Europa reisetips

There is so much to do in the Athens area, from island hopping in the Aegean and consulting with oracles at Delphi to exploring ancient Corinth or wine tasting in Nemea. Most Greek island-hopping adventures start off from Piraeus harbor in Athens, and today with the advent of high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils as well as the stately inter-island ferries, more and more islands can be enjoyed for a day. It’s easy to visit Hydra, Aegina, and Poros for the day, even on the ferry, and be back in Athens for a late supper, but the hydrofoils also enable travel to Spetses in two hours to experience its laid-back island charm, Venetian mansions, and solitary beaches. If that sounds like too much effort, take a three-hour round trip to the island of Fleves by yacht to snorkel in the pristine waters of the Saronic Gulf.

Du kan spare tid og få et mer avslappet opphold ved å bestille gå-forbi-køen-billetter og gå rett inn til attraksjonene. Gå-forbi-køen-turer og -billetter er tilgjengelige på mange av de mest populære attraksjonene og opplevelsene i Roma, som Viators eksklusive VIP-tur til Vatikanet, samt til Vatikanmuseene, Det sixtinske kapell og Peterskirken. Prioritert adgang er også tilgjengelig på andre berømte attraksjoner i Roma, som Galleria Borghese og hagene rundt, Colosseum og antikkens Roma. Dermed har du tid til å finne på andre typiske ting i Roma, som å kaste en mynt i Trevifontenen eller spise is på Spansketrappen. Du kan til og med slippe å vente på bord med en gå-forbi-køen-reservasjon på Hard Rock Café. Da blir du vist rett til bordet når du ankommer.

If you’re visiting Amsterdam in spring, a day trip to Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse is an absolute must. They only open for a couple of months a year – in 2013 from March 21 to May 20 – and every year produce a miraculous psychedelic carpet of color from the seven million bulbs planted here, with some 100 varieties of tulip as well as daffodils and hyacinths. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk consists of 19 wooden windmills – once there were 150 – and pumping stations dating from the 18th century, built to drain water from the polders as land was reclaimed from the North Sea. Well below sea level, the mills march towards the horizon on either side of the dyke. The opportunity to explore Delft, Rotterdam, and The Hague in a packed day includes a visit to the world-famous blue-and-white pottery Delftse Pauw factory in Delft and a trip up the 700-ft (185m) Euromast for panoramas over the striking contemporary architecture of Rotterdam city center.

Day 1: See London Explore London on a hop-on hop-off bus tour or a private black cab experience, and be sure to visit St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, the South Bank, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. Day 2: London Shopping and Touring Harrod’s, Oxford Circus, and Piccadilly Circus are famous for their shops, but for a more local flavour, then visit Portobello Road for its antiques (Saturdays); Borough Market for the great food (Saturday); and Camden Markets with its alternative fashions and hand-made crafts. Don't miss the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the National Gallery, or the Victoria and Albert Museum. Day 3: Day Trips Beyond Head out of the city and explore Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. Visit Stratford, birthplace of Shakespeare or the famous universities at Oxford and Cambridge. Go even further afield and try haggis in Edinburgh or snails in Paris.

Even if you’ve only got a few days in England, London makes an ideal base for exploring further afield and with many of the country’s highlights within a short distance, there are numerous options for day tours. To give you some ideas, here are our top 5 day trips from London. Discover Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath on this 11-hour coach tour from London. Enjoy an unforgettable day in the French capital on this luxury day trip from London to Paris, with an included Champagne lunch at the Eiffel Tower! Visit Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and medieval Warwick Castle on this action-packed, full-day trip from London. Head southwest of London to the picturesque, historic sites of Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral and Dover. From famous Salisbury and Stonehenge to the beautiful Georgian city of Bath, you'll see it all on a cultural day trip from London.

