To get to the capital of the Germany will not cause any kind of difficulties. This reasonably priced for the German airlines as well as the major European airlines, for example, Lufthansa give you the best opportunities. With some luck, you can always get some discounts when travelling with a group or get some other discounts based on your status.

The city has two major airports: Schönefeld, former East Berlin’s gates, where it’s best to get to the city center, to Alexanderplatz or Friedrichstrasse, via Airport-Express, and Tegel in the north-western extremity of the city, where a 20 minute x9 bus rides up to West Berlin.

For the closer investigation of Berlin you should definitely choose the option of taking public transportation. For only 2.10 Euros you can buy a single ticket, which you can go by subway (U-Bahn), ground-train (S-Bahn) or by bus for like 2 hours. The same ticket is valid for a day, will cost 6, 10 Euros. Tourists are also welcome to use the cards which are basically prepared for themselves- BerlinWelcomeCard and CityTourCard. Both provide an opportunity to move freely via public transport and give discounts on visits to some museums, a list of which is more extensive for the BerlinWelcomeCard.

During the weekend the status of the tourist guides in Berlin is being excellently held by bus routes 100 and 200, and train towering over the city, S-Bahn, whose path runs along the 700 viaducts and where you can admire the metropolis from a height. To see the maximum possible and to set a place for yourself, it’s best to sit on the train to the Alexanderplatz and drive up to the station Zoologischer Garten- this is something exciting.

First train goes over the area of Hackescher Markt, which is preserved for the old courtyards and where it might be a nice walk to see how Berlin was a couple of hundred years ago. Then the train moves through the Museum Island, which is concentrating the most famous museums of the city, where most of the archaeological collections and art exhibits of the XIX century are located. Here you will find the most visited museum of Berlin-  Pergamon Museum .

Passing over the famous Friedrichstrasse, you should focus on the theaters and shops, and passing Reichstag, the train arrives to Grand Central Station, largest in Europe – Hauptbahnhof and moves further along the residence of the Chancellor (Bundeskanzleramt), Castle Park Bellevue Park and Tiergarten. Arriving to the “Zoo” station it is already possible to conclude that it is desirable to examine it in more details and, therefore, choosing the 100th and 200th route buses you can tour the park Tiergarten from different sides and meet at the Brandenburg Gate.

Via  BerlineSev 100th route, you will first reach the center of the park Victory Column (Siegessäule), the observation deck on top of which is 285 degrees. Hence the excellent view of the Brandenburg Gate is obviously guaranteed. Then the bus passes the Palace Bellevue, which is the residence of the Federal President of Germany, and enters the area of Government buildings, where the Office of the Parliament and, finally, the Reichstag. The popularity of sites and the free entry often lead to long queues around the place. But the dome on the roof offers a panoramic view of Berlin, which is simply impressive.

Through the windows of the Berline’s 200th route you can admire embassies of different countries, which are very different in style and architectural approaches. In addition, the route of the bus also includes the Berlin Philharmonic, New National Gallery, Art Gallery and the Museum of Musical Instruments. Any of them is worth visiting, but each of them should be determined according to their own priorities. But walking through the Potsdamer Platz is required for those you came to Berlin. For 50 years, this place is in the neutral zone of the divided Germany, is a desolate wasteland, and then, just five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it has become one of the most prestigious and interesting places in the city. If you have not climbed for a single viewing platform, you can do it here, standing on the roof of one of the towering skyscrapers in the area.

And of course, it’s worth to go far from the Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz walking from the boulevard limes (Unter den Linden), admiring the architecture of the mansions along the streets of the XVIII century. The boulevard of the State Central Library of the Humboldt University, Berlin Cathedral and the State Opera are worth of much more detailed attention. By the way, in the latter building you will find a very beautifully decorated restaurant with the German national cuisine and a café with an unprecedented diversity of all kinds of sweets. Walking into the restaurant, be sure to order a glass of beer with the Berlin  currywurst – sliced pieces of sausage with curry sauce.

As when getting back on to the bus, now it does not matter, 100th and 200th route, you can reach the Alexanderplatz, where you can, having spent only 8 Euros and about an hour of waiting in the queue climb to the most popular tower of Berlin -the TV tower. Or you can also take your time and visit Kurfurstendamm Boulevard, the most popular both within the tourists and the inhabitants of Berlin, a place for leisurely shopping, mingling gatherings in open-air cafes. Not far from the boulevard is the area Savignyplatz, which is concentrating the best drinking establishments of the city around itself.

