Unpacked by Afar
199 episodes — Page 1 of 4
Dubai Travel Tips From a Longtime Resident and a Native Emirati Chef
The Australia Spa Road Trip That Won Over a Wellness Skeptic
How to See Thailand’s Wonders Without Feeling Like a Tourist
Sana Javeri Kadri's Regenerative Spice Farming Revolution
For a Crowd-Free African Safari, Head for Tanzania's Southern Circuit
What We Lose When a Language Dies
Five Questions for the Man Who Walked a Fault Line in Japan by Feel
Why Women's Travel Writing Matters More Than Ever
Why Buffalo Is a Secret Architecture Capital
Hallowed Ground: The Street at the Heart of Buffalo's Black History
Asheville Hiking, Waterfalls, and the Oldest Mountains on Earth | The Travel Guide
Asheville Food and the Growth of a Farm-to-Table Town | The Travel Guide
Black Mountain and the Region's Creative Soul | The Travel Guide
Asheville Wellness and 150 Years of the Mountain Cure | The Travel Guide
Asheville History and the Making of a Mountain City | The Travel Guide
The City of Good Neighbors: A Buffalo Travel Story of Arrival and Belonging
Beyond the Wing: How Buffalo's Food Scene Quietly Became One of America's Best
Following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail—and the Story It Left Out
Queer Travel Is About Joy, Not Just Safety
Travel to Listen: Everyone Knows Motown. Not Everyone Knows Its Story
Feel-Good Friday: The Viral World Cup Food Obsession and a Very American Bourbon
Why a Michigan Road Trip Might Be the Best Way to Build a Friendship
Feel-Good Friday: An Ode to Obama, New London Museums, and a Hopeful Ocean Story
Why the Best New Hotels of 2026 Aren’t All "New"
Travel to Listen: The Spacey, Sunbaked Rock of California's Mojave Desert
Feel-Good Friday: Australia’s Plastic Win, a Different Kind of Summit Story, and the Women Changing Safari
What a Safari Looks Like When a Woman Is at the Wheel
Feel-Good Friday: A Queer Dance Revolution, Dog-Friendly Hotels, and What Actually Makes You Happy
What My 96-Year-Old Grandmother Taught Me About Travel
Travel to Listen: The City That Made Prince
Feel-Good Fridays: A Road Trip, a Public Health Win, and the Great Millennial Song Debate
Feel-Good Fridays: A Hidden India, a Celebrity Elephant, and the Future of California Wine
Travel to Listen: Why This Southern City Is America's Most Underrated Music Town
Feel-Good Fridays: Pottery, a History-Making Pilot, and a Salmon Race Worth Following
Towing With an EV: What Hundreds of Miles Down the Oregon Coast Taught Us
Feel-Good Fridays: A New Series for Brighter Weekends
We Towed an Airstream Down the Oregon Coast Using an Electric Truck. Here's What Happened.
Unpacked, Five Questions: Why This Photographer Spent Four Weeks in the Egyptian Desert
Forget the Algorithm. Here's How to Actually Eat Well When You Travel.
The Joyful Instrument That Became the Sound of Hawai'i
How Two Years of Phone-Free Travel Rewired the Way I See the World
What if the secret to a great trip was leaving your phone in airplane mode — forever? Journalist Lisa Abend has been doing exactly that, arriving in cities she's never researched, GPS turned off, without a hotel reservation or itinerary of any kind. The result isn't chaos; it's the kind of travel that actually surprises you. In this episode, Lisa makes a compelling case for leaving the phone out of the travel process. Meet this week's guest Lisa Abend is a Copenhagen-based journalist and former Time magazine correspondent who covers food, culture, and travel across Europe. She is the creator of The Unplugged Traveler, a Substack newsletter in which she visits a new European city each month without internet access, a booked hotel, or a plan, and writes about what she finds. In this episode How social media and over-researched itineraries have stripped travel of serendipity, and what Lisa is doing about it The step-by-step logistics of arriving in a foreign city with no hotel, no map, and no plan — and why it's less stressful than it sounds A birthday coincidence on a Cotswolds hiking trail that felt like the universe intervening Why "second cities" — not capitals — are the ideal places to try unplugged travel for the first time How nearly two dozen phone-free trips have changed the way Lisa navigates daily life Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Backpacking Before the Internet 00:04:30 What the Internet Took From Travel 00:09:30 The Unplugged Traveler Newsletter 00:13:00 How to Choose a Destination 00:15:30 Arriving With No Hotel Booked 00:20:00 A Cotswolds Birthday Surprise 00:27:00 Finding Food Without the Lists 00:32:00 Travel as Meditation 00:35:30 Tips for Going Unplugged Resources Subscribe to Lisa's The Unplugged Traveler newsletter on Substack Read Lisa's travel stories for Afar Use Skyscanner — flight search tool Lisa uses to find cheap fares Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the Age of AI, This Is What Only a Travel Advisor Can Do
