An amazing map of Europe showing aircraft getting out of Ukraine airspace

Ukraine airspace after Malaysian airliner was shot down

After the reported shooting down of Malaysian airliner (Flight MH17), it seems all air traffic was directed to leave or avoid Ukraine airspace. Above is an amazing image tweeted by NewsWeek. Sadly it would appear that all 295 people on board died as a result of this horrific  incident. Initial reports are that pro-Russian groups are the cause of this incident and are now hampering efforts by Ukrainian investigators to retrieve the black box flight recorded.

We will be updating this story as more information comes to light.

 

Some pictures of the crash zone are coming to light.

 

mh17-crash-pic

mh17 ukraine crash pic

Map of the Baltic Region

Baltic region and sea

The Baltic Region is Centered on the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea straddles the whole northern part of Europe. This narrow sea was where the early Vikings learned the fine art of sailing, amongst other things. In some places it is referred to as the Viking sea.

The countries that Surround it are as follows :

  • Norway    (Purple)
  • Sweden    (Green)
  • Finland     (Yellow)
  • Russia       (Red)
  • Estonia     (Brown)
  • Latvia       (Dark Blue)
  • Lithuania (Olive)
  • Poland      (Light Blue)
  • Germany  (
  • Denmark   (Red Brown)

While the above countries may border the Baltic Sea, other countries that are considered part of the Baltic region are :

  • Belarus (Pink)
  • to a lesser extent The Netherlands

You will note that Russia borders the Baltic Sea in two distinct and separate places.  There is a red region between Lithuania and Poland that is a part of Russia yet it is not physically connected to the main part of the Russian Federation.

 

The Baltic Sea flows into the North Sea which is adjacent to the UK.

 

Map of European Undersea High Speed Cables

Europe's Underwater Optical Cable map

If you are a map buff like we are at Map of Europe dot com, then you should geta buzz out of Telegeography.com‘s latest research. They have put together some great maps of all of the planet’s high speed underwater telephony and data cables. We are showing you Europe’s here but they have many more and even have put together a great interactive website that shows the planet and how it is connected. We recommend you have a look at submarinecablemap.com

Topographical Map Of Europe

Topographical Map of Europe

A simple topographical Europe Map

Here we present a simple topographical map of Europe. The darker reds and browns are the higher and mountainous regions. The lighter brown and pink regions are the hilly regions and foothills of the mountains. The light green regions are the plains areas and the dark green areas are the sea level or close to sea level areas.

As you can see as you head East, Europe tends to get flatter and lower. The only exception to this are the Ural mountains, which blip up a little as we head into Russia proper. The highest regions are the Alps and the Pyrenese mountains. Although there are some regions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Bulgaria that are quite mountainous also.

Rail Map Europe

A rail Europe map

Rail Europe tickets are a great alternative to flying. Imagine taking in the breath taking views of the European Alps, the Med, the Adriatic, the Greek Isles and much more. Travelling by train in today’s day age will allow you to have a proper holiday. It will allow you relax and reflect while you speed towards your destination in complete comfort and style. No worries about luggage size. Take all the gear for the whole family on that ski trip and not worry about excess baggage fees. No bookings are essential; you can purchase your ticket at any time. Turn up at the train station and start your holiday. No more worrying about flight schedules. If you miss one train! Catch the next!

The best way to buy a rail Europe ticket is get a Eurail Global Pass some people refer to them incorrectly as Eurorail Passes but it basically means the same thing. These can be bought as 10 day to 3 month passes. 3 month passes being the best value but of course are the most expensive as well. Have a look at the rail Europe map in the centre of the page and see if it the countries and cities you are interested in visiting for your vacation are included. They should be as most Western European countries are covered by these railway passes.

The rail systems that are covered by most train passes include.

