Do You URBEX? - USA Sites

Ruins in Jerome, Arizona (wikicommons)

Previous blog posts on the subject of urban exploration:
Do you URBEX? 1. Defined, Trends & Picks

With this post, we look at some of the more accessible sites popular with urban explorers in the United States. Plus we share USA-specific news, inspiration and resources.

In USA URBEX news

Matt Lambros' After the Final Curtain photographs show America's forgotten movie theatres - Denzeen
Urbex Photographer Discovers Eerie ‘Train Graveyard’ in North Carolina Forest - Petapixel
Urbex Instagram Photog Killed While Subway Surfing in NYC - Petapixel
‘Urban explorer’ arrested inside Niagara Falls church - Niagara Gazette

URBAN PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION - USA

Liz's URBEX Photography Blog - Peeling Walls
Philip's URBEX Flickr Photos - DJ Philly GEE
Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream - book by Matthew Christopher

USA-specific URBEX resources

10 Eerie, Awesome or Abandoned Places You Can LEGALLY Visit in the US - Architectural Afterlife
Abandoned America: An Autopsy of American Dreams - Matthew Christopher's blog, books, events
Abandoned America Photography Workshops - USA workshops by Matthew Christopher
After the final curtain - Matt Lambros' blog, events
URBEX Location List USA - Urban Exploration Resource
A listing of tunnels in Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia - Tunnels & Bridges

ALABAMA
Spectre from the film Big Fish - Millbrook, Alabama - Jackson Lake Island
Hollywood Built A Town Then Left It To Decay On An Island In Alabama - Only in your state

ARIZONA - JEROME
Gold King Mine Ghost Town - Jerome, Arizona - Exploration Project
Mining Towns, Jerome, Arizona - Ghosttownaz
Abandoned Jerome Post Office - Atlas Obscura
Historic Shuttle Tour in Jerome, Arizona
Ultimate Historic Jerome Tour
Step Through Time Historical Walking Tour in Jerome Arizona
Haunted History Tour from Jerome Arizona
Spirits of Jerome Tour
Classic Historic Tour of Jerome

ARIZONA - Elsewhere...
Gila River Airport (abandoned aircraft) - Urban Explorer Resource

CALIFORNIA - SAN FRANCISCO
Map Reveals Location of San Francisco’s Buried Ships - Urban Ghosts Media
Ghost Ships Under San Francisco - Archeopop
URBEX: Alcatraz - Urban Exploration Resource
San Francisco Urban Adventure and Alcatraz Tour
San Francisco Helicopter and Alcatraz Tour
San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Ticket and Alcatraz Tour
Alcatraz Attraction Pass

CALIFORNIA - Elsewhere...
Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch - Urban Explorer Resource

HAWAII
Kaniakapupu Palace (Oahu) - Urban Explorer Resource

INDIANA - GARY
Gary URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls
Gary Indiana Ghost Town - No Future City? - Forbidden Places
The abandoned ruins of Gary, Indiana - Deserted Places Blog

KANSAS
Neosho Falls, Kansas - Architectural Afterlife
Exploring Neosho Falls, KS - Traversing Travy
Exploring Joyland Amusement Park in Wichita, Kansas - Traversing Travy

LOUISIANA - NEW ORLEANS
Abandoned New Orleans Retirement Community - Architectural Afterlife

MASSACHUSETTS - BOSTON
URBEX Boston - Fort Strong - Urban Explorer Resource

MICHIGAN - DETROIT
Detroit URBEX Locations - Detroit URBEX
Detroit URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls
Detroit, City in Decay - Deserted Places Blog
The Abandoned City of Detroit - Zach Fein Photography
Forgotten Detroit - David Kohrman
Detroit Urban Exploration and Photography Tour
Small Group Walking Tour Corktown is Popping in Detroits Oldest Neighborhood
Detroit's Rise Fall and Renewal

MICHIGAN - FLINT
Flint URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls

NEVADA - AREA 51
Often mentioned in the URBEX community, please heed the caution by StrangeThings: "AREA 51 IS NOT ABANDONED, DO NOT CROSS THE BORDER!"
Area 51: In the middle of an extremely unforgiving and desolate high desert is the most secret military facility in the world - Atlas Obscura
Area 51 Day Tour from Las Vegas
*See Las Vegas for tours to Area 51

