Miquel 3/9/26 Miquel 3/9/26

48 hours in Riyadh: what to do and what to see (Updated)

When I first published this post, it was meant to be a classical “48 hours in the city” type of article. However, successive business trips to the Saudi capital have allowed me to explore more of the city, to the point that I have kept adding more recommendations about what to do and what to see when visiting Riyadh. So, it may be quite challenging now to do it all in 48 hours.

Nevertheless, I still think the places and experiences that I list on this post are still mostly doable in a relatively short visit, so, in keeping with the theme of this site, I decided to keep the title while continuing to enrich the content.

The Saudi government is, in fact, investing heavily to make of the kingdom one of the top countries by number of visitors in the world: new airlines, airports, resorts and cities are in the menu. In fact, a whole new business district gleaming with new skyscrapers, hotels and office buildings appeared to have emerged out of nowhere in the short time since my earlier visit.

So, it is entirely possible that some Saudi cities may look quite different in a few years time, see for example, the massive restoration work that is going into restoring Jeddah’s historical district, but let’s focus on the Riyadh of 2026.

What interesting things can a visitor see and do in Riyadh already today? Let’s have a look…

Top thing to do in Riyadh

The bridge at the top of Riyadh’s Kingdom Center

If there’s an iconic building in Riyadh, this is the Kingdom Center, a 302m skyscraper with a very prominent “eye” at the top.

The very top level of the building, which acts as a bridge between the two sides of the opening, can actually be visited. And this is actually something I would recommend doing first if you find yourself with some spare time in Riyadh.

From the top of the Kingdom Center you have the best views of the city, giving you an idea of the extension covered by the urban sprawl. It is even possible to discern exactly where the city ends and the desert starts, without transition.

From here you can also get an excellent view of Riyadh’s central strip, which the Saudi authorities expect to develop, over time, as a sort of Dubai or Manhattan-like skyscraper district.

As of 2025, only a few of the planned high rises are currently standing. One of them is the Al Faisaliah Tower, which is another iconic skyscraper, with a roughly triangular shape and a giant 24-meter diameter ball at its top (you can see it in the picture opening this entry).

One thing that surprised me is that there was almost no one around when I visited, neither in the viewpoint, nor in the luxury mall at the base of the building. I counted about a dozen employees on my way to the top, but only a couple of other visitors in the whole time I spent there.

Nevertheless, the views were magnificent!

Riyadh Season & Boulevard City

One of the symbols of the process of liberalization that Saudi Arabia is undergoing is the Riyadh Season.

This is a festival that runs from October to March, with many cultural and entertainment activities scheduled throughout the city. This is quite a radical development is you think that cinema, music and other forms of entertainment were severely curtailed until only a few years ago!

The Riyadh Season has several venues but one of the epicenters is Boulevard City and the adjacent Boulevard World (BLVD World), a massive entertainment complex on the western side of Riyadh. Think Disneyworld meets Time Square, but in the desert!

At the time of my first visit I was only able to pay an evening visit to Boulevard City, so I will focus first on this bit. The area is being developed so fast that it is likely that by the time you read this post, new amusement areas have already sprung up in the vicinity (there is certainly no shortage of land for this!).

UPDATE (as of March 2026): indeed, by the time of my next visits, Boulevard World was already completed and in full swing. So keep reading because I will describe it next as well!

You can tell Boulevard World is really new and no effort has been spared in order to create a sort of immersive experience with plenty of sensorial stimuli, be it light, music or water effects.

In some ways, it is not too different from the typical set up of a World Expo (and, yes, after Osaka, the next World Expo will actually be held in Riyadh!)

By the way, to give you an idea of the scale of the place, Boulevard World also hosts a massive man-made lagoon, which is quite a thing considering the Riyadh’s desert environment! (always wondered where do they get the water from to run such a huge city in this very high and dry location).

There are also plenty of places to eat throughout Riyadh’s Boulevard City, although the two suggestions I present further below are actually in other parts of the city.

Visiting Boulevard World in Riyadh

Boulevard World is the theme park adjacent to the Boulevard City (and both together are part of the collection of amusement venues and festivals that are known as “Riyadh Season”).

I had been to Boulevard City before, a true example of the social transformation that has been going on in Saudi, so I was curious to see what Boulevard World next door was about, particularly considering that Boulevard City is already a pretty vast entertainment complex. The visit didn’t disappoint and, as you may imagine, it has been built on a massive scale.

What is Riyadh’s Boulevard World, then?

If you have been to any of the Disney parks or to a place like Port Aventura, near Barcelona, the concept will sound immediately familiar: it is a massive entertainment venue which is organized in different thematic sections each aiming to reproduce a country or region of the world. Visitors can follow an itinerary that takes them on an (almost) literal world tour and can enjoy activities, foods and shopping related to each of these areas.

There is an entrance fee of either 29 or 58 rials depending on whether it’s weekday or weekend, that is $8 or $16 (€6.7 / €13.4) respectively at March 2026 exchange rates.

So, pretty reasonable compared to Disney, I think!

To get the ticket you will need to download an app called Webook. It is a bit annoying to have to download an app you may never use again just for one purpose, but, apparently there is no other way! The purchase process, however, is pretty straightforward once you have downloaded the app.

The whole place is structured around a vast artificial lake, with the different countries and regions of this “World” easily recognizable by the iconic landmarks you come across.

There are sections dedicated to: Saudi (with Jeddah’s famous coral houses), China, Turkey, Central Asia, the GCC countries, Egypt, Africa, Greece, Ancient Rome, Italy, Mexico, Spain, India, the US, France, Thailand, Japan…and quite a few other places I can’t even remember!

And there are also some items that are not country-specific but pretty cool, as well, like real size dinosaurs and a giant sphere covered in LED lights that keeps depicting different very realistic images all the time, a bit like the famous sphere in Las Vegas…because there is a touch of Vegas, as well, in this whole Boulevard concept.

It is a pretty huge territory and, even if we practically didn’t stop to eat, drink or play, it took us a good two hours to walk the whole itinerary at a relatively fast pace.

So, definitely a place to visit in Riyadh if you have some spare time in the evening, but, beware! If you are planning to see both, Boulevard City and Boulevard World, better do each of them on separate days, because otherwise it can be exhausting!

The Saqer Al-Jazirah Saudi Royal Air Force Museum

I did cover this museum in this post for the Allplane aviation site, however, I thought any post about things to do and to see in Riyadh should include a mention to this excellent museum.

If you are even minimally interested in aviation, you will like it! Even if, truth, be said, it is far from easy to reach. The only way to get there is by taxi/Uber and the entrances are not clearly signalled, so actually my Uber left me at the far end of the perimeter, not at the main entrance.

Likewise, getting back to my hotel was a small odissey, since I Uber drivers kept cancelling rides at the last moment and took me something like one hour or waiting time, plus a not very pleasant walk on the side of the mortorway to a nearby McDonald’s to be able to get a ride back! So make sure you have enough battery and a charger with you and some way to access the internet on your phone if you don’t wish to get stranded!

On the positive side, I must say that the museum staff were super friendly and helpful and helped me with my internet connection and offered me tea and sweets during my wait.

The museum collections are pretty impressive and are split between an indoor and an outdoor part. Pretty much every model of aircraft operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force is in display here and there are also some civilian aircraft that were once operated by flag carrier Saudia, including a rather remarkable Lockheed L-1011 Tristar.

Where to stay in Riyadh

Since I have been at two different hotels in Riyadh, on different occasions, I will outline both here, starting by the one I liked the most.

Radisson Blu Diplomatic Quarters

This is a very nice hotel, located in the diplomatic area of Riyadh, to the west of the city. In fact, the whole area has some sort of special security status, as there are checkpoints to get in an out.

The whole facility is super new and it shows in its design. It is not super central, but you need a car to move anywhere in Riyadh, so I guess this is a rather secondary consideration here.

Also worth of note is the breakfast, which was really tasty and had an interesting mix of international and Arabic specialities.

I was also surprised to find out the room had a small kitchen!

A couple more pics of the room, which was impeccably clean and contemporary in style.

Al Waha Hotel Riyad

This is a more centrally located hotel, belonging to a local chain.

The room was quite spacious, but, to be honest, there were some service glitches and, overall, despite being technicall a four-star, it was not nearly at the same level as the other hotel I previously commented on.

The registration took very long, I understand there is some paperwork to be filled, but it was not done very efficiently to say the least.

Then there were issues with some of the lights in the room, namely the one in the cupboards, which wouldn’t switch off due to some faulty sensor, so I had an ongoing fight throughout the night, since it activated at random several times, waking me up.

Last and not least, my room was not done upon coming back from my day appointments and this, I was told, was due to not having indicated my preferences for room cleaning, since apparently it is a requirement so that female staff can know when they can enter a room. This is apparently by regulation, but I would have appreciated some warning before hand.

Having said that, when I complained about the above points, the staff were apologetic and they made sure the issues were fixed on the second day of the stay.

Best Western Premier Riyadh

King Ibn Saud Abdulaziz Saudi, As Sulimaniyah

Riyadh, 12621

This hotel appears to be quite new or recently renovated. It is a great value option to stay in Riyadh, offering good quality-price. Staff were also very friendly throughout.

Location-wise it is not super central, but not too far from downtown either. In Riyadh you always need to take a car or taxi ride anyway!

Breakfast was ok, although I would say that is the weakest part of its value proposition.

Other positive features: fast wifi and a comfortable lobby stocked at all times with Arabic coffee and dates.

The room was really large. In fact it was more like a two-piece apartment. Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that the bathroom was split in two separate pieces, with the shower alone being almost like a room in itself!

You can check how the rooms at the Best Western Premier Riyadh look like in the pics below:

Where to eat in Riyadh

When it comes to getting the proper Saudi eating experience in Riyadh, the choice is clear.

Najd Village

https://najdvillage.com

This is a bit like an oasis in the middle of central Riyadh. There are no traditional tables, but rather an array of eating areas arranged around a central courtyard with a small garden.

Najd Village restaurant aims to replicate the atmosphere of the desert caravanserais, where desert travelers used to rest and eat. You actually seat on the ground, or rather on carpets, and usually you would share the

Now, beware the portions, because they are really, really huge!

We were three in our group and we each ordered one item from the menu and we could hardly finish it! But it was really good! I’ve been twice to this restaurant and the standards have been pretty consistent.

