Sibiu Watchtower, Romania by Thomas Quine

Sibiu

The most physically attractive town in the heart of Romania is this little town called Sibiu. It is divided into two parts; lower town and upper town. The lower town is like a canvas painted with colorful houses that are nicely placed on the cobblestone path. The place is restricted by the fortified defense towers that dominate another attraction of Sibiu; Cibin river. The attractions of the lower town Sibiu are The Bridge of Lies, Goldsmith’s Square, the Stairs Passage and the Haller Bastion. The upper town is historically rich and is occupied by some of Romania’s best monuments. The famous squares; the Great Square, the Little Square and the Huet Square are all located in the upper town of Sibiu. Roman-Catholic Church and Brukenthal Palace form part of the Great Square where one can enjoy the artifact collections. The little tower is linked to the Great Square and one can visit this place for splendid illustration of the town. Huet Square has some of the best gothic buildings and is renowned for the Evangelic Cathedral that features five pointed towers. Apart from all these places; historic churches, indigenous museums and Saxon & Romanian Traditions of Sibiu cannot be missed.

Orthodox Cathedral in Sibiu, Romania by Camil Ghircoias

Sighisoara

A small medieval town formed by the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighisoara is an elegant illustration of Romania’s aesthetic sense. The whole town has old buildings, old lanes, old café and old churches wedged with traditional as well as modern populace. The most famous Bran Castle or call it the Dracula Castle in Romania is located in Sighisoara. One must visit the castle which, at one time, was the residence of Vlad the warrior. He was a renowned Gothic fighter who stayed in the Bran chamber for two days, but there is no confirmatory that he lived there. The imaginary character Dracula is based on him and hence the bran castle is also known as the Dracula Castle. Apart from the castle, the 14th century Clock Tower, Sighisoara Square, old passageway, Teo’s Cellar and Scala Coperta are some places of attractions to stopover for exploring. Teo’s Cellar is the most recommended place for experiencing ageing wine and strong spirits. Those interested in folk art can opt for Art Crafts and Tea shop where the owner makes wooden spoons. It’s quite an amusing view to watch him make spoons. Next is the Scala Coperta which is more than 370 years old wooden bridge that stands as a national treasure for Romania. The Sighisoara museum and old passageway have their own charm.

Sighisoara, Romania by CrimsonC

Transylvania Countryside

The countryside is like any other countryside with cattle grazing, bicyclers, horse cart rides and vast green mountainous landscape that makes any place more picturesque.

About Author

Irina Kirilov is an editor for Rent Car Romania. She started blogging 3 years ago and plans to do this for the rest of her life. You can follow Irina on Twitter: @carhireromania

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What to Visit

Edinburgh is a history lover’s dream. It’s best to start at the famous 12th century castle, where you can enjoy great views over the city spread before you. Next, take a stroll down the Royal Mile and admire the period buildings until you reach the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Once the home of Mary Queen of Scots – the country’s most iconic monarch – you can visit her chambers today as part of the museum.

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Near the palace lies St Arthur’s Seat, the impressive mountain that hovers over the city. The original abbey connected to the palace sits at the top and energetic visitors can enjoy a hike to explore the ruins and more excellent panoramas over Edinburgh.

The Old Town – home to the Scottish Parliament building – is also well worth a visit, whilst the Royal Botanic Gardens make a charming setting for sunny strolls.

If shopping is more your thing, a walk along the shopping Mecca of Princes Street should be top of your itinerary. This is the place to visit the big name stores, but you can find more independent and craft shops in quirky Grassmarket – just the place for Scottish souvenirs and unique gifts.

Where to Eat

Like all good capital cities, Edinburgh has an excellent range of restaurants, from the Michelin starred gourmet establishments to budget student haunts. To treat yourself to a taste of Scotland, head to Kyloe Restaurant & Grill, where all the steaks come from local Aberdeen Angus beef. For fish fans, Ondine is the best place to indulge a love of seafood in the heart of Edinburgh. Take a seat at the amazing Crustacean Bar and fill up on clams and local oysters washed down with champagne.

