Tel Aviv

This vibrant, beach city on the eastern Mediterranean is Israel’s economic and cultural hub. Tel Aviv is more secular and laid-back than Jerusalem, and a wonderful place to spend a few days soaking in the sun, art and truly incredible food.

There is limited public transport in Tel Aviv. To save time and stress, download the Gett or Uber apps to call a cab and pay by card.

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Tel Aviv Airport, most nationalities will receive a blue, paper card instead of a passport stamp. Do not lose this card for the duration of your visit, as passport control will need it upon departure. Security at Ben Gurion is also very high. Arrive three hours before an outbound flight.

EAT

Dr. Shakshuka This humble place is somewhat of an institution in Old Town Jaffa. It will be busy but worth it.

North Abraxass Amazing, simple Israeli fare made from the best ingredients. Do not miss dinner here and book well in advance.

Tolaat (תולעת ספרים - מזא"ה) Cute, cozy cafe in a book shop housed within a lovely old mansion. Good for breakfast or lunch.

DRINK

Beit Hapsanter Chic, PYT lounge-bar with live music. The name means “Piano House”.

Faruk BaSuk Fun bar and restaurant in the Jaffa Flea Market with live music in the late afternoon.

Haminzar The local-est local. Don’t miss.

Israel Wine Tours Israel is one of the oldest wine-making regions of the world, thanks to the Greeks and Romans during pre-biblical times. We spent a day in the Judean Hills with Barak Yitzhaki of Israel Wine Tours. We tried different, interesting wines in a unique corner of the country and received a healthy history lesson.

Salon Berlin Hip and relaxed dive bar. Food is excellent and happy hour two for one drinks until 10:30pm.

PLAY

Bauhaus architecture This 1930s modernist architecture movement left its legacy all over Tel Aviv. Today the “White City” is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Poli House Hotel at the corner of Allenby and Nahalot Binyamin Streets is one example.

Jaffa Flea Market Antiques, boutiques and souvenir shopping.

Old City Jaffa The remnants of the ancient port city that seeded Tel Aviv. Today it’s winding alleyways are filled with art galleries, restaurants and craft shops.

Old Train Station Nice place for a quiet walk before heading to the beaches.

Shabazi Street The lifespring of the trendy Neve Tzedek neighborhood, Shabazi is lined with boutiques and cafes. Go for jewelry shopping.

Tevl Aviv beaches They’re beautiful and nice any time of year. We enjoyed a few hours at Aviv Beach’s Surf Club bar.

STAY

The Nachalat Binyamin neighborhood has excellent nightlife, food and shopping all nearby, and is an easy walk to the southern beaches, Neve Tzedek and Jaffa. We enjoyed the artsy, boutique hotel Hotel 75.

Tel Aviv

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Singapore

Singapore has long been a melting pot of cultures from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Great Britain and the Arab world. Today this tropical city-state is the beating heart of Asia’s commercial and financial empire.

There are plenty of bus and train options to access the city from Singapore Changi Airport, but taking a taxi is also fairly easy, quick and cheap ($20-30).

EAT

Singapore is a foodie’s dream. You won’t go wrong popping by hawker food stalls (with Michelin stars) in mall basements and restaurants within the Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street neighborhoods.

PS Cafe A homegrown Singapore cafe chain with several locations. Go for brunch!

Wild Honey Classic dishes from international menus. Great for brunch and has locations on Orchard Road and Scott’s Square.

DRINK

Clarke Quay Bunch of eclectic bars and a fun night out.

Long Bar at The Raffles Hotel Home of the gin-based Singapore Sling.

Marina Bay Sands A must for happy hour drinks at sunset.

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore An Asian take on the traditional, British “high tea”. Try their savory treats!

PLAY

Gardens by the Bay A waterfront garden park with greenhouses and “super trees” with solar cells.

Jurong Bird Park Asia’s largest bird park with thousands of colorful and exotic birds.

MacRitchie Reservoir A nature preserve for hiking, biking and monkey viewing. Check out the TreeTop walk.

The Merlion Singapore’s mascot and main landmark.

Night Safari A nocturnal zoo with native critters. Touristy and slightly pricy but fun and educational.

Orchard Road malls This labyrinth of malls is connected by underground passages pumped with air-conditioning. Orchard Road pays homage to commercialism and is especially fascinating around Christmas.

Sentosa Island A man-made, resort island south of the city that makes for a fun day trip. Check out Palawan Beach.

Singapore Botanical Gardens

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple A beautifully intricate Hindu temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali.

Sultan Mosque While in the Arab quarter make time to visit this hub of the local Muslim community.

STAY

The Orchard Road area road, while bustling, is central or easily accessible to everything. It’s a good choice if you want to be close to good food and shopping.

Go Crazy Rich Asians and stay at the Marina Bay Sands to swim in the famous infinity pool overlooking the city.

Singapore

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Bath

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bath has been celebrated for its natural hot springs for nearly two millennium. The Romans called it Aquae Sulis, the waters of Sulis, during their occupation of Britain and left behind the ruins of a massive bathhouse complex. This historically fashionable town was frequently recommended as a place for R&R for the British upper class. It was also home to Jane Austen in the 19th century.

From London take a one and a half hour train direct to the Bath Spa Station.

EAT

Blue Quails Deli A charming spot for breakfast, coffee or lunch near the Pulteney Bridge.

Chez Dominique Romantic and cozy French restaurant with a good wine list.

