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

<h1>Paris Travel Dupes</h1>
This article was originally published in the Detour in January 2024

I&rsquo;m not a big one for leaning into travel trends&mdash;go where your heart truly desires, I say! But if your heart&nbsp;reeeeally wants to go &ldquo;somewhere like Paris but not so touristy,&rdquo; then maybe the travel dupes trend is actually for you.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s be clear, I&rsquo;m not talking about going somewhere that looks exactly like Paris&mdash;short of a visit to Vegas, you&rsquo;re not going to get a selfie with the Eiffel Tower anywhere else. TikTokers jumping on the bandwagon are all about finding somewhere &ldquo;better&rdquo; than the original destination, but for me, it&rsquo;s more about getting to the heart of what you want from a trip and looking for places that offer a similar experience.&nbsp;
So, what is it that visitors want from a trip to Paris? Romantic sunset strolls along the Seine, world-class art and stunning architecture&hellip; some really tasty baked goods and great wine? Unsurprisingly, these are all things you can find elsewhere, too.

We&rsquo;ll start with a suggestion to satisfy anyone wanting to practise their French: Rouen, the capital of Normandy. At first glance, it&rsquo;s a little more industrial than Paris, but stick with me&mdash;it still checks a bunch of boxes!&nbsp;
For those leisurely strolls, you&rsquo;ve got the Seine running through the centre of town. But here, I&rsquo;d say it&rsquo;s best enjoyed as part of the panorama from atop&nbsp;<a href="https://en.visiterouen.com/heritages/nature/the-sainte-catherine-hill-in-rouen/?lid=16g46ynjyt1i">Saint Catherine&rsquo;s Hill</a>. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://arthive.com/claudemonet/works/324044~General_view_of_Rouen_from_the_hill_of_St_Catherine?lid=sttgycdmn1sl">Monet</a>&nbsp;found the views inspiring!
The steeple towering above the rest of the old town belongs to none other than Rouen&rsquo;s own Notre-Dame Cathedral, which spends its summer evenings&nbsp;<a href="https://en.visiterouen.com/heritages/history/the-cathedral-intimate-and-flamboyant/cathedral-of-light/?lid=mgwjjzgs6r0x">bathing in illuminations</a>. And then there&rsquo;s the Gothic church of Saint-Laurent, worth a visit for its unusual museum packed with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.clarkart.edu/microsites/the-art-of-iron/exhibition-(4)?lid=1kppg9ufbm2d">wrought iron works of art</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Just walking through the medieval cobblestone streets will keep you entertained, though. You can hunt down the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake, admire the city&rsquo;s astronomical clock from inside and out, and duck in and out of cheese shops (or&nbsp;<a href="https://rouen-bouge.fr/en/fromagerie-bar-bickett-le-premier-bar-a-fromage-de-rouen/?lid=7c1buui4kcaf">cheese&nbsp;bars</a>!) along the way. It&rsquo;d be rude not to sample&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/get-inspired/calvados-a-norman-tradition?lid=c6qz0tgyl3zl">the local tipples</a>, too!

My second suggestion takes us a hop northeast to the Belgian city of Antwerp. This one has already popped up on social media as a suggested Paris &ldquo;dupe&rdquo;, but I actually think it fits more for Amsterdam. That said, I can definitely get behind it from a more historical destination angle.&nbsp;
The&nbsp;<a href="https://aviewoncities.com/antwerp/meir?lid=gv26bcxfilcb">grand boulevards</a>&nbsp;lined with historic buildings, luxury shopping galleries, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1977614/worlds-most-beautiful-train-station-antwerp-belgium" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNESCO-protected train station</a>&nbsp;all play a major role in setting the tone for the city. Add in the&nbsp;<a href="https://rubenshuis.be/en?lid=t7w2lwhzp3yz">Italian-style palazzo</a>&nbsp;surrounded by lush gardens and stuffed to the brim with Baroque art, and you&rsquo;ve probably got a pretty good idea of what to expect.
Don&rsquo;t worry, Antwerp also has a&nbsp;<a href="https://aviewoncities.com/antwerp/cathedral-of-our-lady?lid=66rfuoyvo8l3">Cathedral of Our Lady</a>&nbsp;for you to visit, complete with more works of art by Rubens and an effigy of Isabella of Bourbon. Bonus activity for anyone who isn&rsquo;t claustrophobic or afraid of heights: free guided tours of the cathedral include the opportunity to climb the small cathedral tower. For the full belfry experience, you&rsquo;ll need to stop by the&nbsp;<a href="https://museumvleeshuis.be/en?lid=jxxel7fzludw">Museum Vleeshuis</a>&nbsp;interactive music museum.
Antwerp also takes care of you boat-trip fans. The Scheldt River is teeming with life&mdash;between the waterbuses connecting the city and the tours that take you around the harbour, you won&rsquo;t lack an opportunity to get on the water. The sunset strolls may&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livetheworld.com/activities/belgium/walking-the-quays?lid=stf13yveldwv">look a little different</a>&nbsp;here than Paris, but they can definitely still be romantic.

My final Parisian alternative is Bucharest, Romania. You can probably surmise from its nickname, &ldquo;Little Paris of the East,&rdquo; that I&rsquo;m far from the first person to suggest that Bucharest might indeed remind you of the French capital.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ll get the most obvious reason out of the way first: the&nbsp;<a href="https://visitbucharest.today/arch-of-triumph/?lid=848le7bda3sc">Arcul de Triumf</a>. In fact, much of the architecture in Bucharest wouldn&rsquo;t feel at all out of place in Paris. As well as an old town packed with cafe-lined cobblestone streets and hidden courtyards, you&rsquo;ll soon encounter the imposing tree-lined boulevard that was specifically&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulevardul_Unirii?lid=r5k2goalrxk9">designed to rival the Champs-&Eacute;lys&eacute;es</a>.&nbsp;
The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/muzeul-micul-paris-little-paris-museum?lid=mqb4ptyey4d1">Muzeul Micul Paris</a>&nbsp;(Museum of Little Paris) is a good place to get a feel for where the nickname came from. It celebrates Bucharest&rsquo;s golden age in a staged bourgeois house that&rsquo;ll take you right back to the late 19th century.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But Bucharest does have remarkable landmarks of its own as well! Located at the end of Bulevardul Unirii, the&nbsp;<a href="https://visitbucharest.today/palace-of-parliament/?lid=5hcqn3bipel2">Palace of the Parliament</a>&nbsp;is hands-down one of the most jaw-dropping buildings I&rsquo;ve ever seen. It&rsquo;s the largest civilian building in the world, and apparently also the heaviest and most expensive.
There are loads of excellent spots to stop around the city for a browse or a bite to eat, like the beautiful&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Som5Do3VU/?hl=en&amp;lid=5wjr5drihwe8">Carturesti Carusel</a>&nbsp;bookshop and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carucubere.ro/en/venue/?lid=8gs68s5eupwo">Caru&rsquo; cu bere</a>&nbsp;restaurant. And come the evening, you can pop into a&nbsp;<a href="https://draculasguidetoromania.com/2023/10/15/wonderful-wine-bars-bucharest/?lid=i0iuwb5l64s3">cosy little wine bar</a>&nbsp;and find out just how well the local produce rivals Paris&rsquo;.
Now we&rsquo;ve got a few options lined up instead of the City of Lights, your brain might be ticking away thinking about &ldquo;dupes&rdquo; for other destinations. Here are a few ideas to consider:

<ul>
<li>Switch the Maldives for Malaysia. Already popular with diving enthusiasts, the white sand beaches and overwater bungalows of Sipadan and Langkayan just scream relaxation. Or for more budget options, pick the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timetravelturtle.com/malaysia/perhentian-islands/?lid=bmlbh6zoeah1">Perhentian Islands</a>.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Want the big city vibe without the Big Apple price tag? Head to Chicago. Walk&nbsp;<a href="https://www.the606.org/?lid=trh43lwi3ros">The 606&nbsp;</a>instead of the High Line, sip a cocktail while taking in the views at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6uxcxDLcxE/?lid=k7176azc4l0y">Cindy&rsquo;s</a>, catch a show at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.secondcity.com/history?lid=x9wzz5t5cgtk">Second City</a>. And of course, treat yourself to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/november-2023/chicago-25-best-pizza/?lid=opq344i9pwwk">slice</a>&nbsp;(deep-dish or otherwise).</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>The busy temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia are high on many lists, but Indonesia&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/unusual-place-of-the-month-borobudur/?lid=onhk8ub8xkdl">Borobudur</a>&nbsp;deserves just as much attention. It&rsquo;s the largest Buddhist temple compound in the world and which took 75 years to build. Its 3-tiered stupa is made from over 2 million stones and surrounded by 72 smaller shrines. Unsurprisingly, sunrise is a popular time to visit.</li>
</ul>

Paris Travel Dupes - alternative destinations to the City of Light

Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia. Its name will likely conjure up images of uniquely gothic architecture, ferocious football matches, and sun-soaked sandy beaches.
While it&rsquo;s one of the most visited destinations in Europe, you can&rsquo;t ignore that it&rsquo;s also beginning to appear more frequently in headlines due to the impact of tourism.&nbsp;
Over the years, many of our JFC team have visited Barcelona, and a few have even called it home, so we&rsquo;re in a good place to tell you what&rsquo;s what in the city. While we&rsquo;ll be sharing our own tips along with those from other members who have visited, our aim is to provide you with unbiased information to help you make decisions about your own visit. 
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXft0qZkbLGcrC15ev0zP0lvqWh2Nyw0DkpTmiyo4OY5D74j6kpXrkV7Gnh8YtpF4dReNAr_1y8V3fMbfha_5wbwT8qS8Cko5p1FUkM4UVubyJMoSA4Wm7XFLY71pw30vQSdDDl28A?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="383" height="383" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
A quick note on the links in this guide:&nbsp;we&rsquo;re not affiliated with any external sites we&rsquo;ve chosen to include, so we&rsquo;re not getting any freebies 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 none repeat scroll 0 0; border: 1px solid #aaa; display: table; font-size: 95%; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 20px; width: auto;">
Quick Reference
<ul>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_91728132448191746012977970">Pre-trip preparation</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_69043587276271746014344740">Cash and currency</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_40104367382501746014602254">Barcelona by season</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_18931801887541746014710373">Getting around Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_74168563490791746014762544">Internet and cell service in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_75080099893511746014805881">Travel style</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_26392595142371746019307363">Area Guides</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_70297290447181746019584290">Markets in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_89286655052771746023733338">Recommended links</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_13715699555981746023771632">Barcelona food</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_63417743858831746023832209">Festivals and events in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_18322787361731746023870310">Gaud&iacute; buildings in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_96763719164391746023915429">Parks in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_49319333067281746023984952">Barcelona day trips</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_91728132448191746012977970">Pre-trip preparation</h2>
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Visas</h3>
Due to being in the Schengen zone, visas here are fairly simple for most travelers:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you&rsquo;re travelling on an EU, or Swiss passport, you won&rsquo;t need a visa at all.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you&rsquo;re travelling on a UK, US or Canadian passport, you can travel visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period at the time of writing. E-visas will soon be introduced for travelers from these regions (the planned start date is mid-2025), you&rsquo;ll find more info about this on the ETIAS website <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en">here</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">For travelers with any other passports, you can find some more in depth information <a href="https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en#who-needs-to-apply-for-a-schengen-visa">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Vaccines and Medication</h3>
Disclaimer: We aren't medical experts, so always check which medications and vaccines are recommended by your local healthcare service before travelling. Here are a few links to get you started:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">UK: <a href="https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations">NHS Fit for Travel</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">EU: <a href="https://consular-protection.ec.europa.eu/travel-advice_en">Travel Advice for EU citizens</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">USA: <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list">CDC Travelers' Health</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Canada: <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories">Canada.ca Travel Advice</a></li>
</ul>
Most travelers are unlikely to need any vaccinations before heading to Barcelona, but you may want to pack some more general items such as anti-histamines, painkillers etc. just in case they&rsquo;re needed during your trip.

