Mini Travel Guides

Dubrovnik in southern Croatia is easily one of my favourite European cities, because it seems to have everything I like: beautiful views of the sea, UNESCO-listed historical beauty, great food and friendly people and a touch of the exotic, since it’s only become a mainstream destination for Western tourists in relatively recent times. This collation of our tips for what to do in Dubrovnik should help you plan your trip or simply inspire you to add Dubrovnik to your list of must-see places in Europe.

View over Dubrovnik by Amanda Kendle

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Walk Dubrovnik’s Walls

The old walls of Dubrovnik are between five and eight hundred years old (they took a few hundred years to be built!) and are certainly one of the sights which give Dubrovnik so much charm. You can walk around the top of the walls in as little as an hour, but take your time and spend closer to half a day doing it if you can.

Walking around Dubrovnik walls by Amanda Kendle

Stradun – Dubrovnik’s Main Street

In the old town, exploring Stradun, the main street, will give you a good overview of Dubrovnik in a short time. Its gorgeous architecture is reason enough to take a walk here but there are also plenty of sights located in just this small area, including the Onofrio Fountain, the Sponza Palace, St Blaise Church, the Bell Tower and the Franciscan Monastery Pharmacy.

Stradun by Neha

The Rector’s Palace

One of Dubrovnik’s must-visit buildings is The Rector’s Palace. It’s a place where you can both admire the intricate architecture as well as explore various different exhibits.

Rector’s Palace by Neha

Fort Lovrijenac

For a Dubrovnik attraction which (for once) is just outside the city walls, visit Fort Lovrijenac – you’ll probably have had a good view of it from the walls, and the entry price is included in a city wall ticket, so take the extra stroll and do it! You can get even more incredible views from the towers of the Fort and you might come across some newly-weds – it’s a very popular wedding photo venue.

Fort Lovrijenac by Neha

Dubrovnik’s Morning Market

With Dubrovnik often feeling a little over-run by tourists these days, it’s great to find something that still seems like it’s really for the locals. The morning market in Dubrovnik is held on Gundulićeva Square near the Rector’s Palace and amongst the fresh produce you’ll even find some stalls selling some locally-made souvenirs.

Dubrovnik Market by Neha

Dubrovnik’s Jewellery Boutiques

You’ll find many jewellery boutiques in the lanes of the old town, often run as family businesses,  where you can pick up hand made pieces at every reasonable prices.

Dubrovnik Jewellery Boutique by Neha

Day Trips from Dubrovnik

There are lots of fabulous day trips to make from Dubrovnik, and the most popular ones involve visiting some of the many islands situated nearby. Some of Neha’s island day trip suggestions include Korcula, Mljet and the group of 14 islands which make up the Elaphite Islands. You can use regular ferry services to these islands or join tour groups – take your pick – but you can guarantee a very scenic day out either way.

Sailing near Dubrovnik by Neha

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Your Tips for Things to Do in Dubrovnik

If you’ve got another favourite place in Dubrovnik, please tell us all about it in the comments.

The Best of Dubrovnik Travel Tips

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Here are our tips for things to do in County Donegal, the northernmost county in Ireland.  Which might not sound all that interesting until you realize that parts of Co. Donegal are actually north of Northern Ireland. Aside from just a small strip of border touching Co. Leitrim, you’ll technically have to go through the United Kingdom to get there.

Donegal Coast by mjmkeating

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Trace your roots at the Glencolmcille Folk Village Museum

Because of the many eras of emigration from Ireland, many people return to explore their Irish roots. The Glencolmcille Folk Village Museum is a great place to get a window into the world that so many left behind while also exploring the world that has shaped current day Ireland.

Picture courtesy of sludgegulper

Travel back to the Iron Age at Griana an Aileach

Stay at the town of Burt and visit the nearby Iron Age ring fort, Grianan an Aileach. Sitting atop a hill, the fort looks out over Co. Donegal and offers views that are hard to beat. The area was most likely once a seat of power and culture in ancient Ireland. Today, it is one of those ancient ruins that just shouldn’t be missed.

