Unquestionably the number-one day trip from St. Petersburg, Peterhof lures visitors with its Versailles-inspired palace, which overlooks a cascade of fountains and gardens opening onto the Baltic Sea. Frommer's Moscow & St. Petersburg Peterhof (Peter's court) was founded in 1714 by Peter the Great. The magnificent ensemble includes several palaces and large manicured gardens. The Lower Garden (RUB 400) lies between the Grand Palace (RUB 520) and the sea and boasts dozens of beautiful fountains. The Upper Garden (free) is a more formal garden with five fountains including one depicting Neptune, the God of the Sea. Peterhof's fountain system was designed in the 18th century and does not require the use of any pumps to operate the fountains. The Grand Cascade, located in front of the Grand Palace, ... read more

Bali, the famed Island of Gods, is a serious contender as one of the few paradise left on earth. With its picturesque and varied landscape – from rolling hills, towering cliffs and sandy white beaches, it is no wonder why some 3 million tourists make their way yearly towards this small island paradise. Unearthing Asia Bali Island is a small beautiful island and a part of Indonesia archipelago. It is famous for its rugged coastline, sandy white beaches and clear blue waters. But venture deeper into the hilly landscapes and you will find lush rainforest and volcanic mountains, beautiful rice terraces, remote villages and isolated lakes. Note that apart from long distance buses public transport is virtually non-existent. If you would like to explore the island you will have to join one of the pricey guided ... read more

The Kathmandu Valley offers a vast number of important monuments, including both places of pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhists and old royal cities featuring beautiful architecture. Bhaktapur Founded in the 12th century, Bhaktapur was the capital of Nepal (then the Malla Kingdom) until the 15th century. From then, it was an independent kingdom until it was unified with the kingdoms of Patan and Kathmandu in the 18th century. Bhaktapur is filled with ancient palaces, courtyards and Hindu and Buddhist sites. The Durbar Square, or Royal Square, is dominated by the ornate 55-Window Palace. The seat of royalty until 1769, the building now houses the National Art Gallery. Nyatpol Temple on Taumadhi Square was built in 1702 and is Nepal's tallest pagoda temple. It is decorated with several pairs of massive stone sculptures. Dattatreya Square features the ... read more

Petra was once a powerful trading post on the Silk Route and reached its zenith around the 1st century. It was abandoned after the fall of the Roman Empire some 700 years later and lay more or less forgotten for more than another 1,000 years. In the 1st century BC Petra was the boom town of the ancient world. By the 8th century AD it had suffered two earthquakes and was virtually abandoned. It has been rediscovered by Westerners twice: by the Swiss traveller Jean Louis Burckhardt in 1812 - and Indiana Jones in 1989. Geraldine Brennan, Times Online, 23 June 2007 Petra is Jordan's most spectacular attraction. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive one so make sure to bring enough cash. A three-day pass will set you back a whopping JD 43 (this will ... read more

Venice Venice is still one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This romantic sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character. Venice is the world's only pedestrian city and the absence of cars makes it a particularly pleasant experience. If you want to get around a bit more quickly, there are numerous ACTV vaporetti (water buses). Travel cards are extremely useful since the basic fare for a single journey is EUR 6.50 whereas a 24h travel card costs EUR 18. Otherwise, take a walk. It is possible to walk from one end to the other in a couple of hours. Along the way you will discover marvellous art and superb architecture as well as hidden canals. There are yellow ... read more