You've got more booking tools than ever — so why would you hire a travel advisor? In this episode, Afar editorial director Billie Cohen sits down with travel journalist and matchmaker Wendy Perrin, founder of wendyperrin.com, to answer the questions travelers actually have: What can an advisor do that you can't do yourself? When does it make sense — and when doesn't it? How do you find a good one, interview them, and understand what you're paying for? From crowd-skipping at Venice to landing the perfect Egyptologist, Wendy makes the case for what truly expert trip planning looks like. In this episode Why connections (not booking tools or AI) are the real currency of great travel The difference between advisors who specialize in you vs. those who specialize in a place How to interview a travel advisor (and what their answers reveal) What travel actually costs — and why it often isn't itemized Why multi-gen trips and post-pandemic travel are driving a new wave of advisor use Chapters 00:00:00 Why Travel Advisors Still Matter 00:03:00 Advisors vs. Agents vs. Tour Operators 00:06:00 What a Great Advisor Can Do 00:13:00 Choosing and Interviewing an Advisor 00:24:00 Fees, Costs, and Transparency 00:28:00 Cruise Specialists and Misconceptions 00:33:00 Who's Using Advisors Now Links & resources Wendyperrin.com and Wendy's Wow List of top trip designers Listen to our Unpacked episode about cruise travel advisors Explore the Afar Travel Advisory Council Follow Afar at @afarmedia on Instagram and TikTok More travel planning resources at afar.com Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
An Architect's California: From LA's Secret Garden to the Magic of Joshua Tree
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest has been shaping the way Californians live, work, and gather for three decades. Barbara Bestor is the founder of Bestor Architecture, a Los Angeles studio she's led since 1995 — at a time when very few women were doing so. Her work spans coffee shops and corporate headquarters, wineries and community music centers, private homes and historic restorations. She's on the AD 100 list of top architects and designers and has been called one of the most influential architects working in LA today. In this episode, she shares her process, her influences, and the places in California that never stop inspiring her — from a former cult compound in Joshua Tree to a secret rooftop garden at Walt Disney Concert Hall. On this episode, you'll learn: • What "informal formalism" means — and why it's the best description of California's design DNA • How the LA fires, post-COVID remote work, and multi-generational households are reshaping what people want from their homes • Why adaptive reuse is finally having its moment in California • How to actually crack the code on Ojai and Big Sur (hint: find the vegan restaurant and ask your server) Travel recommendations from Barbara: Los Angeles Take the stairs at LA Phil to the rooftop garden Walk the Bradbury Building lobby (free; you'll recognize it from Blade Runner), then cross to Grand Central Market and ride Angel's Flight back up to MOCA. For neighborhoods: Melrose Hill is the current place to be; Magnolia and Victory Blvd in the Valley are time-capsule California. Northern California Stay in the original Charles Moore–designed Condominium One at Sea Ranch In the Bay Area, stay at the Julia Morgan–designed Berkeley City Club Ojai & Big Sur In Ojai, go to a vegan restaurant and ask your server where to go — that's how you find the hidden hot springs. Hotel El Roblar (designed by Ramin Shamshiri) is the new splurge hotel in Ojai. In Big Sur, Nepenthe is the move: a Wright-influenced 1950s restaurant with a giant patio and sweeping views. Joshua Tree Drive in from the top and exit at the low desert — two completely different biomes. Stay at the Institute of Mentalphysics, where the rooms were designed by Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright Catch a show at Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown, then detour to Palm Springs and take the Sunnylands tour for "peak high-sixties modernist golf living." Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 From Cambridge to California 00:04:00 What Informal Formalism Means 00:06:00 Designing for How We Live Now 00:09:00 California's Architectural Legacy 00:16:00 LA Neighborhoods Worth Exploring 00:23:00 An Architecture Tour of California 00:34:00 Joshua Tree and the Desert 00:39:00 Where Barbara Goes to Recharge Resources Bestor Architecture Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube. Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring Roderick Wyllie and Obi Kaufmann. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
He's Been Designing California's Outdoors for Decades. Here's What He's Learned.