Grianan an Aileach by Steve Cadham

Visit Donegal Castle

Take a guided tour at the 15^th century Donegal Castle in Donegal Town. There is a small fee to visit the castle, but the castle has been nearly completely restored and is well worth the entrance fee.

Picture courtesy of Marcus Murphy.  More pictures by Marcus Murphy here.

Learn to speak Irish

Learn Irish at the Oideas Gael Language camp. For over 25 years, the camp has been offering education in both the Irish language as well as Irish culture for adults. While the course does not necessarily come cheap, it offers a unique opportunity to learn the Irish language in one of Ireland’s most beautiful landscapes.

Spectate at the Donegal Car Rally

Enjoy (from a safe distance) the Donegal International Car Rally.  On the third weekend of June, the three day event brings rally fans from around the world to the competition. The course winds through breathtaking scenery and offers world class racing.

Picture courtesy of leppre

Explore the region on foot or bike

People from around Ireland and Europe flock to Co. Donegal for the nature. With good reason. So go for a walk or go cycling. Anywhere. The countryside is beautiful so get out there and explore.  You can head off on your own, either having rented a bike or by foot, but be sure to head out there.

Picture courtesy of Jule_Berlin. More pictures by Jule_Berlin here.

Go swimming or surfing

Boasting some of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland, Co. Donegal has plenty of white sandy beaches to choose from. Bundoran is a great place to enjoy the sea as well as get a little surfing in.

Picture courtesy of dusi_bbg. More pictures by dusi_bbg here.

Go Diving

Not only can you go swimming, but you can even go diving.  Mevagh Diving Center offers dives for all experience levels as well as dives to various wrecks and plenty of scenic dives. They are a PADI 5 Star certified dive center and the only dive center in Co. Donegal.  They’ll even take you diving every single day of the year.  Although, unless you’re braver than me, diving in December, that far north is better left to others.

Explore Glenveagh National Park

Glenveagh National Park offers guided walks with park rangers throughout the year, although booking is essential. The lakes, forests, and mountainous areas offers a beautiful countryside and the park prides itself on its ongoing efforts to reintroduce the Golden Eagle which was classified as extinct in the area in 1912.

Picture courtesy of rejflinger. More pictures by rejflinger here.

Admire the views from Slieve League

And finally, go to the Slieve League. The sea cliffs are actually much higher than the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare and due to the lack of notoriety you’ll find fewer people swarming the cliffs.  As always though, be safe!

Picture courtesy of Dr.epsylon. More pictures by Dr.epsylon here.

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Your tips for things to do in Donegal

Let us know what you think about Co. Donegal and your own tips for enjoying Ireland’s northernmost county.

Ten Tips for Things to Do in County Donegal, Ireland

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On the edge of Europe, the fascinating Turkish city of Istanbul has more than enough to entertain pretty much every traveller. This round-up of posts about the city on Europe a la Carte will give you plenty of ideas of things to do in Istanbul.

Podcast on Things to Do in Istanbul

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Tourist Attractions in Istanbul

A must see in Istanbul is the Dolmabahce Palace – the largest palace in Turkey, situated right on the Bosphorus on the European side. It’s opulent and impressive, and you must take a guided tour to see inside.

Dolmabahce Palace by Kivanc Nis

The Bascilica Cistern was formerly a vast water reservoir which serviced the city during the Byzantine and Ottoman period. It’s now open to visitors who can walk along the wooden walkways and admire the three hundred marble columns.

Bascilica Cistern by Salim Virji

Although you can’t take the Orient Express these days, Sirkeci Gare train station is still well worth a visit. It’s an elegant building with a small museum and numerous reminders of the Orient Express days.

Front of Sirkeci Gare station by Inka Piegsa-Quischotte

Museums in Istanbul

Istanbul is full of interesting and varied museums, and one of the newest is also one of the strangest: this rather warm city is now home to an Ice Museum. The story of how the Vikings came to Istanbul in the ninth century is told through ice carvings and if you’re worried about the cold, don’t be – museum visitors are supplied with very warm capes to survive the temperatures – modelled below by Inka!

