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10 Lovely European Gardens
Europe’s climate makes it the perfect place for beautiful gardens and they can become quite a tourist attraction. Here are our travel tips for ten lovely gardens in Europe.
Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands
My all-time favourite gardens in the world are at Keukenhof in the Netherlands. As you might expect, they are famous for their wide variety of tulips and receive a huge number of visitors during their short season (approximately March to May each year).
Keukenhof Gardens by Amanda Kendle
Cragside House, England
The Cragside House Gardens near Rothbury in Northumberland are a National Trust estate and have a gorgeous display at any time of year. There is a Formal Garden and changing displays, and I rather like these fish sculptures in the ponds.
Fish sculptures at Cragside House Gardens
Rose Garden, Rome, Italy
The Rose Garden in Rome (or Roseto Comunale di Roma to the locals) can be found on the Aventine Hill with great views over Rome. It’s a relaxing place and even includes roses that apparently were known back in ancient Roman times.
Rose Garden in Rome by Kimberly Sullivan
More Rome Tips
We’ve lots more tips on what to do in Rome on Europe a la Carte.
Biblical Gardens, Elgin, Scotland
The Biblical Garden in Elgin, Scotland is quite special as it includes all 110 of the plants mentioned in the Bible. It also contains sculpture illustrating various stories from the Bible.
Biblical Gardens in Elgin
Schoenbrunn Palace Gardens, Vienna, Austria
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Vienna is the Schoenbrunn Palace, and not just for the palace – the gardens are exceptional. The gardens have various sections reflecting the influence of different Habsburg family members over the centuries.
Schoenbrunn Gardens by MarcelGermain
Best of Vienna Tips
Our Best of Vienna Travel Tips collation will give you plenty of ideas for you trip to Vienna. Find out about more fascinating Vienna museums. We’ve also researched some of the best places to stay in Vienna for all budgets.
Chelsea Physic Garden, London, England
Karen had a very interesting visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden in London which included all kinds of interesting plants in the pharmaceutical section – ready to heal all kinds of ailments.
Chelsea Physic Garden
Tips for What to Do in London
We’ve lots of travel tips on what to do in London.
Summer Garden, St Petersburg, Russia
In beautiful St Petersburg, the Summer Garden surrounds the Summer Palace, a previous residence of Peter the Great. It includes some great sculptures and statues.
Summer Garden by Amanda Kendle
Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France
Not only can you find Monet’s house in the village of Giverny, west of Paris, but you can also visit his inspiring gardens, and see some of the famous spots that ended up in his paintings.
Monet’s Garden by Hil
Botanic Garden, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
The Botanic Garden in Copenhagen has one of the biggest collections of plants in Europe – and has one of the largest fungi collections in the world, too.
Copenhagen Botanic Garden
Iris Garden, Florence, Italy
Florence in Italy is a city already full of beautiful surprises but here’s another one – the Iris Garden tucked down a pathway leading off the Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s a garden with thousands of irises plus views over Florence.
Iris Garden by Britt-Arnhild
Bluhendes Barock, Ludwigsburg, Germany
One of my favourite gardens was just “down the road” from where I lived in Germany, and that’s the Bluhendes Barock in Ludgwigsburg, not far from Stuttgart. As well as impressive gardens there is a fairy tale park featuring models and displays of well-known fairy tale characters amongst more gardens.
Bluhendes Barock by Amanda Kendle
10 Lovely European Gardens
Best Places to Visit Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
Travel in France with Europe a la Carte
Today, 18 April 2012, the theme on all Europe a la Carte social networks is travel in France. Our 25 travel tips on what to see in France will give you some ideas for your French travels.
Share your links on the Europe a la Carte Facebook page.
Source: europealacarte.co.uk via Karen on Pinterest
If you’d like to collaborate on the Europe a la Carte Travelling in France Pinterest Board, please contact me.
Tweet your stories about travel in France with the hashtag #travelfrance.
Travel in France with Europe a la Carte
What to Do Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
25 Things to Do With Kids in Europe
Travelling with kids is, as I’m rapidly discovering, quite a different scenario to travelling without them. But that’s not a bad thing at all, as tailoring at least some of your sightseeing plans to child-friendly activities means you get to experience new things you may not have considered – plus everyone loves being able to act like a bit of a kid, right?
Bomarzo Monster Park near Rome by nessundove.net
This list of 25 things to do in Europe with kids showcases many of the child-friendly tourist attractions we’ve mentioned in the past along with quite a few we haven’t had a chance to write about before. You probably don’t want to let your children read this list though – they might want to go everywhere, and that could get expensive.
Germany
There is much about Germany which makes it kid-friendly, with fantastic toy shops, model train museums and lots of outdoor fun to be had. A highlight is Munich’s Toy Museum. It’s located in the Rathaus Turm (town hall tower), a tall skinny building, and spread across four floors. The toy collections on display span two centuries and have something to interest everybody.
