Arcachon Bay & Cap Ferret: 12 Tips for the Oyster Coast in 2026

TL;DRThe Arcachon Bay in southwest France pairs the biggest sand dune in Europe, the Dune du Pilat (over 110 metres), with the Cap Ferret peninsula and its lighthouse, the Phare du Cap Ferret, plus proper oyster culture in the wooden cabanes of Gujan-Mestras, where half a dozen oysters cost 10 to 15 euros. The best time to come is May, June or September, when you’ll dodge the summer crowds and the traffic jams on the one access road, the D106. Three to seven days is the sweet spot for a stay, and the best way to get around is by bike along more than 200 kilometres of cycle paths, or on the ferry between Arcachon and Cap Ferret for 9 euros. There are 12 tips in total here, from climbing the dune to wandering the Ville d’Hiver district and birdwatching in the Prés Salés reserve.

The south of France isn’t just endless lavender fields and crowded Riviera beaches. Discover the Atlantic coast of the southwest, where the French themselves escape the summer heat and the tourist glitz. This corner of Arcachon in France will instantly win you over with its wild ocean breeze, the scent of pine forests and freshly shucked oysters.

Arcachon Bay is a unique little world in the form of a vast lagoon that breathes to the rhythm of its massive tides. On one side it’s protected by endless ocean beaches, while on the other a majestic landmark rises up: the largest sand dune in Europe. It’s a fascinating landscape that forces you to slow down at once.

Kick off your shoes, grab a chilled glass of local white wine and watch as the receding water reveals the traditional oyster farms. Although the bay is hugely popular with locals, foreign travellers often unfairly overlook it. That gives you the perfect chance to experience a completely authentic French holiday.

TL;DR

  • Europe’s largest dune: The Dune du Pilat is an absolute must, but in summer be ready to climb it early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the scorching sand and the crowds.
  • Traffic jams: In July and August the whole area grinds to a halt, so the best way to get around is by bike or by the boat ferries that cross the bay.
  • A cyclist’s paradise: Hundreds of kilometres of perfectly flat, beautifully maintained cycle paths run around the entire bay, tucked into the shade of the pines.
  • Two faces of the water: Inside the bay you’ll find calm, shallow water ideal for families, while on the outer side of the Cap Ferret peninsula the wild Atlantic roars, made for surfers.
  • Oyster culture: Don’t go looking for fancy restaurants — the best oysters are served in simple wooden huts right by the water in the town of Gujan-Mestras.
  • Train from Bordeaux: You can reach the town of Arcachon from the centre of Bordeaux very comfortably on a direct train in under an hour, saving you a lot of parking headaches.
  • Architecture: The town of Arcachon will captivate you with its Ville d’Hiver district, full of incredibly ornate nineteenth-century Belle Époque villas.

When to visit Arcachon Bay

This fascinating coast lives above all for summer, but that absolutely doesn’t make summer the best time to visit. The French school holidays typically begin in early July and last a long eight weeks. Around the first of August in particular, when the traditional changeover of holiday slots known as the chassé-croisé takes place, the area is bursting at the seams and the infrastructure is heading for collapse. Temperatures at this time of year climb well above thirty degrees and a trip up the sand dune turns into a genuine test of physical endurance. In summer Arcachon Bay becomes a refuge for the residents of nearby Bordeaux as well as wealthy Parisians, so accommodation prices shoot up and restaurant reservations are essential even several days in advance.

If you want the bay, the majestic dune and the authentic oyster farms all to yourself, plan your trip for May, June or September instead. The Atlantic water is admittedly a touch cooler in those months, but the sun already packs an enormous punch and the car parks at the main sights stand pleasantly empty. In the wooden cabanes of Gujan-Mestras you can also chat in complete peace with the local farmers, who have far more time outside the high season. Getting to the region itself is very easy: simply hop on a flight to nearby Bordeaux airport — easyJet and British Airways both fly there directly from London — and then continue on a comfortable direct TER train straight to the coast, avoiding the need to rent a car altogether.

Whenever you go, always keep a careful eye on the tide tables, as they fundamentally shape how the whole bay works. At low tide the water disappears entirely from the lagoon in many places, so instead of swimming you can walk hundreds of metres across the soft sand and watch the little crabs. Arcachon Bay simply isn’t a destination to whizz through in a single afternoon — it’s a place that asks for your time and a slow pace. One curious fact: by old tradition, the local oysters taste best in the months whose French names contain the letter R, which means roughly from September to April.

Where to stay in Arcachon and Cap Ferret

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for places to stay on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation terms. For tickets, tours and activities it pays to compare and book through GetYourGuide.

Where exactly you lay your head on this coast will fundamentally shape your whole holiday. The entire area around the lagoon can be driven fairly easily, but because of those summer jams it’s far smarter to pick just one side of the bay as your strategic base and explore it thoroughly. Although accommodation across the region is fairly pricey and vanishes quickly in summer, you can choose from several very different locations depending on the kind of holiday you actually prefer.

Right in the historic town of Arcachon you’ll find the best infrastructure, plenty of shops and a direct rail link to Bordeaux. It’s the ideal spot if you’re travelling without a car and want everything within walking distance. For lovers of elegance and luxury, the historic Hôtel Ville d’Hiver is a perfect choice, set in one of the gorgeous Belle Époque buildings of the old quarter and offering a beautiful garden with a pool. A night for two here usually costs around €250 to €300, but if you’re after something more affordable, look for smaller family-run guesthouses in the flat area near the beach, which you can easily book through Booking.

If you’re drawn more to a rawer, more authentic atmosphere, stay in the heart of oyster country in Gujan-Mestras. Here you’ll have the best wooden cabanes literally around the corner and the evenings flow at a far slower pace. A lovely place to unwind is, for example, the peaceful La Guérinière hotel, hidden in a pine forest near the harbours and offering a wonderful escape from the summer bustle. The downside of this location is that you’re quite far from the big Atlantic beaches and have to travel to reach the wild ocean.

On the opposite side of the bay lies the Cap Ferret peninsula, synonymous with understated French luxury, a bohemian vibe and kilometres of endless beaches. Accommodation here is by far the most expensive in the whole region. A great choice for anyone who wants to soak up the local atmosphere in full is the iconic Hôtel des Dunes, which offers stylish rooms just a few steps from the roaring ocean. Just remember that Cap Ferret has only a single access road, the D106, so once you’ve made it here in summer it’s best to park the car for good and rely on a rented bike or the reliable boat ferries for the rest of your stay.

12 things to see and do in Arcachon and Cap Ferret

Let’s take a look together at the very best this fascinating Atlantic region has to offer. Get ready for an incredible contrast between endless sand dunes, deep pine forests and a churning ocean. Whether you decide to explore the whole lagoon by bike or prefer the comfortable boat cruises that you can often easily book in advance through popular sites like GetYourGuide, Arcachon Bay is guaranteed to win you over.

1. Conquering the giant sand wall of the Dune du Pilat

This place defies all logic and is guaranteed to take your breath away on your first visit. You’re driving through dense green pine forest, the smell of resin everywhere, and suddenly the trees just stop. In front of you rises a genuine golden wall over a hundred and ten metres tall, making it by a long way the largest sand dune in all of Europe. And it isn’t just some ordinary, motionless pile of sand — it’s a constantly moving, living organism that creeps slowly inland year after year, mercilessly swallowing the edges of the Landes forest.

The climb up will give you a proper workout, even though in peak summer the installed plastic steps make it easier. You’ll sink into the sand and your calves will start to burn for sure, but the moment you reach the ridge itself you’ll understand why millions of people come here every year. The view is utterly phenomenal: on one side you have the endless blue ocean with the sandy shallows of the lagoon below you, while on the other a dark green carpet of forest stretches as far as the eye can see. The contrast of these colours is so sharp that the whole scene looks more like a perfect photomontage than a real landscape.

💡 Tip: During July and August over ten thousand visitors arrive here every day, so the main paid car park is hopelessly full between 11am and 5pm. To save your nerves, leave the car for free near Petit Nice beach or along the Corniche road, from where you can walk to the dune through the forest. The sand also heats up so much during the day that it literally burns your soles, so plan your visit for early morning or late evening, when you’ll catch the most beautiful sunset with the sun’s disc disappearing into the Atlantic. If you’d like a detailed guide, read our separate article on the Dune du Pilat.

2. A stroll through the Ville d’Hiver district in Arcachon

The town of Arcachon itself is a captivating architectural gem, born in the nineteenth century as a luxury spa resort for the wealthy French elite. Its most striking part is without doubt the Ville d’Hiver district, the Winter Town, cleverly tucked away on a wooded hill above the coast. It was originally built for the well-to-do, who came here to treat tuberculosis and other respiratory ailments thanks to the beneficial combination of humid ocean air and fragrant pine oils said to have miraculous healing powers.

Here you’ll find more than three hundred stunning Belle Époque villas that compete with one another in eccentricity, size and lavishness of decoration. Each villa has its own name and a completely unique style, so houses inspired by Swiss chalets stand next to Moorish palaces and old English country manors with carved balconies and pointed turrets. Wandering these incredibly quiet, winding lanes feels like a literal journey back in time, to the days when ladies in elaborate gowns strolled the promenades with lace parasols.

💡 Tip: Don’t miss a visit to the beautiful Parc Mauresque, which sits right on top of the hill and is the perfect place for a short rest in the shade of the trees. From here a striking metal bridge leads to the Belvédère observatory, and if you climb this old lookout tower you’ll be treated to a breathtaking panoramic view over the whole town and the blue bay far below. You don’t even have to climb up to the Winter Town on foot — you can easily get there via the historic public lift straight from the centre.

3. A boat trip to the Île aux Oiseaux and the huts on stilts

Right in the middle of Arcachon Bay lies the mysterious Bird Island, in French the Île aux Oiseaux, which is an absolute phenomenon. Its size changes dramatically with the tides, so while at high water it looks like a small patch of green land, at low tide it transforms into a vast mudflat that attracts thousands of migratory birds searching for food. The island is a strictly protected nature reserve you can’t freely set foot on, so the best way to see it up close is from the deck of an excursion boat.

The absolutely iconic symbol of the whole bay, the one you’ll see on every other postcard in the souvenir shops, is the pair of wooden huts on tall stilts known as the Cabanes Tchanquées. These wonderfully photogenic structures stand right in the water near the island and originally served as watchtowers over the oyster farms, deterring thieves who stole the precious oysters under cover of darkness. Today they’re abandoned, but they still proudly withstand the waves and wind, looking incredibly romantic.

💡 Tip: From the main harbour in Arcachon and from the smaller jetties on the Cap Ferret peninsula, dozens of excursion boats set out every day to take you on a roughly two-hour loop around the island. During the trip the captain will explain in detail how the bay’s complex ecosystem works, and you’ll get to see both huts on stilts really close up. It’s best to plan the trip for the approaching high tide, when the boats can sail nearest to the wooden structures and the photos look their best.

4. Gujan-Mestras and the authentic “cabanes” culture

If you want to experience the true soul of the whole region, you absolutely must visit the small town of Gujan-Mestras on the southern shore of the lagoon. This is where the heart of the enormous oyster production beats, because the town boasts no fewer than seven small harbours strung like beads along the shore, with constant lively activity. Don’t expect any gleaming yachts or luxury restaurants with white tablecloths and silver cutlery here, though — the locals pride themselves on absolute simplicity.

The entire culture of the bay plays out in the so-called cabanes — simple, often very brightly coloured wooden shacks belonging to the local oyster farmers, the ostréiculteurs. Around them, old fishing nets, metal cages, heaps of empty shells and traditional flat-bottomed boats stranded in the mud at low tide lie everywhere. It’s an incredibly raw, authentic and beautiful setting where people sit on plain plastic chairs or rough wooden benches, chat with friends and enjoy the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere by the water.

💡 Tip: Take a slow walk around the best-known harbours such as Port de Larros or the quieter Port de la Canal. In the first of these, Port de Larros, you’ll also find the excellent Maison de l’Huître museum, where for around €6 you’ll learn absolutely everything about the demanding work of the farmers. You’ll discover just how complex the whole farming process is and how long it takes for a tiny larva to grow into a grown-up delicacy ready to be served.

5. Tasting oysters vs. vegetarian delights

A visit to the wooden cabanes in Gujan-Mestras and the bay’s other picturesque harbours is all about absolute culinary simplicity. The menu usually offers just one single thing: freshly pulled oysters from the local farms, served here without any fuss in plastic baskets. Seafood lovers reach an absolute gastronomic peak here, because thanks to the specific mixing of fresh water from the local rivers and salt water from the Atlantic, the seafood here has a completely unique, gently sweet and slightly nutty taste. A portion of half a dozen costs roughly €10 to €15 and is served entirely traditionally with just a wedge of lemon, a slice of rye bread with salted butter and a glass of chilled wine.

But if you don’t eat meat or seafood, don’t despair at all — you certainly won’t miss out on the amazing experience of sitting right by the water. The farmers in the cabanes usually don’t cook any elaborate hot dishes besides oysters and prawns, but they always have fantastic vegetarian alternatives up their sleeve. After all, France is the land of superb cheeses, so they’ll very happily put together a generous board of local specialities, offer a crusty fresh baguette, a bowl of marinated olives and, of course, the excellent local white Entre-Deux-Mers wine from the nearby Bordeaux wine region.

💡 Tip: Although oysters are eaten in the bay essentially year-round, the old French rule says they taste best in the months whose names contain the letter R — that is, from September to April. In the summer months they naturally reproduce and take on a so-called milky texture. For you as a visitor, though, the most important thing is to sit in a cabane at sunset, slice off some ripe Camembert and savour the true French art of living, for which you need no luxury whatsoever.

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Where to stay in Arcachon and Cap Ferret
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6. The Cap Ferret peninsula and its bohemian luxury

On the opposite side of the lagoon stretches the long, very narrow Cap Ferret peninsula, an absolute chapter all of its own. While the famous south of France often shouts with showy luxury, gigantic yachts and pricey boutiques, Cap Ferret has perfected the art of understated wealth. Famous French celebrities, artists and the rich Parisian set come here to unwind, but at first glance you probably wouldn’t even notice, because the atmosphere here is incredibly relaxed, almost bohemian.

Nobody wears expensive tailored suits or high heels here — everyone, without exception, prefers comfortable canvas trainers, loose linen shirts and straw hats. People don’t drive around in noisy supercars either; the main means of transport is the humble bicycle, ideally a little weathered and fitted with a practical wicker basket on the handlebars. The whole peninsula is gloriously scented with pine needles, and you’ll find charming oyster villages like L’Herbe, a labyrinth of narrow sandy lanes and little wooden houses sunk in dense greenery.

💡 Tip: Set aside a whole day to explore Cap Ferret. Hire a bike at one of the many rental shops as soon as you arrive and explore the extensive network of forest trails. Cycling through the shade of the fragrant pines, stopping occasionally for a coffee in a tiny tucked-away village and soaking up that wonderfully relaxed energy is exactly why people keep coming back. Renting a bike for the whole day costs roughly €18 to €20 and gives you complete freedom of movement.

7. Views from the Phare du Cap Ferret lighthouse

The most prominent landmark of the whole peninsula, and a great point of orientation, is the beautiful Phare du Cap Ferret lighthouse. Its red-and-white tip proudly peeks high above the pine canopy and unerringly guides the ships passing through the treacherous mouth of the bay, where strong currents mingle. The current structure dates from 1947, because the original historic lighthouse was sadly completely destroyed by retreating German troops at the very end of the Second World War.

If you’ve got enough energy in your legs, by all means head inside and climb the exactly 258 spiral steps to the gallery itself. Your reward for the physical effort will be an absolutely breathtaking 360-degree view in every direction, showing you the region from a bird’s-eye perspective. You’ll see how the deep blue waters of the Atlantic dramatically mix and collide with the calmer currents from the bay, and directly opposite, in all its enormous golden glory, rises the monumental wall of the Dune du Pilat.

💡 Tip: Admission to the lighthouse tower costs an adult around €8, and in the summer months it’s open to visitors until late in the evening. On the ground floor you’ll also find a very nicely done little interactive exhibition that reveals the fascinating history of mapping the bay and the complex development of maritime navigation in this rather dangerous area full of constantly shifting sandbanks.

8. Wild ocean beaches vs. the calm waters of the bay

The Cap Ferret peninsula offers one huge, completely unique geographical advantage you won’t easily find anywhere else in France. In just ten minutes of walking or a short bike ride you can cross from one entirely different watery world into another. This wonderful duality makes the area an absolutely ideal destination for larger groups of friends or families with very different ideas of the perfect swim and how to spend their free time.

On the western side of the peninsula, facing directly towards the American coast, stretch kilometres of wild Atlantic beaches such as the popular Plage du Truc Vert or the sprawling Plage du Grand Crohot. Here huge waves crash with a deafening roar, a strong wind blows and these endless beaches are a paradise for experienced surfers and lovers of untamed nature. The water is noticeably colder and the currents can be treacherous. The eastern side facing the bay, by contrast, offers calm, quickly sun-warmed and shallow water that is perfectly safe even for small children.

💡 Tip: If you head out to swim at the ocean beaches, always strictly respect the lifeguards’ flag signals and swim only in the marked, supervised zones. The Atlantic currents known as “baïnes” are very specific, creating invisible channels that can easily and unexpectedly drag an inattentive swimmer away from the shore. For a calm beach day with a good book, always choose a sheltered cove on the eastern side instead.

9. Cycling the Vélodyssée trail

Arcachon Bay is an absolute, genuine paradise for all lovers of cycling, even for those who never normally ride a bike at home. This whole coastal area is laced with more than 200 kilometres of superbly maintained, completely safe cycle paths that are strictly separated from car traffic. The terrain is absolutely flat, so you won’t even break a sweat in the summer heat, and most routes run through the merciful shade of the fragrant pine forests, which provide wonderful coolness.

The famous European long-distance Vélodyssée cycle route also runs straight through the area, stretching along the entire French Atlantic coast from north to south. You can take a lovely full-day trip from the centre of Arcachon all the way to the foot of the sand dune, or slowly weave between the colourful oyster harbours in Gujan-Mestras. The bike simply gives you complete freedom and lets you stop at every hidden beach, viewpoint or café you happen to discover along the way.

💡 Tip: You’ll find literally dozens of bike rental shops in every smaller town, and besides classic town bikes with baskets they also offer popular e-bikes, special fat bikes for deep sand or trailers for younger children. Just watch out for the strong pine roots that sometimes dangerously lift the asphalt on older sections of the paths, and in peak summer respect basic courtesy, because the cycle paths can get genuinely extremely busy.

10. Across the bay by ferry, escaping the traffic jams

It all sounds like a perfect summer paradise, but the whole area has one huge weakness already mentioned in the introduction. The hugely popular Cap Ferret peninsula in particular is connected to the mainland by just a single main road, the D106. When French domestic demand goes wild in July and August and everyone heads for the coast, this narrow road turns into an endless and incredibly frustrating car park. A drive that would take forty minutes on a quiet spring day can stretch out to a gruelling three hours of crawling along in a queue during the summer peak, reliably ruining your mood.

Fortunately, there’s a brilliant — and very romantic — solution to avoid this problem entirely. Forget the car completely and use the system of boat ferries, the so-called navettes maritimes, reliably run by the local company UBA. These smaller boats constantly criss-cross the bay back and forth, connecting the town of Arcachon with the Cap Ferret peninsula in a pleasant thirty-minute crossing. It’s not only practical, but you also get a beautiful scenic cruise out in the fresh air.

💡 Tip: A standard one-way ferry ticket costs an adult roughly €9, and in the busy summer season the boats shuttle back and forth from early morning until late evening at regular intervals. For a small surcharge the crew will gladly take your rented bike on board, so you can easily combine cycling on both sides of the lagoon without having to sit behind the wheel and stress in the jams for even a second.

11. Ice cream and the promenade in Le Moulleau

If you’re exploring the southern side of the bay towards the majestic dune, be sure to stop, at least briefly, in the charming Le Moulleau district. It was originally a completely separate little fishing village that today forms the westernmost and at the same time most elegant suburb of Arcachon itself. It’s a very popular and chic spot where both locals and tourists love to come for evening walks, shopping in small independent boutiques and long sit-downs on the terraces of stylish bars.

The main architectural landmark of this district is the beautiful historic church of Notre-Dame des Passes, which stands proudly on top of the hill and looks down over the long promenade leading all the way to the wooden pier. From this pier, in good weather, you’ll get an absolutely wonderful and direct view across the water straight to the Phare du Cap Ferret lighthouse, which stands exactly on the opposite shore of the lagoon and blinks into the night.

💡 Tip: Your visit to Le Moulleau definitely wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the legendary ice-cream parlour Le Sorbet d’Amour. This famous local brand was founded right here in the bay back in 1935 and offers dozens of absolutely fantastic and very original fruit and cream flavours. In summer there are usually long queues of waiting customers, but the wait is well worth it for a big scoop of excellent, honest, artisanal sorbet.

12. Peace and birdwatching in the Prés Salés reserve

While the vast majority of visitors focus on conquering the dune or the peninsula’s beaches, the northern tip of the lagoon hides an absolute natural treasure where you’re guaranteed to find the peace you crave, even in the middle of the craziest summer season. The beautiful Prés Salés nature reserve lies between the villages of Arès and Lège and is a vast expanse of untouched salt marshes and bogs that floods regularly with salt water from the ocean twice a day.

It’s a fascinating, quiet landscape full of narrow channels, tall waving grass and little wooden bridges that at first glance feels almost harshly Nordic. The reserve serves as an enormous, protected refuge for a wide variety of bird species, making it a real paradise for keen birdwatchers and lovers of utter silence. As you walk along the well-marked dusty trails you can watch elegant herons, storks and tiny waders up close, patiently hunting for food in the shallow pools.

💡 Tip: Visit this picturesque reserve ideally early in the morning, when a light mist very often hangs over the salt marshes and the whole area has an utterly magical, photogenic atmosphere. Entry to the site is completely free and the marked routes are very easy, so this trip is perfect even for families with younger children who don’t mind a bit of slow walking on absolutely flat terrain, far from the crowds.

Where to go next from Arcachon and Cap Ferret

Although you can easily spend a whole week in the bay, the surrounding region offers more great places it would be a shame to miss. If you’re looking for a contrast to the wild nature, head inland and explore wonderful Bordeaux. This elegant city with its monumental architecture and the renowned Cité du Vin wine museum is just an hour away and offers an absolutely top-class gastronomic and cultural experience.

If, on the other hand, you’re drawn to the wild ocean and want to keep exploring the Atlantic coast south towards the Spanish border, you definitely can’t miss Biarritz. This once-royal resort has reinvented itself as the European capital of surfing, where majestic cliffs and historic palaces meet the laid-back culture of wetsuit-clad surfers. The atmosphere of the Basque coast is, once again, completely different from Arcachon Bay and well worth a separate trip.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need to explore Arcachon Bay?

Reserve at least three full days for a basic exploration of both sides of the bay and climbing the dune. If you also want to enjoy relaxing on the beaches, bike rides, and leisurely tastings in the cabanes, it’s ideal to spend five to seven days in the area so you don’t have to rush anywhere.

Is the water in the lagoon suitable for swimming?

Yes, the water inside the bay is very shallow, protected from the large ocean waves, and thanks to this it warms up much faster in summer. It’s absolutely ideal and safe for families with small children. You just need to keep an eye on the tide tables, because at low tide the water completely disappears from many of the beaches in the lagoon.

How’s the ocean temperature at the outer beaches?

The Atlantic is quite refreshing even in the hot summer. On the beaches on the western side of the Cap Ferret peninsula or below the dune, the water temperature in July and August usually ranges between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius. Moreover, strong winds often blow here and there are large waves.

Can I bring a dog to Dune du Pilat?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the dune, but they must be kept on a leash at all times. However, keep in mind the intense summer heat. The sand gets so scorching hot during the day that it could seriously burn your dog’s paws, so only take your pets to the dune early in the morning or late in the evening.

Do I absolutely need a car in the area?

If you stay right in the town of Arcachon, you won’t need a car at all. You can get here by train from Bordeaux and move around the area on foot, by rental bike, on local buses, or by using the boat ferries across the bay. Without a car, you’ll even avoid the huge stress of traffic jams during the summer season.

When is the best season for oysters?

Although the Arcachon Bay is a summer destination, the traditional French rule says that oysters are best in months containing the letter “R” (from September to April). During summer (June to August), oysters reproduce and can be so-called “milky” with a different texture, though they are sold and consumed here year-round.

Are there mosquitoes in the area?

Unfortunately yes, especially due to the pine forests, marshes, and stagnant waters around the lagoon. During warm summer evenings, particularly in areas with less wind circulation, mosquitoes can be very annoying. Definitely pack a quality insect repellent in your suitcase and ideally look for accommodation with screens on the windows.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Bay of Kotor & Perast: 12 Things to See and Do

TL;DRThe Bay of Kotor and Perast pair dramatic scenery with baroque architecture, and there’s plenty to plan around. Take a boat from Perast (around €5) out to the artificial island of Gospa od Škrpjela, climb St Nicholas’s bell tower for a view for €2, check out the ancient mosaics at Risan (€5 entry), or tackle the P1’s 25 hairpin bends up Mount Lovćen for a proper adrenaline hit. There are 12 tips here in total, covering day trips, swimming spots and where to stay around Perast and Dobrota. June or mid-September are the best times to come, with sea temperatures of 22–25°C and fewer crowds. Parking in Perast runs €8–€15 a day in season, so it’s worth turning up before eight in the morning.

The Bay of Kotor in Montenegro is one of those places that absolutely disarms you in photos, yet in reality is even more majestic than you could ever imagine. Picture steep limestone peaks plunging straight into the deep blue waters of the sea, with tiny stone towns of flawless Venetian architecture nestled between them. Although this bay is fondly nicknamed the southernmost fjord in Europe, geologically it’s actually a flooded river canyon, or ria. That takes nothing away from its dramatic beauty, though, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of a romantic period film.

