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Visas and documentsBrazil
Driving abroad with a Brazilian licence: step by step
The PID translates the Brazilian CNH into seven languages but doesn’t replace it. How to apply, what it costs in São Paulo, how long it takes and what to carry.
The Offbeat Map: The why behind every place
Why things work the way they do in each part of the world, and what that changes for travelers.
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Country curiositiesVarious countries
Travel plug adapters: which one to pack for each destination
Brazil’s socket is a rarity. A table of plug type, voltage and frequency for 24 destinations, and a checklist for not frying your charger.
Country curiositiesNoruega
Vinmonopolet: why Norway sells strong drink in state shops
Norway sells wine and spirits only through Vinmonopolet, a state retailer from 1922. Opening hours, ID rules, prices and how to plan your purchase.
Country curiositiesFinlândia
Finnish saunas: why the country has one for every two people
Finland has about 3.3 million saunas for 5.5 million people. What löyly means, why public saunas returned and what to check before your first visit.
Cities and transportPaíses Baixos
Why Amsterdam’s canal houses are narrow and lean forward
The hooks on top of Amsterdam’s canal houses were cranes. How the hijsbalk worked, why plots were narrow, and what to look for on a canal walk.
Country curiositiesJapão
Japan’s two power grids: why Tokyo and Osaka differ
Eastern Japan runs on 50 Hz and western Japan on 60 Hz, a split from 1895 and 1896. Why it stuck, what it did in 2011, and what travelers should check.
Nature and geographyVeneza
MOSE: the sea gates that keep Venice from flooding
MOSE, Venice’s 78 sea gates, first rose in October 2020 after 17 years of work and scandal. What triggers them, what they miss, and what to know.
Country curiositiesPortugal
Azulejos: why Portugal’s buildings are covered in tile
Azulejos came from Moorish Spain, reached Portugal in 1503 and turned blue and white in the 1600s. See how they spread, and why tile theft is a crime.
Nature and geographyFrance
Mont-Saint-Michel: the tides, the bridge and how to visit
Mont-Saint-Michel sits in a bay with a tide range of about 14 metres. Why it needed a new bridge in 2014, why the sands are risky and how to plan a visit.
Cities and transportGibraltar
Gibraltar’s runway: the road that used to cross it
Gibraltar’s only road to Spain once crossed the airport runway and closed for every flight. How it worked, what changed in 2023 and what walkers can do.
Country curiositiesPortugal
Portuguese pavement: the stone mosaics under Lisbon’s feet
Portuguese pavement, the calçada, began at a Lisbon castle in the 1840s and reached Rio and Macau. Where the waves come from and why it is slippery.
Food and cultureAustria
Vienna’s coffee houses: why you can sit for hours
Vienna’s coffee houses are listed as living heritage in Austria. Why a table comes with water and a newspaper, and how to stay as long as you like.
Visas and documentsEurope
Schengen 90/180 rule: how to count your days in Europe
Tourists can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. How to count them, with two worked examples and the official calculator.
Country curiositiesJapan
Japan’s vending machines: why there is one on every corner
Japan has over 2 million drink machines, many outdoors all night. Why they stay on the street, how one machine sells hot and cold, and what else they sell.
Cities and transportItaly
Italy’s ZTL: the fine that arrives months after your trip
ZTLs close the historic centre of about 350 Italian cities and fine by camera. How the ticket reaches a rental driver and how to avoid it.
Languages and customsIceland
Icelandic surnames: why almost nobody has a family name
In Iceland a surname is a parent’s first name plus “son” or “dóttir”. How the system works, what the law requires, and why phone books sort by first name.
Hand gestures that mean something else in other countries
The OK sign, the V sign, the open palm and the thumbs up don’t mean the same everywhere. Where each one can offend, and what to do instead.
Travel costsIndonesia
Bali tourist levy: what it costs and how to pay it
Since 2024, foreign visitors pay 150,000 rupiah per visit to Bali. Who pays, how to fill in the form, what Bali collects and why most people don’t pay.
Country curiositiesIceland
Why Iceland makes you shower naked before swimming
At every public pool in Iceland, a naked soap shower comes before the swim. See why the rule exists, what entry costs and how to get it right first time.
Food and cultureItaly
Coperto in Italy: what it is and when you can refuse it
The coperto is a per-person charge in Italian restaurants. See when it’s legal, why Rome bans it and what to do if it wasn’t on the menu.
Nature and geographySweden
Allemansrätten: camping on other people’s land in Sweden
In Sweden anyone can pitch a tent on someone else’s land for a night or two. What the right allows, plus the rules on fires, foraging and campervans.
Languages and customsNetherlands
Holland or the Netherlands? Why tourism dropped Holland
Holland is only two of the 12 Dutch provinces. See where the mix-up began, why the government dropped the name in 2020 and which one to use.
Off the beaten pathAustralia
Uluru: why you can’t climb it anymore and what to do there
Climbing Uluru has been banned since 26 October 2019. See why the Anangu asked for it to end, what entry costs and what to do around the rock.