And as most of the capitals, Berlin is also called the city that never sleeps. So it’s always worth at least a little bit of glancing at his night life, which is especially hot in the areas of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain. It is here that  the maximization of the nightclub amounts takes place.

If you are staying in a seaside town, then getting to Barcelona easiest way is to use Renfe trains. Sometimes, though, you will have to reach the railway station by bus. In small towns, cashiers rarely speak English, but close to the little window there is always a schedule and you can just poke a finger to the desired destination. In Barcelona, it will be “Catalonia Square” (Placa de Catalunya). If you are going to visit Barcelona regularly or you have a big company, it will be more profitable to buy a ticket for 10 trips. The ticket can be used by everyone and the savings will be significant.

In Barcelona, it is possible to navigate on foot, only occasionally resorting to the metro. If you are not a lover of walking – get a ticket for bus travel. Open-top platform double-dockers move by several routes, passing near the major attractions. Having a ticket, you can enter and exit them at any stop. In addition, buses are equipped with audio guide, including in English, so that the time spent on the bus will be quite beneficial. Another nice feature is that the bus ticket is enclosed with the booklet of discount for visiting museums. In the town there are two competing companies: Bus Turistic and Barcelona Tours, but there are no fundamental differences between those two. One day ticket will cost 22 Euros while for two days you will have to pay 29 Euros.

If you decide to walk around the city on foot – you will not be able to do so without a map. Maps and guidebooks of Barcelona in multiple languages are being sold on every corner. The same exact maps can be taken from most of the hotels or the Tourist Information Center (located on the Plaza Catalunya).

To look into the Gothic Quarter, Parc Güell and Casa Milà, a gift tracker is not required. All major attractions are marked on tourist maps and to most of them can be walked from Plaza Catalunya.

And thus let’s refer to the spots which are considered to be non-accessible for the individual visit and are always included in various individual tours organized by tour agencies.

Mount Tibidabo

In addition to the oldest amusement park in Barcelona, there is a quite beautiful temple on the mountain with a huge statue of Christ crowning lofty peak. In just two Euros the dear elevator will take you to the upper terrace of the buildings, from which you can climb to the statue yourself. View of the city from the top of the mountain is simply spectacular. That’s why getting here is simply worth it.

In Catalunya square you can take the bus “Tibidabo”, which will take you directly to the mountain. And you can choose a little more complicated, but more interesting route. Once you arrive at the station to the last brown line stop, entitled “Tibidabo”, go to the road and ignoring the expensive travel option “Blue Tram” boldly go walking along the rail. On the way, do not forget to admire the beautiful villas of local oligarchs which are very different in style. As soon as the tram rails will go to the left, look in the opposite direction and you will see the gate leading into the park. Once in the park, follow signs to “funicular”, and after 10 minutes you will get to the bus stop that can take you to the summit of Mount Tibidabo. On the way back go to Park Guell, which is located nearby.

Montserrat

Located in 50 km from Barcelona, the monastery is a place for pilgrimage for Catholics around the world. In addition, the surrounding nature here is so great, that the Spanish government announced these places to be preserved area. For the convenience of tourists about a dozen hiking trails of various levels of complexity are laid on the mountain. All of them are equipped with a detailed list and getting lost is impossible. Go get to one of this trips it is best with the first train FGC, which departs from the station to the Square of Spain at 8.30 am. Only in this case you can manage to admire the monastery and its surroundings without the crowds of tourists, which after a couple of hours are brought by sightseeing buses.

To purchase tickets in advance you should decide whether you want to climb the mountain by cable car or on the knob and, accordingly, to buy a machine or a combined ticket for Tren + Aeri, or Tren + Cremallera. In the first case, change to the cable-way will be done at the station Monserrat-Aeri, and the second at one stop later – at station Monistrol de M. Having reached the journey’s end, look into the temple, and then take a stroll through one or more hiking trails.

Dali Museum

The museum of the great artist is located in the small town of Figueres and reaching it is not that difficult.  Trains to that direction run every 20-30 minutes from Barcelona’s main train station Barcelona-Sans. In the city, getting off the train, go to the main flow of tourists to the city center and after 10 minutes you will reach the desired destination. By the way, in addition to Dalí Museum in Figueres, there are other fun activities here. First, within walking distance of the museum is the biggest fortress in Europe, Castel de Sant Ferran, on the territory of which you can walk for free. If you want extreme, you can go in for a boat trip through the flooded cellars under the castle.

