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tOURIEST pLACESES IN EUROPE

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

What to See in The Czech Republic

What to See in Prague

The Czech Republic’s awesome capital of Prague is one of the hottest tourist destinations in Eastern and Central Europe. Tourists love to soak in the beauty, the scenery, the amazing sights and finely crafted buildings, and the history, in order to get a taste of authentic Eastern and Central European culture.

Prague is mostly known for its plethora of architecturally stunning ancient buildings, cathedrals, and monuments of many different ages and time periods including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Deconstructionist, among others. You’ll be impressed with the wide range of architectural beauty you’ll find in the many buildings in Prague.

If you’re planning a trip to the historically magnificent Prague, Czech Republic, make sure you plan to stay for at least a number of days—up to a week, if you’ve got the time. There is simply too much to see—from Prague Castle and Old Town Square to the many museums and churches and the famous Prague Troja zoo.

Prague’s centre should be your first stop in the city, particularly if your time is limited. Sights that can all be found in the centre include Old Town Square, one of Prague’s most significant and beautiful historical sites; Lesser Town Square (Malostranske Namesti), which includes the famous St. Nicolas Church as well as a wide variety of other attractions and activities; Prague Castle, the city’s most popular tourist destination including a number of palaces, galleries, museums, and a monastery; Charles Bridge, on which you can take a romantic stroll and enjoy a magnificent view of Prague Castle as well as the Vltava River; and Petrin Hill & Observation Tower, allowing you to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of city.

However, if you can, take the time to venture out of the centre to check out many other of the city’s delights. For great sightseeing, fine dining of some of the Czech Republic’s best (and authentically European) cuisine, as well as alcoholic beverages, it’s more than worth your while to step out of Prague’s centre and into the quarters of Vinohrady and Zizkov.

For a taste of Jewish heritage, be sure to check out Prague’s Jewish Quarter and the famous Jewish Museum. Art and historical museum lovers should also visit the Bertramka Mozart Museum, Mucha Museum, Prague City Museum, and the Museum of Communism. If you like historic churches, some of Prague’s best include Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Prague Castle’s St. George’s Basilica.

If you’re not quite sure how to go about your sightseeing in Prague, where all the sights are, how to make the most of your time, or how to ensure you won’t miss out on anything, you have the option of joining one of Prague’s many helpful and exciting sightseeing tours, walking tours, and river cruises to make your vacation complete. The Prague Grand City Sightseeing Tour and The Best of Prague Walking Tour are two fine examples.

However, keep in mind that Prague is not just a city of interesting sights, even though its attractions are many, interesting, and unique, and give you more than just a glimpse into Prague’s rich culture. There is also much to do in this Eastern European wonder, including fine dining and drink sampling of some of the world’s finest wines and beers, and the entertainment and nightlife is nothing to scoff at. There are operas to see, poetry readings, and theatre performances to attend, art galleries to visit, and lively dance clubs in which you can let loose with tourists and locals alike. There is simply no shortage of activities in the exciting and culturally stimulating Prague, Czech Republic, and it pays to find out what’s happening on the social calendar during your stay there.

As Prague’s tourism sector grows, so does its accommodations, and you will likely have plenty of options, including modern hotels, quaint and charming bed and breakfast inns, and fairly cheap hostels for students and younger traveler, for places to stay during your Prague vacation, especially if you avoid high season (April to October) and the major holidays. Search for deals on the Internet and make sure to book your accommodations at least a month in advance, however, no matter when you choose to visit Prague and explore the city in all its glory.



What to See in Greece


Major Cities

* Athens
* Sparta
* Areopoli
* Kalmata
* Nafplio
* Corinth
* Paltras
* Preveza
* Lamia
* Volos
* Ioannina
* Kavala
* Thessaloniki
* Komotini
* Alexandroupolis


Largest Mountains

* Mount Olympus
* Mount Parnassus



Major Islands & City Islands

* Crete (Hania, Iraklio)
* Chios
* Lesvos
* Rhodes
* Karpathos
* Kythira
* Kassos
* Northeastern Aegean Islands
* Ionian Islands
* Saronic Gulf Islands
* Cyclades
* Dodecanese Islands
* Gavdos
* Sporades

What to See in Austria

Vienna Attractions

Also one of the nine states of Austria, Vienna is the capital of Austria and by far the largest city in the country, with over 1.7 million inhabitants and over 2.2 million in the metropolitan area. When visiting Europe, Vienna is a popular spot. The city lies on southeastern Europe and is not far from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Hungary. In 2001, the city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vienna is a true culture hot spot in the world. There are so many things to do and see in this city. If you love music, there are a number of theaters, operas, classical music halls, and exhibits in this city at all times of the year. The Burgtheater is considered one of the best theaters in the German-speaking world. Two other popular theaters are the Volktheater Wien and the Thetre in der Josefstadt. A number of tiny theaters also spot the city and are devoted to the development of modern experimental performances. If you like opera, the Staatsoper and Volksoper are popular spots to visit, and you can also get tickets to performances at the Wiener Musikverein, which is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Wolfgan g Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss are many times featured artists in these places.

