Greek Temple in Sicily

Getting to Sicily and planning your trip

The best time of the year to go to Sicily is early fall (September) or spring (May and June). September is best for people who love to swim in the sea. The water is warm and inviting. Never go in late July and August when Italians take their annual holiday. That is when hotels charge the highest prices and the beaches are overcrowded.

Most people fly to Palermo or Catania airports which are served by traditional carriers and budget airlines. You can take an overnight ferry from Naples, but it’s cheaper and faster to fly. You can also take the train from Rome or Naples (again the train is more expensive than air travel), but be prepared for a long railway journey. There is still no bridge between the mainland and Sicily, and if cynical Italians are to be believed, there will never be one, even though the crossing is very narrow. What happens is the train arrives at the “toe” of the Italian boot, Reggio di Calabria, and the Italian railway workers put the rail cars on a ferry and, 25 minutes later, unload them at Messina in Sicily for the trip to Palermo.

Catania is a more convenient place to fly in and out of than Palermo, if you plan to stay mostly in Taormina and the eastern/southeastern part of Sicily. Rent a car and explore Palermo for one to two days. Although most of the preserved Greek temples are in Western Sicily (Agrigento and Segesta), that part of the island has fewer hotels and amenities for travelers (you can read our guide to Western Sicily and Erice).

A word about driving in Sicily: If you want to explore the island, you will have to rent a car. Roads are in good condition, thanks to money from the European Union. Driving is easy and stress-free around the island, except in Palermo where signage is virtually non-existent, street markings are a rarity and traffic is a nightmare. Drivers give each other about 3 centimetres of space on either side. There is only one rule in Palermo: don’t hit anyone or anything. If you drive in Palermo and survive unscathed, you will be proud of yourself and feel much more confident to drive anywhere in the world (except perhaps in India).

Sicily Travel Guide: favorite destinations on the island

Taormina

Taormina is the most visited town in Sicily. Since the days of the Grand Tour and for almost two hundred years, famous people such as Goethe, Alexandre Dumas, Johannes Brahms, Cary Grant and Woody Allen have stayed in Taormina. When you arrive in Taormina, you will understand why. Built on high cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, the town has lovely squares surrounded by cafes and restaurants, splendid palaces (which have been converted into luxury hotels) and an impeccably restored Greek Theatre that is still used for performances. The main thoroughfare of Taormina is closed to automobile traffic so you can stroll leisurely past designer boutiques and gelato bars, and wind your way to the large square that overlooks the sea, where locals and visitors spend the better part of an afternoon. It’s not just the views over the sea that attract visitors to Taormina, it’s the atmosphere to the place.

Hotels in Taormina

There are many hotels in the town and just outside it for all budgets. My favourite is the Ashbee Hotel: an early 1900s villa converted into a luxury boutique hotel with stunning views over the sea and the coastline, a quiet private location, onsite parking, swimming pool, breakfast and dinner on a lovely garden overlooking the Mediterranean. I stayed at the Ashbee and would stay there again.

The Ashbee Hotel in Taormina

Other hotels that look good:

Grand Hotel Timeo: the first hotel to be built in Taormina, this luxury hotel overlooks the sea and is close to the Greek Theatre.

Hotel Villa Ducale: luxury boutique hotel with only 11 rooms and 6 suites, breathtaking views over the Mediterranean, spacious outdoor terraces.

Hotel Imperiale: renovated in 2009, this contemporary luxury hotel has a large swimming pool and spa, views over the sea, and private balconies.

Shalai Resort near Mount Etna: Not in Taormina but close by is this wonderful hotel in a restored 19th century mansion. Perfect for exploring the area around Mount Etna.

Restaurants in Taormina

Like any popular tourist destination, Taormina has restaurants that serve authentic Sicilian cuisine and others that cater to tourists’ perverted notions about Sicilian cuisine. There are three restaurants I recommend, which serve local specialties such as spaghetti with sea urchin and pasta with tuna and mint.

La Tavernetta: via Timoleone 22 (hidden on a series of steps).

La Botte: Piazza Santa Domenica, 4 (tucked away on a tiny square opposite a small church).

Il Giardino degli Ulivi: Located in the garden of the Grand Hotel San Pietro, this chic restaurant has great views over the sea and serves Sicilian food with a modern twist.

All restaurants have outdoor seating and serve lunch and dinner.

Baroque towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica

You will need at least 2 days to explore Noto, Modica and Ragusa, a cluster of towns known for their baroque churches and palaces.

The baroque town of Modica

The towns were destroyed by a powerful earthquake in 1693 and reconstructed in the Baroque style. These Baroque churches and palaces were restored recently with money from the European Union.

Hotels in the Baroque towns

My advice is to stay in Noto at the atmospheric Seven Rooms Villadorata, an opulent guesthouse of seven large suites in a renovated palazzo in the center of Noto and to use Noto as a base to explore Ragusa and Modica.

Seven Rooms Villadorata in Noto

If they don’t have a suite available at Seven Rooms Villadorata, check out these other hotels in Ragusa and Modica:

Villa Carlotta (Ragusa): Former aristocratic estate turned into a modern boutique hotel just outside Ragusa. One of the highlights of this hotel is its excellent La Fenice restaurant which balances traditional Sicilian cuisine with contemporary interpretations of local specialties. It is also known for its wine cellar of more than 900 bottles.

Eremo della Giubiliana (Ragusa): Luxury resort-hotel in a restored former convent, a few kilometres south of Ragusa.

Restaurants in Noto, Ragusa and Modica

Ristorante Il Cantuccio (via Cavour 12, Noto): This intimate restaurant is just down the street from Seven Rooms Villadorata and serves local specialties. It is reasonably priced and has a good selection of Sicilian wines. I ate here twice and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the excellent service.

Fattoria delle Torri (Vico Napolitano 14, Modica): Serving creative dishes that are a modern take on Sicilian cuisine, this elegant restaurant is a bit difficult to find but well worth it. Extensive wine list, more expensive than Il Cantuccio in Noto; a great find in Modica.