On the way back you can stop in a beautiful Spanish town of Girona, where there are numerous medieval buildings until now.

Tarragona

The train from the central station of Barcelona to this wonderfully cozy town is about an hour. Tickets must be taken until Tarragona, although the train may go further: to Zaragoza or Tortosa. When the map of the city is already obtained from the closest tourist office near the station, you can boldly set out to explore Roman ruins, and just enjoy the pleasant town.

And remember that on Monday, most museums do not work!

Public transport

The easiest way to navigate the city is by subway, since the Paris subway, one of the most extensive in the world. In the diagram, Metro of the French capital has 14 lines, numbered and distinguished by color. The stations are open from 5.30 am until after midnight. The distance between stops is so small that often, standing on one platform, you can see previous and subsequent stations.

First, navigate the subway is not easy. The name of the last station is being written on the branch as a pointer. Therefore, in order not to stray into long and narrow passages of the labyrinth of the Paris metro and immediately determine in which direction to turn, remember not only the desired transfer station, but the final line.

The network of 5 branches of RER suburban EMUs also permeate the city, sometimes duplicated subway stretch far out of the city. Unlike metro lines RER line on the map is fatter; instead of the numbers it has marks with the letters of the alphabet. You can use RER if you decided to go to the suburbs, to visit Versailles or Disneyland.

Buses only complement the metro and RER, and are much less popular, but usually they go strictly according to schedule (of course, in those moments when no one is on strike).

Zones

8 tariff rings include Paris and reaches for its most distant suburbs. If you are interested only in the capital, you do not leave the limits of 1-2 zones. In zone 3 are nearer suburbs of Saint-Denis and Vincennes. Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as Versailles and Disneyland – that’s 4-5 zones. Next 5-th zone most tourists usually do nothing. If you decide to close the office to admire the skyscrapers of La Défense and walk on its hypermarkets, you should know: the RER is considered the outskirts of Paris and 3rd zone, and for the subway – 2.

Tickets

One ticket for zones 1-2 costs 1,6 euros. On it you can travel on all modes of transport, including the funicular to Montmartre. You may make an unlimited number of transfers to the metro and RER within Paris, and also to change coaches during a half hour. But the change from bus to subway can not take place! A ticket purchased from the bus driver, will cost 1,7 euro, but the transplant is still not allowed.

If you are going from time to time to ride the subway and buses, it is better to buy a “little book” of 10 tickets for 11,6 euros. Just do not wear it in his pocket next to the mobile, because these tickets degauss very quickly. However, this problem is known to all, and so you can easily exchange the unused, but already worthless tickets in the cash office of any of the metro stations.

If you need to rapidly move to Paris for only 1 day, then it is better to buy a ticket Mobilis, valid on all modes of transport from 5.30 until one o’clock: 5,9 euro zone 1-2, 7,9 euro zone 1-3, 13, 2 euros for zones 1-5, etc.

Intend to stay in Paris a week? Then it is better to buy Navigo. There are many variants of this travel. For example, it will cost 17.2 euros for Navigo zones 1-2, 22.7 euros for zones 1-3, 33.4 euros for zones 1-5. Also you have to put 5 euros for the card itself. But you can use it when you arrive to Paris next time. Unfortunately, this travel is designed more for the Parisians, not tourists: it does not act on the purchase date and the calendar week: Monday to Sunday.

Tourists are offered a disadvantageous ParisVisite, which operates from any day of the week. It can be bought for 1, 2, 3, 5 days at 1-3 or 1-6 zone. It is significantly more expensive than the Navigo, although provides some discounts for particularly frequently used restaurants and minor museums. For example, the cost for 1 day: 9 euros for 1-3 zone, 18.9 euros for 1-6 zone. In 3 days it costs 20 euros for zones 1-3 and 40,50 for 1-6 zone. Such a ticket for 5 days worth 28.9 euros for zones 1-3 and 49.40 for 5 zones.

Planning spree around Paris until late at night? No problem! To get to the house from 0.30 to 5.30 you will need to get the help of the night buses. Within a single zone will require a standard ticket, if on, will have to punch a ticket, depending on the route. All tickets can be purchased from vending machines and ticket offices at metro stations and the RER, as well as some bus stops.

