The way portraits used to be taken in the old days, with a pull down screen of one's choice. I liked this nautical scene! At the Atelier Vicente's studio on Madeira, opened in 1865 and now a museum. See less

The Urban Explorer/Only In Guides Newsletter - May 2026 - mailchi.mp/fc787dc453c0... Tangier Reviewed; Lisbon Ceramics; Cinemas Reused; Exploring Marseille; Only in Dubrovnik; Travellers' Tales. Newsletter sign-up at www.duncanjdsmith.com

Travellers' Tales at 87 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London is a bespoke travel agent, bookshop and gift shop rolled into one. The tiny but welcoming premises offer inspiration galore for trips far and wide. #travellerstales #travelbookshop #london

Camara de Lobos, a fishing village outside Funchal on Madeira, where Winston Churchill came to paint in 1950. #madeira #winstonchurchill #portugal

Thanks to Cherifa Coffee in Tangier for sharing this photo of my "Only in Tangier" guidebook in action!

Heading south again...

Very happy to see my "Only in Vienna" guide on prominent display in the shop at Vienna's MAK (Museum of Applied Arts). I'm in good company there as the book selection is very well curated. More details at lnkd.in/d3kfZhGN and www.mak.at/en

Some classic cinemas in Vienna. Wonderful survivors from the past. I discuss cinema in Vienna in my guidebook "Only in Vienna" available from local booksellers and online. www.onlyinguides.com

Photos from a recent trip to Oxford and its famous "dreaming spires". Here is Christ Church College founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII. It is uniquely a joint foundation of the university and the cathedral of the Oxford diocese, Christ Church Cathedral, which also serves as the college chapel.

A great pleasure to present my "Only in Vienna" guide to Vienna's American Women's Association. A very enthusiastic and supportive group of ladies, with a few men thrown in for good measure! Thank you one and all.

Thank you teaintangier.com for reviewing my "Only in Tangier" guide: "If you are planning a trip to Tangier, pick up the latest in the ‘Only In’ Guides’ series. It’s worth it's weight in gold to make sure you see the sights and discover the soul of the city." #tangier #onlyintangier #onlyinguides

Today I spotted this wonderful gable-end mural of the artist Gustav Klimt on Wiedner Hauptstrasse, Vienna. #vienna #klimt #streetart #graffiti

During a recent visit to Oxford I visited Blackwells Bookshop on Broad Street. In the basement is the Norrington Room, one of the world's largest book rooms. I'm delighted to say that my 'Only In Guides' are on the shelves. #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer #blackwells #oxford

Thank you to my friends Nigel and Angela for using my "Only in Seville" guidebook on their recent trip to Andalucia. Nice to see it being enjoyed with a good glass of dry Spanish sherry. #seville #spain #onlyinseville #onlyinguides #theurbanexplorer #duncanjdsmith

It was an honour to present my book "Only in Tangier" recently to the British Moroccan Society at London's National Liberal Club. Thanks to all who attended and bought books afterwards. It was great to meet you all. #tangier #onlyintangier #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer

Available now! My new guidebook "Only in Tangier". Containing 55 thematic chapters, lots of colour photos, and 2 fold-out maps, I hope it will help independent cultural travellers get under the skin of this fabled Moroccan port city. Available from booksellers and online. Visit www.onlyinguides.com

Just a few of Vienna's historic interiors. Discover these and more in my guidebook "Only in Vienna" available from booksellers and online. More details at www.onlyinguides.com

Images from my February 2026 Urban Explorer/Only In Guides Newsletter. Sign-up at www.duncanjdsmith.com.

In Vienna's Maria Am Gestade church there is a Baroque painting of the Crucifixion, mourners to the left, instigators to the right, the latter including a man wearing a jewelled headband. He is Vlad Tepes (the Impaler), a Wallachian king whose battlefield exploits inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Heading to Tangier? Here are some books well worth reading. Admittedly one is my own recently-published "Only in Tangier" but taken together they offer an inspiring overview of this enthralling Moroccan city. #tangier #morocco #onlyinmorocco #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer

Thanks to Interzone in Tangier for stocking my new "Only in Tangier" guidebook. Located at 43 Rue Ahmed Ben Ajiba, this unique store sells Tangier-related books, films, music & clothes. #tangier #onlyintangier #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer #interzone

"Infinity of Light" is a temporary monumental light sculpture on the towers of Vienna's neo-Gothic Votive Church. The work of Viennese artist Billi Thanner, it takes the form of the symbol of infinity. #vienna #votivkirche #billithanner

I'm happy to say that my "Only in Marseille" guidebook is now stocked at the city's wonderful Librairie Jean Laffitte: www.les-arcenaulx.com/la-librairie/ #marseille #onlyinmarseille #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer

New writing and new adventures for 2026. Stay updated with my monthly newsletter. Sign-up at www.duncanjdsmith. Happy Exploring!

Discover the Only In Guides in 2026! Nineteen titles that take readers off the beaten track and under the skin of some fascinating cities. Designed for independent cultural travellers. Set off on your own expedition with Only In Guides! Click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjWY...

The rooftops of Tangier at dusk. Read all about this fascinating Moroccan port city in my new guidebook "Only in Tangier" available from booksellers and online.

Kicking off 2026 with a piece for the Mediterranean Garden Society about my visit to the Donabo Botanical Garden outside Tangier. A glorious spot on the Atlantic coast bursting with blossoms, bees and the scent of Moroccan mint: www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/122-eden.html

I recently took a tour of Vienna's Burgtheater. A highlight (literally) is the painted ceilings by Gustav Klimt and others. Klimt's sketches were discovered in the theatre cellars in the 1990s & are also on display. #vienna #onlyinvienna #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer #burgtheater #gustavklimt

Edinburgh's old police boxes are a unique part of the city's landscape. Erected during the 1930s, many now serve as coffee shops and fast food outlets. They are discussed in my book "Only in Edinburgh" available from local bookshops and online. www.onlyinguides.com

Edinburgh boasts some beautiful and historic stained glass. Much of it is included in the 3rd revised edition of my guidebook "Only in Edinburgh" available from local bookshops and online. #edinburgh #scotland #onlyinedinburgh #onlyinguides #theurbanexpolorer #duncanjdsmith

'Only In Guides' make great seasonal gifts for independent city travellers. Nineteen titles currently available. Discover them all at www.onlyinguides.com. #onlyinguides #duncanjdsmith #theurbanexplorer #cityguide

An honour to have my book "Only in Tangier" in the window of the city's legendary Librairie des Colonnes. Opened in 1949, the bookshop has welcomed authors Paul Bowles, Truman Capote and Samuel Beckett. Current proprietor Moncef Bouali, seen here, was charming when I visited. #librairiedescolonnes

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

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

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. 23s

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