NEVADA - LAS VEGAS
Area 51 Day Tour from Las Vegas
*Also see Area 51 (above) and Goodsprings

NEVADA - GOODSPRINGS
Ghost Hunt in Goodsprings from Las Vegas
Historical Tour of the Pioneer Saloon from Las Vegas
RZR Desert Adventure with Lunch at the Historic Pioneer Saloon
Haunted Lockdown at the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings

NEW MEXICO
Cuervo, New Mexico: No Lodging but Plenty of Vacancies - Architectural Afterlife

NEW YORK - BUFFALO
Buffalo URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls

NEW YORK - NEW YORK CITY
10 Disused Staten Island Railway Stations - Urban Ghosts
An Opportunity to Rebuild Penn Station the Way it Was - Urban Ghosts Media
Tour of the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal
Tour of the Remnants of Penn Station
Tour of the Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam in NYC
Guided Private Underground New York Subway Tour
Ruins of a Forgotten City: Historical Manhattan Walking Tour
Woolworth Building Lobby Tour

NEW YORK - Elsewhere...
Exploring an Abandoned Castle in Upstate NY (Roscoe) - Traversing Travy
Massive Abandoned Train Station - Architectural Afterlife

NORTH CAROLINA
Urbex Photographer Discovers Eerie ‘Train Graveyard’ in North Carolina Forest - Petapixel
Abandoned Nascar – The Wilkesboro Speedway - Architectural Afterlife
Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center, North Carolina - Architectural Afterlife
The Land of Oz - Boone, North Carolina - Architectural Afterlife

OHIO - CINCINNATI
The Cincinnati Subway: an abandoned relic of the city's failed experiment with below ground transit - Atlas Obscura
Cincinnati Architecture - Zach Fein Photography

OHIO - CLEVELAND
Cleveland URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls
The Old Cleveland Aquarium - Architectural Afterlife
Sidaway Bridge: a ghost of racial prejudice – Cleveland, Ohio - Atlas Obscura
Exploring the Sidaway Footbridge - Bridges & Tunnels

OHIO - Elsewhere...
Ohio Ghost Towns Exploration Co.
Akron URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls
The Abandoned Dresden Suspension Bridge - Dresden, Ohio - Bridges & Tunnels
Hillandale Bridge – Euclid, Ohio - Cleveland Memory Project
The Abandoned Hillandale Bridge - Euclid, Ohio - scotdor on Urban Ohio
Spirits Held Prisoner: Mansfield Reformatory – Mansfield, Ohio - Architectural Afterlife
Toledo URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls

PENNSYLANIA - PHILADELPHIA
Explore an Abandoned Subway Station in Philadelphia - Urban Ghosts Media

PENNSYLANIA - PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh URBEX Photography - Peeling Walls

PENNSYLANIA - Elsewhere...
Urban Exploring – USA Pennsylvania Prison and its Hangman Trapdoor - Rebecca Bathory Blog
We will include the abandoned Williams Grove Amusement Park later in this series, in a post dedicated to abandoned theme parks.

RHODE ISLAND
We will include the abandoned Rocky Point Amusement Park later in this series, in a post dedicated to abandoned theme parks.

UTAH
We will include the abandoned The Harold Mill later in this series, in a post dedicated to abandoned theme parks.

VIRGINIA
Urban Exploring – USA Virginia Lunatic Asylum and the Search for a Magic Staircase - Rebecca Bathory Blog

WASHINGTON - PORT ANGELES
Port Angeles Underground Heritage Tour

WEST VIRGINIA
Lake Shawnee, the World - Architectural Afterlife


Related resources
Everything About Urban Exploration - Forbidden Places
Death by Selfie
Go Running on Your Layover
Carp Diem: Day Trips From Rome
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
10 Unique Los Angeles Tours

Do You URBEX?

Kolmanscop, Namibia - an urban explorer's paradise
creative commons image wikicommons

Urban exploration, or "URBEX", is the exploration of man-made structures, either abandoned ruins or normally unseen components of man-made environments. May also be referred to as dark tourism.

Unauthorized exploration involves all manner of risks associated with climbing derelict structures, entering dark tunnels, crawling into drains, breathing or coming into contact with toxins and so on. People have died pursuing this hobby. Yet the purists follow their own code of conduct of "leave everything as you found it" and "take nothing except pictures".