Bikes

For several years, bicycles have become a good alternative to cars that stand in traffic and are almost impossible to find parking. Across town, about 300 meters away from each other, auto rental Vélib ‘with the thousands of bicycles are scattered. Alas, so much liked by the Parisians and tourists system, it is under threat of closure. The Handling Vélib ‘company is suffering huge losses because of the vandals. But while these rentals still exist, try to use them.

Owners of the iPhone through App Store can download a free application that helps you plan routes, find location of stations hire, check on for free bikes and get a lot of other useful information.

Taxis

Taxis can be stopped with the show of a hand. Passengers are placed only on the back seat. The fare is being charged by the meter. The standard rate is as follows: 2,2 euros “falls” in the account immediately after landing (if you take a taxi at a special parking lot or at the airport, you have to pay even more about the euro), then – .89 cents per mile in the city and in the immediate suburbs. From 19 pm to 7 am and on weekends and public holidays and the day in airports per kilometer will have to pay 1,14 euros.

Thus, at the lowest tariff across the city it will cost around 12 euros. Even the order of 1 euro will have to be paid for each bag in the trunk. When traveling to distant suburbs and night trips to the airport you will be applied to the third rate – 1,38 euro per kilometer. Taxi drivers usually tip around 5-10% of the invoice.

Yokohama is located 32 km south-west of Tokyo and is the second largest city in the country, the hosting place for the largest Japanese ports and the largest center of foreign trade of the country. The town amazes with its cutting-edge architecture and the rapid rhythm of life, for which it received the nickname of a semi-official “city that never sleeps.” In Yokohama there is a “street theater”. In Isedzaki-Cho – the largest entertainment district of the city the nightclubs, restaurants and discos are concentrated.

Osaka – the third largest city in the country is the symbol of modern Japan. Thanks to this ideal situation Osaka 1500 years became a commercial center of Japan. Today in Osaka is a masterpiece of engineering – Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island and connected to the shore with the help of four-bridge. Osaka is shared between two parts: the historical south and north of the business. The most interesting part of the city  is the southern one. Here are the shopping and entertainment districts and  the most famous temples of the city. Among them is Shrine Sumiesi, in which lie the souls of dead sailors. There is also the oldest Buddhist temple Sitennodzi, built by Prince Shotoku Tice still in the VI. North and south of the city are being cut with the Midosudzi Boulevard – the central highway of the city. This boulevard is planted with Ginkgo trees. As a city with deep business traditions, Osaka, always towards the future and lives in a crazy rhythm, which does not stop even at night.

Kyoto - the city of thousand temples was founded in the VIII century and until 1868 was officially considered the country’s capital and residence of the emperor. It was called the Heian (the “city of peace and tranquility”). This unusually colorful and romantic city, is hosting about 2000 temples and churches. Temples and palaces located near the waters of lakes and hillsides only emphasizing the natural beauty of the landscape. Parks in Kyoto Momiji are popular for the maple, which leaves are changing color from bright scarlet to the salad and lemon. Kyoto stores historical traditions of Japan, this city is the birthplace of kabuki and it is here in Japan where the last school of geisha is preserved.

Nagano is the administrative center of Nagano Prefecture. Located approximately 200 kilometers north-west of Tokyo, Nagano is connected with the capital of the country’s high-speed railway line “Hokuriku Shinkansen”, which was opened in 1997. The new line allows you to get to Tokyo for just a half hour. In 1998. the Winter Games were conducted in Nagano. In winter, when the mountains are covered with a thick layer of snow, Nagano – a Mecca for winter sports enthusiasts. Here, 100 ski centers and 40 ice rinks, a year of visiting over 20 million people. Very cold and snowy winter climate, complicating the lives of people in this mountainous area, turns into a valuable source of tourism. None of the winter sport lovers will be able to stay indifferent to this amazing place.

Hakuba – city to the north-west of Nagano. Located at the foot of the Japanese Alps, Hakuba has a great variety of ski bases, including spot “Happe On”, on the snowy slopes of which the downhill masters competed during the Winter Olympic Games in 1998. The resort is able to satisfy any skier, both beginners and professionasl. 13 different tracks in height from 760 meters to 1831 meters are equipped with 32 lifts and are able to deliver maximum enjoyment from riding.