As per the food, there is a good selection of Arabic cuisine specialities, lots of nicely cooked meat and rice with a diversity of breads to go with, which really adds to the experience!

Restaurant Awani - أواني Tahlia

This more of a Lebanese place offering specialities from the broader Middle East. It is rather central, modern and functional, and the dishes were actually pretty tasty, so I thought it worth including it here, even if it is not really a local Saudi cuisine restaurant. You can get an idea of what it is like with the pictures below.

Day trip from Riyadh: a tour of the Edge of the World

If looking for something to do just outside Riyadh, but without having to venture very far out, the Edge of the World tour is your thing. It can even be done in half a day, since the main sights are less than an hour by car from western Riyadh.

Very important, though: you need to get a guide with a proper 4x4 car. This is not an activity a non-local can really do on its own. There is, however, no shortage of companies offering day tours of the Edge of the World from Riyadh.

In fact two “Edges of the World” are marketed as day excursions from Riyadh by these tour operators.

We chose the one called “Second Edge of the World” by a company called Riyadh Tours, but my understanding is that, whether “first” or “second” Edge of the World, it is pretty much the same experience, with the difference being the access route. One of the routes is only open on certain days, while the other is always open.

Only the “Second Edge of the World” was available when our group was there, but don’t be fooled by the name, it was well worth it!

In fact, I think the actual experience is pretty similar and it involves venturing out into the desert towards a ridge of hills west of Riyadh, contemplate the otherworldly landscape, have lunch on the spot and head back to the city.

Definitely one of the top things to do in Riyadh if you have a spare half-day!

This was quite an interesting experience for me, since I always imagined the Saudi desert as a sort of flat space with sand dunes, but the reality is a lot more diverse. There are, actually, quite a few plateaus and hills in the desert and not all of it is sandy, a big part of it is actually a hard crusty surface!

So, in these tours (I think they more or less follow the same programme), the guide comes pick you up to the hotel in his vehicle and he takes you through a number of panoramic viewpoints in the desert.

The Edge of the World derives its name from the fact that there is a vertical cliffs that falls directly over the vast plain of the Saudi desert. It is pretty spectacular and provides great opportunities for Instagram-like pictures.

Most of the tours include also a lunch on the spot. The guide carries everything that is needed for this in the back of the car. At the time of the visit the temperature was pretty warm, in the high twenties-low thirties celsius, but still pretty bearable. So our guide just spread out some carpets and cooked some simple, but tasty meal on the spot. It was a great convivial moment with the group, an amazing experience.

As an added bonus, on our way to the Edge of the World we passed by some bedouin settlements that had camels and we stopped for a quick look at these amazing animals. As you can see in the picture below, they were quite friendly!

By the way, is planning a trip to Saudi Arabia, you may also like my post about Jeddah, its UNESCO World Heritage historical town and the Red Sea Corniche!

And if you considering traveling with Saudia, the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, check out my Saudia flight review!

Miquel 3/8/26 Miquel 3/8/26

What to see and what to do in Shenzhen (day trip from Hong Kong)

If there is a city that has come to epitomize the Chinese economic miracle, that is Shenzhen. What was just a collection of fishermen’s villages on the border with, then British, Hong Kong, has grown, in the course of three decades, into one of the China’s largest metropolises and the beating heart of many of its export-oriented industries.

To be honest, Shenzhen is not your typical tourist destination, in the classical sense of the “tourist” at least. There is, of course, not much to see that isn’t less than 30 years old, but this is precisely the point of a visit to Shenzhen!

It is certainly a place that sees a significant flux of visitors, if only because it’s a major economic hub, but also a place where you can get a quick glimpse of the “new” China without having to go “full in”.

This is because mainland China is just a simple metro ride from next-door Hong Kong, a convenient base for the foreign visitor, since it is way more integrated into the, let’s say, “international travel infrastructure” which many travellers outside China are used to, from the availability of payment methods such as Visa and Mastercard to the availability of ride hailing apps like Uber to the use of the English language.

This type of quick day-trips to Shenzhen have also been made way easier by the decision taken by the Chinese authorities to grant visa-free access to the country to the citizens of a large number of countries, including most of European Union members and the United Kingdom (alas, not the United States at the time of writing these lines).

So, read on for our recommendations about what to see and what to do in Shenzhen if one a day trip from Hong Kong.

Traveling to Shenzhen by metro

There are several ways to cross into Shenzhen from Hong Kong, but perhaps the cheapest and most straightforward is simply to take the metro to the border crossing and connect with the Shenzhen metro there. There are, in fact, several places where it is possible to cross into Shenzhen from Hong Kong and two places where the metro systems of the two cities connect: the Lo Wu (罗湖 Luohu) and Futian (福田 / Lok Ma Chau) border crossings.

I chose to use the later, since not only it has a direct connection to Hong Kong’s downtown (Admiralty) through the East Rail Line, but it also offers a rather direct access to Shenzhen’s central business district. If you are looking to just get a taste of what modern Shenzhen is like, I would go for this one.

The metro ride from Admiralty is about one hour long. If you wish to secure a seat, it is possible to pay a bit extra to get into the first class carriage. To do so, you just need to tap your card into a reader located directly on the carriage’s door. I did opt for the First Class option on the way there and used a normal carriage on the way back. It is a bit nicer, but the difference is not huge, but neither is the price difference. The main point is that you get a much better chance to get a seat.

The border between the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, which is part of China but has a special autonomous regime, and mainland China is marked by the Shenzhen River (深圳河). The Hong Kong metro leaves you on its side of the river and you then cross on foot to the Chinese side through a cross-border bridge.

On the north bank of the river you will have to go through Chinese immigration and customs. There is a huge hall with multiple lanes and the process is pretty fast. At the time of my visit, citizens of visa-free countries just had to fill in a short form and present it to the border check point together with the passport.

And, voilà, you are in China proper!

Preparing for the excursion to mainland China

Crossing into mainland China is quite an interesting experience because the moment you cross the border, quite a few things you that, as a Westerner, you take for granted in Hong Kong, are simply no longer available.

So, it is important to prepare beforehand to avoid surprises or hassle once you cross the border and make the most of your time on the mainland!

Here are some practical things you must take into account if traveling to China:

e-Sim: you will need your phone and (Chinese) apps all the time, so make sure you get an e-Sim that includes China mainland coverage to avoid roaming charges and be functional at all times.
VPN: as you know, many Western platforms, including popular ones such as Google and Facebook, are not available in China!
Payments: Visa, Mastercard and Amex? mostly don’t work, also, many processes are optimized for digital payments, so best is to download Chinese apps such as Alipay (the one I used) or Weibo. I would say Alipay is possibly easier to use if you are a foreigner in China. It also allows it to link to your Western card, so this saves a lot of hassle.
Maps: Google Maps works (see the point about VPN though!) but I think possibly not as well as in other places (I did come across some less than optimal directions, although could find my way generally) and, possibly not as well as the Chinese native apps.
Ride app: forget about Uber, the local equivalent is called Didi
Language translation app: also essential since, unlike in Hong Kong, most mainland Chinese don’t speak English, so translation apps are used all the time.

What to visit in downtown Shenzhen?

Obviously Shenzhen is an entirely new city so don’t expect much in terms of history. It is also an active industrial hub, so most of the city’s territory is made of non-descript industrial or residential developments. There is, however, plenty around the Central Business District (conveniently within easy reach of the Futian border crossing) to keep you busy for the day!

For example, I arrived mid-morning from Hong Kong and I left early evening around sunset with the sensation of having just but scratched the surface.

Here is what I managed to visit:

Lianhuashan Park (must visit, for the sights)
Shenzhen Industry Museum
Shenzhen Museum
COCO Park Mall (yes, a mall is a must in any first visit to China!)

Walk to Lianhuashan Park for the views

If you are on a short day trip, like it was my case, I would start by heading to Lianhuashan Park by metro first and make my way down to Futian from there. Why? Because Lianhuashan Park offers some truly scenic views of Shenzen’s central business district. It is also a nice walk from there to the iconic Shenzhen Civic Center (市民中心) depicted in the middle of the picture above, which hosts the two museums I visited.

Lianhuashan Park is just 3-4 metro stops from the Futian border crossing and it is direct on Shenzhen’s metro red line (Line 4), you can get off the train at the station “Children’s Palace” which is close to one of the park’s entrances.

The park covers a small forested hill and is criss-crossed by several foot paths. It is perfectly well kept and you may even stumble upon one of these robot dogs (perfect embodiment of the sort of advanced electronics that Shenzhen is famous for!)

The highlight of any visit to Lianhuashan Park is getting the views of the Central Business District, but there are also a couple of other landmarks.

One of them is the statue of Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese Communist Party leader that engineered the country’s economic transformation and the rise of Shenzhen as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The other is a tree planted by China’s current leader, Xi Jinping, which, to all appearances, is growing strong.

Walking to the Central Business District

While Shenzhen is not really a pedestrianized city, the Central Business District is quite walkable, particularly the main axis that runs from Lianhuashan Park down to the Civic Center building and continues towards the Ping An International Financial Center (PAFC), the skyscraper (to the right side of the image below), which dominates Shenzhen’s skyline. At 600 meters of height, as of March 2026, the PAFC is the second tallest bulding in China and fifth in the world!

Although it has an observation deck offering what I imagine are amazing views of the city, Ping An International Financial Center, however, was not where I headed next. Instead I opted to visit a couple of museums which are housed within the Civic Center building, which, I hoped, would help me better understand the history of Shenzhen and its fast development over the last few decades.

Shenzhen Industry Museum

This is quite an interesting, if a bit unusual, small museum. It is more of a commercial exhibition space than a “museum” in the proper sense of the word. Here you can see showcased quite a few products and companies that are based in Shenzhen, with a very strong focus on electronics and technology.

Entrance is free and there were not many people around when I visited (in fact, I didn’t see that many people around the Civic Center area, which is remarkable, considering is in the center of major megalopolis!)

The Shenzhen Industry Museum can be seen in about 30 minutes. To be honest, it is not super visitor-friendly, in the sense that the displays are not particularly engaging and it is difficult, at least for a foreigner, what each exhibit is about other than the overarching theme that these are all cutting-edge technologies and products made locally in Shenzhen. However, I think the museum’s theme is pretty much on point, since industrial and technological development is very much “the story” of Shenzhen, and the museum is pretty accessible, so it is worth dropping by.

As someone with an interest in the aerospace industry, the exhibits about this field drew most of my attention, in particular this chronological display (below) showing all aircraft types (civilian and military) developed in China since the 1950s.

