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Best Places In Europe

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:17:47 +0000

Article by Jacksmith

The once Phoenician princess of Europa was by ancient mythology a queen whom Zeus abducted to the Island on Crete, meaning a wide aspect in Greek. True to its name the continent of Europe does serve a broad aspect to both its inhabitants as to world travelers as it stretches through a vast variety of land and cultures, providing a most unique diversity for tourists in search of the best places in Europe.

Despite being the world`s smallest continent, Europe has a lot to offer with its well preserved cultural heritage and open borders stretching from Africa to the arctic and from Asia to the Atlantic Sea. A most prominent aspect for journeymen is the efficient, well developed infrastructure and line connections, giving world travelers a spectacular chance to find themselves in a new, very different culture enjoying some of the best places in Europe, for just a few hours of a ride.

The most notable Best Places In Europe would be the Balkans, with their wonderful nature, beautiful forests, lakes and mountains, the Baltic states with their beautiful coastline and fabulous medieval towns, the Benelux states with their windmills and tulips, the fascinating culture of Britain as well as the breathtaking landscapes of Ireland, the Caucasus between the Black Sea and the Caspian with its wealth of ancient cathedrals, monasteries and churches, Central Europe with the great Alps aligning atop uncountable castles, farmlands and forests, France being the most popular tourist destination with its fashion, gastronomy and coastal cities which is also geographically the most diverse country as it provides both ski resorts as well as Atlantic beaches, Greece and Cyprus with their ancient history and plenty of Mediterranean sunshine, Turkey with its unique history and magical blend of Western Eastern cultures, the friendly Iberia which is also one of the most popular tourist destinations serving its unique culture, sparkling cities, vineyard filled countryside and art museums almost as much as the culture of Italy has to offer with its significant vast galleries and historic heritage, post communist Russia and the Ukraine, and last but not least, the amazing glaciers and mountains of Scandinavia.

Getting around in the continent, reaching the best places in Europe is quite easy as there is no border control between the countries who are a part of the Schengen Agreement. While you are not to stay for a period longer than 90 days within the Schengen countries, make sure to stamp your passport once entering the first country as it will validate for all the rest.

The Tourist Destination Called Europe

admin — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:41:07 +0000

The continent of Europe and its feel is so very different from that of any other continent or country. Most of the continent is a fine blend between the narrow and tiled streets from the 16th, 17th and 18th century and the skyscrapers dominating the skies and showing the economic might of the continent and it’s comprising nations.

Europe Geographic Location

Europe is mainly defined by the Arctic Ocean towards North, Atlantic Ocean on the west, by Mediterranean Sea down South and the Ural Mountains, Ural River, Caspian Sea and Black Sea towards east and southeast. Although Russia is the largest country among all the European nations, its contribution towards tourism is almost negligible as compared to most of the western European Countries.

A Brief History

Before the Industrial revolution, Europe was plunged deep into the dark ages. During those times, exploitation of labor, fight for control over land and people and corruption in the churches had made life a living hell for most of the people. Although Industrial revolution struck Europe in the 16th century and changed the things upside down, it also gave wings to art and architecture. It was only during the 16th, 17th and 18th century that great artists and philosophers of the likes of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Picasso and Galileo were born and changed the way people looked at the world around them.

Most of these men were also responsible for the creation of various breathtaking pieces of art and architecture. Most of the European churches date back to a few centuries and still boast of paintings by master artists of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Places of Interest in Europe

Europe is such a beautiful continent and has so many places that can said as a must visit. But it is almost impossible list beyond a few of them. But, you don’t need to get disheartened because we will try and pack in as much information here as we can and tell you where you can find the rest of the information that you are searching for.

Some of the major cities of Europe are Paris, Munich, Berlin, London, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Helsinki. These are just some of the most important cities in Europe in the context of travel and tourism and also as power centers. But, this goes without saying that there are many other places that are as beautiful as these cities.

Paris – the capital city of France, the city of love, is one of the biggest travel and tourism attractions in Europe. Paris is also called as the fashion capital of the world. There is always something happening in the city and there is something for just about everyone. When in Paris, you should not miss the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre (glass pyramid) and the Notre Dam cathedral.