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest has literally shaped the ground beneath many Californian's feet. Roderick Wyllie is an award-winning landscape architect and founding partner of Surfacedesign Inc. A rare San Francisco native, he's helped design some of the Bay Area's most beloved public spaces, including the Lands End Visitor Center above Sutro Baths, a plaza at the Golden Gate Bridge, and Mission Bayfront Park. He also teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In this episode, Roderick talks about growing up in 1970s San Francisco, what it means to design with rather than against a place, and why he thinks California's greatest creative export might be optimism. On this episode, you'll learn: What it was like to grow up in San Francisco in the 1970s and 80s — and how that "wild frontier" shaped Roderick's creative practice Why Surfacedesign approaches every project like a crime scene investigation, searching for the story embedded in the land How Roderick thinks about water — both as a design tool and as a precious resource in a drought-prone state What he's learning from a current winery rethink at the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Where he sends travelers who want to experience California through the lens of landscape and design Travel Recommendations from Roderick: Wineries & Gardens Faust, Napa Valley — A Victorian estate with planting designed to move from light to dark, inspired by the mythology of Faust; beautiful valley views Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma — One of California's most historically significant wine sites, beautifully sited with two landmark historic buildings Scribe, Sonoma — A more informal, less precious winery experience; Roderick especially admires the landscape work by Terramoto Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek — A masterwork dry garden celebrating the succulent landscape; Roderick calls it "spectacular" Lotusland, Montecito — A fantasy of a California landscape with a larger-than-life history; the opera singer founder married nine times The Huntington, San Marino/Pasadena — Impeccably maintained, a spectacular garden destination Parks & Natural Spaces Golden Gate Park, San Francisco — "It always feels a little bigger than I think it's going to be" Point Reyes / Inverness — Roderick's favorite stretch of coast, particularly for seeing tule elk in the fog Blunk Space gallery, Point Reyes Station — A small gallery connected to the legacy of California sculptor JB Blunk Restaurants & Markets Valley Bar + Bottle, Sonoma — Informal, locally sourced, creative; Roderick's top pick Zuni Café, San Francisco — A California cuisine institution on Market Street; intimate despite its size Ferry Building Farmers Market, San Francisco — "Incredible to see these purveyors that are focused on peppers only or something like that" Modern Appealing Clothing (MAC), Hayes Valley — A quietly iconic SF clothing store recently named one of the 50 best in the US by the New York Times; Roderick designed a small interior garden inside the space Art & Culture Minnesota Street Project, Dogpatch — A collection of galleries with constantly rotating programming Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito — Roderick and his team designed eucalyptus-inspired play structures; worth a visit even without kids Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Growing Up in San Francisco 00:05:00 How Surfacedesign Works 00:08:00 Iconic Bay Area Projects 00:14:00 Water as Design and Resource 00:20:00 Designing Winery Landscapes 00:27:00 The California Creative Mindset 00:35:00 Where to Go in California Resources Surfacedesign Inc. — Roderick's firm Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring naturalist Obi Kaufmann and architect Barbara Bestor Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Naturalist Who's Been Decoding—and Painting—California's Wild Spaces for 30 Years
This is a very special episode of Unpacked by Afar. This week, we hosted Unpacked Live — a live version of the podcast — in partnership with Visit California in Dallas, Texas. The event celebrated California's extraordinary creative landscape, and today's guest is one of its most original voices. Obi Kaufmann is a naturalist, writer, and illustrator whose California Field Atlas series has redefined what a nature book can be. His books — filled with hand-painted watercolor maps, poetry, and decades of ecological research — don't tell you where to go or what you're looking at. They ask why the landscape works the way it does, and what it means to truly belong to a place. In this episode, Obi talks about growing up exploring Mount Diablo in Northern California, what makes a field atlas, and why he believes the future of California conservation depends on better poetry. On this episode, you'll learn: What a "field atlas" is — and why Obi had to invent the genre himself How Indigenous stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge are reshaping conservation in California Why Obi, one of California's great wilderness writers, is a proud city dweller in Oakland What to expect from his next three books Where to go right now to experience California's wildflower season at its peak Travel Recommendations from Obi: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — Keep your eye on the California Native Plant Society or CalFlora for super bloom alerts; the window can be as short as a week Death Valley National Park — Another prime super bloom destination; timing is everything Big Sur — Highway 1 is open again; Obi recommends