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Russian tourists taking a selfie with the Great Wall of China and Riyadh skyline in the background, illustrating visa-free travel trends between China and Saudi Arabia

Tours

Russia to require fuller tour disclosure from September 2026

Schengen visa sticker issued by France displayed in passport showing European Union travel authorization

Turkish Travel & Tourism News

EU plans 2-year Schengen visas for trusted Turkish travellers

Map showing diversion routes around the closed A9 Wijkertunnel near Amsterdam, with traffic redirected via the A10 Coentunnel and A22 Velsertunnel.

Road Travel

Holidaymakers Warned of Delays on Routes to Amsterdam and North Sea Beaches

A traveler browses TikTok travel videos on a smartphone by a swimming pool while planning a holiday.

Technology

TikTok Drives Travel Bookings as 70% of Users Book Trips After Watching Videos

Aviation

Total Solar eclipse 2026: Airlines launch 4 trips for skywatchers

Dinner table at Bosphorus Grill overlooking the Bosphorus Bridge at dusk.

Tours

Türkiye Named Cheapest Holiday Destination in Europe, France Most Expensive

Exterior of Bao Dai’s Summer Palace III in Da Lat, surrounded by manicured lawns and flowering gardens.

Tours

Memories from a bygone era: the summer holiday villa of Vietnam’s last king

Kilim Hotel overlooks Izmir's Alsancak waterfront, offering sea views near the Kordon promenade and the Aegean coast.

Turkish Travel & Tourism News

Kilim Hotel in Izmir to be rebuilt in major overhaul

Cruise Travel

Guyana ferry sinks with 116 on board, 53 rescued in search

A driver sits beside a white SUV with a flat tire, waving for roadside assistance after a breakdown on a rural road.

Road Travel

Croatia road trip travellers warned of tyre puncture scam

Aviation

IATA says EU is repeating a “historic error” on emissions trading

People walk through a historic gateway in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, highlighting the city's cultural heritage and tourism appeal.

Aviation

Flight routes from China to Central Asia, Latin American up by 70% in H1 2026

A seal rests on an Antarctic ice floe with a Seabourn expedition ship cruising through icy waters against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains.

Cruise Travel

Seabourn celebrates the line’s 40th anniversary with 54 special voyages in 2028

Tourist families enjoy sea sand sun in Belek Antalya Turkey

Turkish Travel & Tourism News

Sochi demand falls as tourists turn to Türkiye and Egypt

A brightly lit entertainment and nightlife district in Japan at night, featuring colorful neon signs, a building labeled “Amuse,” and people walking along the street.

Tours

Japan wins more Russian travellers as visits jump 24.7% in 2026

New Hotel Openings

Exterior view of Hilton Chania Old Town Resort and Spa overlooking the Aegean Sea at sunset, with rooftop terrace and sailboat visible

Hilton Opens 85-Room Chania Old Town Resort and Spa in Crete

Collage of Tivoli Palazzo 1880 Lecce Hotel facade, guest room, lobby and vaulted pool

Tivoli Hotels Brings Baroque Luxury to Lecce With New Palazzo Hotel

An aerial view of Chapter Chianti, a luxury hotel set within a restored stone village in the Chianti hills of Tuscany.

Chapter Chianti opens in Tuscany with 82 rooms and suites

Intelier Malvarrosa Plaza hotel in Valencia, showing rooftop terrace, exterior, room and location

New Valencia hotel opens just steps from the Malvarrosa beach

Turkish . News

EU plans 2-year Schengen visas for trusted Turkish travellers

July 19, 2026

Türkiye Named Cheapest Holiday Destination in Europe, France Most Expensive

July 19, 2026

Kilim Hotel in Izmir to be rebuilt in major overhaul

July 19, 2026

Sochi demand falls as tourists turn to Türkiye and Egypt

July 18, 2026

Hagia Sophia: 2 Russian tourists arrested after Bible reading

July 17, 2026

Spanish . News

Aena plans 153.4m Barcelona El Prat Airport overhaul with no capacity boost

July 17, 2026

Valencia restaurants offer 2026 World Cup final trip prize

July 17, 2026

Alicante-Elche Airport to Get New Terminal for UK Arrivals

July 16, 2026

Viajes El Corte Ingles wins Aena contract worth 26.7m euros

July 16, 2026

Air Europa and Iberia cancel 11 flights to Venezuela

July 16, 2026

Discover the best tourism news and immerse yourself in unique travel experiences, must-visit destinations and curated guides designed to inspire your next adventure.

Top tourist destinations to live unforgettable travel experiences

Explore unique tourist destinations and travel experiences across cultural, urban and natural landscapes. Ideal for curious travellers eager to discover the most surprising corners of the world.

Memories from a bygone era: the summer holiday villa of Vietnam’s last king

Poland tipping guide says 5 to 10 percent is standard

An older man in a pharmacy holds up his smartphone, comparing information while a female pharmacist in a white coat stands nearby, with shelves of medicines and toiletries in the background.

Travel Pharmacy Costs Soar Abroad, Poland Cheapest in 19-Medicine Study

Cyclists riding through vineyard-covered hills along the Baden Wine Route near Schriesheim in southern Germany.

10 German Mountain Hikes for Beginners and Alpine Experts

Panoramic view of Weggis on Lake Lucerne with a church, lakeside village, and surrounding Swiss Alps under a dramatic sky.

Switzerland’s Riviera: Weggis Draws Visitors with Rigi and Lake Lucerne

Young girl hiking beside Bannalpsee lake in Nidwalden, Switzerland

Bannalpsee draws hikers to Switzerland’s secret alpine lake

New Madrid Hotels Opening in 2026

Aerial view of one of the new Maldives resorts at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives with curved overwater villas, white-sand beaches, and a turquoise lagoon.

