is nothing short of magical. (2.5&ndash;3-hour drive).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hop on <a href="https://provincequebec.com/eastern-townships/orford-express/">the Orford Express</a> through the Eastern Townships&mdash;especially gorgeous in mid-September&ndash;October, when the fiery fall foliage lights up the forests, mountains and alpine lakes. Don&rsquo;t eat beforehand because the train includes gourmet meals served in its vintage rail cars (begins a 1.5-hour drive from Montreal).</li>
</ul>

Have you visited Montreal? Share your tips with us!

Jack's Guide To: Montreal

Japan

If you&rsquo;re planning a trip to Japan, Kyoto will likely be up there as one of the top cities on your list (typically along with Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima). It&rsquo;s within a few hours of Tokyo, making it an easy trip on the Shinkansen, but holds its own.&nbsp;
While it shares similarities with the capital (like fast-paced, sprawling neighborhoods, skyscrapers and temples galore), Kyoto&rsquo;s history as the former Imperial court of the country and its long traditions of Geiko, Maiko and Kabuki Theatre, attract millions every year.&nbsp;
The city is split up into <a href="https://sushisandwich81.com/all-11-wards-of-kyoto-city/">11 wards</a>, with the main &lsquo;downtown&rsquo; areas around Kyoto Station and the Kawaramachi/Teramachi neighbourhoods. The Kamo River splits the city in half, with the main business district on the western side, and the more historical temples and neighborhoods on the eastern side (including Gion, one of the most popular neighborhoods). At the far west of the city, you&rsquo;ll find the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park, where macaque monkeys roam freely on Mount Arashiyama.&nbsp;
When I visited in February 2025, I found that while there are nowhere near the number of people in Kyoto that live in Tokyo, the city felt similarly busy in central touristy areas. I was also surprised by how spread out different attractions are, and how long it can take to move from one area of the city to the other, so that&rsquo;s worth keeping in mind when you make your itinerary!&nbsp;
A quick note on the links in this guide:&nbsp;we&rsquo;re not affiliated with any of the external sites included in this guide, so we&rsquo;re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you decide if this destination is for you.

FYI: if you'd like to read more about food, public transport, visas, cash and currency, seasonality and my top tips on how to navigate Japan in general, check out my guide to&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfcs-guide-to-tokyo">Tokyo</a>.&nbsp;

<h2>Getting there</h2>
The closest airport to Kyoto is Kansai International Airport (KIX), which is actually closer to Osaka than Kyoto. Osaka and Kyoto are less than 1 hour apart (by car), and it takes about 90 minutes to get to Kyoto from KIX by public transport.&nbsp;
The options to fly to KIX airport directly are more limited than for Tokyo, but it&rsquo;s still large enough where you&rsquo;ll be able to fly direct from some cities, or via a connecting flight from almost anywhere.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll find non-stop flights to KIX directly from these cities in Europe and North America:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Paris (CDG) with Air France&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Amsterdam (AMS) with KLM&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Munich (MUC) with Lufthansa</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Helsinki (HEL) with Finnair</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">San Francisco (SFO) with United&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Los Angeles (LAX) with JAL&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Vancouver (YVR) with Air Canada</li>
</ul>
As with Tokyo, you&rsquo;ll find the cheapest 1-stop fares if you fly via China from the UK or Europe. From North America, the cheapest 1-stop option is usually via Tokyo.&nbsp;

Here&rsquo;s our handy guide on what to expect when booking your flight to KIX airport:
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &euro;450-&euro;650 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 15</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/japan-south-korea-from-germany-in-high-300s400s-rtn-1">&euro;384 rtn</a></li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &pound;400s-&pound;480s rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 7-8</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/london-to-around-japan-in-300s-rtn">&pound;363 rtn</a></li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $580s-$750s RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/price-drop-philadelphia-to-japan-in-300s-rt-1">$331 RT</a></li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $1000s-$1100s RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8-9</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/japan-in-910s-970s-rt">$917 RT</a></li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">By train</h3>
I arrived in Kyoto by Shinkansen from Tokyo (which is how most visitors get to the city). The journey took about 2-2.5 hours and cost about &pound;70/&euro;84/$98 (14,370 JPY) per person. We booked our tickets directly at the Shinkansen ticket machine in Tokyo Station about 30 minutes in advance.
There are generally 10&ndash;12 trains per hour, and they are either with Nozomi, Kodama or Hikari train services. Nozomi and Hikari trains tend to be express trains (with only 4&ndash;5 stops between the two cities), whereas Kodama stops at more than 15 stations. Because of this, you can expect them to take over an hour longer than the express trains.&nbsp;
You can catch the train to Kyoto from other major cities in Japan, too. Here&rsquo;s how long it&rsquo;ll take you, and generally, how much a ticket will cost (as of August 2025):&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nagoya (35 mins) 6110 JPY (approx. $41/&pound;30/&euro;35)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Osaka (45 mins), 570 JPY (approx. $4/&pound;3/&euro;3)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Kobe (1 hr 20 mins), 3910 JPY (approx. $36/&pound;20/&euro;22)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hiroshima (1 hr 45 mins), 11820 JPY (approx. $80/&pound;59/&euro;68)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Yokohama (2 hrs 20 mins), 13700 JPY (approx. $92/&pound;69/&euro;79)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fukuoka (2 hrs 45 mins), 16780 JPY (approx. $110/&pound;84/&euro;96)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Niigata (5 hrs 20 mins), 22800 JPY (approx. $150/&pound;115/&euro;130)</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting around</h2>
<h4 dir="ltr">Metro and suburban trains</h4>
Similarly to Tokyo, you can get around the city center with the <a href="https://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-subways">Kyoto Subway</a>. There are 31 stations across two subway lines, and they&rsquo;ll take you to most of the main sites in the center of the city, like Nijo Castle, Pontocho Alley and Nishiki Market.&nbsp;
To use the metro, you&rsquo;ll need an <a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html">IC card</a>. These are contactless cards that you can preload with cash and use at the ticket barriers to enter the station. The same cards that work in Tokyo generally work here (e.g., Suica and Icoca). There are also Kansai-specific IC cards, like Pitapa.&nbsp;
Unlike in Tokyo, many of the main sites in Kyoto are a little further outside the downtown area and will require suburban trains outside the subway network. This will be the case for sites like Arashiyama in the west of the city, Fushimi Inari Taisha to the south-east, and many of the temples.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll still be able to use your IC card, and pricing will be about the same (220-900 JPY depending on distance), but the main difference is frequency &mdash; the subway will typically come every couple of minutes, where you may be waiting up to 15 minutes for a train.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Buses</h4>
We used buses occasionally when we were in the city. We found the bus especially useful when coming back to the hotel from the end of the Philosopher&rsquo;s Path, which isn&rsquo;t anywhere near a train or metro station. There&rsquo;s a flat fee of 230 JPY (approx. $1.55/&euro;1.30/&pound;1.15) and you&rsquo;ll need exact change if you&rsquo;re not using your IC card. 
When you're waiting for the bus in Japan, you should line up on the footpath next to the bus stop until it arrives.&nbsp;
Read more about riding the bus <a href="https://www.kyotostation.com/taking-a-bus-in-kyoto/">here</a>.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Geisha IRL: Geiko, Maiko and the performing arts</h2>
If there&rsquo;s one word that&rsquo;s associated with Kyoto in the western world, it&rsquo;s &lsquo;Geisha&rsquo;. This profession is unique to Kyoto, and comes with hundreds of years of culture and history.&nbsp;
While fetishised overseas, Geisha are not what many people think they are. In real life, these performers are known by the terms Geiko (or Maiko, an apprentice Geiko). They live an extremely demanding lifestyle, learning skills of dance, playing instruments, and the art of conversation, which take years to master. While they do entertain visitors in tea houses around Kyoto, they do so in groups, and as a tourist, you&rsquo;re unlikely to see them in action.&nbsp;
The Geiko and Maiko live in okiya (boarding) houses, which you can find in the Gion district (these houses are easily spotted by the wooden nameplates over the door of each Geiko and Maiko living in that house). There are estimated to only be 100-150 Geiko practicing in Kyoto, a real decline in from their peak population of <a href="https://www.toki.tokyo/blogt/2016/8/2/the-history-of-geisha-in-japanese-culture">80,000 in the 1920s</a>.
FYI, If you&rsquo;re lucky enough to see a Geiko or Maiko walking around, it&rsquo;s best to admire them from a distance, and put your phone away. There has been backlash in recent years of tourists taking unsolicited photos of Geiko and Maiko on the streets of Gion.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;d like to learn more, the newly opened <a href="https://gion-museum.com/en/">Gion Kagai Art Museum</a> is your best bet. You&rsquo;ll find out all about the many years of training these women go through, see different clothing items worn during performances (including beautiful kimonos), watch videos of real-life Geiko speaking about their lives and explaining the art from their own perspective.&nbsp;
You can also pay to watch a 15-minute performance with a practicing Geiko and Maiko, which I can highly, highly recommend. Admission is 3,100 JPY (or about &pound;15/&euro;18/$20). &nbsp;

If you're looking for Geiko or Maiko on the street, you'll see lots of visitors dressed up in the typical dresses, taking photos at temples and on the street, so don't be fooled. In the wise words of my tour guide, &ldquo;if you have to ask yourself &lsquo;is that a real Geiko?&rsquo;, they definitely aren&rsquo;t&rdquo;.

Larissa's Pro Tip

<h2 dir="ltr">Kabuki Theater</h2>
Kabuki Theater is another performance art that has become famous across Japan and the world. The performers wear masks and perform scenes of moral conflicts, traditions, and Japanese legends.&nbsp;
Plays are usually around 3&ndash;4 hours long and don&rsquo;t have English subtitles or audio guides, so they're not as accessible as other performances you may be used to. If you&rsquo;d like to get a taste of a show but don&rsquo;t want to sit through a whole play, buy a &lsquo;Single Act&rsquo; seat, which is usually only 30 minutes. 
If you&rsquo;d like to see one, your best bet is to go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kabukiweb.net/theatres/minamiza/">Minamiza Theatre</a> in the Gion district.

<h2 dir="ltr">Useful links</h2>
If you'd like my top apps and websites to use on your trip to Kyoto, check out my guide to <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfcs-guide-to-tokyo">Tokyo</a>.&nbsp;

Jack's Guide to: Kyoto

New Orleans is one of the most unique and culturally distinct cities in the United States. It's packed with history, incredible food and music, and an energy like no other. Here's your quick and easy guide from a writer who knows all the local tips.

<h2 dir="ltr">Visas</h2>
Whether you need a visa to enter the United States depends on your country of citizenship. Visitors from Canada, most European countries, and some Asian countries can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. The state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans have no local requirements for entry.
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html">US State Department website</a> for more information.

