Category: Central Europe

Central Europe is generally considered to be made up of the following countries (Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland). This is not a rigid rule. Often other countries are considered part of the nations that make up Central Europe. Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Netherlands and even Belgium are sometimes lumped into this group.

Map of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the entire continent of Europe. It has a population of the slightly above 500,000 people. There are two main languages spoken in Luxembourg which are French and German. English is spoken by only a handful of the locals who study it as a second language. An interesting thing most people do not know about Luxembourg is that it is the founding member of the European Union. This gives the country all the right reasons to be popular not only around Europe but also around the world as well.

For those who choose Luxembourg as their holiday destination, it is important to note that cheap flights to Luxembourg are hard to get. There may be cheap flights from the country or to other places within the country but all these depends on a number of factors especially the weather. Cheap flights can be found especially during the winter as most tourists do not fly to Luxembourg because of the cold weather. However this trend slightly changes towards Christmas when people take flights to celebrate Christmas away from their home countries.

One of the most incredible things any tourist will love about Luxembourg is the white wine. This among other things sells out Luxembourg to the world and put it on the map as a great wine source. There are several wineries across Luxembourg so it is easy to sample a variety of white wines. Nearly all the meals taken in Luxembourg are accompanied by any form of wine. For any wine lover, be sure of craving for more and more days in Luxembourg.

There are several art galleries around the major cities of Luxembourg where art lovers can view or even buy artistic pictures and decorations. One can also spend time at museums and theatres where many other locals spend their time. Theatre lovers are sure to find more than enough theatres across Luxembourg. Unfortunately, most of the plays stages in these theatres are in French or German so it may be extremely hard to enjoy the performances in a language one does not understand. There are only a few plays most of which are in schools or art center for the purposes of teaching students and other learners the English language and its day to day usage.

Accommodation is readily available for anyone at competitive rates. Unlike other countries in Europe, there are only a few guest houses in Luxembourg. Most of them are expensive so the best places are to spend nights are either in big hotels or lodges. To secure a nice place for your vacation, make early booking online or through you travel agency. This way, you will be assured of decent but affordable places to spend your nights. Before leaving the country, spend some time in the capital city of Luxembourg. The locals are friendly people, and fun talking to. If you like meeting people, socializing or just making friends, be sure to travel Luxembourg and leave the country with more than a souvenir and a map of Luxembourg.

Map of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is called the jewel at the pulse of Europe. The country is like a page turner novel, very interesting and exciting; you cannot put it down.

It is squeezed between Switzerland and Austria which offers skiing, wine tasting, bird reserves and a lot more. The map of Liechtenstein has summer and winter view for the travelers to be guided according to the weather. When you examine the map, you will find out how small the country can be, but it is worth paying a visit. Tourists usually go here after traveling around Switzerland and Austria.

Considering that Liechtenstein is only about 62 square miles, town hopping activities would not be a big deal as the car rental services are amazingly cheap.

The people
Liechtensteiners are mostly Alemannic , some of them are Italian, and Turkish. In terms of Religion, the majority of them are Roman Catholic, some are Protestants and the other small percentage has different religions. Most people speak German and others are Alemannic.

5 Best Destinations to Travel Liechtenstein

  • The Prince of Liechtenstein’s wine cellars – First in line is the best wines and incredible hospitality which makes it the best wine tasting experience you can never forget. There are signs around the vineyard displaying how the grapes are made from a vine to wine. Their wines are simply fit for a king which is a perfect gift to someone really special. The wine cellars are located in its capital city called Vaduz. They are open from Mondays to Saturdays.
  • “Visiting Vaduz with Goethe” – This activity is quite an experience if you are a literature lover. Walking in an author’s footsteps is something as good as paradise. The experience trail takes each visitor on a journey through culture, art, history, architecture and gastronomy.
  • Birka Bird Paradise- Witness the rare bird species from across the globe which includes macaws, amazons, parakeets, peacocks, parrots, and baby birds. There are rare amphibians and plants on the display. Every visitor is encouraged to experience this one-of-a-kind nature experience. The facility is always open and admission is completely free.
  • The Galina factory- This place gives a chance to every visitor to personally see falcons, eagles, eagle-owls and hawks up close.
  • Malbun Ski Resort – Malbun is the key ski resort of Liechtenstein which has ski and snowboard schools. Every ski enthusiast, from beginners to advance will enjoy the experience. Aside from skiing, the resort also features hiking and mountain climbing opportunities.

There are other cool places to visit outside the town and more information about such places can be found at the Liechtensteinn tourism board official website. To sum up your visit in Liechtenstein take a walk around the city and socialize with Liechtensteinns. You will realize they are all passionate about their country and are receptive than most other nationals across the entire continent of Europe.

Weather and Climate

When you travel Liechtenstein it is important to learn its weather. Although summer is always perfect to visit the country, it is also a promising place to visit during winter if you are into skiing. Liechtenstein has a temperate, alpine climate with warm and wet summers and mild winters. The average temperature of the country ranges from -1 degree Celsius in the month of July and the average precipitation every year is 1,000 mm and is evenly distributed the entire year.

Required Clothing

Clothes that are medium weights with lightweight are best during summer. Heavy weights or warmer clothes are worn during winter and waterproofs are necessary over the entire year. Whether you go to Liechtenstein just to have an additional stamp on your passport, the country has as much to offer in terms of tourism. Next time, add up Liechtenstein on your Europe getaway list.

Map of Italy

When travelling to Italy make sure you do your research. Find a good map of Italy! With this map in front of you it is always easier to plan that vacation. There are the obvious holiday destinations to visit, like Rome, Pompeii, Lake Como, Venice and Tuscany . However some of the less traveled Tourist spots are also an option, they add flavor to a holiday.