  • Eurostar – is a high-speed passenger rail service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France, owned and operated separately by Euro-tunnel.
  • German rail (Deutsche bahn) – is the German national railway company. 3 different railway companies were merged to form this company. 1) Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany, 2) VdeR . it had railway assets in West Berlin, 3) Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany.
  • British Rail (British Railways) . Is an amalgamation of the .big four. 1) Great Western Railway, 2) London, Midland and Scottish Railway, 3) London and North Eastern Railway, 4) Southern Railway.
  • Swiss Federal Railways . Is the official railway of Switzerland.

How does it compare to a driving holiday? Well Driving can be fun but it can also be stressful. So depending on what kind of holiday you are looking for, will depend on what mode of transport you choose. Most train stations are at the heart of a European metropolis centre. So shopping, cafes, the art galleries and museums are usually not far away and usually within walking distance. The rising cost of fuel is starting to make an impact in both the airline industry and the driving holiday set. With a train the economies of scale mean that fuel has a smaller impact on price. A Europe rail pass is also so versatile. Extending holidays is no drama and adding locations to your holiday is as easy as turning up on a new train platform.

Travelling Europe by train is a great cheap alternative to flying. You will have more chances to meet like minded travellers and to take in the natural and urban beauty of Europe. Buying rail tickets in Europe is easy. You can get them over the internet or go to almost any railway station. So if you are thinking about travelling Europe by train make sure you do your research, you will be happy you did.  Oh and one more thing make sure you search online for a Rail Europe coupon code. It will make travelling the railways of Europe that much cheaper.

We have now added an updated rail Europe 2023 map.

Map of the United Kingdom

map of the United Kingdom

This is without any doubt the most popular country in Europe. It also enjoys a remarkable popularity around the world. Its capital city is London and the official language here and in the entire kingdom is the famous English language. The United Kingdom has a remarkable population of over 60,100,000 people. This marvellous kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The kingdom is led by a queen.

Getting around London can be tricky if you are visiting the city for the first time. Make sure you get a map of the United Kingdom before going around. There are car rental services throughout the city and the kingdom as a whole. All the car rental services accept payments in sterling pounds which is the official currency. There are other car rental services that accept major currencies like the dollar and the euro. You can also get car rental services online any time you wish.

One of the most interesting things that attract people to the United Kingdom is the royal family. People study about it so much and most of them visit the kingdom to learn more about it. There are other great attractions especially in London that one cannot afford to miss during his or her time in the United Kingdom. The big Ben is one of them. It is a big city clock in the city that dates back to the toddler years of London. There is also the Thames River that runs across the city where tourists can enjoy boat rides as the river is wide enough to allow easy navigation.

For theatre lovers, the United Kingdom has the best theatres in the world. There are numerous theatres within London and other great cities in the United Kingdom. Sport lovers will also find a good place in London. The United Kingdom is home to the famous soccer English premier league.  The league is the most popular worldwide as the best clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester united actively participate in the league. There are also other fun activities United Kingdom is known for. The London marathon for example, attracts more than 200,000 fans and as well as athletes each time it is held. It’s not all about sports as there are art galleries,museums,parks and zoos throughout the country. With all these places and activities, there is no doubt every tourist falls in love with the United Kingdom.

It is indeed a great idea to travel United Kingdom. But do take time to look for cheap flights. They are hard to find any time of the year but with a little patience or may be luck you can find a cheap flight at almost half price the normal charges. This mainly happens through airline offers and promotions that are so common during festive seasons. The cheapest airport to fly into is the Heathrow international airport in London which is open throughout the year except in times when the winter weather is too harsh.  During such times flights outside the kingdom may be delayed or even postponed. To avoid flight hitches and a wonderful time in the United Kingdom, always travel during summer or spring when everything is cool.

Map of Ukraine

We have added a map of the initial attacks by Russia on Ukraine. We will be updating this regularly as events unfold.

