1. Lisbon

The capital of Portugal is the city of Lisbon which is home to more than half a million permanent residents. You will find the city on the Iberian Peninsula, situated along the banks of the Tagus River. It is here where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. There are countless historical sites which can be seen and visited throughout the city of Lisbon, one of the most famous is that of World Heritage Belém Tower, which you will probably see on every postcard from Lisbon.

Belém Tower, Lisbon by Chrismatos

2. Porto

As the second largest city in the country, Porto is home to more than two hundred thousand people. You can find the city situated within the estuary of the Douro River in the northern part of the country. Being one of the oldest cities in Europe, there are many world heritages sites that can be found in its historical town center.

Porto by Sunny Ripert

3. Albufeira

The city of Albufeira is a popular tourist destination in Portugal. There are countless golf courses, hotels and restaurants that can be found in and around the city. Nearby you will also find the popular Paderne Castle which has attracted many visitors over the years. Parts of the original Roman aqueduct can also be found in the city itself.

Albufeira beach, Portugal by Sberla_

4. Lagos

You will find the town of Lagos situated at the Bensafrim River mouth where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The town and surrounding area is a very well-known tourist destination on the account of the many fine beaches that can be found along the coastlines. There is even a historical shipyard which dates back to the days of Henry the Navigator that can be found in Lagos. However it is mainly rock formations at Ponta da Piedade that make this place very popular. It is located just 2km south of the city centre.

Ponta Da Piedade, Lagos, Portugal by Romain MOREL

5. Funchal, Madeira

You will find the city of Funchal situated along the coast of charming Portuguese island of Madeira, rising up over the sea and offering some of the most breath taking views of the surrounding countryside and waters. It is a capital of Madeira, known among the locals as Little Lisbon. However Funchal is not the only place you should visit once you are in Madeira. It is green island, covered by mountains and is often called the Island of never-ending spring. So once you are here, make sure to spend some time hiking around the island.

Funchal, Madeira by Ben Salter

6. Portimão

The town of Portimão can be found along the southern coastlines of Portugal. Thanks to the pristine waters and the beautiful sandy beaches in the area, the city has grown to become a popular seaside destination. It is also the home of the popular Mundialito de Futebol de Praia tournament which is held annually.

Praia do Alemão, Portimão by Aires Almeida

7. Sintra

The beautiful architecture as well as landscapes that can be found in and around the town of Sintra is one of the biggest reasons the area has grown to become a major centre for tourism in the country. There are countless palaces and castles which date back to the 8th and 9th centuries which can be found throughout the town. One of the most beautiful is Pena National Palace often referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

Pena National Palace, Sintra by David Sim

8. Vilamoura

When it comes to spending a luxurious vacation along the Portuguese coastlines, there is no better destination than that of Vilamoura. It is considered to be one of the most popular destinations in all of Europe and also one of the most luxurious one. Here, you will find a magnificent resort which is complete with a marina which has seen many of the world’s most prestigious yachts over the years.

Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal by Sue Elias

9. Cascais

The town of Cascais can be found along the nation’s coastlines. There are many fine beaches around the town as well as a castle, sea museum and a beautiful historical town centre that is just waiting to be explored. There are many reasons why this sleepy little town has grown to become one of the most popular destinations in the country.

Centre of Cascais by Francesco Sgroi

10. Faro

You will find the city of Faro in the southernmost portion of Portugal. The city is situated near the edges of the Ria Formosa Lagoon which is a magnificent nature reserve that has attracted countless migratory bird species. There are countless stretches of quiet and secluded beaches that can be found throughout the city and lagoon areas.

Faro, Algarve by Greg Pye

11. Fátima

The parish of Fátima is home to many small villages that are associated with the 1917 Cova da Iria apparitions. At 300 meters above sea level, the parish can be found encompassing much of the Estremenho Limestone Massif. The area is a popular pilgrimage site in the country and has attracted many visitors in the last century.

The Basilica of Fátima, Portugal by hugo esteves

12. Tavira

The city of Tavira can be found along the southern coastlines of Portugal, nestled snuggly along the mouth of where the Gilão River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The area has been known to have been settled back in the 8th century B.C. by the Phoenicians who built a large center in the area. There are countless archaeological sites that can now be found within and around the city today.

