This is what is great about Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Destination Awards, which honour those destinations voted by millions of tourists across the world. So when it comes to planning a school trip or weekend away as a couple, you can check out the winners of the places which lie fairly closer to home.

Eiffel tower, Paris, France by Derek Key

The leading travel site has already published its results for 2013, with some surprises as well as the popular destinations featuring at the higher end of the European list.   If you have decided to travel somewhere in Europe this year to get a closer look at its history, culture and learn something from the expedition, it would be worth taking a look at the top 25 destinations in Europe – with the winner no shock to most people.

Paris was not only the leading destination in Europe, but it also pipped New York to the highest global accolade too. London had many reasons to be pleased with itself, taking the second spot in the European honours. A spokesperson for the site, Angus Struthers, explained: “These awards honour the world’s best destinations as decided by those judges that really matter – travellers themselves.

Now that the Jubilympics are over it’s vital that UK tourism continues to flourish so it’s great news that London is rated so highly among the world’s and Europe’s best destinations.”   It was good to know that the English capital had so much to offer tourists to these shores, with events like the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games doing no harm in raising the country’s profile last year.

The top 10 for Europe also included the likes of Barcelona, Berlin and Prague, with Italian cities featuring quite heavily (Rome, Venice and Florence).

Old town square, Prague, The Czech Republic by Claire for Europe Explored

There is so much to learn about the nations around the UK, while a trip to one of these breath-taking cities is certainly affordable. Whether you choose to travel on your own, as a couple or as part of a larger group, you can decide on any of these places and not be disappointed.

See what makes France’s capital such an appealing destination for global travellers and enjoy the ideal Paris experience. Stroll along the Seine and take in famous attractions like the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, not forgetting to savour the fine exhibitions at the Louvre and explore the rich history of the place.

Alternatively, pick somewhere else on the list and find out why each country has its own distinctive charm and appeal to tourists. Use this guide as a starting point and explore Europe even further whatever your age or interests.

Christian Hewlett is a travel advisor who recommends packages for individuals and groups travelling throughout Europe and the rest of the world. For school trips he’d suggest you try speaking with the team at Encounters Europe.

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Bratislava, Slovakia / Photo by admin

Bratislava, Slovakia

Looking for a weekend with just clubs and some old-fashioned outdoor fun? Try out Bratislava, with its famous outdoor paintball courses right on the edge of town. Head back to the downtown area that evening for a pub crawl that can’t be beat. Make sure to hit up the UFO restaurant, shaped like a flying saucer for one of the best views across the Danube River.

Prague, Czech Republic

If you and your buddies haven’t been to Prague yet, this is the perfect place to host a stag party. With amazing views around a historic city, you’re going to have lots of places to enjoy several of the best beers in the area. The original Budweiser brewery, called Budweiser Budvar is also located here, and while the American version might not taste so good, this one is much better and much stronger.

Zagreb, Croatia

Last, but definitely no least on our list is an up and coming stag party location. The Bad Blue Boys will have football fans screaming for more action, and the bars along Tkalciceva make for one of the best pub crawls that you could possibly ask for.
About the Author: Release Travel is the number one provider of stag parties in the EU. Visit their blog today to find out how you can win a weekend away for you and five friends!

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Of all the continents, one of the most diverse and magical is Europe. But with approximately 50 countries, each with its own culture and personality, choosing a destination for adventure travel could take all your time. So outlined below are the top five Europe destinations with a few tips on how to make your trip extra memorable.

Paris

This exquisite city of love is the obvious first-choice tourist destination for Europe. The spectacular architecture, delectable food and wealth of cultural sites make Paris the ultimate European holiday destination.

There’s so much to do and see in Paris that it is impossible to exhaust the city in one trip. You can browse in a few couture shops on the Champs Elysees, share a meal in one of the city’s gourmet restaurants, gaze across the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower or simply watch a very chic world go by while enjoying a coffee in one of the many cafes.