Duomo (via Capitano Boccheri 31): Located in the heart of Ragusa, this elegant restaurant features local cuisine cooked to perfection with meat and fish dishes to please every palate.

Siracusa and Ortigia

Siracusa (Syracuse) and the tiny island of Ortigia that is connected to it via bridges, are among the oldest settlements in Sicily. Founded 2700 years ago by Greek Corinthians, Siracusa is also the birthplace of Archimedes. You can explore Ortigia in a day or stay there overnight if you want to have more time to walk around the narrow atmospheric streets of its ancient quarters.

Hotels in Siracusa and Ortigia

You can stay in Ortigia itself or very close to it (5 minute walk to Ortigia) in Siracusa. There is hardly any parking in Ortigia; you’ll have to park just outside by the harbour.

Hotel Cavalieri: Just across Ortigia by the harbour, a modern boutique hotel, reasonably priced, with parking options.

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel: Located in Ortigia, this recently renovated historic hotel boasts one of Ortigia’s most important ancient sites in its basement — a 6th century mikva (Jewish ritual bath).

Restaurants in Siracusa and Ortigia

Oinos Restaurant (via della Guidecca, Siracusa): Located in the ancient Jewish quarter of Ortigia, they serve delicious fish dishes such as seafood cuscusu and pasta con le sarde.

Regina Lucia (Piazza Duomo 6, Ortigia): Located on one of the most beautiful piazzas in Sicily, this restaurant specializes in local cuisine with an emphasis on seafood.

Western Sicily

Please refer to Mapplr’s dedicated travel guide to Western Sicily (and Erice) with recommended hotels and places to visit.

Palermo

Palermo is the largest city in Sicily. It is a bustling city filled with ornate churches, crumbling palazzi and food markets. These are the must-see places in Palermo:

Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo: Macabre and creepy, this underground cellar of dim passageways lined with dead people’s skeletons (still wearing their robes), preserved by the Capuchin monks over the centuries, is one of the most memorable places you will ever see. Not a good idea to go alone simply because by the time you come to the end of the first corridor, the hair on your neck and arms will be standing straight up. The preserved 2-year old girl (who died in 1920 and has the honour of being the last person embalmed by the monks) in a glass-covered cradle is morbidly fascinating because she seems to be in the bloom of life with her chubby red cheeks and curly locks.

Cappella Palatina: Royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily located on the second floor of the Palazzo Reale built in 1080 distinguished by its Byzantine architecture and dazzling golden mosaics.

Monreale: A small town just outside Palermo, its main attraction is the Cathedral of Monreale constructed between 1174 and 1182 by William II and is considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the world. Like the Cappella Palatina, the cathedral’s ceiling and upper walls are decorated with impressive Byzantine mosaics.

Cathedral of Monreale

Viucciria: This market has been providing fresh fish, vegetables and fruit to Palermo residents for 700 years. Check out the astounding variety of fresh fish.

*Tip for a sunny afternoon: Head to Mondello just outside Palermo along the coast. Mondello’s white sand beaches and warm waters are the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Have lunch at one of Mondello’s beachside trattorias. There is an excellent restaurant in Mondello called Bye Bye Blues on via del Garofalo 23.

Mondello Beach

Hotels in Palermo

There isn’t one hotel in Palermo that I’m crazy about and would wholeheartedly recommend. The two hotels listed below are the best of the lot.

Grand Hotel Villa Igeia: Located on the waterfront, this hotel has large rooms, swimming pool, gardens, outdoor dining. You need to take a taxi to the center of Palermo to see the main sights.

Hotel Porta Felice: Modern boutique hotel near the port, less expensive than Villa Igeia, need to take taxi to main sights.

You can stay outside Palermo at the vineyard resort of Agrirelais Baglio di Pianetto in Santa Cristina Gela (20 km from Palermo).

Restaurants in Palermo

Osteria dei Vespri (Piazza Croce dei Vespri 6): Located on a hidden square where Visconti filmed the principal part of “The Leopard” (Il Gattopardo), this restaurant serves modern Sicilian cuisine. The food is marvelous and the atmosphere is memorable because you dine under the stars in one of the oldest quarters of Palermo. Reservations are absolutely necessary because it’s a small place. Ask for a table outside if the weather is good.

Gigi Mangia (Via Principe di Belmonte 104): fresh seafood and pasta, local dishes and desserts.

Sicily travel guide: What to eat in Sicily

This is not the time to go on a diet, nor is it the time to be squeamish. Sicily is all about the seafood and fresh vegetables, many of which you don’t find outside Sicily.

(1) Pasta with small sweet red shrimp: If you find this on the menu, eat it. The shrimp has an intense red colour and is very sweet. It is a type of deep water shrimp called aristaeomorpha foliacea which breeds in the summer off the coast of Western Sicily and lives in deep waters (200 metres and more).  This is the best shrimp I have ever tasted.

(2) Cuscusu: Seafood couscous is found mostly in Western Sicily, but is served in seafood restaurants around the island.

(3) Pasta with tuna and mint: Unusual combination of flavours that work well.

(4) Pasta with sea urchin: Like pasta with tuna and mint, sea urchin and pasta are a divine combination. The sea urchin gives the pasta a slightly unctuous texture.

(5) Pasta alla norma (with eggplant): This dish originated in Catania and is composed of penne, eggplant, tomatoes, ricotta salata and basil. You can find this in many restaurants across Italy, but it is best made in Sicily.

(6) Pasta con le sarde: Bucatini with sardines, pine nuts, raisins, saffron, anchovies, wild fennel and breadcrumbs. This is the quintessential Sicilian dish and if you want to make it, follow the recipe of Giorgio Locatelli.

(7) Fava beans and peas pureed together, and served with ricotta, toasted breadcrumbs, and herbs such as mint.

(8) Polpette di pesce spada: fried ground swordfish balls served in a piquant tomato sauce.

(9) Involtini di pesce spada: thinly sliced swordfish fillets, stuffed, rolled and baked.

