Disclosure: This Riad Palais Amani Fes guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

On a trip to Morocco in June 2022 (my first big, planned trip since COVID-19!), I was lucky enough to have Palais Amani sponsor my stay for my visit to Fes. Even though it is sponsored, my review and experience is, as always, 100% personal and honest.

Tips Before Staying at Riad Palais Amani

• For all of my Morocco travel tips head to my Morocco travel guide here.
• There is an airport in Fes or its about a 5 hour drive from Casablanca airport. Alternatively (and I recommend), is hiring a private driver to take you around the whole country. This breaks up the drive and you can see way more. We drove to Fes from Chefchaouan (3 hours) and then to the Sahara Desert. More on my full Moroccan itinerary coming soon! However there is no Uber or easy taxi service in Morocco so either way make sure to book a car or rent a car ahead of time to arrive at Fes Palais Amani.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting Morocco, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!

PACKING: Morocco is known for its mild weather year round, but if you go in the summer it is INSANELY hot. We went in June after having to cancel our original April trip. The heat is no joke. Pack the lightest layers possible. However, Morocco is a conservative country so you must pack clothes that cover your shoulders and knees as well. Big fan of jumpsuits and maxi dresses for this. For all of my travel packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!

What To Expect When Staying at Palais Amani: The Best Riad in Fes Morocco

Palais Amani is not your average hotel experience. If you have done any research into what a riad is, you will know it is the most traditional and popular way to stay in accommodations in all of Morocco and is, in my opinion, far superior than a hotel or Airbnb experience. It is a combination of both.

When you first arrive in Fez, your driver will already have communicated with the Riad and they will meet you at the closest point cars can go outside the Medina. The Riad porter will carry all of these huge bags (at least ours were huge) through winding, tiny allies for you without accepting any help. Once you enter Palais Amani you will feel like you have no idea what just happened as you go straight from the crazy Medina streets into the amazing courtyard of an oasis that is Riad Palais Amani. They will bring you to the middle of the courtyard and offer you fresh mint tea and cookies, which were amazing. Only after 10 minutes of relaxing your room will be ready.

After you walk into your room you will see why this is a high-end Riad and the best Fes Riad to stay in. The room is clean and no detail went unnoticed when creating the Riad, it is perfect. After you settle in you will likely meet with the Riad manager who can help you book reservations, plan your meals at the Riad, book the cooking class or spa on site and many other things to make your stay the best. The staff is incredible. Later you can find yourself in the bar room for a nice drink before heading out or going to the rooftop to watch the sunset. Keep reading to see why Palais Amani is the best riad in Fes Morocco.

You can book Riad Palais Amani right here!

The rooms in Palais Amani are some of the most unique you will ever experience, as is standard in a riad versus a hotel. There are only a handful of rooms in the whole complex consisting of different sizes. We were lucky enough to stay in a senior suite on the main floor right in the center of the action which was amazing. Our room opened up into the courtyard and the staff was there waiting the minute they heard the door open. Our room consisted of a huge first floor with a big living room, bedroom with a king size/two twins bed, a massive bathroom with the most #showergoals I have ever seen and then an upstairs with a second bedroom, reading alcove and half bath as well! The upstairs also provided views of the courtyard. Waiting for us upon our arrival in the room was water, snacks, and traditional Moroccan shoes, which we obviously kept. Also the comfiest, biggest robes, ever. Every detail did not go unmissed when they created the rooms in Palais Amani and you can see the Moroccan culture and decor clearly come out in every detail. ALSO the door to get into each room is out of control amazing and massive (see picture!). This shape is very standard in symbolical in Morocco and you will see it everywhere. This was my favorite room I stayed in during my entire trip to Morocco and definitely contributes to why Palais Amani is the best Riad in Fes.

Palais Amani Rooms

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Palais Amani Rooftop

It would be ashame to not mention Fes’ Palais Amani amazing rooftop, the best escape from the bustling and hot medina. The top floor of the Riad is a full wrap around balcony with a bar, lounge chairs, couches and more to take in the sun (though the heat is way too much in the summer!), a drink at sunset, and the top of the Fes Medina. It is the perfect break from the city after a long day of touring. This is also where the cooking class takes place (more on that later!). I love a good sunset view and Riad Palais Amani roof makes for the perfect one. Unfortunately it was cloudy on the nights during our stay but I have no doubt this would be the best spot for a Fes sunset over the Medina.

The Elaborate Palais Amani Breakfast

Your stay at Palais Amani would not be complete without their elaborate breakfast, included in your stay. The minute you walk outside your room they come up to you and bring you to your table (as I mentioned the service is amazing). The table is situated right in the middle of the stunning courtyard surrounded by so much nature and greenery and the birds chirping in the morning. You are then brought over a ton of cheeses, jams, olives, bread, soup, fruit, yogurt, fresh orange juice, more types of bread and even more. Of course you also can get any drink you like in addition. All of the dishes and jams were amazing and we left breakfast each morning very full. The service plus the elaborate meal make this one of the best breakfast experiences and in my opinion way better than a hotel buffet. As much as I love exploring brunch and breakfast spots in new areas, Riad breakfasts are by far the way to go during your visit in Morocco.

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BONUS #1 of Palais Amani: Fez Cooking School!

One of the reasons that Palais Amani is one of the best riads to stay in Fes is because it has also has an amazing daily cooking class on its property – Fez Cooking School! We took part in the cooking class on our last night and I think it was our favorite meal in all of our Morocco trip! It was a super small group which meant it was quite personal and engaging for all. We made an eggplant tomato appetizer, a chicken dish for the main and an insanely amazing dessert which I can only resemble its taste to (better than) funnel cake in America. For the vegetarians, the main is able to be swapped out for a full, heavy veggie meal (my friend did this) and still raved about the food, so the class really can cater to anyone. As I mentioned already, the food in general in Morocco exceeded my expectations (no one talks about Moroccan food enough globally) and our whipped up meal during Fez Cooking School at Palais Amani was one of my favorites. Whether you stay at Palais Amani or not, you MUST do the Fez Cooking School class when traveling to Fes. I love to do cooking classes or food tours in all of the cities I visit so that I can really understand what the locals eat and the flavors that make each country unique and Fez Cooking School was the way to do that.

Book Your Fez Cooking Class at Palais Amani here!

BONUS #2 of Palais Amani: The Hammam Experience

The second bonus of staying at Palais Amani is their amazing spa – Les Bains Amani! If you do not know what a hammam is I highly recommend reading up on it before you have one but it is the most unique massage/spa experience you will likely ever do and is an absolute MUST on your trip to Morocco. We did a hammam treatment during our stay at Palais Amani and it was amazing! It was totally private (vs when I went to a Turkish bath in Istanbul it was 25 women altogether). The hammam includes being cleaned off, given a ton of different skin treatments, and then beyond scrubbed like you have never been scrubbed before by the hammmam specialists. Most give you a tiny paper underwear to wear or let you wear your bikini bottoms, but they do take your top off so if you want to keep it on you definitely should bring a bikini and not a one piece as they will make you fully take it off. I won’t give any more details because it would ruin the experience but you absolutely must visit a hammam while in Morocco (we did two during our time because we loved it so much!) and Palais Amani’s hammam is the perfect place to do it.

Book Your Hammam Experience at Palais Amani here!

WHY Palais Amani?

Palais Amani is a perfect, ideal, unique stay in the middle of Fes and in my opinion, the best riad in Fes. It is right in the center of the Fes Medina – walking distance to EVERYTHING you could want to see in the medina and more. Not only that, it is a 2 minute walk to outside the medina which means that your driver or cars can you get much more easily than getting lost and walking through winding small roads when you are entering/leaving or going to see another part of the city. The rooms are clean and big and offer all of the amenities. The staff is overly friendly and personalized and will do anything to make your stay the best. The breakfast is top notch. Lastly, the cooking school and hammam located within the hotel are two experiences you must do during your trip to Morocco and you can do them on site. In my opinion, location, cleanliness and service is the most important to me and Riad Palais Amani has all of these and more. I especially loved the traditional decor of the hotel! Palais Amani is your spot for the best place to stay in Fes Morocco and is better than some of the best hotels in Fes.

You can book Riad Palais Amani right here!

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WHY NOT Palais Amani?

Of COURSE the Riad experience is not for everyone and I would never want to steer someone the wrong way when providing accommodations for Fez. If you are looking for a high-end full-service massive hotels in Fes with a pool and much larger property, this is not for you. If you are looking for a budget hostel, this is not for you. But if you are looking for unique, personalized stay in the middle of the Fes Medina with amazing service and accommodations, then Palais Amani is definitely for you.

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Final Thoughts on Riad Palais Amani: The Best Place To Stay in Fes Morocco

HIGHLY recommend Palais Amani for your stay. It is by far the best riad in Fes and the best place to stay in Fes. The location could not be better, the rooms are stunning and clean, the courtyard and rooftop are amazing, the breakfast, cooking school and hammam are must-dos and the staff is beyond nice. Don’t miss out on Palais Amani when you’re visiting Fez Morocco.

Book Riad Palais Amani right here!

*Thanks to Palais Amani for sponsoring my hotel stay while traveling to Fes Morocco. While I did receive this stay as a gift, my review and experience with them is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

Loved this Best Riad in Fes Morocco: Riad Palais Amani review? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Have questions about the best riads in Fes Morocco or are you planning on staying here on your next visit? Let me know in the comments below! Check out more of what to expect when traveling to Morocco.

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post BEST RIAD IN FES MOROCCO TO STAY AT: RIAD PALAIS AMANI FULL REVIEW appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This Tel Aviv travel blog may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Tel Aviv Blog: Tel Aviv Travel Tips

• For all of my Israel travel tips head to my Israel travel blog here (and there are a lot of tips).
• The main airport in Tel Aviv (and in the whole country of Israel) is Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). Train and Taxi are your two options to get to the city.
  • A taxi is my go-to to get to Tel Aviv from the airport. The airport is about a 25 minute ride to the city of Tel Aviv and should be around ~150-170 shekels normally, and around ~190-200 shekels on Shabbat/middle of the night. It is easier to get one directly from the taxi line as soon as you exit the airport and turn left to the authorized taxi lines. Do NOT go with anyone who comes up to you and says they are a taxi. You have to download the Gett Taxi app (more details later) to get the taxi and it gives you a code, and then you can pay by card in the app.
  • You can also take the train which is a direct train to any of Tel Aviv’s 3 train stations, however the stations are on the border of Tel Aviv meaning you will have to then take a taxi or bus to your accommodation. The train is a cheaper alternative from the airport for sure, but keep in mind on the location of where your accommodation is.
  • If you are just visiting Tel Aviv I do not suggest renting a car in Israel as parking is hard to come by in Tel Aviv and you do NOT need a car by any means for any Tel Aviv activity. However, if you are exploring the country of Israel (which I suggest, duh) then read my Israel car rental guide on my country guide here.
• Download Gett app. Gett was made in Israel and is the primary way to get around Tel Aviv and Israel in general. We do not use Uber or Lyft in Israel so Gett makes it super easy. Gett just uses taxis in Tel Aviv but it makes it easier because you can pay by credit card. Speaking of which…
• Cabs in Tel Aviv will either give you a set price to your destination within the city or you can choose meter when you get in. I always would choose meter (if I don’t use Gett) because they will rip you off. ESPECIALLY if you are speaking in English and they know you don’t live there. Always do meter. Also most cabs do not accept credit cards, it’s cash only, which is why I like having Gett!
• Download Bird or Lime: Scooters are huge in Tel Aviv and one of our main way of transportations. There are bike lanes on almost every street now and the scooters come with helmets.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 

Tel Aviv Packing Tips: Tel Aviv is HOT and HUMID in the summer and mild in the winter. It can always be beach weather, even in winter. Sunscreen is an absolute must during any visit to Israel. My favorite face sunscreen ever is this Sunbum stick (buy here). I think I own 5 of them and they last forever. They’re the best for travel since its solid too! For more of my fave packing items I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here or my favorite travel gear here or the best travel items you need under $20!

TEL AVIV ITINERARY: THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN TEL AVIV ISRAEL

Shuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market)

A MUST! The famous Shuk HaCarmel (open-air market) in Tel Aviv is by far one of the best things to do in Tel Aviv and the number one spot not to miss on a Tel Aviv Itinerary. Come to the Tel Aviv Shuk HaCarmel (Carmel Market) any day of the week to shop for anything you could ever think of (clothes, home goods, antiques, candy, falafel, hummus, fruits) and the freshest produce and food. I urge you to try the food in the Shuk, specifically: strawberries (in winter), falafel and halva. Some of the best restaurants are also on the OUTSKIRTS of the Shuk so make sure to weave in and out of the alleys, too, not just the main road! This is also where you will find all of your tourist gifts you could ever want to buy to bring home (IDF sweatshirts, evil eye and hamsa bracelets, keychains and more). I also HIGHLY suggest taking a food tour when visiting the Shuk to really immerse yourself in the history of the Shuk and each of the food stalls. Delicious Israel runs the best food tours I highly recommend (have done it twice!), you can read my review on the tour lower in this guide!

A true local Tel Aviv experience is going to the Shuk on Friday morning right before Shabbat when it is bustling and beyond crowded. Also spending all day here on Fridays is the thing to do – have a drink at one of the many spots on the alleys of the Shuk and people watch until sundown.

• TEL AVIV INSIDER TIP: Negotiating the price of what you’re buying is a 100% must at the Tel Aviv Carmel Market! They will always come down.
• TEL AVIV INSIDER TIP: If you are a looking to buy produce and food, the farther down in the Shuk you go towards the end, the cheaper the price.
• TEL AVIV INSIDER TIP: If you are walking on the outskirts of the Shuk and see the floor is RED, that means you are in the meat section!

Walk (or scooter) the Tel Aviv Promenade (Tayelet)

Walk the whole length of the Tel Aviv Boardwalk (better known as the Tayelet, which technically translates to Promenade). The Tel Aviv Tayelet stretches all the way from the port of Tel Aviv (the Namal) in the North of Tel Aviv all the way down to Jaffa in the South along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tayelet is such a gorgeous place to run, bike, scooter or walk and, for obvious reasons, has the best sunset views. This is one of my top things to do in Tel Aviv every single day. I could walk along the Tayelet forever. Scooters (or Korkinet in Hebrew) have also become wildly popular thanks to Lime, Bird and Wind definitely rent one and ride up and down (in the bike lanes!!).

Jaffa (Yafo)

Jaffa (Yafo) is the southern tip and oldest area of Tel Aviv. It is an absolute must-visit to add into your Tel Aviv itinerary travel time as the history is tremendous and shows a different side of Tel Aviv. You need to spend a good part of a full day visiting Jaffa and all that it has to offer especially since it is also up and coming (there are THREE new luxury hotels that have opened in the past year (18/19). While visiting Yafo, you should do the following:

• Walk around the Jaffa Port.
• Get lost in the Jaffa cobblestone alleys up and down from the Port to the top while stopping in cute boutique stores.
• Shop at the Jaffa Flea Market (Shuk HaPushPashim) (my favorite name ever). Here you will find everything from antiques, jewelry, furniture and more.
• See: the Zodiac Fountain, the Gate Of Faith and the Jaffa Clocktower.
• Eat at a Middle Eastern restaurant with lots of small plates (see below for my recommendations).
• Head to Abu Hassan for the voted best hummus in Tel Aviv (but get there as early as possible because they close as soon as they run out (usually near 2pm) since they make it daily!).
• Walk to the top of the hill from the bottom and turn around to see the stunning views of the Tel Aviv skyline.
• Walk across the Wishing Bridge and find your astrological sign, hold it and ask for a wish and it will come true!
• Favorite Jaffa Restaurants to stop at for lunch include Puaa and Beit Kandinof!

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Shuk Levinsky (Levinsky Market)

Levinsky Market is another one of the best things to do during your Tel Aviv travels that, in all honesty, most people do not get to on their first visit to Tel Aviv but should. A lot of people focus on the beaches and the Carmel Market BUT Levinsky Market should be on EVERYONE’s Tel Aviv itinerary! Levinsky Market Tel Aviv is one of the oldest markets in the country and is located in Florentin (more on Florentin later) and is totally different than the Carmel Market. Shuk Levinsky is a market dedicated to Israeli spices, nuts and fruits as well as popular Turkish and Greek foods (there are two different sides of the street for each of these). It is one of the much more popular local things to do in Tel Aviv (why I love it) and open-air. You won’t find tourist souvenirs here. I also HIGHLY suggest doing a Food Tour in Levinsky Market (more on that in Food Tour section below).