Visiting the Shenzhen Museum

This is the other museum I visited in Shenzhen. If the Shenzhen Industry Museum was on the western wing of the Civic Center, the Shenzhen Museum is on the eastern one.

This is, however, a much larger and content-dense museum which tells the history of Shenzhen and the surrounding Pearl River Delta region, from the pre-historic times all the way to the present.

Entrance is free, as well.

The museum’s scope is quite large. In fact, since I had limited time and it was clear I would not have time to see see all of of it, decided to focus on the history section. I was not to be disappointed by this choice!

The materials are actually presented in a rather engaging way and signage and explanations are also available in English. Room after room, you get to learn quite a lot about the origins of modern Shenzhen and Pearl River Delta, even if, like me, you were not previously familiar with the history of this part of the world.

The Museum has no shortage of dioramas and other visual elements to support its story-telling. Although it covers thousands of years, since the early inhabitants of the region all the way through Imperial China, the Colonial Era, etc, what I found most interesting is the last few decades, when it explains the rise of Shenzhen, including some very realistic depictions of what it took to create the present-day metropolis.

So, definitely, make sure you include Shenzhen Museum in your to-do list if visiting the city.

By the way, I also got positive reviews of the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, which is, actually, not far from the Civic Center and the Shenzhen Museum. This is a new museum, opened in 2025, designed by the Zaha Hadid architecture studio. Unfortunately, I did not have time to include it in my itinerary, but I thought it was a good idea to mention it, something for the next visit!

A quick glimpse of modern China in Shenzhen

But, besides visiting museums, the main goal of this one day excursion to Shenzhen was to get a taste of modern, capitalistic China, and to do this, nothing better than heading towards one of the city’s malls.

COCO Mall is one of the most centrally located malls in Shenzhen, right in the middle of the Central Business District and within 10 minutes walk of the Civic Center.

This is also a good spot to get a meal after all the walking through the park and the museums, since there are quite a few restaurants here offering different flavours of Chinese and international cuisines at very competitive rates.

The mall itself, is like any other commercial centre of this sort that you can find anywhere else in the world, from LA to Dubai. And perhaps that was the most interesting finding, that, even in an economy and society that appear, from the outside, so different from the West (note my previous comments about access to internet platforms, etc.), there was an absolute sense of familiarity in the environment of the COCO Mall.

So, if you have followed more or less this itinerary and if not planning to overnight in Shenzhen, it is possible that, by this point is starting to be time to head back to the border.

From COCO Mall you can take the metro, Futian Border Crossing is just a couple of stops away, or, as in my case, I ordered a Didi ride, in order to see more of the city on the surface.

The taxi rides, by the way, are pretty cheap and, from what I saw, the cars tend to be modern, electric models. This is also part of the modern China experience!

Miquel 3/1/26 Miquel 3/1/26

Three days in Kyoto and Nara: top things to do & to see

There’s not doubt that Japan is in fashion. Whether is the currency depreciation, better and more convenient air links or the pull of the Expo 2025 Osaka, the fact is that more people than ever are visiting the land of the rising sun. I became also, recently, one of these first time visitors to Japan, and I shared on this site my impressions of Osaka, its 2025 Expo and its best pavilions.

But if you visit Japan, it is also very likely that you will pass through Kyoto, as well, since this is the country’s historical capital and it has one of the highest concentrations of heritage sites in the country. What’s more, you may also combine your visit with that of nearby Nara, another place of historical significance which has become also popular because of the numerous small (and cute) deer that freely roam its streets.

In fact, there are so many sites to see in and around Kyoto that it can easily take you a whole week going through the most relevant ones. We didn’t have that much time, unfortunately, so, in tune with the usual theme of this site, I will try to compress here what we managed to see here in around three days.

I am aware I may have missed quite a few spots that are equally deserving of a mention, but I guess quite a few visitors find themselves in the same position, of having to make choices and prioritize.

So, I hope the following lines can somehow to be of help to readers with limited time choose what to do and what to see in Kyoto.

Visiting Fushimi-inaru and its thousands of Torii Gates

This is an iconic place and one of the must-visit spots in Japan. I guess this has become even more the case in the current Instagram era, since the colourful Torii Gates that line up to path to Mount Inari make for the quintessential Japan-themed photo opportunity.

How to get to Mount Inari?

Mount Inari is one of the several hills at the southeastern edge of Kyoto. You can get there from central Kyoto on a suburban train of the JR Nara Line. It takes around half an hour to get from Kyoto’s central station to Fushimi-inari station at the foot of the hill.

The moment you get off the station you realize you have arrived at a major tourist hotspot, since it is full of souvenir shops, fast food joints and the like.

The area of interest extends all the way up to the top of the hill (some 250m high). There is a designated path. The Torii Gates are actually inside a public park, so entrance is free and open 24 hours.

There are several Shinto shrines around Mount Inari and, in fact, this area is known to have been a center of religious practice since at least the 8th C. Its most distinctive element, however, and the one that gets most attention from visitors is the Torii gate-lined winding path going uphill for some 4km or so. There are some 10,000 Torii Gates lining up the path, each of these colourful traditional Japanese structures having been erected as an offering.

If you visit Fushimi-inaru during the day in good weather you are likely to come across some crowds, so you will need to have some patience to get a good shot at the gates!

By the way, one thing I found quite fascinating is that many visitors rent Japanese traditional attire to wear during the visit. There are many establishments between the train station and the entrance to the park which specialize in this trade. This is, actually a practice that is common at quite a few historical places in Asia, I had seen it, for example at Seoul’s Gyenongbokgung Palace. It’s surprising the first time you see it, but the outcome is actually quite cool!

The climb up Mount Inari takes a couple of hours if done at a leisurely pace, stopping to take pictures and the like. From the top you have pretty good views of the Kyoto metropolitan area.

Some random advice about traveling around Kyoto (and Japan)

Kyoto has a good metro network, which is complemented by suburban trains, which are also integrated in the same system, centered around Kyoto’s Central Station.

It is also remarkable that, while we are used to the image of super modern Shinkasen trains, many of the suburban trains are actually quite old vintage, although very well maintained.

The Suica card works here as well (I guess most foreign visitors arrive via Tokyo and have bought their cards there). It is important to have always some cash at hand to refill it, since many stations work only (or primarily) with cash and you may have issues exiting at the barrier gates if you don’t have the right amount to top up your card!

Using Japan’s luggage forwarding system

This is one of the great services that, as far as I know, are only available (or at least generally used) in Japan. If traveling around the country, you can forward your bags to your next destination at very competitive rates and with a very high degree of confidence they will arrive on time. It is often possible to get same day delivery.

This worked great for us, since we were moving from Kyoto to Nara (more on this excursion further down the article) and then onwards to Osaka. For something like $20 we could get rid of the problem of moving around with luggage and could enjoy the day much better. There are a few companies offering this service, I would advice checking with your hotel or ryokan to select one.

In our case, the hotel staff coordinated everything. We just told them where we wanted to send the luggage to, paid and then left the luggage to the care of the hotel, where they would be picked up. When we arrived in Osaka some 8 hours later, there they were, waiting for us at our next hotel!

One more practical note: if you are short of time or on the move, one of the best options to get a substantious and healthy meal is to get one of the bento boxes sold at all supermarkets and convenience stores at stations. For reference, here above you can see the one that we got for the short train ride between Kyoto and Nara.

Visiting the Kinkaku-ji Temple

This is also a must-visit in Kyoto. The Kinkaku-ji temple or “Golden Pavilion” is a beautiful temple covered in gold leaf and located in the middle of a small pond surrounded by carefully manicured gardens.

The actual structure that you see now is a reconstruction, since the original one burned down in 1950, but you wouldn’t be able to tell, since it has been rebuilt to the latest detail.

Unlike Fushimi-inaru, there is an entrance fee to visit the Kinkaju-ji grounds. The temple itself is not accessed, but you can walk along the pond and see it from some distance. The garden grounds offer the postcard-perfect quintessentially Japanese views.

Kinkaku-ji is located at the northern edge of the city, so if coming from the centre the best way to get there is possibly to get a taxi, which, generally speaking, is not very expensive in Kyoto. Metro stations are not super close, but there are some bus lines that work like clockwork and if you have internet access to see find the stops and schedules on Google, it can also be a convenient option (we did that actually on the way back).

Eating at Kyoto’s Nishiki Market

Because of its central location, Nishiki Market could be a good option for a pit-stop and some lunch while traveling between the different points of interest in and around town (many of Kyoto’s tourist hotspots are actually on the edges of the city).

Here you will find dozens of food stalls offering a countless number of very interesting options and covering pretty much the whole spectrum of Japanese culinary specialities. So, take your time to walk around an nibble here and there as you go!

Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Higashiyama

This is yet another temple area on the eastern side of Kyoto, but very close (within walking distance) to downtown on the eastern side of the Kamo River.

I say “area” because, while, the Kiyomizu-dera temple is the centerpiece, Higashiyama is a whole historical district that contains several shrines and other spots of interest, such as the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka commercial streets, which are lined with wooden houses built in traditional Japanese style.

Some of the landmarks in this area, such as, for example, the Yasaka Pagoda, have become somehow iconic of the city and have come to represent the “image” of Kyoto and, more generally, of Japan, as well.

The temple itself is at the top of a small hill offering views of downtown Kyoto. There are several paths to access Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most scenic ones starts at the Otani Hombyo Temple, which is, itself, not without interest. This narrow path then climbs uphill leaving a large cemetery on its side.

The temple compound at the top and its grounds contain several colourful buildings, including this pagoda you see in the photo below. It also offers views of the city below.

When coming downhill from the temple you will find some of the most charming areas of Kyoto. The narrow streets of the Higashiyama district (depicted above) are nowadays packed with tourists, but nevertheless, you wouldn’t want to miss it if in Kyoto.

Also remarkable is the siluete of the Yasaka Pagoda (below), another iconic Kyoto landmark.

Continuing with our Higashiyama walk and turning slightly north we get to the Yasaka Shrine, another temple, which is located within the grounds of Maruyama Park.

To be honest, perhaps the main point in getting there is actually to enjoy the walk itself, particularly in nice weather, since it runs through some nicely preserved areas of the city. The park itself is also a beauty spot and it hosts quite a few interesting wild birds too!