(10) Tenerumi in soup: Tenerumi are the vine tendrils of the cucuzza (pale, long courgettes) and they are most often used in brodetto (soup) in the summer.

Other sources of information

Think Sicily has an excellent list of villas to rent as well as short summaries of what to see in Sicily, where to eat and how to get around.

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If you have questions about Sicily or want to update us on hotels, restaurants and other tips, please fill in the comments section below.

Sicily travel guide: best hotels, restaurants, itineraries and cuisine is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

With a 7 km long coastline, Gili Trawangan is the largest and most vibrant of the three Islands. Gili Meno is the complete opposite — a calm oasis for those seeking a peaceful island getaway. Somewhere in between the two, you find Gili Air which has the most local feel of the islands. All three islands are within a five-minute boat ride from each other so you can easily visit all three.

The three islands have a “no cars/no motorbikes policy”, making bicycles and horses the only forms of inland transportation. Add to that a love of reggae music and a rasta-like lifestyle and you see why the Gili Islands are the perfect spot to slow down.

What to do on the Gili Islands

Most people who visit the Gili Islands plan on spending most of their time on the beach, eating freshly caught seafood and sipping fruit juices or cocktails. But should the urge to do something more active arise, the islands provide several options.

Scuba diving

The Gili islands have plenty of options for scuba divers.  With more than 20 named dive sites near the coasts of the islands, there are sites that suit both beginners and experienced divers. Pigmy seahorses, barracudas, reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and fish in all colors are among the many different species you may encounter. If you are new to diving, several operators on the islands offer scuba diving courses for beginners.

Snorkel with sea turtles

Put on your fins and mask (if you didn’t bring your own, they can easily be rented) and go searching for sea turtles just off the beach. There is a good chance you’ll be swimming with one of these beautiful creatures. If you have trouble finding turtles ask someone local and they’ll be glad to guide you to a good spot.

If you don’t like getting your head below water, you can visit the turtle hatchery on the main beach on Gili Trawangan where young turtles are getting ready to be released into the waters.

Bike or walk around the Islands

Bikes can be rented almost everywhere and are a great way to explore the islands. If you head inland on the small dirt roads, you will see village life as it is lived on the Gilis, which is slow-paced.  Bike along the coast and you’ll come by several small beaches where you can have a picnic on your own “private” secluded beach.

On Gili Trawangan, a popular walking trip is to the summit of the small hill on the southern part of the island, especially around sunset where you can see the sun set behind Bali. On Gili Meno, there is an inland salt lake that makes a good destination for a walk.

Explore nearby Lombok

Take a boat to Lombok and venture into the Gili Islands’ closest neighbor. Lombok is mainly Muslim, which means the culture is different compared to nearby Bali’s Hindu culture.

A day trip from the Gilis can include visits to unspoilt villages or trekking to waterfalls.  Serious trekkers should consider climbing the spectacular 3726 meter high volcano Mount Rinjani with a crater view that will take your breath away. A trip to the summit of Mount Rinjani is a 3-day tour.

Where to stay on the Gili Islands

Deciding which of the three islands you want to stay on depends on whether you are looking for tranquility or prefer a busier place with nightlife and a large selection of small shops and restaurants.  Gili Meno is the most peaceful of the three, Gili Trawangan is more happening, and Gili Air has a bit from both worlds.

If you are a light sleeper, it can be a good idea to avoid the area around the two mosques in the south when booking a hotel. The calls to prayer five times a day are part of the Gili experience and adds to the atmosphere, but it can be hard to sleep through them if you stay right next to the mosque.

On the Gilis accommodations are a mix of cheap bungalows and luxury villas. Most of the cheap bungalows can’t be booked in advance, but they are numerous and are usually easy to find.

When it comes to villas on the Gili Islands, Villa Julius and the eco-friendly Gili Eco Villas are among the most popular. Most villas on the islands can be booked through Vilondo Gili villa rental.

Places to eat on the Gili Islands

At night, many of the restaurants light up barbecues and grill fish and other seafood from their displays along the beach road. Often you will dine right on the beach. If you sit to close to the water’s edge, be prepared to get wet feet when the tide comes in.

For a more local authentic dining experience, head to square near the harbor on Gili Trawangan, where local fishermen prepare their catches of fish and seafood on small barbecues. Enjoy it with a cold beer, a squeeze of lemon and you won’t miss the tablecloths and candle lights found in some of the fancier places.

Restaurant Ko-Ko-Mo (Gili Trawangan)
Ko-Ko-Mo has one of the most ambitious kitchens on the Gili Islands and a beach location to match it. The kitchen is French with Asian touches. Prices are higher than most other places, but so is the quality.

Il Pirata (Gili Trawangan)
If you are hungry for pizza, try Il Pirata. You’ll be amazed that pizzas can taste that authentic on a tropical island thousands of miles from Italy. The restaurant is hidden down one of the small alleys from the beach road and fills up most nights.

Café Kecil (Gili Trawangan)
Close to Il Pirata you find the brightly colored Café Kecil. There is nothing extravagant about Café Kecil. The atmosphere is cosy and you can get a decent sandwich, a noodle or pasta dish for less than 2$. Good stop for lunch.

Mahamaya (Gili Meno)
If you  want a classy dining experience on Gili Meno, Mahamaya is the place to go. On top of delicious food and a service minded staff, you get a beautiful sunset with your pre-dinner drink if you get there on time.

Warung Gili (Gili Air)
Warung Gili is a family run warung right in the center of Gili Air. The food is local and prices are very reasonable.

How to get to the Gili Islands

Several places along Bali’s east coast have ferry routes to the Gili Islands. The most popular is the ferry departing from Padang Bai.

There are plenty of boat companies to choose from. Prices range between US$20 to US$100. The expensive options include pick up and drop off at your villa or hotel in Bali. If you go for the cheapest options, don’t expect much when it comes to maritime safety. Most likely you won’t find life vests for everyone or a working radio on board.