England’s only UNESCO World Heritage listed city, the cobblestone streets and exquisite architecture of Bath make it one of the UK’s most attractive cities and put it firmly at the top of many tourists’ itineraries. Windsor Castle is the largest working castle in the world that is still occupied by monarchy. For over 900 years, since William the Conqueror built a wooden fortress here, this has been a royal home and fortress. Queen Elizabeth spends a month at Easter, a week in June and most weekends at Windsor. This is also where she often hosts State Dinners for international dignitaries and entertains those she has knighted into the Order of the Garter (that's Sir to you and I). St George's Chapel is a working chapel and many royal weddings and funerals have occurred here; the Queen Mother and Henry VIII are buried in the chapel.

Of the global cultural wonders which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, only one represents an entire country: Vatican City. The world’s smallest sovereign state is – as well as being the spiritual home of the world’s billion or so Catholics – an incomparable storehouse of artistic treasures. It’s also one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so a pre-booked ticket which takes you to the head of the line is a must. Once you’ve mounted the remarkable double helix stairs at the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a unique overview of the origins and development of Western art awaits you. It’s a journey which takes you from fine Greek and Roman statuary to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, the undisputed masterpiece of the Renaissance, and on to contemporary ecclesiastical works. And that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the colossal house of worship that is St Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s Pietà and countless other sacred works.

Getting to Pompeii from Rome is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to take the train to Naples, and then change trains to the slower Circumvesuviana line that will take you to the excavation site at Pompeii. (The Circumvesuviana is in the same station as the main trains to and from Naples, so that part is easy - it’s just in a different part of the station.) From Rome-Naples on the high-speed train takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and then from Naples-Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana takes a little over a half-hour. You can catch an early train from Rome and be at the entrance to Pompeii with plenty of time to explore the site before retracing your steps for the journey home. It’s definitely an investment in time, since you’ll spend nearly four hours of your day in transit, but it beats missing out on the ruins of Pompeii completely.

Michelangelo is considered one of Tuscany’s most famous sons, but many of the masterpieces for which is he is best known are not found in Tuscany. In fact, Michelangelo spent much of his life in what is now the Italian capital of Rome, and you can see much of his artistic legacy in Rome today. In his artistic youth, Michelangelo was held in local esteem by the ruling Medici family of Florence, but he was by no means an artistic legend by the time he arrived in Rome in 1496 at age 21. But the following year, he began work on a commissioned piece that would become one of his most celebrated sculptural works - the stunning Pieta, which now sits near the entry of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The other Michelangelo masterpieces in Vatican City are his enormous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling was painted from 1508–1512, and the Last Judgement fresco behind the altar was painted from 1534–1541.

With hundreds of tourists taking to the route each day, Iceland’s Golden Circle route isn’t the place to get off-the-beaten-track, but there’s a reason why is so popular. The 300 km tourist road loops around some of south Iceland’s most spectacular scenery, including the Thingvellir National Park and the famous Geysir and Strokkur geysers. If you’ve only got one day to spend in Reykjavik, touring the Golden circle should check a few must-sees off your to-do list, but even with more time to explore, there’s nowhere in Iceland where you can see so much topographical variety on one short trip. The easiest way to explore the route is to take a Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik, but it’s also possible to hire a car and drive yourself, although weather conditions can make the roads difficult to navigate. Starting out from the capital, tours head east and the first stop is the UNESCO World Heritage listed Thingvellir National Park, once home to Iceland’s first parliament.

Vatikanstaten har mange imponerende historiske monumenter, for eksempel Det sixtinske kapell, Peterskirken og Vatikanmuseene. Med guidede turer får du høre om hemmelighetene og historien til disse stedene, samtidig som du går forbi køen. Det sixtinske kapell i Vatikanpalasset er stedet der kardinalene samles til konklave for å velge en ny pave. Interiøret består av overdådige fresker. Kapellet er mest kjent for taket, som ble malt av Michelangelo og forestiller skapelsen. Mange andre berømte kunstnere, som Bernini, Botticelli og Raphael, har også utsmykket palasset. Vatikanmuseene inneholder pavenes personlige samlinger, og her finner du mange verker fra antikken til renessansen og videre. Kirken var en viktig del av renessansen, og her finner du malerier, skulpturer, fresker, billedvever og portretter av paver.

