Montana is the ultimate destination for outdoor adventurers, with endless mountain ranges, forest hiking trails and wonderful waterways to choose from – all of which transform dramatically from season to season.

Despite the trappings of the modern age, the Treasure State still embodies the spirit of the Old West, offering opportunities to experience life on horseback, hunt and forage for wild food and drift through ghost towns that look like the last cowboy just rode into the sunset. But there's more to Montana than cowboying up and getting outside.

Bustling towns are made more colorful by burgeoning artistic talent, and the world is taking notice of Montana’s innovative culinary scene. Whether you’re seeking adventures in untouched landscapes or creative encounters in cool urban hubs, Montana can provide what you’re looking for. Here's a guide to the top things to do in Big Sky Country.

Hiking in Glacier National Park

Hitting the trails in Glacier National Park is probably the most popular activity for visitors to Montana, and for good reason. Glacier’s jagged mountain peaks, lush valleys and crystal clear lakes and rivers are accessed via endless miles of wilderness trails, from popular and accessible jaunts like the Avalanche Trail to more rugged, challenging expeditions like the hike to Hidden Lake.

Meeting mountain goats, moose and grizzly bears is just part of life in the park, giving visitors the sensation of being truly in the bosom of America’s wildest wilderness. Hiking is exceptional throughout Montana, not just inside Glacier – so long as you carry bear spray, stick to designated pathways and follow the usual safe-hiking rules, every day will be brimful of adventure.

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Flyfish the Madison River

Rushing rivers drain down from the mountains across Montana, inspiring writers, artists and anglers alike. The state is one of the world's top destinations for flyfishing, thanks to unpolluted turquoise rivers teeming with trout. And with the lack of crowds, fishing here is a truly peaceful experience – which is, after all, the true goal for many anglers!

Grab a Montana fishing license and head to the Madison River, close to the southwestern city of Bozeman. The 50 miles of river near Quake Lake offer rich catches for both waders and boat-based fisherfolk, particularly along the so-called Riffle. Alternatively, head to Yellowstone National Park where the Madison River begins. Montana Angler can give you tips on which angling guides to hire, and even the best lodges to stay in to access prime stretches of river.

Raft the Gallatin River

Fishing fans aren't the only people who love Montana’s legendary rivers. Adrenaline junkies flock to the state every summer to take on Montana's famous whitewater rapids, which churn furiously along the Gallatin River, just outside Yellowstone National Park’s western entrance. Based out of Big Sky, rafters can hit rapids reaching up to Class IV, with the rapids at their most intense early in the summer while the water is still high from the spring melt.

Along gentle stretches of river, rafters may see bald and golden eagles flying overhead, or elk stopping by the riverbanks for a sip of icy water. Montana Whitewater and Geyser Whitewater Expeditions are two great options for a guided trip on the Gallatin.

Hit the powder in Big Sky

Snow is a fact of life in Montana, so rather than shying away from it, outdoor adventurers embrace it. Winter snowfall in Montana is ample and powdery, and slopes are protected by the Rocky Mountains and free from the chill winds that scythe along the coasts. Unsurprisingly, this is a dream destination for skiers and snowboarders.

Big Sky Resort is the ultimate destination in Montana for winter sports, with 5800 acres of ski-able terrain, including plenty of slopes suitable for beginners. There are ski-in accommodations perched on the mountainside as well, making it possible to plan a whole trip around shredding gnar.

Horseback riding at Bar W

For a proper Old West experience, you have to get into the saddle. Head up to the resort town of Whitefish, where the Bar W Guest Ranch offers everything from first-time lessons to trail rides through the pines and along the banks of glittering Rocky Mountain lakes. You can even take on the challenge of learning rodeo skills.

Many guests opt to stay on site to take advantage of everything the ranch has to offer, with accommodation in a wood-floored lodge or comfy log cabins. However, trail rides can be found throughout the state, both at resorts and country ranches, so be sure to saddle up wherever you’re bound.

Soak in a hot spring

Geothermal springs extend well beyond Yellowstone's boundaries, with hot pools found all the way to Montana's northern border, providing ample opportunities for a relaxing alfresco soak. The town of Hot Springs is an obvious and fun place to dip into earth-warmed water, while Quinn’s Resort in the nearby town of Plains offers a more high-end experience.

Near Bozeman, Chico Hot Springs is a popular add-on to a Yellowstone vacation. The resort offers accommodations and dining in addition to hot springs, making it an excellent spot for enjoying the waters without adding too much driving into the mix.

Wildlife watching at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was the country’s first-ever national park, and it protects a landscape that has hardly changed since the park was founded in 1872. The geysers and other thermodynamic features are obvious drawcards, but it’s the safari-like experience of seeing America’s mightiest mammals roaming wild and free in their natural habitat that will stay with you.

Driving Yellowstone’s roads and hiking on its walking trails will throw up chances to spot roaming bison, packs of wolves, grizzly bears, moose, bald eagles and a multitude of other species that flourish away from human interference. Check out tours with Wolf Tracker to see the famous Yellowstone wolves; they can be tricky to spot without help from an expert.

Connect with Native American culture

Many imagine, mistakenly, that Native American culture is something of the past, but the people who survived what can only be described as genocide and mass theft of their land follow their own way of life in mountainous Montana, defying the stereotypes depicted in movies and media.

Most of Montana's large Native American population come from twelve tribal nations: Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kootenai, Little Shell Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Pend d'Oreille, Salish, and Lakota or Dakota.

Exploring Glacier National Park with Glacier Sun Tours offers a fascinating Native American perspective on Montana, as guides from this indigenous-owned company delve into the park’s dark history and the ways local plants and animals were used by indigenous peoples. Finally, head to the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation for a deep dive into the challenges faced by Montana’s Native Americans.

Live the upscale Old West life at Paws Up

Real-life cowboys lived uncomfortably self-reliant lives that most modern people would not want to emulate; you can however experience a luxurious version of the cowboy life at the Paws Up ranch in Greenough, a town close to Missoula. This all-inclusive Wild West experience is set on a working beef ranch of 37,000 acres, with all sorts of outdoorsy activities from archery to off-road driving and horseback riding.

For independent spirits, the ranch has 100 miles of trails and a 10-mile stretch of river, mean hiking and fishing are never too far away, whether you opt for camping, glamping, or living it up in one of their luxury cabins. If glam isn’t your style, Montana has many other dude ranches offering varying degrees of luxury. Bonanza Creek Ranch in Martinsdale feels a bit more like the old days, with log cabins and horse-riding at a more affordable price point.

Get acquainted with local artwork in Missoula

Montana isn’t all ranchers and hikers. The incredible scenery and self-reliant way of life has inspired plenty of artists working in every conceivable medium. Artistic talent can be seen throughout the state, but Missoula in particular seems to stimulate the creative mind.

