Itineraries
Day-by-day plans that actually work, from long weekends to two-week routes.
User:Davenbelle aka User:Moby Dick aka Jack Merridew · Public domain via Wikimedia Commons10 Days in Bali · 10-day
Ten days in Bali: highlands, temples and the south coast
Five nights inland in Ubud, then five on the south coast, with a private driver for the transfer and day trips.
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons10 Days in Thailand · 10-day
Ten days in Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and an island
Four nights in Bangkok, three in Chiang Mai and two on the island, with both long legs flown.
Thomas Hirsch / User:Ravn · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons10 Days in Vietnam · 10-day
Ten days in Vietnam: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An and Saigon
North to south by two short flights: three nights in and around Hanoi including the Halong cruise, three in Hoi An, three in Ho Chi Minh City, with the arrival and travel days folded into those nine.
PotatoWitch · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbu Dhabi · 3-day
Three days in Abu Dhabi: the mosque, the museums and the water
The city's essentials at a humane pace: one day for the capital itself, one for Saadiyat's museum district, one for palaces and the water, with the mosque taken at its best hour rather than its most convenient one.
Davide Mauro · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbu Dhabi · 5-day
Five days: the capital, the parks, the desert and Dubai
The full argument: three city days, the desert night that becomes the highlight, and Dubai handled the right way around, as this trip's day excursion.
Dronepicr · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAlgarve · 7-day
Seven days in the Algarve: four nights west, two nights east, one move
The two-coast plan the 2026 transport upgrades finally make painless. Four nights in Lagos for the cliff coast, the caves and the wild west, then one crossing on the free A22 or the direct train, and two nights in Tavira for the lagoon, the islands and the slow east. It front-loads the drama and ends on calm, which is the right order.
Glen MacLarty · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAmalfi Coast · 5-day
Five days on the Amalfi Coast: towns, boats and one island
Two or three nights on the coastal strip (Positano or Praiano), one or two in Ravello or Amalfi town, moving by ferry wherever possible.
Dionisioortiz · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAndalusia Road Trip · 11-day
Eleven days, the full loop from Malaga
The plan we would book: Malaga to Granada for two nights, Cordoba for one, Seville for three, one night at Jerez or Cadiz, two in Ronda, and a last night in Malaga after the Caminito del Rey. About 1,000 kilometres in all, no drive over two and a half hours, and almost all of it toll-free. Three rules set the order: the Alhambra ticket comes first and the trip is built around its date; the Cordoba morning, day four, must be a Tuesday to Saturday, because the Mezquita’s free hour does not run on Sundays and the synagogue and Medina Azahara shut on Mondays; and the Caminito is closed on Mondays too. The car stops at a garage on the edge of every city and you walk in.
Moñizv · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAndalusia Road Trip · 7-day
Seven days, the triangle and the bridge
For a week: the three cities and Ronda, nothing else. Fly into Malaga, two nights in Granada, one in Cordoba, two in Seville, one in Ronda, and out through Malaga. The same rules apply: book the Alhambra first, make the Cordoba morning a Tuesday to Saturday, and leave the car at the edge of each city.
leonardo samrani from rosario, argentina · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsArgentina: Buenos Aires and Mendoza Wine Country · 7-day
Seven days: Buenos Aires and Mendoza
Four nights in Buenos Aires without a car, a two-hour flight, then two Mendoza nights with pre-booked winery days: one for the Uco Valley, one for Luján de Cuyo and Maipú. Add a night if you want the valley at leisure.
Elias Politis ( http://www.auhopu.com/ ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAthens · 4-day
Four days in Athens: the Acropolis, the old city and one day trip
Base in Koukaki or Plaka; two days on the historic core, one day trip, one flexible day for a museum or a second day trip.
Hush Neo · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAustralia East Coast Road Trip: Sydney to Cairns · 18-day
Eighteen days: Sydney to Cairns, the full coast
North from Sydney with the climate warming every day: Port Stephens, Coffs and Byron in New South Wales; Burleigh, Brisbane and Noosa; two nights on K'gari by walk-on ferry; the long cane-country day to Mackay and two nights at Airlie for Whitehaven; Magnetic Island; then Cairns for the outer reef, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The longest drive is day 11 (about 560 km); every other day is five hours or less at the wheel.
Gorgo · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsBanff and Lake Louise · 7-day
Seven days: Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho from Calgary
A loop from Calgary airport with two nights in Banff and four at Lake Louise, built for a trip before 12 October. About 800 kilometres of driving, none of it more than about three hours in one go except the Parkway day. The rules: reserve the Moraine Lake shuttle for day 4, at the 8 am Mountain Time release two days before if not earlier; keep day 2 off 21 to 24 September 2026, when Cave and Basin is closed; and if you want dinner at Sky Bistro on day 2, avoid 17, 20, 22 and 23 September. Buy the park pass before you drive in.
Tobias Alt, Tobi 87 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBanff and Lake Louise · 10-day
Ten days: the full loop to Jasper
Three nights in Banff, two at Lake Louise, two in Jasper, one in Yoho and one in Canmore, looping from Calgary. About 1,200 kilometres. Built for mid-September to 11 October: the Maligne Lake cruise ends on 11 October and the Columbia Icefield, Miette Hot Springs and the Moraine shuttle on 12 October. Weekday rules: Crazyweed in Canmore on the last night is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Cave and Basin is closed 21 to 24 September 2026.
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBangkok · 5-day
Five days in Bangkok: temples, street food and one day trip
A base in Sukhumvit or the riverside, with the Old City done early in the day and one full-day trip out of the city.
Elemaki · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBarcelona · 5-day
Five days in Barcelona: Gaudí, the Gothic Quarter, and the coast
Two nights in or near the Eixample for the Gaudí sights, two near the Gothic Quarter or Gràcia, with a day trip to Montserrat. Walk and use the metro.
