We’re Paris and Andy, we are both 24 and are currently 2 months into a 7 month trip travelling around America. We’ve always loved the States and had so many places on our bucket list that we wanted to visit we decided to put both our careers on hold to take a trip of a lifetime to see them all. As we are from England, we are only allowed a 6 month tourist visa but wanted to extend our trip to 7 months so we could spend a few weeks in Canada, with a stop off in Iceland first.
5. LIDO DI JESLO, ITALY
Lido di Jeslo is a perfect destination in Italy in which you can have the best of both worlds. It is home to 15km of white-sandy beach, with Venice also easily accessible for a day trip, there is no need to worry about the dreaded smell during your stay. Although a gondola ride is expensive, you can’t beat seeing the Grand Canal from a comfy seat on the canal, try and share a ride with another couple so you can split the cost. We highly recommend renting bikes in Lido Di Jeslo and exploring the area, you never know what you’ll find! Italian food is incredibly cheap and with hundreds of.
After a very long ride we finally arrived at the hotel, which was easily reached by car. Thank god for the big parking lot in the back, it’s a small luxury some hotels don’t have (and where you have to carry the bags in the end for ages to finally arrive in the hotel). Please keep in mind a day ticket is €18 though. Our first impression when we walked in was that the place looks absolutely fabulous! The main entrance and the nice open bar gives the place a relaxed (and trendy) atmosphere! Checking in was very fast, and we loved the people who are working there (so kind and polite)! They have been very helpful. One downside is the small elevator, when you are with more than 2 persons carrying your bags it can be a problem to go up or down at once (though there is a bigger elevator if needed).
When we entered the room we got happily surprised by the space you get! We stayed in the premium room, which has a trendy design. After a long trip the best thing to do is first hit the rain shower (such a nice feeling!) and drink a bottle of Berlin beer on the king sized bed. This was not a bad way at all to close the day!
The next morning (after a very long good night sleep) we enjoyed the breakfast (even if you do not stay here we recommend trying it out, it’s fresh and versatile! With the breakfast behind us, we freshened up and head to the Metro (U Nollendorfplatz) which is just a 5 minute walk from Hotel Berlin. From this point everything is just over 30 minutes away by metro.
The second night we enjoyed Hotel Berlin’s finest dinner and cocktails (we can really recommend you trying the Berlin Flair) before heading back to the room and fuel up again for another day of wandering in Berlin (which you will read about more in this Berlin review!). The waiter who helped us that night (long, short blond hair with glasses) was so polite, I personally even felt like a royalty every time he made a small bow after bringing the dinner.
The reason why we picked this hotel is because of it’s trendy looks, the location of hotel Berlin itself and the great reviews (which we totally understand). If you are looking for a hotel in Berlin please head out to their website here: http://www.hotel-berlin.de/en/ and don’t forget to give their instagram also a visit to get a good impression about this venue: https://www.instagram.com/hotel_berlin_berlin/.
2. Reichstag
When the decision was made to move the Federal Government to Berlin, it was time to reawaken the Reichstag building from its long years of slumber on the Mauerstreifen, the military zone between the two sides of the Wall. The building has since been completely modernised, and today’s visitors to the Reichstag can look out from the building’s glass dome to get a bird’s eye view of the hustle and bustle in the city. There are also a number of government buildings in the vicinity of the Reichstag, for example the Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery) and the Brandenburg Gate.
3. Brandenburg Gate
Without a doubt, the Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s signature attraction. Built in 1791, it was just one of many old city gates around the city of Berlin which, at that time, was still a manageable size. The decorative Pariser Platz was laid at the foot of the gate and is now home to many of the city’s important buildings, for example, the Hotel Adlon with its wealth of history and the Akademie der Künste (Academy of the Arts).
4. Berlin Television Tower (Fernsehturm)
The Berlin Television Tower, which is known to locals as the Fernsehturm, and is instantly recognisable from the distance, stand outs of the skyline at 368m, making it the tallest building in the city. Built in the 1960s, visitors to the tower can enjoy a unique 360° panorama of the city.
5. Berlin Cathedral
The German Cathedral (Berliner Dom) with its magnificent dome is a remarkable example the of late 19th century architecture. Near the Cathedral are also the German Historical Museum and the Museum’s Island. On the side of Berlin’s boulevard “Unter den Linden” stands the Catholic St.Hedwigs-Cathedral.