Museums and galleries abound in this small city, including the free-to-visit Missoula Art Museum and Elk Country Visitors Center Museum. Visitors interested in supporting local talent can head to Radius Gallery and 4 Ravens Gallery to browse work for sale from Montana artists. While you're here, take a walk into the hills – several trails start right on the town limits.

Take a road trip on the Beartooth Highway

Montana is stunningly beautiful, and you don't need to take an extended hike to take in the views. The achingly scenic Beartooth Highway spans the northern part of Wyoming and the southern part of Montana, passing just beyond the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park. It's best explored during summer when the snow is gone; poor weather conditions typically close the road from October to the Memorial Day weekend (see the state government website for updates).

This winding road twists over mountain passes, plunges into deep green valleys, and terminates at the rugged town of Red Lodge, where plenty of outdoor adventures on foot and four wheels can be arranged. Take advantage of pullouts on the roadside to scan the countryside for wildlife, including mountain goats, bears and eagles.

Explore ghost towns

The prosperity that the Gold Rush bought to Montana didn’t always last, leaving many of the towns hastily assembled by prospectors to crumble to ruin once the ore dried up. Garnet was once a busy gold mining town, and its time-aged remains are preserved as a memorial for those who want to wander streets that once thronged with optimistic gold seekers.

Bannack State Park offers a more formal approach to ghost town exploration, with fees and tours to help make sense of the many remaining centuries-old structures. Coloma and Virginia City are two more ghost towns worth exploring, but Visit Montana can steer you towards many more. Stick to the greater Bozeman area to see them all.

Go snowmobiling in Cooke City

While Yellowstone National Park falls mostly silent during the winter, just north of the park, Cooke City is bustling with snowmobilers. Trails covering more than 60 miles of wild country let snowmobilers explore southern Montana under a blanket of snow on the edge of the Beartooth Mountains.

Backcountry snowmobiling is popular throughout Montana during the winter, but Cooke City is a great place for beginners to get a feel for the sport. Many enthusiasts bring their own sleds with them – accessing the town through Yellowstone’s northern entrance in Gardiner then driving east through the Lamar Valley – but snowmobiles are widely available for rent when you get here.

Stimulate the soul at the Garden of 1,000 Buddhas

Montana may not seem like the most obvious location for Tibetan Buddhist devotion, but the Garden of 1,000 Buddhas in Arlee is challenging traditional notions of Montana’s identity, as well as providing a place for people to focus on peace and contemplation.

Though donations are encouraged, visiting this dharma-wheel-shaped garden of statues and stupas is free, and the setting is very conducive to meditative self-exploration. The garden is on the land of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation just outside of Missoula.

Hunt antiques in Glacier country

The East and West Coast cities have their luxury chain stores; Montana has its antiques. Antique shopping is one of many ways to find treasure in the Treasure State, and the options are limitless. The Kalispell Antiques Market is one of many incredible sources of antique shopping in the area, as is the Cowboy Cabin in Whitefish, where items for sale have included one of Annie Oakley’s guns.

Driving from here to Glacier National Parks will take you past a slew of townships and villages overflowing with antique shops; check out Shops at Station 8 in Columbia Falls, which offers an ever-changing, curated selection of goods.

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Less than 10 miles off the coast of Cancún, Mexico, the tiny island of Isla Mujeres beckons travelers with its island charm. Those who cross the small stretch of the turquoise sea for a day trip will light upon wild cliff sides, endless stretches of palm trees, a vibrantly colored town, streetside coconut carts and one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Once sacred to the Maya goddess of childbirth and medicine, Ixchel, Isla Mujeres or Women Island was named by 16th-century Spanish conquistadors for the abundance of goddess statues they found there. Today, Cancún and island locals refer to it simply as “Isla”.

Getting there

Frequent ferries make it easy and quick to get from Cancún to Isla Mujeres for the day. If you’re staying in the Hotel Zone, leave from Playa Tortugas, El Embarcadero or Playa Caracol. If you’re staying downtown head to Puerto Juarez. The pleasant 20-minute trip is made even more so by staking a claim on the ferry’s upper deck to admire the unbelievably blue views along the way.

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Starting your day

Once you arrive and step off the ferry dock, head towards the center of town to Avenida Hidalgo for your first meal of the day. This pedestrian street is known for its four-block stretch of restaurants and shops. Along the way, you’ll pass brightly-painted stores selling equally colorful souvenirs like embroidered Maya blouses, Mexican skull decorations, whimsical animal figurines and the island’s famous seashells, with vendors calling out promises of cheap prices or maybe even 'free tequila.'

Avenida Hidalgo is also home to several eateries serving breakfast and brunch options, like open-air venue Lola Valentina. Try the cheese-filled French toast or enjoy the extensive vegan options, and wash it all down with hibiscus water or (why not?) a watermelon-jalapeño margarita.

After breakfast, it’s time to experience the most iconic activity on Isla Mujeres: a golf cart ride around the island. There are several golf cart rentals shops just across the street from the ferry terminal. Most places will charge $600-$700 Mexican pesos for the day (usually until 5pm), and some allow you to rent by the hour. To rent, you need a valid driver’s license from your country of origin.

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DIY golf cart tours of the island

Isla Mujeres is just five miles long with one main road going around its entire coastline, so navigating by golf cart is an easy daytime tour. Head south out of town and just keep going. You’ll pass many attractive outdoor spots for lunch or drinks along the way, so keep an eye out for the tree-shaded deck at Barlito; Oscar’s, which has fantastic pizzas in the afternoon; and The Joint with its live reggae bands.

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Near the southern end of the island is the spectacular Garrafon Park lookout point. Pull over, maybe buy some ice cream if the vendor is there and enjoy the view of the Caribbean Sea. If you’re feeling adventurous, check out the zipline over the water; tickets for the zipline are sold at the entrance to the park.

Just a bit further along the road is the entrance to Punta Sur, the southern tip of Isla Mujeres and the easternmost point in all Mexico. It's a particularly popular spot on the morning of January 1 for anyone who wants to see the first sunrise of the new year. A $30 peso entrance fee gets you access to Punta Sur park. Once inside you can explore the majestic cliffs, admire the brilliant blue ocean and wander through the sculpture park. There is also a Maya temple dedicated to Ixchel.

Once you’ve gotten your most Instagrammable shots of the trip, hop back into the golf cart and head back to town along the rocky east coast road — lined with cliffs, crashing waves and the occasional roadside seashell stand.

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An afternoon at North Beach

Once back in town, return your golf cart and walk to the beach at the northern end. Called Playa Norte (North Beach), this stretch of silky white sand is frequently ranked among the best beaches in the world thanks to its rows of palm trees and calm clear waters that never reach above your waistline — perfect for ocean lounging or wading. If you’re feeling budget-conscious, just lay a blanket down in the shade of a palm tree between Green Demon and Buhos.

If you’re looking for cocktails and amenities, you can rent a lounger at any of the several beach clubs. On Sundays, Fenix beach club has live salsa music and dancing in the afternoon, while Green Demon has live reggae parties on the beach starting at sunset. (On North Beach, weekdays are best for avoiding crowds, but Sundays are best for live music.)

