Bath is a city in the county of Somerset, situated 97 miles west of London and it’s easily reached from the capital city as it’s only around 90 minutes by train from London Paddington. Originally a spa town in the Roman era, it’s now a World Heritage Site due to its cultural and historical importance: the Roman remains and Bath’s spectacular Georgian architecture are the reasons for this award.

The Roman Baths at Bath, England, UK by Stewart Robotham / License: Creative Commons

Getting around Bath

The city centre is easily navigable on foot, however, for a first visit you may want to take advantage of the tour buses that circulate amongst the main attracts.

What to see in Bath

One of the most famous sites of Bath, and one of the best examples of Georgian architectural design in the UK, is The Royal Crescent, a curved street of 30 terraced houses dating from the second half of the eighteenth century and a major influence on architecture. It’s been seen on the big screen in the 1998 film “The Duchess” starring Keira Knightley amongst others. It’s not the only crescent in the city – better views are to be had from the slightly less grand Camden Crescent.

The Roman Baths have recently undergone a huge renovation project and feature England’s only hot springs. A must-do is to have a taste of the minerally water while you’re there and if you visit on a summer evening, you’ll be able to experience the beautifully atmospheric site when it’s lit by torchlight.

There is one famous author who is of course a looming presence in Bath, Jane Austen and there’s a whole “Experience” dedicated to her at The Jane Austen Centre. Here you can take tea (don’t leave the city without having a cream tea) and discover how her experience of the city influenced her writing. There’s even a Jane Austen Festival in September.

The Hershel Museum of Astronomy is situated in a beautifully preserved Georgian townhouse and celebrates the work of William Herschel, he who discovered the planet Uranus. Not to be missed if you’re at all interested in the history of science and astronomy.

Bath Abbey, England, UK by Clay Shonkwiler

Where to Stay

For a real treat, stay in The Royal Crescent itself with its beautifully presented Georgian interiors plus modern facilities. A more reasonably priced boutique option in a central location in the city is stylish The Halcyon.

Where to Eat

Beautiful little tapas dishes and more substantial evening and lunchtime meals are available at the Same Same but Different cafe – I’m not getting my words confused there, that’s actually the name. For excellent pub grub overlooking the Bath countryside, the Hare & Hounds inn caters for those after just a sandwich and soup, or a three course slap-up meal.

Why Bath?

History is alive and well and living in Bath: you can smell it on the air as well as see it in the streets. If you’re a fan of ultra-modern cities, this one isn’t for you. But if you’ve an appreciation of the past, an interest in architecture and a hankering to walk in the steps of Roman spa-goers, then Bath’s the place to be.

Picturesque City of Bath, England, UK by Karen Roe

Julie loves writing about her travels through short guides on places she visited. She also writes for Fortina Spa Resort, one of the top hotels in Malta specializing in state of the art spa & welness treatments.

The post A Trip To Bath | England, UK appeared first on Europe Explored.

Flying to Ireland will necessitate car hire once you get there, but the airports have dealers in convenient locations. You might get a brand of American car you never heard of before. The major manufacturers have different models in European countries that may have a bit more style even if they are basically the same as the American versions.

The Dingle Peninsula, Ireland by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

The Dingle Peninsula is a good example of a driving tour. Starting in Tralee, go west and around the peninsula ending at Castlemaine Harbour. Take in the Gallarus Oratory, a stone chapel built by monks some time after 600 A.D., that still stands in excellent condition.

Another trip that car hire easily accommodates is just south of Dingle in the Ring of Kerry. Starting at Killarney on the Iveragh Peninsula, circle west and around to Killorglin. Muckross House, just over three miles from Killarney, is a 65-room estate with lovely gardens. Queen Elizabeth visited the estate in 1861.

These two peninsulas are some of the most beautiful places on earth, and National Geographic agrees. Driving is the best way to see them because there are so many possibilities for sight-seeing and photography all the way around both areas. Rain or shine, these locales have been photographed extensively by professionals and visitors for decades. Being able to stop and get out of the car any time is invaluable. The right photograph can be framed and enjoyed for years.

Ring of Kerry, Ireland by DI Florian Fuchs

The coastal areas around the entire country are quite photogenic, and car hire touring is the best way to stop and take advantage of the scenery at a whim. Tour buses whiz by fields with ancient stone walls and hillsides of patchwork squares in different shades of green.

