Beach in Sopot, Poland.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the best things to do in Sopot to make your visit memorable:

Top Attractions in Sopot

1. Exploring the Sopot Pier (Molo): The Longest Wooden Pier in Europe 
   One of the must-see attractions in Sopot is the Sopot Pier, which holds the title of the longest wooden pier in Europe. Stretching over 511 meters into the Baltic Sea, this iconic structure is a symbol of the town and offers breathtaking views of the coastline. A stroll along the pier is a quintessential activity for any visitor, providing ample opportunities to take stunning photographs and enjoy the fresh sea breeze. The pier is also a hub for various cultural events, making it a vibrant spot for tourists and locals alike. As you walk along the pier, you can witness the beauty of the surrounding seaside and perhaps even spot some local wildlife. The Sopot Pier is not just a place to see; it’s an experience that encapsulates the essence of this charming town.

2. Relaxing on the Sandy Sopot Beach: A Perfect Seaside Retreat
   Sopot Beach is undoubtedly one of the top attractions for those looking to unwind and soak up the sun. With its soft sandy shores and crystal-clear waters, it’s the ideal seaside retreat for both relaxation and recreation. Visitors can lay out their towels, enjoy a good book, or simply bask in the sun while listening to the gentle waves of the Baltic Sea. The beach in Sopot is well-equipped with amenities, including sunbeds and umbrellas for rent, making it a comfortable spot for a day of leisure. Families will also appreciate the safe swimming areas and the various beach activities available, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a day by the sea.

3. Monte Cassino Street (Bohaterów Monte Cassino)                                                                                         Known as the main pedestrian street of Sopot, Poland running west to east from Aleja Niepodleglosci (Independence Avenue), near the railway station, to Plac Zdrojowy (Spa Square), near the seafront and pier. It is an entirely pedestrian area with no cars allowed. Residential property surrounding the street is in a minority – there are mainly restaurants, cafes, clubs and shops. During the season it is – next to the Royal Route and the Kosciuszko Square – the most popular place visited by tourists in the Tri-City.

4. Visiting the Crooked House (Krzywy Domek): A Unique Architectural Marvel 
   Another fascinating attraction to see in Sopot is the Crooked House, or “Krzywy Domek,” which is a remarkable example of modern architecture. This whimsical building, with its distorted shape and surreal design, draws visitors from all over the world. Located on Monte Cassino Street, the Crooked House houses various shops, cafes, and art galleries, making it a perfect spot to shop and relax. The building’s unique appearance makes it a popular subject for photographs, and many tourists find it to be one of the best things to see in Sopot. As you explore the interior, you’ll find that the creativity of the design extends beyond the exterior, making it a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in architecture and art.

5. Forest Opera (Opera Lesna)
   An open-air amphitheater set in a beautiful forest, hosting concerts and cultural events, especially during the summer with a capacity of 5047 seats, the orchestra pit can contain up to 110 musicians.

Forest Opera in Sopot, Poland.

Sopot Pier in Poland, longest wooden pier in Europe.

Activities and Experiences

• Spa and Wellness
  Sopot is famous for its health resorts and spa centers, where you can enjoy relaxing treatments.

• Water Sports
  Sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing are popular in the area, perfect for adventure seekers.

• Cycling and Hiking
  Trails around Sopot and the nearby Tri-City area offer scenic routes through forests and along the coast.

• Museum Visits
  Explore local history and art at museums like the Sopot Museum or the Artists’ Town.

Fishing boats on Baltic Sea coast in Poland.

Would you like to experience Sopot on a small group tour in the future? Check out our small group tour which includes a visit and tour of Sopot: Coastal Cuisine and Culinary Getaway in Torun, Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia Tour scheduled for June 3 – 12, 2027.

Malgorzata (Sarna) Rose, is a native of Poland. Poland Culinary Vacations grew out of her love and passion for travel and everything Polish, including fine Polish cuisine, eventually blossoming into a first-class culinary travel company. While growing up in Poland, she experienced the great joy of cooking with family and friends. Using her grandmothers' recipes and fresh ingredients from their gardens, they prepared food for weddings, parties, and traditional holidays. Now, through Poland Culinary Vacations, she wants to share that experience with you, and show you the best of everyday Polish living: the special people and their hospitality, and the heritage and traditions unique to each region. Only a native can help you discover and fully experience the authentic Poland! Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post Things to Do in Sopot on the Baltic Sea Coast of Poland. appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

What follows is a window into our Inside Lyon trip, and a portrait of a city that deserves your attention.

The City’s History, Experienced Through Its Neighborhoods

Any serious encounter with Lyon must begin at the top of Fourvière Hill, where the sprawling ancient ruins compellingly recall the time when Lyon was the capital of Roman Gaul. Founded in 43 BCE by the Roman general Lucius Munatius Plancus, Lyon, or Lugdunum as it was called then, became one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, serving as the administrative capital of Roman Gaul and a key hub along Rome’s road network. At its height, the city boasted a population estimated at between 50,000 and 100,000 inhabitants, an extraordinary scale for the ancient world. The most impressive remnants of this ancient era is the hilltop theater complex (which is among the best-preserved in France, and still actively used). While all our groups make a visit to the impressive ruins atop the hill, some of our travelers opt to linger among the artifacts of the well-presented Gallo-Romain museum. It’s easy to understand why: the site’s collection of inscriptions, mosaics, and everyday objects bring the ancient city vividly to life.

