Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Note: This is a guest post from Meg of Fox in the Forest.
Denver, also known as the Mile High City, is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Over the years, this small city has erupted with culture, food, craft beer, and more.
From the incredible street art murals to the incredible access to the outdoors, there are endless activity options for any type of traveler. However, before you visit Denver, there are a few key things to know in order to have a more fruitful trip.
For the past 11 years, I’ve called Denver home. Over the years, I’ve learned a few handy hacks, tips, and tricks to navigating the city and squeezing the most out of life here in Colorado. As a regional outdoor expert, I highly recommend visiting Denver as a starting point to exploring the incredible outdoor scenery Colorado has to offer.
11 Things to Know Before You Visit Denver
Take a hike!
Photo by Meg Atteberry
One of the best things about a Denver visit is the access to the mountains. Even though Denver isn’t located in the mountains, there are several amazing hiking trails near Denver. A few of these trails (look at Golden, Boulder, and Indian Peaks Wilderness) are accessible via public transportation. Hiking is one of the most cost-effective ways to experience the mountains near Denver.
Avid hikers and beginners alike who have access to a car may want to check out some of the most scenic alpine lake hikes in Colorado. Many hikes can be done in a half to a full day, including drive time, so you can be back to Denver in time for happy hour! Alternatively, avid hikers who have a lot of experience on tougher terrain may want to check out Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Called 14ers by those in the know, these jaw-dropping mountain hikes take some proper preparation but are a big reward for the experienced hiker.
As always, be prepared for your Colorado hike by wearing sturdy footwear, packing plenty of water, snacks, extra layers, and check the weather. Keep in mind, during the summer months, mountains hikes often become dangerous with violent thunderstorms that roll in each afternoon – so certainly check the weather before heading out.
Remember that you’re a mile high
Many people who come to visit Denver forget that the city is a mile (5,280 feet to be exact) above sea level. That’s pretty high up there! Drier, thinner air means you’ll want to acclimatize properly to the altitude. Take it slow the first day or so and don’t be surprised if you’re winded after hoofing it up a few flights of stairs. Here are a few quick tips for dealing with the altitude:
Avoid alcohol your first 24 hours – especially if you plan on continuing into the mountains where the elevation is even higher.
Drink plenty of water. Aim for at least 2 liters a day. Carry a refillable water bottle with you.
Take it slow. It’s normal to feel light-headed or have a headache the first day or two at altitude. If symptoms worsen or progress, seek medical attention.
You don’t need bottles of oxygen here. Many stores try to sell bottled oxygen to tourists, it’s a scam and only provides temporary relief. Instead, focus on taking it slow and drinking plenty of water.
If you experience symptoms at higher altitudes, the only way to relieve them is to go down in elevation.
Expect wild weather
There’s a saying in Denver, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes.”
In the Mile High City, we experience a crazy array of weather patterns from sunny days to violent hail storms. Keep in mind that during the summer months, the weather can turn in an instant. It isn’t uncommon to get violent afternoon thunderstorms after a picture-perfect morning. These storms tend to only last 30-minutes or so but certainly pack some rain gear.
Spring and fall shoulder seasons are an excellent time to visit Denver. The weather in the fall tends to be mild, sunny, and wonderful. While the spring is a bit less predictable.
During the winter, temperatures are typically cold, but dry. It does snow in Denver, but not nearly as much as you might think. Also, a surprise day in the mid-60s isn’t uncommon, just be sure to check the weather when you plan to visit Denver.
Denver Airport
Most people are shocked to fly into Denver International Airport (DIA) and feel like they are in farm country. It is about an hour drive from DIA to downtown Denver and feels about a world away. Locals joke and say that the airport feels more like Kansas than Denver.
You can take the light rail for $15 and get dropped off right at the heart of the action at Union Station. It’s easy to get downtown, just build in some extra time to get to the city proper. If you’re visiting on a longer layover, it might not be that efficient to hop into the city for a few hours.
As of 2019, DIA is undergoing a massive remodel. At the time of this post, only one of the TSA security checkpoints is open. The construction has the airport cut in half, so be sure to build in a few extra minutes (even if you have TSA PreCheck) to get to your gate.
4WD cars when visiting Denver
One question I get asked over and over is about rental cars. Lots of people want to know if you need a 4WD vehicle in Denver or for visiting the mountains. The short answer is no. Denver and Colorado do a great job with snow removal in the winter and there are plenty of accessible roads to see nature during the summer months.
However, if you have specific plans to visit a certain area, certainly do a little research to see if you’ll need a 4WD vehicle to get to where you’re going. For the most part, you can visit most of Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks, Boulder, Breckenridge Area, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, and Fort Collins without needing a 4WD vehicle.
Get outside, but respect nature
Denver is truly an outdoor city. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, there are plenty of outdoor dining options, beautiful city parks, public bike rentals, scooters, and more. Not to mention, it’s only an hour and a half drive to Rocky Mountain National Park, the Continental Divide, and an endless array of stunning mountains to see.
Every year people flock to Denver and the surrounding areas to soak up some nature. However, for many people, it’s their first time visiting natural places. There are a few key points to remember when venturing into nature – even if it’s just a city park.
Don’t litter. This includes things like orange peels and apple cores. Carry a small baggy with you and keep your trash until you can put it in a trash can.
Don’t approach wildlife. Every year tourists and visitors get trampled by elk in Estes Park because they try and get close to wildlife to take a picture. The wildlife in Colorado will bite back. Enjoy from a distance.
Follow all regulations and signage. Some years, we don’t get enough rain, and if you plan on camping in Colorado, this could mean fire bans. Stay up to date with trail closures, wilderness regulations, and fire bans by contacting the ranger district you are traveling in.
Stay on the trail. The mountain landscape is fragile, your footprints can cause irreversible damage, so stick to the trail.
It is possible to visit Denver without renting a car; however, keep in mind you’ll be very limited. Uber and Lyft are both available throughout the state of Colorado (even in smaller mountain towns), but you’ll be paying a pretty penny to get from place to place.
Overall the public transportation in Denver isn’t that efficient and doesn’t really take you where you need to go. It has improved over the years and you can now take the light rail to places like Arvada and Golden. But if you want to travel to Boulder, you’ll need to take a bus.
A general rule of thumb is that if you plan on leaving downtown Denver proper, you’ll want to have a set of wheels to get there. If you’re just looking for a city break, then you can get along just fine using Uber and Lyft or you can hop on the light rail or a bus (typically not the most efficient system in the world). Denver is also an active city and you can rent City Bikes and travel along the Cherry Creek Bike Path to get to various points within the city. Scooters are also quite popular, especially in the RiNo, LoHi, and LoDo neighborhoods.
Marijuana in Denver
Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana. With that territory comes a highly-regulated, recreation weed industry that caused development throughout the state to utterly explode. Unlike other states, Colorado has a long list of regulations and quality control surrounding weed products.
First, as a visitor, you can purchase up to 28 grams of weed. This is an exceptional amount of pot, and I wouldn’t recommend buying that much. Recreational weed products in Colorado are fairly potent, so you really don’t need that much and it’s easy to over-do it. Hospital visits associated with edibles are fairly common, so please take it easy.
A good rule of thumb is to do a small dosage then wait an hour to an hour and a half to feel the effects. Stick to edibles that come in doses, such as chocolate or gummies. Avoid things like soda where you get copious amounts of THC, but no way to determine just how much you are consuming.
Keep in mind it is illegal to smoke or carry open weed products in public. Similar to open-container laws, you can get in big trouble if you smoke in public. Many hotels do (and don’t) allow marijuana, so be sure to check with where you are staying. Also, it is 100% illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. Cops do administer field tests and the consequences are similar to getting a DUI. Lastly, it’s super-illegal to take weed out of Colorado. The airport is frequently patrolled by drug dogs.
In short, be smart, be safe, and have fun when it comes to recreational marijuana in Colorado. Discrete consumption is always best. Start small and don’t operate any machinery under the influence.
Plenty of Parks
There are over 5,000 acres of parks in Denver including river trails, scenic views, public golf courses, and more.
No trip to Denver is complete without visiting a park. During the summer, many of these parks have awesome activities such as City Park’s Jazz in the Park or Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake.
Traffic in Denver
For a small city, Denver has quite a big traffic problem. Keep in mind that the entire downtown area is clogged during rush hour. Also, if you do head up to the mountains, expect to sit in tremendous amounts of mountain traffic along I-70 during the weekends. If you’re coming back into town on a Sunday from beyond the Eisenhower Tunnel, expect delays of 30 minutes or more.
Other areas of heavy traffic include between Boulder and Denver, Colorado Springs and Denver, and Fort Collins and Denver. These popular routes are typically always congested during rush hour (6:30 to 10 am and around 2:30 until 6:30 pm on weekdays), but also experience heavy weekend traffic too.
Food, Rooftops, and Breweries
Despite its size, Denver’s eateries and bars cater to a wide variety of diners. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian foodies won’t have much trouble finding something tasty to nosh on in Denver. Most trendier restaurants cater to every taste, but it’s always a good idea to check the menu first.
Denver is also home to a variety of world-class breweries and rooftop bars. For the most happening places, head to the RiNo district. There are plenty of awesome watering holes that are remote-worker friendly by day and the perfect place to sip on something at night.
If you don’t drink, most breweries offer some type of non-alcoholic beverage, such as artisanal sodas or kombucha as well.
Denver is an awesome city-escape for anyone looking to enjoy a youthful culture or get out into the great outdoors. With a little local know-how, you can make the most out of your trip to Denver, Colorado. Experience the magic of the Rockies along with the hip urban lifestyle of Denver’s unique eateries.
About Meg at Fox in the Forest
Photo by Meg Atteberry
Meg is a thirty-something adventure addict. Meg climbs, mountaineers, backpacks and hikes her way across the globe. As a full-time freelance writer, Meg’s goal is to empower you to get out there and go on your epic adventure. She’s written for REI, Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, and more. When she’s not out adventuring, she enjoys spending time watching sunsets with her fiance and adventure pup. To learn more about Meg, check out her blog, Fox in the Forest. She’d rather be dirty than done up.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
I’ve spent the majority of the last two and a half years backpacking, living, and traveling around Europe.
I’ve visited about 80% of the countries that make up this big and diverse continent and travel around Europe since I’m based in Bulgaria and it’s quite easy to hop around for cheap from Sofia (I love you, Wizz Air).
I have a lot of opinions on what makes the best backpack for backpacking Europe: lightweight and optimized for travel rather than hiking. Unless, of course, you plan to use your backpack for multi-day treks — then by all means, you want a proper hiking backpack (and I’ve included one in this list).
My #1 Pick: Tortuga Setout Backpack
Best backpack for: long-term Europe travelers who want a hyper-organized backpack that can still fit most carry-on restrictions
I’ve had a Tortuga backpack since winter 2015, and its inaugural trip was to the far northern reaches of Swedish Lapland, chasing the Northern lights. It was my first time traveling with a proper backpack and my mind was blown.
Whereas my friend I was traveling with had a heavy, enormous nearly 50-lb. suitcase for a 1-week trip, I felt basically invincible (even when I got stuck in a massive snowbank and had to throw myself chest-first down a pile of snow like a penguin in order to not miss the only train of the day)….
Fast forward to 2018 and it’s held up remarkably well – it lost a few stitches here and there but it’s still in good shape and I’ve now gifted it to my boyfriend, who is ridiculously happy with it. Since I’ve been recommending Tortuga to travelers for the last few years, Tortuga offered to send me a complimentary version of their new backpack so I can see the improvements they’ve made. Let me tell you – as someone who loved the original Tortuga, this is a big upgrade!
Why do I love it so much? Let me count the ways!
45L capacity with three equally useful main compartments: one for a laptop and other flat objects, one giant rectangular compartment perfect for packing cubes stuffed with clothing, and one smaller compartment with pockets for passports, pens, odds and ends, etc. that I stash all my extras in – plus one small outer zipper pocket for anything you want quick access to
Water bottle holder on the outside as well as buckles so that you can strap something like a yoga mat to the outside
Comfortable to wear, with a padded hip belt and comfort-molding shoulder straps complete with a chest strap so that you can distribute weight perfectly across your body in the event that you need to wear your backpack for longer than usual. Check out more specs and details here.
