Only In Guides/The Urban Explorer

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

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

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.

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...

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.

Thank you @dauntbooks.bsky.social for stocking my @onlyinguides.bsky.social at your historic Marylebone shop.

Food stalls in the Central Market, Tangier, Morocco. Surely a travel photographer's paradise. #tangier #morocco

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

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

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=...

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.

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.

Thanks once again and best wishes to you.

More interesting information. Thank you! I will include this in the next edition of my "Only in Vienna" guidebook (and I'll give you an acknowledgement, too). Duncan

Thanks for this Markus. I did not know that. Best wishes to you - Duncan Smith

Two remarkable buildings in Vienna that are not all they seem. The Votivkirche appears to be Gothic but was consecrated in 1879. The second building looks like an Iranian mosque but is in fact the former factory of the Zacherl company, which made insect powder! duncanjdsmith.com/only_in_guid...

Despite living in Vienna for just over twenty years I've never visited the birthplace of composer Franz Schubert. Yesterday I remedied that and found his spectacles on display. Unfortunately there was nothing to say how both lenses got cracked. #vienna #onlyinguides www.duncanjdsmith.com

Only In Guides sales' brochure for 2025. New volumes on Marseille and Tangier in the pipeline. #travel #guidebooks #travelpublishing #onlyinguides #theurbanexplorer #duncanjdsmith

A glimpse inside some Viennese shop windows in a city where tradition dies hard. #vienna @viennatouristboard.bsky.social

I've just received advance copies of my new guidebook "Only in Marseille". Thanks to Oriental Press (Dubai) for doing such a good print job. I'm delighted. The book will be available online and from bookshops from mid-February onwards. Discover more at www.onlyinguides.com