• Some of my favorite spots and foods you must try in Levinsky Market are: Levinsky 41 (Cafe Levinsky) for a Gazoz Drink (flavored fresh soda water with an Israeli twist), Yom Tov Deli for olives and vegetables (get the hibiscus flower wrapped goat cheese it is insane), Halva Magic for Halva, duh, Burekas Penso for amazing Burekas and Saluf & Sons for Yemenite Kubaneh.

Rabin Square

[As of 2023 Rabin Square is under construction for the new metro line so you may have to walk a bit farther and in between streets to find the memorial] Rabin Square (Kikar Rabin) is probably the most famous square in Tel Aviv and is largely historical. It is a big square in Tel Aviv on one of the main streets, Ibn Gabirol. Most importantly, you must check out the Rabin Memorial Monument at the edge of the square which has an exact replication of how Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination was carried out in 1995. It is incredibly somber and powerful to see the exact movements of this terrorist act and how it occurred. Rabin Square is also extremely lively at nighttime as there are tons of shows and events for various holidays and also peaceful protests are held here often whenever there is something to protest about in Israel (which is often)!

Rothschild Boulevard

Rothschild Boulevard is Tel Aviv’s oldest street and by far the prettiest street in Tel Aviv. It is lined with trees in the middle and has walking/biking paths. It is such a gorgeous and historical street to walk around. If you walk to the end of it (South) you’ll get to Florentin and the Neve Tzedek neighborhoods and on the other side (North) all the way at Kikar Habima (Habima Square), near Dizengoff Center. At the top of it (South) there is a tourist booth where you can take a DIY walking tour pamphlet to read while walking down Rothschild and it will tell you some important facts as you’re walking! There’s a metal strip down the street how its Independence Road. Rothschild is also a hub for Tel Aviv’s famous nightlife with a ton of bars and clubs lining the street on the South end.

Independence Hall

Tel Aviv Independence Hall is one of the only historical museum-type spots most people visit on Israel tours. It is a must-go just for the history lesson of Israel becoming a country and its independence. It is on Rothschild Boulevard and you really only need less than an hour here.

Related Post: Israel Country Travel Guide

Tel Aviv Port (Namal)

Namal translates to port and this is in the Old North of Tel Aviv. It is the main port of Tel Aviv (and Israel) and you can walk around it. There are a lot of nice restaurants, bars and clubs on the Namal as well with great outdoor seating. There are also a ton of stores to shop at. Definitely suggest walking around the Namal for part of a day. There are always people walking, running or biking around here and the Namal at night is beyond lively.

Tel Aviv Beaches & Sunsets

Obviously the main Tel Aviv point of interest to tourists are the beaches! The beaches of Tel Aviv are some of the best in the world and stretches a vast NINE miles and you can find different types of beaches (13 of them!) for all interests. Tel Aviv sits right on the Mediterranean Sea and this long coast also gives way to some of the best sunsets since it faces West. One of my favorite things to do is sit at the Tel Aviv beach restaurants (like LaLaLand, Calypso, Hilton Beach) and order watermelon and feta and a bottle of rosé. Watermelon is Israel’s summer fruit and you will see everyone eating it on the beach! My personal favorite Tel Aviv beach is Gordon Beach which is right by the Sheraton Hotel and has LaLaLand restaurant right on it. It also has lots of umbrellas, chairs, right in the center of the city and great food.

• Some of the best Tel Aviv beaches to people watch are Gordon Beach (LaLaLand restaurant is one of the better beach restaurants), Frischman Beach (a lot of French people head here), the Dog Beach (aptly named), Hilton Bay Beach (the new up and coming trendier beach) and Banana Beach. You can’t go wrong anywhere. You can just walk on to any beach wherever you are staying closest to as well! You don’t need passes as they’re not private.
• You can buy a lounge chair for 16 shekels (~$5), a regular chair for 6 shekels (~$2) and an umbrella for 18 shekels (~$6). You have to buy them at the machines attached to each beach restaurant building. The beaches in Tel Aviv are amazing and I urge you to camp out there for more than one day of your trip to relax. And watch the Tel Aviv sunsets. They never ever get old.

Shopping in Tel Aviv

There is SO much good shopping in Tel Aviv. Head to Sheinkin Street for the most trendy street with the best boutique shopping in Tel Aviv. Head to Dizengoff Street, one of the main streets in the city that is lined with stores and a million restaurants and bars. Make sure to walk on Dizengoff Square right in the center, it was just recently reopened after being refurbished in 2019! Head to Neve Tzedek for the most upscale and expensive shopping in Tel Aviv. One of my FAVORITE spots to shop & one of the best things to do in Tel Aviv is to go to Nachlat Binyamin Street (next to the Carmel Market) on Tuesdays and Fridays. There is an outdoor market on these days with stands set up by local artists and designers selling their goods. It is the BEST local Tel Aviv shopping and I have bought so many gifts and home decor and pieces here. A must.

Related Post: What To Do In The Negev Desert and South Of Israel

Sarona Market

Sarona Market is somewhat new (<5 years) and is in Central Tel Aviv. It’s basically a food complex and is a bunch of great food/snack places, drinks and shops to check out and just walk around during the day. It reminds me of Chelsea Market in NYC. The Market is an indoor complex with a bunch of spots to choose from and then surrounding the indoor market there is a HUGE outdoor space with more shops and restaurants. It’s a really popular lunch spot since it’s near a lot of Tel Aviv offices. There are about 90 stalls inside so take your time choosing what to eat!

Florentin and Neve Tzedek Neighborhoods

Florentin is a hipster neighborhood in Tel Aviv mostly known for their street art/graffiti (and also Levinsky Market, above). If you are a street art person definitely walk around Florentin Tel Aviv and get lost looking at the amazing Tel Aviv street art! Neve Tzedek is the most chic and trendiest (and most expensive) neighborhood of Tel Aviv. It’s home to some of the most posh stores and restaurants as well. The cobblestone streets of Neve Tzedek make it my favorite though. The main street to walk along in Neve Tzedek is Shabazi Street. You also must stop at Anita’s and have their famous gelato here. 

HaTachana

The HaTachana (translates to train station) is an area near Neve Tzedek that used to be an old train station! They repurposed it to be a really cute complex to walk around with a bunch of stores, bars and restaurants! It’s pretty cool how they built this area on top of old tracks and some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in Tel Aviv are in the HaTachana.

HaYarkon Park

HaYarkon Park is in the North of Tel Aviv. My favorite part of the park is that it’s not a tourist destination at all; you’ll almost solely find Tel Aviv locals here. You can find people kayaking on the Yarkon River, walking around the parks and playing sports throughout. The botanical gardens and large concert venues here also make for a great setting for any activity. The park was one of my favorite places to go during my spare time and is a true Tel Aviv local spot.

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Where To Eat In Tel Aviv

One of the best things to do in Tel Aviv is EAT! I am so beyond obsessed with the Tel Aviv food I plan my trips and itineraries around where I am eating in Tel Aviv! I have FINALLLLY finished my MASSIVE beyond massive Food Guide to Tel Aviv. After 10+ visits and living here three times, I know my Tel Aviv food. In the guide, I go in depth into all the cuisines, where to eat for any type of meal you may be craving and more. You can literally find ANYTHING you want to eat in Tel Aviv and this Tel Aviv food guide has it all. I listed a few of the best below in case you are skimming quickly but I highly recommend you read the full guide so you find your perfect spots for your Tel Aviv itinerary.

Visit my massive FULL FOOD IN TEL AVIV GUIDE here!

• Best breakfast/brunches: Café Xoho, Bucke Cafe and Yom Tov Cafe
• Best street food lunch: HaKosem, Jasmino, Shlomo v Doron, Hummus Abu Hassan, HaShomer 1
• Best dinner spots: HaBasta, North Abraxas, Abie, Old Man & The Sea, Ha’Achim, Port Sa’id and La Shuk
• Best sweets: Anita Gelato, Tamara and Arte Cafe

Again, visit my massive FULL FOOD IN TEL AVIV GUIDE here!

BONUS: Tel Aviv Food Tour

If you know me at all you know I try to do food tour’s in every city I visit in order to really immerse myself in their cuisine and culture. If you also couldn’t tell from the above, I am beyond obsessed with Israeli food and specifically the Tel Aviv food scene. So when I found Delicious Israel Food Tours during my time living there in 2019, I could NOT pass up the opportunity on taking this tour. I can honestly, whole-heartedly say this was the ABSOLUTE BEST food tour I have EVER taken. This is THE way to eat Tel Aviv. And I am saying that as someone who has taken similar food tours in other countries AND have already tried (what I thought was) the best of the best in Tel Aviv.

Delicious Israel offers a ton of different Israel food tour options around the country, I personally chose the Market Hop tour which is a four hour tour that goes to both the Carmel Market and Levinsky Market. I chose this one so that I could get a taste of each of my favorite markets, instead of focusing on one since they are both so insanely different. The tour was amazing. I thought four hours was going to be too long. NOPE. It felt like 5 seconds. My guide Lainie was amazing and you could tell how much she cared about the Israeli food, the spots she brought us to (which each had a unique story and personality) and the history behind it. If you are in Tel Aviv and love food (duh) BOOK A TOUR WITH DELICIOUS ISRAEL now. This is the most important part of the Tel Aviv travel guide. I am confident their other tours are just as good as the Market Hop. I cannot wait to go back and literally try every single one of their tours until I do them all! I will go more into detail on every single stop we took on my massive food guide as well, but run, do not walk, to booking this Tel Aviv food tour. It DOES sell out daily. I emailed to book in February and didn’t get a free date until April – hurry !! This has to be on your Tel Aviv itinerary no questions.

Book the Delicious Israel Market Hop or any of their other food tours here!

*Thanks to Inbal for inviting me on the Delicious Israel Market Hop food tour! While I did receive this tour as a gift, my review and experience is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

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Nightlife & Bars In Tel Aviv

Bars In Tel Aviv

• Cocktail bars in Tel Aviv I love: Dizengoff 223, Bellboy, Spicehaus, Concierge, Honolulu, Por do Sol (go for sunset!!)
• Anywhere on Nachlat Binyamin Street for the vibes.
• Teder: One of my favorite spots that I frequent weekly. Good vibes outdoor courtyard bar that is fun any night of the week. Many Saturdays there are live music shows as well. Within the complex there is also a restaurant upstairs called Romano, a record bar on the ground floor, and a few other bars within. There is also pizza in the bar. The best pizza in Tel Aviv. Get it.
• Casa Maya: Rooftop bar on Rothschild.

Bar Clubs In Tel Aviv

• Kuli Alma: One of the most popular bars in Tel Aviv. It has a hipster vibe but it is so cool. The top floor is all outdoor tables and chill, then the bottom there is a bar area and then in the back room is a club area. They play all hiphop/rap music. Go later on in the night.
• Jimmy Who: Fun bar/club on Rothschild, better for people in their young 20s.
• Abraxas: Attached to the Abraxas restaurant is a bar that gets really wild on the weekends. However, Israeli night is on Wednesday nights and it is my absolute favorite. If you are looking for a local night I highly recommend going on Wednesdays, otherwise, come any other night of the week and it is a vibe! Probably my favorite bar in Tel Aviv.
• Mondo 2000: Rooftop bar/club in Florentin. There is usually a wait to get in.
• Secret Garden (Bustan): My personal favorite club (usually Saturday late afternoon/evening). Super cool Tulum type vibes.
• Shalvata: The “it” young club in Tel Aviv for the summers since it’s outside on the port. Only open in the summer. Skews a bit younger.
• Other going out/rowdy clubs in Tel Aviv I love: Goat, Emesh.

Sunset Bars in Tel Aviv

• Loullie: Chic beach club right on the tayelet where you can sit at a table and watch the sunset and often has fun DJs on Saturdays. Need to save a table.
• Migdalor: Newest sunset spot in the city and a bit far as it’s past the port all the way in the North but has one of my favorite views of the sunset and all of Tel Aviv and is a massive spot with an amazing vibe. Can just walk in – all ages! (often there are kids here!)
• Por de Sol: Amazing small bar on the top of the steps at Ben Gurion/Tayelet (Kikar Atarim)
• Contento: Another cute bar right on the Tayelet on top of the marina. Amazing sunset.
• Any of the restaurants on the beach!

*Tip: A lot of the bars and clubs in Tel Aviv you have to be over 24 years old to get into. This is because Israelis go into the army after high school and THEN college, meaning they are out of college at 24 and the bars do not want college kids there, even though they’re of age (drinking age is 18). Just be mindful of this that you may get rejected, but we rarely had issues at every bar.

Tel Aviv Hotels & Where To Stay In Tel Aviv

I’ve lived in Tel Aviv, I’ve visited with friends, I’ve been on group trips and I’ve visited with my family, so it’s safe to say I have stayed in many different areas at different budgets. I personally suggest staying at a hotel when you visit Tel Aviv right on the Mediterranean Sea but you still can’t go wrong wherever you choose since Tel Aviv is such a small walking city.

• BEACH HOTELS in Tel Aviv are the absolute best. I suggest somewhere near the center of the city (Allenby Street). You will find plenty of ranges of different hotels on Tel Aviv beach. You will find a ton of big chain hotels here (Sheraton Tel Aviv, Hilton Tel Aviv), the David Intercontinental Tel Aviv (which has the best hotel brunch I’ve ever had). I personally recommend the Royal Beach Hotel (where I have my parents stay when they visit each time) or the new David Kempinski just opened (Spring 2022) and is the new, nicest hotel in Tel Aviv. It is truly like no other place here, but definitely comes the price. Highly recommend.
• BOUTIQUE CASUAL: There are a ton of new boutique hotels that have opened near the beach (personally I like boutique better), I recommend Mendeli Street Hotel (amazing brunch), Brown Beach House or Fabric Hotel I have been in all and they’re both great and in amazing locations!
• LUXE BOUTIQUE HOTELS: If you are coming during the winter and don’t need to be close to the beach, there are a TON of luxe boutique hotels near Rothschild and the Tel Aviv Center for a range of budgets. I recommend The Norman (one of the most luxurious and best hotels in Tel Aviv), Hotel Montefiore, The Vera Hotel, The Rothschild Hotel or Poli House!
• JAFFA HOTELS: Lastly, there have been luxury hotels popping up all over Jaffa as it becomes the new hot spot in Tel Aviv so if you want to stay in a different area DEFINITELY check out The Setai Tel Aviv or The Jaffa Tel Aviv.
• Book the hotels by clicking their names above!

Search and book all Tel Aviv hotels by clicking here! Read reviews on Tel Aviv hotels on TripAdvisor here.

• For a cheap hotel in Tel Aviv or hostel in Tel Aviv, I HIGHLY recommend Abraham Hostel. This is THE hostel to stay at – it hosts a ton of bar crawls, events, and is by far the highest rated hostel group in the country and is an amazing place to meet people! Definitely, definitely book Abraham for a fun time and clean hostel in Tel Aviv!

Book Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv here!!

• AIRBNB Tel Aviv: There are also so many amazing, modern apartments in Tel Aviv. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it in Israel – Israeli hosts are amazing. Airbnb Tel Aviv has tons of options, too! Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

More Things To Do In Tel Aviv: Weekend & Day Trips From Tel Aviv

Another one of the best things to do in Tel Aviv is to take day trips or weekend trips around Israel, it is a benefit of being a small country and Tel Aviv is situated in the center of Israel so a perfect home base. Travel guides for each of these locations coming soon! For now, check out my Israel travel blog here on what to pack, safety and what to expect when visiting Israel!

• Jerusalem
  • My extensive Jerusalem guide coming soon – but Jerusalem is an absolute MUST when visiting Tel Aviv.
• Day Trips From Tel Aviv: Haifa, Akko, Caesarea and Zichron Yaakov
• The West Bank
• Masada, Ein Gedi & the Dead Sea
• The North of Israel (Golan Heights, The Galilee, & Tzfat)
• The South of Israel (Mizpe Ramon, Sde Boker, Ein Avedat, Sderot, Gaza Border & Salad Trail) AND/OR Eilat, Petra and Sinai

Loved this local Tel Aviv blog and Tel Aviv itinerary travel guide? Pin for later or share with friends!

