Rome, IT – The Roman Colosseum as seen from the hilltop of the Roman Forum (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

There are few destinations as culturally and historically significant as Rome. Today, the saying “all roads point to Rome” refers more to Rome being at the top of everyones places to travel before you die list. This also makes Rome one of the busiest tourist cities in the world, which is why we’ve devised a quick guide to help you the most out of your next trip.

Let’s get right to it! Whether you arrive by bus, train, or car plan to arrive in the city for the morning/early afternoon. The main historical sites of Rome can be exceptionally busy, especially during peak times, but if you follow this itinerary you’ll be able to minimize the number of tourists on your visit and maximize your enjoyment.

Day 1 – History of Rome

1. First things first

Don’t hurry up and wait. It’s typical that when you arrive in Rome you’ll probably be excited and want to hit the ground running, but there really is not rush because we did exactly that and ended up waiting in lines for hours with throngs of tourists and intense June heat. Instead check into your accommodations first or drop off your bags.

2. Check into your Rome accommodations

When you arrive in Rome plan to visit your accommodations first.  This will help you get oriented with the city and allow you to drop off your bags.

Travel Tip: Head out for the day with your bag, camera, water and anything else you need; it’s going to be an exciting and long day of adventure!

3. Find something local for lunch

Find a local Roman restaurant for lunch. Venture around your accommodations and find a nice sit-down lunch, try not to rush into the first quick pizza or bakery. Instead look for a restaurant with a good rating, if you have wifi to search for one in your area, or choose a restaurant that looks like it has some people in it.

Roma food is rich in history and the regions culinary culture is own of the highlights of visiting the city. With typical dishes that all Italians know  our recommendations include classics such as amatriciana, carbonara, fiori di zucca, carciofi alla romana, cacio e pepe, and baccala. Depending on the menu you’ll have plenty to choose from, and of course don’t forget the house wine and adffogato for dessert.

4. Roman Colosseum

One of the most photographed places in the world, the 2000 year old colosseum is the must visit stop in Rome.  However, getting the perfect picture is an art and knowing where to go is more than half the battle.  Thankfully, our guide to Rome reveals the secrets to the best way of exploring the city and getting those great photos.

Plan to arrive at the Colosseum late afternoon. We suggest planning to get there around 4:00pm where you can buy your tickets at our recommended ticket booth (or one you know) , then head to the Colosseum for an hour before visiting the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Arrival Time:Late afternoon around 16:00 (4 pm)

Subway Stop:Colosseo

Buy coloseum and forum tickets:Around 4:00pm the ticket booth (bigletteria to the right of the forum entrance, near the arch of Constantine, is the best place to get tickets to the Roman Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine hill. NOTE: this ticket booth is only open late afternoon so if you arrive earlier than 4:00pm it may be closed. It is also open for busy times of the year and may be closed in the off season.

Best Pictures: There are two fantastic spots to getting a picture of the colosseum

Best Photo of the Colosseum 1: The first is across the street from the colosseum near the arch of Constantine in a place called the Celio Vibenna.  To get this picture, you can use these images below to help you find it.  Happy searching!!

Location for getting the best picture of the Roman Colosseum

Best Photo of the Colosseum 2: Our second place to getting another one of the best photos of the Roman Colosseum is from the Palatine Hill.  To get to this vantage point (photo shown in the main photo for this article) you need to go into the Roman Forum and walk up to the Palatine Hill. From the main viewpoint there, when you’re facing the Roman Forum you can vear to the right, towards the Colosseum, there is a small sitting area and a great view of the Colosseum (right beside the buildings at the top).  Photo’s from this location are best with a good camera because you’ll need to zoom in to get this photograph.

