The art of slow travel

Guides to the world’s quieter corners

Practical, image-led country guides: where to go, when, how much it costs and what to skip.

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Countries
197
Place guides
339
Regions
7
Red five-storey pagoda in front of snow-capped Mount Fuji in Fujiyoshida, Japan
Featured guide JPN Japan ASI Asia Read the guide about Japan
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Departures

Départs · Partenze · Abfahrt

Status as of November 2026

A featured place guide and the newest ones, with the suggested stay and whether now is a good month to go.
Type Destination Country Region Days Now Photo
CITY Featured Kyoto Japan ASI Asia Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years and still holds its temples, shrines, gardens and old merchant streets across a sprawling city. Learn more about Kyoto Japan ASI Asia 3–4 days Wait
MOUNTAIN Newest guide Karkonosze Poland EUR Europe The Karkonosze are the highest range in the Sudetes, with a long open ridge, glacial lakes, waterfalls and staffed huts along the Polish-Czech border. Learn more about Karkonosze Poland EUR Europe 3–5 days Wait
REGION Sudetes Poland EUR Europe The Sudetes run along Poland's south-western border, with rock labyrinths, castles, spa towns, underground wartime tunnels and the long Main Sudetes Trail. Learn more about Sudetes Poland EUR Europe 5–10 days Wait
TOWN Świeradów-Zdrój Poland EUR Europe Świeradów-Zdrój combines a historic spa house and long wooden promenade with a gondola into the quiet Izera Mountains near the Czech border. Learn more about Świeradów-Zdrój Poland EUR Europe 2–3 days Wait
TOWN Szklarska Poręba Poland EUR Europe Szklarska Poręba sits between the Karkonosze and Izera mountains, with the tallest waterfall in the Polish Sudetes, a main-line station and strong skiing. Learn more about Szklarska Poręba Poland EUR Europe 2–3 days Wait
CITY Jelenia Góra Poland EUR Europe Jelenia Góra pairs an arcaded old square and the Cieplice spa district with fast access to castles, palaces and the Karkonosze trails. Learn more about Jelenia Góra Poland EUR Europe 1–3 days Wait

Go now best month Shoulder good, with trade-offs Wait outside the best months

Seven regions

Every guide sits on one of seven lines. Pick a region to see its countries and places.

EUR46 countries
Bay of Kotor with a stone church and lighthouse on the shore and mountains across the water, Montenegro

Europe

From Balkan lakes to Nordic coasts, Europe packs more than forty countries into distances you can cross by train in a day.

Explore region Europe
ASI48 countries
Village of thatched and tin-roofed houses among the Batad rice terraces, Philippines

Asia

Asia spans everything from Gulf megacities to Himalayan villages, with new flight routes opening second cities every season.

Explore region Asia
AFR54 countries
Snow-capped Kilimanjaro above clouds and acacia trees on the plains of Amboseli, Kenya

Africa

Africa offers 54 very different countries, from Saharan oases and Atlantic islands to savannah parks and fast-growing coastal cities.

Explore region Africa
NAM23 countries
Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View with El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall, California

North America

North America stretches from Arctic Canada to the Caribbean, mixing road-trip classics with islands and cities that are only now getting attention.

Explore region North America
SAM12 countries
Flooded salt flat of Salar de Uyuni at sunset, with a distant car and people reflected in the water, Bolivia

South America

South America rewards longer trips, with Andean highlands, Amazon rivers, Patagonian ice and coastal cities within one overland journey.

Explore region South America
AUS1 country
Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at dusk with a tall ship in the harbour

Australia

Australia is a continent-sized country where distances, seasons and wildlife shape every itinerary, from reef coast to red centre.

Explore region Australia
OCE13 countries
Forested limestone Rock Islands rising from the sea under a cloudy sky, Palau

Oceania

Oceania's islands, from New Zealand's fjords to Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, are among the least crowded destinations on earth.

Explore region Oceania

Popular countries

The country guides readers open most, each with the best months, costs and places to go.

01JPNASI Asia

Japan

Neon cities, quiet temples, bullet trains and some of the world's best food in a country that is easy to travel despite the language barrier.

Learn more about Japan

02ITAEUR Europe

Italy

Roman ruins, Renaissance cities, Alpine lakes and regional cooking in a country where timing and booking decide how good the trip is.

Learn more about Italy

03ESPEUR Europe

Spain

Moorish palaces, Roman ruins, Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts and a food culture built around tapas make Spain one of Europe's most varied destinations.

Learn more about Spain

04PRTEUR Europe

Portugal

Tiled cities, Atlantic beaches, river valleys of port wine and excellent seafood in a compact country that is easy to cross by train.

Learn more about Portugal

05GRCEUR Europe

Greece

Ancient ruins, whitewashed islands, mountain monasteries and long Mediterranean summers, with ferries and flights linking the highlights.

Learn more about Greece

06THAASI Asia

Thailand

Golden temples, night markets, jungle hills and warm island beaches in one of the world's most visited and best-value countries.

Learn more about Thailand

07MEXNAM North America

Mexico

Ancient pyramids, colonial cities, Caribbean beaches and one of the world's great food cultures across a large, varied country.

Learn more about Mexico

08MARAFR Africa

Morocco

Walled medinas, Atlas mountain passes and Sahara dunes within a few hours of Europe, with food and prices that suit most budgets.

Learn more about Morocco

09ISLEUR Europe

Iceland

Waterfalls, glaciers, geothermal pools and volcanic landscapes in a North Atlantic island that is easy to drive and expensive to visit.

Learn more about Iceland

All 197 countries

Travel notices

Practical tips for planning, packing and paying less.

  1. Travel tip

    EU Entry/Exit System (EES): What Happens at the Border

    Learn how the EU entry exit system works for non-EU visitors: what is recorded, who is exempt, what to do if checks are slow and where ETIAS fits.

    Learn more about EU Entry/Exit System (EES): What Happens at the Border

  2. Travel tip

    Do You Need Travel Insurance? What It Covers and What It Does Not

    Do I need travel insurance?

    Learn more about Do You Need Travel Insurance? What It Covers and What It Does Not

  3. Travel tip

    How to Work Across Time Zones While Travelling: A Simple Scheduling System

    Working across time zones while travelling: set an overlap window, fix calendar habits and pick the right base.

    Learn more about How to Work Across Time Zones While Travelling: A Simple Scheduling System

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