While exploring these structures may involve trespassing onto private property, this is not always the case. Some sites are open to the public, or are accessible on a tour. Still others have added methods such as mini-railways to take you through the site.

If your layover doesn't provide easy access to an abandoned site, you can easily pass hours exploring incredible photographs online. As many devotees don't even reveal the exact location of their finds, this is the only way you can see them.

In this, our first blog post on urban exploration, we introduce you to a sampling of popular sites.

The URBEX Trend

Generation urbex: The extreme urban adventurers risking all for the right to roam - The Independent
Urbex: Is It Really Abandoned? - Darbian's Photography
When Time is the Architect: Urban Exploration by Photographer Tekprod - Wix Blog
Discover the Compelling World of Urban Ghosts: 20 Top Articles to get You Started - Urban Ghosts Media
Here's why I won't share locations locations - The Bohemian Blog
How Photographing an Abandoned Hotel Cost Me $2,800 - Petapixel
Stories Like This are Why Urbex Photogs are So Secretive About Where They Shoot - Petapixel

URBEX OBSESSIONS

This photographer is taking jaw-dropping photos of Europe’s abandoned buildings (Christian Richter) - The Independent
Matt Van der Velde photographs abandoned insane asylums (Matt Van der Velde) - Dezeen
Josef Schulz documents abandoned checkpoint architecture across Europe (Josef Schulz) - Dezeen
Abandoned Soviet architecture photographed by Rebecca Litchfield (Rebecca Bathory) - Dezeen

URBEX PHOTOGRAPHY

How To Photograph Models in Abandoned Buildings - Contrastly
The Underworld: Princess of Darkness & the Importance of Teamwork - Rebecca Bathory Blog
Urban Exploration Photography Blog - blog dedicated to taking great URBEX pictures
An Introduction to Urban Exploration - Digital Photography School
Finding Your Way Around Urban Decay Photography - Contrastly

URBEX RESOURCES

Everything About Urban Exploration - Forbidden Places
A Brief Introduction to Urban Exploration - Urban Ghosts Media
Urban Exploration Location List - Urban Exploration Resource
URBEX: Enter at Your Own Risk - Red Bull TV
Reddit URBEX Forum (specific locations not revealed)
The Bohemian Blog
Ancient Origins
Urban Ghosts Media

PICKS

The train cemetery in Uyuni, Bolivia
The Train Cemetery in Uyuni, Bolivia - URBEX Playground
Private visit to the train cemetery from Uyuni

An eerie Communist relic in Bulgaria
Exploring the Iconic Buzludzha Communist Building in Bulgaria - PetaPixel
One Day Private Tour By Car From Varna or Sofia To Buzludzha Monument

A Cold War spy station in Berlin, Germany
Field Station Berlin Teufelsberg: NSA spy station on buried Nazi college - Abandoned Berlin
Berlin Half-Day Cold War Tour to Teufelsberg

The compelling encroaching sand in Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop, the ghost town of the desert - Deserted Places Blog
Full-Day Kolmanskuppe and Luderitz Private Tour from Swakopmund

Riding old Kiwi rails in Taumarunui, New Zealand
New Zealand tour will take you down an abandoned rail line in a golf cart - The Star
10-Tunnel Rail Bike Tour from Taumarunui

The buried streets of black death in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Mary King's Close: 17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death - Atlas Obscura
The Real Mary King's Close Underground Guided Tour

Feeding speculation in the Nevada desert, USA
Often mentioned in the URBEX community, please heed the caution by StrangeThings: "AREA 51 IS NOT ABANDONED, DO NOT CROSS THE BORDER!"
Area 51: In the middle of an extremely unforgiving and desolate high desert is the most secret military facility in the world - Atlas Obscura
Area 51 Day Tour from Las Vegas

Making the most out of urban decay in Detroit, Illinois, USA
Detroit, City in Decay - Deserted Places Blog
Detroit Urban Exploration and Photography Tour

Related resources
Death by Selfie - IHateTaxis blog
Go Running on Your Layover
Memorial sites near Paris Beauvais Airport
Bucketlist: Downton Abbey
Layover Ideas for the World's Worst Airports
Spot the deadly fake taxi on your international travels! - IHateTaxis blog

10 Unique Tokyo Tours

Enjoy the best views of Tokyo free at the TMG towers!