The shining pearl of the entire bay is undoubtedly Perast, a miniature Baroque town that has preserved its ancient maritime atmosphere and the charm of bygone days to this very day. In this article I’ll walk you through the bay, its little islands and the legendary Our Lady of the Rocks, so you can make the most of your holiday in Montenegro. I’ll show you where to catch the best view, how to dodge the summer crowds, and where to find that genuine local atmosphere without the tourist gloss.

Beyond the sights and day trips, we’ll also cover purely practical matters like transport and accommodation, because parking in Perast can be quite a headache in high season. Pack a comfortable pair of shoes for exploring the old donkey trails and don’t forget your swimwear, though I’ll be honest with you up front: don’t expect classic sandy beaches here. The Bay of Kotor is simply its own thing, utterly unique, and guaranteed to stay etched in your memory.

TL;DR

  • The man-made island of Our Lady of the Rocks is the area’s main draw; a boat ride from Perast costs around €5 return.
  • Parking in Perast is paid in season (around €8 to €15) and spaces vanish fast, so aim to arrive before 8 a.m.
  • The best view of the town and the bay is from the bell tower of St Nicholas’ Church, which you can climb for a symbolic €2.
  • Swimming in the Bay of Kotor happens mostly off concrete jetties and small pebbles, and the water tends to be cooler thanks to underwater springs.
  • The historic town of Risan hides unique ancient Roman mosaics that the cruise-ship crowds rarely stumble upon.
  • Adrenaline and the most spectacular panoramas await on the old serpentine P1 road that climbs from Kotor up to Lovćen.

When to visit the Bay of Kotor and Perast

If you want to experience the bay at its very best, come in June or mid-September, when the sea has warmed beautifully to 22 to 25 degrees. In these months you’ll enjoy gorgeous summer weather while still dodging the worst price spikes and the unmanageable crowds. May and October, meanwhile, I’d recommend to anyone coming mainly for photography and hiking, because pleasant temperatures without the scorching heat are absolutely ideal for climbing into the hills.

During the peak season in July and August, expect the Bay of Kotor to be bursting at the seams under the influx of passengers from giant cruise ships, which mostly dock in nearby Kotor. This is when long tailbacks form on the coastal road and accommodation prices climb to their annual highs. One intriguing exception worth a summer visit is the traditional Fašinada festival, held every year on 22 July, which offers a truly unique glimpse of local culture in action.

Perast itself is at its most magical early in the morning or in the early evening after 5 p.m., when the day-trippers have left and the town sinks into calm. A morning visit also has one huge advantage: the availability of parking near the entrances to town, because after nine you often won’t find a single free space. Out of season from November to April the parking barriers are usually open and parking is free, but plenty of businesses are closed during this time.

Where to stay in Perast and around

💡 Accommodation and experiences tip: We love searching for places to stay on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation terms. For tickets, tours and activities, it pays to compare and book through GetYourGuide.

Perast really is a tiny town, so the choice of quality accommodation is limited, but all the more boutique and romantic for it. The absolute top of the range is Heritage Grand Perast, a sprawling five-star hotel set in the carefully restored 18th-century Smekja Palace right on the water. If you’re after perfect romance with a view of the islands and top-class spa facilities, this historic gem is the best possible choice you can book through Booking.

Another excellent option right in the heart of town is Hotel Conte, which has racked up hundreds of glowing reviews and offers apartments scattered across historic buildings throughout Perast. This four-star hotel has its own restaurant right on the water, where you can enjoy superb pasta or vegetable salads with an unforgettable view. A touch more affordable but still beautifully stylish is Vila Perast Boutique Hotel, located close to the Orthodox church and offering excellent value for money and a great location.

If you’d rather have more peace and quiet and don’t mind a five-to-fifteen-minute drive, look for accommodation in the wider Dobrota area near Kotor. The luxurious boutique Forza Mare is gorgeous, with a private beach and an intimate atmosphere away from the busiest hustle. History buffs will surely appreciate Palazzo Radomiri Heritage Boutique Hotel, a Baroque palace with its own jetty, or the stunning stone-built Casa del Mare Pietra, known for its very personal approach to guests.

12 things to see and do in the Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor offers a huge range of experiences, from exploring old palaces to demanding mountain treks. I’ve put together twelve specific tips to help you plan the perfect itinerary and discover even those spots the average cruise-ship tourist usually never reaches.

1. Perast: a car-free town and Baroque palaces

Perast was once a significant maritime power, and legend has it that even Russian Tsar Peter the Great sent his cadets here to train at the local naval academy. Crammed onto just four hundred metres of seafront promenade are 16 churches and 17 grand palaces, which make the whole place feel like a scaled-down version of famous Venice. A key advantage is that the main road doesn’t run through the centre – cars stay in the car parks at the edge, so the core keeps its wonderfully calm, pedestrian feel.

As you stroll around, you can’t miss the majestic Smekja Palace, built from white stone from the Croatian island of Korčula, or the Zmajević Palace with its rare octagonal bell tower beside a private chapel. Sadly, most of these buildings can’t be entered, but one exception is the beautiful Bujović Palace, which today houses the Perast Museum, with admission around €2 to €3. Inside you’ll find fascinating collections recalling the rich maritime history of this unassuming Montenegrin gem.

💡 Tip: When you get hungry while exploring the lanes, stop in at one of the waterfront restaurants. Although the local konobas are famous mainly for their fish specialities, vegetarians will happily tuck into excellent pizza margherita, cheesy pasta or fresh grilled vegetables with local cheeses.

2. St Nicholas’ bell tower: the best view

On Perast’s main square stands St Nicholas’ Church, which was historically never completed but boasts a magnificent 55-metre-high bell tower. While the crowds of tourists parade along the promenade below, you can climb the narrow spiral stairs all the way to the very top of this landmark for a symbolic €2. The way up is a little cramped, but the view that opens out at the top is absolutely worth the effort.

From the tower’s gallery a perfect 360-degree panorama unfolds before you, taking in the whole inner Bay of Kotor, the Verige Strait and the forested slopes of the surrounding mountains. Most importantly, you’ll get the best bird’s-eye view of both of Perast’s famous islands – something the people on the cruise-ship deck never see. The vivid blue dome of the church on Our Lady of the Rocks, set against the dark surface of the sea, looks utterly fantastic from this height.

3. Our Lady of the Rocks: a man-made island with a legend

Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) is a genuine global rarity, because it’s the only artificially created island in the entire Adriatic Sea. According to an old legend, local sailors found an icon of the Virgin Mary on a lonely reef here on 22 July 1452, and after one of them was miraculously healed they began, out of gratitude, to throw stones onto the spot. Building the island took centuries, and over the years the locals sank not only stones but old retired ships filled with gravel.

Today’s Baroque church with its iconic blue dome hides an enormously rich interior, dominated by nearly seventy canvases by the painter Tripo Kokolja. Absolutely breathtaking is the collection of more than 2,500 silver votive plaques, which sailors brought here in thanks for being saved from storms and pirates. Entry to the church and the small adjoining museum costs around €2 to €3, and it’s usually open daily from nine in the morning until six in the evening.

💡 Tip: In the museum, don’t miss the famous embroidered icon, which one local woman, according to legend, worked on for a full 25 years while waiting for her husband to return from the sea, gradually weaving in her own greying hair as she went.

4. Boat trip to the island: tickets and prices

Getting to Our Lady of the Rocks is very easy, and from Perast it costs far less than the overpriced trips organised out of Kotor. Right by the main promenade, small taxi boats shuttle back and forth constantly, taking you there and back for an indicative price of €5 per person. The ride itself takes about five minutes, and you simply buy tickets in cash from the boatmen on the jetty, so there’s no need to bother with any complicated online bookings.

Seasoned travellers recommend not being lured into all-in packages and instead using these local ferrymen, as they’ll happily wait while you explore the whole island at your own pace. With some operators the price can creep up to around €10 at the height of summer, but it’s still a very affordable experience. Don’t forget to bring plenty of small coins, as card payment usually isn’t possible on these little boats.

5. Sveti Đorđe: the natural island of the dead

Right next to the artificial Our Lady of the Rocks lies its natural counterpart, the mysterious island of Sveti Đorđe (St George), recognisable at a glance by its tall cypress trees. On the island stands an old Benedictine monastery whose origins reach back to the early Middle Ages, along with an ancient cemetery where Perast’s nobility were buried for centuries. It’s tied to a melancholy tale of a French soldier named Anto and a local girl called Katica from the harsh days of the Napoleonic Wars.

Unlike its neighbour, Sveti Đorđe is strictly off-limits to the general public, as it’s a working monastery complex and a place of remembrance. You can therefore only admire it from the outside – from the deck of a passing boat or from the height of Perast’s bell tower. The contrast between the dark green, silent island of the dead and the bright blue island of Our Lady, lively with tourists, makes for an utterly fascinating visual and emotional experience.

6. A boat tour of the whole bay and the Blue Cave

If you want to grasp the sheer scale and beauty of the entire bay, the best way is to take a boat tour around the whole Bay of Kotor. Group trips start at around €25 to €30 per person, while a private speedboat for a smaller group can be hired from roughly €80 to €90 per boat. These cruises usually last two to three hours, and most depart conveniently from the large marina in Kotor, though you can find shorter versions in Perast too.

On a classic tour you’ll see Our Lady of the Rocks, pass the old submarine tunnels from Yugoslav times and view the island fortress of Mamula, now a luxury hotel. The highlight of the programme is usually a visit to the gorgeous Blue Cave (Plava špilja) on the Luštica peninsula, where sunbeams underwater create an incredibly luminous blue glow, and where there’s often time set aside for a short and very refreshing swim.

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Lukáš and Lucie recommend
Where to Stay in the Bay of Kotor and Perast
6 accommodations — hotels, wellness hotels and other lodging options

7. Risan: the oldest settlement and Roman mosaics

Just a five-minute drive from Perast lies the unassuming town of Risan, demonstrably the oldest settlement in the entire Bay of Kotor. The famous Illyrian Queen Teuta once resided here, but the main reason to come today is the fantastically preserved floor mosaics from the ancient Roman Villa Urbana, dating to the 2nd century AD. It’s the only surviving Roman monument of its kind in all of Montenegro, and the crowds of tourists often have no idea it exists.

The greatest treasure of the whole site is a unique colourful mosaic of Hypnos, the god of sleep, one of the world’s true rarities, as only a tiny handful of similar depictions have survived. Admission to the grounds is a very pleasant €5 for adults, while children under twelve get in completely free. Bear in mind, though, that the site is usually open from around April to October, and watch out for the fact that it’s closed on Mondays and throughout January.

8. Morinj: Little Venice and cold springs

Halfway between Kotor and Herceg Novi hides the picturesque village of Morinj, famous for its dense network of karst springs, streams and historic water mills. This green, shady area is often nicknamed Mala Venecija, or Little Venice, and thanks to its tall chestnut woods it offers a perfect refuge from the summer heat. It’s an oasis of calm in the midst of an otherwise quite busy and hot tourist destination.

The local pebble beach in the Donji Morinj area is partly shaded by mature chestnut trees, but be aware that the water here is unusually cold even in the height of August, precisely because of all the underwater freshwater springs. If you come in spring or after heavier rains, you can also admire the cascading Sopot waterfall above the village, though it often dries up completely after a hot, dry summer.

💡 Tip: Morinj is home to the famous Ćatovića Mlini restaurant, set in an old olive mill. The place is renowned above all for its fish specialities, but the setting itself, with its little ponds and old architecture, is worth a short stroll even if you’re not planning to go in for a lavish lunch.

9. Gornji Stoliv: a trek to an abandoned village

While coastal Donji Stoliv with its Baroque church sits right by the water, the real adventure begins with the climb up to the old abandoned village of Gornji Stoliv, perched high in the hills above the bay. The way up takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes along an old stone donkey trail that winds through terraced gardens and ancient chestnut forest. The route is technically easy and well marked, but be prepared for a steady, steep climb the whole way.

When you reach an altitude of 260 metres, you’re greeted by the stone ruins of abandoned houses and the beautiful, still-maintained Church of St Elijah, whose origins reach back to the 14th century. Locals say it’s one of the loveliest churches in the bay, and on top of that an absolutely breathtaking panoramic view of the whole bay opens up from here. Don’t forget to bring plenty of drinking water and sturdy footwear, as the trail can get quite slippery after rain.

10. The Verige Strait: the narrowest point of the bay

As you travel around the bay you’ll surely notice the spot where it dramatically narrows and the shores draw together to just around 350 metres apart. This strait is called Verige, an old word for the massive iron chains that were once stretched from shore to shore here in times of greatest danger. Their main purpose was to seal off the rich inner bay at night and protect towns like Kotor and Perast from sudden raids by feared pirates and enemy fleets.

Historically this spot also served as a tense border between the Christian towns of the inner bay and Ottoman territory around Herceg Novi. Today it’s above all a fantastic photo spot that beautifully explains why the bay so strongly resembles a Nordic fjord – it’s right here that the body of water pinches in and then opens out wide again into another hidden cove. The best views of the strait are right from the main road connecting Kotor and Risan.

11. The P1 serpentines to Lovćen: epic views

If you’ve got nerves of steel and don’t suffer from vertigo, head up from Kotor along the old historic P1 road, which climbs the steep slopes towards Lovćen National Park. This engineering oddity overcomes a huge elevation gain in under eight kilometres and consists of 25 sharply angled, numbered hairpin bends. Driving here demands great care, as the road is narrow and you frequently have to squeeze past oncoming tour buses.

But that little dose of adrenaline at the wheel pays off a hundredfold, because the best viewpoints begin roughly above the twentieth bend, where you’ll also find official observation spots. From this bird’s-eye perspective you’ll see the whole inner Bay of Kotor laid out before you, make out both of Perast’s islands, and glimpse the glittering open Adriatic in the distance. I’d recommend coming early in the morning or in the early evening, when the light is at its loveliest and traffic on the narrow road is far more bearable.

12. Swimming in the bay: concrete jetties and pebbles

When planning a holiday in the Bay of Kotor, you need realistic expectations about swimming here. You simply won’t find the classic endless sandy beaches – the bay is lined with steep mountains, and access to the water is mostly via purpose-built concrete jetties you jump from, or narrow strips of coarser pebbles. What’s more, the water in the inner parts of the bay doesn’t circulate as much and, thanks to those underwater springs, tends to be noticeably cooler than out on the open sea.

If you want to enjoy a really lovely swim in natural surroundings, head to shady Morinj or go all the way to the very mouth of the bay, where the more open pebble beaches of Žanjice and Mirište lie. For anyone craving fine sand and long beach promenades with sun loungers, the best bet is to leave the Bay of Kotor entirely and head, for example, to the Luštica peninsula, south towards Budva, or as far as the famous Velika Plaža near Ulcinj.

Where to go next from the Bay of Kotor

The Bay of Kotor has an absolutely ideal location for exploring more of Montenegro, sitting as it does on the border between high mountains and the open Adriatic Sea. If you have a car, definitely keep climbing into the hills after the serpentine drive and discover the old mountain village of Njeguši, or pop over to see the breathtaking mausoleum in Lovćen National Park. If you’re more drawn to swimming and nightlife, head south to nearby Budva, considered the hub of summer fun.

For more detailed inspiration on what else to see in this beautiful country, be sure to check out our big article Holiday in Montenegro: 15 tips for the coast and the mountains, where you’ll find plenty of tried-and-tested practical advice for more wonderful trips. You can use the bay as a great base for day trips out to national parks, canyons and other coastal gems.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a boat to Gospa od Škrpjela cost and where to buy it?

Small taxi boats shuttling from the pier in Perast cost approximately €5 per person for a return trip, with the journey itself taking about five minutes. Tickets are purchased exclusively in cash directly from the boatmen at the pier, which is much more advantageous than paying for large online tours. Entrance to the church and museum on the island is paid separately and costs around €2 to €3.

Can you also visit the second island, Sveti Đorđe?

No, the island of Sveti Đorđe is completely closed to the general public, as it’s a functioning Benedictine monastery with an ancient and protected cemetery of Perast’s nobility. You can only admire its ancient walls and characteristic tall cypresses from the outside—from a passing boat or from above at St. Nicholas’ bell tower. Only the neighboring artificial island of Gospa od Škrpjela can be visited.

Where and how much does parking cost in Perast?

During the main summer season, the center is closed to passing cars and you park at two paid parking lots at both entrances to the town, for which you’ll pay approximately €8 per day or €15 for a full 24 hours, cash only. Outside the season these zones are usually free, but in summer I strongly recommend arriving before 8:00 AM, otherwise you almost certainly won’t find a free spot.

4. Is Boka Kotorská Really a Fjord?

Although the bay is fondly nicknamed “Europe’s southernmost fjord”, from a geological perspective it’s not a fjord at all. A classic fjord is always carved out by a massive moving glacier, whereas the Bay of Kotor is what’s called a ria—a submerged mouth of an ancient river canyon that was flooded by the rising sea. Visually, though, it really does strongly resemble a Nordic fjord thanks to the steep mountains plunging straight into the water.

5. When is the best time to visit Perast and Boka?

The best value for experiences is offered in the months of June and late September, when the sea is beautifully warm and summer weather prevails, but without extreme price peaks and tourist crowds. During July and August you need to prepare for the onslaught of cruise ships and frequent traffic jams, while May and October are absolutely ideal for photography and mountain hiking treks without the scorching heat.

6. What is Fašinada and when does it take place?

Fašinada is a beautiful traditional celebration that takes place every year on July 22nd in the evening hours, usually around half past six. Local men on festively decorated boats collectively throw stones into the sea around the island of Gospa od Škrpjela, symbolically continuing the construction of the island exactly as it has been done for centuries since 1452.

7. Is a boat tour around the entire Bay of Kotor worth it?

Definitely yes, if you want to see the bay from a completely different perspective and understand its enormous scale. Group tours start from approximately 25 to 30 € per person, last two to three hours and include Gospa, Perast, the old submarine tunnels and the popular Blue Cave. Most of these cruises conveniently depart from the large marina in nearby Kotor.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Vis Island, Croatia: 11 Tips + the Blue Cave in 2026

TL;DRVis, the remotest inhabited island in central Dalmatia, comes with 11 essential tips, including the Blue Cave on the islet of Biševo, Stiniva beach and the fishing town of Komiža. You can only reach the island by ferry or catamaran from Split (roughly 140 minutes or 80–120 minutes), and the best time to go is late May to late September, ideally June or the first half of September. In 2025, entry to the Blue Cave costs €24 per adult in high season (20 June–10 September) and €18 outside it — swimming inside isn’t allowed. For a place to stay, look at the harbour town of Vis (the Boutique Hotel San Giorgio is a good shout) or Komiža (Pomalo Inn), which is handiest for trips out to the cave.

Picture an island that was completely off-limits to foreign tourists for decades, which is exactly why it has kept its incredibly authentic and laid-back atmosphere to this day. That’s Vis island in Croatia in a nutshell — the most remote permanently inhabited island in central Dalmatia, and one that will charm you the moment you arrive. It’s no wonder filmmakers chose its romantic lanes and coves as the main backdrop for the popular musical Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Unlike its busier neighbouring islands, you won’t find any giant hotel complexes here — instead there are hidden coves with crystal-clear water and sleepy stone-built towns. You can only reach the island by ferry or catamaran from Split, which naturally filters out the summer crowds and guarantees a far more relaxed holiday. On top of that, the island hides a fascinating military history at its heart, which you can explore on adventurous excursions.

In this detailed guide you’ll find exactly 11 tips for interesting places you definitely shouldn’t miss when visiting Vis. We’ll look at the practical details of visiting the famous Blue Cave in 2026, I’ll help you pick a strategic base for your stay, and recommend the most beautiful beaches. Get ready — the magic of this island is simply impossible to resist.

TL;DR

  • The most remote paradise: Vis lies roughly 45 kilometres from the mainland and you reach it by ferry from Split in just under two and a half hours.
  • Military past: The island served as a naval base and was closed to foreigners until 1989, which protected it from mass tourism.
  • Film location: The second Mamma Mia film was shot in Komiža and Vis town, with the island standing in for the fictional Greek Kalokairi.
  • Blue Cave: Located on the neighbouring islet of Biševo, it’s the biggest tourist draw — there’s an entrance fee and swimming inside isn’t allowed.
  • The most beautiful beach: Stiniva cove, with its narrow gap between the cliffs, was named Europe’s most beautiful beach in 2016.
  • UNESCO Geopark: Since 2019 the whole archipelago has held the prestigious UNESCO Global Geopark status thanks to its unique volcanic rocks.

When to visit Vis island

The best time to visit the island is from late May to late September, when you can enjoy pleasant temperatures and swimming in beautifully clear water. If you want to avoid the biggest summer crowds and extreme heat, I’d recommend going in June or the first half of September. In these shoulder months the sea is already warm enough for comfortable swimming, but the famous beaches feel much more private and accommodation prices tend to be noticeably friendlier.

The main summer season traditionally falls in July and August, when the island comes fully to life and absolutely every service, restaurant and beach bar runs without restrictions. You’ll have to bear in mind, though, that temperatures often climb well above thirty degrees and long queues of cars form for the ferries. During this busy period the state company Jadrolinija runs ferries and catamarans up to four times a day, while out of season the link to the mainland drops to around three crossings a day.

From October to April the island largely settles into a deep winter sleep and many businesses shut their doors completely until spring. If you want to visit out of season, expect very limited services and unpredictable weather that can unexpectedly disrupt the boat services. The famous sea caves, including the Blue Cave, are strictly open to visitors only from April to early November.

You can only travel to the island from mainland Split, as there’s no direct scheduled connection with neighbouring islands such as Hvar or Brač. You can choose either the classic large ferry on route 602 for cars and foot passengers, which takes around 140 minutes, or the faster catamaran on route 9602 for foot passengers only. This catamaran covers the route in an hour and twenty minutes to two hours, and a one-way ticket in 2026 costs roughly €8.23. Coming from the UK, the easiest way is to fly into Split — British Airways, easyJet and Jet2 all run direct flights from London and several regional airports during the season — then transfer to the ferry port right in the city.

Where to stay on Vis island

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for places to stay on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation policies. For tickets, tours and activities, it pays to compare and book through GetYourGuide.

Surprisingly, you’ll find very few large accommodation options on the island — the direct legacy of long years of military isolation that lasted until 1989. Most visitors therefore naturally opt for private family apartments, romantic stone villas or a handful of smaller boutique hotels. Strategically, it makes sense to base yourself either in the main port town of Vis or in the slightly smaller fishing town of Komiža on the west coast.

Vis town is the ideal choice for anyone who wants all the conveniences within easy reach, since this is exactly where all the ferries from Split arrive. You’ll find the greatest concentration of excellent restaurants, car and scooter rentals, and a lovely long seafront promenade lined with palm trees. If you’re after a really stylish base, take a look at the Boutique Hotel San Giorgio, which offers gorgeous design rooms and a much-loved restaurant tucked away in the historic lanes just steps from the harbour.

Komiža, by contrast, offers a much more rustic and tranquil atmosphere of a typical Dalmatian fishing village, full of narrow passageways and colourful windows. The drive from the main harbour takes around twenty-five minutes, but you’ll be rewarded with picturesque corners and the absolute best starting point for boat trips to the Blue Cave. A really pleasant place to stay here is Pomalo Inn, a smaller modern guesthouse with an incredibly friendly family feel and a beautifully clean design.

Given the island’s very limited capacity, I strongly recommend booking your accommodation well in advance, ideally as early as the start of spring. You’ll always find some available apartments on the usual booking portals, but the very best ones with a sea view disappear at lightning speed. For apartments in the town centres, always carefully check whether they offer a dedicated parking space, because parking in the narrow one-way streets is often very tricky and frustrating.

11 things to see and do on Vis island

Let’s take a closer look at the 11 most interesting places and activities you definitely shouldn’t miss on the island. Ancient classical monuments, secret pebble beaches, breathtaking natural phenomena and local island cuisine you’re bound to fall in love with are all waiting for you.

1. The Blue Cave on Biševo islet

The Blue Cave, known to locals as Modra špilja, is without doubt the biggest tourist magnet in the whole of southern Dalmatia. It sits on the small neighbouring islet of Biševo, and its incredible magic comes from the sun’s rays passing through an underwater opening in the rock, turning the entire interior of the cave a vivid neon blue. This rare natural phenomenon draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world every year.

Trips into the cave run only from early April to early November, with the entrance fee changing depending on the season. In the high season of 2026, which runs from 20 June to 10 September, adults pay €24 for entry, while outside this peak the price drops to €18. The best light conditions inside occur between 9 am and 1 pm, so I’d recommend setting off early in the morning to avoid the wait, which in summer can stretch from ten minutes to two hours.

Remember that swimming is strictly forbidden inside the Blue Cave, both to protect the fragile environment and because of the heavy traffic of tour boats. The visit works like this: just outside the cave you transfer into a small wooden boat, you have to duck your head as you pass through the very low entrance, and you spend around five to ten minutes inside the cave itself. Because of strong southerly winds or a high tide, the cave can sometimes be closed to the public quite unexpectedly.

💡 Tip: You can very easily arrange tickets and complete tours with the many local agencies right on the waterfront in Komiža, or browse them at your leisure on portals like GetYourGuide.

2. Vis town and the remains of ancient Issa

The main town of Vis, where all the large ferries from the mainland arrive, is a fascinating blend of old Venetian architecture and deep ancient history. The town spreads picturesquely around a deep natural bay, and its long seafront promenade is lined with tall palm trees, cafés and luxurious moored yachts. On a quiet stroll through the narrow cobbled lanes you’ll come across old stone houses that have witnessed centuries of turbulent island history.

Few ordinary visitors realise that Vis is one of the very oldest permanently inhabited towns in all of Croatia. Its tangled roots reach back to the turn of the fourth century BC, when the famous Greek ruler Dionysius the Elder of Syracuse founded a powerful colony called Issa here, which long served as a hugely important trading hub for the entire Adriatic. Just a short way from today’s main harbour you can still calmly admire the massive remains of the original Greek walls.