Sapporo – a popular capital of the northernmost and second largest Japanese island of Hokkaido, whose name can be translated as “the way to the northern seas”. This is the most sparsely populated and least industrialized island of the “big four” islands. One-tenth of the island is occupied by national parks, which favors the development of active tourism on the island. The main attractions are the local botanical gardens, where plants seem to be quite differing from each other, as well as the entertainment district Susukino. But the main function of the city is the traffic – it’s the starting point for the countless tours and excursions around the island.

Nagasaki - a wonderful place, which is a grim of feudal castles, medieval Samurai manors, Western-style houses built in the second half of the XIX century, the unique historical and cultural monuments, steaming volcanoes, hot springs, islands with unspoiled nature, beautiful beaches – there is all for the most demanding guest. Nagasaki – the most western prefecture of Japan. The climate is warm and rainy.

In Akita it rains in spring and fall. Such a climate is due to local geographical features. Winds from the Sea of Japan, invading from the west to the valleys of Akita, leave here the entire supply of moisture, as with the other three sides it is surrounded by a relatively high mountain ranges, which do not produce a cloud. Most of the territory is occupied by Akita national and prefectural natural parks and reserves. Cedar forests, which have more than 200 years, and many meadows are included in all the tourist guides as the most beautiful green places of the country. Placed in the crater of an ancient volcano lake Towada and Tadzava (the deepest in Japan – 423.4 m) are considered the most beautiful in Japan. Another great lake – Hatirogata, the second largest in Japan, was waterlogged, and local residents filled it with earth, and founded on  the reclaimed from the water territory a major horticultural farm.

Nara – a cozy quiet small town, a magnet for lovers of history and ancient eastern relics. 1200 years ago in the modern bunks appeared the first capital of Japan, which entered the Imperial court for a permanent stay. The city was initially called Heydze – “Capital of the citadel of peace”, and then was renamed and became the city of Nara on behalf of the valley in which it is located. In Nara there is  a huge number of temples, each in its own beautiful and original. In a Buddhist temple Kofukudzi are two pagodas – and the three-tier five-storied pagoda Kofukudzi height of 55 m, which is considered a symbol of Nara and the second oldest pagoda in the country. Among the sacred primacy Nara took the Big Buddha Temple – Todaydzi. Todaydzi, or in literal translation “Great Eastern Temple” .

Hakone – mountain thermal spa, located in the famous National Park Fuji-Hakone. There are numerous lakes, Mount Fuji and the hot springs.

In recent years, the most popular tourism reason is shopping in China, attracting foreigners from all over the world. The most famous markets for shopping in Beijing – the Silk Market (mainly selling clothes, shoes, carpets, bags, suitcases and other related as well as articles of silk); Pearl Market (upper floor which really sells pearls for every taste and purse and where there are parts of jade and other stones) and Market Yabolu. If you want to buy a piece, for yourself, for children, it is better to go to a new Yabolu. Here the real prices of the products will impress you with the. The maximum price that can be reset  is only 1-2 yuan. By visiting these three markets in Beijing, you can no leave the commercial establishments, and focus on more spiritual matters.

Well, the main tourist attraction in China  is, of course, pretentious monument to land architecture-Great Wall of China, extending for 4000 km along the northern China, and passing about 90 km from Beijing. Its construction began in the III century BC and was completed in the III century BC. The wall is a rampart of earth and 10 meters in height, every 200 meters there are watchtowers.

Best destination points

Beijing attracts a purely metropolitan attraction designated exclusively for shopping and leisure time. Imperial and the administrative part of the city is located in the center and released in the walled Forbidden City (Palace), and all the important buildings are located along the main highway that runs from the southern gateway to the north. Location and height of the building is entirely determined by its function and social status of the owner.

In Beijing, the famous Temple of Heaven – a huge complex of buildings for worship and imperial sacrifice is remarkable, among other things, for its acoustic turbulence. There are, for example, wall echos, where the number of echo responses increases with each step and whispering at the beginning of the wall can be heard at the end. There is a platform for speeches, in which soft voice is being amplified.

Shanghai - the largest city in the country has never been an important cultural center, but anyways has its own charm. No wonder that Western businessmen over the 20 years call it  “Paris of the East”. Nanjing Road – the most famous street of the city, which stretches for 14 km, is concentrating the best shops and restaurants of the city. Among the attractions of Shanghai  is Jade Buddha Temple. This is a major Buddhist center, attracting two bejeweled statues of Buddha, carved out of white jade, brought from Burma. In Shanghai, tourists also get attracted by Royal Mausoleum in Nanyue – real underground palace, which exhibits more than a thousand items from the royal tombs, and the Shanghai Opera.