Did I miss one of the best things to do in Tel Aviv Israel that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit. Don’t forget to read my Tel Aviv Food Guide and then see my general Israel travel blog here to know what to expect when visiting Israel! Hope you liked this extensive local Tel Aviv blog!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post TEL AVIV BLOG: A DETAILED LOCAL’S GUIDE TO VISITING TEL AVIV ITINERARY appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This Paphos Excursions & Paphos City Guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

I used EcoTour Adventures to help us plan an excursion for one of our full days in Cyprus. Andreas, the owner of EcoTour Adventures, was beyond easy to work with and quick to respond. He customized a private jeep tour for us catering to our personal interests and desires. I found their prices for a private tour (and also their group tour offerings) to be comparable and better to other tour companies and the customer service is fantastic. Don’t go to Paphos without checking out EcoTour Adventures offerings and booking through them!

Cyprus Packing & Travel Tips

• For everything you need to know about traveling to and visiting Cyprus head to my Cyprus Travel Guide.
• Airport: If you are visiting Paphos, I highly suggest flying into Paphos Airport. Its 10 minutes from the town. Larnaca is also a popular international airport but it’s a two hour drive from Paphos. We did the drive one way, and the Paphos airport was much easier!!!!
• Travel Insurance: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

CYPRUS PACKING TIPS: Cyprus is one of the warmest locations in all of Europe year-round. In the summer, it is extremely hot! Especially if you are doing outdoor activities while visiting Cyprus (which you likely are) BE PREPARED and bring A LOT of sunscreen. I love this Sunbum sunscreen stick here that I always travel with since it fits in a small purse and is solid, and you can re-apply without needing a mirror. I also am obsessed with my S’well water bottle which keeps your water freezing cold for 24 hours – much needed in the heat and long hiking days. For all of my fave packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!

How To Get To Paphos Cyprus

As I mentioned in my Cyprus travel blog guide, Cyprus is divided into two; the North occupied by Turkey and the South by the UN. There are two airports in South Cyprus: Larnaca International Airport (the biggest airport, code: LCA) and then a much smaller one in Paphos (Paphos International Airport, code: PFO)! There are plenty of airlines that fly to Paphos from all around Europe and the Middle East so if you are basing yourself in Paphos, definitely try to fly in and out of there as it’s only a ten minute drive to the Paphos town. We ended up flying into Paphos with Ryanair and then flying out of Larnaca with El Al Up since it was the latest flight out and we wanted to maximize our time. Larnaca International Airport is only an hour and a half drive from Paphos so it really isn’t TOO bad and is definitely doable if you can’t use Paphos Airport!

What To Do In Paphos Cyprus

Paphos is a tiny, tiny town situated on the West Coast of Cyprus right on the Mediterranean Sea – making way for some of the best sunsets over the water you will ever see in your life! There’s not SO much to do in the town of Cyprus – you really only need a few hours (like 2) to walk around the Paphos town and eat lunch outside at one of the many waterfront restaurants. Oh, and the beaches are pretty amazing! Most people come to Paphos to do an excursion around the country!

As I mentioned above, we chose to do the Akamas Peninsula Jeep Tour Excursion with EcoTour Adventures and could not have been happier with our choice. Below I outline all of the stops you can make and then some other Paphos day trips and excursions you can take, as well as what to do in the town of Paphos! If you want to book the Akamas tour, head here! Please note they have group tour options and private tours – we did a private tour so we could customize as we liked!

Paphos Excursions

Akamas Peninsula Jeep Tour

We purposely chose to stay in Paphos to do the Akamas Peninsula tour when I was doing my Cyprus planning. The Akamas Peninsula’s top spots are largely only accessible by jeep and we were up for the adventure and the drastic different types of locations we could see on a full-day tour. Andreas gave us tips on which places to go to and an ideal itinerary leading up to the trip. I would highly recommend Ecotour Adventures for any tour you choose when visiting Cyprus. The tour was beyond better than we had expected and Andreas, the owner, was fantastic, and he was our own tour guide! Below is the Akamas itinerary and a little about each stop!

Stop 1: Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra Tou Romiou)

Ok so *technically* Aphrodite’s Rock is NOT on the Akamas Peninsula BUT it’s SO close to Paphos (20 minute drive South) and one of the most famous mythological spots in the world that I couldn’t not visit it! Since we did a private tour, we were able to fully customize our tour and add the Rocks of Aphrodite to our destinations. It did not disappoint. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was said to have been born here. There is a myth that if you swim 3 times around the rocks it will bring eternal beauty and youth to you, however it is generally discouraged to swim here because of the rough waters in this area. This is a must-stop in my opinion when visiting Paphos and visiting Cyprus in general! TIP: Do NOT cross the highway from the parking lot across the street at the cafe. Walk down the stairs next to the cafe and walk in the underpass.

Stop 2: Cypriot Bakery in Polis, Cyprus

Our second stop was at the border of the Akamas Peninsula (about an hour and a half drive from Aphrodite’s Rock, only an hour drive from Paphos) at a well-known bakery in the small town of Polis, Cyprus. This was to pick up lunch and snacks for later since this would be our last time in civilization for a few hours. The baked goods here were so unreal we had such an issue picking out what to get! Ultimately we went with a lot of chocolate goods as well as sandwiches with Cyprus’ best known cheese, Halloumi! After this quick stop we were off into the Peninsula and onto the off-roading (and fun) part of the trip. After this you will not be on a real road for another four to five hours!

Stop 3: Baths of Aphrodite (Latchi)

This is one of the most famous places to see in all of Cyprus, but to me it was quite underwhelming. It is the first stop in the true Akamas Peninsula and is a natural cave where it is said that the mythological goddess of love, Aphrodite, used to take her baths. One of the many myths surrounding the Baths of Aphrodite is that if you bathe in them, you are restored of your fertility. However, it is now prohibited to swim in these baths. The Baths of Aphrodite can be reached by nature trails in the Akamas and is only a 2 minute walk from where you park the jeep!

Related Post: Cyprus Travel Guide

Stop 4: *Secret* Private Lagoon

Ok so this was probably our favorite stop of the whole trip! Andreas, our guide, brought us to his secret lagoon spot on the way to the popular Blue Lagoon. It is totally peaceful here with no one around and you just stare out into the perfect turquoise sea and watch the waves crash onto the rocks. Normally you could go for a swim here but the tide was way too high and the waves were insane. We were perfectly happy just looking out into the water (and taking lots of pictures)!

Stop 5: Blue Lagoon Cyprus

The famous Cyprus Blue Lagoon is another main stop on an Akamas Peninsula tour. This was underwhelming to us, to be honest, after visiting the private lagoon, but it was still beautiful nonetheless. It is known for its clear water here and there are usually Blue Lagoon boat tours running that you can take as well, but since we were there in the off season and it was rough in the water, there were no tours running at this time. During the summer I would definitely take a boat out here or lay on the beach and go in the water! This is usually the stop that you spend a bunch of time at relaxing.

Stop 6: Lara Bay

Lara Bay is another staple on an Akamas Peninsula tour. It may look like just another beach on the island upon arrival, however it is actually known for its turtle conservatory station! Here, you can learn about the endangered green turtles that hatch here. If you visit Cyprus in the summer, you will even get to see them during their hatching season! On the off season, you will see where their eggs are placed on the beach and learn more about them. If the weather holds up you can also swim on this beautiful beach.

Related Post: Athens Greece Travel Guide

Stop 7: Avakas Gorge

Okay so this is one of the most popular stops on the Akamas Peninsula tours but since we added in Aphrodite’s Rock and the secret lagoon we were beyond tired by the time we got to the end that we ended up skipping this BUT I highly suggest it because the pictures look amazing! It’s about a 30 minute hike (an easy hike though) to get to the gorge from the parking lot nearby so just factor that in!

…And that’s the end of the Akamas Peninsula Tour! Overall it was a huge success of a day and one of the most fun, adventurous wild tours I have ever done. Off-roading in a jeep for 5 hours is no easy task and we had the best time that I couldn’t recommend this tour, or a variation of this tour, more! The Akamas Peninsula region is so beautiful with breathtaking views everywhere you look that you cannot go wrong with any of these stops. Check out some more pictures of the beautiful nature and wildlife surrounding the Akamas Peninsula.

Click on any of the stop names above to get more information on the destination!

Other Things to Do in Paphos City and Paphos Day Trips/Paphos Excursions

• Troodos Mountain Day Trip: Usually includes a wine tour and lots of nature hikes in the beautiful mountains. Another one of the most popular Paphos excursions. You can check out EcoTours Troodos Mountain tour here!
• Day Trip to Nicosia: The Cyprus capital and divided city of Nicosia is a must if you have more days in Cyprus.
• Cyprus Cities: Head to other main cities in South Cyprus like Limassol, Larnaca or the Ayia Napa beaches (big, young party scene)!
• Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos: Known for its amazing mosaics piece. Definitely a must-do when staying in Paphos.
• Tombs of the Kings: A UNESCO site right in Paphos
• Paphos Castle: Walk here along the water in Paphos (it’s right at the end) for amazing sunset views.
• Paphos Harbor and Port: Just get lost walking around Paphos waterfront promenade! It is so beautiful walking along the Mediterranean you cannot go wrong!

Find out more about all of these activities in Cyprus by clicking their names!

Related Post: Mykonos Travel Guide

Where To Eat In Paphos

The Paphos town as I mentioned is super small and cute and there are a ton of restaurants lining the Mediterranean Sea. Check out some of these restaurants that are well-known!

• The Pelican: We ate lunch here and sat here for around 3 hours just enjoying the outdoors and being on the sea drinking wine and eating lots of little plates! It is also known that you can see pelicans regularly walking around here (hence the name) but we weren’t so lucky!
• Theos: Theos is another one of the best restaurants in Paphos that I highly suggest!
• Suite 48: This restaurant is located directly next to Amphora hotel with a beautiful outdoor and indoor seating spot. We ate here the first night and loved it! Such good salad, mezzes and food all around!
• Mare Mare: Mare Mare is another great restaurant I highly recommend right along the Mediterranean Sea in Paphos!

Click the Paphos restaurant names above to find out more.

Bars In Paphos

• Mare Mare: Like I mentioned above, Mare Mare has one of the best views, which makes for a great bar spot as well!
• Baywatch Cocktail Bar: A fun bar in Paphos, a few blocks inland from the sea strip.
• Alea Cafe Lounge Bar: A fun lounge bar right along the waterfront.

Click the Paphos bar names above to find out more.

Related Post: Santorini Travel Guide

Where To Stay In Paphos

I recommend staying at Amphora Hotel and Suites. I was obsessed with this hotel. Amphora was right on the Mediterranean and every room faces the sea with amazing balconies and views. The hotel was all modern and updated and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. The pools and pool bar are amazing and the location is perfection. Additionally, the hotel was beyond affordable coming in at less than $200 total for 2 nights for a Superior Double Room (note: we did go during off-season). This also included a free buffet breakfast which was huge and delicious. I can’t recommend Amphora enough!

Book Amphora Hotel and Suites here or search for other Paphos hotels below! Read reviews on Amphora Hotel on TripAdvisor here.

AIRBNB Paphos: Many people also choose to stay in Airbnb in Paphos. I personally chose the hotel route because we only had two quick nights there, but I suggest an Airbnb in Paphos if you are staying longer than a weekend! If you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

*Thanks to Ecotour Adventures for helping set up our private Akamas tour and customizing it to our desires in order to make this blog post possible! While I did receive discounts on my Paphos excursions through Ecotour Adventures, my review and experience with them is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

Like this Cyprus & Paphos Excursions travel guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss something in my Paphos Excursions and Paphos City Guide that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit and check out my Cyprus Travel Blog for more tips and what to expect when visiting Cyprus!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post PAPHOS EXCURSIONS & PAPHOS CITY GUIDE IN CYPRUS appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This Atacama Desert Tours guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Atacama Chile Travel Tips

• Atacama Desert Elevation: The desert is high up and a lot of the excursions you will partake in are extremely elevated – one of them goes up to 14,000 feet (to put in perspective, that’s higher than the mountains in Vail, Colorado to go skiing). You need to acclimate to this elevation and a lot of the tours that go to the extra high elevation spots won’t let you go unless you have been in the Atacama Desert for 2 days already, so make sure you make your trip longer than two days! You also must drink tons of bottled water which leads me to my next point.
• Don’t drink the water: There is bottled water at every restaurant, street stop and convenience store. Better to be safe than sorry, even the locals say the visitors should not drink the water (though you can brush your teeth normally!).
• Negotiate everything. Taxis, store prices, fruit off the street, etc. Everything is negotiable in the town of San Pedro de Atacama.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting the Atacama, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!

Atacama Desert Packing Tips

• Hiking Boots: A must. The Atacama is all desert (duh) and almost all of the excursions include hiking! You need a good pair of hiking boots. As I always talk about, I’m obsessed with my Keen’s hiking boots for any hiking destination, which you can purchase here! They are always comfortable and have been the best for hiking in Iceland, Chile and more!
• Water Bottle: I would also bring a S’well water bottle. While the hotels/tours give you water each day, they get warm quickly from the desert sun. It is the driest desert in the world – you need cold water! I always dumped the new, cold water into my S’well bottle which gave me cold, refreshing water throughout the day! You can buy a S’well here…it’s my favorite travel item.
• Sunscreen: It’s a desert. The driest desert in the world. It is HOT. There is no shade. You must bring sunscreen and lots of it. I love my Sunbum stick, it smells good and is easy to apply without getting messy. You can buy a Sunbum stick here.
• Sweatshirt/Layers: Yeah, I said it. Following how hot it is. While the desert is hot during the day, it gets close to FREEZING at night. It is beyond windy right when the sun sets (and before it rises) and it is extremely cold. We needed layers, blankets, gloves and hats for one of the day trips before the sunrise. Do not forget layers when packing for the Atacama!
• For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list, or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!

Related Post: Chile Highlights Travel Guide

How To Get To The Atacama Desert

It’s not easy. We flew from New York City and it took us 3(!) flights just to get to travel to the Atacama. We had to fly to Houston then to Santiago and THEN to Atacama! It was a pain and a full day of traveling. If you are already in Santiago, going from Santiago to the Atacama Desert isn’t so bad. Hopefully it is easier for you to get to Santiago or somewhere that flies into Calama Airport in Chile, as that’s Atacama’s closest airport. Calama is also an hour drive to San Pedro de Atacama so just make sure you leave enough time for all your tours knowing how long it takes to get to and from the Atacama! TIP: Get a window seat when flying in or out of Calama! The bird’s eye view of the desert is breathtaking.

ATACAMA DESERT TOURS: WHAT TO DO IN THE ATACAMA DESERT

Moon Valley & Death Valley Tour (Valle De La Luna & Valle De La Muerte)

The most popular Atacama Desert tour and by far the highlight of my trip. It really does feel like you are on a moon and the terrain is so surreal here. This Moon Valley and Death Valley Tour is a half day tour that ends after sunset over the Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna). The temperatures are insanely warm during the day and you are on top of the mountains, and dip to cold and windy as the sun sets so make sure to bring a sweatshirt. This tour is an absolute must and the #1 thing you must do if you only can choose one Atacama tour. You’ll be brought to a few different spots along this tour, don’t forget your hiking boots (which will come back with lots of sand in them!). You can also do other tours with sandboarding here as you can see how crazy smooth the sand is! Make sure to turn around after the sunset and look at the red hued mountains behind you.

• Book this tour of Moon Valley & Death Valley here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

El Tatio Geysers (Geyser del Tatio)

El Tatio Geysers is another one of the top tours to do in the Atacama region. El Tatio is the third largest geyser field in the world. Tours include an early morning wake up (5 AM departure) since the geysers are most active in the morning. It is also about an hour and a half drive from San Pedro de Atacama. It is absolutely FREEZING in the morning before the sun starts to rise; we had two layers on, gloves, hats and blankets and were still cold. Once the sun rises and you tour all of the geysers, your guides make you a fresh, warm breakfast to enjoy. Tours used to also include a hot springs bath there afterwards but they weren’t running when we were there, so we stopped at a small desert town instead for some llama meat. This is a full day tour and will take a lot out of you since it is so early but it is a must-do San Pedro de Atacama Desert Tour. I will say that these geysers were pretty underwhelming compared to the geysers in Iceland since they don’t explode, but it’s still very cool!