If you’re interested in ancient history, be sure to take a closer look at the extensive remains of the Roman baths, located right next to the busy waterfront. On site you’ll see very well-preserved building floor plans, and occasionally you can even make out small fragments of the original colourful mosaics and ancient clay amphorae. The local archaeological museum, housed in the majestic Austrian fortress of Batarija, holds an enormous collection of fascinating finds from this famous era.

💡 Tip: The town has its best and most romantic atmosphere at dusk, when the setting sun turns the historic Venetian façades golden and locals slowly start to gather in the restaurants along the harbour.

3. The iconic Stiniva beach in its narrow cove

Stiniva cove, on the rugged southern coast of the island, is a visually stunning spot that from above looks like a giant natural rock amphitheatre. The entrance to the cove from the open sea is just five metres wide, and beyond it hides a beautiful little beach of very fine white pebbles, around forty metres long. It was precisely this utterly unique topography that earned Stiniva the prestigious award for Europe’s most beautiful beach in a 2016 Brussels poll.

Reaching this hidden beach by land, however, requires a decent level of fitness and sturdy footwear. If you decide to walk, a very steep and at times dangerous trail leads down from the small hamlet of Žužec, and it takes around twenty minutes to tackle. This route is definitely not suitable for small children or anyone with limited mobility, and don’t even try it in ordinary flip-flops — you risk a nasty twisted ankle.

A more comfortable alternative is to arrive at Stiniva by boat on one of the many organised trips. Larger tour boats naturally can’t pass through the narrow rocky gap for safety reasons, so they drop you off just outside it on the open sea, and you have to swim the rest of the way to the beach itself. Because the cove is so tightly enclosed by high cliffs, direct sunlight only reaches it for part of the day.

💡 Tip: If you want to enjoy breathtaking Stiniva in relative peace, get there very early in the morning, before the first noisy tour boats arrive from the neighbouring island of Hvar and the beach fills up completely.

4. The fishing town of Komiža

Komiža is, without any exaggeration, one of the most picturesque fishing towns in all of Croatia today. It sits on the sunny west coast of the island, around twenty-five minutes’ calm drive from the main town of Vis across very hilly interior. Its overall atmosphere is much wilder and more traditional — the cobbled lanes are noticeably narrower, and the weathered façades of the tall stone houses glow in every colour under the sharp Dalmatian sun.

This town has a deeply rooted and very proud fishing tradition, which the locals lovingly keep alive to this day. The main landmark of the whole harbour is the old, mighty sixteenth-century Venetian tower known as Kaštel, which today houses a very interesting interactive Fishing Museum. Inside, for an entrance fee of around three euros, you can admire an exact wooden replica of the traditional fishing boat called a falkuša, with the whole visit taking under a pleasant hour.

As you stroll along the waterfront, you’re certain to be reminded of the cheerful scenes from the much-loved film Mamma Mia 2, which were shot right here in the winding local lanes and on the surrounding beaches. The famous wooden restaurant Jastožera, built on stilts directly above the sea, served the filmmakers as a perfect backdrop for the film’s Greek taverna. A local island speciality you’ll be offered everywhere is the traditional strong rakija flavoured with carob.

💡 Tip: Komiža faces straight west, which naturally makes it the absolute best spot on the whole island for watching long, romantic sunsets with a glass in hand.

5. The Green Cave on Ravnik islet

While the famous Blue Cave grabs most of the tourist glory each year, the Green Cave, or locally Zelena špilja, offers a very interesting and considerably less crowded natural alternative. You’ll find it on the small uninhabited islet of Ravnik, just off the south-eastern coast of Vis. Its apt name comes from the magically emerald-green glow created by direct sunlight streaming through a large circular opening in the limestone ceiling of the cave.

A huge practical advantage of the Green Cave is that its main entrance from the sea is very spacious, so even larger tour boats can sail in easily and safely. The single biggest and most important difference compared to the Blue Cave, though, is that swimming and snorkelling are officially and entirely legally permitted inside the Green Cave. The experience of swimming freely in the glowing green water beneath the mighty rock vault is simply unforgettable.

This beautiful cave has been a strictly protected natural monument since 1967 and today forms a very important part of the local geopark. You’ll naturally experience the strongest and most beautiful green-light effect around midday on hot summer days, when the sun is at its highest. Most local boat companies from Komiža or Vis offer combined full-day trips that conveniently take in both the Blue and Green Caves in a single day at sea.

💡 Tip: Don’t forget to bring a good snorkelling mask onto the boat, because the marine life right around the cave is unexpectedly rich and beautifully colourful.

6. The military tunnels and Tito’s Cave

Vis island has an incredibly turbulent military history that was long kept secret from tourists, and which largely shaped its unspoilt appearance today. After the Second World War, the island became the main strategic naval base of the then Yugoslav People’s Army, and was completely closed to all foreign civilians until 1989 for strict security reasons. Thanks to this long isolation, you’ll still find a huge labyrinth of underground passages, abandoned bunkers and artillery shelters in the hills.

During the Second World War, more precisely in the dramatic year of 1944, the partisan leader Josip Broz Tito successfully hid from his enemies on the island. His main command headquarters were based in an inconspicuous cave high in the hills, which today bears the name Tito’s Cave and has become a very popular destination for historical excursions. It was from here that Tito conducted his secret strategic negotiations with the Allied forces and planned further military operations in the region in detail.

One utterly fascinating concrete relic of the Cold War is also the huge underground shelter for military submarines in Parja bay, which is over a hundred and ten metres long, with an entrance leading straight in from the open sea. The best way to safely explore all these scattered military sites is to book a so-called military tour in an open off-road jeep. A private tour of around three to five hours through atomic shelters and old radar stations costs roughly €320 for the whole vehicle.

💡 Tip: It’s best never to venture into the abandoned old military tunnels on your own without an experienced guide — many of the underground passages are completely unlit and there’s a real risk of injury.

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Lukáš and Lucie recommend
Where to stay on Vis Island
3 accommodations — hotels and other lodging options

7. Tasting the local Vugava wine

The island’s winemaking tradition is remarkably deep-rooted and demonstrably more than two thousand years old, which naturally makes Vis a paradise for all lovers of good, quality wine. The ancient Greeks already knew very well that the island’s specific microclimate and stony soil offered absolutely ideal conditions for growing vines. The hilly interior of the island is literally dotted with lush green vineyards that picturesquely line the narrow dusty roads between the villages.

The absolute island icon and pride of the local winemakers is the white variety called Vugava, which is proudly said to date back to the days of the ancient Greek settlers. This particular wine has a very distinctive character — it’s pleasantly full-bodied, strongly aromatic, and on the palate you’ll pick up clear notes of sweet honey and wild Mediterranean herbs. If you generally prefer reds, don’t miss the local variety Plavac mali, which is very typical of the whole of southern Dalmatia.

On the island you’ll find several clearly marked wine trails that reliably lead you straight to small family wineries and traditional stone konobas. The hospitable local winemakers will gladly give you a personal tour of their cool cellars and offer you a generous guided tasting, complete with an engaging account of the area’s winemaking history. Buying a few bottles of chilled Vugava straight from the grower is, incidentally, the very best souvenir from your holiday.

💡 Tip: If you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive, you’ll also find plenty of cosy wine bars and tasting rooms right in the historic lanes of Vis town, where you can sit happily over a glass until late into the evening.

8. The sandy Stončica beach with shallow water

If you’re travelling on a summer holiday with small children, the sheltered Stončica cove will probably be the very best spot on the whole island for you. It sits on the north-eastern coast, and unlike the vast majority of other Croatian beaches it boasts genuinely fine sand both on the shore and across the entire seabed. The water here is incredibly shallow and beautifully warm even tens of metres from the shore, so children can safely play here for hours.

The whole cove is very well sheltered from the open sea and surrounded by a dense green pine forest that provides much-welcome natural shade during the hot afternoon hours. The atmosphere here is always very relaxed and friendly — locals love to play beach volleyball here or the hugely popular traditional Croatian game of picigin, which involves acrobatically batting a small ball around in the shallow water.

Right at the back of the beach there’s a very pleasant beach bar and the renowned family-run Konoba Stončica, where you can grab a quick lunch or a refreshing chilled drink without having to leave the beach for long. You can comfortably reach it by car, with only a very short and physically undemanding walk along a forest path from the car park to the turquoise sea.

💡 Tip: Bear in mind that in peak summer season Stončica is a very popular stop for families and smaller tour boats, so it’s definitely worth arriving in the morning to grab a good spot in the shade.

9. The pebble beach of Srebrna beneath the pines

Srebrna beach, which literally translates as Silver Beach, has long been one of the absolute most popular swimming spots on the entire south-eastern coast of the island. It earned its poetic name from the typical large white pebbles and flat stones that shimmer beautifully silver at night under the clear moonlight. The beach itself is naturally split into two distinct parts — one made up of classic round pebbles and the other of huge flat stones that are perfect to lie on.

This picturesque cove is closely surrounded by a dense, mature pine forest that grows almost down to the water’s edge and smells of resin. As a result, even in the very hottest summer heat you can easily find a shady, cool spot to rest, which is especially appreciated by families with children and older travellers who don’t seek out direct sun. The sea here is mostly very calm, incredibly crystal-clear, and the entry into the water is gentle and safe enough.

No surfaced road leads all the way down to the water, so you have to leave your car at the free gravel car park in the nearby hamlet of Rukavac, followed by about a ten-minute, very comfortable walk through the fragrant pine grove. On site you’ll find no noisy beach clubs or annoying loud music, which contributes enormously to the very peaceful and deeply relaxing atmosphere of this magical place.

💡 Tip: In the immediate rocky surroundings of Srebrna beach there are several other very small, hidden rocky coves where, with a bit of luck and effort, you can find complete privacy even in the middle of August.

10. The beaches of Milna and Grandovac

Besides the famous and well-visited Stončica, the south-eastern coast also has another very beautiful and quiet sandy beach — the cove of Milna. Like Stončica, Milna is known for its surprisingly fine sand on the seabed and very shallow entry into the water, which makes it an absolutely ideal and safe water playground for the very youngest children who can’t swim yet. A short way from the beach there’s a small, peaceful hamlet where you can rent an apartment with a view straight out to the open sea.

If, on the other hand, you’re staying right in the main port town of Vis and don’t fancy travelling far in the heat, simply head to the eastern edge of the harbour to the lovely Grandovac beach. This clean white-pebble beach, around sixty metres long, sits in a gently indented cove just behind the town. It’s densely lined with mature tamarisks and pines that create a wonderfully pleasant, shady setting for a whole day of lounging with a good book.

Grandovac is very easy and quick to reach on foot from the town centre — just set off at a comfortable pace along the seafront promenade towards the small Prirovo peninsula. Right beside the beach there’s a small wooden beach bar where you can buy ice-cold drinks, coffee and light snacks, so you don’t have to lug heavy cool boxes of food down to the water.

💡 Tip: From the pebbly Grandovac beach you can watch all the giant ferries arriving and departing from Split at a safe distance — a surprisingly soothing and very photogenic summer sight.

11. The UNESCO Geopark and local cuisine

Vis island is certainly not just about swimming and sunbathing, but also about a truly unique natural geology, thanks to which the whole archipelago gained the very prestigious UNESCO Global Geopark status in April 2019. It’s only the second such recognised geopark in all of Croatia, after the inland Papuk. This protected area boasts rare volcanic rocks over two hundred and twenty million years old, which are demonstrably the oldest in the entire Adriatic Sea.

After all that demanding exploration of geological wonders you’re bound to work up an appetite, so you simply have to get properly acquainted with the typical island cuisine that smells of herbs and olive oil. The most famous local dish is the so-called viška pogača, a golden-baked bread pie traditionally filled with a mix of onion and often anchovies or sardines, while the variant called komiška pogača also includes bold tomatoes.

As a vegetarian you definitely won’t go hungry here, because the local Dalmatian cuisine is absolutely brilliant and inventive when it comes to working with seasonal vegetables. I warmly recommend trying the traditional vegetable peka, a hearty mix of fresh vegetables and potatoes slowly baked under a heavy cast-iron lid covered with hot embers. Simply grilled Mediterranean vegetables drizzled with quality olive oil are also excellent, as is the homemade pasta in small family konobas such as the year-round Pojoda in Vis or Konoba Bako in Komiža.

💡 Tip: If you want to happily order a traditional pogača without fish, always ask explicitly in advance at the local bakery or restaurant whether they have a version filled only with stewed onion and tomatoes.

Where to go next from Vis island

If you’re planning to explore the wider Dalmatian coast, Vis island makes a great starting point for onward travel. Your journey will probably start or end on the mainland, so be sure to read our tips on what to see in the historic city of Split, which serves as the main transfer hub for all the ferries.

Thanks to the good boat connections from the mainland, you can easily combine your trip with a visit to other islands. A very popular choice is the neighbouring island of Hvar, which offers a completely different, much busier and more upmarket atmosphere full of lavender and history. If you’re thinking about a different kind of experience, take a look at our article on what sailing in Croatia is like — it’s one of the most beautiful ways to explore the hidden coves.

Not sure how to plan your whole trip to the Adriatic? Try dipping into our big guide on where to go on holiday in Croatia, where you’ll find a comparison of the different regions. And if you haven’t yet chosen a base for your stay on the mainland or elsewhere, you’ll find practical advice and tips in our article on accommodation in Croatia.

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Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was filmed on Vis, even though the movie is set in Greece. You’ll find all the locations from both films in the article Where Mamma Mia was filmed.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the ferry ride to Vis take?

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The journey by classic large ferry on route 602 of the state company Jadrolinija from Split takes approximately 140 minutes. If you’re traveling without a car and use the fast catamaran on route 9602, the journey is significantly shortened to one hour and twenty minutes to two hours depending on the specific connection.
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Can I swim in the Blue Grotto?

No, swimming inside the Blue Cave is strictly forbidden due to nature protection and safety reasons, as there are constantly many tour boats moving around in the narrow enclosed space. If you want to swim freely in a sea cave, it’s better to take a trip to the Green Cave on the nearby islet of Ravnik.

Is the island suitable for families with small children?

Yes, the island is overall very calm and safe without busy nightclubs. There are even several beautiful sandy beaches with very shallow entry into the sea, such as Stončica or Milna, which are absolutely ideal for the youngest children. The only disadvantage for families might be the somewhat longer ferry journey from the mainland.

How to get around the island?

The best choice is undoubtedly your own car or one rented on-site, or alternatively a small scooter, because public bus transport between the towns of Vis and Komiža only runs a few times a day, mostly according to ferry arrivals. You’ll find it very difficult to reach many of the more remote beaches and vineyards without your own means of transport.

How much does a trip to the Blue Grotto cost in 2025?

The official entrance fee to the Blue Cave during the main summer season (from June 20th to September 10th) is 24 euros for adults and 12 euros for children. Outside the main season, the price drops to 18 euros for adults. The ticket price always includes a visit to the local modern visitor center on the island of Biševo.

Can you pay by card everywhere on the island?

In larger supermarkets, better restaurants and hotels in the towns of Vis and Komiža, you can easily pay by card without any problems. However, in small remote konobas, at stalls, at the fruit market or for smaller private boat trips, it’s still completely common to require cash payment (in euros), so always have some on hand.

Where exactly was the musical Mamma Mia 2 filmed?

A popular film was shot at several stunning locations across the island. The main Greek taverna was located at the famous Jastožera restaurant in Komiža, many dance scenes were filmed in the streets of both main towns, and beach scenes were shot, for example, at the hidden picturesque cove of Barjoška.

Are there any sandy beaches on the island?

Yes, although all of Croatia is better known for its pebble beaches, on Vis you’ll surprisingly find beautiful sandy coves. The most famous of all is Stončica beach with very fine sand and shallow warm sea, another great sandy alternative is Milna bay on the southeast of the island.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Biarritz & the French Basque Country: 13 Tips for 2026

TL;DRBiarritz and the French Basque Country come with 13 tips for day trips, covering the beaches of Grande Plage and Côte des Basques, the Rocher de la Vierge cliff, the towns of Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the village of Espelette famous for its Piment d’Espelette peppers, the pilgrimage site of Lourdes, and the mountain scenery of the Cirque de Gavarnie with its 422-metre waterfall, plus the Pic du Midi de Bigorre observatory at 2,877 metres. September and October bring the best surf conditions and fewer crowds, while summer, with temperatures around 25 to 28°C, suits beginners and families better. A double room in Biarritz in high season starts at €150–€200 a night. It’s worth splitting your stay between the coast (Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz) and the mountains (Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur), and maybe tacking on a day trip to San Sebastián, under an hour’s drive away.

The southwestern tip of France is a unique world that pulls you straight into its raw atmosphere. In Biarritz, France you can catch waves on the wild Atlantic coast in the morning and spend the afternoon admiring traditional Basque architecture or huge waterfalls high up in the mountains. Get ready for a holiday where the rugged beauty of the cliffs and proud local culture replace the polished glamour of the Riviera.

In this article you’ll find exactly 13 tips for trips, things to see and do in Biarritz and its wider surroundings. That way you’ll squeeze the absolute maximum of unforgettable experiences out of this one-of-a-kind corner of France. I’ll also help you choose strategic accommodation and reveal how to prepare for the unpredictable local weather.

TL;DR

  • The surfing capital of Europe: Biarritz offers the iconic Grande Plage and Côte des Basques beaches, where you’ll find the best conditions for beginners and advanced surfers alike.
  • Basque culture and gastronomy: Towns like Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz will charm you with their traditional houses, colourful shutters, superb chocolate and the culture of sharing small dishes called pintxos.
  • The village of spicy peppers: Inland Espelette is famous for its white façades, which in autumn are literally covered in drying red Piment d’Espelette peppers.
  • The dramatic Pyrenees: Just two hours’ drive from the coast you’ll find the glacial cirque of Gavarnie, home to one of the highest waterfalls in Europe, and the Pic du Midi astronomical observatory.
  • The spiritual centre of Lourdes: This world-famous pilgrimage site attracts millions of visitors, and the evening candlelight processions are a visually stunning experience for believers and non-believers alike.
  • The best time to visit: For the best surfing conditions and fewer tourists head over in autumn, while summer is ideal for complete beginners and lovers of a warm ocean.

When to visit Biarritz and the Basque Country

Choosing the right time to visit the French Basque Country is absolutely crucial, because the local weather is strongly shaped by the wild Atlantic and the nearby high mountains. The summer months from June to August bring the highest air and water temperatures, making them ideal for beach loungers and complete surfing beginners. The ocean tends to be a little calmer at this time of year and temperatures usually hover around a pleasant 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. You do need to be prepared, though, for Biarritz bursting at the seams in summer, with the main coastal A63 motorway often clogged with cars heading to Spain. Finding a free parking spot takes an enormous amount of patience, and the local police hand out hefty fines for any bad parking with zero mercy.

If you’re after the best compromise between pleasant weather and a bearable number of tourists, aim for September and October. Experienced surfers often leave the town to ordinary holidaymakers in summer and come back in autumn for a reason. According to long-term meteorological data, the autumn months offer the best conditions and a so-called clean swell. In September and October the water still holds onto its lovely warmth from summer, the crowds gradually thin out and the Atlantic starts sending the right long waves towards the shore. On top of that, autumn is the season of busy harvests and various food festivals in the picturesque Basque hinterland.

The spring months from April to May are fantastic for exploring the Pyrenean countryside as it wakes up and bursts into colour. You do have to bear in mind, however, that snow often lingers in the higher reaches of the Pyrenees until June, which can complicate some mountain hikes. Spring weather on the coast can be very changeable, so a single day can throw a heavy downpour, strong wind and sharp sunshine at you in quick succession. A winter visit to the region is really reserved for lovers of complete tranquillity and wild storms, as many restaurants and tourist services close down entirely outside the main season.

Where to stay in Biarritz and the surrounding area

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for places to stay on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation policies. As for tickets, tours and activities, it pays to compare and book through GetYourGuide.

Finding the ideal place to stay in this region depends mainly on the type of holiday you prefer and how much time you want to spend driving around. Given the long distances and occasional traffic jams, by far the best strategy is to split your stay into two parts and set up one base camp on the coast and a second one right in the mountains. That way you’ll save yourself hours of frustrating time behind the wheel.

If your main goal is the ocean and you want to soak up a cosmopolitan vibe, Biarritz itself will be the best base for you. Staying right in the town centre means you can walk to the beaches, which is a huge advantage given the extremely expensive and complicated parking. For 2026, expect prices for a double room in a decent three-star hotel in central Biarritz to start at roughly 150 to 200 euros a night in high season. A great and slightly quieter alternative for the coastal part of your holiday is the historic little town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where life moves at a much slower pace and the ocean is friendlier thanks to a sheltered bay.

For the second part of your trip, focused on exploring the Pyrenees, I recommend moving to the town of Cauterets or Luz-Saint-Sauveur. These traditional mountain resorts sit in a strategic spot from which you’ll be just a short hop from the biggest natural attractions, like the glacial Gavarnie cirque or the Pic du Midi observatory. On the other hand, it’s better to avoid staying right in the town of Lourdes unless you’re specifically heading there on a pilgrimage. The hotels in Lourdes are primarily geared towards huge organised groups of pilgrims and they lack that genuinely cosy mountain atmosphere you’ll find just a few kilometres away.

13 things to see and do in Biarritz and the French Basque Country

Let’s take a look together at the most interesting things this varied region has to offer. You’ll find a perfect mix of relaxing on the beaches, sporting activities, historical landmarks and trips into pristine nature.

1. Grande Plage and the cradle of European surfing

Grande Plage is the absolute showpiece of Biarritz and the spot made famous in the 19th century by Empress Eugénie herself. This wide sandy beach lies right in the very heart of town, framed by a beautiful promenade and the iconic colourful striped tents that give the place an unmistakable retro flair reminiscent of the golden era of French aristocracy. The waves here can be truly majestic, and watching dozens of surfers battling the ocean is fascinating even from the comfort of a bench on the shore.

If you’re planning a visit in the summer months, be ready for the beach to be packed to bursting, with a touch of mild chaos in the air. Finding a patch of free sand for your towel means arriving early in the morning, otherwise you’ll have to settle for a spot far from the water. The ocean is full of swimmers, which combined with manoeuvring surfers occasionally creates a pretty chaotic, adrenaline-fuelled environment. For advanced surfers it can be a bit frustrating, but to soak up that genuine summer energy a visit to Grande Plage is an absolute must.

💡 Tip: At the northern end of the beach you’ll find a gorgeous view of the gleaming white lighthouse, while to the south the grand Hôtel du Palais and the historic casino building rise majestically. The best time for a stroll along the promenade is just before sunset, when golden light bathes the whole coastline and the crowds slowly drift off to the surrounding restaurants for an evening drink.

2. Rocher de la Vierge and the coastal promenade

While exploring the rugged coastline you definitely shouldn’t miss the Rocher de la Vierge, a huge rocky outcrop rising straight out of the wild Atlantic waves. This rock is the most photographed symbol of all of Biarritz, and on its summit stands a white statue of the Virgin Mary which, according to an old local legend, protects whalers and fishermen from the whims of the unpredictable ocean.

You reach the rock via an elegant metal bridge designed in the 19th century by none other than the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel. Walking across this bridge is an incredibly powerful experience in itself, especially when the typical strong wind is blowing and the ocean waves crash with a deafening roar into the jagged rocks all around. It often happens that a fine sea spray refreshes you out of nowhere, even though you’re standing high above the churning water.

From the viewing platform on the rock itself you’ll be treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire bay, taking in both the beaches to the north and the wild cliffs to the south. On a clear day you can even see all the way to the Spanish coast and the peaks of the Pyrenees. It’s probably the best place in the whole town for capturing dramatic holiday photos.

3. Côte des Basques and the best surf schools

While the central Grande Plage is often very chaotic, the sprawling Côte des Basques beach offers a slightly more relaxed and far more sporty atmosphere. It’s hemmed in by steep green cliffs, and its standout feature is the mysterious Villa Belza, which perches on a sharp rocky promontory and looks like something straight out of a dark Gothic novel. It was right here that European surf culture was born in the 1950s, when American filmmakers brought along their first boards while shooting on location.

Thanks to the long, beautifully gentle waves, this place is an absolute paradise for beginners and lovers of graceful longboarding. On the cliffs above the beach and right on the sunny sand you’ll find a number of surf schools offering professional lessons for all skill levels. If you want to try riding the waves yourself, I recommend booking a lesson well in advance through platforms like GetYourGuide, where you can easily find instructors who speak perfect English.

You do have to be very careful of the unpredictable tide, though. At high tide the Côte des Basques beach disappears entirely beneath the ocean, with strong waves smashing directly into the stone sea wall below the cliff. At that time, entering the water is strictly forbidden and extremely dangerous for swimmers. Always check the local tide tables in advance so you don’t get an unpleasant surprise.

4. The Phare de Biarritz lighthouse and far-reaching views

On the northernmost tip of the town, atop the steep Pointe Saint-Martin cliff, rises the gleaming white Phare de Biarritz lighthouse. Built way back in 1834, it still serves to this day as an immensely important navigation point for ships passing through the treacherous Bay of Biscay. Its surroundings offer a lovely and unexpectedly peaceful park, perfect for an afternoon picnic with a romantic view of the endless ocean.

If you have enough energy and don’t suffer from vertigo, I definitely recommend climbing all 248 steps up to the narrow viewing gallery of the lighthouse. The climb is a little demanding and the spiralling stone staircase feels endless at times, but the reward at the top is absolutely worth it. Admission is around 5 euros and the view from an impressive 73 metres above sea level is utterly fantastic.

From one side you’ll see the endless straight line of sandy beaches stretching north towards the Bordeaux wine region, while from the other side you’ll get a view of the dramatically rugged Basque coast and the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees in the distance. It’s an absolutely ideal spot for understanding the geography of this whole fascinating and incredibly varied region.