Tavira, Portugal by Cayetano

13. Braga

In the northwestern part of the country is where you will find the city of Braga. The city is considered to be one of the oldest Christian archdioceses in the world. Originally settled by the Romans, the city flourished over the millennia and today is the third largest in the country. There are many historical sites that one can visit throughout the city.

Braga Cathedral, Portugal by Jose Goncalves

14. Coimbra

During the middle ages, the city of Coimbra was the capital of Portugal. Today it is home to one of the oldest universities in the European Union. There are many fine sites throughout the city to visit as well as the 16th century University. Many tourists make their way to the city every single year.

Coimbra, Portugal by Dennis Jarvis

15. Évora

The city of Évora is most well known for its beautiful and fully intact town center. Many of the original fortified walls which had once guarded the old town are still standing today. Situated along the banks of the Tagus River, the ancient city of Évora has attracted many visitors over the years. The most important sights of the city include Roman Temple, Igreja da Graça Church, Cathedral, or University.

Roman Temple at Evora, Portugal by ho visto nina volare

16. Ponta Delgada, Azores

In the Azores archipelago, you will find the city of Ponta Delgada situated along the shores of the São Miguel Island. The city is a historical one and while most people make their way to the area for the pristine beaches, it would be impossible to spend one’s entire holiday in Ponta Delgada without also visiting the many historical buildings that can be found throughout the city.

Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal by Christophe.Finot

17. Sagres Point

Situated in the southern part of Portugal, not too far from Cape St. Vincent, you will find the area known as Sagres Point. Over the centuries, Sagres Point has been a popular resting point for countless expeditions before travelling through the rocky cape. It is also one of the oldest settled areas in Portugal which dates back to the Neolithic Era.

Sagres Point, Portugal by Curtis Foreman

18. Setúbal

You will find the city of Setúbal nestled snuggle along the banks of the Sado River just south of the nation’s capital. The city is a historical one and over the years has attracted many visitors who come to visit the fine historical buildings that can be found throughout Setúbal. There are also a number of archaeological sites that can be visited just outside of the city.

Monastery of Jesus of Setúbal, Portugal by Georges Jansoone

19. Aveiro

A small port city of Aveiro located in central Portugal, in the region that is full of bays, rivers, canals and bridges, is among the most pleasant Portuguese towns. Local tourist attraction is a sailing through channels on colourful boats, it is quite similar to Italian city of Venice and therefore it is often called Venice of Portugal.

Aveiro, Portugal by unhappy by design

20. Guimarães

City of Guimarães is considered a cradle of the Portuguese nation and lies in the north-western part of the country, 15 km south-east of Braga and 42 km northeast of Porto. Its main jewels include Castelo de Guimarães, Igreja da Oliveira a Padrão do Salado or Paço dos Duques de Bragança.

Guimarães, Portugal by paul Barker Hemings

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Manchester Cathedral, England, UK by Michael Beckwith

Education

Manchester is home to over 100,000 students from across the UK and the rest of the world. With the academically excellent University of Manchester and Manchester Business School this city attracts some of the best students to study outside of Oxford and Cambridge.

Sport

You cannot mention Manchester with mentioning Manchester United and Manchester City football clubs. The former is one of the world’s best clubs whilst the latter is one of the richest and is becoming a footballing force. With combined capacities of over 115,000 the stadiums are excellent places to be when there is a football match on.

Old Trafford Stadium, inside, Manchester, England, UK by André Zahn

Museums

Manchester has many Museums including the Museum of Science and Industry, the Football Museum and the Imperial War Museum. With these being the largest outside of London there are many things to do and see whilst in this city.

Nightlife

Manchester has recently been voted in the top 5 places in the United Kingdom for nightlife. With super clubs such as the Warehouse and Sankey Soaps and more traditional bars in Deansgate and the Printworks, this city comes to life at the weekend. With the sheer number of Students in the city and population this mix makes for an excellent night out in Manchester.

Music

Manchester is home to some famous musicians including the following, Take That, Badly Drawn Boy, New Order, Stone Roses, Oasis, James, and the Verve. The list goes on and on and for a city of this size this is definitely a music city.  The most famous undoubtedly being Oasis who have sold tens of millions of Albums across the world.

So if you are ever in the UK and have a weekend to free why don’t you visit the Northern city of Manchester and see what this place has to offer for you. With the histroy, shopping, things to do, sports stadiums, nightlife etc you will not be bored in this vibrant and friendly city.