Berlin – the beer capital of Europe and as well as whole Germany famous with some of the most modern fleet of trains. Apart from huge beer steins, Berlin also boasts some of the finest museums and cathedrals in the world. And of course, you must not miss the Berlin wall – an important, although sad symbol of the previous decades.

Amsterdam – the European capital of pleasures, popular with its wild and free life. The city itself is also very impressive, boasting old cathedrals, great architecture and countless tourist attractions. But Amsterdam is also equally popular with its cuisines and of course, Hash Brownie.

Travelling in Europe

Travelling in Europe is a very pleasant surprise for most of the first timers. Almost entire continent works like a single nation and leaving aside a few, most of the countries use only one currency – Euro, which means that you can save time on exchanging traveler’s checks for local currency and bringing only one currency in many of the European countries.

One of the most popular ways of travelling across Europe is by the Eurail. Eurail is one of the most economical ways of transport across the European countries. Also to be noted here is that a visa issued by any of the European Union member country holds good in all the rest of them too. So, you can use Eurail for travelling between almost any of the European countries and enjoy the breathtaking countryside views on the way.

You can also fly on many of the cheap, no frills flights or make use of the bus service called Eurolines which connects more than 500 European cities. Another popular and fun way of traveling between many cities in Europe is by ship. There are many ferries and large ships that transport people and shipments across different European cities and also offering all the luxuries romantic cruise liner.

Although, we have tried to pack in as much as we could here, we still missed out on so much of what one can see and enjoy in Europe as a tourist. But, we don’t want you to miss out on anything, and in case you are more curious about Europe, so can find more information and take a virtual trip to Europe on the site below. Still one can truly experience Europe only if visit the Old Continent himself!

Travel to Netherlamds capital Amsterdam

admin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:41:39 +0000

The former capital of the first in Europe bourgeois-democratic republic Netherlands brightly celebrates the Queen’s birthday. Here people continue to be proud of their love of freedom. Amsterdam in Netherlands has many names as every great famous capital does. The most common one is “Venice of the North” or even “doubly Venice”. We often can hear something like “a city on stilts” or “city on the herring bones. The Netherlands capital was called “New Babylon” and “Jerusalem of the West” and “big European shop”. Now more and more often it is called “the freest city in the world”. In fact, everything is quite simple and not very poetic. “Amsterdam” in the translation from Dutch means “the dam on the river Amstel”. At the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries, Amsterdam has received town privileges – the right to build the city walls, the right to mint its own coins and the right to charge a fee for use of bridges and gateways – and in 1317 Count William III joined it to the county of Holland. The city impresses first of all with its narrow but elegant buildings, which look like some weird home for fabulous creatures. All houses in Amsterdam Netherlands stand not on the ground, but on stilts of ten to twenty meters length, driven into the muddy shaky soil. Silt is not a very reliable footing, so many buildings start to “dance”, leaning in different directions. The Dutch’s love to bicycles is known all over the world. “The Dutch are born with a bicycle” – people joke here. Amsterdam and tulips are almost inseparable concepts. Craze, fanatical passion for tulips in Holland started in the XVII century, when the first flower was braught into Netherlands. And there is hemp in different variants next to tulips on the counters. Amsterdam would not be itself without a museum of erotica, the museum of medieval torture and the museum of cannabis. This is a city where you are surrounded by so many exciting, unusual, fascinating and strange things, that finally you stop to be surprised with them.

Cruise Holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean

admin — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:41:09 +0000

One of the many advantages of a cruise is that everything is organised for the tourist if the person wants it to be so. They can also choose how long they want to be away for, whether it is a mini cruise, a seven day cruise or even longer. Reserve an European cruise in North or South Europe, sail to the famous Mediterranean with yachts, mouth-watering food, mountains, lovely historical buildings, perfect beaches and friendly folk.

The Baltic Sea area
Starting in Northern Europe, do not miss the Medieval Baroque architecture of Norway and Finland and also its dramatic scenery and rich history. Visit St Petersburg, Russia s most beautiful city and a most in any tourists itinerary. Enjoy the wild night life of Hamburg or Copenhagen in Germany and Denmark respectively. Explore one of the richest areas in the world and take advantage of the cruises’ facilities.