Doll house by Inka Piegsa-quischotte
France
Some families are reluctant to take their small children skiing in but in France you can easily find an appropriate ski resort by looking for the Famille Plus label. These resorts have a range of facilities making them suitable (and great fun) for a family ski holiday.
Kids skiing in France by stijn
Thomas wrote a great post on Taking kids to Paris with some useful suggestions on the main sightseeing attractions and museums that are particularly child-friendly – like climbing the Eiffel Tower, and visiting the , one of the world’s largest hands-on science museums.
Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie by george kiwi
Finally for France, perhaps one of the ultimate kids’ destinations is Disneyland Paris. Although it took a while to get going after opening in the early 1990s, it is now a popular attraction and recently added the Walt Disney Studios Park as well.
Disneyland Paris by Sean MacEntee
Italy
Every kid will love eating gelato in Italy but there’s a special treat just outside Rome that will amuse them too – the Bomarzo Monster Park. It’s nearly five hundred years old and full of sculptures of ogres, snakes, dragons and monsters, and it’s a great place for a picnic.
Dragon at Bomarzo by dirk huijssoon
Netherlands
Touring Europe with the kids in tow doesn’t mean you have to skip all the high brow cultural attractions. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is well set up for kids with a great activity guide to help them explore the exhibits.
Acitivity sheet at the Van Gogh Museum by Kimberly Sullivan
Switzerland
It turns out Geneva is not just a city of diplomats and bankers, as assumed by Marcus – he happily discovered that the Natural History Museum of Geneva is a great place to visit. Among other things, it has a living two-headed tortoise – which kid wouldn’t want to see that?!
Tortoise at Natural History Museum, Geneva by Marcus Cederstrom
Ireland
Dublin is definitely a good family holiday destination, and one spot in particular that might appeal to both adults and kids is Dublinia – Vikings in Dublin, a the Viking and Medieval museum next to Christ Church Cathedral (and part of a combined ticket to see them both). Dublinia is interesting for all but seems to cater especially towards the younger visitor.
Dublinia by Marcus Cederstrom
United Kingdom
Starting up in Scotland, one great example of an activity for the whole family is a visit to Camera Obscura in Edinburgh. As well as the show of panoramic Edinburgh pictures there are heaps of fun hands-on activities playing around with cameras and mirrors.
Still in Edinburgh, the Museum of Childhood was apparently the first Museum of Childhood in the world, and includes all kinds of historical games and toys. Better still, it is free to enter!
The Search for the Loch Ness Monster exhibit
In Dundee in Scotland a great outing for kids is to try the Sensation Science Centre, a very hands-on exhibition centre with all kinds of fun for both adults and kids.
Exterior of Sensation Science Centre Dundee
There is an endless number of things to do with kids in London but something a bit different is exploring one of the capital’sCity Farms. There are ten of them dotted around London like this one, Hackney City Farm, with lots of animals to see and countryside experiences to be had, right in the city.
Hackney City Farm plan by aburt
Another London attraction for kids is Pollock’s Toy Museum, which includes toys from many generations and many parts of the world, and also has an excellent toy shop so kids can take something home, too.
Pollock’s Toy Museum by cakeyvoice
A just-opened attraction close to London is the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio tour – a must for all Harry Potter fans! The studio is about 20 miles away from London but a shuttle bus can take you there – but you must book tickets to the studio in advance to avoid missing out on a spot for the day.
Harry Potter Studio tour by rev stan
There are some great free museums in London and the Science Museum is Heather’s top pick for day out with kids.
London’s Science Museum by Heatheronhertravels
If you’re thinking of heading to Oxford with your kids we have a post listing some highlights of a family trip to Oxford, with the most appealing to me being the chance to see the Hogwart’s dining room from the Harry Potter films at Oxford’s Christ Church College.
“Hogwart’s dining hall” by Kimberly Sullivan
In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the amazing centre for children’s literature known as Seven Stories is somewhere I haven’t been but am sure I will love. It is full of interactive exhibits related to children’s books and artefacts like original manuscripts too.
Books at Seven Stories by Pot Noodle
And last not but definitely not least in the UK, if you visit the Lake District then you should definitely stop at the Beatrix Potter Gardens in Hawkshead; the Beatrix Potter Gallery there has all kinds of exhibits both about Potter’s life and her famous characters like Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-duck.
Beatrix Potter Gallery by fridgeuk
Channel Islands
If you take a family trip to Jersey in the Channel Islands then you’ll find our post on kid-friendly activities on Jersey pretty useful. Durrell Wildlife, which used to be known as the Jersey Zoo, is now a wildlife conservation trust and would be my pick of the bunch for a great day out with kids on Jersey.
Spain
For those touring Spain a stop in Valencia at L’Oceanographic Sea World is a must for satisfying the kids. There are all kinds of sea creatures including a beluga whale and a good dolphin show.