Hong Kong is the largest port, industrial, financial and foreign trade center, the city-star in the Asia-Pacific region. In this dynamic, prosperous, cheerful, multi-faceted, multi-ethnic city the population is around 6.6 million people. Hong Kong affects a cascade of golden skyscrapers. From July 1 1997 Hong Kong turned into a special administrative region of China. Among the attractions of Hong Kong we can distinguish Aberdeen – a fishing village, consisting of numerous junks, in which hereditary fishermen and their families reside up to now.

Suzhou is another beautiful place, the city, also called the “Venice of China”. It is  lined with canals, like a chessboard. In the Ch’ing period (1644 – 1911) in Suzhou, there were nearly a thousand bridges, 300 of them inside the city walls. Beautiful gardens and pagodas create a truly unique spectacle.

Hangzhou – the old city, located 180 km south-west of Shanghai – one of the most beautiful places of China. Its history spans over 2000 years. The town stands on the shore of West Lake, which, according to legend, was formed of pearls, which dropped to the ground Phoenix and Dragon.

Tibet is considered one of the most mysterious places on earth. “Roof of the World” is separated from the outside world by high mountain ranges. A stay in Tibet is a dream, perhaps, for anyone who is interested in Eastern philosophy. The most interesting of its attractions is the Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Sera Monastery, Norgbulink.

What to avoid doing while in China

• In China it is not recommended to drink unboiled water from the tap. In every hotel room  there will be either a thermos of hot water or electric kettle. Most hotels also provided mineral water free of charge (principally the Chinese do not consume carbonated “mineral water”).

• Do not try exotic dishes, such as, for example, monkey brains. Dishes like these are often infected with rare parasites to get rid of which is quite difficult.

• Do not wear bright clothes, preparing for a tour of the temples. Bright colors are not very welcomed by local residents, and most people will be reluctant to communicate with a clear outsider, who does not even bother to get acquainted with the etiquette. Around the temple is not made to go counterclockwise. The Chinese decided to bypass their temples strictly in a clockwise direction, and some small groups of tourists walking counterclockwise attract unnecessary attention.

• Do not attempt to visit Tibet. This requires a special additional permit, issued by the host in advance. Tibet can be visited only with a group of pre-and agreed-upon route.

• Do not jump out of the taxi without paying, or in some way yet to violate public order and law. Police in China are strictly applicable to violators, and the embassy can not always help their citizens who violate any rules as it is being done pretty well in other countries.

1. Do not call London the capital of the European

And do not even think that it is so. First, the best way to offend Englishman is to label his native city “capital of Europe”. In their understanding, the prefix “European” is almost synonymous with the word “bad”. In Europe, for some reason, they eat frogs and even consider pizza to be a normal dish, in fact, a cake of bread and remnants of the evil food accumulated in the refrigerator, generously flavored with cheese. And even in Europe not everyone can speak English and, moreover can speak proper English. And except all of this they live, based on principles completely alien to the British.

And simply because in the UK everything is always different: electrical outlets will not just be of another form, but with a different number of holes. Hot and cold water will be available from different taps, mixing exclusively in the sink. Windows can not be open, but only be raised, similar to how it is done on the trains. Vehicles will travel “in reverse” direction and sellers in the market will always weigh your goods in ounces.

2. Do not try “real English cuisine”

Maybe it exists, but only in very limited number of restaurants. In ordinary cafes they are serving something hard to swallow, which is also quite capable of causing at least heartburn, or even indigestion. The coffee in the country, in principle tastes somewhat different due to the way they cook coffee. Actually, in England one must be careful with any food. For instance, vegetables are grown with so many chemicals that have them just not worth it, unless they were bought for huge money in the store under the guise of “Organic”. Tap water, even if purified is not always good in terms of usage. So the approach of choosing the places for having lunch needs to be done with great care.

3. Do not walk on the right side

The fact that in England they drive on the left, known to everyone. To avoid being a tourist hit by a car near every traffic light, and in general, wherever possible, get fixed from LOOKING LEFT to LOOKING RIGHT. But the fact is that here they entirely live in the opposite direction. The crowd on the sidewalk to go on the left side, an escalator in a supermarket, leading up, too, will be on the left and even trains in the London subway stop on the wrong platform. Statistics are not reported about the amount of left-handers in Britain, but the percentage of tourists who had a car accident because of the wrong movement, are above the average.