Europe
Departing from Southern England, visit the Atlantic ports of France and Spain –experience the world famous fine cuisine and wine culture! Cruises sail through the Bay of Biscay and the Straits of Gibraltar, where tourist can also enjoy the most beautiful ports of Portugal and Southern Spain. Finally some cruises also visit the well renowned Spanish islands including Mayorca and Ibiza.

The Mediterranean
Visit historic places, romantic cities and beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, but also enjoy the top quality resorts and sandy beaches. The Mediterranean has been divided into three main areas, as follows: Western Mediterranean cruises include the French Riviera, la Costa Brava and volcanic Sicily. Southern Mediterranean sails through Northern Africa, including the most important ports in Egypt and Morocco. Eastern Mediterranean cruises travels along the Aegean Sea covering most of the Greek Islands, Turkey and Italy; expect to find amazing ruins from the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians

Apartment Renting Business is on the Rise in Central Europe

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:41:49 +0000

Barcelona is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A few days is usually enough to get Barsa under your skin, but a few days is never enough to see all the beauty of this magical city. If you are planning a trip, why not consider staying in one of our apartments? They are centrally located, fully-furnished and equipped to suit your every need and whim. What’s more, they are perfect base for sight-seeing as they are within minutes walking distance from major city sites and attractions. We will be happy to assist you with any of your special needs or requirements in hope to make your stay in Barcelona an unforgettable one.

Rental apartments are becoming a popular option for many travellers as it provides:

- Best value for money.

- Comfort and space.

- You can feel like at home, for less money than in a hotel.

- You can enjoy the benefit of having a fully equipped house.

When you are planning a visit to the city of Barcelona, finding the perfect accommodation needn’t be chore. Whether you are going with your family, a group of friends, or your partner, vacation rentals can provide you with everything you need. Apartments can be as extravagant as a swanky hotel or just contain the basic essentials for your stay.

Not only this, it’s Mediterranean climate combined with the world famous architecture of Antoni Gaudí and the art of Dali, Miro and Picasso will delight you and make your stay always too short. In Barcelona you’ll discover countless museums, theatres, Europe’s second biggest opera house and numerous other musical venues, sports arenas including the incomparable Camp Nou, home to Barcelona FC, and an endless variety of bars, restaurants, shopping malls, a city beach and many amusement parks, all easily accessed from our rental apartments in the city’s famous and historic centre. Barcelona is one Europe’s most exciting cities, diverse, multicultural and friendly, it’s mix of history and modernity has all the vibrancy of a capital.

There is usually a correlation between price and standard of luxury when choosing rental accommodation, so once you have determined what your apartment needs are and how much you can afford, you will easily find a great apartment to rent in Barcelona. Do you want something close to the vibrancy of the city, perhaps along La Rambla, or a place a little quieter and further out of the city centre? Would you like to be near to the coast, perhaps with easy access to beach? If you are driving, or hiring a car at the airport, will the apartment have parking? All of these questions should help you decide what you need from a Barcelona apartment rental.

The advantages of an apartment include the amount of personal space you have. You don’t need to cram people into a hotel room, but can select an apartment with as many bedrooms, and the layout of beds that you need. You have communal space that is just for you and your group so you can sit together in privacy without having to perch on someone’s bed. All apartments have at least one full bathroom and one half bathrooms, so there will be less fighting over who uses the bathroom next. Rental apartment in Barcelona displays a selection of finest apartments available in the city, chosen because of exceptional features like a good value for money, location, attractiveness of the apartments, the building, and its surroundings.

Rail Travel In Europe On A Luxury Travel Vacation

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:41:57 +0000

One new popular way to explore Europe on luxury vacations is by rail. This travel trend is growing in leaps and bounds. With the emergence of the European Train Network, trains are becoming the preferred mode of travel. Often chosen over air travel, trains are a great option for those interested in seeing multiple cities or countries in just one vacation.