James, a passionate traveller and writer for Ticket Vago, specialists in Manchester United tickets.

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Birmingham canals / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bob Hall

With more than one million people, Birmingham is the most populous city in the UK outside London.

More than 20% of the city’s population are below the age of 16, which is a lot of young ones to keep entertained so Birmingham has become an expert town a catering to the young.

It’s also a pretty central city within around an hour’s travelling distance from places such as Northampton to the south-east, Nottingham and Derby to the north-east. It’s not difficult to get here from these towns either by car or by train, and it’s even worth making a memorable weekend of it and staying for a couple of nights.

Here is a list of some of the exciting attractions in Birmingham that will keep the kids busy.

Cadbury World

Around half a million people visit here every year, and it’s probably fair to say that more than a few of them are chocolate lovers.

You can stroll through the Aztec Jungle in search of the cocoa beans and find out how they came back to Europe; find out the history of the company in the auditorium, and possibly more importantly, find out how it’s made.

The state-of-the-art Purple Planet interactive experience will show chocolate as you have never seen it before – imagine yourself moulded in chocolate!

Sheldon Country Park

It’s more than 200 acres of grasslands, wetlands and woodland, and is perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Just at the entrance to the park is Old Rectory Farm. This 17th century dairy farm has been restored to its former glory into full working order to demonstrate to all of the city folk just what it’s like running a farm.

There are loads of animals including cattle, pigs, goats, ponies, ducks and geese.

BBC Birmingham Public Space

Learning about broadcasting has never been more fun. At the BBC Birmingham Public Space you can have a go at presenting everybody’s favourite children’s news programme, have your picture taken with Dr Who’s magnificent TARDIS and a terrifying Dalek.

You can also get a sneaky peek at the Asian Network studios and a tour of the television studio. You never know, could this be the start of a glittering on-screen career?

Birmingham Museum and Gallery

The Birmingham Museum and Gallery is a fantastic place to find out about the creative arts including bronze-casting, etching, pottery, jewellery-making and how to make stained glass.

Watch artists while they work and there’s even a whole load of fun for the kids to get a bit of hands-on experience and play around in costumes and hunt for special treasures.

These are just some of the fantastic family fun attractions and there are plenty of hotels in Birmingham which will also cater to family guests making it a weekend break to remember.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotels/united-kingdom/birmingham

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Kaunas city days, festival / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Lee Fenner

1. Sea Festival: Klaipėda

The city of Klaipėda is the only city in Lithuania which is right on the ocean. So it comes as no great surprise to find out that an annual sea festival is held here. The Klaipėda sea festival was started in 1934, and it currently attracts over half a million people who participate in three-days of non-stop action.

It’s usually held at the end of July or beginning of August and the streets are filled with markets, street concerts, children’s performances, and even a special carnival where attendees dress as mythological sea creatures. There are also several competitions related to fishing and sport, as well as an international sailing event. The pubs and bars are open much later during this period, and a free fireworks display is given on the last day of the festival.

2. Film Festival: Vilnius “Kino pavasaris” – Cinema Spring

This film festival was started in 2005 and is now an annual event, with attendance growing every year. The point of this festival is to showcase new non-commercial films, from other popular film festivals such as the Berlin, Toronto and Venice, as well as to give new directors from Eastern and Central Europe a chance to debut.

The film festival in 2011 saw over 60,000 attendees, compared to the original 4,000 only 6 years earlier. The event is held annually between March and April. Cinemas around the city of Vilnius showcase a wide variety of films, and the programme line-up includes talks from well-known directors, along with movie-making workshops, short film competitions as well as film debates.

3. Folk Festival: “Mėnuo Juodaragis” – Black Horned Moon

This contemporary Baltic culture festival hosts the largest number of foreign visitors, with over twenty-five countries represented in the last few years. The music played here is incredibly varied and styles include avant-garde, ethno, post-folk, gothic, neo-folk, and ambient, to name but a few. The festival runs for three days, all day and night, and focuses on the Baltic culture and the heritage of pagan traditions.

Music isn’t all that’s on offer, as there are many activities and training seminars on offer, focused on a variety of subject matter including folk dances, sports, arty films, DJ parties, traditional rites and tribal workshops.

4. Music Festival: Tamsa Music

This highly acclaimed music festival was first held in 2009, and has become a much-loved annual event. The festival is held each year on an isle in the Valley of Songs (Dainų slėnis), with the main focus being on live performances and Lithuanian music, although several foreign artists such as Little Dragon from Sweden also perform annually.

