Main Square, Trogir, Croatia by Hervé

Top sights to see in Trogir

Trogir old town is in fact an island that is connected to the mainland by one bridge and one foot bridge. Another one connects the nearby island of Čiovo.

St. Lovro Cathedral known simply as Trogir Cathedral is a dominant feature and the most important monument of Trogir. This beautiful building, built in Venetian style, really worth paying a visit. It will return you back to the 13th century, when its construction started. You will also have to stop (at least for a while) at the Central Square that offers a live and historical picture of this place.

Trogir Cathedral from the main square by Hervé

Another on the list is St. Michael Bell tower. But the list does not stop here. Kamerlengo Fortress, St. Dominic Monastery, North Gate, The Church of St. Peter and Loggia-Doorway are also a few sites that fill your life with the unforgettable moments.

Then there is a town museum, Palace Cipiko, Church of St. Barbara, Vitturi Tower, Chapel of Ivan Orsini, Marmont’s monument and City Hall too.

Walking Tour

Why not take up a tour on your own? You can enjoy historic sites on the way and even do a lot of shopping if you wish to. You can walk around the whole town within 15 minutes as the island’s perimeter is just about 1 kilometer long. However if you wish to stroll through all its narrow streets hidden by the town walls, it can take a couple of hours.

Kamerlengo Fortress, Trogir by Hervé

Private tours

If you wish to, you can charter boats and yachts for some unforgettable moments in the beautiful Adriatic sea, around the medieval town of Trogir and the nearby small island of Čiovo.

Cooking Class

You can also join one day cooking class and learn some tips and tricks of Croatian cuisine. If you just want to try some local food there are many places to enjoy Italian or Croatian specialties. Furthermore, you can hit any café, bar or restaurant on the go and witness peaceful and leisure time.

Last but not the least are the beaches, lavender-covered islands as well as Roman ruins to take your breath away. There is something for everyone in this perl of Croatia.

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Sunset at Stockholm, Sweden by Olof Senestam

Djurgarden Island

Considered as the top attraction center, the Djurgarden Island is smack in the middle of Stockholm and well appreciated for its events, parks, greenery and many sights and sounds. This island alone handles 10 million visitors every year. A popular 2 hour walking tour takes tourists on a myriad of interesting features of the island.

Grona Lund

Probably a top pick for the entire family, the Grona Lund is an amusement park in Stockholm that is always an excellent spot for tourists. The Tivoli in this amusement park offers a Viking Ship ride the Scandinavian way.

Stockholm Nightlife

Compared to the nightlife of any major metropolitan city in Europe the one in Sweden and in particular Stockholm stands on top. Plenty of bars, discos and all night café offer a lot of drinking and partying for party lovers.

Vasa Museum

A 17^th century Swedish vessel, Vasa was christened and sent on its maiden voyage never to return again. This warship was salvaged after its discovery some time back with its remains brought back intact to the Vasa Museum. Today, this is the only museum exhibiting an intact war ship of the 17^th century. Chosen as one of the 7 Swedish wonders, the museum provides a glimpse into the six different levels of the ship.

Change of guards in the Royal Castle, Stockholm, Sweden by Clemens v. Vogelsang

Guard Changing Of Stockholm

One of the free excitements to witness in Stockholm is the Change of Royal Guards. A 40 minute long event shows over 30,000 guards changing in front of the King’s Royal residence.

Artwork Shopping

Considered as the shopping capital in the North of Europe, Stockholm provides many streets lined with designer shops and bargain points. IKEA, a major Swedish furniture brand is just one of the few shops set up in the city. You can find anything and everything related to Swedish design and styling in its streets from famous and not so famous artists, craftsmen and designers.

Kungstradgarden Ice Skating

For those who visit Stockholm in winter, the Kungstradgarden is a must-visit site. This park offers free ice skating in a city that adores this sport. A major reason why travel guidebooks and websites advise visiting Sweden in winter is because of the many winter activities you can engage in.

The ABBA Museum

This museum is the only ABBA museum in the world and it will receive well over half a million visitors each year. The museum provides a 4000 sq. meter tour of interesting items belonging to ABBA and displayed on three different levels. Stated to open real soon, keep your calendar empty to take this never seen before spectacle in full glory.

Guided Tours of the City

The best way to take in all the splendors spread across 14 islands is to go on a guided tour of the Swedish capital. There are plenty of guides and tour companies around to choose from but it is best to book in advance.

