Travel Guide

Otherwise, the best listings magazines are the weekly Guía del Ocio (guiadelociobcn.com) and Time Out Barcelona (timeout.cat), online or from any newspaper stand. Departures are every fifteen minutes (daily 10.30am–6pm, June–Sept until 8pm), though in summer and at weekends you may have to wait for a while at the top of the towers for a ride, as the cars only carry about twenty people at a time. The Barri Gòtic is bordered on its eastern side by Via Laietana, which was cut through the old town at the beginning of the twentieth century. Across it to the east stretches the quiet neighbourhood of Sant Pere, home to two remarkable buildings, the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall and the restored neighbourhood market, Mercat Santa Caterina. A good way to see the Gothic Quarter, and to learn about the stories and legends that make up the history here, is to partake in a walking tour. Typical routes walk you through August’s Temple, the Cloister Cathedral and the Palatine Chapel of Santa Agata (Place del Rei).

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Born on a sheep farm in northern England, he has been involved with outdoor activities since infancy and is as familiar with the interior of a tent as the inside of his bedroom at home. Robert moved into retail management and worked for Shell (UK) in the late ‘90s before becoming self-employed and transitioning into the hospitality industry at the turn of the century. Richard’s personal interests are 4×4 off-roading, dual-sport motorcycle riding, and touring Central America on his beloved Harley. Richard has trekking and survival experience throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

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Greenwich draws tourists out from the centre in considerable numbers. At its heart is the outstanding architectural set piece of the Old Royal Naval College and the Queen’s House, courtesy of Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones respectively. Most visitors, however, come to see the National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Park’s Royal Observatory. With the added attractions of its riverside pubs and walks – plus startling views across to Canary Wharf and Docklands – it makes for one of the best weekend trips in the capital. To reach Greenwich, you can take a train from London Bridge (every 30min), a boat from one of the piers in central London (every 20–30min), or the DLR to Cutty Sark station (every 4–10min).

  • Potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes, bananas, sugarcane, avocados, paw-paws, mangoes, coconuts, oranges and pineapples are available in most towns.
  • • Norway’s population numbers just under 5 million, of whom 600,000 or so live in Oslo, the capital.
  • Restaurants around tourist honey-pot Sultanahmet tend to be of poorer quality, and are more expensive than elsewhere in the city.
  • Now, apart from its sheer size, the main points of interest are the tombs of two Italian kings and the tomb of Raphael.
  • Another community called Buraiga, whose territory lies close to Kanyanchu, is currently being habituated for tourism.
  • So, since Rick Steves’ guidebooks are primarily Europe-focused, I’m not as drawn to them.
  • It would be impossible to list the whole range of things on sale here – you’ll find yourself walking past anything from herbs to hanbok or paper lanterns to knock-off clothing, usually on sale for reasonable prices.
  • On the east side lies the octagonal Chapter House, where the House of Commons met from 1257, boasting thirteenth-century apocalyptic wall paintings.

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Most of the key sights and the pick of the city’s bars and restaurants nudge together along the first few blocks of the main commercial drag, Princess Street. In 1943, the Progressive Conservative Party (PCs) took control of the provincial government and remained in power for over forty years. The PCs followed a right-of-centre, pro-business agenda and their skill in handling the popular vote earned them the nickname the “Big Blue Machine”. Nevertheless, the PCs did move with the times, passing a string of progressive acts such as, for example, Canada’s first Fair Employment Practices Act against discrimination and the Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act, both in 1951. In 1985, the PCs finally lost a provincial election, but returned to power ten years later with a flinty right-wing agenda that owed much to Britain’s Margaret Thatcher. Rio de Janeiro is a huge South American city, with the typical huge South American city problems.

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  • There’s also a national obsession among students for basketball, which predates the rise to international fame of NBA star Yao Ming, who plied his trade for the Houston Rockets.
  • The guided tours offer a glimpse into Hungary’s political history.
  • Cappadocia’s surreal landscapes look like they’re straight out of a fantasy.
  • Facilities are mushrooming along the coast with accommodation now available in every village bay.
  • Cyclo rides provide a unique and authentic local experience, allowing you to leisurely explore the streets and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

A shorter version is also available for TL10, departing from the same ferry terminal and covering the same distance with no stops (other than to pick up more passengers at Üsküdar). The tour takes around two hours, departing Eminönü at 2.30pm (April–Oct daily; Nov–March Sun & public holidays). In summer, especially at weekends, the queues to buy tickets can be very long, so allow at least half an hour, or, preferably, buy your ticket a day or two in advance. There are also often long queues to board, so late-comers end up sitting in the worst seats. The ferries are rather antiquated but comfortable enough, and you can buy snacks, sandwiches and drinks on board.