5. Forum & Palatine hill

Arrival Time:Late afternoon around 5:00pm

Subway Stop:Colosseo

Buy colosseum and forum tickets:Around 4:00pm the ticket booth (the bigletteria or ticket office), to the right of the forum entrance near the arch of Constantine, is the best place to get tickets to the Roman Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine hill.  NOTE: this ticket booth is only open late afternoon so if you arrive earlier it may be closed (this is also an area that is more for busy times of the year).

Leave yourself about two hours to visit the Roman Forum and Palatine hill.  The area is quite large and requires a lot of walking to see most of it.  We recommend arriving around 5:00 pm, after purchasing tickets and visiting the Roman Colosseum around 4:00 pm.  Arriving at the Roman Forum for 5:00pm will give you about two hours to explore this area before it closes at 7:00 pm and alleviate much of the tourists.

FREE Option: Convento San Bonaventura al Palatino – A lesser known tourist destination that is worth a visit is the Convento San Bonaventura al Palatino which is free.  When you arrive there’s usually a Jesuit priest there who leads complimentary tours which includes a visit to their rooftop garden and a unique view of the Colosseum.

How to get to the Convento San Bonaventura al Palatino: to get there you take the Forum entrance across from the Colosseum and before you get to the Forum entrance (literally the gate with turnstiles) there’s a path on the left which allows you to explore the free area.

Rome, IT – The Roman Forum from inside overlooking the Temple of Antonini and Fausinae on the right and Basilica Amelia on the left (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

6. Traditional Roman Dinner

A trip to Rome would not be complete without a traditional Italian dinner where you can savour the local dishes, drink incredible wine, and dine until you can’t eat anymore.

Arrival Time:Anytime after 7:30pm (Italians like to eat late so for a more vibrant atmosphere the later the better)

Subway Stop:Piramide

Flavio al Valavevodetto is where both locals and tourists go to sample a traditional Roman meal.  With traditional favourites like cacio peppe and carbonara you won’t be disappointed.

Easy to get to by metro, don’t be put off by the neighbourhood that blends the natural unkempt surroundings of the ancient city with the more modern developments of recent years.  It’s a quick 5 minute walk from the nearest metro station and the house wine is fantastic!

Note: Be sure to book ahead as the restaurant gets packed quickly and traditionally making a reservation (prenotazione) is standard.

Day 2 – Vatican City & Rome’s Most Famous Piazzas

1. Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel, the gallery of tapestries with hand made works that are unimaginably complex, and the gallery of maps (map room) depicting all the regions of Italy in 16^thcentury frescoes are some of the most spectacular artistic works in the world.

The secret to visiting the Vatican Museum is to go first thing in the morning.  You can buy tickets on the official Vatican website, but we found that it’s better to buy tickets via an online skip the line offering on a ticketing website (you pay about 10-12 euros more but the entry gets you into the group entrance 30 min before the museum opens to the public).  If you go right to the Sistine Chapel when you arrive, you’ll visit the most iconic rooms of the Vatican museum and see each one with hardly any people.

2. St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is the centre of the Catholic church and is part of Vatican City. It is also considered an independent state which means another tick on your visited countries list.  Entering from the key shaped St. Peter’s Square reveals the grandeur and importance of the church.

Best of all St. Peter’s Basilica is free to visit. You can go anytime during your visit to Rome but we’d recommend starting at the Vatican Museum then walking from there to the Basilica.  Depending on your interest you can visit the Basilica and it’s many areas such as the grotto and treasury or simply experience the grandeur of the Basilica’s exterior.

3. Rome’s Piazza’s & Famous Places

The piazza, meaning town square, is integral to Italian culture and often found in the centre of most traditional Italian towns. An evening stroll along the corso with an aperativo or café in the local piazza is something every Italian knows and is often a part of daily life.

Rome is home to a few of the most famous piazza’s in the world and central to the Italian experience.  Sipping an espresso, enjoying some lunch, or having a drink and people watching are central to understanding, “La bella vita” (the beautiful life).  Street signs mark out a great walking tour that will take you to the most famous Roman piazzas and the ones you won’t want miss including:

Piazza di Trevi

The Trevi fountain is the most iconic fountain in Rome.  Thanks to the classic Fellini film La Dolce Vita, Italian film lovers and tourists alike flock here for a picture and to appreciate the spectacular marble façade that makes this one of the most important piazza’s in Italy.

