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Walking through the streets of Edingburgh feels like you have made a journey back in time. You will not get bored of churches, cathedrals, castles and parks here. The annual highlight is the Edinburgh Festival, which are several cultural festivals that take place simultaneously. This attracts many visitors. In the old town you will find the ancient Edinburgh Castle on top of the Castle Rock. From here you have a great view of the city. You can also find the main street of the old part here: The Royal Mile. Including The Real Mary’s King Close, a complex of underground spaces and tunnels from the 17th century.
For those who want to shop: go to Princes Street for the big department store chains and to Royal Mile for the smaller boutiques. And “when in Edinburgh” you must definitely end up in a pub. Maybe you get some inspiration. After all, it was in the Elephant House pub where JK Rowling came up with “her” Harry Potter. Those who have had enough of the hustle and bustle of the city will find Calton Hill in the middle of the historic center, a 100-meter high hill with numerous monuments. You can also flee to Princes Street Gardens, a beautiful park at the foot of Castle Rock.
Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities on the Adriatic Sea. This historic coastal city in southern Croatia has it all: old streets and houses, picturesque town squares, interesting islands and nice beaches. Stroll over the medieval fortress wall that surrounds the Port City and stroll through the main street Stradun of the medieval town center.
Furthermore, you can admire the Cathedral of Dubrovnik, the Sponza Palace and the Palace of the Rector. And on a rock about 37 meters above the sea stands Fort Lovrijenac. You can also spend a wonderful day at the beaches of Dubrovnik. Note that more people have discovered that Dubrovnik is the ideal combination between sun, sea, city and beach. It is therefore advisable to go in the spring or autumn to avoid the worst crowds. And one last tip: rent a car for a day and drive to Bosnia. Mostar, a famous bridge, is only a 2.5-hour drive away.
Florence (Firenze) is the birthplace of the Renaissance; famous artists, writers and scientists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo have lived here. The city is enchanting and romantic, but also busy. The lively street scene is complemented by sunny terraces, cozy osterias, pizzerias and ice-cream parlors. This cultural city is full of sights. So, plan before you go what you want to see, because it is difficult to see everything in one visit. The absolute must-see and hard-to-miss attraction is the Duomo, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. You will also find Michelangelo’s original “David” in Florence in the Galleria dell’Accademia. In the atmospheric Piazza della Signoria you will find a lot of cozy cafés and terraces in the middle of the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall, the Uffizi museum and the Loggia dei Lanzi. Furthermore, the to-do list should definitely include the iconic Ponte Vecchio and the Basilica di Santa Croce.
London can be reached quickly and comfortably with the high-speed trains via the Channel Tunnel. In 2020 that will even be possible without a mandatory switch to Brussels. In less than four hours you will be in this attractive capital full of monuments, churches, palaces, parks and museums. The city has been around for almost 2000 years and was founded by the Romans as the fortress of Londinium. In the meantime, quite a few must-sees have emerged that you should not miss during a city trip to London, think of: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Kew Gardens, Hyde Park and The Palace of Westminster. Thereby, a ride in the London Eye should not be missed. You can also go shopping all year round in Mayfair, Covent Garden or on Oxford Street, but it is even better in the winter, when atmospheric Christmas markets decorate the city.
Paris: the city of lights, the city of love, the city of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame. More than 15 million tourists travel to this delightful city every year to walk along the Seine and eat a croissant in the Bois de Boulogne city park. The symbol of the city is of course the 324-meter-high Eiffel Tower, which is displayed on every postcard and souvenir, but the Notre-Dame stands on a solid number two. Although, it is still in the scaffolding after the fire in 2019.
Furthermore, you can of course spot the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, shop on Avenue des Champs-Élysées and climb the stairs of the Arc de Triomphe for a view of the Champs-Elysées. Don’t forget to also enjoy Paris itself. It is in fact the city to wander around, drink a cup of coffee at the nearest cafe and score a fresh sandwich at a boulangerie on the way. Montmartre, traditionally an artists’ quarter, is the ideal neighborhood to do this.
Cea mai veche metropolă din Europa, locul de naștere al civilizațiilor moderne și locul de naștere al democrației: Atena are nevoie de o mică introducere. Cu toate acestea, recunoaștem imediat că Atena nu este acel oraș istoric frumos pe care te-ai aștepta bazat pe nume și faimă. Există multă întreținere și întreținere întârziată, în unele cartiere miroase îngrozitor, iar traficul este adesea un haos. Dar hei, aceasta este Atena. În cazul în care iconicul Parthenon de pe muntele Akropolis, de 156 de metri înălțime, se mai află încă deasupra orașului. Unde este plin din fascinantele muzee de istorie culturală. Și rămășițele de departe se văd în fiecare cartier. Cea mai frumoasă zonă pentru a rămâne este Plaka, la poalele acelei Acropole: în acest labirint de străzi înguste, abrupte, cu taverne atmosferice, baruri și magazine de pretutindeni, experimentați Atena de altădată.
Venice is a bit too cliché (and busy): as a beautiful “city-on-the-water” we therefore tip Stockholm. The Swedish capital is spread over 14 islands in Lake Mälar, with a view of the Baltic Sea on the east side of the city. Stockholm is a hip and “cool” city and at the same time has a rich culture and history. The most beautiful is “Gamla Stan” (the old town), where the streets are paved with cobblestones and with beautiful old buildings and gothic churches. But Stockholm is also a modern designer city, and the city of hip espresso shops and vintage boutique stores. The trendiest neighborhood of all is SoFo (‘South of Folkungatan’), but discover the entire city for yourself on a walking, cycling or boat tour, because there is so much to discover here… Tip: purchase the Stockholm Card, which offers your free public transport, unlimited access to more than 80 museums and attractions and the free ‘Kungsholmen Runt’ cruise.
The Andalusian capital Seville is one of the finest and most beautiful cities in Spain, full of attractive squares, beautiful historic buildings, orange trees and delicious tapas. Seville is ideally suited for a weekend break in fall, winter or spring. The city has the warmest climate in all of Spain, even in the winter months it is still 16 degrees on average. One of the most characteristic sights of Seville is the fabulous Plaza de España. This oval square is almost 50,000 m2 in size and is decorated everywhere with painted ceramic tiles, fountains, bridges and baroque arcades. See also the Real Alcázar, the oldest palace in Europe with its mix of Moorish and Christian architectural styles. Furthermore, you have to visit the mighty Catedral & La Giralda (formerly a mosque) and walk through the alleys and squares of the former Jewish neighborhood of Barrio Santa Cruz, where it is full of cozy tapas bars.
