In this post, I’ll talk about how to increase your chances of getting Tomorrowland tickets, what to expect from the festival, what to bring with you and how to make the most out of it. I will try to cover everything that I researched prior to the event and everything I wish I had done differently as well.

While Tomorrowland isn’t coming up until July, you’ll have to start thinking about all the logistics way ahead. Pre-sale and tickets come out for sale in the winter, usually in January with pre-registration starting in December. With all that said, let’s get to all the logistics necessary for your optimal Tomorrowland experience!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. 🙂

Things to know before Attending Tomorrowland

What is Tomorrowland?

If you’re reading this post, you probably already know what Tomorrowland is, but if you’re just stumbling upon this post, let me give you a brief introduction to this event.

Tomorrowland is an annual electronic music festival that takes place over the the last two weekends of July, in Boom, Belgium, right outside of Brussels. At first, it started as a small local festival in 2005 and grew into an event that draws crowds from all over the world. In 2024, over 400,000 people attended during both weekends!

The festival has the most famous DJs from all types of electronic music sub-genres. There are 14 stages each uniquely decorated, with the Mainstage being the biggest and most artistically popular. The Tomorrowland grounds include a beautiful set-up, entertainment, food, but most importantly, an amazing vibe from the people coming together.

How to get Tomorrowland tickets?

Before we get into the guide and logistics of what Tomorrowland entails, let’s talk about how to get Tomorrowland tickets. Everyone who plans on going to Tomorrowland dreads this day the most, as they sell out extremely fast. I’m not even going to lie, it’s hard, like REALLY hard to get Tomorrowland tickets, however, it is not impossible. There really isn’t a magic formula to get them so you have to be really prepared in to increase your chances of getting them.

First and foremost, pre-register on the Tomorrowland website so you’ll get all the major announcements regarding ticket sales. Although the timelines are very similar every year, you will need to keep track of all the dates. And yes, you’ll be buying tickets 6-7 months in advance!

Tomorrowland Ticket Sales:

No matter which ticket packages you choose, the purchasing process is the same. You will log into your account at the designated time and wait in a virtual queue until the system allows you to enter the purchasing portal. You cannot have multiple browser windows open as it will kick you out. I imagine this is only getting to get more competitive and complex as the festival keeps on growing each year.

In my experience even during pre-sale, I did not even get into the purchasing stage as everything sold out within 20 minutes of me being online 😉

Here is what you need to know about the different types of Tomorrowland ticket sales:

• Global Journey Sale opens before any other sales. This involves purchasing a whole package including transport and accommodations along with your tickets. It will be the most expensive option but also your best chance of getting tickets.
• The Pre-Sale starts the weekend before the actual global sale so you’ll want to access that before the general worldwide dates. You will need to register for it in order to access it. In 2023, this took place the last weekend of January.
• The General Sale will happen a week after so if you don’t get tickets in pre-sale, you’ll be able to try again during this time.
• The Waitlist happens after everything sells out. This is your last chance to get tickets closer to the festival date as some extra tickets get released. It’s the most risky too as you won’t know if you can attend until pretty much last minute. If you’re traveling internationally, I don’t recommend banking on this.
• Resell Tickets are pretty available on all the major ticket platforms BUT officially Tomorrowland doesn’t allow for this. I personally wouldn’t take the risk of getting these as you’ll hear of multiple accounts of people being scammed.

Types of Tomorrowland Tickets

Generally there 4 types of Tomorrowland Tickets: Day Passes, Full Madness (Weekend Pass), Dreamville, and Global Journey. I would highly recommend getting Full Madness or Global Journey as going to the festival for 1 day is simply not enough to experience it.

Day Passes and Full Madness Tomorrowland tickets cost between $125-160 for day passes and $300-$375 for weekend passes depending on which sale you purchase them on. Comfort tickets (VIP) are slightly more expensive and include access to blocked-off areas that have bars, toilets, and some other cool features like jacuzzis at the MainStage.

Dreamville Packages include tickets and stay on the Tomorrowland grounds and vary depending on what type of experience you’re looking for. The most basic package starts at around 380 euros and includes a camping spot and goes up to villas for 10s of thousands of euros for a group. There are some great packages for around ~1200 euro a person which include a ticket and locked sleeping pods with beds.

Global Journey Tickets include Full Madness passes as well as pre-arranged accommodations in surrounding towns like Brussels or Antwerp along with initial transport into the city from big global hubspots. This is what I purchased and my ticket included a train from London to Brussels, a hotel in Brussels near the main train station, and a daily shuttle to Boom. I will talk more about my Global Journey experience later on in the post.

All tickets are linked to your online account through which you will be loading up Pearls to, Tomorrowland’s payment system. Once you order your tickets, these will be shipped to your address in July. Living in the US, I had no problem receiving my shipment here.

Tomorrowland Logistics

Tomorrowland transportation To and From the Festival

Unless you have the Global Journey package which arranges all your transport, you’ll need to plan for how to get to and from the festival. The festival grounds are in Boom which is located between Antwerp and Brussels.

From Brussels, you can take a train to Mechelen and then a bus from there to Boom. The bus stop is fairly close to the festival entrance but the whole commute takes about 1.5 hours. Otherwise, you can take a Bolt/Uber and the drive will be around 40 min. My recommendation would be to not stay in Brussels unless you have Global Journey.

From Antwerp, you can take a train but the walk from the Boom train station to the festival grounds takes 35 min and then another 30 min to get back to the city. The drive in a shared ride will take about 30 min but the pick up spot will also require some walking. Note that these shared rides will be VERY limited due to the volume of people.

Additionally, there are specific Tomorrowland shuttles in each surrounding city, but you’ll need to pre-book them and they’re usually sold out early as well.

Coming home from the festival also requires you to check whether your connections are running. The Tomorrowland page provides transport logistics closer to the festival as well so you can check if you can purchase a shuttle back if available.

Overall transport to and from Boom is not something you can save for late minute and you can’t wing it either. You need to know your options or you’ll be stuck in the middle of Boom in the middle of the night.

Tomorrowland accommodations

Dreamville is by far the best option in my opinion to experience Tomorrowland. Dreamville is located right on the festival grounds and gives you a unique experience of the festival. However, it is extremely hard to get this package so I would look into multiple options prior to attempting getting Dreamville.

Instead, start looking for Airbnbs or hotels in Boom, Antwerp or Mechelen for the easiest access to the festival way ahead of time. As mentioned above, I would not recommend staying in Brussels because public transport is not easy from there.

Antwerp will be a slightly better option and here are some choices for you:

Is the Tomorrowland Global Journey package worth it?

What does the Global Journey package include:

Global Journey was not my first choice as I really wanted to secure a Dreamville package. However, since everything sold out, I knew my only chance of getting tickets was getting a Global Journey package.

Was it worth it? Yes, I thought I was amazing but knowing what I know today, I would have done it a little differently than I did.

So if you don’t know what Global Journey is, it’s a package that includes:

• Transport on a bus, train or plane to a nearby city like Antwerp or Brussels
• Hotel accommodations usually with breakfast
• Shuttles to and from Boom
• Full Madness Pass
• Invited Pre-Party on Thursday
• Tomorrowland Treasure Chest and Goodie Bag on arrival

Global Journey cost ranges based on when you buy it, the type of transport into Belgium, and accommodation type. We booked a 2-person package train from London-Brussels with two separate hotel rooms and paid ~1400 euros a person. While it seems like a steep price, everything the ticket includes is well-priced and we would have paid more or less the same booking it separately ourselves.

Review of the Global Journey experience

The organization and overall experience of Global Journey is excellent. We received all the instructions via email prior to the festival and at each point there were plenty of staff to help you out and assist with the next step.

Tip: If you do GJ, make sure to know the location of where to pick up your custom envelope with your shuttle passes. We missed the pick up at the London train station and had to last minute beg staff for assistance. Although we were lucky enough to get some help, this would have been a huge fuck up and a pain to get these replaced!

In Brussels we were greeted by a welcome band and where we picked up our goodie bags. Then we walked to the hotel where we had a special concierge with all the festival info who was there to answer any questions and walk us to the shuttles.

Another cool thing about Tomorrowland’s Global Journey is the Invited Experience on Thursday before the festival. This year it was at the Gare Maritime which is a stunning large industrial hall in Brussels. At Invited, there were several DJs playing, performers, food vendors along and some awesome drink bars. The best part was certainly the atmosphere and everyone getting super hyped for the upcoming weekend.

The cons of Global Journey

Although I would say that the overall Global Journey package was amazing and planned way better than what I would have planned myself, there is one major drawback of this option. This really surprised me as you’d think that something as big as Tomorrowland would have figured this out better than it did. Global Journey transportation into the festival is a major PITA.

There are only two shuttles per day included in your package: one that takes you to the festival at noon and one that returns you to Brussels after the festival. For the first day you should absolutely be there as early as you can but on day 2 and 3 you may want to sleep in a little. The journey from Brussels takes about 45 mins too so you have to account for travel time. If you miss the noon shuttle, you have to arrange your own transportation. There were some additional shuttles during the day but you needed to buy tickets for these and when we tried to, they were already sold out. So I’d say that having a couple more options of shuttles should absolutely be included in the package.

The second thing is the shuttle to get you home. It only leaves after the festival ends for the day which is 1am or midnight on the last day. I don’t think anyone leaves before that so the timing isn’t an issue, however, the bus station to get you back home is located 40 minutes away by foot from when you exit the festival. Exiting alone takes about 20 mins so you have to walk 1 hour to the bus and then take the 45 minute shuttle back. So in all, it takes about 2 hours to get back to Brussels each day.

What to pack for Tomorrowland

On to the next major item on your prep list. Packing for Tomorrowland is important. You’re going to a 3-day (4-day if Global Journey or Dreamville) festival so being prepared will make your experience a lot less stressful than scrambling last minute.

Here are some absolute essentials I would pack:

• Festival Outfits – More on that in the next section.
• Comfortable Day Pack – I got this one on Amazon and loved the anti-theft zipper which allowed me not to worry about being in crowds. And I personally don’t think you need a water pack as water is super affordable at the festival.
• Shoes – You will be doing a TON of walking so make sure to pack shoes you can survive in for the weekend. I am personally more comfortable in sandals than sneakers so I wore my Reef Slips all weekend without getting a single blister. Although not a conventional choice, my feet were in mint condition after 4 days of wearing these 12+ hours a day.
• Poncho – I cannot stress enough about how important this is. I personally did not pack one and on the last day when it started down pouring and the festival ran out of them, I was miserable. Belgium doesn’t have the best weather so I would not skip this at any cost.
• Evening Jacket – If the temperature is expected to drop at night, grab a jean or any other jacket to get you home. While the areas with crowds are warm, you will need to walk to your transfer home and the last thing you want to be in the middle of the night is cold!
• Recovery Items – Liquid IV, Salon Pas, Tylenol, Bandaids will be your best friends. My arm and neck muscles would be sore from dancing so much that a pain relief patch was necessary each day 🙂
• Flag – Since this is a very international festival, I would absolutely recommend bringing your country’s flag for the group shots or even some cool shots representing you!
• Power bank – You will be taking a ton of photos but you will also need to be in contact with your crew so a back up charger is a must.

What to wear to Tomorrowland

I’ve been going to festivals for a while and I watched the dress code change dramatically throughout the recent years. I personally don’t love the current trends in festival wear and I find that most of them lack creativity. Most people look very similar and nothing about these outfits stands out to me. If you go to festivals often, you know what I am talking about.

However, the good news about Tomorrowland is that you can wear whatever you soul desires! People dress from typical EDM style outfits, to creative costumes, to group themed ones to just simply wearing t-shirt/shorts. I would encourage you to get creative though rather opt-ing out for the safe option as it makes the experience a little more fun!

I was happy with my choice of outfits, a statement cat skirt, a feather top and a chill Sunday outfit but next year I know I want to get a little more creative. As mentioned before, my major regret is not taking the weather more seriously and not being prepared with a poncho. Being soaked from the rain for most of Sunday was truly a nightmare.

What will make or break your Tomorrowland experience

Another major thing to consider is who you want to go to Tomorrowland with. I was very fortunate to go with a person who was as equally excited to be there as me. We had similar expectations for how long to stay at the festival, which DJs to see and what the overall weekend would look like. Because we were on the same exact page for the festival, both of us had a wonderful time without any tension or conflict.

So when you’re planning on who to go with, make sure you have a conversation about the points I mention above. If there is a person in the group who wants to leave before the day ends or arrive only at night for the main sets, your experience might not be as smooth and you’ll spend a lot of your time irritated rather than fully immersed in the festival.

Your Ultimate Guide to Tomorrowland

Now that you know everything to consider before the festival, let’s talk about what to expect when you get there. This complete Tomorrowland guide is meant to cover everything you need to know prior to attending the festival!

Tomorrowland Festival

Once you arrive via train, bus or car, you’ll have to cross three entry checkpoints. First one just checks if you have the proper bracelet, second is a bag check and third is the actual scan into the festival. Expect these take a little longer on the first day as everyone is getting acquainted to the flow. We waited about ~10-15 min at the last point to enter. Relatively speaking, that’s extremely impressive based on the amount of people there.

It’s hard describe how amazing the Tomorrowland experience actually is. If you’re into EDM, it is absolutely something you have to do at least once in your life. The production level is next level and the overall organization of the festival is by far the best I have seen anywhere.

The crowd energy is another level. Everyone is very respectful, excited to be there and just happy. The atmosphere alone should be the reason to go there.

The whole festival grounds is a one giant park with colorful installations, lights, performers and obviously stages. There are 14 stages (also one secret one), which bring different genres of EDM. They each have a unique theme and you should absolutely visit all of them. The Mainstage is the most grand and some other big ones include The Library, Freedom Stage or Rose Garden.

Pearls – Tomorrowland’s currency

If you want to buy anything at the festival, you will need to load up your bracelet prior to the festival. The conversion rate varies on the currency but to give you an idea, I loaded 100 euros and got 60 Pearls with a bonus. I ended up adding 25 euros on the last day as well but didn’t end up using it all. For my 3 days there, it was enough to feed me 2 meals a day and have ~3 beers per day.

How much you decide to load your bracelet with obviously depends on who much you’re planning to eat and drink there but remember that there are multiple top-off stations at the festival so you can always add more!

Food and drinks at Tomorrowland

There is an abundance of food choices at Tomorrowland at reasonable prices for what you get. Your choices of meals range from pizza, hot dogs, burgers, falafels to fancier meals in the Mesa Garden. A hot dog or burger is 6.75 pearls which is around 11 euro and that is filling enough for meal. A large beer is 3.75 pearls of 6 euro.

Compared to what you pay at American festivals, this was more than reasonable. The more fancy spots and beer gardens will cost ya more but it’s worth splurging for at least one of your meals.

How to plan your DJ line-up

The main reason why people love this festival is because it brings the most known DJs to one place. So imagine going to an amazing concert multiple times per day for the entire weekend! That’s how it feels to be at Tomorrowland.

Tomorrowland has an app which should be your best friend the entire weekend. Not only does it have the lineup but also a map with your current location to properly navigate yourself. You can create your own calendar of people that you want to see.

While the most known and mainstream DJs will be playing at Mainstage during evening hours, you want to make sure not to miss the day performances on the other stages but other major talent. You’ll also want to spend time at other stages as each is amazing in its own way!

When you’re planning who to see, you also need to consider the distance between the stages. For example, if you want to see a DJ at Freedom Stage at 4pm and then catch a set at the Mainstage at 5pm, consider that you’ll need a 15-20 min walk between the two. A lot of traffic at Tomorrowland goes one way only to control crowds, so you’ll need extra time to reach your stage.

Also Mainstage crowds start gathering 3-4 sets before the end of the day. So if you find yourself a spot at 9pm there, expect to stay until 1am 🙂

Additional tips for Tomorrowland

• While you might be tempted to end your night everyday at the Mainstage, don’t be afraid to venture off to other stages for the last set at least one day of the festival.
• Bathrooms are abundant and actually decent throughout the festival.
• Have a meeting point for your group. There will be times where people want to go to the bathroom or see a set that no one else wants to. It’s ok to separate but make sure to have a time, and place to meet back up as well as a contingency plan if you lose each other.
• Surprisingly there is excellent cell service at the festival.
• Plan to come early (12/1pm) for at the very least one day of the weekend. Tomorrowland grounds are so cool and you don’t want to miss exploring them.
• There are random attractions like a tattoo parlor or a giant ferris wheel.
• You can nap on lawns, beer gardens or chill out areas.
• Push through! On a Sunday night you might be all out of energy but keep reminding yourself that this might be a once in a lifetime kinda deal. I almost gave up and left early Sunday but looking back I am so happy I didn’t.
• Front row or even lower level at Mainstage is not worth it. The lawn is where it’s at! You can see everything perfectly, dance without getting pushed and be able to exit comfortably for bathroom or drink!

It’s not a secret that travel is back. After two years of restrictions, quarantines, and uncertainty, people are desperate to travel. Social media isn’t helping either with all the travel FOMO. I’m sure you saw at least a couple of your friends flaunting their current vacation on your feed today.

With the current influx of tourists in every nook of the world, it is essential to prepare for your trip. Planning a trip though is not for everyone. You might have questions like: how do I start planning my itinerary? or how do I pick where to stay? should I get travel insurance? and will I know how to navigate the city? You might also not know what you don’t know. For example, did you know you can decline rental car insurance if you own certain credit cards?

All in all, it’s a lot to digest but here is my detailed 10-step guide on how to plan a trip. I do this before every destination and you can ask my friends and family about how great traveling with me is. I’m prepared and I have a plan in place. I see most of each city even on short itineraries and I come back a more well-rounded person from each trip. And you can too.

0. First things first, where should we go?

Personally, I have a general bucket list in my head of the places I want to see in this lifetime. But a lot of my trips end up being spontaneously planned too. I can’t tell you where to go, that’s completely up to your travel preferences. The only thing I do recommend though is visiting the more popular places in the shoulder seasons.

1. Research, research, research

As a former researcher, my background ended up spilling over into my passion for travel. Once I decide on my destination I will start my planning with a simple google search of the following terms:

• Things to do in X
• X itinerary for X days

This simple search allows me to gauge whether the destination I am about to visit offers what I imagine it does. It’s easy to see things on social media and have the wrong impression about a place and then feel disappointed on arrival. That’s why I prefer reading articles and blogs over quick reels or TikToks that give a very curated version of a destination. For example, I personally think Tulum is a complete scam, and traveling to Cuba is a lot more heartbreaking than portrayed.

A quick Google search goes a long way and gives me an idea of what’d I like to do and see in a destination. I also like to do this search a couple of different times. First, to get an idea of what’s there, then to choose what I like to do, and last, to keep things fresh in my mind right before the trip from the best resources I found.

2. Make a map

Once I do some reading and decide that indeed, this is a place that I would love to see, I pull up a map. The easiest way to do this is via Google My Maps. How to plan a trip on google maps? If you google things to do or find an itinerary that you like, pull up a map and start pinning the places you’d like to see. Having them in front of you will let you see in what order you’d like to explore them. You can even make multiple layers for each day and give your places colors or different icons. The nice thing about Google Maps is that you can find hidden gems by simply looking at the map.

Once you’re done saving your places, you can download the map offline if you know you might not have international service and still navigate from it. Other map apps I have used were maps.me and CityMaps2Go. They’re fine for offline but I noticed that sometimes the places are outdated on them and it’s harder to find certain landmarks.

Here is an example of my Madeira Map which is divided into a 5-day itinerary. Click on the little arrow next to my face and you’ll see the legend.

3. Make or download an itinerary

Once you have your map pinned out, it’s much easier to plan your days. After you plan your stops, make sure to check opening times, ticket prices, and other useful information from their websites. It’s such a rookie mistake to show up at a museum and find out it’s closed on Monday or Tuesday because you didn’t take 2 minutes to double-check that.

The best thing is though, that if you don’t like planning your trips, you found my website which has all that for you: a plan, a map, and all the research for free. My itineraries are always optimized when I get back. I go back to my original plan and if I know something could have been planned better, I restructure it so your trip is even more badass than mine.

4. Transportation logistics

• How do I get to the city from the airport? A lot of times an airport bus or the metro cost nothing compared to an Uber so I will certainly opt for that. In places like Lisbon, Uber was so much cheaper to use instead of the metro for 3 people but I would not have known that if I didn’t google it prior.
• How will I navigate the city? Does the city have a good metro/tram/bus system or is it walkable? If there is a metro, I will mostly use that to get from point a to point b. I will also check whether public transport is safe or not. Living close to NYC, I get too many subway horror stories.
• Do I need to rent a car? In cities, renting a car is usually not a good idea. In places like Tenerife or Santorini, I found it to be a lifesaver. If you rent a car, is there some weird insurance scam that will give you trouble at the airport? Mexico certainly did me dirty with that. Know that if you have certain credit cards like Chase Saphire, you have primary car rental insurance but you need to decline the one that’s offered at the rental place in order to use it. I filed two claims under it and had absolutely no coverage troubles.

5. Where should I stay?

I follow a simple rule. If it’s my first time in a city, I like to be close to the action. That means the city center, beach town or attraction. I will compare hotels to Airbnbs and see which ones make more sense for my group size and budget. For a second or third time, I can venture off a little further and save some money but also see a different side of town.

6. What’s the deal with hostels

Now the topic that scares a lot of people who have never stayed in one: hostels. Should you do it? Well, hostels are not for everyone and if the idea of a shared room and bathroom scares you then it might not be for ya. I stayed in a ton of hostels when I was younger and trust me, the shared concept is not as horrible as you imagine.

Now, I still stay in hostels but I will usually choose a private room. Hostels are amazing for meeting people, group activities, and just being with like-minded individuals. My best travel stories come from doing something spontaneous with hostel friends. I plan to stay in them until I cannot anymore (usually cut off is 35 🙂 ). Make sure to read reviews on Hostelworld prior to booking to know what kinda situation you’re getting yourself into.

7. Housekeeping things

Before traveling to any destination you should know the following:

• Do you need a visa? Are there any travel restrictions in place? Do you need to download an app to check into the country?
• What language is spoken at your destination and how to say hello, please, and thank you in it.
• What currency is used there and what’s the conversion rate?
  • Speaking of money, I almost always get money directly from the ATM rather than the money exchange.
  • I also try to inform the bank of my travel plans so I don’t get a surprise block on my card.
• What’s the weather like during the month of your travel? Sometimes that Caribbean ticket is super cheap because it’s hurricane season. Oh and don’t forget the opposite seasons in the southern part of our globe.
• What are some common scams in your destination? I see you Morocco.
• Are there any cultural customs I should be aware of? Religious or traveling as a woman for example. Again I’m looking at you Morocco.

8. Apps I use when I travel

Apps clutter our phones but they also make our lives so much easier when abroad. Here are some essential ones I always use:

• Airline’s app: You know that I won’t hold up the line because my boarding pass is lost in my purse. Rather it will be in my hand with the brightness up ready to scan and go.
• Booking/Airbnb/Hostelworld: My bookings are downloaded for offline use and my accommodation address is ready to go when I land.
• Google Maps: Downloaded for offline use and ready to navigate!
• Airalo: A digital sim card app that lets me purchase a phone plan right on my phone.
• Uber or Uber equivalent like Bolt: Another good idea is to check what ride-sharing service is most commonly used in a given city. No, it’s not always Uber.
• WhatsApp: The iMessage craze is big in the US but if you want easy contact with people anywhere else in the world, download WhatsApp.
• Viber: If I don’t have an international plan and no voice sim card, I need Viber to make phone calls.
• NannyBag or LuggageHero: These apps are basically Airbnbs for your luggage. I used these in situations where public lockers weren’t available or close by and they saved me some comfort while exploring luggage free.
• TripAdvisor: Eh, I take the reviews with a grain of salt a lot of times but it’s not a bad idea to read what people have to say about a restaurant, especially in touristy places.

9. Tricks I picked up on the road

Do not check a bag unless you really have to. Not only are they a pain in the ass to carry around, but they get lost all the time. With this kinda travel influx, this is probably the worst thing you can do too. You need less than you think. Pick outfit items that match each other and you’d be surprised how many outfits you can make from one pair of jeans and white or beige pants.

Things will go wrong. At some point during your trip, there is a chance your flight can be delayed, you could get robbed, the weather will be shit or you won’t be able to reach your Airbnb host for the lock combo. When things go south, just accept it and try to make the most out of your situation. Trust me, on this, don’t ruin your vacation over a small bump in the road.

Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If people are trying to get your attention and distract you in the street, you could be pickpocketed. If a local is way too friendly way too soon, it’s likely you’re getting scammed.

It’s ok not to see everything. Seriously. It’s better to enjoy 3 spots than rush through 7. If you want to sit in the hotel, Airbnb or hang out with your new hostel friends do it! It’s your vacation and the goal is simply to have a good time.

Go with the flow. While I almost always have a plan in place for my trips, if something awesome comes up, or my new hostel friends planned something else, I try to be flexible and not turn things down if they seem fun. The best travel memories are always unplanned.

10. Last but not least: Plan a solo trip!

Seriously, there is nothing more awesome than traveling alone. You don’t have to follow anyone’s itinerary, preferences, or schedule. It’s uncomfortable at first for sure, but it gives you a new type of independence that you didn’t know you had.

A common misconception is that a solo trip means being completely solo! And while that’s true for a good chunk of your trip, if you’re staying in a hostel or are taking tours, you’re almost bound to meet another traveler. These on-the-road friends result in unplanned excursions and fun times! There are platforms like GoGaffl which also allow you to post about your trip and meet people who are traveling to the same destination!

With that said, I am here to bring you an awesome one-week Dominican Republic itinerary that doesn’t involve staying at an all-inclusive resort! It will let you see three different sides of the country and give you a small glimpse into life there.

Traveling the more local way in the Dominican Republic requires some preparation, especially if you’re going to rent a car. The island is pretty big and there is a good chunk of places to visit in the Dominican Republic. People fall in love with this destination, especially a lot of older European men if you catch my drift. For me, it was probably a one-time stop but nonetheless, I did have an awesome time here. Today, I am here to give you an awesome itinerary on how to spend 7 days in the Dominican Republic!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Let’s get to the logistics

Tips on traveling to the Dominican Republic

• DR ain’t cheap. I’m not sure why but I imagined that I would be spending very little money there. Although some things were indeed pretty cheap, things added up quickly at the end of the trip. FYI the currency is the Dominican dollar and the conversion between USD is about 55:1.
• Renting a car is an adventure and gas costs a shit ton. More on that below.
• Restaurant bills are confusing. First, you pay an additional 18% tax, and then a 10% service charge. That charge is supposed to be a tip but from talking to locals, I learned that a lot of times that amount doesn’t even go to the waiter. So if you really did like your service, some people leave an extra tip on top of that. When you think your beer is only $3 because of the menu price, think again.
• Speaking of restaurants, the service is honestly the worst I have EVER experienced. And in every corner of the island too. Only at a couple of places, I had amazing and friendly waiters but at most, it was just plain annoying. The locals have no problem snapping and yelling at the waitstaff but I just couldn’t do it. Patience will be your best friend when eating out.
• DR is a poor country so don’t be shocked at the number of ladies/gentlemen for hire there. An older European gentleman accompanied by a young local girl is a total norm there. Walking on certain beaches you might also be offered unsolicited services.
• While you should always be purchasing travel insurance anywhere you go, make sure to purchase it for the Dominican Republic. I always personally use Allianz as they came in clutch when I got robbed in Spain 🙂

Best time to go to the Dominican Republic

February to April is a good time because the temperatures are decent and it’s not hurricane season but it’s also peak season with a good chunk of tourists. May and June get hotter, drop a little in crowds, and chances of rain increase (most of the rain is very quick to pass through). After July the months are known for lots of rain. A detailed list of the best months along with national holidays can be found here.

I visited in March and the weather was perfect, although tbh I expected the ocean water to be slightly warmer than it was. Whenever it rained, it would pass by quickly and didn’t affect my exploring too much. The nights would be summer chilly meaning I’d have to wear a light sweater at night.

How to get to the Dominican Republic:

There is no shortage of airports in the Dominican Republic. If you’re traveling during peak season and Punta Cana flights are crazy expensive, try flying to other airports instead. I personally flew into Puerto Plata (POP) airport in the north and flew out of Santo Domingo (Las Americas SDQ). It saved me about $400 in airfare and allowed me to see more than just touristy areas of Punta Cana! There are a couple of other smaller airports on the island too, depending on your origin/destination connections. Things to consider:

• Puerto Plata Airport: Located in the north part of the island. Not very crowded and easy to fly into from the NYC area. It’s close to Puerto Plata and Cabarete.
• Santo Domingo Airport: This is a very local airport and I did not see many tourists there the two times I was there. Flights are early in the morning and late at night which makes it a little more difficult to get to. I had to drive to this airport at 3 am despite all advice not to drive at night. It’s located about 30-45 min from Santo Domingo and 2 hours from Punta Cana.
• Airport in Punta Cana: As a tourist, this is probably the most convenient location as almost all people who stay at Bavaro area resorts fly here. It’s also the most expensive.

To rent or not to rent a car in the Dominican Republic

For most countries that I visit, unless I know that the public transport is amazing, I always rent a car because I like the freedom of getting around. Before my trip, I went into the deep hole of the travel forums on the safety of renting a car in the Dominican Republic. The majority of online people tell you that it is a horrible idea due to crazy drivers, lack of rules, corrupt police, and the danger of driving at night. Naturally, I wanted to see whether everything that was said was true and rented a car there. Even after arrival when we talked to locals they were surprised that a young tourist (and a woman) would rent a car and go on a driving adventure.

Was it all true?

Yes. Yes, it was. Driving in the Dominican Republic is nuts. There are cars, motorbikes, animals, and people, sometimes not even going in the correct direction of traffic. Would I do it again? Absolutely. While driving there isn’t for the nervous driver, if you follow the rules, stay aware, and are super careful, you will be ok. However, this is coming from someone who drives in New Jersey and New York in her day-to-day life. If you’re not a confident driver and you tend to get nervous and stressed, skip the rental. Otherwise just know that while driving won’t be easy, it will give you the freedom to see more than you would otherwise.

Car Rental in Puerto Plata airport

At Puerto Plata airport, I rented my car with Europcar from Booking. I never had bad rental experiences until my trip to Mexico and since then, now I always triple-read the fine print and make sure to have all my paperwork ready. The agent was nice but he did try to pull a couple of tricks to get more $$ out of me. I used my credit car insurance which includes putting down a hefty $3k deposit. My Chase Saphire has not failed me yet with car rental coverage even when my car got broken into in Tenerife, so I always decline all coverage and go with the card one. A person in front of me said she waited over 1 hour to get the car but I got mine in about 15 minutes after finishing the paperwork.

Car Rental in Santo Domingo Airport

Even though I picked up my car in Puerto Plata, I was flying out of Santo Domingo so I had to drop off the car there. This, by the way, includes a one-way fee that you will need to pay with the rental company. Dropping off the car rental in Santo Domingo was not a great experience as the agent tried to tell me that a dime-sized imprint on the car is subject to damage. Although I took many initial pictures, the size of this was so small you couldn’t see it. He insisted on filling out a damage report in Spanish and blaming me for the “dent.” I refused to sign anything and left. It’s a shame that even after paying a ton of money (peak season rates) the car companies still try to screw you over, leaving you with a bad taste in your mouth. So, shame on you Europcar.

Gas Station Scams

Another thing that can royally piss you off is the gas-station scams. The most common is the pump not being zeroed out before you fill your tank. In DR you cannot do it yourself and there isn’t a shortage of gas attendants trying to pull tricks on tourists. During my first gas station stop (near Juan Dolio), I got out of the car and made sure to watch the zeros on the pump. The attendant could not have been nicer, washed my windows and we had a nice interaction.

My second stop (near Boca Chica) was a disaster. Although the attendant zeroed the pump, mid-way he asked me to check if my tank is full, and while I looked away for a second, he zeroed the pump and started it the second time. I didn’t get to see the first amount but I know for a fact that his number was at least double what it should have been. He also insisted I sad premium rather than regular. Despite my protest in Spanish, I had to pay most of his scam price but I disputed the charge with my credit card company. So moral of the story, when pumping your gas, get out of the car and watch the pump like a hawk.

So … with all that said, should you rent a car in the Dominican Republic?

If reading my stories above would affect your overall mood on the trip in a very negative way, then maybe you shouldn’t rent a car. If you’ve dealt with similar situations above and look at them as part of your travel experiences, then rent a car 🙂 If you choose not to rent one, there is public transportation connecting the major cities.

Ok, now that you have the basics of what to prep for before your visit, let’s get to the one-week itinerary! I divide up the plan into 3 stops and include awesome places to visit in the Dominican Republic.

An awesome one week Dominican Republic itinerary

The Dominican Republic is a big country. Compared to driving in its neighbor Puerto Rico where places were reachable within a couple of hours, in the DR, you won’t be able to see the whole island. I suggest the following general route with local activities: Puerto Plata -> Santo Domingo -> Punta Cana. These three areas are very different allowing you to see different angles of the island.

Stop 1: Puerto Plata & Cabarete – 3 days

Where to stay in Puerto Plata area

Located in the northern part of the island, Puerto Plata is an area not as commonly visited by the majority of tourists compared to Punta Cana. Not only is flying there is cheaper but you will also experience the variety of landscapes that this part offers. You will have the Atlantic Ocean side, cute beach towns, mountains, and a nice local town. It’s known for water activities, relaxing or adventure tours. Since this was my first stop, I didn’t know I would end up liking it the best. I would say that if you want similar vibes to a resort stay but don’t want the resort part, Puerto Plata area is your answer. Although there are many less crowded resorts in Puerto Plata area too.

I personally stayed at the best hotel ever Cabarete Eco Lodge. It was a beachfront eco-hotel with open-air rooms, a small pool, and a bar & restaurant. Now it’s certainly not for everyone as the open-air concept doesn’t allow for much privacy (you do have curtains though). For me though, it was brilliant. The location was decent, it took about 30 minutes by car from the airport, and then to get to the main part of Cabarete, it was another 10 minutes by car. There are many other hotels and even more Airbnbs in the area too, the only thing I would recommend is being beachfront.

Things to do in Puerto Plata

I recommend 3 days in Puerto Plata but rather than my usual day-by-day plan style, I will give you a la carte list of things to do in Puerto Plata. That way you can choose to have 3 full days of activities or 3 full days of laying on the beach.

Puerto Plata Beaches – Half to full day

Puerto Plata is an actual town and the Atlantic Ocean beaches are located east and west of the town. And Beaches in the Dominican Republic are just amazing so make sure to spend at very least half a day relaxing on one. If you like water sports, Cabarete has a ton of them including kite surfing. If you like to tan and drink cocktails on the beach instead, there are plenty of spots to do that as well. Needless to say, whatever you choose to do, you will love what the area offers for this activity. Here are the most popular spots in the area:

• Sosua: A very popular beach for locals and tourists alike. It gets very busy on the weekends too. You will have white sand and turquoise water along with many beach shops and restaurants.
• Cabarete: The small town of Cabarete has a nice beach with some bars and restaurants. There are neighboring beaches like Kite Beach known for water sports.
• Playa Dorada: A beach to the west of Puerto Plata town. Has a lot of all-inclusive resorts
• Key Paradise: This little sandbar can be accessed on a tour and includes snorkeling, swimming in crystal clear waters, and little booths for lunch. Keep in mind that mind day a ton of people arrive there.
• For a complete review of beaches, Two Monkeys post has an awesome full list of the beaches too.

27 Waterfalls/27 Charcos/Waterfalls of Damajagua – Half day

This half-day excursion is amazing and something you should certainly do when visiting Puerto Plata but before you book it, let me tell you what it entails. I personally booked the excursion without knowing what I would be doing exactly. Naively I assumed that I would simply do some hiking and admiring of the local waterfalls. When we got to the first waterfall, my heart almost exploded out of my chest as I stood on the edge …

Here is what the excursion consists of:

• You can book an excursion with tour providers ($70-80) or you can drive yourself if you have a car and pay ~$10 entry that includes the same thing. Although I had a car in DR, I choose a tour provider because I had no idea you can do this independently … If you have a car, there is no need to book a tour online.
• Once you arrive you will get your vest, helmet, and water shoes. Make sure you rent/bring water shoes! It will be very uncomfortable if you don’t. A tour guide will take you through the waterfalls.
• First, you will walk about 30 minutes through the jungle to reach the waterfalls. It’s mostly uphill but nothing crazy. Your introduction to the river will begin there, you will slowly start your walk toward the first waterfall.
• Ok, here is where I realized I had no idea what I signed up for. From the start, you’re told that you can jump, slide or go down the ladder if you’re scared. When you reach the first waterfall, you quickly realize that you pretty much only have the option of jumping. The ladder in my opinion is scarier.
• I had no idea I was scared of jumping into the water. Although the jump was a little over 20 feet, the narrowness of the caves gave me legit anxiety. I was shaking and my heart was pounding but I jumped because there was no better alternative to get down.
• You repeat this a couple more times and toward the end, there are a couple of slides.
• In my group, everyone jumped, including the older tourists too so it felt like I had to as well. Some people were just as scared as me though but we overcame our fears and just did it.
• Would I do it again? No way. As beautiful as the location and the hike are, this was not enjoyable for me because I was scared. If you know you don’t like cliff/cave jumps, do not do this. If you do enjoy this type of adrenaline you will absolutely love the whole thing 🙂

Puerto Plata Town – Half Day

Most beachfront hotels are located within the Puerto Plata area, not necessarily near the actual town. The town itself is a cute little half-day excursion so make sure to set some time aside for seeing this gem.

Start your trip by taking a ride to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres on the local cable car or Teleferico. The ride takes approximately 15 minutes and includes stunning views of mountains and the town. When I visited in March, it was closed for maintenance but has reopened since. Its operating hours are between 8:30 am to 3 pm.

After your cable car ride, head over to Fortaleza San Felipe Fortress, a historical fortress built to defend the city. The structure offers panoramic views of the ocean and a nice park to stroll around. Locals like to catch the sunset from there too in case you want to come back later in the day.

When you’re done exploring the fortress, take a 15-minute walk into the center of the historical Puerto Plata. Parque Central is the main plaza with beautiful Victorian buildings and Cathedral San Felipe. Two blocks over you will find two cute picture stops, the Umbrella Street (Calle San Felipe) and the vibrant pink Paseo de Doña Blanca. Lastly, if you like drink/food “museums” there is the Macroix House of Rum or Del Oro Chocolate. Personally, you couldn’t pay me to go into one but some people love these types of places 🙂

Puerto Plata Nature Activities – Half Day

There are multiple awesome activities you can do in the Puerto Plata region:

• Monkey Jungle: A monkey sanctuary and/or a zipline adventure located near Cabarete.
• eXtreme Hotel: Has a trapeze school!
• ATV & Horseback Riding Tours: There are a ton of tour providers in town for both of these activities. I don’t have a specific one to recommend but a simple TripAdvisor search will give you a bunch of them.
• Kiteboarding School: Puerto Plata is known for kiteboarding. Why not try something extreme and take a lesson from the pros.
• Laguna Dudu: This beautiful Nature Preserve is located almost two hours from Cabarete. It has a cenote and a small lagoon into which you can zipline jump. There is a park in which you can picnic or a restaurant on-site too.

Where to eat in Puerto Plata

Staying in Cabarete Eco Lodge, I was spoiled with their awesome hotel restaurant’s homemade food so I honestly did not venture out much during this leg of my trip. GaminTraveler has an awesome Puerto Plata Food Guide post and Alex in Wanderland has a beautiful post on Cabarete food.

Stop 2: Santo Domingo – 2 days

From North to South

The transport between Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo is fairly easy. If you rented a car, the drive is mostly on the highways. Driving near Santo Domingo is stressful though so I won’t even sugarcoat it. If you don’t have a car, jump on a bus like Caribe Tours for example, and take this 3.5-hour journey to the southern part of the island.

Fun detour: If you have the time, you can take a small detour toward Jarbacoa, to the Jamaca de Dios restaurant. It’s certainly not a short one and the drive requires some local driving but the views from up-top are super worth it. The restaurant is located on a hill in a gated community, which honestly has the worst roads I have seen in such an upscale area. It’s an in-and-out drive though, you can’t make a loop back to the highway.

Where to stay in Santo Domingo

Whether you decide to stay in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, just stay in the Zona Colonial area. The rest of the city isn’t that appealing although the Airbnbs with rooftop pools do look enticing. As a huge fan of hostels, there aren’t many hostel options in town, you pretty much only have Island Life as an option. That is where I stayed and although there is nothing wrong with it, it wasn’t the most exciting hostel I have stayed in. I wish they organized some activities like walking tours or hostel dinners to make the stay in Santo Domingo a little more interesting.

Things to do in Santo Domingo on your Dominican Republic itinerary

Zona Colonial

I’m going to let you in on a little secret about Santo Domingo: there isn’t much to do in the city aside from Zona Colonial (and don’t be mad because you know I’m right). Zona Colonial is a charming area though so spending half to one day exploring is the ideal time there. Many people that I have met there love it as a place to live and I could see the charm of it, small town, good food, cheap cost of living and a community feel. But as a tourist, after you see the highlights, you just end up walking around the same area. Nonetheless, here is a list of places you should add to your walk:

• Parque Colon: This town square/park is the heart of Zona Colonial is where you will find many locals and tourists hanging out. There is a church, a small park (with lots of pigeons), and some restaurants surrounding the area.
• Calle El Conde: The main shopping street in town. It’s a nice walkway with some street vendors, bars, and restaurants. Connected to Parque Colon, you won’t have to go far to find it. Walk all the way down and you will reach Parque Independencia.
• Plaza de la Hispanidad: A beautiful plaza with Alcazar de Colon, a fortified palace owned by the Columbus family as the backdrop.
• Calle Las Damas: The first paved street in the Americas which has a ton of history. If you don’t read about the history you will be a lost puppy like I was. It carries a lot of significance and you should either read about it prior or do a walking tour on the street.
• Mercado Modelo: A market with tons of souvenir shops.

Don’t forget to come back to the square at night either.

Tres Ojos

Tres Ojos or Three Eyes is a park a short ride away from Zona Colonial. As the name suggests, there are 3 cave pools, kinda like the famous Mexican cenotes, which you can admire on your walk. You can enjoy this natural wonder and takes some awesome pictures too. The park is the perfect oasis in the middle of a busy since but the bad news is that you can’t swim there. The whole excursion won’t cost you much, an Uber from Zona Colonial will run you about $5, and the entrance to the park another $2.

Day Trips to Beach Towns

You can see everything you want to see in Santo Domingo in a day so I recommend heading to a local beach town for the second day of your stay in the area. You can take the highway Route 3 east or west to visit some beautiful beaches.

Boca Chica: To be clear, I am not recommending a day trip here but rather telling you to avoid this place. I actually ended up staying a night there to be close to the airport and expected a quick cute local beach town stop. A lot of travel blogs show you pictures and hide certain aspects of a place. I knew Boca Chica had its reputation but I didn’t realize to what extent. So let me be totally honest with you here, Boca Chica is grimy and unless you’re staying at a hotel with a private beach, you might not like it. The hotel I stayed at was on the cleaner side of town and I visited some crazy overpriced restaurants. A walk on the beach was gross and I was scared to walk around there at night.

Juan Dolio: There are two parts to Juan Dolio. One is a local, much nicer alternative to Boca Chica and the second is a smaller town that has some luxury gated communities near Playa Hemmingway. If you have an extra day or so, I recommend renting an Airbnb in that area as many of those complexes provide resort-style amenities. Both of the beaches have crystal clear waters, white sand, and amazing palm trees. There really isn’t much to do there aside from lounging on the beach.

Additionally, I will say that I had amazing meals there (although not cheap) so I will recommend a couple of restaurants in the area that I tried myself. Major disclaimer, these are not local style, they’re located in the more boujee Playa Hemingway area so the crowd there is very different.

• El Concón: Located literally at the very end of Juan Dolio, this place was super tasty. The ambiance of the restaurant was also super cool with all the plants and decor.
• El Mesón Español: Also another gem in the area with really tasty food. I recommend sitting outside too for a nice patio atmosphere.
• Sal Marina: The food here was 10/10. I really enjoyed this spot.
• Gulia’s: Every travel blog and TripAdvisor post talks about this place for breakfast but unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to visit. Maybe you should and then report back about how it was 🙂

Dunes of Bani: Want to experience a random dessert with views of a baby blue ocean as your background? Speak no more and head to Dunes of Bani. It will take you about an hour and a half from Santo Domingo. You can rent a sandboard and have some fun sliding it down.

Stop 3: Punta Cana – 2 days

Getting there

Continuity on our Dominican Republic itinerary, to get from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana you can drive for about 2 hours or if you don’t have a car, the option of a $10 Aptpra bus from city to city. Private transfers run between $100-$150 for the trip. If you’re driving, as a tourist do not drive over 100 km/hr as you will be certainly stopped by police that wants to make some money 🙂

Prepare for a change of vibe – tourists

I debated going to Punta Cana on my itinerary as the goal for this trip was to stay away from resorts. But at the same time, I felt like I wanted to see that side of the country too and why it’s so popular. I didn’t hate being there but at the same time, I quickly remembered why I didn’t want to stay at a resort to begin with. As soon as I drove past the Punta Cana Airport, the “resort-tourist” vibes began.

Don’t get me wrong, people love their resorts and I love a more local way of travel. At the end of the day, I get scammed at a gas station and have to worry about bribing the local law enforcement and my resort counterpart gets to sip on margaritas in the pool …

After spending time in Cabarete, Santo Domingo, and then Juan Dolio, this was a mini-culture shock on my itinerary. I decided to add this part to the itinerary because at least this way you get to see the contrast between the North, the capital, and the touristy east.

Where to stay in Punta Cana

Obviously, Punta Cana is known for resorts, here are some decent ones too, so that might not be a horrible option if you stayed in Airbnbs and non-resort hotels for the first part of your trip. I personally stayed in an Airbnb in the Los Corales gated community. The location was right next to the beach and within a short walking distance of restaurants. The Airbnb itself was just ok so I won’t recommend it to you.

Things to do in Punta Cana

Staying two days in Punta Cana you have the following options: beach day for day 1 and a day trip to Saona Island or an adventure park. If you’re a person who likes activities, sorry pal, there aren’t that many of them here 🙂 This is truly a town for a resort person.

Beaches in Punta Cana – Full Day

Punta Cana is known for its beaches and there is a good reason for that. And if you’re going to visit any beaches in the Dominican Republic, it should be there. They are really really pretty and the first time you see that amazing baby blue water you understand why people love the location so much. If you’re not staying at a resort, don’t worry, you can rent beach chairs, hang out at bars like Soles, or do any water sports pretty much anywhere. The beach is pretty long, you can walk up and down to find the spot that vibes with you the most.

Some places will have beach chairs available to guests only but you will notice that a lot of bars and others advertise daily rentals for a small fee. There are areas in which you can simply lay on a towel too.

Day Trip to Saona Island

Ugh, I really really hoped this wasn’t a tourist trap because I booked it on Airbnb but it was a total tourist trap. Hear me out though …

You book a day excursion from Airbnb experiences where you’re promised an all-inclusive boat ride to a small island where you will lounge, starfish, and then a party catamaran return later. You look at the pictures and you think, omg this looks amazing, how can they possibly ruin this …

Ok here is the sad reality: You spend 2 hours on the bus in the morning picking up random people from resorts, you take a crowded boat to a natural pool where a photographer forces you to take photos (that you obviously have to pay for), you drink cheap rum out of mouthwash cups, you get to the island which is so crowded that you can’t find a spot to lay, the all-inclusive part is a plate of chicken and rice, and when you return on a catamaran which is actually cool.

Were the views amazing? Yes.
Did I see a starfish? From far away, could have been a crab tbh.
Was it enjoyable? Some parts.
Would I do it again? Not again but the scenery was so beautiful that the headache was worth it.

Activity Parks – Full Day

For a resort town, there aren’t many good activities in the Punta Cana area. Compare Playa del Carmen in Mexico where although touristy, the majority of the tourist parks are actually fun. I didn’t do any of the activities because the more I read people’s reviews on them, I knew that it was not really up my alley. However, in case you want to do your own research here are your options:

• Ecological Park Ojos Indigenas: An ecological park in which you can swim in some lagoons, enjoy nature and walk around. The reviews are mostly positive for this place but note that there is a $50 entry fee. It doesn’t seem like you get much out of that though.
• Scape Park: An adventure park with zip lines, cave swimming, a buggy ride (for an extra fee), and some nature trails. It’s crazy expensive for what it offers too, $130 or $160 entry fee. Reviews seem mixed, some love it others say the price is way too high for what you get.
• Bavaro Adventure Park: Another adventure park with buggy rides, horses, and zip lines. Also crazy pricey at $140 a person pop and without the ability to take your own photos. I had fun reading Google Reviews about this. It seems like this park holds you, hostage if you make a small dent in the buggy.