Piazza di Spagna

Sitting on the Spanish steps is a rest stop worth the walk through town for.  Here you can watch tourists snap pictures in front of Barcaccia (ugly boat) fountain and reminisce on what life was like in Rome when authors like John Keats lived there during the early nineteenth century.

Rome, IT – The Trevi Fountain (left) and Piazza di Spagna (right) are two of the most iconic piazzas in Italy. They are masterpieces that should not be missed. Try to time your visit because throngs of tourists flock to these locations for a photo during peak season (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Piazza Navona

With summer markets and outdoor restaurant patios a visit to Piazza Navona is the place to sit for a drink after getting a photo at the fountain of the four rivers.

Piazza della Rotunda & the Pantheon

Sitting in a piazza is free and so is the Pantheon, which still today boasts the architectural wonder of an unsupported dome. With centuries of religious occupation built into the façade and along the interior the Pantheon is an architectural marvel that dates back to the second century!

This quick guide comes from a late June 2018 visit to Rome where we sampled the culture and cuisine of one of the worlds most famous cities.  I’m sure there’s much more to see and do and we encourage you to share your experience or must do’s with us in the comment section.

Happy Travels,

Ian

What did you do in Rome?  Tell us about your Italian experience and share your advice with our readers in the comment section below.

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Running off a hillside from 1,430 m (4691 ft) might seem crazy but paragliding is one of the safest ways to truly defy human limitations with ease and experience the Swiss Alps in an unforgettable way. On a recent trip to Montreux my we went paragliding to and experience Switzerland from the sky.  After a short drive from Montreux’s train station to Soncheaux, we donned our gear and glided off. It was a surprisingly relaxing experience and nothing like what I would have imagined dangling more than 4000 ft above the ground suspended by a few wires and a kite.

Once high above Montreux we cruised on a tandem flight above Lake Geneva in Swizerland, and experienced one of the best ways to see Switzerland and the Swiss Alps. If you’ve been here before you might be able to see Castle Chillon (Swizerlands most visited tourist attraction) and of course the France and Switzerland at the end of Lake Geneva.

Happy Travels!

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A last-minute escape for Memorial Day weekend is exactly what the doctor ordered because you’ve been too busy to contemplate summer vacation and you deserve a break. The best part about planning one this year is that you don’t have to hand over a big chunk of change to get away. If you can be flexible about your destination you’re guaranteed to find  a great trip that’ll ensure you get plenty of bang for your travel buck and this guide will help you choose it!

Best Places to Go for Memorial Day Long Weekend

Now that you’re prepared, grab your suitcase and your sense of adventure because this is one time being a procrastinator might pay off. These eight different getaways to both domestic and international locations from major airports across the United States won’t break the bank on Memorial Day weekend, and are the cheapest destinations for your last-minute getaway.*

1.      Philadelphia to Austin

While the city of brotherly love is a fantastic place to chill out, it’s still a little cold in May. Check out Texas instead, and get a dose of sunshine, and the weird wonderful vibe that is Austin. A popping live music scene compliments Austin’s foodie culture, and when you’ve had your fill, you can venture to the outskirts of the city for a walk on the wild side in dozens of parks and swimming holes.

2.      Houston to New Orleans

As the fourth most populated city in the United States, Houston can get a bit crowded. Take a break by wandering over to the Big Easy, where New Orleans charm combines French Creole meets Southern belle. Once you’ve experienced the famed Bourbon Street, you can escape to the best corners of NOLA, including the art markets and jazz clubs of French Quarter or the gorgeous architecture and sprawling parks of the Garden District.

