Milano – Duomo, Italy by Alessandro Prada

As you leave Malpensa airport in your hire car, drive into the city centre, park up and discover some of the amazing food to eat in this wonderful cosmopolitan city.

Below I’ve complied a list of my top restaurants to visit whilst in Milan. You’ll feel hungry just reading this!

My Top 4 Great Places To Eat In Milan

1. L’Assassino

The L’Assassino restaurant offers fresh ingredients, professional and friendly waiters, as well as affordable and delicious food. Whether you’re on a budget or not, you’ll still be able to really enjoy this restaurant, as the food isn’t expensive whatsoever. The taste and quality of the food is well worth the price you’ll pay, as it is simply outstanding. The ambience is gorgeous, making you definitely want to stay at the restaurant after your meal too. Their best sellers are the Fiorentina Di Chianina and all of their homemade desserts are to die for.

2. Giannino

The Giannino restaurant is also one of the top restaurants in Milan offering a wonderful range of delicious Italian haute cuisines. The atmosphere is very sophisticated and cozy, making the food even more enjoyable to eat. The price of the meals is quite expensive but it is only because it’s first class food and it’s very unique to this restaurant. The restaurant’s specialties are Turbot Laurel with Sweet Garlic Sauce, Saffron Rice, as well as the Cream and Apricot that you can have for dessert. The food is amazing and well worth the high prices.

3. Al Porto

The Al Porto restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Milan, making it not difficult to find in the big city. Al Porto specializes in making delicious seafood that can actually be found in the Porto Genova. Its amazing location and presence of the lovely garden that is overlooking the Darsena is one of the reasons why it is such a popular restaurant. This restaurant offers delicious classical food with many options and some of their best dishes are the smoked bass and the mussels and clam soup.

4. Da Willy 1

The Da Willy 1 trains professional and friendly managers to offer all their customers the best service and affordable food. This restaurant was expanded a couple years ago to be able to accommodate all of the customers that come in every day. The atmosphere is very relaxing and welcoming while the food is simply delicious. You can enjoy their popular huge pizzas and some of their excellent starters. For the price and taste of the food at this restaurant, it is very worth visiting.

If you want to enjoy delicious quality Italian food in Milan, then you must consider adding these restaurants to your dining list. Not only are the foods at these restaurants some of the best in the area, the atmosphere also helps to make the whole experience thoroughly enjoyable.

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Muntanya Russa – Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo, Barcelona / By Jordiferrer (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Costa Brava

Lying on the north east of Catalonia, Costa Brava’s coastal location is a haven for holiday makers. The lure of crisp beaches and stunning coastline makes it irresistible for those who enjoy soaking up the sun. The name itself comes from ‘costa’, meaning ‘coast’ and ‘brava’ meaning ‘wild’. While the Costa Brava attracts those who just want to lie in the sun, it has many other parts to explore.

Even if you book into a family friendly resort, there’s a lot to explore. There are towns such as the picturesque Begur, which is visited for its rustic charm and history. There are still remnants of the town’s intriguing past history, especially at Begur’s castle, which was completed in the 17th century. As a family, the municipality is full of great opportunities to explore the rugged side of Spain.

Barcelona

Barcelona is Catalonia’s capital, and second only to Madrid for size in Spain. This is a thriving, cosmopolitan city that boasts a rich, cultural heritage. It is made up of a busy collection of restaurants, galleries and events that are perfect for adults and children. The city itself is very kid friendly, and it’s not hard to find something to keep them entertained.

Along with the must-see attractions such as Gaudi’s Sacred Family Church and the Dali Museum, there are other activities such as theme parks, zoos and more. Tibidabo Amusement Park is located atop Mount Tibidabo, which is the highest point of the lush, verdant Collserola Ridge nature park. The amusement park itself is 512m above sea level, which lends itself to some dramatic, and exhilarating rides.