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This travel guide to the Gili Islands was contributed by Stefan Russel, who is co-founder of Vilondo.com, a villa rental company that focuses on Bali and the nearby islands. Bali has a special place in his heart and he enjoys blogging about and sharing his travel tips to The Island of the Gods.

Gili Islands, Indonesia travel guide is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

(1) Visit the right place in the right season, which is usually during the shoulder-season: don’t visit Paris or Rome in August if you want to see locals and visit places frequented by locals, and not only tourists. On the other hand, Ibiza off-season can be cold and rainy and most of the restaurants and clubs are closed.

(2) Don’t ask for advice from someone who visited a place 10 years ago. A pristine beach can get ruined quickly, and a city can be flooded with tourists once an international airport is built nearby. I visited Railay Beach near Krabi, Thailand around 1990 and it was one of the most pristine beaches I have even seen. On a recent visit I was disappointed to see that the area has been overbuilt, with motor boats zooming all over.  Thailand has been particularly affected by the proliferation of discount airlines and chartered flights to small local beach resorts.

Railay beach: where are the crowds?

(3) Top 3 tourist sites get 95 percent of crowds, so go to less crowded monuments. There are great churches in Rome which will be empty and much more enjoyable than the Vatican, such Saint Peter in Chains where a magnificent statue of Michelangelo’s Moses can be found.

Statue of Moses in San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome

(4) Take it easy: Stay multiple days in a place, walk/bike rather than drive. Too many travel guides follow the Michelin focus on driving rather than on being outside in the fresh air or on the street getting a feel of a foreign city. Pick a few nice places, stay there and explore the region by foot or by bike. If you like the area, come back again and explore some more.

(5) Expensive places attract old and nouveau riche crowd: Stay in small boutique hotels rather than in landmark city hotels or chain hotels. You may not be able to brag, but you will get to stay with a hip crowd in a cool area and it will be lighter on your wallet. The true gems while travelling are small low-key places that have not been written about in the guide books – keep checking Mapplr Hotels for our top recommendations.

(6) Give young chefs a chance and avoid Michelin-star places. Nola in Copenhagen is passé – find other places on Mapplr Hottest New Restaurants in Copenhagen. Like hotels, once a restaurant becomes too well-known, the prices go up and the quality declines (or at least the menu becomes more conservative).

(7) Never eat at a restaurant with big signs in English outside (In a non-English speaking country). Avoid eating on main touristy streets and squares. Small places in back alleys and side streets are usually good bets – they will be cheaper and attract locals. In San Francisco, avoid Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square at all costs, and head for the Mission or SOMA for better food.

(8) Fly non-stop if possible: You will spend what you saved on airfare at airport restaurants and will arrive to your destination exhausted if you fly via a connection. Also, your miles are not worth much these days, so fly Air France directly from SFO to Paris rather than saving money and flying from SFO with Delta via NYC and risk getting delayed in a snowstorm. If you have to make a connection in Europe, choose pleasant airports with little delays such as Munich, Zurich or Amsterdam, and avoid London Heathrow or Paris CDG.

(9) Fly mid-week as flights are cheaper and airports are less crowded. Fly midday flights for the same reason (business people usually fly in the morning so airlines charge a premium for early morning flights). Use sites like Seat Guru to find the best seats on a flight and pay extra money for them. I am always puzzled by those who will buy several beers on the flight, but will not spend the same amount (or even less) to purchase an emergency row seat with more leg room and space.

(10) Use discount airlines to avoid busy airports: in Europe, use EasyJet to fly to Paris Orly Airport rather than to Charles de Gaulle Airport. If you are going to Manila (Philippines), use Cebu Pacific to avoid the terrible Manila International Airport’s Terminal 1. Cebu Pacific uses the newer terminal which is largely free of delays. Discount airlines are as safe as mainstream ones (even in Asia), and usually their planes are much newer, the staff more motivated, and their on-time record better so give them a try.

Following these Top 10 Travel Tips will still require you to plan and research your destinations and airline options, but they can greatly improve your overall travel experience.  Safe travels!

Top 10 Travel Tips is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

A history of European invasion, slave trading and communism means that the people of Cuba are as hard to define as the food. With this in mind, cheap holidays to Cuba are plentiful and are best done away from the hotels and resorts; instead, look for casas particulares for something in between a homestay and a small B&B. Cheap rates, cultural interaction and an authentic menu are a combination which is hard to resist. Alternatively, head for the paladares or family-run restaurants in cities like Santiago de Cuba for traditional meat stews and tamales.

This said, a real taste of Cuba is often to be found in the sights.

Photo by Doug Wheller

Wander around Old Havana, where you’ll find the Spanish legacy in the Castillo de la Real Fuerza and the birthplace of the country’s modern state in the Plaza de la Revolucion. The Museo Nacional de Belle Artes is a must-see for art fans and those wishing to trace Hemingway’s steps won’t want to miss his former villa in San Francisco de Paula.

From the colonial town of Trinidad to the Vinales Valley battle grounds, the island is also home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are certainly worth a longer stay.

In a country defined by Latin rhythms like mambo, cha-cha and salsa, it pays to seek out some local music while you’re here. Try Trinidad for Afro-Cuban bands, comb the alleys of Havana for impromptu guitar players or plan your visit to coincide with a Cuban festival. The renowned Santiago de Cuba Carnival in July is a great opportunity to experience the dancing and costumes of the country’s Spanish, French and African heritage.

It’s immediately obvious to any visitor that Cuba is a country which embodies the phrase “cultural melting-pot”. Whether you find it by watching a master cigar-roller in action, tearing up the Havana dance floors or letting the locals welcome you into their home, the real Cuba is there for the taking. This is one Caribbean island which beats any stereotype you can think of and needs to be experienced to be properly understood.

**This is a sponsored post.

A Visit to Cultural Cuba is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Cappadocia

Hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia

Göreme, Turkey

Fairy chimneys in Cappadocia (photo credit: Frank Kovalchek)

Cappadocia is located in central Turkey (eastern Anatolia) on a high plateau. It is famous for the Fairy Chimneys (rock formations that soar like tall towers) nearby Göreme. The best way to see these rock formations and caves is from a hot air balloon.

