Explore 396 UCPlaces digital self-guided tours in English

Drive one of Europe's great coastal roads, from Vlorë, where Albania declared independence in 1912, over the 1,027-metre Llogara Pass and down the Albanian Riviera to Sarandë, facing Corfu. On the way: the bay where Albania kept four Soviet submarines, the beach where Julius Caesar may have landed his legions, the Orthodox stone villages of Dhërmi, Vuno and Old Himarë, Ali Pasha's intact sea fortress at Porto Palermo, a Cold War tunnel in the cliffs, the olive groves of Borsh and Suleiman the Magnificent's lookout above Sarandë. Narration plays automatically as you drive, with optional stops for the Llogara viewpoint, lunch in Himarë, Porto Palermo Castle and village walks. About 124 km and roughly 3 hours of driving without stops; allow a full day with visits. Practical notes: the old Llogara Pass road is steep and winding with tight hairpins. It can be foggy, and snow or ice can close it in winter (roughly November to March); if it is closed, use the Llogara tunnel and rejoin the tour after Palasë. Pull over only at safe, marked spots, never on bends. Expect slow traffic, buses and campervans in July and August, and animals on mountain roads. Fill up with fuel in Vlorë or Himarë, carry some cash in lek for small cafés and parking, and check opening times before planning visits.

Welcome to Porto, and welcome to one of the most rewarding walks in all of Europe. Over the next ninety minutes to two hours, we will travel downhill through eight centuries of history, from the tiled churches on the city's high western edge all the way to the iron bridge that spans the Douro River. This tour is for curious travelers, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants to understand Porto rather than simply photograph it. Our theme is how a stubborn merchant city built itself on a granite slope, and how faith, trade, wine, and the river shaped every street you will walk. Along the way you will see a church wall covered entirely in blue and white tiles, the bookshop the whole world queues for, and the Baroque tower that became the symbol of the city. You will stand on a quiet terrace with one of the finest free views in Porto, walk through the forgotten medieval Jewish quarter, and step into a railway station decorated with some twenty thousand hand-painted tiles. Then we climb to the fortress-like cathedral where the parents of Henry the Navigator were married, descend past the merchants' palace and a church glowing with gold, and finish on the riverfront at the Dom Luís the First bridge. A quick, friendly word about the terrain. Locals like to say that Porto is a staircase with a river at the bottom, and that is part of its charm. The walk is mostly downhill, but there are two short climbs and several historic stairways. The granite cobbles can be uneven, so comfortable shoes are your best companion, and you can pause the audio whenever you like. Many of the places we pass have interiors you can visit, but this tour works perfectly from the outside, so treat every door as an invitation rather than an obligation. The narration will begin automatically as you reach each stop. Look up often, because in Porto the best details are rarely at eye level. Our first stop is just ahead, on Rua do Carmo, where a wall of blue tiles is waiting to stop you in your tracks. Let's begin.

Welcome to Petah Tikva! Let’s start with a little honesty. This is not a city that reveals its charms at first glance. If you were expecting cobblestone lanes, elegant boulevards and a postcard around every corner… you may be wondering whether you took a wrong turn. You didn’t. Petah Tikva makes you work a little harder. Between the apartment blocks, busy roads and buildings of questionable architectural ambition, there’s a story that’s easy to drive past without noticing. That’s what this tour is here for. Founded in 1878, Petah Tikva became known as Em HaMoshavot—Mother of the Colonies. Before the traffic and shopping centers, there was an ambitious attempt to build a farming community. Its founders left the familiar surroundings of Jerusalem to work land that would test their skills, their health and their determination. They called their settlement Petah Tikva: “Opening of Hope.” A lovely name. Making it live up to that name took rather more effort. As we explore, we’ll meet the people behind that experiment: founders, farmers, guards, workers and families whose plans did not always agree. We’ll discover why a well could matter more than a house, how citrus connected this place to distant markets, and how a small agricultural colony grew into the city around us. Some places invite you to admire what has survived. Here, part of the pleasure is imagining what has disappeared. Look beyond a storefront, and picture a farmer’s courtyard. Beyond an apartment block, imagine rows of citrus trees. Beneath a familiar street name, look for a person with ambitions, arguments and probably no idea that one day people would complain about parking here. Along the way, there will be opportunities to pause, explore on foot and find something good to eat. Keep your eyes on the road and follow the navigation. We’ll help you uncover the stories along the way. Let’s discover Petah Tikva.