Outfits for the Ice Museum by Inka Piegsa-Quischotte

The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art opened in 2004. Don’t be put off by the unassuming warehouse building which houses it – there really is excellent art to be found inside.

The Istanbul Modern by Inka Piegsa-Quischotte

Eating in Istanbul

A highlight of any trip to Istanbul has to be enjoying some of the local Turkish food. One of the obvious must-eats are shish kebabs – or correctly, şiş kebabs – and Marcus will get your mouth watering with his tip to visit the Umut Ocakbaşi restaurant to get a great example of this food.

The grill at umut ocakbaşı by Marcus Cedestrom

Inka was advised to try a fish bun at the Galata Bridge, which sounds delicious (and not even too unhealthy – the perfect snack!). Inka reckons that the Flower Passage is the place for fish restaurants in Istanbul.

The two tier Galata Bridge by lobh

Shopping in Istanbul

When you want a break from sightseeing, then you might want to follow Inka’s unique shopping tips for Istanbul, as well as exploring the famous bazaars like Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and the gorgeous Arasta Bazaar,

Embroidered boots in an Istanbul shop by Inka Piegsa-Quischotte

Day Trips from Istanbul

We’ve got several tips for day trips from Istanbul, and the first is to head out to Yoros Castle, over on the Asian side of Istanbul. The castle ruins are open any time and free to visit, and Marcus suggests coinciding your visit with sunset so you can get this great view over the city lights of Istanbul.

View of Istanbul from Yoros Castle by Marcus Cedestrom

Another day trip possibility is to take a boat ride out to the Princes’ Islands. These are a group of nine islands off the shore of the Asian side of Istanbul and with almost no cars permitted, you’re bound to experience a relaxing day – and perhaps a horse and cart ride!

Horse and cart ride on the Princes’ Islands by Inka Piegsa-Quischotte

Finally, another great place to visit on the Asian side of Istanbul is Kadiköy. You’ll find fewer tourists there and instead, be able to explore the flower markets, local restaurants and patisseries and old wooden mansions.

Shop window in Kadiköy by Inka Piegsa-Quischotte

Where to Stay in Istanbul

To help you find a hotel for your stay in the city, you can check out our round-up of the Best Places to Stay in Istanbul, which includes a range of hotels from budget through to luxury. You can search for more Istanbul hotels using the LateRooms search box below.

Your Istanbul Travel Tips

Of course, we’ve just scratched the surface on things to do in Istanbul. What is your favourite attraction in Istanbul? Please leave any tips you have in the comments.

The Best of Istanbul Travel Tips

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The Swedish capital of Stockholm is a fascinating destination and one we feature regularly here at Europe a la Carte. If you’re planning a trip to Stockholm, then this round-up of our best suggestions for things to do in Stockholm should help you make the most out of your time there.

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Historical Attractions in Stockholm

Stockholm’s most famous museum is the Vasa Museum, home to the 1620s ship which sank and spent 300 years in the Baltic Sea, before being salvaged and becoming the centrepiece of this museum.

The Vasa by Scarygami

Another interesting museum in Stockholm (which has some 70-odd museums!) is the Museum of Medieval Stockholm, which recently underwent extensive renovations. As a whole, Stockholm has a fascinating medieval history and many places to see evidence of it, including the Old Town area known as Gamla Stan.

Gamla Stan by lyng883

Sports fans might like to check out Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium (Stadion), venue for the 1912 Olympics.

For something different, try the House of Nobility in the centre of Stockholm, a historical building which now features the genealogical history of the noble families of Sweden. Alternatively, the Stadshuset (City Hall), home to the Nobel Prize banquet, can be an interesting place to explore, especially if you climb the tower for some great views over Stockholm.

House of Nobility by roger4336

Free Things to Do in Stockholm

A free attraction which Marcus suggests is underrated but very interesting is to visit the Swedish House of Parliament or Riksdag. It’s situated on an island – easily reached via a pedestrian bridge – and offers regular tours, including tours in English, and they’re all free.

