1. The Eiffel Tower

Located in L’ecole Militaire, the chic end of Paris, it is one of the most famous tourist destinations.  At 324 metres tall, it will certainly give you a fantastic panoramic view of the city. There are three levels to The Eiffel tower and the entrance to the top is under just 14 euros per person (adult).  If you are feeling peckish, you can have a meal at one of the restaurants on the first or second level, but it will be pricey as you are paying for location.

View of Paris with Eiffel Tower / Florian Plag

2. The Arc de Triomphe

Located on the top end of Charles de Gaulle Etoile, the terrace of the Arc  has great views of Paris.  From one end you can see all the way down Les Champs Elysees and right behind you can see down to La Defense.  It is free to enter, you just have to pick a clear day as there is no protection from the rain at the top.  You might like to go at night as the Eiffel Tower puts on a sparkle 10  minute light show every hour on the hour.

The Arc de Triomphe / Kieran Lynam

3. The Grande Arche, La Defense

The business district situated just over the Pont de Neuilly is home to not just the headquarters of many corporations, but also to The Grande Arche.  It was built in 1989 to market the bicentenary of the French Revolution and now attracts thousands of tourists each year who visit the 110 metre roof from where you can get a panoramic view of Paris.  On a clear day, you can see all the way to the to the Stade de France in the north. There is also a restaurant on the top floor where diners can enjoy the view of Paris.

La Défense, Paris / stephane martin

4. Sacre Coeur

Climbing the stairs (or taking the elevator) up to Sacre Coeur is well worth it once you see the view.  It is amazing and takes your breath away, even if you might be a regular visitor to the place. The Dome of the Sacre Coeur is the second highest viewpoint after the Eiffel Tower and you can see everything, from the Paris apartments to the Boulevard Haussmann and of course La Tour Eiffel.

Sacre Coeur / Serge Melki

5. Montparnasse Tower

This is probably one of the least known attractions from where you can see all of Paris.  It is 210 metres high and was the tallest skyscraper in France until 2011 when Tour First was built. On the top floor is a restaurant and for those who are watching the pennies, they also offer a delicious hot chocolate for under 5 euros. To visit the terrace, it costs 7 euros, so nearly half the price of the Eiffel Tower.

Montparnasse Tower / Vladislav Bezrukov

There are many places to stay when you are over in Europe on holiday.  Many people pay for hotels and hostels, but renting apartments in London, Paris, Rome and Berlin gives you more flexibility and can also work out cheaper too.

View Top 5 Landmarks For The Best View of Paris France in a larger map

The post Top 5 Landmarks For The Best View of Paris | France appeared first on Europe Explored.

Oxford Castle / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Douglas Neiner

This summer in cities and towns all over the UK there will be fanfares, bunting and street parties to join in the momentous landmark as Britain’s second longest serving monarch – Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years, seven months and three days. If you’re planning to celebrate the Jubilee it might be worth joining in with the festivities in one of the Britain’s famous and historic towns.

What about Oxford?

Founded in the 9th century the town has some of the most important history in England. The university is nearly 850 years old and is now one of the most revered educational institutions in the world. The town became the haven of the king during the 1642 civil war; England’s first coffee house was opened here in 1651; and it was in Oxford that Roger Bannister in 1954 became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, which will surely be celebrated in a couple of years time.

As well at the famous landmarks such as St Magdalen Bridge and the historic university buildings, the city will be alive with Jubilee events. The council is encouraging local people to host street parties, but on Monday 4th June the Lord Mayor’s Jubilee Party will be at Gloucester Green from 12 noon until 6pm so decorate your bike, hat, child’s pram or buggy and win a prize!

St Magdalen Bridge / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Lisbona

The whole celebration centres on a “1950s then and now” theme, with live music and stalls to keep everyone occupied. At the end of that week on Saturday 9th June is the Diamond Jubilee Mela where you can enjoy live music, dance groups, fashion shows, food stalls, face painting and loads more things for the whole family at Oxford Spires Academy. Tickets cost £3 each but you can contact them for more information here.

A number hotels in Oxford such as The Randolph have special Diamond Jubilee offers with commemorative treats for their guests. Oxford is at the centre of a beautiful county of stunning villages and towns, and if you stay here you can use it as a base of operations for exploring the outlying areas and there are loads of Jubilee events to tickle your fancy.