Yachts begin to line up just off the coast in the late afternoon and groups of friends gather on the shoreline in preparation for Isla Mujeres’ famed sunsets: the island is one of the only places on Mexico’s eastern coast where you can see the sunset over the ocean.

After dark on Isla Mujeres

Once the sun has set and the stars have come out, head back to Avenida Hidalgo, where travelers congregate for an evening of dinner and drinks, still wearing flip-flops with the day’s beach sand clinging to their toes. This central street becomes the hub for island life after dark, whether it’s pasta at Rolandi’s or live music under strings of lights at El Patio. For cheap eats and local favorites, walk a bit further south to find several street carts selling tacos and more by the city hall square.

When you’ve had your fill of salt-soaked breezes and the quiet whoosh of swaying palm trees, it’s time to hop on the ferry for a starlit ride back to the glittering lights of Cancún.

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Medellín is everything you want it to be. On one end, the city’s upscale neighborhoods are loaded with international culinary offerings, world-class shopping options and trendy hotels. Otherwise, the city is generally a budget traveler’s dream-come-true. Throughout the “City of the Eternal Spring,” your dollar can go a very long way - from affordable lodging to cheap street eats to inexpensive Aguila beers at local watering holes.

Regardless of your budget and when you go, it never hurts to sprinkle in a free activity or two. And, in the case of Medellín, these freebies are some of its most quintessential experiences. Here are the nine best free things to do in Medellín.

Admire Fernando Botero's sculptures in Plaza Botero

Where in the world will you find a major city’s principal square dotted with 23 sculptures of voluminous characters from Fernando Botero? The answer is: Only in Medellín. Botero is Colombia ’s most beloved artist and in this totally free and open space, you can admire his larger-than-life sculptures, including a man on a horse (hombre a caballo), a cat (gato) and Adam and Eve (Adán y Eva). The Museo de Antioquia, Hotel Nutibara and Medellín’s metro border you in the square, making for that much more magical of a setting.

Take a self-guided walking tour of the very vivid graffiti art

For those seeking that next Insta-worthy snap, Medellín is heaven. In fact, you could make an entire day perusing some of its most renowned public art hotspots. The Comuna 13 / San Javier neighborhood – particularly near its Metrocable station and famous outdoor escalators - is absolutely loaded with vivid outdoor art depicting the barrio’s transformation, locals and everyday Colombian life.

For street art lovers, additional pedestrian-friendly highlights include Carrera 43C in El Poblado near La Matriarca restaurant and the walls lining the Medellín Aquatic Complex near El Estadio Atanasio Girardot. There is also an Open Sky Gallery along the Ayacucho Tramway near the San José station, with an entire building painted with a 3D traditional chiva bus.

Peruse the wares at Mercados Campesinos

Each weekend, more than 20 of Medellín’s most popular parks are morphed into public, outdoor markets with vendors and goods galore. It's always free to look, but if you’re wanting to try some of the region’s most unique fruits (e.g., maracuyá, lulo and gulupa, among so many others) or snag some artisan made crafts, these markets are primed for perusing. You can feel good about your purchases, too - more than 600 rural-based families participate each week and benefit from the sales directly. Parks with regular markets include el Segundo Parque de Laureles, Ciudad del Río and La Foresta. Get shopping!

Walk among the wildflowers in Parque Arví

Parque Arví is tucked over the northwestern, mountainous edge of Medellín. Amid tons of park options throughout the valley, Parque Arví is arguably the most secluded and nature-focused option. Within its nearly 40,000-acre confines, you’ll find more than 50 walking trails, an outdoor market and seemingly endless wildflowers and butterflies in between.

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Admission to the park is totally free but getting there won’t be. For the most scenic and affordable option, take the Metro to the Acevedo station, transfer to the Metrocable K Line toward Santo Domingo and then, in Santo Domingo, take the Metrocable L Line to Parque Arví. A roundtrip ride to Parque Arví will run approximately 25,000 pesos (or $7) and the views along the way are worth it.

Stroll through a mall

The malls in Medellín are more than just a hodgepodge of shops – they are cultural centers in their own regard. For holidays and major events, the common areas of Medellín’s most popular centro comerciales are morphed into playgrounds for kids, art installations and totally visual spectacles. An example: In 2021, for Medellín’s iconic flower festival ( Feria de Las Flores), the Santafé mall installed a flower art piece composed of more than 180,000 flowers in its common area. In addition to Santafé, El Tesoro, Premium Plaza, Arkadia and Oviedo are among Medellín’s most popular shopping destinations.

Go to church

A predominantly Catholic country, you’ll find a towering church anchoring most major plazas and squares throughout Medellín. Your reason for visiting one may vary – perhaps you need to repent for partying too much in El Poblado the night before or you’d like to experience some of the city’s most dazzling architecture. For architectural masterpieces, hit the brown, white and exterior-art-draped Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello and the all-brick Catedral Basílica Metropolitana in the heart of El Centro. Both welcome visitors, but make sure to be quiet while church is in session.

Talk to a paisa

Stunning mountain views, bumping nightlife and culinary morsels aside, Medellín’s notably warm and friendly people are what make the city so special. Wherever your Medellín adventure takes you, take a moment to pause and engage with a paisa (the name given to those from Medellín). For a more formal interaction, there are regular free language exchanges that connect paisas with foreigners, with the one at Noah Boutique Hostel being a local favorite.

Museo Casa de La Memoria

With decades-long, politically induced armed conflicts to its inner-city drug cartel clashes in recent decades, Medellín has endured heartache and loss on an incredible level. The Museo Casa de La Memoria looks at the city’s past through the lens of those that have been displaced as a result of Colombia’s conflicts and massacres. The free museum has three levels of exhibits, many of which zoom in on individual experiences of loss, survival and reflection. It is a very emotional experience and you’ll leave with that much greater of an appreciation for just how far Medellín has come.

Museo de Geociencias de la Universidad Nacional

Calling science lovers! For as much as Medellín has sprouted from its mountainous shell, there is a lot going on underground, too. This free museum has more than 10,000 fossils, rocks and minerals from throughout Colombia to explore. In 2021, the museum celebrated its 100th anniversary, so there is plenty of history to get acquainted with here, too.

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Medellín's top free things to do are also the city's must-do activities

From snow-capped mountains and the Bushveld to sub-tropical beaches and the Kalahari, South Africa is a mind-bogglingly diverse country. Showcasing the best of its stunning landscapes, its national parks and reserves are great places to experience the wilderness and see Africa's famous wildlife.

South Africa has hundreds of national parks and reserves, many featuring wildlife, while others are primarily wilderness sanctuaries or hiking areas. Here are the best national parks to add to your South Africa itinerary.

