Tag Archives: Europe

Stay near the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Guest| Leave a comment

Last year the most popular attraction in the whole of Spain was the Sagrada Familia. This unique basilica received over 3.23 million visitors, just about ousting El Prado from the top spot which received almost 3.2 million. These staggering numbers reflect how truly awe inspiring the attraction is, however its popularity poses one major problem: queues, queues and more queues!

Though the project is largely unfinished (and will remain so until around 2026), its ongoing construction is actually funded by the tourism that it attracts. Currently only 8 out of the 18 towers have been completed. Sagrada-Familia-in-Barcelona-Spain_Splendid-architecture_2920

This creates a dilemma because in order to get completed sooner, the number of tourists visiting needs to remain steady or increase. This usually means you’ll spend as much as 2 hours queueing in this attraction (1 hour to get in and another hour to use the lifts up the tower).

So, how do you beat the queues? There are two ways. Firstly you can buy tickets online to La Sagrada Familia in advance, this will save you queuing up to buy a them in person. Secondly, you should be at the entrance first thing in the morning! Tourists are most active at this attraction during lunchtime and if you’re first at the door, you’ll be first in, giving you more time to spend inside the structure and touring other attractions in Barcelona.

The most effective way of being one of the first at the door for opening time at La Sagrada Familia is to rent some Barcelona accommodation near by the attraction. There are many places to stay close to the attraction, just take a look at this list of accommodation close to Sagrada Familia. By staying near the attraction, you’ll only ever be a short walk away, and you can take photos each time that you pass by!

Inside Sagrada Familia

Inside Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is located in the Eixample Dret part of Barcelona, which is one of the best areas of the city to stay in. There are many attractions nearby like Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, and you’ll never be too far away from public transport. There are also many great restaurants nearby like La Llesca, where you can sample some authentic Catalan and Spanish dishes.

So when you come to Barcelona, it’s highly recommended you stay near Sagrada Familia. Not only will you be right next to the most popular attraction in Spain, but you’ll also be well-connected and staying in a great area.

Author: Harriet Freeman

 

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Travel tips: Get thee to Gothenburg!

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Winnie| Leave a comment

It may be Sweden’s second city but Gothenburg comes first in many areas! Considered the culinary capital of the country, it has a café culture Melbournians would be impressed by and seafood that would make Sydneysiders swoon. Gothenburg is also home to a plethora of parks, cultural attractions and music gigs to please travellers of all stripes and appetites. The number of attractions belies its population of around half a million. By contrast to larger cities, Gothenburg is visitor friendly when it comes to finding your way around and covering a lot of ground in a short trip. Not that there isn’t a ton of fun stuff to keep you occupied longer but for those heading there for a flying visit we’ve put together a terrific 24 hours itinerary of what to do when you get to Gothenburg.

travel tips in Gothenburg

Harbor Canal and Christina Church in Gothenburg.

Travel tips for 24 hours in Gothenburg

Morning – start the day of with something delicious at one of Gothenburg’s awesome pastry and coffee purveyors.  Cinnamon rolls served with coffee are a big thing in Gothenburg and definitely fall into the ‘must try’ list. At least once. Mauritz’s café on Fredsgatan has got a great reputation, as does Café Husaren and Cafe Kringlan, both on Haga Nygata.

Midday – time for a leg stretch and a breath of fresh air in the green spaces of Kungspark. After enjoying a leisurely stroll through the grass,  aim for the canal and cross it when you get to Rosenlundsbron bridge. Turn left and you will find yourself at the famous fish market Feskekôrka. The name means ‘fish church’ because it is housed in a church built in 1874, perfect for a living shrine dedicated to seafood. Bustling with fish mongers, locals and tourists, it is a dazzling spectacle for all the senses. Grab yourself an incredibly fresh fish dish such as a salad or soup and take our travel tip by heading outside to enjoy it by the water with locals.

Oysters at restaurant Gabriel in Feskekorka Fish Market. Image by heatheronhertravels, Flickr.

Afternoon - Time to head indoors and check out one of Gothenburg’s great galleries. Art aficionados will find some impressive works by masters such as Munch and Van Gogh at the Gothenburg Museum of Art and design-philes won’t be disappointed by the permanent collection housed at the Design Museum. If you’d rather a lesson in Gothenburg’s history than an afternoon admiring art, check out the Gothenburg City Museum and the evolution of the city since Viking times which is documented here.

