Archive for ‘city breaks’
Must-See Attractions in Europe
Spanish Riding School, Vienna
For something a little different, the Spanish Riding School offer incredible performances named after the country of origin of the Lipizzan (or Lipizzaner), the breed of horse used exclusively at the school. Performances are showcased to the public every month and it’s also possible to watch the horses during morning exercise. Opt for the guided tour if you wish to visit The Stallburg imperial stables, one of Vienna’s most distinguished Renaissance buildings and learn more about the famous stallions.
More on our Vienna City Breaks
Alhambra Palace, Granada
On top of the Sabika hill and situated on the left bank of the river Darro, the magnificent Alhambra Palace overlooks the beautiful city of Granada. The palace was originally constructed in the 13th century by the Nasrid Dynasty and later expanded upon by subsequent rulers. Today, visitors are able to look around the Nasrid Palaces, Alhambra towers, the Palace of Charles V, The Alcazaba, the Royal Baths and Generalife Gardens.
More on our Granada City Breaks
La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Designed by world-famous architect Antoni Gaudí, La Sagrada Familia began construction in 1882 and is a work in progress to this day. Embellished with beautiful stained glass windows and renowned for its distinctive architecture and profound symbolism, its not surprising that this magnificent basilica is the most visited attraction in Barcelona.
More on our Barcelona City Breaks
Lake Bled, Ljubljana
A magical place to visit, Lake Bled offers incredibly picturesque views of Slovenia and the Julian Alps which rise to 2,864m high at Mount Triglav. For a great day out, walk around the lake which takes around an hour, and afterwards treat yourself to a tasty Bled cream cake – a local delicacy you just have to try!
More on our Ljubljana City Breaks
The Northern Lights, Reykjavik
An absolute bucket list activity, if you’re lucky enough to see them, the Northern Lights (scientific name Aurora Borealis) can be the highlight of a trip to Reykjavik. From the Blue Lagoon to the Geysirs, there’s no shortage of natural phenomena in this spectacular city. The best time to see the lights are in the winter months between September and April. Northern Lights tours run frequently which take you to the very best places, making a trip to Reykjavik simply unforgettable.
More on our Reykjavik City Breaks
The Eiffel Tower, Paris
A list of must-see’s would not be complete without mentioning The Eiffel Tower. This iconic attraction was built in 1889, initially for the 1889 Exposition Universelle which was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the French revolution. The tower is the most visited monument in the world, offering magnificent panoramic views of Paris. Watch the tower light up in its daily light show which begins at dusk and sparkles every hour until 11pm.
Lisa and Stephanie’s Trip to Reykjavik
Day 1:
We arrived in Reykjavik later on in the evening where our transfer bus Gray Line was waiting for us. With a 50 minute journey into the centre we were well on our way to soak up the Icelandic culture. Arriving at the Fosshotel Reykjavik, we dumped our bags and headed back out for a bite to eat. We found a great little pizza stop called Devitos – definitely one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had!
Day 2:
It was an early start for us, so we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and headed to the coach for our first tour of the day, The Golden Circle. With a 6 hour tour ahead of us, we were excited to see the 3 main attractions that we had heard so much about from colleagues and friends. It was a 45 minute drive until we reached our first stop, Iceland’s National Park. The sun had just begun to rise as we arrived, giving amazing views over Lake Þingvallavatn with the stunning greenery around us.
Our second stop was the one we were most looking forward to out of the 3 attractions. From the National Park to The Geysirs the journey took 50 minutes. The Geysirs were incredible to witness with several at the beginning of the trail and the largest, geyser Strokkur, just a 5 minute walk up a gentle hill. The hot springs erupt every 5-8 minutes so it wasn’t long before the action happened right in front of our eyes. The wait in the cold was completely worth it – an experience neither of us have had the pleasure of seeing before.
This was our longest stop so we treated ourselves to Icelandic fish & chips for lunch. With full tummies all round, we set off for our third and final stop of the tour, the Gulfoss ‘Golden’ Waterfall, just 15 minutes along from the Geysirs. We decided to brave the stairs to the viewing platform and get as close as possible to the powerful falls. Let’s just say, we weren’t disappointed! The waterfall was stunning, almost like looking at a picture from a magazine.
Soon enough, the time had flown by and the temperatures had dropped; it was time to head back to the hotel. Arriving back into Reykjavik late afternoon, we had our first hotel visit of the trip, Fosshotel Reykjavik. As we were staying here, we already had a good idea of the facilities on offer. After our tour, we decided to check out the main shopping street Laugavegur, a 5-minute walk away. The Laugavegur is a long street lined with many shops, restaurants, and bars, ranging from tourist to high end. The street itself takes around 30 mins to walk from one end to the other.