Although the weather is at its best in Paris from June to August, this is also when the city is invaded by tourists and the price of holidays goes up.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by agaw.dilim

Barcelona

Second on our list is the historic city of Barcelona, which mixes its old-world authenticity with the wildly bizarre. This intriguingly eclectic city attracts all types of travellers – families, couples, lone explorers and culture vultures and those looking for adventure travel.

Barcelona has an overwhelming variety of things to do, although a lot of attention is given to Las Ramblas because of the quaint narrow streets and alleys crammed with busy restaurants and vibrant markets.

The food and wine in this city are extraordinary, consisting of large meaty dishes and lighter tapas and an abundance of wonderful seafood.

By far the best time to visit the city is May-June as the temperatures are a little too high for comfort in August and so the most of the city shuts down.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Volkanikz

Rome

The mythical city of Rome is a very close third in the list, with its historic architecture, spectacular food and sleek and stylish locals. The beautiful array of dazzling churches and inspiring museums and galleries mean there is plenty to see here, if of course you can drag yourself away from the numerous cafés and restaurants all offering mouth-watering treats. Be sure to try as many various flavours of the gelato as you possibly can! Although most tourists travel to Rome for the history, it is also a very fast-paced and modern city.

Photo by admin

London

One of the busiest modern cities in Europe, London beats with the lifeblood of countless generations. It was once said that no man could ever tire of London and this is true. By day, take your time strolling around Covent Garden or shopping on Oxford Street, visit the many galleries and museums and maybe have a picnic in Hyde Park or afternoon tea in the Dorchester. By night, head to Soho and sample the vibrant and slightly alternative nightlife!

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by edwin.11

Prague

Prague is a picturesque and magical city that has survived so many attacks upon it over the past 1100 years. Wander down the narrow streets and marvel at the churches, the statue-lined bridges and the daunting hilltop castle that make this a fairytale place. English isn’t always spoken language here, though, so keep a phrase book with you in case of emergencies.

Photo by admin

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Inside you will find around 700,000 items on display, which relate to the history of music both in the Czech Republic, with items belonging to the world famous Czech composers Dvořak and Smetana, and around the world, such as an original score by Mozart. There is a programme of temporary exhibitions passing through the museum throughout the year, so even returning visitors can find something new to see.

A lot of the collection is old manuscripts and recordings, as well as instruments, and there is plenty for the music lover to browse through while also enjoying the beauty of the grand assembly hall.

If you would rather listen to music than learn about it, there is a programme of concerts each year in the assembly hall which take full advantage of the hall’s ambience and fantastic acoustics. These concerts are usually live classical music and opera, and if you are planning to visit Prague it is certainly worth seeing if there are any concerts you could attend during your stay.

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The interior of the greenhouse is divided into three separated parts with different temperature and humidity. The visitors can see the vegetation of the tropical and partly subtropical regions. Plants are arranged to evoke the idea of ​​natural plant communities. Unlike in other greenhouses there are numerous species of plants that are very common in the tropical areas and apparently have little significance. However an overall collection of these species is very valuable.

Visitors at first see the dry Australian bush and rare flora from the island of Madagascar. Then walk through xerophilic vegetation of southern Mexico and some areas of Africa, among which the most popular are Namaqualand and Little Karoo. The middle and largest part of the greenhouse is humid lowland rain forest. It is connected to other parts by an underground tunnel which is built between two large freshwater aquariums. Here you can see a number of tropical fish and other animals.

The biggest part consists of tropical plants of South America, and selected locations of Central America. Other parts are reserved for flora of Australia and Oceania, Africa and Madagascar, Vietnam, Sunda Islands and the Philippines. Visitors can watch the life in tropical lakes, or may rest for a moment on the panoramic terrace listening to a nearby waterfall. The last part is cold and evoke the life in the high mountains. There are plants from American Andes. The central part of the exhibition is devoted to rare vegetation of table mountains in Venezuela.