The Riksdag by dtsomp

If you’re looking for some interesting exhibitions but are short on cash, then the Kulturhuset (“Culture House”) in Stockholm is a great way to spend your time. It has numerous floors of exhibitions, which might include photography, films and artworks, and most exhibitions will be free to enter.

The Kulturhuset by Anna-Stina

Enjoying the outdoors is possible (but different) in both summer and winter at the Kungstradgarden – it’s also the venue of the fantastic Christmas Market in December.

Kungstradgarden by ollesvensson

Although tours of the Skogskyrkogården World Heritage-listed cemetery are available, Marcus suggests giving yourself a free tour instead.

Palaces and Churches in Stockholm

The Riddarholmskyrkan is a church on a small island in Stockholm which dates back (in part) to the thirteenth century, and is the burial place for a number of Swedish royals.

Riddarholmskyrkan on a grey day by Eoghan OLionnian

An hour out of Stockholm by boat, the Drottningholm Palace is where the Swedish royal family live but the general public can access most of the palace’s grounds.

Drottningholm by tehzeta

Also a short trip out of Stockholm, to the north, you can find the Ulriksdal Palace which used to be the royal family’s summer residence. You can look through the palace buildings during summer and through the grounds at any time of year.

Ulriksdal in winter by lefant

Film, Food and Getting Around in Stockholm

Film buffs might like to time their visit to coincide with the Stockholm International Film Festival in November – it might not be a high profile festival but apparently there are plenty of great films to be seen.

If you’re feeling peckish while wandering Stockholm, then you can stop in to the Hötorgshallen Markets with all kinds of local and international foods to try. To add a great view to your meal or drink, you can try the Mosebacke Etablissement during summer, which has a great outdoor seating area.

Feast from Hotorgshallen Markets by patrikneckman

How you get around Stockholm depends a lot on the season (but the metro, of course, is fine all year!) – in summer, you might want to try the Stockholm City Bikes scheme.

Stockholm City Bikes by bjaglin

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Your Stockholm Tips

Are we missing anything? If you have some more ideas on fantastic things to do in Stockholm, please let us know in the comments.

The Best of Stockholm Travel Tips

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Booking your yearly holiday is usually an exciting time for many of us and usually one of the most expensive purchases we will make during the year. It’s the one period where we should be able to relax for a week or two and enjoy what the location and cities in the region have to offer. Going on vacation also opens you up to a whole different set of situations and experiences that aren’t common in everyday life, and I don’t just mean the pleasant ones. Protecting your valuables should be high up on your list of things to consider while away from your home environment, and you can go a lot further than just utilising the safe in your hotel room.

If you’re planning a trip to a European city this year, it’s worth bearing in mind that many of the capitals and large cities are renowned for light fingered residents looking to prey on unsuspecting tourists. Pickpockets can usually be found at all of the large tourist traps such as historic monuments and they should not be underestimated, there is true art in the skill they have perfected. Here are some of the worst European cities for pickpockets.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and is not the Spanish capital. It is commonly regarded as the worst place in Europe to have your personal possessions poached from under your nose. In particular, Barcelona’s famous Boulevard, La Rambla, is notorious for pickpockets and some of the locals regard the crime as a sport. The area is also well known for prostitution, so not only is the area a bad place to take the family, it also doesn’t represent the best of Spain, which on a whole, is a fantastic country.

Rome, Italy

Rome is an utterly amazing city and a fantastic place to visit. The amount of history and culture available in the city is staggering and is a place I would recommend to anyone. Rome is also rampant with pickpockets and holiday makers are their main target. Rome’s resident pickpockets are fairly sophisticated and come in all ages, young children are known to take wallets and purses and the older thieves tend to dress up a little in smart clothing. Pickpockets in Rome are quite fond of creating uncomfortable situations by means of confrontation and the Metro is well known for pickpockets operating on stations and on trains. The best defense in Rome is to dress like the locals and keep your wits about you.