New Orleans

3.      Seattle to Fort Lauderdale

For the Seattle natives who missed their chance at spring break, it’s never too late to get in a little Florida fun. Your travel dollar can stretch all the way across the country to Fort Lauderdale, where miles of pristine sand and sun are waiting. Don’t leave without taking a short day trip to the iconic Everglades, where over a million acres of wetlands await you.

4.      Dallas to Guadalajara, Mexico

If you live in the southwestern United States, getting out of the country is just a short, inexpensive flight away. Memorial Day cheap fares can get you all the way from Dallas to Guadalajara, where artisan tequila, huge outdoor markets, and ornate cathedrals will make your long weekend south of the border one to remember.

5.      Salt Lake City to San Francisco

Salt Lake natives can trade the small-town charm of their mountain metropolis for the bustling streets of the Golden Gate City. From Chinatown to Alcatraz, you could traverse the seven hills of San Francisco for years and never get bored. Bring a jacket if you plan to walk the Golden Gate Bridge though—it can be a chilly fifty degrees even in the summer.

San Francisco, US – Golden Gate Bridge by night (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

6.      Washington, DC to Orlando

Escape from the stress of DC traffic and retreat into the land of fantasy and fairytales with a mini-vacation in Orlando. In addition to spinning in Walt Disney World’s teacups or sipping butterbeer at Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’ll also be able to hit up LEGOLAND. If theme parks aren’t your thing, never fear. Orlando is one of the world’s premier vacation destinations, so there are plenty of water parks, golfing, aquariums, and museums to keep even the most discerning tourist busy.

7.      New York to Charlotte

While America’s most populated city may seem like a vacation destination in its own right, native New Yorkers need the chance to get away from crowds just like everybody else. Follow the cheap fares straight to North Carolina, where Charlotte will calm you with quiet parks, museums, and charming gardens. For those who like a little adrenaline rush, check out the U.S. National Whitewater Center where you can participate in adventure sports like rafting, kayaking, and ziplines galore.

8.      Las Vegas to Mexico City

Memorial Day is one of the busiest holidays for Las Vegas, so it’s understandable that native Nevadans might want to head out for the weekend. Hop a flight to Mexico City and wander this historic capital, packed with cantinas, churches, markets, and museums. For the intrepid, ruins of Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mayans are just a short day trip from Mexico City and offer Insta-worthy scenery you’d never see in the bright lights of the Vegas strip.

A post shared by VisitMexico (@visitmexico) on Apr 15, 2018 at 3:01pm PDT

What to Know before You Go

Before you add any plane tickets to your cart, you’ll want to make sure you have a few bases covered. Run through this list to make sure you’re prepared for a last-minute flight.

Grab Your Passport!

If you’re traveling internationally—and in some states, nationally—you’re going to need a passport to board your plane. If you already have a passport, check the dates. You won’t be allowed to fly to some countries if it’s within six months of the expiration date.

Check for travel advisories

The U.S. Department of State issues travel advisories for areas that are deemed problematic or potentially unsafe for U.S. citizens. Check to see if your destination is on the list and take the recommended precautions.

Secure your home

Holiday weekends are a busy time for travelers, but they also present escalated risk for break-ins while you’re away. To ensure your home is secure, consider either using a home security system with a phone app that can alert you while you travel or hiring a house sitter to watch over your property.

Take care of your pets

Don’t leave your furry, four-footed family members to go it alone while you’re away. If they can’t tag along, book them a stay at a local pet retreat or hire a sitter to keep your favorite fuzzy companion company. After all, your pets deserve a vacation as much as you do.

Pack for the occasion

Check out the weather at your destination and shop for the climate, including splurging on that swimsuit. All the money you’ll save on the flight can go toward a good cause—you! Just make sure you leave enough room in your suitcase for some meaningful souvenirs from your most spontaneous Memorial Day trip ever.

* All flights are listed under $300 as of May 14, 2018.