Runner Up: Osprey Farpoint 40
Best backpack for: Europe travelers who want to hike with their travel backpack
Osprey is a much-loved brand by outdoorsy types, and the Farpoint 40 is also the perfect size for carry-on travel and city breakers. I especially like that it opens from the side like a suitcase like the Tortuga does, rather than packing from the top like most hiking bags do. Honestly, top-loading backpacks are the worst possible way to pack for backpackers. Yes, they fit a ton of stuff, but it also means that you’ll find yourself disemboweling your entire backpack nearly every time you’re looking for a specific shirt. Trust me, I’ve seen this happen in basically every dorm room I’ve stayed in and it’s never pretty.
The main reason that I prefer Tortuga to the Osprey is that it has more pouches and creative places for pockets. On the other hand, the Osprey is specifically designed for hiking, so it’s less about organization and more about ergonomics. It has some handy things like load lifters (the small straps at the top of your backpack straps) which help you adjust the weight distribution of your bag, great for hiking. The mesh back of the Farpoint is great for sweaty hiking days, as it lets your backpack “breathe” more against your back.
Here are the best features of the Osprey backpack:
LightWire frame suspension: This is a fancy way of saying the Osprey is really ergonomically designed, and the harness transfers the bulk of the weight to your hip belt, which is the easiest place to carry weight.
Mesh back panels: These prevent sweating on your back, but there are also mesh panels on the hip belt, which helps reduce chafing and sweating.
Stow-away straps: If you want to use your Osprey handheld like a duffel bag for transport, you can easily store all the suspension straps under a zippered panel. There are top and side panels which make it easy for you to handle.
Front compression straps: To help you squeeze in that last bit of stuff without going over your carry-on limit!
If I wanted my main Europe travel backpack to also double as a hiking backpack, it’d be a hard call between the Tortuga and the Osprey but I’d give the point to Osprey for being better suited for hiking. Otherwise, if you’re just staying in cities with maybe a few small day hikes thrown in, I’d opt for the Tortuga for its far superior organization system.
Runner Up: Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45
Best backpack for: Europe travel if you’re more concerned about pickpockets and theft than ergonomics and weight
My travel daypack is a Pacsafe, and I use it in conjunction with my Tortuga backpack as my home-away-from-home when I’m on the road. I pile all my electronics and valuables in my Pacsafe Citysafe Backpack and wear that on my front where I can keep an eye on it, while my Tortuga backpack holds all my clothes and other random bits. I usually buy Priority boarding for a few dollars extra when flying Ryanair or Wizzair and use that bag as my personal item and my Tortuga as my carry-on.
However, if you just want one carry-on travel backpack for Europe that also has some kickass security features baked in, this is the bag for you. The Venturesafe has the following security features:
eXomesh Slashguard: A flexible steel wire mesh concealed and built into the bag to prevent slash-and-run would-be thieves
ToughZip Zipper: An endurant zipper that prevents tampering and breaking
Roobar Anti-Theft Anchor Lock: A head-scratching anchor lock that lets you lock up your zippers or even attach to cable to make your bag even harder to get into. You can even add a padlock for added security. My CItysafe backpack has something similar and I absolutely love it – it makes me feel really safe from thieves.
Interlocking Zippers: Zippers that slide in neatly to lock together, making it virtually impossible for any but the most nimble-fingered thieves to tamper with without your knowledge.
Basically, the Venturesafe backpack makes it so cumbersome to pick your pocket that no thief would bother – they’d move onto another, far easier target.
However, there is a disadvantage – all of these security features make the bag a bit heavy – about 1.8 kg or 3.9 pounds without anything inside it. Amazon reviewers have rated it not quite as comfortable as other bags due to the fact there are no load lifters and the shoulder straps aren’t the most comfortable. So this is a bag more about security than functionality or comfort.
For me, I’m a huge fan of Pacsafe, but I’d probably get a smaller Pacsafe daypack or purse rather than have my entire backpack (which is mostly just clothes and random tidbits, none of which are that valuable) be protected.
Runner Up: Kelty Redwing 40L Backpack
Best backpack for: Europe travel if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend too much
Unfortunately, buying a backpack for Europe travel can be quite expensive, with most decent backpacks costing from $125-300 USD or more. On the other hand, the backpacks that are in the $50-ish range don’t have things that I consider absolute necessities like waist and shoulder straps.
Trust me – I tried using a Cabin Zero bag which was cute but didn’t have these, and I had so much pain in my shoulders from the poor weight distribution that I promptly ditched it the first chance I got. Especially if you’re traveling on an extended trip, you need these things for your comfort and back health.
Technically, this is a woman’s backpack – if you are after a men’s backpack or a unisex version of this backpack, check the Kelty Redwing 44 Backpack instead.
The best features are below:
The most affordable backpack suited for Europe travel I could find
Back and shoulder straps and load lifters to help with weight distribution and alignment
40L capacity makes it easy to take as a carry-on bag on budget flights
Runner Up: Osprey Volt 60L Backpack
Best backpack for: long-term European travelers who don’t mind checking their bags, who value capacity over organization
If you mostly travel overland (taking few flights) and really want a heavy-duty backpack that can fit a lot of stuff in it, an Osprey 60L backpack is what you need.
It’s not too big to be totally unwieldy, but it’s also able to fit all your creature comforts in it.
Osprey bags are also designed to distribute weight evenly for hiking, so if you have a lot of multi-day treks planned this is a fantastically ergonomic bag.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
It’s a bit weird to admit this as a travel blogger, but I have a nasty (and growing) fear of flying. And not just the flying itself, but everything associated with it: oversleeping and missing a morning flight, physically getting to the airport, the anxiety of being in the airport. Basically, any which way I can stress about a plane, I will.
Because of this anxiety, I’ve started limiting my flying as much as I can while still working in travel, opting for the overland option whenever viable. That’s led me to take the longer, more scenic route more times than I can count.
And while normally, that means holing myself up in a stuffy bus armed with podcasts and bus snacks and waiting on torturously long border crossings, this time was different. This time, it meant gliding peacefully as the midsummer light danced on the surface of the Baltic Sea, passing the Aland Islands and Turku Archipelago, on my way from Stockholm to Turku by ferry.
Definitely beats my standard Balkan bus journey, I can tell you that.
Note: For this journey, I partnered with Tallink Silja to write about my trip from Stockholm to Turku. I received a complimentary seaview cabin and meals on board the ship to test out their services.
The Stockholm to Turku Ferry: Times, Costs, and Details
The gorgeous Stockholm archipelago upon leaving!
The Stockholm to Turku ferry is operated by two companies, Tallink Silja and Viking. I took Tallink Silja when I went from Tallinn to Helsinki a few years ago and loved it, so I went with them again on this trip.
In this post, I will be writing about my experience on board the Baltic Princess, the ship Tallink uses on the morning ferry from Stockholm to Turku (as well on the night ferry from Turku back to Stockholm). However, out of transparency, I want you to know that Viking is an option as well.
If you want to do a daytime cruise from Stockholm to Turku, I strongly recommend it if you have the time. It’s an extremely beautiful and relaxing way to get from Sweden to Finland.
Not to mention, it’s extremely affordable. A simple ticket on board (no cabin) costs a mere 12 euros, which is pretty outstanding for an international journey that takes about 10 hours in the Nordics of all places.
My personal seaview cabin, which can fit two.
Upgrading to a cabin ups the price, but not significantly: 40 euros for an inside E or B class cabin (which can house up to 4 people, so just 10 euros apiece extra in addition to your 12 euro ticket). I had an A class cabin with sea view, which added on an extra 65 euros to my ticket cost, and could fit 2-4 people for that price.
If you really want to ball out, there are deluxe rooms, suites, and even executive suite, which include free goodies in the mini-fridge, more space, and some even have a balcony. You can book tickets online here.
Tallink Silja departs at 7:00 AM daily from the Värtahamnen port, sailing past the Stockholm Archipelago and Aland Islands. It arrives in Turku by 7:15 PM, about 11 hours of cruising as there is a one-hour time shift forward once you reach the Aland Islands.
Views leaving Stockholm on the morning ferry!
There is also the option with Viking to leave Stockholm at 7:45 AM and arrive in Turku at 7:50 PM, which departs from Stadsgården.
You can also take an overnight Stockholm to Turku ferry, which is a great way to save time if you are traveling as you don’t waste time going to or from airports, sleeping through your journey and maximizing the next day to come.
Tallink Silja operates their overnight ferry, the Galaxy, so that it leaves Stockholm at 7:30 PM and arrives in Turku at 7 AM. This gives you a little more than 10 hours to grab dinner on board, relax, and sleep so that you’ll be refreshed when you arrive in Turku.
Viking has an overnight ferry as well with similar departure and arrival times, leaving Stockholm at 8 PM and arriving in Turku at 7:35 AM.
Getting to the Stockholm Ferry Terminal
The terminal for all departing Tallink ferries from Stockholm
Depending on which ferry company you choose, there are two different terminals in Stockholm for the Stockholm-Turku ferry line.
I went with Tallink Silja which meant I departed via the Värtahamnen port in Östermalm. It’s extremely easy to get here via metro via the Gärdet metro stop – just follow the signs to Värtaterminalen.
Signage makes it easy to find the Stockholm to Turku ferry!
If you don’t want to deal with the metro in the morning, you can stay nearby the ferry terminal: there is a Scandic right on the water just a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, or there’s an affordable STF hostel with private rooms available about 20 minutes away.
If you go with Viking, you can leave via Stadsgården on the island of Södermalm, which is convenient if you are staying in that part of Stockholm or even in Gamla Stan which is pretty close by.
On Board the Baltic Princess
I opted for a daytime cruise because I wanted to cross from Sweden to Finland during the day so I could see the beautiful archipelagos and lush forested islands which dot the Baltic Sea between these two Nordic countries.
That meant going on board the Baltic Princess, one of the two ships that Tallink operates between Stockholm and Turku.
A row of cabins on the Baltic Princess
The Baltic Princess has a number of amenities that make the time on board the ship go by quite quickly. There’s a variety of restaurants offering buffet and á la carte options.
If you’re used to Scandinavian prices, the buffets are quite well-priced: 13 euros for breakfast and 28 euros for lunch which includes as much beer or wine as you like, which is quite good for this region!
There was a really wide selection of food for both breakfast and lunch and the quality was overall really high.
If I had to pick one, I’d pick the lunch buffet as I’m more of a lunch person than a breakfast person, plus the included beer/wine was quite a nice perk.
However, a note: be sure to watch the time change as you reach Aland, which marks the beginning of Finland’s time zone! We shifted forward one hour and I was working on my computer which doesn’t automatically change time zones. I came down to the lunch buffet an hour late and nearly missed it and had to stuff my face quickly in order to get my fill.
Breakfast on board the Baltic PrincessSome of the lunch buffet offerings
If you’re not a buffet person, there are plenty of other options for you. There’s also the Grill House, which serves burgers and steaks, Tavolàta which has Italian food, Happy Lobster which serves upscale seafood, or Fast Lane if you just want to grab something quick to eat (which could be a great option if you just want a simple breakfast0
There are also some bars and pubs on board, serving alcohol at quite reasonable prices (again, for the Nordics). There’s Sea Pub which focuses on beer and cider, Piano Bar which focuses on cocktails, and Starlight Palace and Klubi which were pretty quiet during the day ferry but likely see a lot more activity on the overnight Turku to Stockholm ferry which also transits via the Baltic Princess ship.
There’s also a duty-free where you can make like a Finn (or Swede) and stock up on tax-free alcohol. Seriously, I think the best way you can tell who’s a tourist on this boat is if you don’t leave with 4 cases of beer.
Tourist vs. local
Getting From Turku Harbor to Turku City Center
Beautiful archipelago houses as we near the city of Turku
Luckily, this part is extremely easy! Simply disembark the boat and walk towards the outdoor area of the ferry terminal. There’s a small kiosk where you can purchase a bus ticket using a credit card… however, if you’re American (or just don’t have a contactless credit card), there’s no place to swipe your card or enter your chip and these kiosks are basically worthless.
Hopefully, you have a few euro coins on you and you can simply buy a bus ticket from the driver for three euro! Board the 1 bus right outside the harbor, which will be heading in the direction of Turku Airport, and get off when you reach your destination in the city center, which should take all of 15 minutes. Keep your eyes peeled as you’ll pass the gorgeous Turku Castle along the way!
Note: Thank you to Tallink Silja for partnering with me to experience the best of this Baltic sea cruise! While my experience was complimentary, all opinions (and pounds gained at the buffet) are entirely my own.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, Marrakech likely figures highly on your itinerary.
There are so many unique things to do in Marrakech that it’s hard to narrow it down — and after reading this post, get ready for your Marrakech wish list to get even longer!