5. Les Halles market and Basque gastronomy

The Basque Country is rightly famous around the world for its exceptional gastronomy, and the best place to explore it in Biarritz is the historic central market, Les Halles. Every morning this beautiful building is full of rich colours, intense aromas and the loud haggling of locals. It’s the real beating heart of the town, where residents come not only to buy the freshest ingredients but also to catch up on the latest neighbourhood gossip.

As you wander the market aisles you’ll definitely notice the enormous quantity of cured Jambon de Bayonne hanging at almost every stall, a product utterly typical of this region. As a perfect meat-free alternative, though, be sure to buy some of the excellent hard sheep’s cheese Ossau-Iraty, traditionally served with dark cherry jam. This brilliant sweet-and-savoury combination is utterly addictive and pairs perfectly with a glass of chilled local white wine.

In the immediate vicinity of the market you’ll come across plenty of small, lively bars serving so-called pintxos. This is the original Basque version of Spanish tapas, most often little decorated pieces of baguette skewered with a long toothpick. You’ll find an incredible number of great vegetarian options here, from a classic fluffy potato tortilla and marinated mushrooms to sweet roasted peppers stuffed with cheese.

6. Bayonne, the Basque heart and its cathedral

While Biarritz is very cosmopolitan and heavily focused on laid-back beach life, the nearby town of Bayonne is the true cultural and historical heart of the French Basque Country. It sits at the wonderfully picturesque confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers and will instantly charm you with its narrow cobbled lanes and tall half-timbered houses adorned with their typical red or deep green shutters.

The landmark dominating the whole historic centre is the majestic Gothic cathedral of Sainte-Marie, quite rightly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its two tall, pointed towers rise high above the surrounding buildings, and the beautiful adjoining cloister offers a perfect oasis of calm in the middle of a busy town. Entry to the cathedral is free, and its huge stained-glass windows cast gorgeous coloured light into the dim interior.

Bayonne has also been synonymous with excellent, quality chocolate for centuries. It was the Jewish refugees from Spain and Portugal who brought the precious secret of processing cocoa beans here in the 17th century. Stop by one of the traditional family chocolate shops in the arcades by the river and order a thick, incredibly bitter hot chocolate that will reliably get you back on your feet even after a very long day of sightseeing.

7. Saint-Jean-de-Luz, its harbour and calm beach

If you’re after a smaller seaside town that has managed to keep its authentic fishing soul and is nowhere near as hectic as Biarritz, definitely head to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. This wonderfully picturesque town lies in a beautiful sheltered bay, which makes it one of the few places on this coast where the ocean is genuinely calm and safe. The wide sandy beach is therefore absolutely ideal for families with children or for anyone who just wants a relaxed swim without constantly battling giant waves.

The town also has a very rich and somewhat wild maritime history. In the Middle Ages, feared Basque corsairs regularly set sail from here, boldly raiding wealthy Spanish and English ships with the official blessing of the French king. Their enormous accumulated wealth is still clearly visible today in the grand stone houses that elegantly line the harbour and the entire historic centre.

💡 Tip: The most famous event in the town’s entire history was the lavish wedding of the powerful King Louis XIV to the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa in 1660. Be sure to make time to visit the charming church of Saint John the Baptist, where this closely watched ceremony took place. The church is utterly unique for its carved wooden galleries, which are very typical of Basque sacred architecture and which you won’t easily see anywhere else.

lukas a lucka
Lukáš and Lucie recommend
Where to Stay in Biarritz and French Basque Country
6 accommodations — hotels, wellness hotels and other lodging options
⭐ TOP CHOICE 🏨 Hotel
Accommodation in Biarritz
Recommended accommodation in the center of Biarritz with the best cancellation policies. Allows you to walk to the beaches and avoid complicated parking.
★★★★ Check prices
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🏨 Hotel
Accommodation in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
A quieter alternative for the coastal part of your vacation, where life flows at a much slower pace and the ocean is friendlier thanks to the sheltered bay.
★★★★ Check prices
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🏔️ Mountain
Accommodation in Cauterets
Traditional mountain resort in a strategic location with a cozy mountain atmosphere, just a stone’s throw from the greatest natural attractions like Gavarnie or Pic du Midi.
★★★★ Check prices
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🏔️ Mountain
Accommodation in Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Traditional mountain resort ideal for exploring the Pyrenees, close to the Gavarnie glacial cirque and the Pic du Midi observatory.
★★★★ Check prices
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⭐ Luxury
Hôtel du Palais
Magnificent historic hotel by Grande Plage beach in Biarritz, reminiscent of the golden era of French aristocracy from the 19th century.
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⭐ Luxury
Overnight Stay at Pic du Midi de Bigorre
Exclusive overnight stay at the astronomical observatory at an altitude of 2877 meters with the possibility of stargazing with professional astronomers. Very limited capacity, reservations required months in advance.
★★★★ Check prices
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8. Espelette, the village of red peppers

Roughly thirty minutes of leisurely driving into the rolling green hinterland will bring you to the gorgeous village of Espelette. This unassuming little place at first glance gave its name to one of the most famous French ingredients, and for traditional Basque cuisine it means exactly the same as black pepper does for the rest of the culinary world. As soon as you arrive here in late summer or autumn, you’ll immediately understand with your own eyes why this place is so special.

The façades of the traditional white Basque houses are literally covered with thousands of carefully tied garlands of drying red peppers. This striking visual contrast of vivid red and pure white is absolutely captivating and makes for some of the most beautiful and typical photographic motifs in the whole region. The Piment d’Espelette pepper even has a prestigious protected designation of origin, and its flavour isn’t extremely hot but rather has a pleasantly warming, slightly smoky aftertaste.

If you cleverly plan your trip for the end of October, you can experience the famous and very lively pepper festival firsthand. The whole village comes alive with traditional music, energetic dancing and the ever-present, enticing aroma of this beloved spice. Stop by one of the many cosy local shops and buy a jar of freshly ground pepper or excellent pepper jelly to take home, which goes absolutely brilliantly with the local hard cheeses.

9. Lourdes and the evening candlelight procession

If you have a rental car at your disposal, definitely consider a full-day trip from the coast into the nearby Pyrenees, where the famous town of Lourdes lies. This is a place that defies any ordinary tourist description and draws an incredible 4 to 6 million visitors from all over the world each year. It all began in 1858 with an alleged apparition of the Virgin Mary to a fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, in the Massabielle grotto, and today it’s one of the most important and most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.

The atmosphere in the town’s streets can initially be a little shocking to the ordinary tourist, thanks to the extreme commercialism and the hundreds of neon-lit shops selling glowing figurines and plastic bottles for holy water. But once you pass through the wrought-iron gates into the sacred sanctuary itself, the mood changes radically and very quickly. A deep sense of respect and calm reigns here, you’ll see crowds of devoted volunteers caring for the sick, and the power of shared hope takes on an almost tangible form.

The most powerful and emotionally moving experience awaits you just after dark. Every evening at exactly 9 p.m. there’s a beautiful Marian candlelight procession, when thousands of people walk across the vast esplanade in front of the basilica, singing and carrying lit candles in their hands. In 2026, Lourdes also enters a new three-year jubilee cycle dedicated to Saint Luke, so an even more massive turnout is expected. If you head here in August around the Feast of the Assumption or during the major national pilgrimages, expect absolutely extreme crowds and incredibly complicated logistics.

10. Cirque de Gavarnie: a natural amphitheatre in the Pyrenees

Once you’re based at the foot of the Pyrenees, it would be a huge shame not to head deeper into these majestic mountains. If you only have time to see a single natural landmark in this wild range, let it unequivocally be the enormous glacial cirque of Gavarnie. The famous French writer Victor Hugo once described it in awe as a monumental natural colosseum, and the moment you lay eyes on it you’ll immediately understand he wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.

Picture an absolutely enormous wall of limestone and granite that forms a perfect stone semicircle and rises to an incredible height of over 1,500 metres above the surrounding terrain. Several waterfalls cascade down from this imposing natural rampart, the largest of which, the Grande Cascade, measures an impressive 422 metres and ranks among the highest in all of Europe. This whole visually stunning area is quite rightly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The hike to the main waterfall itself starts in the village of the same name and is surprisingly accessible. The walk to the bottom of the mighty cirque is fairly undemanding and even an averagely fit walker can manage it in roughly an hour and a half to two hours of slow walking. With every step the breathtaking scenery opens up more and more, and when you reach right up to the falling water you’ll feel a refreshing icy spray even hundreds of metres away. The experience of nature’s monumental, untamed power is absolutely perfect here, and the most experienced mountaineers can continue along steep trails all the way to the famous Brèche de Roland pass.

11. Pic du Midi de Bigorre: a night under the stars

Not all of the Pyrenees’ fantastic summits inevitably demand a sweat-soaked shirt, heavy hiking boots and a full day’s strenuous climb. You can reach the stunning Pic du Midi de Bigorre, which rises majestically to 2,877 metres above sea level, very comfortably and unexpectedly quickly by modern cable car from the La Mongie ski resort. But it’s far from just an ordinary mountain peak with a bench and a view for weary tourists.

Since the end of the 19th century, a very significant and still active astronomical observatory has operated on this lonely summit. The exceptionally clean, thin mountain air combined with the complete absence of any disruptive light pollution make this one of the absolute best places for stargazing in all of Europe. On a clear day, from the spacious viewing terraces you can easily survey the entire mighty wall of the Pyrenees, stretching off in the distance from Spanish Catalonia all the way to the green Basque Country.

For a truly exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can book a genuinely magical overnight stay here. Room capacity is understandably very limited and the comfortable beds tend to be hopelessly sold out several months ahead, but the chance to watch a blood-red sunset high above the clouds undisturbed, and then spend the evening in the pleasant company of professional astronomers at the big telescopes, is absolutely worth the considerable cost.

12. Cauterets and the Pont d’Espagne waterfalls

The picturesque little town of Cauterets is an absolutely classic example of elegant 19th-century Pyrenean architecture, made famous all across Europe by its healing thermal springs and the regular lengthy visits of the bored upper crust of the day. Today these beautiful historic buildings serve mainly as an excellent and very strategic base for summer trips into the national park and for winter skiing. The town itself has an unexpectedly pleasant and relaxed mountain atmosphere without any over-the-top luxury.

Straight from the centre of Cauterets, a narrow, winding mountain road leads to the breathtaking area known as Pont d’Espagne. This is a massive old stone bridge that elegantly arches over a deep, wild gorge full of rushing water and roaring cascading waterfalls. The thunder of the falling water is almost deafening at times, and the surrounding scenery looks perfectly cut from some thrilling adventure film. There’s a sufficiently large paid car park on site and a modern information centre with maps.

From the stone bridge you can eagerly set off on the very popular and fairly easy hike to the crystal-clear mountain lake Lac de Gaube. The walk through a beautiful, shady pine forest takes about an hour at a gentle pace, and at the very end you’re rewarded with an absolutely iconic view of the huge Vignemale massif, the very highest mountain of the French Pyrenees. It’s an absolutely ideal spot for a well-earned rest and a hearty snack in the soft grass right on the shore of the ice-cold lake.

13. A trip over to San Sebastián in Spain

Being on holiday so incredibly close to the Spanish border and not making the most of it for at least a short trip would be a huge travel sin. The drive from French Biarritz to Spanish San Sebastián (called Donostia in the local Basque language) takes you just under an hour along the fast motorway, and suddenly you find yourself in a slightly different but still very proud Basque world. This town is renowned throughout the culinary world for its incredible gastronomic scene and its beautiful wide city beach.

The main daytime draw is the enchanting La Concha beach, which from the air has the shape of a perfect crescent moon and is considered by many guides to be one of the most beautiful city beaches in all of Europe. The elegant promenade lining the gleaming white sand is ideal for long romantic strolls and soaking up the lively Spanish atmosphere, which is noticeably noisier and far more spirited than the French side.

In the evening you absolutely and without hesitation have to lose yourself in the narrow, dimly lit lanes of the old town (Parte Vieja), which are literally crammed with fantastic, buzzing bars serving the very best traditional pintxos. The unique local eating culture is based on having just one or at most two small bites and a glass of the local lightly sparkling white wine txakoli with friends in each bar, and then immediately moving on to the next place for more fun. You’ll find dozens of amazing vegetarian creations here with roasted artichokes, melted goat’s cheese or delicious grilled mushrooms.

Where to go next from Biarritz

If you have more time to explore France and want to combine your Basque adventure with other interesting regions, there are several great options. The most geographically logical and comfortable continuation of your journey is heading north along the Atlantic coast.

Roughly two hours by car or high-speed train from Biarritz lies the wine capital of the world. A visit to this elegant city, with its neoclassical architecture, the modern La Cité du Vin wine museum and a fantastic gastronomic scene, makes a perfect contrast to the wild nature of the Basque Country. For a complete guide and tips on what to do there, be sure to read our article on Bordeaux. That way you can easily plan a comprehensive road trip linking the very best of southwestern France.

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Frequently asked questions

How to best get to Biarritz from the Czech Republic?

The fastest and most convenient option is to fly to nearby Bordeaux or Toulouse, which have fairly frequent direct flights (for example with Smartwings). From the airport you can easily rent a car and comfortably drive to the coast via the highway in just over two hours. While TGV high-speed trains connect Paris with Biarritz, a car is almost essential for exploring the entire region.

Do I need a car for traveling around the Basque Country and the Pyrenees?

If you’re planning to stay just in Biarritz and visit neighbouring Bayonne, you’ll manage perfectly fine with the excellent local bus service. However, once you want to explore smaller villages like Espelette, remote beaches, or head to the mountains in the Gavarnie area, renting a car is an absolute must. Distances here are quite large and public transport to the mountains is very limited outside of peak season and sometimes unreliable.

How much does a holiday in Biarritz cost approximately (2026 prices)?

Biarritz is one of those noticeably pricier French destinations. For 2026, expect that an average double room in a mid-range hotel will run you 150 to 250 euros per night. For one piece of pintxos in a bar you’ll pay around 3 to 5 euros, a main course in a restaurant will set you back 20 to 30 euros. A two-hour group surf lesson runs around 45 to 60 euros.

Is the ocean in Biarritz suitable for regular swimming?

The Atlantic here is very wild, cold and sometimes unpredictably powerful. At the main beaches like Grande Plage, there are often really big waves and strong undertows, so it’s essential to swim strictly only in marked zones under the supervision of lifeguards. For calmer and safer swimming, especially if you’re traveling with small children, I recommend heading to the sheltered bay in the nearby town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

Can I manage surfing even as a complete beginner?

Absolutely yes, you have nothing to worry about! Côte des Basques beach is absolutely ideal for beginners thanks to its safe sandy bottom and long, beautifully gentle waves. However, it’s absolutely essential to pay for at least a few lessons with a professional instructor from the local surf schools at the beginning. They’ll teach you the proper stance technique, safety rules, and most importantly, how to read the ocean correctly and avoid dangerous rip currents.

How far are the Pyrenees and Lourdes from the coast?

From Biarritz to the pilgrimage town of Lourdes, it’s approximately 150 kilometers via motorway, which will take you about an hour and a half of pure driving time, provided you don’t encounter any traffic jams. If you want to continue deeper into the mountains, for example to the Cirque de Gavarnie amphitheater, count on another hour and fifteen minutes of slow driving on winding mountain roads. A full-day trip from the coast to the mountains is therefore very much doable, but set off early in the morning.

Can I find vegetarian dishes in Basque cuisine?

Although the region is widely renowned for its cured ham and fresh seafood, vegetarians certainly won’t go hungry here. In pintxos bars you’ll always find excellent meatless options – classic potato tortilla, grilled vegetables, marinated mushrooms, or cheese croquettes. You definitely must also try the local excellent hard sheep’s cheese Ossau-Iraty, which is served as a wonderful delicacy with cherry jam.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Sète, France: 11 Tips for the Venice of Languedoc in 2026

TL;DRSète, nicknamed the Venice of the Languedoc for its network of canals around the Canal Royal, offers 11 ideas for exploring, from the view atop 175-metre Mont Saint-Clair to the twelve-kilometre Lido beach and the wild Espiguette shore. The best time to visit is April to June and September to October, with temperatures of 20 to 28°C, while July and August bring a scorching 35 to 40°C. A room in the regular season costs €90–€140 a night, doubling in August. Highlights include the traditional water-jousting tournaments, joutes nautiques (peaking around 25 August), the fishing quarter of Pointe Courte, the MIAM museum, and a train trip to Montpellier, under half an hour away.

If you’re after a slice of southern France that hasn’t lost its raw, authentic face, Sète in France will completely win you over. While glamorous Provence gleams from the covers of lifestyle magazines and the French Riviera counts its superyachts, a totally different world begins just across the river Rhône. This rugged, salty port sits in the historic region of Languedoc and offers an atmosphere you simply won’t find anywhere else along the Mediterranean coast. Locals lovingly nickname it the Venice of Languedoc, because the entire centre is laced with a network of deep canals lined with colourful fishing boats and historic houses.

Get ready for a town that doesn’t try to be flawless at any cost — and grabs your heart all the more for it. Sète is a working port with an enormous soul, where instead of overpriced boutiques you’ll find buzzing markets, and instead of hushed promenades you’ll hear fishermen calling out to each other. In this article I’ll recommend the best things to do that let you get to know the town from every angle. I’ll point you towards the neighbourhoods with the finest views, where to find the most beautiful sandy beaches, and how to dodge the summer crowds that can seriously complicate any trip to the south of France.

TL;DR

  • Canals and the port: The heart of the town is its network of canals, dominated by the Canal Royal, where all the social life unfolds.
  • The view from Mont Saint-Clair: The most stunning panorama of the entire coastline and the vast lagoon awaits once you climb the town’s signature hill.
  • Water jousting tournaments: A unique summer tradition in which men aboard heavy wooden boats try to knock each other into the water with long lances.
  • Endless beaches: The long strip of sand known as the Lido offers kilometres of natural beaches free of over-the-top commercialism and concrete hotels.
  • Art in the streets: The town is famous not only for its marine cemetery but also for its modern street art and the quirky MIAM museum.
  • Day trips nearby: A brilliant strategic location makes for easy train trips to the student city of Montpellier or to Roman monuments.

When to Visit Sète

Getting the timing right is absolutely crucial for any trip to the south of France, because the local climate can be utterly uncompromising. The best time to visit is April through June, and then September through October, when daytime temperatures hover around a very pleasant 20 to 28 °C. At this time everything is in glorious bloom, the sea is warming up, and the town’s lanes keep their calm, sleepy atmosphere without the endless queues of tourists. Spring and autumn are simply ideal for long coastal walks or hikes up to the surrounding viewpoints.

If you’re considering a trip in midsummer, be prepared for fairly extreme conditions. Summer heat in Occitania and Languedoc is downright brutal, with July and August temperatures regularly hitting 35 to 40 °C and a frequent risk of wildfires in the surrounding countryside. Being outdoors at high noon in a town built of stone is physically exhausting, so it pays to plan your activities for early morning or late evening. On top of that, August is when the whole of France takes its national holidays, which means clogged roads and completely full car parks.

The one good reason to come in August is the famous water tournaments, which reach their biggest bouts in exactly this month. If you do opt for a summer date, you’ll need to book absolutely everything months in advance, because accommodation and the better restaurants fill up at lightning speed. Autumn, on the other hand, brings the fantastic atmosphere of the local grape harvest, when the whole region turns warm shades of gold and prices drop pleasantly.

Where to Stay in Sète

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We love searching for accommodation on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation terms. Tickets, tours and activities are then worth comparing and buying through GetYourGuide.

Choosing the right location for your stay depends mainly on the kind of holiday you’re planning and whether you’ll have a car. If you want to soak up the real urban atmosphere, look for hotels right in the centre by the Canal Royal, where you’ll have all the cafés, historic bridges and markets literally a few steps from your bed. This area is ideal for those travelling by train who want to get around mostly on foot. One excellent choice is the popular Hotel Port Marine, which offers a rooftop pool and a fantastic view straight over the busy port and the boats sailing by.

For lovers of swimming and lounging on the beach, the area known as La Corniche makes far more sense. This neighbourhood sits a short way from the centre towards the sea and offers direct access to the sandy beaches, so you won’t have to commute by public transport every day. Here you’ll find quieter residential streets and great places to stay, such as Le Grand Hôtel, which preserves its old-world charm and boasts beautiful architecture. If you’re coming by car, always check in advance whether the hotel has its own parking, because finding a free spot on the street is almost impossible in season.

As for the accommodation budget, the south of France can be surprisingly friendly if you avoid the peak. In the ordinary spring or autumn season, prices for a double room run around 90 to 140 euros per night, which is very reasonable for a popular French destination. During August, and especially around the famous water tournaments, expect prices to double, with the best rooms overlooking the water sold out by early spring. All accommodation can easily be booked through Booking.com — just don’t leave it to the last minute.

11 Things to See and Do in Sète

Let’s take a detailed look at everything this fascinating port has to offer. I’ll show you how to fill your days with discovery, whether you love history, modern art or long walks across endless sand dunes.

1. Explore the Canals and Colourful Boats

Sète wouldn’t be what it is without its tangled web of waterways, which give the town its unmistakable, slightly gritty character. The main artery of the whole town is the majestic Canal Royal, which connects the vast inland lagoon of Étang de Thau directly to the open Mediterranean. Something is always happening along its banks, and you could stroll here for hours without ever getting bored. Brightly coloured, weathered fishing boats bob on the waves right next to luxury yachts, creating a wonderful photographic contrast.

Don’t just stick to the main canal, though — head deeper into the quieter side streets. The façades of old townhouses reflected in the water are lined with small cafés and cosy outdoor terraces, perfect for sipping a morning coffee. On your walk you’re bound to come across several drawbridges, which open regularly to let larger vessels through to the open sea. It’s a fascinating bit of engineering theatre that briefly halts all town traffic and forces pedestrians and drivers alike to wait patiently.

💡 Tip: The canals are at their most magical early in the morning just after sunrise, when a light mist still hangs over the water. You can calmly watch the fishermen return from their night’s catch and unload it straight onto the bank before the town fully wakes up.

2. Climb Mont Saint-Clair for the Best View

Sète doesn’t just sit on a flat plain — it clings to the slopes of a steep limestone hill that dominates the entire surrounding area. Mont Saint-Clair rises 175 metres above sea level and is by far the best viewpoint on the whole Languedoc coast. Climbing up through the picturesque lanes takes a bit of fitness, as the paths are quite steep and the staircases seem endless, but I promise every drop of sweat is worth it. If you don’t fancy walking in the heat, you can comfortably drive right to the top by car or hop on a regular local bus.

Once you reach the summit terrace, a panorama unfolds before you that will take your breath away. On one side you’ll see the endless blue of the Mediterranean, while on the other lies the vast, calm surface of the Étang de Thau lagoon, where the precise geometric shapes of giant oyster farms come into view. On a clear day you can see all the way to the peaks of the nearby Pyrenees, which form the natural border with Spain.

Right at the top of the hill you’ll also find the small but very atmospheric chapel of Notre-Dame de la Salette. Its interior walls are decorated with bizarre, touching modern frescoes left there by grateful sailors as thanks for being saved from the stormy sea.

💡 Tip: Plan your visit to the summit for the golden hour just before sunset. The colours that spill across the sky at that moment and reflect in the bodies of water below you are simply magical.

3. Experience the Adrenaline of Water Jousting Tournaments

If you visit Sète during the summer months, you mustn’t miss the traditional event that has been alive and pulsing here for an incredible three hundred years. The water jousting tournaments known as joutes nautiques are a loud, wild and utterly fascinating spectacle that resembles a rough medieval battle more than an elegant sport. They take place right on the surface of the main canal, whose banks transform into enormous natural grandstands packed with loudly cheering locals. Traditional brass bands fill the air, people sip wine, and the atmosphere crackles with testosterone and excitement.

The rules of this unique contest are simple at first glance, but all the harder to actually pull off. Two heavy wooden boats, each powered by ten strong rowers, charge towards each other at great speed. On a raised platform at the stern of each boat stands the so-called jouteur, a burly man armed with a wooden shield and an incredibly long wooden lance. The goal is to strike the approaching opponent’s shield with such precision and brute force that he’s knocked off his platform straight into the water.

💡 Tip: The biggest and toughest bouts of the whole season always take place around 25 August during the feast of Saint-Louis. If you want even a halfway decent view of the water, arrive at the canal banks a good two hours before the official start.

4. Find Peace at the Cimetière Marin Marine Cemetery

While the port and central canals pulse with noisy life, a place of utter calm and quiet contemplation hides high above them. The marine cemetery Cimetière Marin is one of the most poetic spots in all of France, and for several very good reasons. It’s built on a steep cliff directly above the waves, so from most of the tombs you have an uninterrupted view of the endless blue horizon. The sun beats down on the dazzlingly white stones, the air smells constantly of sea salt and the surrounding pines, creating an almost melancholy beauty.

This enchanting place was made famous by the great French poet and local native Paul Valéry, who devoted his famous eponymous poem to it and who is also buried here himself. A walk among the old, often very ornate tombs of sailors and wealthy town families is like leafing through a thick history book of the whole town. You’ll find carved anchors, rusted ship’s propellers and touching inscriptions telling the fates of people whose lives were inseparably bound to the restless sea.

💡 Tip: The cemetery is fairly large and in the summer months there’s almost no merciful shade. Definitely bring plenty of drinking water, sunglasses and a hat to avoid an unpleasant case of sunstroke.

lukas a lucka
Lukáš and Lucie recommend
Where to stay in Sète
3 accommodations — hotels and other lodging options

5. Relax on the Sandy Beaches of Lido and Espiguette

The Languedoc coast isn’t about dramatic rocky cliffs like the neighbouring Riviera — it’s about endless ribbons of fine, golden sand. Sète boasts a stunning twelve-kilometre stretch of beach known as the Lido, which acts as a natural barrier separating the Mediterranean from the inland lagoon. Unlike crowded concrete resorts such as nearby La Grande-Motte, famous for its 1970s pyramid hotels, the Lido keeps a very natural, wild character. There’s an incredible amount of space, so even at the height of summer you’ll easily find a quiet spot all to yourself.