If you want to attend, you’d best book your tickets early, as visitor numbers are limited to preserve the natural beauty of Dainų slėnis.

5. Theatre Festival: “Sirenos” – Sirens International Theatre Festival

Held annually in October in the city of Vilnius, the international theatre festival is called “Sirenos” (Sirens) and is a week-and-a-bit long affair, with a different theme every year. Why the mythological name you wonder? Well in Greek mythology, Sirens were half-bird, half women (not mermaids) who sang and tempted sailors into joining them on the rocky coast, which more often than not led to the death of the crew.

The festival is promoted as a temptation, “an invitation, a magical spell impossible to overcome” and for most theatre-goers it delivers on that promise. Contemporary European performances, as well as comedy skits, dramatic and ironic plays, and even some whimsical imaginings are presented to an ever growing audience.

Author Bio: Roseanna McBain is the blogger for the accommodation website, TravelGround.com – which specialises in accommodation in the Drakensberg. In her spare time she enjoys writing poetry, gardening, and visiting local farmers markets.

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The capital of Denmark is located on the island of Sjæland, which lies east of Denmark. Half a million inhabitants live here and 600,000 others live in the metropolitan area. Copenhagen Centre, which is full of sights, lies to the very shores of the Baltic Sea.

Copenhagen is a royal city and really has a royal looking. You will find the seat of kings here, gardens, parks, many ancient churches, towers, and especially beautiful harbors. In the following sections we will present the most interesting places in Copenhagen.

Botanisk Have – botanical garden
Nature lovers shouldn’t miss this large botanical garden, founded in the late 19th century, which is full of all kinds of plant (both exotic or Danish). Through the garden leads many paths. In one section there is a beautiful stream with a rock, in others the lake with wetland plants. You should visit also a large greenhouse full of plants – most interesting is a greenhouse with orchids, cacti and palm house, where you can go to the top and see the palm trees from above.
There is no admission, the access is free.

Statens Museum for Kunst – national gallery
If you are art lovers, do not miss this gallery, which contains one of the most interesting collections of European art. You will find works by such artists as Rubens, Rembrandt, Picasso and Matisse, but the works of Danish painters as well.

Rosenborg Slot – Royal Palace
The royal palace is on of the symbols of Copenhagen. Without the admission fee you can enter the walls and see the Palace from the outside, or see it from the Royal Garden (Kongens Have). If you pay the entrance (40 DKK), then you can visit the underground treasure (where are the crown jewels), a marble hall, long hall, a Chinese salon, mirrored cabinet and stair tower.

Kongens Have – Royal Garden
This garden, immediately adjacent to the Rosenborg Slot, was founded in 1606 and is thus the oldest park in Copenhagen. You can find there beautiful roses, trees, fountains, and the various statues. One of the most famous is the statue of Hans Christian Andersen.

Kastellet fortress
Another well-known sight of Copenhagen is Kastellet fortress, which was founded in the early 17th century. This building, now open to the public, is interesting for the 5-pointed star layout, with an ancient windmill in one part. In the 19th century, the building served as a prison. Kastellet is now used by Danish army – you can meet the members of army inside.

Sankt Albans Kirke (church) and fountain Gefion
Beautiful church, called St. Albans Kirke, is built in Gothic style and it is located near Kastellet fortress. The church was built in the late 19th century and is located near the impressive fountain Gefion. This fountain is one of the most important sites of Denmark, although it was built in 1908. In the middle of the fountain there is a statue of the goddess Gefion, which has four oxen hitched to have a character from the famous Scandinavian legend.

Den lille havfrue – The statue of Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid statue, which sits on a rock and staring sadly at sea is one of the most famous symbol of Copenhagen and a major tourist attraction as well. The statue sits on a rock in the Copenhagen harbor in Langelinie.

“The Little Mermaid” is a fairy tale written by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince.
Originally it was written as a ballet, the tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media including musical theatre and animated film.

The statue was commissioned in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen, son of the founder of Carlsberg, after he had been fascinated by a ballet about the fairytale. The sculptor Edward Eriksen created the statue, which was unveiled on 23 August 1913. His wife, Eline Eriksen, was the model.

The statue has been moved to Expo 2010 in Shanghai for the first time ever.