Kruger National Park

Best national park for wildlife watching

Kruger National Park is one of the world's greatest wildlife-watching destinations. All of Africa's iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – share the bushveld with a supporting cast of 137 other mammals and more than 500 varieties of birds. Beautiful granite kopjes (hills) pepper the south, the Lebombo Mountains rise from the savanna in the east, and tropical forests cover the north of the 7520-sq-mile park.

Yes, Kruger can sometimes become crowded. And yes, you may have to wait in line to see those lions. But that's because the vast network of roads makes Kruger one of Africa's most accessible parks. You can explore on your own or take one of the plentiful guided wildlife activities, and accommodations are both plentiful and great value.

Royal Natal National Park

Best national park for mountains

Fanning out from some of the range’s loftiest summits, the 30-sq-mile Royal Natal National Park has a presence that far outstrips its relatively meager size. With some of the Drakensberg’s most dramatic and accessible scenery, the park is crowned by the sublime Amphitheater, a 5-mile wall of cliff and canyon that’s spectacular from below and even more so from up on high. Here, the Tugela Falls drop 2788ft in five stages (the top one often freezes in winter). Looming behind is Mont-aux-Sources (10,767ft), so called because the Tugela, Elands and Western Khubedu Rivers rise here; the last eventually becomes the Senqu (Orange) River and flows all the way to the Atlantic. The park is renowned for its excellent day walks and hiking opportunities.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Best national park for sunsets

Right before the darkness erases the remaining flecks of color from the sky, something magical happens in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The jagged sandstone outcrops fronting the foothills of the wild, maroon-hued Maluti Mountains glow golden in the dying light, and lemon-yellow rays silhouette a lone kudu standing still in a sea of mint-green grasses before the sky explodes in a fiery collision of purple and red. Golden Gate Highlands National Park might not boast any of the Big Five, but it does feature fantastic nightly sunsets.

There are quite a few animals in the park, though, including grey rheboks, blesboks, elands, oribi antelope, Burchell’s zebras, jackals, baboons and numerous bird species, including the rare bearded and Cape vultures as well as the endangered bald ibis. The park is popular with hikers on long treks, but there are also shorter walking trails.

Table Mountain National Park

Best national park for activities

Stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park is a natural wonder, its range of environments including granite and sandstone mountains, giant-boulder-strewn beaches and shady forests. For the vast majority of visitors, the main attraction is the 3560ft-high mountain itself, the top of which can easily be accessed by the cableway, which runs every 10 to 20 minutes. The park is the venue for a host of adventure activities including hiking, abseiling, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, bird and wildlife watching, snorkeling and diving.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Best national park for desert

A long, hot road leads between crimson dunes from Upington to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of the world’s last great, unspoiled ecosystems. Once you enter the magical park, tucked away alongside Namibia in the Northern Cape and southwest Botswana, you’ll soon see why the journey was well worth the effort.

The Kgalagadi is a wild land of harsh extremes and frequent droughts, where shifting red and white sands meet thorn trees and dry riverbeds. Yet despite the desolate landscape, it’s teeming with wildlife. From prides of black-maned lions to packs of howling spotted hyenas, there are some 1775 predators here. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot big cats, especially cheetahs. Add in giant, orange-ball sunsets and black-velvet night skies studded with twinkling stars, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered the Africa of storybooks.

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Best national park for hiking

Some of the Western Cape's finest scenery is found in the desolate Cederberg Wilderness Area. Here, craggy peaks reaching around 6560ft harbor weird rock formations, well-preserved San rock art, clear streams and excellent hiking and rock climbing.

The region isn't known for its wildlife, though you might glimpse a baboon or one of the small antelope that hop along the rocks here. Elusive leopards do roam at night, but you'd be extremely lucky to see one. The region is better known for its plant life – mountain fynbos (shrubby vegetation with fine leaves) abounds, and wildflowers erupt in spring. Vegetation varies with altitude, with the eponymous cedar stands living between 3280ft and 4920ft. This is also the only place in the world where rooibos (red bush) grows and is processed into tea.

Mapungubwe National Park

Best national park for history

Stunningly stark, arid, rocky landscapes reverberate with cultural intrigue and wandering wildlife at Mapungubwe National Park. A Unesco World Heritage site, Mapungubwe contains South Africa’s most significant Iron Age site, plus animals ranging from black and white rhinos to the rare Pel’s fishing owl and meerkats. The wildlife here is excellent, with lion, leopards and elephants, as is the birdwatching. But the park is as much about history as wildlife – archaeological finds from the 1930s are on display at the excellent Interpretation Center, and the site itself can be visited on a tour.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Best national park for rock formations

The stunning Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve centers on the 19-mile-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye views abound at the dramatic meeting of the Drakensberg Escarpment and the lowveld. It's one of the world's largest canyons and one of South Africa’s most outstanding natural sights.

Most visitors drive along the canyon’s edge, where Route 532 offers plenty of viewpoints for gazing in awe. If you have enough time, however, the canyon is even better explored on foot.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Best national park for coastline

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a Unesco World Heritage site, stretches for 137 glorious miles from the Mozambique border to Maphelane, at the southern end of Lake St. Lucia. With the Indian Ocean on one side and a series of lakes on the other, this park protects five distinct ecosystems, offering everything from offshore reefs and beaches to lakes, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forests. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest along the park’s shores, and whales and dolphins appear offshore. The park is occupied by numerous animals, including antelopes, hippos and zebras. The ocean beaches pull big crowds during the holiday season for everything from diving to fishing.

iSimangaliso means "miracle" or "wonder" and, given its extraordinary beauty, it’s an appropriate title.

Namaqua National Park

Best national park for wildflowers

Flower-seekers flock to the small, remote Namaqua National Park each spring, when the shrub land and old wheat fields are transformed by the spectacle that is the wildflower bloom. There are short nature trails and drives with viewpoints – the park is one of the best places in Namakwa to photograph the flowers. For the rest of the year, the national park is largely forgotten, although that does make it a peaceful place for a hike. It's also a decent birdwatching destination.

Addo Elephant National Park

Best national park for elephant watching

The jewel in Eastern Cape's crown is Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest national park. It protects the remnants of the huge elephant herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. When Addo was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants left; today there are more than 600 in the park, and you’d be unlucky not to see some. A day or two at Addo is a highlight of any visit to this part of the Eastern Cape, not only for the elephants but for the lions, zebras, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas and myriad birds. The park is also one of few which boasts the "Big Seven," thanks to sightings of great white sharks and southern right whale (in season) off its coastal sections.

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Bali is now open to international travelers from 19 countries. However, the return of tourism is off to a slow start as there are still no direct flights to the island one week after Indonesian officials opened it up. "We have given permission to 19 countries to be able to travel to Bali and the Riau Islands," Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, said last Wednesday, according to CNN. Those places—chosen for their low COVID-19 positivity rates—are Bahrain, China, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and United Arab Emirates. All international travelers must be fully vaccinated, have insurance that covers coronavirus treatment, test negative, and quarantine at their own expense for five days upon arrival.

