Standing in front of a museum display is one thing, but running your hands over the stones of a thousand-year-old fortress is something else entirely.
So, if this year you want to go on a trip that pulls you straight into the past, these destinations are the places where it lingers in the air – no polished tours and glass cases.
Cairo, Egypt
It’s only natural that the first place on our list is the city of Cairo in Egypt, the birthplace of the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. The Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza are, of course, the main attraction, but if you’re really interested in history, you know that they’re just the start. After you’re done with visiting them, step off the beaten path and let the real magic happen.
For instance, you can climb down into the ancient corridors of the pyramids of Dahshur, which are lesser-known yet just as stunning, or visit the medieval alleys of Islamic Cairo, where the mosques and markets have barely changed in centuries.
Aran Islands, Ireland
The Emerald Isle is packed with history, yet no other place can make you feel like the Aran Islands do. These three windswept rocks off the west coast are known for their scenic landscapes, but they’re also ancient and untouched, with roads made of cracked limestone and tiny cottages that are just as inviting as they were a few centuries ago.
Ditch the mainland, take the ferry, and spend a day visiting the prehistoric clifftop of Dún Aonghasa that’s been there since the Bronze Age – no guard rails, no tourist traps, just you, the stone, and the waves below.
While at it, don’t forget to get yourself an Aran sweater, or even better, order one from Gaelsong right before the trip. These sweaters have been knit by the locals for more than a century, with each pattern holding a special meaning, and wearing one is the only right way to enjoy the Aran Islands without feeling like an outsider.
Aran Island, Ireland / Pixabay
Kyoto, Japan
While Tokyo sprinted toward the future and became one of the most modern and innovative cities on earth, it seems like Kyoto didn’t get the same memo. This city held onto its past, preserving temples, traditions, and these days, it’s the closest thing you’ll get to walking into a samurai-era painting.
As always, go beyond the tourist-packed areas and find the side streets where wooden machiya houses still stand, visit a teahouse that’s been in the same family for generations, or spend a night in a ryokan, where tatami mats and paper doors make the modern world feel far away.
Rome, Italy
Rome might be a popular tourist destination, but if you look beyond the Instagram-worthy cafes and restaurants, you’ll notice just how much this city did to preserve its history. You can walk past a 2000 year old ruin on your way to get coffee, sit on a bench that might’ve been used by a gladiator’s fan, or lean against a wall that stood before your country even existed.
Instead of going on a standard Colosseum tour, head to the ancient underground tunnels, or visit Basilica di San Clemente, where you can literally descend through layers of time, from a 12th century church down to a 4th century one. In Rome, you can feel history under your fingertips, carved deep into the very foundation of the city.