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Jerusalem, IL – People visiting and praying at the Western Wall during Passover with the Dome of the Rock in the background (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Our five day quick guide to Isreal is the key to discovering the historical and natural wonders the one of the worlds most important tourist destination.  From Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea our quick guide will give you some insight on how to spend your time in Israel.  To write this, we visited Isreal over the course of five days and planned our trip from Tel Aviv to Israel’s most popular destinations. This itinerary highlights our visit and will hopefully help you plan yours.

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a Mediterranean metropolis with sunny warm beaches year long, an international community that brings food and culture from the around the world, and a liberal night life that will excite even the most diehard partiers. Not to mention cheap direct flights from Europe that get you there in just a few hours.  It’s in Tel Aviv that we decided to set as our base camp and traveled around the country from there so we could return to the sun and sand.

Before we left for Tel Aviv we talked to our Israeli friend Ori who told us, “you can just chill in Tel Aviv (go to the beach, eat well, and get drunk).” He was absolutely right, Tel Aviv is a safe modern metropolis that has it all, and if you stay in the city centre near Frishman and Bogtashov beaches you can walk everywhere; which is exactly what we did.

Tel Aviv Eats

Our highlights of Tel Aviv included the beach and the following  restaurants (recommended by our friend Ori).

Tel Aviv, IL – DJ booth at The Romano before the biggest electronic night of the year at teder.fm (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Hummus Abu Dubi, Tel Aviv – Order humus and test the hot peppers before you eat a whole one
King George St 81, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Abu Hassan
Shivtei Israel St 14, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Thai House Restaurant – Authentic Thai with a massive menu
Bograshov St 8, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

HaKosem (closed during passover) – Prepared by “the magician” food here is well worth the time to get there
Shlomo ha-Melekh St 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
+972 3-525-2033

Tel Aviv Night Out

The most exciting thing about Tel Aviv was stumbling upon teder.fm. Walking back to our accommodations from Jaffa (a great place to visit just down the way from central Tel Aviv – we recommend walking along the promenade from the Frishman Beach area to get there) we noticed a few bouncers outside an inconspicuous door and decided to walk in to see what was up.  What we could was one of the most unique parties we’d ever been to.

As stated on their site, “Teder.fm was born as an online radio station pop up broadcasting every summer from a bar somewhere in Tel Aviv. After six years of wandering we settled in the location we loved most – the Romano – continuing to broadcast all year long.” The Romano, is an apartment complex with shops and restuarants that’s converted to a bar/club with a pizza restaurant that serves wood oven za’s till the early morning. On a Thursday night (the biggest techno night of the year for Teder) things got going around 21:30 and ended around midnight.

Jerusalem, Bethlehem & the Dead Sea

Jerusalem, IL -Roman pillars of The Cardo, the ancient heart of Jerusalem (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

At the heart of the monotheistic world is Jerusalem, arguably the most historically significant city on earth. Located within Jerusalem’s ancient walls Jews, Christians, and Muslims from around the world congregate to celebrate the core of their religious beliefs at their religions most holy sites.  A visit to Jerusalem can easily be followed by Bethlehem, which is another important religious and cultural city.  It’s also the easiest way to visit Palestine. If you’re familiar with the stories of the great monotheistic religions Bethlehem is also the place of Jesus’ birth, and in the distance is the valley where the three wise men saw a bright star that led them to him.

Finally, a trip to Israel would not be complete without a soak in the mineral rich Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth as well as nearly 10 times saltier than the worlds oceans. It’s so salty that you float when resting in the water and the water itself feels more like olive oil on your skin than water. You can also fill your hands with mineral rich mud from the sea floor to help exfoliate after those long touring days around the country.

Yes, if you’re strapped for time you can do it all in a day, but it certainly isn’t enough. With only a few days in Israel we made an executive decision to go on an organized tour, something we don’t do very often. As tours usually go it was a little disorganized, and a few culturally insensitive people made themselves very visible in the wee hours of the morning, but we boarded the bus with an open mind and in the end loved what we did.