Here are the coolest and most interesting things to do in Marrakech!
Visit the desert & ride a camel (or a quad bike!)
You can frolic along the desert and palm trees or better yet, ride a camel! I would recommend this half-day tour (check here for rates and availability) so you can fashionably ride a dromedary (AKA, a one-humped camel) while wearing nomadic attire should you choose!
You will also get a chance to visit a remote Berber village and sip local Moroccan tea in the afternoon. What’s extra convenient about getting this tour is that you will be picked up and dropped off from your hotel or accommodation.
If you are more adventurous and feel the need for speed then you can ride a quad bike as you go along the Palmeraie of Marrakech.
The best view of this oasis is at sunset, so if you choose you can also take a camel ride at sunset for a romantic experience. A lot of luxury hotels and resorts are also here should you choose to have a longer stay outside of the hustle and bustle of Marrakech.
The Anima Garden is one of the most unique gems you will find in Morocco. An Austrian artist named André Heller is responsible for the creation of this one-of-a-kind botanic garden. It took him 6 years to finish this masterpiece of installation art.
As you stroll along the different pavilions and paths, you will experience different smells and sights that will spark your imagination – a perfect way to get some inspiration or just to destress.
It is around 26km from the southern part of Marrakech, and there are free shuttle services at the Koutoubia car park (behind the Koutoubia Mosque) that can take you to the location. You can also get this ticket so you can skip the line and enjoy the gardens for three hours, which is plenty of time to marvel at the garden.
Food and drinks aren’t included, but you will be glad to know that you can buy one inside. The café serves snacks and dishes, mostly sourced from the garden itself! Someone who is traveling around July and August should be aware that shuttle services are limited during this time of the year.
Another garden is the Menara Gardens, which is a beautiful botanical sight to see near the Atlas Mountains that has olive trees surrounding it and an artificial pond (with lively big fish!). It is said that the pond was used to hold the water from the Atlas Mountains to keep moisture for the olive plantation.
The pavilion inside has a green roof and it is elevated above the ground (this is why it is called a menara). There isn’t much explanation or signage in the garden so it is best to get a local licensed tour guide, such as this one, here.
The best part about this tour is that it combines two famous Marrakech gardens in one and it includes transit to both. You will be picked up from your riad or hotel, and you also get to check the famous property once owned by the acclaimed fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, the Majorelle Garden.
The garden showcases a rich blue-colored mansion inspired by Moroccan architecture. There are also a collection of cacti, and unknown to many, the ashes of the late Yves Saint Laurent were actually scattered in this garden. The tour ends with getting a glimpse inside the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque!
Take a cooking class in Marrakech
No one should miss tasting the traditional tagine (pronounced as Ta-zheen) while visiting Marrakech. It is a stew that has vegetables and meat that’s extremely tender (vegetarians rejoice — veggie tagines are very common as well).
To their tagines, Moroccans usually add a lot of spices, herbs, fruits, and nuts. The meat used can vary (mostly chicken and beef, though never pork) and there’s a Berber tribe that makes use of lamb and beautifully arranges the vegetables around it.
Do not confuse yourself, because tagine can also refer to the inverted funnel-shaped cooking pot they use, as well as the stew itself. You can actually experience how to cook with one by attending this class which is taught by an expert chef.
The first thing you do on this tour would be to shop at a local souk for some ingredients (you could pick up your very own tagine in the souks later!) while your guide explains what spices are needed and how they are used.
The class itself will take about 3 hours to prepare your tasty tagine creations, and of course, eat them! After the class, a recipe will be provided to you so you won’t have a hard time thinking about what to buy after the class.
Alternatively, you can also prepare a 4-course meal al fresco — Moroccan style. While your main meal is being cooked in small clay ovens, you will be taught to prepare sides and salads. Once your slow-cooked meal is done, enjoy it with a tasty glass of Moroccan wine, plus a yummy dessert after!
Cooking courses can also be tailored to what you want, but most recipes depend on the availability of ingredients seasonally. They also offer an additional optional tour at a Moroccan bazaar. The day’s cooking class will end with a nice warm tea plus some snacks. If you like the experience, feel free to tip!
Have a traditional Moroccan hammam bath
Relaxation and cleansing are an important part of Moroccan social life, which is why the hammam is still an integral part of Moroccan culture!
While Morocco is a conservative country, bathing naked (segregated by sex, of course) is totally normal and par for the course. Though of course, if you’re uncomfortable, you could generally bathe in your underwear or swimwear, although local rules for each hammam may differ.
Relaxing amongst locals chatting and bathing at a local hammam is one of the most unique things to do in Marrakech. Curious how it works?
Each gender has its own separate bath area. Once you enter, you will notice a bucket of a gooey-looking black soap (which is made from olives) and the scratchy kessa gloves (which are used for exfoliation). Some people are surprised by the gunk that shows up being exfoliated by the gloves – it is actually your dead skin! People love the feeling after every bath because you feel squeaky clean and buttery soft from head to toe.
This hammam experience includes a relaxing 50-minute massage with oils from the endemic Argan trees (also known as liquid gold due to its vast properties!). No need to bring towels or bathrobes, as these are provided, but make sure not to forget to bring extra underwear.
The perfect way to end this ritual is to sip some mint tea (aside from the snacks in between treatments) which also helps soothe your throat. It is indeed a total relaxation package!
Taste an explosion of flavors
Marrakeshi food is not just about tagines or the famous couscous, there’s actually so much more!
The key to Marrakech cuisine is the unique and authentic spices and ingredients. You can try some of their nuts, dried fruits and local favorite dishes like the chermoula, brochettes and maakouda.
Chermoula is a tangy herby and lemony sauce, usually served in a tagine or served on top of fried or grilled fish. Brochettes are like Moroccan kebabs (grilled meat in skewers), whereas maakouda is a tasty fried snack made from potatoes, eggs, and spices.
Jemaa El Fnaa is a place where you can find most of these food shops. It is also declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
You may find tour guides as you enter the square, but beware of fake ones or ones who claim to give a ‘free’ tour. They will end up asking you to pay them a hefty cost!
It is best to get a trusted 3-and-a-half-hour tour that’s complete with a guide that will take you to a Moroccan food escape. After a tour of the square, you will be taken to the spice market where you can smell different aromas of turmeric, saffron, dried fruits and so on.
See the sights above the desert on a hot air balloon
Aside from riding camels in the beautiful Palmeraie (Palm Grove), you can also hop in a hot air balloon to get a breathtaking view of the beautiful oasis, the countryside, and the mountains.
But that’s not the main highlight, once you get higher and higher you will see the clouds as the sun creates majestic silhouettes over them – it is so surreal!
The easiest way to get to the location would be through a shuttle service when you get this hot air balloon package tour. Travel will take you around 45 minutes from Marrakech and they will pick you up and return you to your riad.
While watching how they prepare to inflate the balloon, professional hot air balloon pilots will also guide you and give you a quick briefing on what not to do while on-board, since other people are also sharing the ride. The experience will last for an hour or so. Once you land, you can optionally add on a camel ride or just relax and enjoy the scenery.
The final activity of the morning would be tea at a Berber village – you just can’t get enough of that yummy mint tea! Once you arrive at the village, Berber people will warmly welcome you with their tasty tea and traditional hospitality.
Stroll around at night when the medina springs to life
One of the most popular places in the medina is the Jemaa El Fnaa, which I wrote about in my guide here for a 3-day itinerary in Morocco. In the post, I mentioned what things you need to know when going to this chaotic square, as it can be quite an assault on the senses and there are quite a few scams which can occur to unsuspecting visitors, especially at night!
It does help to get a night tour to avoid any hassle because your local guide will be there to assist you. You won’t just enjoy the night music at the square, but also a nice free drink at a rooftop bar overlooking the chaotic beauty of the square. Time will also be given for you to admire the gorgeous architecture of the Koutoubia Mosque from the outside at night (unfortunately, not the inside, since non-Muslims aren’t allowed to enter).
Since you have a local guide, you will be taken off the beaten paths where you can unlock some secrets unknown to many tourists. Get to taste tanjia (it is different from tagine, although both are cooked and given a name based on the pot in which it is cooked), a tasty Moroccan dish with lots of meat and a bit of vegetables. Other local snacks are included on the tour for free as you stroll around.
Attend a leather working class
The Chouhara Tannery in Fez has been famous for producing quality soft leather in the traditional way since the 11th century. It is considered as one of the most iconic sources of leather in the world because all tanning procedures and operations have been preserved in the traditional way — including the step where they cure it in pigeon poop!
They turn the hides into beautiful pieces of belts, jackets, bags and shoes while adding a lot of stylish Moroccan influences. Another thing that adds up to its uniqueness, is the use of natural dyes coming from sources like spices, pomegranates, and flowers.
However, if you don’t have time to visit Fez on your trip to Morocco, you can still learn about the craft’s long history in Marrakech. Just be careful and avoid the prevalent Marrakech tannery scams by instead booking a guided experience.
Someone who is curious about the craft of leatherwork need not go far from Marrakech to attend a leather-making workshop, which you can book online.
Expert craftsman Youseff and Oumaima will take you on a journey about how they make leather and how they prepare it. You will make your very own babouche slipper (it is a heelless slip-on shoe that looks like the Instagram-famous Gucci Princetown mules) from scratch!
There are snacks and tea served if you get hungry while working on your masterpiece. The best part about it is bringing it home!
Memories are also easily kept as you will get a souvenir photo that will be sent digitally through your email.
Learn to speak the language
Learning a language can be quite difficult, but Moroccans are quite talented linguists. Some Moroccans even know more than four languages, but you won’t encounter everyone like this. When traveling, you should at least try to pick up a few basic words, as it will be easier for you to interact with local people as well as to bargain in the souks.
A 90-minute Arabic language class (it’s that easy and quick to learn the basics!) will surely help you communicate and understand body language and insider tips on what you should and should not do. Moroccan teachers will also be provided to ensure you are learning from the best.
The class will begin with a quick tea ritual and a guide on how to make the famous and extremely yummy mint tea. Booklets are also provided for free so that if in case you forget some words outside, then you have a quick cheat sheet.
After the quick intro class, you will feel more comfortable and engaged in communicating with locals. The next time someone blocks your way and sells or asks you for something, you will know now how to better deal with them without being thought of as rude.
See a wonderful performance at the Lotus Club
A tasty dinner with a nice dance show is a date-night Marrakech can’t-miss at The Lotus Club’s restaurant and bar.
It is located in the Hivernage District, outside of the chaotic medina, so you can have a sweet and fun escape from the hecticness of the medina and see a different side of modern Marrakech.
The place will surely give you a luxurious ambiance, plus you can listen to the best mixes of their DJs for a fun night out. You can choose from three different menus which range from local to international cuisine, with a lot of fusion recipes in case you don’t want to pick just one cuisine! There are also drinks like colorful cocktails and mocktails you can’t find elsewhere, plus a good selection of beers and wines.
The experience is superb as you watch the dancers (beautiful and glamorous Marrakeshi women) perform live on stage (just like Vegas!). They are called the Artistic Revue OhLaLa. Once a month, they also invite international artists to perform.
You can actually book a 3-course meal for two here for a cheaper price. Just make sure to bring your passport or ID because those 18 and under are not allowed to go inside. Drinks are not included in the voucher, but you will not regret the nice music and performance they showcase!
Wander around the colorful souks and meet the artisans
The souks are not just an open marketplace but also a spectacular loop of alleyways where you can get lost. Items are stacked up to the heavens, making the place look like a forest of products being sold.
If you love shopping or planning to get unique finds at the souks, then it is best to have a local private English-speaking tour guide to help you find hidden treasures and keep you on track (Google Maps is just terrible in the medina).
The licensed guides are very informative and will ask you if you already have a shopping list with you so that he can personalize the tour. The adventure usually starts at Mellah, a walled Jewish quarter that means “salt marsh.” You will also get to know the sellers and the unique finds they offer from colorful tiles, home décor, carpets, fabrics, jewelry and so on.
The best part of the journey will be at Al Kawtar Women’s cooperative, where every purchase you make will give back to the local community. It is a boutique that sells handmade embroidered clothes, scarves, bags and children’s wear that help empower disabled Moroccan women.
Before you head back to Jemaa El Fnaa, you will have some tea and a quick snack with your tour guide, where you can ask him for any last-minute tips and tricks and shopping recommendations. The entire tour will take around 3 hours.