<h3 dir="ltr">Other Essentials&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sunscreen &mdash;&nbsp;In peak summer, you&rsquo;ll experience around <a href="https://thespiritedexplorer.com/summer-in-barcelona-survival-guide/#:~:text=Sun%20protection%20is%20key.">10+ hrs of sunshine per day,</a> with high-level UV rays to match, so you&rsquo;ll need some SPF 50+ to avoid any nasty burns.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mosquito repellent &mdash; A high-level DEET repellent (at least 50%)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Any higher % DEET typically only increases how long it&rsquo;ll be effective for, rather than offering &lsquo;better&rsquo; protection from biting insects. Applying a 50% DEET should last you 10&ndash;12 hours.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">FYI, when you wear sunscreen and DEET repellent together, it can limit the sun protection of your sunscreen, so give it 30 minutes after you&rsquo;ve applied your sunscreen (or until it&rsquo;s fully absorbed) before spraying your repellent.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Clothing&nbsp;</h3>
Barcelona is generally a very relaxed city, where you can dress how you would at home. As with many historical European cities, roads can be steep, uneven, and cobblestoned in places, so you&rsquo;ll need a sturdy pair of shoes. A cross-body bag or waist bag will also be useful for storing metro passes and phones, while discouraging pickpockets. A wrist strap for your phone will also be useful if you need to use your mobile on the go.
On the beach, people wear swimsuits, bikinis, go topless and occasionally ditch clothes altogether. But before you decide to bathe in your birthday suit, make sure to<a href="https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/best-barcelona-city-beaches-area-guide/"> research the beach you're on</a>, as not all are nudist-friendly.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdEpQrdRBeD91zs8pLVIsjt-PRLCyAF1RYjYaaw0DnmCltqs3R5iRuqgG2BCtVeMGSlFVJmdD0vuL8T-3Oszh_X7hACuPyvLl9O9zfW-HNX-h_8KYvhF9teHWwo1Rbko8eTAOCXuA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_69043587276271746014344740">Cash and currency</h2>
Local currency: The euro (&euro;)
The majority of bars, caf&eacute;s, restaurants, and shops will all accept both card and cash payments. To avoid the eyes of pickpockets, we&rsquo;d recommend only bringing a limited amount of cash for small purchases and tips, and paying by card for everything else.

<h3 dir="ltr">ATMs</h3>
Although you&rsquo;ll find plenty of ATMs throughout the city, they mostly add pricey fees on top of your withdrawal (a classic trick throughout Europe!). If you need to withdraw cash, try finding an ATM outside the main touristy areas, or ask your hotel for their recommendation. Any Santander customer with an account from any country will be able to get free withdrawals at a Santander ATM. You can read more information on withdrawal fees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.monito.com/en/wiki/atms-in-spain#atm-fees">in this ATM guide</a>.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Tipping</h3>
Tipping in Barcelona is not expected, but it would be appreciated if you experience good service and feel inclined to do so. 10% is an appropriate amount, but check your receipt first to see if a service charge has already been included in the final bill, and you don&rsquo;t have a nasty surprise. You can read a more thorough guide to tipping culture in Spain&nbsp;<a href="https://thespaintravelguru.com/do-you-tip-in-spain/">here</a>.

<h2 id="h_40104367382501746014602254">Seasonality</h2>

Barcelona's seasons are what you'd expect from any Mediterranean city &mdash; hot summers, mild-to-cool winters, and it&rsquo;s very rare to need to worry about anything extreme.
Barcelona is popular with tourists year-round, with peak summer (unsurprisingly) being the busiest time. Here&rsquo;s what you can expect from each season to help you make your plans:
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Winter (December-February)</h3>
Winters there are fairly mild, with temperatures averaging around 8&ordm;&ndash;15&ordm; degrees. Snow is very rare, so no need to pack for the white stuff.&nbsp;
There are fewer crowds roaming the streets, and you&rsquo;ll find accommodation and activities quite a bit cheaper than during the summer months. It&rsquo;s also a great time to go see the popular sites because they&rsquo;re not too busy.&nbsp;
But the true highlights of visiting in winter are the festive atmosphere of the <a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/christmas/barcelona-christmas-markets.html">Christmas markets</a> in December and the <a href="https://irbarcelona.org/christmas-barcelona/three-kings-day/">Three Kings Parade</a> in January.&nbsp;
And best of all, the food! The city&rsquo;s favorite festive treat, homemade turr&oacute;n, will have hit the shelves (<a href="https://barcelona-top-travel-tips.com/handmade-turron/">here</a>&rsquo;s where you&rsquo;ll find some of the best), and grabbing a warming bowl of <a href="https://www.catalego.net/post/escudella-nadal">escudella i carn d&rsquo;olla</a> (aka, a festive dish of meats and vegetables in a yummy broth) is hard to beat if you ask us.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Spring (March-May)</h3>
At this time of year, it&rsquo;s a little warmer and the flowers are blooming all over the city, so it&rsquo;s a great time to go wandering through the parks and gardens. And towards the end of May, it&rsquo;ll be time to hit the beaches again, ahead of the summer crowds.
You&rsquo;ll also catch some great festivals that happen during these months, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/easter/easter-weekend-barcelona.html">annual Easter festivities</a>, and Sant Jordi Day, where the streets are filled with stalls selling books and red roses. It&rsquo;s their version of Valentine&rsquo;s Day!
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeXCx_FaG_xcB2Q-HieA-57Jkgr5qDln1AgvYOMlG1ELYWJClGO8VsgsH3QaVj3wF0J1rfIAoJgvVW73ElKY5trOARLLaAsv-kAwgILoRzXECsqtcSi2WGYa-apb0LR1w_wWrGC-g?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Summer (June-August)</h3>
The hot summer sun comes out, and so do the crowds!
Temperatures can reach upwards of 35℃/85℉ at the height of summer. Luckily, lots of accommodation in the city has air conditioning, but when you&rsquo;re out and about, it&rsquo;s worth carrying a hand fan and stopping off for some icy gelato to cool you down&mdash;we&rsquo;ve heard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187497-d2703063-r963496904-Farggi-Barcelona_Catalonia.html">Farggi</a> sells some of the best!
As you&rsquo;d expect, this is also an ideal time to take a day trip to one of the smaller cities and towns nearby, which won&rsquo;t have nearly as many tourists visiting at this time compared to Barcelona. You&rsquo;ll find our suggestions below in the &lsquo;Day Trips&rsquo; section.
For some more in depth info, have a look through&nbsp;<a href="https://thespiritedexplorer.com/summer-in-barcelona-survival-guide/">this summer in Barcelona survival guide</a>&mdash;don&rsquo;t worry, it&rsquo;s not as dramatic as it sounds!
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Autumn (September-November)</h3>
The weather is much more comfortable at this time of year, without the summer heat or winter chill.
This is a great time to try nearby hiking routes, like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/hiking-montserrat">village of Monserrat</a>, which is surrounded by mountains. Best of all, most of the crowds will have left by October, so you may even have the trails to yourself.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeCQCYysV5Ej2HhS3gsO90Yn1qK1XxwKl_e7hGGr0iXDnFb5jBiaYssLCfusVA5oHx9tD8ZseuPGDF6zSixC8u6pyIOcTNRy0MRe9u56MzxoYEq93u8AJnwGW7jrthgVdXd9IFZzA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

You&rsquo;ll also see the city&rsquo;s parks and streets taken over by fiery red and orange leaves, and there are lots of places nearby where you can go and see the beautiful colors&mdash;find some of the best spots <a href="https://unexpectedcatalonia.com/autumn-colours-near-barcelona/">here</a>.
And if you&rsquo;re still craving some sea and sand, you&rsquo;ll still be able to squeeze in a few more beach days before the winter truly sets in.
Note: If you&rsquo;d like some more in depth month-by-month info, have a look through <a href="https://www.bcn.travel/barcelona-weather-by-month/">this guide</a> to the city&rsquo;s weather.

<h2 id="h_18931801887541746014710373">Transportation</h2>

<h3>How to get to Barcelona</h3>
You can get to Barcelona by air, sea, train, or car.
&nbsp;
By air
Barcelona&rsquo;s airport (BCN) has over 200 non-stop routes from cities across the world. Here are the JFC stats for cheap flights to Barcelona we&rsquo;ve seen from Europe, UK, the USA and Canada.
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: &euro;60 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 12+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;26 rtn</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: &pound;50 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 12+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;26 rtn</li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: $350 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: $207 RT</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: $710 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: $548 RT </li>
</ul>

Pro tip: Look out for flights with Iberia from the USA and Ryanair from the UK/Europe, as these airlines offer some of the cheapest fares.

By sea
Barcelona has a major cruise ship port, which docks ships from the UK, Europe, and the USA. There are 7 terminals at the port, and the closest one to La Rambla is a 15-minute walk away. If you arrive at one of the far-away terminals, you can catch the blue cruise shuttle bus for around &euro;3 one way. This will drop you off at the World Trade Centre, which is also a 15-minute walk from La Rambla.
From there, you can easily access the rest of the city with nearby bus stops and the Drassanes metro station.
&nbsp;
By train&nbsp;
High-speed double-decker trains link Paris Gare de Lyon station and Barcelona Sants station&nbsp; multiple times a day and take around 6.5 hours. If you book tickets in advance, they can be as low as &euro;45. Be careful, though, as last-minute tickets can be priced over &euro;100.
Multiple train companies offer direct routes from Madrid to Barcelona throughout the day. On a high-speed service like Ouigo or Iryo, the journey can take as little as 2 hours 30 minutes.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdfuowD91df--GK2imZxhjXMmN4Rwun4CP85ydNd1hvyS2ZsKQhI7Ce3rhZspfSOoyiazRT7vrtUFaXiHx4MmbFP0ho10cEwCsgOsMPA-2QoswzKGU1FT7wQuNxbCuVLF0L4ZgZ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Transportation</h3>

From the airport
The easiest way to get from the airport to the city center is to jump on the Aerobus. The bus stop outside both terminals is clearly signposted, and you can<a href="https://aerobusbarcelona.es/where-can-i-buy-the-aerobus-ticket/?lang=en"> buy tickets from the driver or online in advance</a>. They&rsquo;ll set you back &euro;7.20 for a single trip or &euro;12.50 for a return, and you can pay by either cash or card. It takes around 30 minutes and stops at 3 places: Plaza de Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell, Plaza de la Universitat. 
The cheapest option to get into the city is to take the metro, which also takes around 30-minutes and costs &euro;5.50. But there isn&rsquo;t a direct line downtown, so you&rsquo;ll need to change at either Torrassa or Collblanc, depending on where you want to go.
You can also catch a yellow taxi to the city center from the taxi rank outside the Arrivals area at both terminals. The price should be around &euro;40.
&nbsp;
Travel cards
There are 2 main travel card options for tourists: the T-Casual card and the HolaBCN card. The T-Casual card is a set price for 10 journeys and can be used on the city metro and buses, but you can&rsquo;t use it to reach the airport. The Hola BCN card is pricier but can be used for an unlimited number of journeys on the metro, buses and to reach the airport. You can<a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/faq/barcelona-card/barcelona-card-vs-t-casual-ticket.html"> read more about both cards here</a>.

Metro
Barcelona has a clean, safe and punctual metro service with 11 lines and plenty of stations across the city. It typically runs between 05:00 AM - midnight, although these hours are extended during peak times such as national holidays. You can find ticket machines at all station entrances, and they accept both cash and card payments. The metro stations are easy to navigate, with many signs displaying the stops along each line. You can also use Google Maps to figure out the quickest route between stations.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdgzHT6W82FJeO7qSbzKQNB4IX7VivTZb7JEWibki9URwOsWcv2UVv6eWFxkhSRrttfa-QmBjVqUkTlH5xCFSdadMrNCvRsD8ZyoEwLvMNVk_REPvL33al-Ww9DMlc_lsLMkZoKSA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388">

Taxis &amp; ride-sharing apps
Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Bolt are available in Barcelona, but their service is limited.
Licensed taxis are usually the easiest and safest option. You can easily recognize a licensed taxi by:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The yellow and black exterior&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Taxi sign on top of the car</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Identity card of the taxi driver in the front window</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Taxi meter on the dashboard</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Bikes
Cycling is a great way to move around the city, especially during the summer when the metro gets busy and stuffy. There&rsquo;s over 200 kilometres of clearly marked cycle lanes across Barcelona. Most of the paths are fairly flat and easily rideable, although there are steeper areas like Montjuic, in case you are looking for a trickier terrain.
You may notice rows of red bikes dotted around the city, branded with the word &lsquo;Bicing&rsquo;. Sadly, these aren&rsquo;t available to tourists because you need a proof of residency to unlock them. There are, however, plenty of rental shops, like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barcelonarentabike.com/en/">Barcelona Rent A Bike</a>, which also offers cycle tours of the city.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdcDqs7F4_6hhOTruHViosHvQWTTHHOqmDEFWlTb7E_RjPF3-Krn7bTsE4x_uFhlZQlIAPp1pPIoeNxHW6S2pxAZA_GITFZE4ySjsP8OqzySCURNSQgh_-MkUUVeK2-SApWU3M?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_74168563490791746014762544">Internet and Cell Service</h2>
Wi-Fi and cell service are reliable and fast across Barcelona, including when you&rsquo;re riding most metro lines.
<h3 dir="ltr">Cell service and mobile data</h3>
The main cell service providers are Movistar, Orange, and Vodafone. You should be able to get a 4G/5G connection everywhere in the city.
If your phone doesn't support an <a href="https://www.mappingmegan.com/international-esim-card-vs-traditional-sim-cards-for-tourists-comparison/">eSIM</a>, you can buy a physical SIM card from Barcelona airport, supermarkets, electronic/mobile stores and tourist information centers. Orange offers one of the cheapest cards with the most amount of data. Buying one at the airport will likely cost you the most, so if you are able, try to buy one once you are in the city.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Wi-Fi</h3>
Free Wi-Fi is available in several places across the city, such as:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Barcelona Airport</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Public parks</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Libraries</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shopping malls</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Tourist information centers</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Remote working from Spain</h3>
Barcelona is a very popular city for remote working and digital nomads. You can expect to reach internet speeds of 80-100mb download/13-16mb upload.
You can find <a href="https://thespaces.com/best-barcelona-coworking-spaces/">many stylish co-working spaces</a> dotted around the city, offering everything from hourly passes to monthly memberships. Most caf&eacute;s are also happy to let you work on your laptop for a while, as long as you buy something to eat and drink every so often. It&rsquo;s worth asking at the counter to make sure before you set yourself up.&nbsp;

