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City Guides
26th January 2025Embarking on a three-day city getaway to Vienna offers a delightful blend of imperial history, artistic treasures, and culinary delights. Below we have compiled a comprehensive itinerary to help you experience the best of Austria’s capital.
Where to Stay
There are several locations to consider for your stay to be more convenient to access major attractions. Innere Stadt (First District) is a central area which is home to many of Vienna’s iconic sites and offers a range of hotels to suit various budgets. Alternatively, the districts of Leopoldstadt (Second District) and Mariahilf (Sixth District) provide more affordable options while still being close to the city center. Popular choice can also be considered, therefore you may check the top 12 hotels in Vienna as rated by users.
Day 1: Exploring the Historic Center
Morning:
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom): Begin your day at Vienna’s most iconic Gothic cathedral. Take an elevator or climb the 343 steps of the South Tower for panoramic city views. Allocate about 1.5 hours for the visit.
Midday:
Hofburg Palace: A short walk from the cathedral, the former imperial residence of the Habsburgs awaits. Explore the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection. Plan for approximately 2-3 hours here.
Lunch:
Naschmarkt: Head to Vienna’s most popular market, offering a variety of international cuisines. It’s an ideal spot to sample local dishes and fresh produce.
Afternoon:
Vienna State Opera House: Join a guided tour to learn about its history and architecture. Tours typically last around 40 minutes.
Evening:
Graben and Kohlmarkt: Stroll through these historic shopping streets, admiring Baroque architecture and perhaps indulging in some window shopping.
Day 2: Palaces and Art
Morning:
Schönbrunn Palace: Visit the summer residence of the Habsburgs. Explore the opulent rooms and take a leisurely walk through the expansive gardens. Allocate about 3 hours for the palace and gardens.
Lunch:
Café Central: Experience a traditional Viennese coffeehouse atmosphere while enjoying classic pastries and light meals.
Afternoon:
Belvedere Palace: Divided into Upper and Lower Belvedere, this Baroque masterpiece houses an impressive art collection, including Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss.” Spend around 2 hours exploring the art and gardens.
Evening:
Prater Amusement Park: Visit the historic Prater park and take a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel for a unique view of the city, especially enchanting during sunset.
Day 3: Culture and Leisure
Morning:
Albertina Museum: Home to one of the largest and most important print rooms in the world, the Albertina also hosts modern art exhibitions. Plan for a 2-hour visit.
Lunch:
Figlmüller: Known for serving some of the best Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna, this restaurant offers a quintessential Austrian dining experience.
Afternoon:
Hundertwasser House: Explore this unique residential building designed by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, known for its colorful façade and unconventional design. Spend about an hour here.
Evening:
Danube River Cruise: Conclude your trip with a relaxing evening cruise along the Danube River, offering a different perspective of Vienna’s landmarks illuminated at night.
Transportation
Vienna boasts an efficient public transportation system, including trams, buses, and the U-Bahn (subway). Consider purchasing a 72-hour Vienna City Card, which offers unlimited travel on public transport and discounts at various attractions. Taxis and ride-sharing services are also readily available for added convenience.
Additional Tips
Weather: Vienna experiences mild winters and warm summers. It’s advisable to check the forecast before your trip and pack accordingly. Our year-round Vienna weather also presents the best period of the year to travel here.
Cultural Etiquette: When visiting churches or attending classical music performances, dress modestly and be mindful of local customs.
This itinerary offers a balanced mix of Vienna’s rich history, artistic heritage, and modern attractions, ensuring a memorable three-day getaway. [...]
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15th July 2023Getting to know Liverpool
What you can do for free in Liverpool
Explore the Liverpool waterfront (Albert Docks and Pier Head)
There is a lot to see when you go exploring the Liverpool waterfront: the complex of dock buildings and warehouses is called The Royal Albert Dock. Process to the Pier Head and you’ll find sculptures, beautiful buildings with fascinating architecture, the Museum of Liverpool, the Royal Liver Building and more.
Wonder around Sefton Park
Sefton Park is spread across 235 acres and it has plenty of things to check out – if you plan on visiting you can reserve a whole day for exploration here. There are playgrounds, the Palm House, cafes, caves and waterfalls, statues, monuments, the Bandstand and generally a lot of greenery and beautiful nature.
Stroll along the beaches
Go for a walk on Crosby Beach or Formby Beach to enjoy a relaxing evening (or any other time of the day you wish). If you find your way to Crosby beach, you’ll be able to admire the “Another Place” modern sculptures by Antony Gormley. 100 cast iron figures face towards the sea and create this fascinating scenery for visitors.