A tour of northern Cappadocia would include:

Devrent Valley: Devrent is located on the northern slopes of Aktepe; the ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys. You will see fairy chimneys in this valley.

Monks Valley: This is the best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys as well as the Pasabag (Pasha’s Vineyard) which is ringed by rock formations.

Göreme Open Air Museum: This is the most visited site in Cappadocia. You will see painted cave churches that had been decorated by medieval monks.

Uchisar: Uchisar is named after the enormous rock (with caves) in the center of the town. It is the highest peak in the area and from here, you can see all of Cappadocia and Mount Erciyes.

An itinerary through Southern Cappadocia would include:

Kizilcukur: an isolated valley behind Urgup which has beautiful rock formations with hidden rock-carved churches.

Cavusin: Next to Goreme, it is the site of the Church of St. John the Baptist, which dates back to the 5th century.

Hospital Monastery: Carved into the rock, this is one of the oldest monastries in Cappadocia.

Kaymakli: Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are two of the largest and deepest underground cities in Cappadocia. Not all levels are open to the public.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale, Turkey

Greek ruin in Pamukkale, Turkey (photo credit: Frank Kovalchek)

Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish. It is the site of hot springs and terraces of carbonate minerals deposited by flowing water over the centuries. It is also the site of the ancient city of Hierapolis whose tombs and edifices you can still see partly submerged in the terraces.

Ephesus

Library of Celsus at Ephesus

Ephesus is an ancient Greek city. In the first century BC (under Roman rule) it was one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean with a population of 250,000. It is best known for the Temple of Artemis (built in 550 BC), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but sadly the temple has been almost completely destroyed. Today one can visit the following preserved sites in Ephesus: Library of Celsus, Gate of Augustus, Basilica of St. John, the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian and the Temple of Domitian. Ephesus is considered to be the best preserved ancient Greek city. It is one of the most important early Christian cities. St. Paul lived and preached there. It is mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

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I would like to thank Ugur Ilgar for providing this list of must-see places in Turkey. Ugur is the founder of LuxuryIstanbul, a Turkey travel specialist and tour company that organizes tailor-made holidays and special tours (shopping, history, archaeology, art and more). His firm can create an itinerary for you in Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Istanbul and other parts of Turkey.

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If you are going to Istanbul, check out all our articles about Istanbul (hotel and restaurant recommendations, places to visit, hammams and more).

Mapplr’s Istanbul articles

Turkey Travel Guide: Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

(1) Israel

The Holy Land, where Passover and Easter are celebrated with equal fervour, is also a fabulous destination for those who love the beach, sunshine, warm weather, history, and delicious Mediterranean food.

We have posted articles written by a licensed tour guide from Israel, who specialises in archaeological and nature tours:

Hiking in Israel’s Judean Desert

Exploring the Haram el-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City

Guide to Herodium, Israel: location of Herod’s Tomb and Palace

Israel packs a lot into a small country

You can read our other articles about Israel, including boutique hotel recommendations and restaurant reviews.

(2) Rome

The other place where Easter is celebrated with so much passion is Rome. Spring is a wonderful time to visit Rome because it’s not as crowded as during the summer. It’s certainly not as hot and humid, making long walks around the city more comfortable. We have written a comprehensive guide to Rome called Eat Pray Love Rome Travel Guide. You can read all our Rome articles including hotel and restaurant recommendations.

(3) Sicily

This is the most splendid island in the Mediterranean, the crossroads omany civilizations — Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Saracen, Norman — all of which have left their mark on the island’s cuisine and its built environment. The largest island of Italy, Sicily is blessed with the best seafood, lovely beaches, an active volcano (Etna), good wine, Greek temples and amphitheaters, castles and fortresses. In the springtime, everything is blooming so the island is green and lush, unlike in the summer and fall. We posted a travel guide to western Sicily (Hotels in Erice, Sicily and Travel Guide) and other articles about boutique hotels, winery resorts and restaurants in Sicily. We will be coming up with a comprehensive guide to Sicily soon.

(4) California

Although it’s long flight for people coming from Europe and Asia, California belongs to our top 10 destinations for spring because you can be sure that the sun will be shining and rainfall will be minimal. Everything is green and fresh, and if you like hiking, the areas north and south of San Francisco are ideal. The reason it’s better to come to California in the spring is that in the fall, after they have not had much rain, the countryside looks rather brown and dry, and in the Los Angeles area, it can be very hot. Check out our San Francisco and Los Angeles articles.

(5) Japan

Japan in the springtime is more than just Cherry Blossom festivals, although that is one of the main attractions of Tokyo, Kyoto and other Japanese cities. Japan is one of our top 10 destinations for spring because in the summer, it is too hot and humid, and in the winter, very cold. Try to stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese guesthouse, for the true Japanese experience. We have a list of recommended ryokans. If you want to venture beyond the big cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, visit Shirakawa-go (a village filled with historic traditional Japanese country houses) and Koyasan (a lovely village at the foot of Mount Koya, the center of Shingon Buddhism and a place of pilgrimage for many Japanese).

Monastery in Koyasan, Japan

Stay in one of the monastery guesthouses in Koyasan.  If you find yourself in the Kyoto-Osaka area, don’t miss the Miho Museum, a stunning museum built in the mountains outside Osaka.

(6) Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza

Without the beach crowds, the Balearic islands are ideal places for walking and relaxing. In the springtime, the flowers are out and the countryside is filled with blossoming trees. Mallorca is particularly suited to hikers; Ibiza and Menorca are better for a beach experience. All three (and the tiny island of Formentera) will be sunny and warm, with good Mediterranean food and wine to accompany your spring sojourn.

