Mini Travel Guides

Spain’s “second city” of Barcelona easily rates as one of the best places to visit in Europe as far as I’m concerned – it’s got historical sights, fantastic culture, delicious food, and you can even spend the day at the beach – what a great combination. If you’re planning your trip then check this list of ten things to do in Barcelona for some useful tips.

La Boqueria

Let’s travel first with our stomachs: Barcelona’s enormous outdoor markets, , are a great place for either an aimless wander or a shopping trip for any kind of fresh food you can imagine. It’s open every day except Sunday, and starts up around eight in the morning, closing at 8.30pm. It’s easy to find as it there is an entrance on La Rambla, the central pedestrian walk of Barcelona.

La Boqueria by munksynz

It seems that here at Europe a la Carte we all like to travel with our stomachs, because no less than three of us have remarked on La Boqueria in the past. Karen shopped for seafood before cooking up some paella, Lindsay recommends grabbing a freshly-squeezed juice and I was naughty enough to bypass the fruit and vegetable stands for the confectionery!

La Sagrada Familia

Stomachs full, let’s look at what is probably Barcelona’s most recognisable building: the still unfinished Sagrada Familia. This incredible church was designed by Anton Gaudi and has been under construction since 1882. Being incomplete hasn’t stopped it becoming a tourist attraction (they’ll work around you) and it is not due to be finished for another fifteen years or so. Its eclectic design makes for great photos.

La Sagrada Familia by bortescristian

Park Guell

Speaking of Gaudi, Park Guell is another Gaudi-designed tourist attraction in Barcelona. You can walk around the park for free and for a fee you can go inside the “La Torre Rosa”, Gaudi’s house. Park Guell is easily one of the most unusual parks you’ll ever take a stroll in.

Park Guell in the evening by papalars

La Rambla

The central pedestrian street of Barcelona, simply taking a walk down here is entertainment in itself. Depending upon the time of day, La Rambla may be fully of buskers, stands and markets, or simply many tourists! It’s a great place to orient yourself to the feeling of Barcelona.

La Rambla by tinou bou

Camp Nou

This stadium is home to the very popular football club FC Barcelona so sports fans will love a visit here – there are various tours to take and some behind-the-scenes spots to see. You can also try to get tickets to a home game, which is sometimes not so difficult as the stadium is so large.

Camp Nou by findfado

Barceloneta and Sant Sebastia

On a warm day, head to either Barceloneta or Sant Sebastia beach to cool down. In fact there is almost three miles of beach running along Barcelona’s coastline so you should be able to find a beach that suits you.

Barceloneta sunset by Oh-Barcelona

Museu Picasso

For art lovers, the Musee Picasso is a must see. An extensive collection of Picasso’s work is housed here, much of it donated by Picasso himself, and in particular includes much from his blue period.

I’m no afficianado but when I visited Musee Picasso I certainly found it an inspiring way to spend an afternoon.

Picasso Museum by pixonomy

City History Museum of Barcelona

Not everything interesting in Barcelona is above ground: the City History Museum includes the Romain remains, particularly under the Place Del Rei, and you can walk through them and imagine how life was as far back as 10 B.C. I wrote up a post on the City History Museum as I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there – it’s a great place to escape if the heat starts to get to you.

City History Museum from EALC

Montjuic

Get “on top” of Barcelona on the Montjuic hill and not only will you get captivating views, you will also find quite a list of tourist attractions to explore, including the Olympic stadium (you’ll recognise it if you were a fan of the Barcelona Olympics in 1992), the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the funicula and gondola ride right to the top of the hill.

View to the National Art Museum by laura padgett

Jeremy has a detailed description of Montjuic if you need more information.

Gothic Quarter

Architecture buffs will love exploring Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Check Karen’s post listing the highlights of the Gothic Quarter for tips on where to go.

Placa Real by rbrands

Further Barcelona Tips

If you can time your visit to catch a festival, take a look at Karen’s post on Five Barcelona fiestas.