Country curiositiesSamoa
The day Samoa skipped: why 30 December 2011 never existed
Samoa jumped from 29 to 31 December 2011 by moving across the International Date Line. See why it did it, what changed and its time zone today.
Travel costsJapan
How much does a trip to Japan cost? What the data shows
Foreign visitors spent an average of ¥229,000 per trip in Japan in 2025. See where the money goes, the fixed costs and how to build your budget.
Cities and transportWorld
Why some countries drive on the left and others don’t
About 35% of the world drives on the left. Where the rule comes from, how Sweden switched sides in one morning and why Samoa switched in 2009.
Country curiositiesSpain
Spain’s beach towel fines: where saving a spot costs you
Spanish towns fine people who leave parasols or towels to reserve sand. See the 2026 rules, the amounts and how to avoid a fine on your holiday.
Travel costsEurope
Tourist tax in Europe: what Paris, Rome and Barcelona charge
Barcelona raised its tourist tax in April 2026, Paris charges up to €15.93 a night and Amsterdam wants 20%. Here are the rates and how they hit a budget.
Country curiositiesChina
Why China has only one time zone
China spans five geographic time zones, yet every clock runs on Beijing time. Out west, winter sunrise comes after 10 a.m., and many live by another hour.
Cities and transportLondon, United Kingdom
The Knowledge: the test behind London’s black cabs
To drive a black cab in London you must memorise 25,000 streets without a map. How the test works, what changed in 2025 and why there are fewer cabbies.
Country curiositiesNepal
Why Nepal’s flag isn’t a rectangle
Nepal has the world’s only non-rectangular national flag. Its shape comes from two old pennants, and the constitution explains how to draw it step by step.
Off the beaten pathBelgium and the Netherlands
Baarle: the town where the border runs through houses
In Baarle, Belgium and the Netherlands are tangled in dozens of enclaves. The border cuts through homes and cafés, and the front door sets the address.
Travel costsBhutan
Bhutan charges tourists $100 a day: how the fee works
To visit Bhutan, tourists pay a daily $100 fee, the SDF, on top of the visa. Where the money goes, who gets a discount and how long the rate lasts.
Travel costsEurope
Free tap water in restaurants: where the law guarantees it
In France and Spain, restaurants must offer free tap water. In Italy, the top court ruled in 2026 that they don't have to. How to ask in each country.
Nature and geographyHawaii (United States)
Hawaii: why you can't take sand or rocks home
In Hawaii, taking sand and coral from beaches is illegal, and rocks can't leave the national parks either. Even so, many people mail them back.
Food and cultureIceland
Why Iceland has had no McDonald's since 2009
The 2008 crash sank the Icelandic króna and doubled McDonald's costs there. The chain left in 2009, and one of its last meals became an attraction.
Cities and transportJapan
Train late in Japan? The railway gives you a certificate
In Japan, a delay of about 5 minutes earns an official certificate, the chien shōmeisho, to show at work or school. Here's how it works.
Languages and customsSouth Korea
Korean age: why South Koreans suddenly got younger
Until 2023, a Korean baby was born aged 1 and gained a year every January 1. The law changed, but age still shapes how people speak to each other.
Country curiositiesFrance and Spain
Pheasant Island: Spanish half the year, French the other
On the Bidasoa river, a 200-metre islet is Spanish from February to July and French from August to January. How it started and when you can visit.
Visas and documentsSvalbard (Norway)
Svalbard needs no visa: what that means for travellers
Svalbard is part of Norway but outside Schengen, with no visa or work permit required. What the rule allows and where the catches are.
Country curiositiesSwitzerland
Switzerland has a fallout shelter for every resident
Switzerland has about 370,000 shelters and 9 million places, more than its population. How the rule works, what they're used for and where tourists fit.
Nature and geographyIsrael and Jordan
Why the Dead Sea is shrinking
The Dead Sea drops more than a metre a year and has lost a third of its surface. What drains it, why sinkholes open and what it means for visitors.
Visas and documentsWorldwide
Travel authorisations: how to find the official site
ETA, ETIAS, ESTA and eTA all have lookalike sites charging several times the fee. The official addresses, the real prices and the warning signs.
Country curiositiesGermany
Why shops close on Sundays in Germany
Sunday rest is written into the German constitution. How the rule works, what stays open at stations and bakeries, and how to get through a Sunday.
Travel costsJapan
Japan’s new travel taxes in 2026: what visitors pay now
Japan tripled its departure tax, Kyoto raised its hotel tax and tax-free shopping is becoming a refund. Every 2026 change and what it adds to a trip.
Cities and transportUnited Kingdom
Why you stand on the right on London escalators
On the London Underground you stand on the right and walk on the left. Where the rule came from, the trial that tested it and what other cities do.
Off the beaten pathPortugal
Monsanto, Portugal: the village built between boulders
In Monsanto, granite boulders serve as walls and even roofs. Why the village was built this way, the story of its 1938 title and how to visit.