Travel guide Menorca: best beaches, charming country houses

Mapplr’s favorite hotels in Ibiza

Travel Guide to Mallorca

Mapplr’s Mallorca articles

Mapplr’s Ibiza articles

(7) Provence

Spring is the best time to visit Provence. Summer is much too hot for exploring the hill towns or for hiking in the national park of the Luberon. You can start in Aix-en-Provence and explore the southern part of Provence including the Sainte-Victoire, the mountain painted by Cezanne in many of his works. From Aix, it’s a 40-minute drive to Cassis, a charming small village on the coast. Then proceed to the Luberon, which many consider to be the real Provence, and stay in a typical Provençal mas (farmhouse) that has been converted into a bed and breakfast, or splurge on a chateau-hotel. Avignon is a popular destination as well, and it’s not as busy as it is in the summer. Extend your wanderings to Uzès, an atmospheric village that lies just across from Provence in Languedoc-Roussillon. From Uzès, the well-preserved Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, is only a few minutes away. Nîmes (with its mini Roman colosseum and preserved Roman buildings) and Arles are close by.

Mapplr’s favorite hotels in Aix-en-Provence, France

Mapplr’s articles about Provence (boutique hotels, chambres d’hotes, château-hotels, restaurants)

(8) Tuscany

Like Provence, Tuscany is at its best in the spring when everything is blooming and hordes of tourists have not yet descended upon its hill towns. To get away from the busyness of Siena and Florence, visit Pienza, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, and Monteriggioni (a tiny version of San Gimignano). Hike in the hills of Tuscany. Around Montevarchi, you will be walking on part of the ancient road from France to Rome (the Via Francigena) which was an important pilgrim road and still has the large old paving stones embedded in the soil. To make the best of your Tuscan adventure, visit small family wineries and olive oil producers. Read our articles on Tuscany with recommended hotels and restaurants.

(9) Andalusia

Sevilla is famous for its Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations which fill the city with religious processions organized by various hermandades (brotherhoods) who wear hooded robes and carry statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through the streets of the ancient city.

Holy Week procession in Sevilla

It’s very crowded and lively, so if you prefer something quiet and pastoral, go to the Pueblos Blancos (White Towns): Arcos de la Frontera, Vejer de la Frontera, Villaluenga del Rosario and other villages close to Cadiz. Andalusia is extremely hot and dry in the summer, so springtime is the best season to visit. If you have time, go to Ronda, a village perched at the edge of a cliff, famous for the bridge that spans the two cliff sides of the town, which featured in Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. Do not miss Ronda’s splendid little plaza de toros (the bull fighting ring) and the bull fighting museum which proudly displays the bloody gored uniform of a torero and the stuffed heads of famous brave bulls.

Mapplr’s favorite hotels in Seville

(10) Turkey

Like the other destinations mentioned in this article, Turkey is a marvelous spring destination for those who crave sunshine, warmth, good food and history all in one place. Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and spending a few days in the city is an unforgettable experience.

Mapplr’s Turkish correspondents have put together insider tips for you.

Travel Guide to Istanbul

Top Turkish hammams in Istanbul

Istanbul restaurants and clubs where the fashionable crowd hangs out

Top seafood restaurants in Istanbul

Top Asian restaurants in Istanbul

Top restaurants serving Turkish cuisine in Istanbul

Mapplr’s favorite hotels in Istanbul

Mapplr’s favorite restaurants in Istanbul

My favourite hotel in Istanbul is the Witt Istanbul Suites in Cihangir, a trendy lively district in Istanbul filled with cafes, restaurants and cool boutiques.

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Do you have your own top destinations for spring? Tell us where and why in the comments below.

Top 10 destinations for spring is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Sightseeing in Seoul

Gyeongbokgung is the most famous palace in Seoul and well-worth seeing. Give yourself a few hours to stroll the grounds of this grand Joseon Dynasty compound. The palace has been reconstructed twice, once after falling to disrepair after nearly three centuries without use and once after it was partially destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Modern Seoul has grown up around the Gyeongbokgung complex, so visitors can see the contrast of the ancient and ultra-contemporary in the city.

Gardens in the Gyeongbokgung Palace

Namsan Tower is not an especially attractive sight in and of itself, but it does afford visitors an excellent view of the city. The tower is officially the North Seoul Tower, but is generally known by the name of the mountain on which it is built. There is a restaurant in the tower that is known as a romantic spot in the city, though it is also a pricey one, best for special occasions. After enjoying the ambiance during lunch or dinner, couples can place a “love padlock” on a tree on the observation deck, making for a special memory of the city.

Seoul was the site of the 1988 Summer Olympics and as such, now has a lovely Olympic Park that is a great place to visit, especially during the spring and summer months. The World Peace Gate is an imposing and slightly bizarre structure that signals the entrance to the lovely green space. There are unique sculptures throughout the park, as well as tree-lined walking paths. Stroll down them and you will see the impressively fit Korean senior citizens, as well as young lovers catching some time together without the watchful eyes of their parents. It’s a great place to picnic with friends and enjoy some kimbap and soju for an afternoon.

The War Memorial of Korea is a somber place to visit, but an important one to understand the country’s turbulent history and gain better perspective on conflicts in the region. There is a museum in addition to the memorial, and is not to be missed. The excellent Lee-um Samsung Museum is a great place to pass an afternoon. At each level of the museum, visitors are immersed in various eras of regional art, from ancient sculpting techniques to contemporary and abstract pieces.

Shopping in Seoul

Seoul is an excellent city for shopping, especially when it comes to clothes, accessories and cosmetics. South Koreans are notoriously well-dressed and it’s easy to see why when you glimpse the options available at every turn.

For high-end looks and designer fashion, Shinsegae department store is the place to go. Conveniently located near the Express Bus Terminal, Shinsegae is home to a wide range of well-known brands. Even the food court here is high-end, with foods worthy of a proper restaurant, rather than a quick meal on the go. You’ll also find international wines, desserts and hard-to-find Western foods here.

