Travel Guides

**Continually updated

Planning your next adventure? Explore travel guides from Roaming Historian to discover historic sites, cultural attractions, museums, memorable experiences, and practical advice for destinations around the world.

I’m Amy French, Ph.D., a history professor and travel writer. I combine my background in history with years of travel experience to help you understand the places you visit, choose worthwhile experiences, and plan trips with confidence. My guides go beyond lists of attractions to explore the history behind famous landmarks while offering practical information to help you make the most of your time and travel budget.

Use this directory to browse travel guides by region, explore destination-specific resources, and find advice on transportation, accommodations, tours, cruise ports, and more. Whether you’re planning a trip to Italy, exploring Europe, discovering destinations across the Americas, or traveling farther afield, you’ll find resources to help you prepare for a more informed and rewarding journey.

Start with the table of contents below to find the destination or travel resource you’re looking for. And please keep in contact by following Roaming Historian on Facebook or joining my Italy Travel Tips, Planning, and Inspiration Facebook group. Happy travels! —Amy

On this page

Travel Planning Resources

Whether you want to explore the world’s greatest museums or find ways to stretch your budget without sacrificing cultural experience, these pages cover the essentials of smart, cultural travel.

Europe Travel Guides

Jon and I spend over two months exploring Europe every year. These guides blend my research and experience with the practical realities of navigating Europe’s most iconic cities.

Tips for Booking Popular European Tickets and Tours

England

France

Greece

Italy

We’ve spent nearly a year cumulatively traveling across Italy—here are some of my favorite guides.

Italy Food

Amalfi Coast

Florence

Florence Churches

Florence Landmarks & Palaces

Florence Museums

Florence Culture, Outdoors, Shopping

Florence Food

Milan

Tuscany—other than Florence

Rome

Rome Landmarks/Museums/Outdoors

Rome Churches/Vatican

Rome Things to Do

Rome Food/Other

Venice

Sicily

Spain

Turkey

The Americas Guides

From the Freedom Trail in Boston to the Mayan pyramids in Mexico, North and Central America are packed with fascinating historical sites. Here is how to explore the cultural heritage of the Americas with a historian’s eye.

Unforgettable North American Tours: Hawaii, Las Vegas, Mexico, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC

My Five Favorite Historical Cities in the United States

Atlanta

Boston

Caribbean

Chicago

D.C.

Detroit

Hawaii

Honduras

Mexico

Michigan Locales

Montreal

New York

Philadelphia

San Francisco

Toronto

About the author: I’m Amy French, Ph.D., a history professor, seasoned traveler, and the voice behind Roaming Historian. My husband, Jon, and I spend several months each year traveling the Americas and Europe…exclusively with carry-on luggage. I share stories that blend history and travel to give my readers a deeper understanding of the places they explore. Check out my “About Me” page to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Roaming Historian’s Travel Guides

Frequently Asked Questions About Roaming Historian’s Travel Guides

What destinations does Roaming Historian cover?

Roaming Historian features travel guides for destinations across Europe (especially Italy), the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. You’ll find guides to historic cities, museums, cultural attractions, archaeological sites, and other noteworthy destinations, along with cruise port guides and regional travel resources. When she’s researching a new place, she looks to Viator and/or GetYourGuide to get to know the place better and see what experiences she might have. She recommends that you do the same. In Europe, she also recommends checking out LivTours and The Tour Guy. (Amy’s affiliate links are embedded).

What can I find in these travel guides?

The guides cover things to see and do, historic sites and their significance, museum visits, suggested itineraries, ticket and tour information, transportation, and practical travel tips. The information varies by destination, so check individual guides for details relevant to your trip.

Who writes Roaming Historian’s travel guides?

Amy French, Ph.D., is the historian and travel writer behind Roaming Historian. A college professor, Amy brings academic expertise and travel experience to her writing, helping readers understand the historical context of the places they visit while planning practical, enjoyable trips.

Where can I find help planning a trip?

Start with the Travel Planning Resources page for tools and resources related to flights, accommodations, transportation, tours, and travel insurance. The Travel Tips page offers additional advice on planning, packing, accessibility, dining, technology, and saving money. You can also explore the regional destination pages for advice specific to the places you plan to visit. Her recommended affiliate partners are listed below.