The country of Ukraine is located in the Eastern side of Europe. It offers some of the most affordable accommodations in Europe. If you are heading to visit this country, it is best to begin your travel in the city of Kiev. Start your holiday in the largest city in the country that can offer avid travellers with a variety of spots and attractions, which resulted from great cultural heritage and signs of economic progress. From Kiev, you can directly travel to one of the ultimate tourist destination in the country, the city of Crimea. You will enjoy the cool climate, fresh air and beauty of pristine beaches located in the peninsula region, along the coast of the Black Sea. This is something you should never fail to visit when scheduled for a travel in Ukraine.

Travel Ukraine and you will experience the architectural splendours brought by different churches and castles. Now, it becomes a destination on the crossroads between Central and Eastern Europe. This is where Carpathian Mountains are located. This place is suitable for fishing, hunting, skiing and hiking. Thus, this country is a perfect place for summer destinations for many avid travellers who want to experience adventure during their travel. However, if you are not an adventurous type of person, you can head toward inland. From there, you will see several spots that will surely get you fascinated. From ancient buildings to modern day structures, Ukraine can offer several attractions that are simply one of a kind.

Museums in Ukraine are the places where you can find historical treasures that belong to this country. Ukraine is country filled with historical sites and strong cultural heritage. Located in the city of Kiev is the Natural Art Museum, which displays a collection of painting, images and other priceless artworks. Several tourists, travelling through Odessa, known as the Pearl of the Black Sea will enjoy the opportunity of taking glances on different museums. If you want to go back to the history of this country, pay a visit to Odessa Regional History Museum. Historical items will captivate your attention. Other places that are worth spending your time and money while you are in Ukraine will include Lviv Glass Museum, Bulgakov Museum, Ukrainian Museum of Historical Treasures and the popular Ivan Franko Literary Memorial Museum. Whatever country you will come to visit, museums are usually one of the places that travellers have on top of their long list.

Based on the map of Ukraine, this country will offer you several attractions and spots that you should never fail to visit.  In the capital city of Ukraine, you will never get starve with so many restaurants around, which you can enjoy dining in. The foods that Kiev restaurants are serving become one of the city’s main attractions for visitors. As of today, the capital boasts over a hundred of restaurants serving several kinds of tasteful dishes. The restaurants are serving classical French, Chinese and Italian cuisines. Apart from having a good taste for food, Ukraine has been a popular destination spot because of the many architectural and modernistic designs that the country owns.

Map of Turkey

map of Turkey

Travelling across many countries in the world is a very enjoyable and interesting thing to do. Not all people have the chance to travel because of expensive airline tickets and considering the thousands of dollars you will be spending from hotel accommodation, car rental to food trips and shopping. For an avid traveller like you, looking for the best deal in an airline fare will somehow help reduce your expenses during the travel.

Give yourself a boost and travel Turkey. Pay a visit to the different hot spots and attractions all over the country. Getting there is made easier by booking your travel ahead of time. With just a few clicks over the internet, you will find over a hundreds of dates with a great deal of prices. By showing live dates from top travel websites, you can find one travel date that suits your budget and will correspond to your preferred travel time and date.

Looking at the map of Turkey, you will have various places to visit on. Ankara is actually the capital city of Turkey but Istanbul is really the heart of this astonishing country, which becomes one of the popular destinations nowadays. This city is the only one in the world to be located in both Asia and Europe, with the old and new districts separated by the Bosphorus strait. You can avail cheap flights to Istanbul and other destination places in Turkey like Adana, Dalaman, Bodrum, Konya and Izmir if you ride on one from these coastal airports. Be warned that ticket prices can get higher in June, July and August when the weather is at its hottest and school holidays is ready to begin.

Modern-day art is one of Istanbul’s cosmopolitan attractions. Classical antiques at the Archaeology Museum are one of the cultural inheritances, which give an immeasurable wonder to any tourist. Topkapi Palace museum, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, the Covered Bazaar, Galata Tower and Blue Mosque are just few among the many list of museums found in the great city of Istanbul. Pamukkale at the South-West of Turkey is a bathing place for thousands of years. Travellers are looking to visit this spot because of the healing properties it can give to the skin, health and total well-being. If you are destined to travel to this country, never miss the chance of looking into the cultural heritage that this country have. Turkey can be a great destination if you can find the best deal for airline tickets.

