Any Scandimaniacs out there? The homeland of the Vikings, famous for its lively port cities steeped in history, jaw-dropping nature, and that pleasantly mild climate—which, let’s be honest, is a bit of a godsend now that Southern Europe is basically frying in summer—the Scandinavian countries are all the rage right now. Because of the rugged …

When you think of Peru, chances are Lima comes to mind, with its beautiful coastline, vibrant food markets, and buzzing city life. Or maybe the colonial charm of Cusco, which brings that Old World allure to the mix. And, of course, there’s Machu Picchu, the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in the Andean Highlands. …

Last year, the European Union took Americans by surprise when it started rolling out a new Entry-Exit System (EES) that involves fingerprinting all foreign visitors to ensure they comply with visitor rules. For context, as a tourist, you only get 90 days (out of any 180-day period) across the border-free Schengen Area, which comprises most …

Whether you’re a frequent visitor to the Mexican Caribbean, or you’re simply planning on going in the near future for that much-needed sunny break, you’re probably aware that the most dreaded time of year is fast-approaching: Sargassum season. Every year, from around late March to early October, the Caribbean Coast of Mexico is battered by …

Vespa rides into blood-orange sunsets, soft pistacchio gelato on the stone pier, as you watch the ebb and flow of swimmers and boats along the marina, the incessant chant of cicadas up the olive tree hills… Say what you will, other poor excuses of seas can’t hold a candle to the Mediterranean. I’m not talking …

Last year, the United Kingdom started enforcing its new entry and stay regulations, affecting millions of travelers worldwide. Prior to that, traveling from the United States to Britain meant little to no hassle upon arrival: with eGates open to U.S. passport holders, all you had to do was rock up at the U.K. border, scan …

Is it just me, or has all this talk of “hidden gems” and “undiscovered spots” become a bit too… trivial, if not outright nonsensical? Whether they’re doing it for the Instagram algorithm or simply because they’re clueless enough to think an extremely popular European city that’s been flogged to death can still fit that criteria, …

There’s nothing we love more than a little Mediterranean escapade ourselves. Pistacchio gelato by a colorful harbor, peppered with slender, pastel-colored buildings, fresh fruit from local mercatini, outside lunch with cathedral views, and vespa rides into scarlet sunsets. There’s just one complaint: Is it just us, or do you also find pebblestones and shingles a …

Forget Barcelona and its (undeniably-pretty) but chaotic Gothic Quarter, Madrid with the expensive, anything-but-authentic pub fare and flashy boulevards, and Málaga’s jam-packed beachfront. This year, a lesser-known gem in the North of Spain, miles away from the touristy capital and the Mediterranean Coast, is stealing the show. The largest city, and beating heart of the …

There’s no point sugarcoating it: whether you like it or not, America’s reputation in Europe isn’t exactly glowing right now. From the ever-so-often diplomatic rifts, to U.S. tourists reporting not feeling welcome across a number of European cities (fancy getting chased down the calle by a water-pistol-wielding Catalan, anyone?) and of course, the mounting piles …

I remember just stopping short of bashing Zurich, the largest city and financial heart of Switzerland, just a few weeks ago in my 5 European Cities I’ll Never Get Back To feature. Harsh as I might have been, I stand by every word: from the overpolished Old Town and its inflated restaurant prices, to the …

After decades of empty promises, government after government, the long-anticipated, bordering-on-mythical Rail Baltica is finally leaving the drawing board. As confirmed in a European Commission press release, the largest infrastructure project to have ever been pursued in the Baltic region—and Eastern Europe as a whole—is going ahead, significantly improving connectivity across a previously-fragmented 559-mile stretch. …