Top spots to visit
Beatles-related sites
Since Liverpool is very famous as the birthplace of The Beatles, it would be a shame to skip visiting all the various Beatles-related sites. The list of potential spots to add to your itinerary includes the Penny Lane, the Strawberry Fields, The Beatles Story in Albert Dock, the rebuilt Cavern Club, the Beatles statues on Pier Head, the Beatles Shop and the homes of members of the band. You can even find tours focusing on these spots, but you can go on your own for free if you know what you want to see and make a plan yourself.
Museums and galleries
Tate Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum, Victoria Gallery and Museum – these are only a few of the spots that can be a great addition to your Liverpool visit. Depending on your interests and what types of arts and artists you’re most interested in, make your choice and enjoy!
St. George’s Hall
St. George’s Hall is a Neoclassical building containing concert halls and law courts. The place can be visited and it is definitely an impressive spot – both the interior and the exterior have plenty of things to see, from the sculpted friezes on the facades to the beautiful stained glass windows, the bronze doors and beautiful floors inside.
Hidden spots to visit
Formby Pinewoods
Liverpool is a place where bluebell flowers take over the ground in many spots in the springtime. One such spot is the Formby Pinewoods – if you’re a nature lover, you should love it here. These woods are also home to many red squirrels and it is a great spot to admire the wildlife and nature (make sure you respect the animals and remember that you’re entering their home and should not disturb them).
Williamson Tunnels
A series of subterranean excavations can be found in the Edge Hill area in Liverpool – these tunnels span over quite a large area and they are not your typical tourist attraction, although quite fascinating. If you’re into the more obscure spots and enjoy a dose of creepiness from time to time, these tunnels should be up your alley.
Sefton Shipwrecks
You can see quite a few shipwrecks along the Merseyside coastline and the Sefton ones are part of the list. Keep in mind that tides, water and sand movement sometimes cover and uncover certain wrecks and you might not reach the spot you’ve planned to at the right time – make sure you check online to see how things present themselves lately.
Restaurants
The diversity when it comes to food and cuisines is great in Liverpool – you can find anything from American, Indian, Asian, European cuisines to all sorts of bars and cafes with good sweet and savory foods. Go for a fine dining experience at The Art School, Mamasan Liverpool, Puffin’ Rooms, Röski or check out the cheaper options at Blackdoor Bar & Bistro, Cowshed, Noso, The Edge at Joey Orr’s and Lucy in the Sky. Choose according to proximity to your accommodation or the spots you’re visiting and make sure you check out some online reviews before.
Recommended time for visiting
Liverpool is good to visit at almost any point during the year. While the winters and cold and the days are short during this time and most people would not find it pleasant here then, you can always go anywhere from late spring to early autumn. The weather is generally pleasant even in the summer days and early autumn gets a bit chillier but also less crowded, so you might enjoy that plus the lower hotel fares. [...]
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15th May 2023Getting to know Amsterdam
What you can do for free in Amsterdam
Visit the Rijksmuseum Garden
While the Rijksmuseum itself does require a fee to enter, you can find your way to the gardens without having to pay – it won’t be hard to do so. These gardens surround the museum and they are a great spot to explore, with statues and fragments of old Dutch buildings spread all over for the visitor’s pleasure.
Go for a ferry ride
Yes, you read that right, ferry rides are free in Amsterdam! Given that the city has many canals and crossing various bodies of water is sometimes essential for the inhabitants to reach certain spots within the city, the public transport system here provides many free ferry connections for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds across the river IJ. You can find a list of routes and the points they connect on the GVB website – GVB (Gemeente Vervoerbedrijf) Amsterdam is the municipal public transport operator for the city.
Explore the historic areas
Canal Belt and Chinatown are some of the most fascinating historic area that you can visit in Amsterdam; here you can walk around and admire the beautiful scenery with lovely architecture and if you’re going for the Canal Belt, you can easily reach some of the best attractions in Amsterdam as well, such as the Anne Frank House, the Flower market, museums, Westerkerk and more.
Top spots to visit
The port of Amsterdam
The port of Amsterdam is a landmark of the city and it is the 4th busiest port in Europe by metric tonnes of cargo. The Port of Amsterdam is also the 4rd biggest cruise port in Europe. Overall, this is a fascinating spot to visit and learn more about.
Museums
There’s many museums in Amsterdam and they’re all top spots and well worth a visit – Rijksmuseum, The Van Gogh Museum, The Anne Frank Museum – these are some of the most important ones and they’re worth including in your list of places to see while on your Amsterdam vacation.
Westerkerk (West Church)
Westerkerk is a Reformed church and it is located in central Amsterdam; it was built between 1620 and 1631 in Renaissance style and it is definitely an impressive building. Its tower (Westertoren) is the highest church tower in the city (87 meters).
Hidden spots to visit
Beurspassage
It’s easy to overlook this beautiful, unique passageway, especially being in such a busy location where everyone seems to be in a rush, but make sure you look up if you decide to visit. Find the colored mosaic tiles, stained glass and the mesmerizing chandeliers between the Damrak and Nieuwendijk shopping corridors.