If you love museums, there are a number of options available to you. The Hofburf, located in Vienna, is the site of the imperial jewels of the Hapsburg dynastray and the Schatzkammer, or treasury. You have also visit the Sisi Musem, which is devoted to Queen Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie of Austria, and the Kunsthistorisches, which is home of many pieces of art. If you want to visit more modern museums, you can also travel to the museum quarter of the city, where you’ll find the Museum of Modern Art, the Leopold Museum, and the Liechtenstein Palace. Not far away are the Military History Museum, the Technical Museum, the Vienna Clock Museum, and the Burial Museum.

Visitng Vienna is typically very easy, as it is in much of Europe, because of the phenomenal public transportation system. The train and bus network that runs in Vienna is the third largest in the world and the transports run so frequently, even during off-hours, that you really don’t need to know the schedule in order to ride on public transportation. Even during the night, the Nightline buses keep the city mobile, running every half hour. You can buy a ticket per trip, a ticket to use all day, or a ticket to use monthly.

To get to Vienna itself, you can take a train into the city from a neighboring city or country, of you can fly. The Vienna International Airport, which is located in the southeastern portion of the city, caters to a large number of international travelers every year and is currently expanding to accommodate even more people.

If you want to do some outdoor activist while in Vienna, you can take your pick of the many parks and gardens found here. Vienna is proud to be one of the greenest cities in the world, with some of the most popular parks being Stadtpark, the Burggarten, tne Vienna Botanical Gardens in the Schlosspark, the prater, the Lainer Tiergarten, and the Donaupark. You can also check out a number of great sports activist, such as the Vienna City Marathon that takes place in May and the many soccer club teams, which play in the city’s stadiums.

No matter why you’re visiting Vienna, you should be able to enjoy this beautiful city. The cuisine is delicious and readily available, and this is the world’s only capital city with its own vineyards. There is a number of fine dining choices available to meet every budget need, and you can travel throughout the city to your destinations very easily. Enjoying your stay in Vienna is not difficult!



What to See in The Netherlands


Amsterdam


Home > Europe > The Netherlands > Amsterdam

What to See in Amsterdam
A vacation to Amsterdam is the trip of a lifetime. There is no denying that Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most beautiful, romantic, cultural and out there cities. With its canals, windmills, dikes picturesque countryside, museums, historical centers, scenery, shopping, dining, and entertainment, it should be at the top of anyone’s list of “must see” cities.

Of course, Amsterdam is notorious for its red light district and multinational city filled with people from many countries, nationalities, and cultures. This diversity alone gives Amsterdam a step up in what it can offer visitors in terms of variety and cultural experiences. This diversity is obviously well known as over four million tourists visit Amsterdam each year.

Besides being a city of diversity Amsterdam, the city is an architectural wonder in how it is laid out in concentric circles formed by canals surrounding the old city center. These canals have a network of access road that cut across them and these have alleys connecting them to one another.

If you are interested in visiting museums while you are in Amsterdam, you will not be disappointed. The best museums in all of Europe can be found at the border of the canal district. If you are interested in financial investing, you won’t want to miss seeing Europe’s first stock exchange which is located in Amsterdam. Although there is no wheeling and dealing goes on any longer, the building is now being use as a concert and exhibition hall.

No description of Amsterdam would be complete without mention of maybe one of it’s most notable residents, Anne Frank. You can tour the home where the famous author and her family hid during WW-II. The museum associated with the house, Museum of Resistance, offers powerful information about the Holocaust.

As with many vacation locations, museums are a main attraction for visitors and Amsterdam has what seems like more than its fair share. Be sure to take time to visit the famous Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh museum and Stedelijk museum which provide a variety of offerings of contemporary art, film, photography, and video and design from after 1968. There are over 50 museums in Amsterdam so you can be busy for as long as you have the time.

If you are an animal lover, the Artis Zoo should be on your itinerary. The zoo houses over 6,000 animals living in outdoor natural habitats. Be sure to visit the aquarium connected to the zoo to round out your fish and animal excursion.

The Science and Technology Museum offers both children and adults an opportunity to engage in hours of interactive educational experiences. Even if you are traveling with children, this museum is worth a place on your travel itinerary.

The Floating Flower Market is an absolute must see experience for a visitor to Amsterdam not only because it is the only one in the world but because it is an absolute must have olfactory (sense of smell) experience. The flower stalls are on houseboats which offer tulips, narcissus and other bulb and flowers. Don’t worry about not being able to take these back to your home, they are ready for export.