Check out Diana Perez’s guest post on Getting off the beaten track in Barcelona for some lesser-known attractions.

Do you have any recommendations for things to do  in Barcelona? Let us know in the comments.

Take a look at the HotelsCombined price comparison site to find the best deals at hotels in Barcelona.

Ten Things To Do in Barcelona

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Our Europe a la Carte dream European travel itinerary, put together from readers’ suggestions in celebration of the Blog’s fourth birthday, transports you to all corners of the continent. I bet that you’ll be planning a trip to Europe by the time you’ve read about these wonderful destinations and activities.

Faroe Islands

Anne-Sophie Redisch from Sophie’s World said that her latest favourite is the Faroe Islands: “verdant, steep, mystical, shrouded in mist, full of exciting Viking history. Absolutely magical to see the islands slowly rise up from the chilly North Atlantic as we approached by ship.”

The beautiful Faroe Islands by arne.list

Norway

Nancy D. Brown from Writing Horseback suggested we add riding a Fjord horse in Bergen, Norway at Øvre-Eide Farm to our dream itinerary for European travel: it was a dream come true for Nancy. If you’re looking for more activities on a Bergen trip, Neha wrote about Bergen museums last year.

Nancy D Brown riding Lynge-Tora, a fjord horse from Øvre-Eide Farm in Bergen, Norway.

United Kingdom

Kerry Dexter of Music Road had a suggestion: take in a traditional music event at Saint Andrew’s in the Square, in Glasgow.

St Andrew’s in the Square by gj_theWhite

We can’t leave Cardiff off a European travel itinerary, according to  John Williams from Eurapart. Karen recently gathered a bunch of tips for Cardiff visitors.

The Millennium Centre in Cardiff by rog.davies

It’s all about the sheep, according to Zoe Davies from The Quirky Traveller, who told us that the Lake District of England is the “loveliest and most inspiring part of England, the UK, Europe & the World”. The reasons she gives is that it has everything: “small yet perfectly formed mountains, limpid lakes, fast-flowing rivers, sparkling streams, picturesque villages, world-class literary heritage and so much more, including our quirky Herdwicks -the cutest sheep ever!”

Herdwick sheep in the Lake District by cloudsoup

Karen didn’t mention the sheep but she did enjoy visiting the Lake District’s only coastal village of Ravenglass.

Netherlands

From OrangeSplaash, Arwa Lokhandwala recommends a visit to the Zaanse Schans. Arwa says it’s a must visit “for its well preserved historic windmills, oil mills, Dutch houses, traditional art and craft shops like making wooden shoes (clogs) and cheese, river cruises, country side – in short, a peek into the Dutch culture!”

Zaanse Schans windmills by ComunicaTI

Estonia

Here comes my own tip – I had a lot of trouble picking just one place to add to the dream itinerary but I decided to say the island of Saaremaa in Estonia because I felt so relaxed there. This corner of Estonia is popular with local holidaymakers and has some interesting sightseeing to be done as well, but above all it’s friendly, easygoing and simply a pleasant place to visit. While I was there I visited the tiny island of Abruka, one of my all-time favourite travel experiences.

Kuressaare castle on Saaremaa by camera on autopilot

Spain

By far the most popular country for our dream European travel itinerary, Spain featured in numerous suggestions. One of these came from Anne Greaves who thinks the place to go is Ibiza town, to “soak up the atmosphere on summer nights”.

Ibiza town in the evening by aldask

Karen put together a useful guide to Ibiza.

Abigail King from Inside the Travel Lab recommends Zafra in Extremadura, Spain, for three reasons: “Beautiful, loads of history, tasty jamon!”

Soportales de la plaza chica by chemasanco

Both Charlotte and Homeaway UK couldn’t go past Andalucia with great weather, vibrant culture, beautiful palaces and buildings to visit and delicious food, and perhaps even discovering Andalucia by horse-back.