Amalienborg Slot – Royal Palace
Another of the royal residences in Copenhagen is Amalienborg Slot, which is the current official residence of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. The Palace is the seat of the royal family already from the late 18th century. The palace consists of several buildings which in the middle of is the square with the statue of Frederic V. From this square you can see on one side the Amaliehaven park, which borders the sea and opposite the Marmorkirken church.

Kongens Nytorv – King’s new square
One of the most famous squares throughout Copenhagen is located in its heart. There are several interesting buildings. One is a theater – Det Kongelige Teater, where you can see drama and ballet. Then there is the Hotel d’Angleterre, which belongs to the most luxurious hotels in Scandinavia. Most interesting is Nyhavn harbor.

Nyhavn – New harbour
It is 300 meters long channel, from the 17th century, with beautiful color buildings on both sides. Nyhavn is a place where people love to meet, sit in cafes or on the channel trims and enjoy the atmosphere of this place. Many boats leaves from Nyhavn on scenic routes across the Channel and the coast (hour cost approx. 30 DKK).

Other important squares – Nytorv a Raadhuspladsen
Nytorv is another famous square, where you can see a fountain of Caritas Springvandet from the beginning of the 17th century. There is also Raadhuspladsen’s Square, which is the second largest square in Copenhagen after Kongens Nytorv. It is important because there is the so-called Raadhus Hall, built of red bricks in the early 20th century.

Tivoli – amusement park
Another frequently visited site is the Tivoli amusement park. Unfortunately, the entrance is about 100 DKK + 25 DKK per adult/trip. Park operates from April to late September, then on Halloween (which is celebrated here) and on Christmas.

Vor Frelsers Kirke – church
Other attractions of Copenhagen is the church with remarkable tower from 18th century. You can enjoy beautiful view from this tower. The total height of the tower is 90 meters and it is the second biggest view point in Copenhagen.

Christiansborg Slot – Royal Palace
Another of the castles and royal residences of Copenhagen is Christiansborg Slot, which is 90 years old.

Christiania
Do not forget the Free State of Christiania, which is a special place of this city. It was founded in 1971, when squatters occupied several local branches of the barracks and the government decided not to intervene. Today there live nearly a thousand people and is certainly a place that attracts many people. Entrance to Christiania is free, but it should be noted that you can not make pictures there.

One weekend in Copenhagen
Due to the fact that Copenhagen is full of great sites, it is impossible to list them all. Nor is it possible to walk all in one afternoon. Nevertheless, we recommend the use of offers to spend a weekend in Copenhagen, as monuments are located in close proximity and all of the above listed you certainly be able to see.

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Population
Original Luxemburgers make up about one third of the population. There are more than 180 thousand foreigners living here, mainly Portuguese, Italians, Frenchmen, Belgians and Germans. Over 7,500 residents are officials of the European Union. Most of the population is Catholic, however there are small Protestant and Jewish communities. The country has 100% literacy.

Economy
The country has well developed industry and service sector. An important source of funds is tourism. Industry is focused on the processing of metals and chemicals, which are major export items. Among the trading partners of Luxembourg are the surrounding states of European Union. The country is also doing well in the banking sector which is mainly due to political stability and liberal laws.

History and culture
History of Luxembourg started to count at the time when Lützelburg castle was built. It happened around the year 963. Then, around the castle, began to develop a medieval city that became the center of a small estate. Between 1659 to 1839 the territory of Luxembourg was several times reduced. Luxembourg gained independence in the 19th century. After World War II Luxembourg stood at the birth of NATO and the European Community (in 1993 renamed to the European Union).

Cuisine
Luxembourg cuisine is similar to Belgian, but you’ll find also a German influences – e.g. dumplings with cabbage, etc. Luxembourg National dish is “Judd mat gaardebounen” – it’s smoked pork served with cabbage or beans.

Other specialties include:

Ferkelsrippchen-grilled ribs
Liewekniddelen mat sauerkratu – liver balls with cabbage
Traipen – black pudding
Kuddelfleck – boiled tripe (intestine)
Kachkeis – cooked cheese

The most popular coffee in Luxembourg is “café au lathes” – coffee with boiled milk, as well as cappuccino and espresso.

Tips for trips

• The city of Luxembourg (its beautiful historical center and the walls on the slopes of the River Alzette
• Ardennes
• Moselle valley
• Müllerthal

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