EU Countries Archives - Map of Europe

Map of Latvia

Completely different from its past soviet image, the modern day Latvia is refreshingly breathtaking and a must visit to any serious traveller. It is a European country whose capital is Riga. Latvia is a former member of the USSR but unless told you will hardly notice that fact. It has an estimated population of over 2,353,854 as of July 1999. The main languages spoken in Latvia are Lettish, Ukrainian and Russian. Only a few people speak English as their second language.

Transport within the country is not tricky with rail and road transport being the most common means in all the cities of Latvia. You can easily get around with a map of Latvia. There are several car rental agencies in all the cities at affordable rates. Other car rental services are available online while others are not. Getting a good car rental for your vacation or holiday is not that hard as some travel agencies provide free information about the best car rental services in Latvia.

The weather in Latvia changes according to the four main seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. Winters in Latvia can be extremely cold so if you are planning to visit Latvia during winter, make sure you carry heavy clothing to beat the cold. Summers are normally cool with little or no showers at all. The best time to travel Latvia is during spring when everything is cool and calm. Due to high number of tourists flying in during summer, cheap flight tickets may be a bit high so it is advisable to fly in during winter or spring when you can easily get cheap flight tickets

There are numerous tourist attraction in Riga and other small towns and cities. A good example is the town of Sigulda which has a population of about 10000 people. It is near the capital city, Riga and is commonly known by Latvians as the winter capital of Latvia. The town experiences cool and damp weather conditions throughout the year as it is on altitude. Its warmest months are July and august which are the most appropriate months to visit the town.

For nature and animal lovers, Gauja national park is a must visit. Here you will enjoy the best time of your life thanks to the rich flora and fauna features the national park offers. The park is ideal for hiking, bird watching and nature walks. It is open throughout the year with only a few times when proper management of the park needs to be done. Different tour agents charge different rates for a trip around the park. Alternatively you can consult a car rental service and visit the park by yourself.

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

Map of Bulgaria

In the recent past, Bulgaria has enjoyed an increase in popularity and has become a major travel destination of many tourists from around the world. One of the Bulgaria.s major tourist attractions is the Black sea and its charming coastline which many do not know about. Sofia, the capital city offers an easy pathway to most of the country.s attractions and resorts. Interestingly, the city is over 7000 years old yet so many people including some of its inhabitants are ignorant of this great fact.

Bulgaria has a total population of over 7,000,000 as of 2009. The main language spoken in this country is Bulgarian and the two main religions are the Bulgarian orthodox an Islam. The transport network around Bulgaria is smooth and the most popular method of transportation is through roads. There are several car rental agencies around Bulgaria so you do not have to worry about where you will get a car. The car rental services are affordable to every tourist and are budget friendly. The Bulgarian currency is known as lev and is the only currency you can use to pay for the car rental service. One Bulgarian lev is about $0.75.

Accommodation in Bulgaria is also affordable. The rates vary from city to city so you may need to check out with your travel agency on this. Most of the accommodation facilities like the famous Sofia apartments provide adequate parking for your car. It does not matter if the car is from a car rental agency, or personal. Parking spaces and maximum security are always provided. Just as in the car rental services you have to use the Bulgarian currency to pay for accommodation. Some hotels however, accept major currencies like the US dollar while others do not at all. You can change your currency to the lev from any of the local or international banks around you.

Strategically located in south east Europe, the weather in Bulgaria is Mediterranean climate, which makes the country even more enchanting. One of the towns fully enjoying this kind of weather is Burgas town. The town takes pride in beautiful sandy beaches,cool daytime and nighttime temperatures and best of all, prolonged sunlight in the summer season. Due to these enviable features, the town has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Widely known for its rich salads and desserts, the Bulgarian cuisine is mostly diverse with meat, dairy products and local wines. Most hotels and restaurants sell major Bulgarian dishes at affordable rates.Along the coastline,the cuisine slightly changes and one cannot help but fall in love with the delicious sea foods offered in both small restaurants and five star hotels.

Before packing up your bags to travel Bulgaria, get a map of Bulgaria to think of all the places to go to. Then before you leave, sum up your Bulgaria vacation with a pleasure drive around the city and its suburbs. It has a lot more to offer in terms of history and culture. There are museums,parks zoos, theaters and art galleries to visit. As you leave,you cannot help but feel the emptiness begin to fill you up for detaching yourself from this great and beautiful European country. You feel like taking one more day skiing, snowboarding or even mountain biking in the famous mountain resorts like the Borovets and Bansko. Here is a map of Eastern European countries.

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 Belgium

Having three different national languages might make you think that travelling around Belgium would be difficult. Nothing could be further from the truth, in fact not knowing any of the languages will not hamper you. Most of the population has a good understanding of English. Beer is another thing Belgium is famous for and as a result the nightlife is incredible. You could spend your whole holiday just going from bar to bar and not get bored. They cater for every taste and the variety is astounding.

The bed and breakfast niche is covered well in Belgium and is highly recommended for those on a budget while travelling. With a mild climate similar to the netherlands, you could pretty much holiday any time of the year. One particular town that should be visited by all holiday makers is Bruge. It is considered the venice of the north and with its quaint canals and sea side living, it is a place to come and relax. Don’t forget to get yourself a good map of Belgium, to help you navigate around the country.

Three recommendations when travelling around Belgium are

Car rental, being such a small nation lends it perfectly to a driving holiday. This way you are in complete control of your destinations and you are never more than 5 hours away from Brussels.
The railways, belgium has an excellent railway network and is also a part of the Eurorail network. So travelling around Belgium by train is an easy option. Also it will be a nice and scenic way to enter and leave the country.
Travel Insurance, Always take out travel insurance. No matter where you go in Europe. Do this! It is always wise to have a good travel insurance policy up your sleave.

Remember there are cheap tickets available with airlines and eurorail being offered all the time. Times are tough and competition is fierce so make sure you haggle for the best price on travel you can possibly get.

Here are some facts about the Belgium
Official name is the Kingdom of Belgium. It is situated in North West Europe. Bordered by the countries : France and the Netherlands . It is bordered by the North Sea. The land mass is 30,528 km/squared and a population of approximately 10.8 million people. The capital city is Brussels The political system of the Belgium is a Federal parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy. The official languages are Dutch, French and 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.