Cortijo de las Piletas, Ronda, in Andalucia by toprural

The petrified lava rivers of Tenerife’s Teide National Park is the dream itinerary contribution from  Joe Cawley.

Paisajes del Teider on Tenerife by ReservasdeCoches

The Rias Baixas in Galicia, northern Spain, “for the albarino wine, fabulous seafood and spectacular beaches” is Annie Bennett’s suggestion from Mooching Around Spain.

Rias Baixas by alexvc26

France

Ben McCullough from  Tour Dust suggests the Île de Ré in France: “we were there this summer, it is easy to get to, great beaches and wonderful little port towns with a real Mediterranean vibe (despite the Atlantic location).”

Bridge in Île de Ré by mrskyce

Claude from Hotel I Tour says one of France’s great assets is wine tourism and suggests the Loire Valley, Chamonix and Bordeaux. We have a great post from Thomas about the vineyards of the Loire Valley if you’re after more details.

Vineyards of Bordeaux by paularps

Iceland

The Lifecruiser couple suggested  “Iceland because of the lava fields, volcanoes & Blue Lagoon, and because it’s so very different from everything else.”

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland by doctorwho

Check out more ideas for Iceland in our post from Britt-Arnhild on Looking through windows in Reykjavik.

Latvia

On Twitter, BexIndigo suggested a stay at the Amber Spa Boutique Hotel in Jurmala on the Baltic Sea.

The beach at Jurmala by Dainis Matisons

Heather recommended a trip to Jurmala as a day excursion from Riga.

Ireland

Also on Twitter, WanderingEds suggested that instead of visiting the Ring of Kerry, we should try the Skellig Ring instead – apparently it’s “even more beautiful, if possible.”

Skellig Islands by technohippybiker

Portugal

Mary Goudie gave us a travel tip to add to our dream itinerary: “if flying to the Scottish west coast Prestwick airport, take the fabulous train from Lisbon to Faro and hop on a Ryanair flight.”

The highspeed train from Lisbon to Faro by bridgepix

Germany

Jill Love wrote that “the whole art and green scene and the excitement generated from Berlin is making me curious. In Germany-I’ve only been to Munich and Bavaria (loved it) and now it’s time for Berlin.” Check our Best of Berlin travel tips for plenty of ideas for activities in the German capital, as well as Marcus’s post on Street art in Berlin.

Berlin street art by Chris Buckridge

Slovenia

Terme Čatež, the largest natural spa and the second largest tourist centre in Slovenia, is the tip from Maya Maja Obrenovic.

Čatež, Slovenia by breki74

Switzerland

Emma Jamieson says that Gstaad in Switzerland is great in both summer and winter: “it’s always buzzing with activity!  Beyond the glitz and the glamour, Gstaad’s residents value their strong Swiss alpine culture and heritage. This love affair with all things authentic is reflected in a super busy calendar of events and festivities which mark the passing seasons and help preserve a traditional way-of-life. They also have some seriously happy cows and farm animals to see! ”

The Alps near Gstaad by timo_w2s

Italy

Nancy Aiello suggests that in Rome we should go off the beaten track, including taking a look at the Trastevere area and its underground sites or the Aventine hill for a nice picnic!

Aventine hill in Rome by xiquinhosilva

Kimberley has some more suggestions for visits to Rome, such as visiting the Protestant Cemetery or eating bread at Panella.

All over

And finally, Jools Stone suggested an entire dream itinerary: London to Istanbul on the Orient Express, with stops at Paris, Venice, Prague and maybe a detour to Berlin, “since I’m being wistful!” Andy gave us some detailed info on the Orient Express when he was considering a trip on it, too.

The Orient Express in Prague by infodad

A big thank you to all the contributors to this amazing dream European travel itinerary.  If you would like to recommend some other great places to visit in Europe, please leave a comment.