The Myeong-dong shopping district is packed with tiny boutiques, but has international chains such as Zara and Forever 21 as well. Clothes here are less expensive and more eccentric than the fashions you’ll find at Shinsegae, but they’re also of poorer quality and better suited to finding a quick look for a night out. The shopping streets come alive after dark and among the Korean cosmetics stores you should visit are Etude House (famous for its garish pink interiors), Nature Republic and The Face Shop, which sell inexpensive skin care and makeup.

One of the lively shopping streets in Myeongdong

While in this district, make sure you visit Lotte, a full service department store that has a terrific duty-free shopping hall. Lotte’s sporting goods department carries remarkably stylish sportswear for trekking, biking, and running. If you don’t have time to hit Lotte’s duty free shopping hall, you can do so at the Seoul international airport where they operate a massive duty free store filled with Korean cosmetics and skin care products such as Sulwahsoo, Laneige, and Amore Pacific.

Shinsegae department store in Seoul

Many subway stations are also turned into shopping havens, with stalls and stores bursting with inexpensive clothes, accessories and shoes. The Express Bus Terminal is a particularly extensive market, and has not only clothes but also household products, decorations and houseplants.

Eating out in Seoul

You can’t visit Seoul without spending time in a few Korean barbecue joints where you’ll gorge yourself on sizzling slices of pork and beef wrapped in sesame leaves stuffed with rice, grilled garlic, fresh kimchi and ssamjang, a spicy Korean sauce. There are barbecue restaurants all over the city, though you’ll find quite a concentration of them in Jongno-gu and Gangnam.

Seoul is not without its quality Western restaurants as well, and among the best of these is Zelen, a Bulgarian restaurant. The eatery is found at one end of a long food street in Itaewon, a district known for its international cuisine options and raucous – and occasionally sleazy – nightlife. The food at Zelen is cooked to perfection, and is hearty, filling and savory. They also have an impressive wine selection. It is a bit more expensive than your standard restaurant so it is best for a special occasion.

For fine dining in Seoul, CNN Travel has a round-up of 10 of the best restaurants in the city.

Nightlife

A good night out is very easy to arrange in this city. Itaewon is known for attracting large crowds of foreigners, in part because it is quite close to the American military base there. This is where you’ll find Homo and Hooker hills, which are fairly self-explanatory. Nights out in Itaewon tend to be rowdy. Hongdae, the university area, is a step up, with a great mix of bars, clubs and live music venues at which to dance away an evening.

Where to stay in Seoul

IP Boutique Hotel in Itaewon: funky, artsy reasonably priced, good location.

Tea Tree Hotel: boutique business hotel in Gangnam district

W Seoul: luxury hillside hotel 15 minutes from Gangnam, great for people who like to run and walk; excellent spa and restaurant.

Travel guide to Seoul, Korea is a post by Casey Hynes on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

Because Israel is located on the land bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa and extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River in the Great African Rift Valley and from the Red Sea to mountains in the north it has a diversity of climates and habitats. These unique conditions are the main cause for the rich diversity of Israeli flora, more than 2500 species (compared to 1500 in the British Isles for example which is 10 times the size). This incredible diversity leads to many different hiking experiences.

Jerusalem is a great base for day hikes because of its location in the hills and on the edge of the Judean desert and only a half hour drive to the northern edge of the Dead Sea.

Canyon in Nahal Og

For starters I’d recommend hiking Nahal Og, with its rugged desert landscape. You hike in a narrow canyon and climb on rung ladders that have been hammered into the rock cliff – a classic Israeli hike. Nearby is Wadi Qelt another desert hike that takes you to a monastery hanging on the cliff, with its chapel and gardens, that was first built in the 6th century.

Waterfall and pool at Ein Gedi

Although you are in the desert there are two places with natural springs, Ein Gedi and Ein Feshka. Ein Gedi is a kibbutz (collective agricultural settlement) named after a Jewish settlement from 2000 years ago. Besides the excavations of the town with a synagogue there are ruins of a much earlier Chalcolithic temple. The surrounding area, a nature reserve, is a great area to hike and you can choose various trails, from 20 minute family hikes to challenging 4-6 hour hikes, that will take you to pools and waterfalls in the middle of the desert.

Hiking Mount Sodom above the Dead Sea

A little farther south there is hiking at Mount Sodom, a salt mountain that is connected to the Biblical story of Lot’s wife who looked back while fleeing Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt (a guide can show the pillar of salt standing to this day). If you still have energy at the end of the day try, a night hike by the light of the full moon in Nahal Peratzim, a canyon of white chalk cliffs in the Amiad plain.

Make your own itinerary from these choices and still be able to be back in Jerusalem in time for dinner and drinks in the evening.

Hiking in Nahal Peratzim

Hiking in Israel’s Judean Desert is a post by Shmuel Browns on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

The author along a quiet stretch of Alona Beach

Alona Beach on Panglao island, connected to Bohol via a causeway, is becoming one of the most popular destinations in the Philippines. Unlike Boracay, it is still relatively undeveloped, with only two resort-style hotels on the beach. Most accommodations along the beach and just behind it, are guest houses that cater to families, divers and backpackers. Alona Beach itself is a tiny strip of white sand lined with small restaurants and bars. You can walk from one end to the other in 10 minutes. There are local handicraft shops, grocery stores, cafes and spas offering massages and beauty treatments.

When I visited Alona Beach in January 2013, I discovered that most of the tourists are Korean families escaping the harsh winter. Other tourists come from Germany, the UK, France, and Scandinavia. The atmosphere on the beach is relaxed and tranquil. Occasionally one of the restaurant-bars will blast loud music from their speaker system, but this usually happens late in the afternoon. There are no louche bars or aggressive hawkers. At most, you will get people urging you to stop at one of the small beach tents for a massage, or offering green mangoes with bagoong (a pungent shrimp paste that Filipinos add to all kinds of dishes and which most Westerners cannot stand).

Restaurants and bars at Alona Beach

The restaurants along Alona Beach serve Filipino, Korean, Thai and Western food, none of which is particularly memorable. The best thing to eat is grilled seafood since it does not require any culinary skill beyond a flick of the wrists above hot coals.