Welcome to a place that pretends to be lighthearted. Campo de’ Fiori. A square that today feels almost frivolous: the smell of warm bread, young people sitting on the ground, glasses resting on low walls, a constant hum of voices mingling with the scent of flowers... and fried food. A square that smiles. A square full of life. But Rome has a way all its own of telling stories: it shows you the surface... and then whispers in your ear everything that surface is hiding. Today, we are going to walk through that very subtext. The shadowed side, the part you cannot see. Campo de’ Fiori has no church, no basilica, no bell tower to give you your bearings. It is the only great square in the historic center without a sacred place watching over it. And do you know why? Because the sacred was not needed here. Here, justice did the talking. A justice that was often just another name for power. Here, in this space that now holds raised glasses and laughter, for centuries they set up temporary courts, public trials, sentences, punishments. And at the center of it all, there was one element that always returns in the history of Roman power: fire. Not a domestic fire, not a fire that warms. A fire that punishes. A fire that silences. A fire that sends a message. You did not come here to seek salvation. You came here to watch someone burn. If you close your eyes for a moment, you can almost picture the crowd pressed together, the overlapping voices, the waiting, that tension that comes before ritual violence... and wood creaking beneath a torch. And in the middle of all this, there was a man. A man who would not kneel. A man who did not know how to keep silent. And he is where this journey begins. Get ready, because what you are about to hear is not a history lesson. It is an immersion. A descent into the way Rome, in every century, has used sin, fear, beauty, and faith... to hold on to power. When you are ready, take a step forward. Walk toward the dark statue that dominates the square. That is where the story begins.

Welcome to UCPlaces and Day 5 of our west-to-east Route 66 adventure—from Amarillo, Texas, to Springfield, Missouri! Today, we’ll trade the wide-open Texas Panhandle for Oklahoma’s historic towns, cross a short but memorable stretch of Kansas, and roll into Missouri. Four states, one legendary road, and plenty of stories along the way! We’re beginning just east of Amarillo, a city that welcomed generations of Route 66 travelers with a hot meal, a full tank, and a place to sleep. Now, with Amarillo behind us, we’re continuing east in their tire tracks. Ahead are leaning water towers, vintage gas stations, neon signs, and communities that helped give the Mother Road its personality. We’ll travel through Oklahoma City and Tulsa, meet the hometown of baseball legend Mickey Mantle, and discover how mining towns and cattle trails became part of America’s great road trip. This is a full day of driving, so settle in and give yourself time for breaks. Stop for fuel, stretch your legs, and explore whatever catches your curiosity. Some of the best Route 66 memories happen when you park the car! Follow the UCPlaces navigation, obey posted signs, and keep your attention on the road. We’ll guide you along the route and share the stories as you go. By the time we reach Springfield, we’ll be ready for a well-earned rest—with just one final day remaining on our journey to Chicago. Ready? Let’s get back on the Mother Road!

Welcome to UCPlaces and the next chapter of our eastbound Route 66 adventure—from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Amarillo, Texas! Today, we’ll climb out of Albuquerque through Tijeras Canyon, cross the open country of eastern New Mexico, and enter the wide horizons of the Texas Panhandle. Along the way, we’ll discover how a highway became a livelihood for small towns—and why some places flourished while others fell quiet. Our journey brings together the Mother Road’s famous landmarks and its quieter surprises: antique cars and soaring aircraft near Moriarty, a desert town with an astonishing blue swimming hole, and weathered roadside stores that once supplied generations of travelers. In Tucumcari, classic motels and colorful signs recall the promise of a comfortable room after a long day behind the wheel. Farther east, we’ll cross into Texas and reach Adrian, where the midpoint sign celebrates being halfway between Los Angeles and Chicago. We’ll finish near Amarillo, with the unmistakable Cadillacs of Cadillac Ranch offering one last roadside surprise. We’ll follow surviving stretches of historic Route 66 and use Interstate 40 where it connects them. Keep following the app’s navigation for the turns. Some attractions are optional visits, so feel free to pause for a meal, a photo, or a little exploring whenever something catches your interest. Get comfortable and enjoy the changing scenery. We’ve got mountains, small-town stories, neon memories, and a whole lot of open road ahead. Let’s get back on the Mother Road!