The beaches here are beautifully clean, with a gently sloping entry into the water, and they’re often swept by a pleasant sea breeze that does a great job of softening the summer heat. If you’re after even more wilderness, you can drive a little further to Plage de l’Espiguette. This huge protected area of sand dunes feels more like a tiny seaside desert than a classic European beach. There’s hardly any tourist infrastructure here — just fine sand, tall grass and the soothing rush of the waves.

💡 Tip: To get around the Lido beaches, hiring a bike is the perfect option. A well-maintained, safe cycle path runs the length of the whole strip, completely separated from car traffic.

6. Get Lost in the Pointe Courte Fishing Quarter

If you want to see with your own eyes what Sète looked like several decades ago, you need to head to a small, almost hidden quarter on the very edge of town. Pointe Courte is a traditional, slightly ramshackle fishing settlement perched on a narrow peninsula that still lives at its own very slow pace. The place was made visually famous by the legendary French director Agnès Varda in her eponymous 1950s film, and really very little has changed here since.

You won’t find any luxury residences, cafés or boutiques here — instead, a quirky jumble of small, makeshift-looking houses knocked together from wood and corrugated iron. The narrow lanes are full of roaming cats and hanging fishing nets drying in the hot sun beside strange art installations made from driftwood and old buoys. The locals spend most of their time outside, calmly mending their boats or just chatting in front of their homes. It’s an utterly raw, authentic and incredibly photogenic place.

💡 Tip: Respect the locals’ privacy. This isn’t an artificial open-air museum for tourists but a genuinely lived-in working-class quarter, so keep a reasonable distance when taking photos and don’t poke your camera into people’s windows.

7. Discover the MIAM Museum and Street Art

Sète isn’t just about maritime history and traditional fishing — in recent years it has also become a very important and respected centre of contemporary art. An absolute one-off is the Musée International des Arts Modestes (MIAM), which loosely translates as the museum of modest art. Don’t expect any classic landscape oil paintings or dull marble sculptures here. This museum elevates everyday objects, colourful kitsch and old toys to fully fledged works of art. The exhibitions are deliberately zany, visually overloaded and often very provocative, reliably forcing you to think about what art really means.

Beyond the indoor galleries, the entire historic town serves as one giant canvas for talented street artists from all over the world. A project called MaCO (Musée à Ciel Ouvert, or open-sky museum) has turned the façades of ordinary houses, old walls and bridges into a fascinating street-art gallery. You’ll find dozens of huge murals by renowned international creators. The works are constantly changing, being painted over and added to, so even if you return after a few years, you’ll always find something fresh to discover.

💡 Tip: Pick up a free MaCO paper map at the tourist information centre — it’ll guide you to the most interesting and best-hidden murals scattered across the town.

8. Discover Local Markets and Vegetarian Treats

Southern France is an absolute paradise for lovers of good food, and Languedoc gastronomy in Sète is no exception. The town is best known for a delicacy called tielle, a round pie made from bread dough filled with octopus in a richly spiced tomato sauce. It’s a typical dish of the local fishermen, and you’ll find it in pretty much every bakery. But if you’re not a fan of seafood or meat dishes in general, there’s no need to despair — the food scene here is incredibly rich and offers plenty of great meat-free alternatives.

At the heart of all the culinary action is the huge central market hall, Les Halles, where people come not just to buy ingredients but above all to live and chat loudly. Inside, the market smells wonderfully of fresh bread, spices and ripe fruit. I recommend buying fresh crusty baguettes, amazing regional cheeses, herb-marinated olives and the renowned local tomatoes, which taste like nowhere else thanks to the southern sun. In the local bistros you can confidently order excellent vegetarian versions of the classic macaronade without meat, or rich vegetable ratatouille loaded with local aubergines and courgettes drenched in quality olive oil.

💡 Tip: If you want to experience the real, unvarnished atmosphere of Les Halles, head there ideally on a Sunday morning. It’s the main social event of the whole week, when locals gather over a glass of white wine and a plate of oysters.

9. Take a Boat Trip on the Étang de Thau Lagoon

While the wild open sea constantly washes one side of the town, the other is fringed by something far calmer and quieter. The Étang de Thau is an enormous inner lagoon whose impressive size makes it feel more like a giant inland lake. The water here is shallow, sheltered from big waves and incredibly rich in marine life. The lagoon is famous throughout France above all for its huge oyster farms, which supply the country’s best restaurants. Look out across the water and you’ll see long, precise geometric rows of wooden poles on which these shellfish are cultivated according to old, fiercely guarded traditions.

The best way to explore this unique watery landscape is to head out onto the surface itself. In the port you’ll find plenty of local companies offering interesting sightseeing cruises, and the best excursions can be booked very easily in advance through platforms like GetYourGuide. During a quiet cruise across the lagoon you’ll get up close to the farms themselves, and with a little luck you’ll spot flocks of wild pink flamingos standing in the shallows, where they regularly fly in to feed.

💡 Tip: Choose a cruise on a smaller, ideally fully electric flat-bottomed boat. Not only is it a much greener choice, but you also won’t disturb the birds with a noisy engine, so you can get much closer to the flamingos.

10. Discover the Legacy of a Chansonnier at Espace Georges Brassens

Sète has given France many important and talented figures, but one of them towers above all the rest. Georges Brassens, one of the most famous French chansonniers of all, was born here, and the town adores him to this day. Even if you don’t know all his intricate, deeply poetic and often rebellious lyrics, his catchy melodies accompanied by acoustic guitar form an inseparable soundtrack to the whole French south, and you’ll hear them drifting from many a café.

Right across from the calm lagoon stands the modern Espace Georges Brassens, which is no ordinary dull museum but rather an interactive, heartfelt tribute to his life and remarkable work. At the entrance you’re given headphones in which the artist himself guides you through the whole exhibition via carefully chosen archive recordings. You’ll trace his modest childhood in Sète, his tough beginnings in Paris, and see his famous pipes, beloved guitars and handwritten lyrics. It’s a very intimate and moving experience, even for those who’ve never heard of Brassens before.

💡 Tip: After visiting the interactive museum, take a walk to the nearby Cimetière Le Py, where Brassens is buried. Unlike the grand, white marine cemetery, this one is very plain and simple — exactly as the artist wished in his songs.

11. Take a Day Trip to Vibrant Montpellier

Although Sète has plenty of its own unmistakable charm, on a longer holiday it’s sometimes nice to change the pace and head into the buzz of a big city. Vibrant Montpellier lies just under half an hour away by comfortable train and offers a completely different, cosmopolitan energy. It’s a city with a huge student population, which in practice means it’s alive long into the night, and the historic streets are full of modern cafés, bistros and independent art scenes. Trains run from Sète very frequently and reliably, so you won’t have to worry one bit about the annoying hunt for expensive parking in the centre.

The heart of Montpellier is the enormous Place de la Comédie, confidently dominated by the classical opera house. From here you can lose yourself in the narrow medieval lanes of the old town, or instead head to the modern Antigone district. This fascinating part of the city was designed in the 1980s by the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill in a monumental neoclassical style that strongly evokes ancient temples. And if you’re paying attention, notice the local trams too — their beautiful floral design was created by the famous fashion house Christian Lacroix.

💡 Tip: If you’re a fan of fine art, don’t miss the vast Musée Fabre in Montpellier. It’s one of the very best art galleries in the entire south of France, and its collections of European painting are absolutely stunning.

Where to Go Next from Sète

If you have more time and have already explored all the secrets of the local canals, the Occitania region offers endless possibilities for further discovery. As mentioned, an absolute must is nearby Montpellier, which will charm you with its youthful atmosphere and elegant architecture. It’s the perfect place for shopping and soaking up big-city energy.

If, on the other hand, you’re craving an even bigger dose of history and romance, head south towards the Spanish border itself. There, where the steep peaks of the Pyrenees tumble straight into the Mediterranean waves, lies Collioure. This enchanting little town, full of brightly coloured houses and narrow lanes, was beloved by famous painters and to this day keeps its fascinating Catalan identity. For more historic sights, it makes sense to head inland, where Roman engineering awaits in the shape of the giant amphitheatre in Nîmes and the majestic Pont du Gard aqueduct, or the medieval ramparts of the fairy-tale town of Carcassonne.

🚗 Car rental on the road Verified car rentals in Occitanie

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the train journey from Paris to Sète take?

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Thanks to France’s excellent rail network, you can get here surprisingly quickly. If you take the TGV high-speed trains, the journey from Paris’s Gare de Lyon station takes around 3.5 to 4 hours with no unnecessary changes.
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Is it possible to get around the city without a car?

Definitely yes. The historic center with canals and markets is compact and you can easily explore it on foot. For longer distances, such as to Lido beaches or to the top of Mont Saint-Clair, there’s a fairly reliable local bus network.

How much does accommodation cost roughly?

In 2026, prices for a standard double room within a reasonable distance from the center range from around 90 to 140 euros per night. However, during August and when water tournaments are taking place, prices double and everything sells out quickly.

When exactly do the water tournaments take place?

Smaller matches and training sessions take place on the canals from mid-June. The most important and most-watched tournaments, however, are always held around August 25th during the Saint-Louis festival, which is the highlight of the entire summer season.

Are the local beaches suitable for small children?

Yes, the beaches in the Lido area have a very gentle and safe entry into the sea and the sand is beautifully fine. You won’t find dangerous cliffs here, but occasionally there can be stronger winds that create waves.

What are vegetarians supposed to eat here when it’s a fishing port?

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Even though the town thrives on fishing, you certainly won’t go hungry here. At the local market, you’ll find fantastic cheeses, olives and fresh bread, while restaurants commonly offer vegetable ratatouille or pasta dishes without meat.
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Can you normally drink tap water here?

Yes, tap water in France is very high quality and completely safe to drink. In restaurants, you can even commonly order “une carafe d’eau” for free, which is a jug of tap water that they’ll happily bring to your table.

Is Sète a safe city for tourists?

The city is generally very safe, especially during the day. However, it’s a working, functional port, so as anywhere else in Europe, watch out for pickpockets in crowded markets and in the evening hours around the train station. But if you maintain normal caution and don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach, you certainly won’t face any major danger here.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Lovćen National Park, Njegoš Mausoleum & Cetinje: 11 Tips for the Heart of Montenegro

TL;DRLovćen National Park, the mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš and the former royal capital of Cetinje make for a perfect day trip from Kotor, with 11 specific stops along the way. Entry to the national park costs 3 euros, the mausoleum itself atop Jezerski vrh (1657 m) is another 8 euros, and you’ll climb 461 steps cut into the rock to reach it. A combined ticket covering the mausoleum and Cetinje’s museums comes to around 20 euros. The route also takes you through the village of Njeguši, famous for its cheese and prosciutto, along more than 25 bends of the old P1 road, and into Cetinje past the Cetinje Monastery, the Biljarda and the palace of King Nikola I. June and September are the best months to go — even in summer, temperatures at the top of Lovćen hover around 8 to 12 degrees.

Montenegro may have a gorgeous coastline, but its true historical heart beats high up in the mountains. Lovćen National Park and the former royal capital of Cetinje make up an absolutely fascinating pair that would be a huge shame to skip when visiting this Balkan country. This is the place where you’ll finally understand why this proud nation is named the way it is, and where you’ll soak up the atmosphere of times long gone.

In this article I’ve put together the ideal full-day loop that ties the biggest highlights into one logical route. You’ll find out how much current entry tickets cost, where to park without any hassle, and what to prepare for so you get the most out of the trip without unnecessary stress. The backbone of the route runs from Kotor up the mountain switchbacks to the highest-located mausoleum in the world, and finishes in the quiet streets of the old capital.

Besides the practical info, we’ll also look at 11 specific tips for places and activities, from breathtaking viewpoints to a peaceful stroll past historic embassies. Set off with plenty of time to spare so you can give all these natural and cultural landmarks the attention they deserve and enjoy them at a calmer early-morning or late-afternoon pace.

TL;DR

  • The logical route: The best plan is to set off early in the morning from the coast along the old Austrian road, visit the mausoleum on Lovćen, and spend the afternoon in peaceful Cetinje.
  • Lovćen National Park: There’s an entry fee of €3 per adult, and the park’s crowning feature is the Jezerski vrh peak with the magnificent mausoleum of Prince-Bishop Njegoš.
  • The climb to the mausoleum: 461 steps carved into the rock lead up to the structure itself, and your reward is a view over the whole of Montenegro and, in good weather, even Italy.
  • A stop in Njeguši: This historic village is ideal for a mid-morning snack — be sure to try the local mountain cheese with honey and homemade bread.
  • Cetinje as a cultural hub: The former royal capital offers historic palaces, an important monastery with sacred relics, and the beautiful buildings of former embassies.
  • Combined ticket: If you plan to visit several museums in Cetinje as well as the mausoleum, it pays to grab a combined ticket for around €20.
  • Temperature differences: Even when it’s a scorching summer down by the sea, temperatures at the top of Lovćen hover around 8 to 12 degrees, so don’t forget to pack warmer clothing.

When to Visit Lovćen National Park and Cetinje

The best time to visit these mountain areas is, without a doubt, June and September, when the weather is stable and you’ll dodge the biggest crowds. During the peak holiday months the car parks at the main attractions tend to be full by ten in the morning. If you’re travelling in summer, it really pays to get up early and reach the mausoleum right as it opens.

The mountain weather is very particular and completely different from conditions down on the coast. While the bay can be sweltering at thirty degrees, temperatures at the summit of Lovćen sit between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius. Always bring a warmer jacket or hoodie and sturdy footwear, because the staircase up to the mausoleum can be slippery first thing in the morning.

Cloud cover plays a big role too, and it often builds up in the mountains around midday. For the very best cloud-free views, plan your visit to the summit for the morning hours or, alternatively, the late afternoon. If there’s fog or overcast skies in Kotor in the morning, check the forecast specifically for Cetinje, because in thick cloud the view from the mausoleum would be practically nonexistent.

Where to Stay in Cetinje and the Surrounding Area

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We like to look for places to stay on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation policies. For tickets, tours and activities, it’s worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.

Most travellers use a base on the coast for this trip and head into the mountains just for the day. But if you’re after a more authentic experience and want to escape the summer bustle of the resorts, staying right in Cetinje is a great and significantly cheaper choice. It gives you the chance to wander the historic centre early in the morning or late in the evening, when the town is wonderfully quiet and empty.

Right in the heart of the action you’ll find Hotel Monte Rosa, which offers classic Balkan hospitality and a brilliant location a short walk from all the main museums. It’s the ideal middle-ground option for anyone who wants the landmarks within easy reach and a local restaurant for dinner in the evening. The price per night here sits at a very pleasant €35 to €60 depending on the season.

A highly rated and budget-friendly alternative is Guest House Pansion 10, which boasts excellent reviews for cleanliness and a friendly welcome. It has a shared kitchen, air conditioning and free parking, which makes it a perfect base for families and couples alike. If you prefer nature, look for mountain-cabin-style accommodation right on the edges of Lovćen National Park.

11 Tips on What to See and Do in Lovćen National Park and Cetinje

Let’s take a look at the specific stops that make up the perfect full-day trip from the coast into the mountains. I’ll show you how to piece the route together logically so you don’t miss a single highlight and can enjoy the journey to the full.

1. Lovćen National Park and Its Majestic Peaks

Lovćen National Park covers sweeping rocky plateaus and forested slopes that rise steeply right above the Bay of Kotor. According to many theories, the country’s name actually comes from the dark colouring of the dense coniferous forests here. The park is dominated by two peaks, Štirovnik and Jezerski vrh, which form an unmistakable silhouette visible for miles around.

As you enter the protected area you’ll come across a toll booth, where you pay the national park entry fee of €3 per adult, while children under seven get in free. You can pay by cash or card, and parking at the main attractions inside the park is already included with no extra charge. Stop at one of the many roadside viewpoints and drink in the sight of the deep inland valley.

💡 Tip: The park is open year-round, but in the winter months car access can be limited by snow and ice. If you don’t have your own car, you can take organised day trips from Kotor or Budva, which cost roughly €30 to €40 per person.

2. The Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović Njegoš

At the summit of Jezerski vrh, at an altitude of 1,657 metres, stands the most famous structure in the entire park and probably the country’s most iconic landmark. The magnificent mausoleum was designed by the renowned Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović and holds the remains of the prince-bishop, poet and philosopher Petar II Petrović Njegoš. The architecture is monumental, and inside you’ll be wowed by a huge golden mosaic alongside a statue of the ruler.

You have to reach the entrance from the car park on foot, which means a climb up 461 steps carved into a rock tunnel. The ascent takes roughly fifteen to twenty minutes and, while it isn’t extremely demanding, it rewards you with a real sense of accomplishment. At the end of the tunnel a circular terrace opens up before you, offering a 360-degree view across the entire landscape.

On a clear day you can take in almost eighty percent of Montenegro’s territory, from Lake Skadar across the coast all the way to the Albanian mountains. Entry to the mausoleum itself costs €8 for adults and €4 for students, paid separately on top of the park entry. If you also plan to visit the museums in Cetinje, consider buying a combined ticket for around €20.

3. The Famous Switchbacks from Kotor

The drive from the coast up to the mountains is a huge experience in itself, one that thrills every lover of driving and stunning views. The old road, designated P1, serves up an incredible 25 hairpin bends as it conquers the steep climb from Kotor towards the village of Njeguši. Above the thirteenth bend or so, the absolute best and most-photographed view over the entire Bay of Kotor opens up.

The road is fairly narrow and in many places lacks crash barriers, so driving it demands full attention and care. It’s recommended to tackle this route going uphill, as it’s easier to pass oncoming cars and you’ll enjoy the views down into the valley from a better perspective. You’ll find more details about this fascinating road in our article on what to see in Kotor.

4. The Village of Njeguši and Its Traditional Delicacies

Roughly halfway between Kotor and the summit of Lovćen, tucked into a mountain saddle, lies the historic little village of Njeguši. This peaceful spot is the birthplace of the entire Petrović-Njegoš royal dynasty, and one of its modest houses still serves as the birth museum of the famous prince-bishop. A stop here offers a pleasant breather after the demanding switchback drive and a chance to soak up the atmosphere of the traditional countryside.

The village is renowned across the Balkans for producing local specialities, led by the famous Njeguši prosciutto and excellent mountain cheese. Local restaurants serve celebrated smoked pork hams cured in beech smoke and mountain air, made here for centuries using methods passed down from generation to generation. If you’re after a superb meat-free option, be sure to order Njeguši cheese with honey for your mid-morning snack, along with freshly fried priganice (small doughnuts).

💡 Tip: In season, the local taverns (konobas) and small roadside stalls open from early morning. A stop of twenty to thirty minutes will give you plenty of energy for the subsequent climb up the steps to the mausoleum.

5. Ivanova Korita and Mountain Relaxation

If you’re looking for a spot to unwind in nature, head to the grassy mountain plateau of Ivanova korita, which sits at an altitude of 1,250 metres. This place acts as the park’s main family hub, with an information centre, restaurants and plenty of space for a picnic under the trees. The area’s name refers to the medieval ruler Ivan Crnojević, who once hosted his guests here.

For families with kids and active travellers, right next to the visitor centre you’ll find the brilliant Adventure Park Lovćen high-ropes course. It offers a total of ten trails of varying difficulty, from simple obstacles for five-year-olds to challenging circuits for adults. Entry runs from €8 to €18 depending on the level you choose, and all safety equipment is included in the price.

6. Cetinje as a Historic Royal Capital

Once you descend from the mountains you’ll arrive in the town of Cetinje, which from the fifteenth to the twentieth century was the capital of the Montenegrin principality and later kingdom. Today it’s an incredibly calm, gently dreamy town that stands in stark contrast to the buzzing resorts on the coast. It lacks beaches, sure, but in return it offers a staggering concentration of historic architecture from the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Cetinje still holds the status of cultural capital and the official seat of the president, even though all the administration has moved to modern Podgorica. A walk through the centre feels like visiting an open-air museum, where national museums, theatres and ancient palaces are packed into a small area. It’s the place where you’ll best grasp the complex history and pride of the whole nation.

lukas a lucka
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Where to stay in Lovćen and Cetinje
3 accommodations — hotels and other lodging options

7. Cetinje Monastery and Its Precious Relics

The spiritual heart of the town, and of the whole country, is the Orthodox Cetinje Monastery, whose current form dates back to the eighteenth century. This unassuming building carries extraordinary religious significance and serves as the main seat of the Metropolitan of Montenegro. The monastery is open to the public free of charge, and a typical visit takes no more than half an hour.

The main reason pilgrims travel here from all over the world are two extraordinarily precious Christian relics kept in the monastery chapel. Here you’ll find the right hand of St John the Baptist and a fragment of wood from the True Cross, both displayed in special cases. When visiting, don’t forget the strict dress code, which requires covered shoulders and knees for men and women alike.

8. Biljarda and the Giant Relief Map

Directly opposite the monastery stands a two-storey building from 1838 called Biljarda, which originally served as the official residence of Prince-Bishop Njegoš. It got its unusual name from a billiard table the ruler had laboriously shipped all the way from Italy — porters had to carry it up on foot over the steep mountain switchbacks. Today it houses a museum dedicated to his life and work, full of personal belongings and historic weapons.

The greatest visual treat, though, awaits you in a special glass annexe in the courtyard. Hidden here is a huge relief map of Montenegro from 1916, created by Austrian cartographers during the military occupation. The model, covering roughly 180 square metres, perfectly shows just how incredibly mountainous and complex the country’s terrain is, and from a bird’s-eye view you can even trace the route of your own day trip on it.

9. The Palace of King Nikola I

Another architectural gem on the main square is the neoclassical residence of the last Montenegrin king, Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš. This ruler reigned over the country for an impressive fifty-eight years and went down in history as the so-called father-in-law of Europe, because he managed to marry off his five daughters into prominent European royal families. The palace looks fairly modest from the outside, but inside it hides richly decorated interiors.

Touring the museum, you’ll walk through well-preserved royal chambers, see the original throne room, opulent bedrooms and collections of diplomatic gifts. Entry to the palace is part of the great-value combined ticket, which for around €20 also covers Biljarda, the ethnographic museum and the mausoleum on Lovćen. It’s the ideal way to step into the golden era of the Montenegrin kingdom.

10. A Walk Past the Historic Embassies

At the height of its glory around the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Cetinje had a mere five thousand inhabitants, yet it was home to a total of thirteen foreign diplomatic missions. As a result, the town acquired a fantastic collection of Art Nouveau and neoclassical buildings, commissioned by the various European powers. A stroll past these palaces is completely free and takes you just under an hour.

Among the most beautiful structures is, without question, the former Russian Embassy from 1903, which will captivate you with its rich Baroque stucco and gorgeous façade details. Also worth your attention is the striking French Embassy with its ceramic tiling, or the elegant seat of Austro-Hungarian diplomacy. Most of these buildings now serve as art schools, libraries or museums, and you’ll see them at their best on a morning walk along the main avenue, Novice Cerovića.

11. Lipa Cave and the Underground Train Ride

If you still have energy left after exploring the town, head about ten kilometres beyond Cetinje to the largest publicly accessible cave in the country. Lipa Cave offers a fascinating two-and-a-half-kilometre system of underground passages, full of enormous stalactites, stalagmites and impressive limestone galleries. The tour lasts roughly an hour and is always led by an English-speaking guide.

The experience begins right at the car park, where a little tourist train takes you to the entrance of the underground — guaranteed to delight families with children in particular. Entry to the cave costs around €13 to €15 per adult, and in high season it’s very sensible to book your tickets online in advance. Don’t forget to bring a warm layer, because the temperature inside stays at a chilly eight to twelve degrees year-round.

Where to Go Next from Lovćen National Park and Cetinje

A full day trip into the mountains is a wonderful change of pace from beach relaxation, but Montenegro has so much more to offer. Once you’re back on the coast, you can start planning the rest of your journey.

From Cetinje you can easily get back to the coast, where plenty more beautiful places await. Take a look at our big trip-planning guide, where you’ll find Holidays in Montenegro: 15 tips for the sea and the mountains. And if you only drove those fascinating switchbacks in a hurry, be sure to come back down to the bay and explore the historic centre itself in our article Kotor, Montenegro: 15 tips on what to see and do.

Shrnutí pro ty, kteří nemají čas číst celý článek 🚗 Car rental on the road Verified rental cars in Montenegro

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does entry to Njegoš’s Mausoleum cost in 2026?

The mausoleum itself costs 8 euros for adults and 4 euros for students, with children under seven entering free. You’ll also need to factor in a 3 euro entrance fee for the national park. If you’re planning to visit other monuments as well, a combined ticket for approximately 20 euros is worth it.

How difficult is the climb to the mausoleum?

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From the parking lot below the Jezerski vrh summit, exactly 461 steps carved into a rock tunnel lead upward. The climb is not physically demanding and at a slow pace takes about fifteen to twenty minutes, just watch out for the slippery surface in wet weather.
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Can Lovćen and Cetinje be done in one day?

Yes, this route is absolutely ideal for a full-day trip lasting seven to eight hours. You’ll set off from Kotor in the morning, stop in the mountains at the mausoleum, and after lunch you can explore the historical museums in Cetinje, from where you can easily return to the coast in the evening.

What to see in Cetinje in a few hours?

If you have limited time, focus on Cetinje Monastery with its breathtaking relics and the historic Biljarda building with its giant relief map. You can also manage to add a short stroll along the main street past the most interesting historic embassies.

Is the mausoleum open in winter too?

Opening hours in the winter months are very variable and depend primarily on the current snow conditions and ice on the staircase. On the other hand, during the summer season from April to October, it’s reliably open every day roughly from nine to five.

What is Lipská Cave and is it worth visiting?