Time a caffeine hit and a cup of coffee to push you through that afternoon slump. Local coffee roasters Da Matteo is a go-to choice for locals and with three branches is in the city it’s not hard to find one quite close by! Brilliant coffee and great sweet treats if you need an energy bump, it’s always a good travel tip to give your feet a rest for a while in preparation for the night out ahead.

If you’re not in need for a disco nap before pushing on, treat yourself to something chic from one of Gothenburg’s up and coming designers . Magasinsgatan, Vallgatan and Södra Larmgatan are good places to start and soak of the creative atmosphere as well as poke about vintage stores. Victoriapassagen is nearby and another cute shopping strip where you can get your Da Matteo coffee shot too!

Evening – Dinner time has arrived and fish lovers can continue to feast until their hearts and bellies are content. Seafood not so much your thing? Traditional Swedish dishes such as meatballs, mashed potatoes and lingonberries can be enjoyed around the city. Popular restaurants include Kungstorget and stalwart Smaka.

Ready to party with the hip kids of Gothenburg? Get into the grimy rock bar scene, easy to do with venues found all around the city and seek out one of the many live music gigs happening practically every night of the week.

Find yourself in another corner of Europe? Check out our previous posts with tons of travel tips such as where to find a brilliant brunch in Berlin or how to spend a winter holiday in Amsterdam!

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The Hottest New Holiday Destinations – Pt.2

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Mark| Leave a comment

Welcome back! It’s time to visit part 2 of our series that explores the hottest new holiday destinations around the world. The whole purpose of this series is to investigate interesting and beautiful places that haven’t been completely saturated by tourists and media coverage (yet!). Last time we visited Tanzania, Jordan and The Maldives – let’s see what we have in store this week…

1.) Belize

Travellers Magazine Belize Hot New Destinations

Located just of the North Eastern coast of Central America, Belize is bordered by Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean Sea, and is the only country in the area where English is the official language, making it very accommodating to international travellers. Known for harbouring a lush habitat with a huge amount of biodiversity, Belize is very popular with ‘Eco-tourists’. Belize also has a lot to offer in terms of historical significance, as the Maya civilization once dominated the area with a population as high as 400,000 during its peak and many temples remaining to this day. With warm year-around temperatures, exotic food, blue skies and emerald seas, Belize is perfect for couples looking for a sense of romance mixed with adventure!

 

2.) Croatia

Zlatni Rat Beach Croatia

Once belonging to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Croatia is becoming increasingly popular as a holiday destination, especially as part of a larger European trip that takes in several different countries in one go. It’s a country that can be divided into many diverse sub-regions, and it’s known for housing a a great deal of biodiversity from the Kopacki Rit wetlands through to the Karst Mountains in the Sjeverni Velebit Nation Park (although the human population itself is one of the least diverse in the world, with. There are also unique gems like Zlatni Rat beach on Brac Island in Bol, where the waters are crystal clear and visibility can extend to around 30-feet straight down.

 

3.) Doha, Qatar

Doha city skyline nighttime

Doha is one of those cities that has defined itself by choice and with precision, rather than in a disorganized and organic way. Established in 1850, the city has a population of just under 1 million, but the majority of the people are actually expatriates attracted by the tax status and lifestyle. You can be sure that it is going to increase its visibility in the eyes of the world population with the news that Qatar has been awarded the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Doha is an exciting city due to the amount of funding that has been pouring into the city, and there’s a great mix of museums, resorts and even islands that offer intrepid adventurers the opportunity to explore all the city has to offer.

There you have it – another 3 exotic locations to explore in 2013! Have you been to any of these hotspots, or could you recommend some less well-known locations to visit this year? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

 

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Edible travel tips: Top 10 breakfasts in the world

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Winnie| Leave a comment

Where to find the world’s best breakfasts

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day then that must go double when you’re traveling and need extra energy to explore new surrounds with vigour and vim! Happily, travel to foreign lands brings with it the opportunity to enjoy a veritable smorgasbord of edible delights, many of which you are unlikely to find while at home.