Trip to tropical nature is not only a dream, any more. Walk across exotic mountains, forests and semi-deserts in Europe.

Tropical greenhouse Fata Morgana is a part of Prague’s Botanical Garden in Troja and the basic admission is 70CZK (€3). For further details see the official website of Prague’s Botanical Garden.

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It is designed for parachute trainings, learning the dynamics of free flight base jumpers and also for the general public. Those interested can try out what it’s like floating in the air and experience a sensation similar to free fall.

A circular flight chamber is made of safety glass. It has a diameter of 4.3 meters, so it can accommodate up to eight-member group. During normal operation of the chamber, there is only the “Flyer” and the instructor. The entire airspace is 14 meters tall, skilled individuals can fly up into a metal duct, which leads to the roof of the building. There is a metal grate with slats, guiding the flow of air to the fans. So you don’t have to be afraid of sucking into the propulsion system.

A flight in a wind tunnel is really an extraordinary experience. However there are missing some visual effects and adrenalin that you can enjoy during the jump from an airplane, of course, but on the other hand, the security risks associated with parachute jumping are eliminated here.

Basic package which contains two 90-second flights costs 1 500 CZK.

For further information you can visit official site of SkyDive Arena in Prague. www.skydivearena.com

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Houses were occupied until the Second World War, but the area was protected already for several years, and no changes which would change the character of the street or houses were allowed. The writer Franz Kafka lived here in the house no. 22 between 1916-1917. The last owners and the tenants moved out in 1948, and despite of receiving high quality houses, they left with protests.

Golden Lane was reopened to the public on 1 June 2011 after one year of reconstructions. It is probably the most romantic and famous part of Prague Castle. You can access the Golden Lane if you buy a ticket for a Long (350 CZK) or Short (250 CZK) Tour around the Castle.

You can take really interesting Virtual Tour by visiting the following website:
https://virtualni.praha.eu/nocni/zlata-ulicka.html

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Aquapalace Prague is divided into internal and external parts. In the inner part there is a 19-meter long swimming pool. For entertainment there are 6 toboggans, 3 slides for both younger and older visitors. There are spacebowl or outdoor wild river for those who like adrenaline adventures. If you like sea bathing you will certainly welcome the wave pool producing sea-like waves in regular intervals.

There is also an aquarium, where you can observe starfish, corals, sea urchins, plenty of colourful sea fish and three blacktip reef sharks. For the relaxation there are a swimming pool, whirlpools, massage benches, saunas and relaxation terraces with deckchairs.

There are also some water pools for the youngest visitors as well.

You can also try a test drive in an 8 meters deep diving tube.

Then there is the sandy beach, a cocktail bar with seating and some restaurants. If you don’t know swim you can attend some of the courses. Aquapalace Prague is open daily from 10:00 to 21:45.

There is one special day dedicated to World Day of Naturism when you cannot access aquapalace in swimming suit. It is usually on first Saturday in June from 20:00 to 23:00.

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Why you should visit Dětenice once you are in the Czech republic?

You can taste black or light beer of Dětenice and enjoy drinks with the medieval specialties prepared on an open fire. You have to prepare yourself that you need to eat with your hands. Dancers in medieval costumes dance on the tables. You will see swordsmen, beggars, fakir, juggler … Prepare yourself also for shocking and harsh environment of the medieval style!

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The surrounding wooded hills and countless natural lakes provide ideal opportunities for recreation. The Castle is the third largest in Czech republic, after castle in Prague and in Český Krumlov.

Main sights in Jindřichův Hradec

• Castle and Chateau – The 3rd largest castle complex
• Medieval Centre
• Church of the Assumption of our Lady
• Church of St John the Baptist – 600-year-old extensive decorative frescos
• Narrow-gauge Railway – only 0,76m wide
• Mechanical Nativity Scene – The world’s largest mechanized nativity scene
• National Museum of Photography – The former Jesuit college from 1594
• District Museum – The former Jesuit seminary

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