Bicester Town Centre

On Saturday 2nd June: from 5pm to 10.30pm there is a Beer Festival and Fireworks in Garth Park. The following day on the 3rd there’s a street party which is hoped to be one of the biggest in the country. And on Monday 4th June is the Bicester Jubilee Carnival 10 to 7.30pm which is guaranteed to be a delight for the whole family.

Jubilee Jitterbug at Watlington

On Saturday 2nd June The Hall is the location for a 1950s style dance where a costume is practically mandatory! They do suggest you book in advance, but it will be totally worth it to get your groove on.

Finstock Jubilee BBQ

Also on the Food, music and games sounds perfect, doesn’t it? This fewat of fun must surely epitomise the community spirit of the celebrations when the folk of three villages (Ramsden, Finstock, Wilcote) come together in the true spirit of community.

Big Lunch at Oxford Castle

Who doesn’t love a picnic? Pack your basket and take yourself to the Castleyard and share your food with the residents of Oxford from 12 noon until 3pm on Sunday 3rd June. Break bread with friendly strangers and enjoy the family entertainment.

There are so many things you can do in Oxford over the Jubilee Celebrations, but whatever you choose have a wonderful time.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to The Randolph.

View Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in Oxford United Kingdom in a larger map

The post Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in Oxford | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by davidd

The historical buildings, museums, architecture and other famous landmarks of Barcelona perfectly mirror the culture and political history of the city. Today, Barcelona is becoming popular for its many modern attractions and buildings. It is a European city which can give you the right mix of traditional and modern culture and architecture. It comes to no surprise that the flights to Barcelona remain one of the most coveted travel deals offered by airlines.

Popular Attractions in Barcelona

Flights to Barcelona are surely something to look forward to. Barcelona holidays provide you with ample opportunity to explore the variety of attractions that can be enjoyed by families, honeymooners and adventurers. Let’s discover the handful charms of Barcelona that will make your Barcelona flight worth spending upon.

Barri Gothic

This part of Barcelona is the oldest in the city. It boasts a number of tall, medieval and Gothic buildings. Aside from its ancient structure, many tourists also look forward to experiencing the intense nightlife in Barri Gothic.

La Pedrera

Casa Mila: This is an apartment building designed by the world famous architect Antoni Gaudi. It features an extraordinarily innovative and beautiful structure. Tourists can roam the building and go to the rooftop to see the breathtaking view of Barcelona.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Craig Cormack

Museo Picasso

If you love art and Picasso, this museum is a must-see. Museo Picasso displays over 3,000 pieces of artwork made by famous European artists and of course, Picasso.

Beaches

Barcelona has some of the world’s finest beaches that are responsible for making Barcelona a top summer destination. Barcelona beaches are characteristic with pristine waters and rough, golden sands. Nova Icaria, Mar Bella and Costa Brava are just a few  of the beaches that attract tourists in droves to embark on a flight to Barcelona .

Getting to Barcelona

You can make your way to Barcelona through a direct flight or through Madrid. The best time to travel to Barcelona is the off-peak season from January to March. Tickets during these months are definitely cheaper than usual.

Places to Stay on Your Visit

Barcelona is home to many luxury hotels, vacation homes, holiday apartments and resorts. Accommodation rates range from €45 to €1000 per night, depending on the size and type of room or apartment. The best thing about accommodations in Barcelona is that their rates don’t change much throughout the year because of the continuous flow of visitors in the city.

Barcelonan Climate

Autumn is the best time to visit Barcelona. The climate during this period is comfortably warm, around 21 to 25 degrees. During summer, the temperature in Barcelona is hot and humid, usually around 30 degrees or so. Winter in Barcelona is cool and sometimes rainy. The average day time temperature in Barcelona during this period is around +12 degrees.

Simon Jackson is the man behind the Channel Voyager. If you are planning a vacation abroad, don’t miss to check out his blog since he loves to share information about finding cheap hotels (interesting to know is that the Danish term is billige hoteller) worldwide.

View A Barcelona Travel Guide – Transform The Tourist Experience in a larger map

The post A Barcelona Travel Guide – Transform The Tourist Experience | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Best known cliffs are the Wissower Klinken and together with the Königsstuhl (King’s seat) offer an imposing view.

Hiking, cruising, horse riding and cycling are much loved options to explore the almost pristine nature of the Jasmund National Park, a picturesque place perfect for relaxing vacation everybody should have seen.

View White chalk cliffs in Jasmund National Park in Rügen island, Germany in a larger map

The post White chalk cliffs in Jasmund National Park in Rügen island, Germany appeared first on Europe Explored.