Europa restips

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.

Bara för att namnet för tankarna till snöskor och glaciärvandringar betyder det inte att Island bara är ett vinterresmål. I själva verket är sommarmånaderna en av de mest populära besökstiderna, med fler solljustimmar som ger möjlighet att lägga rundturer sent på kvällen. Här är några förslag på vad du kan göra på Island under sommaren. 1. Rid på hästar Kliv upp i sadeln på någon av de legendariska islandshästarna – en liten och tålig inhemsk hästras som är berömd för sin unika gångstil, kallad tölt. Det går snabbt men är bekvämt att tölta fram över den isländska landsbygden och det är ett av de bästa sätten att få se landets spektakulära vulkanlandskap. Det finns gott om ridturer runtom i landet. 2. Vandra i nationalparkerna Ta av dig vinterstövlarna och snöskorna (om du inte beger dig till glaciärerna), för sommarvandring är en mycket mildare historia. Det är även den bästa tiden att besöka Islands nationalparker och ta sig an landets världsberömda vandringsleder. Åk till Vatnajökull, Europas största nationalpark, där du har vidsträckt utsikt över landets största glaciär och de dundrande Dettifossfallen; gör en dagsutflykt från Reykjavik till nationalparken Þingvellir eller klättra i de berömda ryolitbergen i Landmannalaugar. 3. Ta en biltur Med mindre risk för isiga vägar och förrädiska körförhållanden är sommaren den perfekta tiden att hyra bil eller husbil och köra runt på Island, antingen som en del av en självguidad rundtur eller en utflykt på egen hand. Glid runt ön på ringvägen, som går runt hela landet, eller trotsa de tuffa bergvägarna och hyr en timmerstuga i vildmarken för en riktig isländsk sommarsemester. 4. Naturskåda Islands kust kryllar av marint liv, och när vädret blir varmare erbjuder båtkryssningarna gott om möjligheter att se vilda djur. Se valar i deras naturliga miljö utanför Húsavíks kust; få en glimt av häckande lunnefåglar på öarna Lundey och Akurey i Reykjaviksbukten; eller åk på djuphavsfiske. 5. Upplev Islands sommarfestivaler Sommar på Island innebär ett antal roliga festivaler där många äger rum under Verslunarmannahelgi (en ledig helg i början av augusti). Nationalfestivalen som hålls på öarna Vestmannaeyjar är en av de största, en fyra dagar lång festival med musik och underhållning som lockar tusentals besökare från hela landet. Men Reykjavik har också ett antal sommarevenemang, bland annat Gay Pride-festivalen, Menningarnótt (Kulturnatten) och Reykjaviks jazzfestival. Andra populära årliga festivaler inkluderar Ljusa dagar-festivalen i Hafnarfjörður, Reykholts musikfestival i Reykholt och Vikingafestivalen i Hafnarfjörður.

Varmare årstid innebär att britterna äntligen slipper den grå himlen och får åtminstone lite varmare väder. Det finns många möjligheter att fördjupa sig i kulturen och historien bakom det här berömda resmålet. Ett av de bästa sätten för besökare att se alla sevärdheter, är att åka på en hoppa på/hoppa av-rundtur i dubbeldäckarbuss. Det är ett lätt sätt för resenärer att anpassa en resa efter sina intressen och utforska Londons gator utan att behöva navigera i stadstrafik och rondeller. Oavsett om du är intresserad av att se Windsor Castle, vaktombytet vid Buckingham Palace eller att göra en rundtur i Towern och London Bridge, finns det många möjligheter för besökare som vill bli kungligt bemötta. Resenärer som föredrar att ta sig utanför stadens gränser och dyka rakt ner i Englands historia kan bege sig till världsberömda Stonehenge eller ta en titt på verklighetens Downton Abbey via ett stopp vid Highclere Castle utanför London.

As busy as you're likely to have been packing, planning your trip, checking luggage and that lot, why not ease into your vacation with a laid-back morning tour of Athens, which highlights modern marvels with the wonders of the ancients. From there, on to Athens' crown jewel, the towering Acropolis. Alternatively, walking and/or biking are great ways to see the city, and a private walking tour with the option to be a bit more photographic is always a nice introduction to the city. Cradled by Mount Parnassus, the modern, buslting town of Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and original resting place of the Delphic oracle - the most important oracle in ancient Greece and a major site for the worship of Apollo. Explore the Temple of Apollo and other famous sites on a day trip from Athens, or venture further on a multi-day Delphi tour. Complement your experience of classical Greece with a half-day visit to Cape Sounion.