Looking for something different to do on your Tokyo layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique Tokyo tour options to consider:
1. Private Custom Tour: Tokyo in a Day
2. Tokyo Local Food and Drink Experience with a Bar Hopping Master
3. Authentic Geisha Performance and Entertainment including a Kaiseki Course Dinner
4. Kimono Shopping Tour in Tokyo
5. Tokyo Metropolis Photography Tour
6. Half-Day Tokyo Architecture Walking Tour
7. Japanese Bookbinding Lesson
8. Kintsugi Experience in Tokyo
9. Hands-on Ninja Experience in Tokyo
10. Challenge Sumo Wrestlers and Enjoy a Chanko Lunch


Plus 3 great freebies!
FREE Tokyo Walking Tour
FREE Tokyo Views from TMG Observation Deck
Top 10 FREE Things to Do in Tokyo


Related resources
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
10 Unique Los Angeles Tours
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Tokyo
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

10 Unique Barcelona Tours

View from Gaudi's Park Güell

Looking for something different to do on your Barcelona layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique Barcelona tour options to consider:
1. Gaudi in a Day Guided Private Tour
2. Barcelona FC Football Game or Camp Nou Tour
3. Sagrada Familia Facades Private Tour with Independent Interior Visit
4. 4-Hour Gaudi Mosaic Workshop in Barcelona
5. Tapas and Wine Experience Small-Group Walking Tour
6. Gaudí’s La Pedrera at Night: A Behind-Closed-Doors Tour in Barcelona
7. Parasailing Experience in Barcelona
8. Private Bike Tour around Art Galleries in Monjuic Barcelona
9. Barcelona Private Tour to Tibidabo Mountain and Horta Labyrinth Park
10. Flamenco Night at Tablao Cordobes


Plus 3 great freebies!
FREE Barcelona Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
10 FREE Things to Do in Barcelona
ForFree: Your Guide to Barcelona's FREE Events


Related resources
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
10 Unique Los Angeles Tours
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Barcelona
Barcelona International Airport (BCN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

10 Unique Bangkok Tours

Looking for something different to do on your Bangkok layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique Bangkok tour options to consider:
1. Private Tour: Full-Day Customizable Tour of Bangkok City
2. Airport Departure Fast track Services - with VIP lounge access
3. Bangkok Stopover Package
4. Baipai Thai Cooking School Class in Bangkok
5. Tai-Chi in Lumpini Park Bangkok
6. Thai Boxing Match including Tickets and Transfer in Bangkok
7. Evening Siam Niramit Show with Thai Dinner
8. Colors of Bangkok
9. 3-Hour Handbag Making Class
10. Fore! Play Golf in Bangkok


Plus 3 great freebies!
20 FREE things to do in Bangkok - The Culture Trip
FREE things to do in Bangkok - Trip Savvy
10 FREE things to do in Bangkok - Lash World Tour


Related resources
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
10 Unique Los Angeles Tours
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Bangkok
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Bangkok Don Muang International Airport (DMK) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

10 Unique Amsterdam Tours

The Westerkerk Church and Amsterdam canal houses

Looking for something different to do on your Amsterdam layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique Amsterdam tour options to consider:
1. Amsterdam Layover Tour: Private City Sightseeing with Round-Trip Airport Transfer
2. Private Transit Tour: Amsterdam City Tour with Luxury Vehicle
3. Keukenhof Gardens and Tulip Fields Tour from Amsterdam
4. Amsterdam Hop-on Hop-off Boat Day Pass and Heineken Experience
5. Private Guided Bike Tour to the Dutch Windmills
6. Private Amsterdam Coffeeshop Culture and Food Tour
7. Private Gourmet Dining with a Michelin Star Chef in Amsterdam
8. 3-Course Dinner at Dining in the Dark Restaurant in Amsterdam
9. Luxurious Party Bike Tour With Private Chauffeur
10. Amsterdam Guided Tour of United East India Company and Maritime Museum with Art Historian


Plus 3 great freebies!
FreeDam FREE Amsterdam Walking Tour
FREE Amsterdam Floating Flower Market: What to Expect
50 FREE Things to Do in Amsterdam


Related resources
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
10 Unique Los Angeles Tours
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

10 Unique Milan Tours

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in the evening

Looking for something different to do on your Milan layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the city.