At the Roman Amphitheater

From Fourvière, we descend into Vieux Lyon, the city’s UNESCO-protected Renaissance quarter. Here, the architecture tells the story of Lyon’s remarkable second act. Beginning in the late 15th century, Lyon emerged as one of the most important commercial and financial centers in Europe, largely thanks to its role as a hub for Florentine merchants and bankers who followed the lucrative silk trade north of the Alps. Their influence left a permanent mark on the city’s built environment. Indeed, while a few key landmarks – most notably, the Cathedral St. Jean – testify to Lyon’s medieval past, it’s really the era of the Renaissance that shaped the neighborhood as we experience it. Our groups always enjoy exploring the teeming 16^th-century towers, elaborate courtyards, and secret passageways (the traboules) that are the treasured vestiges of this era.

The Maison du Crible (the “Pink Tower”)

While exploring the neighborhood with our groups, I always call attention to the distinctive color palette of these buildings. The abundant use of pastels of yellow, ochre, orange, and pink is no accident. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the influx of wealthy Italian merchants brought the vibrant aesthetic of the Tuscan Renaissance to the city. They opted for warm tones that stood out against traditional French grey stone. To achieve this look, local builders turned to natural ochre pigments sourced from nearby regions. The result was the durable shades of pink, orange, and beige that we see today. (The uniformity of the neighborhood’s appearance also owes to the strict historic preservation laws introduced in the 1960s and first implemented in Vieux Lyon and Sarlat-la-Canèda, a town we visit during our Périgord Experience week, but that’s a story for another day).

It was indeed a clever design choice, effectively bouncing sunlight down into Lyon’s famously narrow, winding streets and giving the neighborhood a warmth and coherence that sets it apart from any other historic quarter in France.

Of course, the story of Lyon is also incomplete without reference to silk. The links between the city and this luxury commodity began during the same Renaissance era that transformed Vieux Lyon; it was Florentine merchants who first introduced the silk trade to the city. Still, while the city’s link to silk had existed for centuries, the relationship deepened and accelerated greatly in the early 19^th century. It was the invention of the Jacquard loom in 1804 that transformed Lyon into the undisputed capital of European silk production. The Jacquard loom was a mechanized weaving device that used punched cards to automate complex patterns. Our groups always make a point to visit one of the few remaining 19^th-century silk workshops, and our travelers are always amazed at the sophistication and complexity of these machines. (Their use of punched cards to inform the textile patterns frequently draws comparisons to early computers reading binary codes).

Richly Decorated Silk Textiles Produced By The Jacquard Loom

The invention of the Jacquard Loom drew thousands of workers to the city, and the hillside neighborhood of the Croix-Rousse, previously sparsely populated, grew rapidly to accommodate them. The neighborhood’s architecture reflects this history in a literal way: the tall ceilings of its spare, modestly decorated buildings — known locally as the “canut” apartments, or “silk workers’ apartments” — were designed to accommodate the looms’ considerable height and working-class inhabitants. By the mid-19^th century, there were roughly 30,000 Jacquard looms operating in this hilltop neighborhood.

During our visits to the Croix-Rousse, we like to visit the landmarks that testify to the neighborhood’s rich history, past and present. We always include a stop at the impressive Mur des Canuts, a vast trompe-l’oeil mural that depicts the contemporary Crois-Rousse neighborhood and its inhabitants. First painted in 1987 and updated several times since, it remains a striking tribute to the neighborhood and represents an early form of contemporary urban revitalization. In past visits we have also descended the Montée de la Grande Côte, a long, steep stairway that bisects the neighborhood and offers a vivid sense of its topography and working-class character, before passing through the Cours des Voraces. The Cours des Voraces, distinct in its design, is also a remarkable piece of social history; it served as a gathering place for the canuts, Lyon’s silk workers, during their frequent labor uprisings of the 19^th century.

Inside Lyon group at the Mur Des Canuts

In past visits we have also descended the Montée de la Grande Côte, a long, steep stairway that bisects the neighborhood and offers a vivid sense of its topography and working-class character, before passing through the Cours des Voraces. The Cours des Voraces, distinct in its design, is also a remarkable piece of social history; it served as a gathering place for the canuts, Lyon’s silk workers, during their frequent labor uprisings of the 19^th century.

The Beauty of Lyon and Its Geography

Eminently walkable, Lyon is a city that rewards exploration, and our Inside Lyon groups do plenty of it. The geography of the city is what makes it so interesting. With two rivers winding down its center and bounded by two impressive hills, waterfront strolls and panoramic vistas are always within reach. The Saône flows along the western edge of the Presqu’île, its gentler currents making it the natural backdrop for the riverside cafes and the boat tour that opens our trip. The Rhône, broader and brisker, bounds the eastern side. Between the two rivers, the Presqu’île concentrates the city’s commercial and architectural energy. Above it, to the west, Fourvière rises steeply with its basilica and Roman ruins. To the north, the Croix-Rousse offers a different kind of altitude, one that’s looser and more bohemian, with terraced cafes and views that stretch across the entire city.

These geographic features add an extra level of interest to even the smallest moments. Our Inside Lyon groups always search for opportunities to savor our surroundings. One highlight during our inaugural Inside Lyon trip was a coffee break in the picturesque courtyard of the Museum of Fine Arts, with its fountains, statues, and leafy trees providing an idyllic setting for afternoon conversation. Better still was the same group’s spontaneous decision to grab ice cream along the Saône after our farewell dinner, which occasioned one last opportunity to enjoy the city’s illuminated landmarks. At other occasions, our groups have enjoyed surprise stops for a coffee break along the Rhone.