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting There</h2>
Reaching New Orleans is easy enough &mdash; The international airport is serviced by all major US airlines and features non-stop routes from all over the country, plus Toronto, Montreal, and London.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s particularly well-connected for budget flights around the US. Spirit Airlines ferries passengers between NOLA and many American cities for $50-$150 RT.
Here&rsquo;s what to expect when booking your flight:
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &euro;450-&euro;650 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 2-4</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;418 (LUX- recent) and &euro;238 (AMS- 4 years ago)</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &pound;500-&pound;700 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 5-6</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;395 (GLA/LHR)</li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $50-$150 RT (for budget airlines) or $150-$250 RT (for full-service airlines)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $48 RT with a budget airline, $98 RT for full service.</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $500-$700 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 0-2</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: No deals so far, but we&rsquo;re waiting patiently! </li>
</ul>
Pro-Tip: Amtrak connects <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/city-of-new-orleans-train">New Orleans to Chicago by train</a>. While not any cheaper than a local flight (and much more time-consuming), it&rsquo;s a neat way to see more of the country and allows you to take advantage of Chicago&rsquo;s much wider selection of international flights.

<h2 dir="ltr">Cash and Currency</h2>
As you&rsquo;d expect, USD is the only accepted currency in New Orleans. Most places accept card, but we highly recommend keeping some cash on you. Some bars are cash only, there are street performers and local vendors everywhere, and public transit doesn&rsquo;t accept cards at all.
While it&rsquo;s not a particularly expensive city compared to other US cities, there&rsquo;s a huge disparity in pricing between the French Quarter and other neighborhoods. If you&rsquo;re visiting on a budget, plan to stay and eat elsewhere when possible.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting Around Town</h2>
Getting around New Orleans has a bit of a learning curve, but fortunately the city is relatively small and well-connected.
Public Transportation
There are buses and streetcars. The streetcars are popular with tourists and can take you between a couple of major attractions.
If you rely on the bus, be prepared to go with the flow. Schedules are unreliable, routes change for parades, and waits of an hour or more are common.
Pro-Tip: The best way to get an accurate arrival time for your bus is to text 41411. Send a message saying &ldquo;Norta#[four-digit stop number]&rdquo; and it&rsquo;ll send back a pretty reliable ETA.
Neither buses nor streetcars accept payment by card. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.norta.com/ride-with-us/how-to-pay">pay using exact change, use the Le Pass app, or purchase a ticket/pass in advance</a>. As of January 2025, the fare for most riders is $1.25.
Rideshare/Taxi
Rideshare apps and taxis here are easy to use and tend to be similar in price, with the apps usually being a tad cheaper. However, United Cab (the primary taxi company in town) is typically cheapest for airport transfers. They charge a flat rate of $36 from the airport to downtown New Orleans, or vice versa.
Pro-Tip: Getting an Uber from the French Quarter is pricey, especially at night. Walk a few blocks away from the action, then order your ride home. I saved $5-15 per trip this way. Just keep to well-lit areas and don&rsquo;t go too far &mdash; especially if you&rsquo;re alone.

<h2>Neighborhoods in New Orleans</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The French Quarter - aka The Quarter. The most famous (and touristy) part of town. Bars, restaurants, and kitschy souvenir shops.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Garden District/Uptown - Beautiful historic mansions, Audubon Zoo and Park, upscale dining. Includes Magazine Street, the best place for non-kitschy souvenirs.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Marigny - A few artsy blocks near the Quarter. Includes Frenchman Street, the main hub for <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/plan/streets/frenchmen-street/">jazz music</a>.</li>
<li>Mid-City - Home to most of the city's famous above-ground <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/attractions/cemeteries/">cemeteries</a>.</li>
</ul>
This is just a taste &mdash; you can read about <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/plan/neighborhoods/">more neighborhoods here</a>.

<h2 dir="ltr">When to Visit</h2>
Aside from some hot and humid summers, NOLA is a pretty pleasant year-round destination. The tourism calendar is driven by festivals.
December-February
Winters in New Orleans are pretty mild, ranging from about 45-65 &ordm;F (7-18 &ordm;C) with minimal rain. The tail end of winter marks the start of high season, as the Christmas and New Year&rsquo;s festivities tend to blur into <a href="https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/">Mardi Gras</a>. Those parties and parades start around a month in advance of the actual Tuesday (early-February-early March), and begin to peak the weekend before.&nbsp;
March-May&nbsp;
This is technically high season, but if you visit in the weeks directly following Mardi Gras, you won&rsquo;t catch big crowds. It&rsquo;s also got pleasant weather, with warmer temps than winter but less rain than summer. Some of the most beloved festivals happen in mid-spring, like <a href="https://www.nojazzfest.com/">Jazz Fest</a> and the <a href="https://frenchquarterfest.org/">French Quarter Festival</a>. This is one of the best times to visit the city.
June-August
Muggy and hot with lots of mosquitos. While severe storms are highly unlikely, this is peak hurricane season. Unless you really want to visit a seasonal event like <a href="https://satchmosummerfest.org/">Satchmo Summerfest</a> or <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/event/essence-festival-of-culture%C2%AE-presented-by-coca-cola%C2%AE-new-orleans/3296/">ESSENCE</a>, we recommend choosing a different time.&nbsp;
September-November
This is another mild time to visit, with (slightly) cooler temps. It&rsquo;s the tail-end of hurricane season, but that doesn&rsquo;t stop most folks &mdash; New Orleans is a fantastic place to spend your <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/halloween/">Halloween</a>. There&rsquo;s also Oktoberfest celebrations and the <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/event/bayou-bacchanal/11654/">Bayou Bacchanal</a>. November tends to be one of the most peaceful months, with nice weather, fewer events, and less hurricane risk.

<h2 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h2>
As you can probably tell, New Orleans is the perfect place to go with the flow. You can see the sights in a few days with little planning, as things move at a relaxed pace. Don&rsquo;t overbook &mdash; wandering, mingling, and soaking up the city's unique energy is the best way to experience it.

<h2>Useful Links</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.neworleans.com/">New Orleans official tourism site</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNOLA/">r/askNOLA</a></li>
</ul>

Jack's Guide To: New Orleans

Turkey

A friend recently asked me if the whole of Turkey was as expensive as Istanbul Airport. Having been to Turkey (and both of Istanbul&rsquo;s airports) a few times, I never found myself baulking at the price of a meal out in the wild the way I did at the vendors in the airport.&nbsp;
But why on earth are Istanbul&rsquo;s airports <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-14614327/world-expensive-airport-revealed-Istanbul.html">so expensive</a>? The Turkish Lira fluctuates pretty rapidly, and it&rsquo;s certainly true that inflation in the country has pushed prices up a fair bit. From what I can tell, though, there&rsquo;s no obvious reason behind the surged airport snack costs other than the fact that they can. Like all airports, vendors there have a captive (and often under-prepared) audience.
I, too, have been one of the under-prepared. After a couple of run-ins with a &pound;10/$13 simit (for the uninitiated, that&rsquo;s a simple sesame-covered cross between a bagel and a pretzel) and a &pound;20+ off-brand fast food burger meal at Istanbul International, I had hopes that a layover at Istanbul&rsquo;s second airport would be kinder on the pocket.
How wrong I was.&nbsp;

Sabiha G&ouml;k&ccedil;en International, located on the Asian side of the Turkish metropolis, is a hub for domestic routes and Turkey&rsquo;s low-cost airline Pegasus. It&rsquo;s older and gloomier than IST &mdash; think office-style strip lighting and polystyrene roof tiles. Looking for a charging station? That in itself is a like a scavenger hunt. To say it&rsquo;s not exactly modern would be an understatement.
When I found myself there on the way to Cappadocia, I suspected that the prices might reflect that, and costs might not be so modern as those at the shiny, new Istanbul International. But, once again, I was faced with the choice of a &pound;10 simit, &pound;20 burger, &pound;15 Subway salad, etc. And don&rsquo;t even bother considering a beer!
Passing through once again on the way to Kyrgyzstan six months later, I wondered if maybe I&rsquo;d missed the reasonably-priced corner. Or maybe there was a little supermarket with cheaper snacks?&nbsp;
If a bottle of water that&rsquo;ll set you back &pound;5/$6 sounds good, then sure. But from my perspective, there was no cheap corner. So we opted for a proper meal at a proper restaurant, where at least I wouldn&rsquo;t regret wasting &pound;20+ on cold, soggy fries and a sad burger. There was simply no better option.
Lots of you JFC members passing through Istanbul will be transiting on a cheap flight to Asia or Africa, having already travelled 4+ hours and munched through the majority of your flight snacks. Others will just be heading in and out of Istanbul itself. Either way, you&rsquo;ll likely have at least a couple of hours to kill in the airport.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Surviving your layover in Istanbul</h2>
Here&rsquo;s how you can make it through your layover at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha G&ouml;k&ccedil;en without spending your entire travel budget: 
1. Bring a water bottle - preferably a big one!
This one is standard for lots of us these days, but never does it pay off more than when you&rsquo;re passing through Istanbul International Airport. There are more than 23 water fountains dotted around the airport, each one able to help you save $6 on bottled water from a shop.&nbsp;
But it&rsquo;s bad news for anyone passing through Sabiha G&ouml;k&ccedil;en &mdash; all recent information suggests that the airport is yet to install drinking water dispensers, and the tap water in the bathrooms is not potable. If you&rsquo;ve got a long onward journey, make sure you set some cash aside to stock up on bottled water at the airport.
Unfortunately, the best way around this is by bringing a particularly large water bottle that you were able to fill to the brim after security at your departure airport! 
2. Pre-order meals and drinks for your flight
Lots of airlines still include snacks and drinks in their service, especially on long-haul routes. But if you&rsquo;re travelling via Istanbul with Pegasus, you get the double whammy of Sabiha G&ouml;k&ccedil;en and a paid in-flight menu.&nbsp;
While prices onboard are far from cheap, they are generally more affordable than you&rsquo;ll find in the airport (water for &euro;3?!). The menu has two prices for everything &mdash; card or cash. Believe me when I say you want to pay by card, &lsquo;cause you&rsquo;ll save money almost every time. And if you order your meal in advance, you&rsquo;ll save 20% off in-flight prices.
If you can make it through your connection with only the squished cereal bars and the dregs of bottled water from your last flight, this is your best bet.

3. Spring for the airport lounge
A personal favourite of myself and Flight Finder Fran is the iGA Lounge at Istanbul Airport. Never has an airport lounge felt so good. The food is great, there are showers, you can book a massage, and you can while away your time people watching your fellow travellers from above.
Honestly, though, never have I seen an airport lounge so pricey. Coming in at the eye-watering sum of &pound;78/$104 at the time of writing, you&rsquo;d have to really enjoy every minute of the full four-hour window to make it worth coughing up for.&nbsp;
BUT if you travel a lot, appreciate an airport lounge, and haven&rsquo;t already done so, you should invest in an annual lounge pass membership, like Priority Pass or Dragon Pass. For $99/&pound;69, you get 12 months of reduced entry fees for thousands of lounges around the world (or you can pay more up-front for free entries). Even the basic passes take your &pound;78 iGA Lounge entry down to &pound;24 right away, which is about the cost of a burger and fries of questionable quality from the airport food court.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re an airline points collector with an airline-affiliated credit card, chances are you may have access to one of these passes anyway, so double check before you go! While I didn&rsquo;t use my Avios credit card perks to gain entry to the lounge, I did use my Avios to book a cheap business class flight back to Glasgow, thus gaining me lounge access. Turns out that was a great decision!
Side note: You may be wondering why I&rsquo;d go business class on a short-haul route in the first place? Flight prices from Istanbul back to Glasgow or Edinburgh were extortionate in peak summer, while the difference in Avios required to travel business class instead of economy was negligible. That got me lounge access in Istanbul and Heathrow, plus a free meal onboard both flights (between my lounge brekkies). Worth every point.

