Prague
Historical pearl of Europe
Prague - the capital of the Czech Republic, has always played an important role in the history of the country and Europe. Since the Middle Ages Prague has been famous as one of the most beautiful cities of the world and has been attributed adjectives such as “golden“, “hundred-spired“, “the crown of the world".
The unique character of the city is also partly a consequence of its natural environment: Prague, similar to Rome built on seven hills, was built on nine hills along the Vltava river, which flows through the city for a distance of 31 km and forms a perfect unit with the city. The dominant features of the city architecture are reflected in the river: towers, church spires and cupolas, palaces and town houses, along with the greenery of gardens, parks and islands.
Prague was founded on the cross-roads of ancient trade routes at a site where the most varied spiritual and cultural currents merged. The history of the city begins with the founding of Prague Castle in the 9th century. Of the original stone buildings in pre-Romanesque style, a basilica remains from the second half of the 10th century, and forms the core of St George´s church. Among the preserved Romanesque structures in Prague, three renovated rotundas can be visited. At the time of the founding of the Old Town of Prague at the beginning of the 13th century, the Romanesque style began to be replaced with the Gothic; the oldest structure in this style is the Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia or the Old-New Synagogue, while St Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, the Church of Our Lady before Týn etc. are examples of the prime of this style. The greatest flourishing of the Czech state occured at this time, which will eternally be connected with the monarch Charles IV, who founded the famous Charles University in 1348, the first university in Central Europe. The late Gothic style is connected with buildings such as Vladislav Hall, the Powder Tower and the Old Town Hall with the Horologe.
In the 16th century the Renaissance style started to be favoured by the court aristocratic circles. The first and truly representative structure is the Royal Summer Palace along with many aristocratic palaces in Prague. The Church did not favour the Renaissance art; on the other hand, it was completely taken over in the 17th century by the Baroque style. Especially the Lesser Town is characterized by the Baroque style and the Church of St Nicholas forms a predominant feature of this area.
A number of styles alternated in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The most important buildings include the Classicist Estate Theatre, Neo-Renaissance National Theatre and Rudolfinum and the Art Nouveau Municipal House and Main Railway Station.
The period of the first half of the 20th century was influenced by the Czech Modern style and Architectural Cubism which was an original style, with no counterpart in contemporary international art.
Nowadays, Prague is an important European city that attracts visitors not only by the abundance of architectural gems the generations of our ancestors left us. It is a place where cultural, social and political events of international importance are held as well as a popular destination for trade fairs and congresses.
Attractions -
Prague Castle
Charles Bridge
Old Town Hall
Petrin View Tower
Old Town Bride Tower
Bridge Towers
Prague Ghetto
Powder Tower
St Nicolas Church
Church of our lady of victory
Loreta
Public Transport -
£1.05
Metro
Bus
Tram
Funicular
Ferry
Accommodation -
£42 a night
Flights -
£70
Eating out -
£5.00
Drink -
£1.40
Budapest
'Pearl of the Danube'
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. With a unique, youthful atmosphere, world-class classical music scene as well as a pulsating nightlife increasingly appreciated among European youth, and last but not least, an exceptionally rich offer of natural thermal baths, Budapest is one of Europe's most delightful and enjoyable cities. Due to its scenic setting, and its architecture it is nicknamed "Paris of the East". In 1987 Budapest was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List for the cultural and architectural significance of the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue.
Travellers are quickly recognising the appeal of Budapest, with tourism accounting for approximately 2.7 million visitors per year. Consisting of two cities with different flavours, Buda on the west bank of the Danube River and Pest on the east bank, Budapest offers travellers a unique atmosphere influenced by Viennese and Parisian architecture. Hungarians are proud of what their beautiful capital has to offer and its contributions to European culture, especially in the field of music, and sciences. They also take some pride in their language which is unrelated to languages of the Indo-European family such as English, French or Russian. While e.g. Finnish is a distant relative to Hungarian, these two branches of the Uralic family are estimated to have diverged a few thousands years ago, and no communication between them is possible.
While Buda has been the capital of Hungary - or that of the Osman-occupied territory - for the better part of a millennium, it has become a grand cosmopolitan city during the country's fast industrialisation in the late nineteenth century. The population of 2.1 million in 1989 decreased formally due to suburbanisation.
Attractions
1. Discover historic Castle Hill with a walking tour.
2. Take a Danube cruise for beautiful panoramic views of Buda and Pest.
3. Enjoy a performance at the world famous Budapest Opera House.
4. Shop with locals or try some traditional Hungarian food at Central Market Hall.
5. Take a dip and relax in one of Budapest's famous baths.
6. Walk across Chain Bridge, the first bridge to connect Buda and Pest.
7. Visit Hungary's Parliament Building, see the amazing architecture and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.
