European
Travel Guide
Concise Tourist Information
'I want to travel in Europe... I'm only going to a graveyard, but it's a most precious graveyard' Dostoevski
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16 European countries use the euro [€] as currency: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.
11 other countries in the European union do not use the euro: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom [also known as UK, including 'Great' Britain].
The ten cheapest cities in Europe 2009 [for normal 3* tourism]: 1 Budapest, Hungary. 2 Warsaw, Poland. 3 Prague, Czech Republic. 4 Tallinn, Estonia. 5 Riga, Latvia. 6 Istanbul, Turkey. 7 Geneva, Switzerland [!]. 8 Stockholm, Sweden. 9 Oslo, Norway. 10 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Italy, San Michele in Foro, Lucca
So what has European Travel got to offer you?
Architecture:
This crammed and chaotic part of the world has a stunning variety of architectural
styles, both public buildings and private. From Paris' Eiffel Tower to
the cramped but characterful canalside housing of Amsterdam, from Barcelona's
melting Sagrada Familia to Venice's decaying palazzos, and from London's
Houses of Parliament to Vienna's backstreets, the area has the greatest
And don't forget some amazing post-modern architecture too, ranging
from Bilbao's wacky Guggenheim museum to Berlin's crystal Reichstag.
Madrid, Plaza Mayor, Spain
Walkabout: most Euro city centres are compact,
reasonably well preserved and have developed car-free or car-limited pedestrian
areas that make travelling around the city centres a pleasure. And then
there's Venice...
History: 2,000 years of brutal, fascinating
history lurks behind the civilized facades of most Euro cities. World
changing civilizations like ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, Napoleonic
France, Victorian England, Turkey's Ottoman Empire, Spain's conquistadors
and Germany's Third Reich rose and fell in Europe - and the scars are
still visible.
London, British Museum, England
Culture: The cultural heritage on show in
every Euro city is staggering. Among the world beating museums and galleries
are St Petersburg's Hermitage, Paris' Louvre, London's British Museum,
Madrid's Prado, Istanbul's Topkapi palace, and Rome's Vatican. In most
cases the building housing these treasures are treasures themselves.
Cuisine: European cuisine has also given
the world some everlasting icons. Taste the original pizza in Italy, caviar
in Russia, roast beef in England, coffee in Vienna, croissants in France,
sausage in Germany. Then go and have a Macdonald's if you must...
Budapest, Hungary
Style: Style and fashion are a dynamic part of everyday life in much of the Euro zone too. From London's punk/grunge/whatever to Paris' haut couture to Italian leather to Scandinavian minimalism, the creative process is constantly being pushed to the limit. Shopping in the right places in Euro cities will yield styles ranging from wild and wacky avant garde to perfect classical, though prices often require deep pockets.
Edinburgh Festival, Scotland
Festivals: Europe's cities also offer a rich crop of strange and wonderful festivals, like the Bull Running in Pamplona [Spain], the masked Carnival in Venice [Italy], Scotland's huge and crazy Edinburgh Festival, Salzburg's [Austria] prestigious music Festival and, and ...
Escape: Finally, when you're tired of the cities, there's plenty of travel interest in the countryside: castles and palaces and ancient ruins and mountains and lakes and sports of every description to refresh you before you go back to the cities.
Ireland, Moher cliffs walk, County Clare
European Travel Guide and pictures © Bugbog.com and licensors