Valencia

The history of Valencia dates back to 138 BC, where it began life as a Roman colony. Since then it has developed into a very modern city without sacrificing many of the historical connections that formed its foundation. Valencia lies on the banks of the river Turia, which offers incredible scenery and breathtaking views.

When visiting Valencia, its essential to visit the Bioparc. Not so much a run of the mill zoo, the Bioparc has been designed to give animals more freedom, replicating their natural habitats as accurately as possible. You really do feel as though you are (safely) exploring the animal’s environments, instead of finding them caged in ours.

I Dream Elephants brings a great choice of kids clothes, including Spanish brand Bobo Choses.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jon Mountjoy

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.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by SteveR-

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.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by dozydotes

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!

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ayustety

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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It is a cosmopolitan city where many different cultures live together – this international flair is directly related to its role as a crossroads for all of Europe.

There are two official languages

Most tourist sites are within walking distance of the Grand Place. Victor Hugo, a city resident for several years, called the Grand Place and its 17th-century Flemish Renaissance buildings “the most beautiful square in Europe.”

One of the most interesting events in Brussels is bi-annual event featuring the creation of a detailed carpet design using more than 700.000 cut begonias.

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Vicenza – Basilica Palladiana at Piazza dei Signori, Italy by Wanblee

The area where Vicenza sits today was first settled back in the 3rd century B.C. by the Italic Euganei tribes. A century later, the area would also become home to the Paleo-Veneti tribes. As the Celtics made their way into Italy during the 2nd century B.C., the tribes of Vicenza would seek the help of the Romans and by 157 B.C., the city would become part of the Roman Empire.

Vicenza was first designated as a UNESCO heritage site. Two years later, the surrounding lands which are home to many Palladian Villas would be included as part of the UNESCO designation. One of the more popular villas near Vicenza is that of Veneto which is home to the ancient Teatro Olimpico which has attracted millions of visitors since its construction back in 1580.

In and around the city of Vicenza you will also find a number if buildings that have also become quite famous over the years. Near the town center you will find the Villa Almerico Capra which is known locally as the La Rotonda.

There are many plazas in Vicenza as well. The Museo Palladio can be found in the Palazzo Barbaran da Porto. The Palazzo del Capitaniato is the current home to the Town council of Vicenza. The unfinished Palazzo Porto in Piazza Castello is also a very popular destination for those who visit the city. In all, there are a total of 23 sites in Vicenza that were built by Palladio.

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Belgium is interesting with the diversity of its population. The country is divided into 3 areas, Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. In the northern part of Flanders, live Flemish, who speak Flemish (Belgian Flemish is a variant of Dutch). In the southern part, Wallonia, live Walloons, who speak French. In the region of Brussels there are Flemish and French speaking residents but also many foreigners. The third official language alongside French and Flemish in Belgium, is German.

Flemish are closer to the Dutch and Walloons to the French, both with the mentality and temperament, and way of life. Between Flemish and Walloons, there is a certain degree of jealousy and they are sometimes even talking about the possibility of division of land into two states.

Brussels – the capital of the EU
The capital of Belgium – Brussels is also sometimes called the capital of the European Union. Brussels houses the Council of Ministers and the European Commission, but also the European Parliament.

Brussels is bilingual, but if you go through the streets, you can hear a lot more languages ​​than just French or Flemish. A large number of foreigners live here, many of which are currently working in the institutions of the European Union. Brussels is a truly cosmopolitan city that offers many tourist sights and attractions such as: the Grand Place with historic houses and town hall, the famous Atomium and Mini-Europe – an entertainment center with models of buildings from different cities of the European Union.

Not least among the advantages of Belgium are their specialties and typical dishes and drinks. A very popular is fish in many ways, mussels, cheese or french fries with mayonnaise. From the candies you should try waffles and of course the world famous Belgian chocolates.

The most popular drink is beer. The best-known brands include Leffe, Chimey, Duvel, Jupiler, Maes, Hoegaarden and Stella Artois. They also have flavoured beers, such as cherry, strawberry or currant.

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