Known to be a remarkable country for wealth and treasure, you should consider this place for your next planned trip.  Book your trip early to benefit from discounts that airline companies are offering. In this country, you will see how Muslim and Christian forces opposed each other while both taking up the fast developing culture, which makes them stand out from other European neighbours. Turkey has been known as one of the most popular summer holiday destination. There have been more inquiries about Turkey than any other destination. The destination hotspots are not a huge surprise knowing that this country can offer you a lot, in terms of cheap flights and attractions.

Map of Switzerland

map of Switzerland

Switzerland is a true winter wonderland, just check a map of Switzerland if a skiing holiday is what you are after then there are few places in the world that offer better ski packages than Switzerland.

However summer holidays in Switzerland can be Just as fulfilling. The mild climate of the Swiss summer makes for a holiday to the glorious green Alpine foothills a truely rural escape. Thousands of holiday makers will take driving holidays around Switzerland, so renting a car and making for the Swiss border is an excellent option.

The railways around Switzerland are excellent and Eurorail passes are easily purchased from any train station. Infact a rail holiday around Switzerland is argueably one of Europes great holidays. Three train rides you must try are :

  • The Mount Pilatus railway the steepest railway from Lucerne to the top.
  • The Glacier ExpressSt. Moritz to Zermatt, which is a 8 hours travel in the Swiss Alps.
  • The Jungfraujoch railway Interlaken (560 meters) to the Jungfraujoch station (3450 meters) in few hours. And many more.

Flights around and to Europe are cheap these days. So booking a flight to Geneva, Berne or even Zurich is as easy going to your favourite online travel agent and making a few clicks. For a good choice of hotels with discount prices, visit Hotel Reservation in Bern for more information.

Here are some facts about Switzerland

Official name is the Swiss Confederation. It is situated in central Europe. Bordered by the countries : GermanyFrance and Italy. It is a landlocked country so has no Seas or Oceans bordering it The land mass is 41,285 km/squared and a population of approximately 7.8 million people. The capital city is Bern and the political system is a Federal republic, with parliamentary system and direct democracy. The official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh.

Map of Sweden

map of Sweden Sweden is definitely one of the most common countries in the map of Europe. It has a population of over 9.3 million people. Its capital city is Stockholm. Swedish is the official national language of Sweden with only a few people within the country speaking English as their second language. The national currency in Sweden is the krona. Sweden is an active member of the European Union. It has been a member since 1995 and since then, it has taken part in major decisions made by the union. Sweden has one of the best tourist facilities for tourists who come to the country each year. Whether visiting the country for a short holiday or vacation, be sure to have fun. You will experience the best vacation or holiday of your lifetime in Sweden. There are good lodges across the country where spending a holiday or a vacation is ideal. All of them are affordable therefore; you do not have to worry about spending too much. Bookings to these lodges can be made online or through calls. Remember that, early booking attracts lower charges. Therefore, book early to save more money for that holiday or vacation you so much wish to spend in Sweden. There are parks, zoos, and lakes around the country where one can enjoy quiet times. For those who love indoor activities and games, there are museums, theatres and galleries where one can enjoy the greatest artistic creations in Europe and around the world.  There are also lawn tennis courts and indoor swimming facilities around the city where one can either play the games or take part as a spectator. For soccer lovers there are top rated soccer clubs that represent the country in the European soccer league. Whatever one enjoys doing, be sure to find a wonderful time in Sweden. Before taking that long flight from your country to Sweden, consider the weather condition you are going to find in Sweden. The country experiences the four major seasons of the year; summer, autumn, winter, and spring. Winter seasons in Sweden can be very cold and damp. If you are flying in during this season carry some heavy clothing or you will experience a hard time in Sweden.  Summers on the other hand are generally cool with little or no showers at all. This is a good season to fly into Sweden and feel the sun and the warmth it brings. Spring is the best season to consider flying into Sweden as everything during this season is cool. Before taking that flight back home, take time to walk around the city and in other popular places around Sweden. Travel Sweden and carry a map of Sweden with you and take your time to chat with the locals. They are very warm and receptive people with a strange love of their country and language. The only barrier that can come between you and the people is the language barrier factor. To avoid this ask your tour agency to provide you with a bilingual tour guide who can converse in both English and Swedish.