Final Thoughts on a week in the Dominican Republic itinerary

When I look back at my one week in the Dominican Republic, I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I really enjoyed my time in Cabarete and the northern part of the island. It was a beautiful beach destination and not crazy touristy. I wish I spent more time there and had the chance to see more of the northern cities. Visiting Santo Domingo was ok, nothing that spoke to my soul. The city felt limited in terms of what to do and outside the colonial zone, there really wasn’t much to see. Lastly, as beautiful as the beaches were in Punta Cana, that whole area was just too resort-y for me. The whole trip was pretty expensive too for what it was.

Would I recommend visiting? I’ll take a neutral stance here. I don’t think we’re meant to love each place to the same extent and each person is supposed to have their own experiences in a particular destination. I’m very happy I got to do this trip outside of resorts as it allowed me to see many different parts of the country and get a glimpse into a more local side of it. I hope that at the end of the day, my itinerary either gave you an awesome Dominican Republic itinerary for your visit or clarity if you’re on the fence about going. Rather than hyping up a destination for what it’s not, I always try to be honest about what it entails and I hope I accomplished that here too.

My favorite part was certainly the beaches in the Dominican Republic and that’s the one thing that made this whole trip worth it.

Map and Downloadable Dominican Republic Itinerary

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In this amazing, all you need to know guide, I bring you the following:

1) Essential logistics of traveling to Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona – the perfect trifecta for an awesome week in Spain which will show you 3 different sides of the country

2) A detailed guide on what to expect, what to do, where to stay and which tourist places are actually worth it, and which you should say adios baby to

3) And finally, a map and downloadable itinerary that you can blindly follow for the best time ever!

I always make my itineraries after I have visited the place so I can optimize for things I wish I did differently. When I am no expert on a particular topic, I always reference other travel bloggers that did a better job than I can at recommending an activity.

Now without further fluff, let’s get to your one-week in Spain itinerary!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through there 🙂

But first, some Spain travel logistics

Useful things to about before traveling to Spain

• The currency in Spain is the euro. Rather than exchanging dollars or any other currency at the exchange booth or at the airport, I simply withdraw some euros directly from the ATM (most banks do have a fee for this but it’s usually less than the booths) and then use my no fees travel credit card for everything else when I’m there.
• In Spain though, most places accept cards. In countries that do so, I always prefer to use a good travel cards that have no transaction fees, offer purchase protection and rack up points for my future plane tickets.
• Spain is generally not an expensive country but cities like Barcelona which have a lot of tourist attractions can get pretty pricey if you choose to visit a lot of them.
• While in some cities you will come across English speakers, knowing basic Spanish is a total must when traveling there. Barcelona technically speaks Catalan but everyone understands Spanish.
• Omg don’t get me started on petty theft there. It’s a huge issue.
• Each of Spain’s regions feels like a different country sometimes. That’s why from time to time something in the news will pop up about a region wanting independence.
  • If you ever get a chance to visit the northern Basque region you will really see that there.

Best time to go to Spain

When I studied in Spain in mid-July, I was sweaty for the entire time I was there (I did get a nice tan though). The second time was a little better, a late June trip was more tolerable in terms of the sun and heat. My most recent trip was in November and even though the weather was pleasant, I personally prefer a little bit of warmer weather there.

So I’ll say this if you like heat, May, June and September months will have great weather and fewer tourists. If you want to save on flights and accommodations and chilly weather doesn’t bother you, October, November, and then March and April will be better for you.

If you’re heading to Spain, check out my Ibiza itinerary as well!

How to get to Spain

If you’re flying from the US, most likely you will be going into Madrid’s Barajas Airport and/or Barcelona’s El Prat. Here is a little trick for you, use the multi-city feature on Google Flights and create your combinations. You’d be surprised how cheap these trips can end up being. If you have the flexibility, often (not always) booking from Wednesday to Wednesday has the best prices. Here is an example of how affordable ($332!!!) a one-week nonstop flight from NYC into Madrid and out of Barcelona could be in late May:

Transport between cities

Flights between cities are super cheap so before hopping on a train, check if you can fly there instead for $20. BUT note that cheap flights usually come with no included luggage so if you want to save some money, pack light. Trains are also always an option.

Within Madrid and Barcelona, utilize the metro. It will get you from point A to point B in no time and you will not need to spend a ton of money on taxis and uber. From the airport though, if you’re traveling with a group, you might save more on an Uber. Seville has a smaller metro but I never used it since most places are walkable.

If you were traveling to the countryside, I would recommend renting a car. I will have another post on a road trip through Spain’s north coast. But traveling through Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona, public transportation will be way more convenient than worrying about parking.

People in Spain

During my study abroad, I got to live like a local for a little bit and interact with real people who live in Spain. Let me tell you that almost every single individual I have met there was genuine, sweet, and welcoming to me. As a tourist though, the story might be a little different. When you’re traveling in very touristy places, you might not get as warm of treatment there. Spaniards are straightforward and no-nonsense when it comes to the service industry or any other interactions. Don’t be a stereotypical tourist (aka don’t be an asshole), learn basic phrases in Spanish and you will be totally fine.

Safety in Spain

In terms of safety, I couldn’t tell you how many stories I have heard and also experienced petty theft firsthand on of one my trips. When you enter the metro, and I am not exaggerating, treat your belongings as your children. Don’t get distracted for even one second. Especially in Barcelona, your hand shouldn’t leave your backpack or purse at any given time.

My best friend’s purse got robbed in a matter of a 30-second oversight inside a crowded metro. And the worst part is that we were super aware of how bad theft is and those little shits still outsmarted us. Aside from small robberies, Spain is a super safe country so don’t fear.

Must-try foods in Spain

At the very very very minimum, I list the foods that you should absolutely try when visiting Spain. There are SO many more dishes than this and the list grows even longer when you add regionality to it. However, here is a super basic list for you of foods that you should sample in your Spain itinerary:

• Paella: This classic dish originally from Valencia is a Spanish staple. Paella has a rice base with either meats or seafood additions. Since it is very popular it is easy to encounter now so great versions of it in the more touristy areas. Make sure to find local restaurants for good paella.
• Croquettas: These little fried breaded snacks are one of my favorite foods in Spain. The most famous kind is a Jamon (ham) one but they come in many variations. I love them all.
• Patatas Bravas: Another gem of your tapas selection is a good dish of patatas bravas or little potatoes with some delicious aioli or other sauce on aside. A must-try in Spain.
• Tortilla Espanola: Or Spanish omelet which is made of eggs and potatoes, and sometimes onions. It is a very traditional dish in Spain.
• Chorizo: A pork sausage that can be spicy! It’s a great appetizer dish.
• Jamon Iberico: Iberian ham is a cut of pork leg. It’s very tasty and special meat that is can be very expensive outside of Spain.
• Pulpo: Octopus dish often served on the tapas menu.
• Gambas al Ajillo: Garlic shrimp is also another seafood staple dish.
• Pan con Tomate: This is a super simple concept food, a hard bread with smashed tomatoes. It is also a perfect appetizer that goes with many meals.
• Churros: There is nothing better than a thick hot chocolate along with some hot churros! Make sure to try these for dessert.

The perfect itinerary for an amazing week in Spain

A week in Spain is barely an introduction to the country but that should in no way stop you from booking it. The most beautiful cities in Spain are the local hidden gems but before you venture off to those, you need to see the big guys first.

The Spain itinerary I planned below will show you three very different cities located in three very different regions:

1) First, 2 days in Madrid, which has a more cosmopolitan version of life in Spain
2) Then 2 days in Seville in Andalusia in which you can’t miss the Moorish influence
3) Lastly, 3 days in Barcelona in Catalonia from which you will distinctively remember Gaudi’s style

As you travel through these places, you will see how unique each region is and appreciate each of them in its own way. You can do this itinerary in the opposite direction too, as transport between these cities is super easy.

Madrid Itinerary

Transport in Madrid

Arriving at Barajas Airport in Madrid, you won’t be too far from the city center. A fixed taxi fare could work for a couple of people but my suggestion is to take line 8 metro or C1 train to Atocha Station (2.60 euro per way). When you’re in the city, the metro will take you anywhere you want to go. The whole system is honestly super impressive. The metro map looks a little intimidating at first but once you get on a couple of rides, you will master it in no time. The city created a cute metro map too for tourist attractions:

Where to stay

There is certainly no shortage of hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs in the city so book one depending on your comfort and budget level. The last time I stayed in Madrid, I really wanted to be in an apartment right in Plaza Mayor with some good balcony views. I made my dream a reality but the apartment wasn’t the nicest one I have stayed in.

Day 1:

Now let’s get to the actual Madrid itinerary for the first portion of the trip. You will likely arrive early morning from the US direction so drop your bags off at your accommodation (even if check-in isn’t ready), freshen up, and get some coffee to prep for a full day ahead.

Morning Bite and Plaza Mayor

Although it is a pretty touristy spot, I still recommend grabbing a quick bite at Mercado San Miguel. There are many stands with snacks and drinks. My favorite has to be the Aperol Spritz booth too. It’s the perfect introduction to the city from a touristy angle. As with any heavily popular place, make sure to watch your belongings here. After you grab a snack, take a 2-minute walk to Plaza Mayor, the main plaza in Madrid. Although I wouldn’t say that this is my favorite plaza I have visited, it’s still nice to see.

Royal Palace and/or Campo del Moro

The next stop for the day will be Almudena Cathedral. It’s a beautiful church right next to the Royal Palace which you’ll be visiting next. There are guide tours to go into the palace and you can see a limited amount of rooms when you get there. I remember it being very grand and I personally loved learning the history behind it.

However, if visiting palaces isn’t one of your favorite things to do, you might not enjoy this part. Instead, you can head to the beautiful Versailles-inspired gardens located in the back of the palace or Campo del Moro. The entrance is located on Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, which is a short walk away. It’s a free park perfect for some afternoon relaxation.

Afternoon Wrap

Coming back, you can walk along Calle Gran Vía, the main shopping street in Madrid. Pretty touristy and one of the more popular places in town. Next, a short detour off Gran Via will be the famous Chocolatería San Ginés. The churros there dipped in thick chocolate are out of this world. After this part, I’m sure you’ll want to rest for a little so head back to the hotel for a little siesta. Don’t worry, Spaniards eat dinner super late so you don’t need to rush to your dinner reservations.

Dinner and Flamenco maybe?

One option for dinner is booking a dinner and flamenco night in one. It is a popular activity in town but since you’re going to Seville (Flamenco originated in southern Spain), I’ll keep it as an open option for you which city you’d like to do it in. I desperately wanted to stay away from the main tourist traps and found a less-known restaurant called Cafe Ziryab which had a show on the day of my visit along with a dinner option. It was ok but certainly not the best flamenco show I have seen (the best was actually at a complete hole-in-a-wall in Granada). So I’ll say this, sometimes forcing yourself into trying not to be a tourist will leave you with a subpar experience. If you’re going to do this, do it right and book yourself a night at a place like Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco.

Day 2:

Morning at the Museum

Normally I’m a person who enjoys museums but isn’t crazy fascinated by them to the point where I have to go to one in every new city I visit. In Madrid though, I have to say that I was simply speechless when I explored not one but two of the world-famous museums. I plan to visit another time in the future because let’s just say that the artwork there is like nowhere in this world. Visiting two museums in one day may be a little much though so I’ll let you choose which one vibes more with your soul.

Museo Prado is the more classical art option with artworks by artists like Diego Velázquez, El Greco or Francisco Goya who were simply brilliant. Reina Sofia houses most of the 20-century art with artists like Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miró. My favorite painting there was the Guernica by Pablo Picasso which I wanted to see for years. Overall I’ll say that either of these museums is worth paying a visit if you’re in Madrid. They’re really impressive and magical. Entry to Prado is 15 euros and 12 euros to Reina Sofia.

Retiro Park

One of the most beautiful parks in the city is El Retiro and both of the museums mentioned above are located super close to it. It’s a pretty big park and even has a pond on which you can rent a cheesy object to paddle. This park is amazing to see in the summer. Make sure to check out Palacio de Cristal and the lake. There are so many more places located within it so you can spend the rest of the day here exploring if you really wanted to.

A little party never hurts

After a full day of exploring, head out for some tapas and then for a little party. When in Spain, you simply need to go out. Here are some party areas for your nightlife activities:

• Huertas: is an area of Madrid popular with young people
• Malasaña: a hipster, bohemian party vibe
• Chueca: a lively gay neighborhood
• Salamanca Neighborhood: a more boujee vibe for nightlife

I personally partied at El Doblón, a super cool club loved by a friend who lived in Madrid. The whole place looks like you’re inside of a ship and you probably won’t find a single tourist there.

Additional Options

If my suggestions above didn’t vibe with you, here are a couple more places to choose from:

• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium: Tour the home stadium of Real Madrid will be a treat to visit for any soccer fanatic.
• Matadero Madrid: A former slaughterhouse that is now an art space for multiple exhibitions and cool hang-out space. Check out their website for current exhibitions.
• Las Ventas Bullring: Like it or not this is still a thing in the Spanish culture, you can tour this place if you want to or even see the fight live. Personally not my thing.
• Food Tours: I love love love food tours, it’s the best way to see a city! There are many vendors to choose from in most cities and I honestly have not taken one yet that has failed me. They can be pretty pricey but you get food, drinks, and a small history tour. I always go for the mid-range prices as the cheapest ones have more people and suffer in quality. The really pricey ones are usually not that different from the midrange ones either. TripAdvisor reviews are reliable for the most part.

Here are some food picks from the locals too.

Seville Itinerary

Transportation Logistics

To get to Seville from Madrid, you can take a 1-hour flight or a 2.5-hour Renfe train from Atocha Station. Depending on the time of the year, they can have similar prices with the added flight luggage cost. I recommend arriving as early as you can in order to maximize your time in the city. Although the city is not that small 2 days in Seville is enough to see the major highlights of the city.

From the airport, you can take a Line EA bus to Plaza de Armas for 4 euros or you can take a flat rate taxi for about 20 euros there too. Within the city, most of the places of interest to you will be within walking distance. There is one metro line and some tram services too.

Where to Stay in Seville

With limited time I recommend staying central to everything in Centro or Barrio Santa Cruz. That way you won’t have to worry about transport. Airbnb is always a good option, the one I stayed at was nice but I had issues with check-in so I won’t recommend it to you guys. You can grab a nice one between $60-$120 a night price and some even have crazy views of the points of interest.

Check out amazing hostels in Seville too!

Day 3 in Spain:

Plaza de España

Start your Seville itinerary with this super grand place, Plaza de España. Despite looking like a historical structure it was constructed only in 1928 for an Expo event. There is so much detail in this plaza and each nook has something beautiful in it. The middle of the plaza has a pond on which you can rent a small boat and spend some time enjoying the surroundings from that angle. Catch an impromptu Flamenco show too!

Parque de María Luisa

Connected to the Plaza, you will find the stunning Parque de María Luisa. I loved strolling through the little paths and admiring the flowers and trees. In the southern part of the park, you will find Plaza de América which has three important structures surrounding it: the Museum of Popular Arts, the Archaeological Museum, and the Royal Pavilion.

Walk along the river

After the park stroll, you can walk back along the water towards Torre del Oro, a former military watchtower. Some parts of the walk are really nice, others very average. We made a stop at one of the small bars mid-way to grab a quick drink.

Tapas and Flamenco

Tapas are a must in Spain and you should have them every day you’re there 🙂 After a long day, spend the early evening grabbing a couple of these heavenly bites. After, you can see another Flamenco show (if you did or didn’t in Madrid) or just head to rest if this day was already long for you. If you choose to do a show, some will only have a performance while others will include a dinner option too.

I personally didn’t see any shows in Seville since I opted to see one in Madrid. However, I do wish I saw one in Seville too as the smaller city vibes would have been perfect for one. Since I can’t recommend you one, I saw that Stefania has an awesome guide for Flamenco shows (and tapas too) on her blog.

Day 4:

Don’t lose your exploring steam because day 4 will be full of activities for you in the beautiful city of Seville!

Royal Alcázar of Seville

A stunning royal palace located in the heart of Seville is a simple must. Although my personal favorite is Alhambra in Granada, this one is pretty impressive too. Its most recognized characteristic is the Mudéjar style of architecture. CultureTrip has an awesome 1-minute summary of its history which I recommend reading if you won’t be taking a guided tour.

I visited in November so I personally had no trouble with entry queues or tickets. However, I heard that lines to get inside are horrendous in the summer, so I would recommend purchasing an entry ticket ahead of time and heading there for opening hours too.

Catedral de Sevilla

Right around the corner from the palace, you will find the largest Gothic church in the world. It’s pretty impressive and worth your visit. The cathedral houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Additionally, it has the La Giralda bell tower which you can climb for a bird’s eye view of the city. You will need to purchase tickets for them too.

A nice stop near the cathedral for the early evening is a terrace bar called La Terraza. It’s pricey but it has incredible views of the lit-up cathedral. I recommend stopping for a glass of wine to take a little breather and enjoy the views from above.

Walk toward Setas de Sevilla

After a morning full of activities, you’ll have one more cool, low-effort spot in the city. From the cathedral walk along the surrounding neighborhoods toward Setas de Seville or the mushroom structure of Seville. Santa Cruz (Jewish Quarter) and El Centro are narrow streets filled with stores, bars, and restaurants. That area isn’t really big so getting lost in the streets and exploring won’t require that much effort from your end. Your destination, the crazy wooden structure, it’s worth a stroll. There is an entry fee to access the top part but you will be rewarded 360 views of Seville. It’s also a great sunset spot!

End the evening with some tapas in the area, there is an awesome spot near the Setas plaza called La Malvaloca which you should visit. For the night, I imagine you will want to rest and relax at your midpoint week in Spain.

Additional places of interest in Seville

Here are some additional spots you can visit during your 2 days in Seville:

• Triana neighborhood: Located on the other side of Guadalquivir, what used to be a working-class neighborhood is now a more authentic area of town you can visit. Start with exploring the local market, Mercado de Triana, and get lost in the streets. Don’t forget to stroll along the river for colorful views of the buildings.
• Art in Seville: Spanish artists speak to my soul for some reason so whenever I am in Spain, I try to add some amazing art stops to my itinerary. In Seville, you have the amazing Seville Museum of Fine Arts where you will find Spain’s popular artists like Velazquez or El Greco. A visit costs only 1.5 euros too. Another stunning baroque-style building dedicated primarily to the artist Velazquez is Hospital los Venerables. Entry is a little more pricey but certainly worth it if you like art.
• A tour: There are two types of tours you should consider in any major cities that you visit 1) a free-walking tour, and 2) a food tour. In Seville, you will find both and if I were you, a tapas one would be first on my list 🙂
• Plaza de Toros: A bullfighting arena that you can tour without attending a bullfight. I know it’s tradition but I personally don’t support it.

For more on Seville food and places to eat, this blog does an awesome job with recommendations.

Barcelona Itinerary

We made it to my favorite part of the week in Spain itinerary! My normal travel philosophy is to always seek new places but Barcelona is one of those cities I don’t mind coming back to over and over again. There is so much to do in the city and the vibe is just everything! Barcelona deserved its own post probably with 5-7 days of activities but for today, let’s focus on a solid Barcelona 3-day itinerary as a good introduction to the city. Keep in mind that in 3 days, you certainly won’t see everything.

Transport to and within Barcelona

From Seville, your easiest option is to take a 1.5-hour flight. Even if you’re doing the itinerary in the opposite way, the high-speed Barcelona to Seville train takes about 5.5 hours and is pretty pricey. From the airport, you have the option of a taxi, bus, train, or metro depending on where you’re staying in the city. I’ve taken the metro each time I visited. Uber is available as of last year but with some past legal issues, you should check on that before you go.

Once inside the city, utilize the metro. It amazes me how large the system is and it will get you pretty much anywhere in the city. I always suggest purchasing an unlimited pass if you’re planning to sightsee a lot because, with each trip at 2.40 euro, the costs quickly add up.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Barcelona has the following main neighborhoods near the tourist attractions:

• Gracia: the trendy upcoming neighborhood filled with bars, restaurants, and cute streets
• Gothic Quarter: touristy city center area but nonetheless stunning area especially for first-timers in Barcelona
• El Born: another trendy neighborhood that’s close to the Gothic Quarter but isn’t as crowded
• Eixample: Gaudi’s works among other major landmarks is all close here. This is where I stayed and although I was happy with this location being central to everything, it didn’t really feel very lively.
• Barceloneta: Close to the beach, this area is for those who want to spend time lounging in the sun. If you’re planning on sightseeing in the city, I wouldn’t recommend staying here as it is not as central to many sights.

During my stays in Barcelona, I stayed at the following locations:

• Yeah Hostel: Amazing hostel for walking tours and a chill atmosphere. I did two tours with them and enjoyed the breakfast and the low-key vibes. It was super clean and the beds were super comfy.
• Kabul Party Hostel: Although this hostel is located off Las Ramblas, it is actually in a little hidden plaza. It’s certainly not for everyone as the party atmosphere can be a little loud but I absolutely loved the rooftop vibes and the organized bar crawl.
• Eric Vokel Boutique Apartments: Very pretty apartments. Great for a family trip.

Things to know about Barcelona

Language: You will quickly notice that all the familiar phrases and signs don’t sound and look like what you’ve been seeing to date. That is because Barcelona speaks Catalan, not Spanish (although most if not all people there speak Spanish so no fret).

Pickpocketing: Omg this city is absolutely notorious for pickpockets. Every single area, especially Las Ramblas and the Metro, are places where 10 seconds of your distraction will cost you your belongings. My friend had her phone stolen next to me on the metro while she moved her hand from her bag for no more than a couple of seconds. So my tip is to always have your hand on your stuff and be extremely cautious of anything you’re carrying. Every time I have been there I followed the rule of guarding my things and watching everyone around me and I am happy to say I haven’t been a target of petty theft. If you look like you’re paying attention and are aware of your surroundings, the stupid thief is less likely to target you.

Las Ramblas: This is a major major tourist trap and I personally don’t see anything cute about it. I don’t know why everyone hypes it up and I guess it is just one of those places you check off your list when visiting Barcelona. There is nothing authentic or local about it, it is rather a long street with chain shops, terrible restaurants, and pickpockets.

Restaurants and going out: As Americans, we always tend to worry about the tipping culture as it’s ingrained in our veins. Tipping in Barcelona is not necessary but if you really liked the service, you are welcome to leave a couple of euros. Dinner here doesn’t start until 9-10 pm and clubs don’t open until after midnight.

Distance: Barcelona is a pretty big city. Compared to Seville or even Madrid, a lot of the sightseeing places are spaced apart so make sure to factor in a 20-30 minute metro cushion for transport!

Antoni Gaudi: An architectural genius in my eyes who had a major influence can be seen all over the city. His work is so unique, detailed, and stunning that you can spend days looking at its complexity and beauty of it.

Day 5 in Spain:

As mentioned above, since Barcelona is a pretty big city, although your itineraries might not look as busy as previous ones, they will fill up your day faster than you think. Consider how much energy you have for the day because the next couple of days require a lot of it if you want to see a decent amount of the city. From Seville, try to arrive as early as you can, drop off your bags at the hotel and start exploring one of the coolest cities in the world!

Walking tour

For the Barcelona itinerary portion of your trip, I highly highly recommend starting it with a free walking tour. There are many companies that run it and most have a morning and an afternoon timeslot to start it. Barcelona is a huge city with a shit ton of history worth knowing so I would spend my first afternoon there with someone who could at least give you the gist of what is what.

During a standard tour, you will most likely cover sights near the Gothic Quarter like the Cathedral of Barcelona, Basilica of Santa Maria, Placa de Catalunya, Las Ramblas, Placa Reial and La Boqueria. There will be more stops along the way with small history lessons over a typical 2-3 hour tour.

Parc Guell

After an introduction to Barcelona, take it easy for the rest of the day and head over to Parc Guell. It’s such a nice park worth the effort of a 20 min metro ride from the Gothic Quarter. Note that the nearest stop is the Vallcarca Station which is an additional 20-minute walk. Instead, if you don’t want to walk, you can Uber or take bus 24 or 92 there.

The best part is that this park is even more magical during the evening so don’t worry about arriving later in the day but do keep in mind that it closes at 6 pm. Creative Adventurer has an awesome detailed guide about the whole park if you’re interested in the details.