Our group bases in the Presqu’Île, and it is in this part of Lyon where we see an especially stately side of the city. Much of the grandeur of this central district owes its existence to the urban renewal projects of the Second Empire period (1850s and 1860s), when Lyon’s prefect Claude-Marius Vaïsse oversaw a sweeping modernization of the city center inspired by the Baron Haussmann’s concurrent transformation of Paris. The rue de la République (formerly called the rue Impériale) was the centerpiece of this effort. It’s a broad, elegant thoroughfare lined with ornate facades that runs along the central part of the peninsula. The surrounding squares add further distinction. The Place des Célestins, which serves as our home base during the trip, is anchored by the Théâtre des Célestins, an opulent 19th-century theater whose illuminated facade makes it a particularly beautiful sight on a quiet evening. The Place des Jacobins, with its spectacular Fontaine des Jacobins, and the Place des Terreaux, home to the monumental Fontaine Bartholdi (sculpted by the creator of the Statue of Liberty) complete a trio of public spaces that rival those of any city in France.

The fountain in the Place des Jacobins

The most dramatic expression of Lyon’s 19th-century ambition, however, sits not on the Presqu’île but atop Fourvière Hill itself: The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, completed in 1896. Its silhouette, with four ornate towers rising above the city, is the defining image of Lyon’s skyline, visible from nearly every corner of the Presqu’île below. (The interior is equally extravagant: an exuberant mix of mosaics, marble, and gilded decoration makes it one of the most richly adorned religious spaces in France.)

The interior of Lyon’s Basilica

Eating in the Gastronomic Capital

Lyon is famously known as the “gastronomic capital of France,” and our trip includes several food-focused activities designed to test the city’s culinary reputation. The designation itself has a precise origin: it was first coined in the mid-1930s by the food critic Curnonsky, who argued that Lyon’s chefs possessed an unmatched ability to source exceptional local ingredients. And indeed, looking at Lyon’s position on the map, you would be hard-pressed to choose a better place to procure a rich variety of high-quality and local ingredients. Drive two hours in any direction from Lyon, and you find regions with their own distinct offerings. To the east, the Alps and Savoy contribute some of France’s finest cheeses. From the south come the wonderful olive oils and sun-ripened produce of Provence. Burgundy to the north provides extraordinary Charolais beef and Bresse poultry, widely considered the finest chicken in the world.

Beyond the fine ingredients, though, was a distinct culinary tradition nurtured across generations by a remarkable lineage of chefs. Chief among them were the “Mères Lyonnaises,” a succession of women chefs who, from the 19th century onward, defined the character of Lyonnais cooking: generous, technically precise, and rooted in the region’s finest produce. Eugénie Brazier, the most celebrated among them, became in 1933 the first person to hold three Michelin stars simultaneously across two restaurants, a record that stood for decades. From there, the lineage continued with Paul Bocuse, Brazier’s most famous student, who became the global ambassador of French cuisine and whose name now adorns Lyon’s beloved market hall, which our groups always make a point to visit. Entering into this iconic space is indeed a feast for the senses. Wonderful smells and colorful, appetizing foods beckon from every angle. It’s here that we’re introduced to countless iconic foods: delicious local charcuterie, the famous quenelle lyonnaise with its accompanying crayfish sauce, a variety of local cheeses, and my personal favorite, the “Cervelle de Canut” (“Silk worker’s brains”). If the name sounds off-putting, rest assured that it’s really just a fresh mix of farmer’s cheese, red wine vinegar, chives, and garlic, served on a crusty baguette.

An array of cheeses at Les Halles

Of course, during our trip we always like to indulge in a gastronomic meal befitting the city’s culinary reputation. Last year, our groups enjoyed meals at a fine dining restaurant affiliated with the prestigious culinary school Paul Bocuse founded in the early 1990s. It was always a treat; over a five-course meal, we enjoyed Michelin-star caliber food with the added bonus of watching ambitious students hone their craft from the open kitchen. On more recent visits, we’ve dined in a restaurant under the direction of Guy Lassausaie, a chef awarded the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France distinction in 1993 and the holder of a Michelin star at his own namesake restaurant.

With Paul Bocuse after a gastronomic meal

Beyond Lyon: The Beaujolais Region

A highlight of the Inside Lyon itinerary is the relaxed day we spend exploring the countryside around the city. In particular, Beaujolais, the bucolic region north of the city, offers a beautiful contrast to dynamic Lyon.

Of course, a portion of this day trip is focused on wine. When most of us think of Beaujolais, our minds go to Beaujolais Nouveau, the inexpensive, hastily produced wine that appears on store shelves every November. But the region’s better wines tell a different story entirely. Beaujolais produces a spectrum of styles: the light, easy-drinking village wines made from the Gamay grape that make agreeable companions at the dinner table; and the ten crus of Beaujolais (Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, and their kin), which offer surprising depth and complexity. Beaujolais is truly one of my favorite wines, and I always joke with travelers on the tour that one of my missions is to have them leave as converts as well.

Enjoying a glass of Beaujolais with lunch

Wine is only part of the story, though. Situated at the edge of the Massif Central, the region features prominent hills, with vineyards seemingly placed upon every available slope. It’s a picturesque sight to behold. Adding to the region’s allure is the golden-hued stone of its villages. We spend most of our daytrip into the countryside in a particular part of Beaujolais known as the region of “pierres dorées,” or “golden stones.”

The Beaujolais landscape

The region earned its name thanks to a specific type of local limestone which, for centuries, provided building blocks with a distinctive honey-like appearance. On a sunny day the villages look absolutely stunning. Our groups often enjoy a leisurely lunch in Thiezé before walking off our meals in the ever-charming village of Oignt, classed as one of France’s most beautiful and mercifully spared the crowds of tourists.

