Mumbai, India, is a polarising, electric masterpiece—a city you either hate or love, but can never ignore. The first time I found myself here, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the sticky July heat, I didn’t like the traffic, and I didn’t understand why just being here was reason enough for glee. I didn’t understand the fuss. I thought perhaps, at heart, my being a small-town girl had something to do with it. It has taken a husband from Mumbai and many unavoidable visits to truly decode it. Today, I see it for what it is: an undeniably brave, intelligent, and fiercely fast metropolis, yes, but one that doesn’t demand any conformity. There is a genuine warmth here, endless room for discovery, and the freedom to simply be yourself. Follow me on this part love letter and part guide to Mumbai.

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What to see: Coastal highways, gothic spires & Pavement sentinels 

To truly see Mumbai is to watch its architectural centuries from the back seat of a vintage kaali-peeli taxi—the iconic black and yellow cab. My journey begins as we glide onto the cable-stayed Bandra-Worli Sea Link, skimming across Mahim Bay before transitioning onto the sweeping new coastal road. Plunging into undersea tunnels beneath Malabar Hill, we emerge onto Marine Drive, tracing a seamless southward direction into the city’s old British heart. Driving deeper into the Fort district and around Flora Fountain, the streets turn theatrical with dramatic Victorian Gothic and Art Deco structures. The crowning jewel is Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus—a breathtaking cathedral of commerce defined by its majestic Gothic spires reaching into the sky. 

Cutting eastward, the journey reaches its architectural crescendo at the sea, where we cruise past the grand arches of the Gateway of India and the neighbouring Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Yet, looking past the sheer magnitude of this city, the exuberance of a simple taxi ride truly transports me to its centre. Looking up at these historic marvels, I realise how much has been lost to time. But as the heavy tropical heat drops and night takes over, the scene shifts. The sleepy street cats of Mumbai, who spent the afternoon lounging perfectly still on sun-baked stone ledges, are now wide awake. Their bright eyes glaze in the dark, and I secretly believe they guard this historic city—our pavement sentinels, watching silently over Mumbai’s relentless, beautiful chaos.

Where to eat: From morning marigolds to iconic Parsi cafes & Historic bars

Mumbai’s culinary landscape can create a sensory punctuation, but to me, it shifts seamlessly from traditional morning rituals to modern flavours. The journey begins before the city fully wakes. While vendors begin setting up at 4:00 AM, we arrive by 5:00 AM at the relentless Dadar Flower Market. My father-in-law and my daughter join me for a fun day. Wading through the labyrinth of damp lanes, we watch vendors toss mountains of vibrant orange marigolds alongside pastel roses, velvety red lotuses, and fragrant white mogra (jasmine), while a nearby knife sharpener hones his blades. Just past the street sellers, wholesale stalls reveal Mumbai’s broader trade in premium blooms, stacked with imported Thai orchids, vibrant anthuriums, delicate lisianthus, structural birds of paradise, and elegant lilies. 

Along the pavement, we pick up a handful of crisp, local white jamun (plums) from a fruit vendor—a refreshing, pale-pink luxury perfectly in season. The fragrant morning rush stirs an appetite, leading us straight into the neighbouring Matunga area to eat breakfast together. At the legendary Café Madras, we join the shared-table crunch of early risers, washing down impossibly fluffy idlis (rice cakes) and savoury upma (semolina porridge) with steel tumblers of frothy, chicory-laced filter coffee while my father-in-law shares stories of a 70s Mumbai.

For a design and caffeine reset, we later head to Bandra, slipping into Boojee Cafe to sip a hot latte alongside a grilled cottage cheese sandwich slathered in fiery theecha chutney—a brilliant, modern homage to local Maharashtrian spice. 

By afternoon, our trajectory bends toward heritage, highlighting Mumbai’s classic Parsi dining scene. The Parsis—a Zoroastrian community that migrated to India from Persia centuries ago—profoundly shaped the city’s food culture through their welcoming cafes. At Britannia & Co., housed within the grand, Renaissance-style stone facades of Ballard Estate, we sit beneath whirring vintage ceiling fans to devour their iconic, tart-sweet berry pulao (sweet-and-sour rice dish). We pair the rice with comforting dhansak (curry) and crispy veg pattice, scooped up with soft pieces of bread. To drink, we pop open bottles of Pallonji cream soda, a sweet, fizzy Parsi beverage staple, before finishing the feast with a rich slab of lagan nu custard (traditional Parsi wedding dessert). As the evening cools and the sea breeze rolls into Colaba, our final stop is Cafe Mondegar. Under its irreverent, retro murals, we find the ultimate urban antidote: a comforting plate of pasta, a cold beer for me, and a front-row seat to the chaotic theatre of the Mumbai night. For a midnight treat, we pre-order a moist chocolate walnut brownie by unconventional baker Tushar Toprani of 1401 Bakery.

Left: Dosa and side dishes, image by Alaap D. Centre: Cafe Mondegar, image by Rushikesh Patil. Right: Theecha sandwich from Boojee Cafe, image by Nupur Singh.

Where to shop: From high-end artisanal craft to pavement alleys 

When shopping in Mumbai, you can make it your own cinema production, transitioning from high-ceilinged sanctuaries to the wonderful wild theatre of the streets. Step off the busy pavements directly into Swadesh at Churchgate—a magnificent, experiential retail flagship housed inside the historic Art Deco Eros Cinema building, which showcases the pinnacle of Indian craftsmanship. Here, under pristine gallery lighting, run your hands over intricate handloom textiles, delicate rosewood woodwork, masterful hand-carved marble inlay decor, and timeless, heritage-inspired jewels. 

Plunge back into the sunlight and the roaring street-side energy. Around the grand arcades of Flora Fountain, legendary book carts form towering pavement labyrinths of ink and paper. If you don’t find your literary treasure there, a quick trip up to the pavement book displays at Matunga East reveals even more hidden, second-hand gems. For a complete sensory shift, flag down a taxi to Colaba Causeway. This bustling strip is the ultimate street bazaar, crammed with stalls showcasing heavy silver, oxidised jewellery, eclectic trinkets, and rows of brilliant, quirky street magic tricks and souvenirs. Street shopping here means engaging in a time-honoured, witty dance of negotiation to curate your own chest of treasures.

Your personal checklist should weave together the absolute best of both worlds: high-craft investments from Swadesh like exquisite pattu (silk) weaves, Chikankari fabrics, handmade silk shawls, hand-carved marble coasters, bone-inlay trinket boxes, and heritage-inspired jewellery pieces. Pavement paperbacks consisting of rare, out-of-print classic novels or vintage history books fished from the stacks at Flora Fountain or Matunga East; and kitsch souvenirs from Colaba Causeway, including chased silver earrings, thick oxidised cuffs, vintage-style brass trinkets, neon-bright smartphone cases, and quirky beaded bags.

Left: Flora Fountain, Mumbai, image by Ayush Kamath. Right: Gateway Of India, image by Deeya Rustum.

Last hurrah: Way to the airport 

Before heading to the terminal for our flight home, we make one final, essential suburban pilgrimage to Radhe Krishna in Vile Parle. Because Vile Parle sits right next to the airport, we purposely kept this delicious stop for the very end of our journey. Here we order a legendary plate of richly spiced pav bhaji (spicy vegetable curry) doused in Amul butter and scooped up with warm, pillow-soft buttery pav. Beside it sits a golden, crisp masala dosa, a completely separate masterpiece that arrives with cool coconut chutney, a fiery spicy tomato chutney, and a bowl of steaming sambar goodness (lentil-based vegetable curry). Our journey concludes seamlessly near the airport at the Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport, where I slip away into the serene sanctuary of Ode Spa. Succumbing to a deeply restorative 45-minute full body massage followed by a relaxing bath, the frantic rhythm and beautiful chaos of the streets dissolve completely. I step out entirely reset, smelling of cedarwood and sandalwood, already sketching our next trip back in my mind before boarding the flight home.

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Morne Rouge Beach, better known locally as BBC, is less crowded than the nearby Grand Anse Beach, with less light pollution but enough waterplay to keep you entertained – the first time I saw a green sports car doing doughnuts on the water, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Villa Kaya is equipped with two paddle boards, which you can launch directly from the dock. Along the rocks, you will see crabs and other critters living in the shade. Out in the bay are colourful starfish, if you can spot them in time.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This hotel stay was hosted by the Grenada Tourism Authority, which did not review or approve this story.
All images by Kateryna Topol.

Breakfast is served daily from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The daily selection includes a few hot meal options, like eggs and bacon, toast, yoghurt and cereal, seasonal fresh fruit, and pastries. You could sit outside at the large community table with a view, but the early morning heat kept us both inside, enjoying the cool comfort of air conditioning paired with a cup of hot coffee or tea made with local herbs.