Capture special moments with a talented Marrakeshi photographer
Memories are perfectly stored in the photographs we take every time we travel. While it’s easy enough to snap selfies as you travel along Marrakech, if you’re commemorating a special moment or this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I suggest hiring a professional to shoot your photos in some of the most beautiful and photogenic places Marrakech – it’s more affordable than you may think!
You can have different options on how many photos (from 15, 30, 45 and 75 photos) you would like to be taken, and it doesn’t matter if you are a couple, group, family, or just a solo traveler!
You can customize the locations of your photos or ask for their local insight. There are usually 2 or 3 locations allowed, depending on the package you wish to get. If you still don’t know where to have your photos taken, then they can give you the best recommendations.
After 5 days, you can download the professionally edited photos in their online gallery for free. Just note that travel expenses are not included in the package, so it is best to choose locations that are nearby to each other or factor in cab fare.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’re planning a trip to Malaysia, you’ve got to have Penang on your itinerary. Penang is vibrant, delicious, and unique – and there’s plenty to do in Penang to last days upon days.
I recommend spending at least 3 days in Penang so you can really get the feel for this special island and see a few different parts of it, beyond just George Town.
Here’s a quick Penang itinerary to help you get started!
3 Day Penang Itinerary: Day 1
Start at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Also known as the Blue Mansion, this was the house of the prominent Chinese businessman Cheong Fatt Tze, and today, it’s both a museum and a guest house. Its architecture is very unique, which is why the mansion received a UNESCO conservation award for maintaining its original look from a hundred years ago. It’s a splendid and magnificent house, and it’s located in the Georgetown quarter of Penang.
Visit Pinang Peranakan Mansion
The Peranakans were a famous and very
successful group of Chinese settlers and traders. They left a lasting influence
on Penang, and this mansion is a thorough recreation of the home of one of the merchants
who lived in the city. The rooms are ornately and lavishly decorated with
intricate details, and you’ll get to see magnificent furniture, jewelry, and
works of art. It’s a house that explains a long and deep history.
Marvel at the St. George’s Church
Originally constructed two hundred years ago by
the East India Trading Company by using convict labor, this is one of the
oldest buildings in Penang. It’s also the oldest Anglican church in Southeast
Asia. It’s built using the Ancient Greek style, but it has a unique Victorian
feel to it as well, and it features beautiful oil paintings inside. It’s a
beautiful building, and it’s still active to this day.
Visit the unique clan jetties in Penang
There were originally seven jetties in Penang, but after a devastating fire, one of them was destroyed. Each of them is dedicated to a different Chinese clan, and they’re one of the last true Chinese settlements on the island. They’re part of a waterfront society, each with its own distinct look and feel, and they have colorful histories that are amazing to explore. Watching the sunset off the jetties is one of the best things to do here.
If you only have time to visit one, make it Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi. Built over 600 years ago, this is one of the clan buildings of the five big clans that represented Hokkien community in Penang ages ago. It’s an intricately decorated house where people gather to worship their ancestors. Today, it largely has a ceremonial and spiritual role, but it also settles disputes between its members, and helps with the education of children. It’s also considered one of the most beautiful clan houses in Penang.
Travel back in time at Fort Cornwallis
This is the largest standing fort in the
country, and it was built in 1786. It was named after Charles Cornwallis, the
Marquis, and even though only its walls remain today, exploring it still a
surreal experience. The gate is guarded by a Malaysian man fully dressed in
British regalia, while Tchaikovsky plays on the speakers. Inside, you’ll find a
park and several exhibits.
3 Day Penang Itinerary: Day 2
Start the day at Kek Lok Si
Buddhism is a large and important part of Malaysia, and Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple in the country. It features several monasteries, temples, gorgeously landscaped gardens, and prayer halls, and it’s a strong symbol of spiritualism in Malaysia. It’s partly carved into the rock faces, while the other part sits atop Air Itam. The pagoda at the center is one of its most famous attractions.
See the stunning 7 Tier Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas
As the crowning jewel of Kek Lok Si, this
pagoda is one of the most beautiful buildings in the region. It was built a few
decades after the temple, and it has a few different and distinct architectural
styles. It represents the diversity in the peoples that live in the country,
and it has a large statue of Buddha inside.
Check the views from the Komtar Tower
The Rainbow Walkway atop the Komtar Tower is a transparent observation deck which allows unprecedented views of the city. You’ll get to enjoy Penang at its finest, which is absolutely during the setting of the sun. The platform allows for observing the city’s skyline, the ships floating lazily, and the mountains afar, all of which will be illuminated by the warm colors of sunset.
Eat your heart out on an evening food tour
Malaysian cuisine is one of the most underrated cuisines in the world. It has unique flavors and dishes, all of which are best discovered as you’re learning about the past of Georgetown. Authentic food is only one part of the tour, during which you’ll stop at some tasting locations to sample delicious meals. The other is engaging with the incredible local culture and the traditions that make its peoples stand out.
3 Day Penang Itinerary: Day 3
Choose your own adventure!
Today’s the day to get a bit unique and off the beaten path in Penang. Whether that’s visiting one of the beaches, exploring the national park, or going on a street art tour — or simply exploring some of the smaller wats and temples like Reclining Buddha Temple — just like it’s hard to have a bad meal in Penang, it’s pretty hard to have a bad time.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
With thousands of islands in
the Turku archipelago alone, picking just one to visit is an overwhelming
prospect. Luckily, on my visit to Turku in partnership with Visit Turku, they
were able to point me in the right direction: I found myself on the island of
Seili, a beautiful island with an intriguing and complex past.
About two hours away from
Turku via the M/S Norrskär, you’ll find Seili island. This island is also
called Själo in Swedish, as many people in this part of Finland have Swedish as
a mother tongue. Many people originally thought the name came from Swedish, “the
island of souls” – in actuality, its name is more close to “the island of seals,”
as it probably was an important place for seal hunting many centuries ago.
Seili is located in Nagu, part of the southern Airisto Sea, a quiet part of the Turku Archipelago. With a population of only 50 summer residents and less than a dozen in the winter, visiting Seili is enchantingly peaceful. There’s one main road, a handful of historic houses and buildings (many of which have been turned into accommodations), a few dozen cows, and some sheep.
Despite how small it is, Seili
welcomes a fair number of tourists each summer. It’s part of the Short
Archipelago Trail which connects a number of islands via trail, bridge, and
ferry throughout a hundred kilometers of the Turku Archipelago. As a result,
many cyclists pass through Seili for a half day or so on their way to complete
the loop, though there are several places to stay on the island in case you get
enchanted into a longer stay.
Yet while a visit to Seili is a beautiful way to while away a few hours on a midsummer day, many decades ago, being sent here was effectively a death sentence.
The History of Seili Island
The island of Seili is actually
rather new, geologically speaking: emerging from the Ice Age a mere 5,000 years
ago. It was used as an anchor spot by the Vikings, and archaeological evidence
suggests that the island was first settled during the Iron age.
The island makes its first appearance in historical texts in 1540, as a small island with one village numbering five houses. But by the 1600s, the island would become inhabited by quite a few unfortunate souls: lepers who were sent to Seili to finish out their lives outside of the public eye.
Seili became a convenient
place to ship people with leprosy, who were shunned not only because of the
contagiousness of their diseases but also the perceived sinfulness of those
afflicted with it. Leprosy was often viewed as a punishment from God for having
committed some offense or the other: as a result, those who had it were often
shipped away from the cities, so as not to corrupt the rest.
A small farm and several
buildings cropped up during the 17th century to feed and home the
patients and staff. Many of those buildings no longer remain, and the oldest is
the so-called “White House” which now hosts students and tourist guides in the
summer and dates back to the 1800s.
Actually, the island of Seili used to be two distinct islands: “the island of the sick” being where they sent the lepers, basically left to their own devices without much in the way of medical care. Occasionally, unlucky elderly people, poor people, and the mentally ill would be sent to this island as well.
Interestingly, the primary
treatment for ill people back in the days of Seili’s leprosy colony days was
alcohol. Patients were treated with booze until 1730, when it started to cause
a lot of problems and it was forbidden. Funny enough, there’s a Finnish
expression that refers to this bit of sordid history: “to be in full Seili” in
Finnish means to get blackout drunk.
But the reality is that life
expectancy was incredibly poor for people who got sent to Seili: typically,
only 1-3 years. The situation was so dire that people who were sent to Seili
were asked to bring their own coffins – not a great prognosis. All in all, some
663 lepers died here; the burial site still remains unknown on the island.
The last leper died on the island in 1785, but the island had already transitioned to a new kind of outcast: the mentally ill. The island became the first mental hospital in all of Finland. The mental hospital here was for women – men were sent to Karelia. It was meant to be a one-way ticket here: once you arrived on Seili, you’d likely die there.
Treatment of the mentally ill
was pretty harsh, as was common for this time period. Electroconvulsive therapy,
medically-induced comas, and “hot/cold” therapy were used, where they’d fill a
helmet with alternatingly hot and cold water, to supposedly “cool down” the temperament.
While lobotomy was never performed in the mental hospitals of Seili, they often
received lobotomy patients from other parts of Finland who were no longer able
to care for themselves.
In the 1960s, the mental
hospital closed abruptly, and the 41 patients remaining on Seili were sent to
various hospitals around Finland.
The Present of Seili Island
Today, you can visit Seili with a local guide who will tell you the history of all the buildings you pass. While there is some signage explaining the history of the island, I don’t think I would have learned a fraction as much of what I did about Seili without a local guide. The history of the island is its most interesting part, so I strongly recommend contacting Visit Seili and arranging for a guide to give you a walking tour and explain the island’s history to you.
One of the most interesting
parts was visiting a treatment room from when the main building used to be a
mental hospital, left basically as-is so you could get a sense of what the
people who used to live here experienced. The room is strangely decorated with
earthy tones and geometric squares on the walls, as both were thought to bring
peace to troubled minds. A straightjacket laying on the bed reminds you of the ugly
reality of this place’s history.
The island of Seili is now
one main “village” area, which used to house the mental hospital and the
caretakers for the mentally ill. There’s also a restaurant which serves a
delicious lunch buffet and an a-la-carte dinner menu. There’s an inside part of
the restaurant and also tables in the courtyard where you can enjoy your lunch in
the sun.
Some of the buildings today were designed by the famous Finnish architect C.L. Engel, including this beautiful red building which was used as a residence for maids and nurses.
The 18th-century
wooden church on the former “island of the sick” is one of the most interesting
places to visit on the island, and I recommend visiting the sparse but
beautiful wooden interior (this’ll be included if you do a guided tour,
otherwise there is a small admission fee).
Seili is now primarily
inhabited by a few local residents and a rotating student population, mostly
students of geology and biology who spend a few weeks at a time living on Seili
and studying its unique flora and fauna. Many of the old buildings have also
been converted into accommodations and guesthouses where tourists can stay when
they are doing the Short Archipelago Trail or just want an escape from the
bustle of city life.
Should You Visit Seili?
Admittedly, Seili is quiet. There’s not a lot going on in terms of activities, besides learning the dark history of this beautiful place, going for a walk amidst the beautiful nature, admiring the church and buildings, and saying hello to the friendly resident cows if you can spot them while they’re out to pasture.
For a short day trip from Turku, it’s a perfect way to spend a few hours. The boat leaves at 10 AM, drops you off right before noon, and picks you up again around 4:30 PM, returning by 6:15 PM.
That’s just about the right amount of time to explore Seili on foot with a guided tour, see the church, have a long lunch and cup of coffee, and walk back to the port at a leisurely pace.
It’s also right along the Short Archipelago Trail, a 100-kilometer loop connected by bridge and ferry throughout the Turku archipelago. If you’re doing that trail, visiting Seili is a perfect way to break up the journey and get a good night’s rest before continuing onwards on your trip.
If you’re a fan of peace, beauty,
isolation, and a hint of dark tourism: Seili is the perfect island to visit in
the Turku Archipelago for you.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’ve landed on this page, you’re probably a bit overwhelmed when it comes to deciding where to stay in Taipei, Taiwan.
It’s a huge, sprawling city of over 7 million people, and there so many different neighborhoods in Taipei, each having its own personality.
There’s sparkling Ximending with its neon lights, Shilin with its famous night market, Xinyi with its classic sights like Taipei 101: each Taipei neighborhood offers something different than the next.
However, choosing the best area to stay in Taipei is a little less daunting when you consider the fact that nowhere in Taipei is really that far away.