4. Pack a picnic
I kid you not, if ever there was an airport in which to unleash a platter of flattened sandwiches, squashed cereal bars and banged up apples from your backpack, it&rsquo;s either of Istanbul&rsquo;s airports. Especially if you&rsquo;re vegan or have other dietary restrictions &mdash; the selection available really doesn&rsquo;t cater to dairy-free choices
There are lots of spots where you can set up camp for a few hours, so don&rsquo;t be shy. Fill every last nook and cranny of your cabin bag with hearty snacks that&rsquo;ll keep you going.
5. Sleep it out
We can&rsquo;t all catch 40 winks on a plane like it&rsquo;s no big deal, so if you&rsquo;ve got a longer layover of 3 hours or more, you might want to catch up on some sleep. Cheaper than an airport hotel and located within the terminal itself, both airports have sleep pods you can pay for by the hour.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.istairport.com/en/services/discover/entertainment/iga-sleepod/?locale=en">Istanbul Airport&rsquo;s iGA Sleepods</a> look like some kind of cryogenic chamber from a sci-fi film, while Sabiha G&ouml;k&ccedil;en leans more into the <a href="https://www.keplerclub.com/resting-units">human filing cabinet</a> approach. On their way to Kyrgyzstan, Flight Finders Kash and Kristi were able to simply show up and file themselves away for a snooze without booking in advance. Kash says it was a super comfy sleep, too!
And when an hour&rsquo;s kip costs less than a croissant, I&rsquo;d say you&rsquo;re probably onto something.

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting to Istanbul&rsquo;s Airports</h2>
Another part of what makes Istanbul&rsquo;s airports pricey can be getting between the airports and the city. Thankfully, Flight Finder Larissa has spent a lot of time in Istanbul and knows aaalllll the tricks. Here&rsquo;s her ultimate guide to travelling between Istanbul airports and the city centre:
 So, how do you get from one of Istanbul&rsquo;s airports to the city centre? Well, it depends on which airport you&rsquo;re flying into (unsurprisingly!). Both airports are a fair distance from the city centre, so it&rsquo;s worth keeping in mind that it&rsquo;s going to take you at least an hour to get where you want to go, regardless where you land.&nbsp;
Before I go any further: a taxi/rideshare is usually the worst option to/from either airport. Taxis are notoriously expensive in Istanbul (tourist markup is a real thing!), and depending on the time of day you&rsquo;re travelling, there may be hours of traffic you&rsquo;ll need to sit through.&nbsp;
The only time I would advise a taxi rather than public transport is if it&rsquo;s at a weird hour of the night, or if door-to-door transport is more important than worrying about the cost.&nbsp;
There are plenty of taxis hanging around outside each airport, so you&rsquo;ll have no trouble finding a driver. You can also call a taxi via Uber, which will help if you&rsquo;d like to have some idea of how much your journey will cost ahead of time.&nbsp;

For both airports, your main public transport options each airport are: 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Metro</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shuttle bus&nbsp; </li>
</ul>
Istanbul Airport (IST)&nbsp;
This airport is the city&rsquo;s &lsquo;main&rsquo; airport, located on the European side. It&rsquo;s only relatively new, having relocated there from the old IST airport in 2019. Because of this, the metro didn&rsquo;t actually link up to the airport until 2023, which has since opened up more efficient connections to the city centre.&nbsp;
 Metro&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s only one metro line that runs from the airport to the city, and you will likely need to change lines along the way to reach your destination. Presuming you&rsquo;re heading towards Taksim Square or the Historical Peninsula, you&rsquo;ll need to <a href="https://www.metro.istanbul/en/YolcuHizmetleri/AgHaritalari">swap from the M11 line to the M2</a>. Travelling to or from Taksim Square, the entire journey takes about 1 hr 20 minutes in total.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s worth noting that you can use your bank card for contactless payment on all metros/buses/ferries within the city, except for the M11 line from the airport. Instead, you&rsquo;ll need to buy an Istanbulkart from the machines in the terminal, and then load it up with cash for the first part of your journey (around 25TL, plus the 60TL needed to buy the card).&nbsp;
This journey comes in at around &pound;1.65/$2.20 in total.&nbsp; 
 Shuttle Bus
Locals and tourists alike use the regular shuttle buses between IST and the city centre, serviced by <a href="https://www.istairport.com/en/airport/airport-transportation/?locale=en">Havaist</a>. You&rsquo;ll be able to jump off the bus at Taksim Square, Kadık&ouml;y, or even the other airport. The journey time depends on the time of day and the traffic &mdash; it could take 40 minutes if the traffic is light, or closer to an hour and a half during peak times.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll find the bus tickets and the buses themselves on level -2 at IST airport (below the ground floor). Ask the bus driver to confirm where the bus is going before you get on, as it&rsquo;s not always clear from the signs. At the ticket counter, you can pay via cash or card (67TL).&nbsp;
This is your cheapest option, at only &pound;1.30/$1.75.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)&nbsp;
As Katy mentioned, the secondary airport in Istanbul is on the Asian side of the city. As a tourist, you&rsquo;ll likely be staying on the European side, which means it&rsquo;s technically the less convenient airport to fly in/out of, depending on the time of day you&rsquo;re travelling &mdash; but you can&rsquo;t argue with a cheap flight!
 Shuttle Bus
Just like IST, you&rsquo;ll find frequent shuttle services between SAW and the city centre, this time via <a href="https://www.havabus.com/">Havabus</a>. This company also drops off at similarly popular stops in the city, like Taksim Square, Kadık&ouml;y, as well as an additional stop on the Asian side of the city.&nbsp;
Because of the location of the airport, it&rsquo;s even more important to keep in mind that traffic conditions are going to dictate how long your bus will take to reach the city centre. For example, if you land early to mid-morning, you&rsquo;ll likely be stuck in peak traffic going towards the European side, and so the journey could take up to 2 hours.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll find Havabus shuttles outside the arrivals terminal on the left, and tickets are available on the bus with cash (283,50TL), or via the ticket kiosk in the grey building next to the buses.&nbsp;
The total for this journey comes to around &pound;5.50/$7.30. 
Metro/Ferry
There is a metro line (M4) from SAW to Kadık&ouml;y (a main station on the Asian side of the Bosphorus). From there, you&rsquo;ll be able to catch a bus to your hotel if you&rsquo;re staying on the Asian side.
However, if your hotel is on the European side, you can catch the ferry from Kadık&ouml;y across to Kabataş or Karak&ouml;y, and take a connecting bus or tram. The downside is that the metro and bus/ferry combination is typically slower than the shuttle bus, especially if your hotel is on the European side. But at least it&rsquo;ll come in nice and cheap, around &pound;1&ndash;&pound;1.50/$1.50&ndash;$2 depending on your route.
Side note: I highly recommend you take the ferry at least once during your trip to Istanbul! It&rsquo;s cheap (around 25TL), takes 20-minutes, and offers the best views of the skyline!

If you&rsquo;ve made it this far, JFC-er, you must be in serious Istanbul trip-planning mode! You&rsquo;ll almost certainly have an excellent time, and hopefully our tips will ensure you have some change left over to buy a fridge magnet :-)&nbsp;

Surviving Istanbul's Airports

Tokyo is a massive metropolis (in every sense of the word) &ndash; it&rsquo;s the city with the largest population in the world, in parts a concrete and neon jungle, in others you&rsquo;ll find tiny shrines and quiet backstreets flanked by high-rise apartments.
It has 23 wards, each with its distinct culture and atmosphere. You may have heard of names like Chuo, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Taito, each with their own neighborhoods. It&rsquo;s the kind of city where you could spend weeks on end and not see everything on your list.
I scored a return trip from London via Copenhagen to Tokyo for under &pound;450, and I spent 5 full days traversing the city. Read on for my tips on how to make the most of your time (and where to get the best ramen) in town.&nbsp;
A quick note on the links in this guide: we&rsquo;re not affiliated with any of the external sites included in this guide, so we&rsquo;re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you decide if this destination is for you.

<h2>Getting there</h2>
Tokyo is a major transport hub, so it&rsquo;s usually easy to find flights from around the world.&nbsp;
Japan has 2 major airlines that fly from Europe and North America to Tokyo: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Both offer non-stop flights from large hubs like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Stockholm, New York, LA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston and Dallas. ZipAir Tokyo is a budget option for non-stop flights from the West Coast of the US.&nbsp;
Most flagship airlines offer non-stop flights to Tokyo as well, like British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air Canada, Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines. However, the cheapest way to get there is usually to take connecting flights, especially via China.

Here&rsquo;s a handy JFC guide on what to expect when booking your flight to Tokyo:
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &euro;470s-&euro;670s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 15+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen:&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/tokyo-in-330s-390s-rtn-from-across-europe">&euro;300 rtn</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &pound;350s-&pound;530s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 20+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/free-bag-japan-south-korea-in-320s-340s-rtn-from-london">&pound;338 rtn</a></li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $570s-$890s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 20+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/la-to-tokyo-at-$257-rt">$257 rtn</a></li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $770s-$1200s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 15+</li>
<li>Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/tokyo-at-678-rt">$678 rtn</a></li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">By train</h3>
If you&rsquo;ve arrived in another city in Japan, you&rsquo;ll likely catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) and/or JR Rail (the national rail service) to Tokyo.&nbsp;
Shinkansen tickets are typically pricey, but they make up for that with exceptional service and speed &ndash; you&rsquo;ll be able to get from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo in less than 3 hours. As of 2025, ticket prices are around:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">14,920 JPY from Osaka (approx. $100/&pound;75)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">18,380 JPY from Hiroshima (approx. $125/&pound;95)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">11,500 JPY from Nagoya (approx. $80/&pound;60)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">13,320 JPY from Kyoto (approx. $90/&pound;70)</li>
</ul>
You can buy Shinkansen tickets from major stations in these big cities (via machine or ticket counter), or you can pre-book online <a href="https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php">via the official website</a>.&nbsp;

You&rsquo;ll likely see third-party websites like Klook also selling Shinkansen tickets &ndash; these tend to be a little more expensive (due to their booking fees), so it&rsquo;s better to buy them on the official website or in person at the station.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">JR Rail pass</h3>
You may be wondering whether it&rsquo;s worth buying a <a href="https://www.jrpass.com/">JR Rail pass</a> (which would give you unlimited travel for a certain number of days), or buy your tickets as you go. Unless you&rsquo;re planning on travelling constantly on Shinkansen trains throughout your trip, it&rsquo;ll likely be cheaper to skip the pass and just book your tickets individually. You can check your individual itinerary <a href="https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator">here</a>.