<h2 id="h_75080099893511746014805881">Travel style</h2>

Barcelona is a safe and easy city to visit, as long as you&rsquo;re mindful of pickpockets and scammers. Its unusual stand-out architecture, engaging museums, city beaches and (usually) pleasant weather, help the city appeal to most people.
In particular, solo travelers will appreciate the easy-to-navigate public transport system, the budget-friendly accommodation options and the&nbsp;<a href="https://freewalkingtoursbarcelona.com/">many social activities you can join</a>, such as walking tours or cooking classes.
It&rsquo;s also relatively easy to keep children entertained with heaps of <a href="https://runnerbeantours.com/barcelona-with-kids-the-complete-guide/#:~:text=Is%20Barcelona%20child%2Dfriendly%3F,get%20grumpy%2C%20tired%20and%20rebel.">child-friendly attractions</a> and exciting family-friendly festivals.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfyAPVfFRau72QcVDpFb50PFhsXoPNsjz0ZZuAC917OGOgI9fOm0FJIuP1HWw4F0c7rVkYcMc4YgcqrSJuJbUmtBHB9H-P4dWMegaaKAz9LhAclPIN97qENArmuIT3-fFM6HNqE0A?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387">

<h3 dir="ltr">Getting by</h3>

Barcelona is a very tourist-oriented city, so there are a lot of signs in English pointing visitors in the direction of popular attractions.&nbsp;
Flight Finder Lauren says:
&ldquo;Many locals also speak English and are usually very friendly, so don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask for directions &mdash; I certainly did in my first month here, and everyone I spoke to was very patient and willing to help."
Locals would likely appreciate you learning some keywords in their language, but we should emphasize that Catalan is often preferred over Spanish:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hello: hola (oh-la)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Goodbye: adeu (ah-dyo)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Good morning: bon die (bon dee-yah)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Please: si us plau (si oos plow), per favor (per fah-vor)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Thank you: merci (mer-si)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">I&rsquo;m sorry: perdo (per-doh)</li>
</ul>
Occasionally, marches have been held in the city center protesting for stricter tourist regulations. Opinions on over-tourism in the city are varied, with a portion seeing the growing number of tourists as a negative. Despite this, many locals still appreciate visitors, so as long as you are respectful, you should not face problems during your stay.
 Travel tip: Shopping local is always the best way to go, rather than putting more money into the big chains. If you look close enough, you&rsquo;ll notice that some of the oldest independent businesses in Barcelona are marked with a commemorative floor plaque outside the shopfront. It makes for a fun treasure hunt to spot them while walking the streets, plus you get the chance to buy some unique souvenirs while supporting local businesses, it&rsquo;s a win-win. One of our favourites has to be <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=Cereria+Subir%C3%A0">this stunning candle shop</a> that was founded in 1761!
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXemJyXBlxc5BKGAu_d0LKVfuXXKOIwYB2ka94GluNMOZAEty_2NuSZf0QXQWuRo5UR-Vgl7MX2lAs9ABi10euNxqTe7jWj9u3l1i6KPCH8fqN6ZxdEIFOLprNCHLpjrJ0uN2vpw6w?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Pickpockets and common scams</h3>

You&rsquo;ll probably have heard that Barcelona is one of the worst cities in the world for pickpocketing. And there is some truth to it, since it&rsquo;s the most common crime that tourists will experience. But if you keep your wits about you, you can avoid becoming a target. Firstly, keep all valuables out of sight, with your phone/wallet in a secure bag that you can close, and do not leave that bag unattended. If you're wearing a backpack/cross body/shoulder bag, it will be safer to wear it on your front in crowded places such as the metro.&nbsp; 
Alongside solo pickpocketers, criminals often work in organized groups that will use distraction techniques to try to steal from you. This might look like:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A person asking for the time&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A confused &lsquo;tourist&rsquo; asking for directions</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A salesman trying to sell you a tour</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A student doing a survey&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Essentially, be mindful of strangers trying to talk to you on the street. If you do talk to someone, keep your hands on your bag.&nbsp;
The most common areas for pickpocketing are popular tourist spots, like along La Rambla and outside La Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia.
&nbsp;In these areas, you may also notice people dressed up as clowns or mimes. They will regularly attempt to stand in the background of your photos and then persistently ask you for a tip, so try to avoid them if possible. If they begin to hassle you, just say a firm &lsquo;no&rsquo; and walk away.
You may also come across fake tour operators attempting to sell you tickets to popular attractions like Park G&uuml;ell or Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia. Both of these places have a limited number of entries per day and often sell out weeks in advance, so you won&rsquo;t be able to buy valid tickets on the street the day of your visit. Instead, make sure you buy tickets from the official websites early to avoid disappointment.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">LGBTQ+&nbsp;</h3>
Barcelona is a safe and inclusive city for members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit. Public attitudes are more supportive, and you can find many <a href="https://www.queereurope.com/gay-guide-to-barcelona/">LGBTQ bars throughout the city</a> (particularly in the Eixample district, like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/candydarlingbar/?hl=en">Candy Darling</a> pictured below), along with pride parades during the summer. You&rsquo;ll also find a <a href="https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/en/activites/discover-barcelona-lgtbi-centre-0">LGBTQI+ centre</a> located in the Sant Antoni neighborhood, which you can visit for support, recommendations and social events.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdFX8_94_8p7NAhL_19laaTZpWWsa58gf4TJR-a3DMzmo7hTPBYPql7Il3Vi3WpMDupDaswEXRfJY-tcXgeut9PYszZxt3swxOns1RCBOrkpR4JBPCRb4m6eOkqyIPgYUZEKI9a?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Female Solo Travelers</h3>

Thanks to its well-lit, walkable streets, low rate of violent crime, and reliable public transport system, Barcelona is a popular choice for solo female visitors.&nbsp;
In terms of accommodation, we&rsquo;d avoid built-up neighborhoods with narrow alleys, like El Ravel or Born, and instead choose more open areas like Eixample or Gracia. For more advice on visiting the city as a solo female traveler, <a href="https://barcelonauncovered.com/is-barcelona-safe-for-solo-female-travelers/">have a read of this guide</a>. 
Travel tip: <a href="https://almas-libres.org/">A</a><a href="https://almas-libres.org/">lmas Libres</a> is a female-run organization that facilitates events and sporting activities for women in Barcelona. They run various meet-ups every week, which you can join as a one off to learn a new skill and meet other women.

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_26392595142371746019307363">Area Guide</h2>

Barcelona is split up into several districts and neighborhoods, each with its own unique charm, distinct architecture and tasty tapas restaurants. Below, we&rsquo;ve listed our favorite neighborhoods to give you a better idea of where to stay that&rsquo;ll suit you best.

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://thetravelhack.com/europe/spain/locals-guide-barcelonas-gothic-quarter/">Gothic Quarter</a></h3>
This neighborhood is the oldest, yet still very much beating heart of Barcelona. Every corner you turn through the maze-like cobbled streets, you&rsquo;ll find charming courtyards, quaint churches and medieval architecture.&nbsp;
Your prize for successfully navigating the winding labyrinth is the grand Cathedral de Barcelona, tucked away in the very center. Its cool cloisters provide much-needed relief on hot summer days, but you&rsquo;ll need to <a href="https://tickets.catedralbcn.org/en">book entry tickets</a> in advance. Just steps from the Cathedral, down another unassuming street, you&rsquo;ll come across &lsquo;The World Begins With Every Kiss&rdquo; mural made up of tiny personal photos, pictured below.
Along with being within walking distance of many tourist attractions, the Gothic Quarter is also home to 2 metro stations (Liceu on the green line and Jaume I on the yellow line) giving you easy access to the rest of the city.
Given its central location with plenty of bars, restaurants, shops, and accommodation options, it&rsquo;s a popular pick for visitors. Hotels do sway on the pricier side here compared to other areas in the city, so if you want to stay in the midst of the action, we&rsquo;d advise booking ASAP to get the best price. And be prepared to share the narrow streets with a lot of other visitors during peak seasons.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXefExiFbWdOEvcKlOlnTGn5r2E9fgcpwE6tT_Cc9zx44rTxYbfJd-LrZ4DIFpUS6YtAOarZuvHTzLjcKxKfxnism-PBHSo_kXn1r5a4mgVCCVrDgMyNYOodATkVKBuvbeMQnfGxGA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="319" height="422" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://barcelonahacks.com/las-ramblas-barcelona/">La Rambla</a></h3>
Although it&rsquo;s not a neighborhood, we&rsquo;ll highlight this iconic street here, since it borders the above-mentioned Gothic Quarter and El-Ravel (see below).
Arguably the most famous walkway in the city, the tree-lined pedestrian-only boulevard runs 1.2 km from Pla&ccedil;a de Cantalunya all the way to the Christopher Columbus Monument near the waterfront.
Walk from end to end, you&rsquo;ll come across restaurants, big-name hotels, kiosks, artists and street performers&mdash;the quality of which are debatable. Some see the street as one long tourist trap, but for others it&rsquo;s an energetic epicenter of people watching.
Besides the potential for pickpockets, it is actually a safe place to wander around during the daytime. Just be careful at night, when the atmosphere can become a little more unpredictable as the tourist crowds thin out, and the party-goers come out to play.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.tatacheers.com/travel/el-raval/">El Ravel</a></h3>
Walk from the Gothic Quarter directly across La Rambla, and you&rsquo;ll enter the Ravel. If you&rsquo;ve ever seen a photo of long narrow Barcelona streets with high buildings and cute traditional flower-filled balconies, there&rsquo;s a good chance it was taken here. Known for its it&rsquo;international communities and surprisingly cheap accommodation for it&rsquo;s central location, it&rsquo;s a popular choice for budget backpackers.
By day, pay a visit to MACBA&mdash;a modern art museum with an outdoor plaza that&rsquo;s been <a href="https://www.santjordihostels.com/skateboarding-barcelona-a-locals-guide-macba/">adopted by the skateboarding community</a>. Grab a drink from a nearby caf&eacute; and watch on in awe as some of the world&rsquo;s best skateboarders <a href="https://youtu.be/OfRdB9451fE?feature=shared&amp;t=61">fly down human-sized ledges</a> and daunting stairways. As of writing this, the exterior of MACBA is currently undergoing a transformation, so for better or for worse, watch this space.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdEkUNh45QSGX81-xqzIn6pOCVMb6p3Q72OwxOrdJWohP0or7WOHYK86fc3plrLV_Kkkg9pFIbgIJn1tn0F9YDkQAzHLq7dNSSncPjG9boOTY1UNqh0iUOf0NRofXMo5YTkz5Iij0Yp0DVjIMPG6pJ_M72P?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="409" height="340" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

The Ravel is teeming with smaller independent bars, which makes for a memorable night out if you don&rsquo;t feel like clubbing. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bigbangbarcelona/?hl=en">Big Bang is a great spot</a> for reasonably priced drinks and has live music most nights.&nbsp;
Pro tip: The narrow streets in El Ravel can make it easier for pickpockets and muggers to target tourists, especially at night. Keep to main, well-lit streets and stay extra vigilant after dark.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://barcelonanavigator.com/barceloneta/">Barceloneta</a></h3>
A short walk from the Columbus statue at the end of La Rambla sits Barceloneta, the closest neighborhood to the beach. Packed full of tasty restaurants (especially seafood!), <a href="https://www.destinationbcn.com/barcelonas-best-chiringuitos/">chiringuitos</a> and <a href="https://www.shadesofsummr.com/honest-w-barcelona-review-is-it-worth-the-money/">iconic hotels</a>, it&rsquo;s a great base if you&rsquo;re planning to spend most of your time by the sea.
You&rsquo;ll find several golden sandy beaches along the seafront, all with plenty of facilities, like caf&eacute;s, toilets, showers, etc. Although they are not technically classed as nudist beaches, it is sometimes practiced at the southern end, towards the W hotel.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdmd0KcyjMRLoisiYbGK5xjPQlonarUN6888AAiWw7ekDgJFpJ2_I2P9KD-LVAMDv-wEN1gZVXa-82VAG01Ub1PnhglEHRV3NsXS39E_8q837ArBfUArFhXClRYYv_xHXJhTXEkVT9wyalnf582WDjYNLV7?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">&nbsp;