A series of garden staircases connects the ocean with the main road. At the top is the shared Club House. In this room, open 24 hours a day, you will find cold beverages, sitting areas, various games, and the only TV on the property. The absence of TVs in the room was an intentional choice to inspire relaxation and exploration. Lazy afternoons are spent cooling down at the pool, reading in the shade on the waterfront terrace, or snorkelling in search of the quick-moving starfish. No lines, no waiting, no reserving sunbeds, this corner of Grenada, is a private retreat.

Inside the Suite

The property has three sea view suites and two villas. Each room is subtly different from the others; all have rainshowers, seating areas, and plenty of storage. Every room has an equipped kitchenette with a stove top and a microwave so you can cook your own meals (the shopping area is quite close). Beach Glass and Driftwood suites have small garden entry spaces and elevated sea views. Having purposefully left the curtains slightly open, I would wake up to the morning sun streaming into the room, bright blue water gently moving in the background.

The Boathouse Villa has a separate kitchen room, private terrace, outdoor BBQ, soaker tub, and an outdoor shower where your morning rinse will be accompanied by frog songs (they are very small, and cute). Though, to be fair, frog songs are heard everywhere on the island, especially at night. Seashell Villa, set furthest into the property, has a separate kitchen with a dining table, double-headed shower for two, a large private terrace with a netted deck and swing.

Turkish towels are neatly set at the foot of the bed in each suite, all nightstands have USB charging pods, and all rooms are equipped with power adapters. Staff are around to support you with other needs by phone or WhatsApp.

What to do nearby 

Walk out to Morne Rouge Beach for some morning sun, walk up to Quarantine Point for an elevated view of the island and Grand Anse Beach. La Plywood Beach Bar Café is a local favourite nearby for lunch, dinner, and nightly entertainment. Brisa Mar is even closer for those looking for a more elevated dining experience. Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort is a 10-minute walk and has two restaurants, one of which is on the beach. Here are a few excursion ideas:

Book direct on villakaya.gd to take advantage of special offers, compare rates to your favourite travel site: Expedia | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

Sunset at Villa Kaya, BBC Beach, Grenada. Images by Kateryna Topol.

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That structure starts with the account tied to the membership, where payments, guest bookings and a record of past visits all live. It’s also where the details covered next first take shape, shaping almost everything else about the days ahead.

Setting up the membership account comes first for Palace Elite Members

Long before booking a flight, it helps to set up and get familiar with the profile that manages Palace Elite membership, where members handle payments, arrange a reservation for a family member or friend, and check on past bookings. Reviewing that dashboard early, before diving into travel planning, heads off plenty of confusion over conditions that vary from one contract to the next.

Those specifics usually surface on that same page, since membership terms differ by tier and cover things like the minimum number of nights required, which resorts are included, and cancellation rules that shift depending on the season and type of property. Adults-only locations typically require just a few days’ notice, while family-oriented ones need about a month’s notice during peak weeks.

Booking tours, transfers & Spa services ahead of time makes for a smoother first stay

With that groundwork done, the next step is arranging what happens before setting foot at the resort. Tours and airport transfers both go through the vacation planning team by email, and locking them in early is what secures a spot on the dates that actually work booking them early secures your preferred dates, rather than leaving things to chance after landing. That last piece depends on meeting the minimum night requirement tied to each contract, so confirming it ahead of time keeps everything on schedule.

Golf and spa reservations follow the same logic of planning ahead, coordinated directly with the relevant teams. Members can also request a full list of tours available through Palace Elite before deciding what to book, useful when comparing options across different destinations in the network. Getting these settled early leaves more room to relax once the trip is underway, instead of hoping for a last-minute opening during peak season, when openings grow scarce.

What changes for a Palace Elite Member once the stay begins

Once check-in happens, the rhythm shifts. Restaurant reservations, for instance, move from the email-based process used before arrival to the app run by the hotel group, available as soon as guests arrived and letting them book tables directly from their phone for the rest of their time on-site.

From that point on, the assigned concierge becomes the best resource for any last-minute need, whether extending an activity already booked or handling something that didn’t get arranged before leaving home. For anyone on their first stay under Palace Elite, knowing that support exists from check-in removes much of the uncertainty that tends to come with any first trip.

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Curaçao, just 30 miles from Venezuela, is an autonomous country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. With its typically narrow, if brightly coloured, gabled homes lined up in neat rows, it certainly looks like a little bit of Holland in the middle of the Caribbean, but it’s a multicultural island where seemingly everyone speaks three or four languages, often in one sentence. The island’s official languages are Dutch and Papiamento—an Afro-Portuguese Creole which also incorporates Spanish, Dutch, English, Hebrew, and Arawak Indian words and embodies Curaçao’s layered history.  

Exploring these museums and places will give visitors an idea just how much Curaçao’s past shapes this constantly evolving and fascinating southwestern Caribbean island.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
Parts of this trip were hosted by Curaçao Tourism, who did not review or approve this story.

Fort Amsterdam

In 1634, a Dutch fleet conquered the coast of Curaçao and took control of it from the Spanish. The Spaniards had already named arid Curaçao and its neighbouring islands, Las Islas Inútiles (useless islands), because they believed that nothing could grow on them. But the Dutch saw Curaçao’s location as a strategic benefit and built Fort Amsterdam at Saint Anna as a barrier against enemies and pirates. After a truce with the Spanish, the Dutch turned their attention from military campaigns to trade, seeing the port as the perfect base between New York (then known as New Amsterdam) and South America.

The Dutch West India Company quickly developed a monopoly on sea trade routes and became immensely wealthy, dealing in goods, and the equally lucrative, but morally bankrupt, human trade. Curaçao was used as a slave depot, where people, taken from Africa, were brought before being sent to the Spanish, Portuguese, British, and French colonies, until 1788, when the last ship of captive people arrived on the island. In later years, the Fort resumed its role as a strategic location, including during World War II. Today, Fort Amsterdam is home to the island’s Parliament and the official residence of the governor. The Fort is built around a spacious quadrangle courtyard, its buildings painted in the vibrant yellow that is ubiquitous around the island. The only building that can be visited is Fort Church, home of the first Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands Antilles. It dates back to 1769. Within its walls are the original pulpit, the governor’s pew, and a small museum with historic artefacts belonging to the Church’s congregation. The lure for the history lover is walking around the buildings and getting a real sense of where Curaçao’s long European history all began.

Savonet Plantation Museum

Located within the Christoffelpark, the island’s largest nature reserve, and a popular spot for hikers, sits the Savonet Plantation, one of many former landhuizen around the island. The big house and outbuilding were turned into an ambitious museum complex in 2016. The Savonet Museum’s idea is to tie all the threads of the textured fabric of Curaçao together – the relationship between its people and its flora and fauna, its archeology and with each other.

The story starts with the arrival of the Caiquieto Indians of the Arawak tribe, who migrated north from South America some 6,000 years ago and ends with a gallery of contemporary photos of descendants of many cultures. There’s a whole lot of history in between, from military campaigns to the arrival of a Shell oil distillery to the labour and race riots known as the 1960 May Revolt to the country’s autonomy in 2010.  Antiques and artefacts displayed in the Main house’s bright, airy and well-restored rooms visually bring all these chapters to life, while videos offering personal stories, songs and historical analysis add extra layers of information. But, given the museum’s location, it’s natural that the main focus would be the plantation house itself, and the people who worked on it, and the people who lived off their backs. Exhibits detailing the structure of plantation society, lives and customs of owners and labourers during slavery, after abolition and well into the 20th century is intimately told.

Afro-Curaçaoan History

Afro-Curaçaoan history is largely defined by the brutal reality of slavery. But it is also one of pride and resilience. Most of Curaçao’s black population is descended from Africans who were captured and forced into labour that created the island’s prosperous economy. Curaçao’s involvement in the slave trade is told through several powerful museums, including The Kura Hulanda. The museum documents the torturous period, though a chilling collection of instruments of captivity, and delves into the legacy of post-abolition racism through words and artefacts. Kura Hulanda’s location is jarring: It’s on the site of a luxury resort of the same name, and was supposedly built to facilitate funding for the property by adding a cultural attraction. Completely incongruous, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s one of the island’s most worthy cultural institutions.

Another is the Museo Tula. You might have seen the movie The Revolt: Tula, starring Danny Glover, about the month-long 1795 slave revolt begun by an enslaved man named Tula. The museum devoted to his story (set in the landhuis where the revolt took place) lays out how Tula travelled from plantation to plantation trying to liberate other enslaved people before being caught and tortured to death. Tula’s legacy is further commemorated with a statue along the waterfront in Willemstad, the island’s capital, and in the gentrified district of Pietermaai, where an innovative urban planning project entitled Tula’s Hand symbolises regrowth.