<a href="https://boutiquejapan.com/ekiben/">Ekiben</a> are bento boxes that you can buy in stations to eat on the go. You'll find them both before and after ticket gates, but if you're traveling from Tokyo Station, there's plenty of choice in the food court area of Daimaru, a shopping center attached to the station.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Visas</h2>
Depending on which passport you hold, you may need a visa to enter Japan.
At the time of writing (June 2025), travelers from the UK, most of Europe, the USA, and Canada will be granted a 90-day visitor visa on entry, so you don&rsquo;t need to apply before your trip.&nbsp;
All visitors need to fill out a <a href="https://www.customs.go.jp/english/passenger/declaration/declaration_app.html">customs declaration</a> before they arrive &mdash; you can do this on the plane with a paper form, or you can organize it beforehand via <a href="https://www.customs.go.jp/english/passenger/declaration/declaration_app.html">Japan Web</a> and present your QR code on arrival.&nbsp;
The rules for each country are updated regularly, so it&rsquo;s important to check your own government guidelines before traveling.

<h2 dir="ltr">Cash &amp; Currency</h2>
The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY), with $1 USD being equivalent to around 145 JPY. This is about the price it&rsquo;ll cost you to buy a bottle of water or a pastry at the convenience store.&nbsp;
Your accommodation costs will depend on where you want to stay. Dormitory/hostel beds start at 2500-6000 JPY/night, while a standard hotel room costs 10,000&ndash;20,000 JPY/night. Ryokans are traditional Japanese rooms, with tatami mats, paper doors and dinner/breakfast included, and you can book these (usually outside big cities) for around 20,000&ndash;30,000 JPY/night.&nbsp;
Japan is very much still a cash-based country, particularly for touristy stuff like souvenirs, street snacks, and temple charms. Some restaurants will also be cash-only, even in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka.&nbsp;

Thankfully, getting cash is very easy, even with foreign cards. Just head to the nearest 7-11 (there are thousands of stores across the country) and use the 7-11 bank ATM in the shop. These won&rsquo;t charge you any fees to withdraw cash from your bank account.&nbsp;

The majority of hotels, restaurants, and shops will accept card payments though, either with your bank or credit cards. In a particular Japanese quirk, the <a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html">public transport IC card</a> you&rsquo;ll be buying to travel on the metro, the bus or the train can also be used at convenience stores and some restaurants. The most popular IC cards are Suica and Iwoca.

<h2 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h2>
Japanese culture is in tune with the changing seasons, with thousands of festivals and celebrations that line up with the calendar.&nbsp;
Depending on where you head in Japan, the intensity of the cold/heat will differ &ndash; in Hokkaido you&rsquo;ll get much cooler summers and frozen winters, versus Okinawa, where the opposite is true. But for central cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, the weather will be similar enough.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Spring &mdash; March&ndash;May</h4>
Temperature: 5&ndash;28 C/41&ndash;82 F
The biggest celebration of spring is when the cherry blossoms bloom in March&ndash;April, and it&rsquo;s also a popular time to visit the country. The <a href="https://sakura.weathermap.jp/en.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maps published each year</a> that predict when the blossoms will peak across the country are a handy tool for planning your cherry blossom tour.&nbsp;
During these times, you should expect crowds of Sakura spotters everywhere, and locals will be out taking part in hanami, or picnics under the cherry blossom trees. There will also be lots of Sakura-flavored snacks and treats on offer.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Summer &mdash; June&ndash;August</h4>
Temperature: 18&ndash;35 C/64&ndash;95 F
One word: humid. If you visit during these months, the humidity will be above 70%. That means it&rsquo;s worth packing light layers, as well as sunscreen and a hat.&nbsp;
People often travel for summer festivals in cities like Aomori, Sendai, Kochi and Shiranui. But within Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you&rsquo;ll hear the sound of taiko drums, and shrines will be decorated with lanterns and finery.&nbsp;

<h4 dir="ltr">Fall &mdash; September&ndash;November</h4>
Temperature: 10&ndash;20 C/50&ndash;68 F
This time of year is becoming almost as popular as cherry blossom season, with autumn foliage painting the country red. It&rsquo;s also cheaper in general to visit Japan post-summer, which makes it a really nice option if you&rsquo;re looking for discounts on accommodation or flights.&nbsp;
Unsurprisingly, you&rsquo;ve also got <a href="https://www.ana.co.jp/en/gb/japan-travel-planner/japanese-festival-omatsuri/0000007.html">plenty of festivals</a> to celebrate the change in season. At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mjt5yf/kyoto_autumn_night_illuminations_at_temples_and/">the shrines of Kyoto</a>, there are light shows going into the evening during this time, against a backdrop of autumn leaves.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Winter &mdash; December&ndash;February</h4>
Temperature: 4&ndash;15 C/39&ndash;59 F
I visited in February 2025, so I have a particular fondness for this time of year! The majority of my days there were sunny, but I still needed my scarf and a winter coat. We had one day of snow in Kyoto, which was a nice treat, too. It was decent sightseeing weather, but we did have to wrap up at times. 
Our trip also coincided with the&nbsp;<a href="https://hidden-gems-of-kyoto.find-japan.com/plum-blossom-festival-at-kitano-tenmangu/">plum blossom festival</a> in Kyoto &mdash; they&rsquo;re less well-known than cherry blossoms, but equally beautiful. Unfortunately, not many trees had bloomed by the time the festival rolled around on the 25th February, but it was still enjoyable to go to the shrine and have plum tea and dango.

<h2 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h2>
Japan is, on the whole, extremely easy to navigate. You&rsquo;ll find the society there is very orderly (more than back home, at least!), so you can almost guarantee your train will be on time, the streets will be clean, and you&rsquo;ll find signs to get you where you want to go.&nbsp;
Japanese people have, in general, a very welcoming and hospitable approach to foreigners. It&rsquo;s not uncommon for everyone, from the staff in your hotel to a random stranger on the street, to 'go the extra mile' and be willing to help you, even if they&rsquo;re not confident speaking English.&nbsp;
These things combined make it simple to get around big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto without knowing one word of Japanese. Even if you need to order in a restaurant without an English menu, you can point to the pictures of the food you want. Of course, at least a few words of Japanese are appreciated, like:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Konnichiwa &mdash; Hello</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Arigato gozaimasu &mdash; Thank you very much (formal, used for everyone you don&rsquo;t know)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ohayō gozaimasu &mdash; Good morning</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Konbanwa &mdash; Good evening</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Itadakimasu &mdash; Thank you for the meal (said before eating)</li>
<li>Sumimasen &mdash; Excuse me (useful to get the attention of waitstaff)</li>
</ul>
Outside of this, Google Translate (or another translation app which has image-to-text translation) will be your best friend. Almost everything is written down in Japan, with plenty of signs, menus, instructions and so on. You just need to know where to look, and when to whip out your phone to find that hidden ramen restaurant.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Pickpockets (or, not)</h3>
You may know (or have read stories about) someone who has misplaced their valuables while travelling in Japan, only to be reunited with their phone, passport, or wallet down the line. This may lead you to believe that the country is some sort of anti-pickpocket Utopia, where something lost will always find its way back to its rightful owner, and petty theft is the last thing you need to worry about.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s true that Japan is, in general, an extremely safe country to visit on the whole &mdash; not only is violent crime uncommon, but even muggings and theft are nowhere near as prevalent as in Europe. But, this doesn&rsquo;t mean it can&rsquo;t happen to you during your visit.&nbsp;
There are some areas of large cities, like Kabukicho or Roppongi in Tokyo, or Nishinari in Osaka, where there is a higher risk of pickpocketing and general antisocial behavior. So, keep your wits about you regardless.&nbsp;

LGBTQI+ travelers are unlikely to receive any harassment or discrimination from locals &mdash; you will find a higher proportion of LGBTQI+ friendly bars, clubs, and businesses in places like Shinjuku/Ni-chome and Nakano in Tokyo, but you won&rsquo;t find these types of businesses outside big cities.&nbsp;
Many LGBTQI+ travelers visit Japan without any problem, but activities that are both specifically aimed at LGBTQI+ people and welcoming of foreigners can be limited and hard to find. World Nomads has a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/eastern-asia/japan/queer-travel-in-japan">great guide</a> on visiting as an LGBTQI+ traveler, with specific bar recommendations and sauna etiquette.&nbsp;
Japan is a conservative country and, regardless of your orientation, physical or sexual touch is seen as something to be kept private, so it&rsquo;s worth keeping this in mind.&nbsp;
POC travelers do stand out in Japan, given that it&rsquo;s a largely homogenous society. That being said, foreigners and expats are now extremely common in the big cities, so you&rsquo;re unlikely to experience any discrimination or harassment. <a href="https://www.malikahkelly.com/blog/2024/4/28/is-japan-racist-what-black-travelers-need-to-know-before-booking-their-trip-to-japan">Here&rsquo;s a first-hand account</a> of a Black woman&rsquo;s experience travelling in Japan.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re a solo female traveler, Japan is likely going to feel much safer than some Western countries, due to the absence of violent and petty crime in society. City streets are very well lit, and there are always many people around, no matter when you&rsquo;re out and about.&nbsp;
There have been some reports of sexist and misogynistic behavior against women, but these tend to be targeted towards residents rather than foreigners.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adventurouskate.com/solo-female-travel-japan-safe/">This article</a> talks about what to watch out for if you do decide to travel to Japan alone.

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting around</h2>
Tokyo has one of the most extensive public transport systems you might encounter anywhere in the world &mdash; no surprise when it has to move millions of people a day.&nbsp;
As with all public transport in Japan, there are certain customs which are seen as normal on the metro but may seem strict in comparison to what you experience at home:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">No talking loudly/playing music on the train, and keep your phone on silent</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">There are no rubbish bins in the station (or on the streets), so take your rubbish with you back to the hotel&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">No eating/drinking on the train (unless you&rsquo;re on the Shinkansen)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://metropolisjapan.com/women-only-train-cars-tokyo/">Women-only cars</a> are active during peak hours&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Wait in an orderly line on the platform when waiting for the train (you&rsquo;ll likely see arrows on the ground)&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Keep your bag in your lap, and be aware of your surroundings </li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Metro and suburban trains</h3>
The crowning feature (and the one you&rsquo;ll likely use most often) is the metro. It&rsquo;s extensive, with 142 stations spread across the metropolitan area. The most popular stations include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ginza (Ginza Line, Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Asakusa (Asakua Line, Ginza Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ueno (Ginza Line, Hibiya Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shibuya (Ginza Line, Fukutoshin Line, Hanzomon Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shinjuku (Shinjuku Line, Marunouchi Line, Oedo Line)</li>
</ul>
It&rsquo;s quick, clean, efficient (the norm in Japan) and runs throughout the day from 5am until around midnight. It&rsquo;s also fairly cheap, with <a href="https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/regular/index.html">a ride typically costing between 180 and 324 JPY</a>, depending on the distance. You can buy tickets from ticket machines at each station&nbsp;(in denominations from 180 JPY to 330 JPY), or use your preloaded IC card. You can put money on your IC card directly in your phone&rsquo;s wallet (if you have the e-version of the card, which is exclusive to Apple phones), or via the ticket machine with cash (or debit/credit card).&nbsp;
Using Google Maps is your best bet for navigating the metro, as it has extremely easy-to-understand way finding features. It&rsquo;ll tell you which exit you&rsquo;ll need to take, which carriage you should travel in, and which color line you&rsquo;re transiting on.&nbsp;
To get to places like the Ghibli Museum or Disneyland, you&rsquo;ll need to jump on a suburban train instead. Functionally, there isn&rsquo;t any difference between this and the metro in terms of your tickets (IC card works across both) or the way you navigate it. The only difference is that you&rsquo;ll have to catch these trains from major stations, like Tokyo Station, and the platforms are usually above ground, instead of underground like the metro platforms.