Thanks to the excellent and ridiculously efficient MRT system (seriously, it makes this girl who survived a decade of NYC’s MTA want to cry, it’s so good) you can get to all of the best Taipei districts in minutes, for around 50 cents a ride.
This perfect transportation system makes traveling between neighborhoods easy, making every location in Taipei honestly a pretty good one.
So, if you haven’t quite figured out where to stay in Taiwan’s vibrant capital city? I’ve got your back.
I’ve done the research, culling reviews of the best hotels in Taipei from various sources and checking maps to make sure my suggestions for where to stay in Taipei are in good locations.
I’ve picked the best Taipei hotels and hostels in each neighborhood, culminating in this ultimate guide to my top recommendations of the best places to stay in Taipei.
I’ll break this post down by neighborhood, giving a quick preview of the different districts in Taipei and why you’d want to stay in each Taipei neighborhood, what sights are there, and what kind of traveler it’s good for.
This way, you can pick the best district to stay in Taipei for your interests and desires. Then, I’ll give you three options for Taipei accommodations in that neighborhood, so you can find the best place to stay in Taipei for your budget.
Where to Stay in Taipei: Neighborhood by Neighborhood
Xinyi
Best for: luxury seekers, people who want to stay in the heart of Taipei, business travelers
If you’re looking for the best place to stay near Taipei 101, you’ve got to pick Xinyi.
This is where you’ll find the hottest restaurants and hotels to stay in Taipei. Though of course, with the near-perfect location comes higher prices, so if you are on a strict budget, this may not be the best Taipei neighborhood for you.
From Taipei 101 to Elephant Mountain, Xinyi offers a bit of everything, from soaring skylines to nature escapes.
From the metro you can be up Elephant Mountain mere minutes, with some of the best views of the Taipei area at your doorstop.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of world-class restaurants just a short walk from wherever you end up staying in Xinyi, so you can rest assured that an excellent meal is never more than a few minutes’ walk away.
For first timers, Xinyi may just be the best location to stay in Taipei (in my opinion!)
For an affordable Taipei lodging option near the Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) metro and Taipei 101, look to Home Hotel, which promises hospitality that’ll make you feel welcome no matter how far you’ve traveled.
Named two years in a row by the Michelin Guide, this hotel features simple but spacious rooms with a minimalist but comfortable design.
The large windows offer great views of the surrounding Xinyi cityscape, and some of the bathrooms even have their own soaking tubs.
This hotel also offers a fitness center, room service, and a 24/7 front desk in case you need anything during your stay.
While mid-range and budget options are slim in Xinyi, you’re spoiled for choice in the luxury department!
But if I had to pick one, I’d pick the W Taipei as the best hotel to stay in Taipei near the Taipei 101 building, specifically the Xinyi district.
I’ve stayed in W Hotels twice and always loved my experience. I love how they blend luxury and quirky in a way that feels tongue-and-cheek, not stuffy.
W Hotels are artsy, trendy, colorful, and chic, and the one in Taipei is no exception.
With 5 star amenities, including the WET outdoor pool with poolside bar, the luxe AWAY spa, and the hip on-site bar Woobar, the 400-square-meter FIT gym with state-of-the-art equipment, the chic restaurant YEN… you basically would never need to leave your hotel…
… but of course you will, because you’re in the best area of Taipei!
However, if you prefer a more classic take on luxury, there are some perfect options for you as well.
The Grand Hyatt in Taipei offers prestige and unparalleled 5-star service (I’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt during my time in Vienna, and it was marvelous).
Le Meridien Taipei is a perennial favorite among luxury hotel lovers and is often considered to be one of, if not the, best hotels in Taipei.
Da’an
Best for: people who want a quiet place to stay in Taipei, a more residential side to the city
Da’an is right next to Xinyi but the vibe couldn’t be more different.
Long a favorite with the expat community in Taipei, Da’an has a nice blend of residential buildings and quiet businesses catering to a foreigner-friendly crowd.
The biggest part in the city, Da’an Park, is right in the heart of the neighborhood, offering a buffer between the business of Xinyi and the peacefulness of Da’an.
For a glamorous yet affordable place to stay in Taipei’s quiet Da’an district, I recommend Madison Taipei.
Just 10 minute walk from the Da’an Metro station, it’s great option for travelers who want to see a less touristic side of Taipei.
Rooms are well-designed, with large and cozy beds, plenty of warm wood tones and freshly pressed white linens to give a minimalist yet comforting aesthetic.
The en-suite bathrooms are sleek and modern, with beautiful marble floors, fancy toilets, and even bespoke Madison Hotel slippers to use during your stay!
A multi-year winner of the World Luxury Hotel awards, this hotel offers great value for your stay!
For a glamorous place to stay in Taipei not far from Da’an Park, I recommend Chez Nous.
This gorgeous, trendy hotel is just two stops on the metro away from Taipei 101.
But even better, it’s just a short walk from one of my favorite streets in Taipei, Yongkang Shopping Street (where you’ll find the original branch of Din Tai Fung).
There’s also an on-site bar and restaurant if you don’t feel like exploring the neighborhood or just want a lazy meal in after a full day of exploring Taipei.
Rooms feature A/C, hardwood floors, flatscreen TVs, and basic kitchen amenities like coffee and tea makers and a mini-fridge.
All rooms have a seating area (some even have a duplex, two-story option!); some rooms even have a gorgeous private terrace area.
Rooms are beautifully furnished with lovely wood accents and vibrant blues, creating a calm oasis away from the bustle of Taipei.
Bathrooms are the true epitome of luxury, with marble floors and even soaking tubs with gorgeous brass accents on the knobs, as well as walk-in showers!
For the quality and the price, it’s one of the best hotel deals in Taipei.
Good for: staying in the heart of the action, young people and Instagram lovers
The heart of one of Taipei’s most attraction-filled areas, Zhongzheng is a great area to stay in Taipei if you are after its most photogenic places.
Home to the complex which houses Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the National Concert Hall, this square is iconic Taipei and it’s a must-visit on any Taipei itinerary.
There’s also the 2/28 Peace Park and several other gorgeous sights right in this area, plus it’s not far from Taipei Main Station for all your travel needs!
This charming budget hotel offers quite a lot for its budget price tag. Its location is great, near the iconic and beautiful 2/28 Peace Park.
Both Ximending and Taipei Main Station are a 10-minute walk away, so it’s truly as central as it gets!
The rooms are a little small but the space is put to good use, with many rooms featuring seating, work desks, and places to put your things, in addition to full-sized beds.
Note that the cheapest rooms don’t have windows, so if that’s a dealbreaker for you, look for the other rooms in this hotel!
This fun boutique hotel is located right within one of Taipei’s very own creative parks, a unique cultural institution you’ll find in Taiwan.
These parks mix restaurants, art installations, pop-up shops, and nature all into one place — and yes, some even have hotels, too, like Hua Shan Din at Huashan Creative Park.
From its gorgeous black and yellow-detailed exterior to its funky rooms with creative, cartoon-y wallpapers, this is a hotel where design has been thought of in every step of the process!
The premises are wild — think art gallery meets candy shop meets loft — and there’s always a free flow of snacks available to guests!
While it has great name recognition as part of the Sheraton brand, it’s also just a dang nice hotel in a lovely neighborhood midway between Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the Taipei Main Station MRT.
It’s right next to the lovely Shantao Temple and its accompanying MRT station, so it’s truly a lovely location!
The hotel offers 5-star luxury in the heart of it all, with great amenities like a day spa, fitness room, outdoor pool, and literally nine dining options (not like you need them in a city as fun to eat in as Taipei, but y’know, options are sweet!).
There’s a helpful concierge desk who can help you with any pressing Taipei questions and with making needed bookings.
While the facilities throughout the hotel are great, the rooms offer next-level luxury and privacy.
The rooms themselves are inspired by both Chinese and modern elements, providing ample workspace in the spacious rooms.
The bathrooms have a bathtub, excellent toiletries, and bathrobes for you to feel like a true luxury stay
One of the best places to stay in Taipei on a budget is CU Hotel.
It offers fantastic location as well as lovely aesthetics at an affordable price that will make any backpacker very, very happy — with a choice between both dorm-style rooms and private rooms.
This is one of the better cheap accommodations in Taipei and should be on the short list for any budget traveler!
The hostel rooms are very well-designed in a way that I wish more hostels were — simple things like privacy curtains and places to store your stuff next to your bed really go a long way.
For an affordable yet private place to stay, I recommend Bayman Hotelin Datong.
It’s still close to the Taipei Main Station MRT (about a 10-minute walk) but it’s in a more residential and relaxed neighborhood where you can unwind and get a feel for the real Taipei.
Datong isn’t the fanciest neighborhood of Taipei, but that does mean that you can get an excellent hotel for a fraction of the price of the luxury hotels you’ll find in Xinyi and Songshan.
I love the unique design of The Door Inn: everything is soft and white, so it’s literally like stepping into a cloud!
Despite the stark whiteness of everything, it manages to feel uber-cozy and peaceful (and not like a padded wall room).
Little touches add that sense of softness, whether it’s the inspiration wall art, plush bean bags to sit on, lovely balcony views, or little pops of greenery here and there.
It’s certainly a unique design and one that Instagrammers will appreciate!
Best for: people who love design hotels, business and luxury travelers, artsy people
Songshan is the area roughly above Xinyi and its skyscrapers and to the side of the fun shopping district of Zhongxiao.
It’s a great choice for business travelers and people looking for a slightly more creative variety of options when it comes to where to stay in Taipei.
There are lots of design hotels in this neighborhood as it’s inspired by the Songshan Creative and Cultural Park which is at the heart of this neighborhood.
In fact, one of my top Taipei hotel recommendations for Songshan is in the park itself!
It’s also close to other essential sights like Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and it’s not far from Raohe Night Market, which is often considered one of the most authentic local night markets.
This isn’t the cheapest area to stay in Taipei, but there are some hostel options, the best of which is Hostel Jiizu.
There’s a range of options from dorm beds to economy doubles and deluxe quadruples, so there’s something to suit virtually all budgets and group sizes.
It’s a little bare bones, especially in the dorm and economy rooms, but it’s clean, well-located, safe, and quiet, and the dorms have privacy curtains.
The shared bathrooms are also really nice, which is a huge plus!
For the price and location, it’s hard to find anything that offers similar quality at this price point!
For a super unique place to stay, check out arTree hotel, which is essentially the world’s classiest treehouse meets a 5-star hotel.
With the greenest lobby and dining area you can imagine, completely inspired by a canopy of trees, this hotel is designed beautifully while still being in the center of Taipei just a few minutes’ away from an MRT station.
Meanwhile, the rooms are entirely modern, with all the luxury amenities you’d expect: deep-set bathtubs, A/C, epic city views, delicious in-restaurant dining options, an upscale bar, a fitness center, a spa, the works!
For how creative and high-quality his hotel is, the prices are really quite affordable.
Want to stay in one of the most creative Taipei neighborhoods with tons of luxe perks at your fingertips?
Look no further than Eslite, which offers up luxury meets a dash of artsy creativity.
Located in Songshan Creative & Cultural Park, this 5-star hotel is one of the best hotels in Taipei, beautifully appointed with tons of amazing details like unending shelves of books in the lobby (swoon!).
With perks like private balconies, enormous beds, sunken bathtubs, in-room sound systems, you can stay in style at Eslite without paying an insane amount — this area is much cheaper than the area around Taipei 101!
Good for: young people who want to stay in the heart of the action in Taipei, people who love bright lights and buzzy areas
Often compared to Shinjuku in Tokyo or Dotonbori in Osaka, Ximending is where the young people in Taipei come to walk around, eat, and hang out in the neon-light glow of Ximending.
The larger district is called Wanhua, but people are generally more familiar with the Ximending area which surrounds the Ximen MRT station.
This is a great option for being centrally located in the heart of the action, but it can be a little crowded and thus a little noisy, so keep that in mind!
This may just be the most beautifully designed hostel in all of Taipei!
With a rooftop social area, funky design in all its common areas, social events that the hostel hosts, and in-house laundry, Meander Taipei is a hostel you could actually settle into.
It has an amazing central location in Ximending, one of the most bustling neighborhoods of Taipei all times of day, but especially the evenings!
The dorm rooms are well-designed and colorful, with privacy curtains and individual bunk lights so you can have your own little area of the room.
But there are also some lovely double and triple rooms, also for an affordable price, less than $100 per night.
The trendy Cho Hotel has one of the best locations in Taipei, a two-minute walk from the Ximen MRT and the Red House theater.