Sometimes with overlay times, or when you are on a short business trip you have 1 day to spend in a different city. This time we highlight London in the United Kingdom. What should you do, visit and see if you only have 24 hours in one of the most beautiful cities in London? Let’s kick off and give you the best highlights in one post!
1. St. Paul’s Cathedral
This landmark cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and construction took 36 years until its completion in 1711. However there were five previous churches which stood on this site, the first dating back to 604AD. Three times the previous churches had been destroyed by fire and rebuilt and the building we see today was constructed following the Great Fire of London in 1666. The church stands on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city and is the seat of the Bishop of London. Among the auspicious events held at the cathedral were Winston Churchill’s funeral and the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Distinct features of the church include the dome which is the second largest in the world; it reaches a height of 111 meters and weights approximately 66,000 tons. The dome is supported by eight arches and is crowned by an 850 ton lantern. Visitors can climb the 560 steps to the top of the dome to get awesome views of the city. As you ascend within the dome there are a series of galleries, the first is the Whispering Gallery which earned its name due to its great acoustics. The next gallery is the Stone Gallery which is 53 meters from the ground and protrudes on the exterior of the dome above columns which circle the dome. The Golden Gallery is just beneath the lantern and is the highest point that visitors can climb.
2. Tate Modern (1.1 km, 13 minute walk)
London’s top museum of modern art houses works of art representing a range of modern art movements including fauvism, surrealism, abstract, impressionism, Op Art, minimal art, conceptual art, pop art and more. The art dates from the 1500s to present day and includes both British and international modern and contemporary art. Visitors can see work by Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Degas, Ernst, Warhol, Miro, Magritte and Pollock. There are paintings, murals, prints, drawings, photography, film, performance and sculptures. In addition to the extensive permanent collections there are temporary exhibitions displayed on the 3rd and 5th floors; temporary exhibitions of large scale specially commissioned works by contemporary artists and a collection of British art from the 1500s.
The museum has been organized so that you are taken on a journey through the significant stages of the development of modern art. The art on display has been chosen for its unique contribution to the history and development of art. Recently work from Latin America, South-East Asia and Eastern Europe has been included in the collection. Thanks to the frequent rotation of displays between the Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St. Ives there is always something new to see.
With almost 70,000 works of art by more than 3,000 artists you should plan your visit so that you get to see the highlights of the museum and the pieces which interest you most. Check-out the curator’s pick of the museum highlights which includes 195 works. Among the top picks are Whaam! By Roy Lichtenstein; Weeping Woman by Picasso; Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych; The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse; Recumbent Figure by Henry Moore and Water-Lilies by Claude Monet. So you can see by this impressive list of the crème-de-la- crème of artists and artwork why the Tate Modern has earned its stellar reputation.
Admission to the Tate Modern is free except for special exhibitions. You can download a map of the massive 6 level museum from the museum website. There are two eateries in the museum, the café on the 1st floor and a restaurant on the 6th level where you can get stunning views across the river and city from large panoramic windows. The Turbine Hall has been closed for part of 2013 and will be open again in early 2014.
3. London Eye (1,9 km, 23 minute walk)
Among all the historic attractions of London the London Eye is one of the more recent and contemporary attractions. The Eye is a huge Ferris wheel located on the edge of the Thames River in the Jubilee Gardens. The wheel was built as part of the millennium celebrations and has changed name several times due to different ownership and sponsoring, at present it is officially called the EDF Energy London Eye. The wheel took 1.5 years to build and was designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield. It is constructed from 1700 tons of steel and has foundations made with 3000 tons of concrete.
The wheel is 135 meters high and has a diameter of 120 meters, it was completed in 1999. The wheel has 39 sealed egg shaped capsules which can each hold up to 25 people. Each capsule is 8 meters long and weighs 500kg. In each capsule there is air-conditioning, seating and interactive screens which give information about the sites you can see below in London. One full revolution of the wheel takes about 30 minutes and at ground level the passengers get on and off without the wheel actually stopping; as the Eye rotations at such a slow rate (26cm per second).