Aside from the beach, it&rsquo;s also home to attractions like the Aquarium, Catalunya History Museum, and the Montju&iuml;c cable car (maybe skip the latter if you're scared of heights!).
During the evenings, you may run into a tipsy club-goer from Opium, Pacha, or Shocko, but in general, this is a safe neighborhood.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/neighborhoods-guide-of-eixample-in-barcelona/">Eixample</a></h3>
Probably the most recognizable neighborhood (from an aerial view, that is) is Eixample, thanks to its iconic grid-like streets. It&rsquo;s also home to some of the city&rsquo;s most famous attractions, such as Pla&ccedil;a Catalunya, Passeig de Gr&agrave;cia, La Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia, the Arc de Triomf, Casa Batll&oacute; and Casa Mila.&nbsp;
With so many sights, it&rsquo;s unsurprisingly pretty large, allowing smaller internal districts to form. One of them is Sant Antoni, where Flight Finder Lauren lived for 3 months&hellip;
Lauren: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of my favorite areas in the entire city. Picture gorgeous buildings, shady tree-lined avenues and pedestrianized meeting areas at intersections.&rdquo;
Overall, Eixample ticks a lot of boxes. You will find accommodation options to suit most budgets, it&rsquo;s safe, well-connected to the rest of the city, and has a broad mix of touristy and local areas.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.barcelonafoodexperience.com/blog/gracia">Gracia</a></h3>
If you're looking for somewhere central with plenty of amenities, but fewer tourists than Eixample, look just next door to Gracia.
It&rsquo;s full of chilled-out restaurants, art studios, and independent bars. Pla&ccedil;a de Sol is the most popular square, with plenty of caf&eacute;s to grab a coffee and people watch. If you're ever passing through and fancy some reasonably priced tasty tapas, Flight Finder Lauren recommends <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sol+Soler/@41.4015462,2.153769,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12a4a297c2b16ccd:0x9caad00f5e2811ce!8m2!3d41.4015462!4d2.1563439!16s%2Fg%2F1vg0sr_5?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D">Sol Soler</a>.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfWu_HBFRlnyfXeFy0qPNRSKE-Hi7G2oXjtI5as0_j5JkRosgrbL4T8Z7e_6wHgdSPH3hn3cKw2jyG2RLAh_3A0EI9sTGIOgSDn8vRlo0rueaGmQXofIAItC125vJUKpGV89cZZnC4U12ESVC7j6UTmF4Zz?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

Thanks to its tight-knit community, this neighborhood is considered one of the safest in the city.
Travel tip: To see colorful street decorations, live music and parades, visit over <a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/gracia-festival/gracia-festival-barcelona.html">Fiestas de Gracia</a>, a weeklong festival which takes place every August.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_70297290447181746019584290">Markets</h2>

When you think of a traditional Spanish market, you can probably already sense the hustle and bustle of vendors and buyers, as well as those iconic sounds, and sights &mdash; like hams strung up, incredible cheese displays, and tonnes of fresh produce. And that&rsquo;s exactly what you&rsquo;ll find in Barcelona too!&nbsp;
There are a whole bunch of markets in the city that sell all kinds of everything, including food, antiques, and art. Here we&rsquo;re highlighting some of the best and most popular markets in the city, but you can find a complete list of them <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_markets_in_Barcelona">here</a>, depending on what you fancy. Spoiler alert: it&rsquo;s not just La Boqueria!
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">La Boqueria</h3>
Where: La Rambla. Google Maps link <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dq6qjP2eQ4Agsv4C7">here</a>.
When: Monday to Saturday (excl. Bank Holidays). From&nbsp;8 am&ndash;8:30 pm.
Website: <a href="https://www.boqueria.barcelona/home">https://www.boqueria.barcelona</a>
We&rsquo;ll start off strong with the one you&rsquo;ve probably heard of: The Sant Josep Market (or as it&rsquo;s more commonly known, La Boqueria). Right in the center of the city, this place is filled with hundreds of stalls and is definitely the most famous &mdash; for good reason!
With a seemingly endless stock of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and lots of freshly caught seafood, it&rsquo;s easy to see why even the city&rsquo;s top chefs head here for the produce.
But everyone can get something out of this place. As you walk through the market, you&rsquo;ll find plenty of samples on offer for you to try, some smaller caf&eacute;s serving yummy, fresh dishes for lunch, and fruit stands offering freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. For obvious reasons, you should come along with an empty stomach.&nbsp;
Best of all, entry to this market is free!&nbsp;That being said, there are plenty of other comparable markets in the city that have just as good produce, but fewer crowds. You&rsquo;ll find loads of great suggestions <a href="https://www.eater.com/22621306/barcelona-markets-guide-boqueria-where-to-eat">here</a> of alternative places you foodies can try out.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcQ7bsuVUAXFpOum2dYRXDfjqvqn3mxxQIBFSGKFTionS7b9WCcCQHcUkC3wgy86joHZP8EaKYSgfX1CuGjlj1RbfhG4DZkr3W6ULcKmN2GvLk9nj3oqHiV0U2iwWh2XPwqk15u?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Els Encants</h3>
Where: L&rsquo;Eixample. Google Maps link <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/x4rTAHCUs9CPNbCMA">here</a>.
When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday &amp; Saturday (excl. Bank Holidays). From 9 am-8 pm.
Website:<a href="https://encantsbarcelona.com/en/">https://encantsbarcelona.com/en/</a>
Dating back to around 1300, this flea market is steeped in history and an integral part of Barcelona&rsquo;s culture.
If you were to ask what you can find here, the answer would be everything: lots of things you do need, lots of things you don&rsquo;t need, and a whole bunch of stuff in the middle.&nbsp;
Yep, with stalls filled with all kinds from antiques and art, to bikes and electrical goods, this place is perfect if you fancy rummaging through tonnes of stock&mdash;maybe you&rsquo;ll even find a kitchen sink too :-)
Want to get prepared before you head over there? Look at a list of some of the shops <a href="https://encantsbarcelona.com/en/shopping/">here</a>, with a little bit of info about what you can find in each.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Palo Market Fest</h3>
Where: Sant Mart&iacute;. Google Maps link <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hh5WWwGEWFUVBNTJ9">here</a>.
When: The first weekend of every month, except August (find a full list <a href="https://palomarketfest.com/es/barcelona/calendario">here</a>). From 12pm-10pm.
Website: <a href="https://palomarketfest.com/en">https://palomarketfest.com/en</a>
Held in an old, abandoned factory, this market is definitely one for the hipsters.
The market hosts stalls from all kinds of small businesses based in and around Barcelona, and the line-up changes from week to week. So you can expect to see jewellery, vintage clothes and furniture, antiques, art, and of course, some local food&mdash;we&rsquo;ve heard that the <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/shops/barcelona/palo-alto-market#:~:text=Rumor%20has%20it%20that%20the%20pulpo%20(octopus)%20tacos%2C%20freshly%20made%20in%20front%20of%20you%2C%20are%20some%20of%20the%20best%20you%E2%80%99ll%20ever%20taste.">freshly made pulpo (octopus) tacos</a> they sell here are some of the best you&rsquo;ll find around.
But what&rsquo;s really cool about this place is you&rsquo;ll also find food trucks, pop-up beer bars, and live music dotted around, which creates a real festival vibe. So you&rsquo;ll be having a mooch in the stalls, and flicking through vintage clothes, while listening to some great live music and having a boogie. What&rsquo;s not to like!
Note: Entry to the market costs &euro;5.50, and can be purchased online from the Monday before the event. If there is still availability closet to the market, you might be able to get a ticket at the box office.

<h2 id="h_89286655052771746023733338">Recommended links</h2>

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://barcelonaexpatlife.com/free-museum-days-in-barcelona/">Guide to free museum days</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/catalannewsacn">Catalan News</a> &mdash; An Instagram page offering the latest Catalan news and highlights upcoming festivals in English. They may also discuss things that will affect your visit, like upcoming protests or attraction closures.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/barcelonafoodguide">Barcelona Foodguide</a> &mdash;&nbsp;this Instagram account gives loads of cool recommendations of places to go and what&rsquo;s good there. Most posts are in Spanish as they&rsquo;re local recs, but they include lots of pictures and videos to help give you a proper idea of what to expect.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://barcelonahacks.com/">Barcelonahacks</a> &mdash;&nbsp;this website has in depth information about pretty much everything, from all the top attractions, transport, discount passes, and a month-by-month guide to the city.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://runnerbeantours.com/where-to-see-human-towers-in-barcelona/#8220castells8221-human-towers:~:text=1-,Human%20Towers%20in%20Barcelona%3A%202025%20calendar%20%5BUPDATED%5D,-This%20information%20was">Castellers Calendar</a> &mdash; An updated calendar of when to see the human towers in the city.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_13715699555981746023771632">Food</h2>

Being the capital of Catalonian cuisine, Barcelona has a diverse range of traditional dishes that are distinctly unique from other regions in Spain. They incorporate local ingredients from the land and the sea with influences from their French, Balearic and Valencian neighbors.
If you're visiting from December to April, you can enjoy <a href="https://food52.com/blog/24076-this-catalonian-spring-tradition-is-the-best-way-to-experience-barcelona?srsltid=AfmBOoqgseSKfIse-AVyKpOvC87XfIXQ8vGXTCcoIDyNYb3am4msHsV9">Cal&ccedil;ot season</a>, AKA the time to harvest and eat huge spring onions.
Travel note: By law, shops in Barcelona aren&rsquo;t allowed to sell alcohol after 11pm. But this doesn&rsquo;t apply to restaurants and bars.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcF4f93aRA5CCPQC5rDFn4owRjCwhT7DMuAmDBIJzkmaH-HNrdCJwFqHU_Eqibm-qxPmcYSgUZQEot8-gif2-lLJcNWnywSB7-xxvDHyuiNjCGlY0t9G-idMg4UyYeqvRbxSNzaOA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

Here are 3 local dishes to try:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/enjoy/8/the-sacred-principles-of-pa-amb-tomaquet.html">Pa amb Tomaquet</a> - This appetizer may look underwhelming, but you&rsquo;d be surprised just how delicious bread, tomato, garlic and olive oil can taste when combined in the right way.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.eater.com/barcelona/22621281/what-is-fideua-paella-difference-noodles-where-to-eat-barcelona">Fideua</a> - Similar to paella (which originates from Valencia), but with small pasta noodles instead of rice. Plus, it often comes with an array of extra ingredients, like fresh tomatoes, garlic, and a lot of seafood.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.themediterraneandish.com/crema-catalana/">Crema Catalana</a> - Think of this like a lighter (and arguably tastier) version of a cr&egrave;me br&ucirc;l&eacute;e with added citrus and cinnamon.</li>
</ul>
Don&rsquo;t forget to bring your water bottle, as you&rsquo;ll find free (drinkable) water fountains throughout the city.
Pro Tip: If you're visiting during the week, look out for restaurants offering a &lsquo;menu del dia&rsquo;. These are usually 3-course meals (including a drink) served around lunchtime Monday-Friday, costing about &euro;14.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe9ZkgjVrxWFl2OQodjL38Wu3qsC3sEDid8bN224PCWA8Ur_pUFkqGyCMAY3_3NLcdg-FxkVMyCI65qkLI4zg2ruvpF7FhzR45zHg7TeiZufps7VAPA_GgGe2J2W93T_xjajLLPDPCGlhTDu0nS7PsYCE8i?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="506" height="285" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

A note on tourist traps: In among the traditional local eateries, you&rsquo;ll inevitably come across less-authentic establishments who care less about quality and more about getting your money. We&rsquo;d suggest skipping restaurants with:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">An employee on the door trying to enthusiastically lure you in from the street with a menu in hand</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Big English signs outside with pictures of paella and tapas</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A location front and center in a peak tourist area, such as on La Rambla</li>
</ul>
For a good indication that a restaurant is authentic, look out for places with signs only in Spanish or Catalan, menus that are not overly long, and a clientele that seems more local.

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_63417743858831746023832209">Festivals and events</h2>

<h3 dir="ltr">Three Kings&rsquo; Day - Epiphany (5th-6th January)</h3>
Each year on the night before the Epiphany*, there is a <a href="https://irbarcelona.org/christmas-barcelona/three-kings-day/">Three Wise Men parade</a> through the streets of Barcelona, where the men throw gifts and sweets to the children from up on their regally decorated floats.
The parade usually starts in Port Vell, as the men arrive on a boat, and lasts for around 3 hours with an impressive cultural spectacle of elaborate costumes, music, and dancing for the children lining the streets.
&nbsp;Here&rsquo;s a vlog of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQDY3n603Wg">the 2023 parade</a> so you know what to expect!
&nbsp;*ICYMI, The Epiphany is a religious celebration of when the Three Kings went to visit a newly born Jesus &mdash;&nbsp;it&rsquo;s a bigger deal than Christmas in Spain!
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf5f_vQJXVM-FddcUAKdOnshu1oSkWbIOQhsZ2FjJxRl8VBAQqchPDCyXwF1cczv_Kcy6KMjrJ2nidUishbKBsB-4od-RYC0Fz2J6DHtGGgFjLX-Wx3r0_qaiNdFQM0DSzthJ2M?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Sant Jordi - St George&rsquo;s Day (23rd April)</h3>
Books and roses, what more could you want?
In a mix between Valentine&rsquo;s Day and World Book day, for one day in April, stalls pop up all over the city selling roses and books. Traditionally, men receive books, and women roses, but it&rsquo;s 2025 now, it goes either way.&nbsp;
As you walk around, you&rsquo;ll see traditional sardana dancing, which is typical of Catalan culture, <a href="https://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-castellers-human-towers.html">Castell human towers</a>, and you&rsquo;ll smell and see roses on every corner.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re lucky, you&rsquo;ll see authors at the stalls who will sign their books, too.
Lots of buildings will be decorated, but for one of the most impressive floral displays, head over to <a href="https://youtu.be/NEeAHDAtM44?feature=shared&amp;t=14">Gaudi&rsquo;s Casa Battl&oacute;</a>, where the balconies and window ledges will be covered in hundreds of roses. Spoiler alert: it looks even more beautiful than usual&hellip;
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeUzl8TwOT9cwPP7VeU1a2xAsOrb7J4RJqYxKYQsrsKTE7oUFP77ihQzxrwhU5Ws1CI4JDfFx_m7mBkEIg9zA34SC2mOczkcSDZzimbTqZ3SDW_jQvltnAp5SQLQEfpD7oz5_iCsTHjsl8-JPhR24Uo7SWL?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Primavera Sound (May/June)</h3>
Known for its great, and diverse line-ups and picturesque setting along the Barcelona waterfront, it&rsquo;s arguably (well, according to Timeout anyway!) the best music festival in Europe.
What also makes this a popular choice is there are no complicated logistics. It&rsquo;s easily accessible by the Metro line 4 (aka, the yellow line), or by taking one of the shuttle buses that run between the festival and Pla&ccedil;a de Catalunya. 
The slight caveat, is that there aren&rsquo;t any camping facilities on site for the festival, so you will need to fork out for a hotel or Airbnb if you want to stay nearby. Accommodation does sell out quite quickly, but using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HotelsNear-g187497-d8820333-Primavera_Sound_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html">this Tripadvisor page</a> is super useful to see what&rsquo;s still available near the festival site.
But, it&rsquo;s much less likely to rain at Primavera than Glastonbury. So, every cloud, eh?
You can buy your ticket&nbsp;<a href="https://www.primaverasound.com/en/barcelona">here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Formula 1 Grand Prix (May/June)</h3>
In the days leading up to the Grand Prix, Barcelona&rsquo;s Port Vell is usually transformed into an F1 village with lots of motorsport themed activities, such as pit stop challenges, competitions, as well as interviews with F1 personalities. In 2024, the F1 cars sped through the city&rsquo;s streets for a <a href="https://www.circuitcat.com/en/">Roadshow</a> in the iconic Pla&ccedil;a de Catalunya.
The closest town to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.circuitcat.com/en/">Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya</a> is Montmelo, but most fans choose to stay in Barcelona instead since it has plenty more transport and accommodation options.
From Barcelona, it takes around an hour to get to the circuit by taking the bus or the train and walking&mdash;you&rsquo;ll find all the info&nbsp;<a href="https://f1destinations.com/getting-around-spanish-f1-grand-prix/#:~:text=Spanish%20GP%20Packages-,How%20to%20Get%20to%20Circuit%20de%20Barcelona%2DCatalunya,-Take%20the%20train">here</a>. Jumping in a taxi is also an option, but it can get very expensive at peak times, especially just before and after the Sunday race.
You can also choose to stay up in Lloret de Mar in the Costa Brava, and book coach transfers to/from the circuit with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sagales.com/en">Sagales</a>.
&nbsp;Note: The F1 Spanish GP will be moving to Madrid from 2026.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfpeks-5O63uc6sWiT1YpWJa9NrLZX_M5PZnHb9o2MzNs60zm5HQuKy3xNQF-oorPQcr_iCRmsHoiVsDD1GwbN4lW1aBdSre3oMvI329lklMT0p6NbMHmbUtozCdUoyzjVsOhKbZlMu4GR_-Y7yll2aZqk?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="518" height="288" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_18322787361731746023870310">Gaudi</h2>

When you think of Barcelona, Antoni Gaud&iacute; and the image of his distinctly gothic yet whimsical architecture are one of the first things you likely picture. Today, you can find Gaudi&rsquo;s creative flair intertwined throughout Barcelona&rsquo;s busiest areas, from grand buildings to <a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/gaudi-lamp-post-placa-reial-barcelona.html">street lights</a>.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia</h3>
The pinnacle of Barcelona and all of Gaudi&rsquo;s works is undoubtedly the domineering masterpiece that is the Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia. This towering church began construction in 1882 and work remains ongoing to this day. Officials have confirmed that work should be completed in 2026, so if you prefer to see the finale structure without scaffolding, plan your visit for after 2026. Even in its uncompleted state, it truly is a sight to behold, with an intricately carved facade depicting natural shapes and biblical motifs. 
It&rsquo;s worth taking the time to walk around the outer perimeter of the church, as every angle will reveal something new. Stretching towards the sky are a number of spires, which are the sections still under construction. Inside is equally striking, with columns sprouting from floor to ceiling like tree branches and huge rainbow stained-glass windows.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcJ5cN6AMZherrf08jiw8_iTwiZe4CQnrQJytoTEF5_UTvqROCrqlAE6Jm2MfkoINxe80vB3fKzirDHdyWuIMMTPTGo2AjWk6E9ZPxWTwr4vmncbpGUhjg2EIq5EDru59uKqNvWWA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="350" height="471">&nbsp;

To go inside, you&rsquo;ll need to <a href="https://sagradafamilia.org/entrada-sagrada-familia">buy your tickets</a> at least a week before your trip, with a general adult entry costing &euro;26. Organize yours as soon as you can, since tickets are known to sell out weeks in advance. These tickets give you access to the main cathedral and an audio guide via their app (but you&rsquo;ll need to bring your own earphones and use your own phone).
&nbsp;You can also buy a <a href="https://sagradafamilia.org/sagrada-familia-i-torre">combined ticket to access to the towers</a> for &euro;36, where you'll see an excellent view of the famous grid streets of Eixample.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Casa Mila</h3>
Originally designed to be used as flats and offices, this distinctly wavy building stands out on Passeig de Gr&agrave;cia. After years of being the private residence to many wealthy occupants (3 of which still live there today), part of the building opened to the public in 1996. <a href="https://www.lapedrera.com/en/visits">General adult entry tickets cost &euro;28</a> and are usually available on the day. However, if you can, either arrive early in the morning or be flexible with your entry time since popular time slots sell out quickly.
For an extra special experience, time your trip with one of the frequent <a href="https://youtu.be/Zl5lwa55uJ4?feature=shared&amp;t=17">rooftop jazz concerts</a> held throughout the summer.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Casa Batllo</h3>
Like Casa Mila, Casa Batll&oacute; is also on Paseo de Gracia. Although it was not originally built by Gaudi, he was put in charge of the complete redesign and renovation of the building.
<a href="https://www.casabatllo.es/en/online-tickets/">Tickets cost &euro;29</a>, and you can buy them on the same day as your visit, but popular time slots may sell out early in the day. They also hold evening concerts with various musical genres every evening.&nbsp;
&nbsp;Travel Tip: Visit after 6pm, and you&rsquo;ll be handed a free glass of cava with your ticket.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Park G&uuml;ell</h3>
For the classic postcard view of multicoloured mosaicked terraces overlooking the city, Park G&uuml;ell is where you need to go. When you visit, you&rsquo;ll see natural shapes, textures, and coloured tiles throughout the gardens. Plus, a rather popular salamander.
Located in the Gracia neighbourhood, the closest metro station is Lesseps, which is a 20-min walk from the entrance.
At peak times and on weekends, the park does get fairly busy and tickets often sell out in advance. General entry costs &euro;10, and we&rsquo;d recommend <a href="https://parkguell.barcelona/en/buy-tickets">purchasing your tickets</a> at least a few days before you intend to visit.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfkF5ZPZzPkqEXn8oPSiA_rYqEWKZF_ptoQudEWu2uimu0wV4khcoGxmkt4qPHg_VAPNx_yMG2UjMxW2lTIBemoCm2-hgpWs2DFUxuwyjKz92fm3Uyt51fMpsiJONAjIUBDDGugxQ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 id="h_96763719164391746023915429">Parks</h2>

While you&rsquo;re more likely to see narrow, cobbled streets and plazas than sprawling parks, you will find a few unique green spaces among the endless buildings. This is because family and children are very important in Catalonian culture. So, you&rsquo;ll often see small play areas carved out where they fit.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeWWFcWZJEObd7lSs1BBXxpSPmxX8XWk6soEm48CM1NdhOddepZ3cD5RWNB2z84cWeQRygrBucL_lsMc6QU9uUvQNaXynnJ0LQ13riwMFCqjYmK--Z6510vFbHwKGX9P0McqvooVQ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="355" height="471" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

"One thing that really surprised me when moving to Barcelona was the amount of very tall slides randomly tucked away throughout the city. Like <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montju%C3%AFc+Slides/@41.3657566,2.1669566,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipOrEEru62_jq_pHxEuH-RLJ6ujlCpPUEEDqAPYR!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOrEEru62_jq_pHxEuH-RLJ6ujlCpPUEEDqAPYR%3Dw150-h150-k-no-p!7i3024!8i4032!4m8!3m7!1s0x12a4a24180f4a701:0x20451f9ee01cf402!8m2!3d41.3657566!4d2.1669566!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11g6my6pm2?entry=ttu">these two whippy numbers</a> in Montjuic and <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Drac+de+ferro/@41.3786168,2.141696,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipME6iWcu17_R9icMXc3mgg-EL04Yi_IJGfs_r-h!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipME6iWcu17_R9icMXc3mgg-EL04Yi_IJGfs_r-h%3Dw150-h150-k-no-p!7i3264!8i2448!4m12!1m2!2m1!1sdragon+slide+barcelona!3m8!1s0x12a49880fcc764a9:0x8271ceb886b83916!8m2!3d41.3786168!4d2.141696!9m1!1b1!15sChZkcmFnb24gc2xpZGUgYmFyY2Vsb25hWhgiFmRyYWdvbiBzbGlkZSBiYXJjZWxvbmGSARJ0b3VyaXN0X2F0dHJhY3Rpb26aASRDaGREU1VoTk1HOW5TMFZKUTBGblNVTnlNemw2ZFROQlJSQULgAQA!16s%2Fg%2F11c70jf4bg?entry=ttu">this epic dragon slide</a> by Sants train station. And I can personally confirm both are also adult-friendly!"

Flight Finder Lauren says:

Apart from the iconic Park G&uuml;ell, which you can read about in the Gaudi section, here are 2 more parks worth checking out:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Montjuic - On a green hillside, you&rsquo;ll find a collection of botanical gardens, museums, and even a castle. In the evening, a stroll around its gardens can be peaceful, with most visitors congregating around the Museu Nacional d&rsquo;Art de Catalunya steps for sunset. For a daytime bird's-eye view, you can also ride a cable car.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Citadel Park - Follow the path under the Arc de Triomf, and you&rsquo;ll eventually reach Citadel Park. Filled with sunbathers, performers and picnickers, it&rsquo;s chilled out atmosphere makes it a nice place to relax in the sun. Admire the extravagant fountains, row a boat, or simple throw down a blanket and watch the world go by. Oh, and don&rsquo;t miss <a href="https://voicemap.me/tour/barcelona/barcelona-walking-tour-landmarks-and-legends-of-el-born-and-ciutadella-park/sites/julia-the-woolly-mammoth-instagram-hotspot">Julia the mammoth</a>.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdiFO7dLErkZpiGQkhg4IelSAb2-08g61kyfXL4oGqNUj5EiBsq75G7rKNdU4Mx8BqMA79HivXOYy0itgQH3OlDi-Dh52_pN2LYJ7UXdHGXeneOPXXE1hP5r1nh1bYO_aHF9ssuRQ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_49319333067281746023984952">Day trips</h2>

Since Barcelona is really well-connected by high-speed trains, it&rsquo;s super easy for you to pop into another nearby city for a day or two, and explore some more of Catalonia while you&rsquo;re there.&nbsp;
You can get to from here to loads of other cities across the country by train. But we&rsquo;ve listed below a few of the best day trips that are all between a 30 mins-2 hours train ride away from the city, and won&rsquo;t break the bank.

<h3 dir="ltr">Costa Brava</h3>
Costa Brava runs along the northeastern coast of Spain, from the town Blanes right up to the French border. And with a name that means &lsquo;Wild Coast&rsquo; in English, it won&rsquo;t be too surprising to find out this region is filled with beautiful beaches, pine forests, and rugged rocky cliffs. 
Dotted along the coastline, you&rsquo;ll find plenty of traditional fishing villages, and seaside towns. <a href="https://nourishedbycaroline.ca/lloret-de-mar-guide/">Lloret de Mar</a> is one of the more touristy places, with lots of resorts and hotels, but if you want something a little quieter, then somewhere like the medieval town <a href="https://unexpectedcatalonia.com/tossa-de-mar/">Tossa del Mar</a> is a great alternative.
Lots of people come to this coast for the beaches, but you can also do plenty of water sports like kayaking and snorkelling, as well as heading out on hiking routes, like the <a href="https://www.spain.info/en/hiking-trails/cami-ronda-costa-brava/">Cam&iacute; de Ronda</a> trail
Here&rsquo;s a great&nbsp;<a href="https://goaskalocal.com/blog/travel-guide-to-the-costa-brava-spain">guide to the region</a> from a local&rsquo;s perspective if you need a little more info.

"If you're short on time and can&rsquo;t make it to the Costa Brava, Castelldefels is a great alternative. It&rsquo;s a laid back coastal town just south of Barcelona. It only takes around 25-minutes to reach by train and the fare is included in a HolaBCN and T-Casual card."

Flight Finder Lauren's tip:

<h3 dir="ltr">Girona&nbsp;</h3>
A little further inland from the Costa Brava, this city is much quieter than Barcelona, but with cobblestone streets, towering walls, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://catedraldegirona.cat/en/">centuries-old cathedral</a>, it&rsquo;s just as picturesque. You&rsquo;ll start to see medieval influences as soon as you step foot in the historic center (which is around a 10-minute walk from the train station). 
One of the most iconic spots here is The River Onya. It&rsquo;s lined with colorful houses, which you can cross by walking over the Eiffel Pedestrian Bridge (yes,&nbsp;that Eiffel) to another side of winding, narrow streets.
And if you&rsquo;re a fan of Game of Thrones, there are loads of filming locations from the series&rsquo; 6th season that you can spot. Here&rsquo;s a guide to&nbsp;<a href="https://hotelsultoniagirona.com/en/route-locations-game-of-thrones-girona/">all the best spots</a> with pics of the places in real life and on screen.

<h3 dir="ltr">Zaragoza</h3>
Over in Spain&rsquo;s Aragon region, Zaragoza is known for its Old Town, surrounded cathedrals and museums, as well as for being the home of Ternasco&mdash;this leg of lamb dish is famous all over the country, and lots of people call it a <a href="https://eatcampogrande.com/blogs/kitchen/ternasco-de-aragon-with-potatoes#:~:text=The%20ternasco%20de%20Arag%C3%B3n%20is%20one%20of%20the%20jewels%20of%20Spanish%20cuisine">&lsquo;jewel&rsquo; of Spanish cuisine</a>.
And if you are a foodie, lots of restaurants and bars in the Juepincho area have offers that get you a tapas dish, and water, beer, or wine, for 2 euros! Find a list of some participating spots&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderingquinn.com/zaragoza-spain-city-guide/#:~:text=On%20Thursday%20evenings%20in%20the%20Juepincho%20area%2C%20a%20lot%20of%20the%20restaurants%20and%20bars%20have%20a%C2%A0%E2%82%AC2.00%20deal%20on%20which%20includes%20a%20small%20drink%20of%20water%2C%20beer%20or%20wine%2C%20plus%201%20Tapas%20which%20I%20would%20really%20recommend%20checking%20out.%20The%20image%20below%20shows%20which%20establishments%20are%20part%20of%20it%20and%20where%20they%20are">here</a>.
For a little natural beauty, you should head to&nbsp;<a href="https://monasteriopiedra.com/?lang=en">Monasterio de Piedra Natural Park</a>. This monastery dates back to the 12th century, and is surrounded by a lush, green park filled with caves, crystal-clear lakes, and beautiful, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Czj06I3MOu3/">fairytale-esque waterfalls</a>.
If you fancy staying in Zaragoza for a little longer than a day, here&rsquo;s an&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderingquinn.com/zaragoza-spain-48-hour-guide-things-to-do/">example itinerary</a> for a 2-day trip.

<h3 dir="ltr">Sitges</h3>
Stiges is a nearby coastal town and a firm favourite among locals who want to escape Barcelona for the weekend. You&rsquo;ll have your pick of long sandy beaches with calm blue waters that are perfect for families. Its town is split between&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderingblonde.com/2019/01/08/sitges-travel-guide/">old cobbled streets lined with whitewash building</a> and a modern, lively centre filled with bars and restaurants. It&rsquo;s also considered <a href="https://www.outofoffice.com/en-gb/blog/a-gay-guide-to-sitges/">a prominent gay capital</a>, which hosts numerous LGBTQ+ events throughout the year.
You can reach Sitges by car or catch a train from Sants Station, with both options taking roughly 40 minutes.
Travel tip: Visit in February to watch the streets come alive during Sitges Carnival. It&rsquo;s a 7-day event, full of parades, costumes and live music.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfMCdGm0rQRXjuzm0I6PLTGtX5rW3L1n7Uz54cbMHcfJxYkb8Ft9OQdVbWUf_hpO0Sq2ief1_3lS9Q8oeNbGvD79TvtgRFMzgE_3ZwQDMJG00npjvf-JRZSjkOmX0xVk_IFk9cYZfCO8WgaGV1aty3mZoE?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="350" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Montserrat</h3>
Montserrat is <a href="https://www.earthtrekkers.com/day-trip-montserrat-barcelona-spain/#Train_and_Cable_Car">a picturesque rocky mountain range</a>, where you can find a Benedictine Monastery nestled between huge, tall rocks. Aside from paying a visit to the abbey, you can also tackle one of the many hiking trails offering panoramic views of the Catalonian countryside.
The easiest way to visit is by train, which takes around an hour from&nbsp;Pla&ccedil;a Espanya to Montserrat town. Then it&rsquo;s just a short cable car and funicular ride up to the top. Or, if you&rsquo;re feeling brave, it&rsquo;s a <a href="https://thewholeworldornothing.com/montserrat-barcelona-hike/">1.5-hour upward hike</a>.
There is a dedicated information booth in Pla&ccedil;a Espa&ntilde;a station, where you can ask for advice and buy the train/cable car tickets. However, if you only want to take the train and plan to hike up to the monastery, it will be cheaper to buy your train ticket from the machines. You need to select a return journey from Zone 4, which costs &euro;12.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfOy06uPVZpHBN7qt-SYdzwXnlD5vP4fM6XdPpsB97y-fBWCQ4mZHqkoszsvxQa2cYm00YkXge4Fmw4wFSRmLOCm1HtuG2V8N4wQ28vtUTlGooqMHNWTDH9zFmEaSrAfzR_aT8r0d5GEm9xRQ04Y61jduk9?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">La Molina Ski Resort</h3>
Not only is this Spain&rsquo;s oldest ski resort, it&rsquo;s also one of the most accessible from Barcelona at only 2 hours drive away. Home to over 61 runs of varying difficulty, ski newbies and snow pros can all have fun here.
For &euro;67, you can buy a day-return ticket on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sagales.com/en/trip/68/skibus-to-la-molina-on-saturday-or-sunday">the Sagales Skibus</a> (departing from Nord bus station in Barcelona) and get a day ski pass included in the price.
You can bring your own equipment on the bus, if you happen to have it with you, or rent from the slopes once you're there.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe2mvWFCclO6VmorCYyxRI3LosltyelneS3bqbgbliTdR-yWnbsMCqlwep3m67wosuPGK7O9SAZ7anOG4gHTVH4JM0Y3FLPshUxjvaVzjYB4evsEcnr0xtpeRJL1FRncMhGBYh1?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="440" height="330" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Port Aventura</h3>
You can reach one of Europe's largest theme parks in just over an hour by car from the city. Alternately, you can also catch a train from Sants Station, which takes around an hour and a half. You can only buy your train tickets on the day directly from the station, so it&rsquo;s best to arrive there early, especially during the summer.
You can sometimes find discount codes online that will save you some money off the entry fee. Otherwise, they usually run a 50% off sale on Black Friday.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeBtlRV6Acz_Bvf9yYg2wtYxLNxja_-9i8n8HcBRhIO2O-Iq-RNge6jSuXYpRLHPK68EUyiaFq5nUt_PEuaLFOMXOMk4CpU44-tXY5hT-B7Sgtcg2lCGOwYrtUWFij8NqoiwnbJ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

JFC's Guide To: Barcelona

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>

JFC's Guide To: New Orleans

JFC's guide to: Zanzibar

An insider’s travel guide to Trinidad and Tobago

Formerly known as Saigon (a name still used by locals and hashtags alike), Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam&rsquo;s most populous city, and the gateway to the Mekong Delta. Alongside Hanoi, it&rsquo;s one of the two major international hubs that you&rsquo;re likely to arrive at on a trip to Vietnam, however few tourists take the time to visit the city itself. 
During 2024&rsquo;s Black Friday sales, I managed to make my Vietnamese dreams come true and grab a really great fare from London to Ho Chi Minh City for &pound;454 return. Before heading north to Hoi An, I spent 4 days moving to the beat of Saigon&rsquo;s drum. Here&rsquo;s everything you need to know to get yourself sipping&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lordlucy.com/post/vietnamese-iced-coffee">c&agrave; ph&ecirc; sữa d&aacute;</a> in no time!
 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.

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting There</h2>
Ho Chi Minh City is a relatively easy city to reach by air from all over the world.&nbsp;
Vietnam&rsquo;s national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, operates non-stop routes to major hubs in Europe, like London, Paris, Frankfurt and Munich. They also offer connections to major cities across Asia and Australia, as well as one non-stop route across the Pacific to San Francisco.
Connecting flights are even easier to come by, with cheaper fares taking you via China and India, or fancier airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific offering layovers at their hubs.

Here&rsquo;s a handy JFC guide on what to expect when booking your flight to SGN:
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average JFC price range: &euro;480&ndash;&euro;580 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;306 rtn</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average JFC price range: &pound;420&ndash;&pound;480 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: &pound;330 rtn</li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average JFC price range: $650&ndash;$850 RT</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: $483 RT</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average JFC price range: $900-$1000 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 6+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $750 RT </li>
</ul>
Of course, you might be into the idea of ticking off a few more places in Southeast Asia during your trip, like Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. There is a huge range of flights available between Ho Chi Minh City, the rest of Vietnam, and other Asian hubs, both with budget airlines such as Vietjet, and with the national carrier, Vietnam Airlines.
When planning any international transfers, allow plenty of time to navigate security and immigration at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The lines are long and checks can be quite thorough &mdash; the whole process took me around 1 hour without any complications.
The Domestic terminal is a different story &mdash; check-in/bag drop, security, and finding your gate is all very straightforward. You&rsquo;ll probably find that arriving in this terminal is the more time-consuming part, especially if you need a bus transfer to the terminal or have checked luggage. There are so many domestic flights here that it can take ages for things to move and your bags to be delivered (and the air conditioning in the baggage hall is not cut out for the heat!).

Pre-book an airport transfer, regardless of which terminal you arrive at &mdash; this will take at least some of the chaos out of navigating an otherwise hectic and poorly signposted arrivals area! I got mine via Booking.com after making my hotel reservation, which made the whole transfer process seamless. If you want a cheaper option once you arrive, the local ride-share app, Grab, felt safe and easy to navigate.&nbsp;

Katy's Pro Tip

Ho Chi Minh is also well-connected via bus and rail. Vietnam itself has an extensive rail network running the length of the country, from the Chinese border in the north, all the way to Ho Chi Minh City in the south.&nbsp;
Sleeper trains and <a href="https://vinpearl.com/en/sleeper-bus-in-vietnam-ultimate-comfort-for-your-journey">luxury sleeper buses</a> offer lots of comfortable options that&rsquo;ll help you avoid short-haul flights across SE Asia. From HCMC, you can reach Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in around 6 hours by bus, where there are onward rail connections towards Thailand. If you want to visit Laos, you&rsquo;ll first have to head north from HCMC to Hue, or all the way up to Hanoi.
For context, the train between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi takes around 35 hours and stops off at all the major cities along the coast, including Nha Trang, Da Nang (for Hoi An), Hue, and Ninh Binh. If you enjoy the journey as much as the destination, this is a great way to see the country. Just make sure you book a <a href="https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#what-are-vietnamese-trains-like">&lsquo;soft sleeper&rsquo; cabin</a>, otherwise you might be in for a rocky ride.
We recommend the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#hanoi-hue-danang-saigon-by-train">Man in Seat 61</a> for up-to-date info on trains in Vietnam and onward connections to other parts of Southeast Asia.