The European Train Network

Trains are a convenient mode of short, medium and long distance travel across Europe. Western and central Europe has a dense and widely used railway network spanning the entire continent. With over twenty countries and five-hundred cities, this rail network can literally supply eager luxury world cruise travelers with a comprehensive view of Europe’s interior. Trains on the network are also great for short jaunts around your country of choice. These European trains are fast, reliable and depart and arrive approximately every half hour. With the European Train Network, travelers of can travel to capital cities and charming, forgotten towns. Get a great deal on your luxury world cruise by going to http://www.amtcruises.com.

Trains Versus Flying

Travelers on luxury vacations are out to consider trains as an alternative to flying. Trains have more spacious and comfortable interiors than most airplanes, offering you a more comfortable way to travel. Trains in Europe will allow you to take advantage of scenic routes and allow you a new way to experience the beautiful countryside. You will also avoid the long waits in security at airports. The railway stations are usually located in or very close to the center of the city, whereas airports can be up to 100 km away from the city’s center. Trains have more of a romantic feel than airplanes. Train tickets that are booked in advance are also a bit cheaper. The developing train technology makes the train usually the same speed as airplanes, especially when you calculated the needed time to check in early and go through security. Plus, if you miss the train, you can take another one in about thirty minutes. For help with your next luxury vacation visit http://www.amtvacations.com/american-express-vacations.html.

With so many great reasons to go, European train travel has become a leading way to explore the interior of Europe for travelers on a luxury travel vacation. Besides the air of romantic hype that has developed around rail travel, it has simply become extremely practical. New technologies have evolved into an extensive European Train Network, which offers stops in most European countries and hundreds of cities. Train travel has become preferable to air travel because of the better availability, the better location stops, the speed and the price. Experience the joys of European train travel. Learn more about the benefits of planning your next luxury travel vacation with AMT American Express Travel by visiting http://www.amtvacations.com/world-class-customer-service.htm.

Cheap Travels To Europe Is Possible. Save Money On-The-Go!

admin — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 17:41:51 +0000

Lots of people think that traveling to Europe is expensive. But it is possible to get cheap Europe travels! Loads of people have traveled to Europe on shoestring budgets and so can you!

Europe can prove to be quite a travel bargain if you choose your lodging, meals and transportation carefully. It may end up being less expensive that visiting some cities in the United States.

Transportation in Europe
Getting around in Europe, there are three choices – bus, train and air. Renting a car is not practical, with the different road types, different laws and road signs in various unfamiliar languages.

Just like the rail passes, Europe’s intercity bus lines offer passes, as well. These passes can be purchased for various time lengths and allows you to travel unlimited amount of times. Single city-to-city bus tickets are often quite reasonable too. Of course, travel by road is a little slower compared to rail or air.

Some people would prefer to pay a little extra for train. Train passes are still quite affordable for students and others on a budget. In addition to being faster, trains provide such amenities as toilets, and also sleeping quarters on overnight trains. Take note that there are extra charges for sleeping cars and other first class accommodations.

In Europe, air travel is quite cost effective compared to train and bus travel. There are a number of low-cost air carriers all around Europe. These air fares are often comparable to train tickets between the same cities.

Inexpensive Lodging In Europe
There are a number of excellent low-cost lodging options in Europe, ranging from hostels to hotels to bed and breakfasts. The average bed-and-breakfast in Europe is different than its American counterpart. Europeans regard bed-and-breakfast hotels as inexpensive places to stay, and they can be much more affordable than hotels in similar locations. Most bed-and-breakfast hotels in European destinations are small, family run hotels.

There are many places to look for European bed-and-breakfast hotels – the Internet, travel guides, Internet news groups and travel review websites. There are also booking services that will book the bed-and-breakfast hotel for you for a small fee (usually around 10%). These booking services can be very valuable especially if you do not speak the local language.

For those who arrive without reservations, there are hotel booking services available at most major train stations and airports. These booking services can usually find you a place to stay, even if the city is very crowded. For this service, they usually charge a small fee, either a set fee or a percentage of the room charge. Just be sure you have a local map handy so you don’t get stuck with a hotel in the middle of nowhere.

Below is a list of things to consider when booking lodging for your cheap travel in Europe.