• Book this tour of El Tatio Geysers here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

Chaxa Lagoon (Laguna Chaxa)

Chaxa Lagoon is most famous and one of the most popular trips in the Atacama for one reason: its flamingos! This lagoon is full of pink lagoons yearly (and sometimes other birds) and it is an amazing sight. You can get super close to them while they’re standing in the water. This area is also surrounded by the Atacama Salt Flats that you walk on to get to the lagoon. We came here during sunset and the tour included an amazing Chilean picnic too. The sunset is not to be missed here either! It is a stunner. This is a must go San Pedro de Atacama tour. Make sure to bring layers as it gets windy and cold during/after sunset!

• Book this tour including Chaxa Lagoon here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

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Miscanti & Miñiques Lagoons (Laguna Miscanti & Miñiques) & Las Piedras Rojas (Red Rocks)

Another top Atacama Desert tour is visiting these two lagoons, Miscanti and Miñiques. They are two gorgeous cobalt blue reflective lakes that provide for stunning views and photography. The bright blue lagoons cannot be missed. Unfortunately our hotel wasn’t offering this tour on the three days we were there but I plan on going back to see these lagoons! a href=”https://www.easttowestrms.com/RedRocksAtacama” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noreferrer noopener” aria-label=”Las Piedras Rojas (the red rocks) (opens in a new tab)”>Las Piedras Rojas (the red rocks) are a great spot to hike along (with a tour), they are incredibly photogenic and an amazing tour in the Atacama.

• Book this tour including the lagoons and Red Rocks here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

Cactus Canyon Guatin Atacama

Another one of my top highlights of the Atacama Desert tours to do! This Cactus Canyon in Guatin is paired with the Puritama Hot Springs trip and it was AMAZING! One of the coolest landscapes I have ever seen. I’ll let the name and Cactus Canyon pictures below speak for itself but its basically a canyon you hike through (30 minutes very basic walking) full of massive canyons double the size of humans. The taller the cacti are the older they are; some cacti here are 1000 years old! Guatin and its Cactus Canyon are a must in what to do in Atacama Desert in Chile!

Salar De Tara

Salar de Tara is another spot I wasn’t able to get to in my time in the Atacama but it is supposed to be an even more gorgeous area of the Atacama (salt flats) and can only get there on a private tour in 4x4s.

• Book this Salar de Tara tour here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

Laguna Cejar

Another amazing lagoon within the Atacama. This lagoon differs from the others though because you can float it in like the Dead Sea in Israel due to its large salt quantities! If you want a family fun tour (and haven’t been to the dead sea) then Laguna Cejar is for you.

• Book this Laguna Cejar tour here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

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Puritama Hot Springs

The Puritama Hot Springs was another highlight of our trip and a much needed relaxing change from all the hot hiking the other days. We did this tour on our last day and it was perfect. The Puritama Hot Springs are the most scenic hot springs in the Atacama and consists of 8 different volcano hot springs pools and waterfalls that you can relax in! They are heated naturally by the hot water from the Puritama River. Most of the guided tours include an elaborate lunch with wine that your guide makes for you while you’re in the hot springs as well!

• Book this Puritama hot springs tour/transportation here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

Nighttime Stargazing Tours

The Atacama is most well known for having the clearest skies in the entire world. NASA has its own observatory here near San Pedro because its so clear. You absolutely must do a stargazing tour while you are there. Even without one, just looking up in the sky when it turns dark is insane, you really feel like you are inside a planetarium, it is so clear and vast. Make sure to check meteor shower schedules before going as well (and make sure they’re visible in the Southern hemisphere).

• Book this Atacama Stargazing tour here if you are not staying at an all-tours-included hotel.

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Where To Eat in San Pedro De Atacama

While there are a handful of restaurants in the town of San Pedro De Atacama, a lot of the hotels in Atacama have all inclusive meals. We ate at our hotel each night but did see a bunch of people eating in town. There are tons of San Pedro de Atacama restaurants with good food around if you are staying in town at a hostel too. Make sure to try the llama meat when visiting San Pedro de Atacama, it’s the Atacama’s speciality and everywhere!

Atacama Desert Hotels

• Hotel Cumbres: We stayed in a high-end all inclusive in the Atacama Desert at the Hotel Cumbres (you can book here) which was pretty good. It was family friendly and had all of the Atacama Desert tours (all included) you could want to do while visiting the Atacama Desert in Chile. The rooms were huge and the facilities were beyond nice and really gave you the desert vibe with the outdoor private showers, wooden buildings, cacti all around the grounds, various pools and mountains in the backdrop. I will note that their English here was very minimal and we had a hard time communicating with them.
  • You have to pick the tour you want to do the day before so make sure you are on top of them. Make it very clear which tours you want and pick them out the first day you arrive for your entire trip.
  • For the food, I personally thought it was delicious here and the dinner menu was extensive. My family (two don’t eat fish and one doesn’t eat meat) had a harder time finding options.  We booked the all-inclusive package so we ate all meals here (which did get redundant by the fourth day), but you have the option to not book all inclusive and can eat in town in San Pedro. Also alcohol is not included except one glass of wine at dinner, so that was a negative of the hotel.
  • Overall I would recommend Hotel Cumbres, book here!
• Another hotel that is top-notch and on par with Hotel Cumbres that we also looked at but was sold out was Tierra Atacama (book here) that people rave about.
• Backpacking on a budget? Atacama is still a great spot for you! Atacama caters to backpackers and has tons of hostel options right in town, search for an Atacama Hostel here!

Like this Atacama Desert Tours travel guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss something in my Atacama Desert tours travel guide that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit and check out my Chile highlights travel guide for more tips and what to expect when traveling in Chile!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post A GUIDE TO CHILE’S ATACAMA DESERT TOURS: THE BEST THINGS TO DO WHEN VISITING THE ATACAMA appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This Iceland Itinerary guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Related Post: What To Do In Reykjavik

TIPS For My Six Day Iceland Itinerary

• Iceland Weather: Their 50 degrees in September feels like New York’s 30 degrees so make sure to pack more layers than you think you’ll need, depending on the time of year. I promise, I was not prepared even a little.
• ICELAND DRIVINGTIPS
  • Renting a car in Iceland on your own is essential for this Iceland itinerary as it’s a full road trip adventure.
  • There is one highway that spans the entire perimeter of Iceland called the Ring Road. This is Route 1 and what you will be staying on at all times for this Iceland itinerary! This Iceland Ring Road driving itinerary will help you plan everything you need!
  • Stop at the rest stops/gas stations on the Ring Road in Iceland for cheap snacks and good lunch!
  • Stop along the way to pet the gorgeous wild horses; they are friendly horses, you can just walk up to them and pet them.
• ICELAND BUDGET: This Iceland itinerary is not the cheapest and will set you back, but I truly believe this was one of the best trips of my life and I wouldn’t do anything differently. Also this is still way cheaper than booking a week Iceland tour from a company!
• INSURANCE: Travel Insurance: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

ICELAND PACKING TIPS: Check my full packing guide on my Iceland travel blog before your trip to Iceland! DON’T FORGET LAYERS AND HIKING BOOTS. All of the glaciers, volcanoes, etc. tours REQUIRE real hiking boots. Not sneakers. No exceptions. These are essential for any Iceland itinerary. Mine were super comfortable and perfect in all terrains (and waterproof!). You can purchase them here: KEEN Hiking Boots. Keen is one of the best brands in hiking apparel. Also you NEED hand/toe warmers. These are the ones I have (click here). Perfect multi-pack. For all of my general travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list of my favorite travel apparel, camera and tech gear or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!

THE Six Day Iceland Itinerary Road Trip

Day 1: Arrive early morning –> Blue Lagoon –> South Coast Waterfalls –> End in Vik

Most flights land in Iceland in the early morning (6 AM) from America to give you a full day. If for some reason you are meeting someone there who already rented a car, then you can take the Grayline Bus directly to the Blue Lagoon from the airport, but if not, then drive here straight from the airport after picking up your rental car.

• TIP: The Blue Lagoon is close to the airport and not near anything else so it is a perfect first destination when entering Iceland or last destination before leaving.

1. The Blue Lagoon Iceland

The Blue Lagoon Iceland is a must-do and one of the top things to do in Iceland! The natural springs are rejuvenating and gorgeous. The water is clear blue and it really is awesome. We were there while it was hailing and 40 degrees and it was still amazing to be outside. The face masks are also a fun touch. Do not miss the Blue Lagoon on your Iceland road trip. Book your tickets for the Blue Lagoon here.

• 15 minute drive from airport
• You must make a reservation far in advance and do the VIP package. These packages book quick.
• Stay here for 3-4 hours. Each lunch at LAVA Restaurant – it is one of the best restaurants in Iceland.
• They give you a waterproof wristband that links to your Credit Card to purchase drinks while you’re in the water so you won’t have to worry about bringing cash (yes there is a bar in the water 🙂 )

After visiting the Blue Lagoon, you will start your official Iceland road trip down the Iceland South Coast (Route 1 – Ring Road).

2. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

~2 hour drive to get here. These falls are gorgeous AND you can walk behind them for some amazing views and pictures. Around 1 hour stay here. Make sure you wear rain boots and a rain jacket as it’s misty and muddy. This is a must stop and one of the most popular Iceland attractions.

• From Seljalandsfoss, walk to the hidden Gljufrabui Waterfall. It is a 4 minute walk to the left on the path. This was definitely a highlight for a few reasons, but mostly because there are 1/4 amount of tourists compared to Seljalandsfoss so it was serene, hidden and solo (also very muddy and wet and you are walking through a light stream of water and rocks). Wear raincoats because you get up close and personal in the small waterfall.  

Related Post: Full Iceland Travel Tips

3. SKOGAFOSS WATERFALL

30 minute drive further East on the Ring Road to Skogafoss Waterfall is the next stop on your Iceland itinerary. Another top thing to do in Iceland on the South Coast. It is a massive stunning waterfall and you can walk the staircase to the top (2 hour stay) or just look from the bottom (30 minute stay). There is a very good chance of seeing rainbows here, too!

• Continue the drive on Ring Road and stay overnight in Vik or Kirkjubaejarklauster (Klauster) town.
  • We stayed in Klauster so that the drive on day 2 would be less, but Vik has more hotel/food options if you want to do that instead. Search Vik hotels here. The best hotels in Klauster Iceland are Hotel Laki (where we stayed) and Hotel Klauster. Both highly recommended. Read Hotel Laki reviews on TripAdvisor here.   
  • #1 restaurant in Klauster: Systrakaffi at Klausturvegi 13. A good cafe with pizza and burgers. Ate here both nights we stayed here. It was a very good restaurant (at least for Iceland’s standard).

Search Vik hotels here or book Hotel Laki or Hotel Klauster.

Day 2: Driving Further East On Ring Road Iceland (Glacier Hikes & Ice Lagoons)

1. SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK 

• Drive 50 minutes from hotel (1.5 hours from Vik) to Skaftafell National Park.
• Skaftafell is part of Vatnajokull National Park – the largest glacier in Europe!
• Here you can either do a Glacier hike (Skaftafellsjokull Glacier) or Waterfall hike (Svartafoss Waterfall). Probably can’t do both due to time constraints. Also good to note that different activities are offered during different seasons – these were the options when we went in September. 
• We opted for the Glacier Wonders hike (book here!).
  • It was around 4 hours and was really informational and cool! The guide was great. It wasn’t as awesome as our second glacier hike the next day (see more below), but it is the largest glacier in Europe so it is pretty amazing to say you hiked it so I would 100% do it.

Book the Glacier Wonders hike here!

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2. JOKULSARLON GLACIER ICE LAGOON

• Drive another 40 minutes East to Jokulsarlon Glacier Ice Lagoon and do a boat tour. This was the absolute highlight of my Iceland itinerary and one of the COOLEST places I have ever been. It was mind-blowing and the pictures don’t do these icebergs justice at all. It is considered the most beautiful place in Iceland. 
  • You can opt for the Amphibian Boat Tour (a big group boat that starts on the ground then drives into the water) or the Zodiac Boat Tour (a small personal boat for 6 people)  
• Jokulsarlon Tickets here: There is no fixed schedule for the Iceland Amphibian boat tour you just show up and get the time for your excursion. Note that the last amphibian boat tour departs about one hour before closing time. CLOSES AT 5 PM. Zodiac Tour you have to book in advance!

• Drive 1.5 hour back to Kirkjubaejarklauster (or Vik – 2 hours) Stay over at Hotel Laki again.
• Make sure to look up for the Northern Lights!

Search Vik hotels here or book Hotel Laki or Hotel Klauster.

Day 3: Driving back West on Ring Road to Hella (Black Sand Beach & Glacier Hikes)

1. BLACK SAND BEACH (REYNISFJARA)

Drive an hour back west on the Ring Road (10 minutes if staying in Vik) to the Black Sand Beach in Vik (Reynisfjara).Really cool beach with black sand (duh) that has basalt columns, caves and sea stacks. Don’t go close to water (there is a strong tide). Walk around here for a bit to see the famous Reynisdrangur rock formations. Need 10-15 minutes here.

2. DYRHOLAEY

Drive another 20 minutes to Dyrhólaey, a peninsula with a cliff with amazing views on the water. This is a great puffin and other sea birds viewing location (in the right season – spring/summer). It is a long windy road up a steep hill to get there. You are going to think you’re going the wrong way because it’s barely a road and there are few signs but this is correct – don’t turn around, your big rental car can handle it.

3. SOLHEIMASANDUR PLANE WRECK

Drive another 20 minutes and then stop on Route 1 where all the cars are for the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck. You have to walk about an hour on the sand to find it after parking on the road. It is RIGHT before you turn right to go to the next glacier tour. We didn’t make it here because we were rushed for timing to get to our glacier hike but I highly recommend if you can squeeze it.

4. SOLHEIMAJOKULL GLACIER

Drive 2 minutes more and make a right on Road #221 and drive about 4 Km to get to Solheimajokull Glacier Hike – another Iceland road trip highlight of my trip. They pick up at the cafe at the base. There are lots of signs here for the glacier.

• BOOK TOUR HERE. Meeting point at Solheimajokull cafe. 2-3 hour hike.
• This glacier hike was amazing and exceeded our expectations after our other one. I definitely suggest this one as you get to do different activities and see different aspects of the glacier (and hike further up). The water is so clean on the glaciers that they encourage you to drink it! Definitely another top thing to do in Iceland you must do.

• Drive another 50 minutes west to Hotel Ranga for the night – the BEST HOTEL EVER.
  • Hotel Ranga is THE TOP hotel in Iceland and only 4 star hotel in South Iceland. The hotel is amazing and the restaurant is fantastic. If there is one thing I recommend more than anything else it is staying at Hotel Ranga when on a trip to Iceland. Also best restaurant in Iceland by a landslide.
  • This hotel was MADE for Northern Lights searching, there is an astrologist on site and stargazing center with amazing telescopes and stories about the sky. Hotel Ranga is an absolute must when visiting Iceland – book here! And read reviews for Hotel Ranga on TripAdvisor here.
  • There are also Northern Lights wakeup calls at Ranga incase they come out in the middle of the night 🙂

Book Hotel Ranga (the best hotel in Iceland) here!

Day 4: Iceland Golden Circle Day (Craters, Waterfalls, Snowmobiling and Geysers)

1. KERID CRATER

Kerid Crater is a 45 minute drive from Hotel Ranga. Really cool crater to look at. You can walk to the bottom but we just took pictures from the top since we had a packed day.

2. BRUARFOSS WATERFALL

30 minute drive. This is a magical very hidden waterfall and you have to walk through the woods to get to. This is an absolute MUST do and by far the best place I saw in the entire country. Follow my directions specifically so you can find this hidden treasure. 