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It is the largest accessible cave system in the country, and a fun tourist train will take you there from the parking lot. The tour lasts an hour, the temperature stays around ten degrees, and it’s perfect for cooling off during hot summer days.
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Can you travel to Cetinje without a car?

Traveling by public transport is more complicated; although irregular buses do run from Budva to Cetinje, getting to Lovćen National Park itself is practically impossible without a car. The solution is to rent a vehicle or use organized day trips from the coast.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Italian Cuisine: What to Eat Region by Region (Not Just Pizza) in 2026

TL;DRItalian food in 2025 still comes down to region, region, region — eating local and seasonal is the whole point. The north leans on butter, cream and rice (risotto alla milanese, Ligurian pesto alla genovese), while the south sticks to olive oil and tomatoes (proper pizza napoletana, fired for 60–90 seconds at 450°C). Don’t skip Parmesan or twelve-year balsamic from around Modena, Rome’s trio of cacio e pepe, carbonara and amatriciana, Tuscan pecorino, or Sicilian cannoli and arancini. Winery tastings run €15–40, with Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo and Prosecco the crowd favourites. Expect a coperto charge of €1.50–3 per person on the bill, and if you’re driving, the drink-drive limit is 0.5 promille.

For a moment, forget everything you think you know about Italian cuisine. There’s actually no single, unified “Italian cuisine” – it’s just a convenient label for the rest of the world. The moment you cross the border, you’ll discover that Italy is gastronomically carved up into dozens of small, proud and completely distinct regions, each with its own ingredients, its own rules and its own sacred classics.

The best way to understand Italian food is to look at the fat it’s cooked in. The north is built on butter, cream, rice and polenta, while the south is the kingdom of olive oil, dried pasta and tomatoes. The golden rule: eat whatever grows and lives within fifty kilometres of your table.

In this guide we’ll take you through Italian flavours region by region – from authentic Neapolitan pizza through Ligurian pesto and Sicilian cannoli to Tuscan wines. We’ll also cover the rules of dining, how to spot real gelato, how to avoid the tourist traps and what to order if you’re vegetarian.

TL;DR

  • The main rule: Eat local and seasonal – every region has a different speciality. There’s no universal “Italian” menu.
  • North vs. south: The north runs on butter and rice (risotto, pesto, Parmesan), the south on oil and tomatoes (pizza, parmigiana).
  • Dining: The menu has courses (antipasto → primo → secondo → dolce), and the bill includes a legal coperto charge.
  • Coffee: Cappuccino is for mornings only; after a meal always order an espresso; standing at the bar is cheaper.
  • Gelato: Look for muted colours and metal tubs with lids, not neon mountains of ice cream.
  • For vegetarians: Italy is paradise – pizza, pasta al pomodoro, cacio e pepe, parmigiana, burrata, focaccia, gelato.
  • Wine: Tuscan Chianti and Brunello, Piedmont’s Barolo, Veneto’s Prosecco. ⚠️ Drink-drive limit is 0.5‰.

The rules of Italian dining

Italians take food deadly seriously, and they can spot a tourist before they’ve even opened their mouth. Before you dive into the regional specialities, it’s worth knowing a few basic rules of the game.

The structure of a meal: a marathon, not a sprint

A classic menu in a trattoria isn’t built around one giant main course but around a clear architecture. Antipasto is the starter (cheeses, bruschetta, vegetables), primo is the first course with carbs (pasta, risotto, soup), secondo is the main protein, contorno is a side ordered separately and dolce is dessert.

You don’t have to order everything – it’s perfectly normal to combine a starter and a first course, or a first and a second. ⚠️ Just never order pasta as a side dish with meat; in Italy that’s a gastronomic sin – pasta is a course in its own right.

Coperto, coffee and timing

You’ll almost always find an item called coperto (pane e coperto) on the bill – a legal cover charge for the table setting and bread, usually €1.50–3 per person. It’s not a tourist scam and it must be stated on the menu. Tipping isn’t expected; Italians don’t leave gratuities, at most they round the bill up.

And watch out with coffee: cappuccino is only drunk in the morning; after lunch or dinner order un caffè, i.e. a classic espresso. A trick to save money: an espresso drunk standing at the bar (al banco) costs a fraction of a coffee sipped at a table on the piazza (al tavolo).

Aperitivo: a ritual you’ll fall in love with

The Italian evening kicks off between six and eight with a ritual called aperitivo – something like happy hour on steroids. You order an Aperol Spritz, a Campari or a bittersweet Negroni, and you get a bowl of olives and crisps thrown in – in the better bars, even access to a small buffet of focaccia. At the other end of dinner comes the digestivo – a shot to aid digestion: in the south the lemony limoncello, in the north grappa or a herbal amaro.

How to spot real gelato

There are thousands of ice cream shops in Italy, but a large chunk of them sell an industrial pre-mix loaded with colourings. The label gelato artigianale won’t save you – the term isn’t regulated in any way. Instead, rely on these signs of quality:

  • Muted colours. Real pistachio is khaki to brown-green, not neon; banana is greyish, not bright yellow.
  • No fluffy mountains. Unnaturally piled-up peaks of ice cream that don’t melt in the heat are full of hardened fats – run.
  • Metal tubs with lids. Gelato kept under covered containers (pozzetti) holds its temperature and needs no chemicals.
  • Seasonality. Watermelon or peach gelato in December means preserved purée, not fresh fruit.

What to eat region by region

Italy’s gastronomic map is as varied as they come. Here’s a pick of the best of what to look for and where – with a note on what’s vegetarian-friendly and what’s a meaty speciality for everyone else.

Emilia-Romagna: the valley of food

If food is the main reason for your trip, Emilia-Romagna is your first stop – the country’s unofficial gastronomic capital. Here it’s worth busting a myth: spaghetti bolognese doesn’t exist in Bologna; it’s an invention of foreign restaurants. The local classic tagliatelle al ragù (egg noodles with slow-braised beef) is a meaty speciality for non-vegetarians.

But there’s treasure here for everyone else: a short hop from Bologna lies Parma, home of Parmigiano Reggiano (real Parmesan), and Modena gave the world the thick, syrupy Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, which ages in wooden barrels for at least 12 years and is dripped drop by drop over Parmesan or strawberries.

The north on butter: risotto, pesto and tiramisu

Milan and its surroundings sit firmly in the “butter” zone. The queen here is risotto alla milanese, creamy rice turned golden with saffron (traditionally paired with the braised veal shank ossobuco – that one’s for non-vegetarians). In Liguria around Genoa, hunt down the best pesto alla genovese in the world, pounded in a mortar from basil, pine nuts, olive oil and cheese – spread on fresh focaccia it’s the perfect meat-free lunch. And in the Veneto, try tiramisu, which was born here: sponge fingers soaked in espresso, mascarpone and cocoa.

Tuscany and the centre: pecorino and bread

Tuscan cooking is rustic and prides itself on brilliant simplicity. It’s ruled by bistecca alla fiorentina, a huge steak from the Chianina breed (a meaty icon for non-vegetarians), but Tuscany is just as generous for everyone else. Sheep’s cheese pecorino, unsalted Tuscan bread, soups like ribollita and pappa al pomodoro (a bread soup with tomatoes and basil), and beans every which way – this is peasant cooking in which a vegetarian will never go hungry.

Rome: the holy trinity of pasta

Rome deserves its own guide, but there’s no skipping its food. This is where the holy trinity of pasta was born, and one of them is a vegetarian star: cacio e pepe – brilliantly minimalist pasta made from just pecorino romano sheep’s cheese, black pepper and the starchy pasta water. The other two, carbonara (egg yolks, pecorino, cured pork cheek guanciale and pepper – never any cream!) and amatriciana with tomatoes, are meaty specialities for everyone else.

Campania and the south: real pizza and parmigiana

Naples is loud, chaotic and the absolute mecca of pizza. Pizza napoletana has strict rules: the dough proves for long hours and bakes in a wood-fired oven at around 450°C for just 60–90 seconds, so the edges are tall and pillowy while the centre is thin and wet with mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. The best pizzerias make only two types – Margherita and Marinara – and both are vegetarian (Marinara is even vegan: just tomatoes, garlic, oregano, oil). Forget pineapple.

The south has another meat-free gem too: parmigiana di melanzane – fried slices of aubergine layered with tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella, then baked in the oven.

Puglia and Sicily: burrata, orecchiette and cannoli

In Puglia, on the “heel” of the boot, orecchiette reign supreme – little ear-shaped pasta that old ladies in the alleys of Bari still shape by hand to this day (superb with broccoli or cime di rapa). Puglia is also the home of burrata – a ball of mozzarella filled with cream that oozes across the plate the moment you cut into it.

And Sicily? It gave the world the sweet cannoli (crisp tubes filled with sweet sheep’s ricotta) and arancini – fried rice balls usually filled with meat ragù (for non-vegetarians), but often with cheese or peas too.

Italian street food

Italy isn’t all about long sit-down dinners – street food here has a rich tradition, and much of it is meat-free. In Liguria you’ll find focaccia on every corner, and in Genoa the savoury farinata (a chickpea-flour flatbread). In Rome the classics include supplì (fried rice balls with mozzarella) and crispy pizza al taglio sold by weight. In Puglia don’t miss panzerotti – fried parcels filled with tomato and mozzarella. And in Emilia-Romagna the king is piadina, a thin flatbread stuffed with squacquerone cheese and rocket. Add a cone of gelato and you’ve got the perfect lunch for a few euros.

Italian wines: from northern mists to southern sun

Italy is the world’s largest wine producer, and wine tourism here has been honed to perfection. You can pop into a local enoteca (a wine bar with tastings) or head straight to a cantina (winery) out among the vines. Tastings at wineries typically cost €15–40 and often include a tour of the cellar.

  • Tuscany: the kingdom of the Sangiovese grape – dry, ruby-red Chianti Classico (spot it by the black rooster logo) and the powerful Brunello di Montalcino, which must age for at least 5 years.
  • Piedmont: the heavyweight Barolo and the more elegant Barbaresco, both 100% Nebbiolo; for those with a sweet tooth, the lightly sparkling Moscato d’Asti.
  • The north – bubbles: the Veneto’s Prosecco and the more luxurious Franciacorta (Italy’s answer to Champagne) from Lombardy.
  • The south: full-bodied, fruity and affordable Primitivo from Puglia and Nero d’Avola from Sicily.

⚠️ If you’re driving, be extremely careful: the Italian blood alcohol limit is 0.5‰ (for drivers with under 3 years’ experience it’s an uncompromising 0.0‰). For a winery road trip, nominate a designated driver, or simply taste the wine and spit it into the bucket provided.

How to avoid the tourist trap

The closer you are to a famous landmark, the warier you should be about the restaurants. Italian gastronomy is fantastic, but tourist traps can ruin the experience and empty your wallet. Here are the clear warning signs to steer clear of:

  • A menu with photos of the food and in five languages. A good trattoria doesn’t need photos – a picture menu by the Colosseum or on St Mark’s Square is almost guaranteed to be a trap.
  • A waiter luring you inside. If someone is actively pulling you off the street to a table, the quality inside is usually pretty poor.
  • “Spaghetti bolognese” on the menu. This dish doesn’t exist in Italy; its presence gives away a place tailored for tourists.
  • A fixed-price menu turistico. The cheap-looking package is usually made from the cheapest ingredients – you’re better off with one honest à la carte course.
  • A restaurant with a view of the top attraction. You pay for the view in the price of the food; two alleys away you’ll find better food for half the money.

💡 Tip: There’s a simple, reliable filter – go where the locals sit, where the menu is short, seasonal and only in Italian (at most with an English translation off to the side). A short, ever-changing menu means fresh ingredients.

Tips for vegetarians in Italy

Italy is one of the most vegetarian-friendly countries in Europe – a huge share of the classics are meat-free by their very nature. Reliable safe bets on any menu:

  • Pizza Margherita and Marinara – the staple that never lets you down (Marinara is often vegan too).
  • Pasta al pomodoro, cacio e pepe, pesto – simple, perfect meat-free pasta.
  • Parmigiana di melanzane – baked aubergine with tomatoes and mozzarella.
  • Caprese and burrata – tomatoes, mozzarella/burrata, basil and oil.
  • Focaccia and bruschetta – ideal with an aperitivo or as a snack.
  • Gelato, tiramisu, cannoli – desserts everyone can enjoy.

💡 Tip: Watch out for hidden protein – some sauces and fillings contain guanciale, anchovies or meat stock. Just ask “è vegetariano?” and the Italian waiter will happily point you in the right direction; meat-free options are everywhere.

💡 Experience tip: If you want to not just taste Italian cuisine but really understand it, compare the cooking classes, food tours and tastings on GetYourGuide – from making pasta in Bologna to wine tasting in Tuscany.

Where to go next for a taste of Italy

When you want to taste Italian cuisine right at the source, take a look at our regional guides. You’ll find the best pizza and parmigiana in Naples, real ragù and Parmesan around Modena, the Roman pasta trinity while wandering Rome, and Tuscan wine with pecorino in Tuscany. For cannoli and arancini, head to Sicily. And before you set off, check out when to go to Italy and our complete guide to a holiday in Italy.

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Frequently asked questions

What’s best to try in Italy?

It depends on the region – that’s the whole magic of Italian cuisine. In Naples, authentic pizza napoletana, in Liguria pesto alla genovese, in Emilia-Romagna Parmesan and balsamic vinegar, in Rome cacio e pepe, in Sicily sweet cannoli. A universal safe bet is good gelato and a glass of local wine. The rule is: eat what’s local and seasonal.

Is Italian cuisine suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, Italy is one of the most vegetarian-friendly countries in Europe. Loads of classics are meat-free: pizza Margherita and Marinara, pasta al pomodoro, cacio e pepe, pesto, parmigiana di melanzane, caprese, burrata, focaccia and most desserts. Just watch out for hidden ingredients like guanciale, anchovies or meat stock and ask “è vegetariano?“.

What is coperto on an Italian bill?

Coperto (pane e coperto) is a legal charge for table setting, bread and tablecloth, usually €1.50–3 per person. It’s not a tourist scam and must be listed on the menu. If you have it on your bill, no tip is expected – Italians don’t typically tip, at most they round the bill up.

Why you shouldn’t order a cappuccino after lunch in Italy?

Cappuccino is purely a breakfast drink for Italians – they consider hot milk too heavy for digestion after meals. After lunch or dinner, they exclusively drink un caffè, meaning a strong espresso. Ordering a cappuccino at two in the afternoon will immediately out you as a tourist, but of course no one will refuse to serve it to you.

Which Italian wine should you choose?

For starters, go by region: in Tuscany reach for a dry Chianti Classico or premium Brunello di Montalcino, in Piedmont for a robust Barolo, in the north for a refreshing Prosecco, and in the south for a fruity Primitivo from Apulia. In every enoteca they’ll be happy to advise you and let you taste. ⚠️ If you’re driving, remember the 0.5 ‰ limit.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: 21 Best Things to See in 2026

TL;DRSri Lanka mixes the ancient sites of the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa), the tea hills around Ella and Nuwara Eliya, and beaches running from Mirissa to Arugam Bay — there are 21 ideas here for where to head. The best time for the south-west coast and hill country is December to March, while the east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay) is best from May to September; October and November are worth avoiding. The big news is the free 30-day tourist ETA visa for Brits, available from 2026 via eta.gov.lk. Ten to 14 days is the sweet spot for a trip, and for safaris it’s worth picking quieter Udawalawe over the crowds at Yala. Entry fees to sites like Sigiriya ($30–$35) end up being the biggest chunk of your budget.

Sri Lanka is like an enormous teardrop of emerald-green nature torn from the Indian subcontinent, yet for first-time travellers it’s far friendlier and more relaxed. If you’re planning an exotic holiday packed with wild elephants, endless tea plantations and picture-perfect beaches, this teardrop-shaped island will completely captivate you. Before you pack your bag, though, it pays to prepare for a few quirks that can catch you off guard once you’re there.

Getting your head around the two different monsoons can be a bit of a puzzle at first, but the great news is that somewhere in Sri Lanka the weather is always glorious. 2026 is a particularly good year for travellers: the crowds are still calmer and the island is rediscovering its rhythm, which you’ll really appreciate on the ground. For UK travellers, planning is simple too — just make sure you sort your tourist visa (ETA) in advance through the official portal before you fly.

Piecing together an itinerary can sometimes hurt more than the climb up Sigiriya itself — so I’ve put together 21 concrete tips on what to see and do, to help you plan your trip as painlessly as possible. I’ll tell you when the absolute best time to visit is, where to base yourself strategically in great hotels, and how to cleverly sidestep the most common tourist traps.

TL;DR

  • Visa (ETA): Apply in advance for your 30-day tourist visa (ETA) exclusively through the official website eta.gov.lk before you travel.
  • Two monsoons: The southwest coast is best in winter (December to March), while the eastern beaches are ideal over summer (May to September).
  • Train to Ella: The legendary railway is being repaired in stages after a cyclone, so always check the current status of services online before you set off.
  • Dual pricing: Be aware that foreigners pay high fees for entry to monuments and national parks (commonly around 30 USD / £24), so choose carefully.
  • Vegetarian paradise: The local cuisine, built on rice, curry and lentils, is phenomenal, incredibly cheap and naturally meat-free.
  • Safari ethics: Avoid the overcrowded Block 1 in Yala National Park and choose the calmer Udawalawe instead, where you’ll see dozens of elephants in much better conditions.

When to visit Sri Lanka

Deciding when to go to Sri Lanka is a little more complicated, because the island is shaped by two different monsoons that arrive at opposite times of the year. The Yala monsoon brings rain to the southwest of the island and the hills roughly from May to September, while the Maha monsoon drenches the northeast from October to January.

The golden rule is that for the classic escape from the British winter (December to March), the southwest coast and central highlands are ideal. If, on the other hand, you can only get away during the summer holidays, Sri Lanka offers brilliant conditions on the east coast, where July and August bring sunny weather perfect for swimming and surfing.

The trickiest months are October and November, when the monsoons overlap and it basically rains right across the whole island, so it’s best to avoid this period entirely. In the hills around Nuwara Eliya, expect a dramatic drop in temperature too — during the day it’s a pleasant 18°C, but at night temperatures plummet to as low as 5°C and hotels usually have no heating.

MonthMax/min °CSeaRainy daysWhere to head on the island
January30/1827 °C5SW and south are TOP, central highlands
February30/1827 °C5SW and south are TOP (least rainfall)
March32/2028 °C8SW and south, the east season begins
April32/2129 °C14Transitional month, usually the most humid
May31/2229 °C15Monsoon starts in the SW, head east
June30/2129 °C15East coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay)
July29/2128 °C12East coast, just occasional showers in the SW
August29/2128 °C12East coast, the Cultural Triangle is fine
September29/2027 °C13The east season slowly winds down
October29/2027 °C17Rainiest month, ideally skip it entirely
November29/2027 °C16Second rainiest month, rain across the island
December29/2027 °C12Start of the main tourist season in the SW

Where to stay in Sri Lanka

Accommodation in Sri Lanka will surprise you more than almost anything else: for the price of an average city hotel back home, you’ll get a villa with a pool and breakfast served in the garden. To save you hours of searching, I’ve put together a shortlist of the best specific hotels, split by area and type of traveller.

Beach resorts in the south (for couples and relaxation): If you’re after absolute luxury and romance, book Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Tangalle, set on a vast coconut plantation right above the ocean, with breathtaking pool villas. For a more affordable but still gorgeous mid-range option, I recommend Lantern Boutique Hotel by Reveal in Mirissa, which sits right on the sandy beach and gets rave reviews for its generous breakfasts.

Colonial charm in Galle: For history lovers, staying inside the ancient UNESCO ramparts of Galle Fort is an amazing experience. The fabulous Galle Fort Hotel is a beautifully restored 18th-century Dutch villa with an inner courtyard and pool. Slightly more affordable but very stylish is Fort Bazaar, a 16th-century merchant’s house with an excellent restaurant and a designer spa.

Mountain views in Ella and around: In the hill town of Ella, the affordable Zion View Ella Green Retreat is a total hit, with every room boasting a private balcony overlooking the famous Ella Gap, and guests can’t stop praising the home-cooked breakfasts. If you want an iconic Instagram stay, choose 98 Acres Resort & Spa, where you’ll sleep in chalets among the tea bushes and swim in an infinity pool with views of Little Adam’s Peak.

Bases for culture and safari: For exploring Sigiriya and the surrounding monuments, a strategic choice is Aliya Resort and Spa – Thema Collection, which scores points for its huge pool with direct views of the Lion Rock. For a stop in Kandy you’ll sleep like royalty in the boutique The Elephant Stables. If you’re planning a safari in the south and want an unforgettable experience, take a look at Wild Coast Tented Lodge near Yala National Park. The price is steep, but bear in mind it’s fully all-inclusive and even covers a luxury leopard safari with private rangers.

Families with children: If you’re travelling with kids and want to relax by the sea at the start or end of your trip, a great choice is Cinnamon Bentota Beach in Bentota. The resort offers children’s pools, a kids’ club and a special menu, and it’s just an hour from Colombo international airport — which you’ll appreciate after a long flight.

21 best things to see and do in Sri Lanka

A Sri Lanka itinerary traditionally breaks down into three parts: the ancient monuments of the Cultural Triangle, the central highlands with their tea plantations, and a beach finale at the end. The following tips will guide you through the most interesting places and activities you definitely shouldn’t miss.

1. Climb the famous Lion Rock at Sigiriya

Lion Rock, or Sigiriya, is probably the most iconic landmark on the whole island and you’ll find it on just about every postcard from Sri Lanka. It’s a massive magma plug of an extinct volcano, on top of which King Kassapa built an impregnable palace in the 5th century, of which only impressive foundations and water tanks remain today.

Roughly 1,200 steep steps lead to the summit, which is no easy feat in the tropical heat. The entry fee is fairly high, ranging between 30 and 35 USD (around £24–£28) per person, so I recommend arriving right at opening time, around 6.30am, to dodge the biggest crowds and the punishing midday sun.

On the way up you’ll pass the famous frescoes of graceful women — and be very careful here, because photographing them is strictly forbidden and the guards enforce this rule firmly. The views from the upper terrace over the endless green jungle, however, make the early-morning effort absolutely worth it.

2. Pidurangala: the best view of Sigiriya

If you don’t fancy paying the steep entry fee for Lion Rock, or you simply want the best possible photos, head to the neighbouring Pidurangala rock. This slightly lower rock formation sits just next door and offers the absolute best view straight onto Sigiriya in all its majesty.

Entry here is a mere 500 Sri Lankan rupees (around £1.30), a fraction of the price of the monument opposite. The climb takes about 40 minutes and passes through the grounds of a functioning Buddhist temple, so don’t forget to cover your shoulders and knees until you’ve passed the sacred section.

💡 Tip: The very last stretch involves a bit of scrambling over larger boulders, so sturdy shoes are a huge advantage. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere most at sunrise, when the valley wakes up and wisps of morning mist drift through the rainforest canopy.

3. The fascinating cave temples at Dambulla

Just a short hop from Sigiriya is the town of Dambulla, home to the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Beneath an overhang of enormous rock lie five separate caves, packed from floor to ceiling with more than 150 Buddha statues in various poses.

Entry to the complex costs around 2,000 rupees (roughly £5) and the visit will take you about one to two hours. The walls and ceilings of the caves are adorned with incredibly detailed paintings that, despite their age and the humid environment, burst with vivid colours and tell stories from the Buddha’s life.

The complex sits on a hill, so a short climb awaits — with the local monkeys as your uninvited companions. At the foot of the hill stands the Golden Temple with its giant Buddha statue and free entry, but the real historical value lies up in the caves above.

4. Explore Polonnaruwa by bicycle

When deciding which ancient city to visit, travellers usually face a dilemma between Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. For a shorter holiday, Polonnaruwa is the much better choice, because the monuments are concentrated over a smaller area and are far better preserved.

The best way to enjoy the site is to rent a bicycle and cycle between the stupas and temples at your own pace. Entry costs 30 USD (around £24) and a cycling tour takes a pleasant three to four hours, with lovely flat terrain that anyone can manage.

The highlight of the whole visit is the Gal Vihara complex, where you’ll find four enormous Buddha statues carved directly into the granite wall. Cycling in the shade of old trees is exactly the kind of activity you never want to stop, because there’s another ruin waiting around every corner and you’re in no rush.

5. A stop in Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth

The city of Kandy sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and forms a natural gateway to the central highlands. Its most important landmark is the famous Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa), where, according to tradition, a sacred relic is housed — making it one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

Entry costs 2,000 rupees (around £5) and the complex is open from early morning until evening. The most atmospheric time to visit is during the regular ceremonies (puja), when traditional drums echo through the temple and the scent of lotus flowers mingles with the smoke of incense sticks, though you should expect large crowds of worshippers.

Many travellers on forums agree that the city of Kandy itself is a touch overrated due to the heavy traffic, and that just one night here is plenty. Beyond the temple, it’s worth heading to the nearby Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, which offer a wonderful display of tropical flora and huge colonies of fruit bats.

6. The legendary train journey towards Ella

The train journey from Kandy to Ella regularly ranks among the most beautiful rail routes in the world. The train slowly creeps through lush green tea plantations, passes through dark tunnels and opens up breathtaking views into deep valleys.

⚠️ 2026 update: After the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, part of the line was seriously damaged and the train currently often runs only on the shortened Ambewela–Ella–Badulla section. The southern, most touristy stretch is being intensively repaired right now. Before your trip, you absolutely must check the current status of closures on the official website railway.gov.lk or via the 12go.asia portal. If the train from Kandy isn’t running, you can easily transfer by car or bus to Nanu Oya station and board the train there for the prettiest section.

The best experience is travelling in second class with windows that open, which is far better for photos than air-conditioned first class with sealed glass. Tickets vanish at lightning speed 30 days before departure, so rely on advance booking through 12go.asia, and on the way to Ella try to sit on the right-hand side in the direction of travel for the best views.