• Your budget lodging will probably be clean, functional and basic. Don’t expect fancy or luxurious surrounding.
• Rooms at a budget hotel or bed-and-breakfast will probably be small. Closet space may be limited or even non-existent.
• The least expensive rooms will have bathroom and shower facilities located down the hall, while more expensive rooms may have an in-room bathroom and tub.
• A room that has only a shower will usually be less costly than one that includes a bathtub as well. Ask about the bathroom facilities if you are particular about this.
• Rooms equipped with a double-bed are generally cheaper than those with twin beds.
• If you are driving, there may be extra charge for parking. Again, ask when making your travel reservations.
• Buy a good map and make sure the cheap lodging you choose is centrally located. Choosing a centrally-located hotel or bed-and-breakfast will save you time and money for transportation.
• When booking your Europe lodging, ask if the price quoted includes all local taxes and applicable fees.

Top 35 Free Sites for Europe Travel Tips Everybody Ought to Know About

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:41:47 +0000

When planning a trip to Europe, there are a ton of available resources for travelers. With this is mind, it is often time-consuming to wade through all of the websites to find really valuable information.

Here is a list of some of the top travel resources for planning a trip to Europe.

1) Wikitravel
This is one of the best sites for travel available. It is open source, so it is constantly updated; further, it is usually locals or people who have direct, experience with an area who contribute information. Thus you get localized information you might not have gotten elsewhere.

2) World Travel Tips
This is a huge, comprehensive resource for world travel. It includes forums, articles, links, free membership and much more for every continent. Their European section covers every European Country and offer in-depth information about each one.

3) About.com: Europe for Visitors
This is a great site dedicated to travel in Europe from About.com. Geared towards everyone from first time to experienced travelers, it is a goldmine of European travel and planning information.

4) Virtual Tourist
This is a great travel guide. Their motto is ‘real travelers – real info.” This seems consistent with the site, which has everything from transportation reviews to the best travel deal and trip planners. The site also includes forums where you can read about other people’s adventures in Europe.

5) Travel Europe
This is an swicki (cross between a search engine and wikipedia) where community users can add, remove and improve the results. This particular swicki is geared towards travel in Europe and is a great resource fro planning a trip to or in Europe.

6) Visiteurope.com
This is the European travel commission’s guide to Europe and is packed with tons of useful information, articles, advice and much much more.

7) Europe for Visitors
This is a site that offer European news, general advice, specific country advice, hotels, links to city guides, tourist offices and much, much more.

8.) Europecities.com
This is a comprehensive portal site that offers European city reviews and guides to hundreds of European cities and over 40 European countries.

9) Travel Library
Travel Library is an impartial resource for travelers and offers a plethora of resources that offer in-depth travel information, from hotel and hostel ideas to travelogues and most popular locations.

10) Europa: Traveling in Europe
A huge site that offers tools and information for over 30 European Countries. Each country has their own site dedicated to travel resources, information news and more from that country. Categories for visitors include: documents you will need, choosing a time to travel, getting there, staying healthy, money, shopping, communicating, pets, and if things go wrong.

11) Europa: Your Europe
While this site is geared towards European citizens, it still offers tons of great information for visitors outside of Europe. Information categories include: working in Europe, education and study, living in Europe, traveling in Europe, consumer protection, European citizenship and diplomatic protection.

12) European Union Website
This is the official website of the European Union. It offers news, educational resources and tons of links to information about what’s going on in Europe and well as youth travel portals, travel guides, transportation information and much, much more.

13) Yahoo Answers
This is a great place to ask questions and get answers about anything Europe related. You ask the question and get a number of answers, then choose the answer that fits your question best. This site is great because it gives you several points of view to read and learn from and is focused on sharing knowledge.

14) Travels Wise
This site offers tons of information about travel in Europe and countries including Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Ukraine.

15) Rick Steves’ Travel Tips
This site is a large portal site that offers tips and advice for exploring Europe safely, effectively and confidently. From packing tips and safety to accommodations and communications, you will find what you’re looking for.

16) Travel Punk
This site offers travel tips and advice targeted at backpackers, budget travelers and tourists. Offers tons of great information as well as travel tools and resources for finding cheap flights and accommodations.

17) TERC Europe Travel Tips
Offers tips on traveling in Europe and categories run the gamut from packing tips and staying healthy and safe to money matters, budget planning, food and accommodations and much more. It is a huge site that is well worth visiting for any Europe travel-related needs.