Hopefully, this post gives you a sense of the many wonders we encounter in this unique corner of France. Over the course of three and a half days, we cover cultural, culinary, and geographic terrain, combining must-see sites with plenty of surprises, hidden gems, and quiet moments. It’s indeed a wonderful place to spend a few days.

In 2027 we’re offering Inside Lyon May 8 – 12, May 12 – 16 and August 31 – September 4.  These four-night trips can be combined with several of our seven-night Experience trips. If you book Inside Lyon with one of our seven-night trips, your transportation between the two locations is included.  Learn more about our 2027 trips on our website!

**************

Enjoy these other posts about Lyon and our Inside trips:

Encountering Lyon: One of France’s Best Kept Secrets

Discover shorter “Inside” city trips

Drew Fedorka joined European Experiences in late 2022. As our Vice President of Operations and Special Projects, most of his responsibilities focus on administrative operations stateside, but he's also involved in leading and developing trips. In addition to leading Inside Lyon, he's the co-leader for our trips in Normandy, Alsace, the Perigord, and Cornwall. Born and raised in Connecticut, Drew later moved to Florida, where he attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando and earned a B.A. and an M.A. in History, with special focus on European history. Returning to the northeast, he started a PhD in French history at New York University in 2016. He received his doctorate in 2024. Drew’s passion for European travel started early. When he was seventeen, he participated in a summer college preparation program at Cambridge University. In the years since, he has returned to Europe regularly and for increasingly lengthy stretches. One of the most rewarding aspects of his doctoral studies was the extended periods he spent in France – about two years in total. During that time, he traveled widely across Europe, fostering meaningful connections and gaining a deeper appreciation for the French art de vivre (the “art of living”).

The post Inside Lyon: Discovering France’s Most Underrated City appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

I talk about our Bold Spirit trips for solo female travelers all the time, and most women immediately say, “That sounds amazing.”

But every once in a while, I meet someone who realizes our style of travel just isn’t for them — and honestly, that’s a good thing.

Not every trip is meant for every traveler.

So today, let’s talk about who probably shouldn’t come on one of our women-only trips.

Our trips are not for you if…

• You love giant bus tours with 40 people and matching lanyards. We keep our groups small — usually around 10–15 women. It’s more personal, more connected, and much easier to get to know other guests and make some friends.

• You want to bring your husband, boyfriend, brother, or guy friend. Bold Spirit is women-only, always. The whole point is creating space for women to connect, relax, and enjoy a true girls’ trip vibe.

• You only travel if it’s ultra-luxury everything. We stay in beautiful places, but our style leans more charming and authentic than flashy. Think boutique hotels, cozy inns, family-run stays, and the occasional splurge hotel with an incredible view. However, our trips this fall to Portugal and to Greece do include 5* hotels, so sometimes we are a little fancy.

• You need every minute scheduled from sunrise to bedtime. We plan amazing experiences, but we also leave room to wander, nap, shop, journal, sit at a café, or stare at the ocean with a glass of wine. Free time matters just as much as togetherness does. On our trips for solo women travelers, you get time for both.

• You think a trip to Portugal will magically solve all your problems. It won’t. But a week away might give you a fresh perspective, a little breathing room, and remind you who you are outside of your daily routine — especially if you come with an open mind.

• You’re not super open to new experiences. These trips are about curiosity. New foods, different cultures, unexpected conversations, and trying things outside your comfort zone are all part of the adventure. Don’t be affraid to step out of your comfort zone. We are called Bold Spirit, not Timid Spirit.

• You get stressed when travel plans change. Travel can be messy sometimes. Flights get delayed. Weather shifts. Ferries get canceled. Once, the Pope showed up in Naples and completely changed traffic patterns and our dinner reservations. Flexibility and a sense of humor go a long way.

At the end of the day, Bold Spirit trips are for women who want connection, adventure, laughter, meaningful experiences, and a little spontaneity mixed in. We are all about bringing solo women travelers together to make new friends and see this amazing globe.

Join our group tours for women this autumn 2026:

• Greek Islands Getaway: September 17-24, 2026
• Walking the Camino in Spain: September 20-28, 2026
• The Amalfi Coast and Islands in Italy: October 3-9, 2026
• Magical Portugal: October 21-27, 2026

We offer Discovery Calls so that you can talk to us and ask your group travel questions. Set up a time to chat with us here. 

The post Who Shouldn’t Come on Our Women’s Trips? Solo Female Travelers Read this First appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

This is a guest post by our friend and fellow photographer Vicki Wert who recently joined us on our photo tour through the Czech Republic.

On our Czech Republic & Prague — Old-World Charm Photo Tour, we spend three nights in magical Prague, the “City of 100 Golden Spires” where the medieval Charles Bridge is a wonderful subject for photography. But be forewarned: During the day and into the evening, the bridge is a shoulder-to-shoulder experience and photographers have to brave it at around five in the morning for the best shots without hundreds of tourists.

And here is Vicki’s experience photographing Prague’s Charles Bridge.

A Palindromic Event

The Misfortunes of a Bridge Saint

The Bridge is a Movie Star

And here is Jim’s take of the bridge and Prague Castle at the magical evening Blue Hour from the Old Town side.