Here are some unique Milan tour options to consider:
1. Art and History of Playing Cards and Tarots in Milan
2. History of Paper Guided Tour in Milan with Visit to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana
3. Historical and Precious Leathers Guided Tour in Milan
4. Private Tour: the Ancient and Noble Art of Metal Guided Tour
5. Private Tour: the Museum of Musical Instruments Guided Tour with Visit to a Local Liuteria
6. 1-Day Personal Fashion Styling Course for Women (Course for Men)
7. Private Tour: Milan Half-Day Shopping Tour
8. 1-Hour Rooftop Tour of Milan's Duomo
9. Evening Cooking Lesson with Dinner in Milan
10. After-Hours Last Supper Tour with Ultimate Dinner Experience


Plus 3 great freebies!
FREE Milan Walking Tours
FREE Museums in Milan
10 Best Things to Do in Milan for FREE


Related resources
10 Unique Paris Tours
10 Unique NYC Tours
10 Unique Los Angeles Tours
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Milan
Milan Bergamo International Airport (BGY) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Milan Linate International Airport (LIN) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP) transportation guide - IHateTaxis

Rock Your Layover: Lisbon

Iconic Lisbon tram

Have a layover coming up in Lisbon? Wondering what you could do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Lisbon. Learn what they did, if it was worth it, and their tips.

• How I fell for Lisbon - New York Times
• Awesome Lisbon Layover: Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon Aquarium) - Brandon is Still Alive
• Lisbon Layover - Leah Stunts
• Lisbon In Three Hours And The Art Of Layover Tourism - Huffington Post
• Lisbon in 5 Hours - ido8all
• How to Spend a 6-hour Layover in Lisbon - Nick Onken
• 72 Hours in Lisbon - Following My Compass
• 12 Photos From My 12-hour Layover in Lisbon - Now Boarding All Groups
• 24-hour Layover - Lisbon - Pauline Frommer, for MSNBC
• Lisbon Stopover - The Perfect Tourist (Portugal Tourism)

Top 10 Tours
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. 2-Hour Private Tour in Lisbon
2. Lisbon Cobblestone Tour
3. Old Lisbon Half-Day LGBT Walking Tour
4. Lisbon Fado Walking Tour Including Food
5. Lisbon Fado Dinner Show and Panoramic Night Tour
6. Lisbon Insiders Street Art Private Tour
7. Tile Workshop and Small Group Tour Including National Tile Museum
8. Lisbon Cooking Class
9. Route of the Salter Full-Day Private Tour
10. The Templars: Private Tour from Lisbon


FREE LISBON
A few freebies...
FREE self-guided Lisbon walking tours - GPS My City
FREE Lisbon Chill-Out Walking Tours - Lisbon Chill-Out Tours
FREE Walking Tour of Lisbon - Sandemans New Europe
FREE Lisbon Alfama Walking Tour: The Heart & Soul of Lisbon - Discover Walks
FREE Lisbon Belem Walking Tour: When Lisbon Ruled the World - Discover Walks
Top 10 FREE Things to Do in Lisbon - Like a Local


Getting Out and About in Lisbon
Lisbon Portela International Airport (LIS) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Car and Driver on Demand in Lisbon
Lisbon City Card (including public transportation)
Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (4 routes including tram)
Public Transport Lisbon - Getting Around the City - Go Lisbon


At the Airport
Prefer to stay at the airport? There's not alot to do... (although you can always go shopping!)
Services at Lisbon Airport - IHateTaxis
Lisbon Airport Sleeping Guide - Sleeping in Airports


Related resources
Family Travel in Lisbon - Flytographer
Lisbon shopping: 17 ideas for travelers - GPSMyCity
Must know tips for visiting Lisbon - Little Grey Box
Alternative Lisbon Guide - Kami, for My Wanderlust
Great rooftop bar with beautiful view in downtown Lisbon - ido8all
Lisbon Episode: No Reservations With Anthony Bourdain
Portugal visa requirements - Portugal.com
Lisbon Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Lisbon

Lisbon's architecture

Rock Your Layover: Kuala Lumpur

Have a layover coming up in Kuala Lumpur? Lucky you. Are you now wondering what you might be able to do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Kuala Lumpur (or "KL" for short). Learn what they did, what was/wasn't worth it, and their tips.

