City guides are more than lists of things to see — they are about experiencing a place with intention, curiosity, and ease.
From elegant European cities to vibrant destinations further afield, each guide on The Velvet Runway is designed to help you explore thoughtfully — whether you’re planning a weekend break, a longer stay, or simply gathering inspiration for your next journey.
Over the years, I’ve shared travel guides across France, Spain, Italy, and beyond, each one shaped by a love of slow travel, beautiful details, and real experiences.
To make exploring even easier, many of these guides are also available via the GPSmyCity app, allowing you to download articles, access them offline, and follow mapped routes as you explore — a simple way to take your travel plans with you, wherever you are.
City Guides: Travel Inspiration for Europe, the USA and Beyond
Contents : City Guides
On this page you’ll discover:
- City Guides by Country
- Travel Inspiration & Seasonal Guides
- Plan Your Trip with Offline Guides
- Looking Ahead: A Continuously Growing Collection of City Guides
- Final Thoughts
City Guides by Country
France
→ What to Do and See in Nice
→ Ten Best Things to Do in Cahors
Spain
10 Best Things to Do in Seville
Other Spanish city guides you might enjoy:
→ Four Days in Barcelona
→ Madrid City Break
→ Madrid in Three Days
→ Ten Things to Do in Granada in Spring
Portugal
United Kingdom
→ New Year in London
→ Why You Need a Long Weekend in London
Italy
Three days in Florence
Other Italian City Guides you might enjoy:
→ 48 Hours in Venice
→ What to Do in Sorrento, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast
Austria
Dubai (UAE)
→ 7 Experiences You Can Only Have in Dubai
→ Things to Do in Dubai in Winter
→ 7 Best Things to Do in Dubai
Singapore
Turkey
→ Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Istanbul
United States
Los Angeles
→ What to Do and See in Los Angeles
→ Where to Shop, Eat and Drink in Los Angeles
Charleston
Ten Best Things to Do in Charleston
Other Charleston City Guides you might enjoy:
→ Five Best Rooftop Bars in Charleston
Florida
→ St. Augustine Vacation Guide
→ A Luxurious Getaway to Key West
Hawaii (O’ahu)
→ Ten Best Things to Do in O’ahu
Canada
10 Best Things to Do in Banff
Travel Inspiration & Seasonal Guides
Travel Inspiration
While this guide focuses on city destinations, you’ll also find a collection of road trips, hidden gems, and travel itineraries across The Velvet Runway — from coastal drives to more immersive journeys.
→ Explore all travel guides and destinations such as:
These guides offer a more personal and thoughtful way to experience travel. You can also explore road trip itineraries such as:
→ The Ultimate Irish Road Trip
Seasonal & Festive Travel
Halloween
Christmas Markets
→ Baden-Baden Christmas Market
→ Maastricht Christmas Market
→ Christmas Markets in Paris
→ Christmas in Budapest, and:
Aachen Christmas Market– The Best Festive Experiences
Plan Your Trip with Offline City Guides
If you enjoy exploring cities independently, many of these guides are also available on GPSmyCity.
This app allows you to download travel articles directly to your phone, access them offline, and follow mapped routes between points of interest — making it easy to navigate a city without relying on mobile data — particularly useful when travelling abroad.
It’s a simple and practical way to turn a travel guide into a self-guided walking tour, especially when you’re already on the ground.
Looking Ahead: A Growing Collection of City Guides
This guide will continue to grow, with future articles including:
- New city guides and itineraries
- Hotel recommendations by destination
- Restaurant and café guides
- Slow travel inspiration across Europe and beyond
Final Thoughts on City Guides
City travel is not just about ticking off landmarks — it’s about discovering the atmosphere of a place, its rhythm, its details, and the moments in between.
Whether you’re wandering through a historic European centre, discovering a coastal town, or exploring a new destination further afield, each city offers its own story to uncover.
Take your time, explore with curiosity, and allow each place to reveal itself in its own way.
You may also enjoy exploring our dedicated guides to: French Travel Gems, Paris Guides (arrondissements, hotels, cafés), French gastronomy, and Wellness & Intentional Living — each offering a different perspective on living well, inspired by travel and the French way of life.
Love travel? Save your favourite City Guides to Pinterest and start planning your next destination.
You can also subscribe to the blog and select the categories you enjoy most, so you never miss new City Guides, travel inspiration, or French lifestyle ideas.
Look good, feel good, live your best life 🙂
With love,
Editor’s Note: This guide is updated regularly as new city guides are published.
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