Autor Bio: This article was produced by Catalita G. (the girl standing behind the travel blog Channel Voyager).  On that blog you can read more information about trips and learn how to book a hotel in Stockholm (it is interesting to know that the term in Swedish is boka hotell Stockholm).

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1. Calais Town Hall

The Town Hall is located in the centre of Calais is the most-impressive attraction this coastal town has to offer. It has a fantastic design and boasts an elegant clock tower which can be seen from many parts across town, including the Jacquard Bridge as you cross over. In the elegant front garden, artwork is on display throughout the year.

2. Parc Richelieu

A short walk from the Town Hall lies Parc Richelieu, over the Jacquard Bridge. A small park but one that is a perfect setting for a short rest or relaxation period during your walking tour on a nice, hot summer’s day. At the front of the entrance of the park is a War Memorial statue and 5 French flags flying.

3. War Museum

The War Museum in Calais is situated in the Parc Saint Pierre; opposite the Town Hall. This museum offers insights into World War II. For a €6 entrance, there are 20 rooms inside displaying photographs and objects depicting the war, including a series of interesting, interactive displays.

4. Calais Lighthouse

A short walk from Calais’ ferry terminal stands the large Calais Lighthouse. Viewable from the ferry terminal, Fort Risban and other parts of town, the Lighthouse has 271 steps to climb after paying the €2.50 entrance fee. From the top you get a great view over the town and Channel.

5. Fort Risban

After walking from the ferry terminal and past the Lighthouse, you reach Fort Risban after passing the Bassin du Paradis. There isn’t a great deal that remains of the fort that came under siege from Edward III of England’s army back in 1346, but this historic part of Calais is well worth a visit.

6. Monuments

Making up part of Calais’ history are the several monuments and statues located around town. These include Rodin’s bronze masterpiece of the Six Burghers of Calais outside the front of the Town Hall, a Remembrance Monument opposite, monuments commemorating Airman Gilbert Brazy and the Pluviose Monument both located nearby Fort Risban, a column dedicated to S. M. Louis XVIII on the main street walking past the Bassin du Paradis, a War Memorial at the entrance of Parc Richelieu and even a statue dedicated to former mayor, Leon Vincent, amongst others.

7. Fine Arts and Lace Museum

Works from Rodin, including an insight into his famous Six Burghers of Calais monument evolved can be found inside the Fine Arts and Lace Museum which is located opposite Parc Richelieu. Other works inside include Pablo Picasso and Dubuffet and can be viewed from €3 at the door.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bea y Fredi

A taxi tour? What’s that…I hear you say?

Well it is just as it sounds; instead of a walking tour, a boating tour or a bus tour, you can get in a special taxi and enjoy a personalised guided adventure around Belfast.

Here’s why this is a great option:

Lap of Luxury

When you get on a tour bus, your enjoyment could easily be destroyed by another passenger, or whole group of passengers being too loud or leaning across you or generally being obnoxious. With a private taxi tour you get to invite who you want on your tour and whole lot more leg room. Walking tours can be hard on the knees and boat tours can be troubling for your stomach so all in all you know what the best choice is.

Additionally, most taxi tours provide refreshments, comfy seats and even props in some cases; rope to feel when go to the rope factories, models of the ships when your glide up and down the harbours edge and some local music piped in just to set the mood.

No Fixed Route

One of the best things about having your own tour taxi is the fact that you don’t have to stick to any schedule or any fixed route. The vehicle is all yours for the duration and you can decide to drive around all day without stopping or pick and choose where you want to go on a whim. But you should be sure to check out the following:

• Ulster Museum
• Victoria Square
• Harland & Wolff Shipbuilders
• Titanic Belfast (new visitors centre)
• CS Lewis Wardrobe

Or alternatively you could just drive from bar to bar ‘testing’ whiskeys. It’s totally up to you.

Own Driver

The final key thing that makes a taxi tour so special is that you get your own driver, who is ultra-knowledgeable about not only the best short cuts and local football news, but about all the history and culture that you are there to delve into and learn about.

So next time you visit Belfast, don’t book a big hot sweaty tour bus or a boat tour that might sink, think about a taxi tour instead.

Bryan Raymond is a Belfast taxi driver. You can find more about his taxi firm by visiting their website https://www.gransha-taxi.co.uk

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Wolfgang Staudt

Walking Tours

If you’ve just landed in Barcelona and you’re looking for a way to get acclimated, a walking tour could be the perfect way to get your bearings. Several companies in Barcelona offer free walking tours. The catch? You’re supposed to leave them a tip; however, the amount of the tip is entirely up to you. Try Travel Bound Barcelona Free Walking Tours, Barcelona Free Tours, or Runner Bean Tours. 

