Some journeys allow us to pull back the curtain over centuries and civilisations lying in plain sight. Walk a few blocks, and you can pass from an emperor's forum to a student café or from a pharaoh's tomb to a rush-hour metro. Phileas Fogg needed 80 days; pick the right streets and museums, and you'll cover centuries in a long weekend.
In this blog, we’ve looked at ten destinations where the past continues to shape the day-to-day. For each city, you'll see exactly what to do, where to go, and how to stretch your points, time, and money as far as they go.
Europe
Rome
Rome lives up to its ‘Eternal City’ tag, and you’ll see that from the moment you arrive. Not many other cities can quite fold 3,000 years of power, art and romance into everyday life so effortlessly.
It might take a lifetime to see everything, but even a long weekend leaves a mark as timeless as the city itself. Here's our pick of the best places to go:
The Colosseum
Once the heart of Roman entertainment, this massive amphitheatre hosted gladiator battles, public spectacles, and even mock naval fights. Built in 70–80 AD, it’s a powerful symbol of the Roman Empire’s engineering powers and social culture. Re-enact your ‘My name is Maximus’ moment from Gladiator as you circle the Colosseum on your own or with a guide.
The Roman Forum
What looks like a scattered collection of ruins was once the heart of the Roman Republic. Laws were passed, leaders were cheered (or jeered), and gods were worshipped here. Strolling through it now, you get a front-row seat to the religious core of a vast empire.
The Pantheon
There’s a reason architects are still obsessed with this place. Built in 126 AD and still standing proud, the Pantheon’s dome is an engineering flex that hasn’t been matched. Once a temple to all Roman gods, now a church, it’s a quiet giant; beautiful, mysterious, and still making people crane their necks centuries later.
Palatine Hill
According to legend, this is where Romulus founded Rome. Later, it became the site of imperial palaces, making it the Beverly Hills of ancient Rome. Its layers of ruins trace Rome’s evolution from myth to monarchy to empire. If Rome had real estate rankings back then, this was the top of the list.
Castel Sant’Angelo
What started as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian turned into a fortress, a papal hideaway, and even a prison. Connected to the Vatican by a secret corridor, it’s like a medieval survival bunker with river views. History lovers, conspiracy theorists, and Dan Brown fans all meet here.
The Catacombs
When early Christians couldn’t worship publicly, they went underground — literally. These tunnels outside the city were used for burials, prayers, and keeping the faith alive in secret.
The Baths of Caracalla
These vast ruins of a public bath complex show how seriously Romans took hygiene, leisure, and socialising. Built in the early 3rd century, they had libraries, saunas, and even hot and cold pools, all powered by advanced Roman plumbing.
Off-peak return flights to Rome from London cost 23,500 British Airways Avios plus £1 in Economy, while a Club Europe flight will cost 40,000 Avios plus £25.
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Athens, Greece
If philosophy and history are your thing, you’ll find that Greece's capital delivers the full syllabus in 360-degree surroundings. There are few places besides Athens that lead from a Socratic academy to a rooftop bar before the coffee cools.
Here’s our shortlist of where to go in Athens if you love a good backstory:
Acropolis of Athens
You can’t come to Athens and skip the Acropolis. Sitting high above the city, it’s where democracy, philosophy, and architecture came together in the golden age of Greece. Its most famous temple, the Parthenon (built in the 5th century BCE to honour Athena), still manages to humble anyone who climbs that hill, even in the heat.
Agora of Athens
Imagine buying olives while overhearing Socrates question everything. The ancient Agora of Athens was the original town square; part market, part courtroom, part TED Talk. Political assemblies, court cases, and philosophical debates all played out here.
Theatre of Dionysus
The birthplace of theatre as we know it. This is where audiences first wept, laughed, and gasped at plays by Sophocles and Euripides. Sitting in the worn stone seats, it’s not hard to imagine the roar of the crowd or the thrill of a well-delivered line.
Temple of Hephaestus
Blink and you might think it’s still in use. This temple to the god of fire and craftsmanship is one of the best-preserved from ancient Greece, a quiet giant overlooking the ancient Agora of Athens. A reminder that even gods had day jobs.
Hadrian’s Library
Leave it to a Roman emperor to build a library as grand as a temple. Built by emperor Hadrian in 132 CE, this complex housed scrolls, lecture halls, and gardens. What’s left today still hints at the scale of his ambition.
If you’re planning on booking Avios reward flights, a trip to Athens on off-peak return Economy from London starts at 27,500 Avios plus £1, while Club Europe costs 48,500 Avios plus £25.
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Paris, France
Ernest Hemingway once broke his word limit to dub Paris "a moveable feast," while Audrey Hepburn insisted the city is "always a good idea." And who are we to disagree?