Sally Lunns House Good luck getting a seat. Try the Lunn bun. Recommended by a friend.

DRINK

Roots & Shoots Friendly, vegan cafe near the train station.

The Bell Inn Not for the faint (or sober) of heart, but a fun dive with live music.

PLAY

Artisan Market A Saturday market at Queen Square.

Bath Abbey Medieval splendor.

The Circus and The Royal Crescent The terraced houses of both areas are some of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture in England.

Pulteney Bridge

The Roman Baths Visit the museum and ruins of a nearly two thousand year old bathhouse.

Thermae Spa The verdict is still out on this three-level spa. It is one of the only places today to bath in hot spring pools and has a stunning view from the roof-top pool. But, we felt the water temperature was too low and the £40 weekend entrance fee too high.

STAY

Bath is small and busy on the weekends, so stay within walking distance of the Baths and Abbey. We loved No. 15 Great Pulteney, a charming, boutique hotel on a beautiful street.

Bath

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Kyoto

Kyoto was the ancient imperial city of Japan. Today, many of its temples and structures are still standing and enjoy UNESCO World Heritage status.

Kyoto is a 75 minute train ride from Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, or a two and a half hour shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo.

The Kyoto Gion Matsuri Festival happens each July and is one of the most famous in all of Japan. The city celebrates with parades, floats and festival food stalls. While crowded, it is an unforgettable time to visit.

EAT

Nishiki Market A fun place to walk through and have a meal.

Kaiseki Kyoto’s haute cuisine is a beautiful, multi-course meal that originated 500 years ago.

DRINK

The Gion District This part of the city escaped bombing in World War II and remains one of the most well-preserved areas of the city. Visit the old tea houses in this old geisha district, and if you are lucky, you may spot one of the few geishas left. Hanami Street is a particularly lovely walk.

Pontocho This narrow, ancient alley is over 500 years old. The area is well known for its excellent nightlife, dining, and is in general a lovely area to walk around at night.

PLAY

Arashiyama Beautiful, tightly packed bamboo groves.

Fushimi Inari A short train ride outside of Kyoto’s main station, this Shinto shrine is a spiritual place. Thousands of brightly colored tori arches are arranged throughout the forest like dominoes.

Ginkakuji and Kinkakuji Temples The Silver and Golden Pavilions, respectively, are among the most famous of Kyoto’s thousands of temples. Rent bikes for a self-led tour.

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Shosei-en Garden Traditional temple garden.

The Philosopher’s Path A nice walk or bike along a peaceful stream. The path is very near Ginkakuji.

Yasaka-jinja A Shinto shrine in Gion.

STAY

We recommend basing yourself in Kawaramachi, Gion or near Kyoto Station. All are within walking distance of good food, nightlife and most of the top sites.

Kyoto

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the most dynamic and fascinating cities in the world. The Japanese capital is a bridge between centuries of tradition and the modern world.

The easiest way from the airport to city center is via the Narita Express or a JR train to Tokyo, Shinjuku or Shibuya Stations. The trains run a few times an hour and the journey takes one hour.

Tokyo is a great starting point for a longer trip around Japan. Kyoto, Osaka, Nagano and Kobe are all a few hours by shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train. If you have time, consider heading out of Tokyo for a 48 hour visit to one of the picturesque towns around Mt. Fuji. Lake Kawaguchiko, a hot spring resort town with stunning views of the mountain, is a lovely option for hiking, biking and relaxing in the onsen (a traditional, Japanese bathhouse).

Coming for Cherry Blossom (sakura in Japanese) season? The best viewing time for Tokyo is near the end of March, beginning of April.

Want to see a sumo wrestling tournament during your trip? Check the Grand Tournament schedule to align your visit.

EAT

Fonda de la Madrugada A Mexican restaurant in Harajuku with mariachi singers.

Lawson’s or Family Mart These convenience stores are all over Japan and sell tasty fast food. Try the curry or pizza buns, and onigiri (stuffed rice balls wrapped in seaweed).

Toyosu Fish Market Tsukiji Fish Market was formerly the world’s largest fish and seafood market, but closed its doors for good in 2018. The new market, Toyosu, is slightly further east and twice the size. The market is surrounded by tiny sushi shops, all serving the freshest fish in the world.

DRINK

Izakaya alley in Shibuya or Shinjuku. Izakaya are Japanese pubs that serve umami snacks. Try a Japanese whiskey or one of the top beer brands - Sapporo, Asahi, Kirin or Suntory.

Starbucks Shibuya Not one to visit a Starbucks abroad? We promise the views are worth it! Grab a coffee and watch thousands of people cross the street at once.

Shinjuku, Shibuya or Roppongi Go out in these neighborhoods and you won’t go wrong.

PLAY

Asakusa Visit the ancient Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji, and surrounding festival area.

Harajuku Know for fashion, this neighborhood is for shopping and people watching. Look for the teenagers dressed as Little Bo Peep, pop into an arcade to take photos in a purikura photo sticker booth, or head to the DAISO shop for cheap home wares and gifts.

The Imperial Palace

Karaoke Duck into any karaoke bar and pass a few hours singing your favourite 80s jams.

Shibuya One of the busiest areas in the city. Besides its famous crosswalk Shibuya is full of crazy electronic and adult shops.

STAY

K’s House Tokyo For the budget minded, K’s is a clean and safe backpacker’s hostel in Asakusa.

Keio Plaza Hotel Four-star, luxury hotel near Shinjuku station.

Tokyo

LOCATIONS NEARBY