Dolphin show by Heather Cowper
After my sister’s recent trip to Spain with her three-year-old son, she came home raving about Tibidabo Park in Barcelona. Getting there by funicular railway is fun to start with and then it’s a great collection of rides, many dating back to when it opened a century ago (with appropriate maintenance and upgrading, of course).
Tibidabo Park by Sarah Ackerman
Austria
Amongst the cultural and historical sites of the Austrian capital of Vienna, Tiergarten Schoenbrunn is a sight well worth taking the kids to. The Zoo has its own history, dating back well over 250 years, and has amazing Baroque architecture, but it also has some very popular pandas, plenty of space and walking trails and a variety of animals to keep everyone intrigued.
Pandas at Zoo Vienna by Dieter Karner
Finland
You can’t get much more child-friendly than visiting Santa Claus in Finland. Santa’s official home is on the Arctic Circle a short bus ride north of the Lapland town of Rovaniemi and there are quite a few activities in Santa’s Village. The post office is particularly fascinating with all those letters from kids to Santa, and of course meeting Santa himself is a highlight for anyone!
Santa’s post office by Amanda Kendle
Denmark
Name a toy that every kid in the world loves – Lego! So a trip to the original Legoland in Denmark is bound to be a winner (we mentioned the Windsor Legoland but the original’s got to be the best!). It’s located in Billund, next to the original Lego factory and contains rides and attractions to suit all ages.
Legoland Denmark entrance by Sir Jayko
One of the most memorable experiences I have from my first extended trip around Europe as a child is spending an afternoon in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Tivoli is a classic part of the Danish capital, and apparently the second oldest amusement park in the world!
Roller coaster at Tivoli by La Citta Vita
Other Things to Do With Kids in Europe
Of course, there is really an endless list of other great spots to take your children in Europe – where is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
25 Things to Do With Kids in Europe
What to Do Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
An expat’s guide to Cusco, Peru: an interview with Richard Nisbet.
Island Hopping Around Europe
I remember being surprised when I learned which European country had the largest number of islands of any in the world – I was imagining some South Pacific nation or at the very least, somewhere like Greece, but apparently Finland is the nation with the most islands, not just in Europe but across the globe. Here are our travel tips for some of the fab islands in Europe, famous and not-so-famous, which include some of the best places in Europe to visit.
Finland
So, let’s start with a particularly interesting group of Finnish islands: the Aland Islands. They’re quite unique because they are a kind of autonomous region of Finland and the locals actually speak Swedish! They even have their own postage stamps; but beyond that, these islands are a great place to relax, swim (in summer) and try their special apple vodka.
Aland Islands by ezioman
United Kingdom
Off the northern coast of Scotland, the Shetland Islands are a beautiful place to explore, especially for landscape and wildlife enthusiasts.
Gannets on Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands
You might also be inspired to head to the Shetlands to experience Europe’s largest fire festival, the Up Helly Aa, a festival with Viking roots that takes place in late January each year.
Up Helly Aa by chatirygirl
In the north of England, the Farne Islands are a great spot to do some sea kayaking, with dramatic coastlines and interesting local wildlife to spot.
Farnes Puffin by left-hand
France
The French island of Corsica is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to visit, with great hiking and rock-climbing possibilities inland, and perfect beaches and scuba-diving opportunities on the coast. On top of all that, there are several excellent museums in its capital, Ajaccio, and very good food and wine.
Sperone Beach, Corsica by David Locke
Off the coast of Brittany, the Gulf of Morbihan is home to numerous small French islands. Heather recommends a number of these islands for a tranquil day trip, including the largest, Belle-Ile-en Mer (it was popular with Matisse and Monet!), Isle de Houat for great beach walks, Isle aux Moines with its cycle paths and fishermen’s cottages and L’Ile d’Arz, a lush green island you can circumnavigate on foot.
Isle de Houat by Heather Cowper
Greece
No post on European islands would be complete without mentioning Greece, and I’ve picked Inka’s lovely post on sightseeing in Naxos in the Cyclades to share. She recommends Naxos because there are so many great sights within a reasonable walking distance from each other.
Gates to the Apollo temple by Inka Piegsa-quischotte
Sweden
Heading back to northern Europe to Sweden, Marcus wrote a great post on the island of Gotland and its capital, Visby. Although it’s a common destination for summer partying, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site with lots of historical and cultural sights to explore.
Visby, Gotland by Marcus Cederstrom
Italy
When it comes to Italian islands, we have plenty of posts about them here on Europe a la Carte. Starting out with Sicily, we have an overview post about seven things to do in Sicily including see Mount Etna, the cities of Palermo and Catania and visiting the Aeolian Islands.
Aeolian Islands by tore_urnes
Andy wrote about reasons not to overlook Sicily when planning a trip, the reason that most caught my eye being the sensational food, and Sian told us about visiting Erice, a secluded medieval town with gorgeous views and the imposing Pepoli Castle.
