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Holiday in Germany – Places to See and Things to Do

Claire — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:50:52 +0000

Europe is lucky to have a wealth of fantastic countries, the romance of France, the history of Greece and Italy, not to mention the chocolate of Belgium. The list just goes on and on. However, one of Europe’s greatest countries is sometimes forgotten and doesn’t get the fame it deserves. In fact, there are three words that you rarely see put together and these are Holiday in Germany.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany by Nite Dan

So what does holiday in Germany actually mean and what can you do if you decide to travel there?

Germany is one of Europe’s most important countries and has had a huge influence on the continent for many years. It might have a chequered past in some respects but in others it has shown the way forward and become a fantastic place to visit.

Starting with the cities it is already clear that Germany is a shining light as far as architecture, history and culture are concerned. Let’s start at the capital city of Berlin where there is everything that is required for a wonderful city break. You can see some of the best classical music performances around at the Berlin Philharmonic; see the most famous German landmark, the Brandenburg Gate or visit one of the many amazing museums that the city has to offer. Then there is the chance to reflect on how German life has moved forward at the Memorial of the Berlin Wall and a chance to relax in the Potsdam’s Gardens. Holiday in Germany is looking good already.

Of course, there are lots of other cities in Germany that are right up there with the best in Europe. If your holiday in Germany idea is to see some of the best cities around then you might like to try Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Dresden or any number of others, there are, in fact, so many that you could find it hard to visit them all.

Dresden, Germany / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

That said, holiday in Germany doesn’t just mean a city break because there is more to the country than that. Its countryside is simply breathtaking with green meadows, stunning forests, large winding rivers and superb mountains. So if you enjoy scenery and the outdoors you will be hard pressed to find a better destination. Maybe take a boat trip along the Rhine or Danube or visit one of the many vineyards for a fun filled wine tasting tour. It is all there if you make the effort to find it.

Then comes Christmas and the Germans do love a Christmas Market. Christmas market trips are one of the best ways to nearly all of the cities, towns and even some villages will get into the Christmas spirit with a large and spectacular fair, selling everything from traditional warm winter drinks to tacky souvenirs. The build up to Christmas is great in Germany and the atmosphere is probably as good as anywhere in the world.

Christmas Market in Bayreuth, Germany / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

So maybe holiday in Germany should be something that we think about more often. Because those who do are already having the trips of a lifetime and it is about time that you did too.

Author: Carlita Morandi who is passionate traveler. She loves to write trip tips related articles online.

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The Best Destinations For The Full Christmas Experience In The UK

Claire — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:59:53 +0000

The Christmas season is almost upon us and if you have plans to go away for the holiday but have no idea where would be best for your break, fear not. Just because I know this predicament can crop up all too often, I’ve decided to be very helpful and to compile a list of the best places in the UK to enjoy a Christmas break, where you can soak up all of the Christmassy goodness of the season before heading home and back to work.

Photo by FearfulStills

1) Edinburgh

Heading up this Christmas-filled list is Edinburgh, one of the best cities in the world to celebrate Christmas in. Edinburgh is the king of Christmas celebrations, with six weeks of festivities for people to get stuck into. There’s everything from street performances, fairgrounds, Christmas markets, comedic acts and traditional Scottish pipers to entertain the crowds. Along with all of this, Edinburgh is also home to a number of fantastic attractions and amazing restaurants you can visit during your winter break.

2) London

Just shy of getting first place, London is still an incredible city to enjoy Christmas in. London is lit up with spectacular Christmas lights and other decorations during the Christmas season, making it a sight for sore eyes at night. There are also all kinds of entertaining activities you can enjoy throughout the city of London, such as going ice skating, visiting Hyde Park’s Christmas market, watching the carolling in Trafalgar Square and much more.

3) The Peak District

The Peak District’s beautiful rolling hills and quaint towns and villages are the ideal destination for your Christmas holiday if you’d like to enjoy a traditional break. Full of stunning sights, the Peak District would also be ideal for those that enjoy walking – you could even go for a Christmas Day walk to get back to nature a little bit!

4) Skegness

While it might seem a little strange to visit the seaside in the middle of winter, the one thing Skegness has that a lot of other seaside destinations don’t is a Butlins holiday park. Butlins is one of the best places to spend your Christmas, and it’s also family friendly which is a definite plus. You could book yourself into The Spa to enjoy some relaxing treatments while the kids enjoy some Christmas-themed activities, and afterwards you could go and watch the panto for some side-splitting laughs.

5) Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a fantastic place to spend the Christmas holidays – this county is packed with good cheer around this time of year and you’re bound to be given a traditional Yorkshire welcome when visiting. There are excellent Christmas markets, beautiful attractions and great shopping opportunities, which would be ideal for those after a chance to pick up some last minute bargains.

No matter where you choose to spend your Christmas this year, make sure you do your research before settling on your final option. You should find that the internet is a great resource when planning your holiday, so why not start your search now?

This guest blog was contributed by Steve Williams a freelance writer who regularly blogs on the subject of Christmas breaks and how to have the most fun over the festive season.

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Christmas Markets in Madrid 2012

Claire — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 20:28:35 +0000

Like every year, the city of Madrid will transform into something very beautiful this Christmas 2012. Because of this, if you’re thinking about spending some days in the Spanish capital, you should start looking right away for accommodation in Madrid, you may even want to consider staying in Madrid apartments this christmas, to truly enjoy the magic of christmas in Madrid. In addition to being prettier, there’s more things to do in Madrid over the christmas holidays. Amongst these things, it’s recommended that you visit some of the christmas markets. Here’s a list of the best in the city:

Plaza Mayor Christmas Market

This is without doubt the most famous of the christmas markets in Madrid. It’s a market where you can find all sorts of christmasy products, especially decorations. In addition, you can take a ride on the lovely carousel for fun with the little ones of the family, or a romantic moment with your partner. To ensure you stay right amidst the christmas spirit of Madrid, you can even rent a wonderful apartment in Madrid close to Plaza Mayor.

Christmas market on Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain by niall62

Where: Plaza Mayor.
When: 1st – 31st December. Monday to Thursday from 10AM to 10PM, and Friday to Sunday from 10AM to 11PM.
How to get there: Metro Station Puetro del Sol.

Plaza de España Crafts fair

Here you can buy some great holiday gifts at very affordable prices. You will find all kinds of products from all kinds of crafts, like ceramics, pottery, jewelry, leather goods, and much more. The market has about 200 stalls, and this year will last 1 hour more than usual thanks to the huge success of the years before. Don’t hesitate to visit this one.

Where: Plaza España.
When: 17th December 2012 – 5th January 2013 from 11AM to 9:30PM. On the 24th December and 3rd January from 11AM – 3PM. Closed between 25th December – 1st January.
How to get there: Metro Station Plaza de España.

Plaza de Santa Cruz/Plaza de la Provincia Crafts fair

These two squares, which are very close to each other, offer two different festive environments in which to enjoy christmas. In the christmas market of Plaza Santa Cruz you will find all kinds of christmas objects, handmade products, christmas trees, and decorations for nativity scenes, amongst other things. If, on the other hand, you want to have a fun twist to the holiday, you can go to Plaza de la Provincia where you can find spicy candy, wigs, itching powered, and all kinds of fun things.

Where: Plaza Santa Cruz and Provincia.
When: 11st – 31st December. Monday to Thursday from 10AM to 10PM, and Friday to Sunday from 10AM to 11PM.
How to get there: Metro Station Puerta del Sol.

Christmas market on the Plaza de la Luna:

Actually called Plaza Soledad Torres Acosta, the christmas market here incorporates traditional christmas awnings, and activities to get everyone into the holiday spirit, like an ice rink and ice slide. Sounds fun, no? After having fun on the ice, you can eat and stay cosy and warm with some traditional Spanish churros in hot chocolate.

Where: Plaza de la Luna.
When: 26th November 2012 – 9th January 2013 from 10AM to 10PM.
How to get there: Metro Station Santo Domingo or Callao.

With this little guide, you can enjoy Christmas 2012 visiting the legendary plazas of Madrid, adorned in holiday spirit. Happy Holidays!

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Why Not Travel Abroad and Explore the European Christmas Markets

Claire — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:38:25 +0000

With Christmas only weeks away, the pressure is on to start looking for interesting and thoughtful gifts for family and friends. Hopefully you are the type of person who already has their Christmas list done and dusted, but if you are as disorganised as me and the thought of a last minute dash down to Argos doesn’t appeal, why not get yourself into the Christmas mood by planning a weekend trip to Europe, thus combining Christmas shopping with a bit of rest and relaxation?

In the run up to December 25th, Christmas markets are commonplace in many European countries: Belgium, Germany and Austria are all popular destinations for Christmas shoppers hoping to find a bit of festive inspiration. And if you are feeling adventurous, you don’t even need to stick to one market: train travel across Europe is very easy (and also a lot cheaper than it is in the UK), so you could fly to one country and use the train to travel to other Christmas markets.

German Christmas Markets

Germany has some of the best known Christmas markets in Europe and throughout December the cobbled streets of several German cities are thronged with festive themed stalls selling a variety of Yuletide gifts, food, sweets and plenty of mulled wine to fortify you against the freezing temperatures.

Cologne has four Christmas markets during December, each with its own distinctive appeal. The largest is ‘Am Dom’, where more than a hundred traders set up stalls selling a wide range of festive wares in front of the cathedral.

Farther south is the smaller ‘Alter Markt’ in the old town. This old fashioned market is more geared towards children and features a puppet theatre, Santa’s Grotto and lots of sweets and toys.

There has been a Christmas market in Nuremberg since the 1600s and today’s modern market is the perfect place for anyone looking to purchase handmade wooden figurines (the ideal gift for children or adults who love dolls houses).

The Christmas market in Nuremberg is also the perfect place to go if you want to combine shopping with eating: there are lots of stalls selling sweet and savoury foods, and of course traditional mulled wine.

Nuremberg Christmas Market, Germany by charley1965

Belgian Christmas Markets

If food is your pleasure, you need to take a trip to the Christmas market in Brussels, which is held on the second Sunday in December. Christmas would not be complete without some delicious Belgium chocolates and there are certainly piles of them to choose from at the Christmas market in the Grand-Place. And once you have had your fill of browsing the stalls and sampling the mulled wine on offer, sit back and enjoy the street entertainers or have a go at ice skating on the temporary ice rink set up in the Fish Market.

Christmas in Brussels, Belgium by William Murphy

Austrian Christmas Markets

The Christkindlmarkt in Vienna is one of the oldest in Europe, dating back around seven hundred years. It is also one of the most popular Christmas markets in Europe and every year millions of visitors come to see the decorated trees lit up with pretty lights and to wander around the beautifully decorated stalls selling festive goodies such as cookies, gingerbread and handmade arts and crafts. Unlike many other European Christmas markets, the Vienna Christmas market starts in mid-November, so with a bit of forward planning, you can do your Christmas shopping early and beat the crowds.

Christmas Market, Wien, Austria / Photo by admin

French Christmas Markets

Take a trip to France during December and you can combine a visit to some of the traditional Christmas markets in Paris and Lille before finishing off your excursion with a side jaunt to one the many massive hypermarkets to stock up on wine and beer for the festive holiday. The largest Christmas market in northern France is held in Amiens, but the traditional market in Lille is also very popular thanks to its easy access via the Eurostar link.

Christmas Market in Colmar, France by Office de Tourisme de Colmar

Czech Republic Christmas Markets

Prague is a less obvious destination for Christmas markets, but do not overlook this beautiful city as it has lots of festive events and shopping opportunities on offer throughout December. There are always Christmas markets taking place around the city in the weeks before Christmas; the largest of which can be found in the Old Town Square. Typical festive wares include handmade candles, wooden puppets and toys, jewellery and small stocking fillers.

Christmas in Prague, Czech Republic by Boris Tylevich

If you want to visit a variety of countries to do your Christmas shopping check out the European Christmas Market rail tours offered by Great Rail – you are sure to find one that is perfect!

The post Why Not Travel Abroad and Explore the European Christmas Markets appeared first on Europe Explored.

The Top 5 Shopping Destinations in Europe

Claire — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:02:03 +0000

Despite the giant department stores located in New York’s skyscrapers and the quirky, off-the-wall and somewhat risqué emporiums on the streets of Tokyo, cities throughout Europe are continuing to hold their own when it comes to shopping opportunities, proving themselves to be some of the most popular destinations in the world for indulging in a cheeky spending spree.

Europe offers variety and individuality that many travelers simply do not have access to back home such as Italian leather, Belgian chocolates and Swiss watches; It really is a shopper’s paradise. Here’s the top 5 cities throughout the continent that shopaholics really can’t afford to miss.

Shopping Centre, London, UK by Jim Linwood

1. Dresden, Germany

With its rich yet turbulent history, Dresden is often described as being rather quiet and gloomy, but all that changes during the winter months when they city plays host to the Dresden Christmas Market. Established during the 15th Century, this is the oldest festive marketplace in Europe and is renowned for the homemade stollen on offer. Around 250 stallholders take part annually, selling an array of carefully handcrafted trinkets and blown glass holiday decorations.

2. Barcelona, Spain

The beauty of Barcelona is that it provides a refreshing mix of traditional Spanish stores that have been around since the Civil War and modern designer stores famous around the world. The top brands can, of course, be found nestled amongst quaint continental-style cafés along the cosmopolitan Passeig de Gràcia, known for being one of the most pricey avenues in Spain, while souvenir shops and more affordable stores line the nearby streets of Las Ramblas.

3. Paris, France

Anyone with even the vaguest of interest in clothing cannot pass up an opportunity to shop in the fashion capital of the world. The Champs-Élysées is the place to see and be seen in the center of Paris, with store after store dedicated to the latest styles. It’s not all designer clothes though, as this famous stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde also houses toy stores, ice cream parlors and even car showrooms.

4. London, England

Frequently beating down the strong competition, London is often crowned King of shopping opportunities in Europe, with tourism purchases alone thought to contribute a whopping 3 billion pounds, or almost 5 billion dollars, to the British economy. London is famous for its big name department stores and global chains on Oxford Street, but also offers one-of-a-kind fashion boutiques and unconventional independent stores along Carnaby Street and Covent Garden, and a peek inside a Notting Hill bookstore is an absolute must-do activity.

5. Haarlem, Holland

Considered to be Holland’s premier shopping destination, Haarlem boasts numerous awards for its unrivaled shopping facilities. Visitors are drawn to the pretty, historic and, most importantly, pedestrianised Grote Houtstraat where the major brands are located, as well as to the small independent stores lining the surrounding cobbled streets. Situated just 13 miles west of Amsterdam, access is easy whether you arrive by plane, train or one of the many ferries to Holland.

Jennifer Watts, a freelance writer, provided this article for P&O Ferries. The opinions expressed are those of the author and any data provided does not originate from P&O Ferries. The following is a link to the P&O Ferries homepage – https://www.poferries.com/

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The Christmas Markets of Paris | France

Claire — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:52:56 +0000

Paris is renowned as being one of the most romantic destinations in the world, and you might clearly envisage candlelit dinners, boat trips along the river Seine and enjoying the Eiffel Tower’s light show on a warm summers evening, as the ideal holiday. However, the summer isn’t the only time that this beautiful city can be enjoyed, and Christmas is the ideal time to explore Paris’s festive markets.

Christmas market, Paris, France by Evan Bench

Once you’ve arrived in Paris, there are many markets to explore, and during the holiday season you’ll find that stalls pop up throughout the city. Little groups of wooden chalets offer a wide variety of delicacies and gifts from all over France, and they have become a traditional part of the Parisian Christmas season. Whether you’re on a family outing or are indulging in a wintery romantic break, the markets are an ideal place to find a few Christmas gifts and keepsakes. From homemade treats, including sausages, gingerbread and mulled wine, to handcrafted toys and gift ideas, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The Christmas markets of Paris are found scattered throughout the city, and one of the largest takes place on the Avenue des Champs- Elysées. In 2012, it opens on November 19th and stretches between the Place de la Concorde and the famed Champs- Elysées roundabout. Elsewhere, if you’re looking for a festive market ensconced in modern architecture, visiting La Défense is ideal. Here, you’ll find 350 stands in a vibrant and Christmassy atmosphere, all offering mouth watering foods and gifts to tempt you.

If you’re travelling with children, then Paris offers some ideal festive markets that are aimed towards keeping youngsters amused too. The Trocadero’s Christmas Market and Ice Rink has over 120 stands, but also offers snow villages and an ice-skating rink to enjoy. Meanwhile, Santa’s Village at Saint-Germain-des- Prés won’t fail to keep the family entertained.

Christmas Market on the Champs, Paris, France by Evan Bench

With Paris being so simple to get too, it’s easy to make a day trip to the French capital. A channel crossing is ideal if you want to really feel like you’re going abroad, allowing the British coastline to fade away, and the thrill of nearing a new nation to cause excitement. For families, such a route is ideal, allowing children to have space to stretch their legs and indulge in the adventure. Meanwhile, sailing across beautiful seas with the spray below and blue skies above will truly get any romantic trip well underway.

Christmas is a great time of year to take a holiday, and though most people try to spend December 25th with close family and friends, enjoying a few days off earlier in the month is a great way to get into the festive spirit. The Parisian markets are a wonderful place to browse and shop whilst letting the Christmassy ambiance thrill you. And, if you’re looking for the perfect wintery day trip this year, heading to see the Paris markets will give you an entirely new take on this beautiful European city.

A-087262, a freelance writer, provided this article for P&O Ferries. The opinions expressed are those of the author and any data provided does not originate from P&O Ferries. The following is a link to the P&O homepage - https://www.poferries.com/

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