About Vicki

Vicki’s interest in photography began in the 1970’s when she was given her first film SLR camera, an Olympus OM-1. She loves to travel and enjoys photographing most subjects like landscapes, architecture, and close-ups, but particularly loves floral and other macro photography. She finds her own garden to be inspirational and photographs flowers at her home in Westlake, Ohio most days during the summer. Vicki is an award-winning photographer and an active member of the Cleveland Photographic Society where she is a long-time Photoshop Editing instructor. Her work has been exhibited in numerous locations over the years in the Greater Cleveland area. Vicki has also competed on the world stage and has several awarded images in both the International Garden Photographer of the Year and the Close-Up Photographer of the Year competitions. She is a retired CPA, a lifelong classical musician, and an avid gardener. You can see more of her work on her website: www.vickiwertphotography.com

Jim and Magrit have been photographing professionally and traveling in Europe for the past 20 years. They started Photography Travel Tours in 2011 with the goal of educating and guiding photographers to some of the most beautiful and iconic scenes in Europe. The tours are not just about getting great photographs but also have the side benefits of doing so in wonderful environments. Great food, wine, people, and ambiance. Read more about Jim & Magrit and their wonderful photo tours here: (http://photographytraveltours.com/about/). Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post Beneath the Shadows of History: Photographing the Charles Bridge in Prague appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

This was how The Randle’s 2026 season began — a six-night Diner’s Cruise, Moret-sur-Loing to Auxerre, heading upstream through one of the most quietly magnificent waterways in the country.

Sunday: Moret-sur-Loing and the Captain’s Welcome
It rained on arrival day, which felt entirely correct for early April. Our guests came from Paris airport— collected and driven south through the forest of Fontainebleau in the April showers — and stepped aboard to champagne and the particular warmth that a well-lit barge creates against an evening.

Moret-sur-Loing is where Alfred Sisley lived and painted, and where Robert Louis Stevenson came by canoe and fell in love — with the town, with the river, eventually with a woman he met in a nearby village, and who inspired him to write An Inland Voyage. Standing on deck in the April dusk it is easy to see why both men stayed. Fontainebleau, 500 years older than Versailles, 1,500 rooms, Napoleon’s private apartments still furnished as he left them, and then the Captain’s Dinner aboard: chef Gael, premier-cru Burgundy, the candles lit, the season properly under way.

Monday: The Counts of Champagne
The first full day of cruising is always the one that converts people. You watch the moment it happens — usually somewhere around the first lock, when the barge fills the chamber and the water rises and the world narrows to old stone walls and sky

We left the Seine and turned onto the Yonne, heading south, the river narrowing and quietening as the morning went on. By afternoon we were moored at Missy-sur-Yonne, with time for a tour to Provins — UNESCO-listed medieval town, the great trading hub of the Counts of Champagne, where cloth merchants from Flanders met the silk routes of the Mediterranean. The ramparts are intact. The underground galleries are intact. The whole place feels like it is resting between centuries. Dinner back at the mooring at Le retour aux sources, a riverside auberge, simple and warm with swans on the water outside.

Tuesday: Sens and a Michelin Star
In April the Yonne runs high and fast — upstream progress has a satisfying purposefulness to it. By mid-morning we were approaching Sens, its Gothic cathedral rising above the rooftops in a way that takes a moment to take in properly. This is the first great Gothic cathedral in Europe, built before Notre-Dame, before Chartres. Thomas Becket sheltered here in 1164, exiled from England. The town has been busy with history ever since.

The evening was at La Madeleine, Patrick Gauthier’s Michelin-starred restaurant above the river. He is a chef who begins his day at the market and lets the products tell him what to cook. In early April that means the first asparagus, the last of the winter roots, and whatever arrived that morning. It was exactly right.

Wednesday: Villeneuve-sur-Yonne and the Impressionists
A morning cruise through the bends and reaches of the Yonne brought us to Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, founded by Louis VII in 1163 and still wearing its medieval bones proudly: the fortified towers, the moat, the cobbled market square. Francis Picabia painted the poplars here in 1906. You can find the same angle easily enough — the light hasn’t changed.

We walked the afternoon away and stopped at Maison Dosnon, where they have been making gingerbread from local honey since 1920, which may be the best possible reason to visit a town.

the old 17th-century barge depot on the quay converted to a restaurant by actress and dancer Leslie Caron, with the river sliding past the windows in the dark.

Thursday: The Vineyards of Joigny
The river narrows further as you push south and the valley steepens on either side. Joigny appeared around a bend in the afternoon, its ancient ramparts stacked up above the waterline. Turner sketched these same banks in 1802, and you can see why he stopped: the fortified gate towers, the river bend, the town climbing the hillside behind. The vineyards here produce a pinot gris that was a favourite of Louis XIV, which is a recommendation hard to argue with.

Dinner at Le Rive Gauche — chef Jérôme Joubert combining local cuisine with a careful mastery of flavour and texture that makes the meal feel both rooted and inventive. A very good Thursday.

Friday: Auxerre — City of Art and History
The last day of cruising. We stopped for lunch at Gurgy, its little quay empty and peaceful at this time of year, before the final reach into Auxerre. The city’s cathedral — St Étienne, 11th to 16th century, dominating the skyline from the river — announced our arrival a long time before we tied up. Auxerre has been a prosperous town since Roman times, the birthplace of Saint Germain, and it still carries that history lightly: cobbled streets, 15th-century timber-framed buildings, a bustling market square that has been here in one form or another for two thousand years.

A private tour of the cathedral and historic centre, then dinner at Un air de famille — Camille and Dimitri doing what they do, which is take local produce seriously and make it look effortless. A fine last evening.

Saturday: Au Revoir
Breakfast was slow and nobody was in a hurry to get into the transfer car. That is always the right sign.

Six nights, Moret-sur-Loing to Auxerre. Sisley’s river, Turner’s river, Stevenson’s river. The first cruise of the season — and, as they always are, one of the best.