Visas and documentsWorldwide
The six-month passport rule: where it applies and where not
Not every country wants six months left on your passport. What Schengen, the US, the UK, Thailand and Indonesia actually require, and how to check.
Off the beaten pathWorldwide
Places that limit tourists: quotas, time slots and bans
Kyoto closed alleys, Machu Picchu has a daily cap and Maya Bay shuts for two months a year. The rules in each place and how to plan so you don’t miss out.
Cities and transportJapan
Tokyo’s train pushers: what’s left of the oshiya
White-gloved staff shoving commuters onto trains belong to another era. How crowded Tokyo’s trains really are now, and how to avoid the crush.
Languages and customsEurope
Untranslatable words and the customs behind them
Fika, hygge, sobremesa, gezellig and Feierabend have no one-word English equivalent. What each one means and the everyday habit it names.
Nature and geographyAustralia
Why Australia’s famous pink lake lost its colour
Lake Hillier had been bubble-gum pink for centuries. A storm in 2022 changed that. What makes a lake pink, and whether the colour will come back.
Languages and customsBulgaria
In Bulgaria, shaking your head means yes
In Bulgaria, the head gestures for yes and no are the opposite of what most visitors expect. Where that comes from, and how to avoid getting it wrong.
Cities and transportCosta Rica
Why Costa Rica gives addresses by landmark
In Costa Rica, an address starts at a church, a pharmacy or a tree that may not exist anymore. How the system works and how to find your way around it.
Visas and documentsEurope
EES: why Europe stopped stamping passports
Since April 2026, Europe’s borders record your face and fingerprints instead of stamping your passport. How the EES works and what it changes for you.
Off the beaten pathFaroe Islands
Faroe Islands: the archipelago that closes for maintenance
Every year, the Faroe Islands close tourist sites for a weekend and invite volunteers to fix them. How it works, and how to get one of the spots.
Nature and geographyIceland
Iceland had no mosquitoes. Until October 2025
For centuries, Iceland was one of the last places on Earth without mosquitoes. In 2025, the first ones turned up. Why it took so long, and what it means.
Food and cultureItaly
Why coffee costs less at the counter in Italy
In Italy, the same coffee can cost double if you sit down. The difference between the counter and the table, what an espresso costs and how to order.
Country curiositiesJapan
Why Japan has almost no public trash cans
Tokyo’s trash cans disappeared after the 1995 sarin gas attack, and most never came back. Why, and what to do with your rubbish while you travel.
Food and cultureJapan
Why Japan eats KFC for Christmas
In Japan, Christmas dinner for many families is a bucket of KFC. How a 1974 ad campaign became a tradition, and what to expect if you’re there in December.
Nature and geographyJapan
Why you now pay to climb Mount Fuji
Climbing Mount Fuji now costs ¥4,000 and comes with a start-time curfew. Why Japan began charging and limiting climbers, and how to prepare for the climb.
Country curiositiesSingapore
Why Singapore bans the sale of chewing gum
Selling and importing chewing gum has been illegal in Singapore since 1992, and the subway is to blame. The story, and what you can pack for your trip.
Food and cultureSpain
Why Spaniards eat dinner so late
A 1940 decree moved Spain’s clocks, but daily habits stayed on solar time. Here’s why dinner in Spain rarely starts before 9 p.m.
Languages and customsSwitzerland
Is it illegal to flush the toilet at night in Switzerland?
Legend says flushing after 10 p.m. is banned in Switzerland. It isn’t, but the myth has a real root. Here’s what the rules actually say.
Visas and documentsUnited Kingdom
UK ETA: what you need before flying to Britain
Most visitors now need an ETA to enter the UK, including Americans and Europeans. What it costs, how long it takes and where to apply safely.
Travel costsVenice
Venice access fee: where things stand now
Venice charged day-trippers 5 to 10 euros until July 2026. How the fee worked, why you can visit for free right now, and what’s planned for 2027.
Visas and documentsEurope
ETIAS explained: who needs it, the cost and the start date
ETIAS will cost €20 and last up to three years, but it still has no start date. Who needs it, how to apply and what to do in the meantime.
Country curiositiesJapan
Tipping in Japan: why it isn’t done and what to do instead
In Japan the price on the bill is the final price, and tipping isn’t part of the culture. The few exceptions, and the extras that can show up on the bill.
Country curiositiesIceland
Why Iceland hasn’t changed its clocks since 1968
Iceland keeps the same time all year and lives with its clocks ahead of the sun. Why it made that choice, and what it means for visitors.
Off the beaten pathItaly
Italy’s one-euro houses: the rules, the costs and the catch
The one-euro houses are real, but the price is only the start. What towns require, what renovation tends to cost and what to check before you buy.
Cities and transportJapan
Why most streets in Japan have no name
Japanese addresses point to a block, not a street. How the system works, and how to find a place in Tokyo without getting lost.