From the capsules passengers have a 360 view of London and most of the famous landmarks can be seen from the wheel. There are a number of combination tickets available for the wheel as well as tickets which include a boat ride down the Thames which brings you to the Eye.
While in London, avoid the long lines and save money by getting London Eye tickets in advance.
4. Big Ben & Houses of Parliament (0,6 km, 8 minute walk)
The building widely referred to as the Houses of Parliament is actually called The Palace of Westminster. It is located on the banks of the River Thames and is the place where Britain’s House of Lords and House of Commons convene.
The site where the Palace of Westminster stands today was originally the site of an 8th century Saxon church called West Minster (west monastery). In the 10th century the royals paid an interest in the site and when Edward the Confessor came to power in 1042 he moved his court to Westminster and had a Benedictine abbey and royal church built.
Under William the Conqueror Westminster Hall was built, it is the largest hall of its kind in Europe. Westminster gained importance and grew as different kings made additions to the edifice. In 1265 the two houses of parliament were created, the House of Lords met at Westminster while the House of Commons had no permanent location. In the 13th century King Henry III made several alterations including the Queen’s Chapel, Queen’s Chamber and the Painted Chamber or King’s Chamber which have survived. St. Stephen’s Chapel (1184-1363) was redesigned over the years with beautiful glazed windows, a vaulted wooden roof and walls covered with murals in scarlet, green and blue shades. In 1365 King Edward III had the Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft completed; it was here that the royal court and household prayed. In 1547 the House of Commons joined the House of Lords also meeting at the palace thus Westminster became the undisputed central seat of government.
A fire destroyed the palace in 1834 and the only parts of the original medieval palace which survived are the Cloisters, Chapter House of St. Stephen’s, Chapel of St. Mary’s Undercroft, the Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower which was built in 1365. After the fire a new neo-Gothic structure was designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin and completed in 1870.
The parliament building has three towers, the octagonal Central Tower; Victoria Tower and the most famous Elizabeth Tower. Victoria Tower (1860) stands opposite Elizabeth Tower, here the records of both houses of parliament have been kept since 1497. During the parliamentary year the British flag is flown on top of the 98 meter high tower.
Big Ben is the name of the bell which hangs in Elizabeth Tower which is at the north end of the Houses of Parliament. The tower is commonly referred to as Big Ben, it is 96 meters tall and UK residents can climb the 393 steps to the belfry. The square tower bears the famous four clock faces of the Great Clock of Westminster. The clock faces of this accurate time piece are 7 meters in diameter and the hour hands are 2.7 meters long. Within the belfry there are five bells, four strike the Westminster Chimes on the quarter hour and the largest bell, Big Ben, strikes on the hour.
UK residents can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament, observe parliamentary debates and even climb up into the Big Ben belfry. Foreign visitors can tour the Parliament building on Saturday and during the Summer Opening, they can also watch debates and committee hearings when Parliament is in session.
5. Churchill War Rooms (0,5 km, 6 minute walk)
The Cabinet War Rooms were constructed in 1938, but they were opened and become operational later in August 1939, soon before the outburst of war. They were used through World War II, before being neglected after the surrender of Japan in 1945. After the war ended, the true historic significance of this structure was realized, which in turn led to the preservation of the Cabinet rooms.
The highlight of the museum is a 15 meters (50 foot) interactive table that provides visitors with an access to scanned materials, predominantly from the archives center of Churchill. The museum won a prize in 2006, which is known as “Council of Europe Museum”. Approximately 300,000 tourists pay a visit to this legendary place every year.
6. Westminster Abbey (0,4 km, 6 minute walk)
This religious edifice is where royal British coronations and burials are held, it is officially a place of worship owned by the royal family. The Abbey stands next to the Houses of Parliament on the edge of the River Thames and parts of the structure have survived since 1050 although the building began as a shrine established here in 616. Edward the Confessor had the Abbey built here in order to redeem himself in the eyes of the Pope after the king failed to take a required pilgrimage. The Abbey was completed in 1065. Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmor were responsible for the addition of the two western towers in the 1700s. The original style was Romanesque but between 1245 and 1517 it was redesigned in the Gothic style. Parts of the King James Bible were translated here and later the New English Bible was compiled here.