climbing a mountain and watching for California condors, which have rebounded from just 17 individuals in 1987 to over 500 today Pinnacles National Park — The smallest and least visited national park in California, with condor sightings along the High Peaks Trail; Obi calls it "a beautiful gem of wilderness" Mount Diablo — Obi's home mountain, 25 miles east of San Francisco; a lifelong study in ecological wonder Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:00 Growing Up on Mount Diablo 00:05:00 Inventing the Field Atlas 00:10:00 Conservation and the Word "Wilderness" 00:30:00 Living as an Urban Naturalist 00:37:00 What's Next: Books 7 Through 10 00:41:00 Where to Experience California Now Resources Obi Kaufmann's website and books Explore the Afar guide to California Watch the live recording of our Dallas event on YouTube Listen to our other Unpacked Live episodes featuring architect Barbara Bestor and landscape designer Roderick Wyllie Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Drama, Geopolitics, and Glory: Inside the World Cup
Show Notes The World Cup is more than a soccer tournament — it's a mirror for geopolitics, national identity, and the power of global fandom. In this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down with British journalist Jonathan Wilson, author of The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup, to explore the drama, corruption, and beauty that have defined the tournament across a century. In this episode, you'll learn: How hosting the World Cup has evolved from a nation-building tool to its current complex state — and who benefits now. What the expansion from 32 to 48 teams really means for the quality and spectacle of the game. Which teams Jonathan is watching in 2026, and the dark-horse picks you might not have on your radar. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome to the World Cup Edition 00:01:30 Jonathan's Soccer Origin Story 00:07:30 Soccer, Politics, and Power 00:11:00 Who Actually Benefits From Hosting 00:21:30 The 2026 Expansion to 48 Teams 00:31:30 Teams to Watch in 2026 00:35:30 Stadiums With Stories Meet this week's guest: Jonathan Wilson, British sports journalist and author of The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup Resources: Explore Jonathan Wilson's books and writing on his website. Read The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup for the full sweep of FIFA history and drama. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This Theater Was a Refuge for Queer Americans. Now It's Been Reborn.
bonusShe’s 104 years old, newly renovated, and she’s ready for her close-up. On this episode of Unpacked: America 250, host Aislyn Greene talks about the newly renovated Castro Theatre in San Francisco, a $41 million transformation of one of America’s most beloved LGBTQ+ landmarks. Aislyn sits down with Mary Conde, SVP at Another Planet Entertainment, the independent concert promoter behind the renovation, to explore what it took to bring this icon back to life, and why this was always about more than a building. In this episode, you'll learn The history behind the Castro Theatre, from a Lebanese immigrant’s grocery store to a 1,400-seat icon. How the Castro became the heartbeat of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. What a $41 million renovation actually looks like, from a peach-glazed ceiling to a color-changing chandelier. The story of the organs (yes, plural) that have defined the Castro’s sound for decades. Why Another Planet Entertainment sees this as a gift to San Francisco, not just a business investment. Chapters 00:00:00 The Castro's Comeback 00:02:00 From Grocery Store to Icon 00:05:30 A Safe Harbor for a Community 00:09:00 Inside the Renovation 00:13:00 The Organ's New Life 00:15:30 What's Coming Next Meet this week’s guest Mary Conde, Senior Vice President at Another Planet Entertainment and a lifelong San Franciscan who has shaped the city’s music scene for decades. Another Planet is the independent concert promoter behind Outside Lands and the recent mayoral inauguration party, and the company that took on the Castro’s renovation. Resources Read the transcript of this episode. Explore the history of the Castro Theater. Buy tickets for upcoming Castro events. Read about the Frameline LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Hidden History of the World's Most Powerful Travel Document
Before you board an international flight, before you cross a border, you need a passport. But how much do you really know about the little book that controls where you can and cannot go in this world? On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene sits down with Patrick Bixby, an English professor at Arizona State University and author of the book License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport, which explores how a bureaucratic document became one of the most emotionally loaded objects in human history. In the episode, they discuss the passport as a paradox: a document that simultaneously promises freedom and enforces control, that carries the hopes of liberation and the machinery of surveillance. You'll come away seeing that little booklet in your drawer in a completely different light. In this episode, you'll learn Why the passport as we know it was born out of World War I — and why those wartime controls never went away. How the word "passport" dates to 15th-century France, and why Shakespeare wrote about it. What Frederick Douglass's passport journey reveals about citizenship, race, and the fight for identity.Why the US passport ranks around 30th in global passport power — and what that means for American travelers. What's coming next: digital borders, blockchain credentials, and the end of the stamp. Key chapters 00:00:00 The Paradox of the Passport 00:04:00 A History Older Than Nations 00:09:00 The WWI Origins of Modern Travel 00:11:00 Gender, Race, and the Document 00:16:00 What Makes a Passport Powerful 00:20:00 Stamps, Surveillance, and the Digital Border 00:26:00 Do You Believe in the Passport? Meet this week's guest Patrick Bixby, English professor, cultural historian, and author of License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport Resources Read the afar.com story about the world's most powerful passports. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Military Secret That Could End Your Jet Lag Suffering