<h2 dir="ltr">Visas</h2>
Whether or not you need a visa to visit Vietnam will depend on the passport you hold. From the UK and much of Europe, you can stay for up to 45 days without a visa, while visitors from the USA and Canada are usually eligible for an e-visa. These should be requested in advance, and cost 25 USD for a single entry or 50 USD for multiple entries at the time of publishing (May 2025).
The rules for each country are updated regularly, so it&rsquo;s important to check your own government guidelines before travelling.
Note: The palm-fringed island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand is <a href="https://vietnamvisavoa.com/phu-quoc-visa-waiver-for-foreigners-updated-2024-a252">exempt from all Vietnamese visa requirements</a> for up to 30 days. This only applies if you travel directly to and from Phu Quoc without visiting any other area of Vietnam (connecting flights on the way there or back within Vietnam are allowed).

<h2 dir="ltr">Cash &amp; Currency</h2>
The currency in Vietnam is the đồng (VND), though you&rsquo;re unlikely to ever see one đồng on its own. At the time of publishing (May 2025), $1 USD was worth around 26,000 đồng &mdash; just enough for a local beer in a comfy bar.
Your money will likely go a long way in Vietnam, with a bed in a hostel dorm costing less than 200,000 VND per night ($8/&pound;6/&euro;7.50), and 5-star accommodations for under $100/night.
Vietnam is generally a cash-based society. You&rsquo;ll be able to pay by card in hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and chain stores like 7-Eleven, but you definitely need cash for shopping at local independent businesses or street vendors.&nbsp;
Vietnamese đồng is not a closed currency, meaning you can purchase it outside the country by ordering from your local bank or exchange office before your trip. However, ATMs and exchange services are widely available in the big cities in Vietnam, so you don&rsquo;t need to bring large amounts of VND with you.&nbsp;

Head to jewelry and gold shops to exchange your USD &mdash; they usually offer the best rates! If you need to withdraw cash from a local ATM, use Tpbank and VP Bank to avoid extra fees.

<h2 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h2>
Vietnam is a very long country, so the weather and climate can vary quite a lot from north to south. There are two main seasons in Ho Chi Minh City: wet and dry. But of course, it&rsquo;s not that clear-cut, so let&rsquo;s break it down:
<h3 dir="ltr">December&ndash;February</h3>
You can expect pretty stable weather conditions during the winter months &mdash; daytime temperatures average around 30 &deg;C/86 &deg;F, falling to around 22 &deg;C/72 &deg;F at night. There may be a little rain, but it won&rsquo;t last long. In fact, you&rsquo;ll be glad of a little respite from the humidity!
Lunar New Year (aka Tết) is a major event in Ho Chi Minh City. The date changes every year, but it usually takes place sometime between late January and mid-February.&nbsp;
The two weeks following Tet tend to make the city a little quieter than usual, with many local businesses closing for staff to spend time with their families. Aside from Lunar New Year&rsquo;s Day itself, though, the usual visitor attractions remain open throughout.
Streets, shops, bars, and restaurants across the city are all decked out in red lanterns and yellow trees adorned with traditional red envelopes.&nbsp;
The celebrations on Lunar New Year&rsquo;s Eve itself involve a huge fireworks display, which you should absolutely enjoy from one of the city&rsquo;s many rooftop bars. If you&rsquo;re looking for somewhere central, I recommend <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g293925-d5774553-Reviews-The_View_Rooftop_Bar_Eatery-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html">The View</a>, tucked away atop a hotel, above the madness of Bui Vien Walking Street.

<h3 dir="ltr">March&ndash;May</h3>
The temperature starts climbing in March, with April typically being the hottest month of the year. You can expect it to get up to 38 &deg;C/100 &deg;F during the day. May stays pretty toasty, but it&rsquo;s also when the major downpours start. The humidity definitely starts picking up in April as it moves towards the monsoon season.
<h3 dir="ltr">June&ndash;August</h3>
The summer months are that hair-frizzing combination of hot and humid, sitting around 30 &deg;C/86 &deg;F. You&rsquo;ll likely be in for some rain showers, but they tend to come hard and fast, then clear quickly, so lounging by the pool is still an option.
<h3 dir="ltr">September&ndash;November</h3>
September and October are the wettest months of the year in Ho Chi Minh City. The average rainfall doubles, and skies tend to be pretty cloudy. It&rsquo;s the ideal time to pack your rain jacket and grab an off-season hotel bargain, avoiding the usual tourist crowds at the major sights. Don&rsquo;t be fooled, though &mdash; the city is always busy!
Vietnam&rsquo;s Independence Day celebrations take place on September 2nd each year. If you&rsquo;re in Ho Chi Minh City during this time, you&rsquo;ll be able to catch a day of parades, street performances, and fireworks displays.&nbsp;

2025 marks 50 years since Ho Chi Minh (or "Uncle Ho," as they call him) declared independence from France, so expect these celebrations to go bigger and better!

<h2 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h2>
Ho Chi Minh City is big and buzzing.&nbsp;But despite the hubbub, the city vibes are pretty relaxed on the whole &mdash; street-front coffee and tea shops are the go-to meeting places, usually overflowing with caffeine-seekers lounging by the roadside.&nbsp;
Solo (female) travellers should feel pretty safe going it alone in Ho Chi Minh City. You&rsquo;ll rarely find yourself alone on a darkened street, and despite the hustle and bustle, people rarely invade your personal space here.
LGBTQ+ travellers in Vietnam, particularly in a large city like Saigon, are unlikely to face particular discrimination. Same-sex relationships have never been criminalized in Vietnam, and the ban on same-sex marriage was lifted in 2015.&nbsp;
That said, Vietnam as a whole is a fairly reserved country, so public displays of affection are uncommon and will probably draw stares, regardless of your gender or sexual orientation.&nbsp;
Ho Chi Minh City&rsquo;s gay scene is small but lively. Keep an eye on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fulldisclosure_vn/?hl=en">Full Disclosure Entertainment</a>&rsquo;s regular schedule of comedy, music and drag nights, or head to one of the <a href="https://housingsgn.com/top-10-vibrant-lgbt-bars-to-explore-in-saigon/">many LGBTQ+ bars</a>. Bonus points for a roof terrace!

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting Around</h2>
I&rsquo;ll be honest, getting around Ho Chi Minh City can be pretty hectic. The roads are packed with mopeds, and just <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/vietnam-where-learning-to-cross-the-road-isnt-childs-play">crossing the street on foot can be a whole ordeal</a>.&nbsp;
Public transportation in the city is not the most elaborate. <a href="https://hochiminhcitymetro.com/line-1/">Ho Chi Minh City&rsquo;s first metro line</a> opened in December 2024, connecting the downtown area of District 1 with the very north of the city. There&rsquo;s not much that would take visitors all the way up there, other than <a href="https://english.suoitien.vn/">Suoi Tien Theme Park</a>, self-proclaimed as the &lsquo;most weird park in Vietnam.&rsquo; However, the metro is pretty convenient for getting between the more central sights without breaking a sweat.
Being pretty new, the stations are shiny and modern. There are three ways to <a href="https://vinpearl.com/en/ho-chi-minh-city-metro#2.3.+Buying+the+metro+tickets">buy your tickets</a>:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Tap your contactless bank card at the ticket gate, and the fare will be automatically deducted.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Download the HCMC Metro app and purchase a ticket. You&rsquo;ll get a QR code ticket to scan on your phone.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Purchase a paper ticket from the counter in the metro station &mdash; both cash and card payments are accepted.</li>
</ul>
The city is currently building a network of 6 metro lines, 2 monorails, a tram line, and a light rail airport link. But until those are completed, public buses are your best bet. There are over 150 different lines, but thankfully Google Maps knows where they all go and will tell you the best route to take to your destination.
While the buses are cheap, you should expect them to be busy, and often a little slow. You&rsquo;ll need to pay in cash once you board &mdash; usually 6,000&ndash;7,000 VND &mdash; and the driver can give you change if necessary.
With the heat and traffic getting quite intense at times, I&rsquo;d recommend downloading the <a href="https://www.travelvietnam.com/traffic-transportation/grab-in-vietnam-uber-alternative-of-vietnam.html">Grab ride-share app</a> and using that to get around when you&rsquo;re travelling longer distances.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll need to provide personal details, including a passport number, when you sign up. But after that, it works just like the ride-share apps you&rsquo;re used to back home. As a bonus, you can even opt for the full Ho Chi Minh City moped experience and request a GrabBike &mdash; don&rsquo;t worry, the driver will provide a helmet!

<h2 dir="ltr">Useful Links</h2>
Local Vietnam <a href="https://localvietnam.com/travel-guide/things-to-do/ho-chi-minh-city/">Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide</a> &mdash; great all-rounder site for any extra info and destination inspo you might need
<a href="https://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#hanoi-hue-danang-saigon-by-train">The Man in Seat 61</a> &mdash; primarily info on trains in Vietnam and beyond, but also mentions where to grab onward bus connections

JFC's Guide To: Ho Chi Minh City

Hey there, JFC-ers,
I&rsquo;m hopeful that by the time you receive this edition of the Detour, you're all safe and well, and none of us have been blown away by the latest storm barrelling through the UK and Ireland. Needless to say, the red weather warnings for high winds, snow and torrential rain are not filling me full of optimism for a weekend free from travel chaos.&nbsp;
But thankfully, in just a week&rsquo;s time, I should be heading off to sunnier climes in Vietnam. And when I get there, I&rsquo;ll be armed with a gazillion recommendations from you, lovely readers!&nbsp;
Having taken&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/detour-165-big-tour-little-tour-pros-and-cons">your suggestions</a> to heart, we&rsquo;ll be spending a few days in Ho Chi Minh City before heading north to Hoi An, staying at An Bang beach. One of the most remarkable things I found when booking accommodation in Vietnam is just how far your money goes. I&rsquo;d always heard it was very affordable for visitors from Europe and North America, but I hadn&rsquo;t quite realised I&rsquo;d be getting rooftop pools, welcome drinks, and afternoon teas included!

On top of a spot of luxury at bargain prices, I&rsquo;m really looking forward to experiencing&nbsp;<a href="https://vietnamtour.in/hoi-an-lantern-festival/">Hoi An&rsquo;s lantern festival</a>, which takes place each full moon. The town switches off electrical lighting for the day, illuminating the streets instead with colourful paper lanterns hung between its historic buildings.
Outside the city, we&rsquo;ll be heading to the dramatic <a href="https://whereangiewanders.com/marble-mountains-vietnam/">Marble Mountains</a> and their caves, as well as dragging ourselves out of bed early for a sunrise trip to the ancient <a href="https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/explore-global-cultural-and-historical-values-my-son-sanctuary">My Son Sanctuary</a>. While I&rsquo;m not one for comparing apples and oranges, one review did call it &ldquo;the Angkor Wat of Vietnam,&rdquo; so I&rsquo;m expecting to be impressed!
But there&rsquo;s another place that comes up in lots of tours and blogs that I&rsquo;m just not sure will be worth the hype &mdash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/things-to-see-giant-hands-unusual-bridge-da-nang">The Golden Bridge</a>. Sure, a long bridge held up by giant hands looks cool in drone pictures, but is it as awesome when you&rsquo;re standing on top of it? The fact that it&rsquo;s also part of the <a href="https://rollercoastertraveller.com/sun-world-ba-na-hills/">Sun World Resort amusement park</a> makes me even more sceptical.&nbsp;
That said, I do love a cable car ride! And it would be wasteful of me not to go and bring back a full review for you all, for better or worse.
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

I Planned for New Zealand (So You Don&rsquo;t Have To)

Based in California, Flight Finder Jake loves nothing more than traveling, saving money, and doing both things at once!

Written by Jake

I come from a long line of procrastinators and improvisers, so planning for a trip is&hellip; not exactly my favorite thing. Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, I love to travel! I just hate making plans.
It&rsquo;s been six months since I booked my flight to New Zealand, and I spent about five of them wishing a travel angel would come down from the heavens and deliver me a perfect pre-made itinerary for my visit.&nbsp;
That never happened, sadly. But I did sit down and plan my trip. So, to all the other New Zealand-bound lazy planners out there: Let me be your travel angel. Use my outline as your own.

<h3 dir="ltr">North Island</h3>
I knew I wanted to hit both the North and the South Island, especially since I had a full two weeks to work with. That left me a little rushed, so I broke one of my usual rules and skipped the post-flight rest day.&nbsp;
Instead, I&rsquo;ll be landing in Auckland around 9 AM, picking up my rental car, and immediately heading out to Rotorua. The landscape there is supposed to be pretty incredible, shaped by some wild geothermal activity. We&rsquo;re talking geysers, hot springs, sulfur pools, all kinds of stuff. You can book guided tours of the coolest spots, but I decided to just pick up a ticket to <a href="https://www.waiotapu.co.nz/">Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland</a> and do some wandering on my own.
Rotorua is also pretty close to the next two places on my list: Hobbiton and the Waitomo Glow Caves.&nbsp;
You could probably do a whole Lord of the Rings-themed itinerary in New Zealand, but I decided to limit myself to the <a href="https://www.hobbitontours.com/">Hobbiton set</a>. You can&rsquo;t just walk around here, unfortunately, and the tour slots fill up pretty quickly, so I wouldn&rsquo;t procrastinate on this booking.
As for Waitomo, how could I possibly pass up a subterranean cave lit by eerie blue glowworms? That&rsquo;s a unique experience!
There are actually a <a href="https://www.waitomo.com/glowworms-and-caves">few different caves</a> at Waitomo, each of them requiring a reservation. You can supposedly bundle the main glowworm cave with another one, but their website wouldn&rsquo;t let me do it. More power to you if you can figure that out, though.
I&rsquo;ll be wrapping up my time up north by driving down to Wellington and catching the ferry to the South Island. That&rsquo;s about six hours from Rotorua, so I&rsquo;m making it a travel day&mdash;If you happen to know that area, hit me with some recommendations for places to stop along the way!