After your park visit, wander around the Gracia neighborhood, the trendy part of Barcelona. You can stop for some tapas there and visit the cute square Placa del Sol. This blog has an awesome guide to the best bars in that area.

Day 6:

Sagrada Familia

While in Europe, it is easy to get church-ed out, meaning that you’ve seen so many beautiful churches and cathedrals that seeing another one doesn’t even impress you anymore. Well, let me tell you this, Sagrada Familia is unlike anything you have ever seen in your life. Gaudi really outdid himself here and believe it or not, it is still under construction since the late 1800s.

If you only choose to admire it from the outside, make sure to download an audio guide that at least allows you to understand the different parts of it. An entry inside is worth the hefty 26 euro fee and for an additional 4, you can do a guided tour. In high season, these sell out fast so grab them ahead of time.

A good photo spot is Plaça de Gaudí, make sure to walk behind the pond to get a super awesome view of the cathedral.

Montjuic

Montjuic is an area on the hills of Barcelona which houses multiple landmarks. Take the metro to the cable car and then make your way up (I personally climbed it in mid-July heat and I don’t recommend you do the same). There are a couple of landmarks there, see a list here, but even if you choose not to visit any, I would simply recommend starting from the top and making your way down to the very bottom of the hill for some amazing views from all angles. You can visit landmarks based on your personal interests:

• Montjuic Castle: A 5 euro entrance fee will get you inside an old military fortress with great views.
• Joan Miro Foundation: If you’re a fan of Miro like myself, don’t miss this museum of his work.
• National Museum of Catalan Art: I didn’t visit the inside of it so I can’t tell you if it’s worth the entry fee but let me tell you that this building is insanely impressive from the outside. As you start making your way down the stairs, don’t forget to turn around at various levels to get a different perspective each time.
• Plaça de Les Cascades: As you walk down, you will notice stunning man-made waterfall structures.
• Magic Fountain Shows: A pretty impressive fountain show right at the base of Montjuic. I was lucky to see it pre-rona during the day and not so lucky when I returned in the fall of 2019 because I didn’t look up the times for it. Currently, it is suspended due to rona but keep your eye on the official website for reopening times.
• Plaça d’Espanya: Your last stop after seeing Montjuic, this plaza is a very important landmark for the city.

Bonus: A less visited place in this area is the rooftop terrace of the Arenas de Barcelona shopping mall. While you can grab a drink or some overpriced apps in one of the super cute restaurants up there, you want to go up to see the panoramic views of the city.

Night-out

When in Barcelona, you need to go out. I experienced my nights out there twice through pub crawls in my hostels. Why? Because it’s nice to have a plan and new friends for the night. Don’t worry if you’re not staying in a hostel though. There are many pub crawls organized in the city and they are the perfect way for a solo traveler to feel a little safer and not worry about choosing a good place to go to.

The only thing you should know about a good night out is that bars don’t end up opening up until late and clubs only get going after midnight or so. They’re open until 6 am so don’t be surprised if you see people grabbing breakfast after a good night out.

Here is a list of places for you from Barcelona Explorers and another from Miss Tourist which also includes an amazing list of her favorite restaurants in the city.

Day 7:

For the last day of your Barcelona itinerary, I will let you choose what you want to see. It’s hard to pick what the absolute must-see places are on a 3-day stay. I was lucky to see this city multiple times and each time I find something new and fascinating to do. The only advice that I have is to not try to do everything because you will miss out on enjoying what you’re looking at. In a true Spanish fashion, take it slow and soak it in.

Here are your options for the last day of your week in Spain:

Tibidabo

If there is anything awesome that I would recommend for your last day in Barcelona, it’s this “hidden gem.” Tibidabo is a hill overlooking all of Barcelona and even though it will take some effort to get there, it’s an unforgettable view. There is a really beautiful church Sagrat Cor, which you can visit but there is also an amusement park along with some walking sites. The unlimited amusement park entrance is pricey but there are some rides that you can pay for a single ride.

To get there, you can take a direct bus from Placa de Catalunya or the L7 line to the Tibidabo to the Tramvia Blay and then the Funicular. When I visited last in 2019, the funicular was under construction so we had to take a taxi on the last leg.

Beach time

Barcelona has a nice beach scene so if you prefer to spend your last day lounging around, make sure to head in that direction. Barceloneta is the most popular one and the most crowded one. You if don’t want to be a sardine, perhaps don’t choose that one. A more quiet beach would be Platja Sant Sebastian but feel free to check out the complete list here.

Make sure to spend time in the Barceloneta neighborhood and walk along the beachfront area that has restaurants and clubs. It’s a pretty area and it’s worth visiting. If you’re planning to hit up the clubs at night, this is where you would go too.

More Gaudi

Gaudi’s style is undoubtedly super unique. I personally took a Gaudi walking tour in addition to the free walking one because I wanted to see more of his work. Whether you choose a tour or not, in addition to Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia, he is also famous for the following structures:

• Casa Mila: Known as La Pedrera or “The stone quarry” this house has a very unique appearance. There is a stunning terrace up top and tickets start at 25 euros.
• Casa Batllo: Located not too far from Casa Mila, this building is just another instance masterpiece. There is also a rooftop terrace. Tickets sell out a week in advance and even further out in the high season. They also start at 35 euros.
• Casa Vicens: Gaudi’s first major project is located in the Gracia neighborhood. It’s less popular than the two above but not any less impressive. Tickets start at 21 euros.

If the prices of the above are a little much, especially after seeing Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia don’t worry, the houses are also stunning to look at from the outside. And if you take a Gaudi tour you’ll get the history behind them too. Remember that most major cities have apps with history audioguides which you can simply download and listen to outside the building without taking any tours.

Tapas Tour

Food tours are always my favorite way to see the city. Although they tend to be pricey, I feel like I personally learn and experience the city better compared to a free walking tour. As much as I recommend and love free walking tours, sometimes they can run pretty long. With food tours, you can eat your way through the city, try foods you wouldn’t have thought to do yourself, and get a little bit of history in between.

Here are some examples of tours you can take:

Camp Nou

The last time I visited Barcelona, I went with my parents. My dad’s only request for his entire week in Spain was to see Camp Nou, the official football stadium of FC Barcelona. To be honest, I had very little interest in seeing a stadium but nonetheless, it ended up being a fun experience and something I would have never done myself. Rather than visiting the stadium though, I would consider attending the match if you happen to be there during one.

Miscellaneous Places

• If you haven’t had a chance to stroll through Ciutadella Park, which houses the beautiful Arc de Triomf, make sure to make your way there.
• Passeig de Gràcia: A long picturesque street full of high-end shopping stores.
• Picasso Museum: If you’re a fan of Picasso, don’t miss this museum as it houses some of his best work. Admission is only 12 euros too.
• Montserrat: This would be a day trip to the neighboring mountain region. There are many trips that take you on a wine tasting and exploration of this region.

Final Thoughts

A week in Spain is nowhere near enough to experience the country. I spend 2 short months there and then returned multiple times since, and I still find new things to do each time. One of my favorite things about Spain is how distinct each region is and how it almost feels like you’re visiting a different country at each stop.

I hope that my itinerary for a week in Spain gives you a solid introduction to this amazing country. Although the Spaniards might love their siestas, you will be busy exploring 7/7 days of your trip. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below.

A Map and downloadable itinerary

Don’t forget to download the week in Spain itinerary and save the map for your stay!

Remember that the itinerary is a very high-level summary of everything described above. Before you download it, make sure to read the blog post above for the best trip preparation.

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And if you liked this guide, don’t forget to check out other amazing neighboring places!

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In my itinerary below, I will talk about my experience of visiting Maderia in December and why it will not give you the full island experience that you are probably expecting. While I am not trying to discourage you 100% from visiting during that time, I hope my experience will better prepare you compared to what I was expecting. If I knew what I’d see and what I’d miss out on, I’d plan my itinerary totally differently than how I did. That’s what I hope to give you with this post, an off–season-optimized Madeira itinerary. To compare, a couple of years back, I visited Madeira’s southern neighbor Tenerife, during a similar time. My off-season vacation there was much better in terms of weather even though geographically, these two islands are pretty close.

While this itinerary tells you additional information about traveling to Madeira off-season, you can use it all year round to plan your travels too.

At the end of the post, you can download this guide as well as a map for your travels.

Traveling to Lisbon as well? Don’t forget to check out my Lisbon guide!

Madeira Logistics

Best time to visit Madeira

Let me just cut to the chase and tell you that if you want to experience all of Madeira, off-season time considered between November and April, might not be the best choice. Despite a lot of resources telling you that Madeira could be a year-round destination, I would argue otherwise. By visiting between May to late September, you’re maximizing your chances for clear skies and good temperatures.

There are some pros, however, to visiting during the off-season as I did. You will save on flights, accommodation, and car rental and you’ll avoid the crowds that come with the vacation season in Maderia. Although most attractions won’t be closed you might not be able to see everything, especially if the weather isn’t great.

Suggested length of stay

How long you will stay depends on what you’d like to do there. For example, some hikes can take an entire day, and there are multiple that people put on their Madeira itinerary. Again, when traveling off-season, you will not be able to check everything off your Madeira bucket list so 3-5 days is a decent time frame. In season, I’d say an absolute minimum of 4 days is needed to see everything, with 5-6 being more ideal for a short trip.

Traveling to Madeira

Flights to Funchal

Getting to Maderia is pretty easy with frequent flights from Lisbon and a couple of other European airports. I even saw one direct flight from NYC flying out once per week! I like breaking up my flights rather than automatically searching between origin and destination, meaning if I’m flying from NYC, I will search NYC to Lisbon and then Lisbon to Madeira. I compare my times with layovers and frequently find better deals, instead if I were to search NYC to Madeira in one shot. A round trip for the very end of November cost me under $450 for both flights. Although I’m here to argue that off-season travel isn’t ideal here, if you’re on a budget, Madeira in December might be a great money saver!

Getting around – Car rental in Maderia

Madeira is a small island and you can drive from one end to the other in a couple of hours. North to South is even faster. Seeing the whole island is indeed possible during a Madeira 5-day itinerary.

When other travelers pointed out that driving in Madeira is an adventure in itself, I didn’t quite believe it. I drove in tricky conditions and places but driving there will get its own category in my personal driving experiences. Before my trip, one of my friends said, “If it doesn’t look like a road in Madeira, it probably is” and looking back at this, that was an extremely accurate description of driving there. Most roads in Madeira are freeways and tunnels but once you venture into towns, one-way roads will magically fit two cars and 30-degree hill roads will become the norm.

I don’t want to discourage you from renting a car there but rather prepare you for what to expect. Renting a car is the absolute best way to see the island and it will save you a ton of time on sightseeing. I normally book through Rental Cars but I found a better deal on Holiday Autos. While I am a creature of habit and don’t trust new websites on deals, I had a very smooth experience will them and will rent in the future. For your reference, an automatic car rental in Maderia during the off-season cost me ~$250 for 5 days using Rodavante with car pick up and return right at the airport. A manual rental is much cheaper but unless you drive it regularly, I would not get one there.

Although driving there was certainly a challenge, I wouldn’t have done it any other way. If you’re planning to do mountain driving, watch for an automatic car’s brakes as they might start smelling, especially in wet conditions.

Where to stay in Madeira

Where you stay during your Madeira vacation depends on what you want to do. If you’re unsure, Funchal is the main city and can be a good base for taking drives throughout the island. If hiking is your main priority, consider staying in the mountains instead. Most importantly though, if you have a car, it’s fairly easy to see all nooks of the island no matter where you stay. Maderia has a ton of hotels, some hostels, and even more Airbnbs. Which you choose should depend on your personal preference. While Airbnb has its own issues, especially in bigger cities, I felt that renting one in Madeira where I was in communication with the hosts directly was the way Airbnb originally intended the platform to be.

Airbnb in Madeira

Traveling with my parents, we opted for two Airbnb in Maderia because we wanted a comfortable base for exploring. I spent a lot of time searching for the perfect combo of what we were looking for and I think I hit the jackpot with both of them. The first Airbnb located 7 min from the airport, was the entire first floor of a large house overlooking the ocean, with a beautiful pool and a walkway to the beach promenade. One of the downsides of traveling to Madeira off-season is that we didn’t get to use the pool or spend time in stunning outside space as much. As a bonus, the coolest part was watching the planes land at the nearby airport right from my bedroom.

The second Airbnb that we rented in Madeira was located near Sao Vincente. It was a huge home in the mountains with sick views and the best host I have ever experienced throughout my years of traveling. I loved having two locations, one with the ocean view and the other with the mountain one but for someone who doesn’t want to move between two locations, this might not be the best option. If you’re interested in booking either of these locations, send me an email and I’ll be happy to share the link.

What to pack for Madeira in December

Ok, I am only including this section because I packed like an idiot for this trip. Let me explain. A couple of years back, I traveled to Tenerife during a similar time of the year. I falsely assumed that the two destinations would have similar weather and that packing 5 dresses for each day would be the way to go. My outfits consisted of light athleisure, dresses, and a couple of cute outfits for the barn (shoutout to those who get the reference). I ended up wearing two heavier sweaters and the jacket that I packed for the plane for pretty much the entire time I was there. These are the items not to forget when you travel to Madeira during the off-season:

• A rainproof jacket and/or umbrella – The rain won’t last long but when it comes around, you want to have a raincoat on hand instead of looking for a place to hide.
• Light coat or cardigan – During the day, while you won’t need a heavy coat, it will get chilly when the sun is not out.
• Waterproof shoes – If hiking is on your list to do or if you want to check out the Fanal Pond, then sneakers won’t be sufficient. The ground is wet and puddly so good outdoor shoes that won’t soak are a must.
• (Bathing suit) – I saw a couple of brave souls swimming in the chilly waters of Porto Moniz pools, if you like cold swims, don’t forget to pack a suit.

People & Safety

Overall, I’d say that most locals in Madeira were really nice. My Portuguese is non-existent but I tried to use my hello/please and thank yous whenever I could. Side note, do not use Spanish in Madeira or in any of Portugal, it is not Portuguese and it’s a faux-pas there. For the most part, the experience was very positive. In terms of safety, Madeira is a very safe destination. Some common travel scams to watch out for include the following:

• Taxi scam – This isn’t so much a Madeira scam but rather a worldwide one where dishonest taxi drivers charge you ridiculous amounts for short rides. Always demand the meter to be turned on to avoid this. It has been reported to happen in Funchal on some travel forums.
• Market fruit sample – When you go to Funchal, one of the main attractions in town is Mercado dos Lavradores. It’s a cute and colorful market filled with merchants offering you fruit samples. However, a lot of the fruit is enhanced with syrup and when you taste it, you’ll naturally want to purchase some for later. The fruit will cost you an insane amount and when you get home, it will not have the same taste as that first bite you had at the market. We bought fruit in Funchal, a couple of streets away from the market but I still got ripped off. While not a true scam, just be aware of this little selling trick.

WARNING! TRAVEL SCAM IN MADEIRA

Restaurant bill additions – As a former waitress/bartender, I’d like to think that my bullshit meter is pretty good when it comes to other waiters. I could easily tell when you’re actually in the weeds or if you’re just being lazy, because hey, I’ve done the same shit 🙂

What I always make sure to do though is check the itemized bill no matter where I’m dining. During busy moments, it is genuinely possible to make a mistake and charge extra or add a wrong item. However, when your bill magically increases by 100 euros, you know something is up. This was the case at Taberna, a small highly rated restaurant in Santa Cruz. While the nice waiter chatted with my family all dinner, when the bill came, suddenly he started rushing us with the credit card machine. That triggered a red light in my head and I asked to see the itemized bill before blindly swiping my card. Our small appetizers and a couple of drinks added to over 130 euros. I noticed that one 10 euro app was charged 10 times on the bill, a small trick that made the bill look legitimate.

Now, if I wasn’t a waitress in my past life, I would buy the story that this was an honest mistake. However, when I brought up the price discrepancy to the waiter, he quickly looked at it and said, “Oops, silly me” and didn’t apologize or display any sort of remorse for what had happened. The fact that he was quick to run to us with the credit card machine was also sus. I heard about this scam in cities like Rome or even in Lisbon but I never assumed it would happen in Maderia. So despite the food being tasty and the restaurant being super cozy, don’t assume it won’t happen even in less touristy parts of any town.

Food and Drinks to try in Madeira

Out of the entire time I spent on the island and the numerous meals I ate, I only had one mediocre meal and tbh at my own fault. The lesson I fail to learn over and over is never to order pizza outside New York or New Jersey or Italy of course. Back to Madeira food though, it is so so tasty and actually extremely affordable. Here are my top picks for food to try in Madeira:

• Prego sandwich: This is the most amazing sandwich I had in my entire life. I’m serious, nothing compares. You can get it almost anywhere. It’s a steak sandwich on buttery and garlicky bread that comes in a couple of variations.
• Espetada: A long skewer of hanging meat. Its simplicity makes it super tasty.
• Espada or black scabbard fish: This was my mom’s favorite, it is usually served with bananas. This is one weird looking creature but it tastes delicious!
• Bolo de molo de mel: This traditional honey cake is pretty tasty!
• Madeira Wine: It’s heavy and has a very distinct taste and you’ll certainly feel it going down your throat! Blandy’s Madeira is a very popular spot to consume this beverage.
• Poncha: Poncha is the most delicious alcoholic drink. It’s made of cane rum and had different fruit flavor options. Get the traditional kind and enjoy the happiness that comes after drinking this 🙂

For more interesting food finds, I used Brogan Abroad’s guide before traveling to Madeira for the tastiest food finds!

Random Useful Tips for Madeira Travel

• If the weather is acting up during your visit, check the live cams! I used these to see whether mountain peaks were clear from clouds or where I could find the sun on the island.
• Miradouros are viewpoint spots all throughout the island. Some are simple pull-over style along the highway, others require short walks to reach the spot. My advice is to stop at all of them 🙂
• When visiting Tenerife which has similar viewpoint parking areas as Madeira, my car window got smashed and all my belongings got stolen during that trip a couple of years back. When you leave your car anywhere, take everything with you. Even small stops that seem safe can be targets for petty theft.

Things to do in Madeira

In terms of the number of things to see in Madeira, I’d say you can stay pretty busy during your trip. The majority of the attractions throughout the island include outdoor activities. One of the most important things to consider when traveling off-season is how important certain attractions are to you. If you need a dense itinerary with lots of outdoor attractions, consider in-season travel. Instead, if you need a simple getaway with a couple of things to do here and there, the off-season is probably a better choice.

Below, I bring you a 5-day Madeira itinerary that also gives you an off-season expectation. However, you can use my travel plan for any time of the year. Since Madeira is a small island, for the most part, it doesn’t matter which order you do the days in. However, note that the first two days are optimized for the Funchal area and the remaining for the other parts of the island.

5-day Madeira Itinerary

At the bottom of this post, you can download this travel guide to Madeira to bring along on your trip. Additionally, you will find a map of all the attractions so you don’t have to worry about saving them yourself.

Day 0

We’ll call your arrival day, Day 0. Arriving at Madeira airport (Ronaldo Cristiano Airport 🙂 ) can be quite the experience on a windy day. If you’re a nervous flyer, I wouldn’t YouTube any videos of landings there. However, despite its windy challenges, there only has been one accident in the late 1970s. Since then, the runway has been extended and only experienced pilots are allowed to approach a landing there.

The airport is on the east side of the island and is located a short ~25 min drive from Funchal. When you get off the plane, have all your paperwork ready as you’ll be asked for your Madeira Safe bar code. If you’re renting a car (which I highly recommend), the pick-up process once you land is super easy, my checkout took under 10 mins. The rental car lot is located across the street and you should be on your way within a short time of arrival. If you require public transportation, here is a helpful official link.

Flights arrive all day long so the timing of your Day 0 will depend on where you’re coming from. I personally arrived around 8 pm but my Airbnb was located 7 mins away from the airport so I was “home” very quickly. Note that restaurants and stores aren’t open too late so if you are planning a later arrival, make sure to eat before your flight.

Day 1 – Southern Part of Madeira

Valley of the Nuns

Now that you settled in, there is no better place to start your vacation than by seeing Curral das Freiras or Valley of Nuns in Madeira. It’s located a short drive from Funchal and it’s an in/out kinda trip. This small town has a couple of restaurants and tourist shops but aside from the views, there isn’t much to do there. However, these viewpoints are crazy beautiful and you shouldn’t skip this area on your Madeira adventure.

There are two major viewpoints, the first being Eira do Serrado, a very popular spot on the island. Once you arrive at the spot, there is a small parking spot with a café. In order to get to the viewpoint, you’ll have to take a short 5 min walk. I recommend grabbing a coffee and a pastel de nata at the cafe for a little longer appreciation of the area. The second point, Paredão Viewpoint, is located above the clouds and it’s not too far from the first one. It’s also a short walk from the parking area.

After admiring the views from the top, I recommend grabbing lunch in the little town which will give you a slightly different perspective of the area. Everyone recommends a restaurant called Sabores de Curral but I opted for La Perla instead. I was extremely impressed with the food but the views along with a cold beer made it even more delicious.

Off-season struggles: The area gets mixed weather during the off-season but the good news is that if it starts raining, the clouds will most likely pass. Pack an umbrella or a rain jacket. We waited out the rain having a coffee and then got rewarded with a beautiful rainbow!

Funchal

For the second part of the day, visiting Funchal will give you the exact opposite vibes from your nature-filled morning. Funchal is the capital of Madeira and is certainly worth spending some time in. If you’re driving in, the streets can get really narrow so rather than looking for street parking, I recommend finding a parking garage near the center. Garage prices are very cheap and it will save you time and a headache.

I would simply recommend walking around Zona Velha, seeing the market, and most important feeling the liveliness of the town by spending some time by the waterfront. Don’t forget a mandatory stop for some good poncha either. Note that I am not including the botanical gardens just yet. Funchal is safe but make sure to watch your belongings for pickpockets. Here are some known attractions in the city for you to check out:

• Mercado Lavaradores: Yes it is a tourist trap but hear me out for a second. The market has really pretty colors and cute souvenirs to look at. I certainly wouldn’t buy fruit here (read my scam warning above) but I do like browsing through places like these.
• Avenida Arriaga: Right next to the market, you will find this shopping street with a lot of tourists. It’s a good spot to take a stroll and window shop for a bit.
• Zona Velha: This is the Old Town part of town which includes cobblestone streets, restaurants, bars and lively nightlife.
• Cathedral of Funchal: A pretty local catholic church right in the heart of town.
• Praça do Povo & Funchal Marina: Walk along the waterfront to catch the nice atmosphere of locals and tourists. When I visited in late 2021, that area had a cute little town fair with rides.
• Parque de Santa Catarina: Cute little park with views of the town and the incoming ships.
• Cristiano Ronaldo Statue: If you make your way by the park, grab a photo with the icon of Madeira, the one and only Cristiano Ronaldo. Since he was born on the island, you will see a lot of references to him. There is even a museum 🙂

Make sure to stop at Rei da Poncha, a very popular hole in the wall with some great tasting poncha and some great snacks too. The outdoor tables might be full but just linger around for a couple of minutes and a table will free up in no time.

Off-season struggles: Day one of your Maderia travel will actually work in your favor if you’re traveling off-season. Funchal won’t be too crowded with people and if you’re visiting in late November or December you will get to see fun holiday decor. The southern part of the island is usually sunny and even if it rains, the rain should pass by quickly. Places like Rei da Poncha won’t have a line and you won’t be annoyed with the crowds.

Day 2

(Pico do Arieiro)

Pico do Arierio was one of the most anticipated spots I wanted to see in Madeira. A simple google search will show you why. It’s the third-highest peak and one of the only that you don’t actually have to hike. Yes, you can simply drive there and see the most amazing views without any pain 🙂

I wanted to see the incredible sunrise overlooking Madeira under the clouds. However, we attempted this sunrise once in person and then checked the webcams for both, sunrise and sunset for the entire time we were there and were not able to successfully see this spot. One of the biggest risks you take with traveling off-season is missing amazing spots like this one. I’m including this on Day 2 because you might have to attempt to see it multiple times during your trip.

However, if you’re traveling in season, you have to check this couple’s guide to visit Pico Arieiro and actually all their Maderia guides which are extremely detailed and resourceful. There is a very popular day hike from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruvio and I recommend that blog to give you the best details on it.

Back to Funchal

While the first day in Funchal consisted of exploring the basics of the city, I did don’t want to include the botanical gardens then, as the whole experience would have been very rushed. So for day two, you can explore either Monte Palace or Madeira Botanical Gardens (or maybe even both if you love gardens). I personally only visited Monte Palace and it was a super beautiful place that I’ll recommend to you.

