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There are great things brewing in Israel.

Amazing must-dos on the Parisian culinary scene in the upcoming months

Read this before you sign up to become a tour guide.

There’s a bit of a disconnect between the public of image of the travel writer and the reality.

Chef Gabrielle Hamilton meets the independent winemakers who bottle the flavor of Sicily.

Exploring the Belleville neighborhood in Paris.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent Matt Gross on a spontaneous journey to Tunisia.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent writer Lisa Abend on a spontaneous journey to Malta.

Sounds: Emel Mathlouthi, Taking It to the Streets

A journey into the ethnic neighborhoods redefining the City of Light

Though it sits squarely in Tel Aviv’s Lev Ha’ir (the heart of the city), Hotel Montefiore feels almost hidden away, not least because of the fact that greenery shrouds much of the restored 1922 mansion. Gaze out the window of the lobby restaurant (where you should, without fail, order the Tunisian eggs for breakfast) and you’re as likely to find yourself leaf-peeping as people-watching. The hotel feels all the more intimate with its grand total of 12 guestrooms, each cozily appointed with well-stocked book shelves and retro armchairs. The vibe here isn’t strictly old-timey, however. You’ll also find a striking modern art collection and a DVD library that (almost) rivals the book selection. As tempted as you may be to binge-watch or read in your down-draped bed, don’t skip a nightcap in the downstairs bar, which is the picture of international style, whether you’re talking about the crowd or the menu offerings.

Founded in 859 by the pious Tunisian entrepreneur Fatima al-Fihri, the Qarawiyin is the oldest continuously operating university in the world. Originally the course of study was entirely focused on the Koran (prospective students still need to have memorized the religious text in its entirety before applying), but over the centuries, music, medicine, and astronomy were added to the curriculum, as well as practices like Sufism. This multidisciplinary place of learning is thought to have become the blueprint for universities everywhere—and it’s still possible for young Muslims to earn a first-class honors degree here. The mosque, which also boasts an area for women’s worship, has space for 22,000 people, making it the biggest in Africa. Though non-Muslims can only glimpse the interior of the complex through various doorways, there have been recent reports that the library may open to the public at some point. (Also note there are several spellings for the university’s name: Kairaouine and Qarawiyyin seem to be the most frequently seen.)

The ancient walled city of Tamerza, at the edge of a beautiful oasis, was abandoned in 1969 following 22 days of (unbelievable!) torrential downpour. A new, modern Tamerza was built to take its place, making use of the oasis in the middle of a canyon. The area boasts a few pretty waterfalls, but the panorama of Old Tamerza remains one of the most beautiful photo ops in Tunisia. Stop at Tamerza, as well as two other picturesque oases (Chebika and Midès) on your way to Tozeur, the largest city in the region and a veritable oasis for travelers looking for some creature comforts.

Tunisia’s Chott el Djerid is an enormous salt lake stretching about 5,000km around the southern half of the country. Neat, tidy stacks of salt line the road that traverses it, and the sight of occasional souvenir stands make you scratch your head, wondering what they’re doing there and who is there to man them. Then you realize how thirsty you are, and secondary questions disappear. The desolate, stretched-out, mirage-inducing landscape is the kind of place that invites pondering, as my friend is doing here, and as Luke Skywalker did before her. Yes, yes, a scene from Star Wars was filmed here, which I only found out later because I’m not a huge fan of the movies (...maybe). You can cross Chott el Djerid on a road running from Kebili to Tozeur, which is arguably one of southern Tunisia’s most fascinating towns. While there are signs for camel rides throughout the surrounding desert, I would leave the camel behind on this one and bring the car instead.

January is a lovely time to visit the Roman ruins at Carthage. Fewer people. Cooler temperatures. And, if you are lucky, beautiful blue skies over the adjacent sea. While the ruins themselves are quite small (especially in comparison to Pompeii or some of the other Mediterranean ruined communities), they make for a nice hour-long tour.