• Directions: Take Road 35 from Gullfoss, turns into Route 37 AKA Laugarvatnvugr stay on that for 8 km, then will reach a large summer house area on the right side (Brekkuskogur). Take the first road into this area and drive straight ahead. Just follow this way until you reach a bigger path with two tracks. Keep left there to stay on Brekkuskogur when you reach the end of this road and stay left. When you see the #12 parking spot, turn left for a few meters then park in the little dirt alcove on the right (so small, only fits about 2 cars) and then start walking on the path on the left there and follow it down to the right. It’s about a 10 minute walk through the muddy woods but it’s easy. Just listen for the falls and you will find them!

3. GULFOSS WATERFALL

The Gulfoss Waterfall is one of the 3 destinations on the Iceland Golden Circle and top attractions. It is a massive, stunning waterfall that you can hike around. The cafe here also has great food (and warmth!).

• This is also where you get picked up for the main Snowmobiling Tour company that I highly suggest (see below).

4. SNOWMOBILING TOUR

A must-do top Iceland activity! It includes a (long) large jeep tour to Langjokull Glacier and then about an hour or so of snowmobiling on the glacier! You can book the Snowmobiling Tour online here and must book in advance. 3-4 hour tour. 1230 PM departures daily. Obviously it is an investment but it is so worth it in my opinion. This tour is one of the top in Iceland.

Related Post: Swedish Lapland Travel Guide

5. STROKKUR GEYSER

10 minute drive from Gulfoss. This is another one of the 3 destinations on the Golden Circle that is a must hit. It is very touristy but cool! The Strokkur Geyser erupts every 5-10 minutes and produces a gorgeous bright blue circle right before erupting. I have seen geysers in other locations (see my Atacama Desert tours guide here which has the 3rd largest geysers in the world) and the Iceland geyser’s are way more fascinating. 

6. THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK

45 min drive to Thingviller National Park, where the first Icelandic, and longest, parliament was and also where the two tectonic plates separate Europe and North America. This is the last of 3 destinations on the Golden Circle. It is a nice park to walk around in and see the plates divide. Usually need only 30 minutes – hour here. You can also go scubadiving here, which is a popular Iceland summer activity between the tectonic plates. 

• Then 35 minute drive back to Reykjavik where you will stay for 1 more night, see my Reykjavik travel guide for Reykjavik hotel recommendations.
• Other stops on the Golden Circle route if you have time/don’t do snowmobiling: Faxi Waterfall (another pretty waterfall) & Fridheimer Farm (a famous greenhouse/farm serving lunch known for their tomato soup).

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Day 5: Reykjavik & Helicopter Tour

See my full, detailed Reykjavik specific travel guide here for the best helicopter tours and what to do/where to stay in Reykjavik!

Day 6: 1/2 Day Reykjavik & Leave

See my full, detailed Reykjavik specific travel guide here for what to do in Reykjavik.

Most flights out of Iceland back to America are in the early afternoon so you have the morning to explore Reykjavik and then that’s the end of the 6 Day Iceland Itinerary! You could easily spend one week in Iceland on this itinerary and spend more time in Reykjavik. We had the best time during our 6 days in Iceland – one of my favorite adventures to date. Don’t miss this amazing location while it’s popular!

Did I miss something on my 6 Day Iceland Itinerary that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! See the rest of my Iceland Travel Blog here or check out my Reykjavik city guide here.

Like my “6 day Iceland Itinerary” guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post 6 DAY ICELAND ITINERARY ROAD TRIP appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

I watched New Orleans struggle while also exponentially rebuild.  I watched the New Orleans Saints win their first Super Bowl championship EVER in 2010. I watched New Orleans HOST their first Super Bowl ever in 2013; dubbed ‘Super Gras‘ as Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl were in the same week. I watched the city expand, diversify and formulate, while I simultaneously did the same in college. I still watch it do this each time I visit; there is a new building, a new high-end restaurant winning global awards, and more tourists than ever before. NOLA is America’s most eclectic city in the country. When visiting, you don’t feel you’re in America; whether it be from the French sounding street names, from people walking with open cups of alcohol at all hours of the day on the streets or from the nicest people in the entire world living here.

So maybe I don’t have the true tourist experience in New Orleans, but that’s why this New Orleans travel blog is special as an insider local New Orleans experience. I learned NOLA as a tourist, a student, a resident and more. My New Orleans itinerary guide below reflects these NOLA statuses all meshed in to one; it’s an insider New Orleans experience. 

Disclosure: This New Orleans travel blog guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

NEW ORLEANS TRAVEL BLOG TIPS

• How to get to New Orleans: New Orleans re-did their airport a couple years ago and it reopened in Fall 2019 and is absolutely stunning. The old airport was small and decrepit. Now it’s insanely nice (code: MSY). Every major domestic airline flies to NOLA and they also have a bunch of international flights so it should be pretty easy to visit from anywhere! New Orleans Louisiana is in the South of the USA so it’s extremely close to anywhere in Latin America. Flying to New Orleans is super easy and quick!
  • The airport is so nice that Going ranked MSY #2 in the US for domestic flight deals in Going’s 2026 Top Airports and Airlines for Flight Deals, with an average Going deal of $228 roundtrip! The ranking is based on their proprietary data from thousands of deals sent to members over the past 12 months, across 200+ US airports and 500+ destinations. This is HUGE news for NOLA and MSY!!
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 

NEW ORLEANS PACKING: If you visit in the summer, it is HUMID. Be prepared For all of my fave travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here and my travel must-haves under $20 here!

NEW ORLEANS BLOG: FULL NEW ORLEANS ITINERARY

Walk around the French Quarter

• Make sure to ogle at the famous St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square, which you can’t miss – take in the views from Decatur Street.
• Shop around the amazing artists that line the perimeter of Jackson Square, some of my favorite art pieces come from here… and the artists are more than happy to tell you their favorite NOLA story.
• Stop at the New Orleans French Market to do some shopping for all of the souvenirs you could think of.
• Lastly, don’t forget to stop for beignets at the famous, always crowded, Cafe Du Monde (more on that in food section – it must be in every New Orleans itinerary)!

Get Lost In The Marigny/Bywater

All the colorful cute houses and buildings you see in everyone’s New Orleans instagrams? They’re in the Marigny & Bywater areas. These areas are more downtown than the French Quarter and you can get their by walking through the Quarter past Frenchman Street, or take a quick Uber/Taxi. You can get lost in these streets staring at the colorful, bright houses that change on every block.

• Tired after exploring the streets? Head to the edge of the Bywater to Crescent Park to relax and for amazing views of the French Quarter and Mississippi River.
• Hungry and in the area? Head to my favorite insider New Orleans cafe: Satsuma.

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Take the Streetcar Uptown & Explore Uptown NOLA

There are a few New Orleans streetcar lines but I suggest taking the St. Charles line to get to Uptown through the Garden District. It’s a long, slow, often hot, ride but it goes along the famous St. Charles Street where you can stare at the amazing, southern mansions along the way. I suggest taking it all the way to Carrollton Street at the end during your New Orleans travel.

• When you reach Carrollton, go to the famous institution of Camellia Grill for brunch (see more in food section).
• After brunch, walk down to Audubon Park/Tulane University. They are across the street from each other a few blocks from Carrollton. If you’re interested, Tulane’s campus really is gorgeous (maybe I’m biased 🙂 ) with amazing Southern buildings and the famous Bead Tree on campus!
• Then, head into the gorgeous Audubon Park and walk around the park which is a few miles long and loops around the golf course. If you walk to the other side, cross the street (Magazine) and head to the Audubon Zoo or keep walking straight to “The Fly” which is the levee area where a lot of students and locals hang out, tan, and play sports along the Mississippi River. The sunsets are amazing here too.

New Orleans Swamp Tour

One of the best Louisiana activities to do while visiting NOLA is to head out to the swamps in the bayou and do a New Orleans Swamp Tour! Here you can take a tour on an airboat through the Bayou swamps, watch massive alligators around you and even feed them marshmallows. Any of the main hotels in the French Quarter will have brochures on the different swamp tour that you can book while you’re there, or, you can book in advance and secure your Swamp Tour spot here.

Book the best New Orleans swamp tour here!

Riverboat Cruise

Another popular NOLA tourist activity is to take a Riverboat Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez down the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. It’s a nice boat ride with many departure times throughout the day that goes around the Mississippi, giving you another perspective of the city. You can book Riverboat Cruise tickets here.

Book the Steamboat Natchez Riverboat Cruise tickets here!

Shop & Walk Magazine Street

Magazine Street is a great street that stretches from downtown to uptown with tons of cute boutiques, restaurants and bars lining the way. The houses and buildings are so cute and always decorated and it’s a great street to stroll around when you are looking to just walk around, explore, shop and eat.  

WWII Museum

The World War II Museum in New Orleans is a must-see. It is the perfect rainy day or too-hot weather activity. The museum is put together extremely well and gives an in depth tour through WWII. People come from all over the world to see this museum as it is one of the top in the country.

Saints Game

New Orleans, and Louisiana as a whole, LOVE their New Orleans Saints. They are crazy about football and their team and going to a game at the famous Superdome is no different. If they are playing at home while you are there I highly suggest getting tickets and experiencing it! If they are playing away, you will see every single bar packed with screaming fans.

• Want more things to do in New Orleans?
  • Check out this guide on the creepy abandoned Six Flags in NOLA.
  • Or check out this popular NOLA Walking Cemetery Tour.

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BEST RESTAURANTS NEW ORLEANS

The New Orleans food scene is outrageous and is growing extensively. The nicest restaurants are affordable (at least comparable to New York City) and unbelievably amazing… I plan my visits to NOLA around my favorite restaurant recommendations. Unfortunately I can’t list everything or it would take days so I kept it to my top restaurants in each category to talk about. The foods here ARE the best things to do in New Orleans.

New Orleans Brunch Restaurants

• Ruby Slipper: 5 locations, all extremely good. Ruby Slipper is a great NOLA brunch spot. It is always packed so make a reservation beforehand.
  • PS: One time I sat next to Alec Baldwin here, so you know it’s good 🙂
• Willa Jean: Trendy brunch spot by a famous NOLA chef that has taken over the city. This is a new must-hit spot for brunch when you’re visiting New Orleans. Definitely make a reservation beforehand – it is always packed.
  • Insider Tip: Get the cookies!
• Camellia Grill: An institution in Uptown New Orleans. Camellia has been around for over 100 years and has so much history. It lived through Katrina and the servers are there to tell the stories. The food is outrageously greasy and yet so good. Be prepared to wait for a seat but I promise it is worth it.
  • Insider Tip: Get the Pecan Pie (and make sure you pronounce it peh-CAN (not pee-can) and ask them to fry the bottom of it. You will not be disappointed.
• Galatoires: This is a quintessential New Orleans brunch spot and a must go as the locals do! It is fancier (need to dress up) and the food is amazing! People are always celebrating things here and you can bring your own decorations. There is usually a second line that comes through as well making it even more New Orleans vibes and a must visit when visiting New Orleans for brunch.
• Atchafalaya: This is a nicer brunch spot with a full-out Bloody Mary Bar. It’s in the Garden District and it is a really good Southern brunch, with obviously amazing bloody marys. Go here for a nicer brunch and make a reservation beforehand.
• Commander’s Palace: Commander’s is Uptown and is an extremely famous restaurant in New Orleans. The food is really great and eclectic. You must make a reservation as well as dress nicely! Best part for brunch? Their 50 cent martinis.
• Satsuma: One of my favorite insider New Orleans spots, Satsuma has 2 locations in the Bywater and uptown. It is an amazing healthy brunch spot with a Southern flair.

Related Post: Best Brunch in New York City

New Orleans Take Out/Fast-Casual

• Mahony’s Po-Boys: A great, always packed, po-boy spot uptown on Magazine Street.
• Domilises Po-Boys: Another great well-known spot uptown known for their massive po-boys.
• Hansen’s Sno-bliz: Snowballs are an amazing ices dessert and Hansen’s is notorious for the best. It is uptown on Tchoupitoulas.
• Dat Dog: People love love Dat Dog for its amazing hot dog creations. There are a few locations around the city but its most frequented spot is late night on Frenchman street.
• Cafe Du Monde: The famous Cafe Du Monde. A must, must, must go. Enjoy the sugar powdered dough with frozen coffee. Unfortunately you will wait on an extremely long line to get a table, since it’s the most popular spot in NOLA. It’s right off of Jackson Square so at least you get a good view while waiting in line!
  • Insider Tip: Go late night; it closes at 2AM!

New Orleans Dinner Restaurants

• Shaya or Saba: AMAZING restaurants pioneered by the famous Israeli Chef Alon Shaya. They are sister/brother restaurant and both are amazing. Must. Go. All the plates are unreal. Nothing like combining my two favorite places of Israel and New Orleans.
• Domenica: Another one of my favorites, I cannot not go to Domenica when I go on a New Orleans trip. Must get the cauliflower and the kale chips. Their pizza is also amazing. They also have a very good Happy hour deal with half off pizzas and drinks from 4-6pm! Domenica is also perfect for any kind of dietary restriction.
• GW Fins: Another top-rated, amazing restaurant in the city right off Bourbon Street.
• Peche: Another one of John Besh’s new restaurants that lives up to his hype. Peche is also relatively new and I finally went there for the first time last month – incredible.
• Port of Call: This is a great restaurant when you want something casual and good for big groups. Port of Call is an amazing burger spot on Esplanade (which separates the French Quarter and the Marigny) so it’s a perfect location for a casual New Orleans restaurant.
• Luke: Best burger in the city. They’re also known for their $1 oyster happy hours. Go for the burger, though.

Special New Orleans FOOD you should have: Abita Beer, King Cake (Mardi Gras season), Voodoo flavored Zapps Chips, Crawfish, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Po-boys, Snowballs, Daiquiris & Hand Grenades.

Click on any of the restaurant names to learn more and book reservations!

RELATED POST: Tel Aviv Food Guide

NEW ORLEANS NIGHTLIFE

• Bourbon Street: Ah, the famous Bourbon Street. Can’t go to NOLA and not party here. Any night of the week it will be a crowded, crazy night, but especially on the weekends. Make sure to definitely hit the Piano Bar in Pat O’Briens and get the famous hurricane to start out or end the night; it’s an institution and full of tourists and locals alike. Other fun, notable spots on Bourbon are Fat Catz and Gold Mine (a block off Bourbon known for their flaming Dr. Pepper shots), but really, all spots on Bourbon are fun. Make sure to take the time to try a hand grenade & hurricane drink and just walk around Bourbon with them in hand and watch the chaos unfold outside.

• Frenchman Street: My FAVORITE area to bar hop in all of New Orleans. Frenchman Street is in the Marigny right past Bourbon and is a long stretch of bars with live music, in and outside. Some of my favorite bars are Maison, Cafe Negril, Spotted Cat, and d.b.a, but you really can’t go wrong in any of them. It is the most NOLA vibes ever and is fun any night of the week. There are always random people performing on the street and they’re always amazing too. Frenchman is a must-go, especially to get the real, NOLA, non-tourist feel of the city vibes.

• Carousel Bar: A trendy bar off Bourbon Street that’s perfect for pre-dinner drinks. The actual bar is literally a carousel that rotates in circles!
• Sazerac Bar: A nice bar inside the Roosevelt known for their drink, the Sazerec! Just get it.
• Le Bon Temps: A well-known bar in New Orleans that is uptown on Magazine. A very good NOLA band, The Soul Rebels, play here weekly and it is an extremely fun, NOLA vibes spot.

• Tchoup Yard: This is a relatively new bar that just opened on Tchoupitoulas Street which is a totally different concept for NOLA. It is a massive outdoor spot in an old parking lot with lots of bars, tables and games.
• Bacchanal: Another amazing, true NOLA spot. Bacchanal is far, far downtown in the Bywater and rarely has tourists. You have to take a cab here from the Quarter but it is so worth it. Bacchanal is a wine bar with a massive outdoor area and live music many nights of the week. It’s amazing and a must-hit if you like wine, locals and live music 🙂

• Tipitina’s: A fun concert hall known for its live music. Different bands play here all the time and it’s always a fun spot. Always check the schedule to see if you want to see anyone while you are visiting. I’ve seen some great New Orleans & famous musicians play here and I love the venue. 