With this in mind I have compiled a list of the world’s Top 10 breakfasts so that if you’re are toying with the idea of taking a holiday sometime soon, you can let your taste buds lead the way with the thought of these delicious starts to the day!

Fluffy pancakes with maple syrup and blueberries – a sweet way to start the day!

Edible travel tips: Top 10 breakfasts in the world

1. France: Croissant and chocolate chaud (hot chocolate) or café au lait (coffee with milk). A classic combination and oh such a good one! Dunk the crispy, buttery pastry into a bowl of steaming liquid and enjoy this treat like a local. Travel tip: save money and buy both takeaway rather than sitting down in a fancy patisserie. It tastes just as good enjoyed on a park bench or in your hotel room!
2. Spain: Bread rubbed with garlic and tomato is the way to kick off your day in this corner of the globe. Known as Pan a la Catalana or Pan con Tomate, this is the way to enjoy fresh tomatoes where they are still ripened naturally by the sun and not plucked early and stuck in a freezer as they so often are Down Under.
3. Canada / U.S.A: Pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. We can’t be sure where exactly this breakfast originates from but do know if can be enjoyed on both sides of the border! From old school American diners that serve the stacks of pancake high to Candian cafes serving up local bacon and maple syrup this strange but winning combination of savoury and sweet is one that must be tried. Seriously, take this edible travel trip and gets some crispy rashes to go with your fluffy pancakes and let that tree sap sauce flow!
4. Britain: Enjoyed around the world, there is not doubt that ever traveller to England must indulge in a Full English at some point. Eggs, beans, mushrooms, bacon and sausages – black pudding if you’re willing – all piles onto buttery toast, will keep you going well into the day. Best enjoyed after a night of one too many pints!
5. Japan: miso soup, tofu, fish and rice are a common way to begin the day for Japanese. There are many variations of course, but a small bowl of steaming miso soup is a must and can be made with ground sesame seeds added for an extra nutty dimension. Broiled or grilled fish with rice is nutritious and filling and goes well with picked and simmered vegetables you often find at the breakfast table. Feeling more adventurous? Try some natt?, a fermented soybean dish and traditional Japanese breakfast food served in Japan – but be warned, it’s slimy texture, strong smell and flavour make this an acquired taste!
6. Malaysia: Nasi lamak is considered the national dish of Malaysia and consists of a mouth-watering variety of tasty tit bits. Traditionally served  wrapped up in a banana leaf, you can also get it on a tray or plate and it usually involves rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, some chicken or lamb curry, a hard boiled egg, crispy fried anchovies, spicy sauce and cooling slices of cucumber. Sound a bit full on for a 7am snack? Wait a few hours and have an early lunch aka brunch to enjoy this unbeatable combination of flavours.

7. Germany: A picnic of sorts, the traditional German brekkie consists of cold cuts, cheese, pickles, boiled eggs, sliced rye and white bread, honey and jam. In other words, something for everyone! Our travel tip: Make a few extra sandwiches, fold them up in napkins and save them for later!
8. Vietnam: Do like the locals and go for a bowl of steaming hot pho to start the day of right! Pho is a beef (most common) or chicken broth with noodles, sliced meat and fragrant herbs torn in at the end. A wonderful dish at any time of the day, pho slips down easily in the morning and is perfect on a cold day when you want something to warm up from the inside.
9. Australia: There aren’t many places that do brunch as well as the Aussies. With world famous coffee, especially in Melbourne and Sydney, and a vibrant café culture, you can get anything your heart desires from eggs any style with hollandaise sauce, spinach, salmon, bacon or other sides, sough dough toast, ricotta pikelets with blueberries, hand toasted museli, banana bread and anything in between.
10. Thailand: Just an example of the many destinations that enjoy balmy weather and all the sumptuous tropical delights that go with it! Start the day with a selection of perfectly ripe fruits such as mango, pineapple, pau pau with a squeeze of lime and some fresh, young coconut milk. Need something more substantial? Opt for sticky rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk and a banana shake.

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Top 5 Best Places to Celebrate New Year 2013

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Mark| Leave a comment

Don’t you get that feeling at the same time every year, where, all of a sudden you look around and realize that there is only a month or so to go until the year ends? Not just that – looking back over the past year it feels like only yesterday that you were wiping away the cobwebs of yet another gigantic New Year’s Eve celebration and welcoming a new year promising new experiences, people and surprises! Well – it is that time again, and here at Traveller’s Magazine we think it ‘s time to start thinking about where to spend your New Year’s Eve (if you aren’t one of those people who plans months in advance!!). So, for this post we’re going  to share with you 5 of the very best places to celebrate your New Year’s Eve!