Museums

Many museums in Barcelona charge a nominal fee to enter, but some of these museums waive their entrance fees during certain times of the month. If you’re a fan of Picasso, the Museo Picasso offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month, and after 3 PM every Sunday. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya also has free admission on the first Sunday of the month. The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona has free admission on Wednesdays. 

Food

In many cities and towns in Spain, it’s customary to get a free tapa with your drink. In a pricey city like Barcelona, though, you’ll usually have to pay for your tapas most places. Fortunately, the city also has plenty of places where you can go to get complimentary tapas with your drinks on certain days. On Sundays, get a complimentary buffet with your drink purchase at Bar No Sé. On Tuesdays, check out Sesamo for free tapas tastings. For cheap tapas any day of the week, Txapela is the place to go. This cozy tavern offers a wide variety of freshly prepared tapas, all under two euros a piece. 

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jordi Cerdà

Accommodation

A great way to really immerse yourself into the new culture is to eat with the locals. Find out what it is they eat daily and at least sample it. With so many different foods to try in Barcelona you’d assume it would be really expensive to try them all but some foods require a lot of home-based cooking to really taste like the traditional dishes so for example, there are plenty of places you can enjoy a Catalonian meal in the area, but why not consider renting an accommodation in Barcelona and making your own dishes in your temporary kitchen! Rented accommodation can work out much more cost effective if you’re planning to stay for more than a couple of days and you save loads by cooking your own meals.

Barcelona’s Great Outdoors

Parc Guell is a fascinating, gorgeous park that Gaudí left unfinished. It’s filled with Gaudí’s signature interesting architecture, as well as beautiful fountains, statues, and a museum. While the museum on the park’s site charges a small fee to enter, the rest of the park is free. Another free, beautiful place to escape the city is Barcelona’s Botanical Gardens. The gardens offer a variety of plants, flowers, and trees for visitors to enjoy, as well as an excellent view of the city. Nearby Montjuïc Magic Fountains offer another great view of the city, as well as the beautiful fountains that change shapes against the backdrop of the Palau Nacional.

Markets and Shops

Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s most famous street. This pedestrian street is filled with street performers, locals, and visitors from around the world, with shops, hotels, nightlife, and restaurants lining its sides. You can wander past La Boqueria, an open-air market offering produce, meats, and flowers, as well as restaurants serving food and drinks. It’s free to browse the market, but food and drinks are relatively cheap. Also check out the Port Vell Antique Fair. It’s free to look, but there are plenty of cheap bargains to be found.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jason Blue-Smith

Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) is in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. It’s the highest mountain in Europe, and has more than one summit. For less experienced climbers there’s the advantage of lift and cable chairs that take you up to 3800 metres. If you’ve got reasonable climbing skills you can climb from here, but if not, you can do a walking tour from the top of the lift run. You can easily find accommodation in hotels and lodges in the local area.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Martin F

At the borders between Switzerland and Italy, you can put on your climbing shoes to climb one of the most famous mountains in Europe – the Matterhorn (4,478 m). It stands out in the landscape like a giant rock pyramid and is considered by many to be the birthplaces of mountaineering. As such, it’s on most climbers’ must-climb lists.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by stefg74

In Greece, the home of the ancient Greek gods – Mount Olympus – is also a famous climbing spot. To get to the highest peak of Mytikas (2918 metres) takes two days’ climbing. Many people climb up in one day and rest overnight in their tents before descending the next day. It’s not a place for solitude though – it’s a very popular place to climb.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Vasile Cotovanu

Mont Blanc is found on the border of Italy and France. The closest towns are Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy. It’s the second highest mountain in Europe, with a summit of 4,810.45 metres. Although it’s not the highest mountain, it’s probably the most challenging climbing spot in Europe. Even though a cable car takes you up to 1000m below the summit, the last 1000 metres is a real challenge. You’ll need high levels of fitness and will have to acclimatise to the altitude before completing the ascent.

Even people who go equipped with all the right rock climbing equipment can get into difficulty on Mont Blanc and the mountain rescue helicopter service is kept busy all summer recovering stranded climbers.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Thierry Gregorius

The highest peak in the UK is Ben Nevis. The Scottish mountain’s summit is 1,344 metres and it’s reached by thousands of climbers every year. It needs good fitness levels and climbing ability to attempt the day’s climb.

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