Map of Scotland

Scotland is like a magazine with amazing articles. You never get tired of it and only wish the end will never come. Scotland is no doubt one of the most common countries in the wide continent of Europe. Its capital city is called Edinburgh and is popular to many people around the world just as the country itself. The official language spoken in Scotland is English.

Before flying to Scotland, ensure you have enough information of the services you will need there. One of the most common services you will need is car rental services. There are numerous car rental services both in the city and outside the city. The car rental services are offered at competitive prices. To save money, visit online car rental services and compare prices. You can also book a car from any of the car rental services online and secure a nice car before you get to Scotland. You should also ensure that you have a travel insurance to take care of your stay in Scotland. This will keep you secure should you fall sick or lose your luggage. To find the best travel insurance, consult your travel agent and ask for extensive advice about the best travel insurance for a tourist.

There are numerous tourist attractions in Scotland. The most common one is the bag pipe. You will notice Scottish men playing bag pipes in Edinburgh and other cities skillfully. The bag pipe is arguably the best trade mark Scotland has. Then there are several Scottish whiskey distilleries. Wine and whiskey lovers will find the distilleries very interesting as the alcoholic drinks can be bought from their depots at amazingly reduced prices. Another great attracting is the Scottish ferries where you can take rides to islands like Aran and Shetlands. The islands are great for tourists as there is tasty seafood in all the islands. They are sold at affordable prices so you do not have to worry that you will spend too much on the seafood. For more information about all the tourist attractions in Scotland, consult your travel agent or check for any available information about Scotland online.

It is highly recommended that you know the weather you are going to find in Scotland once you get there. The country experiences the four weather season in a year; summer, autumn, winter and spring. The best time to fly to Scotland is during spring when almost everything can be done without the fear of the weather conditions. Summer is also good especially for scrubber divers or for any tourist madly in love with anything to do with the waters. Winter seasons are sometimes very cold so it is highly recommended that you carry heavy clothing to beat the cold if you intend to visit the country during winter. Note that, cheap flights are available during this season as there are fewer people flying to Scotland during this season.

When you travel Scotland, take a map of Scotland with you each time you visit any place in the country you do not know. This will come in handy should you get lost and will help you get around easily. Before you leave, take time to chat with the locals and know more about the Scottish culture. You will find that the culture has got more than just the famous kilts and the Scottish dance.

Map of San Marino

San Marino is one of the smallest countries you will ever visit. It has a population of over 25,000 people. Its capital city goes by the same name as the country, San Marino. It has a population of about 5000 people. The country has the oldest republic in the whole wide world, dating back to 301 A.D when it got its independence. Another interesting thing about this country is that you can tour the entire country in just 48 hours. This makes it even charming to any tourist as seeing every corner of a foreign country in the shortest time possible is an achievement many dream of.

There are cheap flights to San Marino throughout the year but getting them can be very challenging. The cheap flights are highly competitive and only come when there are promotions; festive seasons or when an airline is celebrating an anniversary. There are other ways through which you can get cheap flights most of which are only known to travel agents. The cheap flights will definitely save you money that you will probably use to have more fun during that vacation or holiday you so much hope to spend in San Marino.

There are hotels in the city and other parts of the country where tourists can eat and spend the nights. The city comes vibrant at night with many restaurants open to tourists and other night life lovers. During the day, the streets are filled with thousands of tourists sightseeing or simply buying souvenirs in the major gift shops around the small city. There are buses and cabs to get you around so you really do not really need to look around for car rental services. Bus tickets are affordable to both locals and tourists wishing to travel to any part of the country.