Jet lag doesn't have to ruin your trip. On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene shares her game-changing experience using a jet lag protocol originally developed for Navy SEALs—and digs into the fascinating science of why it works. She speaks with Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, one of Stanford's leading circadian rhythm researchers, and Andrew Herr, the founder of Flykitt, who transformed military sleep science into a practical travel solution. In this episode, you'll learn What's really happening in your body when you cross time zones Why light exposure is exponentially more powerful than you think How psychology and expectation affect your jet lag experience The surprising role of inflammation in post-flight fatigue Episode chapters 00:00:00 The Unofficial Travel Tax 00:01:45 Inside Your Circadian Clock 00:05:30 Light, Food, and Melatonin 00:09:00 How Flykitt Was Born 00:11:30 The Protocol, Step by Step Meet this week's guests Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Andrew Herr, Founder of Flykitt Resources Read Aislyn's full Fly Kit review and experience Try Flykitt yourself: Afar listeners get 10% off with promo code AFAR10 Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Beyond the Canals: An Insider’s Guide to Amsterdam’s Real Neighborhoods
Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most overtouristed cities—but it’s also so much more than the crowds in the city center suggest. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar’s ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—host Aislyn Greene is joined by journalist Blane Bachelor, who moved to Amsterdam during the pandemic and has spent years navigating life as a resident. She shares how to experience the real Amsterdam—the neighborhoods, restaurants, and rhythms that exist just beyond the tourist-packed city center. In this episode, you’ll learn • Why Amsterdam’s overtourism problem is really concentrated in just a few city-center neighborhoods—and how to avoid them • The best neighborhoods to stay in, including the artsy Noord and the very-Dutch Oost • When to visit for fewer crowds: the Amsterdam Light Festival in November and King’s Day in April • How to experience the Red Light District (De Wallen) thoughtfully and with historical context • The unwritten rules of cycling in Amsterdam—and why this is not the place to shake off the cobwebs • Where locals actually eat and drink, including a 17th-century gilded unicorn and a cash-only Dutch bar Episode chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:30 Amsterdam's overtourism problem 12:00 Best neighborhoods to stay in: Oost and Noord 15:00 Best times to visit 21:00 Where to stay: hotels vs. Airbnb 24:30 First-timer tips for the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum 29:00 Navigating the Red Light District (De Wallen) 40:30 Dutch culture: directness, English fluency, and learning a few words 43:00 Cycling in Amsterdam: rules, etiquette, and survival tips Resources • Read Blaine’s Amsterdam Off the Beaten Path story on afar.com • Follow Blaine’s Dutch adventures on Instagram • Check out our Iceland and England Off the Tourist Trail episodes Where to Stay • Rosewood Amsterdam — The last hotel to be built in Amsterdam due to overtourism restrictions • Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht — Playful Dutch-designed interiors; canal-view rooms feel like you’re on the water • The Hoxton, Amsterdam — Two locations; the Eastern Docklands outpost is a local favorite • Hotel Arena — In Oost; known for its exceptional weekend brunch buffet What to Do • Anne Frank House — Book immediately; tickets drop every Tuesday at 10 AM Amsterdam time, six weeks out • Rijksmuseum — Check for evening hours for a slightly less hectic visit • Prostitution Information Centre (De Wallen) — A thoughtful entry point into De Wallen’s history and culture • Vintage salon boat canal tours — Go small and guided; avoid the large party “buses” • Amsterdam Light Festival — November–January; illuminated art along the canals • King’s Day (Koningsdag) — April 27; street markets, orange everything, genuinely local vibe • Free ferries from Amsterdam Centraal to Noord — Walk or ride your bike on; no ticket needed • Tulip fields near Keukenhof — View from the field edges in spring; don’t walk into the flowers • SAIL Amsterdam 2030 — The world’s largest maritime event, returning in 2030 Stay Connected • Sign up for Behind the Mic, our podcast newsletter with episode news and behind-the-scenes details. • Also from Afar: View From Afar (the future of travel) and Travel Tales (first-person travel stories). Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media’s podcast network. To advertise, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices