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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
27th December 2018The world is a fascinating place. There is so much to see and so much to experience. For the avid travelers, some places should definitely be on your bucket list. It would be impossible to cover all the marvels out there in the world but we will explore 6 world travel curiosities, both man-made and naturally occurring.
1. The petrifying Lake Natron
Located in Tanzania in East Africa, Lake Natron, which gets its name due to the mixture of minerals and salt called Natron, is a true natural curiosity.
Natron is composed of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate making the lake very salty. So salty is the water, that when temperatures are high, it can poison the animals. What makes the lake a marvel it that animals that die in the lake calcify and turn into perfectly preserved statues.
Only one species of fish has survived in the lake, no other animal inhabits it.
2. Eternal flame falls
This travel curiosity is located in New York USA in the Shale Creek Preserve. A grotto at the base of the waterfall produces a natural gas, which has a high level of ethane and propane that can burn. The flame, which seems to peek from behind the waterfall, is visible all year round without needing to be constantly re-lit.
3. Christ of the Abyss
Christ of the Abyss is a bronze statue of Jesus Christ sculpted by the Italian Sculptor Guido Galleti. It is located in Italy where it found its home in the Mediterranean Sea in 1954. The sculptural wonder stands at a stunning 2.5 meters. It depicts Jesus with his hands and head raised skyward offering benediction.
Similar statues exist in Grenada and the USA.
4. Caño Cristales
The Caño Cristales is a Colombian river located in the province of Meta. Due to its striking colors, it has been dubbed “liquid rainbow” or “the river of five colors.”
The river is completely devoid of nutrients and particles making it extremely clear. The large presence of the Macarenia clavíger, an endemic plant species, gives it a blood red hue during summer.
Truly a marvel of nature.
5. Road to Heaven – Huashan Mountain
Another travel curiosity is the road to heaven, a trail on Mt. Huashan that only the very daring adrenaline junkies dare to climb. The road is composed of rickety stairs and planks nailed to the rocks. Your only support is a chain that helps you keep your balance as you navigate the planks or the cutouts on the rock where your feet go. Unsubstantiated reports say that up to 100 lives are lost on the trail each year.
What, you may ask, awaits you at the end of this dangerous path? A tea-house awaits you. What a crazy climb for a cup of tea.
6. Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain
Located in Peru this mountain is a true curiosity. The mountain is covered in wide lines of different colors; red, blue, green, pink and yellow. Even the scientists are baffled as none has truly been able to explain what causes this to happen, although some say it could be due to the minerals found on the mountain including iron oxide, iron sulfide, and chlorite.
Conclusion
If you can, make sure you visit one of these world travel curiosities, I imagine it would be an amazing experience. [...]
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20th September 2023Travel is not only about exploring new places, but also about exploring different ideas, perspectives and ways of thinking. Around the world, there are destinations that are schools of thought in themselves, places that have inspired great philosophers, artists and thinkers of their time. In this article, we venture on a journey through some destinations that have played a significant role in the development of human thought.
Athens, Greece – The Legendary Lectionary of Antiquity
Athens – the capital of Greece – is known as the cradle of democracy & philosophy. Once the place where Socrates, Plato and Aristotle shared their revolutionary ideas, Athens continues to be a source of inspiration for thinkers. Visitors can explore the Agora, where Greek citizens met to discuss political and philosophical matters, or climb the Acropolis Hill to explore the Parthenon, the temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.
Varanasi, India – Spirituality and Contemplation
Considered one of the holiest cities in India, Varanasi has been a center of spiritual learning for centuries. Along the ghats (series of steps leading down to a body of water) along the Ganges, thinkers, yogis and monks gathered for meditation and learning. It is a place where travelers can learn about Hindu religious traditions, yogic practices and deep philosophies of Eastern spirituality.
Florence, Italy – Renaissance of Knowledge
During the Renaissance, Florence was the epicenter of a cultural revolution that changed the course of history. The city was where Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and other elite artists and thinkers expressed their innovative ideas and creations. Art galleries – such as the Uffizi house exhibitions filled with masterpieces – do not only delight the eye but also reflect the complex thinking of the era.
Beijing, China – Merging Tradition and Modernity
Beijing is definitely a destination that illustrates the connection between tradition & modernity in human thought. Known for the Great Wall and the Forbidden City this destination offers insight into Chinese history and how traditional philosophy continues to influence contemporary society.
Timbuktu, Mali – Learning in the Sahara Desert
In the past, Timbuktu was a center of Islamic learning of prime importance. Its libraries were repositories of knowledge and manuscripts that influenced the Islamic world. Although it has gone through difficult times, the city continues to attract researchers and history buffs to learn about its historical & cultural influence.
Traveling to learn is not only about visiting places, but also about exploring ideas and understanding different ways of thinking. These destinations offer a foray into the world’s schools of thought, allowing us to learn and gain all sorts of different perspectives – find your unique accommodation in any of these places and start your learning journey. [...]
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5th November 2023For travelers seeking thrills and novel experiences, exploring underground landscapes offers fascinating opportunities to discover Earth’s hidden wonders. From impressive caves to abandoned mines and mysterious tunnels, these underground destinations are unconventional attractions that test adventurers’ courage and curiosity. In this article, we take a look at some fascinating underground destinations that are worth exploring.
Waitomo, New Zealand – Illuminated by Millions of Fireflies
Waitomo Cave in New Zealand is famous for a natural light show. The cave-dwelling fireflies create a real glowing universe, turning the dark ceiling into a fascinating galaxy of bright dots. Tourists can explore this natural wonder during guided boat tours, having the opportunity to enjoy a true underground paradise.
Cappadocia, Turkey – The Underground City of History
Cappadocia in Turkey is not only popular for its hot air balloon rides, but it is also famous for its caves and underground cities carved out of rock, which served as a refuge during periods of conflict. Travelers can explore these underground structures, which include houses, churches and even cellars. Cappadocia offers a unique experience that connects adventure with history in a unique way. Some accommodations here also take advantage of these caves – there are cave hotels and suites that tourists can book here for a special experience.
Wieliczka, Poland – Salt Mine and Artistic Masterpieces
Poland’s Wieliczka Salt Mine is an impressive underground labyrinth of halls and tunnels carved out of salt. Over the centuries, the mine has been a place of work for miners, but also a source of inspiration for artists. Visitors can admire artistic masterpieces carved in salt, including underground chapels. It is a destination that combines adventure with art appreciation.
Carlsbad Caverns, USA – Gigantic Caves and Glowing Stalactites
Carlsbad Caverns in the USA are caves of gigantic proportions, with huge halls and fascinating natural formations. Tourists can explore these caves & admire the stalactites and stalagmites that create an unreal underground landscape. Visitors can choose to take self-guided trails, but joining guided tours is best to better understand the history and formations of the caves.
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam – The Silent Web of War
Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels are a labyrinthine network of underground tunnels that served as a base for Vietnamese fighters during the Vietnam War – this place offers a unique insight into how people can survive and fight in extreme conditions. Visitors can explore part of these tunnels, gaining a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s tumultuous history.
Exploring the world’s underground landscapes is an adventure for those looking for unusual and memorable experiences. Underground destinations show us that both human and nature ingenuity have no limits, no matter how deep we venture. From natural wonders to man-made creations, these places remind us that there is always more to discover, even beneath the surface of the Earth. [...]
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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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