Before booking that flight to travel San Marino, ensure you have some knowledge of the weather condition you are going to find in the city and in the country as a whole. Like any other part in Europe, San Marino experiences summer, autumn, winter and spring. The best time to fly into San Marino is during spring when almost everything is cool. Summer is also a good season to travel to San Marino but there are so many tourists also flying in during this season. Winter seasons are not the best for anyone to fly into San Marino because of extremely cold conditions.

Take time to walk around the city to buy souvenir and stamps or visit art galleries. Take a map of San Marino to help you locate places easily or take a tour guide with you to shoe you around. If you like making friends or socializing be sure to find a wonderful time in San Marino. The locals are very welcoming and friendly people. You will notice nearly all of them show some kind of passion for their country and culture and are very proud of whatever they do.

Map of Russia

With an area that is almost twice that of the United States of America, Russia is definitely a country any tourist ought to consider as his or her dream destination for any vacation. Its capital city Moscow is one of the most industrialized cities in Europe and has residents not only from Russia but from different parts of the world. The official language spoken in Russia is Russian with a few people speaking English as their second language. Russia has been for a long time a European country involved in key European decisions probably because of its military might and developed economy.

There are cheap flights available to Russia from different parts of the world. However, getting them can sometimes prove to be a difficult exercise but with a little patience, one can easily get the cheap flights easily. Most cheap flights are available during festive seasons when there are discounts and promotions of flight tickets to Russia. It is during these promotions that you can easily secure the cheap flights. There are other ways one can secure cheap flights to Moscow but you have to be really patient in your quest for the cheap flights as some of them only come once or twice in a year

Tourist attractions in Russia are numerous and one may even have difficulties deciding where to go or where not to, especially if you do not have a map of Russia. Most of them are in the capital Moscow and other big cities like St.Petersburg. The Kremlin is one of the most common destinations to both local and international tourists. It serves as the official home of the Russian president and has some of the most beautiful gardens in Europe. A good travel map of Russia should show you al the best tourist spots.

Then there is the golden ring which is a group of cities north east of Moscow. The cities are prehistoric and played a major role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church. When it comes to listing all the attraction in this great country of more than 140,000,000 people one can easily get tired before reaching a quarter of the main attractions. More information about the attraction can be got from respective tourist travel agencies or tour websites.

Before you travel Russia, it is extremely important to know the weather one is going to find there. The country experiences the four main seasons on a year; summer, autumn, winter and spring. Winter seasons in Russia are always damp and wet. Sometimes the temperatures may reach negatives so it is highly recommended that you carry heavy clothing to beat the cold if you intend to visit Russia during this time. Summers are generally cool but sometimes the temperatures can reach very high limits. The best season to fly into Russia is during spring when the temperatures are moderate.

Whether you love indoor or outdoor activities you will never fall short of activities to do in Russia. There are museums, art galleries and theatres for indoor activity lovers in Russia. There are also parks and zoos for nature lovers in different parts of Russia where the nature lovers can taste what Russia has to offer when it comes to nature. Before leaving take time to chat with Russians. You will find it interesting that despite what people say about them they are very warm and welcoming. An Eastern Europe map will help you find it.

Map of Portugal

Portugal is sometimes considered Spain’s little brother. Although if you asked the Portuguese, they would hotly dispute this! However having said that, the Portuguese people have the same easy going manner as the Spanish and are friendly and generally happy to help out the lost tourist. Portugal is truly a great country to tour. A very modern country it boasts all the things you would expect from a civilised European country. Things like great roads, excellent railway network and fabulous mobile phone coverage.