It’s a design hotel, so expect a fun and aesthetically pleasing environment that will surprise you!
There are lots of lounge areas where you can relax and enjoy the creativity of the space.
It almost feels like a very artsy friend’s house with all the different rooms to lounge in and explore.
There are a variety of rooms, ranging from basic double (note that these are windowless) for a very affordable price all the way up to luxury quadruples which are great for families or groups of friends traveling together!
No matter the room type, the rooms are clean and cozy, feature cool murals, and have modern en-suite bathrooms.
For the price point, it’s a great choice in Ximending.
A 10-minute walk from Ximending (or take the free shuttle bus there!), the 5-star Taipei Garden Hotel is a great pick for a luxury stay in Taipei.
With spacious, no-nonsense rooms with stunning city views and modern bathrooms (some with bath tubs!), the hotel is fairly standard in terms of its room design.
Where it stands out, though, is its amenities, including a spa with treatment rooms and a fitness center.
If you want a spa stay without a huge price tag of some of the other 5-star hotels in Taipei, this is a great pick.
Best for: people who want to be at the heart of Taipei’s transportation options and are planning multiple day trips, people on a short stay to Taipei
While not in and of itself the most fun neighborhood in Taipei, for its ease of access to virtually everywhere in the city and beyond, Taipei Main Station is unparalleled.
For a budget-conscious yet fun place to stay near Taipei Main Station, I highly recommend the funky Morwing Hotel – Culture Vogue.
It has extremely affordable private rooms with A/C just a 5-minute walk from the Main Station, perfect for all travel opportunities.
The rooms are quirky and colorful, with themes that veer a bit on the strange side of things (room designs encompass everything from Milan to Le Petit Prince to anime characters to Santorini…).
But hey – for the price and the location, it’s hard to find fault!
Guests agree, giving it high points for its location, cleanliness, price, and friendly staff.
If you value location and comfort over cohesive aesthetic principles, it’s a great choice.
If you’re looking for an affordable yet beautiful and trendy place to stay in Taipei Main Station’s vicinity, I highly, highly recommend citizenM North Gate.
That’s because Taipei is home to one of my favorite affordable hotel chains, citizenM (I stayed with them in Shoreditch, London and loved it!).
I love booking rooms with citizenM because I know that I’m going to get a well-designed room at an affordable price, without having to pay for a bunch of luxuries I won’t use.
The design is fun and quirky, with a real sense of personality that is missing from many hotel chains.
You always know when you are stepping into a citizenM and I love that!
To be as close to Taipei Main Station as possible without, y’know, actually sleeping in it, I recommend Caesar Park.
This glam 4-star hotel has all the amenities you need in the perfect location, 400 meters from Taipei Main Station.
There’s an on-site restaurant and spa, so it’s a great place to unwind after a long flight to Taipei when you need to recover from jet lag, as it’s only one hour door to door from Taoyuan Airport.
The room decor isn’t super modern (think carpets and bland curtains), but it’s quite comfortable and spacious.
If you want a super design-focused hotel, there are better options (check the offerings in Songshan) but if you just want a clean, luxurious stay in one of the best locations in Taipei, Caesar Park is a great choice.
Bordering Songshan and Datong, the Zhongshan neighborhood is the perfect place to stay for trendy travelers!
If you love funky boutiques (and fast fashion), quirky and Instagrammable cafés, trendy restaurants, sleek bars and nightlife options — this is the place for you.
Whereas Taipei can generally be a bit of a quiet city after dark, Zhongshan is the exception as this is where many of the city’s best bars can be found as it’s sort of the unofficial nightlife district.
It’s also the most LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood in the city, so this is a great place to stay in Taiwan for LGBTQ travelers as well as anyone hip, fun, and tolerant!
There aren’t too many hostels in the area, but if you want to stay in a budget-friendly place in Zhongshan I recommend 4Plus Hostel.
Housed in a quirky mint-green building, on the inside the hostel is quite comfortable.
The lounge areas aren’t anything special but the rooms are really well-done!
Each bunk in the female dorm and 4-bed dorm has a privacy curtain, USB charging ports, outlets, and reading lamps: the recipe for a perfect hostel set up.
Note that the 6-bed mixed dorm doesn’t have quite the same nice setup, so keep an eye out and check the photos of your room type before booking.
If you want to stay in affordable luxury in Taipei’s fun Zhongshan district, I’d pick Green World Grand NanJiang.
With a straight-up glamorous lobby that will make you shocked at how affordable the hotel is, this is one of the best options in the trendy nightlife and shopping district of Zhongshan.
We’re talking spacious rooms, huge bathrooms with bathtubs included, and a fantastic breakfast spread including dumplings…. brb, booking myself in now.
With a fantastic location close to the MRT, it’s a wonderful place to stay in Taipei.
The Hilton brand is synonymous with luxury everywhere, and that’s definitely no exception for the lovely Doubletree By Hilton Zhongshan.
With everything from twin rooms to king suites, there’s something for everyone in this hip hotel.
The rooms are your standard luxury hotel offering – crisp white sheets, comfortable beds with fluffy linens, great views, TVs, the works.
Some rooms have extra perks, like the corner king suite with a soaking bathtub with incredible views of Taipei. But even the standard rooms are quite lush and welcoming!
The hotel has all the amenities you’d expect from a four-star hotel, including a fitness center, on-site restaurant, and concierge service.
Best for: foodies and budget-savvy travelerswho don’t mind spending a few more minutes on the MRT to get more bang for their buck
The biggest (and in my opinion, best) night market in the city can be found in Shilin, and the neighborhood has basically become synonymous with its night market.
But even by day, it’s a great area to stay in Taipei: quiet as it’s away from the main hustle and bustle of downtown, but bursting with businesses and shops at all hours of day.
It’s also close to the the buses to Yangmingshan National Park, one of my favorite city escapes from Taipei, which leave from the Jiantan MRT.
This was my first stop where I stayed in Taipei, and I highly recommend it to foodie travelers who want to have one of Taipei’s best night markets literally on their back door.
Yes, it’s touristic, but that means you won’t have issues communicating with vendors and you’ll be able to try all the Taipei must-eats all under one (non)roof.
For a place to stay near the Shilin Night Market, Papersun Hotel is just 400 meters away from the action!
It’s also a cute but affordable design hotel, with an intriguing interior (think: rainbow sculptures of animals meets white-spined bookcases — a classic combination, I know).
The rooms are also quirky and full of personality, with pops of color in fun hues like yellow and lime green, livening up the otherwise rather plain room.
For a good price and a great location, this is the place to stay in Shilin!
Just 100 meters from the Shilin Night Market, Tango Inn Taipei Jihen is the best mid-range option in the area!
Plus, you’re so close you’re practically inside the market.
The hotel design manages to be both eclectic and aesthetically pleasing, with greenery-covered walls, mix-and-match carpets, and brightly colored details.
Inside the rooms, the color palettes are more restrained: think faux-wood walls, white sheets, and bright wardrobes or chairs for a needed pop of color.
The en-suite bathrooms too are very modern, with step-in showers and high-tech toilets.
Not to be confused with the above, similarly-named hotel, The Tango Hotel is a great option in Taipei.
It has a few locations around Taipei but it’s the Shilin location that catches my eye.
The hotel has a lot of perks that other top hotels in Taipei don’t have, like an outdoor swimming pool (great in summer when Taipei gets crazy hot).
And if you’re visiting in a season when using the outdoor pool is a no-go, there’s also a jacuzzi!
The rooms are gorgeously designed, minimalist without being too bare. Mostly done in shades of white, neutral, and black, there is a very elegant look that complements the hotel’s location with views of the greenery outside perfectly.
Some rooms even have terraces with mountain views of Yangmingshan National Park, and some rooms have jacuzzi bathtubs (can this be a thing in every hotel from now on, please?).
For the quality of the hotel, it’s a fantastic price, and all because you’re just a few more stops out of Taipei city center on the MRT.
Best for: people who really want to relax and not feel like they’re in a city, people who want a spa and wellness experience
If you’re looking for a wellness-inspired getaway while in you’re in Taipei, Beitou is the obvious choice.
It’s one of the best places to stay in Taiwan for health and relaxation.
While easily connected to the rest of Taipei by MRT, the neighborhood of Beitou offers plenty of spa hotels.
They all boast natural mineral-rich waters which come from geothermal activity from the volcanic landscape of Taiwan!
The best example of said activity can be seen at the incredible (and incredibly foul-smelling!) Hell Valley, where water so hot it nearly boils as it meets the air floats beautifully into the sky above.
A hostel in the middle of a luxury hot springs destination? It surprised me too!
But the On My Way Hostel in Beitou looks amazing for travelers on a budget who still want to get their feet wet and enjoy the Beitou hot springs area without spending a fortune on a luxury hotel.
With lots of shared common space including a lounge area and kitchen and bright, clean, cluttered dorm rooms, On My Way provides a social atmosphere in a less touristic part of town.
It’s conveniently close to some of Taipei’s hot springs, which can be enjoyed for just a small fee!
If you don’t want to stay in a hostel (same) bud don’t have the budget for the 5-star Grand View Resort (same), there’s definitely plenty in the middle for you to enjoy in Beitou!
The 4-star Beitou Hot Spring Resort is a fantastic option for travelers who are budget-minded, but also want to splurge a little bit on a one-of-a-kind experience.
I mean, how often can you stay in a hotel where you have your very own steam room and hot spring tub in your room (for under $200 a night, no less)?
To me Beitou Hot Springs Hotel strikes the perfect balance of luxurious yet attainable, great for a special stay if you’re not someone who typically splurges on luxury experiences.
There’s a hot spring bath, jacuzzi, and massage center on site so you can relax in or outside of your room.
The on-site Chinese restaurant serves up incredible dishes, including a complimentary breakfast with dim sum!
As a budget-savvy traveler, who knows when to save and when to splurge, it’d be my personal choice for where to stay in Taipei’s Beitou area.
By far the best hotel in Beitou is Taipei’s Grand View Resort. It’s the top 5-star resort in the Beitou area, making it a no-brainer for a luxury hotel in Taipei.
It’s located a 10-minute drive from the Xinbeitou MRT, but there is a free shuttle that can bring you there and back as needed.
Located in the heart of Taipei’s hot springs area, this beautiful resort was designed by the same architect as the Taipei 101, Li Zuyuan – yup, that’s some pretty big accolades, and reason enough to stay there in my mind!
The on-site restaurant is run by a chef trained in culinary arts in Paris, who can prepare both Chinese and French cuisines with a skillful hand.
Despite how luxurious the hotel is, it keeps a restrained hold on its aesthetics with a focus on natural touches and neutral colors.
The interiors are framed with timber and there are gorgeous cypress trees on the property.
You can relax in the white sulfur hot springs, the spa, or at the pool, or work up a sweat at the fitness center.
But best of all, every single room has its own private hot and cold spring so that you can bathe in total privacy.
It’s not a cheap hotel in Taipei, but it is truly world-class luxury.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Switzerland tops many people’s bucket lists: from its scenic trains and soaring glaciers to its pristine lakes and picturesque cities, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with.
But planning a trip to Switzerland can be complicated, especially if you’re traveling on a budget without wanting to skimp on experiences.
I’ve gone over all the steps you need to create this simple 11-step Switzerland trip planner, to hold your hand and guide you through the process.
Planning a vacation to Switzerland may seem overwhelming at first but if you break it down bit by bit, you can tackle it one piece at a time.
Travel Checklist for Planning a Trip To Switzerland
Step 1: See if you need a visa
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Zone – so you’ll need a Schengen visa!
While not part of the EU, Switzerland is part of the Schengen zone, meaning that you’ll need a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland.
Citizens of the following countries are not required to get a visa to visit the Schengen zone for less than 90 days out of the last 180 days.
Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor Leste, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, U.A.E., U.S.A., Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela
If you’re not on this list, check out this site for more information on getting a Schengen visa. Unfortunately, I’m not qualified to help on this step, so contact an embassy or a local travel agent if you have any questions about applying for a visa.
Step 2: Book your tickets!
Train is my favorite way to travel through Switzerland!
I generally use a combination of Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the best possible tickets in Europe. Skyscanner in particular is good at aggregating all the budget airlines and even combining tickets where it makes sense (such as flying into one European city and then switching airlines to a budget airline, booking two separate tickets to save money).
Depending on where you’re flying from, you could pay anywhere from $40 USD to fly roundtrip from somewhere in Europe that has a budget airline connection (I can often find really cheap flights between Switzerland and Sofia, Bulgaria, where I currently live).