Jerusalem

Upon arrival in Jerusalem, our group split from the rest of the bus and we crushed a three-hour tour of Jerusalem which was way too short! Although, when you’ve only got a few days, it is what it is. Personally, I would have preferred to spend a day wandering the streets and a day on a locally guided tour, but what we did was perfect for us because we had other things we wanted to see and not much time.

Jerusalem, IL – Dr. Nir Argov leading our tour group on a flash tour of Jerusalem (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Our guide, a doctor in history and bible study, weaved stories and politically charged anecdotes of Jerusalem’s most popular historical sites. On the tour we visited the following:

Jaffa Gate
Armenian Quarter
Jewish Quarter
The Byzantine Cardo
View of the Western Wall
Muslim Quarter
Church of the Holy Sepulchre

For me, visiting the Church of the Holy Sepuchre was the highlight. Walking into the church that houses the location of Jesus’ crucifixion and the tomb he was placed in shortly after his death was intoxicating. I could have easily spent several hours just watching the people and taking in the chaotic architecture that spans centuries and a half dozen cultures. Inside I had the feeling of being in an ancient place that should be in a scene of Game of Thrones or some mythical story, with layers of people and history all mashed together into the most holy and exotic churches in the world.

Bethlehem

From Jerusalem, we visited Bethlehem. Driving through the border checkpoint into Palestine from Israel is eye opening. Seeing the wall that incases the West Bank brings to life the grim reality of the conflict that people on both sides of the wall suffer from. In Bethlehem, there’s really only one place that people have time for on a whirlwind organized tour like ours, and that of course is Church of the Nativity, the location of Jesus’ birth.

Contrary to what you might have imagined from all those Christmas nativity scenes that decorate houses and storefronts during the holiday season, the birthplace of Jesus is a cave underneath Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican churches. It can take hours to visit the place of Jesus birth and most people don’t get the opportunity to touch it or spend much more than a minute or two in the crowded cave, but if you’re lucky and go at the right time of year you can just walk right in (we visited during Passover).

A post shared by Borderless Travels (@borderlesstravels) on Apr 12, 2018 at 3:42am PDT

The Dead Sea

The final stop on our full day tour was the Dead Sea, which was one of places that we really wanted to visit during our time in Israel. Famous for its healing properties the richly salinized water makes people float and is also the body of water where Jesus was baptized (although on the Jordanian side).

On television shows the shores of the Dead Sea appear rugged and exotic and when you get to the shores there really aren’t many frills.  However, the beaches we visited along the Dead Sea near Kalya, Israel were lively and filled with bars, restaurants, and people barbecuing. It’s not quite as exotic as the documentaries you’ve probably seen on TV, but the experience is worth the time to visit and a healthy soak will be well deserved after a long day of sight seeing.

A post shared by Borderless Travels (@borderlesstravels) on Apr 17, 2018 at 1:24am PDT

Haifa

Our final trip during our time in Israel was to the city of Haifa and the garden terraces of the Baha’i Faith. The garden terraces encompass the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel and represent the unity of humanity. Just take a look at the picture and decide if you’d like to take the hour long journey from Tel Aviv to get there. If you decide to make a day of it you can visit the gardens in the morning then head to the beach (right next to the train and bus station) for the afternoon.

Getting There

To get there you can take the train to Haifa from Tel Aviv.

Haifa, IL – Bus Stop in Haifa for the upper part of the Baha’i Gardens (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

When you arrive at the main station find bus 115 which will take you to the Baha’i Gardens. If you want, you can get off at the top of the hill before the shrine (the bus stop where this picture was taken) then walk up to the main viewpoint. I’d highly recommend this (or else you have to walk back up to the lookout from the shrine, which takes around 30 minutes).

