Only In Guides/The Urban Explorer
@onlyinguides.bsky.social
City guidebooks for independent cultural travellers. Written by Duncan JD Smith and published by The Urban Explorer. www.onlyinguides.com https://linktr.ee/onlyinguides
Austrians celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th. Traced back to the 4th century Bishop of Myra in Turkey, he rewards good children with gifts, whilst his opposite number, the devilish Krampus, deals with the naughty ones! Both appear in chocolate form in Vienna's sweet shops.
November 25, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Austrians celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th. Traced back to the 4th century Bishop of Myra in Turkey, he rewards good children with gifts, whilst his opposite number, the devilish Krampus, deals with the naughty ones! Both appear in chocolate form in Vienna's sweet shops.
Thank you Wanderlust Travel Magazine and Stanfords Travel for namechecking my 'Only In Guides' alongside other indie travel publishers Bradt Guides and Wild Things Publishing. More details at www.onlyinguides.com. #tangier #morocco #onlyintangier #onlyinguides #theurbanexplorer #duncanjdsmith
November 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Thank you Wanderlust Travel Magazine and Stanfords Travel for namechecking my 'Only In Guides' alongside other indie travel publishers Bradt Guides and Wild Things Publishing. More details at www.onlyinguides.com. #tangier #morocco #onlyintangier #onlyinguides #theurbanexplorer #duncanjdsmith
Just published! My brand new guidebook "Only in Tangier". Containing fifty-five thematic chapters, lots of colour photos, and two fold-out maps, I hope it will help independent cultural travellers get under the skin of this fabled Moroccan port city. #tangier #morocco #onlyintangier #onlyinguides
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Just published! My brand new guidebook "Only in Tangier". Containing fifty-five thematic chapters, lots of colour photos, and two fold-out maps, I hope it will help independent cultural travellers get under the skin of this fabled Moroccan port city. #tangier #morocco #onlyintangier #onlyinguides
Spot the 'Only In Guides'! It is always a pleasure (and an honour) to find my guidebooks on the shelves at the wonderful @dauntbooks.bsky.social in Marylebone, London. #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer
October 31, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Spot the 'Only In Guides'! It is always a pleasure (and an honour) to find my guidebooks on the shelves at the wonderful @dauntbooks.bsky.social in Marylebone, London. #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer
Thank you Ulla Remmer at Buchhandlung Franz Leo in Vienna for stocking my "Only in Vienna" guidebook. In business for more than two centuries, Ulla's shop is a book lover's paradise. #vienna #onlyinvienna #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer
October 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Thank you Ulla Remmer at Buchhandlung Franz Leo in Vienna for stocking my "Only in Vienna" guidebook. In business for more than two centuries, Ulla's shop is a book lover's paradise. #vienna #onlyinvienna #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer
A big thank you to this young lady for modelling so nicely my "Only in Boston" guidebook during a visit to the Harvard Book Store. Discover Boston’s Revolutionary history, visionary urban planning and world-class cultural institutions with this explorer’s guidebook. @harvardbookstore.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
A big thank you to this young lady for modelling so nicely my "Only in Boston" guidebook during a visit to the Harvard Book Store. Discover Boston’s Revolutionary history, visionary urban planning and world-class cultural institutions with this explorer’s guidebook. @harvardbookstore.bsky.social
Thank you Christian at Café Göttlich & Freud in Vienna for stocking my "Only in Vienna" book, now in its 5th edition. Café Göttlich & Freud is the modern coffeehouse with a traditional twist. Recommended! #vienna #onlyinvienna #duncanjdsmith #onlyinguides #theurbanexplorer
October 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Thank you Christian at Café Göttlich & Freud in Vienna for stocking my "Only in Vienna" book, now in its 5th edition. Café Göttlich & Freud is the modern coffeehouse with a traditional twist. Recommended! #vienna #onlyinvienna #duncanjdsmith #onlyinguides #theurbanexplorer
During my recent tour of the Greek Peloponnese, I came upon a Byzantine church dating back to the 13th century. Located in the village of Nomitsi, it is dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian, and contains many beautiful albeit faded frescoes, all bathed in heavenly light. A special place indeed.
September 30, 2025 at 9:28 AM
During my recent tour of the Greek Peloponnese, I came upon a Byzantine church dating back to the 13th century. Located in the village of Nomitsi, it is dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian, and contains many beautiful albeit faded frescoes, all bathed in heavenly light. A special place indeed.
After more than 40 years I recently returned to the archaeological site of Mycenae in the Greek Peloponnese. The legendary home of King Agamemnon, it was here in 1876 that amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann unearthed golden treasures galore and evidence of the Bronze Age Mycenaean Greeks.
September 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
After more than 40 years I recently returned to the archaeological site of Mycenae in the Greek Peloponnese. The legendary home of King Agamemnon, it was here in 1876 that amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann unearthed golden treasures galore and evidence of the Bronze Age Mycenaean Greeks.
My new guidebook "Only in Tangier" coming October 2025 will feature not only the city's unique places but also its warm-hearted people. Artisans young and old pursue traditional crafts with pride and passion. "Only in Tangier" is available to pre-order now at www.duncanjdsmith.com.
September 11, 2025 at 10:07 AM
My new guidebook "Only in Tangier" coming October 2025 will feature not only the city's unique places but also its warm-hearted people. Artisans young and old pursue traditional crafts with pride and passion. "Only in Tangier" is available to pre-order now at www.duncanjdsmith.com.
New guidebook "Only in Tangier" coming October 2025. Old forts and new mosques, historic hotels and contemporary gardens, traditional crafts and modern art. Available to pre-order here: duncanjdsmith.com/only_in_guid...