The Europe a la Carte Dream European Travel Itinerary

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

For many people who love to travel, Europe is one of the top destinations in the world to visit.  However, with so many places to go, why is Europe a top destination?

With the euro, Europe can be one of the most expensive places to visit.  If you are visiting the UK, it is even more expensive with the British pound.  South America, Asia, and Africa are cheaper and offer many more budget options where your money goes further.  It seems that there are many reasons to visit elsewhere.  However, Europe offers many things that appeal to so many people.

Despite the recent travel alert to Europe, many people are still willing to visit Europe for a number of reasons.  For one, it has been the center of some of the greatest battles, empires, and scenes from history than anywhere else on earth.  From the Roman Empire to World War II and everything in between, Europe offers some of the best historical sights anywhere on earth.

For those who can afford to travel, Europe is a great mix of old and new, comfortable yet challenging, fun yet educational.  Europe offers the comforts of the West but with so much history, diversity, and culture, it’s enough to take you out of your comfort zone to visit the many places and sights the continent has to offer.  Not only is Europe fun, it’s a continent loaded with history and offers an opportunity to explore and learn.

Even for Europeans, the mix of cultures and diversity on the continent offer interesting places to explore that are close yet very different from the comforts of home.  From the days of communism to the empire in Italy.  From the German independent states to the rich Scandinavian history.  From British royalty to the proud and once powerful French.  From the smallest countries on earth to recent independence and new nations in Eastern Europe.  Europe offers so much in history, diversity, and culture that you could spend the rest of your life traveling the continent and never learn all there is know about the countries and people that inhabit it.

As part of the history and culture, some of the most famous landmarks, monuments, sights, and museums offer cultural attractions that draw people by the millions each year.  Whether it’s the unique and majestic Eiffel Tower, the somber reflections of Auschwitz, the natural beauty of less known natural wonders like Plitvice Lakes, or the famous museums of Paris, London, and Madrid, Europe has a wealth of attractions that keep them coming every year.

While there is so much of Europe to be explored, it’s good to reflect on why people have such an interest and come back to visit every year.  While there are cheaper, more affordable places to visit, nowhere else can you find the history, culture, and attractions that Europe has to offer.  It’s why millions visit every year, others are proud to call it home, and why many can’t wait to go back.

What are your reasons for visiting Europe?

Why visit Europe?

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

At Europe a la Carte we aim to show you the best places to visit to Europe through our Europe travel tips.  Here is our best of Vienna travel tips, collated from posts of the Europe a la Carte blogging team.

Vienna by Krister462

Best Vienna Attractions

Amanda writes about the Hofburg Palace, location of the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and the Imperial Silver Collection in Vienna’s city centre.

Hofburg Palace by budgetplaces

Marcus loved the frescos at Karlskirche where there’s even a lift to take you up close to this beautiful artwork.

Cupola Fresco at Karlskirche by Marcus Cederstrom

Neha was not normally a fan of zoos, enjoyed her visit to Vienna’s Baroque Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the world.

Vienna Zoo by Roberto Verso

Amanda was impressed by the Vienna Boys’ Choir.

Vienna Boys Choir by tore_unes

Marcus likens Vienna’s Schonbrum Palace to Versailles, as an opulent reminder of the past days of glory.

Schonbrunn Palace by Marcus Cederstron

Best Vienna Events

In her Europe a la Carte guest post Anne-Sophie Redisch describes the Vienna Christmas Markets which run annually mid November to Christmas Eve.

Christkindlmarkt, Vienna

Andy enjoyed going to the various events (some free) such as opera, drama and dance at the  Vienna International Festival held every May since 1951.

Sweat Workshop at Vienna International Festival by Tor Lindstrand

Best Vienna Museums

Amanda wondered if she’d undergo analysis at the Sigmund Freud Museum.

Sigmund Freud Museum Vienna by Chris Lancaster

Neha was amazed that there’s even a Museum of Art Fakes in Vienna.

