JapanWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in Tokyo: 8 Areas for Different First Trips
Tokyo does not have one centre. Pick the rail lines and evening atmosphere first, then the hotel — otherwise a cheap room can quietly add an hour of commuting every day.
The GoStaySee guide to Japan
The Best 10-Day Japan Itinerary for a First Visit
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka give a first trip three distinct rhythms. Ten days is enough when you stop treating every possible day trip as compulsory.
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Browse by the decision you are making, not only by the country on the map.
01
Neighbourhood guides
Explore →02Where to Stay
Choose the right base before comparing hotels: neighbourhood character, transport, late-night atmosphere and the trade-offs that matter.
Transport made practical
Explore →03Getting Around
Airport arrivals, local trains, road trips and the small decisions that turn a route from possible into comfortable.
Worth your time
Explore →04Things to Do
Landmarks, museums, neighbourhood walks and low-key favourites arranged around the time you actually have.
Routes and itineraries
Explore →05Tours & Planning
Day-by-day routes, sensible pacing and clear choices between going independently and joining a tour.
Before you leave
Explore →Travel Essentials
Budgets, packing, connectivity, etiquette and first-trip advice collected in one useful place.
Editors' picks
Top stories
ItalyTours & Planning
Italy by Train: A 10-Day Route Through Rome, Florence and Venice
Three art-heavy cities are enough for ten days. The route works because the trains are fast and the itinerary leaves space for mornings, meals and one city that surprises you.
United StatesWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in New York City: 7 Neighbourhoods, Honestly Compared
Midtown is convenient, but convenience is not the same thing as a good evening. These are the New York bases we would choose for different first trips — and the trade-off behind each one.
United KingdomThings to Do
The Best Free Things to Do in London
The museums are only the beginning. A genuinely good free day in London mixes one collection, one long walk and a neighbourhood you might otherwise have crossed by Tube.
Sleep well, wake up well placed
All neighbourhood guides →Where to stay
ItalyWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in Rome: 7 Areas With Very Different Evenings
Rome rewards walking, but the centre is larger and more uneven than it looks. Choose a base that fits your evenings and the attractions you will visit early — not simply the closest pin to the Colosseum.
JapanWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in Tokyo: 8 Areas for Different First Trips
Tokyo does not have one centre. Pick the rail lines and evening atmosphere first, then the hotel — otherwise a cheap room can quietly add an hour of commuting every day.
United KingdomWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in London: 7 Areas That Work for a First Trip
The best London base is not the neighbourhood with the most sights. It is the one that lets you end the day well — with a direct ride home, somewhere good to eat and no unnecessary cross-city commute.
United StatesWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in New York City: 7 Neighbourhoods, Honestly Compared
Midtown is convenient, but convenience is not the same thing as a good evening. These are the New York bases we would choose for different first trips — and the trade-off behind each one.
Routes worth taking
More trip plans →Trip ideas & itineraries
ItalyTours & Planning
Italy by Train: A 10-Day Route Through Rome, Florence and Venice
Three art-heavy cities are enough for ten days. The route works because the trains are fast and the itinerary leaves space for mornings, meals and one city that surprises you.
JapanTours & Planning
The Best 10-Day Japan Itinerary for a First Visit
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka give a first trip three distinct rhythms. Ten days is enough when you stop treating every possible day trip as compulsory.
United KingdomTours & Planning
A 7-Day UK Itinerary by Train: London, York and Edinburgh
Three cities, two straightforward rail journeys and enough time to notice where you are. This is the first UK route we recommend before adding Bath, the Highlands or another airport.
United StatesTours & Planning
A First East Coast USA Itinerary: 10 Days by Train
New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Boston fit into one rail-led trip — but not in the order most maps tempt you to use.
Recently updated
Browse all 17 guides →Latest guides
ItalyTours & Planning
Italy by Train: A 10-Day Route Through Rome, Florence and Venice
Three art-heavy cities are enough for ten days. The route works because the trains are fast and the itinerary leaves space for mornings, meals and one city that surprises you.
ItalyGetting Around
Italy by Train or Car? Choose by Region, Not Romance
Trains are better for the classic art-city route. A car becomes useful when the accommodation, landscape or village sequence sits beyond the station — and a burden the moment you enter the historic centre.
JapanTours & Planning
The Best 10-Day Japan Itinerary for a First Visit
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka give a first trip three distinct rhythms. Ten days is enough when you stop treating every possible day trip as compulsory.
JapanTravel Essentials
Japan First-Trip Essentials That Make the Journey Easier
Japan is highly organised, but that does not mean every system explains itself in the same way. These are the habits, apps and small preparations that reduce friction without over-planning the trip.
ItalyThings to Do
Where to Eat in Rome: Four Neighbourhoods for a First Trip
Rome is easier to eat well in when you choose the neighbourhood before the restaurant. These four areas suit different days: a market lunch, a lively night, a central stop between ruins or a calmer dinner after the Vatican.
ItalyWhere to Stay
Where to Stay in Rome: 7 Areas With Very Different Evenings
Rome rewards walking, but the centre is larger and more uneven than it looks. Choose a base that fits your evenings and the attractions you will visit early — not simply the closest pin to the Colosseum.
The people behind the guides
Our editorial team →Meet our writers
Editorial Director
Eleanor Ward
Her ideal first day in a city includes a market, a long walk and exactly one timed ticket.
United Kingdom · Italy · Rail itineraries
Asia Editor
Maya Chen
She will always trade one more landmark for a slower lunch and an evening neighbourhood walk.
Japan · City transport · Food-led itineraries
North America Editor
Jordan Hale
His rule for large cities: pick a neighbourhood you want to return to at night, not just one close to a landmark.
United States · Neighbourhood guides · Road trips