New Maldives Hotels & Resorts, 2025 & 2026

Georgetown, the capital of Penang, Malaysia, was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for its well-preserved colonial architecture, multicultural influences and historical significance. It was founded in 1786 as a port to serve British interests in South-East Asia and it became a centre for global trading, attracting foreign merchants, largely from China, India and Arab countries. As a result, Georgetown developed a multi-ethnic society that still exists today. One of the key highlights of its UNESCO World Heritage Site is the colonial district that is full of historical charm and features British-era buildings and structures from the late 18th century. These landmarks are located close to each other so you can visit them on a walking tour so let’s go! Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower (photos 2a and 2b montage) A good place to start is the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower or the Jubilee Clock Tower which was built to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee (1837 to 1897) of Queen Victoria, who was Queen Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother. The clock tower, which was completed in 1902, is over 200 metres or over 60 feet high. Each of the 60 feet represents the years of Queen Victoria’s reign. It was damaged by Japanese bombings during World War 2, resulting in the tower leaning slightly and the tower has undergone restoration over the years. Stanchart Building and Downing Street (photo 3a and 3b) The imposing building at 2 Beach Street, built in 1930, was the home of Standard Chartered Bank for decades but is now a co-working space, after the bank relocated in 2017. It was so delightful to see a couple wearing traditional costumes, having their wedding photos taken in front of the building, which has become a popular backdrop for photo shoots due to its beautiful neo-classical and Art Deco architecture. (photo 3c) Penang has its own Downing Street. It is one of the few places worldwide that shares an identical name with London’s famous Downing Street where the official residence of the British prime minister is located. Right opposite the Stanchart building is the HSBC Bank building which has the prestigious address of No. 1 Downing Street. The history of this building dates back to 1884 and it was rebuilt after World War 2. It is now a six-storey building built in the late Art Deco style and it was the first HSBC (The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) branch in Malaysia. Fort Cornwallis & lighthouse (photos 4a and 4b) Fort Cornwallis, the largest and oldest standing fort in Malaysia, and marks the landing site of the British under the command of Captain Frances Light in Penang in 1786. The fort features several historical cannons but it has never seen battle. Entry to the fort is ticketed. The fort faces a public park and the Esplanade, a seaside promenade so you can enjoy the sea breeze and a nice walk along the coast. Just right next door is the lighthouse, constructed in a form that resembles a ship's mast, and carries a navigational light which functions as a marker for ships heading towards Penang Harbour. Built in 1882, it is the second oldest lighthouse in Malaysia. Town Hall and City Hall (photo 5a and 5b) The Town Hall and City Hall are two of the most striking colonial buildings in Georgetown. They are located side by side. The yellow-walled Town Hall was completed in 1883 and the City Hall in 1903. The Town Hall was used for social events for the European elite and soon deemed insufficient for the governing of the state, hence the City Hall was built. Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce building (photo 6) The Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce building was constructed in 1928 as the headquarters for Penang's Chinese business community. It was the first Chinese Chamber of Commerce in British Malaya and Malaysia. The building’s western wing featuring Art Deco architectural style, has been converted into a 12-room boutique hotel, The Chambers. Penang State Assembly Building (photo 7) If you see a long building resplendent in white with an orange roof that looks like a Greek temple, it is the Penang State Assembly Building. It was built in the 1820s and the structure exemplifies Anglo-Indian classical architecture. Today, the State Assembly Building is where state laws are enacted, budgets are approved and major decisions for the state are made. Penang High Court (photos 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d montage) The Penang High Court, founded in 1808, is the birthplace of Malaysia’s judiciary system. It is housed inside an imposing classical-style building. featuring columns, porticos and a distinctive domed chamber. It incorporates elements typical of British colonial public buildings, with colonnaded walkways and geometric forms. The current courthouse was built in the early 1900s to replace the original structure that was built at the same site in 1809, the first such court to be set up in the Malay Peninsula. Modern annexes were added later. St George’s Church (photo 9) St George’s Church is a 19th-century church which is the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia. In 2007, the church was declared one of the 50 National Treasures of Malaysia. The church was built with a combination of neo-classical, Georgian and Palladian architectural styles, and features a portico of Greek columns. The apex of the roof is topped by an octagonal shaped steeple. Church of the Assumption and State Museum (photos 10a and 10b) Further along the road is The Church of the Assumption, which is a Roman Catholic church that was established following the founding of Georgetown in 1786, making it is the third oldest Catholic church in Malaysia. Right next to the church is the 100-year-old Penang State Museum which is currently undergoing major restoration, which includes rebuilding sections destroyed during World War 2. The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (photo 11a) The crown jewel of the colonial district is the iconic Eastern & Oriental, which echoes its historical heyday in colonial grandeur. Widely revered as a grand dame of heritage hotels, the E&O was established in 1885 by the Sarkies Brothers, who also founded the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1887. The ultra-luxury hotel, which has 100 elegant suites, has been upgraded over the years and annexes added, whilst restoring the hotel to its original grandeur, preserving its historic charm and classical character. (photo of 11b) Another architectural inheritance that the hotel takes great pride in is the antiquated cage lift with a sliding grill at the lobby area, that is still in working order but no longer in use. It was featured in the Hollywood film "Crazy Rich Asians". The heritage district features many other historical buildings and landmarks, which I will cover in future articles. In the meantime, you can read about Penang’s other attractions here and Penang Hill.

A nostalgic tour of a bygone colonial era in Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage Site

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