An Amsterdam canal with boats and historic waterfront buildings — Photo: Airam Dato-on / Pexels

TRAVEL NOTES

The details make the difference.

Planning a city break or a day at a famous sight? Find advice on getting around, what to bring and the details worth checking before you go.

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Vigur Island’s low shoreline, colourful farm buildings and windmill in Ísafjarðardjúp

Local experiences · Ísafjörður

Vigur from Ísafjörður: landing visits, heritage and the real bird season

Choose an authorised seasonal Vigur landing for heritage and birdlife, with clear distinctions between island access, a passing cruise and a guaranteed sighting.

Amer Fort’s sandstone palace and upper ramparts above Jaipur

Fort and palace · Jaipur

Amer Fort to Jaigarh: courtyards, ramparts and Maota Lake

Follow the palace from Ganesh Pol to the mirrored halls, then choose whether the ridge walk to Jaigarh fits your time and energy.

Jaipur’s cityscape and a historic fort wall seen from a hilltop viewpoint

First visit · Jaipur

A first weekend in Jaipur: pink-city lanes, forts and food

Give the walled city its own day, then go to Amer early for courtyards, a stepwell and views across Maota Lake.

Hawa Mahal’s pink facade and screened windows in Jaipur

Neighbourhood walk · Jaipur

Jaipur old-city walk: Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and City Palace

Three major sights sit close together inside Jaipur’s walled city; slow the route down with time for the courtyards, instruments and market streets between them.

Panna Meena ka Kund’s interlocking sandstone stairways in Amer, Jaipur

Architecture and craft · Jaipur

Panna Meena ka Kund and Anokhi Museum near Amer

Pair a careful look at Amer’s geometric stepwell with the nearby hand-printing museum, then continue to Amer Fort only if you have time for its separate visit.

A Jaipur craftsperson hand-printing a patterned blue textile with a wooden block

Craft and workshop · Jaipur

Sanganer block printing: a hands-on Jaipur craft visit

Set aside a separate half-day for Sanganer’s hand-printing heritage and a bookable workshop where visitors can try the process themselves.

Jakarta’s modern skyline seen above the dense city

Weekend itinerary · Jakarta

A first weekend in Jakarta: old Batavia, Monas and a food-filled evening

Use one day for Kota Tua and Glodok, then cross the city the next day for Monas, the civic centre and an evening meal.

Shoppers browse goods at a busy market in Jakarta’s Chinatown

Food and drink guide · Jakarta

Glodok food walk: market lanes, coffee and Chinese-Indonesian flavours

Take a compact, respectful walk through Jakarta’s Chinatown, using a locally mapped food route and leaving time for the market.

Colonial-era buildings in Jakarta’s Kota Tua at golden hour

Walking guide · Jakarta

A Kota Tua Jakarta walk: Fatahillah Square to the old harbour

Read Jakarta’s old port quarter on foot, from the former city hall and museum square toward the canals and Sunda Kelapa.

Monas lit at night above Jakarta’s central skyline

Attraction guide · Jakarta

Monas and Merdeka Square: planning Jakarta’s central landmark visit

Pair the National Monument with the civic spaces and religious landmarks around central Jakarta, while planning around its weekly closure.