Though the international airport technically opened on October 14, there were no international flights scheduled then, the AP reported. And one week later, the situation hasn't changed. The airport's arrival schedule doesn't include any immediate direct flights and searches on Skyscanner and Google reveal no direct flights from a handful of approved countries over the next few days. Tourism officials, however, expect direct international flights to resume in late October/early November.

“These things take time. These countries and the visitors need time," Bali governor I Wayan Koster said, per Reuters. “We hope that by end of October at the latest there will be incoming flights, whether it's a charter or commercial flight as signs of the start of tourism recovery in Bali.”

Before the pandemic, some 6 million people visited Bali on an annual basis; last year, that number dropped to just 1 million, according to the AP. Coronavirus cases surged in Indonesia this summer, peaking in July, but they’ve been declining steadily since early September. As of October 21, 32% of the country’s population had been fully vaccinated.

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Bali is now open to travelers from 19 countries - but there are no direct international flights yet

A new low-cost electrical rail service has launched in the UK today, linking London and Edinburgh for less than £15.

Called Lumo, the cut-price service is taking on budget airlines and catering to passengers concerned about flygskam (flight shame), or the carbon footprint of short flights, by providing an affordable and comparatively 'greener' transport option between the two capitals.

Tickets between London and Edinburgh start from £14.90 on an electric, low-carbon train that will run on the East Coast Main Line with stops at Newcastle, Morpeth and Stevenage along the way. Services start today with the goal of increasing the output to 10 services per day by early next year. A typical journey will take about four hours and 30 minutes from center to center.

Helen Wylde, Managing Director for Lumo, said: “Traveling in the UK should not cost a fortune and it certainly shouldn’t be the planet that pays. Whatever your preferred mode of transport, we are likely to be more affordable and kinder to the planet.

Read more: 10 of the world's most amazing train journeys

Lumo trains include an on-board WiFi and entertainment system, privacy wings and a single class of "quality services for all passengers" so people don't have to splash out on an upgraded ticket to enjoy the full range of services. Lumo said it will provide all passengers with "good seats" that are ergonomically designed and tested for longer journeys with "optimised leg room and larger tray tables". In addition, more than 50% of the on-board catering menu is plant-based.

Lumo, which is owned by British transport company FirstGroup, pledged to publish its carbon emissions data on a regular basis and present a carbon calculator so passengers can calculate the carbon footprint of their journey.

Meanwhile, sleeper trains are making a comeback in European countries with a network of planned routes that will link up cities including Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam and more in 2022, as operators revive abandoned routes around the continent to meet the increased demand for rail travel.

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France is expected to extend its health pass to summer 2022 after the government approved an extension bill on Wednesday. The health pass is compulsory across many places in France and indicates the holder is vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered, or has tested negative for it. It's required of residents and tourists, and was extended to children over the age of 12 in September.

The health pass was supposed to be discontinued on November but according to the French newspaper, Le Parisien, the new bill to extend the health pass until July 31, 2022—if the public health situation warrants it—was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. The bill will now be brought to the Senate, where it will be discussed on October 28.

Applying for this health pass is a pretty straightforward process if you're a French citizen or a tourist visiting France from another European Union country as you can easily present your EU compatible digital health cert. But since its inception, visitors from elsewhere have reported some difficulty in obtaining one. A temporary solution was implemented at the start of August to allow non-EU tourists to obtain a French health pass by email before the online system was implemented in September.

Read more: Visiting France with family? Children over 12 must now have a health pass

This online system is open to non-European foreign nationals, tourists and students enrolled in French higher education establishments. If you're traveling to France, here's a guide to understanding what the health pass is, where you need to present it, and how you can sign up for it.

What is the health pass?

The pass sanitaire (health pass) indicates that the holder has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (in France that means one week after the final dose of a Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Covishield vaccine course or 28 days after a Johnson & Johnson vaccine), or has tested negative in the past 72 hours with either a PCR or antigen test.

Where do I need to present it?

It came into effect on July 21, granting the holder access to any leisure or cultural venue across France with a capacity of more than 50 people, including museums, galleries, theaters, cinemas, concert halls, exhibition spaces, nightclubs, discos, zoos, open-air festivals, sporting venues, theme parks, libraries, swimming pools, and tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower.

In August, the health pass was extended to restaurants, cafes and bars (both indoors and outdoors), long-distance trains and coaches, domestic flights, hospitals, nursing homes, and large shopping malls. As of September 30, it's required of anyone over the age of 12.

French citizens can upload their vaccination or testing status to the ToutsAntiCovid app, or apply for a paper version with a QR code.

Read more: Do you need a visa to go to France?

How can tourists apply for the health pass?

If you're traveling from the EU or any country signed up to the EU digital COVID cert program, you can present your digital COVID-19 certificate or any approved European health certificate that documents your vaccination or testing status. The French embassy in Germany confirms that if the certificate issued to you appears with a European flag, your certificate is compatible and "will be recognised during [checks] in France in the same way as French certificates."

If you're traveling from the UK, the French government confirmed that people vaccinated in the UK can now import their NHS QR code into the TousAntiCovid app. They can also present a digital or paper NHS certificate showing their full vaccine status.

If you're traveling from the US you can apply for a health pass using the system here. Before registering, be sure to have the following documents in either PDF, JPG or PNG format:

A vaccination certificate
A valid passport
Return airline tickets

When signing up, you'll be asked to create an account before entering your personal details (name, DOB, address etc.) and vaccination information. Then, you'll need to upload the above documents. Once that's done, you'll receive a QR code, which you can either print out or save to your smartphone. That QR can then be scanned in France wherever the health pass is required.

If you are traveling from Canada, you can sign up using the online system.

If you're traveling from elsewhere, you can also sign up using the online system.

If you're a foreign student, the process is slightly different and you can sign up using this system.

What if my health pass is delayed?

It can take about three days for people to receive their QR code after submitting their forms. There have been reports of inconsistencies and delays in recieving the QR code but the French foreign ministry notes this is because of increased demand. "We are doing our utmost to process the applications as quickly as possible. In certain cases, we have to carry out further checks on the supporting documents, which can delay the process."

Since the QR codes are sent by email, make sure you regularly check your spam folder. Make sure your include your correct email address in the application form, otherwise you will not receive it.

If you are currently in France and are yet to receive your QR code for the French health pass, you can apply for a temporary one through a healthcare professional following a negative PCR or antigen test.

Where can I get tested in France?

Testing is widely available in France in most pharmacies and medical facilities but you'll generally need to make an appointment in advance. Most pharmacies can do antigen tests for about €25, and PCR tests can cost about €45. When using the health pass as an unvaccinated person, your testing status is only valid for 72 hours, which means you'll need to be regularly tested to enter venues. You can find testing locations near you through the COVID testing map.