Nieuwe Spiegelstraat
Nieuwe Spiegelstraat is the perfect spot to visit if you’re into antique things. This street is lined with antique shops and you’ll see obscure, fascinating collections of all sorts of different things more than anywhere else here.
Amsterdam Begijnhof
Certain communities, especially in the Middle Ages, could benefit from charitable housing, also known as an almshouse. Hofje is the Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it and Amsterdam Begijnhof is one of the oldest hofjes in the city. It now houses two churches and it offers stunning scenery to visitors.
Restaurants
Try out the local Dutch cuisine, as well as other options such as European, Italian and Asian. Find good food at de Silveren Spiegel, Graham’s Kitchen, Senses Restaurant, Utrechtsedwarstafel or maybe at Cuddle, Sir Hummus or Rob Wigboldus Vishandel for a smaller price. Wherever you decide to go, you can always take a look online for reviews before choosin, to verify if the experience has the potential to be the best one.
Recommended time for visiting
If you’re looking to find the most vibrant city and a lot of energy and buzz, April is a great month for visiting Amsterdam; several national holidays take place in April and there is the least amount of rainfall during this time too. If you prefer to avoid crowds, go for late summer like September. Hotel rates tend to lower when there aren’t usually as many visitors. [...]
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Travel Tips
16th December 2018There is a general perception that holidays are expensive. Holidays can be expensive but with a little planning, you can have your dream holiday without breaking the bank.
It is actually very possible to have your dream holiday for less with just a little planning. We will give you a few tips below:
Destination
Do a thorough research of your dream destination. The internet has a wealth of information that will tell you everything you need to know about your destination. Do check up on accommodation, cost of food, transportation and fun activities available.
Choose an affordable destination so that you can save on travel costs.
Draw a detailed budget
Make the budget as detailed as possible and put an estimated amount for each item. Be very detailed, yes, factor in everything including meals, fun activities, snacks, outings, shopping for gifts just to name a few.
The most important thing is, to be honest about how much you have for the vacation. The idea is to put aside something small in terms of savings each month based on your budget estimate total. That is the reason why it is important to be very detailed when doing your budget.
Accommodation
You may opt out of staying in a hotel and use some of the hosting services like Airbnb. If you prefer a hotel you should look for good budget hotels. Do a price comparison and read online reviews to help you choose.
Consider splitting costs
You can opt to get together with a group of friends and share the costs. There are great packages for group travel. However be very clear on each person’s responsibility in as far as expenses are concerned to avoid confusion. You can, for example, agree to share accommodation costs but drinks and costs of outings are individual responsibilities.
Cook your own meals
Eating out is expensive, so get accommodation with kitchen facilities and cook your own meals. This especially works well for a family or group vacation. Yes, you may not want to be bothered with having to cook but it will save you a lot of money.
Use a travel agent
Travel agents have their feelers out for great holiday bargains. You may actually save quite a bit by using a travel agent. However, the onus is still on you to do your research on whichever destination or package they offer. Look for reviews or feedback from people, who have taken their packages, this will give you a good indication of what to expect.
Travel off-season
Some seasons are considered peak seasons and are therefore not the best times for a budget-friendly holiday. Consider planning your holiday during the off-season. You will get the same great deals but at much lower costs.
Transport
Book your flights early, you may get better rates. Do some research on the transport modes available wherever you are going for your holiday; you do not have to use cabs all the time as they can be very expensive. Get train schedules, public buses etc. You will save a ton this way.
Final thoughts
Remember, you do not have to be a millionaire to afford a holiday; it is all in the planning. [...]
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24th January 2024The magic of film often lies in its power to transport us to imaginary worlds and spectacular places. But what happens when we want to step into the reality of these story places? In this article we invite you to discover some of the most famous filming locations around the world & plan your next trip enjoy their unparalleled beauty live.
1. New Zealand – “The Lord of the Rings”
New Zealand was the home of “The Lord of the Rings”, the epic trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. Its dramatic landscapes were used to create Middle-earth, including Mount Doom, Hobbiton and more. If you are a fan of these movies, you can take a special New Zealand tour to visit these amazing places.
2. Iceland – “Game of Thrones”
The series “Game of Thrones” has turned many places in Iceland into the settings of the Seven Kingdoms. From Thingvellir National Park to Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland’s dramatic landscapes played an important role in creating the series’ dark and mysterious atmosphere. You can explore these places and you will feel like you are in Westeros.
3. Morocco – “Gladiator” and “Star Wars”
Morocco has served as the backdrop for many famous productions, including “Gladiator” & “Star Wars”. The cities of Marrakech and Ouarzazate were used to create the stunning settings of the Middle East and the exotic planets of “Star Wars” – if you visit Morocco, don’t forget to explore these fascinating places.