 

1.) Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia

Sydney New Years Eve Harbour Bridge Fireworks

C’mon, you knew Sydney had to be on a top 5 list for NYE! Let’s go through some of the reasons why this is as good as it gets: the weather, the view over the harbour, the phenomenal fireworks, the people, the weather(!), the thrill of being across the dateline before the rest of the world, the weather, New Years Day bbqs, the beaches, and the weather. That about sums it up:)

 

2.) Times Square, New York, USA 

New York Times Square New Years Eve

At least once in your life you should experience the outrageous immensity of a New Year’s Eve celebration in the centre of the most exciting city in the world – New York City. Arguments about American culture aside, it can’t be argued that they sure know how to party, and nothing beats the electricity in the air as millions of people wait for that famous ball to countdown to a New Year!

 

3.) Plaza Reial, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona Plaza Reial New Years Eve

Barcelona in general is a fantastic place to spend your holidays, but it gets even better when it comes to the holiday season. The weather is warmer than most places you’ll find in Europe, the people really know how to party and Plaza Reial is definitely one of the best spots to spend a New Year’s Eve. Located just off La Rambla, this public square fills with revelers and provides a fantastic atmosphere!

 

4.) Champs-Elysees, Paris, France

Paris New Years Eve France

Ah, Paris, one of the most intriguing cities in the world. Romantic, yes, bustling, certainly. Filled with cultures from around the world, the City of Lights is a gorgeous enigma straddling the past and the present, and there are few more exciting places to spend NYE. On the big day, head down to the famous Champs-Elysees strip in the evening to make sure you get a good spot, or, if you’re after a memorable view head to Montmartre with a panorama over the skyline. Once the fireworks start, you’ll really feel the magic:)

 

5.) Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Copacabana Beach New Years Eve Rio de Janeiro Brazil

You’ve got to hand it to the Brazilians – they sure can throw a party when they put their minds to it. While the Carnivale is, of course, the most famous party in the country, in Rio on NYE the real action happens down on the coast at Copacabana Beach. Countless numbers of people flood the sands, and the entire coastline explodes in a dazzling display of colour and sound – and that’s before the fireworks even get started!

What have you got planned for this New Year’s Eve? Where’s the best place you’ve ever spent a New Year’s? Share your experiences with us in the comments section, we’d love to hear from you!

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Winter travel in Amsterdam

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Winnie| Leave a comment

Baby, It’s Cold Outside…

When Aussies travel to Europe it’s rare a vacation to the Continent is planned for a mid-winter arrival. Sure some travellers will shun sunshine in favour of off-peak bargains and lack of crowds, but for most people travel during the coldest season of the year does not immediately bring to mind visions of the quintessential ‘always sunny’ holiday. However, if you’re willing to brave the icy climes, winter travel in Europe can offer a world of delights not found at other times of the year.

Amsterdam is one of many destinations that offer specific charms which can only be experienced in winter. Often covered in a blanket of snow, the twinkling street lamps lining the canals and winding spiral of streets give this fairy tale city an extra special magic in winter.

The biggest drawback when it comes to winter travel in Amsterdam is the impact on bike riding. Easily the best and most enjoyable way of getting around the city, this form of transport is made easier and more pleasurable when the sun is shining. At the same time it’s worth remembering that Amsterdam experiences regular rain and strong winds throughout the year, including spring and autumn, so travelling during these seasons is no guarantee of predictable weather.  Also, when the weather is very cold but dry, nothing warms you up faster than a bike ride from point A to B!  Plus, if it’s too grim to ride there are trams and trains that snake around the city and are easy to use and quick to get around.

However, if you’re staying put in Amsterdam there is more than enough to keep you entertained in winter. Below are our Top 5 things to do – let us know you’re suggestions too!