If you get off at the stop along the top of the hill, you can go up to the lookout in 6 minutes then go back to the bus stop and catch the 115 back down to the shrine (or walk to the shrine) before going back to the station on the 115.

Tip: there’s a great little restaurant on the right-hand corner of the road where you need turn left if you’re walking up to the lookout from the shrine. I’d highly recommend eating there!! (it was a great stop for us on the long walk up from the shrine to the lookout :P)

Haifa, IL – Baha’i Shrine and Gardens with Haifa Port on the horizon as seen from the upper viewpoint (lan Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Israel Travel Tips

• You can by a transportation card for 5 shekels – if you put 60 shekels on the card you can go anywhere in Israel using public transportation (except Eilat) within that day.
  • If you have the transportation card you can buy a half price same day return ticket from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
  • If you want to go to Bethlehem on your own you can get a sherut (shared taxi) from outside the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem
• If you’re pressed for time like we were you can check out Tourist Israel and book day trips which are affordable and easy, just be prepared and realistic about your expectations as, depending on the day trip, there can be a lot of driving which may not leave you with a ton of time to do what you want, oh and don’t forget food!!!

What did you do in Israel?  Tell us about your experience using our quick guide and share your advice with our readers the the comment section below.

The post Holy Land| 5 Day Quick Guide to the Best Places in Israel appeared first on Borderless Travels.

Ypres, BE – The Tyne Cot Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Sipping the best beer in the world across from the Sint Sixtus Abbey, surrounded by the emerald pastures of Flemish spring, it’s hard to believe that 100 years ago the thundering sounds World War I artillery and machine guns erupted day and night just 15 kilometers away.

Today, Ypres and the surrounding area offers a tranquil retreat from the bustling tourist centers of Europe and offers visitors to the region rich history lessons about the First World War, charming restaurants with great food, and the best beer in the world.

The difficult thing to navigating Ypres is figuring out exactly what to do, which is why we went there to find the best way to explore the historical and cultural highlights of Ypres and the surrounding region.

Day 1: Ypres an Essential Lesson in History

In Flanders Fields Museum

Located in Ypres city centre at 34 Grote Markt, the In Flanders Fields Museum should be every visitors first stop. It’s especially important to visit before you start touring the historical landmarks of the World War 1 front line.

The museum is a well organized historical account that summarizes the history of the First World War.  As the museum weaves harrowing stories of the soldiers, battles, and developments defining one of the most horrific wars in human history, you’ll be astounded by the atrocities of a war that enveloped the world from 1914-1918.  The museum takes between 1-1.5 hours to go through and is filled with artifacts and stories that help you glimpse the realities of the war that was to end all wars.

Ypres, BE – De Palingbeek No man’s Land CWXRM Art Exhibit (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

De Palingbeek No man’s Land & CWXRM Art Instillation

New to the historical site of De Palingbeek, also known as No man’s land, is a new art instillation. As you walk through the forest towards the art installation at De Palingbeek you should first stop to watch the video that summarizes the build up to the battle of Passchendaele, and gives you some perspective on what was happening along this part of the front lines nearing the end of the war.

From there you can visit the ComingWorldRememberMe (CWXRM) Art Instillation that took 9 years to develop and commemorates all the Belgian victims of the First World War.  Each and every life is remembered by 600,000 clay sculptures. There is also a walking path through the forest across from the instillation which was once held by the British and is now filled with small ponds, a result of artillery fire from the German frontlines across the way.

Ypres, BE – Pork loin lunch at an old farmstead in Flanders Ypres, Belgium (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Lunch at De Steenen Haene Restaurant

De Steenen Haene Restaurant, a few minutes down the road from De Palingbeek, was a random stop that turned out to be a hidden dining gem located in an old farmstead.  A lunch stop here is affordable and offers classic cuisine that’s characteristic of the region. As Michelin puts it De Steenen Haene is, “simply a good meal” which was perfect for us on our visit.  We found that the entrées were big and ordered the pork loin with some water and a coffee for desert.  After lunch here we were ready to continue our day delving into the history of the First World War.