<h3 dir="ltr">South Island</h3>
The South Island is the bigger of the two, so this part of the trip involves a lot more driving. As soon as the ferry lands in Picton, I&rsquo;ll be hopping back in the car and driving down to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. The sun will be down by the time I arrive, most likely, but that just gives me a chance to do some <a href="https://www.mackenzienz.com/explore/stargazing-and-astrophotography/">stargazing in the dark sky reserve</a>.
The area around Aoraki/Mount Cook is one of the prettiest places in New Zealand, right in the middle of the Southern Alps. I&rsquo;m giving myself a whole day to poke around the park and do some hiking before moving on to&hellip;
&hellip;the next national park, Fiordland. While Aoraki has your typical gorgeous alpine views, Fiordland features more varied landscapes, with mountains, waterfalls, and even some rainforest. Oh yeah, and fjords. Milford Sound is the most famous one, but there are a handful of others if you&rsquo;re pining for a fjord-heavy vacation.
After wrapping up the fjords, it&rsquo;s time to make the drive&nbsp;allllllll the way back up to Picton. That&rsquo;s a 12-hour schlep spanning nearly the entire South Island, so I&rsquo;m splitting it up into two days. Consider this another shameless request for recommended places to stop!

<h3 dir="ltr">North Island (Part 2)</h3>
After taking the ferry back to Wellington, I&rsquo;ll have a couple of days to make it back to Auckland before my flight home. That&rsquo;s just enough time for one more big stop: Tongariro National Park.
I&rsquo;m technically breaking my promise here &mdash; Hobbiton was supposed to be my only Lord of the Rings stop, and the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro are where they shot the Mordor scenes. But hey, it&rsquo;s not my fault Peter Jackson chose to film at <a href="https://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/the-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy-filming-locations/">all the prettiest places</a> in New Zealand!
From there, it&rsquo;s just a drive up to Auckland and a 13-hour flight back to San Francisco. Easy-peasy.
This itinerary is my gift to you, lazy planners. You&rsquo;re welcome!

Travel Inspiration

Aus-some Tips for Breaking Up the Trip Down Under

"Hi, I am planning a trip to Sydney in February and wondering which is the cheapest route (avoiding Chinese Airlines). I would like to stay a 2/3 nights on the way out and then a week's holiday in Thailand on the return journey. Can you suggest anything? Thank you for your help. Kind regards, Mike"

Flight Finding Team Lead Larissa is an Aussie expat from Sydney who only sometimes misses the beach. Based in London, when she's not busy checking for brunch spots in her next trip, she's writing about flight deals for Jack's Flight Club.

Answered by Larissa

Hi Mike! You&rsquo;re not alone in asking us this kind of question recently, and it&rsquo;s one that can get pretty complicated. From someone who is very familiar with the route between the UK and Sydney (AKA my adopted homeland and my, well, actual homeland) I&rsquo;ve got a few tips for you.&nbsp;
In the past, when I&rsquo;ve wanted to save a few pennies, I&rsquo;ve turned to Chinese airlines to get me from A to B &mdash; they are generally a lot cheaper than European, Middle Eastern and other Asian options. And while they do often fall down in convenience (<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/jfc-honest-airline-reviews-saudia-airlines-and-more#China%20Southern">my 8-hour-long stop in Guangzhou airport</a> comes to mind), they are, in my experience, a fairly comparable inflight experience to their long-haul counterparts.&nbsp;
But I know not everyone wants to fly via China, and so for your question I&rsquo;ve turned to the other routes to get Down Under. You&rsquo;ve essentially got 3 options &mdash; stopping over in the Middle East, Asia, or North America (or if you&rsquo;re made of money, in Perth). 
The first two options are likely your best bet, price-wise &mdash; once we take away Chinese airlines, the cheapest prices we see on the London to Sydney route are with Emirates (stopover in Dubai) and Singapore Airlines or Lufthansa (which both take you via Changi airport). But you can also stop over in Hong Kong or Istanbul, depending on when Cathay or Turkish put their prices down.&nbsp;

Because you&rsquo;re hoping to stretch out your stop-overs, Turkish Airlines is particularly worth a mention. They&rsquo;re the only airline of those above that has a dedicated <a href="https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-gb/flights/stopover/">stop-over program</a>, where you actually get a free 1-night hotel stay in Istanbul. To apply, you must have a 20+ hour layover in IST, and you must apply at least 72 hours before your first flight via email. They did have other perks included in the past, but these have vanished post-Covid. Qatar Airways also has a similar <a href="https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/offers/qatar-stopover.html">stop-over program</a>, but instead of a free stay, your night&rsquo;s accommodation is heavily discounted.&nbsp;
To work out which option will work best for the dates you&rsquo;re planning, use Google Flights&rsquo; &lsquo;Multi-City&rsquo; tool, which lets you play around with stop-over length and sub out different cities to see which may come up cheapest. You can check our article on <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/how-to-find-and-book-cheap-multi-city-flights">building multi-city</a> trips for more.&nbsp;
What I will say, though, is that adding long stop-overs into what can also be done as a simple round-trip ticket will almost always jack up the price of the overall trip. Even if you do manage to snag a free hotel room, it&rsquo;s likely that you&rsquo;ll be paying more overall on the return leg. 
For example, if you decided to plan your 2-3 day stopover in Singapore or Hong Kong, it&rsquo;s likely you&rsquo;d be flying with Singapore or Cathay Pacific. But a week in Thailand on the way back will mean you&rsquo;re likely at the mercy of Thai Airways (unless, of course, you don&rsquo;t mind extra layovers along the way). All these mixing and matching of airlines will, in general, be more expensive than just choosing one airline and sticking with them.&nbsp;
That being said, I think the idea of splitting up what is a very long trip (and gets longer every time, it feels like!) is definitely the best way to go if you have the time! Another option for you could be a more DIY approach, similar to what we explain in the multi-city trip guide. This could look something like booking return flights to Asia, and then onwards flights to Sydney and back between your Asian dates.&nbsp;

Using the Google Flights map view, you just need to add your dates and see what takes your fancy. <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxpREgoyMDI1LTAyLTExKAI6Ak1VOgJDWjoCWkg6AkNBOgJXNDoCVzY6Alc5OgJVMjoCSFVqDAgDEggvbS8wNGpwbHILCAQSBy9tLzBqMGuQAegCGlESCjIwMjUtMDMtMDEoAjoCTVU6AkNaOgJaSDoCQ0E6Alc0OgJXNjoCVzk6AlUyOgJIVWoLCAQSBy9tLzBqMGtyDAgDEggvbS8wNGpwbJAB6AJAAUgBcAKCAQQIARADmAEBsgEEGAEgAQ&amp;tfu=GioaKAoSCdwWEhiy4z9AEdLUUc_7bGFAEhIJJpd3vFO7EsARpamjnjeMUkAiAA">In this example</a>, I&rsquo;ve used the airline filter to exclude low-cost European airlines, as well as Chinese airlines, to help you get an idea of the routes and prices available.&nbsp;
Bangkok is a great jumping-off point for the rest of Southeast Asia. And since you&rsquo;re hoping to spend some time in Thailand on the way home, it could offer you the most flexibility in terms of destinations and timing, without forcing you to spend a crazy amount. From Bangkok, you can take advantage of the <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxpREgoyMDI1LTAyLTExKAA6Ak1VOgJDWjoCWkg6AkNBOgJXNDoCVzY6Alc5OgJVMjoCSFVqDAgDEggvbS8wZm4yZ3ILCAQSBy9tLzBqMGuQAegCQAFIAXACggEECAEQApgBArIBBBgBIAE&amp;tfu=GioaKAoSCUI_yJgYlDpAEXenjXqq4GJAEhIJThmJY_ttJcAR7k4b9ZRzVUAiAA">cheap one-way fares</a> to see somewhere else en route to Sydney.
This approach definitely involves a lot more logistics when it comes to planning, but you might avoid the hiked-up prices of the more traditional carriers that operate on these routes. Best of luck in planning, and have a wonderful time in Aus!&nbsp;
 Do you have a question for our Flight Finders? Let us know below!

Reader's Corner

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Beware all those who dare to fly Spirit Airlines, in particular <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/23/travel/spirit-airlines-dress-code-removal/index.html">those who picked up questionable tattoos</a> in their younger days. </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">While Storm &Eacute;owyn may have brought disruption across the UK and Ireland, it did offer a silver lining for passengers flying across the Atlantic this week. A BA flight from <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/storm-eowyn-flight-wind-speed-british-airways-b2685672.html">LA to London reached near subsonic speeds</a> of over 800mph, cutting the flight time by an hour! </li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A new obsession for travel-loving public transportation nerds has entered the room: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/jan/20/why-chongqing-china-is-my-wonder-of-the-world">welcome, Chongqing</a>. </li>
<li>And finally, if you think you find air travel stressful, spare a thought for <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/mittens-cat-becomes-accidental-frequent-flyer-getting-mistakenly-left-rcna188690">Mittens the Maine Coon</a>, who found herself making three trips across the Tasman Sea in just 24 hours. Just imagine the tails she must have to tell!</li>
</ul>

Travel News

The Lazy Planner's Guide to New Zealand

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

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 JFC 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.
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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.
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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;
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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.

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<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.

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<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.

<a id="rec-res" style="position: relative; top: -100px; display: block;"></a>
<h1 dir="ltr">Recommended Resources</h1>
<h3 dir="ltr">Coworking &amp; Digital Nomads</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.wework.com/mx/en/l/mexico-city">WeWork Mexico City</a> &ndash; Coworking spaces across the city.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://nomadlist.com/mexico-city">Nomad List (Mexico City)</a> &ndash; Digital nomad tips and reviews.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Transportation &amp; Ride-Sharing</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.uber.com/">Uber</a> &ndash; Most popular ride-hailing app.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.didi.mx/">Didi</a> &ndash; A cheaper alternative to Uber.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://cabify.com/">Cabify</a> &ndash; Another reliable ride-hailing option.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.ecobici.cdmx.gob.mx/">Ecobici</a> &ndash; Bike-sharing system (requires registration).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://metro.cdmx.gob.mx/">Metro CDMX</a> &ndash; Official metro website with maps and updates.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Public Transit &amp; Navigation</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://moovitapp.com/">Moovit</a> &ndash; Best app for metro, bus, and transit routes.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://citymapper.com/mexico-city">Citymapper</a> &ndash; Great for real-time transit directions.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Safety &amp; Emergency Info</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://mx.usembassy.gov/">U.S. Embassy Mexico City</a> &ndash; Travel alerts and emergency assistance.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.gob.mx/sectur">SECTUR (Mexican Tourism Board)</a> &ndash; Official tourism info and safety tips.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.locatel.cdmx.gob.mx/">Locatel</a> &ndash; CDMX emergency &amp; assistance hotline (dial 5658-1111).</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Food &amp; Dining</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://eater.com/maps/best-mexico-city-restaurants-38">Eater Mexico City</a> &ndash; Best restaurants &amp; food guides.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://resy.com/cities/mex/mexico-city">Resy</a> &ndash; Book tables at top restaurants (like Pujol).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.opentable.com/mexico-city-restaurants">OpenTable</a> &ndash; More restaurant reservations.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.eltenedor.com.mx/">Tenedor</a> &ndash; Discounts at restaurants.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;Travel Communities &amp; Blogs</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MexicoCity/">Mexico City Subreddit</a> &ndash; Real-time traveler Q&amp;A.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/mexicocityexpats/">CDMX Travel Facebook Groups</a> &ndash; Immigrants/digital nomads.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">&nbsp;Culture, Events &amp; Tickets</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tiqets.com/en/mexico-city-l147634/">Tiqets</a> &ndash; Skip-the-line tickets for museums (Frida Kahlo, Anthropology Museum).</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com.mx/">Ticketmaster MX</a> &ndash; Concerts, sports, and events.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.timeout.com/mexico-city">Time Out Mexico City</a> &ndash; Events, nightlife, and pop-up experiences.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.meetup.com/cities/mx/mexico_city/">Meetup</a> &ndash; Find expat/digital nomad events.</li>
</ul>

JFC's Guide To: Mexico City

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;

Larissa's Pro Tip

<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>

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