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Where to Drink

There are a great number of old fashioned pubs in Edinburgh around the Grassmarket and Cowgate areas, and you won’t be disappointed if you head here on a night out. Great music is on the menu at Jazz Bar on Chambers Street, where live bands and a laid back atmosphere make for a fun evening.

A weekend in Scotland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile. Although the last tour is at 5pm so it’s more an afternoon than evening treat, the fun of sampling different malts and trundling through the factory in a carriage that looks like a barrel can’t be overstated!

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Where to Sleep

On a weekend getaway, a central bed and breakfast in Edinburgh is just what you need. Tania Guest House in Edinburgh is a short stroll from the Royal Mile, so you won’t have to worry about catching the last bus or shelling out for a taxi. The modern rooms start at £30 a night, making this B&B in Edinburgh a bargain so close to the city centre. For a special or romantic city break, try boutique Ritz Hotel, which boasts four poster beds and a cocktail bar.

Alice Woolliams is the Editor for Enjoybedandbreakfast.com, a travel website for accommodation with personality in the UK. The website offers a growing selection of quaint B&Bs, charming inns, small boutique hotels and guest houses. You can find her on twitter @enjoybnb when she’s not travelling the world!

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Kirkgate market is the largest covered market in Europe. This shopper’s paradise offers residents and visitors with an array of high-end stalls selling high quality national foods from Polish to Asian, fashion items, jewellery, hardware and much more. The building itself is one of the city’s most iconic and valued, developed with unique architecture and packed full of history. Its prime location in the city centre enables easy access and an ideal day out particularly when specialised events are being held.

Providing more cultural entertainment is the Leeds Museum. Four floors of exhibitions and displays including the history and development of Leeds city, as well as ancient history ranging from the Egyptian mummy’s to the Roman statues. The theatre in Leeds also presents an enlightening experience of opera, ballet, musicals and concerts that can be enjoyed by many.

For the livelier of interests Leeds is very commonly known for holding its well known annual festival where artists such as the Arctic Monkeys and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have performed. This particular event is extremely popular with the younger generation and has been enjoyed for many years. Campers can relish the outdoor experience by pitching a tent on one of the many sites, whereas the more reserved can purchase a caravan permit or accommodate themselves in one of the nearby hotels.

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Sport fans could enjoy watching the local rugby team Leeds Rhinos at the newly named Headingley Carnegie Stadium. After recently being renewed with funding from Leeds University, the capacity now stands at 22,000 and enables an overwhelming atmosphere. It is also the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club which adjoins the rugby stadium through the shared main stand.

Nightlife in Leeds is often described as the leading city outside London that defies the most discerning clubber not to find something which suits their taste. From themed bars to cosy pubs and nightclubs, there’s something to suit everybody. The ‘Otley run’ is a popular choice with students, a famous bar crawl most commonly carried out in fancy dress, guaranteed to leave you with your whistle well and truly whetted. Leeds also offers a wide variety of restaurants for the fine diners and a large supply of takeaways for the ‘carb cravers’ at the end of a night out.

This fast developing city has plenty to offer the budding socialite, avid learner and keen sports enthusiast. A trip to Leeds will fail to disappoint the most diverse of interests.

This guest post was written by Alexandra on behalf of Skypark who provide Leeds Bradford Airport Parking.

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Accommodation

Staying on the outskirts of Venice is generally much cheaper than staying in on the Grand Canal, however the city is small enough to walk around on foot so you won’t be far from the centre of the action. Some of the best budget accommodation can be found in guest houses where the owners pride themselves on providing cheap and clean rooms for as little as £18 a night. Alternatively you can stay in the mainland area of Mestre for a fraction of the cost of a Venice hotel but you may wish to consider transport costs in and out of the city.

Eating Out

Head to the markets for a bit of lunch if you are eating on a budget. There are a number of outdoor markets near Rialto that packed with fresh fruit and veg, delicious breads and pastries and seafood.