Travelling Portugal can be very cheap as it tends to be overlooked compared to the bigger tourist centres such as Spain and France . This can be used to your advantage when booking hotels and flights and rental cars. As the Portuguese love to haggle. Mentioning that it was cheaper in some other country, can often fire up the competitive streak that is found in almost all Portuguese.

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and is as cosmopolitan as any of the other cultural centres of Europe, such as Madrid, Rome or Vienna. It boasts a population of about a half a million people (545,245 population), which is small when compared to many other European capitals. It is still a big enough population base to give the city a wonderful international feel. However it is not to big to feel crowded and constricted. It is definitely one of Europe’s most liveable cities and with its growing financial centre, it is quickly becoming a city of the affluent.

Portugal being situated where it is, is one of the southern most countries in Europe and there fore experiences a very mild climate. Lisbon is known to have the warmest winters of any European capital city and the rest of the country follows Lisbon’s lead. It’s position within the European continent has often meant that rampaging armies have used it as a base to either attack northern Africa or as a staging place to attack Europe. This was especially so during the Muslim period when the Moors from northern Africa attacked Europe and reached deep into Portugal and Spain. They were eventually pushed out by the Christians however the Moors left a lot of influences on the Portuguese population that carries through to this day. This cultural heritage is wonderful and makes travelling through Portugal a joy as the food definitely has a Moroccan feel about it with lovely aromatic spices featuring heavily.

A good  map of Portugal is a must when touring this country. in these days of gps units, which are fantastic! It is nice to have a paper backup just in case. Even though the mobile/cell phone network is excellent you can not always get a signal as is the case in any part of the world, so you can’t rely totally on the internet for your directions. Have a  backup plan and the lack of worry will allow you to better enjoy your trip.

Map of Romania

How would you like to visit the famous Black Sea? In Romania, you will be able to visit this wonderful body of water which no other tourist spots could parallel with. The country is well known to be the place of origin of the famous Count Dracula. Moreover, the country has lots to show when it comes to nature endowed beautiful sceneries. The visitors surely love the attractive forest landscapes, churches which were built way back the medieval ages, historical gems and seaside villages.

Just like any country in Europe, you will be able to reach Romania by air, by road, rails and waters. You could avail of the cheap flights from the country’s national airline, the Tarom and Delta which directly flies from New York going to Bucharest. It would only take you about 3 hours and 20 minutes to reach Bucharest from London.

You could also avail of the country’s car for hire services from local and international firms which are rampant in the Bucharest airport. However, the government strongly implements the policy that the driver should be at least 21 years old. Moreover, it is advised that tourist should hire a package of car and driver service to prevent suffering from unpredictable driving.

Regarding the tourist’s accommodation needs, there are lots of hotels in the city which have the utmost capacity to deliver highly satisfactory convenience and comfort to the tourists. However, due to the heavy influx of tourists and visitors during some particular periods of the year, it is strongly advised to have an advance booking of the hotel suites. The costs of these accommodation services are relatively large given that the hotels are mostly rated with 5 stars. Nevertheless, the hotel management assures the customers with high quality of service and maximum comfort through its state of the art rooms and facilities. You could check in at Radisson Blu Bucharest, JW Marriott Grand, Intercontinental Bucharest, Grand Hotel Continental, Centre Ville Elite Aparthotel which are just some of the most common five-star hotels found in the country.

Some of the must be seen tourist spots in Romania include the Berca Mud Volcanoes, Carpathian Mountains, Ceausescu’s Palace of Parliamen, Bran Castle, the port of Constanta and the museum of history of Jewish community in Romania. In the country side of Romania, you will be able to witness the traditional practices which were preserved through the years as well as the wooden churches and wines. You can also engage in some outdoor activities such as cycling in the terrains of Romania. The trails are especially made for the cycling enthusiasts and biking lovers. Also, you should not miss going to the mountain lakes found in Retezat and Fagaras ranges. You will also discover the wonders inside the more than ten thousand caves found in Romania. You will find these beautiful and awesome tourist spots when you take a look at the map of Romania which is widely offered among the tourists.