Here is some info on them:

• Monte Palace – An additional attraction to this place is the fact that you can take a cable car from Funchal on the Funchal – Monte line to get here scoring some awesome views from above of the city. A one-way ticket is 11 euros and a roundtrip is 16. Their Japanese-style gardens were stunning and I had a great time taking random turns and not following the map per se. We spend about 3 hours exploring which included a stop at the gift shop for some complimentary Madeira wine tasting. To get back to Funchal you can simply take a cable car back or take a ride in the famous Toboggan cart ride. It was a little too touristy for me but people swear this is a fun activity.
• Botanical Gardens – The second gardens are located not too far from Monte Palace and are connected by the Botanical – Monte line in case you wanted to take the cable car again. I haven’t visited these gardens but people often prefer Monte over this location.

Cabo Girão Skywalk

After exploring the gardens, take a short ride to the famous glass skywalk with great ocean and Funchal views. To be honest I expected a much bigger platform however it was still pretty impressive. There is no entrance fee and the spot gets pretty crowded. One thing that I loved more than the views was the strong eucalyptus scent from all the trees as you walk around. There is a small cafe with overpriced food and drinks on site but I recommend stopping there for a little break to enjoy the view even more.

Options for the afternoon

Personally, this is where I would take a little break and head back to my hotel and Airbnb to relax. Sometimes I tend to overlook how important relaxing is during vacation 🙂 However, if you’d like to continue with your day two activities, here are some ideas for the afternoon:

• Vinhos Barbeito: I found a nice family-owned winery near Funchal. It has great reviews and I imagine the wine tastes really good! Madeira wine is special within itself so why not drink it from someone that knows what they’re doing.
• Ribeira Brava: Explore this cute little town with shops, restaurants and nice mountain and ocean views. Beaches in Madeira are located all over the island but I actually found people swimming in this one off-season as the sun likes this place no matter what the month.
• Funchal at night: Local cuisine is bomb. So make sure to take yourself to a nice place, have some good traditional food and then walk around the town at night. Most towns should always be seen during the day and night. There is a whole new vibe that emerges when the lights dim!

Day 3 – Sao Lourenco toward Sao Vincente

For Day 3 of your awesome Madeira adventure, I recommend heading to the northern part of the island. Now that you got to see most of the Funchal area and its surrounding gems, it’s time to head to the super green part of the island. The one thing to note when you’re traveling to Madeira off-season is that the weather in the northern part is almost always more cloudy and wet compared to the southern part. This is what will make the biggest distinction between traveling in the off-months compared to peak season.

Ponta de São Lourenço

This awesome hike is certainly not a hidden gem of the island. If possible try to arrive before 10 am as the spot gets pretty crowded. Even better if you can make a sunrise hike! If you’re worried about weather conditions, don’t forget to check out the webcams.

This hike starts at the parking trail and goes all the way to the tippy top of Madeira. You won’t be able to reach the very end of these crazy rock formations because the very last part is separated by the ocean. The hike should take you between 1.5 to 2.5 hours each way depending on how many times you take picture stops. Towards the end, you will find a small cafe where you can use the bathroom or grab a coffee. This is a very popular part of the island so expect some crowds.

For a very detailed plan for this hike, I found this blog which does an excellent job of preparing you for it.

Off-season struggles: The weather is not going to be your best friend here. It might get more chilly and windy in the months of November and December. However, since peaks might not even be doable during that time, this is one of the few chances you have to experience Madeira’s nature.

Northern Drive Toward Sao Vincente

After the hike, you won’t probably want to do any more walking so I recommend a scenic drive along the northeastern part of the island. Here are a couple of stops to consider. Depending on the timing of your morning, you will not be able to do all of them so check out my photos below to see which ones you think you’d like best:

• Coastal Viewpoints – choose one:
  • Faial Beach: This little beach is located about 25 minutes from Sao Lourenco parking lot. I found it on accident while driving in that area. I wouldn’t swim there per say but the landscape is really nice! Off-season you probably won’t see another soul there!
  • Miradouro do Guindaste: Right above Faial Beach, there is a nice coastal viewpoint offering the awesome view the beach does but from slightly above. I’d say do one or the other since the views will be very similar.
  • Miradouro do Curtado: This one is located a short 10 min drive from the point mentioned before. It offers a nice view of local town as well as the northern coast nearby.
• Santana Houses: This was the most crowded place I encountered on my off-season trip to Madeira. Why you ask? I have no clue because as cute as the Santana Houses are unless you have some sort of historical curiosity about them, there really isn’t that much to see there. I don’t know what I expected but certainly not what I saw. I’d say you can pass this location if touristy places bother you.
• Hotel & Restaurante Quinta do Furão: This is a good place for an early dinner but before you head to the restaurant, go on a little walk around the property. There is a vineyard in the back and a garden in that is accessible to walk around patrons and it was a (hidden) place during out little drive. It’s super pretty and you can even catch a view of a waterfall from there.
• Miradouro da Beira da Quinta: Super quick stop but nonetheless a nice viewpoint of the local area.
• Sao Vincente: This is a small town that’s the base of a lot of northern hikes for people. We stayed at an Airbnb for the second part of our trip here and loved the quiet atmosphere and more local vibe compared to Funchal. The small town has a couple of restaurants and bars by the water. If you’re not staying in the area, I’d recommend grabbing some food before heading back home. I ate at Restaurante Calamar which had delicious food for amazing prices and Poncha de Sao Vincente, a local bar with awesome apps.

Off-season struggles: The northern part of the island is the rainiest and most cloudy off-season. Consider that when packing clothes for your exploration there. All the spots I mentioned above were cloudy and chilly when I visited. Comparing photos of them in the sun from other travel blogs, I certainly feel like I didn’t get the proper experience of them.

Day 4

Drive toward Porto Moniz

Before you head to see the famous swimming pools of Porto Moniz, there is a couple of quick stops you can make before heading over.

• Miradouro do Véu da Noiva: This is a very popular viewpoint on the island and while I think it was cute, I didn’t find it as fascinating as others have described. The main highlight of this stop is a waterfall that drops into the ocean but since it is pretty far and the road to access it is closed, it’s just a small stop. There is a gift shop there but it was very pricey compared to others I’ve seen.
• Seixal: What many describe as the best beach in Madeira is located in Seixal, a small town on the northern coast. It’s all black sand contrasting with vibrant green nature and surrounded by mountains. There are also small natural swimming pools located in town. While during off-season travel you won’t be able to swim, it’s worth visiting for the picturesque views.

Porto Moniz

The Porto Moniz natural swimming pools are swimming areas formed by lava and filled with fresh seawater on the northwestern side of the island. They are one of the coolest outdoor swimming pools I have seen. I hate to break it to you this early in the description but unless you like cold swimming, traveling during the off-season will unfortunately not allow you to fully enjoy them. I was super upset that I wasn’t able to swim in them, after naively reading some online comments claiming that late November is sometimes ok for swimming.

There are two pool areas in town. One with an entrance fee but only 1.5 euros, there you will find lockers and snack bars the other is free but more rocky and natural. The actual town is super small, you can walk from one pool area to the other in under 10 mins. However, my friends, I do not think you should skip visiting the town even without swimming. It is indeed impressive to see them and take some pictures in the area. I recommend making a stop in Porto Moniz for lunch or a drink.

Fanal Forest

Quick Tip: If you’re heading to Fanal Forest or Fanal Pond from Porto Moniz, make an easy and quick stop at Miradouro da Eira da Achada for more island views from above.

Fanal Forest is the one place that should work in your favor during off-season travel. Why? Because people love this place for a mystical experience of the fog and creepy vibes. If you visit during the summer peak months, the chances of the fog are said to be greatest in the morning. However, in the “winter” months, you can catch it at pretty much any time. Simply put Fanal Pond in your GPS and you will arrive in a small parking lot, then walk towards the forest. I recommend packing waterproof shoes and a waterproof jacket if you’re planning to walk around. I got soaked and cold while exploring and it wasn’t too pleasant. Overall it’s a cool place to visit for some awesome pictures. Put a pin in your map as the further you walk in the fog, the more likely you are to get lost.

There are many cows in that forest so be careful not to step in some cow poo as you’re taking your picture 🙂

Day 5

If you followed my itinerary, by day 5 you’ve seen top places that Madeira is known for. For this last day, I will give you options of things to do that are worth seeing on this stunning island depending on what you like to do.

Hikes & Levada Walks

Madeira is known for many hiking trails and Levada walks. I’m more of a drive-to-a-peak kinda gal unless I’m feeling inspired to hike as I did in Poland this summer (You can read my guest post on We Are Travel Girls about my super awesome hike in the Tatra Mountains). I did not hike in Madeira therefore I cannot give you solid advice on it. However, I found this amazing and super informative post from Claire on her blog and I recommend you follow her for the best hiking advice.

Small things to do in Madeira on the western side of the island

The western side is not as touristy as the other side of the island but that doesn’t mean if you should skip it. Although there aren’t as many attractions, here are a couple of spots to visit there:

• Garganta Funda Viewpoint: Although you will need to walk about 15 minutes to reach this viewpoint, the awesome waterfall that you will see at the end will make it worth it. The nice thing about traveling off-season is that you’re likely to see it in full action compared to the summer when it dries up. I regret not seeing this place during my visit.
• Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse: A small picturesque lighthouse on the far end of the island. It might not be a super exciting spot, but you can take a small walk in the area and admire the calm atmosphere.
• Cascata dos Anjos: The famous waterfall that falls on your car as your drive on ER101 is certainly a cool experience. If you’re driving toward the west side, you can even pull over and see it up close.

Speaking of the western side …

There is a less-known thing you do on the western side which is Achadas da Cruz cable car bringing you in the (almost) empty small local village. It’s an area only accessible by cable car (between 8 am to 6 pm) or a super steep trail. Not many (if any) locals stay there full time, it’s more of a nature getaway for them. For you, it means exploring two remote villages with stunning surrounding nature. I found a very detailed and informative guide on this hidden Madeiran location. Journey Era gives you more than enough detail about this place, he even takes the hike back up the hill in the evening.

Madeira Beaches

Although you won’t be able to comfortably swim in the ocean if you’re traveling off-season, or if you like cold water, spending some time near the beach even at a local cafe or bar is really nice.

• Calheta Beach has white imported sand and gives some nice tropical vibes. There are some all-inclusive hotels in the area too.
• Seixal Black Sand Beach: I mentioned this beach earlier but if you like black sand vibes, you should spend some time enjoying the beauty of Seixal.
• Ponta do Sol Beach: In the (almost always) sunny part of Madeira, you can find a nice small beach to enjoy without the crowds.

Porto Santo

If you’d like to do something more unique, take a day trip to Porto Santo, a small island located a 2-hour ferry ride away or even a short plane ride. There are daily morning departures with evening returns. Some people recommend spending more than a day there, while others do a day trip and are content. Here are two contrasting opinions, a day trip one, and a longer excursion. Hopefully, this lets you decide whether a day trip is worth it for you. Nonetheless, Porto Santo is a stunning destination that could be added as a bonus if you’re already in the area 🙂

Madeira Tours

If organized tours are something you enjoy, consider booking one in Madeira. Some of the more popular choices include dolphin/whale watching boat trips, jeep tours through the island, or even organized hikes. While these are not something I would opt-in to do in Madeira, as the majority of the things can be done solo, a lot of people enjoy having a pre-planned day.

While short excursions are not my thing, I personally always recommend food tours through which not only can you learn about the local cuisine, but see the area, learn history and interact with other like-minded people. I found a highly-rated tour, Madeira Food on Foot which offers different tours and even pre-made picnic baskets. I’d say that’s the best Madeira tour there is 🙂

Download this Madeira guide

Here is a free downloadable guide for you of all the places I talked about above. It’s a pocket version so I recommend reading everything above before downloading the guide for your travels 🙂

Download It HERE

Map of Madeira

Final thoughts on things to do in Madeira in December or any other off-season month

As promised at the start of the post, I tried to give you a realistic expectation of Madeira off-season. I’d say that I romanticized it too much and imagined that I could do more than I did even in the “winter” months.

To recap, here are the cons of things to do in Madeira during off-season times:

• Higher chance of poor weather: The rain and clouds will limit what you can see and do. What you imagine to be a sunny afternoon hike or a beach day will turn into hiding in cafes until the rain passes.
• Not seeing the best sunrise and sunset spots: The chances of having a clear sky up in the mountains which would normally give you out-of-this-world sunrises and sunsets are very slim. For 5/5 days of travel, there wasn’t a single day that we were able to see any peaks. I anxiously kept checking weather cams and even drove to two spots to check myself and I was not successful of seeing either of them.
• Natural Lava Pools: Despite having lava in its name, the swimming pools of Porto Moniz or Seixal will be chilly to comfortably enjoy in the colder months. They’re a really awesome way to spend a day in Madeira so the fact that I missed out makes me irked.
• Hikes: Again, this being related to the weather, everything will be wet. Walking in chilly and wet conditions is not a pleasant experience to me.

BUT, here are some pros:

• There will be very few tourists.
• Prices are usually better for hotels and flights.
• You will have a lot of places to yourself.

Sometimes off-season travel is the only time you have to take from work so you make it work. I wish I instead visited Madeira during shoulder season for example. Visiting in the months of May or September would give me the off-season vibes I love but not have limited me in the number of things I wanted to do. Knowing what I know now I would not have traveled to Madeira in December but I hope I gave you enough realistic expectations to make the decision for yourself.

Gladly, this itinerary is informative enough for any season so feel free to download it when you travel to Madeira. If you do, share a photo! Don’t forget to comment down below on whether you think Madeira is worth traveling off-season and what experiences you might have had there!

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I should preface that these expectations are for an average, non-clout-seeking traveler with a non-Hamptons salary. If you have a summer home or a large wallet, you probably won’t benefit from this guide. With that said, let’s get to the brutally honest Montauk travel guide for all the fellow “broke b*tches”. I’ll cover the logistics of getting there, things to do, and tell you what traveling there entails.

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Montauk Travel Guide – Most Important Things to Know

Where is Montauk

The Hamptons collectively refer to a group of towns in the Eastern part of Long Island. Montauk is at the tippy tip and it’s considered the more “low-key” of them all. What once was a quiet resort/fisherman town is now the chosen destination of many influencers that want to be seen. I wanted to see this place for myself as I’ve heard very mixed opinions about it. So I planned my 2-day route with stops along the way that would let me admire the other Hamptons even for a little and see what the hype is all about.

This itinerary is for a simple 2-day local weekend getaway. I’ll give you my best tips and first impressions that I experienced there. Before we jump into the plan though, here are some quick logistics about this destination.

Montauk Transport

Getting to Montauk is easy. The first option is to hop on the highway from NJ/NYC and in 2.5-3 hours you’ll drive through all the Hampton towns into Montauk. Note that this will not be the case in the summer when you should add an additional hour or two to your drive due to traffic. The second option is a bus from the city like the Hampton Jitney or Hampton Luxury Liner. That ranges anywhere from $30-$70 each way which is not horrible. However, it does limit you to how you’ll get around town when staying there. Lastly, you can take the good old LIRR with a ton of stops along the way for a similar rate. The main advantage of a train ride, however, is skipping that dreadful traffic.

I opted for the driving option and there was virtually no traffic getting there. However, this was done in April, off-season for that area. It took about 3 hours to reach Montauk but we also made small detours along the way.

When you arrive, getting around is easy as most of the town is more than walkable. If you want to venture out to the lighthouse, wineries, or beach though, without a car this will not be the easiest of tasks. I personally and naively estimated the town to be a bit bigger than what it ended up being so I was a tad shocked when my drive within town ended within a couple of minutes.

Hotels in Montauk

First things first, BOOK SUPER SUPER SUPER EARLY.

Montauk is a smart town, you know why? Because keeping hotel prices at $600+ a night during the season keeps the broke b*itches away. They’re doing a great job because I certainly won’t be paying that to get back there. Every travel guide you read will tell you that Gurney’s or Surf Lodge is the absolute place to be. Are they nice? Heck yes, but will I drop $1000+ for a weekend at an Instagram hotel? Probably not. Some cheaper options include Montauk Blue Hotel or Royal Atlantic.

I stayed at Sea Crest Resort in Amagansett about a 10-minute drive outside of Montauk. My room had a 1 bedroom apartment and a sea-view balcony. At $300 a weekend night, it was a great place to stay in the area (compared to the insane rates 10 minutes away). Weekdays in April/May are even sold at half that price so if you’ve been dying to see Montauk for yourself, that’s your smartest option. For a deeper dive into cool spots check out Broke Backpackers Hotel recommendations there too.

All I’m saying is that you should simply know what to expect and not be shocked when you start looking at property prices.

Useful Things to Know for Montauk Travel

• Most people are dressed to impress so pack your best outfits. Chances are that you’ll see many Birkins around. Old money, new money, and just money all around.
• Restaurants are pricey and you’ll need a reservation almost everywhere.
• Gas is insanely expensive in town. There will be at least a $2 difference compared to the average prices so fill up before getting there.
• There aren’t that many things to do in Montauk aside from dining, shopping, and lounging. Unless you’re a part of that community, this destination may not be as exciting as you might think.

Your 2-Day Montauk Itinerary

Day 1: Drive through the Hamptons & explore the town

Stop 1: Hampton Bays

If you’re driving in, your first stop will be a cute restaurant called Rumba Inspired Island Cuisine & Rum Bar in the Hampton Bays. The place is cool, with fancy tiki feels on the inside, an outdoor patio, and a vintage bus outside. It had a ton of cocktail options and the food was pretty tasty. The place got packed by 11:30 am so I certainly recommend making a reservation.

The crowd was mixed. Some families celebrating birthdays with their kids, some Instagrammers, and some other fancy humans. This place was probably my favorite spot out this weekend so I genuinely recommend grabbing a meal/drink there. Aside from the restaurant, there isn’t much to do in the Hampton Bays from a touristy perspective.

Stop 2: Southampton

The next stop isn’t so much of a stop because you can admire the beauty of Southampton from the car 🙂 Driving in the Cooper Beach direction you can spot the mansions on Meadow and Gin Lane. Although the hedges will block most of your views, it won’t be hard to see why this is the most sought-after place to be. Driving through the side streets, I appreciated the location’s beauty. Streets lined with tall trees on both sides give the place a very special vibe. If you’d like to explore more of the town, you’ll find the boutiques and restaurants clustered near Main and Jobs Street.

Stop 3: Hotel check-in

If you drove early in the morning, you might get to the hotel before check-in. I always recommend asking if your room is ready though because 7/10 times it is. I stayed at Sea Crest Resort and they let us check in early so around 2:30 pm. This particular hotel was actually nice, located in Amagansett right on the beach. The downside of an April visit is that it’s way too cold to lounge outside. While Jersey had a beautiful warm and sunny day, the cold winds of the island made the beach experience not as pleasant. However, it was nice to grab a cold beer, enjoy the peaceful views and inhale some fresh air.

To be honest I did not expect the temperature difference to be so drastic. The trees weren’t even blooming yet compared to Jersey’s super high pollen counts. I took a fall jacket with me and ended up wearing it the entire time. Make sure to check the temperature before visiting and don’t assume that it’s as warm as its 2-hour neighbor.

Stop 4: Montauk

I was so excited to check out what the hype was actually about. But this is where I have to be a major party pooper and say whomp whomp, “downtown” Montauk is not that great. There is a circle and all of its 3 streets with some shops and restaurants.

The first stop was a quick recharge at Hampton Coffee Company and Montauk Bake Shop. I wanted to stop by Left Hand Coffee for its cool vibes but it was closed. We walked around a couple of overpriced stores in that area and quickly realized that a $100+ crop top is the norm there. Being a beer fanatic, I really wanted to check out Montauk Brewing Company, but due to the long wait, I ended up getting a growler to go instead.

Here are some other places to grab a drink that most people rave about:

• The Surf Lodge: hotel and restaurant known among the Instagrammers/TikTokers. Criticized for horrible service.
• The Montauket: is known as the best sunset spot in town.
• Navy Beach: another trendy popular place with an outdoor drinking scene.
• Liar’s Saloon: located on a dock, this is your local “dive” bar.
• The Point Bar and Grill: local sports bar in the area.

Stop 5: Montauk Lighthouse & Local Nature

The drive to the lighthouse is another 10-15 minutes east of the town. It was closed for renovations when I visited but the whole area was pretty nice. It was crazy windy so I didn’t get to explore much but I imagine that in the summer it’s a nice place for a stroll.

On that route 27 drive, you can find Deep Hollow Ranch, which allows you to go horseback riding in season right on the beach. Another landmark in that area is Camp Hero State Park, a nice park to get some outdoor exercise. If you love conspiracy theories, check out this article about the dark secrets of this exact park. Another nature stop is Shadmoor State Park.

If you’re craving some exercise and outdoor activities, there are many shops in Montauk offering bike rentals. From what I saw the trails there look great. Your Montauk travel wouldn’t be complete without at least getting some of its outdoor beauty in.

Stop 6: Dinner time

After exploring Montauk, we needed some rest and headed back to the hotel. Also, a cocktail before dinner never hurt anyone 🙂 Even off-season, it was hard to get a reservation a week and a half ahead of our visit so if you’re planning to visit the town, make sure to get those in ASAP. The only thing we were able to get was a “last-minute” table at Muse at the End. The food was good but the selection wasn’t the greatest and it was hugely overpriced for what it was. The crowd was a little fancier too. Overall the experience was fine but I wouldn’t say I fell in love with this place.

Here are some other highly recommended places for dinner in town:

• Harvest on Fort Pond – a family-style town nook
• Sammys – a low-key local staple
• The Shack – a nice place right in the heart of town
• Inlet Seafood – located a little further away but known for its amazing Seafood
• Salivar’s Clam and Chowder House – seafood place located at the dock with a cool outdoor terrace
• Gosman’s – another place on the dock with a topside terrace perfect for sunsets
• Scarpetta Beach – a boujee spot at Gurney’s

Bonus stop: Nightlife in Montauk

Montauk is the place to party in the summer. At least that’s what I hear. I’m a grandma so after dinner I snuggled up in my blanket with a glass of wine and called it a day. So if all day of exploring didn’t kick your butt yet, make sure to make your way out at night. The drinking places I mentioned above usually have something going on at night.

Day 2

Stop 1: Breakfast

Since I am an espresso and a croissant kinda breakfast gal, I was happy with my chocolatey find at Hampton Coffee Company. If you’re looking for something more filling, try Joni’s a known local spot with amazing breakfast options, or Anthony’s Pancake House, a low-key spot with good prices.

Stop 2: Winery

Since this is a two-day itinerary, I recommend stopping by a winery on your drive home. Long Island is known for its wineries and a lot of people love taking their private buses there for special occasions. There are a ton of places in the Hamptons to get some quality wine so if one more person recommends Wolffer Estate and their rosè, I might quite vomit on myself. Don’t get me wrong, their rose is good but the spot became more famous for getting the Instagram picture with a location tag than the actual wine.

Here are some additional picks for you to choose from. Don’t forget to make a reservation if you’d like a tasting.

• Channing Daughters– Bridgehampton. A charming winery with a unique sculpture garden. Tastings are $25 a person and they also have small snacks available for purchase. Wine prices are typically ranging from $18 to its most expensive bottle at $60.
• Jamesport – Jamesport. Beautiful outdoor space with a kitchen on-site that serves delicious pizzas. They do have tastings by reservation and most of their bottles run between $20-$35.
• Clovis Point – Jamesport. This is a by-reservation-only spot with very specific reservation and on-site rules. Their prices are a little steeper but they have a nice outdoor space and high reviews!

North Fork wineries may be a little further out however if you have some extra time during your Montauk travel and want to see that part of Long Island, this is a good excuse to venture out in this direction.

• Duck Walk – Southold. The North Fork wineries are stealing Hampton’s spotlight. Duck Walk offers $12 tastings with reservations and allows you to purchase some snacks in addition to allowing you to bring your own picnic. A ton of their wines are under $20 too. Some of their reviews however are concerning many commenting on the disrespectful staff. Remember, sometimes you get what you pay for 🙂
• Kontokosta – Greenport. Located even further into the North Fork, this modern winery currently offers bottle sales only and no tastings due to COVID. They’re by reservation only and do not allow outside food. It’s located on the water allowing for some unique views however familiarise yourself with all their current policies before visiting.