BEST NEW ORLEANS HOTELS

Naturally, my New Orleans travel blog has a lot of hotel/hostel/apartment recommendations! For New Orleans hotels, generally, tourists usually stay on or near Canal Street in the French Quarter and I highly suggest this. Everything downtown is walkable and it’s a great, lively area. There are plenty of chain and boutique hotels around that are perfect for staying at for any budget. I recommend the Marriott New Orleans, Roosevelt New Orleans, Windsor Court New Orleans or the newer and trendy, one of the best new hotels in New Orleans, The Barnett (with an amazing roof). If you want to stay away from downtown, I highly suggest the cutest, Southern boutique hotel on the fancy St. Charles Street, The Columns Hotel.

Book the Marriott, Roosevelt, Windsor Court, The Barnett, Columns Hotel or more NOLA hotels here. If you are looking for hostel/budget options you can search here.

AIRBNB New Orleans: There are also so many cute apartments in downtown New Orleans with extra nice hosts. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route or are with a big group I definitely recommend it in New Orleans.

PLANNING A TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS: Best Time To Visit New Orleans

My favorite local New Orleans travel tip is to visit New Orleans more than once; Visit on a random weekend to really get to see the city and to also visit for a certain event (like Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, etc.). This is the best way and best times to go to New Orleans

Anytime Except The Summer

The weather in New Orleans is almost always amazing…if you take out their 100 degree humid summers and their random downpours throughout the year with some hurricanes. Besides that, you’ll often get an amazing 75 degrees, especially when it’s freezing in the Northeast. NOLA continues to be an ever-changing, lively, eclectic city and there is so much to do and see that doesn’t revolve around a festival. Just avoid the summertime weather, it’s unbearable, unless you like cockroaches, humidity and 100 degree weather :).

New Orleans Mardi Gras

I don’t think Mardi Gras needs any introduction. Mardi Gras is truly one of the most cultural yet insane events I have ever experienced. New Orleans totally shuts down for 4 days and it becomes wild. The whole city is celebrating together in ways you never thought was possible. The parade decorations, costumes, beads are put together a year in advance and everything is perfected. You have to experience it for yourself to understand. Just make sure you know what you are in for – drinking all day every day, total debauchery, and the most fun, interesting characters you have ever seen. Everyone should visit for Mardi Gras at some point in their life. PS – No, you don’t have to do anything stupid to get beads thrown at you – they throw them at everyone🙂

New Orleans Festival Season

After you visit for a different weekend and learn the real New Orleans, make another trip down here for a festival. The best time of year to visit New Orleans? April. New Orleans in April means the best weather, and more importantly, festival season. It will be worth it. New Orleans is notorious for its different festivals and they are some of the best things to do in New Orleans. The most popular are French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest. French Quarter Festival New Orleans is a huge festival with lots of food and music stands all throughout the French Quarter & Jackson Square. Jazz Fest New Orleans spans two weekends in April and May and brings down thousands of visitors along with top-notch music performances. Jazz Fest consists of over 10 stages of music across all genres with lots of food vendors. It’s an amazing experience! Some other amazing festivals include Crawfest, Oak Street Po Boy Festival, Freret Street Festival and more.

Like my travel New Orleans travel guide / New Orleans travel blog? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss one of the best things to do in my New Orleans travel guide that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Be sure to check out my full country USA travel guide here too!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post NEW ORLEANS BLOG: A LOCAL’S TRAVEL GUIDE appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This “Stockholm winter travel guide” guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Stockholm Winter Travel Tips

• If you want to head up to Swedish Lapland during your time in Stockholm, check out my detailed Swedish Lapland travel guide and Sweden Country Guide. Again, we did this in the dead of winter and it was stunning.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 

Stockholm Packing Tips: Stockholm is coldddddd in the winter and not SO warm in the summer. Pack accordingly. These hand and toe warmers are my lifesaver for cold destinations (buy here). I would not have survived around Stockholm without them. For the rest of my fave travel essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!

How To Get To Stockholm

The main airport you will fly into internationally is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport. Most airlines fly here as it is a major hub. We took Norwegian Air from NYC and I really loved the airline. They were extremely nice and the seats had a large amount of leg space (compared to US airlines). We also had an empty middle seat between us so that was huge for the overnight flight!

Once arrived, there are 3 ways to get to the main area of Stockholm:

• High-Speed Train: 196 SEK ($21): Book this 30 days in advance for this price, if closer to date will be a little more. 20 minute ride, runs every 15 minutes from airport. Goes to Central Station in Norrmalm (T-Centralen). We took this route and highly suggest – train was clean and quick. Book Stockholm train here.
• Coach Bus: 99 SEK ($11): 35-45 minute ride, runs every 10-15 minutes. Goes to Central Station in Norrmalm (Cityterminalen). Most popular route due to price, but takes a longer time and is dependent on traffic. Book Stockholm bus here.
• Taxi: 675 SEK ($70). Around 45 minute drive.

Related Post: Sweden Travel Guide

3 DAYS IN STOCKHOLM ITINERARY

Stockholm consists of thousands of islands (the largest archipelago in Sweden) with a few main ones to note and visit. Even in the middle of Stockholm winter, this city is beautiful and you must take advantage of the different islands and seeing them from the water – as long as you wear layers!

Day One In Stockholm

Spend Full Morning In Gamla Stan

The Old Town of Gamla Stan is a tiny, tiny island in the center of the city and is the main area of Stockholm. It includes the main square and the Royal Palace and is very touristy, however, this island is the cutest! You can get lost in the little winding streets for hours. I suggest spending half of your first day in your 3 days in Stockholm in Gamla Stan. Find more information on Gamla Stan here. Here is what to do in Gamla Stan:

• Stotorget: The famous square with lines of colorful buildings. Just stand in here and admire the beauty and people.
• Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet): See the Changing of the Guards during the day and/or do a tour inside of the Palace.
• Swedish Parliament (Riksdag): Can do a tour inside if interested.
• Alley of Mårten Trotzigs: The smallest street in country – can touch both sides at once!
• Västerlånggatan Street: Main tourist/souvenir shop drag.
• Walk around the hundreds of winding tiny streets and get lost, eat and shop.

Related Post: Swedish Lapland Travel Guide

Spend Afternoon/Evening In Sodermalm

Sodermalm is the trendy/young area and is south of Gamla Stan. It was also voted one of the coolest neighborhood in Europe by Vogue a few years ago.

• Fotografiska: really good contemporary photography exhibitions, along the waterfront. good cafe/coffee place on top floor w good views
• Monteliusvägen: Walk to this small walking path that starts on Mariatorget for the best view of Stockholm (best sunset viewing point).
• SoFo: Trendiest area of Sodermalm. Lots of cool restaurants/bar/clubs, definitely have dinner here tonight (restaurant recommendations below).

Related Post: St. Petersburg Russia Travel Guide

Day Two In Stockholm

Morning In Djugarden: 2-3 Hours

Djugarden is also known as the Museum Island and is a really pretty, green island to walk around (as well as visit all the museums).

• Vasa Museum: Must do, a massive ship that sank in 1628 and they resurrected in one piece.
• Skansen Museum: Open-air interactive museum that shows the Swedish way of life, architecture, zoo. A very kid-oriented, young tour.
• ABBA Museum: If you are into ABBA then it is a must-see.
• Grona Lund: Big amusement park (better for an activity in summer).

Boat Ride Around Stockholm Archipelago

As I mentioned, Stockholm is a massive Archipelago: the name for all of the little islands around Stockholm is Skärgård. You MUST take a boat tour (even in the winter!!!) operated by Stromma Boat Tours. This was a highlight of my time in Stockholm and highly recommended! It is a great way to see all the islands and the outsides of the city. It was so, so picturesque in the winter with snow on all the islands. The tour is 1.5 hours and leaves from Stromkajen.

Afternoon In Ostermalm & Norrmalm

Ostermalm and Norrmalm are nice, popular areas north of Gamla Stan where a lot of Swedes live and are bustling with locals and tourists alike. This is generally the main, busiest area of the city and is on the mainland of Sweden.

• Strandvagen Boulevard: a popular upmarket street to shop on, especially the prestigious department store Svenskt Tenn.
• Ostermalms SaluHall: historic food market, great spot for lunch today!
• Sergel’s Torg (Central Square): nice, bustling square in the middle

Related Post: Reykjavik City Travel Guide

Day Three In Stockholm

Half-Day Trip Outside Of Stockholm

Drottningholm Palace is a world UNESCO heritage site and is a massive gorgeous palace inspired by Versailles that is a quick trip from Stockholm. I highly recommend doing this for a half-day tour from Stockholm! Have to take steamer boat here which runs from Stockholm and is super easy to catch. You can buy your round trip boat tickets to Drottningholm here in advance!

Afternoon Metro Station Hop

The Stockholm metro stations have awesome art installations in them. It is known as the largest art exhibit in the world. I suggest getting on the subway and just getting on and off at random stops to walk around underground. There are also official metro station tours to take – book a metro tour here!

Related Post: 6 Day Iceland Itinerary

If you’re going to Stockholm during Christmas, read this perfect Christmas Stockholm guide!

Check out this other great itinerary for some inspiration while visiting Stockholm.

Where To Eat In Stockholm

Swede’s love their Fika break, which is just coffee break during the day! You have to take advantage of their favorite pasttime. If you go during Stockholm Winter, you must try Semla. This is their signature pastry only available during this time period and it is delicious. Every main restaurant/cafe/bakery serves it! The Semla in Stockholm is delicious and can’t be missed in-season in winter in Stockholm.

Coffee/Breakfast/Lunch in Stockholm

• Drop Coffee Roasters: Stockholm coffee staple, good small plates.
• Kaffekoppen: Famous, cozy coffee hangout in Stotorget. Must go. The bottom floor is a cave/cellar and the food, drinks and hot chocolate (served in a bowl) are amazing.
• Greasy Spoon: Brunch of all brunch spots.
• Pom & Flora: Another must-visit brunch spot.
• Barobao: Amazing trendy lunch spot.
• STHLM Brunch Club: Good staple brunch food, sick milkshakes.
• Ostermalm Saluhall: Food market in Ostermalm.

Best Restaurants in Stockholm

• Sturehof: Amazing culinary destination, famous and expensive.
• Brasserie Le Rouge: Very good, famous, expensive restaurant.
• Koh Phangan: Popular Pan Asian food. Really cool atmosphere and decorations. Amazing Pad Thai.
• Pelikan: Award-winning menu, restaurant decorated like Ikea.
• Herman’s: Mostly a local’s spot. Vegetarian buffet with amazing views and food. Unlimited food for cheap. Student discount with ID also. There is also live music Saturday nights from 7-9pm.
• Fem Små Hus: Speciality Swedish food, next to royal palace.
• Smak: Creative multi-dish dinner. Good deal; 3 dishes for $40.
• Grill: 8 different themed rooms, very cool and good food.
• Babette: Trendy pizza/wine place, casual, Michelin star.

Click all the restaurant links above to find out more/make reservations!

Related Post: What To Do In London On Your Own

Stockholm Nightlife

• Morfar Ginko: Trendy big club.
• Indigo: Colorful bar on the main street in Sodermalm with fun drinks.
• Tweed Bar: Good trendy cocktail bar.
• Pharmarium: Themed cocktail bar & good light food in Gamla Stan.
• Corvina Enoteca: Extensive wine bar in Gamla Stan.
• Aifur Krog & Bar: Viking-like traditional bar.
• Snaps Bar and Bistro: Trendy Sodermalm bar.
• Stampen: live music, great cocktails, jazz bar.

Click the bar links above to find out more!

Where To Stay In Stockholm

I stayed with my cousin who lives there in the Norrmalm area and it was perfect. I suggest staying in Norrmalm or Sodermalm depending on your interests. Everything is walking distance and very close. Search and book Stockholm hotels here!

AIRBNB Stockholm: There are also so many cute apartments in Stockholm with extra nice hosts. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

Search and book Stockholm hotels here!

Like this 3 day Stockholm itinerary guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss something in this 3 day Stockholm Winter Itinerary that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! See the rest of my Sweden country travel guide here! Looking to head North to Swedish Lapland? Check out my Swedish Lapland (Abisko and Kiruna) travel guide here!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post STOCKHOLM WINTER TRAVEL: WHAT TO DO IN 3 DAYS IN STOCKHOLM SWEDEN appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

I decided to make this extensive guide (so many years, visits and pictures in the making) because the lists were getting too long in my FULL Tel Aviv Itinerary Guide and to help answer ANY question about where to eat in Tel Aviv. This includes: WHAT to eat in Israel, brunch in Tel Aviv, cafes in Tel Aviv, cheap eats and street food in Tel Aviv, casual dinner in Tel Aviv, fine dining in Tel Aviv, dessert in Tel Aviv, best spots for every specific craving, and my absolute favorite and recommended food tour in Tel Aviv. Anything you are in the mood for Tel Aviv has it and this guide will help you plan your itinerary around food and reservations like I do! Keep reading for the best restaurants and best food in Tel Aviv. *I will keep updating this list as I keep trying more restaurants during my time living in Tel Aviv*

Disclosure: This Israel Tel Aviv Food Guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Must-Know Tel Aviv Food Guide Tips

• For my full Tel Aviv travel guide and to know everything else of what to do in Tel Aviv head to my Tel Aviv travel itinerary. For Israel travel in general, where to visit when traveling to Israel, safety in Israel, head to my full Israel travel tips guide.
• RESERVATIONS: These days post-Covid, tourists are everywhere in Tel Aviv and restaurants are packed. I highly suggest making a reservation at all of your brunch/dinner spots you want to go to well in advance of your trip or you will likely not get in. You can find almost all restaurant reservations HERE on OnTopo (and there is an English option) or Tabit (no English but easy to figure out!).
• Travel Insurance: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
• TEL AVIV PACKING LIST: Tel Aviv is insanely hot during the summer and mild in the winter! For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here.

WHAT FOOD TO EAT IN ISRAEL

Israeli food is the absolute best. Before getting into the restaurants of WHERE to eat in Tel Aviv, you have to make sure you eat all of the Israeli food staples while visiting.

• Hummus: Needs no introduction and once you have it in Israel you will never like store-bought brands again. Where to try it: Abu Hassan and Shlomo v Doron.
• Falafel: Falafel is one of Israeli’s favorite street food and it is amazing here. And it’s vegetarian so it’s perfect for everyone. Usually comes in pita with a ton of other amazing vegetables. Where to try it: HaKosem, Yashka or anywhere in Shuk HaCarmel.
• Shawarma: Shawarma is Israel’s other famous street food and is thinly sliced and cooked meat (can be chicken, beef, lamb, etc. Where to try it: Yashka.
• Sabich: Sabich is the lesser known of all the Israeli street foods but might be my favorite one. It’s eggplant and egg served in a pita with different veggies. Where to try it: Sabich Frischman or Sabich Tchernichovsky.
• Tahini: Tahini is also known internationally but it is exceptionally good in Israel. Also they call it ‘tahina’ here. Where to try it: Everywhere! ALWAYS ask for it on the side with everything.
• Schnitzel: I love a good schnitzel. And Israel happens to have some of the best. Where to try it: Cafe Noir and Malka for fancy sit-down restaurants, and for schnitzel sandwiches (in challah): Etzel Tzion & Java.
• Knafeh: I was only JUST introduced to knafeh since I moved here and I’m honestly upset with myself it took this long to find out about it. Knafeh is an AMAZING traditional Middle Eastern sweet dessert of syrup-dipped pastry filled with cheese and often pistachios, ice cream and other treats on top. I’ve never eaten anything like it. Don’t sleep on it!! It’s a Midden Eastern treasure not enough people talk about. Where to try it: Yaffa Knafeh.
• Jachnun: Traditional Yemenite pastry. Where to try it: Shuk Levinsky.
• Shakshuka: An Israeli breakfast staple and one of my favorite dishes. Baked tomatoes with eggs inside. Have it with Challah on the side to dip. Where to try it: Shakshukia or Java.
• Halva: An Israeli dessert that you can find ALL over the markets. Lots of sugar but melts in your mouth. I always bring it home for friends to the states. Where to try it: Shuk HaCarmel or Shuk Levinsky.
• Malabi: This is an Israeli dessert that is super sweet and is really good (but you either love it or hate it). It’s kind of like pudding with rose water. Where to try it: HaMalabiya or on the dessert menu of most restaurants!
• Fresh Juices/Smoothies: Fruit and produce are beyond fresh in Israel. You can find juices and smoothie stands all over the city. Where to try it: Etrogman, Tamara Juice Bar or in Shuk HaCarmel.
• Israeli salad: Served as a side with EVERY meal, all the chopped tomatoes and cucumbers and always fresh. Where to try it: Any restaurant!
• Arak: Israeli alcohol! You have to have shots (called chasers in Israel) of these before you leave. Don’t smell it before, trust me. Where to try it: All bars!