Welcome to Day 3 of our Route 66 journey. Today we’re leaving the pine forests of Flagstaff and heading east to Albuquerque, with a lot of open country and a few wonderfully strange roadside surprises in between. We’ll pass Winona, a tiny place made famous by the Route 66 song. We’ll find dinosaurs at Meteor City, a corner immortalized in another song in Winslow, and the colorful hills of the Painted Desert. If you have extra time, Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park make remarkable detours. Then we’ll cross into New Mexico, where Gallup, Grants, and the communities of Laguna Pueblo add new stories to the road. We’ll drive surviving sections of historic Route 66 where they fit our route and use Interstate 40 to connect them. Some of the best moments today are small ones: an old sign, a quiet trading post, or a bend in the road that still feels much as it did decades ago. Take your time. Albuquerque will be there when we arrive.

Today’s drive takes you from the pine-covered mountains of Flagstaff through the vast, sun-baked high desert and into the historic heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire — San Bernardino. Along the way, you’ll trace the original Mother Road’s winding path, experiencing iconic Route 66 sights, quirky roadside attractions, and a dramatic shift in landscape. From the awe-inspiring views of the Mogollon Rim to the remnants of classic motels and neon signs in Kingman, you’ll feel the pulse of Route 66’s golden era. Pass through small towns that tell stories of early American travel, mining booms, and westward dreams. As you descend from the desert’s vast openness toward the bustling urban sprawl, keep an eye out for classic diners, vintage gas stations, and the unmistakable charm that makes this stretch one of the most celebrated on the entire route. By the time you arrive in San Bernardino, the official birthplace of Route 66, you’ll have journeyed through a tapestry of history, culture, and landscape — all tied together by the enduring spirit of the Mother Road.

Welcome to Route 66! Today, we're beginning at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica and heading east toward San Bernardino, following the Mother Road through Los Angeles and the communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Now, if you're already east of Los Angeles, you can begin your Route 66 journey with our next tour starting in San Bernardino. But if you're anywhere near Santa Monica, we highly recommend starting right here. There's a reason. For travelers historically heading west, this was the final stretch of Route 66 — the last chapter of an incredible journey across America before reaching the Pacific. And that means there's a lot of Route 66 history packed into the road we're about to travel. We'll begin at the famous western terminus in Santa Monica, travel through Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, follow historic sections of the Mother Road through Pasadena and along Foothill Boulevard, and discover some wonderful pieces of roadside Americana along the way. We'll see historic motels and service stations, unusual roadside architecture, monuments that actually predate Route 66, and even the place where one of the world's most famous fast-food stories began. And as we travel east, you'll notice the character of the road beginning to change. The dense streets of Los Angeles gradually give way to the classic Route 66 corridor that will eventually carry us toward the wide-open landscapes of the American Southwest. This tour ends in San Bernardino, but our Route 66 journey certainly doesn't. From there, simply start the next UCPlaces Route 66 tour and we'll continue heading east together. So get comfortable, follow the navigation, and let's turn our backs on the Pacific and begin one of the world's great road trips. Chicago may be a long way from here — but Route 66 starts for us right now.

Welcome to Canberra, Australia's capital city — a place that wasn't simply built, but carefully planned from the ground up to become the centre of the nation's government and democracy. On this driving tour, we'll explore Canberra from some of its best viewpoints and drive through the monumental heart of the city. We'll begin high above the capital at Mount Ainslie Lookout, where you'll get your first look at the remarkable geometry that defines Canberra. From there, we'll descend toward the Australian War Memorial, drive along ceremonial Anzac Parade, cross Lake Burley Griffin, and pass many of Australia's most important national institutions, including the National Library, National Gallery, Old Parliament House and, of course, Australian Parliament House. We'll also explore Canberra's diplomatic neighbourhood, where embassies and high commissions from around the world sometimes bring a little of their own country's architecture to Australia's capital. Along the way, we'll tell you the stories behind the places you're seeing, explain why Canberra looks the way it does, and introduce you to a few things you might otherwise drive straight past without noticing. And we'll finish where we began — with a view from above. This time from Dairy Farmers Hill Lookout in the National Arboretum, where you can look back across much of the city we've just explored. So get comfortable, follow the navigation, and we'll take care of the stories. Welcome to Canberra, and welcome to UCPlaces. Let's get started!