18) Accessible Journeys
This is an awesome travel site that offers a wealth of information, tips and travel advice about accessibility and traveling in a wheelchair. With information on everything from traveling with your wheelchair or scooter to equipment rentals, handicapped parking permits in Europe and accessible ways to travel, it is a great resource.

19) Europe Travel Tips
A large portal with tons of travel tools, articles and information about travel in 40 European countries, from Austria to the United Kingdom.

20) Independent Traveler

Great site offering lots of travel tips and advice to independent travelers.

21) Travel-and-transport.com
This is a highly useful portal that offers basic and necessary transportation information for Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden. New to the site is a route planner that is especially handy.

22) Travel Notes: Europe
Comprehensive travel notes and advice for traveling throughout Europe. Lots of links, resources and tools for travelers.

23) Open Travel Info
Great travel site with a large amount of travel and Europe related information. The forums and articles are especially useful.

24) Discover Europe
Another excellent portal site that offers a wealth of tools, resources and links for travelers to learn about different European countries and plan their trips effectively and efficiently.

25) World 66: Europe
This is a great wiki site that allows members (free) to change and information. It has a great travel guide, maps, and resources for getting to Europe and getting around it. Members can also post photos and there is a cool photo gallery of different places in Europe. Well worth checking out.

26) Backpacker.net
Geared towards backpackers, this is one of the better sites for information, advice and travel planning for backpackers. Users can submit and read recommendations for hostels, tours, bars, beers and much more.

27) WorldWideBackpackers.com
This site is another excellent resource for backpackers and other travelers. While it is geared towards backpackers, there is a wealth of rich information for all travelers, so you should definitely pay them a visit.

28) Gate 1 Travel
This is a travel site for Central Europe. there is a wealth of information that is super handy; they offer info from climate and clothing advice to packing, required travel documents, travel insurance, transportation, communication and much more.

29) Backpackeurope.com
This is another site that is geared towards backpackers in Europe but is highly useful for all travelers. Has Europe travel tips, advice on packing, hostels and hotels, transportation and links to other travel resources.

30) Gemut.com
This is a great travel site that offers visitors advice on everything from car rental and rail travel to hotel reservations, money matters and much more.

31) Travels With Friends: Travel Tips for Europe
Travel tips and advice from planning your trip to executing it. The site’s creators travel Europe and research sites, accommodations, destinations and much more, so there is great, first-hand information available on all aspects of travel in Europe.

32) Suite 101: Eastern Europe & Russia Travel
Travel, culture and trip planning and advice. This is an excellent resource for finding out more about Eastern Europe and its cultures.

33) Traveler’s Point
Europe advice, tips and travel help for all European countries.

34) Budget Travel Online
Great site offering ideas, how-tos, advice and tips for travelers.

35) Yahoo Travel
Yahoo’s comprehensive travel site offers a wealth of information on all European Countries and many of its countries. Another great resource to check out.

Travel Tips To European Countries: Czech Republic

admin — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:41:56 +0000

About the county

Czech Republic is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. The capital of Czech Republic is Prague which is also the biggest city of Czech Republic and a popular tourist destination. Czech Republic became a member of European Union in May, 2004. Czech Republic was earlier a part of Czechoslovakia which was dissolved in January, 1993 and was split into what is now called Czech and Slovak Republics. Brno, Ostrava, Plze?, Olomouc, , ?eské Bud?jovice, Zlín, Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, Pardubice and Karlovy Vary are the other important cities of Czech Republic. Czech Republic is divided into two parts based on geographical and cultural classification. They are Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemian cities and towns are popular for their spas and wine vineyards. It is also home to many castles which are open for visitors. One of the other tourism attractions is the availability of hundreds of miles of marked trails for hiking, cycling and skiing.

Population & Languages

The population of Czech Republic is roughly 10.2 million and the official language being spoken is Czech.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The type of plug used is Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin

Geographic Location

It is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. It is basically a landlocked country strategically located on some of the most important land routes in Europe.