Van Gogh copy from Vienna Museum of Art Fakes

The Kunsthaus, with its colourful art and uneven floors is Amanda’s favourite Vienna art spot.

Kunsthaus Vienna by Jacob Paul Skoubo

Amanda points out that the Vienna Haus der Musik is open until 10pm, offering an evening cultural activity, when many other museums are closed.

Haus der Musik Vienna by _dChris

Best Vienna Cafes

Andy recommends that you sample some Topfen (cream cheese) Strudel at Cafe Aida.

Coffee and Cake at Vienna’s Cafe Aida by denkrahm

Best Vienna Day Trips

Although there are so many things to do in Vienna, you might want to venture further afield on a day trip from Vienna.

Amanda visited the Marchegg Stork Sanctuary, a Worldwide Fund for Nature project, during breeding season and saw plenty of chicks in the nests.

Nesting Stork by Roberto Verso

Marcus made the trip to Grinzing, just north of Vienna to enjoy some local wine in a traditional heurigen (wine tavern) and some great views over Vienna.

View of Vienna from Grinzing by Marcus Cederstrom.

I hope that the Europe a la Carte blogging team’s Vienna travel tips will help you make the most of your trip to Vienna. 

You can find the cheapest rates at hotels in Vienna by using the HotelsCombined metasearch which quickly looks through the databases of more than 30 accommodation suppliers to get the lowest prices for you.

The best of Vienna travel tips

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Europe a la Carte gives you Europe travel tips so you can find the best places to visit in Europe. With this in mind,  I’ve collated the best London travel tips from the blogging team and added some new tips of my own. There are so many things to do in London that it can be quite bewildering deciding on a London sightseeing itinerary. Our London travel tips will help you get discover the best things to do in London.

Best Sightseeing Tours

Thomas Dawson enjoyed his Open Top Bus Tour of London which at at price of £25 for 24 hours (10% off if you book online in advance) included a River Thames Cruise and three London walking tours.

The Palace of Westminster from the Thames Cruise

Best London Cafes

Maison Bertaux is a quirky French cafe, with goods baked on the premises in Soho, close to Leicester Square. Penny Golighty took me here as it’s her favourite haunt for fresh cakes.

Selection of cakes and pastries at Maison Bertaux, Soho, London

The Serpentine Bar and Kitchen in Hyde Park is a great spot for soaking up some Summer evening sunshine.

Serpentine Bar & Kitchen, Hyde Park

Best London Walks

I love walking along the Thames Path. I been along the Tower Bridge to Westminster section twice. It was beautiful in the evening.  I’ve also walked along the Battersea Park section of the Thames Path.

London Eye from the north bank of the River Thames

I enjoyed walking along a very verdant Regent’s Canal

Regents Canal, London

Best London Gardens

The Avenue Gardens at Regents Park reminded me of Italian style formal gardens, complete with flower beds, ornamental urns and fountains.

Avenue Gardens at Regent’s Park

The Dutch Garden at Holland Park was recently renovated and is looking great.

Dutch Garden at Holland Park

At Chelsea Physic Garden you’ll find lots of plants grown for their medicinal properties, as well as a cafe.

Chelsea Physic Garden, London

If you love gardens, you should try to visit London in mid June during the Open Garden Squares Event. Tickets were priced £7.50, if booked in advance, or £9 if purchased on the day, in 2010.

Best London Pubs & Bars

Sian reckons that The Clifton in St John’s Wood  is London’s best pub with great ale and a lovely beer garden.

The  Clifton, St John’s Wood, London by Ewan-M

If you prefer to stick to central London,  Siam gives us her tips for the Five Best Bars in London’s Fitzrovia.

The Crown & Sceptre, Fitzrovia, London by Ewan-M

Sian also reveals some good Leicester Square Wine Bars. However on her home ground of Greenwich, Sian’s a fan of Oliver’s Jazz Bar and the Greenwich Union.