The TerraMar Project · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBora Bora · 5-day
Five days in Bora Bora: the lagoon, the loop and one splurge
A realistic once-in-a-lifetime shape: arrive via Papeete, base either on a motu or at Matira, give the best-weather day to the lagoon circuit, ride the island loop, and keep one day for the splurge that fits your trip: spa, whales in season, or the Tupai flight.
Acediscovery · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsRio de Janeiro · 3-day
Three days: the icons and the beach
A long weekend that does the two mountains, the two beaches and the old city, sleeping in Ipanema or Copacabana and moving on foot, by bike and by metro.
Jorge Láscar from Australia · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsRio de Janeiro · 5-day
Five days: the city, the forest and the bay
The three-day plan with the pace eased: a slower first day, the botanical garden and the lagoon added to the Christ, a day across the bay in Niteroi, and Urca and Sugarloaf as the finale. Sleep in Ipanema, Leblon or Copacabana throughout.
Breogan67 · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsRio de Janeiro · 7-day
One week: city plus the west coast and an island
The five-day city plan with Niteroi traded away, the west-coast beaches and the Burle Marx garden on day 5 and a night on Ilha Grande to end. Sleep five nights in Ipanema or Leblon and the sixth on Ilha Grande, and fly out on day 7; with an eighth day, give the island a second night.
Godot13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBudapest · 3-day
Three days in Budapest: the river, the hill and the hot water
The classic city for first-timers: Pest's monuments and cafes, Buda's hill at the right hours, both flagship baths, and every evening on or above the river.
Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBudapest · 5-day
Five days: Budapest, the Bend and a wine region
The three-day city at a civilised pace, plus the Danube Bend's castles and a proper Hungarian wine day. The version that converts a city break into a small holiday.
Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsCalifornia Coast Road Trip: Highway 1, San Francisco to Los Angeles · 5-day
Five days on Highway 1: San Francisco to Los Angeles
San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel, two nights in or near Big Sur, then Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. Southbound for the ocean-side views.
Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsCape Town & the Winelands · 8-day
Eight days: Cape Town, the Peninsula, and the Winelands
Three nights in or near the City Bowl or Waterfront, then two in Stellenbosch and two in Franschhoek. Seven nights in all. A rental car or driver from day 3 onward.
Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr) · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsCappadocia · 4-day
Four days in Cappadocia: balloons, valleys and underground cities
Base in Göreme or Uçhisar, book the balloon flight for the first available calm morning, and rent a car or join tours for the outlying sites.
ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ - เทวประภาส มากคล้าย · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsChiang Mai · 4-day
Four days in Chiang Mai: temples, elephants and khao soi
The honest minimum: the Old City and the mountain, a full sanctuary day, the markets, and food at every opportunity. Built for the cool season, and best if one of the days is a Sunday.
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsChiang Mai · 7-day
Seven days: the city, the mountains and the villages
The four-day core at a gentler pace, plus Doi Inthanon, the sticky waterfall and Mae Kampong loop, and a Sunday built around the Walking Street.
Robert Gadomski, Poland · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsCorfu · 5-day
Five days in Corfu: culture, coves and the northwest light
Two nights in or near the Old Town, three on or near the northwest coast. Rent a car from day 3.
Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsCosta Rica: Arenal, Monteverde & Manuel Antonio · 10-day
Ten days: Arenal, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio
Three nights at the volcano, two in the cloud forest, four on the coast and the airport at each end, run clockwise so the lake crossing comes on day 4 and the beach comes last. Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays: if day 7 lands on a Tuesday, swap it with day 8 or day 9. The plan works with a rental car (drive round the lake via Tilarán on day 4) or car-free (shared shuttles on every leg and the jeep-boat-jeep crossing on day 4).
Olaf Tausch · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsCrete · 7-day
Seven days in Crete: Minoan history, the gorge, and two coasts
Three nights based in or near Chania for the old town and Samaria Gorge, a night in Rethymno, a night in Heraklion for Knossos and the museum, and a final night toward Agios Nikolaos or Elounda.
Eteocles at Greek Wikipedia · Attribution via Wikimedia CommonsCyclades Island Hopping: How to Plan the Route · 12-day
Twelve days: Paros, Naxos and Milos
The route we would plan. Three hub islands, three or four nights each, two short crossings and no wasted day. Book both inter-island ferries ahead from June to September.
Stepanps · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsCyclades Island Hopping: How to Plan the Route · 7-day
Seven days: two islands, properly
The honest version of a one-week Cyclades trip. Two islands, no more, with the crossing on a day you have not planned anything else.
CT Cooper · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsDubai · 4-day
Four days in Dubai: skyline, souks and one desert night
A Downtown or Marina base, with one full day for Old Dubai and one evening reserved for the desert.
Akira Takiguchi · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsDubrovnik · 3-day
Three nights, planned around the ships and the light
The trip most people actually take, done in the right order. Before you book, open the Dubrovnik Port Authority’s announcement sheet and look at your dates: in September and October 2026 Tuesday averages just under 5,000 passengers of berth capacity and Saturday about 1,600, so if the dates are flexible put your walls morning on the lightest day you have. Everything here is on foot except the cable car and one bus.
Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsDubrovnik · 5-day
Five nights, with the islands and one day out of the city
The same spine, with the breathing room that makes Dubrovnik pleasant rather than efficient: a full island day, a day up the coast, and two evenings that are not in the Old Town. This is the version we would book, ideally in the second half of October when the sea is still swimmable, the Good Food Festival is on from the 5th to the 18th, and the cruise sheet has begun to thin.