Climate

The climate of Czech Republic can be termed as Temperate with hot summers and cold overcast winters. It also gets snow. Most of the rain comes down in summer. Due to different altitudes the variation of temperatures is diverse. The temperatures are relatively low at high altitudes and more precipitation. The temperatures average only -0.4°C at high altitude areas whereas the temperatures can average as high as 10°C in low altitude areas.

Local Customs

Dressing should be conservative and casual except at formal dinners or good hotels or restaurants. Tipping is usually 5 to 10 percent in restaurant, hotels and taxis.

Attractions

The Castle District (Hradèany) – It has some of the best churches and museums. It also has some beautiful gardens, fortifications and state apartments also.

St Vitus Cathedral – It is located in the Castle District, the prominent feature of this cathedral is the spires which soar high in the sky. It is also country’s largest church with great architecture.

Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) – This is one of the most popular tourist spots of the city and should not be missed.

Old Town Square (Starom?stské Námestí) – It is the most vibrant square of Prague with many historical structures. It also hosts various markets every year like yearly Christmas market.

The Jewish Museum – It is the largest Jewish Museum in Central Europe with a vast collection of Judaic art works.
Vyšehrad – Is a great hill fort built on a rock above the river.

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Czech Republic is Czech Airlines. There are many other small and popular international airlines operating from Czech Republic. The major airport is Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG). The airport is located approximately 10 miles north west of Prague.

By Rail – The country is part of the extensive network of trains connecting the European cities. If you are coming from Western Europe the most convenient connections are via Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich to Prague.

Duty Free Items
1. 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg tobacco for EU countries.
2. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco for Non-EU countries.
3. 10 liter of spirits with alcohol content over 22%, or 20 liter of alcoholic beverages with alcohol volume less than 22%, or 90 liter of wine or 60 liter of sparkling wine, or 110 liter of beer for EU countries.
4. 1 liter spirits or 2 liter wine for Non-EU countries.
5. 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette
6. Food, fruits, medications and flowers for personal use
7. Gifts up to €175

Prohibited Items

Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

4 Lesser Known Cities You Cannot Miss When Traveling In Europe

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:41:54 +0000

Did you know that Europe has 50 different countries? And did you plan to visit all of them on your next Europe-trip. Well, unless you have several months, you should instead focus on a few large cities. Below I will suggest 4 cities in 4 countries, which all have great sights, delicious food and/or superb nightlife.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands. If you are looking for a very liberal minded city with legal hash and sex, Amsterdam is the place to go. You can buy hash in the so-called coffeeshops or sex (which comes in all kind of sizes and nationalities) in the Red Light District.

But Amsterdam is much more than a city of sins. You can also find museums with great art from Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Or you can visit the Anne Frank House ” the place where the Anne Franks Diary was written.

Barcelona, Spain. The capital of Spain is Madrid ” but the most interesting city is without doubt Barcelona. The city has everything: great food, interesting sights and a very fine nightlife. And then there is FC Barcelona ” the famous football club with the amazing stadium Camp Nou.

The most amazing sight in the city is Sagrada Famlia ” the unfinished cathedral constructed by Antoni Gaud. Other places not to miss are the pedestrian street La Rambla, the harbor area and Barceloneta with the great tapas and seafood.

Budapest, Hungary. The capital of Hungary is divided in two parts by the famous Danube (know for the waltz by Johann Strauss). The hilly Buda-part is on the left side while the Pest-part is on the right. The best sights are either located on the Castle Hill in the Buda-part or in central Pest.

Two must see sights are the Royal Palace and the National Gallery. A great place for relaxing and wandering is the park on the Margaret Island, while the best shopping is found on the in Vci Street and in Westend City Center (Central Europes largest shopping centre).

Prague, the Czech Republic. If you need a cheap vacation, Prague could be the place to go. Even though the prices have gone up since the Cold War, you can still find cheap accommodation and eating in Prague.

But the best part is the many great sights. Start your visit in the Star Mesto, the old part of Prague, with the famous Astronomical Clock. Then follow the Charles Bridge (where you can buy paintings and souvenir) to the other side of the Vltava River. Here you find the Prague Castle – the biggest ancient castle in the world. Other places to visit are the historical Jewish ghetto Josefov, the Kafka Museum and the Jewish Museum.