There are mountain vistas in various places in Ireland, as well, and seeing them by car is a sure way to enjoy them at leisure. County Wicklow has impressive mountain areas most easily accessed by car. There is no public transportation up into the mountains, so seeing the whole county is easiest by car.

Also in Wicklow is the Powerscourt Estate and Waterfall. It takes time to see all of the gardens, the house and the waterfall, so a car allows for an entire day of sightseeing. Don’t worry about a tour bus leaving without you; go by car and enjoy it fully. This is another site that has been photographed too many times to count.

Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland by DorinRodina

Glendalough, also in Wicklow, is an important historic site in a glacial valley. The name means “glen of two lakes.” Ireland is blessed with unparalleled beauty, and this is one more place in which to witness it in panoramic views from the hills. The remaining chapel and other structures from the seventh century are good reasons to go, and the lakes are unbelievably picturesque.

Many visitors come down to Wicklow from Dublin to hike, but the whole county has attractions that should not be missed. The shoreline is stunning as well. Don’t miss any of it. Hop in the car and see all of Ireland’s majestic views at your own rate.

This has been a guest post from Skedaddle, your best friend when it comes to planning road trips.

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Top attractions

However short your stay in Nice, you should spend some time wandering the narrow streets of Nice’s charming Vielle Ville (Old Town). Many of the buildings date back over two hundred years when Nice was still part of Italy. Compact, full of restaurants, souvenir shops and places to buy local specialities like olive oil and local wine, even in the height of summer it’s nice and cool place. Visit the market at Cours Saleya for flowers and local produce, on eat in one of the cafes that takes over from the market at lunchtime. A few minutes away in Place Rosseti, this is where Italian ice cream can be found.

Not only does the Place Rossetti sound Italian, but this is where you can indulge in the best Italian ice cream, with nearly 100 flavours to choose from. (Marianne Heredge 2008)

From the Old Town it’s only a few paces to the Promenade des Anglais and the Baie des Anges. Local people come and stroll, especially on Sunday afternoons. Beware the kids (and adults) with their rollerblades and skates. Special tracks are laid out for them and if you want a go, hire wheels or blades to fly along this wide esplanade. The beaches are a little stony, looking better from a distance than close up. This doesn’t stop most people and the sea is lovely and warm for most of the year.

August summer holidays! Looking across the beach to Mont Boron, Nice. (Marianne Heredge 2008).

If you’re interested in art, you couldn’t have come to a better place. Popular with many of the top artists who lived here at various times, there are museums of the art of Marc Chagall and Matisse in Nice, as well as collections of Picasso’s work not far away in Antibes, Renoir in Haute Cagnes near Cagnes-sur-mer, Fernand Léger in Biot, and a fabulous collection that belonged to Aime and Marguerite Maeght, art dealers at St Paul de Vence who were friends with artists like Chagall and Matisse. For Asian art, the little Musée des Arts Asiatiques de Nice is a gem and on Saturdays you can be taken through a Japanese ceremony (book in advance). The Fine Arts Museum (Musée des Beaux-Arts) and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art have large collections of French and art from other countries too.

Rail enthusiasts will enjoy the scenic Train des Merveilles and Train des Pignes that go from Nice station east up to Italy and west to Dignes. Ideal for going into the Alpes Maritimes for day hikes or visits to villages in the beautiful arrière pays, you will probably need a whole day.

Getting to Nice

Nice is very accessible by air, with budget airlines like Easyjet and BMI competing with Air France and British Airways for cheap prices. In the Winter, when Nice enjoys mild temperatures (cold but brilliant blue skies) you can get rock bottom deals. By train, the TGV from Paris only takes about five hours and offers cheap prices when booked well in advance.

Accommodation

If you really want to treat yourself, the beautiful Negresco Hotel on the sea front not only offers luxury accommodation but some of the finest cuisine in their 3* Michelin restaurant, Le Chantecler. If your pocket won’t extend to this however, there’s everything in between. Lots of budget hotels can be found particularly by the station, just 20 minutes walk from the sea. For example, a cheap but good standard hotel is the Hotel Parisian on rue Vernier close to the station and Boulevard Jean Medécin that leads down to the Old Town with the tramway taking you to the heart of town within minutes.