The indelible Afro-Curaçaoan culture is felt in the island’s cuisine (Curaçao’s national dish is keshi yená, a blend of chicken, vegetables, spices and raisins baked in the rind of Edam cheese, a dish that had its origins in the slave kitchens). It is felt in the vibrant murals of  Pietermaai, which have helped make Willemstad an art city; in the sounds of Tumba music with its influences of Bantu culture and jazz; and in the labour and race riots of 1960 that began to upend the uneven social structure.

Jewish Curaçao 

Past thick mahogany doors lies Mikvé Israel Emanuel—the oldest continuously operating synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. The ornate structure spreads across a full city block in the centre of Willemstad, and was built at a time when thirty per cent of the counted population of Curaçao was Jewish.

Their story began in the 1650s, with the arrival of Sephardic Jews from Amsterdam, who had previously fled Spain and Portugal at the time of the Inquisition. You can’t help but notice the synagogue’s floor is carpeted in sand. This is to commemorate the time during the Inquisition when forcibly converted Iberian Jews used sand to muffle the sound of Hebrew prayer. Adjacent to the synagogue is the Jewish Cultural and Historical Museum, which houses a Torah from 1300s Spain, and a letter from George Washington to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island, granting them religious freedom and the right to erect the first synagogue in the U.S. The connection? The first congregants of the 1763 Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island were emigrants from Curaçao. To this day, the Jews of Newport say a prayer of thanks to the Curaçao Jews for helping to build the synagogue on American soil.

Landhuis Chobolobo, where the famous Curaçao blue liqueur is produced, is also worth visiting for those exploring the island’s Jewish history. The liqueur was developed by the Jewish Senior family in 1886, and the distillery has an exhibition displaying a historical timeline of the Jews of Curaçao. The Beit Chaim cemetery, consecrated in 1659,  is known for its elaborate tombstones and counts the remains of Rebecca Spinoza (d 1695), the sister of the great Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza, among its buried.

The Handelskade

The narrow, gabled, multi-hued buildings that line the Handelskade (or Waterfront) in Willemstad look like someone took a box of coloured pencils to Amsterdam’s canal houses. The buildings are painted bright colours, because, the story goes, a 17th-century governor blamed the reflection of the strong sun on the formerly all-white buildings for his chronic migraines (dig deeper and you’ll find the man owned a paint factory).

These 17th-century structures were the homes and warehouses of the Dutch and Jewish merchants who helped Curaçao flourish and become a wealthy island (today, they’re mostly shops and offices). The Handelskade is part of Willemstad’s 1997 UNESCO World Heritage Historic City designation,  a source of pride for islanders and delight for Instagrammers. The Plaza Hotel Curaçao, one of the island’s tallest buildings, has recently changed ownership, and its future is unclear at the moment. But if it’s open and there’s a chance to get in and up to the top floor, grab it. You’ll get a sweeping view of the red tiled rooftops and the grid layout, which gives a good idea of what a 17th-century Dutch-designed city, including the original New York,  looked like. You can also see how Breedestraat (Broadway) cuts through Willemstad the way it does in New York.

Modern Architecture

Besides the Handelskade, Curaçao, has some striking architecture. The island is home to some of the Caribbean’s coolest modernism. There are all the bright, happy villas in the historic Scharloo district, buildings that house serious businesses like banks and government offices and look like iced birthday cakes.  Dutch modernist icon Gerrit Reitveld spent time in Curaçao, and left behind, among other things, a de Stijl movement transformer station, as well as private homes that are culturally sensitive de Stijl movement spaces adapted to a Caribbean climate. In the once neglected revamped Pietermaai district you’ll find examples of cool modernism and European Nieuwe Bouwen buildings.   

Where to stay in Curaçao

The  Renaissance Curaçao Resort & Casino, is a sleek, modern hotel set within a historic fort in Willemstad, near the Punta shopping neighbourhood and the nightlife of Pietermaai. The property’s calming, vibrant colours showcase the island’s love for art..

Papagayo Design Hotel, located on Curaçao’s lively Jan Thiels beach, feels very Holland in the Tropics with a good dose of Saint Tropez thrown in. Minimalist design rooms are spread over several buildings, with terraces overlooking the sea and landscape.

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This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
This trip was hosted by Radisson Blu Aruba who did not review or approve this story.

Home sweet home-style suites

Since opening in April 2021, Radisson Blu Aruba’s 192 residential-style suites (196 by 2027) immediately redefined the standard, establishing itself as one of Palm Beach’s most distinctive luxury stays. Beautifully designed interiors combine Caribbean style with residential comforts, but more importantly, suites intentionally reflect the needs of today’s traveller – space and flexibility.

Ranging from generous one-bedroom retreats to sprawling three-bedroom penthouses, each suite is designed to feel less like a hotel room and more like a private island, condo-inspired residence. Complete with kitchens and kitchenettes, separate living and sleeping areas, dining spaces, and private balconies with island, ocean or pool views, they’re ideal for those who desire and appreciate having room to spread out and recharge after a day of exploring the island.

Fundamentally, Blu offers something in Aruba many resorts don’t: the freedom and familiarity of home, seamlessly elevated by the service and amenities of a luxury hotel. Whether you’re enjoying a morning coffee while watching the sunrise, or gathering with friends and family for a meal prepared in-suite, Radisson Blu Aruba creates the rare feeling of truly living on the island, not simply visiting it.

Experiential stay

Whether you’re yearning for tranquillity or family fun, Radisson Blu Aruba delivers with two distinct pools: a rooftop, adults-only infinity pool (ideal for sunset viewing), and a spacious, family-friendly courtyard pool. While not beachfront, there is a designated Blu Beach for guests located only minutes away, though the complimentary, open-air, electric shuttle makes getting there with beach essentials effortless. Back at the resort, Verde Renacer Spa offers an extensive selection of restorative treatments, from deep tissue, therapeutic, even lymphatic drainage massages, to hot stone therapy, aromatherapy, and rejuvenating facials.

When it comes to dining, guests can savour Caribbean-inspired flavours and handcrafted cocktails at the rooftop Sunset Bistro, enjoy poolside bites at Acqua Breezee Pool Bar, or stop by The Clover, an inviting cafe serving an extensive selection of coffees and teas, prepared by sommeliers passionate about aromas and botanicals. Don Esteban Gourmet offers refined, Spanish-inspired cuisine, including delicacies such as expertly carved jamón ibérico, while Blue Tap Cider, the Caribbean’s first cider bar, features a rotating selection of craft ciders from New York’s acclaimed South Hill Cider.

Thoughtfully curated signature experiences offer guests a deeper connection to Aruba, celebrating its culture and traditions. Garden Flow and Floating Ritual, both led by Janine Valecillos, founder of NATURA, blends a mindful garden walk, with a guided meditation, and sound bowl healing, leaving guests refreshed and grounded. In collaboration with Aruba Aloe, the resort’s DIY Scrub Workshop invites guests to create their own nourishing body scrub. The Jewellery Making Workshop is another hands-on, creative experience, utilising locally sourced Aruban sea glass to create a meaningful keepsake.

The Paint & Sip Workshop, led by Tito Bolivar, founder of ArtisA, pairs vino with creativity, inspiring guests to connect with Aruba through colour and self- expression. Finally, Bodegas Papiamento, an Aruban artisanal spirits producer, brings the island’s flavours to life with an exclusive onsite chocolate and rum tasting, pairing flavours that reflect Aruba’s rich flavours and traditions.

Sustainability with substance

At Radisson Blu Aruba, sustainability is built into the resort’s DNA and has been woven into the guest experience since the hotel opened in 2021. Recognised by the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association for its environmental stewardship, it’s the first LEED-certified hotel in the country. Behind the scenes, energy-efficient systems, waste reduction practices, solar-powered features, and innovative water-conservation technologies, including repurposing air-conditioning condensation to irrigate the more than 70 species of indigenous plants, work seamlessly to minimise the resort’s environmental footprint without compromising guest comfort.

Leave the hotel & Explore the area

Perfectly positioned in the heart of Palm Beach, Radisson Blu Aruba’s location is steps from shops, nightlife, and seaside strolling. Staff will encourage you to leave the resort and explore the island’s rugged Arikok National Park, discover colourful street art in San Nicolas, or snorkel the heavenly blue Caribbean waters. Small, this One Happy Island is easy to experience at leisure, and because it sits south of the hurricane belt, visitors can rely on calm, sunny weather year-round, making it an ideal destination no matter the season.

Book direct on bluaruba.com to take advantage of special offers. Compare rate to: Expedia | Trivago | TripAdvisor | Kayak

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Document requirements 

Because Malta is a Schengen area country, Canadian, USA, and UK citizens do not require a visa for a short visit. Make sure to check your local government website for specific rules and regulations in case things change. 

Check the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which was planned to begin operations in 2026 but has yet to kick in. ETIAS will introduce a mandatory digital authorisation, linked to your passport, for €20 per adult. ETIAS is valid for three years or until your passport expires.