Madrid, Spain

Spain’s second offering to the list and this time it is the capital of the country. Madrid is another city where pick pocketing is a serious profession and many of the thieves won’t be kids. The El Rastro market is a well known hot spot, as is the Metro in the city. Thieves in Madrid are fond of distraction techniques, so be aware of people with coats over their arms or who may be pushing into you on the Metro while they rummage through your bag. Another clever tactic employed is for the thief to push a piece of paper between your eyes and your pocket while asking you to sign something like a petition.

Paris, France

I love Paris, it’s a fantastic city, but it too is another of the major European capitals that suffers from a spate of pickpockets. The Metro system is another favourite hot spot for thieves looking to make a day’s wage, as well as the major tourist attractions such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Even tourists at the top of the Eiffel Tower aren’t safe from the light fingered Parisians and at the base of the tower you can often find beggars looking for money who also have particularly light fingers.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This came as a bit of a surprise to me when researching this topic because Amsterdam is a laidback and extremely safe city. If you are pick pocketed while visiting Amsterdam then it will probably be the worst thing to happen to you while in the city. The train from Schiphol International Airport to the city is a popular place for thieves to target tired travellers. While in the city, be aware of a few of the local’s favourite tricks such as using newspapers or jackets to conceal the crime while in a crowd, spilling something on your coat and offering to clean it, and sitting back to back with you in a restaurant and rifling through your coat pockets while it’s hung on the back of your chair.

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About the Author: Alex is a freelance internet marketer and copywriter working a company that specialises in luxury tailor made holidays. You can find him on Twitter @harvey1dash8.

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In the far west of Germany not too far from the Dutch border, the financial centre Düsseldorf is attractive not just to business people. Some of the most interesting things to do in Düsseldorf include:

Altstadt/Old Town

Like so many German cities, the Old Town or Altstadt is a particularly interesting part of town. Düsseldorf’s Old Town is famously known as “the longest bar in the world”: there are over 250 bars and coffee houses within just a square kilometre, so you’ll have no shortage of places to hang out at night. The Old Town was almost completely rebuilt after World War Two but in typical old style, so it looks quaint and charming.

Old Town by Effervescing Elephant

Rhine River Promenade

Many German towns and cities can be found on the Rhine, but the promenade where the river meets Düsseldorf is a particularly pretty walk and very popular with tourists.

Rhine Promenade by Eichental

Marionette Theatre

Inside the Palais Wittgenstein close to the centre of the Old Town, the Marionette Theatre puts on performances for adults and children alike. The theatre is small – less than 100 seats – so it’s an intimate performance space and certainly not always “just for kids”.

Rhine Tower

The tallest building in Dusseldorf is the Rhine Tower, a 234 metre tower which includes a restaurant and viewing platform near its peak. As you’d expect, the views are fantastic, and on a clear day you can even see as far as the gorgeous Cologne Cathedral in the next city!

View towards Rhine Tower by Gunnar Por Hafdal

St. Lambertus Basilika

The St. Lambertus Basilika is famous for its unusual twisted, winding tower – even after it was destroyed in the war, it was reconstructed in the same way. Many would consider this the symbol of the city. The church itself is pretty and there are numerous legends from the city’s history based here.

Lambertus Basilika’s twisted tower by hAdamski

Koenigsallee

Koenigsallee is the place to go in Dusseldorf if you want to indulge in some retail therapy! Since Dusseldorf is famous for the Igedo Fashion Fair, it’s also home to a huge number of boutiques and luxury retail stories. It’s also a pretty place for a stroll as a canal runs down the middle.

Konigsallee sign by dirk@vorderstrasse.de

Geothe Museum

Housed in the Schloss Jagerhof, the Goethe Museum Düsseldorf contains all kinds of Goethe-related paraphernalia, but also has a section devoted to Faust.

Benrath Palace

The Benrath Palace is a beautiful rococo palace, and the park that surrounds it complements it perfectly. At the moment they’re trying to get listing as a UNESCO Heritage site. As well as admiring the architecture and gardens, you can visit one of several museums housed within the palace buildings.

Schloss Benrath by morgaine

Japan Center

For something a little different, the Japan Center features traditional Japanese markets, restaurants and gardens – for a little taste of Asia within Dusseldorf!

