EUROPE

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Should you see or skip Europe’s top icons?Robert ReidLonely Planet Author

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/southwest-england/stonehenge/travel-tips-and-articles/76611

Lonely Planet recently asked travellers about ten of Europe’s top travel icons – are they must-sees or tourist traps? Here are the results and my commentary, culled from over 13,000 responses. The list begins with the favourite (the nearly universally loved Parthenon in Athens) and finishes with an Irish rock most feel is best left unkissed.

1. Athens: The Parthenon You cannot go to Athens and skip the Parthenon, the poster child of the Acropolis, itself the most important ancient site in the Western world. And a relative bargain at €12 entry. Built in 438BC for a big athletics and religious festival, it’s dedicated to Athena, and its name means ‘virgin’s apartment’. It’s one amazing apartment.

2. Rome: The Colosseum It’s not only Rome’s, but Italy’s top attraction. And, in summer, that means lines that rival the gladiator battles once staged there in terms of infamy and gore. The biggest mistake you can make is showing up without a booking. Don’t. Pre-book tickets online (worth the €1.50), use the combo-ticket Roma Pass, or buy a ticket at the Palatino entrance to avoid the longest waits. Another option is joining walking tours that can get you past the lines too.Though you could just skip it. Many visitors, including myself, have found the Colosseum’s insides a bit underwhelming. And if your Roman holiday is brief, consider saving those few hours for something else. It’s not like they’ll be wasted.

3. Paris: Eiffel Tower It’s essentially impossible to go to Paris and not get a glimpse of the structure that Paris once dismissed as the ‘metal asparagus’. But do you really need to pay to go up it? In summer’s peak season, you can save a few euro by taking the stairs, and wait times by pre-booking tickets online (www.tour-eiffel.fr).But if time’s short, why not stick with views of the tower? We put together a list of best places around Paris to see the tower in 1000 Ultimate Experiences. A favourite of mine is from the Hippodrome d’Auteuil, a crumbling-yet-glorious old grandstand where you can watch horse races while having a sandwich and coffee under the gaze of Eiffel. Plus entry is free on weekends.

4. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle If you’re in Edinburgh, it’s a crime to miss the castle (though that doesn’t necessarily mean you should cross Britain for it). Our Edinburgh author Neil Wilson begs city visitors to start their trip there, calling it the very reason for Edinburgh’s existence. Other than getting a look at Scotland’s crown jewels (and who knew the Scots have crown jewels too?), the best part of a visit is simply the city views from Argyle Battery.

5. Barcelona: Sagrada Família Always feels weird paying to go into a church, doesn’t it? Still, the Lonely Planet Barcelona author Damien Simonis says if you only have time for one sight in town, this is it. And who doesn’t love an obsession? Antoni Gaudi spent 43 years building it, and a century later, it’s still not done. Shell out the extra €2 for a lift ride up to the towers for views, and look for endless surprises in details (check out the far right of the Passion Façade in the afternoon sun). When the cathedral’s done – supposedly between 2020 and 2040 – it will stand a third taller than you see now.

6. Pisa: The Leaning Tower Seventy percent? Really? Here’s where we diverge from the masses. Seven of 10 said ‘si’ to Pisa’s 13th-century tower, and it is actually fairly impressive at first look. But time in Italy might as well be measured in gold – and it’s simply better spent in nearby Tuscan villages, where – if you search – you can find more atmospheric villages, better food, and fewer tourists posing those cheesy ‘prop up the tower’ photos. Pass on Pisa unless you’re using its airport for budget flights around Europe

7. Wiltshire, England: Stonehenge Stonehenge, with its mysterious origins and a rather moving line of standing rocks, does carry a special power, but it isn’t exactly situated across the street from Westminster Abbey. You sort of have to want to go out here (no bus service reaches the site, taxis from Salisbury are £35), so most visitors come on tour buses. If you go, plan ahead for access to the Stone Circle on early morning/evening walks (see www.englishheritage.org.uk). Or course, there’s always Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska – a mock Stonehenge made out of old cars in a field.

8. Venice: Gondola Rides If it’s your dream to ride one, go for it – just know you’re likely to shell out €100 for the 40-minute experience. A more local and far cheaper alternative is riding traghetto (a commuter gondola) across the Grand Canal for 1 euro. There are several crossings, but sadly, no, the drivers don’t wear striped shirts and funny hats.

9. London: The London Eye Anyone who mistakes all Brits for keeping sentimentality at bay need to see how gooey-eyed even hardened Londoners get over this glorified Ferris Wheel. They love the Eye. The ride certainly offers lovely views, though does seem a slightly tacky newcomer to classic London on the Thames.If it’s views you want, there are options with a bit more history (though they come with many stairs to climb). St Paul’s Cathedral has stunning views from the dome-top though, like the Eye, they’re expensive. The lesser-known and fascinating Monument to the Great Fire of London, built by Sir Christopher Wren (who is credited for reinventing London’s skyline after the 1666 fire), is just £3.

10. Ireland: Blarney Stone Sorry, but kissing the Blarney Stone may be the most inexplicable cliché in all of Europe or the world. Still, the visitors pile into the 15th-century Blarney Castle outside Cork City, climb up the steep, slippery steps, to bend over a long drop on the battlements, and kiss that famous rock. Views are lovely at least.Actually the kissing tradition is relatively modern. It supposedly rewards you with the gift of gab (in fact, Elizabeth I – the Cate Blanchett queen – supposedly was so exasperated with Lord Blarney’s ability to talk without result that she coined the phrase ‘to talk blarney’). If you go, take photos of those lined up to do it, and skip it. Or just have another pint back at the pub.