Getting around Malta 

• Taxi: Take a Malta Taxi, the official taxi company, which has an app.
• Car rentals: Rent a car straight from the airport or ahead of time with Expedia, which offers discounts for bundled services (ie. flight + car).
• Public transit: Take advantage of public transit, which has multiple direct airport routes across the island. Tickets can be purchased on board with cash or a contactless bank card. Winter fair is €2, summer fair is €2.50, you can also pre-purchase ticket packages with the Tallinja App. 
• Rideshare: Uber, Bolt, and Loop operate in Malta. Locals have shared that Bolt has better map accuracy than Uber. Get up to 60% off your first Bolt ride with code: JRLQKU.
• Hotel shuttles: Don’t forget to check if your hotel includes an airport shuttle service.

Valletta Ferry 

The best way to get from Valletta to Sliema or Cospicua is by ferry. In season, the ferry lines can get quite long. Once the ferry is full, you will have to wait for the next one, so budget extra time for the lines. 

Tickets are sold at the ferry terminal, €3.80 day return, cash only. The ticket queue will turn into the ferry queue. Pack water, sunblock, and a head covering because this area is not shaded. An additional €1 will buy you a shuttle from the Valletta ferry to the top of the city, well worth it if you are short on time. 

Valletta ferry schedule

Tours & Excursions in Malta

Between day-long excursions, multi-day tours, and historic attractions, you have a lot of options for activities in Malta. Excursion packages are offered by local tourism associations, residents and third-party organisations, so it is worth comparing rates if you are looking for a deal. 

For convenience, most hotel concierges will arrange all tours for you at no charge. Alternatively, here are a few of the most popular options.   

• Heritage Malta offers a wide range of tickets, passes, and toursi from priority access to boat cruises and special event tickets.  Multisite Pass, for example, includes access to a wide range of tourism sites across Malta and is valid for 30 days from first use (€30.00 – €60.00). 
• iSeeMalta is another locally popular excursion company with access to 35+ Malta attractions, day tours, and multi-day combo passes. Day tours include boat excursions to Gozo, Comino, Blue Lagoon, combinations of the two, and hop-on-hop-off buses. 
• City Sightseeing is a global sightseeing organisation, offering hop-on-hop-off bus tours, leisure passes, cruises, and packages of the two. 
• Third-party booking companies operating in Malta include GetYourGuide, Viator, and TripAdvisor.  

Blue Lagoon tip: the island is not accessible; to get off the boat and onto the island, you will need to take a zig-zaggy staircase up and follow rocky paths around to the beach and viewing areas. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented by the hour. Beverages can be purchased on site, but you can also pack your own picnic lunch. Pack towels and other sun essentials.

Is Malta safe?

Malta is one of the safer places you can visit in Europe. The main risks are petty theft and rowdy nightlife, not violent crime. The US State Department, Australia’s Smartraveller, and Canada’s travel advisory all put Malta at their lowest risk tier: “exercise normal precautions.” The US Department of State classifies Malta at level 1, the same as Switzerland or Japan. 

Nightlife is the one area to be careful with. Paceville (the St Julian’s clubbing strip) comes up repeatedly as the exception to Malta’s otherwise calm vibe. Beyond petty theft, Paceville sees occasional pickpocketing, drink spiking, and fights late at night, with some poorly lit streets, so it is worth being extra alert there after midnight, especially when travelling solo.

Malta’s beaches 

There are over 50 beaches in Malta, some of which are quite remote, while others can be reached with a short walk within the city. Many of the best ones get very crowded and hot midday in summer, so early morning or late afternoon visits are worth it. Here is a shortlist of best beaches in Malta:

• Blue Lagoon (Comino): The postcard shot of Malta: shallow, brilliantly turquoise water over white sand. Best reached by boat trip and best visited early to beat the day-tripper crowds.
• Golden Bay (Malta): A wide, popular sandy beach on the west coast with good sunset views and plenty of bars/restaurants nearby.
• Ġnejna Bay: Quieter and more low-key than Golden Bay, with orange cliffs framing the sand, a good pick if you want fewer crowds.
• Mellieħa Bay: Malta’s largest sandy beach, shallow and calm, so it’s popular with families.
• Ramla Bay (Gozo): A striking reddish-gold sand beach on Gozo, backed by dunes and countryside, one of the best on the sister island.
• St. Peter’s Pool: Not sand but a rocky swimming spot near Marsaxlokk with clear water for cliff-jumping and snorkelling.
• Exiles Beach, or Baths of Sliema: A small, popular rocky/concrete sunbathing area right on the Sliema coast, with steps and platforms into clear water. It’s not a sandy beach, but it’s convenient if you’re staying in Sliema and want a quick swim without travelling. A nice spot for sunbathing and snorkelling close to shore, especially popular at sunset.

See the complete list of beaches on visitmalta.com.

Exiles Beach, or Baths of Sliema. Photos by Kateryna Topol.

Best time to visit Malta 

Malta benefits from the Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. The yearly daytime average is 23°C (73 °F).

The best time to visit Malta is during the shoulder seasons, April to June or September to October, when the island offers an ideal balance of pleasant weather and manageable crowds. 

During these months, temperatures typically hover in the comfortable 20-25°C (68-77°F) range, perfect for exploring without the intense heat and tourist crush of peak summer. Spring months showcase Malta’s countryside in bloom with wildflowers, and autumn offers warm sea temperatures ideal for swimming after the summer rush has faded.

July and August, while sunny and warm, bring scorching temperatures often exceeding 30°C (86°F) along with heavy crowds and higher prices. Winter (November to March) is mild but can be rainy and windy, making it less ideal for beach activities.

Scenes from Valletta, Malta. Photos by Kateryna Topol.

Where to stay in Malta 

Valletta is the best choice if you want to be situated within walking distance of major sights like St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grand Harbour. Valletta offers access to boutique hotels in restored palazzos, next-door museums, restaurants, and the city gates. The trade-off is that Valletta is quieter at night and doesn’t have great beaches nearby, so it suits travellers prioritising culture and history over sun and sand.

Sliema and St. Julian’s form Malta’s modern hub, ideal for travellers who want nightlife, shopping, and waterfront promenades alongside easy transport links. Sliema has a long seafront path, plenty of mid-range and upscale hotels with sea views, and a ferry that shuttles you across the harbour to Valletta in about 15 minutes. St. Julian’s, just next door, is where you’ll find Malta’s liveliest bars and clubs, particularly around Paceville, making it popular with younger travellers and those wanting an active nightlife scene without sacrificing convenience.

See Spend your sunny Malta vacation at the Courtyard Sliema for a boutique hotel recommendation. 

Mellieħa and St. Paul’s Bay, up in the north, are the go-to areas if beaches are your priority. Mellieħa Bay is Malta’s largest sandy beach, and the surrounding town has a relaxed, family-friendly feel with resorts and self-catering apartments well suited to longer stays. It’s also a convenient jumping-off point for day trips to Gozo, Comino, and Blue Lagoon. St. Paul’s Bay offers a similar coastal vibe with a bit more of a local fishing-village atmosphere mixed in with tourist infrastructure.

Gozo, Malta’s quieter sister island, will allow you to skip the crowds almost entirely. Known for its rural scenery, dramatic coastline, and slower pace, it is ideal for travellers who’ve already seen the main sights and want a few days of unwinding.

Find accommodations in Malta

Using your phone in Malta 

If using your domestic provider’s international plan is not an option, you can purchase a local physical SIM or an eSIM plan. Local SIMs can be purchased at the Malta International Airport on arrival from major providers like Epic and GO, located in the Arrivals Hall. 

An eSIM can be purchased ahead of time from companies like Airalo, GigSky, Ohayu (get 10% off with code PATHSTOTRAVEL10), or one of many other eSIM companies worldwide. The eSIM will require an app installation from which you can activate your plan, monitor it on the go, and top up as needed. 

Languages spoken in Malta 

Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese is the national language, which evolved from Siculo-Arabic with heavy influences from Italian, Sicilian, and English layered in over centuries of foreign rule. 

English is widely spoken as a result of Malta’s history as a British colony until 1964. It’s used in government, business, and education, and pretty much all Maltese people are fluent in it, so travellers rarely encounter a language barrier.

The post A practical guide for visiting Malta appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The winemaker 

Winemaking and viticulture was McLean’s second career pursuits after biochemistry. “I’ve never really considered winemaking as a career,” he admitted, but working in restaurants, he developed an interest in wine. After graduating from Brock University’s winemaking program, McLean moved back out west, where he spent eleven years making wine across the Okanagan, British Columbia (including LaStella and Tantalus Vineyards).

A typical winemaker’s journey takes them around the globe, working harvests in different wine regions. This wasn’t McLean’s journey, but Okanagan has a lot of foreign winemakers, which allowed him to work with winemakers from all over the world in a local climate. “The nice thing about having a bunch of different people that you’ve worked with is you can kind of pick and choose what you like from them and carry that with you,” he shared. “In hindsight, it was tough because you’re spending so long training, but now that I’m on the other side of it, I see all the tools and the skills that I picked up from those mentors as really invaluable. I’m really happy that I have gone that way, because it’s given me the confidence to move forward and believe in myself,” he added.