7. Ella and the magical Nine Arch Bridge

The mountain village of Ella makes a wonderful base for hikes, and its main calling card is the iconic Nine Arch Bridge. This stone viaduct in the middle of the jungle is a masterpiece of British colonial-era engineering and trains still run across it today.

Access to the bridge is completely free, and it’s best to arrive around 6 or 7am, when you’ll have peace and quiet for amazing photos without hundreds of other tourists. You can walk freely along the tracks themselves — just listen carefully for the horn of an approaching train in the distance.

💡 Tip: If you love aerial photography, be extremely careful, because flying drones near the bridge is dangerous due to wild bees. The noise of drones agitates them intensely, and in the past there have been several serious cases of tourists being stung after provoking the bees.

8. The Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock viewpoints

Straight from the centre of Ella you can set off on two popular hikes. The easier one is Little Adam’s Peak, a pleasant hour-long walk that ends with steps, rewarding you with a fantastic panoramic view over the whole Ella Gap area and the steep mountains opposite.

For more ambitious travellers there’s the challenge of Ella Rock. This hike takes three to four hours, starts with a walk along the railway tracks and continues with a fairly steep climb through a eucalyptus forest. After rain the path can get unpleasantly slippery, but the panoramic view from the edge of the cliff is incredibly rewarding.

Ella itself has transformed in recent years into a fairly bustling hub, sometimes nicknamed “the Khao San Road of the hills”. You’ll find plenty of Western restaurants, specialty coffee shops and bars here, which makes a rather welcome change after a week of rice and curry — for around two nights.

9. Ethical safari: choose Udawalawe over Yala

Seeing wild elephants and leopards in their natural habitat is the main reason many people travel here. The best-known national park, Yala, however, suffers from extreme tourist overload, and in the popular Block 1 you’ll commonly find jams of dozens of jeeps that stress and chase the animals just for a good photo.

A far better and more ethical choice is Udawalawe National Park. For an entry fee of around 35 USD (£28) plus the cost of a jeep, you’ll experience a much calmer safari in a park home to a population of about five hundred elephants — and the chances of seeing them up close are pretty much guaranteed.

If you’re still longing for leopards and want to try your luck in Yala, ask your driver for access to Block 5. There are far fewer cars, the wilderness is wilder, and you won’t feel like you’re contributing to the unsustainable mass tourism that does more harm than good to the animals.

10. The phenomenon of “The Gathering” at Minneriya

If you’re travelling to Sri Lanka during the summer holidays, you can’t miss the so-called “The Gathering” in Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks in the Cultural Triangle. During the dry season from July to September, enormous herds of elephants numbering up to 300 individuals converge on the local water tanks.

This vast concentration of elephants in one place is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in all of Asia. Entry costs around 30 USD (£24) and jeeps usually set off in the afternoon, when the elephants emerge from the forest onto the open plains to reach the water.

Local guides and drivers know exactly where the elephants are at any given moment, so they move flexibly between Minneriya, Kaudulla and the Hurulu Eco Park. Simply trust them and let them take you wherever the chances of spotting the herds are best.

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Where to Stay in Sri Lanka
6 accommodations — wellness hotels, hotels and other accommodation options

11. Whale watching in Mirissa and ocean ethics

When a 25-metre blue whale surfaces in front of you, you’ll be utterly speechless. Southern Sri Lanka is one of the few places in the world where this can happen with a 90% probability. The main season in Mirissa runs from November to April, and the success rate of spotting these giants exceeds an amazing ninety percent in the winter months.

Unfortunately, here too the cheapest boats chase the animals recklessly and don’t keep safe distances. I strongly recommend paying a little extra for a verified and ethical operator, such as Raja & the Whales, which strictly follows international rules, doesn’t stress the whales, and serves an excellent breakfast on board.

The boat trip usually lasts three to five hours and sets off early in the morning. Be warned that the ocean can be quite choppy in the south, so if you suffer from seasickness, take a tablet around an hour before departure, otherwise you’ll spend the whole trip hunched in misery over the railing.

12. The best southwest beaches for the winter

If you’re heading off on holiday from December to March, your steps should lead to the southwest coast, which is bathed in sunshine at that time. Each beach has a slightly different vibe, and it’s entirely up to you what you expect from a holiday by the ocean.

Mirissa is the centre of the action with plenty of beach bars and the photogenic Coconut Tree Hill. For families with children, the sheltered bay at Unawatuna is hands down the best, with no big waves and a sea that’s very calm and safe for swimming.

Lovers of long walks and absolute peace should head further south to the Tangalle area, where you’ll find kilometres of wild, deserted beaches — but expect a very strong surf here. If you’re after premium resorts and a wide range of water sports, the long sandy beach in Bentota will serve you beautifully.

13. Summer beaches and surfing on the east coast

Travelling in the summer months from May to September? Then forget the southwest entirely — the sea there tends to be rough and it often rains. Instead, hop on a bus and head to the east coast, which is at its absolute peak in summer.

The mecca of the whole east is the surf town of Arugam Bay. Its laid-back atmosphere, evening parties and dozens of surf schools draw travellers from all over the world, and beginners can try their first waves on beaches like Peanut Farm or Whiskey Point.

For perfect relaxation with white sand and turquoise water, head further north to the town of Trincomalee. The beaches of Nilaveli and Uppuveli offer a gorgeous calm sea, and if you like snorkelling, you can pay for a boat trip to nearby Pigeon Island, where smaller reef sharks swim safely in the shallows.

14. Discover the unjustly overlooked north in Jaffna

While most tourists circle round and round the southern half of the island, the truly authentic experience awaits in the north. The city of Jaffna and its surroundings are still waking up after a long civil war and offer a completely different, purely Tamil culture that is far closer, both visually and gastronomically, to southern India.

You can reach it comfortably by train from Colombo, and on the spot you can spend two very full days. The area’s landmark is the stunning Hindu Nallur Kandaswamy temple with its monumental golden tower, where men must remove their shirts before entering.

An interesting excursion is the ferry ride to the remote island of Delft, where herds of wild horses survive, left behind by European colonisers. Jaffna is a great choice for travellers who have been to Sri Lanka before and want to see something completely unique and untouched by the crowds.

15. Nuwara Eliya and a taste of Ceylon tea

The central highlands hide the town of Nuwara Eliya, nicknamed “Little England” thanks to its British colonial architecture, racecourse and perfectly manicured lawns. Just don’t forget to pack warm clothes, because at an altitude of nearly two thousand metres it can sometimes get properly cold.

The best mountain experience is a visit to the legendary Lipton’s Seat viewpoint near Haputale, where Sir Thomas Lipton himself used to sit and survey his estate. I recommend setting off early in the morning by tuk-tuk, because after 10am the valley almost always shrouds itself in thick mist and you’ll get nothing from the views.

A visit to a working tea factory is, of course, a must, where you’ll see the whole leaf-processing process. A popular choice is, for example, Damro Labookellie, which offers tours of the operation and a tasting of black tea completely free of charge, though you should expect a slightly more touristy atmosphere.

16. Phenomenal Sri Lankan food and a vegetarian paradise

Sri Lankan food is, for me, one of the main reasons people keep coming back. If you don’t eat meat, you’ll be in seventh heaven, because the island is an absolute vegetarian paradise and almost all traditional dishes are naturally meat-free and unbelievably delicious.

The foundation of everything is the national dish “rice and curry” — not a single dish, but a huge mound of rice surrounded by three to seven small bowls of various vegetable curries. My absolute favourite is the creamy red-lentil dhal in coconut milk, fiery coconut sambol, and an amazing young jackfruit curry whose texture resembles pulled meat.

For breakfast, don’t miss “hoppers”, bowl-shaped pancakes made from rice batter, often with an egg cracked into the centre. At dinner, you’ll hear rhythmic chopping on the street, which signals the preparation of “kottu roti”, a delicious mix of chopped flatbreads with vegetables. Local food is incredibly cheap and in local eateries you’ll eat like a king for around £1. Meat and fish dishes are on the menus too — just occasionally watch out for a traditional ingredient called “Maldive fish” (dried, crushed fish), which cooks like to sprinkle even into otherwise purely vegetarian salads.

17. Slow down on an Ayurvedic retreat

Sri Lanka is the cradle of the traditional natural medicine known as Ayurveda, and across the island you’ll find specialist resorts focused on deep regeneration of body and mind. But don’t expect ordinary wellness with a massage and a hot tub — an Ayurvedic stay is an intensive healing process.

The classic detox treatment known as panchakarma requires at least 14 nights, ideally a full 21 days, and begins with a detailed examination by an Ayurvedic doctor who determines your body type (dosha). Based on this, you’ll be given a strictly prescribed diet, daily herbal-oil massages and therapeutic treatments.

Prices for quality stays with full board and medical care start at roughly £105 (€120) per day. People come back from such a stay feeling like they’ve had a proper reset — and one prescribed by a doctor, not a hotel masseuse.

18. Budget for the high entry fees

While food, transport and accommodation are incredibly cheap in Sri Lanka, the entry fees for monuments and nature reserves can catch you out rather unpleasantly. The country applies a system of so-called dual pricing, where foreigners pay many times more than local residents.

A couple can easily spend over 200 US dollars (around £160) on entry to the main highlights of the Cultural Triangle and two national park visits alone. Entry to Sigiriya (30 USD), Polonnaruwa (30 USD) and safari (around 35 USD per entry) simply adds up very quickly, so factor this expense into your budget in advance.

Most entries must be paid in cash in local rupees, converted at the current exchange rate. Most banks charge a fee for ATM withdrawals, but the ATMs of the state-owned Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank usually dispense cash with no fee, which definitely comes in handy for larger withdrawals.

19. Watch out for the most common tourist scams

Sri Lankans are incredibly kind and hospitable people, but in tourist areas you’ll come across a few well-worn traps. The most common scam is the “gem scam”, where a tuk-tuk driver or a random “friend” takes you to a gemstone shop and offers you fake sapphires with the promise that you’ll resell them at a profit back in Europe. Never fall for it.

Also avoid organised visits to the so-called “Spice Gardens” around the town of Matale, where a fake doctor explains the benefits of spices for free, but then pressures you into buying ridiculously overpriced herbal creams. Likewise, the photogenic stilt fishermen near Koggala no longer fish — they just pose on their stilts for money from tourists.

When getting around towns, it’s best to download the PickMe app, which works like an Asian Uber for tuk-tuks. With it, you’ll see a fixed price in advance and won’t have to haggle over nonsensical sums with drivers on the street. Also give the popular elephant “orphanage” in Pinnawala a very wide berth, where the animals suffer in chains, and instead visit the ethical Elephant Transit Home near Udawalawe, which genuinely returns rescued calves to the wild.

20. Sri Lanka is wonderful for travelling with children

If you’re hesitating about heading to Asia with younger children, Sri Lanka is an absolutely fantastic “starter” exotic destination. The locals are completely besotted with children, you’ll be met with smiles everywhere, and the island offers a perfect three-way mix: one moment you’re by the sea, the next you’re exploring monuments, and then you’re off hunting for animals in the jungle.

For families with limited time, it’s genuinely brilliant to hire a car with your own driver (it works out at roughly 50 to 70 USD / £40–£55 a day, all in), which gives you huge comfort. Children will be thrilled by the herds of elephants on safari, riding in a noisy, colourful tuk-tuk, or an outing to the turtle beaches.

The only minor obstacle can be the food, because the Sri Lankan definition of “not spicy” is still a pretty fiery experience for a child’s palate. Luckily, this is reliably saved by fresh fruit juices, roti flatbreads, rice, or the ubiquitous egg hoppers, which children can happily survive the whole holiday on.

21. How to plan a 10- and 14-day itinerary

For a classic 14-day holiday, I recommend a varied loop that heads from the airport through the Cultural Triangle into the hills and finishes on the southern beaches. Try this formula: Sigiriya and Dambulla (2–3 days) -> Kandy (1 day) -> by train into the hills to Ella (2 days) -> safari in the south (1 day) -> relaxing on the southern beaches (3–4 days) -> a short stop in Galle before flying home.

With ten days you have to be a bit ruthless: feel free to skip both Anuradhapura and Colombo, save the north and east coasts for next time, and pick just one hill town — ideally Ella.

When planning your route, always bear in mind that the average travel speed on Sri Lankan roads is just 30 to 40 km/h. So don’t plan more than one long transfer per day, and never let anyone push you into travelling after dark, when wild elephants very often step onto the unlit roads.

Where to go after Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is often a gateway to further great Asian adventures. If you’re tempted by exploring other tropical islands with gorgeous nature, you can check out Indonesia and our tips on what to see in Bali.

If you prefer excellent street food and amazing temples, don’t hesitate to read our guide to Thailand without a tour operator: 11 tips for a DIY holiday or our detailed 2-week itinerary for a Thailand road trip. Lovers of buzzing Asian metropolises shouldn’t miss our guide to a Bangkok holiday with 18 tips.

On the long flights to Sri Lanka you’ll almost certainly be connecting in the Middle East. So why not make a multi-day stopover and use our 43 great tips for a holiday in Dubai? And if you’re planning to travel with just a backpack, you’ll definitely find our article on how to pack light in hand luggage handy.

More exotic destinations from our series: Cape Verde: holiday, 19 tips on what to see and when (not) to go · Zanzibar: holiday, 21 tips on what to see and when to go · Maldives: holiday, 21 tips on what to see and when to go · Mauritius: holiday, 21 tips on what to see and when to go · Dominican Republic: holiday, 21 tips and when to go · Abu Dhabi: holiday, 21 tips on what to see and when to go

Frequently asked questions

Planning a trip to an exotic destination always comes with a heap of practical questions. To save you hours of googling, I’ve put together answers to what travellers most often ask before flying off to the island. You’ll find everything here, from safety to necessary vaccinations.

Is Sri Lanka safe for tourists?

Yes, Sri Lanka is currently very safe and the economic crisis from 2022 has long been resolved. The country has stabilized and tourists face no threats, just watch out for petty theft and scams at markets, which is standard fare for any Asian destination. For solo female travelers, it’s one of the safest countries in the region.

Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka and how much does it cost?

Yes, you do, but from 2026 the tourist visa (ETA) for 30 days is completely free for Czech citizens. However, you must apply in advance online exclusively on the official government website eta.gov.lk. Be very careful of fraudulent unofficial websites that charge hidden handling fees.

When is the best time to visit?

It depends on exactly where you’re heading. For the classic loop and the southwestern beaches, the absolute best time is from December to March, when it’s dry and the weather is beautiful. The east coast, on the other hand, has its season during our summer holidays, from May to September.

How much does a 14-day vacation cost roughly?

Prices vary greatly depending on travel style. A backpacker using buses and staying in guesthouses can manage on $25–35 per day. A more comfortable holiday for a couple with a rental car and driver, entrance fees and better hotels runs around $150 to $250 per day for both people. The biggest expense on site tends to be the surprisingly expensive entrance fees to monuments.

Is that famous train from Kandy to Ella currently running?

After damage to the track by Cyclone Ditwah, the train still doesn’t run the entire route and often operates only on the shortened and most beautiful section from Ambewela through Ella to Badulla. Repairs are ongoing, so be sure to check the current connections via the railway website or the 12go.asia portal before departure.

Is it better to go on safari to Yala or Udawalawe?

I definitely recommend Udawalawe. Yala Park (especially Block 1) tends to be extremely overcrowded with hundreds of jeeps chasing animals and creating noisy traffic jams. In Udawalawe you’ll experience a much more peaceful safari with a huge and almost one hundred percent chance of close-up observation of large herds of elephants in the wild.

What vaccinations do I absolutely need for Sri Lanka?

No vaccination is mandatory, but as a traveller’s baseline, vaccination against hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever is strongly recommended. For longer stays and contact with animals, consider rabies. The good news is that malaria has been officially eradicated in Sri Lanka, so you don’t need to take antimalarial medication, but a quality repellent against dengue fever will definitely come in handy.

Is it easy to travel around Sri Lanka with small children?

Sri Lanka is one of the most family-friendly countries in Asia. It offers a great combination of beaches, safari animals, and easy trips that won’t bore the kids. Locals are extremely welcoming to families. Just be prepared that the food is sometimes very spicy, so you’ll rely on rice, flatbreads, and lots of sweet fruit.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Wizz Air Luggage 2026: Hand Luggage, Hold Bags, Sizes & Fees

TL;DRWizz Air’s free small bag for 2026 measures 40×30×20 cm and can weigh up to 10 kg — down from the previous 45×35×20 cm as of 1 November 2025. If you want the larger 55×40×23 cm trolley (up to 10 kg), you’ll need to add WIZZ Priority, which runs roughly €5–€60 online, or around €55 at the airport. Checked baggage comes in 10, 20, 26 or 32 kg options, with online prices from about €7 to €65. The priciest option is adding a bag at the gate, at around €65, or checking in at the airport for about €40. Wizz Air won’t carry any animals except certified assistance dogs, and you can dodge all these fees by booking online in advance, using the sizes and weights that have applied since November 2025.

Wizz Air is our classic go-to when we want to hop somewhere cheaply across Europe, especially eastwards and into the Balkans, where other airlines don’t fly all that much. Over the years, though, we’ve learned one thing: with Wizz it really pays to have your luggage sorted before you book, because dealing with anything at the airport gets expensive faster than you can say “surcharge”. 😅 If there’s one thing you should understand about Wizz Air luggage, it’s that the rules reward planning ahead.

The good news is that Wizz is pleasantly generous in one respect: the small free bag can weigh up to 10 kg, which is far from standard among budget airlines. The bad news is that they shrank the dimensions in November 2025, so your old bags may no longer fit.

In this guide you’ll find all types of Wizz Air luggage for 2026, their dimensions, weights and rough prices, plus a complete overview of fees and the memberships that can save you money. Prices with Wizz are dynamic, so treat them as a guide and always check the current amount when booking.

Wizz Air luggage in a nutshell

  • Free small bag: size 40×30×20 cm and a generous up to 10 kg, fits under the seat, everyone gets one.
  • Large carry-on (trolley 55×40×23 cm, 10 kg): only with the WIZZ Priority add-on.
  • Hold luggage: 10, 20, 26 or 32 kg, always significantly cheaper online than at the airport.
  • Free online check-in roughly 24 to 3 hours before departure. At the airport you pay extra.
  • The biggest trap: an extra bag at the gate will cost you around €65. This is completely avoidable.

Free small bag: 40×30×20 and up to 10 kg

This is the basic allowance every passenger gets for free, regardless of fare. You can take one small bag measuring 40×30×20 cm (including wheels and handles) weighing up to 10 kg, which must fit under the seat in front of you. I mention the 10 kg on purpose, because it’s unexpectedly generous — you won’t easily find that with the competition.

But watch out for one important change. Until the end of October 2025 the free bag was larger, 45×35×20 cm, and from 1 November 2025 Wizz shrank it to today’s 40×30×20 cm. So if you flew with Wizz before and your bag always passed, it’s best to measure it again, because it might now fail in the sizer at the gate.

💡 Tip: A soft backpack or bag fits the sizer better than a hard-shell case, even when a little fuller. We cover how to fit into this size and travel with it alone in our guide to packing for hand luggage. For sturdy bags that nail these dimensions, check out the Osprey hand luggage range.

Large carry-on (trolley) and WIZZ Priority

When the small bag isn’t enough, you can also take a large wheeled case into the cabin, measuring 55×40×23 cm and weighing up to 10 kg, which goes up in the overhead locker. The catch is that you don’t get it automatically. You have to pay extra for WIZZ Priority, which then lets you bring two items into the cabin — the small bag and the trolley — and you board first.

The price of WIZZ Priority varies a lot by route and date; as a rough guide, expect somewhere around €5 to €60 online one way. Priority bought at the airport will cost you around €55, so it pays to sort it right when you book.

⚠️ Watch out for the most common trap: without WIZZ Priority you’re only entitled to the small bag under the seat. If you turn up at the gate with an extra trolley, Wizz will put it in the hold for a fee of around €65. So it’s either Priority, or genuinely just one small bag within 40×30×20.

Wizz Air hold luggage: 10, 20, 26 or 32 kg

For a longer holiday you’ll want hold luggage going into the cargo hold. Wizz offers four weights and you can buy up to six items per person. New from November 2025 is a cheaper 10 kg hold bag, though you may only take one of them. The maximum combined dimensions of the case are a generous 149×119×171 cm.

LuggageDimensions / weightPrice (rough guide)
Small bag40×30×20 cm
10 kg
free
Large carry-on55×40×23 cm
10 kg
~€5–60 (Priority)
Hold 10 kgup to 149×119×171 cmfrom ~€7–14 online
Hold 20 kgup to 149×119×171 cm~€25–40 online
Hold 32 kgup to 149×119×171 cm~€45–65 online
Rough Wizz Air luggage dimensions and prices for 2026. Prices are dynamic — check the current ones when booking on wizzair.com.

The same golden rule applies as with every budget airline: buy everything online in advance. The same bag sorted at the airport will cost you significantly more. And if you exceed your hold allowance, expect a surcharge of roughly €13 per extra kilogram, paid at the airport.

Priority or hold luggage? How to decide

It mainly comes down to length of trip and number of travellers. To give you a feel for it, here are three typical situations.

A light weekend: here the free small bag often wins. Thanks to the generous 10 kg, a surprising amount fits into 40×30×20 cm and you pay nothing at all. Only bother with Priority if you want a guaranteed spot in the locker and priority boarding.

A week by the sea (one person): compare the price of Priority with a trolley against 20 kg hold luggage. With cheap Priority and a shorter stay, Priority wins, plus you skip the baggage belt. If you need more space, go for the hold bag.

Two people or a family: the cheapest option is often a single shared 20 kg hold bag you pack together, plus a free small bag each. It pays to compare the options in your basket before you pay.

All Wizz Air fees (and how to avoid them)

Wizz, like other budget airlines, makes most of its money on the things you didn’t sort in advance. Here’s an overview of the most common ones.

FeeHow much (rough guide)When it applies
Bag at the gate~€65 (up to €70)oversized or unpaid bag at the gate
WIZZ Priority at the airport~€55vs ~€5–60 online
Check-in at the airport~€40you didn’t check in online
Excess weight~€13 / kghold bag heavier than paid for
The most common Wizz Air fees. Almost all of them can be avoided with a little preparation.

See the common thread? Almost every fee crops up at the airport or at the gate. If you sort both your luggage and check-in online and stick to the sizes, you won’t pay a single euro extra.

WIZZ Priority, MultiPass and memberships: when they pay off

Wizz has several memberships around luggage and prices, and it’s easy to get lost in them. Here’s a quick translation of what’s what.

  • WIZZ Priority: a second cabin bag (the trolley), priority check-in and boarding. This is the add-on most people end up choosing.
  • WIZZ Discount Club: annual membership (roughly €60 or €100 depending on the tier) with discounts on flights and around €5 off luggage. Worth it if you fly with Wizz more often.
  • WIZZ MultiPass: an annual subscription that locks in the price of your flight and luggage for 12 months. Good for regular trips on the same route.
  • WIZZ All You Can Fly: an annual pass for roughly €500 to €600 plus €9.99 per leg. Note that the price includes only the small bag — you buy the trolley and hold luggage separately.

Online check-in and boarding pass

With Wizz Air, free online check-in opens roughly 24 hours to 3 hours before departure, and if you’ve paid for a specific seat, you can do it up to 30 days ahead. Checking in online is well worth it, because check-in at the airport is chargeable and costs around €40 on the spot.

For your boarding pass, Wizz accepts both a mobile version on your phone and a printed one — what matters most is a readable QR code. So have it downloaded and your phone charged before you head to the airport.

Special luggage: children, sports, instruments and animals

Travelling with something unusual? Wizz has its own rules for it. Children’s equipment like a folding pushchair or a car seat travels in the hold for free. Sports equipment like skis, a bike or golf clubs goes only in the hold, for a fee of roughly €45 to €65, up to 32 kg and with a reservation arranged in advance. A bike must be in a case, with the handlebars turned and pedals removed.

And one crucial thing for pet lovers: Wizz Air doesn’t carry any animals, neither in the cabin nor in the hold, on any route. The only exception is certified guide and assistance dogs, which must be reported in advance. So if you’re travelling with a dog or cat, you’ll need to choose another airline.

Liquids and what can (and can’t) go on board

The liquids rule wasn’t invented by Wizz — it applies at security checks in general. Liquids, gels and sprays are allowed in containers up to 100 ml, all together in one clear bag of up to 1 litre, which you take out separately at security. The exceptions are medicines and baby food in the amounts you need.

Some airports with more modern scanners allow more in 2026, but not everywhere does, so reliably plan for 100 ml. A great trick to get around the limit is switching to solid, water-free toiletries, which don’t count as liquids. We write more about it in our light-packing guide.

Is the end of paid hand luggage coming? (EU 2026)

You may have heard that hand luggage is supposed to be free across all airlines. There’s some truth to it, but also some misunderstanding. In January 2026 the European Parliament backed the right to take a small extra piece of hand luggage into the cabin for free, but it’s not law yet.

The proposal still has to go through negotiations between Parliament and the member states, who are still discussing it in the first half of 2026. Until they agree and the rule comes into force, the current airline rules apply, so with Wizz Air you still need to pay for Priority to bring a large trolley. Keep an eye on the situation, but for now plan around what we describe in this article.

Where to next

Now that you know what you have to fit into with Wizz, it’s worth knowing how to pack smart and which bag to choose. You’ll find the complete approach in our guide on how to pack light for hand luggage, specific models in our roundup of the best cabin bags, and more tricks in our article on 20 tips for packing your hand luggage. Flying with other budget airlines too? Compare Ryanair luggage, easyJet luggage and Smartwings luggage as well. Safe travels, and may it only be the others paying at the gate. 😉

What are the dimensions of carry-on luggage with Wizz Air?

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The free small bag has dimensions of 40×30×20 cm and weighs up to 10 kg, fitting under the seat. The large trolley for the overhead compartment measures 55×40×23 cm and 10 kg, but you’ll only get that with the paid WIZZ Priority add-on. Wizz reduced the small bag dimensions in November 2025 from the original 45×35×20 cm.