Nomo michael hoefner / http://www.zwo5.de · CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsEgypt: Cairo, Luxor & the Nile · 10-day
Ten days: Cairo, Luxor and the river to Aswan
Three Cairo nights, a flight south, two Luxor nights for the balloon and both banks, then the four-night Monday cruise to Aswan and a flight back. The fixed points to book first: the GEM time slot, the cruise (southbound boats typically depart Luxor on Mondays; count backwards from that), the balloon, and Abu Simbel. October to April; reverse the whole thing with a Friday three-night northbound cruise if your dates fit that grid better.
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsElla · 4-day
Four days in Ella and Haputale
A night in Nuwara Eliya first, then the train down to Ella, two days of walks and tea around the town and a day for Haputale and Lipton’s Seat, returning by train.
Bcd4e6 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsElla · 2-day
Two days in Ella by road
For a round trip that arrives by car: the classic walks and the bridge in two days, without the train.
catlin.wolfard · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsFiji · 7-day
Seven days in Fiji: Coral Coast and the Mamanucas
A representative week pairing a couple of nights on the main island with island-resort time in the Mamanucas. Fly in and out of Nadi.
Patrice Semeria · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsFrench Riviera (Cote d'Azur) · 6-day
Six days on the French Riviera: Nice, the coast and the hill villages
Three nights based in Nice using the train for day trips, then two nights toward Antibes and Cannes, with the hill villages inland visited by day. A car is useful from day 4 onward.
JosephAssisFernandes · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsGoa · 7-day
Seven days in Goa: four nights north, three nights south, one move
The split that respects the geography instead of fighting it. Four nights based in the Assagao and Anjuna belt for the markets, the cliffs and the restaurants, one heritage day in the middle built around Old Goa and Panjim, then one clean transfer south for three nights of wide beach, the far south and the fort at Cabo de Rama.
Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsGreat Barrier Reef & Cairns · 5-day
Five days in Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef: reef, rainforest and a slower coast
Three nights in Cairns, one night north, out on day five. Cairns covers the reef trip and Kuranda; the move to Port Douglas or Palm Cove covers the Daintree and a slower coast.
Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsGreece in 10 Days: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini · 10-day
Ten days in Greece: Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Three nights in Athens, four on Mykonos, three on Santorini. Book both inter-island ferries ahead in high season.
Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsHalkidiki · 8-day
Eight days, two legs, one mountain at each end of the day
The plan we would book: three nights on Kassandra for the resorts, the villages and the Olympus sunsets, then the transfer to Sithonia on day four for four nights of coves and the Athos sunrise, one of which can be spent at Ouranoupoli for the boat under the monasteries. It assumes a car from Thessaloniki airport and a return from the same airport. Two rules govern the order. Most of the state sites here shut at 15:30 all year and Petralona steps down through the autumn, so the ruins go in the mornings; and the Athos cruise has capped numbers and two possible quays, 09:15 from Ormos Panagias on Sithonia or 10:30 and 14:00 from Ouranoupoli, so pick one and book it before you leave home.
ale3andro · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsHalkidiki · 5-day
Five days, one base
For a short week or a long weekend, unpack once and let the other leg go. Kassandra is the base if the holiday is a resort, a short transfer and something for the children; put the same five days on Sithonia instead if the holiday is beaches and quiet, and accept that the hotel stock there is smaller and books earlier. The version below is the Kassandra one, with a single long day across to Sithonia so you have seen the difference.
Rolf Müller (User:Rolfmueller) · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsHanoi · 3-day
Three days in Hanoi: the lake, the food and the history
The honest minimum for the city itself, built so that day three can extend into Ninh Binh or the bay if the trip allows. Engineer it so one of the evenings is a Friday.
The original uploader was Chuoibk at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsHanoi · 6-day
Six days: Hanoi, Ninh Binh and a night on the bay
The city at a sane pace, a full day in the karst landscape at Ninh Binh, and one night on Lan Ha Bay, which is the version of this trip that people come home talking about.
kevinmcgill from Den Bosch, Netherlands · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMaui and Oahu: Planning the Two-Island Hawaii Trip · 10-day
Ten days: Oʻahu then Maui
The trip we would plan: four nights of city, history and surf culture on Oʻahu, then five nights of volcano, rainforest and resort coast on Maui, with the 35-minute hop in the middle. Book Pearl Harbor, Haleakalā sunrise, Hanauma Bay and the Maui rental car before you fly.
Lahaina · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMaui and Oahu: Planning the Two-Island Hawaii Trip · 7-day
Seven days: one week, both islands
The honest one-week version: three nights on each island, Oʻahu essentials first, then Maui’s big days (sunrise, Hāna), and acceptance that the beaches will still be there next trip.
Steffen Schmitz (more photos) · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsHoi An · 3-day
Three days in Hoi An: Ancient Town, beach and My Son
One base in or near the Ancient Town, walking and cycling by day, with one half-day trip to My Son. Time the full moon if you can.
pakku · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsHokkaido · 6-day
Six days in Hokkaido: Sapporo, Otaru and a seasonal detour
Two nights in Sapporo, one in Otaru, then choose Furano (summer) or Niseko (winter) for the remaining nights.
steve p2008 · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsIbiza · 7-day
Seven days in Ibiza: the walls, the calas, the north and Formentera
Three car-free days around Ibiza Town and Formentera, then a rental car for the west-coast coves, the Es Vedrà sunset, the rural north and the market coast, ending with the salt flats.
User:Ggia · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsIstanbul · 5-day
Five days in Istanbul: Old City, Bosphorus and the Asian side
Two to three nights in or near Sultanahmet, then a night or two in Beyoğlu or on the Bosphorus, with a half-day across in Kadıköy.
Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsJeju Island · 7-day
Seven days: the sunrise coast, the mountain and the sunset coast
The plan we recommend: a first night in Jeju City after the connection from Seoul, two nights in the east at Seongsan or Pyoseon, three in the south-west at Jungmun, Seogwipo or Andeok, and the car for all of it. It is written for a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday arrival, which keeps Donsadon and Myeongjin Jeonbok clear of their Tuesday closing days, keeps the first Monday of the month away from Seongsan and the first Wednesday away from Manjanggul, and assumes the Hallasan booking was made on the first working day of the previous month.
Yoo Chung · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsJeju Island · 4-day
Four days: the sunrise, the lava tube and one sunset
A long weekend from Seoul: one night in Jeju City and two in the east, with a car. No Hallasan summit, which needs the booking a month ahead and a full day.
Daniel Zaas · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsKenya-Tanzania Safari Route · 8-day
Eight days across the Kenya-Tanzania safari route
Start in the Masai Mara, cross into Tanzania, and work down through the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Hans A. Rosbach · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKerala Backwaters · 4-day
Four days in the backwaters: one night afloat, three ashore
The version we would book: Kochi at the front, a certified houseboat night in the middle, Kumarakom for the lake and the birds, and a canoe morning that makes the whole thing make sense.
Ravikiran Rao · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKerala Backwaters · 9-day
Nine days: Kochi, the backwaters, the hills and the coast
The full Kerala loop with the backwaters at its centre: two nights in Fort Kochi, the lake and a houseboat, two nights in tea country, and a beach finish at Marari.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zhaffsky/ · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKoh Phangan · 5-day
Five days on the west coast, with the water days built in
One base between Hin Kong and Haad Yao, a scooter or a driver, one day on the sea at Ang Thong and one at Sail Rock or Koh Ma, the Saturday market if the days allow, and the sunsets where the ray cast says they are. Written for a landing at Thong Sala around midday and a morning boat out on day five.
Manfred Werner (User:Tsui · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKoh Phangan · 8-day
Eight days, two bases: the west coast and Thong Nai Pan
Four nights on the west coast for the villages, the sunsets and the water days, then three at Thong Nai Pan for the best beach and the sunrise, with a Koh Tao day trip or a Full Moon night on the last full day. The order matters: sunsets first, sunrises second, and the steep road only once.
Ruta Badina · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKoh Samui · 4-day
Four days in Koh Samui: beaches, temples and a boat day
A single beach base, the north-coast temples and Fisherman’s Village, and one full day at the Angthong marine park.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKuala Lumpur · 3-day
Three days in Kuala Lumpur: the triangle, the towers and the caves
The city's three food cultures, the honest tower strategy, and the two half-days out that earn their slot. Built for first-timers who want to leave convinced.
EasyKL · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKuala Lumpur · 5-day
Five days: Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and the fireflies
The three-day city at a saner pace, plus the UNESCO port town and an evening among synchronous fireflies. The version of this trip that converts skeptics.
Paul Vlaar · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsKyoto · 5-day
Five days in Kyoto: temples, bamboo and one day trip
One day each for Higashiyama/Gion, Arashiyama, and Fushimi/downtown, one day trip to Nara, and a slower final day for Kinkaku-ji and Nijo Castle.
Flickr user "The Dilly Lama" · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsLangkawi · 5-day
Five days in Langkawi: the geopark, the beaches and one lake
A Cenang or Tengah base for the whole stay: the SkyCab and waterfalls early, the Kilim mangroves and Tanjung Rhu on the best-weather day, island hopping to the lake, and evenings split between beach bars and night markets.
Jorge Franganillo from Barcelona, Spain · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsLisbon · 5-day
Five days in Lisbon: hills, river and a day in Sintra
A central base in Chiado or Principe Real, no car needed, one full day reserved for Sintra. Start on a Tuesday so Belem (closed Mondays) falls on an open day and the synagogue, open to visitors Monday to Thursday and on Friday mornings, fits on day 1; with the historic lifts closed, the climbs are on foot, by tram 28 or by bus.
Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsLos Cabos · 5-day
Five days in Los Cabos: both towns, the arch and a Pacific day
A corridor or San Lucas base, the water-taxi morning to Land’s End, a snorkeling cove, a San José evening, and a Todos Santos day; whale watching slots in from mid-December to April.
Superchilum · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMadrid · 5-day
Five days in Madrid: art, tapas and a day in Toledo
A central base in Sol, the Letras or Malasana, no car, and one full day for Toledo or Segovia. Two calendar rules shape it: the Reina Sofia is closed on Tuesdays and the Thyssen opens only 12:00 to 16:00 on Mondays, so the Art Triangle day should fall between Wednesday and Saturday; and El Rastro runs on Sunday mornings, so put the La Latina day on a Sunday if you can. Toledo’s synagogue museum is closed on Mondays.
Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMaldives Overwater Villas · 5-day
Five nights in the Maldives: one resort, honeymoon pace
A single-resort stay built around the seaplane or speedboat transfer, one wildlife excursion, and long stretches of unscheduled villa time.
Nils H. · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMallorca · 7-day
Seven days in Mallorca: Palma, the Tramuntana and the north
Three car-free nights in Palma with a vintage-train day to Sóller, then a rental car through Valldemossa and Deià to a northern base near Pollença for Formentor, Alcúdia and Sa Calobra.
MrPanyGoff · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMalta · 7-day
Seven days: Valletta, the south, Mdina and Gozo
The plan we recommend: five nights in Valletta or the Three Cities and one on Gozo, or add an eighth day for a second Gozo night; buses and ferries on Malta and a car on Gozo. It is written for a Wednesday arrival, which puts the Valletta museums on weekdays, when St John’s and the Saluting Battery are open, and the south on its Sunday market day. Book the Hypogeum before anything else and move the day it falls on if you must: the slot is the hardest thing on the trip to change.