Kyoto at night

The Kyoto experience wouldn’t be complete without an evening walk in the area in the vicinity of the Gion district. This area is buzzing with activity in the evening, with quite a few restaurants and shops on both banks of the Kamo river, as well as adjacent and smaller Takase River (which looks more like a canal, tbh).

Visting the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

This is another area on the edge of town, but on the far west side this time.

What’s to see around the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest?

Well, you guess…! A handful of temples and the bamboo forest that lends its name to this section of the post.

To be honest, the bamboo forest was quite underwhelming. You just walk on a nondescript path along the bamboos but I would not say it is aesthetically that exceptional, certainly not to merit, on its own, the long metro ride from downtown (in this cute, little train, btw).

The broader area around it, however, had some beautiful sites. Even if we were not able to visit the Tenryu-ji UNESCO World Heritage temple, we could walk around the surrounding gardens, which area also quite beautiful.

I also found quite interesting the sight of the Togetsukyo Bridge, which spans the Katsura, a relatively shallow but very wide fast flowing mountain river.

You can see the pictures from this area below. Nice enough, but if your are short of time, this would be possibly the one that I would cut out, since it is a bit further to get to and, in my opinion, a bit less interesting than the other spots mentioned earlier in this post.

Places to eat in Kyoto

Tomisen Restaurant

Shimogyo Ward, Minamicho, 576-4 2

This place was recommended by the staff at our hotel and it did not disappoint. It is a really small, local place and it serves, primarily sushi. The atmosphere is quite casual, the food was fresh and service good (even if they did speak much English).

Where to stay in Kyoto

I am going to suggest two options here, since we spent the night of our arrival into Kyoto in a more, let’s say, modern western-style (albeit of a Japanese chain and with some loal characteristics), while for the rest of the days we opted for a more traditional ryokan.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo

〒600-8472 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Myodenjicho, 707-1

Pretty central and providing great value for money. While it belongs to a major hotel chain (there are other Mitsui Garden hotels in Kyoto, so check the name well when looking for directions!), it does not feel “corporate” at all!

We spent only a night here, so I didn’t get to try all the facilities, for example, it does have its own onsen, which is open during the night and early morning hours. The breakfast was pretty varied, with quite a few Japanese specialities.

I also liked the little details, a classic of Japanese hotels, such as the slippers and the kimonos!

Ryokan Ryokufuso

〒600-8323 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Kanayacho, 490

https://ryokufuso.jp

The trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without staying at a proper ryokan, so I opted for this one, which had great recommendations, and it did not disappoint: Japanese aesthetics and design and service excellence at its best!

This ryokan is also quite centrally located and it has its own onsen (although it is not spring water) with views of the city, since it is in the upper section of the building.

Our room at Ryokan Ryokufuso was quite large and, of course, laid out in traditional style. As you can see in the pictures below, it consisted of a large living room (which doubles as bedroom) and an ante-chamber with a little sink and table to prepare tea, plus the shower room and toilet in two separate pieces.

I must say, as well, that the staff at the ryokan were also very helpful throughout (some of them spoke decent English) with indications and, for example, helping arrange our luggage forwarding.

Ryokan Ryokufuso is, overall, great value for money and an excellent choice if you are looking for some traditional Japanese-style in Kyoto with good comfort and a central location.

Day excursion from Kyoto to Nara

Although it is, technically, a different city, the historical city of Nara is often included in Kyoto itineraries, since it is relatively close (about an hour by suburban train). It can be visited as a day trip from Kyoto or, as we did, as part of an itinerary that ended in Osaka, which is also about the same distance from Nara as Kyoto is. So, either way, don’t forget to visit Nara!

And, while the city has quite a few historical monuments (Nara was, actually, the capital of Japan for a period in the 8th Century, before it was moved to Kyoto), the thing that really stands out in Nara and the one you are most likely to remember is this little fellow depicted on the right, or to be more exact, the whole lot of them.

Because there are thousands of these little sika deer roaming freely the streets of Nara. They are, apparently, considered to be sacred messengers of the gods and designated as national treasures.

They are all over the place and are used to people feeding them, In fact, you can buy food for them at some street stalls and they have learned to bow to visitors to get it.

What else to see in Nara?

Deer aside, the other major highlight in Nara is the Todai-ji Temple, which houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. The temple, which has been rebuilt several times throughout the centuries, is really big!

There are also other temples and shrines in its vicinity, although if you have limited time, I would say just focus on the main “tourist” alley, which runs from Kintetsu-Nara train station, across Nara Park and past the National Museum towards the Todai-ji Temple grounds and back.

It’s a nice walk, with open spaces all around and you will also see plenty of deer along the way. All of these spots are also within walkable distance of each other.

Miquel 2/7/26 Miquel 2/7/26

Top things to see in Al-Ain, the other side of Abu Dhabi

In a previous post I shared my ideas about the top things to do in Abu Dhabi if you find yourself in the capital of the UAE for a couple of days.

Now, in addition to being a city, Abu Dhabi is also an emirate. In fact, it is, by far, the largest of the seven emirates that make the UAE. A big chunk of its territory, however, is desert and is totally uninhabited. And, as we saw in the aforementioned post, you don’t need to venture far from the coast to come across a sea of dunes.

There is, however, an exception, and this is the oasis town of Al Ain, some 150km to the west of Abu Dhabi city towards the East, and an interesting weekend trip if you have seen already much of the capital.

Like other parts of the UAE, and despite being quite far inland, Al Ain has experienced huge demographic and economic growth in the last few decades. From a population of a few thousand half a century ago, to a sprawling city of more than 600,000 today.

Al Ain, however, has quite a few interesting spots which, despite all its dull and somehow chaotic modern urbanism, make it worth a visit.

First, it is located right on the border with the Sultanate of Oman and, in fact, there is a border fence that cuts right through some of its urban areas. This makes it also quite interesting for those of us interested in borders. But there’s more to it! Al Ain is also home to several interesting historical sites including a lush irrigated palm grove which has obtained UNESCO World heritage Site status.

In the following passages I am trying to lay out some of the top things to do in Al Ain.

Visiting the Oasis of Al Ain

There are actually several oasis in and around Al Ain which have been given protected status by UNESCO. This is in great part because of the unique way in which people in this area have been moulding the landscape over thousands of years through the “Falaj” system. This is, essentially, an intricate network of canalizations and irrigation systems, which, using water from natural underground sources, have made it possible for islands of greenery to emerge in the middle of the desert.

The largest and most visited of these oasis, covering 1,200 hectares (nearly 3,000 acres or about twice the size of New York’s Central Park) , is located, actually, right in the middle of Al Ain.

The oasis is essentially a large urban park with paths running through the palm groves, which contain nearly 150,000 trees of up to 100 different varieties.

It is fenced and there are different access points, each with some adjacent service buildings and shops.

The palm groves provide some shadow and there is water running around, so, it is possible to wander around on foot, even if we are technically in the middle of the desert (Note: I visited in winter, not sure how is it like in the summer). I would say it takes around one hour or so to complete a tour of the grounds.

The Al Ain camel market

This is another must-visit spot in Al Ain, at least if you don’t care about the odour that thousands of camels can produce when gathered at one spot!

Al Ain is home to a huge camel market, which is exactly that. This is not some form of atrezzo for tourists. It is a real marketplace, where camels from all over the region are brought in to be traded.

The place is on a large open space in the outskirts of the city, next to a commercial-industrial area with an IKEA and several other big box retailers. Entrance is free and there is some parking space next to the main entrance.

All guides recommend visit early in the morning, between 6-9am, when the trading activity is at its peak. We visited mid-morning, however, and while it is true that it was rather quiet, it was still possible to see quite a lot.

The animals are in large pens, which are arranged along the streets. You can get really close to them and, in fact, some of the local traders, most of them in traditional robes, may offer you to take pictures close to the camels (in exchange for a tip).

This is quite an interesting sight, which is miles away, in all senses, of the sanitized modern urban environment you find in the coastal cities of the UAE!

Qasr Al Muwaiji (Al Ain Al Muwaiji Fort)

This fort, built in traditional mudbrick style, is the ancestral home of the Zayed dinasty, the rulers of Abu Dhabi. The late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, previous ruler of Abu Dhabi was actually born there.

Although it looks like it could be rather ancient, the fort dates back to the early 20th Century. Nowadays is an art and culture center.

It is possible to visit its premises, climb the towers and the walls for the views, and also to visit the exhibitions contained within its walls and around the main courtyard. At the time of our visit there was, actually, quite an interesting photo exhibit (I ignore if it is permanent or temporary) depicting the history of Abu Dhabi and the lands of what would later become the UAE.

The whole monumental ensemble is, actually, perfectly restored, giving the place a rather suggestive ambiance, sort of how many would imagine the setting of the “1001 Nights” while having, at the same time, some very obvious touches of the modernity that currently characterizes the UAE.

I must say that Qasr Al Muwaiji really surpassed my initial expectations and I would recommend adding it to your Al Ain program. Btw, we visited in the late afternoon, just a couple of hours before they close at dusk, which I think it is perhaps the best time, not just temperature-wise, but also because of the light.

Where to stay in Al Ain

Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort Al Ain

You can’t generally go wrong with Radisson Blu and their Al Ain establishment was no exception. This hotel occupies a rather large bloc in a quite central location, close to the Al Ain Oasis (although “central” and “close” are relative concepts in Al Ain, since the city is so spread out you would need a car anyway).

The hotel is modern and has all the facilities you would expect, including an outdoor pool, a nice restaurant and parking.

Miquel 1/20/26 Miquel 1/20/26

Best of Abu Dhabi: top things to do and to see

Abu Dhabi may not feature as prominently in the public imagination as its glitzzy neighbour a hundred kilometers up the coast, Dubai, but the capital of the Emirates is a prime tourist destination in its own right. This is, of course, on top of being also a major business and airline hub, which means, of course, that it also gets a constant stream of short term visitors that may find this piece of interest, as well.

In this article I have tried to sum up some of my impressions gathered during multiple trips to Abu Dhabi in the course of the last two to three years. Bear in mind, however, that, just as pretty much everywhere in the Gulf region, Abu Dhabi is a work in progress.

As I write these lines, not long after returning from one of these trips to the Emirate, large swathes of Saadiyat and Yas islands are covered in construction cranes. A whole new cultural and museum district is going up, alongside with many other new residentail and commercial developments. So, this post will possibly require frequent updates just to keep up with the times"!