Pepoli Castle by sian
The next largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily is Sardinia, and we have plenty of good reasons to entice you to make a trip there, such as checking out the amazing coastline at Villasimius in the south-east.
The Fortress at Villasimius, Sardinia
We also have some tips on timing your trip and getting accommodation, plus a great post from Heather about taking a boat trip around various ports of Sardinia. They include visits to beaches and sea caves that you wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.
Sea caves on Sardinia by Heather Cowper
And just like Sicily (or anywhere in Italy, really!), no trip to Sardinia would be complete without tasting the local foods. Although Heather warns that service comes at a relaxed pace, there are all kinds of seafood to try and more meat-based dishes if you travel inland.
Sardinian food by Heather Cowper
Our final Italian islands tip is a trip to the Tremeti Islands in the Adriatic Sea off Puglia. They are part of a national marine park and include some historic fortresses and dramatic rocky coastlines.
Tremiti Islands by Kimberly Sullivan
Estonia
The small Baltic nation of Estonia is home to one of my favourite island areas, the island of Saaremaa in the south-west and some of the tiny islands surrounding it. Saaremaa is a great relaxing holiday destination and I enjoyed a day trip to the tiny island of Abruka (population: 14).
Abruka by Amanda Kendle
Cyprus
We have a wealth of posts on Cyprus with lots of great tips from Karen. One of my favourite sights in Cyprus from Karen’s posts is Aphrodite’s Rock, both because the area looks absolutely gorgeous and because apparently if you swim around the rock you will be blessed with eternal beauty.
Aphrodite’s Rock, Cyprus
Ireland
I love Ireland for its striking coastline and the Aran Islands are no exception. They are both historically interesting and famous for Aran sweaters, as well as being beautiful.
Aran Islands by Marcus Cederstrom
Turkey
A great day trip to escape the bustle of Istanbul is to explore the Princes Islands, easily reached by ferry from the capital. There are nine islands in the group and there are almost no cars to be found – instead, you can often get transported around in horse-drawn carriages.
Photo by Inka Piegsa-quischotte
Croatia
One of the most popular of the many islands scattered along the coast of Croatia is Korcula. Check Neha’s post on five things to do in Korcula for a good overview. One highlight is exploring the walls of Korcula – not dissimilar from the beauty of mainland Dubrovnik.
Walls of Korčula by neha
There is also plenty to explore in Korcula town, with architecture dating back to the 15th century, and Vela Luka, the other main town on the island.
Korcula town by neha
Denmark
Heading for a moment back up to Scandinavia, the Danish island of Bornholm is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. It is just a hundred miles south-east of Copenhagen and has incredibly white beaches and lots of sporting activities like horse-riding, cycling and golf.
Beach on Bornholm by bjarke svendsen
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands (which I’ve just learned are not technically part of the UK) are full of interesting spots to visit. Karen talked about walking on Jersey, particularly discovering some of the amazing gardens being kept there.
Private garden on Jersey
There are also some great activities to do with kids on Jersey, including visiting Durrell Wildlife (formerly known as Jersey Zoo), riding an amphibious vessel to Elizabeth Castle and taking a dip at the Aqua Splash pool complex.
The photo posing area at Durrell Wildlife Jersey
If you’re interested in the historical aspects of the Channel Islands, then try the Occupation Tapestry Gallery, the Jersey War Tunnels and the Jersey Museum and Art Gallery – all interesting and full of relevant information.
“Outbreak of War” at the Occupation Tapestry Gallery, Jersey
Spain
Gran Canaria, in the Spanish Canary Islands, is a very popular destination for Europeans seeking a Winter sun getaway. We have a useful post about things to do in Las Palmas, its capital, which includes a video of Karen’s favourite beach there, Playa de las Canteras. If it’s beaches you’re after then we even have a summary of six great beaches so you can take your pick!
Playa de San Agustin
Elsewhere on Gran Canaria, Karen found plenty of beautiful spots to photograph in the village of Santa Lucia in the mountains.
Looking down on Santa Lucia park
You can also find a great overview of things to do on Gran Canaria which includes a few non-beach experiences like exploring the mountains and desert dunes.
Maspalomas Dunes, Gran Canaria
And our final island tip for Spain is to enjoy the beaches on Las Islas Cies. When Inka visited she overheard Playa de Rodas being described as the best beach in the world.
Islas Cies by Inka Piegsa-quischotte
Malta
Last but definitely not least, the island of Malta is another great island destination in Europe. There are numerous reasons to head there but I am rather taken by these Malta beaches, as highlighted by Karen - clean sand, clear water and at least some of the time, not too many people.
Mellieha beach
Your Favourite European islands
You can let us know your top islands in Europe by leaving a comment.
Island Hopping Around Europe
What to see Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
25 Fun Things to Do in Europe
We’ve put together 25 travel tips for fun things to do in Europe, to help you discover some of the best places in Europe to visit.