Winter travel in Amsterdam:

Top 5 things to do

  1. Mosey around museums – Amsterdam has some world class museums and art galleries including the epic Rijksmuseum which houses a huge collection of works from the Golden Era. The Van Gogh Museum is terrific modern building boasting the largest collection of works by Van Gogh in the world and a must-see for an art lover visiting Amsterdam at any time of the year.
  2. Unwind and warm up in a sauna – a hugely popular leisure activity for young and old, there are sauna centres to be found all over the Netherlands and they are a wonderful way to get warm to the core when it’s freezing outside. Sauna centres usually have a steam room, infrared room, pool, spa, ice-cold plunge pool, monsoon showers and lounge areas. Massages and other therapeutic services are often offered. Bring a paper and spend a couple of hours or day. Just be advised – most saunas are clothing optional – and not many visitors opt for them!
  3. Ice-skating on the canals and open air rinks– when temperatures plummet and the canals freeze, locals embrace the opportunity to ice-skate on them! Far more fun than your local indoor ice-rink, going skating on the canals of Amsterdam will be an experience you won’t soon forget. Failing that, there are always open air rinks in the city too.
  4. Christmas markets – imbibe some mulled wine as you wander around one of the many magical Christmas markets in Amsterdam. A wonderful place to get into the festive spirit and find some Yuletide treats, there are Christmas markers all over the city and country, lit up with fairy lights and on during the day and night.
  5. Have a train excursion – Visiting Amsterdam during winter is a great time to take advantage of the short train trips to nearby destination such as Utrecht, Rotterdam and Brussels.  Trains in the Netherlands are warm, comfortable and fast and a great way to explore new corners of the country, especially if sitting around in the sun isn’t an option!

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A guide to Park Guell

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Guest| Leave a comment

Staying near Park Guell

Park Guell is one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona, but there’s one big problem. It’s hard to reach. One of the best solutions to this problem is to stay in Barcelona accommodation that’s close to the park. And there’s one particular place that’s located right between the park and metro, so you’ll be well connected with the rest of the city too.

OK Apartment Barcelona – Apartment Gloria is an apartment can sleep up to four people with 1 double bedroom and 1 double sofa bed. There’s a bathroom with bathtub, TV, kitchen, and internet is included. As mentioned before, the metro is very close in either direction. Walking north will take you to Vallcarca, and south will take you to Lesseps. Prices start at 47€ person/night.

Parc Guell bench.

A brief history of the park

Originally the area which is now known as Park Guell, was a housing estate that wasn’t having much success, because of this, the owner of the time commissioned Gaudí to renovate the area and thus the Park as it stands today was created. In the end, only two houses were ever built in the area. Count Guell, who the park was named after, moved into one of the houses, whilst Antoni Guadí moved into the other. Gaudí’s house has since become a museum, featuring some of his life’s work. You need to pay to enter this museum.

Key parts of the park

The first and foremost part of the park is the main entrance, it is here that you can view the famous mosaiced lizard that has become the icon of the park. You can climb the stairs in order to reach the main terrace. The terrace is one of the most popular parts of the park, and the colourful benches that surround the area are inspired by a serpent. The benches are designed to be comfortable, Guadí asked one of the workers to sit in some soft plaster to get the anatomical form of a behind for use when constructing the seating.

The pink towered building called “la Torre Rosa” by locals, is the aforementioned museum. By paying a fee of €5.50 (free for those under 10 years), you can walk around the house that Gaudí lived in for the last portion of his life, between 1906, until his death in 1926.

One thing you might want to do is climb to the top of the park, where there are wonderful views over the city, this was in fact supposed to be one of the original selling points of the housing area, that the views were amazing and it was free from the pollution of the city.

Casa Museu Gaudi.

The Future of Park Guell

Currently the park is undergoing somewhat of a mini-crisis. Back in 2007 the lizard figure by the main entrance had been vandalized, and tourism brings more and more people to the park everyday. This, coupled with the fact that the current economic crisis in Spain has pushed the local government into debt, has caused them to consider the idea of charging a fee to enter the park. This fee would be around €5 and apply only to tourists. This was planned for autumn 2012 though as of yet has not been implemented. If you’re planning to visit the park, then don’t save it for another trip, consider visiting while it’s still free.

If you want any more information about the park, or other attractions in Barcelona, leave me a comment and I’ll to my best to get back to you, or visit Things to do Barcelona.

Parc Guell.

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