The Abu Dhabi Corniche

This is Abu Dhabi’s downtown, captured in the images that precede this post. The Corniche is, as the name implies, the seaside promenade “par excellence” of Abu Dhabi. Although there is, generally speaking, little in terms of outdoors walking. The place is essentially a line of upmarket contemporary hotels facing the sea, with a motorway separating them from their respective beach clubs.

But perhaps I am being a bit too harsh in this description, because, yes, there is a fair amount of “showing-off” and superficiality embedded in the whole concept, but the place is not without its charms. If you are aiming for a bit of relax this if a great spot, here you have all services at the palm of your hand: food, drink, fast internet, umbrellas and sun beds and a clean sandy beach.

Everything works smoothly as silk and, if you are staying at one of the hotels, you don’t even need to worry about the traffic since you can pretty much walk from your room to the sunbed in your beach attire.

But there is, of course, a lot more to see and to do in Abu Dhabi if you are looking for a more active stay…

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

The first port of call for any visitor to Abu Dhabi, I would say, is the Louvre. That still applies if you have only a few hours between stopovers.

When I first heard that the famous French museum had opened a franchise in Abu Dhabi, my first reaction was one of skepticism. But I have no problem admitting I was wrong! The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a real jewel of modern museology and I will try to explain why in just a few lines.

Unlike other contemporary museums, here both the container and the content are truly interesting.

The museum takes on a rather difficult challenge: to present a cohesive narrative of the history of mankind through several major themes or topics. So, it must do so in a chronologically and thematically coherent way. What’s more, since this is a city that aims to be a truly global node, it tries to do so by taking an approach that people from many cultures and faiths can relate to. Not an easy task, but I must say it succeeds pretty well!

The collections and exhibits are also very remarkable. Of course, the number of artifacts in each of its sections is limited, maybe one, two or a handful at most. But that’s allright, because you don’t get tired of seeing multiple variations of the same thing. This is, again, not for specialists that want to dig deep into a specific topics (those that want to do that should go to the original Louvre, the British Museum or whichever if the flagship museum of their speciality) but to get a holistic view of the history of mankind and the different civilizations on our planet.

Another aspect of the Louvre Abu Dhabi that I find worth of praise is the overall aesthetics. The building itself is remarkable and beautiful (as you can see in the outdoor pictures illustrating this article), but the way the collections are arranged and the visit itinerary is designed are also very well done and quite pleasing to the eye.

It is modern but not in a confusing way and the proportions seem to be also well thought out so that you get a rather intense experience but not too tiring. You also end the visit with the feeling that you have been able to see a good number of interesting things, without the anxiety of having missed lots of stuff.

I have been twice at the Louvre Abu Dhabi and I wouldn’ mind visiting again. So, definitely put this on your list! It is also worth noting that Louvre Abu Dhabi is but the first of several large museums that are going up in this part of the city, which has been designated as a sort of “cultural district”, between the recreational areas of Sadiyat Island (more on this shortly) and Downtown.

Yas Island corniche

Abu Dhabi is, in fact, a collection of islands and peninsulas opening into the Gulf, so, in addition to the aforementioned Downtown Corniche, there are several other seaside districts of interest. One of them is Sadiyat Island, where the Louvre and several hotels and beach clubs are located. Another one is Yas Island, which is closer to the airport.

Formula One fans may be familiar with the name, because the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place in Yas, but this is also an area that hosts several hotels and it also has its own “corniche” and seaside promenade, with plenty of bars and restaurants and quite a few remarkable street art elements!

Staying in Yas Island?

Yas is a few kilometers away from downtown, but, remember that Abu Dhabi is a city where you move by car (or Uber) everywhere, so, as long as you are willing to move around, this location can be as good as any other.

In fact, I had a great stay at the Radisson Blu Yas Island and was preparing to share some of my impressions, but I just learned that the hotel, as well as several other adjacent properties on Yas Island have closed down in order to be redeveloped. A consortium of International Hotels Group (IHG) and a local developer called Aldar have bought the former Radisson Blu in Yas Island and five other hotels (Crowne Plaza, Rotana, Centro, Park Inn and Staybridge Suites), which have now closed down, in order to turn merge them and turn them into a 1,389-room luxury resort under the IHG Vignette Collection brand.

So, in a short period of time, the whole Yas Island accommodation landscape will be totally transformed!

In any case, I am posting here some pictures of how the Radisson Blu Yas Island looked like so that you can get a feel of the place and the type of environment you have in Yas Island.

Taking the Abu Dhabi Desert Tour

This is another activity I would recommend doing in Abu Dhabi. Yes, it is touristy (very touristy, in fact!). But it is a fun and rather unique thing to do.

There are several touroperators and agencies that offer this type of tour. You can book them on Viator, Getyourguide or through any Abu Dhabi hotel. They all do basically the same thing at very similar prices and at the same times (evenings), so I won’t be recommending one in particular. In fact, groups from several operators usually end up converging together on the same places.

So, how is it like?

Basically, they pick you up at your hotel in a 4x4 which you may share with other tourists. You then assemble in a sort of convoy with other such cars and you drive something like 30 minutes out of town to the open desert.

There are different activities included in the experience: first the drivers get into the sand dunes and drive at high speed on top of them, which is something that requires quite some skill not to get stuck (and in fact, it is not rare for one or two of the cars to get bogged down). During this itinerary you stop a couple of times so that you can get to walk on the dunes. They also offer dune sliding with a sort of sleigh. It is quite fun altogether and, to be honest, the views of the desert are breathtaking.

Most tours are in the evening, when it is less hot, and after the dune driving and sightseeing you are taken to a sort of base camp in the middle of the desert where you can also do some camel riding.

The place is mostly outdoors, with a big central courtyard and some facilities around that kind of imitate a traditional caravanserai, or desert trading post. The facilities house mainly services (kitchen, toilets, shops) and are actually quite modern, but they are done in a way that maintain the charm of the experience.

Then it’s dinner time and there is a buffet with several Arabic speciailities and several spectacles, such as belly dancing and traditional music. The food is quite good and abundant, to be honest. And while it is obviously a very “packaged” experience, it is, again, quite fun overall. After dinner you are then driven back to your hotel, arriving before midnight.

Overall I think you get good value from the experience.

Saadiyat Island Beach

Saadiyat Island has also a beach side. Besides the several ultra-luxury resorts that line the seaside part of the island is Kai Beach Club, which is open to day visitors.

This is a concept that may be a bit shocking to visitors coming from parts of Europe or the US where beaches are usually public and open access, but in Abu Dhabi (and in the UAE more generally) “going to the beach” is a serious business which means paying a no small sum of money (in some places even the equivalent of $100) to spend several areas in a secluded recreational environment. Beach clubs have provide towels and sunbeds and have other services such as bar restaurant, shop, toilets, etc.

The beach itself is pretty nice, long and open. In this particular beach club there is also a stretch of land between the seashore and the club’s facilities, so this helps give it a more “natural” feel.

Btw, if thinking about going to the beach in Saadiyat Island, it is better to book the beach club in advance, since they can fill up quickly and have limited capacity!

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest in Abu Dhabi and another big landmark which is worth visiting. It is located at the southwestern edge of dowtown and it is really huge. It has also a whole visitors’ center and commercial area adjacent to it.

We arrived quite late in the evening due to some delays in the travel schedule, so could not get inside, but the view from outside is also quite something!

Some great value options to stay in Downtown Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is not short of accommodation, and even if you don’t have a big budget, it is possible to find very solid options. Next I present two four-star hotels in Abu Dhabi that I have had the chance to visit recently, as well as another more budget-ish but also modern and offering good standards and value.

Marriott Courtyard Abu Dhabi

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street - 5th St, Abu Dhabi

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/auhcy-courtyard-world-trade-center-abu-dhabi/

This is a modern hotel located in downtown Abu Dhabi, pretty close to the Corniche, although not right on the seaside. It occupies a rather interesting, boxy building with a brownish outter structure and its adjacent to a large mall.

It also has a rooftop bar and restaurant with a swimming pool that has the ability to change colour every few minutes (see below). The food was pretty good and substantious and the view, not bad at all!

The rooms are solid standard 4-star modern-corporate hotel stuff. All good, very functional, not much to add on this front that you can not see here in these pics.

The frontdesk staff were super friendly, btw. There is also valet parking.

La Quinta by Wyndham Abu Dhabi Al Wahda

601 Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed St - Al Nahyan - Zone 1, Abu Dhabi

https://laquintaabudhabialwahda.com

This is other hotel is also in downtown, although a bit further from the sea, and it is similar to the Marriott Courtyard in many respects.

The hotel is in a rather tall tower (not sure it can be called skyscraper, though), which means that most rooms get views of the city.

Here the interesting thing was that we were upgraded to an apartment-type room, which means, essentially that you get also a living room, in addition to the bedroom.

Other than that is, again, we are talking about a regular 4-star modern hotel.

Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre

National Exhibition Centre - Al Muntada St, Capital Centre

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre

https://mena.premierinn.com/en/hotel-directory/abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-capital-centre-hotel

This is a more basic hotel than the other two, but could also be a suitable option if on a short visit to Abu Dhabi.

Premier Inn knows how to deliver great value by offering reasonable prices while still keeping good care of the essentials, such as cleanliness, modern functional decor and good location.

The hotel has also a swimming pool and a gym, btw.

Miquel 12/21/25 Miquel 12/21/25

24 Hours in Amman: best things to see and to do

Amman, the capital city of Jordan, often gets overlooked as a tourist destination.

To be fair, Jordan’s most renowned tourist attractions are elsewhere: Petra, the Dead Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba…The country’s location, in an area of near-constant geopolitical turmoil, doesn’t help and you can also add to that the fact that, Jordan, as a country, lacks the budgets and resources which other countries in the Middle East are investing to become major tourism and business entrepôts.

However, and while it does not have huge landmarks, Amman is not lacking its unique charm and, most of all, authenticity (yes, I know this word is cliché, but if you have visited other cities in the Middle East and then you go to Amman, you will understand what I mean). There’s, in fact, more than enough to keep you going for a full intense day of sightseeing or two, if you take things at a more leisurely pace.

In my case, it was a short 24 hour stopover with an overnight. My hotel was rather central, so this allowed me to visit the key areas of the center on foot during the day (Note: it was November, so the heat was very bearable, I guess it’s different in summer).

Perhaps after Ryanair announced a significant ramp up of its flights between Amman and Europe, the city is going to become a lot more popular with tourists.