Germany
While Germany is full of fun things to do (you probably won’t be surprised to hear that Oktoberfest springs immediately to mind!) but there is plenty of fun to be had off the beaten tourist track as well – for example, walking along Europe’s longest footbridge in Ronneburg in the eastern half of the country.
The Dragon’s Tail via Wikicommons
Something else I’d love to do the next time I make it to Dusseldorf is to get to the top of the Rhine Tower. It impresses me no end that you can, apparently, see all the way to the famous Cologne cathedral if the weather is clear.
View towards Rhine Tower by Gunnar Por Hafdal
United Kingdom
I adore this post from Karen about snow sliding in Berwick upon Tweed - as Australian children visiting Europe when I was nine, our first experience with snow was very similar, sliding down some short slopes sitting on a plastic bag!
Snow sliding in Berwick upon Tweed
For something more well-known and not without its controversy, “flying” above London in the London Eye still appeals to me. Arwa wrote a great post describing what makes the London Eye worth its ticket price.
London Eye by arwa
What about a sea kayaking to the Farne Islands in Northumberland, which sounds like a lot of fun (and a bit of hard work!).
Farne Islands seal by Hugh Simmons
Austria
At least in the experience of Karen and I, storks are rife in Austria! Karen took a trip to the town of Rust and quickly spotted some stork nests (and some fascinating stork information). I saw numerous storks nesting in the Marchegg stork sanctuary close to Vienna. Dare I suggest that a fun thing to do in Austria is to stalk storks?!
Stork information in Rust, Austria
Czech Republic
Franz Kafka may just be the most famous Czech there is, which is why we recommend following the Kafka Trail in Prague, starting with the Franz Kafka Museum.
Kafka Museum by achimh
Alternatively, you may want to explore Czech beer culture – and one great way to do this is to try some of that famous Czech beer, the Pilsner Urquell, in Plzen in the Czech Republic.
Pilsner Urquell by bad9brad
Croatia
Croatia is a stunningly beautiful country which is full of fun things to do (one of my first memories of it is stopping on a bridge where people were bungee jumping!). If you’re into something less heart-stopping, you could try following the Roman Trail. Neha, who lives there, has written a great post about the many Roman sites you can find in Croatia.
Pula amphitheatre by neha
If you’re after some edible fun in Croatia you might consider buying a gingerbread heart – it’s a charming (and delicious) Croatian tradition.
Gingerbread heart by neha
Denmark
You can get all Shakespearean in Denmark if you head to Helsingor to see Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle. In fact, as well as being made famous via Hamlet, this castle is a world-class (and UNESCO-listed) attraction in its own right.
Inside Hamlet’s castle by Marcus Cederstrom
Another fun thing to do in Denmark is to check out the locals playing petanque at Copenhagen’s King’s Gardens. Karen stumbled across this activity when in Copenhagen and it’s a lovely way to get a taste of the local life.
Cyprus
If you have been craving eternal beauty (haven’t we all?!) then we definitely have a fun thing for you to do in Cyprus; you should swim around Aphrodite’s Rock.
Aphrodite’s Rock, Cyprus
Alternatively you might want to drive into the interior of Cyprus and a visit to Agios Demetrianos is recommended by Karen – as long as you’re feeling up to ducking your head to visit the saint’s cave.
The cave of Agios Demetrianos
Finland
This fun things to do in Finland are both inspired by my own trip to Finland one Christmas – a trip which I must say (since it included visiting Santa at Christmas time) was easily one of the most fun trips I’ve ever taken! One of my favourite activities was going snowshoe walking in Finnish Lapland. The walk itself was gorgeous, and then our break included hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies – perfect!
Snowshoe walking landscape by Amanda Kendle
Another enjoyable morning was spent at Helsinki’s Market Hall, exploring all manner of Finnish foods (by looking AND tasting!). Although I admit being a little disturbed by the prominence of reindeer as a food there – I kept thinking about Rudolph.
Helsinki Market Hall by Amanda Kendle
Poland
Here’s a fun activity that you probably never imagined doing in Poland: hunting for gnomes! Marcus discovered that Wroclaw was full of gnomes and that this in fact has its roots in a peaceful anti-communism movement. The gnomes remain to this day.
Gnomes in Wroclaw by Marcus Cederstrom
Turkey
Probably the last place you would expect to find an Ice Museum in Europe is in Turkey, but there is indeed such a museum in Istanbul. It features all manner of intriguing ice sculptures and an ice bar as well.
Istanbul’s Ice Musuem by Inka Piegsa-quischotte
Inka also wrote us a post about a great day trip to Mary’s House near Selcuk. It features a wall where you can attached your written note explaining your wish or prayer and then hope that it will come true.
Wishes at Mary’s House by Inka Piegsa-quischotte
Russia
Russia is a fascinating place to visit for so many reasons, but something that doesn’t always rate a mention is the ridiculously long escalators you can ride on when you’re accessing the metro. You can actually plan to complete a task while riding on some of these (they can be up to three minutes long!).