Related Post: Tel Aviv Travel Itinerary

FOOD IN TEL AVIV BY MEAL TYPE

Brunch and Breakfast in Tel Aviv

• Café Xoho: My most favorite brunch spot, but if you only have a few days in Israel, this is not the spot to get traditional Israeli breakfast and brunch. It is definitely a Western brunch place. Still, my favorite. You must get the egg and cheese bagel. It’s not JUST an egg and cheese, there is a special onion jam in there that makes it unbelievable. Other things to consider are their beer bread specials. They’re SO good and always have the freshest ingredients and change weekly. Their vegan desserts are also amazing and they’re known for their ice cream cookie sandwiches. Also their Matcha smoothie. They make their own ice cream and cookies from scratch.
• Bucke Cafe: Bucke is my other favorite brunch spot in the city. They are known for their trays of food that comes with a ton of different options and changes with fresh in-season produce. The place is super cool and hipstery. This is a must on your brunch in Tel Aviv stops and packs all the fun Israeli breakfast foods into one tray.
• Yom Tov Cafe: Another must for brunch in Tel Aviv, Yom Tov is crowded with their outside seating everyday of the week and is the best for people watching. Yom Tov is at Shuk HaCarmel and has the freshest and most eclectic brunch menu.
• Benedict Tel Aviv: Everyone loves Benedict. It’s overrated when you live here, but amazing when you’re visiting. It is very tourist and English friendly. It is also 24 hours so it is also always a good idea at 4AM. Get the eggs benedict (duh). Also their banana pancakes are the most famous.
• L’chem V’Shut (Bread & Co.): Super local spot with amazing breakfasts and breads – when you walk in the smell of fresh bread is unreal.
• NOLA American Bakery: An American inspired brunch spot on Dizengoff based on New Orleans. The owner is from New Orleans and moved to Tel Aviv which makes me the happiest since I went to university in New Orleans.
• Manta Ray: Fancier brunch when you want a more upscale brunch with a view! Great menu and their location is RIGHT on the sea with amazing views.
• Java: This is my favorite local Tel Aviv spot and they have my favorite Shakshuka and Challah ever here. Also my favorite schnitzel sandwich.
• Dallal: Another nicer sit down spot but one of my favorite spots to go for brunch in the trendy Neve Tzedek neighborhood. The space is huge and beautiful and the food is amazing.
• Anastasia: This is for the vegans! Full vegan brunch spot with amazing smoothie bowls, vegan shakshuka and more.
• Cafe Cucu: Newer spot on the list! Super cute brunch spot on Dizengoff Square with amazing twists on classics like Beet Hollandaise on Eggs Benedict.
• Orby Cafe: Newest spot on the list. Amazing proper trendy brunch cafe in the middle of Florentine.

Cafes in Tel Aviv

Need a tea/coffee break or just want to sit and people watch? The cafe culture is thriving in Tel Aviv. Check out some of my favorite cafes with the best coffee in Tel Aviv to hang at.

• Nabi Yuna (best for people watching)
• Chachos (my fave Matcha!)
• Cafelix
• Saga Cafe
• Nahat Cafe
• HOC

Related Post: Israel Travel Guide

Lunch, Cheap Eats & Street Food in Tel Aviv 

• Shlomo and Doron: Amazing local hummus spot off Shuk HaCarmel with different twists on hummus. Get the shakshuka hummus or the falafel hummus!! Also make sure you eat hummus with an onion as Israelis do.
• Miznon: World class. Eyal Shani is THE most famous Israeli chef probably in the world and Miznon is his most fast-casual. It is a street food spot and you can get anything in a pita. I get the cauliflower or minute steak pita but the chicken, meat, veggies ANYTHING is amazing. They also put so much inside of the pita (hummus, veggies, tahini, etc). You also MUST order the side of a cauliflower head. I can’t even explain why it is so unbelievably good but Shani totally changed the pita game. This isn’t as fun anymore if you are a tourist from NYC, Miami, Vienna, and more as there are tons of Miznons all over the world, but I still believe it is the best here.
• HaKosem: Best falafel and shwarma in Tel Aviv. Truly the best you will ever ever have. They put fried eggplant inside too. Get the original falafel pita with everything in it. Must go.
• Frishman Sabich: Best Sabich in Tel Aviv. It is right on the corner of Frischman and Dizengoff and is a small take-out place.
• Hummus Abu Hassan: Best hummus in Tel Aviv. It will not disappoint. It will actually blow your mind how you ever thought any other brand packaged container is good. Must go before 2PM as they close after the daily batch finishes (that’s how fresh it is).
• Jasmino: Super casual AMAZING pita place on Allenby. Always a line here. Best pitas with meat ever (similar to Miznon).
• Aboulefia: Best takeaway burekas and other savory and sweet pastries (also amazing late night).
• Etzel Tzion: Best schnitzel sandwich in Tel Aviv.

Casual Dinner in Tel Aviv

• Port Sa’id: Same chef as Miznon and probably his most popular and by far my favorite place to eat in Tel Aviv. This is THE #1 spot I tell any visitor to go to when traveling to Tel Aviv. The food, drinks and vibe are always perfect and it is in a fun, trendy area by the Great Synagogue on Allenby. No reservations though so be prepared to wait.
• Ha’Achim: This is one of the most standard Israeli restaurants and is consistently amazing. I would ALWAYS recommend Ha’Achim and love going here. You MUSTTTT get the artichoke dish.
• Beit Kandinof: Amazing Israeli restaurant in the center of Jaffa. Perfect spot for big groups as well, the restaurant is massive. Also the architecture and building that this restaurant is in is pure Jaffa vibes. I always bring tourists here.
• M25: Best meat restaurant in all of Tel Aviv. Part meat shop, part restaurant M25 sits right in Shuk HaCarmel and you quite literally pick what meat you want out of the freezer and how you want it cooked. It’s amazing. You MUST get the arayes and salad as appetizers, and the crack pie as dessert. Thank me later.
• Old Man And The Sea: One of the most popular tourist restaurants in Tel Aviv and honestly a must-go for the experience. This is a typical Israeli restaurant in Jaffa on the port that comes with the 1 million little dishes that keep refilling. A must.
• La Shuk: Super casual, right in the middle of the city on Dizengoff Square. Such delicious Israeli food and great prices. I love the cauliflower and eggplant dishes. Highly, highly recommend…I always brought visitors here when I lived there.
• Romano: Another one of Eyal Shani’s masterpieces (same as Port Said, Miznon, etc). This is located on top of Teder and has the best vibes and the same amazing food. This one takes reservations if you can’t get into Port Said and is the same food!
• Ouzeria: Amazing amazing spot in Florentine neighborhood. Fresh ingredients and middle eastern dishes. One of my newest favorite spots.
• Café Noir: Solid restaurant, known for their schnitzel in Tel Aviv.
• Santa Katarina: Also right behind the Great Synagogue. Really good Israeli dishes and fun crowd. Highly recommend and try to make a reservation.
• Saluf and Sons: Traditional Yemenite small spot in the center of the Levinsky Market. Amazing amazing Yemenite dishes and fun and casual vibe. Try to sit at the bar.
• Merloza: New casual restaurant in Shuk HaCarmel with amazing fish dishes. Love the Shuk vibe so this is great if you are going out after or want to be in the local scene, not touristy at all.
• Onza: Amazing Georgian restaurant in Yafo.

Fine Dining in Tel Aviv

• North Abraxas: One of my oldest, favorite restaurant. Same chef as Miznon and Port Said. Their fish is OUT OF CONTROL good. Just ask for the fish of the day. They change their menu daily BUT my recommendations (tried and tested 20+ times): Bread salad, cauliflower, steak, green beans, burning potato & zucchini pizza. And you must get the Cucumber Gin drink. You also must make a reservation here beforehand. Make sure to choose the restaurant (North Abraxas) not the bar (Abraxas Bar) when making a reservation. Though, Abraxas Bar also has similar (smaller) menu and gets rowdy later at night (my favorite bar).
• HaBasta: One of my other favorite restaurants. Was in the top 50 Middle East restaurants of 2022. The food is always fresh and amazing and the dishes change every night. It is right in the middle of Shuk HaCarmel.
• Malka: Another Eyal Shani restaurant and his first fully Kosher one – but don’t let that deter you. Has my most famous dish in the whole country maybe ever here – his Queen Malka dish which is schnitzel with mashed potato inside. It’s literally insane. The restaurant becomes super fun and a rowdy party during later seatings. A must.
• Shila: One of the nicest restaurants in Tel Aviv, known for its fish dishes and amazing Israeli cuisine. Probably my favorite high-end restaurant in the city. Highly, highly recommend. They also opened a bar across the street that has a different menu and is a more casual bar but same chef.
• George & John: One my newer favorite restaurants. Kind of in a random location in between Florentine/Jaffa but the food is truly incredible. Highly recommend for a fancy upscale restaurant.
• Claro: Really amazing restaurant with amazing dishes at Sarona Market. Highly recommend sitting at the bar.
• Cafe Popular Bar: Newer spot in the Old North for a super fun and good solid dinner. Make sure to reserve the downstairs bar area. The food is AMAZING. This place is super trendy and fun scene and gets really fun later at night. When my parents visited me for the first time this was their favorite of all the nice restaurants I brought them too.
• Abie: B the same chef as Ha’Achim but his fanciest restaurant and it was INCREDIBLE. Order everything, literally. Not one thing is bad. You must get the side of potatoes (trust) and the crispy fish.
• Social Club: High quality, good vibes restaurant on Rothschild with amazing food. Get the gnocchi or the salmon dish as well as the artichokes. You must also get the special dessert (see dessert section).
• OCD: One of the most interesting food experiences I have had in a long time. A private seating with only about 20 seats sitting around the kitchen, everyone served at the same time, about 13 courses of amazing food. Super expensive and a long evening but an awesome experience.
• Mashya: Highly, highly recommend for a fine-dining amazing meal.
• Topolopompo: One of the best meals I have ever had. Must make a reservation. It’s insane Asian cuisine dishes with a twist. If you only have a two or three nights in Tel Aviv I would probably stick to more Israeli centric restaurants but if you have more you must add this.
• Taizu: One of the best restaurants for Asian food in the city.
• Naifa: Newest restaurant in TLV and on this list and my new favorite restaurant by far. Haven’t been this excited about a new restaurant in the city since I moved here! Naifa is a Druze restaurant and every dish is better than the next. I have been twice now and both times were inside. Try to eat at the bar or table inside.

Dessert in Tel Aviv

• Anita/Golda Gelato: Best gelato in Israel. Anita is in Neve Tzedek right on Shabazi Street with 3 locations on the same street. It’s my favorite location but Golda is found in more locations around the city (literally every other corner) and big secret: it’s the exact same flavors, they’re owned by the same owner. Get the cookieman flavor, you won’t be disappointed. Anita also just opened their first NYC location on the UES as well!
• Showroom Bakehouse: Amazing, amazing cookies! They are the Levain Bakery of Tel Aviv.
• Arte Cafe: Israeli gelato spot in the middle of Nachalat Binyamin with insane flavors you would never think about ordering in ice cream – but do it. Try the bread flavor (trust me) it’s the best. This is hands down my favorite not-so-popular gelato spot.
• Otello: New gelato spot with two locations in the city.
• Yaffa Knafeh: If you are eating dinner in Jaffa or walking around, do not skip Yaffa Knafeh for dessert.
• Social Club: NOT a desert place, it’s a VERY good dinner spot BUT I had to add this here because I think I had the best dessert of life here – the massive pistachio ice cream with halva on top!
• Tamara: Best frozen yogurt in the city. They have 2 locations and then a ton of other locations for smoothies and pops but go to their froyo spots – the one on the beach is new and amazing!

Related Post: North Day Trips From Tel Aviv

FOOD IN TEL AVIV BY CUISINE

We all have serious cravings some times and in Tel Aviv you can find ANY food you possibly want in all cuisines. Here’s where you should go if you are looking for the….

• Best Pizza in Tel Aviv: Teder.fm, Har Sinai and Lila
• Best Burger in Tel Aviv: Vitrina, Fat Cow, Jango and American Burgers
• Best Thai in Tel Aviv: Thai at Har Sinai, Nam, Kab Kem
• Best Sushi in Tel Aviv: Fu Sushi and TYO
• Best Italian in Tel Aviv: Rustico, Cicchetti, La Repubblica and Cafe Italia
• Best Asian in Tel Aviv: Taizu and Topolopompo
• Best Mexican in Tel Aviv: Mezcal and Taqueria
• Best Steak in Tel Aviv: M25, Triger, Whiskey Bar Museum
• Best Bagel in Tel Aviv: Cafe Xoho and Tal’s Bagels
• Best Middle Eastern/Local Cuisine in Tel Aviv: Old Man & the Sea, Ouzeria, Ha’Achim and La Shuk
• Best Acai Bowls/Juices/Healthy in Tel Aviv: Hamaniya, Anastasia, Jusa, Etrogman
• Best Concept Dining in Tel Aviv: OCD, Burek
• Best Kosher Restaurants in Tel Aviv: Malka, Whiskey Bar Museum, Devora

FOOD MARKETS IN TEL AVIV

• Shuk HaCarmel: The central Tel Aviv market and the market people are usually referring to when they say they are going to “the shuk”. It has everything you could ever want from food, souvenirs, produce and more. Come here for Israeli candy, falafel, hummus, smoothies, and everything else. Always always negotiate here – once they hear English they will rip you off.
• Shuk Levinsky: This is a different type of market with more flavors from different cultures – think Yemenite, Turkish, Greek, etc.
• Sarona Market: This is the newest, most modern market in Tel Aviv and is an indoor/outdoor market with a ton of different restaurants and food stands within the massive complex. Good for winter since most is indoors!

BEST FOOD TOUR IN TEL AVIV

I wrote about this beyond amazing tour on my general Tel Aviv itinerary but it’s worth noting again because its that amazing and it’s all about Tel Aviv’s FOOD! Delicious Israel Food Tours has different tour options to learn and taste the different Israeli foods. I could not recommend this tour more. I did the Market Hop tour which went to both Shuk Carmel and Shuk Levinsky and I LOVED it. I had visited Tel Aviv 8+ times before and thought I knew Israeli food – but I still learned SO much on this tour and tried so many new foods between the two Shuks. I can honestly, whole-heartedly say this was the ABSOLUTE BEST food tour I have EVER taken. It is a MUST-DO when visiting Tel Aviv no matter what. I would take any tour that fits your schedule/budget as I know they all are AMAZING. You must book in advance – it does sell out. I had to book two months in advance!

BOOK A TOUR WITH DELICIOUS ISRAEL now!

*Thanks to Inbal for inviting me on the Delicious Israel Market Hop food tour! While I did receive this tour as a gift, my review and experience is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

Related Post: Porto Portugal Food Tour Review

Loved this Tel Aviv food guide? Pin for later or share with friends!

Did I miss one of your favorite restaurants in Tel Aviv or best food in Tel Aviv? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! See my general Tel Aviv Travel Guide and Israel travel guide to know what to expect when visiting Israel!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post FULL TEL AVIV FOOD GUIDE: WHERE TO EAT FOOD IN TEL AVIV FOR EVERY TYPE OF PERSON & MEAL appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This Food Tour in Porto Portugal guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

After a short amount of research, I learned that Taste Porto was the best of the best in Porto food tours and I had to take part. Taste Porto is one of the most popular and well-known food tours in Porto and I can highly recommend. I’ll talk about a full travel guide to Porto in another guide, but this one is all Porto food related. Taste Porto food tour will allow you to try all of the best food in Porto in an efficient way. Keep reading to see all of the details that you will get on a Taste Porto food tour, including how to book the tour, each of the foods (and wines) you will try (and there are a lot), as well as the pros and cons to this food tour in Porto.