Nighttime dining along Alona Beach

Even the Filipino food is mediocre; most places along the beach cater to the culinary preferences of Chinese, Koreans and Westerners. Nevertheless, savouring your grilled fish under the stars on the beach in front of one of the restaurants is a lovely experience. Many restaurants and bars have a live band that performs every evening.

You should try the seafood at Hidden Dream, a popular restaurant which lies on a side street off the beach. It does get very crowded in the evenings. You approach a long table topped with fresh squid, shrimp, lobster, prawns, and fish, and select what you want to have for dinner. They weigh it, grill it with the side dishes of your choice (corn, vegetable kebabs) and serve it to you at your table. The menu is cheap, excellent and varied. After dinner, wander across the street to one of Alona Beach’s most popular hangouts, Helmut’s Place.

Helmut’s Place by day

The staff at Helmut’s Place

Helmut’s Place is owned by Helmut Nauels, a German who seems to have found himself a home in the Philippines. Good inexpensive German and Filipino beer, a pool table, Western food, a welcoming ambiance, as well as the presence of lovely young Filipino women, are reasons why Helmut’s Place is very popular. It is also the unofficial headquarters of the Bohol Bikers Club.

There’s nothing sleazy or scary about Helmut’s Place. When I went there one evening for a cold glass of San Miguel beer, I observed two families enjoying an evening meal, next to what looked like a gathering of several members of the Bohol Bikers Club, whose gleaming Harleys were carefully parked outside the bar.

Where to stay on Alona Beach

I stayed at the Henann Resort, which is constructing a new multi-storey building with more guest rooms behind their beach-front villas. I don’t know what the experience will be like for guests when that is finished. I suspect there will be more people, more kids and more noise. At the time I stayed, it was very quiet because they were officially “not open”. I saw only five other guests.

Henann Resort

The other resort hotel is on the beach is the Amorita Resort. I did not get a chance to see the rooms or the swimming pool. It is a popular venue for weddings so if you decide to stay there, make reservations well in advance.

Amorita Resort

What to do during your stay

(1) Scuba Diving: Many people go scuba diving among the coral reefs off Panglao island. There are dive shops that will rent scuba diving gear and take you on a boat to the best diving spots.

(2) Island hopping: You can rent a banca (a typical Philippine boat, see photo below) to visit nearby beaches and islands. The island hopping tours take several hours, so bring enough sunscreen, a hat and swimwear. If you don’t want to burn, follow the example of the Korean tourists and swim with your clothes on (a thin light0-coloured long-sleeved top and long shorts are a common sight). If tanning is your goal, you can join the Western tourists grilling themselves like kebabs on the beach, but be warned — the Philippine sun is very strong and roasted pink-red skin, not a cocoa tan, seems to be the unintended result.

Boat for hire on Alona Beach: religious inscription to ensure safety

(3) Chocolate Hills of Bohol (see photo below): This is a half day trip from Alona Beach. If you leave at 9:00 am, you can be back at your hotel at 1:00 pm, unless you decide to visit other places in Bohol. Ask your hotel to arrange the trip or take a taxi. Many taxis are available in Alona Beach. It’s a beautiful drive that takes you through the lush countryside of rice fields, up to the Chocolate Hills viewpoint which has a restaurant, cafe and restroom facilities. Along the way you can ask your driver to stop at Baclayon Church, which was built during the Spanish colonial era (note: it is closed during the lunch hour starting at noon).

Not quite chocolate because of the rains

Popular mode of transportation in the Philippines

How to get to Alona Beach

I flew into Cebu-Mactan airport on Cebu Pacific Airlines from Singapore. The advantage of flying into Cebu, as opposed to Manila, is that Cebu airport is small and it is not busy. You won’t be stuck in long queues, unlike at Manila International Airport. Then I took a 2-hour ferry to Tagbilaran (on Bohol) where I caught a taxi to the Henann Resort on Alona Beach (a 45-minute journey).

If you arrive in Cebu-Mactan too late to catch the ferry, you can stay for one night at the wonderful Abaca Resort, a quiet boutique hotel with a terrific restaurant.

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Here’s another resort I recommend if you are looking for an even more beautiful beach. This is north of Palawan:

Club Paradise Palawan: your own island resort in the Philippines

Travel guide to Alona Beach, Philippines is a post by Esme Vos on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.

If you are going to western Sicily to explore Agrigento and Segesta, consider staying overnight in one of the hotels in Erice and exploring the town.

Towering over the west of Sicily at 751m above sea level and often covered in its own personal cloud, Erice is a wonderfully preserved mediaeval town offering the most breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Amongst the most visited sites are the two castles, Pepoli Castle and Venus Castle. The former was built by the Arabs while the latter was a Norman construction with imposing towers that derived its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the ancient Temple of Venus, allegedly founded by Aeneas. Other attractions include the sixty churches including the Gothic Chiesa Madre and the Mediaeval Church of Saint John the Baptist. The maze of cobbled mediaeval streets are a pleasure to wander around and the views are stunning. On a cloudless day, the Egadi Islands off the coast of Trapani are vividly visible, while to the west the panorama takes in vast swathes of eastern Sicily, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the coastline towards San Vito Lo Capo, Monte Cofano and the Gulf of Castellammare.

Hotels in Erice

It is recommended to spend the night in Erice, as the medieval alleys become magical as night falls and many of the tourists vanish. There are a number of small, good restaurants in the town, which serve western Sicilian food. While the selection of hotels is limited, here are two recommendations for hotels in Erice:

Villaggio Hotel La Pineta
A 25-room 3-star hotel within the walled city
Viale Nunzio Nasi Erice (Trapani)
Tel +39 0923.860127

Hotel San Domenico
A small 7-room hotel: the terrace room has a wonderful panoramic view from the balcony.
Via Tommaso Guarrasi, 26 Erice
Tel +39 0923 860128

Hotels in Erice, Sicily and Travel Guide is a post by Arnon Kohavi on Mapplr - Hotel reviews, travel guides, shopping guides.