Escalator in Moscow by Amanda Kendle
Netherlands
In Amsterdam, you can while away an afternoon watching street performers – especially on Dam Square. Along with numerous human statues, you can find performers like jugglers, musicians, fire-eaters and dancers.
Street performer in Amsterdam by neha
In Rotterdam, you explore the fabulous Oceanium, a part of the popular Rotterdam Zoo, including getting face to face with a few (unfriendly-looking) sharks.
Sharks in Rotterdam by neha
France
What’s more fun than some shopping? (Well, especially for us girls). Great fun can be had in Paris by shopping for bargains in the annual Paris January sales. They are spread across the whole month (even into February) and you can find a “shopping itinerary” to suit your tastes.
Shopping in Paris by juggernautco
Alternatively, you might be more persuaded by a culinary pursuit, like eating oysters in Brittany, as suggested by Thomas.
Oyster beds in Brittany by Thomas Dowson
Switzerland
You might think Switzerland is the place for eating chocolate, skiing and buying watches – all of which are fun, of course – but you can also see piles of junk turned into museum art pieces in Basel’s Tinguely Museum.
Tinguely Museum by Amanda Kendle
Getting around in Europe
If you’re visiting Eurpean cities it’s better to stick to public transport than worry about getting lost when trying to find your hotel and having to pay for parking. However if you’re going to be in small towns or touring the countryside then car rental gives you more freedom and flexibility.
25 Fun Things to Do in Europe
What to see Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
Have Mankinis Taken Off?
Between leading a sheltered life in Berwick upon Tweed, virtually chained to my computer keyboard, with the North Sea not exactly conducive to donning swimwear (a full body wetsuit being more appropriate) and not being a follower of fashion, I’d never heard of mankinis. However this morning my husband Demetrius happened to notice a photo of a Borat mankini when he was looking for fishing gear on ebay. I laughed so much when he showed me the photo, that I decided to start a Pinterest pinboard on mankinis.
Source: prezzybox.com via Karen on Pinterest
What’s your opinion of mankinis? Ladies, do you think they are an attractive piece of male beachwear? Guys, are you off ordering a mankini for your next holiday? Your thoughts are welcome as comments.
#Mankinis on Twitter
Vote in our Mankini Poll
I’ve requested that you state whether you are male or female when answering the poll, so we can see if there is a difference in responses between the genders.
Have Mankinis Taken Off?
What to see Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
10 Beautiful Parks in Europe
Below are ten of our favourite parks in Europe.
Malaga Park, Spain
Redesigned in 2007, Malaga Park features lovely Renaissance-era fountains, a huge variety of plants and several statues. With no entrance fee, disabled access and a scenic route, Malaga Park is a should-see landmark of the city of Malaga, not the mention the shade and cool air it offers in warm weather.
Fuente de los Ninosin Malaga Park
Maksimir Park, Zagreb, Croatia
Named after the Zagreb Bishop Maksimilijan Vrhovac, Maksimir Park is one big green haven located in the Maksimir district of the Croatian capital city of Zagreb. Once in the park, you can drink coffee at one of the cafés, jog along the running track, take your kids to the zoo, and watch concerts in the summer. The park is also opposite the stadium, so if you are waiting for a football game or a stadium concert, you can relax in the park.
Photo via ruscca
Kralingen Park, Rotterdam, the Nethelands
Even though The Netherlands’ second-biggest city Rotterdam (second to Amsterdam) is best known for being an important international port and business center, it is not without its green areas. Kralingen Park is a great place to chill out after exploring Rotterdam. You can have picnics, cycle around the lake, go running or skating, sail on the lake or hang out at a café.
Photo via Orangesplaash
Bastions Park, Geneva, Switzerland
The French-speaking Geneva in Switzerland houses many beautiful sights, including the Bastions Park which used to be a botanical garden. Bastions park appeals to people of all ages as it features life size chess boards, the Reformation Wall paying respects the Reformation founders, rare trees, water fountain and a restaurant.
Photo via Marcus Cederstrom
Hyde Park, London, UK
Huge, beautiful and full of activities, London’s Hyde Park is one of my favorite places in London. I experienced Hyde Park in winter, walking around and taking some lovely pictures. Unfortunately, though, it was after January 3rd, so I missed the Winter Wonderland festival (November 18th – January 3rd)where it will feel like you are the star of your own Christmas movie.However I can’t wait to go back in warmer weather to try out jogging, cycling and even swim in the Lake Serpentine. You can also take your kids to play at the Diana Memorial Playground and cool off at the Diana Memorial Fountain.
Pirate ship at Diana Memorial Playground
You can also watch rock concerts as the Hyde Park stage has seen names like Queen, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Bryan Adams and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Hyde Park is divided from another famous London Park, The Kensington Gardens, by the Serpentine Lake. Once you are in the Kensington Gardens, you can visit Kensington Palace, along with its royal rooms and exhibitions. You can also dine or take a coffee break at one of the cafes in the park.