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMalta · 4-day
Four days: Valletta and one long day on Gozo
A short break: two days on Malta, one on Gozo and a morning to leave. Base in Valletta or Sliema; no car needed except on Gozo.
"dronepicr" · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMauritius · 8-day
Eight days, landing Saturday: the west coast first, then the east
The shape we would book, and the weekdays are doing work. Four nights on the west coast for the sheltered water, the mountains and the sunsets, then a coast-to-coast day across the plateau, then three nights on the east for a different lagoon and the sunrise. Landing on a Saturday puts the dolphin boat on a Sunday morning, the Chamarel loop on a Monday when the distillery is open, the Le Morne hike on a Tuesday when La Bonne Chute is shut so dinner is elsewhere, the plateau crossing on a Wednesday when the Beau Bassin memorial and Escale Creole are both open, and Port Louis on a Friday when Aapravasi Ghat keeps full hours. Nights: four in Flic en Flac or Tamarin, three at Belle Mare or Blue Bay.
CARRERE Radjiv · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMauritius · 6-day
Six days, landing Saturday or Monday: one base in the west for the winter
The weekdays matter here too: a Saturday or Monday arrival keeps Chamarel off a Sunday, puts Port Louis on a weekday and lands the Beau Bassin memorial on one of its Wednesday or Friday openings. For June to September, when the east and south are windward and the west is in the lee. One base at Flic en Flac, Tamarin or Le Morne, no coast change, dawn boats and hill days rather than beach days, and the sunset every evening from the same sand. The sea is about 24C, the nights are cool, the trades keep the humidity off, and the rooms are the cheapest of the year outside the school holidays.
Jeses · CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsMexico City · 4-day
Four days in Mexico City: the core in full
The classic first visit: the Centro at full depth, Chapultepec's museums, the Frida-and-Coyoacan south, and Teotihuacan at dawn, based in Roma or Condesa throughout.
Sergio Estrada Flores · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMexico City · 6-day
Six days: the city at its own pace, plus one town away
The four-day core stretched to breathe, a full neighborhood day for Roma, Condesa and the markets, Xochimilco and San Angel folded in, and a proper day trip south or east.
Colourpicture Publishers, Inc. · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsMiami · 4-day
Four days in Miami: beach, art, Cuban food and a wild day out
Base yourself near the beach or in a walkable core, rideshare across the causeways, and keep one day for nature. The route moves neighborhood by neighborhood instead of staying on one strip.
Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMirissa · 4-day
Four days in Mirissa in whale season
Arrive from the airport by the expressway, whales at dawn on day two, a surf morning in Weligama, a sunrise at Dondra and the forts of Matara. Built for November to April.
Achini Jayawrdana · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMirissa · 2-day
Two nights on a round trip
Mirissa as the beach stop between Galle and the hill country: one dawn at sea, one sunset on the hill.
Sergey Pesterev · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsMorocco: Marrakech, Sahara & Chefchaouen · 10-day
Ten days: Marrakech, the Sahara and Chefchaouen
Two nights in Marrakech, a night in Ouarzazate and a night in a desert camp, a night in Fes as a staging point, three nights in Chefchaouen, then a night near your departure airport and a buffer day.
sailko · CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsMykonos · 4-day
Four days in Mykonos: town, Delos and the south-coast beaches
Two or three nights in or near Mykonos Town, a half day for Delos, a full beach-club day on the south coast, and a slower day inland at Ano Mera.
TimOve · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsNaxos · 7-day
Seven days: the beach, the valley, the mountain
The plan we would book: one base on the west coast between Agios Georgios and Agios Prokopios, a car for days three to six, and the interior given as much time as the sea. It assumes arrival through Athens on a domestic flight or a ferry from Piraeus. Two rules shape the order. The state sites on Naxos close at 15:30 and the Agia Ursula exhibition at 14:00, and all of them are shut on Tuesdays, so the museums go in the mornings and days 3 and 7 should not fall on a Tuesday; and the meltemi can cancel small boats in July and August, so the boat day can trade places with the beach day.
Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsNaxos · 4-day
Four days on the way through the Cyclades
For a stop on an island-hopping route, most likely between Paros and Santorini or Mykonos: one day of beach, one of the interior, one of Chora and a day to move. A car for day two is enough.
Paulo Barcellos Jr. · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsNew York City · 4-day
Four days in New York City: classic sights, food and one borough beyond Manhattan
Two nights in or near Midtown or the Lower East Side, plus a Brooklyn afternoon and evening. Book timed tickets in advance.
Mitchell Henderson · PexelsNew Zealand South Island Road Trip: The 10-Day Loop · 10-day
Ten days: the Christchurch loop
Clockwise from Christchurch: Arthur’s Pass to the West Coast and the glaciers, Haast Pass to Wanaka and Queenstown, Fiordland for Milford, then Aoraki/Mount Cook and Tekapo on the way back. Big scenery every day, with the longest drives on days 2 and 9.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsOkinawa · 7-day
Seven days: Naha and the south, then the west coast and the north
The shape we would book for a first trip. Three nights in Naha without a car for the city, the castle and the Keramas, then the car and the south on the way north: one night on the Onna coast and two on the Motobu peninsula, so the aquarium is an easy morning. With an eighth day, add a second Onna night. The weekdays matter: the prefectural museum is shut on Mondays and Kishimoto Shokudo on Wednesdays, so this plan lands on Monday and runs to Sunday. From 23 November 2026 the Shuri day needs a timed main hall ticket bought in advance.