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.

Your first stop in Santorini will most likely be Fira, the island’s main town. Catch up on Cyclades culture at Fira’s folklore museum, or browse the string of goldsmiths’ shops lining the lagoon’s picturesque rim. Then follow the path north to Oia, a leisurely few hours’ cliff-top walk, and explore the village backstreets. Stay on to catch one of Oia’s legendary sunsets before heading back to Fira for a night of wining, dining and partying in the town’s clutch of tavernas, restaurants, bars and clubs. Choose your day trip destination to suit your mood. Will it be a lazy day at Kamari Beach, soaking up the sun, snacking at beach bars and diving into the sea for a snorkel? Or will it be a short sail to the island of Thirassia, to indulge in a long leisurely lunch at a local taverna? A more active and extended day trip takes you to the island of Ios, to explore the main town, Hora, and the island’s beaches, inland villages and Bronze Age ruins.

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.

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.

The Harry Potter series have enchanted children and adults alike, with the film blockbusters generating interest in the real and fantasy locations. However, whether you arrive in London by broomstick or jumbo, you can still see some of these sites on a guided walking or black cab tour. With a tours tailored to Potter fans you’ll see Diagon Alley, Platform 9 ¾, the Entrance to the Leaky Caldron and much more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Varmare årstid innebär längre dagar och mer tid att utforska staden. Edinburgh erbjuder resenärer flera sätt att utnyttja solskenet, med många kulturella och historiska sevärdheter och sightseeing. Historieälskare kan anmäla sig till rundturer till fots och se välkända sevärdheter med hundratals år på nacken, till exempel välkända Edinburgh Castle och Edinburghs ökända fängelsehåla. Och precis som i de flesta större städer i Europa är de populära hoppa på/hoppa av-rundturerna med buss ett enkelt och smidigt sätt att få ut så mycket som möjligt av din begränsade tid här. De som hellre njuter av de arkitektoniska höjdpunkterna hittar en handfull imponerande kyrkor, som Rosslyn-kapellet och Dunfermlines kloster, som har det bästa av andlig konst och design. Resenärer som vill åka lite längre bort kan välja att bege sig till Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond, Isle of Skye och det skotska höglandet, ett oerhört pittoreskt landskap där besökarna får uppleva naturens (och historiens) oerhörda skönhet.

The Scottish Highlands are one of Europe's last great wilderness areas. Some come for the sweep of desolate, rugged beauty guaranteed to take your breath away. Others enjoy taking in the history of the castles and the Gaelic traditions that connect the area to its storied past. If Scotland triggers thoughts of tartan and kilts for you, you're dreaming of the Highlands. Think Highlands and you'll think of wild, windswept hills and cliffs plunging into ice-cold lochs. Take in spectacular views of the mysterious of Scotland's most famous lakes: Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. Explore the area's national parks on foot or by bike along its many dedicated trails and paths. Revel in the romance of historic castles and manors such as Stirling and Dunrobin, breathe in the calm of villages like Pitlochry and Kylesku, or sample some of the world's finest whiskies.

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.

The heart of Roman civilization, which once included some 80 million inhabitants, has now been reduced to a series of important ruins in the center of the city of Rome. It is believed that Rome itself was founded in 753 B.C. by brothers Romulus and Remus, decedents of a Trojan prince. Over just a couple of centuries the city evolved into the most powerful entity on the planet, with over 20 percent of the entire Earth's estimated population under its control at one point. In its glory, this part of the Roman city was full of intricately built temples and other important buildings made of the world's finest marble and stone. However, in the 15th century, many of the ancient city's temples were scavenged of their materials and used to build a number of churches and other more modern buildings.

In and around the Cotswolds you’ll find a huge number of historically significant sites. Like the cobble-stoned streets of Oxford with its famous university and Christ Church Cathedral. Then if you travel north, you will find Blenheim Palace, where The Duke of Marlborough still lives and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. In Stratford-Upon-Avon there is traces of the great William Shakespeare everywhere and then further north along the Avon River you’ll find the 950-year-old looming towers of Warwick Castle. Finally you will reach Bath, nested in the embrace of the Cotswolds with its Georgian town, Bath Abbey, the Jane Austen Center and Royal Crescent.

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.