Taste Porto Food Tour Tips

• Taste Porto has two different tours: Downtown food tour and Vintage food tour. I chose the Downtown tour due to my food restrictions but both are highly suggested and amazing. I loved the downtown one and the different types of foods (and wines) native to Porto we were able to try.
• I chose the afternoon session and I’m glad I did because a lot of the food was heavy and not really what I would want in the morning. Also, Taste Porto is basically a Porto food AND wine tour, so be ready to drink (but it’s not mandatory!).
• DO NOT EAT BEFORE THE TOUR!!!! Like within two hours of the tour. You are going to eat so much and so many different flavors. You want to be able to experience it all!!!! Definitely come with an empty stomach.
• Dietary Restrictions: Taste Porto will accommodate all of your food and dietary restrictions, as they did for me (since I don’t eat shellfish or pork), just make sure you tell them far before the tour. They had special meals waiting for me and it was perfect. Don’t not go on this tour just because you can’t eat some of the foods because they will accommodate you!
• My one and ONLY negative of the Taste Porto food tour was that it was all 50+ year olds. Honestly not a big deal at all, but as a 27 year old, it would have been nice to have someone younger to converse with similarly! My tour guide, Maria, was about my age so I talked to her most of the time. I did love that everyone was from different countries (we had some Aussies and Canadians on our tour), I just wish they were a little closer to my age!
• Maria was an amazing tour guide so if you have any possibility of requesting a tour guide or can switch tours to be with her – go!!! She is so knowledgable and insanely passionate about the Porto food scene and will also give you recommendations on nightlife, things to do, day trips and more after your tour.

FULL PORTO FOOD TOUR WITH TASTE PORTO

Our tour began at a meeting spot smack in the center of the city, which was perfect because I got to hit some of the spots I wanted to see in Porto on the way to the tour. In addition, we walked by a ton of the main things to see in Porto while on the tour so it was like a double tour in one 🙂

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #1: Loja Dos Pastéis de Chaves

Our first stop is known for their amazing sweet and savory pastries. These come from the city of Chaves in Northern Portugal (hence the name) and are different than your average pastry. We tried some meat pastries, and while I’m used to sweet pastries, these were amazing! They were so flaky and light that it was the perfect intro snack into this tour.

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #2: Bolhao Market

Our second tour brought us to the *temporary* famous Mercado do Bolhāo in Porto (also know as Bolhao Market Porto and the main food market in Porto). They are currently re-doing the original and will be open in 2019, hopefully. It was unfortunate we couldn’t see the real market, as it is supposed to be a true Porto experience, but they set up the temporary market to look like it, but it just doesn’t have the same feel. It still displays how much the Portuguese workers love what they do and the produce they are selling. Each of the stand owners have their own story and their produce has been in their family for generations.

We went to Store #9: Bolhao Wine House and had traditional Portuguese sardines with Moscatel do Douro wine and then a sweet treat made by the Grandma of the stand. This was my first time trying sardines and I was so nervous but they were SO good and now I am obsessed with sardines. The wine was INSANELY sweet, almost too sweet to drink. I think this was my favorite stop on the tour as I love visiting local markets in every city.

Related Post: Douro Valley Tour From Porto Guide

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #3: Flor Dos Congregados

The third stop was to a fancy Porto restaurant that actually looked like a hole in the wall. It only opened for us and they don’t accept reservations at night time. There are maybe 6 tables in the whole restaurant but fills up with lines out the door. This restaurant is family owned and one of the best known secrets in Porto. I loved the vibes inside with the underground walls. While I couldn’t have their famous pork loin or cured ham sandwich like the rest of the group, I can attest for the veggie soup I had as well as the sparkling Portuguese wine! The other guests said it was some of the best pork they ever had so I can confidently say this was THEIR favorite stop on the tour. It was my favorite for restaurant vibes.

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #4: Café Guarany

Cafe Guarany was my least favorite stop on this tour. Not because it wasn’t a beautiful, old cafe that served amazing coffee (it did), it just wasn’t food and I really wanted to enjoy six food options. However, the coffee was amazing and Cafe Guarany is one of the oldest cafes in the city and most well-known for serving some of the best coffee in all of Porto, or as they call it, cimbalino.

Related Post: Food In Tel Aviv Israel Guide

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #5: Leitaria da Quinta do Paco

The fifth stop on the Porto food tour was at Leitaria da Quinta do Paco and was my FAVORITE food of the tour! This spot is known for their delicious éclairs that were really out of this world. I have never had such fluffy, light amazing desserts and I don’t even like cream or frosting. These were so good and the whipped cream on top was 100% necessary. Definitely add this place to your list if you don’t make it on a tour.

Related Post: Portugal Travel Guide

Taste Porto Food Tour Stop #6: All In Porto

Our last stop was the most fun, I’ll admit, and was full of wines, cheeses and meats. Since I couldn’t eat the meats they also gave me Mackerel which was also delicious! They went into detail about which cheese, jam and wine to pair together and the combinations were amazing! I love cheese especially with homemade wine and I loved tasting these Portuguese pairings. All of the meats, cheeses and wines at All In Porto are from different producers around Portugal.

Find out more about all of these Porto food spots by clicking their names!

Final notes on Taste Porto Food Tour: Highly recommend! The tour was completely organized and provided a deep look into the special cuisines of Porto, not just what you see in the tourist spots. They took us to real, local spots so you can get the true traditional Porto food experience. I would recommend Taste Porto to anyone visiting Porto Portugal! You can book your tour right here!

*Thanks to Taste Porto for inviting me on their Downtown tour to learn about all that the Porto food scene has to offer and making this blog post possible! While I did receive this tour as a gift, my review and experience with Taste Porto is, as always, 100% personal and honest*

Other Porto Travel Tips

How To Get To Porto

Porto is the next biggest city to Lisbon and Porto and they have plenty of international flights (though not as many as Lisbon). You can fly direct from NYC and to many other cities around Europe. You can also take a quick 2.5 hour train from Lisbon to get here. I was in Lisbon first so I took the train there and then flew directly back to NYC from Porto. The train was insanely easy, clean and honestly a pleasure to take and travel through the Portugal countryside. You can book your train tickets here: Portugal Train Tickets. I went from Lisbon Santa Apolónia station to Porto Campanhã station, so that it was a direct train with no transfers. Book online ahead of time to get a cheaper price than booking at the station. The train only cost 25 euros. For the airport, the Porto International Airport is only a 15 minute drive from the center of Porto. You can learn more about visiting Portugal and getting around the country in my Portugal country travel guide here.

Related Post: Tel Aviv Local Travel Guide

Where To Stay in Porto Portugal

There are a TON of hostels and hotels in Porto for any budget – take your pick! I LOVED the area I stayed in and I definitely recommend staying right near Livraria Lello, it’s the best nightlife area and right in the center of the city so it is walking distance to every single imaginable spot that is on your list of things to do in Porto! You will not need Ubers at all if you stay in this area. 

Search Porto hotels on Booking.com by clicking here or searching below. Find more hotel reviews on TripAdvisor here!

AIRBNB Porto: Many people also choose to stay in Airbnb in Porto because it is insanely affordable! I personally chose the hotel route for safety precautions since I was solo, but I would definitely recommend Airbnb if I were with friends! They’re definitely cheaper than the hotels around the city. Also, if you use my Airbnb link you get $40 off your first stay!

Porto Travel Tips

• PACKING FOR PORTO: Porto’s weather is beyond amazing. I went in the beginning of September and it was a nice high 70s. It was very sunny so don’t forget sunscreen. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 
• UBER: Uber is insanely cheap in Portugal around the entire country. I’m still not over it. Sure, I come from NYC with astronomical prices, but I have used Uber in plenty of countries and nothing compares to the prices in Portugal. You could go on a 20 minute drive and it would be 2 euros. It’s insane. Take Uber in Portugal!

Like this food tour Porto guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Don’t you want to do a food tour in Porto now!? Let me know in the comments! Looking for what to expect before visiting Portugal? Check out my Visit Portugal Travel Blog guide for more tips and my Douro Valley from Porto Tour guide here.

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post PORTUGAL: PORTO FOOD TOUR WITH TASTE PORTO appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This 3 days in Mykonos guide post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

3 Days In Mykonos Travel Tips

• For all of my Greece travel tips, head to my Greece Travel Guide!
• NOTE: Most of the restaurants, beaches and clubs in Mykonos are only open during the summer/shoulder months as it primarily shuts down in the winter.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 

MYKONOS PACKING: For all of my fave travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here! It’s suuuper hot in the summer (when you will likely be visiting) don’t forget your sunscreen (my fave travel one here) and your water bottle (my fave here)! I also newly swear by this portable fan (and charger/flashlight!) that I can’t believe I traveled to summer destinations without for so long. Also if you are planning on hitting the day parties/nightlife here get your most trendy outfits + heels together (lots linked on my amazon page)!

How To Get To Mykonos

• My first visit I took the ferry from Athens to Mykonos which was super easy and quick and honestly quite beautiful. We took it from the Rafina port, which has more time options than Pireus. The ferry was about 2 hours with assigned seating, like an airplane. It was a really interesting experience as well as affordable (around $60). You can book your ferries here.
• My second trip we flew directly to Mykonos from Tel Aviv. There are TONS of flights daily from Athens and many other European cities in the summer and this is great option if you are coming from far away and don’t want to spend hours on a ferry!

Mykonos Itinerary: Everything to do in Mykonos Greece

Explore Chora town

Spend a full day in Chora (the main town) and get lost in the alleys is one of the best things to do in your Mykonos itinerary. The whole town is tiny but you can easily get lost roaming these streets, eating amazing food, marveling at the all-white buildings and blue accents and shopping in the stores. The shopping is incredible. The cutest boutiques you will ever see with honestly the nicest people! I did a lot of shopping damage on my most recent 3 days in Mykonos trip in 2022 and I love everything I bought! I suggest spending your morning and early afternoon doing this and eating plenty of good meals (eat gyro at Jimmy’s Gyro!!!) and ice cream in between!

Related Post: Greece Travel Guide

Mykonos Windmills

One stop you must make on your Mykonos itinerary is on the top of Chora at the windmills – it’s an amazing site. Four windmills line the hill and you can look over the water and edge of Chora and Little Venice together. This is the most famous view of Mykonos. Sunset views here are also amazing.

Mykonos Town Sunsets

When the afternoon starts to come to an end, head to the Little Venice area (part of the town on the border of the water) or to the other side of Mykonos town overlooking the sunset as well where the restaurants and beach are. These area consists of tons of bars that overlook the sunset. It is the most stunning view…and the cocktails are amazing, but they will cost you. There are a myriad of bars to choose from, and I suggest picking wherever you can get a seat legitimately on the water.  We sat at Scarpa and the drinks were amazing. Galleraki is another great option right next door and Kavos is an amazing restaurant for dinner. The sunset is absolutely perfect.

Related Post: Athens Travel Guide

Rent ATVs Scooters

Rent them for a day and ride around the island stopping at different areas like the locals do. There are many gorgeous beaches on the island that you can travel to on them. You can rent one from any beach or area in town.

Beaches: Best Mykonos Beaches To Visit

If you are staying in town and not on a beach, I highly suggest going to check out and lay at one of the famous beaches in Mykonos. Some gorgeous ones are: Paradise Beach (a party one, but gorgeous), Psarou (trendy, famous celebrity-heavy beach), Platis Gialos (close to town) and Paraga (one of most popular and crowded). You will find paradise at any of the Mykonos beaches.

Delos Island: Best Mykonos Day Trip

While I didn’t have time for this, I heard this day activity was amazing if you have more time in Mykonos. You can take a short ferry trip (30 minutes) to Delos Island which is known for its awesome archaeological ruins.

 Click on any of the Mykonos activities above to get more information!

Related Post: Santorini Travel Guide

Where To Party In Mykonos: Best Mykonos Clubs (Day & Night!)

Ok so this is probably what you have been waiting for in this guide anyway but many people that come to Mykonos to party. Daytime parties nighttime parties until the morning, bar hopping, restaurants with breaking plates…. Mykonos party scene has it all.

• Mykonos nightclubs: Mykonos is the elite party scene in Europe. No question. Generally the party area is on Paradise Beach. This is where the two biggest clubs are on the island for the nighttime, both making the top 20 in the world, Cavo Paradiso and Paradise Club. They alternate nights so not to worry, you can go to both. These clubs hold the top DJs in the world, so they do not disappoint. Do not worry, all of the bars in Chora town are also a huge party every night of the week so you can go out in town in a much more toned down bar instead of a huge club – highly recommend Caprice Club – the back opens onto the water and it’s amazing.
• Mykonos day clubs: There are a few famous beach day parties in Mykonos. And by a few I mean a lot. Nammos, Alemagou, Sant Anna, Tropicana Beach Club, and, of course, the absolute best, Scorpios. Scorpios on a Sunday late afternoon into night is an absolute necessity. Make a reservation well in advance. I prefer the Sunset Beach area for reservation, around 6PM. It is stunning and massive and everything you want in a sunset club. All of these beach clubs you can also just eat lunch/dinner at so they are perfect for any type of person. 

Where To Eat In Mykonos: Best Restaurants in Mykonos

We went to amazing places for dinners as well as sunset drinks (mentioned above)! Greek food is amazing. You must, must, must make reservations at all of these places beforehand (as far in advance as possible in peak months!)

• Sea Satin: If you want a party at dinner, this is your spot. Come here any night of the week and what will start as a chill, good dinner will slowly turn into a party into the late hours with everyone dancing on the chairs. Highly recommended. One of my favorite nights in my 3 days in Mykonos itinerary.
• Interni
• Spilia
• Jimmy’s Gyros: casual take out, but hits the spot. Best gyros in Mykonos town in my opinion.
• Hippie Fish: Amazing restaurant with the great food, wine and the best views over Turquoise waters.
• Nikos Taverna: Traditional Greek food, definitely recommended.
• M-Eating: Another option for great traditional Greek food.
• Raya: Cute little restaurant overlooking the old port in Chora. Good breakfast food!
• Nobu Matsuhisa: If you are feeling fancy. In the Belvedere Hotel.
• Kavos Taverna: Great Greek restaurant overlooking Mykonos town and the sunset. Not a party vibe, good for one of the chill nights.
• Nammos: This restaurant is on one of the beaches, Psarou. It is one of the most famous (and nicest) restaurants and beaches in Mykonos. Go here for lunch. This is the beach all of the famous celebrities tend to go to.

Click on any of the restaurants above to learn more and book reservations!

Related Post: Paphos, Cyprus Travel Guide

Where To Stay In Mykonos

• On my first visit, we stayed in Paradise Beach, where the late-night (and daytime!) beach partying happens. There is a bus that goes straight into Chora and leaves every 30 minutes right from the hotel and only takes 15-20 minutes to get there, it was so convenient. The hotel was Tropicana Hotel and it was absolutely perfect for what we were looking for (2 people only) with stunning views and a balcony. While many other people would say to stay in the middle of town, I say otherwise if you are there to party. We much preferred to take a bus to and from town during the day as opposed to 2 AM from the club and back into town.
• On my second and third visits, we were a group of friends both times and we rented villas about 15 minutes from town and 15 minutes from most of the beach clubs and it was the perfect house and location. If you rent a villa or stay outside of town, you must must MUST hire a driver company, which you can easily find by googling. They were ready for us on demand whenever we wanted, multiple times a day and at any time a night. In our 3 days in Mykonos we did 17 rides total! It was so convenient and I promise you do not want to see the lines of busses and people calling taxis at 6 AM in the morning after the clubs when you just want to get to sleep. There are also minimal taxis on the island so this is a must.
• If you are visiting Mykonos for the town only and not the clubs, then there are plenty of good hostels and small hotels located right in the middle of the town, check out some Mykonos town hotel options here!

Book Tropicana Hotel Mykonos here or book other Mykonos town hotel options here!

• Check out some more of the top things to do in Mykonos here!

Like this 3 days in Mykonos travel guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss something in a 3 days in Mykonos itinerary that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Don’t forget to check out my full Greece travel guide here! Looking for more Greek city travel guides? If you are visiting Athens head here and if you are visiting Santorini head here.

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post 3 DAYS IN MYKONOS ITINERARY: WHAT TO DO IN MYKONOS GREECE appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.