Let’s see what I think are the top things to do and to see in Amman if you there on a short visit!

Arriving in Jordan: some practical informations

Although I found Jordan quite an easy country to move through, it’s important to prepare a bit before going.

Visa: citizens of many countries (including the EU and US) can get a visa on arrival. It costs something like US$50 and you can get it at the airport. There is a counter at the airport where they will take payment (credit cards accepted).

There is also a Jordanian government web portal where you can prefill the form, but in my case it turned out not to work properly.

Currency: although cards are accepted in many places, I found it convenient, particularly since I arrived in the middle of the night, to get some cash at the airport. This proved to be handy latter during the day.

Moving around:

Queen Alia International Airport (a beautiful and very modern airport, btw) is a bit far from the center, some 40km or so. There are some buses, but the taxis are not too expensive, so I opted for this option. Both Uber and its Middle Eastern equivalent, Careem, work in Jordan. I think it was a very good decision to use them to optimize travel times.

There is no metro in Amman and public transportation seems a bit difficult to understand if you are not local. In fact, if you stay in the city center and provided you have no problem withe going a bit uphill at timse, you can just walk around, which is what I did.

What I would recommend, though, is getting an e-sim, to be able to orient yourself around and get an Uber or Careem if you need to.

Making sense of Amman: a very hilly city

One thing that you will notice immediately when you are on site is how hilly Amman is (like so many iconic cities it is built on 7 hills!),

In fact, the most buzzing part of the historical center is basically on a narrow stretch of flat space found between several of these hills. And some of the landmarks, like the citadel and Rainbow Street are located on top of them.

For reference, most of what I describe in this post is located within the red square above.

This was the area I moved around in during my visit.

This are is all within walkable distance (although bits of it are quite steep, tbh!)

Top sight: Amman Citadel

If you have time just for one thing in Amman, go to the Citadel! This is the most ancient part of the city, and that’s no small statement. In fact, Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban settlements in the World!

So, pretty much all Ancient civilizations that the Near East has seen have, at some point or another, left their imprint on the area where the Citadel is now located.

Curious fact: throughout most of Classic Antiquity, from the Hellenistic period (around 3rd C BC to the early Middle Ages, Amman was known as “Philadelphia”!

Most of what you see today on the Citadel is actually from the Roman and Umayyad periods.

But even if you are not that interested in the Ancient history, the Citadel will give you some of the best views of the modern city of Amman (including the massive flag which has become something of a landmark)!

The Citadel occupies the whole top of an “L-shaped” hill with majestic views on all sides.

Besides the different layers of Ancient ruins, it also contains a small archaeological museum (more on this soon.

The Citadel perimeter is enclosed by a fence, and there it is necessary to pay a small entry fee to get in.

There are also some services, including a café and a shop.

There are buses that go up to the Citadel, although it is also perfectly possible to walk (it’s a bit steep, though!)

I would advise allocating a couple of hours to visit the Citadel, since there are quite a few points of interest, including the, rather impressive, remains of the temple of Hercules and a palace complex dating back to the early Islamic period.

To walk through the ruins I used a new app which I had been offered to try, GPSmyCity, which works essentially like an audioguide on your phone, with several landmarks explained (it works in quite a few cities around the world, btw, not just in Jordan).

There is also a small archaeological museum. Quite old school and, to be honest, sometimes a bit cluttered, trying to explain the whole history of mankind in such a small space! .Given the richness of the archaeological heritage in Jordan, it had quite a few remarkable pieces, though!

From the Citadel it is possible to spot the next big landmark on our Amman sightseeing list: the Roman theatre!

Amman’s Roman Theater

As you may have seen in the picture above, the Roman theatre is just downhill from the Citadel, actually built on the sides of the opposite hill.

It is possible to walk down a few alleyways and get to the theatre in a few minutes. The biggest challenge is crossing the major avenue that cuts through the middle of Amman, since the traffic is nonstop (I finally just followed a group of locals that just forced their way through the traffic, strength in numbers!)

Now, I have been to quite a few Roman theatres (see my post about the Lycian coast), but this one is rather exceptional in two ways:

1) it’s rather good state of conservation/restoration

2) It is sooooo steep, it’s almost vertical! (seriously, look at the pictures below!)

There is a big square in front of the theatre and you can get a good view already from here, but I recommend paying the ticket to get in (it costs the equivalent of a couple of dollars/euros). The view from the top is great (if you don’t maind heights!) and you get the symmetrical view of the Citadel from the opposite hill).

With your entrance ticket you can visit also a small antropological museum located on the wings of the theatre’s base building. Tbh, as a museum is a bit mmmh…don’t expect much, but there are some real life figures representing the different peoples that lived in what it is today Jordan. Spent 10 minutes maximum there.

A walk through Central Amman

After visiting the Citadel and the Roman Theatre I walked a bit through the area around Al-Hashemi Street and its surroundings. This is the valley that lies between three of the city’s hills and it appears to be the historical downtown.

Don’t expect major landmarks here. In fact, I would say it is not even particularly beautiful, BUT it is quite an interesting area that is buzzing with commercial activity.

It is neither old souk experience (in the 1001-nights sense) nor the sanitized modern shopping experience you find in some Gulf countries, it does not even resemble the very touristified Istanbul, but it does have a character of its own.

Jordan is not just a Kingdom, but the monarchy is at the very center of its sense of nationhood. You can see signs of that all over the place.

Here below you can get an idea of how streets look like when you leave the main commercial avenues behind and start climbing uphill through the side streets.

Lunch at Hashem

King Faisal Street, Amman

https://hashemrestaurants.com

I went to Hashem for lunch after I saw it popping up repeatedly when researching where to eat in Amman. It didn’t disappoint!

Not only the food was great, but the place has character, staff is efficient and it delivers great value for money.

It is located in a sort of indoors courtyard off one of the main commercial streets and its specialty is Middle Eastern “street food”, that is, several types of hummus (and its derivatives), falafel and the like.

Portions are really big! I ordered hummus, mutabal and falafel and I ended up really full. They also serve the typical flat bread, which is served straight on the table, which is covered with a disposable transparent plastic.

What’s more, I came in expecting I would have to wait a bit, since the place was packed and buzzing, but the staff somehow managed to find me a spot straightaway. The ordering experience is also quite a thing, since you mark on a piece of paper which dishes you wish and in which quantities. The service was also really fast and, upon finishing you pay at a small booth at the exit. Very efficient throughout! As a bonus I also managed to taste the local equivalent of Coca-Cola/Pepsi, called “Matrix”.

The food itself was also great and you can see why this is a place that seems to be a “must-go” for anyone visiting Amman, as the gallery of celebrities on the walls of the restaurant shows.

I would certainly come back!

A walk through Rainbow Street

After such a substantious meal, it was time to get moving again and nothing better to exercise a bit that climbing all the way up to Rainbow Street, another of the areas of note in Amman.

Rainbow Street is at the crest of another hill, just immediately south of downtown, and it is a sort of posh-bohemian area with some cafés and artsy spots. Don’t expect a specific major landmark or some super impressive views here, but it is good for a pleasant stroll along some quiet streets and some coffee.

In this regard, a nice place to stop by is the garden of the Turquoise Mountain Showroom, which showcases artisan handiwork from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and other countries.

It also has a nice café with a terrace which offers a space of calm to sit down after all the up and down walking.

Great value hotel in Amman: Shams Alweibdeh Hotel Apartments

Al-Baouneyah St., Amman

https://shams-alweibdeh.com

I booked this hotel at the very last minute since it offered a good combination of reasonable price, good reviews and proximity (walking distance) to the city centre. It turned out to be a good choice for my overnight stay.

This is a 3-star, so not luxurious, but it delivered in everything it promises. The room was actually quite big, it was more of an apartment, since it has its own kitchen and living room. And everything was pretty clean. The bathroom had toiletries, as well.

I didn’t try the breakfast, so, I can’t comment on that. Staff at reception also help me arrange my airport transfer at approximately the same rate than Uber charges.

The hotel is located in a rather calm residential area on top on, you guess it!, another hill. From here to the downtown sights I previously mentioned is about 15 minutes downhill walk, with some sights of both the urban maze that is Amman and the modern business district, along the way.

Miquel 10/5/25 Miquel 10/5/25

Kaş to Kastellorizo: where Turkey's Lycian Way meets the most distant Greek island

This post covers one of the areas with, possibly, more top historical heritage per square kilometre of the Mediterranean and this is on top of a stunningly beautiful landscapes.

This is, of course, not our first foray to the Turkish Aegean coast, you can also check our post about what to see in Bodrum and its surroundings. This one covers another section of the beautiful and rugged coastline of southwestern Turkey, particularly the area around Kaş and Kalkan and the neighbouring Ancient cities of Myra and Patara, what is today known as the “Lycian Way”.

What’s more, for those like me, who are interested in borders and those places that act as fault lines (or meeting points, depending on how you see it) between countries, continents and cultures, this region contains a particularly interesting spot: a very tiny Greek island which is really far away from the mainland, but almost adjacent to the nearby Turkish coast.

Keep on reading to find out how is it like to visit this tiny Greek (and European Union) outpost from the neighbouring Turkish town of Kaş.

Getting to the Lycian Way

Let’s start with a short paragraph about logistics. It’s going to be short: rent a car.

The area of Kaş is located roughly halfway between Antalya and Dalaman airports (Bodrum is also a reasonably close gateway and gets more flights than Dalaman). There is no train connection and I don’t think buses are a practical option to move along the area. I know “walking the Lycian Way” is a thing, but since this is not a hardcore trekking site, I will leave this one out too.

This leaves renting a car as the most convenient option and, actually, the roads are generally ok (between Antalya and Kaş about half of the distance is actually covered by a two-lane motorway). I also found parking in those coastal towns surprisingly easy (particularly when compared with its equivalents in Western Europe), but this may be due to the fact that my trip was in the autumn, and, therefore, a bit off season.

The Ancient city of Myra - the city of Santa Claus!

One the way between Antalya and Kaş perhaps the most fascinating place you can visit is the Ancient Lycian city of Myra.

