10 Iconic Shakespearean Sites Every Traveler Should Visit
In honor of the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth in 2014, discover the Bard's most evocative haunts and theatrical inspirations around the world.
Shakespeare's Birthplace in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Image by Glenn Beanland / Lonely Planet Images / Getty Images.
Stratford-upon-Avon, England
William Shakespeare's story began in 1564 on Henley Street in this Warwickshire town. His half-timbered, wattle-and-daub childhood home on a bustling thoroughfare is now a renowned museum, faithfully recreating 16th-century life with period furnishings and a Tudor herb garden. The entire town, often called Shakespeare-upon-Avon, honors the Bard: visit Anne Hathaway’s charming cottage (his wife's former home), Mary Arden’s House (his mother's), and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) Theatre, where his works thrive today.
The Royal Shakespeare Company performs at the Royal Shakespeare and Swan theatres in Stratford; check the program at www.rsc.org.uk.
Verona, Italy
'But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?' Expect camera flashes at Verona’s Casa di Giulietta balcony. Though Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet here, this 13th-century courtyard likely has no direct link to the story's inspiration. Still, it draws romantics worldwide. Verona itself captivates with its ancient Roman amphitheatre, red-brick Castelvecchio, winding cobbled streets, and the curving River Adige.
Entry to Juliet’s House courtyard is free; a fee applies for the house and balcony.
Turrets and gables of Elsinore (Helsingør) Castle, made famous in Shakespeare's Hamlet, framed in the castle gate. Image by Tom Horton, Further To Fly Photography / Flickr / Getty Images.
Helsingør, Denmark
Kronborg Castle, first built in the 1420s to guard the Øresund Strait, was transformed into a Renaissance masterpiece by Frederik II in the late 16th century. Shakespeare immortalized it as Elsinore in Hamlet around 1600. Today, the castle hosts regular Hamlet performances, where stars like Laurence Olivier, Derek Jacobi, and Jude Law have graced the stage.
Trains from Copenhagen Central to Helsingør take 45 minutes; the castle is a 15-minute walk from the station.
Scotland
Shakespeare portrayed Macbeth as a ruthless, power-hungry murderer with a troubled wife, but history offers nuance. The Macbeth Trail, launched in 2013, connects play locations to the real 11th-century king: Glamis Castle (home of the 'Thane of Glamis'), Lumphanan (site of his 1057 death in battle), and Cairn O’Mount, amid stunning Scottish landscapes.
Glamis Castle and gardens, 20km north of Dundee, offer tours March to November (www.glamis-castle.co.uk).
Statue of King Charles I with Scotland's Glamis Castle as the backdrop. Image by Helena Smith / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images.
Maruyama, Japan
In 1997, architects created Shakespeare Country Park near Tokyo, recreating Elizabethan England with half-timbered cottages, a village green, stocks, maypole, replica birthplace, Mary Arden’s house, and a windmill—all built with imported British oak using traditional methods, yet earthquake-proofed.
Located 80km northeast of Tokyo, the park features an on-site theatre staging Shakespeare plays in Japanese.
Alexandria, Egypt
Antony and Cleopatra spans the Roman Empire, but its most vivid, tragic scenes unfold in Alexandria. Cleopatra's (51–30 BC) palace lies submerged in the ancient harbor due to earthquakes, as does the Pharos lighthouse built by her ancestor. Stroll the Corniche and imagine the lost wonders beneath the waves.
The Alexandria National Museum on Tariq Al-Horreya St traces the city's rich history.
Mount Parnitha, Greece
Mount Parnitha National Park isn't directly Shakespearean, but as the setting for A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a 'wood outside Athens,' this enchanting wilderness fits perfectly. Just 30km northwest of Athens, its caves, gorges, peaks, trails, fir forests, fragrant pines, and wildflowers evoke Titania and Oberon’s realm. Summit at 1413m Karavola for magical views.
Bus 714 from central Athens to Thrakomakedones connects to a cable car into the park.
Vancouver, Canada
Though Shakespeare never visited, Vancouver embraces him annually via Bard on the Beach since 1990. In Vanier Park, two waterfront stages host plays, talks, and events against mountains, sea, and sky—affordable Shakespeare with a stunning backdrop.
The festival runs June to September; details at www.bardonthebeach.org.
Isola Bella, Taormina. Image by Slow Images / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images.
Messina, Sicily, Italy
Shakespeare chose Messina for Much Ado About Nothing. A 2002 theory by professor Martino Iuvara claims the Bard was Sicilian noble Michelangelo 'Crollalanza' ('Shakespeare' in Italian), who emigrated to England. Fact or fancy, Messina's sun, pizzas, and piazzas offer a delightful alternative to rainy Stratford.
Ferries link Messina to Villa San Giovanni (20 minutes).
Shakespeare’s Globe, London, England
Built in 1599 on the Southbank with Shakespeare as shareholder, the original Globe burned in 1613 during Henry VIII. Reconstructed in 1997 near the original site using oak laths, lime plaster, and a 20-sided polygonal design, it revives Elizabethan theatre.
Theatre season: April–October; exhibitions and tours year-round (www.shakespearesglobe.com).
All the world's a stage—explore it with Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014.