Best Free London Attractions for Kids

The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is such a wonderful place for kids on a dry day.

The pirate ship at the Diana Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens, London

Heather’s top three tips for London Museums for families include the Victoria & Albert, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.

The Science Museum by Heatheronhertravels

We’ve more ideas for Things to do in London with Kids but not all are free.

Best London Food Markets

Greenwich Food Market is Sian’s local for culinary treats.

Greenwich Food Market, London

Neha’s tip is Borough Food Market referred to as “London’s Larder”.

Borough Market by WordRidden

Best London hotel for free wifi

The Park Grand Hotel in Paddington has excellent free wifi throughout as well as a wired connection in bedrooms. I wish all hotels offered this, many London  hotels charge guests an additional fee of up to £15 a day and/or there’s not always a decent signal.

View from my room at the Park Grand Hotel, Paddington, London

Best London Restaurants

The Hawksmoor tops  Sian’s list of best London steakhouses, which although pricey, with a burger main course costing around £15, offers excellent quality meals.

Burger at Hawksmoor, London by Ewan-M

If Spanish style tapas are more to your culinary tastes then Sian recommends the Best Tapas in London.

Salt Yard, London by Ewan-M

I hope that you’ll find these “best of London” travel tips useful when Europe travel planning. You can find the lowest prices for London hotels through the HotelsCombined metasearch, which quickly looks through the databases of more than 30 accommodation supplier to find you the best deal.

Do you have any tips for the best things to do in London?

Packing for a European trip used to be easy for me. Now that I’ve got a small baby to deal with, I’m actually writing my packing list well ahead of time. I’ve travelled overnight with my baby on car trips and was astounded at just how full the car was of stuff he “needed”, and the thought of getting all that organised for a plane trip is pretty scary.

[Pic of how not to pack with children from danorth1 via Flickr CC]

As I’ve said in recent weeks when I’ve talked about car hire and hotel booking, I may be an experienced budget traveller but I’m a novice when it comes to European travel with a baby – so I welcome your advice on packing for travel with a baby. So far, my research and contemplation on packing for my baby’s needs during our three week stay in Germany and Switzerland has led me to these tips:

• Make a list. For a start, babies and children need a lot of stuff. Secondly, if you arrive somewhere and don’t have it, that could be much more of a problem than when an adult, say, forgets their toothbrush.
• Make said list ahead of time. I started my list a couple of months before my trip, keeping a piece of paper handy to add items to when they came to mind – I’ve been surprised how many baby travel needs I forgot when I first made the list.
• Find out what you must take and what you can get there. For example, I’m taking enough nappies (diapers) for the first couple of days, but will buy more there – they’re far too bulky to pack. However, if you need particular medications, formula or other baby items that may be different or difficult to find, pack them. Obviously most places in Europe will have nearly every baby requirement – things could be different if I were travelling elsewhere.
• Focus on keeping the baby comfortable and happy, because if they are, you will be too. I’m especially concerned about the long flights from Australia to Europe so I’m being careful about what I’ll pack in our carry-on luggage to make sure the baby is as comfortable as possible. No doubt the passengers around me will be grateful if that works, too!
• Try to minimise. This sounds like a contradictory piece of advice, but while you must make sure you have everything you need with you, you also don’t want a huge load of luggage to lug around while you’re also carrying a baby, right? For example, just take a small number of favourite toys rather than half the toy box.

They’re my thoughts on Europe travel planning for a  trip with a baby or small child so far – please let me know in the comments what else I should think about. Thanks in advance!

I’ve got a new Europe travel planning challenge coming up: organising a trip to Germany with my new baby to introduce him to his relatives. At the time of our trip he’ll be about four months old (hopefully an ideal time to travel) and over the next few weeks I’m going to use this experience to share some Europe travel tips and advice on travels with a baby or young children. And perhaps I can get some good advice from readers, too!