8. Take a stroll on Andrássy Avenue to Heroes' Square and you'll understand why Budapest is often 9. called the Paris of the East.
9. Try an authentic Hungarian dish paired with vintage Hungarian wine. Best enjoyed at one these award winning Budapest restaurants.
10. Window shop and people watch on Váci utca (grab a coffee but look elsewhere for restaurants).
Public transport -
£0.95
Metro
Bus
Trolley bus
Yellow Streetcars
Accommodation -
£28 a night
Flights -
£60
Food -
£5
Drink -
£1.50
Brussels
Brussels is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Europe's must-see destinations, with its small town charm, trendy bars and restaurants, fabulous food, great nightlife, fantastic shopping, numerous museums, and other attractions including the diverse and interesting exhibitions and festivals organised there every year.
Brussels is also becoming known as a mecca of style, art, and design. While attracting more and more big names in international fashion to its growing shopping districts, home-grown Belgian designers are rapidly gaining global notoriety. The streets of Brussels feature art and architecture created from an unmistakably Belgian point of view that cannot be replicated. This beautiful city is a centre for fashion, art, and Belgian culture.
Attractions -
Bozar
Atomium
Magritte Museum
Natural Sciences Museum
Mini-Europe
Comic Strip Museum
Parlamentarium
Oceade
Royal museum of Army and Military
Art and History Museum
MIM - Musical Instrument Museum
Belvue
City Halls of Brussels
Flagey
Public Transport -
£1.60
Train
Streetcar
Metro
Bus
Accommodation -
£53
Flights -
£62
Food -
£10
Drink -
£2.50
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the greatest small cities in the world. From its canals to world-famous museums and historical sights, Amsterdam is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in Europe.
Amsterdam is also a city of tolerance and diversity. It has all the advantages of a big city: culture, nightlife, international restaurants, good transport - but is quiet, and largely thanks to its extensive canals, has a little road traffic. In Amsterdam your destination is never far away, but get a bike for an authentic local experience.
Attractions -
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
Stedelijk Museum
Heineken Brewery
Anne Frank House
Dam Square
Rembrandtplein
Red Light District
Vondelpark
Oude Kerk
Canal cruises
Floating Flower Market
Transport -
£1.60
Buses
Trams
Trains
Metro
Accommodation -
£60
Flights -
£69
Food -
£10
Drink -
£1.80
Rome
Rome, the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio (Latium) region. It's the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. Rome, as a millenium-long centre of power, culture (having been the cradle of one of the globe's greatest civilisations ever) and religion, has exerted a huge influence over the world in its circa 2800 years of existence.
The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With wonderful palaces, millenium-old churches and basilicas, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world (some of Italy's oldest jewellery and clothing establishments were founded in the city). With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a "global city".
Situated on the river Tiber, between the Apennine mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal City" was once the administrative centre of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, it remains the seat of the Italian government and home to numerous ministerial offices. Rome has 2.6 million inhabitants while its metropolitan area is home to around 4.2 million.
Architecturally and culturally, Rome has some contrasts - you have areas with pompously huge majestic palaces, avenues and basilicas which are then surrounded by tiny alleyways, little churches and old houses; you may also find yourself walking from a grand palace and tree-lined elegant boulevard, into a small and cramped Medieval-like street.
Attractions -
Pantheon
Colosseum
St. Peters
The Palatine
Spanish Steps
Vatican
Trevi Fountain
San Crispino
Vittoriano
Boutiques and antique markets
Napoleon museum
Transport -
£0.84
Metro
Bus
Trams
Accommodation -
£65
Flights -
£70-80
Food -
£10-15
Drink -
£3
Riga
Riga is the gem of the Baltics. It is situated at the mouth of the Daugava, on the shores of the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic. Riga has an ancient history and rich cultural heritage. As Riga has always been located at a juncture of trading routes, it is a multicultural city which means there are things to see here: a weekend in Riga is a great way to gather new impressions and to relax.
Travellers can admire the diverse architecture of Riga, especially the art nouveau buildings. Riga has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the collection of art nouveau buildings that is one of the largest in the world, as well as a city in whose architecture the entire history from 1201 to the present day is reflected. It is also valued as a city with a unique collection of wooden developments in its central section.