663highland · CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsOkinawa · 4-day
Four days: Naha and one base in the north, for a short winter trip
For a long weekend or a trip added to mainland Japan. One night in Naha and two on the Motobu peninsula, with the car from the second morning. In winter this is the right shape: the beaches matter less, the castles and the aquarium more, and the whales are off the Keramas.
nennnn · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsEl Nido, Palawan · 6-day
Six days in El Nido: lagoons, beaches and one wild card
A six-day, five-night stay based in Corong-Corong or Lio: arrival and the near beaches first, then Tour A and Tour C with a land day between them, a north-coast day at Nacpan, and a final morning kept flexible: a beach, the Lio boardwalk, or (dry season, late flight) a short private boat. Fly in via Clark or Cebu; book the Tour A slot for day 2 a day or two before you land (peak season), and keep the last day boat-free in the June-to-October months in case the weather reshuffles a tour.
Fry72, Karel Frydrýšek · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPaphos, Cyprus · 7-day
Seven days in Paphos: mosaics, the Akamas and the wine plateau
Two days on foot in the town for the UNESCO sites and the two halves of Paphos, then a car: the Akamas by boat, the wine plateau, the Aphrodite coast east to Kouklia and Petra tou Romiou, and one long day up into Troodos.
Shuichi Aizawa · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsParis · 5-day
Five days in Paris: Right Bank, Left Bank, and Versailles
Two nights near Le Marais, two near Saint-Germain or the Latin Quarter, with a day trip to Versailles. Walk and use the metro; skip a car entirely.
LBM1948 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPatagonia: Torres del Paine and El Chalten · 12-day
Twelve days, Punta Arenas to El Calafate one way
The plan we would book: a night in Punta Arenas and the penguins, two in Puerto Natales, four inside Torres del Paine by car, the car back in Natales and the bus over the border, two in El Calafate and two in El Chalten, then a flight from El Calafate to Buenos Aires. Two rules: Bus-Sur runs Natales to El Calafate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 07:30, and from October also at 15:30 on those days, and Turismo Zaahj ran a daily 07:00 departure last season, so check both and fix day eight first; and Cafe Kaiken closes on Tuesdays. Fly in via Santiago; from late November 2026 El Al’s scheduled Buenos Aires route makes the way home a domestic flight and one nonstop.
Stefan.straub · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPatagonia: Torres del Paine and El Chalten · 8-day
Eight days, the W trek from Puerto Natales
For readers who want to walk: the W from east to west with a night at each of five refugios or campsites, no car, the park buses from Puerto Natales and the catamaran out. Every night must be booked before you go, with Las Torres Patagonia for Chileno, Cuernos and Frances and with Vertice for Paine Grande and Grey. At Las Torres prices a full-board bed costs about 370 dollars a person a night, at Vertice about 224, so budget roughly 1,500 dollars a person for the five nights before the park pass and the boats. Start any day of the week.
C messier · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPeloponnese · 9-day
Nine days, two bases, one long bridge
The plan we would book: three nights in Nafplio for the Argolid, a day-long transfer south through Mystras to Monemvasia for two nights, then round the gulf to the Mani for three nights at Kardamyli or Limeni, and out through Kalamata. It assumes an Athens arrival and a Kalamata or Athens departure. Two rules govern the order: Lela’s is closed Sunday and Monday, and the Leigh Fermor house opens only on Mondays at noon, so if a Monday falls in the Mani, spend its lunchtime at Kalamitsi. The other constraint is the light: from September the sites close half an hour earlier every fortnight, so the ruins go in the mornings.
Andreas Trepte · CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsPeloponnese · 5-day
Five days from Nafplio
For a short trip or an add-on to Athens, unpack once in Nafplio and do the Argolid properly: the four ancient sites, the fortress, the wine, and one long day south to Mystras, or two with a night at Monemvasia. The Mani deserves its own trip; do not try to fold it into five days.
Thomas Quine · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPeru: Cusco & Machu Picchu · 6-day
Six days in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Acclimatize gently, work down the Sacred Valley, give a full day to Machu Picchu, then close in Cusco.
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPhuket · 5-day
Five days in Phuket: beaches, old town and a boat day
A west-coast base for the beaches and sunsets, a day in Old Phuket Town, the southern viewpoints, and one full boat day to Phang Nga Bay.
Moyan Brenn from Italy · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPrague · 3-day
Three days in Prague: the two banks and the hill
The classic city for first-timers, arranged so that the famous places happen at the hours they are bearable: the bridge and the castle early, the museums at midday, the hills at sunset, dinner off the tourist spine.
lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsPrague · 5-day
Five days: Prague, a Gothic day out and the beer country
The three-day city at a civilised pace, plus the Kutna Hora ossuary booked properly and either Karlstejn or Plzen. The version that turns a city break into a small Bohemian holiday.
Brice · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsProvence · 7-day
Seven days: the Luberon, the Popes’ Jews and the Alpilles
The plan we would book, arriving in Marseille on a Sunday and flying home the next Sunday: four nights in the Luberon, two in the Alpilles, a last night near Marseille, and a car throughout. El Al does not fly on Saturdays, so the return is on the Sunday. It is built around the market days and the fixed hours, which is how Provence works. The Carpentras synagogue opens only on weekday afternoons, Cavaillon’s is shut on Tuesdays, and Sénanque’s French tours and self-guided slots run in the morning and afternoon. In summer, check the forest-fire map at 18:00 every evening before planning the next day’s walk.
Chimigi · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr via Wikimedia CommonsProvence · 4-day
Four days in the lavender weeks
For late June to mid-July: two nights in the Luberon and two on or near the Valensole plateau, with the fields at their best, the sunsets behind Mont Ventoux and the Verdon next door. Start early every day; the afternoons are hot.
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsQueenstown · 5-day
Five days in Queenstown: adventure, gold-rush history and Milford Sound
Base centrally in Queenstown for the whole stay, with a rental car from day 2 for Arrowtown, Glenorchy and the Milford Sound day trip.