Places To Visit In LondonLondon is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. With a lot of wonderful sights to visit, you will have a great time in your vacation. Two remarkable tourist attractions in London are theBuckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Also, enjoy walking in the streets of the City of London to have a good view of some of its historic buildings.Places To Visit In RomeBeing known as the “capital of the world,” Rome is an enticing place to visit. There are a lot of historical places in Rome that you can go to and have some fun. Perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in Rome is the Vatican City.Places To Visit In AmsterdamAmsterdam is another place ideal for romantic couples. You will be awed with its world-renowned canals and architectures. Of course, don’t forget to visit the Van Gogh Museum. Amsterdam has a laid-back atmosphere that you will surely enjoy. If you want to go partying at night, you will have a great time at Amsterdam.Places To Visit In VeniceVenice will give you something different. You can take a tour around the place through the gondolas and see its famous bridges and churches. Venice is also a place for romance. Take a look at the Grand Canal to complete your holiday vacation.Places To Visit In ParisAlmost everything in Paris is worth a visit. This place has a rich history. Take a peek at the famous Mona Lisa and works of famous artists like Caravaggio, Rembrandt and many others at the Louvre. This place alone would give you a taste of history.Another famous attraction in Paris is the Eiffel Tower. This was built for the 1889 world Exposition by Gustave Eiffel. There are also restaurants in here and some are even ideal for a romantic dinner.The white dome of Sacre Coeur is located at Montmartre knolle, also known as the butte, which is at the highest point of Paris. This basilica is known for its interiors in garish gold mosaic and its dramatic terrace.Places To Visit In CroatiaOne of the best places to visit in Croatia is the Plitvice National Park. This natural sight is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. There are 16 interlinked lakes with a large forest complex around it. This is also a World Heritage Sight. See the distinctive colors of the lakes that constantly change based on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water as well as the angle of the sunlight.The city of Dubrovnik is also an beautiful attraction in Croatia. It will be a great experience for you to climb the magnificent city walls while having a view at the Mediterranean.These are just a few of Europe’s attractions and there are many more places that you should visit. Each country has a lot of things to offer, from historical places to magnificent architectures, you will surely have a great experience.http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/best-places-to-visit-in-europe-799723.html

Europe is a vast continent with many different countries to visit. Within these countries are hundreds of different cities, nature reserves, towns, villages, historical sites and natural formations making it incredibly difficult to know which places to visit in Europe when travelling there. Here we’ll try to narrow down some of the top places to visit in Europe so that you can get the most from your travels and be sure not to miss some of the true highlights of this fantastic continent. Some of these will be cities, some will be historical sites and some won’t fall into any of these categories – but all of them are fantastic experiences and some of the best places to visit in Europe.

Glacier in Austria: There are many glaciers in Austria, and these include the Dachstein glacier, Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Rettenbach glacier and Pasterze glacier among others. These are all great places to visit in Europe for the excitement on standing on a floor made of ice, the fantastic surrounding mountains, and the brilliant photo opportunities they provide.

Auschwitz: Auschwitz is the famous concentration in Poland. Not one of the nicest places to visit in Europe, but certainly one of the most historically significant places to visit in Europe and one that is incredibly mind boggling and famous the world over.

The Zakopane Mountains: The Tatra mountains in Zakopane are one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in Europe and also one of the most accessible. Certainly one of of the places to visit in Europe that can offer the most fantastic vistas and amazing sense of scale.

Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik in Croatia is a fantastically colourful city, and looking down from the city gates at a view of the rooftops and coastline is one of those ‘wow’ moments that come very rarely.

Amsterdam: Amsterdam is one of the places in Europe that is known the world over – and for that reason alone it is a must-visit. At the same time though it’s also a great spot for stag and hen parties and famous for debauchery – as famous as it is infamous but also very modern and beautiful.

Meterora: Meteora in Greece is one of the best places to visit in Europe because it is one of the oddest places to visit in Europe features buildings perched on top of huge rocks, originally built by monks to bring them ‘closer to God’.

The Plitvice Lakes: The Plitvice Lakes in Croatia are some of the most beautiful and spectacular lakes in Europe making it one of the places to visit in Europe with the most natural beauty. It also features astonishing waterfalls and just about every colour possible.

Krakow: Krakow in Poland is a fantastic gothic city with a nightlife set mostly underground and many huge castles and churches.

Stone Henge: In Wiltshire, England, Stone Henge is a mysterious historical site and people travel from miles around to wonder about the why and the how of this famous stone structure.

Euro Disney: For family fun and something a bit more commercial, Euro Disney is one of the best places to visit in Europe and offers a vast range of things to do.

London: London is another one of the most famous places in Europe with lots of sites such as Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. It also offers fantastic shopping and many other attractions.

The Champ-Elysées: All of Paris is of course worth visiting, but from the Champ-Elysées you can see the Arc de Triumph, Cleopatra’s Needle, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower all from a single spot making it one of the best places to visit in Europe. At the same time the road itself is incredibly long, very famous and filled with the most upmarket restaurants, bars and shops. Crossing the road itself is something of an adventure…

The Vatican City: The Vatican City amazingly is actually a country and the smallest country in the World. This itself makes it one of the places to visit in Europe already, but at the same time it also offers an amazing view from the top of St Peter’s Basilica, the fantastic museum (visit it at night for more amazing atmosphere), and the beautiful St Peter’s Square.

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