Other miscellaneous stops along the way:

Before ending your Montauk getaway, make sure to grab a fresh lobster roll at The Clam Bar in Amagansett. I will vouch for 100% for its quality and it was totally worth the $30.

Carissa’s Bakery is highly rated in East Hampton and located centrally if you’d want to peek into this Hampton’s lifestyle.

If you’re planning to stop somewhere else on your drive home, Tutto Il Giorno in Southampton and Sag Harbor won’t disappoint. The food is delicious and the space is very bohemian chic but expects steep prices.

Summer Time Beach Time

Since I visited Montauk off-season, going to the beach was not an option. However, in its peak season, this is one of the major reasons to visit this area. Since I am not one to give you beach advice as I only spent some time on one in Amagansett, I would check out this simple beach guide by On Montauk, to give you a better idea of what to expect from each. Here is a beach list and descriptions from their website:

• Amsterdam Beach: hike to access, remote but worth the hike.
• Ditch Pains Beach: surfer, popular, and with permit parking.
• Edison Beach: central popular beach with limited public parking.
• Gin Beach: quiet family beach with permit parking.
• Hither Hills: family beach with public parking.
• Kirk Park Beach: recommend the beach if you’re only in town for a day. Public parking.
• Montauk Point State Park Beach: not really a lounging beach, rocky for hiking. Public parking.
• Navy Road Beach: pebbly quiet beach, lots of boats.

Final Thoughts on Montauk Travel

Would I visit Montauk again? Probably not. Ugh, I hate to dislike places but let me explain why Montauk is not as dreamy as you might imagine it is.

First, this is not a place for a 5 or even 6-figure income person. Even the off-season rates are nuts and paying $1000+ for a weekend in peak season for a hotel is just silly. To put things in perspective, I spent two weeks backpacking in Peru for a little over that. Yes I know I’m comparing a South American country with a famous resort town in NY but if you’re an explorer like me, you get the point. I call myself a champagne backpacker because as much as I love nice things and spending money on experiences, a trip to Montauk is contributing nothing to my travel life.

Second, there really isn’t that much to do in this town. When I tell you that you can see everything there is to see in less than a day, I mean it. Aside from restaurants, a couple of nature preserves, and boutique shops, there is nothing special to do there.

Third, this is a spot to be seen and take pictures to say you spent a day in the Hamptons. As much as I like my pictures and posting about my travels, I do things for the sake of the experiences first. If I don’t like a place, I will be honest about it and not feed you bs that it’s a wonderful place to be.

But change my mind.

I’m certain my perspective on Montauk travel would be 1000 times different if I stayed in a large house with a nice pool or got that $1000 a night resort room without even thinking about the price. This post is aimed at an average Kasia who is looking to explore what her backyard has to offer.

So with huge disappointment, I vote Montauk a pass.

But Kasia, you traveled there off-season. What do you know? Well to compare, I had a phenomenal off-season experience in Newport, Rhode Island so if you’re curious about what made it different, find it in my post about it.

So should you visit Montauk?

Depends on what you’re looking for. I gave you all the tools and opinions to make that decision for yourself. Here is the research I gathered to make it easier to decide whether Montauk travel is for you.

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The Bolivia Salt Flats or Salar de Uyuni is one of the most incredible places I have ever visited in my life. Spending three days in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by this world’s stunning nature, made my travel soul super full. Like most people, I started my Bolivian Salt Flats tour from Uyuni. Bolivia is known for being a little rougher to travel through compared to its neighbors like Peru or Argentina. The tourist industry is still developing there therefore knowing what to expect will make your travels a ton easier.

Although I read a ton of guides before my trip, there are a couple of things that I wish I took more seriously or have known before my journey into the Southern part of this incredible country.

Throughout my guide, I will share everything you need to know to plan your trip to the Bolivia salt flats. I will also share a general route that you are likely to take. If you don’t want spoilers for your trip stops, I suggest you only read the first part of the article. Note that if you take the 3-day tour (which I insist that you do), the name Salt Flats Tour is a huge understatement of what you will see. Yes, you will visit the salt flats but you will see SO MUCH MORE on days 2 and 3 that your brain won’t be able to comprehend the beauty that’s there.

This is your one-stop for everything you need to know about taking a Bolivia salt flat tour from Uyuni.

Let’s get to the logistics of the Bolivian Salt Flats tour

As stated above, there are a lot of logistics involved in taking this tour. For most long-term backpackers, a Salar de Uyuni tour is a must-do in South America, and trust me, although the nomad lifestyle tends to lean toward spontaneity, some of these people are more prepared than you think. If your Bolivia itinerary is only a couple of weeks, planning this part of the trip should be a priority for you. When I visited, my income wasn’t the greatest, so I focused on budget first. Overall I spent very little money and got a fantastic experience, but in hindsight, I would do a couple of things differently and splurge on certain things.

Uyuni was a part of my 2 week Bolivia itinerary and this is the route I took for your reference:

• Flew into La Paz to take a bus into Copacabana (base for Lake Titicaca) and stayed there a night to acclimate.
• Then took a boat to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca with an overnight stay.
• Returned to Copacabana to take a bus back to La Paz for 4 days.
• The next stop was this Salar de Uyuni tour.
• After the tour, I took an overnight bus to Sucre and stayed there for 4 days.
• My last stop was Santa Cruz to which I took a flight from Sucre. I stayed there for another 3 days.

Quick Salar de Uyuni facts

Salar de Uyuni is a huge salt flat that a really long time ago used to be a lake. After the water evaporated, it left behind this amazing formation that is 100 times bigger than the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US. It is certainly a highlight of a trip to Bolivia and should not be skipped.

Don’t let the flatness fool you. The Bolivia Salt flats are located in the altiplano at an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) so unless you’re acclimated from La Paz or any other high city, I would not take this trip before spending a few days getting used to the air. A three-day tour can take you up even higher, all the way to 4,500 meters (15,000 ft). Altitude sickness is a real and serious thing and if you’d like to know what the experience is like and how you can prevent it, I recommend reading my Cusco post. If you have no other choice, back some altitude sickness pills like acetazolamide.

There is a wet season lasting between-ish December and April and that’s the best time to see water on the flats known as the largest mirror in the world. During the rainy season, you will likely not be able to visit the cactus island. The dry season lasting from late April to November will likely guarantee better weather but limited water reflections. If you have a good driver, he will find you a good reflection even during a dry season. I visited in June and got to see some water but certainly not as vast as you seen in some photos.

Salar de Uyuni at night is an incredible place in this world to see stars due to the fact that there are no surrounding lights to block the view. Although on most tours you will be able to see the night sky, there are separate tours that do a night photography session too.

Best time to visit Bolivia Salt Flats

While you can certainly visit the Salt Flats multiple times per year, let me break down what each season will look like. If you visit during the wet season (December to February), you will be able to see the mirror effect of the place with the water. Visiting from March to May will give you the dry as well as the wet views along with fewer crowds. Remember that the seasons in Bolivia are opposite of the northern hemisphere so visiting between June to August, which is the winter months, will be the driest but also the coldest. You will see stars and endless white desert views. September to November will be similar to the previous season but you can expect more rain.

So, what is the best time to visit the Bolivia Salt Flats? Well, it depends on what perspective of the Salar you’re looking for. I personally visited in June and loved that time.

Why do I need a Bolivian Salt Flats tour?

How to get to the Bolivia Salt Flats? Well, you need a tour. If you really really wanted to, you technically can venture out into the Bolivia Salt Flats on your own, in a 4×4 jeep. However, with the logistical nightmares, no signal/wifi, remote hostels, no official roads or routes, and fairly affordable tour prices, I would not even want to attempt it. God forbid something happens to your car, you’re now in the middle of nowhere and no one to call. And cars in Bolivia are not as reliable as what you might be used to.

The arranged tours have 1 or 3-day day options. I strongly advise you against the 1-day tour because it won’t cover the second part of the trip which includes even more beautiful landscapes than the flats. From what I know, 2-day tours are not available due to the logistics of transport but correct me if I am wrong. Starting the tour from Uyuni, you’ll follow a general route with similar times and stops with other companies. Trust me when I tell you that majority of the tours are identical. On the first day, you’ll see the Salt Flats along with a couple of other stops and on days 2 and 3, you will see SO much more of the Bolivian landscape.

Don’t expect cell service or wi-fi, you MIGHT catch some at the overnight stay or one stop along the road. The night accommodations will not be the best and it will get cold at night. Oh, and a shower on the second day is not likely.

Where to start the Bolivian Salt Flats tour from?

Do not complicate your life and just start the tour from the spot you’re closest to. Again, Bolivia is not necessarily transport-friendly so take the path of least resistance 🙂 I initially planned to leave from Tupiza but when I was in La Paz and realized how long it would take to get me there, I followed the crowds through Uyuni. You have three options that the majority of the tour operators start from. I’ll start from the least popular:

San Pedro de Atacama

If you’re arriving from Chile, this is your way into Bolivia. Tour groups have this route figured out, you can start there, end there, or even take a round trip. Depends on your planned route and budget. You will see the places in reverse, starting at the southern end of Bolivia near Laguna Colorada, making your way up to Uyuni. Make sure to know your immigration requirements and obtain the correct entry/exit passport stamps to avoid any future hiccups.

Tupiza

This is a 4-day tour as you’re farther away from the actual “starting” point. These tours tend to be a little more pricey because of the extra day as well as fewer tour operator options in town. This is a popular option for Argentine travelers as Tupiza is closest to that border.

Uyuni

As this is the most popular option, the pros of this are that 1) you can arrange your tour in La Paz or even the day off in the town of Uyuni, 2) you can bargain as the tour operators are competing for customers, 3) the transfers after to Sucre or even Chile are common so they can be easily arranged. The cons however are that you will follow the most generic route with groups of people doing the same exact thing. Let me tell you this though, even with the most “touristy” option for this tour, you won’t be disappointed.

It will take about 9 hours on an overnight bus to get to the town of Uyuni from La Paz on a “lie-flat” bus for anywhere between $15-25 (which is actually expensive for Bolivia). If 9 hours on the bus doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy, there is a 1-hour flight between the two cities but prices can be as pricey as $100 which is almost as much as the whole 3-day tour. If you’d like even more options, here is a super informative post about the transport between the two cities. After the tour, you can return to La Paz or continue your journey to another Bolivian city like Sucre or even San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.

Packing List for the Bolivian Salt Flats tour

On the majority of the tours, your luggage will live on the roof. It will be unloaded for the overnight stops so you will be able to access your things at night. However, grab a smaller backpack with things you might want during the car ride. As far as clothes, you will need warm things. The days will be mild in temperature but the night will be cold.

Absolute must-pack items: comfy shoes, trekking clothes, warm socks, warms things to sleep in, light jacket, bathing suit, for the hot springs, flip flops, towel, water, snacks, sunscreen, wet wipes, toilet paper, a camera, extra batteries in case you don’t have electricity, and most importantly sunglasses. You can hurt your eyes if you don’t wear them as the reflection is absolutely brutal. Food will be provided by your tour. Since the nights will get super cold, you should ask whether there is an option for renting a sleeping bag.

How do I find a good Uyuni tour provider?

Repeat after me: all tours take (almost) the same route. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re lying. For an average base price is $120 (+/- $20) you’ll get the following: a Spanish speaking driver that will be your tour guide/cook, a car up to 6 people, basic accommodations in a private room on day 1 and a shared shitty and cold hostel in the middle of nowhere on day 2. What will drive the price higher (near the $200 range) is an English-speaking driver, fewer people on your tour, better accommodations, and further transfers after the trip.

There are many known tours in town like Red Planet, Quecha, Andes or luxury tours like Ruta Verde but I can’t speak for them since I didn’t take them. You can prebook a tour online but it will cost you a little more than in person. Instead, if you have some extra time in La Paz, go to different offices and negotiate on the price. If you want, you can even book a tour the morning off when you arrive in Uyuni.

My personal experience

I arranged my tour pretty last minute in La Paz based on a hostel recommendation. My tour ended up putting me with a 1-day group for the first part of the day and then transferring to a 3-day group that was coming from Tupiza at the end of the first day. My second driver spoke no English and with my basic Spanish I ended up as the group translator for the entire trip. You don’t really need the guide to speak English as the majority of the trip is looking at landscapes. My first driver didn’t care too much but the second one was phenomenal. Even though we were on the same route as everyone, he made sure to take us to places either before or after the crowds so we always had the spots to ourselves.

Don’t forget: Always tip your drivers (assuming the correct service was provided). Whatever you negotiate with the company has nothing to do with the person who will drive you around and your tip goes directly to his pocket. If you had an amazing experience, at the end of the day an extra couple of dollars that you’ll spend on beers anyway will be more useful for the driver and their family.

How to continue your travels after the tour?

If your start your tour in Uyuni, you’ll also end your tour there too, unless you request a transfer to Chile. From there, you can return to La Paz or continue your journey to Potosi or Sucre. All those transfers can be arranged through your tour company or you can just buy a bus ticket at the bus stations. My personal journey continued to Sucre on an overnight bus. Buses leaving from Uyuni “station” are a bit of a hectic mess. The buses leave between 9-10 pm and arrive in Sucre around 5-6 am. They go through Potosi, cost you around $10, and are not very comfy. Often though, this will be the option that makes the most sense after the tour.

I traveled with Trans 6 de Octubre, and I’d be lying if I said the journey was easy. The driver locked the bathroom door and the “lie-flat” seats slightly reclined back. I’ve never been happier than the moment we stopped in the dark, in the middle of nowhere for a pee break. Yes, I peed on a side of a dirt road with 10 other Bolivian ladies within 10 feet of me. Let me just tell you, now I know why their skirts are so wide 🙂

The second annoying thing is that if that’s your only option, you’ll be arriving in Sucre at 5 am. It is not ideal either unless you pay for an extra night at your accommodation and have a bed waiting for you. I wanted to save money and not pay for the extra night and let me tell you what a mistake that was. I tried to take a nap on the hostel couch and since my bed wasn’t ready until 2 pm, I struggled really hard to do anything. If I just booked it, I would’ve slept till 2 and still had the day to myself.

Miscellaneous things worth knowing before embarking on a Bolivia Salt Flats tour

1. Extra fees to expect: The entrance fee to the National Park is not included in your tour is roughly $22 USD. There is also another smaller fee (~$4 USD) for the fish island and this is something you’ll definitely want to do. Don’t forget your tip money for your driver as well.
2. Make sure to have some sort of camera with extra juice available. You may or may not get a chance to change things. My driver let us use his car outlet but don’t expect that from everyone.
3. The food will be cooked by your driver or provided at the overnight stays. It is delicious and you will love it. However, there will be no snacks or anything to munch on in between.
4. You will be spending a ton of time in the car with your tour group. Even if you have a pain-in-the-ass tourist in yours (like my group did), just accept it because it’s not worth ruining your experience. Establish a rotating system for the front seat and be respectful. People in these groups tend to be from different countries and have different customs. Understand that.
5. Unless you’re paying $700 for a personal provider and staying in upscale accommodations, this will be a rough and tiring experience. That should not stop you from taking a tour. Simply knowing that at the end of the day this is a driving tour through one of the poorest countries in South America should give you some perspective.

Ok, that was all the logistics that you need to know about taking the Bolivian salt flats tour. The next part of my guide will focus on the stops you’ll make along the route. If you’re undecided about taking the tour, I hope the next part convinces you that this is simply a must-do in your life. However, if you’ve already decided and don’t want that part spoiled for you, don’t scroll down. You’ve been warned.

Bolivian Salt Flats Tour

The itinerary below follows the route that most tour guides in Uyuni follow. There might be minor variations in the order of the stops as the route depends on the driver’s preferences. You might make a couple of bonus stops depending on the driver but don’t expect it. If you start in Chile, you’ll do this backward, if you start in Tupiza, your first day will include stops between Tupiza and Uyuni and then you will follow the route below.

Tours leaving from Uyuni start around 10 am allowing people to arrive in town. Buses start arriving around 6 or 7 am and flights from La Paz land around 8 am. Those who want to negotiate on the spot can spend an extra day in town but honestly, there is nothing to do there aside from touristy restaurants. It is totally possible to arrive in Uyuni at 7 am, find a tour, and leave at 10 am.

Day 1

Train Cemetery

Your first stop is the train cemetery or Cemeterio de Trenes, a creepy and random place. The old rusty European trains located in the middle of a Bolivian dessert with backdrops of mountains make this a rather apocalyptic site. Here is a quick backstory on them if you’re interested. When on tour, you’ll notice that all the jeeps will stop here and let you explore the grounds for about 30 or so minutes. It’s a cool place to take pictures and climb the old train. Since this is one of the first stops, be careful to not fall off or twist your ankle or your entire Salar trip will end before it even starts 🙂 I was lucky because my driver took us there twice, at the end of the last day he wanted us to experience this place without any crowds.

Colchani

A small little salt processing village, Colchani is your entrance point to the Salar. Most companies make their stop here before taking you into the Bolivia Salt Flats. It’s basically a local bazaar where you’re encouraged to either buy things you forgot to pack or silly souvenirs from your trip. People who take a one-day tour like this place because they can do their shopping. For someone going on a 3-day trip, this might not be the perfect time to buy useless things.

As I previously mentioned, I had two drivers and the first one wasn’t the greatest. He ended up leaving us there for an extended period of time to the point where my group had to call the Uyuni office to get him back. With that experience, always remember to note the phone number to the office and always take a picture of the car and license plate before you start the tour.

Salt Hotel

This is your resting place and lunch spot. Again, most tours stop here collectively and everyone eats together in a salt dome. Food is pretty good and you get some bonding times with the other travelers too. Afterward, you can check out the hotel too if that’s something that interests you. I don’t think you can stay there anymore but there are a couple of salt hotels in the area.

The coolest part about this stop is the flags outside. It’s nice for people from all over the world to walk around and look for their country flags in the middle of the Bolivian desert. Something as small as that brings a sense of unity and is just simply cute.

Uyuni Salt Flats

It’s no surprise that this stop is the centerpiece of this entire tour. There is nothing more breathtaking on this trip than seeing the Bolivia Salt Flats for the first time. The endless salt tiles take a second to process. The contrast between the baby blue sky and bright white salt is honestly mindblowing. I took a minute to just silently walk around to absorb it all.

A good tour driver will find a remote spot where you will be able to take photos without any people in the background. Most do but don’t be afraid to speak out if you have 5 jeeps surrounding you. This is the part where everyone takes silly pictures and just runs around the salt flats. It’s fun and if you have a good group, you’ll also coordinate some cool shots.

Isla del Pescado or Isla Incahuasi

This place is just trippy. Imagine an empty land of salt. You’re driving and see something in the distance that looks like a fish from far away. Then you pull up to discover a small hill filled with cacti. How random! That’s Isla del Pescado and you will be amazed at the views you can catch from there. Entry is not included in your tour but for around $5 you should certainly not skip this stop. I don’t remember exactly but the amount of time you get there is sufficient to comfortably explore it. There are snacks and water on this stop too.

Salar sunset and drive to accommodation

If you took a one-day tour, this is where it would end. But trust me this is the last thing you want to do as days 2 and 3 offer a ton more attractions. After Isla del Pescado, our driver took us to a place to see some water on the salt flats since we were traveling during the dry season. We then drove to the first accommodation which was quite pleasant. We had dinner and drinks with our fellow travelers, bonded, and went outside to watch the stars.

Day 2

Morning

After breakfast, you will start your drive into the southern part of the country with the Chilean border right on your side. Some notable stops here will include Gruta de las Galaxias and the sister salt flat called Salar de Chiguana. The next chunk is a lot of driving but you enjoy the distant Volcan Ollague and many other natural spots along the way.

Afternoon

Then you will stop at the salt lakes which honestly is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. They include Cañapa Lake, Laguna Hedionda, Laguna Hond and Laguna Ramaditas. Lunch will be outside, cooked by your driver with the lake and mountains in the background. This is honestly one of the best lunch spots I have ever eaten in. On this part of the journey, you’ll see those pink flamingos everyone also talks about too.

Evening

The night will be spent in one of the most remote places on this trip. It will be in the middle of nowhere, there will be no shower, it will be freezing inside the room and you will also share it with 6 other people. Did I sell you on this yet? Well, it’s like a fraternity initiation part of the trip. Everyone experiences the same thing, you get to talk about this part for the rest of your life, and don’t worry, your driver will wake you before sunrise to continue the journey 🙂

Day 3

Morning

Our amazing driver really wanted us to see the Sol de Manana geyser at sunrise which meant waking up super early. I don’t think that’s the traditional route as not a single soul was in sight for this. It was incredible and I am forever grateful that he made our experience a little different than the planned path. The next stop included the Dali Desert, which I was super excited to see since Dali is one of my favorite artists. We then proceeded to explore Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde & Laguna Blanca. Our last stop of the morning, again, against the current of tourists was the Termas de Polques or the hot springs. We had the whole place to ourselves which was amazing!!

Afternoon

As our trip was coming to an end, we ate lunch in a little village. All I remember is there is a ton of alpacas/llamas in the most beautiful valley ever. Walking around was just amazing. At this point, I was so blown away by all the landscapes seen during the trip that seeing a colorful field with cute alpacas seem normal. Continuing the journey or driver made one last stop at a canyon along the route home.

Evening

For the last part of the trip, we just drove back to Uyuni. I was exhausted at this point but still tried to take in the last glimpses of the Bolivian landscapes. After returning to Uyuni, we all parted with warm hugs and happy memories of this journey. We returned around 5 or 6 pm, headed to the bus station to get bus tickets to Sucre, and had some standard gringo meal in town. What I didn’t know is how awful and exhausting the bus ride would be ahead. This is something I talk about at the beginning of the post and I hope when you travel you know what to expect.

Final Thoughts

Our amazing driver Johnny made us feel like family for 3 days and went above and beyond to give us a little extra outside the typical itinerary. I was extremely lucky because my vetting of these tour companies was not the greatest. When he dropped us off in Uyuni, I was sad to have ended the journey but I knew that one more day on the road would have made this experience less magical. The trip is certainly not for the picky traveler. The combination of high altitudes, lack of basics, dust, extreme sun, and little sleep make this a pretty rough experience. However, I wouldn’t trade it for anything and do it again in a heartbeat. The Bolivian Salt Flats tour is truly one of the most perfect things you can do on this planet.

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Was Key West all that I imagined it would be? Yes. There were many older couples having the time of their lives there. However, there was also everyone else having an amazing time too. I honestly cannot wait to go back and spend more time in Key West. It feels like a tropical destination without leaving the country.

In this itinerary, you will find some travel logistics, and cool things to see, and be able to download a weekend in Key West itinerary for your travels. If you’re going to South Florida, don’t forget to check out my Miami Guide and a Miami Girls Weekend getaway!

Logistics of Visiting Key West

Where and how long to stay in Key West

Key West can be expensive for accommodation, so it may be more cost-effective to stay in a location closer to the action on Duval Street. If you are traveling with a group, you could consider renting an Airbnb or VRBO, but these options may not offer significant cost savings. There is a hostel in Key West, but at $90 per bed in a dorm room, it may be more economical to stay in a hotel.

I personally stayed at the Douglas House, an awesome pick in town. There was parking onsite, the staff was super helpful and friendly giving us recommendations outside of the typical tourist trail and the rooms were huge! A cute little pool along with a stunning garden were also great additions to the property.

As far as length, you can see everything in a day or two but chances are you’re not going to Key West looking for cultural adventures. It’s a place to relax, have a drink, and lay on the beach. So spend a weekend there and you should be ok, especially with the high prices in town. Although pricey, it’s not ideal to see Key West in one day.

How to get to Key West

Key West is the Southernmost point of the US which makes it a unique destination. Its tropical vibes will make you feel like you’ve traveled further than you actually have. You can either fly to the small airport located right in town but these can get crazy expensive. Another option is to drive from Miami which will take you about 3.5-4 hours without any stops. However, I will go into which Keys are worth stopping at as this is one of those bucket list drives that people romanticize.

There are buses that have daily departures for a simple Key West day trip from Miami which are an awesome option if you just want to get there without driving or stopping. For as low as a $50 roundtrip on a Greyhound, you can snooze until the very last Key. Lastly, if you’re taking a cruise in the future, a lot of ships stop there too.

When you get to town, don’t use a car unless you’re venturing to a beach a little further away. Most of Key West is walkable but you can also utilize the free shuttle that takes you around town. Another awesome option is renting a bike in town which not only allows you to get some exercise but also covers more ground in a shorter amount of time.