• My perfect day in Kuala Lumpur - Travelicious
• Do's and don'ts for your 14 hour layover in Kuala Lumpur - Do Something Cool
• How To Survive An Overnight Layover (Lessons Learnt In My 10 Hours At KLIA) - The Way of the Potato
• Koh Phagnan to Kuala Lumpur - Goats on the Road
• The Stopover: How To Spend 24 Amazing Hours In Kuala Lumpur - AWOL
• Layover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Cafe @ Tinapay
• The KL Layover - Blissful Guro
• Layover Adventures: Kuala Lumpur - No Titles, Just Travels
• 1 day in Kuala Lumpur - Escape Traveler
• How to Make the Most of a Layover in Kuala Lumpur - Go Backpacking
• Kuala Lumpur for first timers - Girl Unspotted
• 10 hours in Kuala Lumpur: how to get the most out of your layover - The College Tourist
• Stopover Kuala Lumpur - Wonderful Malaysia
• My favourite things to do in Kuala Lumpur - Mighty Travels

Top 10 Tour Picks
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. Transit Tour: Kuala Lumpur including Petronas Towers
2. Kuala Lumpur 2-Way Airport Transfer with Petronas Tower Tickets
3. Private Tour: Kuala Lumpur Grand Full-Day Tour with Lunch
4. Full-Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour including Petronas Towers and Batu Caves
5. Eat Like a Local: Kuala Lumpur Hawker Center and Street Food Tour by Night
6. Private Tour: Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur
7. Private Tour: Kuala Lumpur Rainforest and Canopy Walkway Tour
8. Private Half-Day Kuala Lumpur Photographic Tour including Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower
9. Guided Tour of Royal Selangor Visitor Center including Pewter Crafting Lesson
10. Half-Day School of Hard Knocks and Royal Selangor Pewter Tour

FREE KUALA LUMPUR
A few freebies...
FREE self-guided walking tours - GPS My City
FREE self-guided walking tour - Thrifty Drifters
FREE Chinatown self-guided walking tour - Malaysia Traveller
FREE Dataran Merdeka Heritage Guided Tour - Visit KL
FREE Kuala Lumpur City Gallery - ARCH KL
10 FREE things to do in Kuala Lumpur - Lash World Tour
The best FREE stuff in Kuala Lumpur - Travelfish
23 FREE things to do in Kuala Lumpur - MalaysiaAsia

Getting Out and About in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
How to Buy Kuala Lumpur Transit Tickets - Traveladept
Go KL free city bus - About.com
Catch the FREE shuttle to the nearby Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang

At the Airport
Prefer to relax at the airport? There's quite a bit to do...
Kuala Lumpur International Airport Plaza Premium Lounge
Services at Kuala Lumpur Airport - IHateTaxis
10 Things To Do While In Transit - MAHB Airports
How to survive a layover in Kuala Lumpur Airport - Little Grey Box


Related resources
Kuala Lumpur Shopping - Smart Travel Asia
Top Shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur: the place where shopping is a sport - Traveladept
Jaya Grocer: a recommended Kuala Lumpur supermarket - Traveladept
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral review - Everybody Hates a Tourist
Kuala Lumpur Episode: No Reservations With Anthony Bourdain
Malaysia visa requirements - AirAsia
Kuala Lumpur Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur

Rock Your Layover: Almaty

Kok Tobe Mountain, seen from Almaty

Have a layover coming up in Almaty, Kazakhstan? Wondering what you might be able to do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Almaty. Learn what they did, if it was worth it, and their tips.

• Almaty: number one greatest city in all of Kazakhstan! - Life in the Layover
• Arrival in Almaty - Journal Wunelle
• Almaty Layover - Journal Wunelle
• Almaty or Not, Here I Come - Almaty or Not
• Spin the Globe: John T. Edge Tries Horse Meat, Camel’s Milk in Kazakhstan
• Welcome to Almaty - Almaty Expat
• Top 15 things to do in Almaty on a layover - Mighty Travels
• Review: Museum of Folk Music Instruments - maycal on VirtualTourist*

* this reviewer has several good reviews of Almaty sights on Virtual Tourist

Top 10 Tours
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. The Best of Almaty with Green Bazaar
2. The Best of Almaty with Medeo Dam
3. Almaty Mountain Surroundings Tour
4. The Charyn Canyon Tour
5. Almaty City Tour
6. Almaty Today Walking Tour
7. Tamgaly Tas on Ili River with Petroglyphs
8. Tamgaly Petroglyphs Private Tour
9. Almaty City Private Tour
10. Private Almaty Grand Tour