<h3 dir="ltr">Buses</h3>
Similarly to the metro, the Tokyo bus network is extensive. To use the bus, you find the bus stop and stand in an orderly line behind those who arrived before you. In busy areas, there will be lines on the pavement to direct you.
Once the bus arrives, you jump on through the back door. If you&rsquo;re paying with cash, you&rsquo;ll need to take a ticket from the box near the door; otherwise you&rsquo;re fine to just sit down. The normal rules apply here &mdash; if the bus is too busy, offer your seat to those around you who may need it more than you. If you&rsquo;re standing, hold on to the handrail.&nbsp;
When you reach your stop, press the button and get your payment ready &mdash; you&rsquo;ll pay when you leave the bus (via the front door). You can pay with your IC card by tapping it as you leave (via the front door), or with change. Keep in mind, the driver can&rsquo;t break notes over 1000 JPY.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Food</h2>
A lot of what we now know as &lsquo;Japanese&rsquo; food originated in Tokyo. That, alongside the fact it&rsquo;s Japan&rsquo;s biggest city, means you&rsquo;ll be absolutely spoiled for choice for every single Japanese dish you want to try.&nbsp;
Here are a few that are known to be particularly good in Tokyo:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Curry: served with rice or udon</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Monjayaki: pan-fried batter topped with cabbage, seafood (similar to okonomiyaki)&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Edomae sushi: the &lsquo;typical&rsquo; sushi you&rsquo;re probably familiar with, with raw seafood on rice</li>
<li>Gyu-katsu: deep-fried beef cutlet (usually wagyu beef)</li>
</ul>

I lined up for about 45 minutes one evening to eat at&nbsp;<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/mSwjdSTMpNeP4mSz8">Gyukatsu in Asakusa</a>, and it was well worth it &mdash; you can even grill each piece of beef to your taste. They do have 2 locations within a 5-minute walk of each other, so it&rsquo;s worth scoping out both lines to see which is shorter.

Tokyo also has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, covering not just Japanese cuisine, but also French, Chinese, Spanish and Indian. As with everywhere in Japan, Tabelog is where you should go for restaurant reviews and reservations. Any restaurant above a 3.5 rating should guarantee you a really good meal (these ratings are stricter in Japan than in other countries).&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Street food</h3>
It&rsquo;s worth noting that &lsquo;street food&rsquo; in Japan isn&rsquo;t quite the same as in other countries, as it&rsquo;s considered rude to eat and walk. Because of this, you&rsquo;re more likely to find shopfronts with proper seating, or casual pub-style spots called izakayas. 
Memory Lane in Shinjuku is a place that comes highly recommended by travelers for its atmosphere and&nbsp;yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) shops. Otherwise, Nakamise Street in Asauka, Tsukiji Outer Market and the Takeshita Street in Harajuku have some street food stalls. 
If you're looking for a little more than traditional foods like takoyaki (octopus balls), taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes filled with red bean), and sweet sticky rice sticks called dango across the board, Harajuku is where you&rsquo;ll find the latest viral food crazes as seen on social media.&nbsp;
If you do buy food from a shop with no seating, it&rsquo;s either expected you&rsquo;ll take it away to eat later, or you&rsquo;ll eat it standing directly in front of the store you bought it from.&nbsp;

<h3>Convenience store food</h3>
There's no shortage of convenience stores in the country (7-11, Lawson, and Family Mart are the big three). You'd struggle to find a single street in a major metropolitan area that doesn't have one of these stores on it. Because of this, the food available here has become ubiquitous with a trip to Japan. It's almost a type of pilgrimage, where visitors scope out their favorite foods.&nbsp;
As well as the sheer number of stores, the quality of the food is impressive. You can find the usual snacks and drinks you'd expect anywhere in the world, alongside a surprising variety of baked pastries, hot food and take away meals. I'd recommend trying onigiri, katsu/egg sandwiches, and the melon pan&nbsp;from any of these stores.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Useful links</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506">Google Translate App</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuicamobile/">Welcome Suica card</a> (<a href="https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/suica-card-guide/">here&rsquo;s</a> how to get it on your phone)&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://tabelog.com/en/">Tabelog</a> - used for restaurant recommendations and booking</li>
</ul>

Jack's Guide to: Tokyo

Mexico

Mexico City is a sprawling, vibrant metropolis nestled in the Valley of Mexico at an altitude that might make your head spin &mdash; literally, if you&rsquo;re not used to being up high.
It&rsquo;s a city of contrasts: centuries-old architecture stands proudly beside sleek modern buildings, and quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa are just a short ride from the bustling chaos of the Centro Hist&oacute;rico.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Having visited myself, I can say that CDMX (an abbreviation you&rsquo;ll often see for Mexico City) is more than a destination; it&rsquo;s an experience. Whether you&rsquo;re biting into the most perfectly cooked huraches from a street vendor or marveling at Diego Rivera&rsquo;s murals in the Palacio Nacional, there&rsquo;s a rhythm to this city that pulls you in.&nbsp;&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s the kind of place where you&rsquo;ll want to dive into the culture, but might feel the need for a nap after tackling one of its expansive markets. Is it for everyone? That depends on how much you love a city that pulses with life 24/7.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To help you make the decision on whether it deserves a spot on your bucket list, we&rsquo;ve scoured the Jack's community and our go-to trusted sources for tips on Mexico City.
A quick note on the links in this guide: We&rsquo;re not affiliated with any external sites we&rsquo;ve chosen to include, so we&rsquo;re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you make a decision on whether this destination is for you.
<div style="background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px solid #aaa; display: table; font-size: 95%; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 20px; width: auto;">
Quick Reference
<ul style="list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0;">
<li><a href="#getting-there">Getting There</a></li>
<li><a href="#entry">Entry Requirements</a></li>
<li><a href="#vacs-meds">Vaccines and Medications</a></li>
<li><a href="#in-cell">Internet and Cell Service</a></li>
<li><a href="#travel-style">Travel Style</a></li>
<li><a href="#season">Seasonality</a></li>
<li><a href="#getting-around">Getting Around</a></li>
<li><a href="#area-guides">Area Guides</a></li>
<li><a href="#day-trips">Day Trips</a></li>
<li><a href="#worth-note">Worth Noting</a></li>
<li><a href="#food">Food</a></li>
<li><a href="#event">Events</a></li>
<li><a href="#rec-res">Recommended Resources</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

<a id="getting-there" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Getting There</h1>
Flying to Mexico City is relatively straightforward, especially from places like the USA, Canada and Europe. The city&rsquo;s airport is well-connected to major cities around the world.
You can catch non-stop flights from most major hubs in North America, including JFK, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, and LAX, as well as bigger airports in Europe, such as Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Munich, and Paris.&nbsp;

Here&rsquo;s an idea of what we at JFC tend to see for flights to Mexico City.
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: $170s-$270s RT, depending on departure city and airline</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 20</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $125 RT from San Antonio</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: $550 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 4</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: We&rsquo;re still waiting to be impressed</li>
</ul>
Note: Canada gets loads of trips to PVR, Cancun, Cabo, and more for under $400 RT
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: &pound;460 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;361 rtn from Birmingham</li>
</ul>
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average fare: &euro;450 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;305 rtn from Amsterdam </li>
</ul>
For longer adventures, you can link up your Mexico City trip with flights to other spots around Latin America, like Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Bogot&aacute;, Lima, and S&atilde;o Paulo. If you&rsquo;d rather stick to exploring every corner of Mexico, you can grab incredibly <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxoaKABqBwgBEgNNRVhyDQgEEgkvbS8wYjkwX3IaGigAag0IBBIJL20vMGI5MF9ycgcIARIDTUVYQAFIAXACggELCP___________wGYAQGyAQQYASAB&amp;tfu=GgA">cheap domestic flights</a> all over. 
VivaAerobus is the country&rsquo;s budget carrier, and we&rsquo;ve seen one-way routes from Mexico City as low as $/&pound;/&euro;3 RT. No, that&rsquo;s not a typo.&nbsp;

<a id="entry" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Entry requirements</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Proof of onward travel: Sometimes, immigration officials will ask for proof that you&rsquo;re leaving the country (a return ticket or a ticket to another destination). It doesn&rsquo;t always happen, but it&rsquo;s good to have just in case.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Passport: Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of entry.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<a id="vacs-meds" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Vaccines and medications</h3>
There are no vaccines required for entry to Mexico however many travelers are recommended vaccines for Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis A. Talk to your doctor before travelling to see what&rsquo;s right for you.&nbsp;
Any medication and travel essentials can be found and bought for a reasonable price in Mexico City.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Cash &amp; Currency</h3>
Mexico uses pesos as their main currency, but in touristy areas, American dollars are widely accepted. The only exception is in smaller shops and tiendas, where you can expect to pay in pesos.
Prices in Mexico are displayed in MXN (Mexican pesos) and denoted with the $ symbol, so don&rsquo;t panic if they seem high at first glance.
As a guideline, street tacos may be priced at 20 pesos, which is about $1 USD (or less than &pound;1/&euro;1) or a bottle of tequila 300&ndash;500 pesos, the equivalent of $/&euro;15-$/&euro;20&nbsp; or &pound;12-&pound;16.&nbsp;

You&rsquo;ll want to avoid changing money at the airport, as thieves have been known to target tourists after spotting them at the money exchange. Unfortunately, there&rsquo;s been many incidents of people being targeted by thieves after exchanging money.
You can withdraw cash from ATMs in Mexico for the best exchange rate, or consider using your home bank to exchange money before your trip. To make sure you always get the best rate, you should always choose to be charged in the local currency of the country you&rsquo;re in.
<div class="min-w-0 "><slot></slot><slot name="comment-edit"></slot>
<div class="relative"><slot name="comment"></slot>
<div class="md text-14 rounded-[8px] pb-2xs overflow-hidden" id="t1_loo9f8s-comment-rtjson-content" slot="comment">
<div id="t1_loo9f8s-post-rtjson-content" class="py-0 xs:mx-xs mx-2xs inline-block max-w-full">
For travellers from the USA, open a free Schwab checking account. It gives you free ATM access worldwide after rebate, and the exchange rate is 1 to 1. At then end of the month, your ATM fees are reimbursed.&nbsp;
</div>
</div>
<slot name="comment"></slot></div>
</div>

Akasha's Pro Tip

<h3 dir="ltr">Cash and Card Usage</h3>
In Mexico City, you can rely on using card, so carrying large amounts of cash isn&rsquo;t necessary. However, in small shops, markets and smaller towns or rural areas, cash is king.
<a id="in-cell" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Internet and Cell Service</h3>
Mexico City has reliable internet and cell service, making it a great destination for digital nomads. SIM cards are easy to find at airports, Oxxo convenience stores, or official carrier stores (Telcel, Movistar, and AT&amp;T Mexico are the main providers). Telcel has the best nationwide coverage.
Wi-Fi is widely available in caf&eacute;s, coworking spaces (like WeWork, Selina, and Impact Hub), and most Airbnb rentals. Some public areas and metro stations also offer free Wi-Fi, though speeds can vary. For uninterrupted work, consider getting a local SIM with a data plan or a portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
Many digital nomads work from neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, where internet speeds are generally fast and caf&eacute;s are laptop-friendly. If you need high-speed internet, check with your accommodation beforehand or opt for a coworking space.