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France's health pass could be extended to summer 2022 - here's how tourists can access it

Let’s get one thing straight: Not all atolls were created equal. But on the plus side, the Maldives has thousands of sun-drenched islands, and discovering the perfect one for your trip is all part of the fun.

Every resort in Maldives is its own private island but choosing the right one for you can be difficult. Want to kick off your Indian Ocean holiday in style? Our guide will help you know what to look for in the hunt for your ideal island, whether you’re searching for affordable options or five-star resorts with brilliant dive schools.

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The distance dilemma

Yes, your sun-kissed island resort might be wonderfully secluded, with no other atoll in sight, but remote locations inevitably crank up the price – not simply because there are higher costs to cover (such as getting supplies to the resort in question) but because it’s likely you’ll need to pay for a short domestic flight or a seaplane flight to get there. Seaplane transfers are the most expensive option (expect to pay anywhere from US$300 to US$900 for a round trip), while domestic flights to one of the Maldives’ smaller airports (followed by a boat transfer) will be slightly cheaper.

The good news? Some of the best Maldives resorts are just a boat ride from Malé’s Velana International Airport, so don’t write properties off simply because of their close proximity.

We recommend: Patina Maldives, the Fari Islands

A brand-new resort on the new Fari Islands development, Patina Maldives, the Fari Islands is a 45-minute speedboat transfer from the international airport. Fancy a spot of island-hopping? Traveling between islands in the Maldives can be expensive, but Patina Maldives is just a short shuttle-boat service from the Fari Islands’ other resorts (a Ritz-Carlton and a Capella), so there’s no chance of claustrophobia setting in.

Where to stay for the best food

It may sound self-indulgent, but trust us – knowing your culinary criteria can make or break a holiday. That tiny, exclusive island you’ve got your eye on might well have a Michelin-starred chef, but even the most delicious seafood will soon look rather plain after you’ve eaten your way through the restaurant’s menu in the space of two days. In summary, bigger is often better if food is a priority.

We recommend: Siyam World Maldives

Opened in October 2021 on the island of Dhigurah, in Noonu Atoll, Siyam World Maldives has eight restaurants, including one with an underground wine cellar and one which specializes in Japanese cuisine. It’s also incredibly family friendly, making it perfect for anyone visiting the Maldives with kids in tow.

Where to go for downtime

Why are you going on holiday to the Maldives? If you’re dreaming of lazy sunbathing sessions on the country’s best beaches, your priorities will be different than those of the adrenaline-fueled traveler keen to try every high-octane activity available, whether it’s swimming with manta rays or learning to dive. As a rule, smaller resorts are great for crowd-free downtime, while larger ones are best suited to families and active types.

We recommend: Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

For the best of both worlds, consider Baa Atoll's Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, where there’s a wide range of activities and experiences on offer, but where you can also escape your fellow islanders by signing up for a rather cool activity – a night on a nearby deserted island.

Money talks

It’s a myth that you have to be a millionaire to holiday in the Maldives, although without a little research, costs can easily spiral out of control. Travelers keen to make the most of their hard-earned cash should familiarize themselves with the packages on offer to make sure they’re getting the best value for money. Options can range from bed-and-breakfast only packages to to ones which include all meals and drinks, along with certain activities.

We recommend: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

A private island in North Male Atoll that's one of the best spots in the Maldives for honeymoons, the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa not only has a huge range of room categories, it also offers a brilliant selection of packages, including Island Romance packages, which have fantastic added extras designed with couples in mind.

What to look for in sustainability

Taking a second to consider your destination’s sustainability credentials won’t just benefit Mother Nature, it could also save you serious amounts of cash. If an island is producing its own drinking water, growing its own vegetables and transporting guests by boat rather than gas-guzzling seaplane, there will be lower outgoings, which means less costs to cover – all of which translates into lower room rates.

We recommend: Amilla Fushi

Another Baa Atoll resort, Amilla Fushi excels in the sustainability stakes. Reverse osmosis is used to produce drinking water, jams, pickles and spa products are made from plants grown on the island and crushed glass is transformed into building materials.

Ditch the over-water obsession

It’s easy to become fixated on recreating the images associated with the Maldives, famous for its over-water villas, but there are downsides to these much-sought-after accommodations – and in fact, there are numerous reasons to choose a villa that isn’t over the water.

They're typically the priciest accommodations and the furthest from resort facilities, and the vistas – usually of the sea and nothing else – aren't necessarily much to write home about. Over-water villas are designed for privacy, so views are often restricted by high walls framing the decking – unlike beachfront villas, where there’s often more to look at, whether it’s a cute lizard or a parrot fish zipping through the shallows. There’s usually better noise insulation courtesy of surrounding greenery too.

We recommend: Kuramathi Island Resort

Located in the natural atoll of Rasdhoo, Kuramathi Island Resort is a teardrop-shaped island where walking trails weave through lush greenery, much of which provides privacy for the large number of villas set back from the beach.

Timing is everything

Let’s get one thing straight: there’s no such thing as a bad time to visit the Maldives. But considering the season is important if you’ve got your heart set on certain activities. If you’re planning on swimming with mantas, for example, a stay on a Baa Atoll resort between May and November is your best bet, although July to October is a great time for manta sightings elsewhere. If you’re planning on a surf session, you’ll need to visit between April and October.

We recommend: frequent holidays

To ensure you experience the Maldives’ best bits, schedule a holiday every month without fail. We’re joking, but you get the point: think what you want to see and do, and brush up on the different areas’ seasonal selling points.

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New York City’s extensive public transit is a source of both pride and frustration among the city’s millions of residents. Sure, the subterranean stations are hot and stuffy and smell absolutely terrible in the summer months, and the delays and service interruptions can be out of control no matter the season... but then again, the trains run around the clock, which is a boast not many mass-transit systems can make.

But there are more ways to see the city than by sitting on the subway. There are buses and ferries, of course, but also cycling, driving and walking – the latter being one of the best ways to explore, as long as you remember to pack the proper footwear.

Here's what you need to know to get around NYC.

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Use the MTA subway to travel between boroughs

With 25 routes covering 665-plus miles of track, the New York City subway system is a behemoth, welcoming 1.7 billion riders on an annual basis. It’s operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and covers Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, though the latter’s trains don’t connect to the other boroughs directly. (Via public transit, Staten Island is reachable by bus and ferry only.)

Unlike other major cities in the US, the trains here run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but given the system’s advanced age – 28 stations date back to 1904, and signals from the 1930s are still in use today – it’s susceptible to more delays and breakdowns than locals would like.

Countdown clocks now appear in every station, though, and construction is often scheduled for nights and weekends, so it’s easier to plan alternate routes accordingly.

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To keep on top of service changes, anticipated or not, the MYmta app is frequently updated with information on each line, and it’s a handy tool for trip-planning in general, but Google Maps is even better for plotting a course, with integrated service info as well as details on stations, schedules, and the onboard experience. The MTA Twitter feed is also worth bookmarking for up-to-the-minute info on service disruptions and delays.