If you’re traveling from Asia, the Middle East, or North America, you’re likely looking are a cost more along the lines of $400 USD roundtrip if you can get a steal, and all the way up to $1000 USD roundtrip for a more typical price (possibly higher in peak season).
Step 3: Plan your Switzerland itinerary
Make sure you spend at least some time exploring the Swiss mountains!
I’ve created a 10-day Switzerland itinerary that you can follow, which you can read here. It also includes suggestions on how to lengthen and shorten your trip.
I generally recommend flying into one airport like Zurich and another like Geneva so that you can cover more ground without having to backtrack. Of course, if you’re visiting Switzerland as part a larger Euro-trip which you are doing by train, you can do this quite easily.
If you’re a bit overwhelmed with planning your own itinerary, there are some affordable group trips that actually take the stress out for you. Whereas often, group trips will be a good deal more expensive than planning a DIY itinerary, in Switzerland you can actually often get a good deal. This is because tour operators often have exclusive discounts on tours and activities which they then pass onto you.
I recommend checking out Switzerland itineraries on TourRadar, as they break it down to a per-day cost so that you can find the best bang for your buck when it comes to planning a Switzerland trip. I saw everything from around 100 euros per person per day for hiking trips to 250 euros per person per day for guided tours, so it’s actually really quite affordable compared to planning your own trip. Check out itineraries & compare prices here.
Step 4: Budget your trip
Luckily, delicious Swiss chocolate is just a buck apiece (and hiking is free, free, free!)
How much does a trip to Switzerland cost? Unfortunately – a lot. It’s up there with Iceland as the most expensive country I’ve ever visited.
I traveled to Switzerland on as much of a budget as I could and still spent way more than I thought I would!
On average, I paid $25-40 USD a night for a bed… in a dorm with a shared bathroom. I spent about $10 per take-away meal from a grocery store or small kiosk selling sausages and the like, and $15 for McDonalds when I wanted to “treat myself.” Regular restaurants were too expensive for my budget at around $30+ USD for a simple meal like a burger.
My train pass was covered by Swiss Travel System because I was working on a project for them, but if I had to pay for it out of pocket, I would have paid about $600 for 8 days of travel (which would have been cheaper than booking everything independently as I took advantage of all the free scenic trains and discounts that are included on the pass).
So, for a backpacking budget, I’d say you’re still looking at approximately $50-100 a day, depending on how many meals out you’re going to eat, how you’re getting around, how much you move around (visit less cities to save some serious funds as transportation is a big expense), and where you stay. If you’re planning to add on any adrenaline activities, like paragliding or canyon swinging, prepare to pay a premium!
For families and couples traveling on a budget but not necessarily staying in hostels, I’d budget around $150-200 per day per adult including transportation, and maybe an extra $50 per day per kid if applicable. Kids 15 and under are included for free on your Swiss Travel Pass when traveling with a parent or guardian, and food for kids should cost less.
Heads up if you’re traveling as a family with a youngster who needs a crib: hotels in Switzerland often charge an obscene sum — as much as $50 per hotel! — to rent a crib. My friends who traveled in Switzerland as a family recommend bringing a travel crib (they suggest the Phil & Teds travel crib) to save money. Especially if you’re visiting several different places in Switzerland, all these fees can add up, so a travel crib can be a budget-saver.
For couples and families who have a bigger budget to stretch, there’s pretty much no limit to the spending. A luxury hotel will cost around $400-500 per night, day trips like visiting Titlis or Jungfraujoch cost about $100-200 per person, and you can easily spend $50 per person on a meal, just to give you a benchmark.
Step 5: Plan your activities
This is free with the Swiss Travel Pass!
This goes hand in hand with your budget. If you are traveling on a budget, I recommend getting a Swiss Travel Pass and taking advantage of all the inclusions and discounts on that. It’s pricy, but it becomes your transportation and activities all in one!
For example, you could do the Mt. Rigi & Mt. Pilatus scenic trains, steamboats across Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne, the Belle Epoque scenic Schynigge Platte rain, cable cars up the mountains, and visiting Chillon Castle in Montreux — a great destination in both summer and winter for its Christmas market.
If you have a little more to spend, there are some really cool extras that you could add on to your Swiss Itinerary. I’ve gone over them in detail on my best places to visit in Switzerland post, but I’ll include my recommendations for top day trips and activities for the main Swiss cities below.
This Wes Anderson-esque hotel can be found in Murren, near Lauterbrunnen
I strongly recommend booking your accommodations well in advance, especially if you are planning a trip to Switzerland on a budget, since the best and most budget-friendly places tend to sell out quite fast.
I’ve gathered my recommendations for the main cities you might visit all in one place, so check out below.
Step 7: Research vaccinations & prepare travel medicine kit
You’ll want meds on hand in case you get ill!
While Switzerland is one of the safest countries to visit, I always suggest people double-check the CDC’s travel vaccination recommendations and making sure they’re up-to-date on routine shots, particularly things like tetanus that require boosters.
I also strongly recommend prepping a mini travel medicine + first aid kit, including basic over-the-counter medicine, plus any prescription medication, and some basic first-aid like bandaids, Neosporin, and a bandage in case you hurt an ankle.
Incidentally, on my trip to Switzerland, I got super super sick with the flu (in the middle of summer, go figure) and having my travel medical kit on hand saved the day as I was in no state to head out to the pharmacy, considering that even walking up a flight of stairs nearly made me pass out. I was able to take some Pepto-Bismol to stop the vomiting and Imodium to help with the… other end, and some ibuprofen to reduce my fever. It helped, and by the next day, I was feeling semi-human again and didn’t have to go to the hospital like I once feared.
And while I’m on that note – make sure that travel insurance is part of your travel medicine kit! In case anything goes wrong, you’ll want to make sure that you can get medical care without bankrupting yourself and ruining your trip. I use World Nomads.
Step 8: Learn some basic French & Swiss-German phrases (and possibly Italian)
Reading German comes in handy in the Bernese Oberland
Generally, people in Switzerland speak some English because the country is multi-lingual and English often bridges the divide between, say, French-speaking Swiss and German-speaking Swiss. Still, it’s always polite to greet people in their native language while traveling.
Here are a few useful French phrases which you will want to use in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, which includes the following cantons: Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura.
If you’re traveling in German-speaking Switzerland, which is most of the country (the following cantons: Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Glarus, Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Uri, Zug, and Zürich)… German will be helpful!
Hello – Guten tag Thank you – Danke Please – Bitte Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen (pronounced “off vee-der-zen”)
Only about 7% of Switzerland speaks Italian, primarily in the Ticino canton, but if you plan a trip that includes Lugano or that general area, here are a few helpful Italian phrases.
Hello – Buon giorno! Thank you – Grazie Please – Per favore Goodbye – Ciao!
Step 9: Pack your bags
Luckily for you, I’ve already written a super-comprehensive guide to what to pack for Switzerland, for all seasons and genders. You can read it here.
If you just want the greatest hits of what to pack for Switzerland, here are my top 5 recommendations.
An adaptor: Annoyingly, Switzerland uses a slightly different outlet (Type J) than the rest of continental Europe. While sometimes continental Europe adaptors will work in some outlets, some are more fussy, and I ended up needing to buy a Switzerland-specific adaptor. This Type J adaptor has several outlets so you can plug in multiple devices into one adaptor, which is handy.
A guidebook: While I use travel blogs for much of my travel research (and clearly you do too!), I love a good old-fashioned guidebook as well. Lonely Planet Switzerland is recently updated and full of excellent travel inspiration and budget restaurant advice. Rick Steves’ Switzerland is also a winner. I typically download the Kindle version and bring it on my Kindle Paperwhite to minimize how much space it takes up in my bag
A rain jacket & packable down jacket: Switzerland’s weather is quite temperamental, so having a lightweight waterproof rain jacket is a must. I love my Marmot PreCip rain jacket and bring it with me everywhere – it’s lasted me years. If you plan on visiting any mountains, you’ll likely want to bring an extra layer with you – it’s cold up there even if it is sunny (and snow is possible even in the summer)! I love having this packable down jacket that I can easily roll up and place in my bag.
An anti-theft bag: While Switzerland is generally pretty safe, there is a risk of pickpockets in the major cities like Geneva, Zürich, and Lucerne. I deter thieves by carrying a stylish but practically indestructible travel backpack with security features like locking zippers, RFID blockers, and slash-proof material. PacSafe is my favorite travel security item brand (this is the exact PacSafe backpack I love and bring on every city trip).
A reusable water bottle: Water in Switzerland is safe to drink everywhere and you will find public fountains in most cities spouting out pure, glacial water that is better than anything you can buy. Save some serious money and the environment by carrying your own reusable water bottle like this Klean Kanteen.
Step 10: Prepare for your arrival
Depending on what airport you land in (or train station you arrive to) you will have to plan your route between your arrival point and your first hotel. I strongly recommend looking up public transportation ahead of time or arranging a private transfer in advance, so you’re not caught off guard on arrival.
You should also decide if you are going to use a roaming plan on your phone or if you will purchase a local SIM card or WiFi device for your trip. Doing this research in advance can save you some nasty surprises on your phone bill!
I also recommend to have a bit of cash on hand in case your debit card gets declined for fraud when trying to withdraw cash when you arrive. Euros or USD are always a good bet and easy to convert into Swiss francs. Note that the Swiss franc is basically on par with the dollar, so easy conversions there. Credit cards are widely accepted in Switzerland, but there’s always the odd place that only accepts cash, so you’ll want to be prepared with both.
I generally always recommend you withdraw money from an ATM rather than converting cash that you’ve brought into the country with you. Your bank will usually give you a better exchange rate than a money-changer will. Don’t be tricked just because the money-changing booth says 0% commission – often, they make this up by offering a bad exchange rate.
Step 11: Don’t forget travel insurance
From hiking accidents to random illnesses, you’ll want to be covered by travel insurance!
I touched on it super briefly above, but I wanted to remind you while it’s fresh on your mind — travel insurance is a good idea for Switzerland and for travel in general!
I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for years. It’s nice to have the peace of mind it gives me in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption. Don’t think that just because Switzerland is a safe country that it’s not necessary – accidents and illness can happen anywhere, and I almost needed to visit a hospital during my time in Switzerland and was so grateful I had travel insurance in case I had needed to check myself into the emergency room.
While Switzerland is super safe to travel around, there’s always some risk inherent in everyday travel, so it’s better to play it safe. The last thing you want is for an illness, crime, or accident to ruin your trip – so it’s better to be prepared!
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, I’m sure you’ve daydreamed of its many colorful walls, ornate doors, aromatic spices, and busy markets chock-full of dreamy décor.
You probably have bookmarked a few Instagrammable spots you want to check out, and maybe you’ve gone so far as to sketch out your desired itinerary.
But there’s a lot more that goes into planning a vacation to Morocco than meets the eye at first glance, and I’m here to help you plan the trip of a lifetime with minimal effort using this simple Morocco trip planner checklist!
AKA, I’m helping you learn from my mistakes so you have a much better time than I did.
Morocco is not a country you want to show up unprepared to. It’s not a destination for travelers who still have their training wheels on.
Harassment is constant, whether it’s sexual in nature or simply vendors/guides trying to get you to make a purchase.
In the medinas, you can’t really take much at face value; directions are often wrong and signs often lie, trying to lure you into a specific shop.
Basically, you need to adjust your expectations and prepare yourself mentally that Morocco is not a relaxing destination.
But, with preparation, you can reduce a lot of stresses and end up enjoying your trip due to your advance planning.
So, without further ado, here’s how to plan a trip to Morocco without the stress or hassle.
Planning a Trip to Morocco in 11 Simple Steps
Step 1: Check visa requirements
Morocco has a pretty permissive visa policy. At present, here are the nationalities that do not require a visa for stays less than 90 days (but please confirm with your country’s embassy to Morocco before going forward as policies sometimes change).
All EU citizens, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Gabon, Hong Kong (30 days), Iceland, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore (30 days), South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, U.A.E., U.S.A.
Citizens of the Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Mali must receive an electronic travel authorization but do not need a proper visa. Citizens from all other countries not mentioned here require an official visa from a Moroccan embassy, so if you are from a country that is not visa-exempt, check your country’s Moroccan embassy website to see requirements.
Also, be 100% sure that your passport has at least 6 months validity in it. If it does not, there is a huge likelihood that your plane will refuse to allow you to board, and even if you do get to Morocco, they may refuse to let you in if your passport is due to expire within the next 6 months.