Mahmoudalrawi derivative work: MagentaGreen · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsRajasthan Golden Triangle · 5-day
Five days on the Golden Triangle: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
A day in Delhi, the fast train to Agra, then a car with driver on to Jaipur. Slow the mornings down.
.M. Kuchling https://www.flickr.com/photos/44165698@N00/ · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsRhodes · 7-day
Seven days in Rhodes: the walled city, Symi and the south
Three nights beside the medieval city for the Knights’ town, Kallithea and a Symi day, then a rental car south: Lindos and its acropolis, the quiet deep south, and a west-coast loop of monasteries, moths and ancient streets.
Diliff · CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsRome · 5-day
Five days in Rome: ancient, Baroque and Trastevere nights
A walkable base in the Centro Storico or Monti, timed entries booked ahead for the Colosseum and Vatican, and one full day out of the city.
Image taken by Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSan Francisco and Napa Valley · 5-day
Five days: San Francisco and Napa Valley
Three nights in the city car-free, then two in wine country with a rental car. City first, vineyards second.
Dim Leventis · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSantorini · 4-day
Four days in Santorini: sunsets, caldera villages and the volcano
Two or three nights on the caldera rim (Imerovigli or Oia), a day for the volcano boat and hot springs, and a half day for Akrotiri and the beaches.
fotografia di Rosanna C. · CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia CommonsSardinia · 8-day
Eight days in Sardinia: Olbia in, Cagliari out
A fast north-to-south open-jaw route over eight days and seven nights: two nights in the north-east for the Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena, two in Alghero for La Pelosa and Capo Caccia, two on the east coast at Cala Gonone or Oliena for the Gulf of Orosei, then a final night in Cagliari. Rent a car at Olbia airport and drop it in Cagliari; book La Pelosa as soon as your dates are fixed, and if you swap the day-6 boat for the Cala Goloritzé hike, be online when its three-day window opens.
Simon_sees from Australia · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSeminyak · 3-day
Three days in Seminyak: beach, sunsets and temple day trips
Base near the beach, build each day around the sunset, and take Tanah Lot and Uluwatu as afternoon day trips.
Arturbraun · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSeoul · 5-day
Five days in Seoul: palaces, markets and a DMZ day
A city-based itinerary using the subway throughout, with one full day set aside for the DMZ.
Fabhawk · CC BY-SA 2.0 fr via Wikimedia CommonsSeychelles · 9-day
Nine days, two bases, one day trip
The plan we would book: three nights on Mahe to land softly and see the mountains and the market, then five on Praslin with La Digue as a day out, and back to Mahe for the flight. Two hotels rather than four, which is the point, though it still adds up to four ferry crossings. The whole thing works without a rental car if you would rather not drive. One scheduling constraint governs everything: Cousin Island opens only on weekday mornings, so count forward from your arrival day and shuffle the numbered days if day five lands on a weekend.
Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSeychelles · 5-day
Five days, one base on Praslin
For a short trip, or a Seychelles add-on to something else, unpack once. Praslin is the island we would choose: it has the palm forest, the two headline beaches, the boat trips to Cousin and Curieuse, and La Digue fifteen minutes away. You still cross to Mahe at each end and to La Digue in the middle, but you only check in once. The one date rule: day three has to be a weekday for Cousin, so any arrival except Thursday or Friday works as written. If you fly the weekly Tel Aviv nonstop you land on a Thursday, which puts day three on a Saturday, so swap days two and three.
Nicolas Chadeville · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSicily · 7-day
Seven days in Sicily: Palermo, Taormina, Etna and the Val di Noto
A west-to-east loop: two nights in Palermo, two near Taormina with an Etna day, then two in or near Syracuse with a Val di Noto day, ending in Catania for departure. Rent a car from day 3.
Someformofhuman · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSingapore · 4-day
Four days in Singapore: bay, heritage districts and Sentosa
A central base near Chinatown or Marina Bay, using the MRT throughout, with a full day reserved for Sentosa Island.
Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSplit to Dubrovnik Road Trip · 8-day
Eight days, Split to Dubrovnik one way
The plan we would book: two nights in Split without a car, one on the Makarska Riviera, one in Mali Ston, one in Korcula, and two in Dubrovnik, where the car goes back on arrival. About 470 kilometres of driving in all, with the longest day, the fourth, at about four hours at the wheel, the Peljesac bridge rather than the Neum border, and one short ferry crossing, there and back. Three weekday rules: day two should not be a Monday, when the Mestrovic Gallery shuts; day four should not be a Monday, when the Narona museum shuts; and if you want Jeny in Tucepi on day three, it closes on Sundays and after 30 September. Starting on a Saturday makes all three work.
TimeTravelRome · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSplit to Dubrovnik Road Trip · 10-day
Ten days, a loop from Dubrovnik for the El Al flight
For readers flying Tel Aviv to Dubrovnik and back: the same stops as a loop, north on the coast road and back south on the motorway, with the car collected after two nights in Dubrovnik and returned before the last night in Cavtat. Rules: collect the car on day three, not at the airport on day one; keep day three off a Monday for the Narona museum, day four off a Sunday for Jeny, day five off a Sunday for K.uzina and day six off a Monday for the Mestrovic Gallery; and check El Al’s days before fixing anything. A Monday, Tuesday, Friday or Sunday landing satisfies all four; if the flight days force another start, swap the order of days three and four or five and six using the alternatives.
Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSri Lanka Round Trip · 11-day
Eleven days around Sri Lanka: cultural triangle, hill country and the south coast
A private-driver loop from Colombo through Sigiriya, Kandy, the hill-country train, Ella and Nuwara Eliya, then down to Galle before returning to Colombo.