Tips for taking the subway
Riding hands-free may seem like a fun time, but if you’re not familiar with the way the trains stop and start, it’s actually a good way to wind up in a stranger’s lap. Do everyone a favor and hold on to a pole – or even better, grab a seat and enjoy the ride.

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When the train pulls into the station and all the cars are packed except one, you might think it’s your lucky day – so many open seats! But there’s a reason that car is empty. It could be a terrible smell or a mess on the floor, but trust us, you don’t want to know the details. You’re better off elbowing your way onto a crowded car or even waiting for the next train if you have to.

For a better look at the city, hop on the bus

The MTA is also responsible for the city’s buses, and its fleet numbers nearly 6000 vehicles. While a small percentage are hybrid-electric and electric, more than half run on diesel fuel – a situation the agency is looking to rectify in the coming years as it pushes to be fully electric by 2040.

For the most part, New York’s buses run on a grid, and routes cover uptown, downtown, and crosstown with stops on every (or every other) corner. There's local service as well as lines offering limited service, which eliminates local stops for a quick ride, and select bus service (SBS), which is even faster but requires prepayment before boarding.

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For a normal bus trip, pay the fare ($2.75) as you board with a MetroCard or exact change (coins only, no pennies); for SBS routes, buy your ticket before you board from one of the kiosks near your stop. You won’t have to show your ticket to the driver, but you do need to keep it for the duration of the trip in case of inspection – don’t lose it, or you could get hit with a hefty fine.

The MYmta app has timetables and service info for buses, and each bus stop has a QR code that’s scannable for arrivals, departures, and status updates.

Take the NYC ferries for panoramic views

The subways get more attention, but New York’s ferry systems are a highly underrated means of transportation. The Staten Island Ferry runs from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan to the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island, and if you’re not looking to step foot on Ellis Island, it’s a great way to take in waterside views of the Statue of Liberty – and it’s absolutely free.

NYC Ferry connects communities across the city’s waterways, including the East River, South Brooklyn, the Rockaways, Western Queens, and the Bronx, with seasonal routes between Manhattan and Staten Island, Governors Island, and Coney Island. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at the landings or via the NYC Ferry app; single-ride tickets for adults cost $2.75, and 30-day passes are $121.

NY Waterway operates between Manhattan and New Jersey, making stops in midtown, Battery Park City, and Wall Street before crossing the Hudson River and docking in Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, and Edgewater. On weekdays, fares range from $7 to $21.50 for adults, depending on your route.

Traditional yellow taxis are NYC trademarks

There’s little more iconic than the swarms of yellow cabs flooding New York City’s streets. (Green taxis operate in the outer boroughs as well.) Cabs licensed by the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission are metered, with fares starting at $2.50, plus 50 cents per mile if traffic is slow or stopped and 50 cents per 1/5 mile if it’s moving at least 12 miles per hour. There are also various surcharges depending on when and where you’re traveling, not including tolls and tip (customarily 15 to 20 percent).

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To hail a cab, look for one with its rooftop lights on and raise your arm to signal for pickup; lights off are a sign that a taxi is occupied or off-duty. An assortment of apps, including Curb, Waave, and Myle, let you book rides with TLC-licensed cabs in advance.

Note: it’s illegal for drivers to refuse to take you anywhere within the city limits, so push back if they tell you they don’t want to go to the outer boroughs.

Explore on foot by walking the streets of Brooklyn

If you’re not in a hurry, traversing the city on foot is one of the best ways to see the sights. Pick a Brooklyn neighborhood and get lost in its side streets, or choose an avenue and follow it from one end of Manhattan to the next.

Just be aware of your surroundings – the sidewalks are so densely populated that if you’re staring up at the skyline or down at your phone, or if you stop suddenly or change directions unexpectedly, you’re bound to collide with someone sooner or later.

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Sidewalk etiquette also dictates that you walk no more than two people across when others are around – any more than that, and you’ll be blocking the flow of foot traffic in either direction.

Rent CitiBikes for a faster pace

With the introduction of dedicated cycling lanes and the popularity of a new bike-sharing system, New York has become more two-wheel-friendly over the years. But considering the chaos of the city’s streets, traveling by bicycle isn’t necessarily an activity for beginners. (Regardless of skill level or experience, a helmet is essential).

CitiBike has more than 1300 stations boasting 20,000 bikes within the city limits and across the river in Jersey City. A single 30-minute ride costs $3.50, and day passes go for $15 and offer as many 30-minute rides as you can handle in 24 hours; annual memberships are also available.

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Once you’ve purchased a pass, check the app to find the closest station, then pick a bike, scan the QR code on its handlebars, and get to peddling. You can also pay by card at any kiosk.

Instead of dealing with car and pedestrian traffic, saddle up and head for one of the city’s green spaces. Central and Prospect parks have paved loops popular with cyclists, and there’s a bike route that circles the entire island of Manhattan, covering 31 miles and comprising the East River, Hudson River, and Harlem River greenways.

Visit Roosevelt Island on the tram

A tiny spit of land measuring just 1.75 miles in length, the East River’s Roosevelt Island was once home to hospitals, an asylum, and a prison, and more focused on healthcare than leisure travel. But it’s recently been transformed into a fun urban getaway for the five boroughs, with historic architecture, green spaces, and unbeatable skyline views.

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You can get there by subway, bus or ferry, but taking the aerial tram is half the fun. It departs every 7 to 15 minutes from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan, and costs just the swipe of a MetroCard.

NYC transportation FAQs and things to consider

Is there accessible transportation in New York City?

New York’s subway system can be difficult to navigate for travelers with disabilities, even given the MTA’s recent push to become more accessible – out of 472 stations across the five boroughs, only 130 are currently ADA-compliant with street-level ramps or elevators.

Braille and raised-lettering signage does appear at most street-level entrances, while service changes and PSAs are announced visually and over a loudspeaker.

There is an accessible boarding area near the middle of the platform – that’s where the conductor’s car usually stops, and where the gap between the platform and the train is the narrowest.  The MYmta app keeps track of elevator and escalator outages system-wide.

Bus transit can be a better option. The driver can lower the bus or let down a ramp or lift for wheelchair users, then secure the chair or scooter in place; once on board, priority seating is available for seniors and passengers with disabilities. Service animals are allowed system-wide, as long as they’re kept on a leash.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis are also available, either by dispatch, car service, ride-share app, or flagging them down in person. The Accessible Dispatch Program has an app and a website; you can also book a ride by phone. Ride-sharing apps like Curb and Myle are licensed by the TLC and give passengers the option of requesting wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

For free downloads, including a phrasebook and a general guide to online resources, visit Lonely Planet's Accessible Travel portal.

What's the best way to avoid traffic in the city?