First up is renting a car. In contrast to my previous car rental experience on holidays, this time I’m not going for the bottom-of-the-range budget option. We need enough space for three adults, a baby, and a lot of luggage and baby paraphernalia, and decided on a station wagon of some kind.

I hit the web to compare prices from some of the major rental car companies represented in Germany: Hertz, Budget, Europcar and Sixt. The good news is that all four of them had user-friendly websites and it wasn’t too hard to get the information I was looking for. The bad news was that after all that effort, the price differences between companies was minimal! However, my tips would be:

• If possible – that is, if you have the money available, and if you are reasonably sure of your plans – pay for the rental up front. The savings can be large, up to 25% or so. And the rental I chose had a small cancellation fee of around 50 Euros if I did end up having to cancel, which was cheap compared to the amount I was saving.
• If you’re travelling with children, definitely go for a bigger car than you think you’ll need – you don’t want to be squeezing the last suitcase in on top of somebody’s lap, and the extra cost will make your holiday run much more smoothly.
• Before you sign up for extra insurance, check if your credit card offers you any coverage. My Gold Visa covers me for any excess I may have to pay in the event of a rental car accident, so there’s no need for me to pay extra at the car rental company for insurance to cover this.  There’s also the option of purchasing car rental excess insurance.
• Try to rent any extras you need – for example, a baby or a child seat, or a portable DVD player to keep the kids amused – from the same car rental company. Combining these generally makes it cheaper.
• Make sure you can pick the car up from the airport, and that the rental desk is open at the time your flight arrives. Obviously a 24-hour service is the best in case your flight is delayed.

[Pic of many cars from torley]

I spent 5 days in London in June 2010.   Knowing that London is one of the best places to visit in Europe,  I asked for tips on things to do in London, on Twitter and Facebook, as well as the Europe a la Carte Blog, to help plan my London sightseeing itinerary.  Below are the London travel tips I received, plus some from me, to help with your Europe travel planning.

The London Eye

Twitter Tips

@MoniqueinParis reckons that London Walks are a must, she goes on one every time she’s in London.

@LondonTeaTips recommends Dennis Severs House and Afternoon Tea at the Original Maids of Honour.

@Dreamof Italy suggest a visit to the Churchill War Rooms and Hampstead Heath.

@ColmHanratty reckons his ‘10 things in London‘ video offers some good ideas.

@EPok says that an Olympic Guided Walk should be interesting.

@lanini123 thinks that the Grace Kelly:  Style Icon exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Winston Churchill Museum and War Rooms are worth visiting.

Blog Comment Tips

Pamm recommends the Sir John Soane Museum which was actually his home, so typically “London” of that period in history and fascinating in its own right.

Sir John Soane Museum by mcbrewste

S Brown of the Palm Hotel London suggest some free events in London; Tango in Spitalfields Market, Late nights in London Museums- visit the V & A after hours. What about musical tour of London to take in Abbey Road crossing and Jimi Hendrix House Museum.Hopefully in June it will be warm, so dangle your feet in the fountains in Trafalgar square.

Sophie’s World: Sophie would add the Saatchi Gallery.

Feng Zhengjie at the Saatchi Gallery by dekcuf

Rainbowsurfer of Epok: I don’t know what sort of music you’re into but the Royal Albert Hall have £10 tickets for late night jazz on the 16th.   There’s the Vintage Fair at Primrose Hill and as an added bonus you can take some great photos from the hill afterwards.

Creative Voyage: I wrote a blog post “How to visit London“.  I would add that walking from Islington to the Thames is brilliant takes about 4 and a half hours along Regent’s canal with a stop off for coffee at Victoria Park in Hackney. The tour of the old rose theatre which you get a tthe Globe Theatre is well worth doing as well. Just walking along the river is fantasitc and free. Taking a boat trip – check out the regular services. A tour of Highgate Cemetary is also fascinating. Also get yourself a Oyster Card when you arrive makes using public transport so much easier – and finally get to grips with the buses rather than the underground slower but lovely to see where you are going.