The Ancient city of Myra (“Myra Antik Kenti” in Turkish) is a truly interesting spot for several reasons:

It was one of the epicenters of the Lycian civilization, which used to be kind of part of the Greek world, but not quite. Lycia had, in fact, its own cultural and political system for quite a few centuries, until the Romans took over the whole region and made it part of their Empire. Lycian cities were organized in a league that had some proto-democratic elements in the way it worked. It was actually mentioned by Montesquieu and said to have inspired the US Founding Fathers, as well.
Myra was the home city of Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus). Although he was born in Patara (another Lycian city that we also cover, further down this post, Saint Nicholas was the bishop of Myra for some time in the 4th C. There is a church of Saint Nicholas in the Ancient city, which is visited by numerous pilgrims (Saint Nicholas is said to have been buried there at first, but in the Middle Ages his relics were taken to Bari, in southern Italy).
The archaeological ensemble of Myra is absolutely stunning. Its most famous landmark are the rock-carved tumbs that fill the surrounding cliffs. These have porticos and facades, creating the impression of a proper city carved in the face of the rock. Next to it are the vestiges of what was, in its time, a rather important city, complete with a very well preserved theatre and many of the buildings that we typically associated with the major cities of Antiquity.

So, make sure you include a visit to the Ancient city of Myra in your itinerary!

Kalkan, perfect base for exploring the coast around Kaş: where to stay and eat

Our hotel recommendation in Kalkan:

Payava Hotel

Kalkan, Cumhuriyet Cd. No:80, 07960 Kalkan (Kaş)

https://www.payavahotel.com

This little hotel in Kalkan, a town some 27km west of downtown Kaş, was a real find. We booked it at the very last minute and it totally surpassed expectations.

The facility is on the outskirts of Kalkan, but if you have a car this is not an issue. It is actually quite easy to get there and to park (the hotel has its own private parking space).

The facilities are pretty modern (the bathroom in particular was pretty large) and, while not exactly next to the sea, it does have views of the sea, as well as a swimming pool with terrace.

I would also like to highlight the service, which was excellent. The hotel staff were actually very friendly throughout. At the end, we decided extend our stay for one more day than originally planned!

While we did not have lunch or dinner at the hotel, since we spent most of the day on excursions or exploring downtown Kalkan (see the section about where to eat in Kalkan further below), we did try the hotel’s breakfast and it was absolutely great.

The breakfast buffet at Hotel Payava offered a broad mix of European and Turkish foods (including an amazing assortment of local cheeses) as well as plenty of fresh fruit and produce.

Great place to eat in Kalcan

Ata Mezze Grill

Kalkan, Şehitler Cd. no:21, 07960 Kalcan (Kaş)

This is not the fanciest or the most expensive restaurant in Kalkan, but it is the one I would go back to without hesitation!

It is actually a kebab and mezze place located a bit in the outskirts but within walking distance of downtown.

The vibe of the place was nice, the food super tasty and the prices, very reasonable. We also got excellent service.

Here are some pics of the assortment of Turkish kebabs, bread and sides that we got (note also the paper tablecloth with the map of the Lycian coast, I really like restaurants that do this!)

The kebabs are all prepared in proper charcoal and served in generous portions, so top marks for this. But even better was this traditional Turkish dessert called “Katmer” (see below), which is simply amazing!

Katmer combines Kaymak (Turkish-style clotted cream) with a thick and sweet pistaccio paste encased in a sort of mille-feuille. It is served warm and waiter breaks the outer crusty shell when serving it. Delicious!

A day trip to Kastelorizo from Kaş

As mentioned in the opening section of this post, one of the attractions of the Kaş area, at least for those like me that are interested in borders and geopolitical boundaries, is the possibility of visiting the Greek island that is most distant from its mainland and which is also one of the EU’s tiniest and most peripheral outposts as well: the island of Kastellorizo (Megisti in Greek).

Kastellorizo is a tiny island, roughly 9km at its longest point and 2km at its widest, with some 500 permanent inhabitants. It is distant about 1 mile from the Turkish coast but some 100 miles or so from the closest Greek island, Rhodes. Kastellorizo also has a number of adjacent islets and rocks that are also under Greek sovereignty.

Considering the usually tense relations between Greece and Turkey, it will possibly not come as a surprise to you that this island has been a flashpoint in the long going disputes between the two countries. Recently, for example, Greece and Turkey quarrelled about the limits of their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in this part of the Mediterranean.

In an attempt to diffuse these tensions and to promote the good understanding between the two countries, a number of people in this region came up with the idea to organize an international sports event linking Kastellorizo and Kas in a friendly manner.

The result was the Kastellorizo-Kaş international swim, which takes place every year in June.

Participants swim across the narrow strait that separates Kastellorizo from Kas. It is technically a competition, but takes place in an atmosphere of friendliness and cooperation, since the main goal is to foster good cross-border relations.

I really don’t know when and how the border formalities are conducted, though, since Kastellorizo, as part of Greece is EU territory and is within the Schengen zone, so people making the crossing in that direction must have the proper paperwork to enter the EU. Likewise, the Turkish Republic enforces passport controls on its borders and this applies to the short hop from Kastellorizo too.

How to get from Kaş to Kastellorizo?

The easiest and shortest way is to take the ferry (operated by Meis Express) from the small port of Kaş, from where several ferries depart every day (the island has also ferry service to Rhodes, although it takes several hours on account of the much longer distance. There is also a small airport in Kastellorizo with to Rhodes, as well).

It is possible to buy tickets at the port terminal in Kaş , although it is best to book them online in advance.

The island, which can be seen from the shore, is just a 20 minute ride away. The ferry ride can, in itself be quite a pleasant experience if the weather is nice. There is an open terrace (as well as an indoors cabin) which is perfect to enjoy the sights of the coastline and the blue waters all around. We did even get to see some flying fish following us and jumping out of the water all around the boat!

Halfway to Kastellorizo, the boat crosses the international divide the Greek flag is raised (the boat is Turkish). On the return trip, the inverse operation is performed, with the flag being lowered down.

The existence of the border is very present throughout. In fact the first thing you notice when you sail into Kastellorizo’s beautiful small sheltered harbour are the huge flags of Greece (painted on one of the island’s hills) and of the European Union (waving at the entrance of the port), which welcome you to the island.

Besides the border control upon arrival, the liminal nature of this place is also accentuated by some other small details that you don’t need to be a border geek to notice. For example, you switch from Turkish to Greek time (-1h), from Turkish Lira to Euro and, if you have a EU sim card, you get to benefit from the roaming-charge-free mobile connectivity.

Exploring Kastellorizo

The island of Kastellorizo is absolutely beautiful and it would be well worth a visit even if you are not interested in all this border stuff. Most of the island’s population cluster around a tiny, almost perfectly quadrangular harbour bay, which is lined with cute traditional houses painted in an array of bright, vivid colours.

So, what to do in Kastelorizo once you set foot on the island?

Unless you have decided to overnight on the island, your time is likely going to be constrained by the ferrys’ schedule. It really depends on the time of the season and of the week.

When we visited the last ferry departed back for Turkish territory at around 5pm. So, this gave us around 6 hours on the island, which, I think, is enough to explore its main town and its surroundings and get a decent meal at one of the many restaurants lining the harbour.

So, what most people do is just go for a relaxed stroll along the harbour and the handful of streets around the historical center. These are really nice and encapsulate a certain idea of the Mediterranean as many people imagine it.

The seaside promenade is a bit touristicized, though (which I guess is inevitable in this setting!) and the different restaurants compete very proactively for the daily haul of tourists arriving in the ferrry.

Yes, it can feel a bit touristy and prices are not particularly cheap, but I would still include a seaside lunch in the Kastellorizo experience, if only because there is not “that much” to do once you have taken your nice postcard-like pictures!

You may also see the sea turtles that roam around the harbour. They are obviously used to human presence, since many of the tourists feed them scraps of food and even some restaurant owners do the same in order to attract them to their section of the harbour for the entertainment of their guests.

The other thing I would recommend doing, if you don’t mind the steep walk, is climbing up to Kastellorizo’s castle.

While the fortress is now in ruins, it commands quite a great viewpoint, dominating the harbour below. It is not a surprise that this place has a long history and it is suspected to have been fortified already in Antiquity.

The heyday of this fortress, however, was during the Middle Ages, when it was occupied by the Knights of Saint John and even, for a few decades in the second half of the 15th C., by a Catalan warlord, Bernat I of Vilamarí. I had read somewhere that it was still possible to see the four stripes of the House of Barcelona carved on one of the stones, but I could not find them (in fact, the castle is in such a state of ruin that it is only possible to access what is left of one of the towers). The island got even a Catalan name during that period “Castellroig”.

In 1512 Kastellorizo was taken by the Ottomas and in successive centuries it changed hands several times between Venetians, Greeks, Turks, Italians, and even British and Germans during WW2. In 1947, together with the other Dodecanese islands, Kastellorizo was confirmed as part of Greece.

From the castle you can also enjoy great views of the Lycian coast and the several little islands and islets that dot this area. But there is more…

If you climb down the castle hill by taking a little trail on its sea-facing side you will come across a couple of rock-carved monumental Lycian tombs, quite similar to the ones found in the Ancient city of Myra. This seems to have been a cultural practice common all over this region.

Btw, you can also continue along the seaside path to get additional views of the entrance of Kastellorizo’s harbour as you walk back to the ferry terminal.

Once back on Turkish soil, you can also spend some time exploring Kaş downtown.

While it is mostly a modern town, Kaş is actually, quite a lively place, with plenty of shops, cafés and commercial activity going around.

Visiting the Ancient city of Patara (the birthplace of Santa Claus!)

And, last but not least, if staying in the Kaş area, the Ancient Lycian city of Patara is another must-see, since it is located just a few miles west of Kalkan.

We have already commented on Myra, the city where Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) served as a bishop, but, in fact, Patara was his birthplace.

Patara was quite a sizeable city at its peak, and even if only a small part of its perimeter has been excavated you can get an idea of its importance.

There are quite a few magnificent Ancient monuments in Patara, such as this impressive and well-preserved theater. What’s more, the ruins of the Ancient city are located right next to a long sandy beach, so it is perfectly possible to combine a visit to the archaeological site with a swim in the Mediterranean (and I would actually recommend doing so!).

Miquel 8/28/25 Miquel 8/28/25

One day in Taipei: best things to do and to see

First impressions of Taipei

Taiwan is often in the news due to it being one of the world’s top geopolitical hotspots.

These can be seen on the streets of Taipei

Now, the long-running strategic Great Game between the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (which is the official name of Taiwan) and the US are beyond the scope of this post and, to be honest, there is no shortage of material out there to read about the origins of the conflict, its economic and military implications (from microchips to aircraft carriers) and possible future scenarios.