FREE ALMATY
A few freebies...
FREE walking tours, every Saturday! - Almaty Smart Tourism (great photos!)
FREE "robot" walking tour: Recent past of Almaty - Almaty Smart Tourism**
FREE "robot" walking tour: Old Center of Almaty - Almaty Smart Tourism
FREE "robot" tour of Museum of D.Kunayev - Almaty Smart Tourism
**These "robot" tours are via a smartphone app (rentals available)

Getting Out and About in Almaty
Almaty International Airport (ALA) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
Taking Public Transportation in Almaty, Kazakhstan - Wanderlusty

At the Airport
Prefer to stay at the airport? There's not a lot to do...
Almaty Airport Terminal Map
Services at Almaty Airport - IHateTaxis
Almaty Airport Review - Traveladept


Related resources
Reasons to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan – one of my fave cities - KAMI & the Rest of the World
Almaty and Astana are just out of this world - The Independent
Walking Almaty - Walking Almaty
Fitness in Almaty - Almaty Expat
Top 10 things to do in Almaty - Goats on the Road
Famous Danish Architect to Help Redesign Almaty - Kazakhworld
Kazakhstan visa requirements - Carivanistan
Almaty Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Almaty - LayoverIdeas

Rock Your Layover: Philadelphia

Have a layover coming up in Philadelphia? Wondering what you could do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Philly. Learn what they did, if it was worth it, and their tips.

• 24-Hour Philadelphia Stopover - McCool Travel
• 24-Hour Philadelphia Stopover - Part 2 - McCool Travel
• A Layover in Philly - Geeky Explorers
• How to Nail a Layover (in Philadelphia) - Emma Sothern Travel
• 24-Hour Layover: Philadelphia - City of Brotherly Love - NBC
• Long Layover? It's Okay (in Philadelphia) - Finding Linh
• 6 hours in Philadelphia - Tips for Family Trips

Top 10 Tours
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. Benjamin Franklin Walking Tour of Philadelphia
2. Founding Fathers Tour of Philadelphia
3. Segway Cheesesteak Tour in Philadelphia
5. Philadelphia Happy Hour Pub Crawl
6. Philadelphia CityPass
7. One Liberty Observation Deck or skip-the-line with the Lightning Pass
8. Philadelphia Museum of Art General Admission
9. Independence Seaport Museum Admission
10. Philadelphia Hop-on Hop-off Bus options
Bonus: Private City of Philadelphia Driving Tour

FREE Philly
A few freebies...
FREE running tours - Philadelphia Running Tours
FREE self-guided walking tour - National Geographic
FREE walking tours - Free Tours By Foot Philadelphia
Top 10 FREE Philadelphia Attractions - Visit Philly
31 Totally FREE Things to Do in Philadelphia - Thrillist

At the Airport
Prefer to stay at the airport? There's lots to do...
Philadelphia Airport Layovers: The Best Way to Spend Them - Wendy Perrin
Workout While You Wait at Philadelphia Airport - NBC
Have a Layover? Hit the Library (at Philadelphia Airport) - In Transit

Related resources
America's Oldest Street (in Philadelphia) - Final Transit
10 Reasons to Visit Philly You've Never Heard Before - Oyster
Philadelphia Episode: The Layover With Anthony Bourdain
Philadelphia Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) transportation guide

Christmas layover cheer

Perchance you find yourself travelling over the holidays, with a layover on Christmas, we are sending along this little bit of cheer. Make the most of whatever you have, wherever you are.

Merry Christmas!

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Layover bucketlist: Downton Abbey

Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey

Yes, you can visit Downton on a layover.

That's good news for fans of the acclaimed television series, many of who have "visit" Downton Abbey on their bucketlist. As real fans, they know they can't actually visit a place that doesn't exist (that's more than we can say about the tourists who flock to wrong village in search of Downton Abbey).

If you are an independent traveller, or just have lots of time, you can visit many sites on your own (see Best Stops on a Downton Abbey Tour: Put Yourself in the Picture at These Downton Locations).