Here’s our pick of the places that prove Paris wears its history well:
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Built in the 12th century, this Gothic masterpiece has survived revolutions, wars, and a devastating fire in 2019. It’s a symbol of Parisian resilience, with flying buttresses and gargoyles that feel straight out of a medieval fever dream.
The Louvre
Originally a medieval fortress, then a royal palace, and now the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre has seen it all: monarchs, revolutions, and now millions of tourists lining up to glimpse the Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile.
Palace of Versailles
Just outside Paris, the French monarchy reached its most extravagant peak at Versailles. Think gold leaf, endless gardens, and the Hall of Mirrors, the site of both royal indulgence and the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI.
Panthéon
Once a church, now a secular mausoleum, this is where France buries its greatest minds, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Victor Hugo. A temple to French reason, revolution, and literary genius.
Les Invalides
This complex was built by Louis XIV for wounded soldiers but is now best known as Napoleon Bonaparte’s final resting place. The tomb is suitably over-the-top; grand, solemn, and not exactly subtle.
Conciergerie
This former royal palace-turned-prison once held Marie Antoinette before she lost her head. Walk its dim corridors and you’ll get a feel for the fear and upheaval of Revolutionary Paris.
Place de la Bastille
There’s no fortress here anymore, but this square marks the spot where the Bastille once stood — the prison stormed in 1789 that kicked off the French Revolution. It's a powerful reminder of how quickly history can turn on a single day.
You can book off-peak return Economy reward flight from London for 18,500 Avios and £1, while a Club Europe flight costs 30,000 Avios and £25.
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Prague, Czech Republic
Few capitals cast a spell quite like the Czech Republic's City of a Hundred Towers. Founded more than a millennium ago and gilded during the 14th-century reign of Charles IV, Prague is perfect for slow walks as you take in the castle ramparts and centuries-old monuments.
These are the places that put Prague on the historical map:
Prague Castle
Built in the 9th century and still in use today, it’s the seat of the Czech president and the largest ancient castle complex in the world. It’s seen kings, emperors, and communist leaders pass through its halls.
Charles Bridge
This 14th-century stone bridge connects the Old Town and the castle. Lined with baroque statues and steeped in myth (it was supposedly built using eggs in the mortar), it’s been a parade route, battleground, and open-air art gallery for centuries.
Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock
The heart of Prague’s medieval centre. You get Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance architecture all at once, plus the Astronomical Clock, ticking since 1410.
Jewish Quarter (Josefov)
Once the city’s Jewish ghetto, this compact area tells a heavy but important story. Visit the Old-New Synagogue (Europe’s oldest active one), the Pinkas Synagogue memorial, and the hauntingly beautiful Old Jewish Cemetery, where tombs are stacked due to space shortages.
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Vyšehrad
Often overlooked, this fortress predates even Prague Castle. According to legend, it was home to Libuše, the prophetess who founded Prague. Today, you’ll find sweeping views and a peaceful cemetery housing Czech greats like Dvořák and Mucha.
Wenceslas Square
The stage for Prague’s modern revolutions. From the 1968 Prague Spring protests to the Velvet Revolution of 1989, this boulevard has seen the rise and fall of regimes. Statues, memorials, and museums keep the memory alive.
Powder Tower
A leftover from the city’s medieval fortifications, this gothic gate once stored gunpowder; hence the name. It marked the start of the coronation route for Bohemian kings heading to the castle.
Lennon Wall
Not medieval, but historically loaded. What began as a protest mural in the 1980s during Communist rule became a symbol of youth resistance and free expression. Covered in Beatles lyrics and graffiti, it's still evolving daily.
Off-peak return Economy reward flights from London start at 18,500 Avios and £1, while Club Europe costs 30,000 Avios and £25.
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Asia
Istanbul, Turkey
Whether you first met her as Byzantium, Constantinople or simply Stamboul, Istanbul has ruled and bridged two continents for over 2,500 years. Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capitals have each left their signatures here.
No trip to Istanbul is complete without ticking these places off your list:
Hagia Sophia
Once a church, then a mosque, then a museum, and now a mosque again, Hagia Sophia is the ultimate shapeshifter of world architecture. Built by the Byzantines in 537 AD, its massive dome still stops people in their tracks, almost 1,500 years later. Step inside and you’re standing in the middle of a structure that has lived through empires clashing, merging, and moving on.
Topkapi Palace
This was the heart of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. Think of it as a royal city within a city, complete with harem quarters, treasury rooms filled with emeralds, and relics that once belonged to the Prophet Muhammad.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
Don’t let the nickname fool you; this place is no gimmick. Its six minarets, towering domes, and 20,000 blue tiles earned it a spot on every postcard. Still a working mosque, it represents Ottoman architectural beauty at its most elegant.