The building is famed for its medieval architecture and features like the coronation throne. In the Abbey you can see the Poet’s Corner where the likes of William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer are buried. Among the royals entombed here are Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary and King Henry III. Other famous Brits buried in the Abbey are Charles Darwin, Henry Purcell, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone. Above the Great West Door you can see statues of ten 20th century Christian martyrs including Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King Junior and Dietrich Bonheoffer. The relics of the Royal Saint Edward the Confessor are kept in the Sanctuary and the shrine attracts pilgrims who come to pay homage to the saint. The beautiful Chapel House was built in the 1200s and restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1872. The octagonal chapel has eight shafts supporting a vaulted ceiling. Within the 11th century vaulted undercroft is the Westminster Abbey Museum which has been open to the public since 1908.
Don’t miss these top places to visit on your trip to London. From the modern Coca-Cola London Eye, to the historic Tower of London, London’s top 10 tourist attractions are a must-see on any London sightseeing trip. Even better, many London landmarks are free to visit. There are also plenty of kid-friendly places to visit in London, such as the SEALIFE London Aquarium and Kensington’s Science Museum. Soak up some culture at London museums, visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace, or take the perfect picture with Big Ben.
1. British Museum
The world-famous British Museum exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times, from around the world. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. Some exhibitions require tickets. Read More.
Amsterdam is maybe the most beautiful city of Europe containing the best highlights of this continent! Despite the obvious presence of thousands of visitors, its life remained authentic. From the romantic Canals to the red light district and the various amount of unique cafés, Amsterdam has something to offer for everybody. Nevertheless, there are places in the city you should not miss during your visit. We from 123 Wander selected the 10 hightlights you should see when you are scheduling a city trip to Amsterdam The Netherlands.
1. Amsterdam Canal Ring
The city old centre is formed from canal rings, which give you the feeling of space, freedom and peace. Walk through these canal streets or better – take a trip with a boat by boarding one of the tourist cruises or by renting the boat yourself. Anther way to explore the Venice of the North is to take a ride on a bicycle. Any way you decide for – enjoy this city, one of the most beautiful in the world.
If you think the dance music scene is big in the US, just wait until you hear how much it’s taking the rest of the world by storm. Unless you’ve been too hung up on the happenings in your own neck of the woods, you may have noticed that our culture is rapidly spreading to all corners of the globe, as new festivals, nightclubs and events continue to pop up in big cities on the regular. Here are the top five international destinations that should be on your radar for 2016.
SOUTH KOREA
Korea has undoubtedly the biggest dance music scene out of any Asian country that I’ve experienced. I spent two years living and teaching English in Seoul, and I had an absolute blast raving nearly every weekend.
Korean people are lively and energetic, and they know how to get down better than any other culture I’ve ever seen. Almost everyone religiously drinks soju—a rice liquor similar to Japanese sake—and it’s sold for $1 per small bottle. Take a few bottles of this good stuff down the hatch, and you’ll understand exactly why the Korean crowd is always ready to get wild and rowdy. And just wait until you see how they dance; it’ll blow your mind!
Notable nightclubs in Seoul: Octagon, Ellui, Syndrome, Mass, Answer
Paris is one of the moest romantic cities in the world, you could visit the Louvre or head to the Eifel Tower, but if you already have done that (or you don’t want to see what the majority wants to see) you should read further and see what we have in store for you!
Make the most of free first Sundays
If you get your timing right, you can visit some of the most popular museums and monuments in Paris for free, thanks to the free first Sundays programme. Among those included are tourist magnets such as the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, as well smaller quirky spots such as the Albert-Kahn musée et jardins (a homage to gardens around the world) and the Musée de l’Assistance Publique, which celebrates the history of Paris hospitals. The free Sundays programme offers the perfect opportunity to poke your nose into some of the places you may not have considered visiting with a door tax. •en.parisinfo.com
Iceland is one of our favorite countries. So many natural wonders here! Only a few top lists do it without Iceland, therefore we created this list made entirely of Icelandic beauties. Have you seen any of them? Aren’t they unbelievable?
10. Whale Watching
The gentle marine giants can be seen from the different locations in the country including Reykjavík. Several companies organize the 2-3 hour whale watching tours. Icelanders also hunt whales, so later you can order it in the restaurant. Cruel, but this is life.
Why to go there?
A rare opportunity to see these amazing creatures.