Alter Golzheim Cemetery

As with many old cemetries in Germany, the Alter Golzheim Friedhof (Cemetery) in Düsseldorf is both a tranquil green space suited to a quiet stroll, as well as a historical landmark with the graves of quite a few famous German artists and architects.

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Things to Do in Dusseldorf Podcast

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Your tips for Dusseldorf

Do you have any tips for great things to do in Dusseldorf? Please leave your advice in the comments.

Top Ten Things to do in Dusseldorf

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The Italian region of Tuscany is very popular with visitors and for good reasons.  There are lots of beautiful, historic cities, towns and villages steeped in tradition, set in lovely rolling countryside. Here are our tips for some of the best things to do in Tuscany.

Florence skyline

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Soak Up the Atmosphere in Piazza del Campo in Siena

The Piazza del Campo is the historic heart of Siena. It has to be a contender for the most beautiful square in Italy and is one of the finest medieval squares in Europe. Amanda wrote about “Ten Things to Do in Siena” and she recommends a visit to Siena during the Palio Horse Race which takes place in the Piazza del Campo biannually, on 2 July and 16 August.

Piazza del Campo , Siena

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Walk along the Riverside in Pisa

I’ve visited Pisa a couple of times and never been up to the Leaning Tower, it’s too expensive with a 15 Euro admission fee and the queue’s too long. Your time in Pisa would be better spent walking along the riverside. Here are some other tips from Europe a la Carte readers on things to see in Pisa.

The bank of the River Arno in Pisa

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Admire Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo

In my opinion, the best views of Florence are from Piazzale Michelangelo.  It’s one of my three favourite piazzas in Florence.  Just behind Piazzale Michelangelo is the Iris Garden. You can get some other ideas on things to see in Florence in our readers’ tips post.

View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

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Cycle Round the Town Walls in Lucca

Lucca is a lovely walled city and I managed to fulfil my ambition of cycling the town walls, despite the wet weather. We also visited a Tuscan market in the Real Collegio and had a delicious meal at Trattoria da Sergio. You can get more ideas of things to see in Lucca in our “Tips ‘n’ Tweets” post.

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Marvel at the Inflorata in Fucecchio during Corpus Domini

If you happen to be in Tuscany sixty days after Easter, look out for the amazing pictures made from flower petals (inflorata) that adorn the streets for the Corpus Domini Communion Procession.  By sheer coincidence we drove into the village of Fucecchio after getting lost while out touring, just at the right time to admire this floral artwork.

Inflorata in the village of Fucecchio

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Your Tips for Things to Do in Tuscany

If you have any recommendations for things to do in Tuscany, please leave a comment.

Five of the Best Things to Do in Tuscany

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Florida is the land of sand and sun. Aside from sandy beaches that stretch for miles, gargantuan theme parks, and thousands of reasonably priced hotels, it’s also very culturally rich with plenty of fascinating sites and experiences that are not to be missed. In this guest post, travel expert Nadine Hallak explores 10 of Florida’s wonderful tourist attractions.

1. Disney World

You will be hard pressed to find someone that does not like at least one Disney character. Disney World is the largest theme park in all the world. It features four separate parks: Epcot Centre, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom Park. Each park is large enough to spend an entire day in and still not have enough time to see everything! There is something for everyone at Disney World; it really is the holiday of a lifetime.

2. Gatorland

Located just outside of Orlando, Florida, Gatorland is home to rescued gators from all over the state, providing them with a safe place to live. If you are interested in a walk on the wild side, “Swamp Walk” is a very educational and fun tour, but, be warned, it is not for the faint hearted.

3. Holy Land Experience

The Holy Land Experience, located in Orlando, is a museum and theme park based on the life and time that Jesus Christ lived. It features a recreation of the cave where the dead sea scrolls were discovered as well as replicas of the Tomb of Cavalry and Jerusalem in the first century AD.