The winery

Black Bank Hill is a family business. The owner, Taylor Emerson, came back to Canada from London, UK, where he worked at the Weather Network, for a hard career pivot to winemaking in 2017. “Aloof” cousins on the mother’s side, Taylor and Jonathan, reconnected over winemaking while Jonathan was working in BC. Having recently lost his father, Jonathan felt a pull back to Ontario, strengthened by the opportunity to work with Taylor. 

“Taylor did a really good job finding a piece of property that can create really beautiful, distinct, and elegant wines,” Jonathan noted. The 20-acre property produces 12 varietals, five red (Pinot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) and seven whites (Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne). For such a small piece of land, the range is very impressive.

2022 was the first year McLean grew the grapes and made the wine. The immense amount of rain made this a challenging harvest, resulting in a much lower yield. But despite the difficulties, those first few bottles performed really well at the National Wine Awards and in the Decanter Awards, with the Cabernet Franc winning platinum two years in a row. 

Tasting at Black Bank Hill winery in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. Photos by Kateryna Topol.

The not-so-secret sauce

Black Bank Hill winery is inherently natural. No enzymes or other additives are used in production. “People are often surprised that I’m able to create these colours and tannin structures without additives,” I was one of these people, he pointed out. There are a few things that he does differently in the cellar, but in McLean’s point of view, it is his winegrowing skills that make the wine:

The advantage of being the winemaker and wine grower is the ability to nurture the grapes throughout the year: “I’m making wine for four months before the grapes even show up,” he points out, “I think the big difference is the relationship I have with my vineyard”. This care and attention enable Jonathan to predict the yield outcomes come harvest, “my yields are always bang on, and that’s a sense of pride for me, at the end of the season, I can say, Taylor, you told me to pick 44 tons, and I picked 44 tons plus 200 kilograms”.

The grapes are hand-harvested and put through a basket press instead of a modern membrane press. This very strategic decision is one of many that look to treat the grape with respect and ensure year-to-year release consistency. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure that the grape is the hero of the show,” he shared.

Left: barrel room at Black Bank Hill, Niagara. Photo by Kateryna Topol. Right: Black Bank Hill Cabernet Franc harvest. Photo by Jonathan McLean.

The philosophy 

McLean is currently working on his Master’s in Environmental Sustainability. When asked why he chose sustainability over winemaking, a question he’s been asked more than once, he replies: “For me, what was more important is creating wines more sustainably, particularly in how it relates to my Indigenous heritage.”

“We didn’t know much about our father’s side of the family,” he admitted. But after his father’s passing, McLean’s sister dug into their heritage, learning that they come from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. “I’m also part of the Bear Clan. My heritage goes back seven generations, all the way to the Mohawk Valley and what is now called New York state,” he shares. “My family has been part of this region for time immemorial, and a part of this is honouring them and honouring my ancestors, particularly my great-grandmother, who had her Indigenous status removed by the Canadian government.”

In the vineyard, he “decided to make a sustainability program based on traditional Indigenous knowledge, and that still is the goal,” but first, he needs to properly understand the traditional knowledge systems and how all of these relations (nature, community, history) can inform his approach to viticulture. “Reconnecting is a really challenging thing, because you feel the feelings,” he admits, “and you can choose to feel the feelings, and if you do, you have good days, and you have bad days,” admiring the strength of Indigenous people and being saddened by their continuous mistreatment.

Black Bank Hill winery production spaces. Photos by Kateryna Topol.

The winemaking future 

“My thesis is all about approaching wine in a different way, changing the colonial paradigms of sustainability and just kind of breaking down colonial structures in this industry,” McLean stated. “We have a lot of places in our industry where power is kind of collected and protected for certain people, and I’d love to see an industry that’s more inclusive. An industry that invites new voices and new faces.” McLean’s theory is that inviting new voices into the industry will inspire innovation that the industry so affected by climate change desperately needs. 

Winemaker’s favourite bottles

Visit blackbankhill.com to learn about the wine club and upcoming events.

The post Growing Niagara wine with purpose with Jonathan McLean of Black Bank Hill appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This guide fixes that. If you only have 48 hours, and most first-timers do, the Porto itinerary below covers the essential sights, the best food, and the neighbourhoods worth wandering, while still leaving room to get wonderfully lost. Two days is enough to fall for the city. It is rarely enough to leave it willingly.

Why Porto belongs on your Portugal itinerary

Lisbon gets the lion’s share of the Portugal conversation, but Porto has something its rival is starting to lose: the feeling that you have discovered it yourself. The old town is compact and walkable, the food is arguably better (the francesinha alone wins that argument), and the wine is made twenty minutes upriver in the Douro Valley.

Porto also has the Douro River along its southern edge, which means almost every old-town viewpoint looks out over water, terracotta rooftops, and the Gaia riverbank beyond. It is one of those rare cities where getting deliberately lost produces views instead of frustration, and that alone reshapes how you think about what to do in Porto.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.

São Bento station by Jesus Esteban.

Day 1: Porto’s historic core

Day one is about orientation. You will cover most of the headline Porto attractions on foot, building a mental map of the city as you go.

Morning: São Bento, the Cathedral & the Clérigos Tower

Start at Estação de São Bento, one of Europe’s most beautiful train stations. Arrive early, before the tour groups, and spend fifteen minutes on the 20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles that cover the main hall. They are not a decorative background. They are a full pictorial history of Portugal, painted by Jorge Colaço in the early twentieth century.

From São Bento, walk uphill to the Sé do Porto (Porto Cathedral). The exterior is austere Romanesque; the interior opens into Gothic cloisters lined with 18th-century azulejo panels. The cathedral sits on one of the city’s highest points, so the terrace views are free and well worth the climb.

Continue to the Torre dos Clérigos. The tower is 76 metres tall and 240 steps up, and the panorama from the top gives you the clearest possible picture of how Porto is laid out, which makes everything else on this itinerary easier to navigate.

Late morning: Livraria Lello & the Bonfim backstreets

Livraria Lello, the famous bookshop with the scarlet staircase, requires a timed-entry ticket that you should book in advance. The pre-sale system means it is no longer the crushing scrum it once was, and the space is genuinely beautiful. Buy something while you are there, because the stock is actually good.

Afterwards, resist the pull back toward the tourist circuit and walk east into Bonfim. This neighbourhood has excellent coffee shops, independent ceramics studios, and small restaurants where the daily lunch special costs eight euros and beats most things on an expensive menu. The energy here is closer to how Porto residents actually live.

Afternoon: Ribeira & Crossing to Vila Nova de Gaia

Walk down to Cais da Ribeira, Porto’s riverside heart and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The iconic view, with narrow azulejo-faced houses stacked up the hillside above the waterfront, is as good as the photographs suggest. Grab a riverside terrace for a drink, but for lunch itself, walk one block back from the water: the restaurants directly on the Cais charge tourist prices, while the parallel street behind serves the same food for half the cost.

Cross the lower deck of the Ponte Dom Luís I (pedestrians only) into Vila Nova de Gaia, where all of Portugal’s Port wine is aged and bottled. The hillside is lined with lodges such as Sandeman, Graham’s, Taylor’s, and Ramos Pinto, most offering cellar tours and tastings for €15 to €20. If you only do one, Graham’s Six Grapes is consistently excellent.

Before sunset, take the cable car up to Jardim do Morro, a garden perched above Gaia with one of the best elevated views of Porto’s skyline. It sits beside the 17th-century Serra do Pilar Monastery and is free, always open, and never as crowded as it deserves to be.

As we cover in our guide to the walking tour of Porto, the city’s best moments tend to unfold on foot, and the walk back across the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge at dusk, with the whole Ribeira lit below you, is one of the finest things to do in Porto.

Evening: Francesinha, Porto’s legendary sandwich

Do not leave without eating a Francesinha. This city-specific sandwich could have been designed as a dare: layers of ham, linguiça sausage, and steak, blanketed in melted cheese, drowned in a tomato-beer-brandy sauce, with chips on the side. It sounds like a fever dream and tastes remarkable. Café Santiago on Rua Passos Manuel is the most visited; Bufete Fase in Bonfim is the local favourite. Both are worth the queue.

Day 2: The best of slower Porto

With the headline sights behind you, day two is for markets, tiles, and neighbourhoods, the things to do in Porto that turn a first visit into a return trip.

Morning: Mercado do Bolhão

Mercado do Bolhão, fully restored after a decade-long renovation, is one of the best municipal markets in Portugal. Vendors sell fruit, cheese, charcuterie, flowers, and fresh fish across two iron-gallery levels. Go before 10 AM, when the produce is at its best, and the crowds are thin.