Step 2: Book your tickets!
How much is a flight to Morocco? When planning a Morocco vacation, a large part of the cost will depend on where you are coming from, obviously, as well as where you fly into.
The main airports in Morocco are Marrakech (RAK), Rabat (RBA), Casablanca (CMN), and Fes (FEZ). If you are flexible with where you arrive, you may find better deals.
I generally use Skyscanner in order to take advantage of their powerful search engine which allows you to search multiple dates as well as multiple airports.
If you’re coming from the U.S. or Asia, expect to pay at least $500 USD roundtrip unless you get a major deal. If you are flying from Europe, though, you are in luck — flights to Morocco can often be less than $10 USD each way when you encounter a promotion!
If you are trying to save money on a flight, you may want to compare what it would cost to fly into Europe to a country that has cheap flights to Morocco and see if then taking a budget airline flight from there is cheaper. There are typically good deals to Morocco from major French, German, and British cities.
Step 3: Plan your Morocco itinerary
I’m in the process of creating a Morocco itinerary you can easily replicate, but you can start with my 3 day Marrakech itinerary.
If you have a short trip to Morocco, I’d recommend spending it in Marrakech as it has the most things that are of interest to tourists and generally is one of the cheaper airports to fly into, especially from Europe.
If you have more time, I’d recommend adding on a trip to the desert (read my guide here).
That adds another 3 days to your itinerary. So if you only have one week in Morocco, I’d just do 4 days in Marrakech (allowing one day for a day trip) plus 3 days on a desert tour which includes return transfers from Marrakech.
If you have more time, I’d opt for a desert tour that ends in Fes (like this one) so you can spend about 2 days in Fes (optional), then another 2-3 days in Chefchaeouen, my personal favorite place in Morocco. You can spend a few days exploring the photogenic blue medina and spend a day hiking in Akchour.
From there, it’s easiest to depart via Tangier as it’s only a 2.5 hour bus ride, or you could also go back to Rabat (the capital) or Casablanca (one of Morocco’s most beloved cities). That’s enough to easily fill in another week or so.
If you had more time still, you could continue down the coastline to Essaouira and Taghazout before circling back to Marrakech and flying out. For that itinerary, I’d recommend about 3 weeks.
There are also multi-day tours you can take if you’d like to take some of the stress out of planning a vacation to Morocco.
This 7-day whirlwind tour incorporates Marrakech, Ait Ben-Haddou, Ourzazete, the Sahara, Fes, Meknes, Casablanca, and Rabat, before returning to Marrakech. If you have limited time and you really want to see all of Morocco, this is the best tour, but it’s very fast-paced.
A shorter but slower-paced trip would be this 4-day tour which encompasses Fes, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech, but skips the desert.
Step 4: Budget your trip
Before you can get booking tours/activities and accommodations, I think it’s helpful to have your budget in mind for your trip so you can create an appropriate Morocco travel plan.
So, how much does a trip to Morocco cost? Really, almost whatever you want it to.
You can really spend a wide range in Morocco. If you are planning a trip to Morocco on a budget, it’s quite possible to see the country for about $30 a day, but this means you will be limited in terms of shopping, activities, and accommodation options.
Honestly, after having done it, I don’t recommend visiting Morocco as a backpacker as I think it’s much better experienced as a mid-range traveler.
There are so many great activities and day trips that will not quite do the trick on a backpacker budget.
For example, transportation between cities can be quite pricy, and the experience of staying in a riad is simply a Morocco must-do (I wouldn’t want to go to Morocco and stay in a hostel, not when there are beautiful riads to stay in all over the country!).
Mid-range travelers, family travelers in Morocco, and luxury travelers will have a much better time in Morocco.
A beautiful riad can be had for about $50-70 USD per night for a couple or family traveling Morocco with kids, which gives you plenty of wiggle room to spend on shopping, activities, and meals.
A budget of $100 per day per person in Morocco will give you a pretty luxurious experience, staying in gorgeous riads, eating as much as you want, enjoying massages at hammams, going on day trips and activities, etc.
Meanwhile, if you really want to spend, the sky is your limit as there are lots of gorgeous luxury properties like La Mamounia and Riad Yasmin which can easily go for upwards of $500 per night.
I recommend deciding in advance what you want to spend in total, breaking that into a per-day, per-person cost.
Allocate about 1/3 of that for accommodations, 1/3 for activities, and 1/3 for incidentals and extras like shopping, transportation between cities, and meals.
That should give you a good benchmark for how to budget for Morocco.
Step 5: Plan Your Activities
This advice may be a bit controversial as some people say you should wait until you get to Morocco to book activities as you can often haggle a better price in person.
I’m talking no A/C on the bus on 115 F degree days, assuring me the transfer onwards to Fes was included when in fact it wasn’t, taking me to a scammy rug shop where they replaced the rug I purchased with something that was falling apart at the seams…
Oh, and I woke up with my desert guide in my face presumably moments away from groping me in my sleep.
So, after that, I highly recommend booking all your Morocco activities in advance so that you can be sure of their safety and reputation, as there’s not exactly much transparency when it comes to dealing with tour vendors in the souks, who will tend to promise you the world and wait until you are far, far away before you realize they weren’t exactly truthful.
While Morocco is safe, scams involving tourists abound, so do your research ahead of time to avoid being disappointed.
You may pay a little more, but you are much less likely to be disappointed or tricked, and honestly, that’s worth paying for to me.
If you’re comfortable taking a gamble in pursuit of a bargain, you can wait to book until you’re in Marrakech, but as someone who did just that – I don’t recommend it.
For me, I enjoy a blend of independent travel and structured activities. I recommend touring Morocco on your own, and combining it with classes, activities, and day trips with locals to enrich your experience.
I’ll briefly list a few of the activities I think would be crucial to enjoying a Morocco trip and you can piece it together to create the perfect trip for yourself – just click the link to read more about each activity.
Of course, you can’t go to Morocco and not stay in a riad! So, what exactly is a riad?
Basically, a riad is a Moroccan traditional home that has been converted into guesthouse, with a gorgeous inner courtyard that is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of hectic Moroccan cities.
Budget: Nondescript on the outside, Riad Dar Maria is gorgeous and cozy on the inside. Its updated design makes the indoor courtyard a lovely place to relax, and comfortable private rooms with A/C offer excellent value for the price. The riad is family-run and they treat you like one of their own. Highly recommended by fellow travelers with a 9.5 average rating on Booking.com. Click here to see lowest prices and current availability.
Mid-range: The lovely Riad Enchanté lives up to its name – it will truly delight and enchant you. With stunning tilework, a rooftop terrace (with jacuzzi!), large rooms with A/C, and amazing attention to detail (check out those lovely wooden doors), you’ll probably never want to leave this homey, delightful riad. Click here to see lowest prices and current availability.
Luxury: For five-star comfort at not insanely outrageous prices you can’t do much better than Villa Lavande, a traditional riad with a comfortable in-house hammam, a gorgeous pool, air conditioning (a must if you travel in summer), and helpful staff. Cooking lessons are available on-site in case you fancy learning how to make your own tajine… or you can simply eat at the in-house restaurant beloved by guests. It’s located in the medina but away from the hustle and bustle, the best of both worlds. Click here to see lowest prices and current availability.
Also, if you’re planning to spend time glamping in the Sahara desert, read my guide to the best luxury campsites in the Sahara Desert here — it’ll help you narrow down your choices from the huge field of options!
Step 7: Research any vaccinations you may need & prepare a travel medicine kit
The CDC is my guideline when checking travel vaccinations for different countries. They recommend checking that you’re up-to-date in terms of boosters for the following common vaccinations: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, chickenpox, and polio. They also strongly recommend Hepatitis A and typhoid, both of which can be gotten from contaminated food or water.
Other potential vaccines you may want to consider are Hepatitis B and rabies. Rabies is possible in Morocco, and a tourist recently died of rabies after being bitten by a cat. Keep in mind that even if you get the rabies vaccine, you still need to get post-exposure shots after a potential encounter with a rabid animal.
If you get bitten or scratched by an animal while in Morocco, whether you’ve been previously vaccinated or not, you need to seek immediate medical attention and doctors can assess whether or not to give the post-exposure series of shots. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal, but the vaccine is 100% effective if given in time after exposure, so please don’t take any chances.
I had to do a series of rabies post-exposure shots after a cat bite in Ukraine and while it was annoying, especially since I had to coordinate the shots over 3 different countries, I am glad I took the precaution.
In terms of travel medicine kit, I always recommend having the following items in your mini first-aid kit: stomach tablets like Pepto Bismol, anti-diarrheal like Imodium, motion sickness pills like Dramamine, and painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin. Be sure to also bring sunscreen and a strong mosquito repellent, preferably with DEET, as well as some after-care for the inevitable bites. A topical antibiotic and bandaids are also great for any bumps or scrapes. More on this in my Morocco packing list section!
Step 8: Learn a few common Arabic words and phrases
While French is widely spoken in Morocco, and it can come in handy if you already speak French, if you are going to learn a few phrases I recommend learning the Moroccan Arabic (Darija) phrases which tend to be more widely understood. In the North, Spanish is widely spoken – I found it useful in both Chefchaouen and Tangier.
Moroccans are quite talented linguists, and on one occasion I had a conversation with a taxi driver in no less than 4 languages (Arabic, Spanish, French, and English!). It’s not uncommon to meet Moroccans who speak 4+ languages – especially shopkeepers, who love to impress you with a litany of greetings in a variety of languages hoping they’ll land on your language!
Generally, most people who work in service or tourism will have at least a functional understanding of English, and younger people in cities tend to have a fairly high level of English. However, you may not get very detailed answers to your questions unless you hire a qualified English-language tour guide.
Regardless of the language abilities, I still recommend you learn a few Darija phrases to show respect to the country you’re visiting!
Hello – As-salaam alaykum Thank you – Shukrun Please – Afak Excuse me – Smahli (add -ya if speaking to a woman) Yes – Iyah No – La No, thanks – La, shukrun (trust me, you’ll want this one)
It’s a small gesture, but it shows respect to the country you are visiting, so I highly recommend learning at least a few words: at minimum, hello and thank you.
Step 9: Pack your bags!
If you’re not sure what to pack for Morocco, I’ve got your back – I’ve written a Morocco packing list here. It’s geared towards female travelers, as that’s my experience, but men may find some of the recommendations useful as well and can just substitute out their own clothing and toiletry recommendations. I include all the recommended dress for women there so please refer to it as this article is already quite long already!
I recommend bringing a backpack and not a suitcase to Morocco if you can. The medinas are quite annoying to roll a suitcase through and you have a lot more agility with a backpack. I use and love this Tortuga backpack for travel as it’s carry-on friendly yet can fit all I need for 3+ weeks of travel.
Keep in mind that pickpocketing is pretty common in crowded areas of Morocco, especially the Marrakech souks. I recommend this backpack with locking zippers which is made by PacSafe. It has a ton of security features – metal mesh that makes it slash-proof, locking zippers that can then be threaded into a hard-to-open clasp, and RFID blockers. It’s also very subtle and doesn’t look like a tempting, expensive bag. But just as importantly, it actually is quite cute and you won’t mind being seen or photographed with it!
Step 10: Prepare for your arrival
There are a few things you should do prior to arriving to make your life easier.
1) Download Google Maps for the city you’re arriving in. It’s not always the most helpful for the Moroccan medinas, which have too many alleyways that aren’t represented on the maps, but it’s a good start for getting oriented, so have it anyway.
2) Book a shuttle to get you to your hotel. Your hotel may offer you this service, or you can book a transfer online from a reputable company here for about $15 USD. Don’t get a taxi at the airport or you’ll likely get ripped off.
3) Figure out either if you’re going to use a roaming plan on your phone or if you can purchase a local SIM card or WiFi device. Doing this research in advance can save you a fortune!
4) Have some cash in USD or euros on hand in case you have any issues with withdrawing money from the ATM. You get a better rate withdrawing from the ATM than exchanging money, so I recommend using an ATM as much as possible and only exchanging your cash in an emergency.
Step 11: Don’t forget travel insurance!
I put this last so it’s fresh on your mind: travel insurance is a good idea for Morocco and for travel in general! I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for years. It’s nice to have the peace of mind it gives me in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption.
While Morocco is safe to travel around, there’s always risk inherent in everyday travel, so it’s better to play it safe. The last thing you want is for an illness, crime, or accident to ruin your trip – so it’s better to be prepared.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