If you have less time, such as being in London on a layover, there are several Downton Abbey tours you can take that will ease your access.
'Downton Abbey' Town and Country Tour from London
'Downton Abbey' and Highclere Castle Tour from London
'Downton Abbey' TV Locations and Blenheim Palace Tour from London

No time for a scheduled tour?

A few private tour options:
Private Tour: 'Downton Abbey' TV Locations Tour of London by Black Cab
Private Tour: 'Downton Abbey’ Film Locations Tour by Private Chauffeur

 ... and for the serious fan:
Private Tour: 'Downton Abbey' TV Locations Tour of London and the Cotswolds by Black Cab Including Highclere Castle

Related resources
American tourists flock to wrong village in search of Downton Abbey
Discover the real Downton Abbey at Highclere Castle and Bampton
Downton Abbey film locations
Best Stops on a Downton Abbey Tour: Put Yourself in the Picture at These Downton Locations
London attractions: Highclere Castle
London Layover Ideas and Things to Do in London

Layover PaxEx: the FREE airport transit tour

What to Do With Your Next Long Airport Layover - Free Layover Tours

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Killing time during a long airport layover is never easy, or fun. Between the uncomfortable airport chairs and less than appetizing food options, not to mention the noise, exhaustion and boredom - it's an experience ranking somewhere between root canals and filing taxes. Many travelers are unaware, however, that airports around the world offer free layover tours, excursions that whisk you out of the airport to popular tourist attractions, for which all transportation and logistics are conveniently handled by someone other than you. (In other words - a mini vacation and you will be back in time for your connecting flight.) [... continue reading on The Street]

We were honoured to be interviewed by Mia Taylor, the journalist who researched and wrote the above piece, published today on TheStreet.com. And are definitely thrilled to be quoted in The Street!

We are big fans of the free layover tour, so we've updated our blog post, Roundtrip Layover Tours from Airports, with more of the tours cited in this article, as well as private tours you can purchase.

What about you? Have you taken a free airport layover tour? Please share your experience below, or on Twitter using the hashtag #FreeLayoverTour.

Read the full story on The Street
Follow The Street on Twitter: @TheStreet
Follow Mia Taylor on Twitter: @Luxewritergirl

Related resources
Airport Dining Worthy of a Long Layover
Airline VIP Lounges that Wow
Roundtrip Layover Tours from Airports - UPDATED

Take a dip on your layover

Rooftop pool at the Hilton Dallas Airport (which airport)

Ever gone for a swim on a layover? It's one of the most relaxing, restorative and refreshing things you can do. While it's rare o find an airport with a pool (though they do eist), there are plenty of possibilities along almost any itinerary. Here are some spots to inspire;

Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport

Blue Lagoon

Marriott at Tampa Airport

Casablanca Airport Hotel

Saigon Park Hyatt (how close to airport?)

Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Bangkok
 - good blurb, but try to get pic w people?

Massage by the pool at the Best Western at the
Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, 10 minute shuttle ride

The cream of the crop are airports with swimming pools listed among the airport amenities, and available to all guests who are willing to pay the admission fee. For example:

• Singapore Changi International Airport swimming pool

Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel

Almost as good are hotels located inside airports, that are designed with a swimming pool. The best of the best include:

• Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel - non-guests can visit the health club facility (fitness, pool, showers) for $18. That's almost as good as staying there!

A close runner up would be pool boasting hotel connected to the airport, such as by a covered walkway or moving sidewalk - no shuttle required.

But don't scoff the shuttle.



The Leeds Marriott Hotel is 18 km (11 mi) from the
airport, but that's not far if you feel like Shelley,
"Hotels with good pools make me happy.
I especially love it when I have enough time
to swim in them after airport stress."

If you're travelling via a major airport, check the hotels in the surrounding area. You might find that quick shuttle ride worth the reward.

To find nearby hotels with pools located near airports, just use your favourite hotel booking site, and select the swimming pool search filter.

A quick search for "hotels near Toronto Pearson Airport with swimming pool" brought 15 results, within a 5 kilometre (3 miles) radius.

Add another filter for airport shuttle, and the list is further narrowed down to 13 hotels near YYZ with a pool and shuttle, and Bob's your uncle!

Changi pool, try to get people

Kempinski Munich Airport

Camping by Seville Airport

Novotel Hotel at Brisbane Airport - rooftop pool with see through walls

Related resources
Make the Most of Your Layover at the World's Best Airports