Bath is one of the great treasures of Britain and at just 97 miles (156 kilometers) from London, it makes a perfect day trip. Harmony and proportion were of supreme importance to the Georgian architects who determined the current shape of Bath, and they often drew inspiration from classical styles. Luckily outstanding examples were close at hand, with ancient Roman ruins recalling Bath’s age-old reputation as a spa town from which it also derived its name. Nearby Bath Abbey watches over the town center while the Royal Crescent is the largest and most impressive of Bath’s residential crescents, which unfold in elegant arcs of honey-colored stone. Bath is also noted for its literary associations; the Jane Austen Centre celebrates its most famous resident. Numerous other small but fascinating museums cover everything from fashion to astronomy, while the lush green of gorgeous English parks provide outdoor diversion.

Sommermånedene betyr at britene endelig kan vinke farvel til en dyster himmel og si hei til (i hvert fall) litt varmere vær. Det finnes en rekke alternativer for å grave seg ned i kulturen og historien til dette legendariske reisemålet. En av de beste måtene for besøkende å oppleve de populære severdighetene på er ved å ta en hopp-på-hopp-av-tur med en dobbeltdekkerbuss. Det er en enkel måte for reisende å tilpasse en tur til sine interesser, og å utforske gatene i London uten å måtte navigere seg gjennom trafikken og rundkjøringene. Enten du er interessert i å se Windsor Castle, vaktskiftet ved Buckingham Palace eller ta en tur rundt på Tower of London og London Bridge, så finnes det nok av alternativer for besøkende som er ute etter kongelig behandling. Reisende som foretrekker å ta turen utenfor bygrensen og ta et dypdykk i Englands historiske fortid, kan reise til legendariske Stonehenge eller få et innblikk i virkeligheten på Downton Abbey via en tur innom Highclere Castle utenfor London.

For a relatively small city, Reykjavik is practically bursting with things to do. On the first day of a three-day trip, you should book a city tour; these run about 2.5 hours, which is plenty of time to catch the best of the city’s sights. You’ll see the modern Hallgrimskirkja church, the Presidential Residence at Bessastadir, the famous Fish Market, the Open-Air Museum Arbaer and the recreational valley of Laugardalur. You can pair this tour with a trip to famous Blue Lagoon Spa in the afternoon, relaxing in the spa’s blue-green waters and its geothermal steam baths. Add a spa treatment for a reinvigorating experience, and then hit the town for dinner and drinks. With over 100 bars (open until 6 am), Reykjavik is a reveler’s dream come true. If you went to bed at a reasonable hour, spend your next day touring the famous Golden Circle in an Icelandic Super Jeep. This all-day tour is a breathtaking ride past Iceland’s best-known natural wonders.

Between Paris and the English Channel lies the region of Normandy, abounding in historic sites, moody countryside and culinary hotspots. You can visit some of the area’s highlights on a day trip from the French capital, or take your time and let the Normans conquer you with charm. One of the region’s premier sights is the breathtaking tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel. The island is connected to the coastline via a causeway, ringed with a defensive wall and dominated by the soaring spire of its abbey which dates back to the 8th century. The town of Saint Malo, although in neighboring Brittany, offers a similarly well-preserved center within forbidding walls. The charming town of Honfleur, with its unique wooden church and jumble of houses surrounding a peaceful harbor, was passed back and forth between the English and the French in the Middle Ages. More recent history is remembered in the sands of Normandy’s beaches.