4. Ireland – “Harry Potter”
Ireland provided charming landscapes for the filming of the “Harry Potter” series; the most iconic filming location is the Cathedral of St. Patrick’s in Dublin, which was used to film the scene in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”. Ireland is full of glamor and mystery, making it a perfect destination for fans of these films.
5. Hawaii – “Jurassic Park”
The Hawaiian Islands were used for the filming of the movie “Jurassic Park”. Their tropical landscapes and spectacular beaches brought the world of dinosaurs to life. Visit the islands and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time!
6. Australia – “Mad Max: Fury Road”
The Australian desert was used as a backdrop for the filming of “Mad Max: Fury Road”. The arid and spectacular landscapes gave the film a unique and unsettling atmosphere – if you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure, explore these remote areas of Australia.
7. Scotland – “James Bond” and “Harry Potter”
Scotland was a popular destination for the “James Bond” films, but also for those from the “Harry Potter” series. Eilean Donan Castle appeared in “James Bond: The World Is Not Enough” and Glenfinnan Viaduct is famous for the Hogwarts train scene in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. Scotland offers picturesque landscapes and historical places that are sure to impress you.
So, whether you’re an avid cinephile or just want to venture somewhere special, these famous filming destinations await you with open arms. You can travel to the world of cinema and enjoy the scenery and atmosphere that were part of your favorite movies. It’s a great way to combine your passion for film with exploring the real world. [...]
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9th September 2021You can now book online for an airport transfer and travel with style to and from the hotel. With cars and drivers available in over 670 airports in 120 countries, getting a convenient transfer from the airport is now a breeze. Search for available options here and have the driver wait for you outside the terminal, ready to pick you up and take you to your destination.
Search for Airport Transfer
Booking a car for transfers is not limited to airports only, but it covers a wider area, to cities and resorts and more. You can build any itinerary on the periphery of airports and cities served by the company (wherever there are roads). Another advantage for airport transfer is that you get free waiting times in case of flight delays as the car company monitors yours flight schedule.
Airport Transfer: All You Need to Know About Airport Transfer Services
How do airport transfer services work?
Getting a reliable airport transfer that is on time and takes you exactly where you want to go is vital when you are traveling to your destination. However, it can be quite stressful if you have lots of luggage to carry along with you. As such, many travelers opt to hire a taxi or a driver to their destination if they have a short duration trip. To get around this dilemma, companies provide airport transfers that are there for you the moment you land in the airport. They have vehicles ready at the airport and can bring you to the hotel and get you to your hotel lobby within the span of no time at all. In fact, many companies have drivers who can do short distances and drop you at your hotel, saving you time and reducing stress levels.
How to book an airport transfer
Check your personal preferences or decide which car service you prefer. Choose the ‘walk to your car’ option to have the driver walk to you from your arrival hall. Book the transfer a minimum of three days in advance to ensure the best time and rate. To book an airport transfer, you just need to fill in the search box above with the airport pickup and drop-off destination to get the available cars and rates along with the reservation option.
What are the benefits of using an airport transfer service?
The airport transfer will allow you to relax and enjoy the long-haul flight with maximum comfort. Also, the safety of your bags is ensured as you do not have to worry about your valuables and the taxi can be directed and watched at all times by the driver. In addition to being a hassle-free option to travel, an airport transfer service ensures the safety of the valuables you carry. In case of an emergency, a taxi driver can easily drive you to safety. Apart from the comfortable long-haul flight, an airport transfer service also enables you to reach your destination on time. As there is no risk of carrying your heavy luggage, you can always carry a small bag and sit back to enjoy the journey.
Where can you find an airport transfer service?
If you are traveling to a destination which has a wide number of airports around it, you can easily find your airport transfer services in the local area. What are the types of airport transfers? You can book regular cars, limos for more comfort and style, buses for groups or families.
Conclusion
These are some handy tips that can be of great help when booking a vehicle. Make sure you do your homework to find the best car hire provider, and also stay up to date with the best offers. So, it’s time to book a car hire now and get away with style. [...]
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We are a community of travelers writing for travelers. Our aim is to improve your travel experiences with tips on what to do in various destinations, with cheaper deals through comparison for the exact same itinerary. Traveling is supposed to be fun, taking you out of the daily routine and improving your state of mind and physical well-being. Traveling should improve your understanding of other cultures, making you more tolerant and more aware of the big world around you. Traveling may improve your social life as an overall, from meeting new interesting people along the way, to creating lifetime stories that you can share with your friends and more. And not last, traveling makes you smarter, from better understanding people around you, learning new ways of doing things, discovering new cuisines, and why not, learning new words in other languages. As you can see, there are a lot of benefits and advantages of traveling, with many more to be discovered by you and hopefully getting to share them with us.
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