Aside from walking, public transit is the least expensive method of transportation, but it can be crowded and unreliable. Driving gives you more flexibility and privacy, if you can afford it. Whether they’re in a garage or on the street, parking spots command top dollar, while tolls to enter the city can run more than $10 a pop. (And a congestion-pricing plan is in the works, so those rates could soon increase during peak hours).

New York City’s drivers are not known for their patience, so if you get behind the wheel, be prepared for loud horns at every opportunity and bumper-to-bumper traffic in between. To traverse the city's streets as painlessly as possible, check Google Maps and Waze – both show traffic patterns in real time, and the latter displays police sightings as well.

What ride-share services are available in NYC?

Uber and Lyft are both extremely popular in New York, and drivers are almost always readily available. Via is another ride-sharing app that operates here, often with cheaper rates than its bigger-name brethren.

Is it safe to ride a bike in NYC?

First things first: by all means, wear a helmet. Despite the city’s Vision Zero initiative, implemented in 2014 to decrease traffic fatalities, thousands of cyclists are involved in accidents here each year. By the end of September, there had been 13 cyclist deaths and 3,389 injuries – a pace, when you factor in accidents to pedestrians and motorists, that could make 2021 the deadliest year since the program’s inception.

That said, New York can also be incredibly bike-friendly, especially if you read up on how to cycle like a pro before you go. There are some 1375 miles of bike routes, but you’ll often find cars idling in dedicated bike lanes; keep an eye out for taxis pulling over to discharge their passengers – or drivers parking and getting out – if you don’t want to get doored.

For a less stressful experience, seek out the city’s Greenways; the bike path along the Hudson River is particularly popular.

Does public transportation run 24 hours a day?

Yes! After a year-long pandemic-induced pause, the MTA restored round-the-clock subway service in May 2021. Trains run less frequently during off-peak hours, though, so check your line’s service status before you head out.

How do you pay for your ride?

To travel on any bus or train operated by the MTA, fares cost $2.75 per ride, payable via MetroCard or OMNY, a touchless ticketing system introduced in 2019. Single-use MetroCards cost $3 and are not refillable; pay-per-ride cards can be funded by value or time, with seven- and 30-day unlimited-ride options available for $33 and $127 respectively. Kids less than 44 inches tall ride for free when they’re with a paying adult.

If you’re paying per ride, you get one free transfer within two hours of your first swipe (bus to bus or train to bus only; once you exit through the subway turnstiles, you can’t transfer to another line or reenter the station without paying again).

An unlimited card gives you as many transfers as you’d like, but you can’t use it at the same station within 18 minutes of your first swipe, so individual or pay-as-you-go cards are the best option if you’re sharing with travel companions.

For contactless payment, login to OMNY online and top up your account, then tap your contactless card or electronic device on an OMNY reader to pass through the turnstile.

What's the best way to get to and from the airports?

Getting to and from New York’s airports can be a daunting prospect, no matter how you choose to travel. John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark airports are all accessible via public transit – subway being the cheapest way to get to JFK and LaGuardia – though none of them offer easy door-to-door options.

Getting to and from JFK
By subway, take the A train to Howard Beach or the E, J and Z to Sutphin Boulevard. For a faster but slightly more expensive trip, you can also take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Jamaica Station, departing from Manhattan’s Penn Station or Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal.

From there, connect to the AirTrain – a shuttle that runs between the passenger terminals, airport parking lots, hotel shuttle pick-up areas, rental car centers, and public transit. The ride costs $7.75 to or from Howard Beach and Jamaica and must be payed by MetroCard.

You can also take a city bus: the Q3, Q6, Q7, Q10, Q10 LTD and B15 lines all provide service to JFK.

There are designated spots for rideshare pickups and drop-offs at each terminal, as well as queues for yellow cabs. Taxis charge a flat rate of $52 – not including tip – for trips between JFK and Manhattan, plus a $4.50 surcharge on weekdays from 4pm to 8pm, a $.50 tax for trips within New York state, and a $1.25 fee for pickups.

If you’re driving, JFK has one long-term parking lot as well as short-term lots at each terminal; the airport’s website has up-to-date info on availability for all. Short-term rates range from $4 per half hour to $42 for the maximum 24 hours allowed. The long-term rate is $20 for the first 24 hours, then $10 for each 12-hour period that follows.

Getting to and from LGA
By subway, take either the 7 train to 111 St/Roosevelt Ave and connect to the Q48 bus; the 7, E, F, M and R trains to 74 St/Roosevelt Ave and connect to the Q47 bus; or pick up the M60 SBS bus in Manhattan, which connects to the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, B, C and D subway lines at 125 Street, the 1 line at 116 Street, and the Metro-North Railroad at Harlem-125 Street.

The Q70 SBS also stops at LGA, with connections to the 7, E, F, M and R lines at 74 St/Roosevelt Ave and the LIRR’s Woodside station at 61 St/Roosevelt Ave.

There are designated spots for rideshare pickups and drop-offs at each terminal, as well as queues for yellow cabs. Taxi fares are metered to and from LGA; there’s also a $1 surcharge on weekdays from 4pm to 8pm and a $.50 surcharge between 8pm and 6am; a $.50 tax for trips within New York state, and a $1.25 fee for pickups. Tips are not included.

There are parking lots and garages at all four LGA terminals. Rates range from $5 for the first half-hour to $45 for the 24-hour maximum.

Getting to and from EWR
The fastest route is typically NJ Transit or Amtrak to the Newark Airport stop, then the AirTrain to your terminal. It’s about a 25-minute ride from Penn Station via NJ Transit; you can shave a little time off the trip with Amtrak.

If you're not in a hurry, you can also catch the PATH train from the World Trade Center stop, at Fulton Center in Lower Manhattan, to Newark Penn Station. From there, switch to an NJ Transit train (this is a separate fare; purchase your ticket in advance with the app, or allow time to buy from a kiosk when you arrive), then transfer to the AirTrain.

You can also take the PATH to an NJ Transit bus, local or express – a longer but cheaper option, as well as an accessible one. NJ Transit trains only run between 6am and midnight, so you should plan to use the PATH or the #62 bus if you’re traveling early or late.

By taxi, there’s a $5 surcharge from the airport to practically any destination in New York state on weekends (12pm to 8pm) and during weekday rush hours (6am to 9am; 4pm to 7pm), as well as a $1.25 fee for pickups, a charge for each piece of luggage 24 inches or bigger, and a  $5.50 surcharge for all credit card transactions.

And don’t forget about the tolls : whether you’re driving yourself or taking a cab, the Port Authority charges a fee to enter New York by bridge or tunnel, from $11.75 per car at off-peak hours. (Traveling to New Jersey is always toll-free.) Since the pandemic, many toll plazas have suspended cash payments or gone fully cashless on a permanent basis, so you – or your driver – will need an E-Z Pass, unless you want to get hit with the bill later.

At EWR, there’s short-term, daily, and economy parking, with costs ranging from $4.25 per half hour to $44 for the 24-hour maximum. Check the airport’s website for lot availability before you leave.

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