The quieter, less commercialized resorts and villages lie at either end of the island – west, towards Haniá and the smaller, less well-connected places along the south and west coasts, or east around Sitía. The high mountains of the interior are still barely touched by tourism. Travel +Leisure provides unique accommodation, dining, attractions in different destinations.

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After the War of Independence, Atatürk’s declaration of the Republic in 1923 and the creation of a new capital in Ankara effectively solved the problem. In the century following the Conquest, the victory was reinforced by the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent (1520–66), “the Lawgiver” and greatest of all Ottoman leaders. His attempted conquest of Europe was only thwarted at the gates of Vienna, and the wealth gained in his military conquests funded the work of Mimar Sinan, the finest Ottoman architect.

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Read our popular Italy trip planning guide or join our FREE Italy Travel Planning Community. Our 150,000+ members are happy to answer questions about your itinerary, how to get from place to place, the best places to stay and fun things to do. If you plan to spend any time in the country, consider staying at an agriturismo or farm stay. This is accommodation offered by Italian farmers who earn additional income by providing rooms and meals.

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The main grape varieties grown on the island are the white Vilana and the red Mantilari, Kotsifari and Syrah grapes. Wine tasting and cellar tours can be undertaken during the summer months. Make sure to carve out some time for Ginza, the premier shopping district in Tokyo. Known for its luxury boutiques, cutting-edge fashion, and sleek department stores, Ginza is the perfect place to experience Tokyo’s high-end shopping scene. Whether you’re in the market for designer fashion, unique Japanese goods, or just keen to window shop, Ginza’s wide, pedestrian-friendly streets offer a shopping experience that’s as bustling and vibrant as Tokyo itself.

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For the street party, stages are set up in different parts of the city centre, with big-name rock groups and local ceilidh bands playing to the increasingly inebriated masses. Princes Street, one of Britain’s most famous shopping streets, is all but dominated by standard chain outlets, though no serious shopper should miss out on a visit to Edinburgh’s venerable department store, Jenners, opposite the Scott Monument. More fashionable upmarket shops are to be found on and around parallel George Street, including a street (Multrees Walk) of exclusive international fashion boutiques on the east side of St Andrew Square. There’s nothing compelling about central Edinburgh’s two big shopping malls, Princes Mall and the St James Centre, which are dominated by the big names. Edinburgh’s dining scene is a feather in the city’s cap – with five restaurants holding Michelin stars, it can justifiably claim second place behind London in the UK’s fine-dining pecking order. Under this level, small diners and bistros predominate, and Edinburgh is an excellent place if you like fish and shellfish.

  • One of Gaudí’s collaborators, Francesc Berenguer, designed and built a turreted house within the park for the architect.
  • On a clear day you can see across to the Pyrenees and out to sea even as far as Mallorca.
  • While the Fringe is famous for its tiny and unexpected auditoriums, five Fringe giants colonize clusters of different-sized spaces for the duration of the Festival.
  • If you’re here on your own, you can use my blog posts about planning a solo trip to London and the best things to do in London alone for ideas.
  • Policy costs vary by your country of residence, what is covered, age, existing conditions and the insurer.
  • Any Bangkok city guide worth their salt will tell you that the place to start is Ratanakosin, the royal island on the east bank of the Chao Phraya, where the city’s most important and extravagant sights are located.
  • At Trabiworld, you can rent one of the old DDR gear shift Trabant cars and take a spin around Berlin on a “Trabi Safari” (the cars were manufactured in East Germany).

All this neighbourly greeting means a fair bit of partying, and no one is expected to go to work the next day, or, indeed, https://softfootprints.com/ the day after that. Even today, January 1 is a public holiday in the rest of the UK, but only in Scotland does the holiday extend to the next day too. For more original outlets, head for Victoria Street and the Grassmarket where you’ll find an eclectic range of antique, crafts, food and book shops.

Additionally, the university district of Sinchon is popular with the local lesbian community, many of whom congregate of an evening in “Triangle Park”, a patch of concrete near exit 1 of Sinchon subway station (take the first right). Seoul’s burgeoning queer nightlife scene has come on in leaps and bounds since 2000, when star actor Hong Seok-cheon came out of the closet – the first Korean celebrity to do so. He has since opened up a whole raft of gay-friendly bars and restaurants in Itaewon, which remains the best gay area for foreigners.

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It boasts a very fine art gallery, the Wallace Collection, and, in its northern fringes, one of London’s biggest tourist attractions, Madame Tussauds, the oldest and largest wax museum in the world. Clearly visible at the south end of Whitehall is one of London’s best-known monuments, the Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament. The lively free guided tours given by the Tower’s Beefeaters (officially known as Yeoman Warders) are useful for getting your bearings. Visitors today enter the Tower along Water Lane, but in times gone by most prisoners were delivered through Traitors’ Gate, on the waterfront.