The Diner’s River Barge Cruise runs six nights on the rivers Seine and Yonne for up to four guests on exclusive private charter. Paris transfers included. Dates available through to October 2026.

View the full itinerary and 2026 rates 

Tim Harrold is owner and captain of the Randle, a beautiful and classically styled river boat fitted with two en-suite cabins and all the modern facilities to travel in comfort. Tim offers private barge tours on the picturesque Burgundy Canal du Nivernais and river Yonne. A luxury cruise with Tim and his crew includes gourmet cuisine, fine wine, and guided tours by private car to vineyards and chateaux. Learn more about Edge Charter and barge trips on the Randle along Burgundy's canals and rivers here. Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post There is a particular feeling to the first cruise of the season. appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

Now for a brief introduction of Knee Deep Into History’s guides; and how they built their knowledge sets over decades.

American Tour Guide Randy Gaulke

Randy has been visiting the battlefields of WW1 and WW2 for 40 years and much of his knowledge has resulted from his European connections. Randy took his first tour with Lt. Col. Graham Parker of Flanders Tours in June 1986, while studying at the University of Hamburg in Germany. Through Graham Parker, Randy became a member of The Western Front Association, a UK-based association that studies the First World War. Through that group’s European Liaison Officer Randy became aware of the German group, Deutsches Erinnerungscommittee Argonnerwald or DEA. The DEA systematically explores the underground fighting tunnels of WW1, and Randy joined them on his first work weekend with the association in 1994. It was there that he met Markus Klauer. Since then, he has participated in several work weekends and has benefitted from making several European friendships through the association.

A very young Randy Gaulke (left) on his first DEA work weekend in 1994

Fast forward to 2014 and Randy restarted his https://meuse-argonne.com website, which focuses on the American Meuse-Argonne Offensive of WW1. In 2017 Randy quit his day job and spent eight months living and working in France in 2017-18 as a freelance guide during the Centennial of WW1. This really accelerated his knowledge base! His son’s interest in WW2 also drove Randy to build his knowledge of that war.

In addition to his Meuse-Argonne.com website, Randy has written two chapters in Ed Lengel’s “A Companion to the Meuse-Argonne Campaign,” and his assistance to several WW1 authors is acknowledged in their books.

Randy speaks English and German fluently and is proficient in French. He has lived in Europe three years in total.

German Tour Guide Markus Klauer

Markus served as a Bundeswehr (German military) officer until his retirement in 2018. His service time included a few years in an armored battalion, which helps him better understand the historic role of armor. Markus also lived in France more than 10 years and served in the combined Franco-German Brigade. This really helped Markus build a strong local knowledge and contact base, especially in Verdun, where Markus is the only German historian to work directly with the French National Forest Office [ONF]. In 2019, Markus received a medal from the Mayor of Verdun for his historical work with the city and the region. Here’s a link to the article.

Markus maintains a website and he has written five books—all in German—on various aspects of WW1 and he has been guiding tours since the late 1980s. Since his retirement in 2018 he has increasingly focused on WW2.

Markus speaks German, French and English fluently. Furthermore, his NATO experience required him to work in a multitude of cultural settings.

Tour Guides Randy Gaulke and Markus Klauer on a recon trip in Normandy, February 2022

Markus and Randy: Working Together Since 2018

In 2017 Markus was working as a historian with the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation to establish a walking trail on the Mort Homme portion of the Verdun Battlefield. For that project he wrote the text for 10 signs in German, French and English. Randy played a small role in proofreading the English portions.

Randy Gaulke and Markus Klauer standing in front of one of the ten sign panels

Randy and Markus offered their first tour together in 2018—a six-day tour of the WW1 AEF battlefields offered during the Centennial of WW1. They also organized a Meet and Greet Dinner in September 2018, which brough together American, French, German and Dutch historians.

Participants in the Sept. 2018 Meet and Greet Dinner. Photo by Dave Gaddis.

In 2021 Randy started Knee Deep Into History, working together with Markus to develop slow-travel tours that focus on both sides of the story and that help American clients bridge European cultures.

Randy Gaulke (L) and Markus Klauer (R) during one of our 2021 tours

Enter American Tour Guide Graham Gaulke

Twenty-seven-year-old Graham Gaulke first started visiting the battlefields with “Dad” at the age of 8, but after two decades of battlefield tours he has become an expert on WW2 in his own right. After graduating from high school in 2017, Graham took a gap year and lived in Europe for five months, logging many kilometers of travel in the pursuit of WW2 sites. After that gap year, Graham studied Webster University’s Leiden, Netherlands campus and this allowed him to continue his exploration of WW2-era Europe in his free time.

Graham’s passion since 2014 has been the exploration of Nazi Germany’s efforts to disperse their armaments manufacturing underground to avoid Allied bombardment. Of course, this topic is inextricably linked to the use of concentration camp and forced labor. As a result of his research, Graham has designed two tours for Knee Deep Into History: “Third Reich Underground: Rockets, Aircraft and More” and “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.” Photos of his underground research can be seen on his website: Graham Gaulke | Photography.

KDIH tour guide Graham Gaulke in the foreground on the Third Reich Underground Tour he designed

Graham is now living and working in Europe, including leading small-group and private tours for Knee Deep Into History. He speaks German proficiently and is perfectly comfortable bridging cultures.

Graham Gaulke at the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) during the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Tour, October 2025 (Photo by Laurie Gaulke)

Conclusion

Selecting the right battlefield tour guide and small-group tour is important. I hope that this brief introduction to our guides convinces you to get knee deep into history on a small-group battlefield tour with our company. See you in the trenches!