If you are eating out in the evening avoid the main tourist squares such as the Piazza San Marco. Here you may be charged by the restaurant just for sitting down, and you can be sure that they will also charge you heavily for the little bowl of bread left on the table. Instead look for the restaurants on the edge of the city, especially if there are locals dining. Try the Trattoria Alle Due Gondolette in the Sestiere Cannaregio for some outstanding local cuisine and seafood for around €12. Portions are big and there is no cover charge either.

Don’t forget that some of the finest pizza and calzone to be found can be purchased from the numerous street stalls around the city. Grab yourself a slice, sit down by the canal and watch the world go by. Even better when followed by some of Venice’s famous gelato!

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Travel

By far the best and cheapest way to travel round Venice are the network of public transport boats known as Vaporetti. You can buy passes for the Vaporetti that are valid for from 12 hours to up to a week depending on how long you are staying. A 12 hour ticket is €16. Just remember to validate your ticket using the machine each time you get on and off the boat or you may be fined by the inspectors. The Vaporetti routes can take you all over the city, down the Grand Canal and even over to the island of Murano where you can watch glass-blowers creating some stunning works of art.

Seeing the Sights

The most wondrous sight in Venice is the Carnival which is celebrated all over the city during the month of February. There are events throughout the city and many of them are free – there’s no need to book one of the over-priced tours that are offered by so many agents. The official Venice website has a downloadable brochure of what’s going on during this special time from masked parades to music.

If you are thinking of visiting some of the famous tourist attractions, how about the Basilica di San Marco which is free? Many of the churches such as the Santa Maria della Salute are also open to visitors and host some amazing artwork and architecture.

And finally…

Even if you’re a hopeless romantic, BlueTrips.co.uk recommends you avoid the gondolas like the plague. You can eat and drink for a couple of days on the cost.. Instead pop a little Vivaldi on your iPod when you’re cruising around on the Vaporetti and I promise you won’t miss out! If you enjoy taking a break near the water, why not have a look at Dongo on the shores of Lake Como, still in Italy?

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Rome

The Eternal City is near the top of every traveller’s list – a city with a cultural, architectural and historical legacy that is the envy of the world. There is so much to see and do in Rome, it’s a city that should be visited more than once – which is a good reason to start any tour with a trip to the Trevi Fountain. Tradition has it that anyone who throws a coin in this spectacular Baroque fountain – which depicts the Roman God Neptune driving a chariot led by seahorses – will one day return to Rome.

Roman History

Located in the centre of the city, the Roman Colosseum is a remarkable feat of architecture and engineering, and one of the iconic symbols of Rome’s ancient and imperial past. The very first gladiator fight took place in 82 AD, the beginning of a bloody tradition that pitted man against man – and beast – in a fight to the death, with crowds inside the forum reaching 50,000. Visit the Arch of Constantine, built in 315 to mark the famous battle victory of Constantine over Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius.

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Architecture

The Pantheon was built to the orders of Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC and later rebuilt in the 2nd century by the emperor Hadrian. Originally designed as a temple to the gods, it was later converted for Christian worship and, after the Renaissance, became a burial site for the city’s elite and most famous sons, including the painter Raphael. The striking design, with its imperious columns, has inspired many imitators, but nothing compares to seeing the real thing.

The Vatican

The Vatican City is an independent state with its own currency, flag, stamps and militia, the Swiss Guard, which protects its 800 citizens, including the Pope. Out front is the magnificent St. Peter’s Square, while the Vatican Museums house a large collection of Italian masterpieces by artists including Raphael, Fra Angelico and Michelangelo.

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Art

Located in the sprawling gardens of the Villa Borghese, the Galleria Borghese is a must for fans of the Italian masters. Marvel at the Bernini sculpture of Apollo and Daphne, as well as works by Rubens, Correggio, Raphael and Caravaggio.

The Ultimate Travel Company have paired up with the Tate to offer Tate Travels.  They have created a program of art and cultural tours across the world to visit some of the most exciting art destinations.  To see a full list of the upcoming art and cultural breaks, visit The Ultimate Travel Company website.

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Romantic places for an evening stroll

Monteliusvägen

Promenade Monteliusvägen runs through the hills of Södermalm. It offers picturesque view of the bay Riddarferden, the island of Kungsholmen, City Hall and the Old Town. A true Mecca for romantic travel fans.

Kina slot

Secluded Chinese Pavilion was built in the Drottningholm Palace park by order of King Adolf Fredrik in the 1750s. All the construction works were kept in secret as this pavilion was meant to be a birthday present to Queen Lovisa Ulrike.

Stadshusets gård

Leave behind the noise of big city and step behind the massive walls of this park. Magnificent garden, sculptures and water views will surely set up a romantic mood.

Sandhamn

A small island with scenic maritime terrain of the outer archipelago. This island is a true romantic hide away thanks to its idyllic village, yacht port and The Sandhamn Sailing Hotel with hot baths at the open air. A perfect place for romantic weekend or at least a romantic day out.

Djurgarden

A romantic green oasis, a must-visit place if you are a fan of slow travel and leisurely strolls. A walk along the canal can be combined with a visit to various museums followed by a relaxation in one of park’s cozy cafeterias.

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Restaurants

Cloud Nine

Restaurant is renowned for its exquisite French cuisine. But the best part is that a dinner can be followed by excellent desert in a cozy Cloud Nine desserts and drinks hall, where tables are enclosed by black tulle curtains.

Brasserie Le Rouge

A burlesque-themed café inspired by Amsterdam’s Red District with romantic and a bit ironic atmosphere. Classic French and Italian menu guarantees a great culinary experience.

Gondolen

An elegant restaurant with an exclusive menu of Swedish and international cuisine is situated high above Stockholm’s port and offers breathtaking panoramic views over the Old Town. What could be more romantic? Ensure to book your table in advance as this is an extremely popular place.

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Walking Tours

If you’ve just landed in Barcelona and you’re looking for a way to get acclimated, a walking tour could be the perfect way to get your bearings. Several companies in Barcelona offer free walking tours. The catch? You’re supposed to leave them a tip; however, the amount of the tip is entirely up to you. Try Travel Bound Barcelona Free Walking Tours, Barcelona Free Tours, or Runner Bean Tours. 

Museums

Many museums in Barcelona charge a nominal fee to enter, but some of these museums waive their entrance fees during certain times of the month. If you’re a fan of Picasso, the Museo Picasso offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month, and after 3 PM every Sunday. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya also has free admission on the first Sunday of the month. The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona has free admission on Wednesdays. 

Food

In many cities and towns in Spain, it’s customary to get a free tapa with your drink. In a pricey city like Barcelona, though, you’ll usually have to pay for your tapas most places. Fortunately, the city also has plenty of places where you can go to get complimentary tapas with your drinks on certain days. On Sundays, get a complimentary buffet with your drink purchase at Bar No Sé. On Tuesdays, check out Sesamo for free tapas tastings. For cheap tapas any day of the week, Txapela is the place to go. This cozy tavern offers a wide variety of freshly prepared tapas, all under two euros a piece. 

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Accommodation

A great way to really immerse yourself into the new culture is to eat with the locals. Find out what it is they eat daily and at least sample it. With so many different foods to try in Barcelona you’d assume it would be really expensive to try them all but some foods require a lot of home-based cooking to really taste like the traditional dishes so for example, there are plenty of places you can enjoy a Catalonian meal in the area, but why not consider renting an accommodation in Barcelona and making your own dishes in your temporary kitchen! Rented accommodation can work out much more cost effective if you’re planning to stay for more than a couple of days and you save loads by cooking your own meals.

Barcelona’s Great Outdoors

Parc Guell is a fascinating, gorgeous park that Gaudí left unfinished. It’s filled with Gaudí’s signature interesting architecture, as well as beautiful fountains, statues, and a museum. While the museum on the park’s site charges a small fee to enter, the rest of the park is free. Another free, beautiful place to escape the city is Barcelona’s Botanical Gardens. The gardens offer a variety of plants, flowers, and trees for visitors to enjoy, as well as an excellent view of the city. Nearby Montjuïc Magic Fountains offer another great view of the city, as well as the beautiful fountains that change shapes against the backdrop of the Palau Nacional.

