Posts for 'Fun Places to visit' Category

It's efficient, safe, uncrowded [by locals - total population is about 8m], and has stunning towns and magnificent mountains.
The rise and fall of the Hapsburg [aka Habsburg] dynasty [1278- 1914] and the Austrian Empire is a monumental story, gone but not forgotten by tourists gaping at the mass of gothic, baroque and rococo royal relics or listening to present day concerts by long-dead Vienna inhabitants - Mozart, Strauss, Brahms and Beethoven to name but a few.
Museums offer a lot more than Habsburg lifestyle samples and cover many topics in great depth and style.
The climate offers a comfortable heat in the summer and acceptable cold in winter, encouraging year-round outdoor activities, particularly summer hiking and winter skiing.
Transport systems are brilliant and road access to other European cities is easy.
Locals are friendly and many speak English.

Downside:
- Food is heavy and dedicated to carnivores. Vegetarians may have a hard time finding suitable body fuel.
- German is more a language of command than conversation.

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A tiny principality run by an iron-willed monarch in the heart of 21st-century Europe, Liechtenstein is like the oft-quoted fictional country of Ruritania made real. A Gothic castle perches over the capital, Vaduz, where tourists stop for passport and postage stamps.

Getting There
Liechtenstein has no airport; the nearest ones are in Friedrichshafen (Germany) and Zürich (Switzerland), with train connections to the Swiss border towns of Buchs (via Romanshorn) and Sargans, respectively. From each of these towns, there are usually three buses an hour to Vaduz. From Austria, buses run every 30 minutes from Feldkirch. You sometimes have to change at Schaan to reach Vaduz.

When To Go
You can visit Liechtenstein any time of the year. Summer lasts roughly from June to September and offers the most pleasant climate for hiking. Unfortunately, you won't be the only tourist during this period, so prices can be high. You'll find much better deals during the shoulder seasons of April-May or late-September-October.

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The Czech Republic is still all things to all people. From the pulsing capital Prague to the back-in-time villages of Moravia, from toiling up mountains to lounging in spas, from the world-famous Pilsner to the strains of Smetana and Dvořák, there's an experience to suit every taste.

Stunning architecture is not limited to Prague; there are plenty of beautiful structures in other towns, and significantly fewer tourists. Among the richest are Kutná Hora, Cheb, Loket and Domalice in Bohemia, and Olomouc, Telč and Kromêří in Moravia.

The high season and the best time to go is in May or September, when weather is mild and crowds fewer. Many museums, galleries, castles and the like are only open at this time. April and October are chillier but you'll benefit from smaller crowds and cheaper rooms. In July and August hostels are chock-a-block with students, especially in Prague. In winter, you'll likely get to see it all under a blanket of snow; camping grounds are closed, as are attractions in smaller towns but the time is right for skiing and other winter pursuits.

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Moldova is a picturesque country - all rolling green hills, whitewashed villages, placid lakes and sunflower fields - with an old-world charm that's hard to manufacture. Oh, and those vineyards. Go see it before it becomes completely Pepsified.

Travel Warning: Transnistria
Travel is discouraged to the breakaway region of Transdniestria in the northeast as consular support cannot be provided to travellers in the area. Check with the British Embassy in Chisinau for latest information before setting out.

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Albania is located in the south-eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, a small country bordered by Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo (Serbia) and Greece. The country has witnessed many vicissitudes in its eventful history - from the passing of Ceasar's army over fleeing refugees and bloody vendettas, to years of dictatorial rule. In sharp contrast with this is the extreme, almost medieval, hospitability of the Albanians. Albania manages to offer tourists the traditional Mediterranean charm and a heady blend of different religions, cultures and landscapes.

Albania is one of the poorest country of Europe and one of the least visited by travellers. This is partly because travel infrastructure is far from extensive, however this is evolving quite rapidly. Tourist guides as recent as 2003 will tell you it is impossible to use ATM's in Albania - this is no longer true!