Some common distances for popular Florida road trips:

• Siesta Key to Key West: 370 miles
• West Palm Beach to Key West: 230 miles
• Miami to Key West: 160 miles
• Key Largo to Key West: 97 miles
• Marathon Key to Key West: 50 miles

People & Safety in Key West

I met a couple of locals working in restaurants and bars. People living in tourist destinations are usually friendly and that’s exactly what I experienced there. All others are tourists so prepare to come across a lot of characters.

Key West is super safe. It can get rowdy at night with all the drunks on Duval Street. When you’re in crowded places like where you watch the sunset, for example, use common sense not to get pickpocketed.

Food in Key West

There is a lot of good food stops in the area but Key West is pricey so plan well. Since the island is little, you will often find the same recommendations on a lot of websites. My favorite picks for the area are Grand Vin, a wine bar serving delicious cheese plates, Santiago’s Bodega, an amazing tapas place, or my absolute favorite Key West Cuban Coffee, the best spot for food and some strong coffee!

Perfect Things To Do On Your Weekend in Key West

Drive through the Keys

When I was planning my trip, I insisted on driving to Key West from Miami while stopping at some landmarks along the way. It was one of those romanticized ideas in my head that I always wanted to do. A convertible car, palm trees, and crossing long bridges all the way down. Well … it was that but wasn’t actually as cool as I imagined.

When I was doing my research on multiple travel blogs, many “Ultimate Lists” for the Key West drive from Miami make it seem like there is an overabundance of jaw-dropping activities on the way there. There are a couple of spots that you can enjoy for a little and unless you have a lot of time and can break up the drive into two days just pick a couple not to waste time. Here are the most popular highlights for your drive:

• Key Largo: A little over an hour from Miami, you’ll find John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. If you like snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours or just walking around in a nice park make a stop here. There are two cool restaurants in the area, Sundowners known for its sunset views and Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen, a cool bar covered with license plates.
• Tavernier: The next stop is just 20 minutes away. It’s a famous Key Lime shop called Blond Giraffe. Key lime pie comes from the Florida Keys so it’s a cute and cheesy thing to try in this lime green store.
• Islamorada: Another popular spot is Rain Barrel Village, which is a little collection of art stores and shops. It’s a small stop for trinket shopping. There are giant sculptures outside of it too. For your half-way point treat make sure to stop for a brew at Florida Keys Brewing Co which has a super groovy beer garden. The one thing I loved in this area was Morada Bay Cafe, a beach restaurant with delicious food a unique dining atmosphere. I actually stopped here on the drive back from Key West for dinner, right before the sunset and I highly highly recommend doing it that way. Oh and the last thing people go nuts for here is feeding some fat tarpon fish at Robbie’s. I liked the bar area better than the creepy fish and I enjoyed some birds at the little port instead.
• Marathon Key: People recommend staying in if you want to break up the drive and you can find the Turtle Hospital that rescues the hurt little buddies.
• Then you will cross the Seven Mile Bridge.
• Bahia Key: Right before reaching Key West, stop at Calusa Beach which is a stunning spot of light blues and turquoise waters with some vibrant green palm trees.
• Bonus: There is a cool little bar a little off your path called No Name Pub.

So with all that said, do I recommend driving to Key West from Miami or skipping this part and just heading to there by plane or by bus? It’s a tricky call. If you have the time and reading about the stops above made you smile, then take this US bucket-list drive there. The views along the way are really really nice so just that aspect of it is worth it. However, if know that super touristy restaurants and feeding fish isn’t your thing, spend some extra time in Key West instead.

Southernmost Point of the US

I’m not listing this as the first activity in Key West because it’s the most exciting one but just to get it out of the way. It’s a bouy at the end of some residential street and there is a line of 40+ people waiting to take a picture with it. It’s 93 miles away from Cuba which makes people go wild for some reason. Aside from being a picture spot, there isn’t much to it.

Watching the Sunset

There really is something extremely magical about sunsets in Key West so you should make it a priority to see one. The most known spot for it is the Mallory Square area which floods with people every night for the sunset. They have a little celebration and people gather to admire the amazing colors in the sky. It’s beautiful but crowded.

Another popular option is taking a Sunset Sail with multiple companies offering an open bar and a music option with it. Then there is Sunset Pier at Ocean Key Resort. People also like Truman Waterfront where you can enjoy a sunset without the crowds, sometimes you can find a local market there too. Other good places include the super long White Street Pier or Historic Seaport with boats as your backdrop!

Duval Street

This is a famous party street in town with all the bars and restaurants. During the day it’s fairly “quiet” but still keeps the atmosphere for a party town. It does have some cute shops and pretty buildings on it so you should experience this rather popular side of town.

At night it gets rowdy with all the music in the bars and balcony drinkers. The more known stops here are Sloppy Joe’s, The Rum Bar, The Smallest Bar, and Green Parrott. If you’re up for an adventure stop at Garden of Eden which is a clothing-optional bar.

I don’t think it’s technically legal to drink in the street but a lot of people do out of plastic cups. If you get too annoying or drunk you will get a ticket though so don’t be that guy.

Hemingway Home

Do you love cats and old mansions? I love them both and I can’t think of a better combo. When I heard that Hemingway had a mansion in Key West and that there are like 50 cats that all have 6 toes, I was like “Sign me up.” I bought my ticket and explored the beautiful grounds. It was worth it but I’d also recommend getting a guide there to actually learn something.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach

I love this spot. It’s a nice beach in a park-like setting which makes it a very unique spot for this area. You can get some food and drinks from a little shop and take great pictures with those travel signs. There is more than just the beach there, you can also bike, fish or paddle. Find the most recent list here.

Smather’s Beach

Located in a much more quiet area of town, I enjoyed this beach for its tranquility. There aren’t that many people around so it’s a perfect spot to take a stroll and relax for a little. Note, it’s close to the airport. If you’re an enthusiast of watching planes land and take off like I am, this is a great spot for that.

Historic Port Area

The whole port area of Key West is just amazing. There is something special about ports in any part of the world so whenever I find one, I make sure to spend some time exploring it.

Simply walk around along the water and find some good bars, cute shops, and just soak in the atmosphere of Key West.

Dry Tortugas

Technically this is not in Key West but the boat will take you to this rather unique destination. It’s a state park with a fort but also some secluded beaches, tons of snorkeling options, and of course turtles. I did not get to go on my trip but one day I shall return.

Here is a map for you too.

FREE downloadable guides for Weekend in Key West

Key West is a great relaxing destination. There isn’t a ton of things to do in town but you’ll be going there to enjoy the “island” lifestyle. You will eat some good food, probably drink a lot and enjoy the beach. There is the possibility that you can only spend one day in Key West but that will only occur if you’re on a cruise ship. If that’s the case, just check out my top things to do there and pick the ones that suit your timeframe.

Whether your weekend in Key West is a two or three-day stay, I prepared a detailed itinerary for both!

Perfect Two Days in Key West

As mentioned, in my opinion, a simple day trip to Key West from Miami is not enough. Two days is a great option for the place although you can easily relax for a week there. However, most of the highlights can be seen in two days.

Perfect Three Days in Key West

If you’re staying for three days, your first two days will look like the two-day itinerary. On day three, you will have some options for a unique experience in this beautiful town.

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2 Days in Miami: A Unique Itinerary for a Quick Getaway

If you grew up on the East Coast, especially in the NJ/NY area, you are probably very familiar with Florida snowbirds. It’s a pretty standard migration route for those of us who need a seasonal reset and a serious vitamin D boost. I myself travel this route at least once per winter season. When I…

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In this post, first I will cover the logistics of basing yourself in Playa while exploring the surrounding areas. You can easily spend a month there but my goal is to give you the best options for a short stay. I will talk about travel logistics, give you my honest opinion of places to see, and finally, you’ll find a downloadable itinerary for your stay.

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Let’s get to the logistics

Playa del Carmen vs Cancun

One of the most frequently asked questions about visiting eastern Mexico is which destination should I choose: Cancun or Playa del Carmen? Playa del Carmen is a town in the Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean side of Mexico, about 1 hour south of Cancun. While Cancun is more recognized as a travel destination, it is very touristy and obnoxious. While Playa is obviously also a popular tourist destination, I think it offers a little more local vibes and is the perfect spot for exploring nearby areas. The journey from Cancun to Playa del Carmen will take you between 45 min to an hour.

Playa is also north of Tulum, another spot that the current “woke” crowd frequently flocks to. I personally am not a fan of Tulum and if you keep on reading you’ll find out why. Playa del Carmen to Tulum distance is about 40 miles or an hour of travel. But with this post, I will try to convince you why Playa is 10x more awesome than Cancun or Tulum.

US citizen info

US citizens do not have any visa requirements despite the strict reverse rules on Mexican citizens entering our country. Upon arrival, you will receive a small piece of paper which will be your visa. It is easy to mistake it for something non-important. Pay attention to what it looks like and do not lose it. If you do, you will get stuck at the airport upon exiting as my own mother did a couple of years ago. In a true Mexican fashion, it takes a while to verify your stay and you risk missing your flight home.

How Many Days Should I Stay in Playa del Carmen?

How long to stay in Playa del Carmen depends on what you want to do. If you’re just traveling to base yourself in a resort with the freedom to explore outside, give yourself about a week. The city itself does not have that many attractions but the surrounding towns are FULL of things to do. A lot of ex-pats choose to live in Playa as their base for working remotely too. Personally, I traveled twice for 6 days at a time and it was the perfect sweet spot for a short getaway.

How to navigate Playa and its surrounding areas

There is no airport for Playa del Carmen, so traveling there will require you to land at Cancun Airport instead. With so many flight connections to the city so you can find major airlines from all major airports having flights around the clock.

TIP: If you’re planning to stay at an all-inclusive, make sure to book your flight as a part of a package. You will save a TON on it rather than booking the two separately.

To get yourself to Playa, you will need to arrange a pick up from your hotel, take an expensive taxi or rent a car. Playa del Carmen car rental is an adventure within itself that is actually worth the pain so I will make a separate point about this below. If you’re staying in the main city, you can walk around, rent a bike, or take taxis. However, if you want to go explore the cenotes, ruins, or other towns, you can take the local buses or arrange transport through organized tours. Note: During rona times, I would skip the crowded buses full of tour people.

Public transport is doable but confusing and mostly used by the locals. If you’re staying for an extended period of time, take advantage of this because it can save you a ton of money. This post goes into public transport in great detail. However, if Playa is your home for only a couple of days, save yourself the trouble and either take a taxi or as I mentioned, rent a car.

Playa del Carmen Car Rental

There are two locations to rent a car for your Playa trip, one at the airport and the other in town. Renting a car at Cancun airport is a complete shit-show and I will get straight to the point on how to make this process a little less painful. First, let’s assume you’ve booked a car online prior to your trip and picked it up upon arrival. If that’s the case, once you land, a little shuttle will take you to a rental car hub where all the companies operate from.

Now let’s get into the details of why this might not be as smooth as you want it to be.

Situation 1: You book a car online and you see the total is $18 for the week. You scored the deal of a lifetime and you’re excited to explore Mexico in your sweet ride.

• Problem: Even if you read all the terms and conditions, when you get to the rental place they’ll try to tell you about a separate law that requires you to pay $20/day extra insurance. It’s likely that you did not see this in your rental agreement, it’s non-negotiable and the manager won’t budge on anything.
• Solution: Read and re-read the terms and conditions on what is included in the rental. The extra insurance that they say is mandatory, isn’t really mandatory and other companies can waive it for you. Also as a reference point, a car rental should be around $50-$100 for the week depending on the season and type. Renting in the city of Playa is also significantly cheaper although much more inconvenient and with less availability.

Situation 2: You read all the terms and conditions and have your travel credit card that includes car-rental insurance. You think you outsmarted the system and that you can get away with the insurance “scam” charge.

• Problem: The counter person can do the two of the following based on my experience: a) tell you that although you have insurance, they don’t have proof from your bank that you have the required coverage or b) the car you rented is no longer available.
• Solution: Before you start declining ALL coverage, check if your card actually provides it. In case you didn’t know, you need to decline everything the rental company offers in order to get the full credit card coverage. I always use the Chase Saphire perks and they covered two previous damages that were done to my rental cars without much issue. So a) make sure you get the letter of coverage from your bank, read more about that here and b) if the counter sees that you’re overprepared, they might try to tell you that the car is no longer available. Most car companies have sister ones next door, so insist they find you one and don’t give up.

There is also just the simple option of pre-paying for all the insurance online and not haggling when you get there. However, if you have a card like Chase Sapphire or any other that includes similar perks, there is no reason to pay the extra fees.

Other Important Things to Note:

• Take pictures of the car, be throughout of any scratches and fuel levels.
• If something happens to the car, make sure to take pictures, and get an accident/incident report from either the police or the rental company.
• When you’re at a gas station, avoid the following scams:
  • Make sure the meter starts at 0, not at the previous fill-up level
  • If two people approach you to help be vigilant about what is happening around you
  • If you’re paying cash, count out loud how much money you’re handing to the attendant as they might try to convince you that you gave them a $50 instead of $500 for example
• Driving can seem hectic but if you’ve ever driven in states Jersey you’ll be fine 🙂 I also recently rented a car in the Dominican Republic which made Mexico driving seem like a piece of cake!
• Always follow the speed limit but if for some reason you get pulled over, make a “donation” to the cop and he shall leave you alone.
• Check signs for payments on the streets. The parking people are on their a-game there.

People

Most local people are fine. If you’re staying at a resort, you’re likely to experience amazing service. In town, the locals are usually friendly. For example, I was a couple of minutes from getting a parking ticket and ended up having an awesome convo with the parking person instead of getting a ticket.

The one thing that constantly bothered me, however, is the “little scams” that they pull on you at each corner. For example, you negotiate a good deal on a trinket you want to buy and you agree on a price in American dollars. You get to register to realize that you’ve been overcharged in pesos. Another situation is booking an organized tour and then finding out 3 hidden costs during the excursion. I recommend being a skeptic and knowing how much everything should cost or what they expect from a place. Otherwise being overly naive will lead to being taken advantage of.

Playa del Carmen Safety

Quintana Roo region is generally safe. The horror stories of abduction and Mexican cartel threads are low in this area and your risk of getting hurt is just like in any comparable place. This doesn’t mean you should let your guard down in any way. There have been some recent reports of solo female travelers being approached by sketchy males in the city of Playa so before traveling, check out the most recent stories for any hesitations.

My favorite Playa safety guide that I recommend reading comes from Claire, she lived in Playa so her tips are actually very helpful.

Food

You probably know this, but if you’re staying in a resort, you won’t be eating authentic Mexican food. The real deal can be found in the town at the local restaurants or street carts. I promise that if you find those local holes in the walls, it will change your life. Here is a post on the most popular spots in town and another for even more picks!

Accommodations in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen has amazing all-inclusive resorts. Being the hostel queen that I am, it’s rare that I stay at all-inclusive resorts. Chances are if you’re traveling for a week, you want to relax and escape reality. A beachfront all-inclusive is the place just for that. Being a seasoned traveler means experiencing all types of accommodations therefore Playa might just be the perfect place for trying something new.

I stayed in Riu Tequila in 2015 and Riu Palace in 2020. Riu Tequila is more home-y and has hacienda-type feels while Riu Palace is a modern and more vegas type of place with beachfront access. Both are located in the gated area of Playa which is called Playa Phase I.

Airbnb in Playa del Carmen could also be a good option if you don’t like an all-inclusive vibe. With the rise of digital nomads, the options in town are stylish and safe, perfect for your 6-day Playa del Carmen itinerary.

Perfect Things To Do in and around Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen isn’t a place where you’ll find architecture, museums, or grand cathedrals. Rather, you will enjoy a beach town, filled with tourists or ex-pats taking advantage of the cheap yet relaxed lifestyle. I recommend venturing outside of town to experience the beautiful Quintana Roo state while having Playa as your home base.

Below I list my personal Perfect Things to do in or near Playa, but if you’d like to jump straight to my downloadable itineraries, they’re at the bottom of the post 🙂

5th Ave Playa del Carmen

Avenida Quinta or 5th Ave is the main street in town with all the shops, restaurants, bars, and all things tourist. It’s pretty long but worth the visit and pausing in one of the bars or restaurants on the strip. There are more known ones like Patio 8, Kitxen, or chains like Fat Tuesday or Señor Frogs but I personally liked this small bar called Karen’s. Being on the most touristy street, expect to pay more than you would in more local areas. 5th Ave is a place that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. During the day you can explore and day-drink but at night come back to party as that area changes its vibe. Calle 12 is where you want to be at night.

Right near the Avenida Quinta, you can find Parque Los Fundadores, a beachfront park with sculptures, live performances, and local vendors. Consider making a stop here to enjoy the ambiance or a lively touristy place. Note, in October 2020, it was temporarily closed for renovations.

Stay at a resort

I rarely stay at resorts and don’t usually recommend them. Are they ethical and are they owned by the guys you’re scared of? Man, I don’t know. It’s a tricky battle of questions you’ll be playing with yourself. I digress.

Playa del Carmen, however, has some sweet resorts in its Phase I community area as well as off the main highway. If you’re going to the area to have your beers brought to you as you’re tanning under a palm tree, this is your must-do activity.

Adventure Parks

While Playa doesn’t offer those typical in-city attractions that travelers crave, they certainly make up for it in adventure park options. I would choose one based on the type of activities you want to prioritize since the tickets can be quite pricey. However, they are worth it and you should block out some time to squeeze one in.

• Xplor: Zip-lining, cave swimming, buggy rides, and much more! I loved this park! I would say this one has a little more adrenaline kick compared to others too. It’s around $120 USD per person not including transportation, but if you buy more tickets or get them from a vendor, you can save a little more too. Totally worth the price as you get to do a LOT of things there.
• Xcaret: Another nature park with very similar options as Xplor but your day will be a little longer here as they have some shows at night and also a little more cultural displays. It’s slightly more expensive too.
• Xel-ha: Offers a lot more water activities compared to the two parks above. The entrance is ~$90 USD.
• Xenses: This is a smaller more relaxed version of all the parks above with an admission fee of ~$65 USD.
• Río Secreto: This stunning cave with hanging deposits will leave you in complete shock. A guide will take you swimming inside the caves as the main attraction and then you can also do a couple of small activities after. Tickets run around $80 USD a person and I highly recommend this place.
• Xoximilco: This is a cheesy party on the water type adventure in which you will sit in a traditional colorful trajinera and float on the water. Your $90 USD ticket will include an open bar, food, and some live music. It’s totally staged and very “Hard Rock Dad” style type activity but it’s super cute and worth it 🙂

Here is a treat for you from my Xplor adventure. Why don’t we just all petition for Xplor to make me their poster child? 🙂

Cenotes

Cenotes are those cool caves, giant pits filled with groundwater. A good chunk of them is located in the area of Playa del Carmen so this is a must-do during your trip there. They differ in terms of size, popularity, and the accessibility of snorkeling or diving in them. I recommend choosing one or two for your stay. If you’re a diver, you might want to look at these in more detail for what’s available at each site.

Bring a bathing suit and biodegradable sunscreen as you cannot wear any chemicals going into these natural beauties. Most spots will have lockers and snorkeling equipment for rent. Some notable cenotes include:

• Gran Cenote: This one is located near Tulum so you can either take a taxi from there or even ride a bike. Snorkeling is possible there too. It’s extremely popular so prepare for crowds.
• Cenote Dos Ojos: Also located close to Tulum, this is actually an area of three different cenotes. Dos Ojos is a collection of two beautiful covered ones where you can snorkel or dive with a guide. When you arrive at the gate, you will be able to select which one you want to visit.
• Cenote Sac Akun: Located in the same area as Dos Ojos, this impressive cenote features amazing droopy limestone formations. It’s stunning but also one of the most expensive ones.
• Cenote Nicte-ha: The third one in that same area talked above, this is an open-air one which makes it a little different compared to the others. This one doesn’t get that crowded but arriving at the opening guarantees having the place to yourself.
• Cenote Calavera: This famous spot that looks like a hole in the ground with the swing has become a spot for that perfect insta-shot. If you arrive in the morning, be prepared to encounter a couple of influencers.
• Cenote Azul: Located right between Tulum and Playa, this open-air cenote is also another stunning spot. You can jump off of a cliff into it and arriving early will give you the privacy you want.
• Jardin de Eden: Azul’s open-air neighbor but it was closed for weather damage in October 2020. Little fish will give you a nice fish spa pedicure along the sides.
• Cenote Suytun: Located almost 2 hours away from Playa, this cenote is the one you probably have seen in a lot of travel photos. It has that long circle platform that people line up to get a shot on. Although it is beautiful, if you’re looking for peaceful swimming you might now find that there.
• Cenote Ik Kil: This is about 2.5 hours away from Playa but if you’re making a trip to Chichen Itza, this should be on your stop list. Although a lot of tours will stop here in the afternoon, coming in the morning will guarantee a little peace. It’s a stunning spot worth a visit.

Playa del Carmen Beaches

Beaches in this area are simply amazing. Here is a couple you should visit:

• The main beach in town is a public spot in the town surrounded by vendors, bars, and a ton of people.
• Playacar Phase I has amazing beaches in front of resorts and condos. The lounge chairs belong to those spots but you can still walk down them.
• Punta Esmeralda: A nice spot on the Northern side of the city. You’ll find some locals and tourists here.
• Xpu Ha: A short 30-minute drive from the city, this hidden gem won’t disappoint. There is a small entrance fee and some restaurants on location. It’s certainly worth a trip!

After some lounging and sunbathing, make sure to do at least one water sport. Parasailing is very popular and an awesome activity to experience in that area. Jet skis are also widely available for rentals. If water sports aren’t your thing, an ocean-front massage is also a great option.

Chichen Itza

It’s one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a place you should see for yourself. The pyramid is stunning and the whole history is extremely fascinating. I strongly recommend getting a tour guide as you’ll be able to appreciate the ruins more compared to simply just walking around. Arrive early to get some good shots before the crowds show up and then take a tour after.

Although it is a 3 hour trip outside of Playa, you’ll enjoy the ride and you can make a full day trip of it with stops at Cenote Ik-Kil or the gorgeous town of Valladolid. The entrance is about $25 USD. If you didn’t rent a car, there are dozens of tours to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen to take you there.

While I think Chichen Itza is a beautiful sight, I also think it’s become a huge tourist circus. As soon as you arrive your entire experience involves vendors pushing you to buy something and huge crowds of people resulting in a very commercialized experience. Would I still recommend visiting it? Well, you can get past what I just mentioned and simply enjoy the ruins then yes. If this kinda atmosphere isn’t for you, then no.

Coba Ruins

Another archeological site in the area is a much less crowded site compared to Chichen Itza. You can climb all the way to the top of this steep pyramid for some amazing views. The ruins are located about 1.5 hours from Playa but there are also a couple of cenotes nearby that you can enjoy after.

My good friend recently chose to visit Coba instead of Chichen Itza and she was in awe of how beautiful this place was. I hope that this place remains a little less touristy.

Day trip to Tulum from Playa del Carmen

Tulum Ruins

Tulum is a town composed of a couple of areas: the ruins, the town, and the beach area. The ruins are located right on the beach and the color contrast between the stones, the greenery, and the ocean blue makes this space feel extremely special and unique. Get a guide to help you understand the history otherwise, you’ll be walking around in extreme heat taking pictures among buildings you won’t know a thing about.

Tip: If you rented a car, you will turn into the ruins area from the highway. As soon as you turn, a bunch of people will start waving at you and screaming to pull over. This will make you feel like you’re doing something wrong. Ignore them. The tour guides are trying to sell you a parking spot and an overpriced tour. You can continue driving until you cannot go anymore and park in one of the parking lots for around $5. Then you can walk to the ruins on foot.

Tulum town

As mentioned above, Tulum has a couple of nooks. Aside from the ruins, there is also the town which can be reached directly off of the highway. Located about an hour from Playa, it’s a day trip a lot of people are excited to take. It’s full of trinket shops and some good local restaurants. Then you drive about 15 minutes toward the beach and you reach a dirt road that’s lined with those fancy hotels, Airbnbs, and overpriced “local” shops.

And then there is Tulum Beach …

Tulum started as a cool concept with some free souls looking for a spiritual corner. It’s now a base for a lot of influencers taking advantage of the land and jacking up prices at all the local spots. If you’re a “normal” traveler, walking around Tulum beach makes you cringe and question how this place became so shallow. Although it’s advertised as a green space, it’s completely eating the nature around it with all the waste and fuels.

Many will disagree with me here but Tulum is not a place I enjoyed. Don’t get me wrong, the beach is stunning and the hotels do look cool. But when you see the lines of influencers getting the best shots at the same places, it will make you want to leave. I can see how people want to experience it for themselves and that’s why I list it here but please be aware of the major issues with this area.