Attractions -
Town Hall Square
Freedom Monument
Central Market
Powder Tower
Three Brothers
Art Nouveau Riga
Bastion Hill
St. Peter's Church
Riga Cathedral
Swedish Gate
Transport -
£0.84
Bus
Trolley bus
Tram
Train
Accommodation -
£52
Flights -
£60
Food -
£5
Drinks -
£1.20
Istanbul
Istanbul: A world center of great value in the past as well as in the present, Istanbul embraces Asia on the one hand and Europe on the other. Istanbul, with its historical peninsula, numerous scenic and historical beauties is a magnificently unique city that has been capital to many civilizations capital to many civilizations from past to present and still continues to be home to residents from all over the world. This rooted city, with a history dating back to 300 thousand years before, constitutes a mosaic of many civilizations and cultures combined.
One may come across legacies and monuments of thousands of years behind any door or around any corner in Istanbul. Whether you take a round tour in Istanbul or visit any of the 39 districts nearby, you will catch hold of various historical and natural wonders any minute.
Attractions -
Basilica Cistern
Aya Sofya
Topkapi Palace
Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam
Blue Mosque
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Süleymaniye Mosque
Chora Church
Galata Tower
Transport -
£0.63
Tram
Train
Metro
Bus
Boat
Accommodation -
£38
Flights -
£69
Food -
£5
Drinks -
£2.20
Krakow
Probably the most beautiful and fascinating city in Poland. The attraction is not just the splendid architecture and the treasures of art – reminders of the times when Krakow was a royal capital city – but also the unique ambience of the former Jewish district and the masterpieces of Polish Art Nouveau. However old and beautiful it is, Krakow is not limited to its monuments and museums. Thanks to an amazing density and variety of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, Krakow sparkles with life. Anyway, there is no point in merely talking about its attractions – everyone should see Krakow with their own eyes.
Attractions -
Wawell Hill
Bar Culture
Czartoryski museum
Wieliczka
Auschwitz
Jewish Quarter
John Paul II Route
Polish Cuisine
St. Mary’s Altar
Transport -
Bus
Train
Tram
Accommodation -
£50
Flights -
£73
Food -
£5 - 10
Drinks -
£1.60
Vienna
A whirl of gilded Hapsburg palaces and regal parks on the banks of the blue Danube, Vienna is a fine romance of a city. Tradition and innovation walk hand in hand: Strauss waltzes are still hip to 20-something ball-goers and even the imperial stables have been born again as the surprising and vibrant Museum Quarter. The Viennese love Gemütlichkeit (relaxation), so this city is to be savored not rushed, whether you're indulging in a dark chocolate Sachertorte in a chandelier-lit coffee house or rising gently above the twinkling Prater in the Riesenrad Ferris wheel.
Attractions -
Imperial Vienna
Art Nouveau
St. Stephens Cathedral
The Danube Tower
The Belvedere
The Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna
The Leopold Museum
The Kunsthistorisches Museum
MUMOK
The Rathaus
Hofburg Imperial Palace
Transport -
£1.60
Metro
Bus
Tram
Accommodation -
£59
Flights -
£70
Food -
£10
Drinks -
£2.50
Tallinn
Located on the Baltic Sea, only about 37 miles (60km) across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki, Estonia spent 2 centuries as one of Russia's Baltic Provinces before becoming an independent republic in 1918. Little over 2 decades later, it fell back under Russian control when Soviet troops rolled in and incorporated the country into the Soviet Union. It became independent once again in 1991. Separated from the west for 50 years, the capitol city of Tallinn is now visited frequently by tourists sailing aboard hydrofoils and other vessels from Helsinki and Stockholm.
Tallinn, a UNESCO world heritage site, was founded in the 12th century and has been under the rule of Denmark, Sweden, and Germany as well as Russia, and all left their mark on the city's architecture. It is one of the best preserved medieval towns in northern Europe, and makes a beautiful impression from the sea, with its ancient city walls, church spires, and red-tile roofed homes. At the Old Town, you pass beneath the arches of Tallinn's ancient stone walls and enter a world of cobblestones, narrow alleys, and medieval buildings. It's a fun place to explore on foot.
While under German occupation in 1944, the city was bombed and 1,100 people were killed or wounded. Also at that time, about 11% of the old town was destroyed, and was replaced afterward by bleak Soviet architecture. Today, the city is growing rapidly, with modern buildings joining the old.
Attractions -
Kiek in de Kök
Tallinn City Tour
Estonian History Museum - Great Guild Hall
Oleviste Church (St. Olav's Church) and Tower
Estonian Maritime Museum
Tallinn TV Tower
Bastion Tunnels
Holy Spirit Church
Niguliste Museum (St. Nicholas' Church)
Seaplane Harbour
Transport -
£0.90
Bus
Trolley Bus
Tram
Train
Ferry
Accommodation -
£40
Flights -
£74
Food -
£5 - 10
Drinks -
£1.60
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