4. Do not ride bicycle around the town

If in other European capitals you can rent bikes and go on a sightseeing tour, and that’s quite a routine, and the number of firms providing these services are often counted in tens, then in London, these things are something rather rare. And it was not so much due to the unusual movement direction. Just cars, especially in the center, are so many that you will crush and type in conjunction with the bike into the wall and not even notice it. And the fumes of the atmosphere are such that it is better not even worth of trying to breathe “full chest» while on the bicycle.

5. Do not confuse the Tower Bridge and London Bridge

One of the popular London symbols, which the tourists for some reason love to call “London”, or London Bridge, is actually called the Tower Bridge, since it is located near the Tower of London. If you absolutely want to admire the real London Bridge, go upstream. However, the latter looks like a normal bridge, and nothing special stands out.  The bridge makes it possible to admire the preserved remains of the old London Bridge, built in 1729 and destroyed in 1831.

6. Do not go to Buckingham Palace, hoping to see the Queen

And do not even think that she will see you, sipping tea and looking out of the window. Rather, she might not even be there at the time of your “surprise visit”. Even if the British flag is raised, it does not mean that the entire royal family is inside of the Palace, and certainly no need to indication that the British Queen is on the spot. So try to avoid joining the crowd of tourists, gazing at the windows of the palace, hoping to see something meaningless. Relatively reliable sign that the Queen is on residence, are the guards, dressed in red jackets and royal flags raised over the building. However, this does not happen very often.

7. Do not pay for entrance for the museums

Many museums in London are working for free. And these are really big and good museums worth of visiting. And even the locals are always happy to spend their time here. Let’s look through just a small list of places you can go without paying a sterling: Tate Modern, British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Maritime Museum, Imperial War Museum. So think ten times before handing 16, 5 pounds for access to the Tower, or 7 pounds for the pleasure of climbing on Tower Bridge as there are always more attractive places for a visit.

8. Do not go for shopping at Oxford Street and Regent Street

The only decent place on Regent Street is a huge Apple store with free and high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access. All the other stores are similar to any large mega-malls in every single modernized country, where crowds of people are wandering around, looking on almost everything, but buying nothing. If you still have a desire to buy something, marked by the label of world-famous network of brands, then there’s a better option for you. It’s much nicer to slowly walk along Kensington High Street and Kings Road which are much better in terms of souvenir offers. And by the way, do not walk in the city with a bought as a souvenir T-shirts with the British flag; it might increase the risk of becoming a victim of pickpockets. This, of course, makes it easier to recognize the tourists, but why should you shine from afar.

Milan, a city in northern Italy, is the second (after Rome) on the population and the first – in popularity among tourists’ consumers. The central part of the old city and streets are small, so a taxi is not the most convenient way to travel around the city. The distance that you could walk for 15 minutes, will have to go by car for about 40 minutes.
It should be noted that it’s not just like New York where you can catch a taxi right on the street  but you might need either to call up or go to the special taxis, which are easily recognizable by the inscription “TAXI” and with the line of white cars. If your hotel is far from the center, then you can take the metro or tram, which will give you the feeling that you are in one of the oldest places in the Europe- you’ll feel yourself like in the old days. Tickets, which you’ll need in the subway and in buses and trams, you can buy directly from the newsagents.

The Center of Milan – Duomo Square has the main attractions: the Duomo (just a breath away from so many twisted steeples and towers), the monument to Vittorio Emmanuel (the central place of the square and gathering place for tourists) and the gallery of Emmanuel (bookstores, cafes and restaurants).

It’s interesting to know that the main tourists visiting the place are from Japan and United States. But the preferences of the groups are various- Japanese love to have stops at the small shops and to visit the suburbs of the city, while the Americans love to stick up with the central part of the city.

Milan, being the capital of fashion, turns into a job spot for the local and international fashion models. During the day time these provocative models are being dressed casually and most of the time do not differ from the rest of the public. For example: sneakers, socks like Pinocchio, mini skirt with frills, feathers and down and short fur jacket with striped lapels. The local Italian go splendidly dressed, with make-up and new-fangled haircuts. It is pleasant to watch.