September 3, 2025 at 6:48 PM
New guidebook "Only in Tangier" coming October 2025. Old forts and new mosques, historic hotels and contemporary gardens, traditional crafts and modern art. Available to pre-order here: duncanjdsmith.com/only_in_guid...
Just finished the cover design for my forthcoming guidebook "Only in Tangier". The main photo shows the Cape Spartel lighthouse, which overlooks the spot where the Atlantic meets the Mediterannean. Discover further details and pre-order now here: duncanjdsmith.com/only.../only... #tangier
August 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Just finished the cover design for my forthcoming guidebook "Only in Tangier". The main photo shows the Cape Spartel lighthouse, which overlooks the spot where the Atlantic meets the Mediterannean. Discover further details and pre-order now here: duncanjdsmith.com/only.../only... #tangier
Calling all travellers, explorers, travel writers, and the culturally curious. Each month I publish 'The Urban Explorer/Only In Guides' newsletter featuring 6 items that have caught my eye. If this interests you, please do sign up at www.duncanjdsmith.com. It would be good to have you onboard.
July 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Calling all travellers, explorers, travel writers, and the culturally curious. Each month I publish 'The Urban Explorer/Only In Guides' newsletter featuring 6 items that have caught my eye. If this interests you, please do sign up at www.duncanjdsmith.com. It would be good to have you onboard.
Thank you @dauntbooks.bsky.social for stocking my @onlyinguides.bsky.social at your historic Marylebone shop.
July 8, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Thank you @dauntbooks.bsky.social for stocking my @onlyinguides.bsky.social at your historic Marylebone shop.
Visiting #dubrovnik, #marseille, #seville, #tangier, #trieste, #vienna, or #zurich this year? Get under the skin of these cities with Only In Guides - City Guides for Independent Cultural Travellers. Escape the crowds, go off the beaten track, and enjoy your own urban expedition.
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May 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Visiting #dubrovnik, #marseille, #seville, #tangier, #trieste, #vienna, or #zurich this year? Get under the skin of these cities with Only In Guides - City Guides for Independent Cultural Travellers. Escape the crowds, go off the beaten track, and enjoy your own urban expedition.
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hank you @waterstones for representing my "Only in Marseille" guidebook across your UK stores. It is much appreciated! Discover more about the book at www.onlyinguides.com. #marseille #france #onlyinmarseille #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer
May 6, 2025 at 2:04 PM
hank you @waterstones for representing my "Only in Marseille" guidebook across your UK stores. It is much appreciated! Discover more about the book at www.onlyinguides.com. #marseille #france #onlyinmarseille #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer
There is much more #Zurich than meets the eye, so it's necessary to get under the skin of the place with an in-depth guidebook, and my "Only in Zurich" is one of the few dedicated guides available. Discover more at www.onlyinguides.com #zurich #onlyinzurich #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith
May 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
There is much more #Zurich than meets the eye, so it's necessary to get under the skin of the place with an in-depth guidebook, and my "Only in Zurich" is one of the few dedicated guides available. Discover more at www.onlyinguides.com #zurich #onlyinzurich #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith
My new "Only in Marseille" guidebook tells the story of the city's longstanding soap making tradition. Using techniques learned from the soap makers of Aleppo, Syria, the Savonnerie Fer à Cheval has been manufacturing soap with a minimum olive oil content of 72% since 1856. www.onlyinguides.com
April 17, 2025 at 9:59 AM
My new "Only in Marseille" guidebook tells the story of the city's longstanding soap making tradition. Using techniques learned from the soap makers of Aleppo, Syria, the Savonnerie Fer à Cheval has been manufacturing soap with a minimum olive oil content of 72% since 1856. www.onlyinguides.com
Photos from my new guidebook "Only in Marseille". A ground-breaking illustrated guide to 55 fascinating historical sites in the alternative French capital. Celtic ruins and modern museums, colonial ghosts and ethnic enclaves, street art and culinary delights. More details at www.onlyinguides.com.
April 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Photos from my new guidebook "Only in Marseille". A ground-breaking illustrated guide to 55 fascinating historical sites in the alternative French capital. Celtic ruins and modern museums, colonial ghosts and ethnic enclaves, street art and culinary delights. More details at www.onlyinguides.com.
For a monthly dose of travel, history, photographs, and books please consider signing up to my Urban Explorer Newsletter, here: onlyinguides.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
March 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
For a monthly dose of travel, history, photographs, and books please consider signing up to my Urban Explorer Newsletter, here: onlyinguides.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
Photos from a visit to Vienna's Armenian Monastery. Mount Ararat appears in a mosaic on the floor of the elevator that takes visitors up to the museum., The library's ancient books are rubbed with garlic to keep out the moths! Discover more in my guidebook "Only in Vienna". www.onlyinguides.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Photos from a visit to Vienna's Armenian Monastery. Mount Ararat appears in a mosaic on the floor of the elevator that takes visitors up to the museum., The library's ancient books are rubbed with garlic to keep out the moths! Discover more in my guidebook "Only in Vienna". www.onlyinguides.com
Wonderful example of old school signwriting on a building in my home town of Sheffield in Yorkshire, UK.
March 10, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Wonderful example of old school signwriting on a building in my home town of Sheffield in Yorkshire, UK.
The Victorian Botanical Gardens in my hometown of Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK, including a long-abandoned bear pit. Today's bear fortunately is made of metal!
March 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The Victorian Botanical Gardens in my hometown of Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK, including a long-abandoned bear pit. Today's bear fortunately is made of metal!
With Agatha Christie in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, where she lived for my years with her archaeologist husband, Sir Max Mallowan.
March 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
With Agatha Christie in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, where she lived for my years with her archaeologist husband, Sir Max Mallowan.