Europe
Travel, vacations, tours and tourism

Tavel, Vacations, Tours and Tourism information for Europe. Our topics inlcude Restaurants, Overviews, Attractions, Common events, Recreation, Tipical weather, Activities and more.

When you travel to Europe, you aren't just exploring its famous places, you're exploring yourself. With so many experiences spanning so many cultures across so many borders, you'll find yourself doing things you never dreamed out of, or never believed you'd do, or both. Plan it or wing it, either way, you're going to love your own personal Europe.

If you are a gourmand, your own personal Europe can mean round-robin dinning tours across Tuscany's cafes and vineyards. Or maybe you'll learn to cook your favorite meal in a Parisian cooking class. If you're gatronomically adventurous, this might finally be your chance to brave an escargot. To feast on a budget, make a bee-line for Lisbon, Europe's bargain city for quality dining. Try the Madeira wine, so good Napoleon traded precious paintings for it to comfort him in exile. Cross the border and join the Spaniards in a round of tapas followed by a heaping plate of paella.

Are sports your passion? Then your own personal Europe is a front-row spot at the Grand Prix of Monaco. Schedule a tee-time in Scotland, the birthplace of golf. Dress to impress, and don't forget a brilliant hat, to cheer your favorite horse an jockey at the Grand National Meeting, the UK's premier racing event.

Areas in Europe

Vienna, Austria

The legendary opulence of Vienna lives on and can be experienced with a walk around the Innere Stadt, from the stunning St. Stephan's Cathedral to the.

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is the lively and appealing crossroads of Europe, bringing together the best of the past and present. Turn in any direction and you encounter a thousand years of history preserved in a Medieval city that seems untouched by time, yet as the capital of the European Union it is a place very much in step with the rhythm of life in the new millenium. The heart of Brussels is the Grand Place, a historic and stunning square lined with ornate guild houses focused on the Gothic heights of the Hotel de Ville. The Grand Place is the central market square which has served for centuries as the focal point of the city's social and civic life. The Bruxellois gather here for their most important ceremonies and festivals, for the traditional bird market on Sunday mornings, and for no task more pressing than to sit, have a beer, and people-watch.

Prague, Czech Republic

In 1992, the historical center of Prague was declared a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, and was one of the nine cities awarded the EU title of European Metropolis of Culture for the year 2000. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 ended Communism in the former Czechoslovakia, leading to the dissolution of the nation itself and the birth of the New Czech Republic in the northern lands. By the greatest of fortunes, Prague has never been bombed, as have most European cities, and has survived the many tragic events of the last millennium with hardly a scratch, which is why it retains the look and feel of antiquity.

London, England

Called "Llyn-din" by the Celts and "Londinium" by the Romans, this prehistoric city has grown over the millennia from an anonymous far-flung settlement, to the seat of power governing + of the world, to the music haven of the 1960s, and into what Newsweek magazine calls the "coolest city on the planet..a hip compromise between the non-stop newness of Los Angeles and the aspic-preserved beauty of Paris - sharpened to New York's edge." Indeed, the British capital rivals New York for energy, art, dining, nightlife, entertainment, and a totally hip attitude. If, however, you have no interest in London's pop culture, and prefer to visit the London of history and literature, you will find it intact amidst the new cool.

France

France is a canvas painted with a blend of the old and new, the serene and glamorous. Aromatic wines, legendary cuisine, grand palaces and sweeping vistas are all a part of the enchanting design. Timeless Paris has an ongoing courtship with the future. Monuments rise out of bustling streets where chic boutiques launch the hottest new trends. Museums overflowing with masterpieces share plaza with artists waiting to be discovered at their make-shift stands.

Germany

With enchanted forests, medieval castles, mountains shrouded in clouds and charming villages, Germany has inspired delightful fairy tales and magnificent operas. The Grimms Brothers called this country home, as did Bach and Wagner.

Amsterdam, Holland

Amsterdam is a bewitching capital that juxtaposes the provincial and the cosmopolitan with a liberal spirit that opens its arms to all. This mix is unique to the city, and disappears in favor of traditional, old-world Holland beyond the city limits. While many people are content simply to hang out in the city squares and pubs, cruising the canals, and people-watching in the greenest European capital, others would be happy to spend their entire visit browsing the world-class museums filled with treasures by Van Gogh and other old masters. Since the 16th century, Amsterdam has played several important roles in Dutch society, but perhaps its most characteristic and pervasive has been that of lastige stad, a term that translates as being on the progressive, even radical, cutting edge of cultural and ethical evolution. Live and let live, laid-back, and liberal are terms that are frequently applied to the infinitely tolerant Amsterdam, a place that for centuries has served as a refuge for oppressed and marginalized people.

Dublin, Ireland

The River Liffey is neither grand nor rushing, but it has always served as the focal point of the city it divides. Things have come a long way since the Vikings set up their Dyflin trading post over 1,000 years ago, naming it after Dubh Linn (Dark Pool), an earlier Gaelic settlement. In the 12th century, at an Irish Chieftan's fateful request, the King of England sent his Anglo-Norman knights to wrest Dublin from its Viking rulers. They laid the foundations for a thriving medieval city - part of which can still be seen - and set the course for 800 years of English oppression, which finally ended with hard-won independence in 1922. With its recent joining of the European Union, Dublin received a massive infusion of financing and technology that has led to tremendous change and growth, and it is now the fastest-growing economy in Europe.

Italy

From colossal ruins to romantic seaside villages, Italy presents an exquisite feast. Savor the crisp air of an alpine ski area. Fill your eyes with turquoise seas. Taste the coolness of Italy's famous gelatto.

Portugal

The soulful Fados of Portuguese folk singers echo in alleys. Wild excitement charges the air here man and beast face each other in bullfighting arenas (the bulls re not killed!). Pristine mountains, remote Moorish villages and sun-drenched beach resorts dot the landscape,

Edinburgh, Scotland

Buzzwords and comparisons like "Athens of the North," or "Gateway to Scotland," don't do justice to what is probably the most beautiful city in the British Isles. Edinburgh (pronounced Edin-burra by the Scots) lies in the Central Valley of Scotland, with castles upon hills in Southern Uplands below, and the mountains and coastlines of the Highlands above. The world has felt the impact of this land through the novels and poetry of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; heard the legends of William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots; but Edinburgh, the city itself, must be experienced to be known.

Spain

Dressed in blue, gold, green red and tan, sun-drenched Spain is like a mosaic created from unique, brightly colored tiles place together in perfect harmony.

Switzerland

Famed for spectacular snowcapped mountains, sumptuous chocolates and sophisticated cities, Switzerland is like a fine-tuned watch with impeccable standards and striking beauty.

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