Basilica Cistern
Beneath Istanbul’s streets lies this hauntingly beautiful reservoir from the Byzantine era, built to hold the city’s water supply. Dark, echoey, and full of mood, it’s home to upside-down Medusa heads and a mysterious quiet that feels miles from the chaos above.
Hippodrome of Constantinople
Not much remains, but stand here and you’re on the ground where chariots once thundered and emperors heard cheers or riots. Political protests, sporting events, and imperial parades all happened here. Today’s square holds signs of its past if you know where to look.
Grand Bazaar
Yes, it’s packed and chaotic. But the Grand Bazaar is a 15th-century trading powerhouse that once connected Venice to Persia. Walk its endless alleys and you’re stepping into centuries of commerce and culture.
Walls of Constantinople
These ancient fortifications once held back invaders for over a thousand years. Walking along their crumbling edges, you can almost hear the armies that stood at the gates. The city’s long survival owes a lot to these stones.
Dolmabahçe Palace
Istanbul’s answer to Versailles. The sultans moved here in the 19th century when Topkapi felt too old-school. It’s full of crystal chandeliers, gold leaf, and Ottoman-European fusion. It's also where modern Turkey’s founder, Atatürk, died. Every clock in the palace is frozen at that moment.
An off-peak return Economy reward flight from London to Istanbul will set you back 27,500 British Airways Avios plus £1, while a Club Europe flight costs 48,500 Avios plus £25.
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Kyoto, Japan
If your idea of Japan is Tom Cruise striding about in a kimono in The Last Samurai, be ready for a very different script. Once the imperial capital for a millennium, Kyoto still feels like the soul of old Japan, with 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, geisha lanterns flickering in alleyways, and hillside temples framed by maple reds and sakura pinks.
Here's how to make the most of your trip to Kyoto:
Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion)
It’s hard to prepare for the moment you first see it; a temple wrapped in gold leaf, floating like a dream above its mirror-still pond. Built in the 14th century as a shogun’s retirement villa, this is Kyoto’s most iconic sight. Come early before the crowds and you might catch the sound of temple bells cutting through the morning mist.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
With its thousands of bright orange torii gates winding through the forest, this shrine to the Shinto god of rice and business dates back to 711 AD. Merchants and samurai alike once passed under these gates seeking prosperity and good fortune.
Kiyomizu-dera
Founded in 778 AD, this wooden temple stands on stilts above the hillside like it’s floating. No nails were used in the construction, and the view of cherry blossoms or autumn leaves from its stage is the stuff of centuries-old poetry.
Gion District
This is Kyoto’s geisha quarter, still alive with tradition. Visit after sunset, and you might catch a geisha gliding between teahouses like it’s still the Edo period.
Ryoan-ji
Home to Japan’s most famous Zen rock garden. Created in the 15th century, it’s deceptively simple: there are 15 stones, but you can only see 14 from any angle, no matter how you squint. It’s meant to make you reflect, and it does.
To book rooms in Kyoto hotels, you’ll need to fly from London to Tokyo and then catch a 2-hour bullet train to Kyoto. Off-peak return Premium Economy reward seats to Tokyo cost 100,000 Avios plus £405, while Business Class costs 200,000 Avios plus £575.
Africa
Cairo, Egypt
Cairo is loud and layered. And by that, we mean it’s one of those cities where time doesn’t feel linear; more like a constant overlap of old and new, all happening at once. Ancient roots but with centuries of change, and you can feel the layers of time in everything from the skyline to the conversations.
If you want an unforgettable trip to the City of a Thousand Minarets, here are our top recommendations:
The Pyramids of Giza
No matter how many documentaries you've seen, nothing prepares you for standing at the foot of the Great Pyramid. Built over 4,500 years ago, it’s the only surviving wonder of the ancient world and was the tallest man-made structure for nearly four millennia. Standing there, it hits you that some things really do live up to the hype.
The Egyptian Museum (Tahrir Square)
A glorious old-school mess, but in the best way. Rooms overflowing with mummies, sarcophagi, and treasures from tombs that shook the world. Tutankhamun’s mask is the crown jewel, but the whole place feels like Cairo’s dusty attic.
Coptic Cairo
A quiet pocket of the city that predates Islam, home to the Hanging Church (built above a Roman gate) and ancient Christian cemeteries. If Cairo ever feels too loud, this is your sanctuary.
Al-Azhar Mosque
One of the oldest universities in the world and still a functioning centre of Islamic scholarship, Al-Azhar has been shaping thought and theology since the 10th century. Step inside and you're walking into over a thousand years of learning.
Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
This is a centuries-old meeting place for traders, poets, and shoppers. The souk dates back to the 14th century and hasn’t slowed down since.
Holidays to Egypt from London start with booking off-peak return Economy reward flights at 27,500 Avios plus £1. If you plan to book a Club World seat, it costs 50,500 Avios plus £25.
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Marrakech, Morocco
Some cities simply pull you in. Ancient traders felt it, modern travellers feel it, and every dynasty that passed through Morocco stamped its legacy on this ochre-walled oasis at the foot of the Atlas.
Marrakech is best enjoyed in a leisurely manner, but don’t miss these historic highlights while you’re there:
Jemaa el-Fnaa
This is the main square in Marrakech and has been the centre of life here (and the occasional execution) for hundreds of years. It’s loud, lively, and impossible to forget.
Koutoubia Mosque
The Eiffel Tower of Marrakech. You’ll spot it from almost anywhere in the city. Built in the 1100s, it’s one of Marrakech’s oldest mosques and still one of its most important.
Bahia Palace
This 19th-century gem shows off Morocco’s intricate tilework, carved wood, and cool courtyards made for hot days. It was built for a vizier with many wives, so yes, there’s a harem wing too.
The City Walls and Gates (Bab Agnaou)
Built in the 12th century to defend the old city, these red-pink ramparts still wrap around the medina like a protective necklace. Bab Agnaou, one of the most ornate gates, once welcomed sultans and foreign dignitaries; today it welcomes the Instagram crowd.
If you’re planning on booking Avios reward flights, a trip to Marrakech from London on off-peak return Economy flights costs 27,500 Avios plus £1. If you choose a Club World seat, it’ll cost 50,500 Avios + £25.
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Americas
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City sits on what used to be a lake. Give the city a long weekend, and you'll feel like you've travelled through a thousand years, all in full colour.
With so much history packed in one place, here’s where to go if you want to walk through its past:
Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución)
This giant square has seen Aztec ceremonies, Spanish conquests, revolutions, protests, and presidential speeches. If Mexico had a front porch, this would be it.
Templo Mayor
Tucked just behind the Cathedral, these ruins were once the main temple of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. You can walk through the layers of history (literally) and see how modern Mexico is built right on top of its past.
Catedral Metropolitana
Built over two centuries and sitting on top of Aztec ruins, this cathedral shows how Spanish colonisers tried to stamp out old beliefs and how the old ones still peek through.
Chapultepec Castle
Perched on a hill with sweeping views of the city, this was once an emperor’s palace, a military school, and now a museum. It's the only royal castle in North America that housed actual royalty, and it’s been the site of major battles too.
Basilica de Guadalupe
This is the most visited Catholic shrine in the Americas, built to honour the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pilgrims walk for miles to reach it. It's spiritual, emotional, and deeply Mexican.
Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo’s House)
This is where Frida Kahlo lived, painted, and turned her pain into art.
Head to Mexico City on off-peak return Economy reward flights from London starting at 27,500 Avios plus £1. Club World seats cost 180,000 Avios plus £475.
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Boston, USA
Boston is many things to many people. It's the cradle of the American Revolution for history lovers and home to some of the biggest universities in the world for scientists and researchers.
Here are some things to do while you’re in Beantown:
Freedom Trail
This 4-kilometre red-brick path takes you through 16 historic sites, including churches, graveyards, and battle spots. It’s like walking through a crash course on the American Revolution, because this is where so much of it began.
Boston Common
The oldest public park in the U.S., dating back to 1634. Once used for cattle grazing and public hangings, it’s now a peaceful green space, but its roots are deeply tied to colonial life and protests.
Paul Revere House
This small wooden home in the North End is where Paul Revere lived when he made his famous midnight ride in 1775.
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Old North Church
"One if by land, two if by sea." This is the church where lanterns were hung to warn of British troop movements. It’s still standing, and still sending a message about resistance and quick thinking.
Faneuil Hall
Built in 1742 as a marketplace and meeting hall, this was a hotbed of revolutionary speeches. People call it “the Cradle of Liberty” because patriots like Samuel Adams rallied crowds here long before independence was won.
Bunker Hill Monument
A towering obelisk marking the site of one of the first major battles of the American Revolution. The British technically won the battle, but it proved the colonists weren’t going down easily.
USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”)
The world’s oldest commissioned naval ship still afloat. It earned its nickname during the War of 1812 when cannonballs literally bounced off its sides. You can board the ship and feel the weight of naval history under your feet.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
A floating history lesson that tells the story of the 1773 protest that helped spark a revolution. You can toss tea into the harbour yourself and not get arrested for it.
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Off-peak return Economy Reward flights to Boston from London start at 85,000 Avios plus £305 while Club World seats cost 160,000 Avios plus £375.
