Yes, it probably seems like an odd title for a post, because we, too, wondered about how many beaches there are in Riga. From our fuzzy memories, we seem to recall Riga as being landlocked and in some ways, forlorn and forgotten. But, as you'll - and as we discovered, Latvia offers way…
Like a flock of sparrows in the afternoon sun, it's so satisfying to see when the sparrows (in this case humans) find a way to fly together. And, as we say until we're blue in the face, one of the best ways to do that is to save the planet in any ways that…
As if Japan itself isn't exciting and alluring enough as it is, the icing on the cake is Japan's rail system, surely one of the best on the planet. The country has consistently invested in the development and maintenance of its rail infrastructure. This includes high-speed shinkansen (bullet trains) and extensive urban transit networks,…
If you're not from Asia, you'll often find that it's a most fascinating and unpredictable part of the planet. We love that. Why see the same old same old when you can be a part of something that may be once in a lifetime. And, after running this website for a number…
Here's another article about our favourite place on Earth, London, UK. If you search on our site, you'll see plenty of evidence of that passion. And why not? London has pretty much everything. History, culture, architecture, people from everywhere, food, clubs, events . . . the list goes on and on.…
Who says that web pages are a thing of the past? Yes, everyone is on their mobiles nowadays, even your grandmother. But, sometimes you just need something bigger, more panoramic, to really get the real flavour of a place, especially if you are longing to visit there.
Well, if your trip is still…
New York needs no introduction. Whether you love it or hate it, and whether you’ve been there or not, we all have our own idea of the place, the city that Cornelius Vanderbilt made his playground. Films, TV series and the media have all helped create an image of its neighbourhoods, its population, its buildings…
Finding the Holy Grail would be, well . . . like finding the Holy Grail.
For background, The Holy Grail (French: Saint Graal, Breton: Graal Santel, Welsh: Greal Sanctaidd, Cornish: Gral) is a treasure that serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Different traditions describe it as a cup, dish or stone with miraculous powers that provides eternal youth or sustenance in infinite abundance, often…
Wales, UK, is a place near and dear to our hearts, here at Matouring. Often forgotten or misunderstood when compared to larger-than-life London, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton as destinations, Wales offers a quieter side to the UK. Green, lush with mountains and valleys that are second to none, if you haven't been to Wales, put…
If you visit our site often, you'll know how much we love trains and the railways. In these days of a worrisome climatic future, and the growth of the global population and diminishing resources, we need to be efficient. Rail is just that . . and more. Recently, probably the longest train trip has been…
China is a country that doesn't mess around. With almost 1.4 billion people living in the country, things have to function smoothly, or chaos will inevitably ensue. Evidence of this is that almost 700 km of new metro and tram lines and extensions were opened in 15 Chinese cities during the closing weeks of 2020.…
Rail, Buses & More
Self-service travel shop
If you want to shop on your own, this is the place to do it.
Click on any of the images below to explore our travel partners.
Eurail is the official online sales channel for Eurail Passes, based in the Netherlands. Our fulfilment centers are operating from the U.S.A.,…
Ted Florence is ready for his family trip to Botswana. He has looked up his hotel on Google Maps and downloaded a digital map of the country to his phone. He has also packed a large paper map. “I travel all over the world,” says Florence, the president of the international board of the International…
If you’re one of the roughly 80% of Americans who lives in an urban area, you know how important it is to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Thankfully, the 25 most populous U.S. cities are each home to beautiful, well-maintained trails that can easily connect city-dwellers to the great outdoors. Check out…
Inspired by its sister index, the European Consumer Airport Index, we looked at Europe’s 50 largest railway stations and ranked them in terms of passengers experience, ranked according to a mix of factors ranging from how crowded platforms are and accessibility to the number of destinations and cleanliness.
I am British, but have lived in a number of places over the years. I've visited even more, just like you, I reckon. In the 1960's and 1970's, Britain was on the top of many things. Tech was one, and a highlight of Britain's prowess were the hover crafts that powered the…
We will state right here, right now, that there is only one great rock band. And that band can only be The Beatles. They turned pop music upside down, and left the other bands sitting in the dust. The older you get, the more you know that I'm right. Your editor's…
As you'll know, we're all about travel here at Matouring. One of our fave activities is rail. It's the best and most sensible way of girdling the globe, no matter where you are. 15 to 20 countries with top-tier, highly reliable rail and high-speed networks. Leading nations with world-renowned systems include Japan,…
As the world numbers of humans continues to climb, space and patience goes with it. Of course, it's fantastic that our planet is open to one and all, but we all must be mindful of where we are and how we treat Mother Nature. One win-win solution is to plant yourself - even…
We know that Matouring's audience are curious, adventuresome and always on the lookout for something new. We're that way too. Every morning, we discuss what we should feature on the site: there is no shortage, that's for sure. But this post, courtesy of Germany's always smart and informative excellent DW, we…