This very long article from The Cut is the best and most informative piece I read on the reality of Tulum. Aside from Tulum being a strong representation of what is wrong with the Insta-driven society, there are so many other issues that this place is causing. Having been there twice, I highly doubt I will ever return.

Akumal

This is a beach where you can swim with the big turtles! It’s located 30 minutes south of Playa and you can either drive, take a taxi, or a colectivo that will drop you off fairly close. There is a small entrance fee and a lot of people will approach you for tour options. If you don’t know what the expect, you might get “scammed” or ripped off (not just here but in all of Mexico I felt like this). If this is something you’re planning on doing please do yourself a favor and read this post from Travel Addicts which perfectly outlines what to expect and do when you get there.

Neighboring Islands

If you’re into snorkeling to diving, consider venturing out to the local islands for better views. Do your research! There are SO many companies offering tours so check out the reviews or other blogs for their top picks to make a good decision.

Cozumel: Normally this is a big stop for cruise ships so the island would fill up with people and then quickly empty out on departure. During rona, however, there are no cruise ships. When I visited, the emptiness was quite eerie and a ton of businesses were closed. I took a horrible snorkeling tour and I’m pretty sure I was scammed so I won’t recommend that company. However, I have seen a ton of travelers that went on stunning tours so I know it’s possible. You can do a bunch of things there like an ATV tour, diving, snorkeling, water sports, and much more. From Playa you will take a quick ferry (~$20) roundtrip. There are two companies that run on altering days. Don’t bother printing your ticket as you have to wait in a long line to get it printed by them anyway.

Isla Mujeres: This is closer to Cancun than Playa so you will have to take a ferry from there instead. Many people rent golf carts to explore the island. It’s a similar feel to Cozumel. An underground water museum is located there so it’s a popular activity among travelers.

Unique things to do in Playa del Carmen

• Jungle and ATVs in Playa del Carmen: There are many companies offering ATV tours very close to town. I did one in an adventure park and wish I did one outside one too. The tours usually take you to caves and nearby smaller cenotes.
• Beercicleta: A cheesy drinking activity in town.
• Local Food Tours: I love learning about cities through food and having a local take me around to show me the best spots. This tour group gets consistently good reviews and has different options for this awesome activity.
• Salsa dancing: A quite popular activity in town, check out places like La Bodeguita del Medio or Zenzi on the beach for Sunday night Salsa!

Some tour options

Here are some top-rated tours in the area. Personally, I took a tour of Cozumel and Chichen Itza with a group and I visited Tulum and Cenotes by myself. There are pros and cons to either option so I would go by your travel style to choose the best option. If you’re an independent traveler who isn’t afraid of a couple of unexpected bumps on the road, then you can visit all these places by yourself. On the other hand, if you don’t want to worry about a thing, then an organized tour is the way to go.

More awesome nearby locations:

There are a couple of notable places outside of Playa that you might want to consider visiting:

• Cancun: Since I wrote about Tulum, I feel like I should include Cancun in this post too. It’s only an hour north of Playa. It’s a complete tourist trap with a bunch of non-Mexican restaurants and party hotels. But to each your own so if that’s what you’re looking for, visit it.
• Valladolid: A colorful and authentic colonial town located a little under two hours outside of Playa. This town preserves a little more of a local character so it’s worth exploring for that reason. Shop around or eat at one of the local restaurants. It’s close to Chichen Itza and a couple of cenotes too.
• Merida: Another stunning town (3+ hours west of Playa), is also a colorful more authentic spot in the area.
• Holbox: A more secluded fishing island that is a little more difficult to get to but certainly a place for that nomadic lifestyle feel. To get there you will need to get to Chiquila and then take a ferry from there.
• Las Coloradas: These pink salt lakes are a bit of a drive from Playa (3 hours) but they’re super pretty. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to drive there just because as during the past couple of years as its popularity grew, the place changed. You can’t enter the water and there is a bunch of fees at every corner. However, if for some reason you’re in the area, it might be worth taking a stop. Note: the water isn’t always pink either as its color is highly dependent on the salt content. It could be brownish if water was added or drained.

Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guide for your 6-day stay

Playa is one of those cities you should not spend a day, two or three in. You need at least 5 to 6 days in that area to get the bare minimum of what it has to offer. You will need to venture out a little bit outside it to experience the region. The reason why I call it the Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary is because I strongly suggest making this your base for all your exploration.

The itinerary below is a condensed version of the details above. Please make sure to read everything in order to be best prepared for your activities! Enjoy Playa 🙂

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Havana Itinerary: The Reality of Traveling to Cuba

You’ve probably romanticized Cuba by looking at pictures of vintage cars, old ladies smoking cigars, green mojitos, salsa dancing, and colorful colonial buildings and thought, “I have to go there at least once…

Continue Reading Havana Itinerary: The Reality of Traveling to Cuba

That was certainly me.

Cuba was always on my bucket list so when I turned 26, I decided to buy myself the perfect birthday gift: a ticket to Havana. Although I was more or less familiar with the situation there, I admit that I didn’t dig much into the ethics or realities of Cuban travel. When I got there, however, like many other travelers, Cuba broke my heart. The things we glamorize are a sad reality of life for the local people. It felt wrong to take “amazing” photos with the background of poor living conditions, lack of basic products, and the government’s role in people’s lives. And don’t get more wrong. All the locals I have met there were the sweetest and most welcoming people who made the best out of their situations. However, hearing stories of what day-to-day life looks like, made me stop looking at Cuba through the “cars and cigars” kinda lens.

Should you travel there, is completely up to you. On the one hand, you want to be able to contribute to the economy but on the other when you know that your money will further feed the government, you might not want to feed. I traveled there in 2018 and although a lot has changed since then, tourism is back and many people continue and will continue to visit this place. I am not here to preach whether you should or should not visit. I am simply here to show you what traveling to Cuba entails, what you should expect, and show you what places to see. This Havana itinerary is honest and detailed and I hope it helps you to make your decision.

What you will find in this guide:

• All logistics needed for your Cuba travel
• A realistic look into popular attractions
• Some hidden gems are scattered along the post
• Free downloadable itineraries for 3 days in Havana
• A map with all attraction pins

Logistics of Traveling to Cuba

Traveling to Havana Cuba requires a little bit of preparation, especially for US citizens. Having the correct plan and all required paperwork is absolutely necessary. There are some providers that arrange your paperwork for a fee but I personally think you can figure it out by yourself. I visited in 2018 and had no trouble crossing the border into Cuba or returning to the states. No one asked me much about my plans or what I did there. However, it is absolutely essential that you do everything correctly. Also, remember that things constantly change. Always double-check that the requirements are in agreement with sources like government websites.

Visa to Cuba: US citizen entry requirements

Here is a summary of how to get to Cuba as an American citizen.

• Can Americans go to Cuba? Yes, US travel to Cuba is legal.
• Booking a flight is possible from major airports in the USA. Where is Cuba located? Well, it’s only 90 miles from the south of Florida. New York and Florida have direct flights too, making your connection super easy. As a US citizen, you will only be able to fly into Havana.
• There are 12 categories to select your travels from. Tourism is not a reason for travel. The most popular declared category is Support for Cuban people. There are more like education, research, religious or journalist activity. It’s a self-selected category so pick one that matches your visit the most. You will declare this at some point in your travels, it’s not an official document.
  • When traveling under the Support for Cuban people category, you will need to stay at a Casa Particular. I booked my stay through booking.com and stayed with a local host. For any other locations, check this Restricted List of places in Cuba that US citizens cannot stay at.
  • You will also need a printed-out itinerary with plans for your entire stay. I made sure to have one but no one honestly checked it. You’re required to keep it for 5 years upon return.
• A Tourist Card can be purchased from your airline at the airport. I flew Southwest from NYC connecting at FLL. They had little booth stands at the FLL airport at which you purchased your card and stated your travel category. This is your Visa to Cuba.
• Travel Insurance to Cuba that is specific to Cuba is also required. When I purchased the tickets through the airline, it was included in the price. Check if yours is as well and if not, you can purchase it upon arrival at the airport.

When you arrive:

• Cuban currency is complicated.
• Take enough cash for your trip as your American cards won’t work there. Estimate a budget based on your type of travel and convert it to a CADECA which can be found at the airport, hotels, or other places in town.
• As of 2021, the USD is no longer accepted at the government exchanges so grab some euros as a backup. You can exchange it informally and actually get a lot more than a standard 1:24 exchange.
• Internet connection is hard to get unless you purchase a special card. I would simply plan to “disconnect to connect.”
• Finally, you might think Cuba is a cheaper country. Well, it’s absolutely not. There are two currencies, CUC or convertible peso, and CUP Cuban peso. As a tourist, you will have to use the CUC with a 1:1 conversion to an American dollar. As of 2021, this is not the case anymore. The country now uses only the CUP at a 1:24 conversion rate. Although if you sell it unofficially you might get a 1:80-100 rate instead.
• You can’t get Cuban currency anywhere else but Cuba.
• If you have a US-based debit/credit card, you won’t be able to use it there due to the embargo.

Suggested length of stay in Havana

Is three or four days enough time to properly visit just Havana? Well, kinda, but if you’re planning day trips and other areas of the country, I would plan to spend at least 7 days in Cuba. There is a lot to see there and aside from Havana, you’ll want to take a couple of day trips out. Obviously, that doesn’t sound like much but remember that this is a short-travel kinda blog 🙂

Navigating Havana

Airport Jose Marti in La Habana, Cuba is located about 30 minutes from the city center of Havana. You will need to take a taxi to town. I asked my host to arrange a pick-up for me which was a fixed rate and took me straight to the casa without any confusion. It was around $20 which should be fairly comparable to what random taxi drivers will charge you at the airport. Due to recent changes in the currency don’t bank on your US dollars being accepted. You might be ok with them (ask your drivers) but having some Cuban pesos or euros won’t hurt.

Most of the city is walkable if you’re staying in the main area. For touristy sights, you will be able to get by without a taxi. If you want to venture out a little further, there is an abundance of taxis in the streets always waiting for you to hop it. Bonus, they are mostly vintage cars that you’ve seen in the photos therefore every trip in one makes you feel like you’re in a movie.

Other modes of transportation are Colectivos which are shared rides and can be a more budget alternative. Ask your host to arrange one for you. Viazul is the bus line that will take you all over the island at a pretty good rate. Coco-taxis are yellow tuk-tuk-like transports.

If you’re staying with a host, make sure to ask them to call you a taxi. That way they will make a little money for a referral and you’ll get door-to-door service.

People in Cuba

People are nice. Truly nice good people. It’s actually kinda fascinating how amazing and warm they are with what kind of treatment they get from their own government. And no, Cubans are not brainwashed. On the contrary, they are very informed about what is happening in the world. At least that’s what I experienced with those who hosted me and took me on tours.

Is Havana safe?

Cuba is generally very safe and you shouldn’t be afraid to walk around. They have low crime rates because of the consequences you can face when committing one there. Girls will get cat-called here and most locals consider it a compliment rather than an insult.

Beware that when you’re inside the city, there are local scammers (Jineteros) near the main tourist places. For the most part, they are not dangerous just very sneaky. Simply knowing the most common scenarios should make them obvious when they start happening. Here are some very common scenarios. I promise that you will encounter at least one of them there.

• “Omg! You totally don’t look like a lost duck with your map and a new Nikon. Well, guess what, if you follow me I got good cigars at someone’s house for sale” – Umm, hard no.
• “Oh, it’s your first day here! Guess what lucky guy and gal! There is a cool festival today that you should totally attend and I will show you exactly where it is.” – This actually happened to me. A very friendly individual became not so very very friendly when I refused to follow him to this magical festival.
• “It’s my birthday!” or “Someone died today” or “I’ll buy your coffee!” – All these end in someone mooching off of you for food or drinks and getting their commission at a friend’s bar.
• “My baby needs milk” – Really? Come on people. Don’t use baby guilt on strangers. Your nonexistent baby doesn’t need a $30 milk that your will split with your milkman.
• “Museum/restaurant is closed today my friend” – K thanks for letting me know. I will check for myself first before believing you.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, these seem so silly, how would I even fall for them? Well … these professional hustlers are usually very good at their jobs and it’s easier said than done to avoid them. I mean let’s now talk about my $100 blanket that I bought in Fes fully knowing that a $100 blanket is a scam in Morocco. All I’m saying is that at least knowing the scenarios and having a mental check with yourself when you’re in one is a little better than blindly going in. But overall Havana is a safe place.

Gifting

A common practice among travelers is bringing gifts for the locals as certain basic goods are hard to obtain in the rationed economy. I personally did not bring any and from reading more on the subject, it seems to be a mixed opinion among travelers.

On the one hand, you want to help out the locals but on the other, you’re enabling a culture of expectations each time someone visits. If I could do it again I think I would bring something small for my host and maybe a couple of toys for the kids. It’s a tricky call but it’s something nice to do.

Note as of 2021, this should be researched further as supplies became more and more needed over the past year. If you’re planning to go, this should be important. For a very broad example, bring things like painkillers, common first-aid stuff, hair dye, or make-up.

Food in Havana

Food is a tricky subject in Havana. Some people have horrible meals, while others swear that it’s one of the best they ever had. I personally fell right in the middle. The food was good but it wasn’t something I particularly remember having blown me away. I’m also from New Jersey where Cuban food is widely available and super delicious. My approach was to try it all: at the casa, at a small local restaurant, the more “hip” one, and finally some street food.

Don’t forget that you’re going to a place that doesn’t have access to the same amounts, spices, or varieties of foods that someone for example in the states does. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the food will be bad but it will certainly limit your options. Make sure to have a good mojito too.

Hotels/Hostels

As an American, it is recommended that you stay in a Casa Particular or a locally owned B&B style accommodation. If you’re traveling under the “Support for Cuban People” category, this should be your option. You can book those online prior to your visit. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can book them on arrival in town. Lastly, if you’re planning on choosing another option, make sure that it’s not on the sanctioned list.

I loved my experience at the Casa I stayed in. Our host made us breakfast every morning and gave us some local tips on what to see. It was a more authentic way of seeing the country. She also helped with our money exchange as well as arranging a tour for one day of our stay.

Additionally, a lot of travelers choose to pick hostels in Havana thus a more social way to see the city. I would check out Hostelworld to find the best match for you. I wish I stayed in one to have gotten to know more travelers. However, hostels are not for everyone so unless you’ve stayed at one, I wouldn’t recommend Cuba to be your first experience with that kind of accommodation.

Sightseeing in Havana

There is a good amount of things to see in Havana. In comparison to a typical trip, the whole city itself is a sight. In addition to exploring, make sure to set time aside for soaking in this extremely unique and vintage place. People watching, drink sipping, and strolling in the old streets will be some of your favorite memories from there. Try to talk to locals but don’t touch on the topic of politics unless they choose to talk about it.

Things To Do On Your Havana Itinerary

Havana is charming and beautiful in its own way but remember, don’t romanticize people’s actual struggles. It’s easy to be impressed by the vintage cars, colorful buildings, and just a different way of living. However, when you dive deeper into why Cuba is the way that it is, all this stops being magical. It was a difficult place for me to visit and I felt wrong using its hardships as a background for my pictures. I got to talk to a couple of locals that were willing to share the realities of their lives. Despite it breaking my heart a little, the Cuban people were the ones that made my trip amazing. I hope you find things you love there as well without being blind to the realities of this place.

Old Havana

Habana Vieja is the main tourist area of the city filled with landmarks, restaurants, music, dancing, and everything else that makes it one of the most recognizable places to travel to. This is the area I would recommend staying in or at least nearby at a casa particular. Note that it’s very touristy and not as representative of actual living conditions, however, it’s something you should see.

There are numerous landmarks within this part of town that I will cover below but this part of town is an attraction all within itself. Make sure to roam around the streets and note the patched-up tourist buildings vs. the real way of life a couple of blocks away. As expected, the scammers are the most active here.

If you’re going to do any activity there, make sure to do a free walking tour. A quick history lesson from someone who lives in Havana is a must. I used this company for my Havana tour and I was very happy with everything I saw on the tour.

Obispo Street

Obispo Street is simply a long pedestrian street dedicated to all things tourists. I walked it at least once a day as it connects all the major sights in the city. It’s full of little stores and historic buildings. Although it has some street restaurants, I didn’t love the quality of the food there. At night, find some lively dancing and music shows. It’s one of those streets you just have to visit.

The places every travel guide writes about

You must have heard about Bar Floridita, Hemingways spot for a good daiquiri, Bodeguita del Medio where Hemingway (again) liked his mojitos, Sloppy Joe’s Bar long bar, La Guarida’s famous rooftop dining or Tropicana for the famous shows. If you’re going to visit, it for sure won’t be an authentic experience but I would at least try to see one of them. Remember that famous places are usually famous for a reason.

Plaza Vieja

I loved this square. It has colorful (updated) buildings, street artists, and cute bars with balconies overlooking the plaza. Aside from the bars, little vendors, and occasional street shows, there isn’t much to do there but for some reason, this was one of my favorite places in the city. I recommend grabbing a drink and a bite on one of the balconies overlooking the plaza too. It lets you see everything from a different perspective.

If you want to experience something unique, make sure to check out the Cámara Oscura located in one of the buildings in the plaza. It’s a light trick device that gives you a 360 view of the city. There aren’t many of them left in the world so it’s a very unique experience to see one. You will also get unmatched city views from the rooftop.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza

It’s a fort in Havana with a museum inside. I only explored the outside during the walking tour but if you’re into forts and that stuff, they offer tours for around $10. If you take a free walking tour, this will be one of the stops going into the history of this place.

Plaza de Catedral

Speaking of Plazas, this one has a cathedral hence the name. It’s one of the historical plazas in town and it attracts a ton of tourists. As the name suggests, there is a cathedral in this place. The inside of it is very beautiful so make sure to take a peek inside. There are a couple of restaurants and local vendors in the plaza worth a couple of additional minutes of your time too.

El Capitolio

This capitol building is a stunning piece of architecture. It’s inspired by the Capitol Building in the US. You can simply stroll around and admire the old cars, parks, and colorful buildings right next to this impressive structure. Fun fact, you can actually enter this building, something I wish I did. The admission ($3) includes a free tour with it.

Havana Art Scene

Gran Teatro de La Habana

This is a beautiful theater in the city. The building and its surroundings are beautiful from the outside. Very elegant and different for this city. They offer tours for a little under $10 so I would recommend doing that. The history is quite interesting and complicated. Additionally, you can catch the ballet, opera, or other shows at cheap prices (compared to NYC). Make sure to see this place during the day as well as at night.

Fine Arts Museum

The museum has two locations, one near Prado in Havana Vieja housing international art from world-famous artists like Goya or Velazquez. The second location is the Palacio de Bellas Artes near Parque Central. Here you will find Cuban art. I regret not visiting because when I saw the uniqueness of the art online after my trip, I really wish I got to see it in person.

Fabrica De Arte Cubano

On a whole different spectrum of art, here is Fabrica de Arte. I will let this review speak for me because I could not have said it better.

Callejon de Hamel

A random hidden gem of the city! I stumbled upon this place totally by accident. It’s basically an alley filled with cool art by an artist named Salvador Gonzáles Escalona. They have some local music and shows on Sundays around noon. It’s a little out of the way but the detail and quirkiness of the art is worth making a trip there.

Fusterlandia

Jose Fuster, another famous Cuban artist, created this gem in the 70s. Inspired by Gaudi, he transformed a whole neighborhood into a piece of art. If you visit, you’ll immediately notice the Gaudi inspiration in all the intricacies of the tile. However, it is very clear how much Cuban culture was incorporated into it as well. Here is an interesting article about this place that I recommend reading.

Vintage car ride

This is the most touristy Havana thing you can do but why wouldn’t you?! Did you see those cars? They’re beautiful. You can take a guided tour where the driver will explain to you each landmark around the city and that should cost you around $20 per hour. Or you can use it as a regular taxi to get you somewhere you want to go. I personally hired a driver to get me to the beach and then pick me up, all in a pink convertible. Even though it costs me some money, it was one of the main highlights of my trip.

El Malecon

This is a long esplanade along the water that stretches for a decent distance. You will see a lot of the locals fishing and enjoying their afternoons. This is a very “Cuba” spot. A beautiful sunset cannot be missed at least once during your trip from there. One of my favorite things I discovered off this street was an old-style Russian restaurant Nazdrovie. It was super random but the food was delicious there and the balcony dining had the best views.

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Historical gem of Havana. This hotel was built almost 100 years and was a staple of class back in the day. A bunch of famous people stayed there and there is a TON of history surrounding this building.

I skipped the history and opted out for a cold mojito in a beautiful garden. It was classy and divine 🙂 A lot of tourists love the cigar shop inside too. As a non-guest, you can wander around the lobby and explore the property grounds that are filled with peacocks. Note that Americans cannot stay in this hotel.

Day Trips from Havana

Playas del Este

There are no beaches in Havana, Cuba so if you want that tropical baby blue water atmosphere, head to Playas del Este located only about 30 minutes outside the city. The place is beyond stunning and the water was crystal clear and super warm. A couple of beach restaurants offer live music and good food! I would say this is a must if you’re not going to other beach areas on the island.

I personally hired a driver for the day in a bright pink taxi. I found him in a taxi stand and paid him $40 to take me to the beach and then back along with some additional drives around the city. Honestly, I probably overpaid for this but this was the one thing I wanted to do on my trip there.

Varadero Day trip from Havana

Varadero is another beach town with many all-inclusive resorts and beachfront properties. There are a couple of ways to do this day trip: you can hire a car, take a bus or pay for a day tour to an all-inclusive resort. I opted for the third option because the price of that option was very comparable to a private taxi and I did not want to deal with the bus. I asked my casa host for an agency contact to book this trip the day before and made the decision to explore this area of the island.

The day started off rocky as our pick-up was over 1 hour late. Then the little passenger bus stopped along the way for some viewpoints. When we arrived at the all-inclusive, they separated us into small same-sex groups and put us into rooms where we were able to leave our things and change. Then we spent the day with our all-inclusive passes enjoying the beach and resort. It was very touristy and very curated but it allowed me to spend a day on a beautiful Cuban beach without a worry in the world.

Havana to Vinales day trip

Viñales is an amazing 2 hour trip into the STUNNING valley of mountains and tobacco fields. It’s certainly not close to the city, but it’s a favorite of day trips from Havana if you’re not venturing too much into the island. For my day trip, I used Discover Viñales and I loved the private tour they offered. Note, that it was super pricey. In addition to the day trip to Vinales from Havana, they do offer a couple of other Cuba tours. We got to see the stunning valley, a cave, a cigar factory, a botanical garden, a family tobacco farm, each lunch on that farm, and then end the day with a drink in a restaurant overlooking the valley.

Although seeing Vinales in one day is doable, I would certainly recommend spending a night there. The valley is a very unique destination and deserves much more of your time than what I gave it. However, this is one of those major downs of short-term travel. If you find a place you really like, you don’t really have the flexibility to add more time.

Aside from seeing the valley, one of my favorite parts was interacting with our hosts for the tour. The driver and tour guide was super friendly and amazing to bond with for the whole day. They gave us a more realistic perspective of the island and answered a ton of our questions about their day-to-day in Cuba.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Cuba

Cuba remains one of those places that will stick out in your mind. You can choose to ignore the realities and go take your vintage taxi ride, drink mojitos at Hemmingway’s bars and never think twice about what life is like there. Or if you decide to travel you can do it more consciously and try to turn your head to the sad realities of this place.

Rather than simply admiring the buildings of Plaza Vieja and Obispo Street, walk a little further out and look at the buildings that are falling apart. Instead of just taking a picture in that amazing vintage taxi, notice the locals fixing the cars in the alleys with little parts they have and barely afford. While splurging on a meal at La Guardia, don’t forget to notice the ration lines at the regular stores.

I don’t think boycotting Cuba travel is the answer and I also don’t think our money there will make too big of a difference either. The only thing we can do is respect the locals, have meaningful conversations, try to spend our money on more local businesses, and simply be aware of the realities of Cuba.

Havana Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guides for your Havana Tour

Three full days is a good chunk of time to see the highlights of this amazing city. My three-day Havana plan is full of adventure and on the third day, you will head over to Viñales Valley to see a more rural part of this country. The Valley is nothing like you’ve ever seen and I promise you’ll have a good time there either riding a horse, exploring a farm or simply enjoying the views.

Map for your Havana stay

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