Poulnabrone Dolmen, County Clare, Ireland by Kglavin

Of course, Ireland has a worldwide reputation, and everyone has his or her own ideas of what the country represents. The best of Ireland for you will largely depend on your personal reason for visiting this special country. You may be going for the breathtaking scenery, the richness of its history and antiquities, its wealth of literary tradition, or indeed for its unique and world-renowned pub scene. Whatever you want from Ireland, you will find it, as long as you know where to look.

If it is the antiquity of Ireland that attracts you, you should head for Bru Na Boinne in County Meath, a historic landscape resembling a necropolis, full of prehistoric monuments. One of the most awe-inspiring is Newgrange, a stone age passage tomb. Then, a visit to the Burren in County Clare can satisfy your longing for stunning scenery as well as ancient monuments. This limestone plateau, known as one of the weirdest landscapes in the world, contains a wealth of ancient monuments, including a stone age fort and the spectacular Poulnabrone Dolmen. Less ancient, but still breathtaking, the Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most amazing medieval castles.

Rock of Cashel, Ireland by RX-Guru

On the other hand, those who are attracted to the pub scene should head for the village of Doolin in County Clare, known as the center of Ireland’s music, which of course is the heart of the country’s pub culture. Alternatively, to experience the pub scene at its best, try Galway city, where an even Dubliners flock for the weekend to soak up the pub atmosphere. Galway is also the base for trips to scenic Connemara and the Aran Islands.

Lovers of Ireland maintain that every season of the year has its charms. Winter is good for those on a budget, but the weather can be atrocious, while many suggest you should avoid the peak summer season because of the crowds. For most people, the favorite month is May, followed by September, when the crowds are absent and the weather is often at its best. But the important thing is that you go, and see this very special country for yourself.

If you are planning to visit places other than Ireland, visit https://www.sglta.org/.

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Tower of London, England, UK by xiquinhosilva

1. The Tower of London

One of London’s oldest and most popular attractions, the Tower of London was built in 1078, and remains one of the most well preserved medieval castles in the country. Its central location within the skyscrapers of the City of London financial district make it even more unique, as does its multiple galleries, and housing of the Crown Jewels.

2. St. Paul’s Cathedral

Located on the outskirts of the City of London financial district (about 10 minutes by Tube from the West End), St. Paul’s Cathedral has survived fire and the WWII Blitz to remain one of the capital’s most loved landmarks. Giving yourself the time to explore its artifacts, and the Whispering Gallery on the upper levels, is recommended.

Photo of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

3. Westminster Abbey

While a visit to Westminster, which contains the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, is always recommended, it’s worth taking the time to visit Westminster Abbey. The Gothic church is a regular destination for Royal weddings, contains a number of important burial sites, and includes fascinating museums exhibits.

Photo of Westminster Abbey, London by thetravelguru

4. Buckingham Palace

The Queen’s main residence is a constant favourite of visitors to London, and can be explored via guided tours of certain areas of the Palace. The Palace also includes art galleries, a gift shop, and the daily sight of the Changing of the Palace Guards.

Photo of Buckingham Palace, London by OwenXu

5. British Museum

Home to one of the world’s best collections of art and rare items, this Bloomsbury-based museum demands repeated exploration. First developed in the 18th century, the Museum, only a short walk from the West End, is particularly recommended for its Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts.

Photo of British Museum, London by DAVID HOLT

6. Victoria & Albert Museum

Part of a street of famous museums in Kensington, which also includes the National History Museum and the Science Museum, the V&A was opened in 1852 as a home for decorative art, and today represents one of the best places to see photography and contemporary design exhibits.

Photo of Victoria & Albert Museum, London by gailf548

7. London Eye

This enormous Ferris wheel represents the best way to get a panoramic view of London. Based by the Thames, and near to London Waterloo train station, the Eye offers 30 minute rides in its passenger capsules, with varying prices.

Photo of London Eye, England by Jim Bahn

8. The National Gallery

This art gallery by Trafalgar Square is home to over 2,300 paintings, and is free to enter. The gallery’s pillared facade takes you into a vast holding of art from painters such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Van Gogh.