4. Coral Castle

Located in Homestead, Florida, this castle was hand built by a man named Ed Leedskalnin. It is a beautiful piece of artwork that shows his love of the sea with 2.2 million tons of handpicked coral that he spent most of his life diving for in order to create his castle. The biggest draw of Coral Castle is that its creator was very secretive about it and built the castle during the night with no help of mortar or cement. Perhaps you can figure out the secret behind its construction?

5. Jules’ Undersea Lodge

Jules Verne’s famous book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has long been popular among children and adults for over one hundred years. This hotel is entirely submerged under the sea off the Key Largo Coast in Southern Florida. To get to the hotel, guests have to scuba dive twenty-one feet under water and enter the hotel through a hatch at the bottom of the structure. Once inside, all of the modern conveniences of a traditional hotel are available.

6. Kennedy Space Center

Located in Titusville, Florida, there is a life size replica of the first American rocket that went to the moon and back. The Shuttle Launch Experience is an attraction featured there that will make you feel as if you really have been to the moon.

7. Odditorium

This is what the Orlando, Florida Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum is called. It features some of the strangest things in all the world. This includes an entire house inside a redwood tree.

8. Dinosaur World

Located in Plant City, Dinosaur World is the largest place to see life size replicas of dinosaurs. It features over 100 skeletons from various types of dinosaurs found all over the world.

9. Monkey Jungle

Located in Miami, Florida, this is one of the few places in the world where the humans are caged and the monkeys are free to roam. It was founded in 1933 and features over ten different species of monkey.

10. Orange World

Located in Kissimmee, Florida, this is the largest orange in the state. It is an orange shaped building that offers a free glass of freshly squeezed Florida orange juice to everyone that walks through the door. It is a museum as well as gift shop and cafe.

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About the Author: This guest post was written by Nadine Hallak of leading flight website Cheapflights.co.uk, where you can find the best deals on flights to Florida. If however, you would like to share your own wonderful Florida tourist attractions, please feel free to do so in the comments section below.

Photo Credits: IceNineJon, Limowreck666, Breenzanemom, Matt Woolner, Cliff 1066 and Humberto Moreno

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Travellers who think with their stomach (like I do) might consider Bologna to be the ideal destination for a plate of spaghetti bolognese, but in fact this northern Italian city is home to many more things to do than simply eat! Bologna is a relatively small and very historical city, capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, and considered by many Italians to be one of their country’s most beautiful cities. If you are planning a short break to the city, here are some suggestions on things to do in Bologna during your stay.

Piazza Maggiore

The heart of Bologna is its Piazza Maggiore, the main square in the old town, which has plenty of famous buildings surrounding it, including the Basilica of San Petronio, the City Hall Building, the Portico dei Banchi and the Palazzo del Podestà. Scenic, historical and a good meeting and cafe place all at once, it’s a good place to centre your Bologna explorations.

Piazza Maggiore by night by Alessandro Capotondi

Tower of the Asinelli and Tower of the Garisenda

These two towers are often the main symbols of the town when you see Bologna in pictures. They both date back to the twelfth century and it’s possible to climb the Tower of the Asinelli.

View from the Tower of Asinelli by arj03

National Picture Gallery

Bologna’s National Picture Gallery is home to the most important local art and masterpieces from other parts of Italy too, and includes works by Raffaello, Giotto and Parmigianino. Do note that it’s usually closed on Mondays.

Fontana di Nettuno

The Fontana di Nettuno or Fountain of Neptune is another frequently-seen symbol of Bologna, and was built back in 1563. It’s an almost over-the-top representation of King Neptune surrounded by angels and fish.

Towering Neptune statue by Enrico Maioli

University Quarter

As a major university town, Bologna’s University Quarter is usually buzzing. With plenty of young people around there are numerous trendy cafes, bars and nightclubs to enjoy. But on the more intellectual side – after all, the University of Bologna is the oldest university in Europe – there are also some interesting museums within the campus, including the Naval Museum, the Museum of European Students, the Obstetric Museum and the Museum of Military Architecture – pretty much something for all tastes!

Statues at the University of Bologna by Meanest Indian

Basilica di San Domenico

The Basilica di San Domenico is one of Bologna’s most famous churches, and you can also visit the attached convent. Tourist guides will keenly tell you that Mozart played the organ here on a few occasions!