Late morning: Porto’s Azulejo Tile Trail

Porto has a serious relationship with decorative tile. The Igreja do Carmo and the Igreja dos Carmelitas share a party wall, and between them sits the city’s narrowest house, built deliberately to keep nuns and friars apart. The Chapel of Souls on Rua de Santa Catarina wears a blue-and-white façade depicting the life of Saint Francis across 15,947 individual tiles. Look out for the smaller neighbourhood churches around Cedofeita too, where the tilework is just as striking and the crowds far thinner.

Left: Igreja do Carmo by Jure Tufekcic. Right: Porto by Robert Bye.

Afternoon: Shopping on Rua das Flores & Rua Miguel Bombarda

Porto’s best shopping is not in malls. Walk Rua das Flores for concept stores, independent jewellers, and quality Portuguese linen and ceramics; it is also where you will find reclaimed azulejo dealers selling individual tiles by the piece. Rua Miguel Bombarda has a cluster of contemporary galleries and design shops, and on the first Saturday of each month several open together for a gallery walk.

For edible souvenirs, Garrafeira do Carmo stocks excellent Douro wines, A Conga sells beautifully packaged tinned fish, and the Bolhão vendors will vacuum-pack cured cheese and charcuterie if you ask.

Evening: Fado & A final glass of Port

Fado do Porto is distinct from Lisbon’s version: rougher, more melancholic, less polished. Small fado houses in Bonfim and the Baixa perform from around 9 PM. Pair it with a final glass of aged Tawny from a Gaia wine bar, and you have done Porto correctly.

More of the Best Things to Do in Porto

Two days fill quickly, but if you have extra hours, or you are stretching this into three, these are the Porto attractions worth adding:

• Palácio da Bolsa, the 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace, whose gilded Arabian Hall is one of the most opulent rooms in the country.
• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, terraced gardens with peacocks and sweeping Douro views, ideal for a slow morning.
• Foz do Douro, reached on Tram Line 1 along the river to where Porto meets the Atlantic, for seafood and a sea breeze.
• A Douro Valley wine tour, the single best day trip from Porto if you have a third day to spare.
• Serralves, a contemporary art museum, Art Deco villa, and park, a short hop from the centre.

Where to stay in Porto

The best base for a short trip is the historic old town. Staying near São Bento, the Cathedral, Ribeira, and Lello means you can cover most of day one entirely on foot from your room, which is the whole point of a 2-day Porto itinerary.

For somewhere with genuine character, Canto de Luz is a luxury boutique hotel in Porto, occupying a fully restored historic building on Rua do Almada, a quiet street minutes from the main sights. It offers nine rooms and suites, from cosy Maison Suites with city views to the Villa Almada, a two-bedroom villa with a private heated pool. Rooms come with Samsung Art TV, Nespresso, and Rituals amenities.

What sets Canto de Luz apart is the daily organic breakfast, sourced from Porto’s own markets and changing every morning. There is a wine machine pouring Douro Valley wines by the glass, private chef services, and an associated culinary school, Canto Cooking, running market tours, cooking classes, and wine tastings for guests who want to go deeper into Portuguese food culture. The hotel has been featured in Lonely Planet, The Telegraph, El País, and the Michelin Guide. It is neighbourhood-scale, independently run, and genuinely embedded in the city around it.

Canto de Luz is a luxury boutique hotel in Porto, Portugal.

Getting around Porto

The metro covers all the main areas and the airport efficiently. The Andante Card is a rechargeable pass covering metro, bus, and some trams; it saves money over single tickets once you make more than four or five journeys. Tram Line 22 (a circular old-town route) and Tram Line 1 (along the Douro to Foz) are functional services, not tourist novelties. In the historic centre, walking beats any vehicle. The city is compact but vertical, so wear shoes with grip.

Best time to visit Porto

The sweet spot is May to June and September to October: warm, bright, and far less crowded than high summer. Winter is quiet, green, and very affordable; summer is busy and hot. The airport (OPO) connects to the centre via metro Line E in about 40 minutes, the euro is the currency, and cards are accepted almost everywhere. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, though a little Portuguese is always welcome.

Your Porto itinerary, sorted

Two days in Porto gives you the cathedral and the Clérigos panorama, a Gaia Port tasting, a francesinha you will think about for weeks, a morning of tiles and markets, and at least one sunset over the Douro you did not plan for. That is the perfect first-timer’s framework, and Porto has a habit of making people extend the trip anyway. Pack with that in mind.

The post Things to do in Porto, Portugal: The perfect 2-day first-timer’s itinerary appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Palma works beautifully as a short city break. The historic centre is compact and walkable, you rarely need a taxi, and within twenty minutes you can go from a Gothic cathedral to a sandy beach. Here is exactly what to do in Palma, plus the best beaches, day trips, and where to stay.

Is Palma de Mallorca worth visiting?

In a word, yes. Palma is the capital of the Balearic Islands, and around half the island’s population lives here, which gives it a real year-round buzz rather than the seasonal emptiness of a pure resort town. The old town is a maze of honey-coloured stone, shaded squares, and narrow lanes built over Roman and Moorish foundations. Wrapped around it, you will find a working port, a palm-lined seafront, and some genuinely excellent restaurants. It is stylish without being stuffy, and small enough to feel manageable on a first visit.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.

Exploring Palma Old Town: Cathedral, palaces and hidden squares

Palma’s old town is where most first visits begin, and the main sights sit within a ten-minute walk of one another, so this part is best done on foot.

Palma Cathedral (La Seu): The city’s must-see landmark

Start at Palma Cathedral, known locally as La Seu. It rises straight out of the old sea walls and is one of the most striking Gothic cathedrals in Spain, with a vast rose window and an interior partly reimagined by Antoni Gaudí. Go early, before the light gets harsh and the cruise crowds arrive, and walk the seafront promenade in front of it for the postcard view across the reflecting pool.

The Royal Palace of La Almudaina

Directly beside the cathedral stands La Almudaina, a 13th-century royal palace built on the site of a Moorish fortress and still used for official ceremonies. The gardens and the views back over the bay are worth the short visit, and they set up the layers of history you will keep meeting all over the city.

Left: The Royal Palace of La Almudaina by Federico Di Dio. Right: Palma Cathedral by Lucas Derksen.

The Arab Quarter & The Arab Baths

Behind the cathedral lies the old Arab Quarter, a tangle of quiet lanes, courtyards, and small museums. Seek out the Banys Àrabs (Arab Baths), one of the few surviving traces of Moorish Palma, tucked into a peaceful garden. This is the part of the old town where getting deliberately lost pays off most.

Passeig del Born & The best shopping in Palma

When you are ready for life and shade, head to Passeig del Born, the tree-lined boulevard that acts as Palma’s main artery. For shopping in Palma, the streets around the Born and Carrer Jaume III mix Spanish brands, independent boutiques, and design shops, while the smaller side streets hide ceramics, linen, and the island’s famous woven espadrilles. Stop for a coffee and an ensaïmada, the spiral Mallorcan pastry, before moving on.

Bellver Castle: The best views over Palma

Round off the old-town exploring at Bellver Castle, a rare circular fortress on a wooded hill just west of the centre. It is a short taxi or uphill walk, and the reward is the best panorama in the city: the whole of Palma, the cathedral, and the Bay of Palma laid out below. Time it for late afternoon and the golden light does the rest.

Palma’s markets, beaches & Local food scene

Once you have seen the monuments, turn to the markets, food, and seafront, the things to do in Palma that show how the city actually lives.

Mercat de l’Olivar & The best markets in Palma

Start at Mercat de l’Olivar, the city’s main covered market, for fresh produce, Mallorcan cheese, charcuterie, and a stand-up seafood breakfast. It is one of the most enjoyable free things to do in Palma and a great place to assemble a picnic. If it is a Saturday, the Santa Catalina market nearby is just as lively.

The best beaches in Palma de Mallorca

Palma is one of the few cities where you can walk or cycle to the sand. Playa de Palma is the long, lively stretch east of the centre, backed by bars and promenade. For something closer and more local, Can Pere Antoni beach sits a short walk from the old town, and the pretty fishing quarter of Portixol beyond it is perfect for a seafood lunch by the water. These are the easiest Palma beaches to reach without a car.

Where to eat: The best restaurants in Palma

For dinner, cross into Santa Catalina, the old fishermen’s neighbourhood that has become the city’s food capital. It is home to some of the best restaurants in Palma, from its buzzing market food stalls to modern Mallorcan tasting menus and casual tapas bars. Book ahead at weekends, when locals and visitors fill the terraces.

Palma nightlife: Bars, wine & Live music

Palma nightlife is more grown-up than the island’s resort strips. Santa Catalina and the lanes around La Lonja are full of wine bars, cocktail spots, and live music, while the seafront Paseo Marítimo has the latter clubs. A glass of local wine on a quiet plaça is just as valid a way to end the night.