Photo of The National Gallery on Trafalgar square, London by Maurice

9. Tate Modern

London’s best modern art gallery sits on the banks of the Thames, and faces towards St Paul’s on the other side of the river. The gallery contains changing and permanent exhibitions, and is free to enter.

Photo of Tate Modern, London by aaron.bihari

10. Natural History Museum

Another of Kensington’s world class museums, the Natural History Museum is dedicated to the natural sciences, and animal and insect collections. Particularly recommended is the enormous Blue Whale, and the museum’s dinosaur exhibits.

Photo of Natural History Museum, London by Heather Cowper

Author bio: Liam Ohm is a keen writer with a particular interest in things-to-do in London. He highly recommends Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tickets for another great day out during your time in London.

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Spain is a country which welcomes its tourists with open arms. Tourism forms inseparable part of a national economy. About 10,000 accommodation facilities is available here so you can choose from the cheapest one up to the most luxurious offering all types of service you can even imagine.

Photo by admin

Spain belongs to one of the cheapest western European countries, so this is why about 10% of all tourists travelling abroad choose this place for their holidays. Hotels are rated by stars from one to five and are marked with the letter H. Stars are awarded mainly for the room’s equipment but also for overall quality. Hotel restaurants are usually available also to other tourists.

If you prefer homelike atmosphere, you can choose from a network of Spain apartments. There are two kinds of such facilities – HA (Hotel Apartamentos) or RA (Residence Aparthotel).

Other accommodation options are Paradores Nacionales, which are state-owned hotels ranked from three to five stars, so those are luxurious and more expensive. The first Parador was established in 1928. Now you can find them both on the mainland and the islands. They are easily accessible, often presented as a mansion, medieval castles and other luxurious hotels.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cayetano

The most luxurious hotels are located on the Costa del Sol and Balearic Islands. Tourists across the country can choose from a wide variety of accommodation for different occasions, from short-stay apartments to long-term lease. Cheaper accommodation can be found in guesthouses, campsites or various casa rurales, which are family village hostels with a homelike atmosphere. They generally have a limited number of rooms/beds and are open only in the peak season. In Spain there are more than 600 campsites, which most of them are on the coast and offer standard services.

Accommodation prices vary by location, number of stars, and depend on the season. Prices should be displayed in each reception. It is common that rural and suburban hotels and hostels are cheaper than similar facilities in the city centers and along the beaches. Peak season starts in July and ends in August, but in some areas lasts from April until late September. At the time of national holiday (Fiesta) hotels may require a special fee.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Wolfgang Staudt

One of the hottest destinations in Spain is Barcelona without a doubt. Barcelona is experiencing a real boom since the early 90′s, when the preparations for the Olympic Games have changed and modernized a character of the city. Today, Barcelona is really a busy city (sometimes too much in terms of traffic intensity…), full of culture, art and all sorts of activities.

However there are lots of Barcelona apartments, hotels, B&B and other accommodation facilities here, it is still recommended to book your room in advance to avoid any troubles and stress.

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There is still a large area awaiting excavation and this is forested with mimosa, pine and eucalyptus trees.

The archeological site is the most spectacular in the island because the ruins are very extensive and are in a wonderful state of preservation. For more than a 1000 years, the Ancient Salamis lay buried in sands which saved the site from wanton destruction in the Middle Ages. It must be remembered that all the ancient ruins in Europe were -free for all- quarries for the builders of the medieval castles. It was not until the late 19th century that various governments formed departments of antiquities which began keeping a watchful eye on ruins. In a similar way, Pompeii lay buried in volcanic ash, and was also saved from vandalism. As Pompeii is to Italy, so is Salamis to Cyprus.

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There are two parks in the region:

Trakai Historical National Park was established in 1991 to preserve Trakai as a centre of Lithuanian statehood and its authentic nature as well. It is the only historical national park in Europe.

Aukštadvaris Regional Park was established in 1992 to preserve the landscapes of Verknė and Strėva upper reaches.

View Trakai – the ancient capital of Lithuania in a larger map

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