Streets sidewalks are not as in Portugal, rustic stone, and asphalt and this is contributing a lot for those walking in high heels. But the thick of the Italians I just saw. Compared with Portugal, which is simply teeming with fat men, and all youth is overweight, every single Milanese seems to be elegant. Women wear trousers with low waist, tight to the knee, but from the knee down a little and expand on this part you can see everything: pens, feathers, beads, pieces of rags, casing, sometimes have the impression, as if these trousers were found in a garbage can and stuck to them.

I must say that walking through the city center during the day is very pleasant, but at night there is nothing to do. There are no discos like in Lisbon, surroundings are not much lighted. Prices in Milan are totally terrible. A bottle of beer in a bar Heyneken costs 7,50 Euro. But there is a long list of Japanese restaurants everywhere. The streets smell nice, not because it‘s not in New York, where all the streets smell of ketchup and potato-fries.
And what a beauty in the gardens! Many homes have a small square gardens where they usually grow maple or birch, and in the center of all of there is a small fountain, or at least, a statue or bust of granite or marble.

Yes, in Milan, in the restaurants of national cuisine there is nothing like potato fries! And steak is offered with two or three circles of zucchini or eggplants on the grill. Probably that’s why most of the Milanese are not fat! Bread restaurants substitute lavash- flat bread type, thin and baked, like crackers, which will not lead to gaining weight.
It is interesting that in the cafes the main dish of the day – salad with fresh vegetables and leaf lettuce, sandwiches with vegetables, stuck on the grill with a drop of olive oil. Well, what a healthy food!

I must say that the non-central zone of the city is in a very unattractive condition. There are graffiti on the streets everywhere. On Sunday, all shops, cafe and restaurants outside the city center are closed. It was very difficult on the last day to find a place where we could even have a  lunch in the town. And we take the advice of a taxi driver who offered us a restaurant with its traditional cuisine. And it was just great!

Advices for those who are wishing to travel to Milan:

1. The trip to Milan needs to be planned for early fall or early spring, when there is little dust or severe frosts, as well as to undergo widespread discounts.
2. Be sure to visit the Duomo Square and the surrounding attractions.
3. For breakfast, I advise to go to any cafe and refreshment sandwich with vegetables and tea. I agree, is unusual, but turns out to be rather refreshing even in the morning.
4. I would advise you to have lunch in the chain of cafes- Autogrill (open only at lunch time). In them you’ll be given a rich choice of ingredients, and took the tray, you type all you want: salads, pasta, rice, fish or meat that is prepared right in front of you in a few minutes, beer, wine, cakes and all that can make anyone a full meal.
5. Dinner in a restaurant “Peper Moon” near Piazza Duomo, make sure to taste appetizers displayed on the counter of Antipasti.
6. Visit the fashion show, for which you need to know in advance the dates of shows and book tickets through the internet or travel agency.

Whether you are 5 years old and a fan of the computer generated feature movies or reliving your youth at 60 years old, reminiscing about the first ever hand drawn Mickey Mouse sketch, entering the mystical world of Disneyland Resort brings your childhood alive.

The idea of non-stop entertainment and excitement may not seem like the ideal holiday for those looking for a quiet break with the kids, but at Disneyland you can have the best of both worlds. With themed hotels with spa treatments that are conveniently located within easy reach of the French capital, there is certainly more to a Disney holiday than just larger-than-life characters and cartoon themed outings.

The city of Paris additionally offers traditional romantic opportunities for couples who want to mix their love for the television heroes with their love for each other; including the opportunity to witness the spectacular views from Space Mountain in the morning with the moonlit vision of the Eiffel Tower by night.

Paris also offers vacation ideas for all the family that combines the fast paced adrenaline rides of the theme park with a cultural and educational trip to the Louvre, the magnificent art museum, or even a peaceful picnic in The Jardin des Plantes which is the perfect place for those who want to both marvel at the natural beauty that Paris has to offer as well as explore the science behind its creation.

Although Disneyland, Paris, still hides in the shadows of its American brothers, the variety of experiences it has to offer, including the Walt Disney Studios and fabulous shows and parades, combined with the beauty of Paris on its doorstep, means a visit is definitely one that will be repeated for years to come.

Whether you desire a romantic getaway, a family holiday or you want to relive your childhood after retirement, Disneyland Resort, Paris, provides a magical adventure which you are sure to take back many happy memories of.

For more travel tips and vacation inspiration, check out the Tripbase
Travel Blog / Tripbase site.