The best beaches in Mallorca beyond Palma

If you have a third day, the best beaches in Mallorca are an easy drive from the city. Highlights include Es Trenc, a long stretch of white sand and shallow turquoise water in the south; the dramatic cove of Cala Llombards; and the calm, family-friendly bays around Alcúdia in the north. Hire a car early, as parking fills fast in summer.

The best day trips from Palma de Mallorca

Mallorca rewards exploring, and the best day trips from Palma are simple to organise:

• Sóller and the vintage train. The historic Sóller train rattles through the mountains from Palma to the pretty town of Sóller, then a tram continues to the harbour. It is the single most scenic half-day trip on the island.
• Valldemossa and Deià. Two of the prettiest villages in the Tramuntana mountains, full of stone houses, art history, and terraced views down to the sea.
• Cap de Formentor. A spectacular drive north to the island’s wild northern tip and its lighthouse.

Where to stay in Palma de Mallorca: Best areas & Hotels

For a short trip, the old town is the obvious base. Staying near the cathedral, Mercat de l’Olivar, and Passeig del Born means you can cover most of this guide entirely on foot, which is the whole point of a Palma city break.

For genuine character, Casa Roca is a boutique hotel in Palma Old Town, a lovingly restored building in the heart of the Casco Histórico that carries 175 years of heritage alongside modern, design-led comfort. The location is hard to beat for a first visit: Plaça Major is around the corner, the Mercat de l’Olivar is five minutes on foot, and Palma Cathedral, the Arab Baths, and the shopping streets of Calle Jaume III are all an easy stroll. The Pere Antoni beach and the pretty port of Portixol are a short walk along the seafront, so you can sightsee, shop, and swim without ever needing a car.

Inside, the style is part Modernist sanctuary, part Art Deco glamour. Accommodation runs from City Suites with deep soaking tubs to Luxury Suites with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the old-town skyline, larger Retreat Suites, one and two-bedroom Residences with super-king en-suites and private terraces, and a three-bedroom Penthouse crowned by a sunny rooftop terrace. There is a spa, a rooftop, and even a secret speakeasy bar tucked inside, and the whole property can be booked for exclusive occupancy for weddings, milestone celebrations, or group retreats. Recent guests give it a perfect five-star rating, repeatedly singling out the design, the attention to detail, and the warmth of the service.

What really sets Casa Roca apart is its focus on Mallorcan food and wine. It is a dedicated wine hotel, with a collection of more than forty local labels you can pour by the glass using a personal Wine Pass and the hotel’s wine machines, perfectly matched with signature tapas. Guests can go deeper through a programme of experiences run from the in-house Tasting Room, including wine tastings led by fifth-generation island winemaker Tomeu Llabrés, an Olivar Market tour and Mallorcan cooking class, small-group gourmet food tours, and vermouth, gin, and coffee tastings. It is independently run, properly embedded in its neighbourhood, and has been featured by IB3, the BBC, and Diario de Mallorca.

When is the best time to visit Palma? A quick weather guide

Palma’s weather is kind for most of the year. May, June, September, and early October are the sweet spot: warm, bright, and far less crowded than peak summer, with sea temperatures still pleasant. July and August are hot and busy, ideal for a beach-first trip but less comfortable for sightseeing. Winters are mild and quiet, and late January brings the Sant Sebastià festival, when the whole city spills outdoors for street parties and bonfires. Whenever you come, pack for the sun and bring comfortable shoes for the old town’s cobbles.

How to get around Palma de Mallorca

Central Palma is best explored on foot, and the historic alleys can only really be seen that way. The EMT bus network is cheap and reliable for the airport, port, and beaches, and bike lanes run throughout the city, so renting a bike or e-bike is a fun way to reach the coast. You will rarely need a taxi within the centre, and a car is more of a hindrance than help in the old town, where parking is genuinely difficult.

For more European city break ideas, browse our destination guides.

Final tips for your first trip to Palma de Mallorca

A short break in Palma gives you a golden cathedral, an old town built for wandering, a market breakfast, a beach you walked to, and a long dinner in Santa Catalina. Add a third day for the Sóller train or a southern beach, and you have one of the most complete city breaks in the Mediterranean. Book restaurants ahead in summer, start your sightseeing early to beat the heat and the cruise crowds, and do not be surprised if you leave already planning a longer return trip.

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The town is located on the shared, traditional territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) Nation, incorporating various authentic Indigenous experiences throughout. Most people come to Whistler to experience nature, but its many museums, art galleries, and cultural experiences will be a great addition to the trip.

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Parts of this trip were hosted by Explore Burnaby and Fairmont Chateau Whistler, who did not review or approve this story.

Whistler origins 

Whistler Village opened as a ski area in December 1980, and at the time, it was the largest ski complex in North America. Six years later, the Vancouver World’s Fair caused an influx of tourism to the Coast Mountains, putting Whistler Village on the global map. Soon after, American landscape artist Eldon Beck was recruited to design the village expansion. Beck decided to defy the classic North American grid built and instead wanted to build a “Village in the forest,” emphasising natural sightlines and sunlight paths across the space. The rest, as they say, is history.

What to do & See in Whistler

There are plenty of things to do in Whistler year-round, even for those who don’t come here for the winter sports. From culture and adventure to scenic gondola rides, your Whistler vacation can easily take on the leisurely pace of your choice. Visitors also have access to a collection of free self-guided tours with the Go Whistler app. There are 11 tours total, ranging from cultural and indigenous walks to craft beer and sweet treat tours. 

Explore Whistler Village Centre & Village North

Whistler Village is divided into three parts: Upper Village (the ski-in area), Village Centre, and Village North, the newest corner of town. The curvy pathways of the village cut through forested areas, along waterways and through a scenic wooden bridge. Nature exists seamlessly between the modern alpine ski chalet-style buildings lining the streets. 

Village Centre is packed with bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and over 200 retail shops, selling everything from ski essentials to large-scale souvenirs of Canada. Between the shops are art galleries where local artists display and sell paintings, photography, hand-woven baskets, First Nations designs, pottery and much more. Skis and snowboards are propped up in front of shops and restaurants almost year-round, adding a cheerful touch of colour to the scene. Bright yellow Muskoka chairs and loungers are thoughtfully placed around the village, overlooking ponds, rivers, and public squares. 

Village North is home to the Whistler Olympic Plaza, which prominently features the Olympic sign put in place during the 2010 Winter Olympics. A row of covered picnic pods offers more intimate spaces for an afternoon lunch surrounded by a bright patch of green grass behind the Olympic rings. 

Whistler Village, British Columbia. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Art & Culture 

Whistler Village houses quite a few notable museums and art galleries, in addition to the Whistler Museum. Audain Art Museum, which opened in 2016, has one of the world’s finest collections of First Nations masks, an impressive library of Emily Carr paintings, and works by Canada’s most internationally regarded contemporary artists. 

The building is a work of art in itself. Built to withstand the impact from the Fitzsimmons Creek floodplain and the heavy Whistler snowfalls, the structure seemingly floats above ground. Blending into the surrounding evergreen forest vegetation, the museum sits a full storey above ground and has a steeply sloped roof, making it, from some angles, look like a diamond. The building is connected to the main road by a bridge, which leads to an envelope-shaped entry with the forest shadows cutting through the slatted walls. 

Audain Art Museum 
4350 Blackcomb Wy, Whistler, BC V8E 1N3 | Map link
Tickets: Adults $22, seniors $19, young adults (19-15) $15, youth under 18 are free. 

Above and below: Audain Art Museum, Whistler, BC. Image by Kateryna Topol.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre (Squamish Lil’wat) is a first-of-its-kind in Canada world-class cultural centre operated by the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations. The museum embodies the spirit of partnership between the two First Nations through exhibitions and experiences that celebrate both cultures.

The museum site consists of multiple interior and exterior areas, including the Great Hall and galleries, a traditional Tl’aktaxen Lam (longhouse), and the İstken (pit house). An hourly guided tour is included in the cost of admission and will bring you into the local culture and history with a knowledgeable local. Ground floor Thunderbird Café serves an Indigenous-inspired menu worthy of a visit on its own.  

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre
4584 Blackcomb Wy, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y3 | Map link
Tickets: Adult $25, teens (618) $12, children under 5 free. 

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Maury Young Arts Centre, located closer to Village North, is a community art gallery, theatre, and youth centre. Visitors can pick up art and souvenirs on the ground floor, view exhibitions on the second, or explore classes and entertainment if the schedule allows. The hub is managed by Arts Whistler. 

Take note of the Timeless Circle Sculpture in front of the Maury Young Arts Centre. The sculpture was created by a renowned Coast Salish artist, Susan Point, who created 86 different faces that reflect the diversity of the people who attended the 2010 Olympic Games.