Following the route of York’s medieval City Walls is a perfect way to take in the sights. It’s free to climb the well-preserved remains and strolling along the ramparts offers panoramic views of many of the city’s top attractions. Stop off along the way to admire the magnificent gothic York Minster Cathedral, climb to the top of Clifford’s Tower and sip coffee with a view of the iconic Micklegate Bar, the monumental gateway to the city. As one of England’s oldest cities and most thriving university towns, it’s no surprise that York has a wealth of museums and there’s truly something to suit all tastes. Experience life through the ages at the innovative York Castle Museum; ponder the archaeological treasures at the Yorkshire Museum; or clamber aboard steam locomotives at the National Railway museum . York is a hugely popular shopping destination so put aside some time to hit the shops and bag some unique souvenirs.

Det finns massor av upplevelser för barn och ungdomar i Europa där personligheter från historien och litteraturen väcks till liv. Här är några av de största attraktionerna i Europa, i fyra populära länder. Barnen kommer att älska dem. Frankrike Överst på de flesta barns önskelista står Disneyland Paris med fem temaområden, till exempel Adventureland och Pirates of the Caribbean. Cirka 35 km norr om Paris ligger Parc Asterix, som hyllar de populära berättelserna om gallerna och antikens romare med berg-och-dalbanor, forsfärder och spökhus. Barnen kommer också att älska de bevarade minnena från romartiden, som den fantastiska akvedukten Pont Du Gard och amfiteatrarna i Nimes och Arles. Italien Vid Colosseum och Forum Romanum i Rom står legionärer i full soldatmundering, och det interaktiva museet Explora är särskilt tänkt för barn. Inget väcker det förflutna till liv som en promenad bland ruinerna i Pompeji eller ett besök i den medeltida bergsbyn San Gimignano, som hämtad ur en saga. Gardaland i norra Italien har berg-och-dalbanor och vattenparker under sommaren, och Hydromania utanför Rom lockar med massor av vågbassänger och vattenrutschbanor. Spanien Stränderna, djurparkerna och de barnvänliga museerna gör Spanien till ett fantastiskt resmål för familjen. Den som älskar slott och borgar måste besöka Alhambra i Granada och den intressanta staden Toledo. Gaudís mosaiker och märkliga arkitektur får dig att häpna i Barcelona, där familjen också kan njuta av badstränder, sköna parker, Bubbleparc på sommaren och nöjesparken Portaventura i närheten. Tyskland Tyskland lockar barnen med Rhenlandets spännande borgar och julmarknader med stämningsfullt ljus. I Berlin och Frankfurt finns barnmuseer med aktiviteter, i Europa-Park i närheten av Freiburg finns berg-och-dalbanor och vattenbanor med Europatema. Disneys slott har inspirerats av borgen Neuschwanstein i Bayern, och medeltidsstäderna utefter Romantiska vägen är som hämtade direkt ur bröderna Grimms sagor.

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.

In August, the Festival City explodes with arts events and the streets fill with a cosmopolitan melange of visitors high on a heady mix of culture and single malt. Day 1: Old Town and Edinburgh Castle Start at the castle and explore Royal Mile, then see how people lived in the 16th century in Gladstone's Land tenement. Day 2: New Town, Parks and Modern Edinburgh New Town dates from the 18th century. Graceful neoclassical buildings front squares, circuses and parks. Don't miss George Street, and Charlotte Square, where Scotland's First Minister lives. Day 3: Discovering Scotland The Scottish Highlands have a wild beauty all their own and are dotted with castles and famous lakes like Loch Ness and Loch Lomond. Scotland invented golf, and St Andrews is considered the home of golf. And you can't visit Scotland without paying homage to its most famous product: whisky. All are within day trip distance of Edinburgh.

With so many famous landmarks, world-class museums and famous shopping streets, London is a city that you could spend weeks exploring.Start your day early with breakfast at one of Covent Garden’s atmospheric cafés where you can enjoy some freshly baked pastries while ogling the street performers as they set up shops on the square. From here it’s an easy stroll to Leicester Square, where you can pick up some last minute tickets for a West End show in the evening and hop on one of the open-roofed sightseeing buses which will take you around the main sights – don’t miss a stop off at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace is sure to be on your list, so time your arrival for the changing of the guards, after which you can enjoy one of London’s impressive Royal parks, with a tour of St. James’s Park and enjoy a picnic lunch by the idyllic lake.