Bare fordi navnet assosieres med truger og isbreer betyr ikke det at Island kun er en vinterdestinasjon – faktisk så er sommermånedene en av de mest populære periodene å utforske landet på, med lysere dager som gjør at du kan dra på turer til sent på kveld. Her er noen forslag til hva du kan gjøre på Island i sommer. 1. Hesteridning Sal opp en legendarisk islandshest – en liten og tøff hesterase som er kjent for sin unike gange. Hesteridning på den islandske landsbygda er en av de beste måtene å se landets spektakulære vulkanske landskap på, i tillegg til at det er en komfortabel og rask måte å komme seg frem på. Hesteridningsturer er tilgjengelige på hele øya. 2. Fjellturer i nasjonalparkene Ikke tenk på snø og truger (med mindre du skal opp på isbreene), for fjellturer om sommeren er en varmere opplevelse, og det er den beste perioden å besøke Islands nasjonalparker på og prøve seg på noen av de berømte turstiene. Opplev Vatnajökull, Europas største nasjonalpark, for å få flott utsikt over landets største isbre og den buldrende Dettifoss-fossen, ta en dagstur til nasjonalparken Thingvellir fra Reykjavik, eller klatre i rhyolitt-fjellene i Landmannalaugar. 3. Ta en biltur Om sommeren er det mindre sjanse for isete veier og farlige kjøreforhold, og dermed er dette det perfekte tidspunktet å leie en bil eller bobil på og kjøre rundt på Island, enten som en del av en guidet tur eller på egenhånd. Kjør rundt på øya på ringveien, som strekker seg rundt hele øya, eller dra ut på en skikkelig islandsk sommerferie på kuperte fjellveier og lei en hytte i villmarken. 4. Se etter dyr Islands kystlinje yrer av et marint dyreliv, og etter hvert som været blir varmere, tilbyr båtcruise mange muligheter til å se på dyrelivet. Se hvaler i sine naturlige omgivelser uten for kysten av Húsavík, få et glimt av lundefugler på øyene Lundey og Akurey i nærheten av havneområdet i Reykjavík eller dra ut på fisketur. 5. Opplev sommerfestivaler på Island Sommer på Island betyr mange morsomme festivaler, og mange av disse arrangeres i løpet av Verslunarmannahelgi (en offentlig feriehelg i begynnelsen av august). Nasjonalfestivalen, som arrangeres på øyene Vestmannaeyjar, er en av de største. Dette er en firedagers musikk- og underholdningsfestival som tiltrekker seg tusenvis av besøkende fra hele landet, men Reykjavík har også en rekke sommerarrangementer, inkludert Gay Pride-festivalen, Menningarnótt (kulturnatt) og Reykjavík jazzfestival. Andre populære årlige festivaler er festivalen for lyse dager i Hafnarfjordur, musikkfestivalen Reykholt i Reykholt og vikingfestivalen i Hafnarfjordur.

Take a break from Rome's big-city bustle to discover the fascinating history of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. Combine the highlights of southern Italy with a trip to Naples and visit to Pompeii's haunting ruins and climb to the smoking summit of volcanic Mt. Vesuvius. Lava flows have scarred the sides of Mt. Vesuvius, and are visible on the winding road up to the summit. Climb Mt. Vesuvius and hike through soft volcanic ash and pumice as you circle the crater, with panoramic views of the picturesque Bay of Naples. You may see plumes of steam issuing from the sleeping, but still active, volcano.

Prioritert adgang gjør det enkelt å besøke verdensberømte attraksjoner, for eksempel med gå-forbi-køen-billett til Eiffeltårnet, Notre-Dame og til en guidet tur i Louvre. Men det er ikke alt. Du kan også få problemfri adgang til en rekke andre attraksjoner. Gå-forbi-køen-billetter er tilgjengelige til voksmuseet Musee Grevin, Paris Story, Musée d'Orsay og katakombene. Du får også gå-forbi-køen-billetter til flere attraksjoner utenfor byen, som det flotte Chateau de Chambord, Chenonceau og Loire-dalen eller det evig populære Versailles-palasset.Avslutt sightseeingturen med en legendarisk forestilling ved å bestille gå-forbi-køen-billetter til Moulin Rouge, eller benytt deg av prioritert adgang og en eksklusiv omvisning i private rom med en VIP-opplevelse på Versailles.