Maury Young Arts Centre
4335 Blackcomb Wy, Whistler, BC V8E 0X4 | Map link
Tickets: Free entry 

Timeless Circle Sculpture, Whistler, BC, Canada. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Blackcomb Mountain Gondola

One of the main attractions in Whistler is Blackcomb Mountain and its newest Peak 2 Peak Gondola. The gondola opened in 2018 and combines Peak 2 Peak and Whistler Village gondolas in a continuous 13.5 km lift system. The gondola goes from the Upper Village to the top of the mountain, where even in May the peaks will be covered with snow. 

Summer Alpine Experience access includes a labyrinth of snow walls that tower above Pika’s Traverse on Whistler Mountain. This unique experience is available for a very limited time, before the seasonal snow melts for the summer. The visitor’s centre at the top has a spacious cafeteria with an outdoor terrace and a seasonal restaurant, Christine’s. 

Blackcomb Mountain Gondola
4553 Blackcomb Wy, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y1 | Map link
Tickets: Spring to fall day passes start at $85 per adult. Seasonal passes are available. 

May on Blackcomb Mountain Gondola. Images by Kateryna Topol.

Hiking & Adventure

Whistler summer activities include hiking, ziplining, mountain biking, wildlife experiences, and water sports.

Hiking in Whistler 

The natural beauty of the mountains is best experienced through their many trails. Alpine hiking on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains is accessible by gondola. The trails vary from family-friendly to advanced hikes to lakes, glaciers and alpine meadows. Blackcomb Mountain Ascent Trails, for example, take you all the way up to the summit for epic views and giant trees. Mid-summer’s must-do is the wildflower trail hike, which lasts only two to three weeks. 

Many hiking trails don’t require a gondola ticket, though some BC Parks, including Garibaldi Provincial Park and Joffre Lakes Park, require Day-Use passes, which can be purchased on bcparks.ca. Some of the best hikes in Whistler include the Lost Lake and the Rainbow Falls Loop.

Soft adventure in Whistler

There are five lakes around Whistler offering breathtaking views and a range of activities from canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards to sailing. The lake can be reached with pubic transit from Whistler Village, making this adventure car-free if necessary. Find canoe tours and rentals info on whistler.com. For a bird’s-eye view of Whistler, hop aboard a seaplane for a Garibaldi Lake and Black Tusk 30-minute plane ride.

Wildlife watching is another popular activity in the region. The Alpine trail map is marked with wildlife viewing spots where you can spot deer, squirrels, bears, marmots, birds, and other creatures. Black bear viewing tours are commonly done with a 4×4 safari-style vehicle, comfortably roaming through the mountain terrain. Bear tours operate from May to October.

Afternoon/Evening bear viewing tour

Enjoy one of the premier black bear viewing spots in Whistler. Join a local professional nature guide and photographers on your wilderness luxury Land Rover black bear excursion. 2.5 hours. 

Book

Bear tour with exclusive Olympic Park access

Discover Whistler’s wild side on a guided black bear tour in Olympic Park. Travel in an open 4×4 built for safari-style viewing and observe wild black bears safely with your expert local guide.

Book

Adventure experiences in Whistler 

In the summer, the mountains transform into a custom-built bike park, perfect for progressive mountain bike rides. Bike park passes are available as one-time visits or seasonal passes. Fans of more extreme activities can head out on the Green River for a whitewater rafting adventure, go rock climbing, or reach the sky with Whistler Via Ferrata. Another fun activity is bungee jumping above the glacial-fed Cheakamus River or ziplining above the forest. 

Where to eat & Drink in Whistler

As expected, there are quite a few restaurants, cafes, and bars across Whistler Village, suitable for different moods and appetites. Provisions is a local favourite for breakfast, most notably for the poached egg breakfast sandwich. For lunch, grab a slice of pizza at Fat Tony’s Pizza or head over to the Thunderbird Café for a delicious chowder and a bannock sandwich.

Find a vibrant atmosphere, good cocktails, and shareable bites at Bar Oso, serving contemporary Spanish cuisine, or Balam, focused on Latin American bites. Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a great option for a seafood set course, or an Après happy hour, 3 PM to 4:45 PM.

Some of the best dining experiences in Whistler are naturally offered by upscale hotels, like Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The Wildflower dining room faces Blackcomb Mountain, perfectly lighting the space at golden hour through floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant serves seasonal dishes prepared with hyper-local ingredients.

The menu has a balanced representation of land and sea, and being so close to the source, fresh seafood (Ocean Wise certified) comes highly recommended. From West Coast Oysters served with mint mignonette to Tofino Albacore Crudo and locally caught fish, choosing seafood is easy. Short rib, Fraser Valley duck, chicken and Alberta AAA steaks perfectly balance out the seafood on the menu. 

The Wildflower restaurant at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. West Coast Oysters served over ice with mint mignonette, Hokkaido Scallops perfectly cooked with pork belly and a crispy chicharron, and Dungeness Crab Tagliatelle, decadently flavoured with saffron and chilli butter. Images by Kateryna Topol.

For unique dining experiences, Audain Art Museum hosts seasonal dining events like Art of Wine and Art of the Cocktail. Both Araxi Restaurant and Wild Blue host long table dinners in the summer, and Blackcomb Mountain offers a Mountain Top Summer Feast, among other dining experiences. 

Wellness in Whistler 

There are quite a few wellness facilities in Whistler. The Spa at Whistler, for example, is a spacious public facility with a liquor-licensed area. Whistler Day Spa, The Spa At Nita Lake Lodge, and Vida Spa at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler all come highly recommended.  

Scandinave Spa Whistler, however, is the main spa destination in Whistler. Set among the tall alpine trees, a wooden pathway leads you to the spa from the open parking lot, hash signs preparing you for what’s to come. This is a 25,000-square-foot outdoor sanctuary with four pools, two saunas, two eucalyptus steam rooms, and five distinct relaxation areas. A village in itself, Scandinave Spa Whistler, is ideal for a relaxing afternoon spent coming in and out of sleep between healing rituals. 

Scandinave Spa Whistler
8010 Mons Rd, Whistler, BC V8E 1K7 | Map link
Rates: Starting at $118 per person, robes and towels included 

Scandinave Spa Whistler, images courtesy of the spa.

Where to stay in Whistler

Fairmont Chateau Whistler, situated at the foot of Blackcomb Mountain, is a two-Michelin-key property. It is a ski-in ski-out castle with a spa, fitness centre, multiple pools, five restaurants, and three bars. Rooms range from standard king and queens to luxury suites with balconies and sitting rooms.

Four Seasons Resort Whistler is another two-Michelin-key property in Whistler. The hotel is located a short walk from the main village and offers complimentary car service to all guests. Amenities include a spa, wellness centre, outdoor pool, three restaurants, a cafe, and a pool bar. Rooms range from mountain-view balcony king rooms to spacious resort rooms and speciality suites, some of which have a private jacuzzi.

Nita Lake Lodge is a great boutique hotel alternative to the large resorts with one Michelin key. The lodge, located near the Whistler Golf Club, has a spa, fitness centre, kayak rentals, a garden, two restaurants, and a cafe. Rooms range from balcony one bedrooms to six-person suites with a living room. 

Fairmont Chateau Whistler
4599 Chateau Blvd, Whistler, BC V8E 0Z5
Rooms starting at $450 CAD for a king
Book directly on fairmont.com or compare with your favourite booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | Hotels.com | TripAdvisor

Four Seasons Resort Whistler
4591 Blackcomb Wy, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y4
Rooms starting at $463 CAD for two queens
Book directly on fourseasons.com or compare with your favourite booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Nita Lake Lodge
2131 Lake Placid Rd, Whistler, BC V8E 0B2
Rooms starting at $239 CAD for a king
Book directly on nitalakelodge.com or compare with your favourite booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Four Seasons Resort Whistler balcony, images by Kateryna Topol.

More hotels & Accomodations in Whistler

Whistler Olympic Plaza. Image by Kateryna Topol.

Getting to & Around Whistler

Whistler is located around two hours from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). You can rent a car at the airport or opt for one of the available shuttles. There are multiple options for the Whistler shuttle from the Vancouver airport, departing at different times of day. A few to consider are:

• Whistler Shuttle, with multiple pick-up and drop-off locations
• Epic Rides with non-stop service from Vancouver to Whistler 
• Bus transfer with Skylinx
• Canadian Craft Charters, which offers private Whistler transfer with an option to add scenic stops 
• Vanlimo Limousine Service, private transfer 
• Private transfer with sightseeing stops in Vancouver and Whistler 

Whistler is very walkable, and if you don’t intend to do any day trips, you can easily navigate without a car. Ridesharing is not available in Whistler, but there is a small taxi company, Whistler Taxis. The company has an app that allows you to track the driver online. You can always call +1 (604) 932-3333 to request a ride; the hold time will be spent listening to music, like 50 Cent’s “In da Club”. 

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