Tourism

Stay off these steps to avoid the ire of Florence's mayor.

Florence Cracks Down on Picnicking Sightseers

You can still eat in the city—but don’t do it on the white marble steps of the Basilica di Santa Croce

An excerpt from the first road map of Britain, published by John Ogilby when Fiennes was 15, in 1675. No word on whether Fiennes ever saw it, although she did write about visiting a college in Manchester that had a map collection.

See 17th-Century England Through the Eyes of One of the First Modern Travel Writers

Celia Fiennes traveled and wrote about her adventures—including a bit of life advice

Italy is hoping to draw tourists to less-frequented parts of the country, like sites along the Appian Way, pictured here.

Italy Is Giving Away 103 Historic Buildings, Free of Charge

But potential owners are required to transform the properties into tourist-friendly sites

Main chamber.

Malta’s Hypogeum, One of the World’s Best Preserved Prehistoric Sites, Reopens to the Public

The complex of excavated cave chambers includes a temple, cemetery and funeral hall

Indonesian Village Turns Into a Rainbow to Attract Tourists

Every house and business in Kampung Pelangi is painted in bright rainbow colors

Hamilton Mausoleum, Scotland

From Whispering Galleries to Echo Chambers, These Five Architectural Structures Have Extraordinary Acoustics

Hearing things? Listen closely and you'll begin to understand why

There is no one final theory about the original purpose of the Nazca Lines.

How a German Mathematician Took Responsibility for an Ancient Peruvian Artifact

Maria Reiche lived in a shack in the desert with the Nazca Lines for 40 years

Learn why fudge like this is sold at every tourist attraction in the country

Why Does Every Tourist Attraction Sell Fudge?

One thing that places as different as Niagara Falls, Disneyland and Ellis Island have in common? Fudge

The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2017

From remote hideaways to coastal harbors, discover the towns that topped our list this year

A group of women in traditional dress stand beside a Thomas Cook boat on the Nile in 1904.

How an Alcohol-Hating English Preacher Founded Global Tourism

Thomas Cook's tours set the stage for today's tourism industry

How 1950s Las Vegas Sold Atomic Bomb Tests as Tourism

Between 1950 and 1960, the population of Las Vegas grew by 161%--partly due to the burgeoning casino industry

Northwest Airlines 747-200

Where Do the Largest Airplanes Go to Die?

Explore this 1,500-acre aircraft boneyard in the Sonoran Desert

Ōkunoshima

The Dark History of Japan's Rabbit Island

The bow of the shipwrecked Titanic.

Tour Company Offers (Very Expensive) Dives to 'Titanic' Wreckage

For a mere $105,129 per person, thrill-seekers can explore the ruins of the ill-fated ship

The Azure Window in better days, 2009

Malta's Iconic Azure Window Crumbles Into the Sea

The limestone arch on the island of Gozo was expected to stand several more decades, but a vicious storm Wednesday took out the natural wonder

Three polar bears climbing on a snow-covered pile of bowhead whale bones on Barter Island near Kaktovik, Alaska.

The Politics of Viewing Polar Bears

Tourists flock to this coastal Alaskan town to photograph the vulnerable icons—raising hairy ethical questions

Fresh erizos del mar (sea urchins) served in the shell.

Seven Foods You Have to Try in Chile

Seward paid $200,000 extra to get the territory “free and clear.”

The Everlasting, Awe-Inspiring Power of Alaska

For 150 years, Alaska has been a part of the United States, and it's never ceased to amaze

Check Out Yosemite's “Firefall” Illusion Light Up El Capitan

The firefall is back this year, and it’s just as spectacular as ever

The Pioneer Cabin Tree in 2006

One of California’s Iconic “Tunnel Trees” Has Fallen

The Pioneer Cabin Tree was likely hundreds of years old

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