After having dinner at the Fosshotel Reykjavik it was time to layer up in search of the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our night and the lights didn’t make an appearance. Luckily with Reykjavik excursions you can book again every night for up to 2 years, so we booked again for the next day.
Day 3:
We started our 5 hotel visits, all within walking distance of each other. Each hotel had different personalities with unique characteristics. The hotel’s we visited were:
Hotel Holt – 4*
Center Hotel Plaza – 3*
Reykjavik Centrum -4*
Hotel Borg by Keahotels – 4*
Apotek by Keahotels – 4*
With our successful hotel visits completed, it was time to make our way back, grab our swimwear and head to the Sky Lagoon.
The Sky Lagoon
The lagoon was like stepping into a bath, exactly what we needed after our morning visits. The views across Reykjavik alone are out of this world, with the infinity ledge over looking the Atlantic ocean you could very well be in paradise. The swim up bar was a must because let’s face it…. who doesn’t want a picture holding a glass of fizz while floating in a natural lagoon surrounded by incredible nature!
The 7 step ritual is unique to the Sky Lagoon and we both managed 2 minutes in the cold plunge pool. For us the sauna was a much better ritual!
Back to Reykjavik we went for another hotel visit, the 5* Reykjavik Edition. We also had the pleasure of dining in the Tides restaurant, the food was out of this world. After dinner it was time to head back out to try to catch the Northern Lights! Despite conditions being better it just wasn’t meant to be. Nevermind, it’s a perfect excuse to return to Iceland…
Day 4:
More hotel visit visits for us to complete our trip. Each hotel was in a superb location and walkable to the main Laugavegur and each hotel was unique in its own way. We visited:
Fosshotel Raudara – 3*
Hotel Klettur – 3*
Sand Hotel by Keahotels – 4*
Sadly our time in Iceland was coming to an end, so we headed back to the airport for our flight home. Iceland, its been a blast!
To find out more about Lisa and Stephanie’s visit to Reykjavik or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
Diane Visits Helsinki and Arctic Lakeland
I was lucky enough to be invited on the FAM trip hosted by Visit Finland. Finland is not a country I’m familiar with, apart from knowing the capital is Helsinki and it’s the home of Santa Claus in Lapland! Over the course of the week I discovered there is so much more to this beautiful country.
Day 1
After a smooth flight I arrived in Helsinki late afternoon and was whisked off to my hotel. The airport is roughly 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre or there’s a train station at the airport that goes straight to Central Station. Everything was very well signposted.
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Louise and Amy Visit London & Paris!
Edinburgh to London
Having had a relaxing and surprisingly quick journey down from Edinburgh on the LNER train, being looked after by very attentive staff, we arrived in London mid-afternoon. Finding the underground was easy as it is situated right at King’s Cross and we arrived to the H10 London Waterloo Hotel in around half an hour. The reception provided us with a warm welcome and the added bonus of a refreshing drink!
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Best Dog Friendly Hotels in the UK
Credit: Roberto Nickson, Unsplash
One of the best rewards about holidaying in the UK is that it’s so easy to bring your furry companion to join you. Places such as the Lake District and Cotswolds both known for their beautiful dog walking areas are full of pet friendly hotels Read the rest of this entry »
Scotland’s Castles, Lochs and Monsters!
Nathalie & Sarah on the road, Scotland
It was time for something a little bit different and this time last year, no plane was needed to get to our beautiful destination, Scotland! Read the rest of this entry »
Hannah Explores Budapest: Summer 2019
Hannah, Castle Hill Grounds, Budapest
After a comfortable train from Prague, my friend and I arrived in Budapest early in the morning and headed straight to our central accommodation to drop our bags and set out exploring the beautiful Hungarian Capital. Read the rest of this entry »
Culture and Cake in Vienna and Budapest
Day 1: Vienna
After a very early start we arrived in Vienna ready for a packed day of hotel visits. We decided to get the CAT Express train from the airport direct to the city centre which was really easy and only took 15 minutes Read the rest of this entry »
Kimberly’s Weekend in Bergen
Bergen Airport
I arrived into Bergen on Loganair’s inaugural flight from Edinburgh; a short but sweet journey that took just over an hour to complete. As we arrived into Norway by air, we were immediately greeted by those picturesque Norwegian vistas: a coastline scattered with islands and snaking fjords, and hillsides peppered with brightly coloured houses. Even with a light covering of mist and the threat of rain, Bergen was determined to be breath-taking. Read the rest of this entry »
Top Historical and Archaeological Tours
Europe is a treasure trove for those looking to discover ancient cities, historical monuments and archaeological sites. Whether beautifully preserved or in ruins, these sites tell of fascinating, poignant and often gruesome histories! Many of the most intriguing can be found in or around our top short break destinations, really making the most of your time away. Read the rest of this entry »