How many kg is the Wizz Air free carry-on baggage?

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The small free bag at Wizz Air can weigh up to 10 kg, which is above average among low-cost carriers. However, it must fit within the dimensions of 40×30×20 cm and under the seat in front of you.
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How much does baggage cost with Wizz Air?

Small bag is free. WIZZ Priority with large trolley costs approximately 5 to 60 € online, checked 10 kg from roughly 7 to 14 €, 20 kg about 25 to 40 € and 32 kg around 45 to 65 € online. Prices are dynamic depending on route and date and at the airport are significantly higher, so always buy online in advance.

Can I take a dog or cat on a Wizz Air flight?

No. Wizz Air does not transport any animals, either in the cabin or in the cargo hold, on any route. The only exception is certified guide and assistance dogs for passengers with disabilities, which must be reported and documented in advance.

What happens if I show up at the gate with extra luggage?

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If you have extra luggage at the gate or your bag doesn’t fit through the sizer, Wizz Air will store it in the cargo hold and charge a fee of around €65. This is much more than paying for Priority or checked baggage online in advance, so make sure to check the dimensions at home beforehand.
“`

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!

Iceland: The Complete Guide — What to See, When to Go and What It Costs in 2026

TL;DRThis complete guide to Iceland reckons on 7 to 10 days to circle the Ring Road, while the Golden Circle and south coast can be done in 4 to 5 days. A week’s holiday for two, flights not included, costs 80,000 to 130,000 ISK, dropping to 50,000–70,000 ISK if you camp and cook your own food. The best months are June to August for accessible highland roads and long daylight hours, or late September to October for the Northern Lights and cheaper prices. Highlights include Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Gullfoss, the black sand beach at Reynisfjara, the Blue Lagoon and the Snæfellsnes peninsula. You’ll need a 4×4 for the highlands and winter roads, and from 2026 a per-kilometre tax of 6.95 ISK/km kicks in, while petrol has dropped to around 215 ISK a litre.

When you step off the plane in Keflavík, the first thing that probably hits you in the face is the wind. It’s not the gentle European breeze we’re used to, but rather a raw oceanic gust that smells of salt, sulphur and uncompromising wilderness. Lukáš and I drove all the way around Iceland at the turn of September and October in a rented Suzuki Grand Vitara.

It was two weeks that left an indelible mark on us. Back then we had a single unwritten rule: every day we had to find some thermal pool to soak in. It was the best idea we ever came up with 😅.

We fell in love with the Icelandic horses and their incredible manes, and I’ll never forget the moment when we stood in the middle of nowhere in the Westfjords and the green northern lights danced above our heads.

This guide to Iceland is designed to prepare you for the reality of the island without the rose-tinted glasses of social media. Iceland can be expensive, exhausting and incredibly moody, but once you accept its rules of the game, it rewards you with experiences for a lifetime. If you’re planning a holiday in Iceland in 2026, you’ll need to account for a number of new developments — from a per-kilometre tax to reawakened volcanoes.

In this article you’ll find a complete overview of when to go, how much the whole adventure costs, what to watch out for when renting a car and, of course, detailed tips on the spots you absolutely shouldn’t miss on your trip.

TL;DR

  • How long to go for: To drive the main Ring Road you ideally need 7 to 10 days. The Golden Circle and south coast can be done in 4 to 5 days.
  • Budget: Iceland is very expensive. A comfortable one-week holiday for two (excluding flights) comes to roughly £2,800 to £4,600. The cost can be cut by cooking your own food and staying in campsites.
  • What’s new in 2026: The airline PLAY went bust, a new per-kilometre tax of 6.95 ISK per kilometre now applies on the roads, but petrol has dropped significantly to around 215 ISK per litre. In August the island will experience a total solar eclipse.
  • Car: In summer a regular two-wheel-drive car is enough for the main road, but for the interior (F-roads) and for winter you absolutely need a 4×4.
  • Safety: Beware of treacherous waves on Reynisfjara black beach and the extreme wind that can literally rip the doors off your car. The volcanoes on the Reykjanes Peninsula are active, but safely monitored.

When to Go and How to Get There

Planning a holiday in Iceland starts with the question of what you actually expect from the trip. The weather here is hard to predict and often changes every five minutes. We set off at the turn of September and October, which in my opinion is an absolutely brilliant compromise.

There aren’t as many tourists as in summer, accommodation prices drop a little, and at the same time it’s dark enough for you to go hunting for the northern lights. What’s more, the Gulf Stream keeps temperatures surprisingly mild, so it rarely stays freezing in Reykjavík for long. The real dictator here, though, is the wind, which can knock the feels-like temperature down by ten degrees — so a quality windproof jacket is an absolute must, even in July.

If you want the best possible chance of passable roads and an open interior, aim for mid-June to the end of August. Summer days are endless and the sun sets for only a few hours, so you can pack a lot in.

On the other hand, 2026 has a huge astronomical event in store. On Wednesday 12 August there will be a total solar eclipse, which will be best visible from the Westfjords and Reykjavík. The path of totality will sweep across the western part of the country, and the longest darkness will be experienced at the Látrabjarg cliffs, where the eclipse will last over two minutes.

Accommodation for this date is sold out far in advance and prices are skyrocketing. For example, the price for an ordinary guesthouse in the town of Ísafjörður has climbed to $700 a night, and a massive festival is even being held on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

As for flights from the UK, you have several options. Several airlines fly direct from London (Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton) with easyJet, Icelandair and British Airways, with the journey taking around three hours and fares typically around £60 to £250 return depending on the season. Icelandair is a long-established and very reliable carrier that offers a great Stopover service.

That way you can break your journey to North America with a stopover in Iceland of up to seven days at absolutely no extra charge on top of your fare. Just be careful with older information online, because the popular budget airline PLAY went bankrupt and you’ll no longer see its red planes in the sky.

To enter the country you don’t need a visa, but as a UK traveller you will need a valid passport. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area but not the EU, so from late 2026 you should expect the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and, eventually, the ETIAS travel authorisation to apply to you. It’s worth checking the latest entry requirements before you fly, and bear in mind there may be slightly longer queues at the desks.

Where to Stay and What It Costs

Accommodation in Iceland is probably what hurts your wallet the most. The price of a stay depends primarily on the standard you require, because here you’ll find absolutely everything — from luxury glass-walled hotels to family farms to campsites.

During our road trip we mostly slept in so-called guesthouses, which is probably the most popular and most practical form of accommodation. You usually have a private or shared bathroom and, crucially, access to a shared kitchen, which is absolutely key to keeping your budget in check.

On average, expect a night for two in a decent guesthouse to cost £70 to £140, or roughly 80 to 150 euros. A great alternative for animal lovers is the so-called farmstays organised by the Hey Iceland network, where you wake up to the literal bleating of sheep and often have a fully equipped kitchenette at your disposal.

If you’re travelling solo or don’t mind shared rooms, you’ll also find clean, modern hostels all over the island, where a bed in a shared dorm goes for between $40 and $60 a night.

Accommodation is simply a major expense, so if you’re heading out in summer and have a more adventurous nature, you’ll save an incredible amount with the Camping Card. It costs around £155 (26,000 ISK) and gives you access to more than forty campsites across the island for up to 28 nights.

The card is also valid for two adults and up to four children, and on site you only top up with a small accommodation tax of around 400 ISK per night. It’s an absolutely ideal option for those renting a campervan.

As for the overall budget, a self-organised holiday in Iceland for two people for one week at mid-range comfort — with a rental car, petrol, food and entry to thermal pools — will cost an estimated £2,800 to £4,600 excluding flights. If you cook diligently, sleep in a tent and rent the smallest two-wheel-drive car, you can squeeze it down to somewhere around £1,750 to £2,500.

If, on the other hand, you want luxury hotels and private glacier excursions, the budget easily exceeds £10,500. For 2026, don’t forget to factor in the new per-kilometre tax on the rental car, which I’ll cover in more detail in the next section.

💡 Specific accommodation tips (check prices and availability via Booking, and book early — in peak season and around the 2026 eclipse they vanish months ahead):

Transport and Driving: 4 Things You Must Know

The roads in Iceland are an experience all of their own, and renting a car here feels a bit like a little wild west. You can either stick to the paved ring road known as the Ring Road, or dare to head into the interior on gravel tracks. Both options have their strict rules that really don’t pay to break, because roadside assistance is astronomically expensive, mobile speed cameras are merciless and the fines are even worse.

1. Which car to choose and when a two-wheel drive will do

The big dilemma is always the choice between a two-wheel-drive car and a 4×4. If you’re going in summer and only plan to drive the Golden Circle, the south coast or to loop the main Ring Road, a small front-wheel-drive car will be more than enough. Most of the main road is paved and only about thirty percent of the stretches are gravel.

But as soon as you want to head onto the mountain roads marked with the letter F into the Icelandic interior, a 4×4 vehicle is an absolute necessity. By law you may not drive there in a regular car, all your insurance will be void, and believe me, those roads are genuinely rough.

A 4×4 is, of course, also essential for driving in the winter months. And watch out for the narrow single-lane bridges, the so-called Einbreið brú, where a simple rule always applies: whoever reaches the bridge first has right of way.

2. Insurance is an absolute essential

On Icelandic roads a lot of things can happen to your car that we simply don’t know in central Europe. Basic CDW insurance on a small car costs around 3,190 ISK a day, but it usually isn’t nearly enough.

Definitely pay extra for Gravel Protection, which covers you against flying gravel. The asphalt on the Ring Road often unexpectedly turns into gravel, and all it takes is a car coming the other way to send a tiny stone flying and instantly crack your windscreen.

If you’re heading to the south and east of the island, I also highly recommend Sand and Ash Protection. Windstorms can whip up volcanic ash and sand that literally strips the paint off your car down to the bare metal, and in that case the damage runs into many thousands of pounds — up to 1,500,000 ISK.

A special chapter is the river crossings in the interior. Unfortunately, no standard insurance covers those, and there you always drive entirely at your own risk.

3. Be extremely careful with the doors

It might sound a bit comical, but one of the most common types of damage at Icelandic car rental companies is the doors being torn off by the wind, which the locals call door-ripping. The force of the wind in Iceland can be so extreme that if you carelessly open your car door, the wind catches it and slams it back as far as the wing with enormous force.

The repair costs absurd sums and ordinary insurance rarely covers this kind of damage. We have a simple rule: whenever the wind blows in Iceland, you have to hold the handle firmly with both hands and brace the door with your body as you get out. Likewise, be careful not to park into the direction of a strong wind with the doors open.

4. The per-kilometre tax and cheaper petrol for 2026

If you’re reading holiday accounts from Iceland from previous years, you need to know about a major change. As of 1 January 2026, the Icelandic government introduced a new per-kilometre tax, which also applies to electric cars. For passenger cars up to 3.5 tonnes this means a charge of 6.95 ISK, or roughly £0.04, for every kilometre driven.

Rental companies will either bill you a fixed daily fee of around 1,390 to 1,550 ISK, or deduct it from your card precisely according to the odometer when you return the car.

But there’s no need to panic. Alongside this tax, the government also abolished part of the fuel excise duty, so petrol has become very pleasantly cheaper. While in 2025 a litre cost over 305 ISK, in 2026 prices range between roughly 210 and 225 ISK per litre depending on the petrol station network.

So the overall cost of a road trip roughly evens out — you just pay part of the money to the rental company and less at the pump. And don’t forget that at self-service petrol stations like N1 you’ll definitely need a physical bank card and to know your PIN, because contactless payments without a PIN have a limit of 7,500 ISK in Iceland.

Iceland and Safety: What to Watch Out For

Although Iceland has long held the top spot in the ranking of the safest countries in the world with almost zero crime, nature here unfortunately doesn’t forgive mistakes. People here often don’t lock their houses or cars and they’re incredibly kind, but on the other hand you can be killed by an inconspicuous wave on a black beach or caught out by an evacuation due to seismic activity. Just follow a few basic rules and you’ll be absolutely fine.

Probably the biggest bogeyman of recent years is located on the stunning Reynisfjara black beach near the town of Vík. The place is genuinely gorgeous, with basalt columns in the background, but the ocean here produces so-called sneaker waves — treacherous, creeping waves.

The ocean looks perfectly calm, then out of nowhere a huge mass of water surges in, reaching dozens of metres further onto land than the previous waves. The water has enormous force, and a strong undertow can easily drag a grown adult into the ocean. Sadly, six tourists have died here since 2013.

So respect the colour-coded warning signal right on the beach, stay at least thirty metres away from the water and, above all, never turn your back on the ocean for a photo.

Another peculiarity is the volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Since March 2021 eruptions have come and gone here, and there have been nine in the Sundhnúkur volcanic system alone. They don’t pose a major nationwide risk to your safety, though, because these eruptions don’t spew clouds of ash but rather more calmly pour lava from fissures.

Keflavík airport operates without restrictions, but be very careful at the popular Blue Lagoon spa. It currently operates in a dynamic mode and, during increased seismic activity, it can fully evacuate with two hours’ notice.

Always check the app and the official website Safetravel.is before your trip, where you’ll find the latest warnings. Equally essential is the accurate weather portal Vedur.is.

An entirely different category of safety and social rules is Icelandic etiquette in the thermal pools, or the Sundlaug. Tourists usually head for the expensive spas like the Sky Lagoon, but we fell in love with the local public pools you’ll find in every smaller town for a fraction of the entry fee.

They do, however, have one very strict rule. Because Icelanders use minimal chlorine, you must thoroughly shower with soap before entering the pool — and that means completely naked.

In the changing rooms you’ll often encounter staff, the so-called shower guards, who supervise hygiene, and if you don’t take your swimsuit off they’ll send you mercilessly back to the showers. You might feel a little shy, but no one is looking at you — it’s simply a necessary local tradition.

Region by Region: 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit and What to Do There

Iceland is so vast and visually varied that you simply can’t take it all in on a single visit. Lukáš and I managed to drive around the whole island in fourteen days, but we had days where we sat in the car for many hours watching the asphalt turn into endless gravel tracks.

I’ve divided the island into its main regions for you, so you can pick exactly the spots that appeal to you most and easily put together your ideal itinerary.

1. Reykjavík and the Reykjanes Peninsula

Iceland’s capital probably won’t greet you with the classic historic atmosphere of European metropolises, but it has its own unmistakable Nordic charm. The whole city can be walked in a day, and I recommend starting at the dominant concrete church of Hallgrímskirkja, whose architecture is meant to evoke the basalt columns of the local landscape, with a trip up the viewing tower costing around 1,400 ISK.

A stroll around the modern glass-walled Harpa concert hall, which sits right by the harbour, is also lovely, and definitely don’t miss the steel Sun Voyager sculpture either. In the evening, head out on the famous rúntur, the traditional bar crawl along the lively Laugavegur street.

Beyond the city limits lies the Reykjanes Peninsula, where you’ll most likely land. Here you’ll find the famous Blue Lagoon with its milky-coloured water, which is occasionally temporarily evacuated due to local volcanic activity near the town of Grindavík, but usually operates without any problems.

Tickets must be booked well in advance. On this peninsula you’ll also find the so-called Bridge Between Continents, where you can freely walk through the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

💡 Tip: It pays to buy tickets and organised tours (in Iceland and the surrounding area) online in advance on GetYourGuide — they fill up fast in peak season.

lukas a lucka
Lukáš and Lucie recommend
Where to Stay in Iceland
3 accommodations — hotels and other lodging options

2. The Golden Circle as a must-do start

This is the absolute classic, which you can drive from the capital in a single afternoon trip. The Golden Circle is made up of three main stops. The first is Þingvellir National Park, a place of huge historical significance, because the first Icelandic parliament met here as early as 930.

It’s also the only place in the world where you can clearly see two continental plates pulling apart on the surface, and the brave can even dive in the Silfra fissure in water of just two degrees Celsius.

The next stop is the geothermal Geysir area. The Great Geysir itself mostly sleeps these days, but its neighbour named Strokkur is very reliable, shooting boiling water to an impressive height of up to thirty metres roughly every five to ten minutes.

The whole route is rounded off by the imposing Gullfoss waterfall. This double cascading giant looks incredibly majestic, and in winter, when it’s surrounded by ice, you get the feeling you’ve ended up somewhere at the end of the world.

3. The south coast: waterfalls and black sand

If you head out of Reykjavík along ring road number 1 towards the south, get ready to be stopping every few minutes with your mouth wide open. The first huge draw is the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, whose uniqueness lies in the fact that you can safely walk all the way around behind it.

Just have a really good waterproof jacket ready, because the spray flies off it in every direction. Only a little further on you’ll come across mighty Skógafoss, alongside which you can climb hundreds of steps and watch as an enormous volume of water plunges sixty metres down into the river below.

At these popular spots, expect to pay parking fees of around 1,000 ISK, so go ahead and download the Parka app right away.

If you have a bit of extra time and don’t mind a longer walk, take a hike out to the wreck of an American military DC-3 plane on Sólheimasandur beach. The aircraft has lain there in the black sand since the 1970s, and although the flat, gravel-strewn path to it is a little tiresome, that post-apocalyptic sight is definitely worth it.

Once you reach the town of Vík, you’ll come across the aforementioned beautiful but dangerous Reynisfjara black beach with its basalt columns, where those utterly treacherous ocean waves await you.

4. The southeast and the magic of giant glaciers

Beyond Vík the crowds of tourists noticeably thin out, and along a long straight road you’ll approach the enormous Vatnajökull National Park, home to the largest glacier in Europe, which covers an incredible eight percent of all of Iceland. This takes everyone’s breath away, without exception.

Lukáš and I made a longer stop at the famous Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Huge blue and white chunks of ice break off into this calm water and drift silently towards the ocean, often with curious seals basking on them.

Right across the road from the lagoon lies the so-called Diamond Beach. The churning ocean constantly tumbles those huge broken-off chunks of ice and gradually washes them back onto the shore. Ice of all shapes and sizes really does sparkle like diamonds on the deep black volcanic sand in the sunlight, making it one of the most photogenic spots on the whole island.

5. The Eastfjords (Austurland) and cliffside scenery

Once you drive through the rugged southeast, the road begins to twist dramatically and you enter the region of the Eastfjords. It’s a landscape of sharp, steep cliffs, deep bays and deserted roads, where you’re very likely to encounter whole herds of wild reindeer. Bear in mind that the distances between petrol stations here are noticeably longer, so don’t forget to refuel regularly and keep an eye on your tank.

The absolute gem of this area is the picturesque town of Seyðisfjörður, which sits at the end of one of the deep fjords. This place was made famous by its iconic blue church, reached by a wonderfully photogenic rainbow street. The atmosphere here is completely different from the rest of Iceland, full of artists, little cafés and an all-pervading calm.

6. The north and the wild Diamond Circle

The role of northern capital is played by the likeable town of Akureyri, from which most travellers set off to explore the so-called Diamond Circle. It takes in the gorgeous Goðafoss waterfall and, above all, the geothermally active Mývatn lake area. This region feels literally like another planet.

At every turn it bubbles and hisses, you walk past colourful mud pots at Hverir and admire the Dimmuborgir lava formations. What’s more, at the turn of June and July 2026, after a long rebuild, the brand-new Earth Lagoon spa is opening here, replacing the original Mývatn Nature Baths.

The absolute highlight of the north for me is, without doubt, Dettifoss — the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. Standing on its edge and feeling the physical tremors beneath your feet fills you with enormous respect for nature. If you love animals, take a trip to the nearby fishing town of Húsavík.

The chances of spotting whales from a boat trip here border on a certainty, and in the summer months even huge blue whales regularly swim in. After the cruise you can soak in the GeoSea thermal baths, where from the hot water you look out straight onto the ocean.

7. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the remote Westfjords

The western part of Iceland offers two completely different faces. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is often nicknamed Iceland in miniature, because in a relatively small area you’ll find a little bit of everything.

There’s the iconic pointed Mount Kirkjufell known from Game of Thrones, the romantic, solitary black church of Búðir in the middle of the wilderness, and the dramatic cliffs full of nesting birds at Arnarstapi. You can drive around it in two relaxed days, and in August 2026 a massive festival linked to the solar eclipse is even being held here.

The Westfjords, by contrast, are for people who want to escape from everything and everyone. Fewer than ten percent of all tourists head here, because the roads constantly wind through deep fjords, the asphalt frequently turns to gravel and the driving is very slow.

The reward, though, is absolute isolation and the majestic cascading Dynjandi waterfall. Back then we stood on the Látrabjarg cliffs, the westernmost point of all of Europe, and in summer you can watch huge colonies of adorable puffins from a metre away.

8. The Highlands and the rainbow mountains of Landmannalaugar

The Highlands are the rugged and inhospitable heart of Iceland, where ordinary tourists with small cars never venture. There are no paved roads here at all, no petrol stations and no hotels — just endless gravel F-roads and crossings of wild rivers that you have to ford in your car at your own risk. The Highlands are accessible only from roughly mid-June to mid-September, and exclusively with a powerful 4×4 vehicle.

If you have the right car and the courage, scenery straight out of Mars awaits you here. The most famous area is Landmannalaugar, with its breathtaking, colourful rhyolite mountains, where you can take wonderful treks and bathe in natural hot streams. If you long for total solitude and have genuine off-road driving experience, you can head all the way out to the lunar landscape of the Askja volcano deep in the central interior.

Where to Eat in Iceland: A Guide for Vegetarians and the Curious

Restaurants in Iceland are a chapter all of their own and divide roughly into two basic categories: expensive and extremely expensive. A regular main course in a restaurant will easily cost you 2,000 to 3,500 Icelandic króna, and an ordinary beer in a bar can run to 1,500 ISK.

Since Lukáš and I are vegetarians and tried to keep to some sort of reasonable budget, we prepared most of our food ourselves from ingredients we bought.

We shopped exclusively in local supermarkets and quickly discovered that Bónus is the best, with the pink piglet on its logo and easily the lowest prices. A slightly pricier alternative is Krónan or Nettó, while we gave the upmarket supermarket Hagkaup a very wide berth.

The boot of our car soon turned into a functional field kitchen. Every day we cooked pasta with pesto, huge pots of fresh lentil soup, prepared chickpeas, and in the evening we often made homemade tacos with avocado or simply spread our beloved hummus on the excellent Icelandic bread.

A huge vegetarian discovery for us was genuine Icelandic Skyr, which is technically a thick cheese even though it looks like yoghurt — and because it contains over 16 grams of pure protein, it saved us pretty much every morning at breakfast. If you head into the bigger towns like Reykjavík or Akureyri in the north, you’ll easily find great vegetarian and vegan venues serving fantastic veggie bowls, crispy falafel or excellent vegan baked goods.

And one more incredibly important tip: never buy bottled water in plastic in Iceland. The tap water across the whole island is perfectly clean, delicious and, above all, completely free.

If you’re not vegetarian and have a more adventurous nature, you might be interested in the local traditional specialities you’ll commonly find on menus. You’ll often come across a thick lamb soup or pieces of dried fish called harðfiskur, which Icelanders routinely chew as a snack.

In the bolder establishments, tourists are even served the notorious hákarl, fermented Greenland shark with a powerful ammonia smell, which the locals wash down — just to be safe — with the sharp, caraway-flavoured spirit Brennivín.

Where to Go Next

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

It depends on your priorities. If you want to explore the entire island, venture into the interior, and enjoy long days with minimal rainfall, go from June to August. However, if you’re dreaming of the Northern Lights and want to avoid the biggest crowds and astronomical summer prices, the best time is late September, October or the cooler month of March.

How much does a vacation in Iceland cost?

The price range on the island is enormous. The golden middle path for two people for a week without flights, including sleeping in nice guesthouses, renting a smaller car, and the occasional dinner at a restaurant, will cost you roughly €3,200 to €5,200. More budget-conscious travelers who diligently cook from supplies from the Bónus supermarket and camp in a tent or van can squeeze the budget down to €2,000 to €2,800.

How many hours does a flight to Iceland take?

If you fly from Prague with a direct flight in the summer season, for example with Smartwings, the flight to Keflavík International Airport takes just under four hours. When flying outside the season, expect one layover, most commonly via Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Vienna or London, which will logically extend the total journey to approximately six to eight hours.

Do I need a 4×4 car in Iceland or is a regular one enough?

In the summer months and for traveling on the main asphalt Ring Road and the popular Golden Circle, a regular smaller car with front-wheel drive will absolutely do the trick. However, as soon as you’re planning to head inland on the gravel mountain F-roads that cross rivers, or you’re traveling during the harsh winter months full of snow, 4×4 drive is an absolute must and on F-roads it’s actually required by law for safety reasons.

What’s not allowed in Iceland and what are the rules?

The island takes great care in protecting its fragile nature and strictly punishes any violations. It is strictly forbidden to drive off designated roads, or to engage in off-roading, step on the rare Icelandic moss that takes hundreds of years to grow, and you must not camp anywhere outside official designated campsites. Etiquette in thermal pools is also very important, where you must not enter without first taking a thorough shower without a swimsuit.

Is the island and volcanoes currently safe?

Yes, Iceland has long been considered the safest country in the world. The eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula are still active in 2026 and magma is accumulating, but these volcanic phenomena are very localized and there are no massive ash explosions into the atmosphere. Air traffic and major tourist attractions are operating normally and authorities are carefully monitoring everything, but it’s always worth checking the current situation through the Safetravel app.

How does the new mileage tax work for 2026?

Since January 2026, Iceland has introduced a new tax of 6.95 ISK per kilometre driven in a private car, including popular electric vehicles. Rental companies typically pass this cost directly on to customers in the form of a daily flat rate or exact billing upon vehicle return. The great news, however, is that thanks to this tax, the government has abolished part of the petrol fees, so fuel at petrol stations has become significantly cheaper to around 215 ISK per litre.

Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation

Don’t Overpay for Flights

Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.

Book Your Accommodation Smartly

The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.

Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).

Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.

Find the Best Experiences

Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!