Travel Insurance is always a good idea. Taking a holiday without travel insurance is just not worth it. The peace of mind you get, knowing that if your luggage gets lost or a flight gets cancelled you are covered by a good insurance policy that will get you into a hotel and replace the luggage you have lost. Some parts of Italy are still quite under developed and really do require good travel insurance if you are planning to go to these destinations.

In no way should you let this discourage you from travelling to these places, in fact they are some the most beautiful places imaginable, it is just better to take the necessary precautions. Be prepared for any eventuality and keep yourself covered for any circumstance.

Italy has nearly always been at the center of European culture. The only other country that can claim a longer and arguably more successful European culture is Greece. However, Italy can definitely claim having the biggest and longest lived empire of ancient times. Italy’s influence on the Europe has been immeasurable and as a result is a great place to start any European holiday. Italy has much to give to an enthusiastic tourist, not just the ancient sites, although these should never be overlooked. Italy boast some of the most idyllic and secluded beaches, although a cafe is rarely far away. The provincial areas match anything you will find in the French countryside and the food is better if anything. The Alps border the north of the country and Milan is the hub of all activity in this region. You can not mention Milan and not mention shopping and in particular fashion. Milan matches and in some expert opinions over shadows Paris, in the fashion world.

If by chance you feel you need a change from Italy’s beaches, then it is just a short hop over the Adriatic Sea to Croatia. This can be a day trip, you can sample a new culture for the day and be back in Italy that evening. Italy has everything to offer the traveller. It is definitely a must do on any European vacation.

Here are some facts about Italy
Official name is the Italian Republic. It is situated in South Central Europe. Bordered by the countries : Slovenia, France, Austria and Switzerland. The Seas that border it are : Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Mediterranean Seas. The land mass is 301,338 km/squared and a population of approximately 60.5 million people. The capital city is Rome. Italy’s political system is a democratic republic and official language is Italian.

Map of Germany

Tips to consider before flying to Germany
In summer there are the amazing forests and foothills and mountains of the Alps, Great resorts on the Baltic Sea and wonderful villages to explore. In the cities there is shopping equal to that found in Milan, cafe’s equal to those found in Rome and all manner of performing arts. From street performance all the way up to opera.

However Germany is a true winter wonderland. Skiing is now very established and so are most of the other winter sports. Truely experience a white christmas, those same Alps that offer such wonderful bushwalking and natural adventure during summer become some of Europes best ski resorts. You can get a map of Germany that has all the ski resorts high lighted, I totally recommend getting a hold of it.

Although flights to Germany are cheap, you will still want to have Travel Insurance to cover any possible problems that might arise. Knowing that any eventuality will be covered by your insurance allows you to enjoy your holidays without the worry of always thinking what would happen if you lost your luggage. Being able to book a hotel if your cheap flight is cancelled is a real bonus.

Here are some facts about Germany
Official name is the Federal Republic of Germany. It is situated in central Europe. Bordered by the countries : Denmark, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic. The Seas that border it are : the North Sea and Baltic Sea. The land mass is 357021 km/squared and a population of approximately 61.7 million people. The capital city is Berlin. The German political system is a Federal Parliamentary Republic and the official language is German.

Map of Austria

Austria is a small land locked country in Europe. It is a small mountainous German speaking nation and is a member of the European Union. The capital of Austria is Vienna, which is located on the Eastern part of Europe. The city lies near the borders of Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. It has an estimated population of over 8,364,094 people as of 2009. The main religion in Austria is Christianity with 78 % of the population being Roman Catholics.

Before you travel Austria for that holiday or vacation, ensure that you have all the travel essentials with you. One of the most important travel basics is the travel insurance. Good travel insurance will come in handy if by bad luck, you happen to lose your luggage. It will also cater for your medical expenses should you fall sick in the middle of your journey. Check with your travel agency to know more about the best insurance policy you can buy.

You should also be keen on the weather conditions of Austria. The country experiences the four main seasons; winter, summer, autumn and spring. Winters are generally cold and damp while summers are warm and dry. Flight tickets during winter are a bit cheap compared to summer. This is because; less tourists visit Austria during winter while in the summer season most tourists want to visit Austria and enjoy the warmth that prolonged sunshine comes along with.

Once you get to Austria, you will notice the rich cultural history that the country boasts of. The well preserved past artifacts and century old festivals and practices still observed in the modern day Austria. Austria.s artistic prowess is clearly found in its architecture and magnificent structures like the Saint Stephen.s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace and the Melk Abbey Centre. Austria is also home to one of the world.s greatest composers, Ludwig van Beethoven. Compared to other European countries, Austria has the richest culture and affluence in Europe.

There are numerous activities you can enjoy in Austria as a tourist. The most popular of these activities are hiking and skiing. This is because of Austria.s mountainous terrain which makes it suitable for extreme winter sports and activities. If you are a skier or want to learn how to ski, be sure to have a wonderful experience in Austria. One can also enjoy mountain biking on some of Austria.s bike friendly terrains.

For those who do not enjoy outdoor activities and sports there are theaters,art galleries museums, parks and zoos within the city. You can spend time in famous galleries within Vienna and have a look at Mozart.s masterpieces in major galleries. Have the map of Austria with you so as to easily find your way back to your guest house or motel should you get lost. If the map does not turn out to be helpful, just ask the city residents for directions. A good number of them understand English and can converse with you well. Getting lost only happens in rare circumstances as there is always a tour guide to show you around the city and other famous places.