Local guides tips

Change is afoot in the famous Swiss ski town of Verbier. Rough Guides editor, Amy Hopkins, travels to the mountains to find out: Is Verbier’s summer the new winter?

Before you order a bagel in New York City, there are some things you should know.

While many are familiar with the Algarve's beaches and golf courses, few explore its rich culture shaped by geography, history, and people. Join our Rough Guides editor on a sustainable week-long journey to discover the hidden cultural treasures of the Algarve.

Whatever your scene, from sweaty electronic music dancefloors to open-air beer gardens, Cape Town has it all. Being a hedonistic city – especially in the summer – Cape Town has plenty of great bars where you can drink and party, especially on Long and Bree Streets where it’s safe and busy, and there are taxis to get you home. In the summer, the Atlantic Seaboard is a great option, and the party starts with the first sundowners. Taken from the new Rough Guide to Cape Town, these are 7 of our favourite places to sample the city’s nightlife.

Nepal ranks high on most adventurers’ bucket lists, and with good reason. Home to the magnificent Himalayas, Nepal reigns supreme when it comes to landscapes. Its world-famous trekking routes and national parks teem with vastly underrated wildlife. In its bustling market cities, cultures collide and living divinities hold court over ancient spiritualism.

Anthony Bourdain controversially characterised Glasgow as somewhere to go ‘’for a beer and a beating” in his TV show Parts Unknown. Bourdain poked good-natured fun at the city’s notoriety, where the drinking culture looms large and the language is colourful; it’s a rep that Glasgow has battled with for decades. However, Bourdain also represented its lesser-known highlights: its charms and culinary delights. This is the side of the city you need to discover – Claire Boyle shares her insider's guide.

If you’re thinking of visiting Morocco, you’re probably already dreaming about visiting the Moroccan markets and souks. The sights, smells and unique atmosphere make them excellent places to get closer to Moroccan culture, even if you aren’t intending to shop – but who goes to the souks without coming back with at least one souvenir?!

There's a common misconception that introverts are antisocial. In fact, being an introvert simply means that you get your energy from being alone – you might love seeing friends and going to parties, but you need to have some time to yourself to recharge your batteries.

You’ll be spoiled for sustainable choice on the Great West Way between west London and Bristol, where the oh-so-English countryside with its gently rolling hills beckons outdoor adventurers this summer.

The South American nation of Peru is a glittering land of colour and light, riotous fiestas and monumental landscapes. From the awe-inspiring Inca ruins of Machu Picchu to the enigmatic geoglyphs at Nazca, the lush Amazon rainforest and excellent surfing beaches in the northwest, it offers a wealth of treasures for travellers at any season. To help you plan your own journey around the country, here is Ros Walford's guide to Peru.

How do you decide where to stay in New York? For dynamism, cultural impact and sheer diversity, it's a hard city to beat. It's also a global leader in art, architecture, music and food. It's crammed with iconic sights, too, from the raised torch of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building to Coney Island and some of the top beaches on the East Coast. So it's often difficult to know which is the best area to stay in New York City.

Until recently, running a club in Japan was a risky business. The fueihō laws, created in 1948, put restrictions on any small venue where patrons were able to “actively seek out pleasure” – including dancing. Though usually these laws weren’t enforced, any club or bar owners caught by police letting their patrons bust a move could face jail time. In 2016 the laws were finally amended, marking a cultural shift in how Japan views its own nightlife. With this in mind here’s our guide to Tokyo nightlife, some of the best places to enjoy a totally legal drink, dance or robot show in Tokyo.

Get away to lively Leeds and find out what makes this city an incredible minibreak gem. Imagine your ideal city break checklist. Amazing food and drink. Inspiring culture, museums and galleries. An abundance of attractions and adventures to keep the whole family entertained. An independent spirit, with sights and sounds you won’t see on every budding travel blogger’s instagram feed. All within easy, walkable reach of your welcoming hotel.

Few destinations can match the unbridled hedonism of Las Vegas. Nevada’s pulsating desert city, a tangle of neon-lit casinos and roaring freeways, is one of the most unforgettable places on Earth. If you get it right, a weekend in this town can be the trip of a lifetime. If you don’t, Vegas can easily overwhelm and disappoint – not to mention empty your wallet. Here are our tips for making the most of the city.

Set off through Towada-Hachimantai National Park (also known as Towada-Hachimantai Kokuritsukoen) to discover pristine powder, fir-clad mountains marbled with onsen and world-class seafood. As wild as Tokyo is chaotic, the park extends 855 square kilometres (330 sq. mi) across the unpeopled Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures, taking in numerous scenic headlands.

One of the world’s most diverse countries, Wales has it all. There are jagged mountains, gorgeous beaches, fantastic food, a groundbreaking approach to sustainability and fabulously preserved heritage sites which make our secondary school history lessons look rather boring.

Germany is the country for fairytale castles and nowhere does this become more obvious than in Saxony. Featuring a good 1,000 palaces, castles and fortresses, often coming with beautiful parks and gardens, the region which borders both the Czech Republic and Poland provides rich grounds for lovers of magnificent architecture and beautiful landscaping.

In summer 2021 Nottingham Castle reopened to the public and, with its renovated attractions and new galleries paying homage to the history of the city, the castle is now better than ever. Rough Guides writer Phil Lee reveals what visitors to the newly reopened castle can look forward to. Find inspiration for more adventures across England in Rough Guides Make the Most of Your Time in Britain.

Visit Hastings for independent shops filled with quirky dungarees and glittering notepads, coffee shops pouring steaming lattes with the smell of cinnamon in the air, and antique shops stuffed with wooden furniture which spills into the streets. Here you’ll find a town packed with attractions for a weekend break, and is simply a place to enjoy a quieter pace and mooch, and where it seems dogs almost outnumber humans. For more information on Hastings and other fabulous English destinations, the Rough Guide to England has got you covered.

Sitting in oceanic vastness is Hokkaido (‘Northern Sea Circuit’). This is Japan’s northernmost island, surrounded by the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean. Its latitude and position in the pathway of the Russian weather front make its climate considerably cooler than Honshu’s. That and its rugged, underpopulated landmass sets it apart as one of the best places to go off-piste in powdery white infinitude. Happily for travellers, Finnair's direct flights between Helsinki and New Chitose will resume service in July 2022.

Cultural delights, stunning nature, curious traditions. Saxony Germany — which borders Poland and the Czech Republic — is much loved for its diverse attractions. Here are 10 reasons why the region is a great choice to discover (yet) another side of Germany.