Yankee Division Tour Participants pose with Randy Gaulke and Markus Klauer, April 2023

After decades of personal battlefield tours, Randy Gaulke quit his job as a financial analyst in Manhattan and spent eight months in France in 2017-18 as a freelance guide during the World War I Centennial. He subsequently founded Knee Deep Into History, with a philosophy of getting clients into the field on a small-group tour designed for the military history enthusiast. Equally important is the attempt to tell both sides of the story and to help Americans bridge cultures. Most tours are led jointly with European guides, including retired Bundeswehr officer and historian Markus Klauer. The groups enjoy family-owned European hotels and restaurants. Experience a military history tour that brings the battlefield to life! Learn more at www.kneedeepintohistory.com Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post Selecting the Right Battlefield Tour Guide: An Introduction to Our Guides appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

Painting at Villa Gamberaia

Florence is like a second home to me and I always get a thrill just dreaming about being there. I am also very excited to share it with some students who have never been there before. Plus, it is a new workshop providing daily painting opportunities in some of Florence’s most beautiful and renowned gardens. I have painted in almost all the spots we are visiting, but have never painted in them all in a span of a week.

Monumental Hedges

Icons of Villa Gamberaia

May in Florence is beautiful and we should see

lots of flowers in bloom.

Plus, painting in Florentine gardens provides beautiful structures and objects surrounded by designed landscape and distant indicative views. They also provide relatively peaceful locations for focusing on painting as compared to painting on the city street.

Taking in the View

My intimate experience and knowledge of Florence and years of going there to paint allowed me to craft a beautiful workshop filled with wonderful painting opportunities, atmospheric accommodations, great restaurant reservations, and some special exploring and tours. Please follow along May 1 – May 26 on my Facebook and Instagram pages found under vsfergus.

Vignette at Villa Medici

Maybe you will decide to join me in 2027! I will announce my Workshop schedule and offerings in September 2026.

Virginia Fergus leads small group Plein Air Painting Workshops in Italy and France that are unique opportunities for creative immersion and personal transformation. Each workshop includes plein air painting experiences in curated locations, sensitive and personal instruction, experienced and empathetic guidance, artistic immersion, beautiful accommodations and delicious meals in authentic and particular locations, and new friends for the journey. Ginny's personal motto is “Authentic, Intimate, Beautiful” and is the creative and experiential goal of each workshop. To learn more, visit www.vsfergus.com Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post New Workshop in Florence Italy appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

Arrival Day is now on Wednesdays

Village Vacations in Italy is excited to share an update to enhance your travel experience: our arrival day is now on Wednesdays. Traveling midweek often means lower airfare, helping you save for your vacation in a more relaxed way so you can enjoy “La Dolce Vita” when you arrive.

Our 2027 Tour Dates are now available for booking

Spring

April 7-14

April 21-28

May 5-12

May 19-26

Fall

September 8-15

September 22-29

October 6-13 (SOLD OUT)

October 20-27

Sit back and relax, your day trips and transportation are planned for you

Spring has arrived in Italy! Our philosophy centers on Slow Travel, Unpack Once, and No Rush—giving you the time and space to truly savor each village, each moment, and each experience. This is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of Umbria and Tuscany while staying in a charming countryside guest house where every detail is thoughtfully arranged so you can fully embrace La Dolce Vita. (The Sweet Life). Village Vacations in Italy promises you an experience like no other with our slower-paced day trips with a small group of guests.

“Home Away From Home” for a week

Chef Leonardo and his mother. You will have to pace yourself because everything they make is fresh, seasonal, and delicious 

During your stay, you’ll enjoy chef-prepared meals, daily excursions to picturesque villages, a vineyard tour, a hands-on cooking class, and rich cultural experiences designed to connect you deeply with the region.

Cooking Class in the hills of Umbria farm-to-table experience.

Homemade pasta …..made by you!

 Rate Includes:

• Accommodation is your own boutique apartment in a country guest house
• Round-trip transfers Leonardo Da Vinci Airport, Rome  (FCO)
• Daily breakfast
• Daily dinners served with local wine
• Six days of guided excursions and transportation, and set your own pace when we visit villages
• Visits to Assisi, Cortona, Citta Delle Pieve, and Deruta
• Cooking class in the hills of Umbria. You will make four different pastas & sauces to enjoy on the terrace with wine, of course
• Vineyard tour, wine tasting, and lunch

Seasonal Experiences:

• September Grape stomping, vineyard tour, wine tasting, and lunch at a local winery
                                                                 

First you pick, then you squish…afterward lunch is served with local meats, cheeses, veggies, and of course pasta and wine

Grape Squish to your heart’s content! Dress up like “Lucy” for a very fun day.

• October Olive harvest experience with lunch, including a visit to a traditional frantoio (pressing plant) to learn how fresh olives are pressed into “Liquid Gold.”

Pick olives with the locals and then enjoy a typical Italian lunch with wine, of course….

A visit to the frantolio to see how the olives are processed into fresh extra virgin olive oil…wait until you taste this!!!

Fresh from the press

Everything listed with Village Vacations in Italy is included, except airfare and travel insurance, and the arrival day is now on Wednesdays, so you can save on weekday airfare.

Your table is waiting….

Join us for a week of unforgettable moments, authentic connections, and the true essence of Italian living as you meet the locals and experience life in Italy.