<a id="travel-style" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h1>
Always evolving, buzzy doesn&rsquo;t even begin to describe Mexico City.&nbsp;
First, this place is HUMONGOUS, bigger than you might expect. The city&rsquo;s energy is contagious, but for a first-time traveler or anyone who hasn&rsquo;t been to many cities in Latin America, Mexico City might feel a bit overwhelming. Especially if you&rsquo;re someone that struggles with sensory overload.
But with the right street-smarts and curiosity, it can be a hugely rewarding experience and locals are generally friendly and helpful, especially when you <a href="https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/this-spanish-course-will-prepare-you-for-your-mexican-vacation">try to speak in Spanish</a>. While some people do speak English, more so in touristy areas, being able to ask for directions or order food in Spanish will make your life easier &mdash; and your server&rsquo;s!&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve highlighted the importance of keeping your wits about you. Here are some top tips on staying safe:
Pickpocketing: This is the most common issue in crowded places, like the metro or busy markets. Keep your valuables out of sight, split your money between pockets, and maybe even invest in a money belt.
Neighborhood Awareness: Some areas of Mexico City are super safe, like Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, but others, especially at night, might be worth avoiding (e.g., Tepito, and certain parts of downtown after dark). Always ask locals or your accommodation about which areas are worth skipping.&nbsp;
Scams: Watch out for overly friendly people offering "too good to be true" deals, and stay sharp if someone asks you for directions or strikes up an odd conversation.&nbsp;

Reddit is also a great place to ask questions about travelling in Mexico City. 
Whenever I plan my travels, I usually type a question into Google followed by the word Reddit, e.g. &ldquo;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=areas+in+mexico+city+to+stay+reddit&amp;oq=areas+in+mexico+city+to+stay+reddit&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggFEAAYgAQYogQyCggGEAAYgAQYogQyCggHEAAYgAQYogTSAQg1ODQ5ajBqOagCALACAQ&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Areas in Mexico City to stay Reddit.</a>&rdquo; Google will pull up an entire page full of Reddit discussions of real travelers&rsquo; opinions, instead of biased business pages or pages targeted for SEO.&nbsp;
But what's even better than Reddit? Asking your fellow JFC members! Post any questions you have in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/">Jack's Flight Club Travel Community</a> on Facebook!

<h3 dir="ltr">LGBTQ+</h3>
As the very first major city in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, Mexico City has lots to offer LGBTQ travelers seeking vibrant nightlife, art, and culture. That being said, we&rsquo;ve sadly still seen reports of homophobic hate crimes in certain areas.&nbsp;
The heart of LGBTQ nightlife lies in the area known as Zona Rosa, where you&rsquo;ll find lively bars, clubs, and pride events. But the neighborhoods of Roma, Condesa, and Coyoacan are also home to a growing number of inclusive spaces.

If you&rsquo;re looking for travel tips, community, and recommendations for places to stay for LGBTQ+ travelers, take a look at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.misterbandb.com/">this helpful website</a>!

<h3 dir="ltr">Solo Female Travelers</h3>
As a solo female traveler in Mexico City, you can definitely have a fantastic time. I&rsquo;ve visited Mexico City a handful of times solo, and here are my best tips:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Stay in neighborhoods like Roma, Condesa, Polanco, Napoles, Coyacan. I wouldn&rsquo;t recommend staying in Zocalo, since it can be a bit dodgy at night.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t wear flashy, expensive jewelry. I&rsquo;ve had some weird experiences while on the metro, almost having a family heirloom grabbed from my neck. Thankfully, a kind stranger anticipated what was going to happen and stepped in.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Use Uber or Didi instead of grabbing random taxis, and avoid walking alone late at night.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Catcalls can happen, but just ignore them and keep moving. If someone seems too persistent or makes you uncomfortable, don&rsquo;t hesitate to duck into a shop or caf&eacute; for a bit. If a man stops and asks you for directions, it&rsquo;s usually better to be cautious. It could be harmless, but it could also be a distraction tactic. Just politely say you don&rsquo;t know and keep walking. If you ever feel uncomfortable and need to get out of a situation, try to find another woman nearby, especially someone who looks older or has a child with her. Approaching someone like that can help you feel safer and might discourage any unwanted attention. Trust your instincts and don&rsquo;t hesitate to ask for help if needed.</li>
<li>Stay at well-rated hotels, guest houses, or hostels, and trust your gut when dealing with people.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
There&rsquo;s a solid community of solo female travelers out there, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/femaletravelersinmexico/">Facebook groups</a> and <a href="https://asinglewomantraveling.com/13-must-have-travel-apps-for-solo-females/">apps</a>.&nbsp;

<a id="season" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">March&ndash;May: Ideal for Sunseekers</h3>
This is the start of the city's most idyllic weather, with highs around 26&deg;C/78&deg;F. Be sure to secure your travel plans early, as this is one of the most popular times of year to visit.
<h3 dir="ltr">June&ndash;August, December&ndash;February: Best for budget breaks</h3>
The summer months of June to August are Mexico's rainy season. The weather still hits highs of around 26&deg;C/78&deg;F during the day, but downpours appear nearly every afternoon.&nbsp;
Because it's a slower season, some hotels offer discounted rates. Visitors during these months can breathe easy as the rain clears up some of Mexico City's notoriously bad air pollution. Weather forecasts and pollution indexes are regularly updated <a href="https://mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/e/about/about-mexico-city/weather-forecasts-pollution-uv/">here</a>.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">September&ndash;November: Best time to experience Mexican festivals</h3>
Fall visits offer the opportunity to experience some of the city's most popular events and cultural activities, like <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/dia-de-muertos-what-to-know">D&iacute;a de los Muertos</a> (Day of the Dead).&nbsp;
Although D&iacute;a de los Muertos takes place at the beginning of November, celebrations kick off at the end of October &mdash; this is <a href="https://blog.vibeadventures.com/dia-de-los-muertos-2025/">an incredibly special time</a> to visit Mexico.&nbsp;

<a id="getting-around" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Getting Around&nbsp;</h1>
Getting around Mexico City will be the least of your worries. There&rsquo;s a sprawling metro system used by millions of people every day. It can get pretty packed during peak times (7am-9am, 5pm-7:30pm) &mdash; no joke, I once even lost a shoe trying to get off at my stop!&nbsp;
Remember to keep a close eye on your belongings and to not wear flashy jewelry, as pick-pocketing can occur, especially during rush-hour when everybody is packed in a subway car like sardines. To avoid overcrowding, passengers are discouraged from bringing large backpacks or suitcases.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s worth noting that the first three carriages of the metro are reserved for women and children only.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Renting a car</h3>
I&rsquo;d advise against renting a car here, as it&rsquo;s one of the world&rsquo;s most congested cities. It&rsquo;s best to avoid travelling by car or taxi during rush hour in particular, unless you want to spend your vacation in a grid-lock.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Rideshare and taxis</h3>
There are official taxis operating across the city, but for extra safety, I always recommend using Uber or DiDi.&nbsp;
Check out <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-mexico-city">this helpful guide</a> from Lonely Planet for more information about transportation in Mexico City.

<h3 dir="ltr">Bus</h3>
If you&rsquo;re travelling around Mexico, it&rsquo;s likely that you&rsquo;ll take a long-distance bus at some point. As the capital city, you can grab an intercity bus to Mexico City from almost anywhere else in the country.&nbsp;
There are a couple of important things to know about coach travel in Mexico. Firstly, you should pay attention to the class of the ticket you buy &mdash; unsurprisingly, executive and deluxe services will be more comfortable, and generally speedier, than 1st class journeys, which again will be more pleasant than 2nd class. Familiarize yourself with <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/getting-around-mexico">the differences here</a> before booking.&nbsp;
Secondly, different companies operate in different parts of the country. In the south, ADO are one of the better options, while Primera Plus is a good choice in central Mexico.
ETN run connections between major cities along the Pacific, in the north, in the east, and some spots in the south. They&rsquo;re considered pretty luxurious, so while you&rsquo;ll pay a little more, it&rsquo;s worth it for those long journeys.
<a href="https://kittiaroundtheworld.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-travelling-around-mexico-by-bus/">This blog</a> is an excellent guide to the different routes and companies available, and how to plan for bus travel to and from Mexico City and other destinations around the country. Certain companies offer 10% discount if you book online in advance.

Don't forget Mexico City Benito Ju&aacute;rez International Airport (MEX) is a major hub for domestic flights in Mexico.
It serves as the primary hub for Aerom&eacute;xico, the country's flag carrier, and offers a wide network of domestic routes, including connections to other cities in Mexico (with budget friendly options with the airline Viva.&nbsp;

<a id="area-guides" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Area Guides</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Centro Hist&oacute;rico</h3>
The historic heart of Mexico City, Centro is filled with colonial-era architecture, museums, and cultural landmarks. The majestic Z&oacute;calo, one of the largest city squares in the world, is surrounded by iconic buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace. While the Z&oacute;calo is a must-visit with its historic charm and lively atmosphere, it's important to be extra vigilant at night due to occasional petty crime&mdash;keep an eye on your belongings and stick to well-lit, crowded areas.
Vibe: Bustling, historic, and culturally rich. It&rsquo;s always lively with tourists and locals!
Key Attractions: Z&oacute;calo (main square), Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, Palacio de Bellas Artes.&nbsp;
Roma Norte/Roma Sur
Stately Art Deco mansions, tree-lined boulevards, trendy caf&eacute;s, Roma is super popular with young professionals and digital nomads.&nbsp;
Artsy types will particularly enjoy the art galleries that line the streets of Roma Norte/Sur.
You can find street art murals adorning many of the buildings, adding to the creative energy of the area.
Vibe: Hip and artsy.&nbsp;
Key Attractions: Mercado Roma, Parque M&eacute;xico, art galleries, numerous caf&eacute;s, and restaurants.