So, I leave it to you to make your own opinion on this matter!

As it happens in Seoul with its northern neighbour, when you are in Taipei, the existential dispute with mainland China is, of course, always lurking in the background.

In this particular case, my visit to Taipei coincided with a national election. This is an event that always brings the matter of the island’s prospective independence to the fore, with the subsequent reactions from Beijing. Although I must admit I know next to nothing about Taiwanese politics, it was rather interesting to come across a few public meetings on the streets of Taipei.

There was also a fair amount of political propaganda all over the place and, proof of the global implications of the Taiwan-China issue, is the fact that, when I checked the press at the Starlux Airlines lounge at Taipei airport, pretty much all major international newspapers had the Taiwanese elections on their frontpages.

Politics aside, Taipei is a modern, buzzing and rather orderly and clean city. It has quite a large, modern downtown with several hubs of commercial and business activity. Some parts of its central district even reminded me of New York City a little bit!

As we shall see next, it also has a rather efficient public transportation system which lets you move around easily and not too expensively!

Navigating the Taipei Metro

The underground system in Taipei is really a thing of wonder: it is extensive, efficient, reasonably priced and full of all sort of Hello Kitty-themed motifs!

I also liked the way the information is depicted, with each station having maps that show the exact location of the platforms, corridors, exits, etc. with respect to the main landmarks and streets above ground.

It is also spotlessly clean and the platforms are delineated with specific areas to wait for the next train, so that people can queue in an orderly manner, something that they do religiously!

By the way, there is even an automated umbrella-rental service at some metro stations and convenience stores! Very convenient if a tropical storm suddenly pops over the city!

Taiwanese pop culture: Hello Kitty and its friends

Another amazing thing about Taiwan and, certainly, one that will catch the eye of many foreign visitors is the ubiquity of Hello Kitty and other similar cartoon-themed characters, LITERALLY EVERYWHERE.

I am not exaggeration if I say that Taiwan looks a almost like a HelloKitty-cracy. From before landing at Taipei (the airline’s videos already had them!) and at every step as you move through the airport, then the city, you come across all sort of cartoonish creatures on billboards, screens and the like.

This is, by no means, unique of Taiwan, Koreans like this style a lot too, but in Taiwan it is on a completely different level!

What to see in Taipei: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

So, what are the top things to do and to see in Taipei if you are in town just for a day or two?

I would say the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall comes possibly very near the top.

Chiang Kai-shek is, of course, the “founder” of modern Taiwan, or, more accurately “the Republic of China”, since, in this view, when he moved over to the island from mainland China after the Communists took control of the mainland, he was actually maintaining the pre-1949 Chinese state. This monument is, thus, devoted to preserve the memory of Chiang Kai-shek, who died in 1975.

To be honest, regardless of what your views on this conflict are, the place is really majestic, with the memorial standing at one end of a large square surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens.

There is not much to see inside the memorial itself other than a massive statue of a seated Chiang Kai-shek, but there is always a guard of honour, which gets changed regularly several times a day and the change of guard is really a sight to behold!

Best view in Taipei: get to the top of Taipei 101

The other top thing to do in Taipei is, of course, get to the top of what was until recently the World’s tallest building, Taipei 101.

Taipei 101 is 508 meters high and has 101 above-ground floors (hence its name!).

Even if it is no longer a record holder (it was surpassed in 2010 by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa), Taipei 101 is a thing of beauty and, of course, has the best views of Taipei.

What’s more, it can be visited in the evening and after dark (perhaps even better than during the day, since you can admire the colourful lighting), so it is a great activity to close the sightseeing day.

There is an observatory at the top of Taipei 101, which you can buy tickets for.

This is a popular attraction, so expect some queues!

Taipei 101 is also on top of a massive mall at the eastern edge of downtown Taipei, at the core of one of the city’s several business districts. It is also right next to one of the stations (Taipei 101 / World Trade Center) of the red line of the metro.

In fact, Taipei 101 lies just on to of a massive mall with plenty of shops and large food court with all sorts of food styles and budget options, so it is also a good place to have lunch or dinner after your visit to the top.

The place is fitted with some really fancy infography and when you are the lift going up there is an electronic display that shows you how fast you are climbing.

The view from the top is really cool as well, since Taipei is a really big, buzzing city that glitters at night.

Recommended place to eat in Taipei

滇蜀饌

No. 9號, Taoyuan St, Zhongzheng District, Taipei

This is a really, really simple Yunnan-Sichuan food place located on a side street very close to Ximen metro station.

This is, however, that type of place where locals queue to get a spot at. And the reason for this is none other than the hot beef noodles soup you can see here depicted. Worth checking it out!

Where to get the best dessert in Taipei

This place is located in one of the most lively areas of Taipei, the Yonkang Street area in the Da’an district. It is a neighbourhood with plenty of commercial activity and pedestrianized steets.

Smoothie House

No. 15號, Yongkang St, Da’an District, Taipei

http://www.smoothiehouse.com

Its highlight is this massive mango shaved ice dish, which they call “mango snowflake ice”.

By the way, ot seems, someone from CNN has checked (it wasn’t me who issued that previous recommendation, even if I am a CNN contributor, but I endorse this opinion!)

What else can I say?

It is one of those rare cases in which the real thing is even bigger than it looks in the picture. This dessert is really, really huge and it has ice cream plus iced mango cubes topped with cream and syrup.

It is also one of the very few (if not the only) time that I have been unable to finish an ice-cream dessert, not because I didn’t like it, but simply because there was soooo much of it!

Dadaocheng Wharf Plaza & Ningxia Night Market

And we finish our tour of Taipei with a visit to the Ningxia Night Market and the adjacent Dadaocheng Wharf Plaza, which overlooks the Tamsui river.

As the name implies, the market is open in the evenings and it stretches over several streets on the westernmost part of downtown Taipei. This is an area with lots of commercial activity with plenty of shops and food stalls where it is possible to buy the most incredible types of foods, vegetables, spices and the like.

It is not, however, supercrowded, so you can walk through leisurely and there is an order to it.

Adjacent is the Dadaocheng Wharf Plaza, which is, essentially, a riverside promenade. It also has some food stalls and bars and it seems to be a popular place with the youth of Taipei. It has also some rather interesting cool paintings. Here you can also walk on some piers that protrude into the river and have a look at Sanchong, which is the district of Taipei right on the opposite bank.

Where to stay in Taipei

Taipei Roumei Boutique Hotel

No. 9, Lane 64, Section 2, Jianguo North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei

https://www.roumeihotel.com

This was quite a random find, since I booked at the very last minute and most of the international chain hotels were either fully booked or very pricey.

So, I took it because of good reviews and decent price and I think it was a good choice. Not so much because of the facilities, although the room and bathroom were pretty large!, but because of its very central location, just meters away from one of the metro lines that take you straight to and from the airport and also within walking distance of one of the city’s downtown business districts.

Flying to and from Taiwan

This was a rather short but intense visit to Taipei and it was made possible in great part because Starlux Airlines, a young Taiwanese premium airline invited me to check out its new A321neo aircraft.

You can find here my Starlux Airlines Business Class and Economy Class reviews.

Miquel 8/15/25 Miquel 8/15/25

Great value places to eat and sleep in Osaka

Since my recent posts about the Expo 2025 in Osaka, and my reviews about the best pavilions to visit, have proven to be wildly popular and garnered quite a lot of interest from readers all over the world, I thought it would be useful to supplement them with some practical tips about where to stay and where to eat while in Osaka.

Now, my stay in Osaka was rather short and for most of its duration I was actually within the grounds of the Expo, so don’t expect a long post here.

However, my guess is that, if you travel to Osaka for the Expo 2025, you may as well spend one or two days in town and wander around a bit downtown.

So here are a couple of proposals that I hope can bring something of value. For the record, I checked a few other places to eat, but I am highlighting only the one I liked the most.

Great value accommodation in Osaka within easy reach of the Expo

Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama

1 Chome-7-17 Imabashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0042

Ok, this is not the most glamourous of hotels. It is not even a traditional Japanese ryokan.

But this branch of the global Best Western chain offers a modern, functional option to stay in central Osaka for a price of around $100 per night.

The rooms are small, as is the norm in Japan, but clean and neat, as is also the norm in Japan! But perhaps the best attribute of this hotel is its extremely central location and its great public transportation links.

There is a metro station literally just around the corner that takes you either to the area close to Namba central station direct in around 15min or to the Osaka 2025 Expo in about 25min (with either with just one change of line or, if you walk 10min to the closest Green Line station, direct to Yumeshima Station, which serves the Expo).

A couple of notes: breakfast is not great and you don’t miss much if you skip it and go grab something at one of the eating places or convenience stores nearby.

There is another “Best Western Fino” hotel in Central Osaka, so make sure you get the right one!

Great place to eat Japanese food in Central Osaka

Haneda Ichiba, Super Fast Fresh Fish Sushi, Umeda

This restaurant is located at the 9th floor of the Hanshin Umeda Department Store, which is right next to Osaka’s Umeda station, one of the largest in the city.

The restaurant is located in a sort of food court area, with several restaurants (although each has its own dedicated, enclosed space) and has great views of the surrounding business district.

We got there quite late in the evening, actually, and without a previous booking (something that often proved to be quite an issue in Japan), but they welcomed us very nicely. Also unusual in Japan, the manager was fluent in English (he lived in the US for quite a few years) and very kind throughout. He even advised us on the different types of sake and offered us a bootle on the house!

This is a sushi place which manages to combine coziness with an elegant, yet unpretentious setup, and offers also a rather good selection of entrants at rather reasonable prices. We decided to go on tasting mode and get a broad selection of what was in the menu, which you can see here.

And then, there is the sushi, of course, of which we got a couple of nice platters, all freshly prepared and served in generous portions.

A walk through Kuromon market and the Dotonbori area

Another place in Osaka where you can sample quite a few different culinary options is Kuromon Market, which is located near Namba station and the Dotombori riverside (another of the city’s highlights).

I don’t have a specific recommendation for this area, just walk around and check the different seafood stalls, many of which will prepare you som dish on the spot. You are likely to find something that looks tasty if you are into this sort of casual eating.

Also, I would like to add that we visited the area quite early in the morning, just as the shops were opening and the streets were rather quiet and deserted. So, we managed to get a rather postcard-like view of the area, with not too many people in the frame.

By all means, add a visit to this area to your Osaka schedule!

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