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But if you are interested in taking day trips from specific urban or tourism hubs, you may find buses—such as the Greenline buses between London and Windsor Castle—that serve the purpose. Traveline, a partnership between transport companies, local authorities, and passenger groups, has a website that can help you plan a trip using local resources. The island offers destinations and experiences as varied as its visitors, which can make travel planning extremely challenging if you come to Bali for the first time. Despite this, the relative remoteness of the park means it is seldom visited, even by ornithological tours.

  • Staged in the spectacular stadium of the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, the Tattoo is an unashamed display of pomp and military pride.
  • Beyond the centre, Edinburgh’s liveliest area is Leith, the city’s medieval port, whose seedy edge is softened by a series of great bars and restaurants, along with the presence of the former royal yacht Britannia.
  • Once in Canada you can rely on finding outfitters, equipment rental, charters, tours and guides to help you in most areas; tourist offices invariably carry full details or contact numbers.
  • Whether you’re flying in from across the globe or making your way from a nearby European city, various options are available to suit every budget and travel style.
  • If you’re planning a day out to our historic sites, why not make a cycle ride there, back or between sites part of the fun?

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The round trip, including a 2hr 30min lunch stop at Anadolu Kavağı, takes about seven hours. Music takes center stage in summer, when international festivals bring artists from around the world. No matter when you visit, there’s always something happening — from classical concerts to contemporary art exhibitions — making Istanbul a cultural powerhouse worth exploring. Our London Itineraries are designed to help you make the most of your limited time in London, while seeing the major sights and exploring hidden gems. Each itinerary includes a daily walking route with major landmarks, hidden gems, tours, restaurants, bars, and more along it that are totally worth experiencing.

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Many well-known celebrities such as George Clooney, choose to live here and give Lake Como a taste of Hollywood style. Spending time on the lake, admiring flowers or grabbing coffee anywhere here will create a unique experience. If you’re like me, Daunt Books in Marylebone is a must, but for secondhand books, you can check out the underbridge at Southbank, or the Oxfam Bookshop in Highgate, or the Muswell Hill branch. I’ve written guides about the best things to do along the Central Line and the Piccadilly Line, and will, overtime, write guides about all the other Underground lines to help you out. When it comes to London’s hidden gems, I could write for days about those, but ultimately, what you do in London depends on your tastes, and everyone’s tastes are different. Depending on where you stay in London, you’ll find London is not lacking when it comes to coffee shops and food spots.

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This architectural gem, often unnoticed by the crowd, charms those who dare to discover it. The main feature of the palace is the “Scala Contarini del Bovolo”, a spiral staircase that rises gracefully upwards and is decorated with elegant arches that create a complex play of light and shadow. Each year on November 21 (the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin) the Signoria is processed from San Marco to the Salute for a service of thanksgiving. The Festa della Madonna della Salute is still a major event in the Venetian calendar, with thousands of people making their way here to pray for or give thanks for good health. “Mother and daughter, you behold them both in their widowhood – Torcello and Venice.” So wrote John Ruskin, and it’s almost impossible to visit Torcello without similarly sensing an atmosphere of bereavement. Today’s Rialto market is much more modest than that of Venice at its peak, but it’s still one of the liveliest spots in the city and one of the few places where it’s possible to stand in a crowd and hear nothing but Italian-spoken.

Homosexual activity is illegal in Uganda, and has been since colonial times. In 2009, existing anti-homosexuality laws were amplified by the submission to parliament of a draconian, so-called ‘Kill the Gays’ bill that caused a furore in the international community, and led to threats of withdrawal of aid and the like. The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) was eventually passed in February 2014, albeit in a moderated form (with life imprisonment replacing the death sentence). The AHA was overturned by the Supreme Court on 8 August 2014 and a pioneering Gay Pride rally was held outside Kampala in 2015 on the first anniversary of this ruling.

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The hop-on-hop-off bus is a convenient way for tourists to see the major sights quickly and efficiently. The buses feature English-speaking guides to answer any questions. Roads are almost empty during holidays at the beginning of January and May as well as during weekends and the summer.

Phu Langka: Thailand’s Best Sunrise Viewpoint in Phayao National Park

The island is an off-the-beaten-track paradise for trekkers and the diving is superb, too, with three dive centres offering packages for everyone from beginners to pros. Visiting Bangkok’s outskirts isn’t particularly popular as it harbours few attractions. However, there are a handful of places that make pleasant half-day excursions. Bangkok is a relatively young capital, established in 1782 after the Burmese sacked Ayutthaya, the former capital. A temporary base was set up on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River, in what is now Thonburi, before work started on the more defensible east bank. More than a thousand sex-related businesses operate in the city, but the gaudy neon fleshpots of Patpong and Sukhumvit’s Soi Nana and Soi Cowboy give a misleading impression of an activity that is deeply rooted in Thai culture.

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