<h3 dir="ltr">Condesa</h3>
Condesa&rsquo;s energy screams trendy. Artisanal dog treat bakeries, waiters in leather aprons, and more avocado toast than you&rsquo;ll know what to do with. It also happens to have some of the best parks in the city &mdash; you&rsquo;ll probably find more dogs than people here.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll find it hard to believe you&rsquo;re in a city of 22 million people as you wander through it&rsquo;s leaf lined boulevards and stunning Art Deco houses!
Vibe: Bohemian and fashionable.
Key Attractions: Parque Espa&ntilde;a, Parque M&eacute;xico, Avenida Amsterdam, a variety of restaurants and bars.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Polanco</h3>
Polanco is where the city's elite converge, drawn by its blend of modern skyscrapers and historic mansions.&nbsp;
The area is a culinary paradise, so you&rsquo;ll likely end up here if you&rsquo;re into a spot of fine dining, or you&rsquo;re celebrating a special occasion.&nbsp; Cultural landmarks like the Museo Soumaya and Museo Jumex also attract art lovers from around the world.
Vibe: Elegant, sophisticated, and exclusive.
Key Attractions: Museo Soumaya, Museo Jumex, Chapultepec Park, high-end boutiques on Avenida Presidente Masaryk.

<h3 dir="ltr">Coyoac&aacute;n</h3>
Coyoac&aacute;n feels like a village within the city, with cobblestone streets and plazas and colonial plazas packed with artists, performers and of course, mariachi bands. The neighborhood's artistic roots are plain to see at the Frida Kahlo Museum, <a href="https://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/?lang=en">Casa Azul</a> (make sure to book your tickets in advance!) and the Leon Trotsky Museum. But even just browsing the&nbsp; Coyoac&aacute;n Market will give you a glimpse of the local creative talent!&nbsp;
Vibe: Historical, artistic, and laid-back.
Key Attractions: Frida Kahlo Museum, Leon Trotsky Museum, Coyoac&aacute;n Market, Plaza Hidalgo.
<h3 dir="ltr">Ju&aacute;rez</h3>
Once forsaken after the 1986 earthquake, Ju&aacute;rez has seen a shift towards gentrification in recent years. Divided by Avenida Insurgentes, Ju&aacute;rez has two completely different energies on its east and west sides.
On the west side, you'll find an interesting mix of Korean-owned businesses, run-down souvenir shops, bookstores, and sports bars, as well as the lively Zona Rosa, filled with campy discos, sex shops and strip clubs. On the east side, Marsella Street tends more towards concept stores, vinyl shops, local designer shops, and natural wine boutiques.&nbsp;
Vibe: Energetic, eclectic, and artistic.
Key Attractions: Reforma Avenue, Zona Rosa, Marsella Street, contemporary art galleries, hip caf&eacute;s, and vibrant nightlife.

<a id="day-trips" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Day Trips&nbsp;</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Valle de Bravo&nbsp;</h3>
For those in the know, Valle de Bravo is a welcome relief from the madness of Mexico City. Only <a href="https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Mexico-City/Valle-de-Bravo">a two-hour drive</a> and you&rsquo;re smack in the middle of a pine-clad valley, overlooking Lago Avandaro. Seamlessly woven into the town&rsquo;s architecture and art, you&rsquo;ll find a curious fusion of both Aztec and colonial influences.&nbsp;
The lake traditionally lures in affluent chilangos (residents of Mexico City) looking for a weekend escape. Luckily, you don&rsquo;t have to be a Telenovela star to enjoy everything on offer here; it&rsquo;s still relatively inexpensive compared to some spots in Mexico.&nbsp;
Nature is king here, especially if you&rsquo;re into water sports like kayaking, sailing, and water-skiing.&nbsp;
The hiking trails are endless, with more than their fair share of waterfalls and beautiful views, and if you&rsquo;ve ever wanted to try paragliding, there&rsquo;s no better place. In January, paragliders from all over the world flock to compete in the Monarca Open.
In winter, hike or horseback ride to <a href="https://owlovertheworld.com/visit-piedra-herrada-monarch-butterfly-sanctuary/">Piedra Herradura Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary</a>. You&rsquo;ll witness thousands of monarch butterflies making their annual migration from Canada to Mexico &mdash; it&rsquo;s truly magical.
To get here, you can rent a car and drive 2 hours, or take a 3hr bus ride from Terminal Poniente in Mexico City.

<h3 dir="ltr">Teotihuac&aacute;n</h3>
The ancient pyramids of Teotihuac&aacute;n are one of the most popular day trips from Mexico City, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the country.&nbsp;
Teotihuac&aacute;n means "The Place Where Gods Were Born," and dates back to around 100 AD. It was once one of the largest cities in the ancient world.&nbsp;
The site&rsquo;s two main pyramids, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, dominate the landscape. At about 216 ft tall, the epic views of the valley are worth the brisk climb to the top. Better yet,<a href="https://thehappyjetlagger.com/en/teotihuacan-mexiko-city/"> book a sunrise hot air balloon ride</a> if you&rsquo;ve got the cash to spend, it&rsquo;ll put you back about $/&euro;100 or &pound;80, but it&rsquo;s definitely worth it.&nbsp; 
Reaching Teotihuac&aacute;n from Mexico City by bus is simple and far cheaper than booking onto a tour, plus you&rsquo;ll beat the crowds of tourists if you can go earlier in the morning. The bus departs from Autobuses del Norte terminal.&nbsp;
At the bus station, find the booth that says &ldquo;Piramides&rdquo; to buy your tickets. Expect to pay around $52 pesos (approx. $/&euro;2.60 or &pound;2) each way. Departures are every 20 minutes. Otherwise, you can rent a car and be there in under an hour.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Puebla&nbsp;</h3>
Puebla is renowned for its stunning historical center, another UNESCO World Heritage site. The city boasts some incredible colonial architecture, like the ornate Puebla Cathedral and the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, dating all the way back to 1646 it&rsquo;s the oldest library in the Americas. The city is also famous for its Talavera pottery&mdash;colorful, hand-painted ceramics that make for fantastic souvenirs.
Foodies will love Puebla&rsquo;s renowned culinary scene, especially its famous mole poblano, a rich, spicy-sweet sauce often served over chicken. And don&rsquo;t leave without trying a cemita, a tasty sandwich piled high with meat, cheese, and avocado.
A short drive from Puebla will bring you to Atlixco, a picturesque town known for its lovely gardens and pleasant climate and beautiful flower markets.&nbsp;
Further on, you&rsquo;ll find the town of Cholula with its impressive Great Pyramid. This ancient structure, the largest pyramid by volume in the world, is mostly hidden beneath a hill but topped with the beautiful Nuestra Se&ntilde;ora de los Remedios church. Climbing up offers panoramic views of the surrounding area and nearby volcanoes.
That leads us to Popocat&eacute;petl or Popo as it&rsquo;s affectionately called, the enormous volcano dominating the skyline of Puebla and its surroundings.
Standing at nearly 18,000 feet, this active volcano offers a challenging trek starting from the town of Amecameca, with routes often beginning at the historical Paso de Cort&eacute;s.&nbsp;
The climb is demanding due to its high altitude and changing weather conditions, so it&rsquo;s crucial to check current access restrictions and be well-prepared with proper gear and local guides.&nbsp;
On clear days, the summit rewards climbers with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and the neighboring Iztacc&iacute;huatl Volcano, making the strenuous hike truly worth the effort.
Renting a car is a convenient way to explore these destinations at your pace, or you can catch a bus from Terminal Central del Sur in Mexico City. Departures leave hourly and tickets cost anywhere between 250-400 pesos depending on the bus class and company, and are often cheaper when booked ahead of time.
Puebla is a 2hr drive by car and 2.5 by bus, with Atlixco and Cholula 25-30mins from Puebla.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Tepoztlan</h3>
A mystical mountainous town Tepoztlan (not to be mistaken for Tepotzotl&aacute;n) has been long under the spell of the pyramid El Tepozteco. No wonder it&rsquo;s considered to be one of Mexico&rsquo;s Pueblo Magicos (magic towns).&nbsp;
The pyramid was built by the Aztecs in honor of Tepoztecatl, the god of pulque (a traditional fermented drink in Mexico). It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valley, making it a popular spot for both history enthusiasts and hikers.&nbsp;
The town itself has long been associated with spiritual practices and local legends. It&rsquo;s often regarded as a place of energy and healing, with visitors flocking from across the country to consult its indigenous healers.&nbsp;
To get here is pretty straightforward. Rent a car and you&rsquo;ll arrive in 1.5hrs or hop on a bus from Terminal Tazqueno in Mexico City.
You&rsquo;ll want to head straight for the OCC counter where a one-way ticket will run you $130 pesos ($/&euro;7 USD or &pound;5.50), keep in mind though the bus drops you about a mile from the town center.

<a id="worth-note" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Worth Noting</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Language</h3>
Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Mexico, but the government also recognizes 68 other languages spoken in the country. Most hotels and tourism-related services offer at least some level of English.

<h3 dir="ltr">Altitude Sickness</h3>
Mexico City sits pretty high up, about 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level, so some visitors might feel a bit off when they first arrive. You could experience things like headaches, dizziness, or just feeling exhausted. It&rsquo;s usually nothing serious, and most people adjust in a day or two.&nbsp;
To help with it, drink plenty of water, take it easy on alcohol, and rest up when you get there. If the symptoms stick around or get worse, it's a good idea to check in with a doctor, but most people feel better after a little time.