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsSt Lucia · 7-day
Seven days, two bases: the Pitons first, then the north
The shape that fits the island instead of fighting it: land at Hewanorra in the south, spend the first half beside the Pitons while the legs are fresh (volcano, gardens, the Gros Piton climb, the reef), then shift north midweek for beaches, restaurants and the Friday street party, and fly out from a base 90 minutes from the airport with a buffer built in. Book the Gros Piton guide and any Dasheene or day-sail reservations before you fly; both bottleneck in season.
Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsSydney · 5-day
Five days in Sydney: harbour icons, beaches and the mountains
Two or three nights near the harbour, one or two near the eastern beaches, and a full day out to the Blue Mountains.
Godot13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTel Aviv · 3-day
Three days in Tel Aviv: the city, the sea and Jaffa
The essential triangle: the central city and its markets, a real beach day woven through, and Jaffa given the time it deserves. Use the day notes to shuffle for the calendar: the market morning needs any day but Saturday, and Jaffa is the day that absorbs Shabbat best.
Noam.armonn · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTel Aviv · 5-day
Five days: Tel Aviv plus the train to Jerusalem
The three-day city at an easier pace, plus Jerusalem by fast train, with Caesarea marked as the gentler swap if a full Jerusalem day feels heavy. Built for a Sunday-to-Thursday-plus core so the day trip lands on full-service transit days, with the Shabbat notes marked where they matter.
Ville Miettinen from Helsinki, Finland · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTokyo · 5-day
Five days in Tokyo: old and new, plus one day trip
Two neighborhood-focused days, one day trip, one central culture-and-food day, and a slow departure day. All on trains, no car needed.
Jongleur100 · Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsTurkish Riviera (Bodrum to Antalya) · 8-day
Eight days, two seas: Bodrum to Antalya along the D400
Three nights on the Bodrum peninsula, two around Fethiye, two in Kaş and a final night in Antalya before flying home. Fly into Milas-Bodrum, out of Antalya, with a rental car from day 4. Reverse it all if flights price better the other way.
Tim Sackton · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos · 7-day
Seven days, landing Saturday: Providenciales and two nights on Middle Caicos
The shape we would book, and the weekdays are load-bearing rather than decorative. Three nights on Providenciales for the beach and the south coast, then the ferry across for two nights at Mudjin Harbour, then back for a last night. Landing on a Saturday makes three separate things line up: your two Middle Caicos nights fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, so the Wednesday dinner service at the only kitchen out there is available and the caves are open on the Wednesday morning; and the ferry back lands you on Providenciales on a Thursday, which is Fish Fry night. Nights: three on Providenciales, two on Middle Caicos, one more on Providenciales, six in total.
Balou46 · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos · 9-day
Nine days, landing Sunday: Providenciales and two nights on Grand Turk
The version for people who want the old capital, the wall and the one sunset in the country that works every day of the year. Five nights on Providenciales, two on Grand Turk, then a night back on Providenciales so the international departure is not riding on a small inter-island flight. Eight nights in total. Landing on a Sunday puts the Fish Fry on your fifth evening and the Grand Turk block on a Friday and Saturday, which is a deliberate trade: cruise calls cluster Monday to Thursday, taking about three quarters of them in the first half of 2026, so a Friday and Saturday give you an island almost to yourself and, unless a ship happens to be scheduled, a closed National Museum, because it opens only when one is in port.
lo.tangelini from Soliera / Modena, Italia · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTuscany · 6-day
Six days in Tuscany: Florence, Chianti and the Val d’Orcia
Two nights in Florence, one or two in Chianti, and two in or near the Val d’Orcia, with a stop in Siena and San Gimignano along the way. Rent a car from day 3.
Alpsdake · CC0 via Wikimedia CommonsTwo Weeks in Japan · 7-day
A seven-day core route: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka
The spine of a longer trip. Extend to two full weeks by adding a Hiroshima/Miyajima overnight and an extra Tokyo or Kyoto day.
Maros M r a z (Maros) · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsTwo Weeks in New Zealand · 7-day
Seven-day South Island core: Christchurch to Queenstown and Fiordland
A representative one-week half of the two-week route, covering the South Island highlights by car. Pair with a North Island week (Auckland, Rotorua, Taupō, Wellington) for the full fortnight.
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsUbud · 4-day
Four days in Ubud: temples, terraces and the ridge
Base in or near central Ubud, do the sights early, and use a driver for the two inland day trips.
King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsUtah Mighty 5 and Grand Canyon Road Trip · 12-day
Twelve days: the full loop from Las Vegas
Counter-clockwise from Las Vegas: Zion, Bryce, Scenic Byway 12, Capitol Reef, three nights in Moab, Monument Valley, Page and the South Rim, then back to Las Vegas. About 1,200 miles between the bases, nearer 1,400 with the park roads. Start on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and the restaurant days below line up as written.
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsUtah Mighty 5 and Grand Canyon Road Trip · 7-day
Seven days: Zion, Bryce, Page and the Grand Canyon
The short loop for a first visit: two nights in Zion, one at Bryce, one in Page, two at the Grand Canyon, then Las Vegas. Leaves out Capitol Reef, Moab and Monument Valley.
This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsVenice · 4-day
Four days in Venice: the city and one lagoon day
The honest minimum. One day for the San Marco monuments booked ahead, one for the western sestieri and the art, one full day in the lagoon, and one for the parts of the city nobody photographs.
Rambling Traveler · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsVenice · 7-day
Seven days: Venice, the lagoon and the Veneto
The version with room in it. The four-day core, spread out, plus an unplanned arrival day, a mainland day trip and a last day in eastern Castello and the Arsenale.
Harvey Barrison from Massapequa, NY, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsZanzibar · 6-day
Six days in Zanzibar: Stone Town, spice and one beach base
Two nights near Stone Town, four nights on a single beach base chosen for what you actually want to do (swimming at any tide, kitesurfing, or diving).