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Described by writer Tahir Shah as the “greatest show on Earth,” no visit to Marrakech would be complete without a visit to the famous night market on the Djemaa el Fna. Arrive before sunset and park yourself at one of the various cafés with terraces overlooking the square to watch performers set up; then venture into the fray in search of adventure. Silk-clad acrobats, wide-eyed storytellers, sly snake charmers, jangling belly dancers, and capricious monkey handlers all emerge from the darkness, ringing the edge of the food stalls with their own special brand of entertainment. When you tire of the heckling, prowl the market in search of good things to eat: bite-size morsels of grilled lamb rubbed in cumin, sardines fried in chermoula, peppery snails, and sheep’s heads for the brave. Then nudge up alongside a family of locals at the table and settle in for the feast. If you’re nervous about going it alone, you can sign up for a food tour with Canadian tour guide and all-round good egg Mandy Sinclair of Tasting Marrakech; she’ll help you find the best stalls while introducing you to the secrets and delights of traditional Moroccan street food.

Petra flourished more than 2,000 years ago, trading with Rome as an equal before being abandoned after a series of earthquakes in the 4th and 6th centuries C.E. It wasn’t until the 19th century, when European explorers “rediscovered” it, that the ancient city returned to the public consciousness. Now, visitors can walk down the narrow canyon of the siq to the city entrance—as dramatic an approach as any to a tourist attraction on the planet. The canyon opens up onto the carved facade of the Treasury, Petra’s most iconic site. From there, you can explore the cliffside tombs with their colorful bands of sandstone, the Street of Facades, and the amphitheater hewn from living rock. The ancient center lies some distance off, along with the splendid old Monastery, which sits at the top of a steep but rewarding climb. Consider buying a three-day ticket and visiting at different times of day to enjoy the changing light—early in the morning is best for the Treasury, while late afternoon is better for the Royal Tombs.

An address won’t help you much on Burano. If you’re looking for a specific spot on this tiny archipelago off the Venetian coast, let color be your guide. According to legend, island homes were painted in vivid hues to help fishermen find their way in the fog as far back as the 6th century. While neon shades of blue, green, orange, and lavender may seem random, they’ve been determined by a regulated system for centuries. Even today, property owners must request permission and a selection of permissible colors from the Italian government before slapping a new coat of paint on their aging buildings. Visitors who make the 45-minute vaporetto ride from Venice to Burano are rewarded with a kaleidoscope of tropical hues and a serene island ambience that seems worlds away from the madding crowds in Piazza San Marco. While edible vestiges of its roots as a small fishing village remain in waterfront restaurants serving up heaping plates of frittura mista, seafood risotto, and spaghetti vongole, Burano is better known today for its hand-hewn lace and colorful homes. In the 15th century, its artistic prominence surged when island women began making the famed lace. Demand peaked after Leonardo da Vinci visited to shop for the Burano lace that covers the main altar of the Duomo in Milan. If you’re lucky enough to visit Burano during the pre-Lent Venice Carnevale, you may find new dimensions of color on its four canal-laced islands and picturesque footbridges. A multicolored palette of some 3,000 islanders provides a rainbow of backdrops for costumed revelers. Primping and posing, the fantasy personae inspire storms of clicks from photographers eager to capture the visual feast.

On this Unpacked, America 250, we tune into go-go, the official music of Washington D.C.

See thought-provoking contemporary art, world-class performances, and more at Toronto’s most treasured cultural institutions on this three-day itinerary.

Explore Copenhagen’s winter wonders during this five-day itinerary, covering the most charming and cozy experiences the Danish capital has to offer.

On this episode of View From Afar, host Billie Cohen talks with Visit Detroit president and CEO Claude Molinari about why Detroit—the birthplace of Motown, the American automobile, and deep-dish pizza—is done apologizing and ready for its close-up.

Learn more about Puerto Rico through its creativity and rich heritage, from street art to world-renowned paintings and more.

Eat your way through D.C. with a four-day itinerary of top restaurants, food museums, markets, and unique stops like a zoo and a cookbook shop.

On this episode of Unpacked: Where to Go, Nora Walsh makes the case for Fort Worth as Texas’s most unexpectedly charming city. She shares why the Stockyards and Billy Bob’s still matter, how Museum Mile delivers world‑class art, what’s coming with the Juneteenth museum, and the neighborhood spots—boutiques, bars, and boot shops—that give the city its personality.

Whether you prefer the avant-garde, Renaissance works, street art, or classical paintings, Germany’s art offerings have something for everyone.

On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene travels to our nation’s capital and discovers the difference between Washington and D.C.

Discover why Alabama’s coastline is an under-the-radar gem, from paddleboarding the Gulf to fresh seafood.

On this episode of Where to Go, Aislyn Greene speaks with Matt Kirouac about Albuquerque’s neighborhoods, Route 66 lore, and local favorites, and tips for visitors who want to stay longer.

On this week’s episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, a family travels to Cremona, Italy, to learn how violins are made—and take home much more than memories.