Serpentine Bar & Kitchen in Hyde Park
Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, Sweden
You can’t go to Sweden and not see Stockholm’s Kungsträdgården (the King’s Garden). This large park houses many outdoor cafés, art galleries, restaurants, concerts, statues, food markets and an ice-skating rink in the winter. The park is open in all seasons, but you need to remember to bring some warm clothes even in the summer, keeping in mind how Stockholm can always get chilly. Don’t forget to try your hand at chess using the enormous chess boards when the weather is warmer.
Kungstradgarden via Marcus Cederstrom
Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway
I’ve lived in Norway for a year as an exchange student, and I rode the train to the capital city of Oslo whenever I had some extra time. Frogner Park was, and still is, one of my favorite destinations as it gives you a chance to admire art in open air, as opposed to visiting a museum. The park contains hundreds of sculptures by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.
Source: theessenceofthegoodlife.blogspot.com via janke on Pinterest
If you do love museums, or want to be indoors because of the cold, you might continue to admire Gustav’s work in the Frogner Musuem, which is also located in the park. But of course just because it is full of art, it doesn’t mean people don’t treat the park as a regular park either. If you feel like having a picnic or hiking, go right ahead. You’ll find many people who do.
Özgürlük Parkı, Istanbul, Turkey
Özgürlük Parkı (Freedom Park) is probably one of the best-known and liked parks on the Asian side of Istanbul. It is located in Goztepe, and easily accessible from Kadikoy (you can take the bus FB1- just ask the driver and he can let you know where to get off). The park is big enough to have two different bus stops at different entrances, and it is only a 10 minute walk away from Bagdat Caddesi (Bagdat Street), which can be considered the Oxford Street of Istanbul’s Asian side: spacious pavements and shops of all sizes, prices and products. The park has playgrounds for kids, a running/walking track, a bicycle/roller-blading track, basketball court, tennis court, football field, exercise areas and picnic areas. It also often hosts concerts, plays (most often in Turkish,), festivals and fairs. However if you are not the one for crowds, I’d suggest to stay away from the park on Sundays as it can be very busy.
Özgürlük Park via turkiyeinternette.com
Stadtpark, Vienna, Austria
Vienna, the Austrian capital is a city in which you can indulge your love of art, music, history or just the desire to see the locations of the romantic movie Before Sunrise. Vienna also has one of the most beautiful public parks in Europe- Stadtpark. This 65.000 metre square park has statues, Renaissance-styled structures, a milk drinking hall and of course restaurants at which you an dine. If you love sightseeing, outdoors and stylish architecture without spending (much) money Stadtpark is for you.
Bust of Robert Stolz in Vienna’s Stadtpark
There are so many beautiful parks in Europe, we’ve just given you a small taster here. You could always hire a private jet charter to do a grand tour of European parks.
10 Beautiful Parks in Europe
What to see Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
10 Places to Visit in the Czech Republic
During my time living in Slovakia and Germany, the Czech Republic was on my doorstep and I ventured over for weekend trips quite regularly. Prague, of course, is a huge drawcard, but it’s often quite full of tourists and that’s one reason why heading to places beyond the Czech capital can be a whole lot of fun. There are numerous great destinations but I’ve put together a list of ten travel tips for things to do in the Czech Republic outside Prague to give you some ideas.
Brno
Brno is the Czech Republic’s second city and with a population of around half a million it’s a friendly size. It’s also a university town so it’s full of great bars and places to eat – have a look at Andy’s post on Brno as he was quite smitten! One of my dearest friends lives in Brno so I love the place too, and also like that it has a few quirks – like the stuffed crocodile hanging in the Brno Town Hall!
View in Brno by Amanda Kendle
Teplice Rocks
In the north of the country on the Polish border, the Adrspach-Teplice Rocks is an amazing landscape includes gorges and pinnacles and has plenty of good hiking routes. It’s also popular with rock climbers (and apparently some rock jumpers too).
Teplice Rocks by burge5k
Karlovy Vary
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the Czech Republic ouside of Prague is the spa town of Karlovy Vary. It’s also well known for its annual film festival, and it’s even home to Becherovka, a very strong-tasting herbal liquer (very strong – but I did kind of like it!).
Karlovy Vary by Jim Linwood
Karlstejn Castle
Found in central Bohemia just a short drive south-west of Prague, Karlstejn Castle is the most visited castle in the country. It dates back to the 14th century and is a huge Gothic castle, looking straight out of the pages of a fairy tale.
Karlstejn Castle by Triviality
Moravian Karst
My very first experience in the Czech Republic was visiting some of the Moravian Karst caves. Apparently there are some 400 caves in the area but I only made it through two, the Punkva Cave and the Katerinska Cave, and I found both spectacular.