Bologna Museum of Modern Art

The Bologna Museum of Modern Art, also known by its trendy Italian abbreviation of MAMbo, has existed as an independent museum only since the 1980s and recently moved to brand new premises. Featuring art quite different from Bologna’s traditional galleries, it also offers performances and multimedia events.

Archaeological Museum

Bologna’s Archaeological Museum, or Museo Civico Archeologico, includes artifacts from both ancient Egypt and the Roman era and is housed in an old hospital – what’s more, entry is free.

Artifact at the Archaeological Museum by Mike Knell

Ducati, Lamborghini and Ferrari Museums

Within Bologna or nearby, there are three very important stops for car and motorbike obsessed travellers: the Ducati Museum, the Lamborghini Museum and the Ferrari Museum; there’s also the Bologna Motorshow if you time your trip correctly. The Ferrari Museum includes a special Formula One exhibition.

Gold Lamborghini at the museum by Blosterblu

Cooking Schools and Food Factory Tours

Given our obsession with spaghetti bolognese, it is hardly surprising that food-related tourist attractions are widespread in Bologna. There are numerous cooking schools where you can learn to make great pasta and sauces, and also tours of various factories producing Italian wine, vinegar, cheese and of course pasta. Incidentally, I’m told that spaghetti bolognese is not a traditional food of Bologna – they use the bolognese sauce on tagliatelle or in lasagne!

Tagliatelle al ragu by WordRidden

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Your Bologna Tips

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Ten Things to Do in Bologna, Italy

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Meribel is a ski resort nestled in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alps and part of the Trois Vallées ski area, one of the biggest in the world. It’s an ideal spot for anyone learning how to ski as it has excellent nursery slopes and plenty of options when it comes to instructors and ski schools.

Beginner’s skiing in Meribel is well catered for, as it has been the take off point for many first timers over the years. Meribel Altiport is the location for the resort’s best-known green run, which is named after the tiny airport it is situated next to. There is a free bus that travels all over Meribel and if you stay on right until the end of the route you will find yourself at Meribel Altiport.

Altiport is not an airport in the traditional sense, more a small landing strip, typically used by two seater planes, so you’re not going to find yourself knocked out by a jumbo jet landing metres away when you’re trying to get up on your skis. In summer Altiport is a golf course, wide and tree lined, which gives good definition to the snow in winter on bad light days. Being slightly out of town it also has the benefit of being mostly free of through- traffic so it’s a great location to learn the basics undisturbed. There are other nursery slopes above Meribel Village and Central Meribel that have these same characteristics and have been selected as nursery slopes because they are less likely to present beginner skiers with problems like ice. Once you progress from beginner status it’s also easy to access the blue runs, which are slightly further up the mountain.

These nursery slopes are where most of the ski schools will come to give their lessons and classes so you can expect to see other large groups of wobbly people struggling up on to their skis and snowboards. When it comes to booking lessons, you can either go for an instructor on a one to one level, or in small groups, or you can join a ski school. Group ski school lessons will normally be ten skiers or under but if you prefer something more personal, the individual instructor may be a better option. If you don’t speak fluent French and will need your lessons in English, this is something you should specify when you book. There are a number of ski schools in Meribel, including the ESF, which has 400 Alpine ski instructors, Magic In Motion, which tends to operate smaller classes and Les Piou Piou Kindergartens, which is run by the ESF and aimed at very tiny tots. There’s also a British run ski school called New Generation, which offers classes as well as private tuition.

As most beginner skiers tend to spend their first few days walking around covered in bruises, if there comes a point where you need a day off from the rough and tumble of the slopes, Meribel also has a great selection of other activities to offer, from a flight in a hot air balloon, to a night at the cinema. There’s also plenty of spa options where you can get a massage to ease those aching muscles and get you back on the slopes, raring and ready to go, the next day.

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About the Author: Charlotte is a travel writer from Alpine Action who offer Meribel chalets to rent for group ski holidays in the French alps.

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