Category: Historical Sights

Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2018 but I've updated in 2023 following another visit. Updates in italics
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ***1/2
Cost: ££££

It's the capital city of Austria, and a city with an incredibly rich history being located in the centre of Europe.
Austria has had a recent issue with far right nationalism, and although I saw a couple of other Singh's during my time there, and although it was never overtly hostile, there was definitely a feeling of unwelcomness. things felt a little different the second time around although I still got stares it wasn't as bad.
The architecture of the city is very uniform and incredibly beautiful, with few skyscrapers.
The city produced a number of luminaries in the 19th and early 20th century, and the feel of the city almost transports you back to that time - although I felt I was at least 10 years too young to really appreciate the city.
Main Sights: Schonbrunn Palace, St Stephen's Cathedral, Prater, Hofburg, State Opera, Museumsquartier, Hundredwasserhaus, Naschmarkt, Karlskirche

Summary

Airport Security *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££

No issues with immigration or airport security when arriving or leaving to Asturias Airport
Didn't see a single other Sikh in Oviedo, but people in the city were generally nice (although they stare)
Walkable city with a beautiful historical core
Quieter than other popular Spanish cities and a lot more cost friendly too
Main sights: Catedral de San Salvador de Oviedo, Plaza del Fontan, Casco Antiguo, Monte Naranco, Santa Maria del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, San Francisco Park

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: £££££

A medieval city located at the confluence of three countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany
Widely recognised as the cultural capital of Switzerland
No problems as a Sikh at the airport or going around the city
Cheap to get to (if you're from the UK), expensive once you arrive
Main Sights: The Three City Gates, Basel Minster, Tinguely Fountain, Marktplatz, Town Hall, Old Town

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££££

Just over two hours from Tokyo in a bullet train
Cultural centre of Japan with over 2,000 temples and shrines
Large and unique concentration of Japanese pre-war architecture
No problems as a Sikh getting around the city
Main Sights: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Gion District, Yasaka-Jinja, Nishiki Market, Sanjusangendo Temple

Summary

Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££ (Pisa) £££ (Parma)

Two cities located within a short distance from Florence making them perfect candidates for day trips
Pisa is a tourist town focused around the Leaning Tower of Pisa, although there are at least 12 historic churches dotted around the city
Parma has a decent sized Sikh community and is famous for its dairy, food and historical architecture
No problems in either city as a Sikh, and of the two, Parma is much better to visit
Main Sights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza del Duomo, Parma Cathedral and Baptistery, Piazza Garibaldi

Summary

Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££

A culturally important city famed for its museums and art galleries.
No issues with airport security as a Sikh and its a small airport that is well connected to the city.
City is filled with tourists, which means a lot of tourist traps, an expensive city centre and a lot of queues - but so much things to see and do
Very walkable city with good public transportation
Main Sights: Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Piazzale Michelangelo, Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore, Mercato Centrale, Ponte Vecchio, Battistero di San Giovanni

Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2018 but I've updated in 2022 following another visit
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££

No issues with airport security when landing or leaving Rome Fiumicino airport on two different occasions
Saw only one other Singh during my 4 days in the city, but locals are welcoming and although not as multicultural as London or New York, it is still an open, cosmopolitan city
Capital and largest city in Italy with a history stretching back 3,000 years including being the foundation of the Roman Empire
Main Sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Villa Borghese, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps, Aventine Hill, Via dei Coronari, Trastevere

Known as the Eternal City, the Capital of the World and the first ever large metropolis, Rome as a city is almost unparalleled in terms of its history and impact on the western world.

I decided to spend a few days discovering the history and story of the city with tips from locals born and raised in the city and found Rome to be one of my favourite cities that I have visited - both as a general traveller, and as a Sikh.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

23/5/2022

Summary

Update: I originally posted this in 2018, but have updated in 2022 following another visit
Airport Rating *****
Reception of locals *****
Cost: ££££

One of the strangest cities in Europe, with an eclectic mix of history, culture, beauty, art and seediness.
No issues at all with airport security, and Schiphol Airport has modern scanners so you don't remove liquids or laptops either.
Not the cheapest city to visit, but better value than cities such as Zurich.
In the spring time, full of UK stag parties clustered around the Red Light District, but locals are fine, although there is a growing nationalist movement.
Main Sights: Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, the many museums, two Gurdwaras, canals, Amsterdam Arena, Vondelpark, Red Light District

Normandy, France

14/3/2022

Summary

Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals ****
Cost: £££

Region named after Viking raiders that conquered the province during the 9th century
Largely agricultural with culturally important settlements like Rouen, Mont St. Michel, and Bayeux
No troubles travelling around as a Sikh, and while Rouen has a small immigrant population, there are very few Sikhs and no major Gurdwaras
Places visited: Rouen, Bayeux, Mont St. Michel

Brittany, France

28/2/2022

Summary

Update: I originally wrote this article in August 2020 following my first visit to Brittany where I visited many of these cities, towns and villages. I returned in February 2022 visiting both Dinan and Treguier which I have added here.
Airport Rating n/a
Reception of locals ***
Cost: £££

Home of the Breton people and one of the six recognised Celtic nations
More agricultural and less industrialised than most parts of Western Europe, with a greater cultural homogeneity than larger French cities
No troubles travelling around as a Sikh, but don't expect to see any other Sikhs or even broader South Asians
Places visited: Ploumanac'h, Perros-Guirec, Guingamp, Rennes, Laval, Lannion, Dinan, Treguier, Bourbriac, Pont-Melvez

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Vienna, Austria

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Oviedo, Spain

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Basel, Switzerland

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Kyoto, Japan

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Pisa & Parma, Italy

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Florence, Italy

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Rome, Italy

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Normandy, France

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Brittany, France

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