Tyne Cot Cemetery

The Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world and the resting place of over 11,900 servicemen from the First World War.  It is located in what was known as the Western Front and the location of the Third Battle of Ypres (Battle of Passchendaele).

Visiting this cemetery is a sobering experience that helps to put the dramatic loss of life from the First World War into perspective.  Upon our visit we found school groups and a touring group with a bagpipe player that were there to commemorate the Scottish soldiers that rest here.

Memorial Museum Paschendaele 1917 & Replica Trenches

For our first day, we decided that one museum was enough, but we wanted to get an idea of what life in the trenches might have been like, and so we headed to the Memorial Museum Paschendaele 1917 to tour their outdoor replica trench network of British and German Trenches.  You can visit the museum if you’re not too tired, but we decided to visit the trenches and explore the tranquil grounds of the museum instead.

Day 2: Ypres, Best Beer in the World, and the Beach

Essex Farm Cemetery – In Flanders Fields Poem

 Today, the poppy is the international symbol of remembrance and commemoration of soldiers.  In countries like Canada, citizens begin wearing poppies on their lapels weeks before what is known as remembrance day – a day to remember all soldiers who risked their lives in order to fight for the freedoms they believed in.  Yet, this was not always so, it was the 1915 poem written by Canadian medic John McCrae titled In Flanders Fields that inspired the symbolism of the poppy.

Visiting the site where this poem was written and seeing the bunkers along the banks of the canal brings visitors closer to the memories of these soldiers, making the Essex Farm Cemetery a must visit.

Vleteren, BE – The best beer in the world Westvleteren 12 Trappist Beer (Ian Yacobucci/Borderless Travels)

Taste the Best Beer in the World

You can’t buy these beers anywhere in the world but here, and on the off chance that you do find a retailer selling it, it will be very expensive (not to mention that they’ll be selling it without the permission of the monks that brew it).

The Westvleteren 12 or Westy 12 is known to many as the best beer in the world.  It is a trappist beer brewed by monks of the Saint-Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren, and they only sell it at one location; either from the abbey directly an by appointment or while visiting the In De Vrede restaurant across the street.

We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to taste the best beer in the world, and we weren’t disappointed.  The Westvleteren 12 is by far the best beer we’ve ever tasted but you’ll have to see for yourself.  We even chose to buy a couple of 6 packs that run at a cost of about 19 Euros.  Not bad when you consider that, if you can find it outside of Belgium, you’re probably looking at 20 Euros for a single 33cl bottle.

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De Panne on the Belgian Coast

Visiting Belgium without visiting its beaches is a shame, and for our second visit to the country my wife and I decided to make the extra little drive to the seaside for a walk and a light lunch.

To our surprise, we found that De Panne was part of the Dunkirk evacuation where British, Dutch, Belgian and French troops were rescued by civilian ships from England. On the beaches of De Panne alone 98,000 troops were evacuated.

Today, the kilometers of sandy beaches and restaurants are a great way to spend the day. In De Panne there’s a beautiful beachside promenade with children playing, families enjoying the company of each other, and the atrocities of the Great World Wars a distant memory.

Dinner at ’t Molenhof

Another great find was the ‘t Molenhof Restaurant and our last stop for our two days in Ypres. Randomly driving past in on our way back to Ypres from De Panne, we stopped in for a beer and stayed for dinner. The quaint family run restaurant offers more than 200 beer choices and a steak worth driving across the country for! If you get a chance to visit don’t pass up on the steak, there are lots of other options too but the rustic atmosphere, beer selection, and kind staff make this a great find.

Did you enjoy our itinerary? Did we miss anything that you did in Ypres?  Have another idea for the region?  

Share your comments below and let us know that you thought!

The post Belgium| Do It Yourself Travel Guide to 48 Hours in Ypres appeared first on Borderless Travels.