My tips

I enjoyed elephant spotting in the Elephant Parade around London.

The tiger elephant in Chinatown

I’d also recommend the Chelsea Physic Garden established in 1673 to grow medicinal plants.

Chelsea Physic Garden

The Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park is a ideal spot to chill and revive after a hard day London sightseeing by dangling your feet in the cooling stream.

Diana Memorial Fountain

If you have any tips for things to do in London,  please leave a comment and I’ll add your Europe travel tip to this post.

The Loire Valley for me has to be one of the best places to visit in Europe; there really is something of everything France has to offer there. This is a river valley that covers some 800 square kilometres and is over 280 km in length. Besides being one of the great wine regions of France, from Sancerre and the wines of Nantes through to the vineyards of Touraine and Anjou, the Loire Valley is world renowned for its cultural and historical heritage. And in recognition of this heritage in 2000 the Loire Valley was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites, along with the likes of the Great Wall of China and the Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt.

It is, however, the flamboyant châteaux that are perhaps the most popular attractions in the Loire Valley. I have already written about my favourite, namely Château de Chenonceau, but there are many more. Visitors to the Loire are simply spoilt for choice.

Until now, when planning your trip to this wonderful European destination, you would have had to search for each of the castle’s websites individually. But now help is at hand, a new website has just launched that will greatly assist with Europe travel planning. Châteaux de la Loire is a long awaited website that allows you explore 19 of the major castles in the Loire Valley.

The homepage has an interactive map of the river, with the location of the 19 featured castles. The pages for each of the castles have all you need to know about the castle, from practical and access information, to the forthcoming events, and some background to the castle’s history. The website even includes some suggested routes to discover the castles of the Loire, including itineraries for seniors and families, in the country and in the towns along the Loire.

This website will prove to be an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to visit the Loire Valley, and its wonderful architectural heritage. Just looking at the website is making me want to pop down from Normandy immediately! Sadly, I will just have to wait until the end of June; more of which in a future post.

The wonderful photographs of the Château de Saumur I have used here were taken by my friend Stu Bradley, a photographer living and blogging in the Loire.

Doing some Europe travel planning and looking for somewhere new to go in France?  I’d like to suggest another little-known spot: Montpellier. It’s a University town that has fabulous TGV access to all of the major railway hubs, including Paris and Barcelona.  Here are a few Europe travel tips on things to do in Montpellier:

• Architecture:  There’s both modern and old world architecture to be explored.  Place de la Comédie is home to a grand opera theatre, one of the most beautiful in France for sure.  But step back in time with some of the Roman ruins you’ll find here; don’t miss the miniature Arc de Triomphe (when I say miniature, I mean smaller than the one in Rome – it’s still pretty big), as well as the Roman Aqueduct that supplied the town with water when it was a Roman fortification.
• Food:  It does without say, but you’re in France – so the food is amazing.  This is the Languedoc Roussillon region, a huge producer of wine – they say more wine is made here every year than in the entire country of Australia.  If you visit in summer (which is a great time to come, by the way), you’ll notice a lot of the wine is chilled, including the red.  This wasn’t the first time I’d had a chilled red – this is also something that happens in Australia.  It’s very refreshing and not as gross/weird as it sounds.  Remember red wine should typically be served at cellar temperatures, and it can be pretty hot around here in summer.
• Shop:  Whether you want some fresh French fashion, or just ready to gorge yourself on more food (chocolates, anyone?), Rue de la Loge is where it’s at.

Another tip is that if you do visit this European city, hire a car and explore further afield – there are lots of other lovely towns such as Nimes, only 30 miles away famous for Roman architecture and denim.

Find the best rates at Montpellier hotels with the HotelsCombined metasearch.

Photo by Wolfgant Staudt