Day 1: City of Rome Explore Rome with a hop-on hop-off bus or a specialist walking tour that includes Ancient Rome, Baroque Rome, Jewish Rome, and art history. Don’t forget to visit the Colosseum, the Roman catacombs, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. Then end the day with a night tour of the city or a Tiber River cruise. Day 2: The Vatican Spend a day in the Vatican City. Witness the Papal Audience and skip the line to the Vatican Museums, Raphael's Rooms and La Pieta, in St Peter's Basilica. Then view Michelangelo's masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel or experience an exclusive viewing of the Vatican Museums. Day 3: Day Trips Take a food trip out of the city to Chianti and Umbria or an overnight tour of the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. Sail across the Gulf of Naples and discover the secrets of Capri, or take a three-day excursion to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri.

The River Seine is the lifeblood of Paris. Immerse yourself in romance, cruising under iconic bridges to see the architectural wonders and discover the daily life of this beautiful city from the water. The piece-de-resistance of any trip to the Seine appears before you: the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Magnificent in its dark gothic splendor of towers and gargoyles, it’s even more awe-inspiring from river-level – imagine waking up to that sight each day! Leaving Notre Dame and its perch on the Ile de la Cité behind, turn back to see the best view looking downstream at the tip of the island and beautiful flying buttresses at this curved end of the cathedral.

The beguiling Amalfi Coast runs from Sorrento to Salerno, with jaw-dropping cliff-top panoramas, a coastline of rare beauty and a sparkling cluster of seaside towns including ravishing Positano and Amalfi. Inland there are tranquil hiking trails through ancient landscapes around the classy hilltop town of Ravello, famed for its literary and musical connections as well as its aristocratic, stucco villas. Exploring the Amalfi Coast from a base in sophisticated Rome has never been easier; options stretch from a single day’s flying visit by high-speed train to discover the charms of Amalfi and Positano or a full immersions in the region – varying from three- to nine-day packages —which can incorporate tours of cosmopolitan, chaotic Naples; the UNESCO-listed ruins at Pompeii; the Blue Grotto on the sleek island of Capri; and overnight ferry trips to Sicily to bask in the shadow of Mount Etna.

Day 1: Cruising, Art and Cabaret Cruise the Seine or take a stroll along the river to explore the famous monuments and museums. Visit the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and Pompidou Centre or take the hop-on hop-off bus to see all the sights. Then see the spectacular cabaret shows of the Moulin Rouge, Lido or paradise Latin show. Day 2: Culture, Food & Shopping Explore the ancient streets and lively cafés of the Latin Quarter, and the Left Bank homes of Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and Jim Morrison, or the high fashion shops in St Germain des Prés. Day 3: Paris Day Trips Explore France's royal and cultural history on a trip to Monet's garden and Louis XIV's grand palace of Versailles. Discover the magnificent vineyards and world class cellars of the Champagne region home to Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon and Mumm.

Explore Rome in style on a private tour! Whether you desire a more flexible Vatican experience or want to take your time viewing legendary art and historic structures, we have a variety of private tours for you to choose from. Explore on your own on an independent tour or enjoy personalized attention with a guide. You'll come away with a better understanding of Rome and a host of stories (and photos!) to share with your friends and family back home.

Britain's favorite period drama Downton Abbey has been taking the world by storm of late, so get your top hats and teacups at the ready, and prepare to get a taste of Edwardian-era England. Highclere Castle The Small-Group 'Downton Abbey' and Highclere Castle Tour from London allows fans to perch on a chaise lounge in the grand salon where the Dowager Countess regales the ladies of the house over cups of tea; browse the 5,650-book library where the Earl of Grantham conducts business with his trusty Labrador Isis at his heels. Bampton Another popular spot for fans is the historic Oxfordshire village of Bampton, better known as its on-screen alter-ego, the fictional Downton Village. This village has a lower profile than Highclere Castle but experiences like the ‘Downton Abbey’ TV Locations Tour of Oxfordshire from London still offer the chance to spot the places Mr. Bates, Tom and Mrs. Patmore frequent on the show.