Our 2027 Tour Dates are now available for booking

Spring

April 7-14 & April 21-28

May 5-12 & May 19-26

Fall

September 8-15 & September 22-29

October 6-13 & October 20-27

Single Occupancy 3300 Euros 

Double Occupancy 2900 Euros per person

The locals are waiting for you

Former flight attendant Nedra Bottieri made a life-changing trip to Italy twenty years ago to re-discover her family heritage. Now with dual citizenship, she has a second home in Umbria. Through her company, Village Vacations in Italy, she organizes and hosts small group tours based in small villages in Umbria and Tuscany, normally customized tours for private groups. Groups have included yoga workshops, writing workshops, and groups of family and friends. Nedra draws on her extensive experience and relationships to plan special accommodations and activities to meet each group’s needs and dreams. Experience “La Dolce Vita” in Italy! To learn more about her tours, see www.villagevacationsinitaly.com Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post Arrival day is now on Wednesdays for midweek airfares! appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

my trusty Away Bigger Carry-on Flex

Once I started down the rabbit hole of the sudoku packing method, I found that everyone has a version, a theory, their own spin.  I’ve linked a few here, but the basic philosophy is this; pack 9 items in your capsule wardrobe, add shoes and accessories, and you have a multitude of outfits in your carry-on bag for your week (or more) of vacation.

photo credit curvy sewing collective

Lay the items out before you pack them, in the grid format just like in the photo.  One post recommended a trial run where you actually wear the items at home before you go to make sure you like your choices.  Wearwhenwhatwhy suggests don’t pack items you don’t wear at home thinking you’ll wear them on vacation. You won’t.  Apartment Therapy has helpful tips on how to build the grid, which items to start with and how to build from there. The Monthly Edit does a deeper dive with photos of all of the outfits, and speaks to where dresses fit in. And will this method work for a longer trip?

Have you ever tried the sudoku packing method?  Or is there an other packing hack you use?  I’m always looking for more efficient ways to travel!

If you’d like to learn about Adventures in Italy, read these previous posts, there are still a few spots open for our fall trips!

Join us in Orvieto in 2026

Orvieto Scavenger Hunt

A Food Tour of Orvieto

Michelle Logue leads cultural and creative adventures in Orvieto, Italy. With a mandate to provide "travel that transforms," Adventures in Italy gives guests an immersive experience. After more than 20 years of return trips, Orvieto has become a welcoming home base surpassing the typical Italian vacation. Adventures in Italy operates trips in May and September. Find out more about tours and special offers by following Adventures in Italy on Facebook and Instagram and visit www.adventuresinitaly.ca Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

The post The Sudoku Packing Method appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.

Since the love of good food and community is at the heart of French village life, there is no better way to step into the flow of a country day than through the markets where locals gather to shop and share stories. Even though most people come for food, glorious food, there’s almost nothing you can’t purchase on market day from olive wood bowls and rich aromatic spices, to colorful baskets and fanciful clothes. This thriving, centuries old tradition continues in every kind of weather, every day of the week.

For anyone traveling to Provence its markets are central to the region’s way of life, preserving a deep connection to the land. The list below covers Haut Vaucluse, Combat Venaissin, Mont Ventoux, Luberon, Bouche-du-Rhône and the Gard. Most markets start are 8 a.m. and end at 12 and 1 in the afternoon. Some markets are in the evening, so check on the village website for details. Some markets are larger than others and are marked with a star. And some markets have specialties as noted below.

Monday – *Bédoin, Cadenet, Fontvielle, Forqualquier, Bédarides, *Bollene, *Cavaillon, Goult, Lauris,
Mazan, Nimes, *St. Didier, Saint Saturnin-les-Avignon, St. Ètienne-du-Grès.

Tuesday – *Avignon, Gordes, La Tour D’Aigues, Aix-en-Provence, Beaumes-de-Venise, Caromb, Curcuron,Lacoste, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Grignan, Marguerittes, Tarascon, *Vaison-la-Romaine,
*Tarascon.

Wednesday – St. Remy de Provence, Aigues Mortes, Malaucene, Roussillon, Sault, Salon, Valréas,
Velleron, Violès, Arles, *Mouries, Orgon, *Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Digne-les-Bains, Gap.

Thursday – Les Baux-de-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Ansouis, Aubignan, Beaucaire, Nyons
Oppede-‘les-Vieux, Orange, Le Pontet, Villeneuve-les-Avignon, Ménerbes, Vacqueyras, *St. Gilles.

Friday – Eygalières, Aix-en-Provence, Bonnieux, *Carpentras, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, *Courtézon
Eyguières, Lourmarin, *Pertuis, Stes. Maries-de-la-Mer, *St. Martin-de-Crau, Remoulins, St. Quentin-la-Poterie.

Saturday – *Avignon, Apt, Aix-en-Provence, Cheval Blanc, Crillon-le-Brave, Oppede, *Pernes-les-Fontaines, *St. Cécile-les-Vignes, Sommières, Uzès,*Manosque, Sisteron, Cadenet,

Sunday – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, *Avignon, Aigues-Mortes, Beaucaire, *Châteaurenard, Jonquières, *Sorgues, Ansouis

Daily Markets – Aix-en-Provence.

Flower Market– Aix-en-Provence, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Nimes on Monday.

Truffle Markets – November – March, Friday in Carpentras, Saturday in Apt and Uzès, Wednesday in Valréas, Tuesday in Vaison-la-Romaine, Tuesday in Grignan,Thursday in Nyons.

Floating Market – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, 1st Sunday in August.

Sue Aran lives in the Gers department of southwest France. She is the owner of French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Provence and beyond. She writes a monthly blog about her life in France and is a contributor to Bonjour Paris and France Today magazines. Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.

The post Markets of Provence appeared first on Slow Travel Tours.