Markets and Shops

Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s most famous street. This pedestrian street is filled with street performers, locals, and visitors from around the world, with shops, hotels, nightlife, and restaurants lining its sides. You can wander past La Boqueria, an open-air market offering produce, meats, and flowers, as well as restaurants serving food and drinks. It’s free to browse the market, but food and drinks are relatively cheap. Also check out the Port Vell Antique Fair. It’s free to look, but there are plenty of cheap bargains to be found.

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Faro was originally just a fishing village built by the Romans, who called it Ossonoba. In 1249, thanks to Alfonso III. was freed from the power of the Moors and became to prosper as a city. But in 1596 a city suffered a damaging blow, it was burned by the Earl of Essex, who was a great favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. And later, in 1755, it was damaged again during the massive earthquake. Although the remnants of ancient city walls managed to preserve until today, most of the beautiful buildings either did not outlast the destruction or have been largely damaged. So the buildings that you can see today in Faro, come mainly from the late 18th and 19th century.

Faro is now a beautiful coastal city protected by a low sandy islands Ilha de Culatra, Ilha da Barreta and Ilha da Faro. Unfortunately, many tourists pass Faro without stopping here, even though it has the largest number of cultural and historical monuments from all the towns in the Algarve region. Preserved old town center around the cathedral and behind the old city walls, definitely worth a visit.

The historical center of Faro can easily be explored on foot. It lies in a small bay and is partly surrounded by medieval walls. The old harbor area has arched entrance gate with a bell tower called Arco da Vila. This arch was built in the 19th century for Bishop Dom Francisco Gomes do Avelar, who has decided to rebuild the dilapidated city. Street behind it, paved with cobblestones, leads to a beautiful Largo da Sé Square, where you can see the cathedral. From the original Gothic cathedral from the 13th century, which was destroyed in 1596 by English forces led by the Earl of Essex, are preserved only unusual tower, covered porches and two inner chapels. The reconstruction of the cathedral took a long time, so it is now built both in Renaissance, and Baroque style.

Inside the cathedral you can see a huge pipe organ decorated with spectacular Chinese motifs. During festive occasions, there are playing Europe’s leading organists. The cathedral also houses one of the most important Algarve’s collections of sacred art from the 17th and 18th century. And its tower offers a beautiful view of the city.

On the square Largo da Sé is also a Bishop’s Palace Paço Episcopal. If you go through another stone arch in Arco Repouso, walk up to the church of São Francisco, which was built in the 18th century. It is decorated with tiles and scenes from the life of St. Francis. Further north, another church rises in Pé Nossa Senhora da Cruz, who is an exceptional oil paintings depicting episodes from Genesis.

In the monastery Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption), which is the oldest Renaissance building in the Algarve, is probably the most beautiful cloister in southern Portugal, which was built in 1540 by Afonso Pires. The monastery was founded by Leonor, sister of Manuel I (king of Portugal). The monastery has been carefully restored and since 1973 houses a museum devoted to archeology where you can see the local archaeological finds. The collection includes also Roman, medieval and Manueline stone reliefs and sculptures. The main exhibit is a 2,000 year old Roman mosaic floor measuring 9 x 3 meters, showing a head of the god Neptune.

The most interesting church in Faro is Igreja do Carmo (Carmelite Church). It has an imposing facade with two towers and a beautiful gilded interior, but its biggest attraction is haunted Bone Chapel. Besides the Carmelite church from the 18th century is located another museum – Museo Marítimo exhibiting a small collection of marine exhibits, including model ships. You will see a flagship example of Vasco de Gama, which he used during his voyage to India. Plus you can learn here about the traditional methods of fishing on the coast of the Algarve.

The main artery of Faro is the elegant pedestrian street Rua de Santo António, which is full of shops, bars and restaurants. On the northeast of the city lies the Jewish cemetery, founded for the community, which was brought here by Marquis de Pombal in the 18th century.

About 7 kilometers from the town is a beach. The local coastline is attractive because it includes a number of small sandy islands with a unique nature reserve. In the vicinity of the bay is the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which is a favorite resting place for many species of migratory birds.

