Our slow travel series explores how you can take more mindful journeys by train, boat, bus or bike – with tips on how to get where you’re going without extra flights, and what to see and do along the way. Here, Lonely Planet’s resident Japanese train expert John Walton takes us across the Japanese Alps…
Where you decide to base yourself in colossal Mexico City is a key consideration when it comes to planning your vacation. To help you pick the right area, we've pulled together our favorite walkable neighborhoods that are full of character and charm. It's all a matter of what you're looking for when you get there. In the trendy Roma…
Ringed by UNESCO-listed city walls, Dubrovnik’s spectacular old town is a huge draw for over a million visitors each year. Come summer, the narrow lanes of the compact old town can get cramped with the tourist crush, especially when cruise ships are in port. If the city gets all too much, escape on a day…
Many of South America’s greatest hits can be found in Ecuador – from Andean peaks and the Amazon to tropical beaches, Inca ruins and the wonders of the Galápagos Islands. Pretty impressive for a country that's a fraction of the size of its neighbors! The hardest part is deciding which part to visit first. To…
The uncertainty of the pandemic years was challenging if you were hoping to travel to Japan. With the country closed to tourism for years, it was hard to know when you’d be able to go back, and what the country would be like when you could. Luckily, what makes Japan such a breathtaking destination hasn’t…
New York City evokes both high-rise luxury and savvy deals. But the best offer in town? The number of free attractions the Big Apple has to enjoy. You could spend a lifetime here ticking off the best things to do – but have you seen the rental prices? Much better to squeeze in our favorite concerts, museums…
It’s not all ancient temple ruins, baroque hill towns and drop-dead-gorgeous beaches. Such is the epicurean clout, nous and diversity of this Mediterranean heavyweight that it’s perfectly feasible to simply eat your way around Sicily and its ocean-fueled archipelagos. Spaghetti ai ricci in sea-urchin sauce, swordfish carpaccio on a seafront terrace, veg-spiked arancini and primeval…
I’ve never been to Colombia. Such a failure, I know. But for months now, Colombia has been on my mind. Last fall I read this New York Times article about Morat, a band from Bogotá. It was one of those stories that made my antennae go up. Suddenly everything was Colombia. I had this feeling,…
Ecuador offers some of the most incredible outdoor experiences on earth, from surfing on beautiful beaches to treks through the Amazon jungle. The fourth-smallest country in South America offers experiences to rival anything in Brazil, Argentina or Chile, all packed into a small space that's easy to explore by bus, boat or plane. With top-flight natural wonders such…
San Antonio attracts visitors for many reasons. There's the history of the Alamo and the Spanish Missions, a great selection of Tex-Mex cuisine, lovely strolls along the River Walk or shopping in the Mexican marketplace at Market Square. But what if you're traveling with your family, and how do you keep the kids amused? Immerse yourself…