<h3 dir="ltr">Food Hygiene&nbsp;</h3>
It&rsquo;s hardly a secret that Mexico has some of the best food on the planet. Unfortunately, though, food poisoning is a real issue, and during my time living in Mexico, I suffered from it more times than I can count. In some instances, it was nothing more than an upset stomach for a few days. But other times, it got so bad I even required hospitalization on several occasions &mdash; thanks parasites!
I won&rsquo;t go too into detail, but here are my best tips to avoid getting sick while travelling in Mexico:
<h3 dir="ltr">Water</h3>
Sadly, in Mexico, millions of people lack access to clean water due to pollution, lack of infrastructure and corporate corruption. And one of the biggest culprits of food poisoning that travelers encounter? Contaminated water.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Never drink the tap water. That goes for brushing your teeth too, use filtered water and don&rsquo;t even think about opening your mouth in the shower.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Never eat food washed with tap water or that contains high levels of water, e.g., that salad on your plate, forget about it.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Use dry glasses/dishware only. If somebody gives you a glass for your drink that looks like it&rsquo;s just been washed, avoid. This is because the harmful bacteria are water-born, so they&rsquo;ll die off once something has been left to dry.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don&rsquo;t drink fruit juices unless they are freshly squeezed, as they might be reconstituted with tap water.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you&rsquo;re cooking at your accommodation, use filtered water to wash your vegetables. Pick up a bottle of <a href="https://kathleeniscookinginmexico.wordpress.com/tag/microdyn/">Microdyn</a> at any convenience store and add it to the water to disinfect your vegetables and fruit. Do not skip this step; fruit and vegetables are irrigated in waste-water in Mexico.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">You can buy 20L jugs of treated water from most grocery or convenience stores. These are known as garraf&oacute;ns and are the most convenient way of keeping a supply of clean water around. Most Airbnbs will have have 1&ndash;2 garraf&oacute;ns for you to use, but always make sure they are sealed. The same goes for bottled water in a restaurant. Some establishments may offer you conveniently pre-opened bottles of &ldquo;purified&rdquo; water, but usually they&rsquo;re trying to reuse bottles by refilling them with unclean water. Always ask for &ldquo;bebidas selladas,&rdquo; meaning &ldquo;sealed drinks&rdquo;.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Add some drops of Microdyn to your bottle as well, and avoid using the brand Bonafont &mdash; many locals have told me the water quality is questionable.&nbsp;

<a id="food" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Food</h1>
Mexico City&rsquo;s food scene is a delicious blend of tradition and innovation, with something for every craving. Here are some standout dishes&mdash;and the best spots to try them:
<h3 dir="ltr">Dishes to Try</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Huaraches &ndash; Thick, sandal-shaped masa bases loaded with beans, cheese, and toppings like tinga or nopales (cactus).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sopa de Hongos &ndash; A comforting wild mushroom soup, often flavored with epazote and garlic.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mixiotes &ndash; Tender lamb or chicken steamed in maguey leaves with pasilla chiles&mdash;super aromatic and juicy.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Escamoles &ndash; Buttery, nutty ant larvae (Mexico&rsquo;s "caviar"), best enjoyed in tacos or with eggs.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Chiles en Nogada &ndash; Poblano peppers stuffed with picadillo, draped in walnut cream and pomegranate seeds&mdash;a patriotic favorite.</li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Where to Eat</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d814867-Reviews-Restaurante_El_Cardenal-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">El Cardenal</a> &ndash; A classic for chiles en nogada and mixiotes, plus incredible pan dulce and hot chocolate.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d2640717-Reviews-Azul_Historico-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Azul Hist&oacute;rico</a> &ndash; Stunning courtyard setting and refined Mexican dishes like sopa de hongos and cochinita pibil.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d7347504-Reviews-Taqueria_Los_Cocuyos-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Los Cocuyos</a> &ndash; A legendary late-night taquer&iacute;a where Anthony Bourdain ate, famous for suadero and tacos de ojo (yes, eyeball tacos).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d800423-Reviews-Pujol-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html">Pujol</a><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g150800-d800423-Reviews-Pujol-Mexico_City_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html"> </a>&ndash; Enrique Olvera&rsquo;s world-famous spot for next-level Mexican cuisine (try the mole madre tasting menu).</li>
</ul>
Eating in Mexico City is a fantastic experience, especially if you take advantage of the "Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a" (Menu of the Day), a budget-friendly and delicious way to enjoy a full meal. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
<h3 dir="ltr">Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a</h3>
Eating in Mexico City is a fantastic experience, especially if you take advantage of the "Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a" (Menu of the Day), a budget-friendly and delicious way to enjoy a full meal. Here are some tips to make the most of it:
Typically includes:
<ul>
<li>Sopa o pasta (soup or pasta)</li>
<li>Arroz o frijoles (rice or beans)</li>
<li>Guisado principal (main dish &ndash; meat, chicken, fish, or vegetarian)</li>
<li>Agua fresca (flavored water)</li>
<li>Sometimes dessert or coffee</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Best Places to Find Men&uacute; del D&iacute;a</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Fondas &amp; Cocinas Econ&oacute;micas &ndash; Small, family-run spots with home-style cooking.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Local Markets &ndash; Many markets (e.g., Mercado San Juan, Mercado Roma) have food stalls offering men&uacute; del d&iacute;a.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Traditional Restaurants &ndash; Look for places with a chalkboard or sign saying "Men&uacute; Ejecutivo" (executive lunch).</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">When to Go</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lunchtime (2&ndash;5 PM) &ndash; Mexicans eat lunch late, so the best men&uacute;s are served in the afternoon.</li>
<li>Avoid peak hours (around 3 PM) if you want a seat quickly.</li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Street Food</h3>
Avoid or Indulge? That&rsquo;s the hot question.
Avoiding street food in Mexico means missing out on a cultural experience integral to the country&rsquo;s culinary roots. It&rsquo;s not just about the flavors; it&rsquo;s about the atmosphere, the community, and the stories behind each dish.&nbsp;
That being said, there are a few things to look out for if you want to have the best experience:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Eat at stands that locals are lining up for. If nobody is lining up at a certain stand, there&rsquo;s probably a reason for it. But remember, locals will have a different level of immunity than travelers.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bypass the stands that vendors are handling raw meat and vegetables simultaneously, or are handling food and money. And if you see a stand where raw meat sits in the open sun for extended periods of time? Keep walking.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3>Food Poisoning &amp; Parasites: Prevention &amp; Remedies</h3>
Unfortunately, you can&rsquo;t always protect yourself from food poisoning or parasites. I&rsquo;ve had memorable adventures with these nasty illnesses, and despite western medication from my doctor (which is readily available in Mexico City), I found that there were some local remedies that also helped my symptoms. 
I&rsquo;m not a doctor, though, so definitely do your own research and check with a medical professional to make sure whatever you take doesn&rsquo;t contradict your existing medication.&nbsp; 
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Charcoal Tablets: Activated charcoal acts like a sponge for toxins, binding to harmful substances in your digestive system. It helps alleviate gas, bloating, and even hangovers. Just remember to time it right with any medications!</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Probiotics: Think kefir, sauerkraut, and tepache as your gut&rsquo;s personal cheerleaders! These fermented foods are rich in beneficial bacteria that restore balance in your digestive system.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Chaparro Amargoso: Known for its bitter flavor, this herb is often used to tackle digestive issues and parasites. Its cleansing properties can help flush out unwanted guests from your gut.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Grapefruit Seed Extract: A potent ally with antimicrobial properties, grapefruit seed extract can combat bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Just a few drops in water can bolster your body&rsquo;s defenses and aid digestion.</li>
</ul>

If your Spanish is decent, head for Mercado de Sonora, Mexico City&rsquo;s witch-market. Here you&rsquo;ll find tons of stalls selling indigenous herbs and remedies. Ask them for Chinchawa and thank me later!&nbsp;

<a id="event" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Events</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">SEMANA SANTA</h3>
Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Mexico is a huge cultural and religious celebration leading up to Easter. In Mexico City, it&rsquo;s marked by solemn processions, dramatic reenactments, and deep traditions. One of the most famous events is the Passion Play in Iztapalapa, where locals reenact the crucifixion in an intense and detailed performance. Churches hold special services, and processions wind through the streets with statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.&nbsp;
Even if you're not religious, it&rsquo;s an amazing way to experience Mexico&rsquo;s blend of faith, history, and culture.&nbsp;
It is one of the busiest times to travel for Mexican families, so if you&rsquo;re more of an introvert, you&rsquo;ll probably want to avoid planning your trip for this time of year.
<h3 dir="ltr">INDEPENDENCE DAY (D&Iacute;A DE LA INDEPENDENCIA)</h3>
Forget Cinco de Mayo&mdash;September 16 is the real deal. The entire country bursts into life with music, fireworks, and an electric atmosphere, all to commemorate the start of Mexico&rsquo;s fight for independence from Spain in 1810.
The heart of the action is in Z&oacute;calo, Mexico City&rsquo;s main square. On the night of September 15th, thousands of people gather to witness "El Grito de Dolores" (The Cry of Dolores), a reenactment of the moment when Miguel Hidalgo, a priest, rang the church bell and rallied the people to rise up. The President of Mexico steps out onto the National Palace balcony, waves the Mexican flag, and shouts &ldquo;&iexcl;Viva M&eacute;xico!&rdquo; three times. The crowd roars back, the sky explodes with fireworks, and the party kicks into full gear.
The next day, September 16th, the streets fill with parades&mdash;expect to see everything from military processions to folkloric dancers twirling in traditional dresses. Bands play lively mariachi tunes, and the air is thick with the smell of street food like elotes (grilled corn) and tacos al pastor.

<h3 dir="ltr">DAY OF THE DEAD (DIA DE MUERTOS)</h3>
D&iacute;a de Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico is one of the most visually stunning and heartfelt celebrations you&rsquo;ll ever witness. Taking place on November 1st and 2nd, it&rsquo;s not about mourning&mdash;it's a joyful, colorful tribute to loved ones who&rsquo;ve passed, celebrating their lives with food, music, and elaborate altars.
The most iconic part of the celebration is the ofrendas&mdash;altars set up in homes, streets, and public spaces. These are adorned with photos, marigold flowers (known as cempas&uacute;chil), candles, sugar skulls, and the favorite foods of the departed, inviting them to return and celebrate with the living. You'll find incredible public displays, especially at places like the Z&oacute;calo, where large-scale altars and installations are on full display.
Mexico City also hosts a massive D&iacute;a de Muertos parade, complete with giant skeleton floats, performers in full calavera (skull) makeup, and traditional dancers.
It&rsquo;s not all about the spectacle, though&mdash;there&rsquo;s a deep sense of reverence in the air. People visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, spending time with their ancestors in a beautiful blend of celebration and remembrance. Even if you're just a visitor, the warmth of this tradition will draw you in, and you'll leave with a more profound understanding of how Mexicans view life, death, and the unbreakable connection between the two.
<h3 dir="ltr">THE DAY OF THE RACE (D&Iacute;A DE LA RAZA)</h3>
D&iacute;a de la Raza in Mexico City is a unique mix of history, culture, and modern-day reflection. It&rsquo;s celebrated on October 12th, marking the day in 1492 when Columbus first landed in the Americas. But in Mexico, it&rsquo;s less about celebrating Columbus and more about honoring the rich indigenous cultures that existed long before European colonization.
In Mexico City, the day kicks off with vibrant parades, where you&rsquo;ll see people dressed in colorful indigenous costumes, dancing to traditional music. These events are all about reclaiming and celebrating the pre-Hispanic roots that are so integral to Mexico&rsquo;s identity.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s also a day for reflection. You'll notice many gatherings and speeches dedicated to social issues, particularly around indigenous rights and the legacy of colonization. It&rsquo;s a blend of celebration and a reminder of the struggles that indigenous communities still face today.

Travel Guides

Jack's Guide To: Los Angeles

Jack's Guide To: Montreal

Jack's Guide to: Kyoto

Jack's Guide To: New Orleans

Surviving Istanbul's Airports

Jack's Guide to: Tokyo

Jack's Guide To: Mexico City

Jack's Guide To: Miami

Jack's Guide To: Ho Chi Minh City

Paris Travel Dupes - alternative destinations to the City of Light

Jack's Guide To: Barcelona

Jack's Guide to: Zanzibar

An insider’s travel guide to Trinidad and Tobago

The Lazy Planner's Guide to New Zealand

Jack's Guide To: Toronto

Jack's Guide To: Kraków