In the 18th century, overcrowding in the old town became intolerable and building started in the area to the north, and called the New Town. It is considered to be a masterpiece of town planning and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Princes Street is a major shopping area and Princes Street Gardens are…
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The Mt. Rigi Steam Train, A Swiss Untour Highlight
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We can’t get enough of Switzerland around here, even 43 years after we ran our first UnTour there. The beauty of the Swiss Alps is a perennial wonder, and the Swiss Travel System is our favorite way to explore the area, using lift, boats, and especially trains to take in the most dramatic mountain and…
Dinosaurs, Pilgrims, Windmills, and Art: The Leiden Museum Guide
Leiden has it all! This charming Dutch UnTour hometown is laced with peaceful canals and endowed with an important university, the oldest in the country founded in 1575. With its bustling market, vibrant street life, and excellent train access to Amsterdam and the rest of Holland, it is a fabulous base for exploring the Netherlands….
Paris Cafe Culture in Saint-Germain
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There are so many neighborhoods to discover while enjoying a Paris UnTour. Each has its own culture and history, and few as celebrated as the café life in St-Germain. Once the center of Paris’s intellectual life from the 20s to the 50s, the Left Bank district of St. Germain is more popular than ever….
The Best of Edinburgh Part 1: Old Town
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Edinburgh is a majestic, regal city dominated by history and the academic life of its universities. In its dramatic topography, convivial street life, and stunning architecture, you’ll find a lot to love about Edinburgh. Whether you are joining us in the Scottish Highlands, spending time in our Central Scotland UnTour, or combining both locations in…
Exploring the Marble Caves of Carrara, Home to Michelangelo’s White Marble
Used for the Pantheon, Trajan’s Column, and Michelangelo’s David in Rome, Carrara marble was valued above all other stone. The mountains were first exploited by Julius Caesar with origins from the 2nd century BC. Located in the northernmost tip of modern-day Tuscany, this blue-grey or white high quality-marble is coveted by artisans and used worldwide. …
The 10 Most Romantic Places in Europe
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There’s nothing like travel to stoke romance. The sights and sounds and smells and tastes of new places can stir your passion for living, and sharing those thrills with another is a perfect way to build your relationship. UnTours are made for love, giving you space to spread out in an apartment, autonomy to do…
From the Scottish Highlands: Our Favorite Stops on the Speyside Whisky Trail
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In Scotland, they don’t call it scotch but rather whisky, with no E. And there’s no better place to taste it than in the Scottish Highlands, with some of Scotland’s oldest and best distilleries easily accessible from our Scottish Highlands UnTour. Here our UnTours host Duncan outlines his favorites. The Speyside Malt Whisky Trail…
Shock of the New: 3 Contemporary Sculpture Gardens in the Hills of Tuscany
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Above: Tarot Gardens photo by s9-4pr, CC Interested in contemporary sculpture? Tuscany is a surprisingly furtile place for it! See how the shock of the new and surreal commune with the deep natural beauty of the Tuscan landscape. There are some fantastic sculpture gardens to explore near our farm house apartments on the Tuscany UnTour. Here…
Swiss Alpine Wildflower Walks Over Engelberg
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Nestled in the mountains south of Luzern, handy to our Swiss Heartland and Oberland UnTours, the traffic-free village of Engelberg is surrounded by pure countryside and several mountain lifts. It’s packed with activities aimed at families, but placid enough for anyone. Here are a few hikes in the area that are accessible to most…