Dining and shopping

For fans of shellfish and oysters, this is definitely the place to come. Le Cafe de Turin is the best place, down towards the port. Not only the plump North Atlantic oysters, but here you can also try the smaller but more distinctive tasting Mediterranean variety. You won’t be disappointed at any of the cheap little restaurants in the Old Town either, but Nice offers a good selection of haute cuisine restaurants. As well as Le Chantecler, try the more modest Lou Mourelec for good local cuisine.

For shopping, the Old Town shops are full of tempting souvenirs, whether this is beautifully prepared tapenade, special basil flavoured olive oil, or lavender sachets and kitchen accessories in brightly coloured Provence designs.

Forty eight hours in Nice is never enough time, explore car hire Nice options to maximise your time and efficiency. If you don’t manage to see and do everything, don’t worry it’s so easy to back get to Nice that you’ll want to go back time and time again.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by jim crossley

Spanish sighs and France’s finest

Spain’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant city, Barcelona is awash with art, culture, sport and music. Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, the extraordinary cathedral that is still being built today, is just one of the enduring symbols of this amazing city. Its other great cathedral is the Nou Camp, the home of Barcelona FC. Hop on one of the city’s tour buses to soak up as much of Barcelona as possible so you can make the most of any stop here.

Considered by many as the jewel of the Med, Palma de Mallorca is a stunning fusion of Roman, Spanish, Catalan, Moorish and contemporary culture. Its mighty cathedral dominates the city centre where cool bars and top-class restaurants are filled nightly with the rich, the famous and the ordinary holidaymaker. Its narrow, cobbled streets are a treat, particularly for shopaholics.

The romantic allure of the French Riviera remains undimmed after decades at the top of every celebrity’s holiday wish list. Nice has stunning beaches and shopping to die for but is also a cultural oasis, too – second only to Paris in the number of museums and art galleries it has. Make time for a stroll and a refreshment on the Promenade des Anglais.

The celeb count is always high in Cannes, too, particularly during its world-famous film festival in May. This once sleepy fishing village is now one of the most glamorous spots in the world and you simply have to perch at a street café by the marina to people watch. Explore the winding streets of the old town and enjoy a spectacular view from the castle ruins at the top.

Africa meets Europe in dazzling fashion in Marseille where the sights and sounds of that continent mingle with French natives, creating a tantalising mix just like the seafood that’s mixed to make this city’s famous fish broth, bouillabaisse. Explore Roman ruins and wander through markets selling local produce and more exotic sights, smells and sounds of North and West Africa.

La dolce vita

Mere words cannot adequately describe Rome, the Eternal City. It’s probably easier simply to list some of its outstanding attractions and give you a hint of why you must make the most of every single moment in this extraordinary place. St Peter’s Square and the Vatican, the Coliseum and Circus Maximus, the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps – history is literally around every corner. They say all roads lead to Rome. Make sure you’re on one.

The tiny island of Capri, off the west coast of Italy near Naples, is four square miles of stunning beauty. Take the funicular from the Marina Grande to the main town and enjoy the best Italian coffee at a café while people watching. Capri is renowned for its sky-high prices but sometimes you simply have to splash out!

The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is quite simply art, culture and architectural heaven. Its museums and art galleries are world class, particularly the Galleria degli Uffiz, which is so busy you’ll need to book in advance. Don’t miss the Duomo di Firenze, the city’s enormous cathedral – climb Giotto’s Tower next door for the best view of the cathedral dome.

Balkan beauty

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik’s magnificent city walls and Old Town survived the Balkan conflict and today this Croatian city is one of the must-visit stops on any Mediterranean cruise. Walk the city walls and marvel at the mediaeval fortress; take the cable car to the top of Mount Srd for amazing views over the city and the sparkling Adriatic beyond; and wander through the narrow streets of the Old Town, shopping for bargains.

Greece’s capital, Athens is a sprawling metropolis where the monuments of Ancient Greece nestle alongside the trappings of modern life. The Acropolis and Parthenon remain proud symbols of Greece as the birthplace of modern civilisation, while the Monastiraki district is packed with cafes, restaurants, bars and shops.

Guest post provided by Bon Voyage one of the leading online suppliers of top quality Mediterranean cruises.

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