Many northern Europeans, attracted by Javea’s mild climate, have bought retirement homes there, and the town boasts a lively expatriate community. It is a popular tourist destination as well, combining the charm of a traditional fishing village with an abundance of facilities and activities for tourists. Here are 10 things to see and do when you visit.

Javea beach, Spain by Adrian Scottow

1. Playa la Granadella

This rocky beach is situated in a secluded cove about 20 minutes drive from Javea. The beach is popular with divers and snorkelers. Dramatic pathways wind around tall forested cliffs surrounding the beach area.

2. Arenal Beach

This beach is clean, sandy, and dotted with palm trees. There are several play areas and a wide selection of beachfront shops and restaurants.

3. Arenal Promenade

The newly refurbished Arenal promenade offers a wide selection of shops and market stalls, plus outdoor cafes, bars and restaurants. It is a great place to linger over coffee and people watch. A night market is open along the beachfront every night in the summer until midnight.

Playa de la Granadella, Spain by Carlosu7

4. Montgo Natural Park

This park features winding paths up the Montgo mountain. The paths zigzag most of the way, with a steep rock scramble near the peak. At nearly 2,500 feet above sea level, the climb is well worth it for the fantastic views over the town. There is a variety of trails, both easy and challenging, for hiking or cycling. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park.

5. Churches

Two very different churches dominate the landscape of the town. The Church of Nuestra Senora de Loreto, near the fishing port, was built in 1967 of reinforced concrete in a modern style. Its roof depicts a ship’s hull, and twelve anchors supporting the church are meant to represent the 12 apostles. The Church of San Bartomeu dates back to the 14th century, and is the centerpiece of Javea’s historic district.

6. Javea Golf Club

This is an inexpensive, pleasant 9-hole golf course with a terrace restaurant.

7. Old Town

The Old Town offers winding streets to explore, the town hall, museums, art galleries as well as a wide variety of restaurants and nightclubs.

Sunset over Javea, Spain by Adrian Scottow

8. The Town Market

Every Thursday morning, Javea hosts a market in the center of town, with dozens of stalls selling fresh, locally grown produce. It is an ideal place to pick up your picnic lunch for your hike up Montgo Mountain.

9. The Marina

Visit Javea’s picturesque marina and fishing port for a flavor of old Spainish maritime life.

10. Cap de la Nau and Cap de San Antoni

Both of these spots have scenic lighthouses and spectacular views of Javea and the coastline.

This article was sent in to us by British expat Bob Green. Bob is retired and moved to Javea in 2010 when he purchased his villa in Javea from expert property finders Spanish Property Sales. Bob enjoys writing about his expat life in Spain and plans to start a blog.

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Edinburgh Castle

Standing proudly above the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle is chock-full of exciting history and artefacts that will keep the family entertained for hours. Discover the oldest building in Edinburgh, St Margaret’s Chapel, which survived demolition under the rule of King Robert the Bruce. Visit the cavernous stone vaults that held prisoners of war, including a five year-old boy captured in the Battle of Trafalgar. Or stare down the barrel of Mons Meg, a medieval supergun capable of firing 150kg cannonballs at enemies more than three miles away! With a legacy spanning hundreds of years, this is one castle you definitely haven’t experienced before now and it’s well worth a visit no matter what time of year it is. Even if you don’t venture inside, take the opportunity to observe the stunning views of Edinburgh down below the crag.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, UK by Kevin Gibbons

Camera Obscura & the World of Illusions

Have your mind boggled by five floors of optical illusions, from amazing scientific marvels to the just-plain-weird-and-wonderful! Swap heads or facial features with your family, or make like Peter Pan and play games with your shadow. Stare into the magical eye pictures and see if you can find hidden images in seemingly random patterns, or make sparks fly and shock your friends in the Electric Room. There are even some sweets lying around if you’re peckish, but you may be a little surprised when you try to pick them up! Before you leave, make sure you head up to the Camera Obscura gallery where you can spy on life in the city down below, learn about the fascinating history of Edinburgh, and pick people up in your hands!

Ah Ha Ha Ha

Wandering down the Grassmarket, you may be surprised to notice a bright orange building complete with oversized Groucho nose, moustache and glasses. But it’s no joke…well, actually it is! Step inside the Ah Ha Ha Ha joke shop and feast your eyes upon its even more colourful and crazy interior. With a hilarious range of classic practical jokes, amateur and professional magic tricks, stage make-up, zany disguises and ready-made costumes, there’s guaranteed to be something that will make you laugh.

Grassmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by Lukas Koster

Gorgie City Farm

Find all your farmyard favourites at Gorgie City Farm, located near Haymarket railway station. This real working farm is open seven days a week and is great for children of all ages. Meet Fudge the Jersey Cow, and Red the pony (who’s just short of being a horse!) There are also plenty of sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys and ducks; and, in the Pet Lodge, you’ll find guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, tortoises and even a snake! If you want to learn about the animals, the farmyard staff can tell you all about their feathered, four-legged or scaly friends, including how to care for and feed them. If you’re lucky, you may get to stroke the animals or hold some of the smaller creatures.

Our Dynamic Earth

Ever wondered what dinosaurs would look like today if they hadn’t been wiped out by the meteorite? Or perhaps you’ve wanted to view the galaxy from on board a spaceship? Whatever questions you have about the incredible planet we inhabit, Our Dynamic Earth is the place to find the answers! Experience the sounds, smells and vibrations of an active volcano, brave an icy Polar expedition, step into a sticky tropical rainforest or opt for 4dventure with the 3D & 4D experience that brings you face to face with some of the planet’s most impressive animals. With so many interactive exhibits bringing nature to life around you, this museum is one of the most exhilarating places to learn about the world and is sure to be a hit with all the family!

Edinburgh Zoo

Located only three miles from the city centre, Edinburgh Zoo is bursting with wildlife that will keep the kids fascinated for hours! Meet the UK’s only giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang; get up close and personal with a mischievous capuchin monkey; admire the patterned fur and majestic manner of a beautiful Amur Leopard; or spy on the tiny but powerful leaf cutter ants as they carry slices of foliage back to their nest. There are plenty of daily talks and opportunities to feed certain animals if you’re looking for an interactive and educational experience. And if you’ve never met a penguin with a knighthood – now you can! Sir Nils Olav, the famous King Penguin, is a highly regarded member of the Norwegian Royal Guard and was gifted to the Zoo in 1913! This year Edinburgh Zoo celebrates its 100th birthday, so it’s the perfect time to pay a visit and get involved with all the fun.

Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland, UK by Nigel Swales

Museum of Childhood

Just because museums are educational it doesn’t mean they can’t be fun, and how can anyone resist the Museum of Childhood which is dedicated to the toys and games of our past? Relive those much-loved memories from days gone by as you explore the objects that once kept you entertained and observe the evolution of toys, from spinning tops to computer games – you’ll be surprised by how many are still in popular use today. And the enjoyment doesn’t stop there; there are over 10,000 children’s books, magazines and comics in the collection, including Treasure Island, the Beano, Bunty, and firm favourites from Enid Blyton; over 2,500 items in the clothing displays, from party wear to school uniform, hats and coats to jewellery and parasols; and a ‘home life’ collection containing all manner of objects geared at family life within the household, like rattles, sweets, medicines and photographs.

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Discover the Medieval Old Town of Tallinn

A major lure of Tallinn is the fantastically well preserved medieval Old Town. A rabbit warren of twisting cobbled streets flanked by eye catching architectural delights, a trip to the Old Town takes you back to 15th century and beyond. Uncover the church spires dotted amongst the streets and sip a coffee in a half hidden café. There is plenty to see and more to learn during your explorations! A fairy-tale town indeed, the shops, monasteries, museums and restaurants are the icing on the cake.

Tallinn, Estonia by David Pursehouse

Escape it all on Estonia’s Islands

As I mentioned earlier on, the beauty of Estonia is one of its favoured attributes and it extends even further onto the islands which float just off the west coast. Interestingly, there are close to 1,500 with the largest and most visited including Hiiumaa, Kihnu, Ruhnu and Vormsi. Stop at the most popular island, Saaremaa, for a visit to the medieval castle in the island’s only city and be sure to sample the delicious local beer! Life passes at a calm and comfy pace on the islands and you can soak up the beaches and forests with little interruption. Enjoy!

Visit Jagala Waterfall

We’ve all heard of Niagara Falls in North America and even if you haven’t visited, you are likely to have at least some idea as to how impressive it is. Well, Jagala Falls is Estonia’s answer to Niagara Falls. No more than 8 metres tall, it is the width of the waterfall which makes it so striking, spanning more than 50 metres across. Only 4km from the mouth, the waterfall is found in the lower course of the Jagala River in northern Estonia. It’s an attraction that can be visited for free throughout the year and is an ideal spot for a summer picnic but the best time to visit is definitely in winter when it is covered in ice and takes on a completely different, and somewhat mystical, appearance! Pick up one of the many rental cars in Estonia and see for yourself!