Should I get travel insurance?

Yes, I think so! For me, it is a worthy expense to protect a much larger investment. We use Travel Insurance dot com to protect our vacations. This awesome travel site provides quotes from numerous travel insurance agencies and allows you to purchase them with no added increase to you: https://www.travelinsurance.com/?utm_source=pap&a_aid=65590b3a60c44

Who are your favorite tour partners for Europe?

Two of my favorite European tour partners are LivTours and The Tour Guy. Both offer high-quality, expertly guided experiences that go beyond ordinary sightseeing.

LivTours is a boutique, family-owned company specializing in private and semi-private tours limited to six people, primarily in Italy and throughout Europe. I love their expert, English-speaking local guides and immersive experiences. Roaming Historian readers can save 10% on two or more tours with code AMYRH10 and my link: https://livtours.com?af_code=E1DDN61.

The Tour Guy (link embedded) offers small-group and private tours throughout Italy and Europe, with groups of approximately 15 people or fewer. I’ve enjoyed their tours since the company was known as The Roman Guy! They’re an excellent choice for expert-guided sightseeing and special access to iconic landmarks, including the Vatican and Louvre. I recommend both companies for travelers seeking memorable, informative experiences with knowledgeable local guides.

Viator vs. GetYourGuide: Which platform is better?

I like both platforms. Both offer 24/7 customer service, and feature flexible cancellation policies. In fact, many local European tour companies list their experiences on both sites. The “better” choice usually comes down to which platform has availability for your specific dates or is offering a better price. In my travel guides, I often link the best tours across both Viator and GetYourGuide, as well as specialized providers like LivTours or The Tour Guy, so you can easily compare and find the exact experience you want.

Trusted Tour & Travel Partners

Planning your trip? Here are our trusted travel partners — thoughtfully chosen for quality, reliability, and exceptional experiences.

Looking for an Easy Way to Book Transportation in Europe?

Omio is a convenient option for travelers who want to compare and book trains, buses, and flights across Europe in one place. Instead of navigating multiple transportation websites, you can compare routes, schedules, prices, and travel options through one platform and book with a credit card in a familiar currency, including U.S. and Canadian dollars. Your Omio booking also gives you access to customer support in English, booking management, and updates about disruptions such as delays, cancellations, and strikes. Compare transportation options with Omio: https://omio.sjv.io/PzgOVY

Tours, Tickets, & Experiences: Viator and GetYourGuide

If you’re planning tours, attraction tickets, or local experiences during your trip, Viator and GetYourGuide are two of the most widely used platforms for discovering and booking activities around the world. Both allow travelers to compare itineraries, prices, reviews, and ratings for thousands of experiences ranging from guided historical tours and museum tickets to day trips and unique local activities. Many listings on both platforms include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, which adds flexibility when travel plans change. Pro tip: because these platforms host experiences from many different tour operators, always check recent reviews and overall ratings before booking to ensure a high-quality experience.

Browse tours and experiences here:
Viator: https://www.viator.com/?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector


GetYourGuide: https://www.getyourguide.com/?partner_id=CMSFGKK&utm_medium=online_publisher

Powered by GetYourGuide

Going on a Cruise? Try Shore Excursions Group

If you’re visiting ports during a cruise, Shore Excursions Group is a reliable alternative to booking excursions through the cruise line. Their tours are often smaller, more affordable (sometimes up to 40% less than ship excursions), and led by knowledgeable local guides. They offer carefully designed shore excursions in ports around the world. Even better, they provide a guaranteed on-time return to the ship, giving cruisers peace of mind when exploring independently. Just plug in your cruise ship and sail date and your ports will automatically populate, so you can browse excursions for your cruise ports here:
https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/?id=1634209&data=roaminghistorian@gmail.com

Affiliate Disclosure

Roaming Historian may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links. This comes at no additional cost to you (sometimes you may even find a savings promotional code) and helps support the research and storytelling that go into every article. All opinions are always my own. I sincerely appreciate you helping Roaming Historian out by using my affiliate links. Thanks! Amy

Follow me on my social media channels