Moravian Karst Cave by Amanda Kendle
Kutna Hora
For something a little different, a day trip out of Prague to Kutna Hora was recommended by Suchi. It’s particularly known for Kostnice Sedlice – the “bone church” or ossuary, which basically means many of the bones of those buried there have been used for decorative purposes!
Kostnice Sedlice by Rauch
Plzen/Pilsen
Beer lovers in particular will be intrigued by the idea of visiting Plzen or Pilsen, the home of famous Czech beer Pilsner Urquell. You can check out the beer being made with a brewery tour, and the rest of the town of Plzen is attractive too (apart from, perhaps, the massive Skoda plant!).
Czech beer by bad9brad
Cesky Krumlov
One of my personal highlights of the Czech Republic was the scenic town of Cesky Krumlov south of Prague. It’s on the UNESCO heritage list and has such a picturesque setting, with the Vltava River flowing through and meticulously renovated buildings. They have quite a cultural and arty scene so do look up what’s happening in town when you’re there.
Cesky Krumlov by Amanda Kendle
Sumava
Sumava or the Bohemian Forest is a region found on the Austrian border, and is a national park area which includes the Boubin Virgin Forest. It’s one of the best places in the Czech Republic for outdoor and nature lovers.
Forest in Sumava by donald judge
Terezin
For those intrigued by war history, the town of Terezin makes for an interesting destination. A fortresses built here by the Habsburgs became a political prison in the first World War and then a Nazi concentration camp in the second World War.
Terezin fortress by Tjflex2
Your Czech Tips
There are countless other great places to visit in the Czech Republic so please do leave us your own favourite Czech tips in the comments below.
10 Places to Visit in the Czech Republic
What to see Europe from the Europe a la Carte Travel Blog. Copyrighted content published on Europe a la Carte.
25 Fun Things to Do in Switzerland
If you watch a lot of action shows or movies, it is likely that you have seen Switzerland being used as the location for exciting scenes in various storylines involving banks. As much as Hollywood loves to use the financial notoriety of the country, we the regular folks love it for its skiing, hang gliding, chocolate, Swatch watches and the beautiful nature. This post features our travel tips on what to do in Switzerland.
Hike through Laufen
The little Basel town Laufen has fewer than 4000 residents, and it might be the perfect stop in a hiking tour starting from Flüh and also covering Mariasten. Most notable sights are in Laufen where you get to see the Church of St. Katharina, palace of the Prince-Bishops, the Neolithic gravesite and the palace of the Prince-Bishops The visually-appealing hiking lasts about 3,5 hours and while it is long, can be enjoyed by hikers of all levels.
Laufen by Chris Juden
Sip Pinot Noir in Schaffhausen
The northernmost point of Switzerland Schaffhausen is also one of the regions where the Pinot noir grapes are grown. I’ve never been particularly fond of wine, but even I’m intrigued to taste Pinot Noir where it’s meant to be tasted. You can find about how it is made by taking a walk along the wine trail.In addition to Pinot noir, Schaffhausen has some stunning Renaissance era buildings, All Saints Abbey, the Church of St. John and the Munot fortress.The old town is closed to cars, making it a lot easier and more convenient to walk around and shop. I’d recommend taking the train to Rhine Falls, to see Europe’s largest waterfall at the end of your Schaffhausen trip.
St Maria Cathedral Schaffhausen by LenDog64
Discover Switzerland’s Oldest Town Sion
Sion lies in the southwestern Switzerland district Valais, with a population a little over than 30,000. Sion is the perfect sight-seeing area for those who don’t love big cities. Sion gets a lot of sun, which makes it ideal for both winter and summer getaways. Sion is also one of Switzerland historically richest areas, as its foundation goes back to pre-historical times. You can start enjoying its beauties with Basilique de Valère (The Valére Basilica) and Château de Tourbillon (Tourbillon Caste)- which face each other on their respective hills. You can then continue with Fine Arts Museum, Majorie Castle, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Grande Dixence Dam (the world’s highest dam, and you can take a tour inside from mid June to the end of September), Derborence primeval forest among others. Sion also hosts wine-tasting events, and football fans might want to drop by Stade Tourbillon, the stadium of the Swiss Super Leauge team FC Sion.
Sionby aleyda
Go Hang Gliding at Mount Chasseral
If you do not want to deal with ski equipment, the cold and the crowds, you might opt for a lesser known sport and go hang gliding at Mount Chasseral in the summer. Mount Chasseral is still an option if you are a skiing fan.
Hang gliding by Amanda Kendle
Watch the Rheinfall Waterfalls
Who doesn’t like waterfalls? They have a way of making you appreciate the nature. If you are like me and love waterfalls, you are definitely going to love Switzerland’s Rheinfall waterfalls- which happen to be the largest (in width and in the amount of water it carries) in Europe.
Rheinfall Waterfalls by Amanda Kendle