But Albania does have many things to offer to the visitor. Rough scenery, a beautiful coast, authentic villages that have survived the communist period and archeological sites to name a few.

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The UK has the most expensive hotels in Europe, according to a price index out today.

Average costs of UK hotels rose 12% last year compared with 2006, taking a one-night stay to £106, the index compiled by Hotels.com showed.

Bath was the most expensive city (£117 for one night), followed by London (£115), Oxford (£113) and Aberdeen (where the price rose 34% to £109).

Edinburgh
Edinburgh (£103 per night) also had hotels above the £100-a-night mark. The cheapest big town in which to stay last year was Coventry (£57 a night).

The index also showed that, of major world cities, London was the fifth most expensive for a one-night hotel stay.

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If you’ve read Roman mythology you’ll be familiar with Thermessa or Vulcano. It was the abode of Vulcan, the Roman God of Fire, and also the entrance to Hades. It is a volcanic island and Thucydides, Siculus and Aristotle have recorded eruptions. There are three volcanoes on the island, of which only one is active. Although the Gran Cratere or the Big Crater hasn’t erupted since 1890, it is the biggest attraction on the island. You can climb up to its peak that is 418m high. It is relatively easy and will take you just over an hour to climb. The other two volcanoes are Vulcano Piano and Vulcanello. There weren’t any inhabitants on the island in ancient times. The Romans had a small colony but the fear of the volcano and the destruction caused by it eruption kept away any development. The Bourbon rulers converted the rich soil of the island to farmlands. Later efforts were made to bring wine production to the island but volcanic eruptions again came in the way of progress. Today, the Gran Cratere is a dormant volcano and the island of Vulcano is a popular tourist destination with local and international travelers, with those who can afford it buying villas here. The island is also popular for its sulphuric thermal baths and many people come here to relieve stress and cure ailments. The other major attraction is the island’s many black sandy beaches that are considered the in the Aeolians.

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If you have time and you have come to Lithuania during a warm period, we recommend that you visit Trakai. This is a rather small town with a lovely castle and little more than a few streets. But the visit is worth it! After touring the castle with its museums and restaurants, you can take a boat ride around the castle or walk through the charming little town and enjoy a drink or a snack at one of the many restaurants lining the lake which offer a view of the castle. You can come here by a one hour taxi ride, but if you do, be sure to organize your trip back in advance. Taxi service out of Trakai is in short supply and may not be available in the evenings. Alternatively, you may come for a day visit. Many tour companies offer bus excursions to Trakai. Ask about tours from the reception of your hotel.

Espoo is Finland’s second largest city and quite original in urban structure. The city consists of five district centres, all of them as large as a normal Finnish town, connected perfectly by public transport to one another and to Nuuksio National Park and the green countryside. One of the best known districts is probably Tapiola, the carefully designed garden city, in which inhabitants, nature and architecture are in harmony with each other. The ‘high-tech’ city, which is only a quarter of an hour from Helsinki, boasts several interesting museums and festivals, such as the April Jazz festival and the Espoo Ciné International Film Festival.

Unwary travellers lured into Rīga's winding cobbled streets are transfixed by swirling Art Nouveau architecture and warm bars with candles flickering in the windows. Just as you can't take the Old Town's beauty any longer, you look up to a bewitching skyline of castle turrets and church steeples.

The Baltic climate is generally temperate, but on the cool and damp side. Rīga's climate is influenced by its closeness to the Baltic Sea. July and August, the warmest months, are also wet, with days of persistent showers. The average temperature in July is 17°C (62.6°F). At these northern latitudes, summer days are long, with up to 19 hours of daylight at midsummer. Winters are comparatively warm with frequent thaws (average temperature in Jan is -3°C/26.6°F). Snow cover forms in the middle of December and remains until March, but some recent winters have been much milder with no lasting snow cover. Coastal waters average between 16°C (60.8°F) and 21°C (69.8°F) in summer. In winter the Gulf of Rīga occasionally freezes over.