Jagala Waterfall, Estonia by Aigars Mahinovs

Jam out at a Music Festival

Estonians love their music, there’s more than enough evidence of this fact from a glance at their annual summer festival calendar! Celebrating all types of music from around the world, no matter what your taste you will likely find an event to get your feet tapping. Plan your trip to Estonia to coincide with Ollesummer Festival, a 4 day event held in Tallinn in July which features a variety of musicians and artists; it’s an event not to be missed. For something a bit more authentic, head to the town of Viljandi in south Estonia for its annual Folk Music Festival. Rest assured that there are plenty more to choose from!

So, there you have it; a taste of the opportunities that Estonia has to offer. Whatever you are after from a holiday, you will probably be able to find it here and the best part is that you won’t have to share it with thousands of other people!

Bio: Kerri Ware is a travel blogger and writes for EconomyCarHire.com, a car hire broker offering great price car hire in Estonia. Follow us on Twitter @economycarhire.

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One thing that makes Stockholm so unique is that the large city is actually comprised of 14 separate islands, connected by a network of bridges. There are currently 50 bridges keeping Stockholm’s different areas within easy reach of each other, and many of these are attractions in their own right.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mispahn

Despite the fact it is made up of islands, Stockholm has an enviably good public transport network, comprising trains, buses and underground subway trains. You can buy day passes that allow you to get around using any combination of these, as with most major European cities.

The climate in Stockholm is surprisingly mild for a Scandinavian country, though you will find that if you visit in December the days are incredibly short, with only 6 hours of daylight on the shortest day. By contrast, there are 18 hours of daylight at the mid point of summer.

There are so many things to see and do in Stockholm’s many thriving districts that there is certainly something for every traveller. You can check out the historical sights in the old town, or shop and socialise in the trendy districts of Norrmalm and Ostermalm. The nightlife is great, but be aware that drinks are very expensive in Sweden.

Stockholm is a truly great European destination for a city break, and with plenty of transport links and hotels it is easy to find a well priced deal for a trip there.

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City of Carcassonne lies on the river Aude in the southern part of France. Carcassonne has a long history, there was oppidum already in the Iron Age, which was later transformed to the Roman city in the 1st century BC, and in the 11th century AD this Roman city was the strongest one in the county. Because the city was not controlled by church, Carcassonne soon became a haven for medieval intellectual elite.

Carcassonne was very open and tolerant city until 1659, when was conquered by the French and lost its position. Thus began the decline of the city, people left and Carcassonne deteriorated.

The medieval city centre is situated on a hill above the river. In times of decline of this old town there had grown a new town under the hill along a river.

The city centre was saved in the 19th century thanks to the reconstruction led by Viollet le Duc. This controversial architect reconstructed also Cathedral Notre Dame in Paris, which was his first work. Some people admire him for his extensive reconstructions which ensured France a lot of curious tourists that are coming here just to see his work. On the other hand, others disagree with the method of his work. Viollet le Duc just found an original fragment, and repeated it over and over again. The result is that the buildings are far away from the original form. Although the sights have typical signs, but those are not completely correct or at least not in such combination (e.g. respecting the original architect’s intent). But finally it is something unusual and tourists just love it.

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The city centre is surrounded by walls, within which you can find a church, castle, museum and a labyrinth of medieval streets with shops and restaurants.

Sweet France offers visitors lots of different attractions and sights. One of the places worth visiting is the medieval city of Carcassonne. If you are going to the south of France or you are heading for the Pyrenees, do not miss this place, because here you can really feel the Middle Ages.

Once you are around Carcassone do not miss the Canal du Midi. It is a remarkable technical monument, which connects the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The canal was built to ensure fast and safe transport of goods between ports in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The project dates from 1662 and its author was Paul Riquet. The canal was completed in less than twenty years after approval of the project and its construction employed 120 000 workers.

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Historically, Rhodes was famous worldwide for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes has been declared a World Heritage Site.

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Toruń‘s Old Town was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a World Heritage Site in 1997 and 10 years later it was added to the list of Seven Wonders of Poland.

For your visit to Toruń, you should reserve at least 2 days. The city is a charming especially after sunset, when the souvenir sellers and most tourists disappear from the streets. Best time to visit Toruń is from May to September. During the summer, there are lots of music, theater, gingerbread and other festivals in Toruń.

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