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Leuven is famous Belgian university town, the local Catholic University was founded in 1425 by Pope Martin V and is the oldest university in Belgium and one of the oldest in Europe. Due to disputes between Flemish and French-speaking population, University had to be divided into two separate branches in 1968 – the Flemish Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, which remained in Leuven and the French-speaking Université catholique de Louvain, which was established in Louvain-la-Neuve. This city was founded in the province of Walloon Brabant.

The first mention of Leuven dates from the year 891, from the time when Carolingian King of East Francia and Holy Roman Emperor Arnulf defeated Viking army.

Convenient location at the river Dijle helped Leuven to become a major commercial center of the duchy. The city became a center of cloth. Famous linen was exported from here already in the late 14th century.

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Leuven’s golden period occurred in the 15th century, when was founded already mentioned Catholic University. It has now about 27,000 students. Another important period was the 18th century, when a local brewery began to prosper. It later grew into the largest brewing company in the world called Interbrew, recently renamed to InBev. This brewing company includes well-known brewery Stella Artois.

During the First and Second World War Leuven suffered significant damage. For example, in July 1914, was burned and destroyed the university library with 300,000 rare books and manuscripts. After the First World War the library was renovated. During the Second World War, however, the library was again damaged by fire, in which disappeared other writings and rare books. Although a large part of the University of Leuven was severely damaged by fire and bombing during the wars, most of the sites managed to repair and make its original form.

One of the most important monuments is considered Leuven Town Hall built between 1439 – 1463, which is a typical example of late Brabant Gothic. Its facade is decorated with 236 sculptures from the second half of the 19th century. Very beautiful is also a church of St. Peter built in the turn of the 15th and 16th century. In its interior you can see the rare picture painted by Dirk Bouts – the Last Supper (1464-1468).

You can stroll through the cobblestone old-town squares, that are lined with houses, some of which date back to the 13th century. Most of these houses are now luxury hotels and pensions. Many historic buildings serve the needs of universities, which are hostels for students and professors, or perhaps a conference centres.

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Beautiful building near Leuven is Arenberg Castle built in the 16th century, which is a typical example of brick architecture, and combines late Gothic style with the Renaissance. Arenberg family donated the castle with a park covering an area of ​​29 hectares to the University of Leuven in 1916.

Interesting collections can be seen at the Vander Kelen-Mertens Municipal Museum, which represents both modern and ancient art. On display are not only paintings and sculptures, but also photographs, films, design and architecture. Art lovers will especially enjoy the Art Museum, located in a building designed by Stéphane Beel. The building elegantly combines old and modern architectural elements.

The city also features a nice botanical garden Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis. Founded in 1738 it is the oldest botanical garden in Belgium. Owns a large collection of plants, trees, shrubs, and tropical and subtropical plants.

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Kampen is connected to Zwolle, which is the capital of the province, by a road that continues north to Emmeloord. Between the cities leads also 12 km long local railway that crosses a typical Dutch landscape. View of the endless plains dotted with trees and wind power plants. Without them, it would perhaps be possible to see through Amsterdam. The pastures are full of cows, or white sheep.

The most important monuments of Kampen are the city gates, which are the remains of former fortifications. Very valued building is the Church of St. Nicholas (Bovenkerk) from the 14th century, tower Nieuwe Toren from the 17th century and the city hall decorated with a beautiful facade. You can visit a small port or take a walk around the romantic streets. Following the Burgel channel and Broederstraat street you can get to a beautiful gate Broederspoort dating from the 15th century. From here it is just about 400 metres to another Gothic gate Cellebroederspoort.

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Through Burgelgracht you get to the church Bovenkerk, which was built from the bricks and rare stone. Since this is a Protestant church, its interior is not overly ornate and interesting. Behind the church lies Koornmarkt – a square on which stands the building of the famous Protestant Theological Faculty. A little further you come across the Koornmarktspoort gate with two massive cylindrical towers, which in the past defended city from the waterfront. It is the oldest gate in the city.

Kampen is also famous for the production of cigars, as evidenced by the small Kamper Tobacco Museum located on the square Botermarkt. However this museum is really unique as it is open for tourists only after prior agreement.

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