Yes, in Amsterdam’s Diamond District you will find real diamonds in authentic diamond If you are interested, you will be able to find a free diamond cutting demonstration going on and will be able to buy set and unset stones.

Dam Square is where the real heart of Amsterdam will be found. There are markets, street performers, and vendors everyday waiting to entice you to listen, to watch and buy. In this part of the city your will find Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the War Memorial

The nightlife in Amsterdam is absolutely fabulous! The world famous Red Light District is always open and ready for business – as they say. You can find any kind of club you like and it will be open until almost sunrise. If you need a cup of coffee after clubbing or if you have insomnia and are walking the street, you will be happy to know they are open until almost sunrise too.

No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without drinking a Heineken but to make that experience even better, drink it at the Heineken brewery. The Heineken Experience, a special program offered by the brewery is a good way to learn about how the beer is brewed and to get up close and personal with one of the worlds biggest exporters.

This review of Amsterdam is only a drop in the canal – as they say. It only hits the high spots. If you are planning on traveling to Amsterdam and you don’t see what you want in this article, do a little research yourself. More than likely Amsterdam has what you are looking for and more.


What to See in Ireland

Ireland Golf Vacations

Ireland is known as The Emerald Isle for its lush greenery. The temperate climate Ireland enjoys allows for one of this country’s favorite sports, golf, to be played year round. There are over 300 golf courses, many of them world class, on this island.

Northern Ireland offers more than 80 courses in coastal, parkland and meadow settings. The courses in Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone counties are beautiful, easy to play and relatively informal. Most green fees are less than £45 on average, depending on the day of the week you visit. The Championship Links at Royal County Down is arguably the most challenging course in Northern Ireland and isn’t for the beginner. The Annesley course is located next door to the Championship course and is much more forgiving.

Northwest Ireland is home to Royal Portrush Golf Club, the host of the only Open Championship Ireland ever hosted. It’s said to be one of the most challenging courses in the world. The Portstewart course in northwest Ireland offers the best opening hole in the country, according to Irish golfers. Look for golf vacations in Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo counties to visit the northwest region.

Southwest Ireland is picturesque and typifies Ireland’s beautiful rolling green hills and soft blue oceans. Clare, Kerry and Limerick are the counties that usually included in southwest Ireland. Golf vacations in this area are second to none. Tralee course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay in 1984 and is still played well. The green fees are bit pricier in the area, Tralee charges about EU 130. The new Ballybunion Cashen course is said to be as much a “theatrical event” as it is a golf course. With high-end but reasonable green fees of about EU 85, it’s a must-play course.

Cork is often called the “Little Island” and is in the very south of Ireland. One of the favorite courses in Cork is dutifully named Cork Golf Club. More than a century in its current location, this course has a unique history. Legend has it the golf club was originally evicted from its former home in Blarney (home of the famed Blarney Stone) because they kept whiskey in a cow shed. They moved the club a number of times before finding the current home at Little Island. The current site was previously a limestone quarry and the course earned the nickname the “Rock Farm” during its early years.

Dublin and the Northeast counties of Dublin, Kildare, Louth and Meath offer more than 50 courses and clubs. One course, Mount Juliet, was designed by professional golfer Jack Nicklaus. You won’t get on the course for less than EU 140 unless you’re a hotel guest, even then you’ll pay EU 100 or more. Of course, if you are willing to spend that much, you might consider paying out a little more to play the course at The Kildare Hotel and Country Club, selected to host the 2006 Ryder Cup. EU 265 will get you on this elegant, millionaire-like course opened in 2003 and designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay



Tuesday, November 27, 2007

What to See in Belgium

Belgique" Provinces

* Anvers
* Brabant
* Bruxelles / Brussels
* Flandre Occidentale (West-Vlaanderen)
* Flandre Orientale (Oost-Vlaanderen)
* Hainaut
* Liège
* Limbourg
* Namur

Cities

* Aalst
* Antwerp / Antwerpen
* Barvaux-sur-Ourthe
* Bouillon
* Bruges / Brugge
* Brussels / Bruxelles / Brussel
* Charleroi
* Genk
* Gent
* Hasselt
* Knokke-Heist
* Kortrijk
* La Louvière
* Leuven
* Liège
* Mechelen
* Mons
* Namur
* Oostende
* Roeselare
* Seraing
* Sint-Niklaas
* Spa
* Tournai

What to See in Germany

Cities

* Berlin
* Munich
* Bremen
* Hannover
* Frankfurt
* Leipzig
* Freiburg
* Mainz
* Weisbaden
* Bonn
* Cologne
* Munster
* Erfurt
* Magdeburg
* Kiel
* Schwerin
* ...