Map of Norway

map of Norway

Being known for its beautiful mountains, fjords, and midnight sun, Norway is considered to be one of the prime tourist destinations nowadays. In fact, the Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord are just some of the well known fjords in Norway which has been featured in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Upon travelling, you will see beautiful and overwhelming scenarios in the country’s mountains and glaciers.

Just like any other tourist hubs in the world, Norway has a lot to offer. For nature lovers, you would surely love engaging in activities such as skiing, rock-climbing, fishing given that the country possesses a kind of weather which suits best for these kinds of activities. You could also enjoy the beautiful sceneries found in the countryside.

You could reach Norway through the major airlines present in the country which include Norwegian Air Shuttle, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Ryanair and Widerøes Flyveselskap. Coming from London, you could reach Oslo within 2 hours and 15 minutes, Bergen in just 2 hours and 10 minutes, to Trondheim in 2 hours and 15 minutes and going to Stavenger will just take you 2 hours to travel by air. However, there is also a direct flight from New York going to Oslo which would take you 7 hours and 30 minutes to travel. You could also get to Norway by rail, by road or by water. If you are with your entire family in taking a vacation in Norway, it is best advised to acquire travel insurance for your family’s sake.

You need not to worry about car rental for they are actually rampantly available in the airports as well as in main town of Norway. Since this service is relatively expensive, you may take the bicycles for hire services.

With regard to accommodation, you could also avail of the discounts being offered by some of the first class hotels in the country during summer and weekends. However, if you opt for a nature-friendly accommodation, you could have offsite camping. For those who had been run out of slots in the hotels, they could stay in guest houses and rorbu, a cottage used by fishermen during winter season. These rorbus are often found in Lofoten Islands.

In the map of Norway, you will find lots of potential tourist destinations. The country’s wild wilderness is a great venue to engage in hiking, cycling and jet skiing. In fact, Norway is considered to be the best place to play winter sports such as alpine and cross country skiing. To travel Norway would surely be an unforgettable experience for you and you family given that you get to engage in a lot of exciting family activities.

You would also love some of the Norwegian cuisines which include lukket valnøtt, a kind of cream cake, and geitost, a goat’s cheese.
If you have gone to Norway, you should not miss attending some of Norway’s best festivals which include North Norway Festival which is a month long celebration portraying the country’s culture. It is said that the people from Norway are considered the tallest among the Europeans. Also, it is claimed that the Scandinavian countries which include Norway, Finland and Sweden are considered to have the fairest complexion in Europe. If you visit Norway, it is advised to bring large bucks of money for the services offered are relatively expensive.

Map of Netherlands

The Netherlands (Holland) has mild maritime climate, so even in winter you do not get the low harsh temperatures like you do further in land. This allows for quite a strong tourist industry. Amsterdam is definitely the center of the holiday trade in the Netherlands. History and charm are available by the bucket load in Amsterdam. You can take canal cruises, which are tourist throw back to yester-year, visit the museums including the following Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and of course Anne Franks House. Amsterdam Walks, being Such a compact city, it is easy to walk and discover it’s heritage, Cafe Culture and much more.

Dutch history is so intertwined with the sea, that you can hardly talk about the Netherlands without in someone way touching on their seafairing past. It has been a love hate relationship with sea. The famous dykes keep the sea out are legendary and the picturesque and have often been breached by mother nature with devastating results. Rows of equally famous windmills lazily turn their massive sails ion the breeze to help keep the land dry are everywhere and are a must to see on any Dutch holiday.

However Netherlandsis a true winter wonderland. Skiing is now very established and so are most of the other winter sports. Truly experience a white Christmas, those same Alps that offer such wonderful bush walking and natural adventure during summer become some of Europes best ski resorts.

Although flights to Netherlands 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 the Netherlands

Official name is the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is situated in North West Europe. Bordered by the countries :Belgium and Germany . It is bordered by the North Sea. The land mass is 41,848 km/squared and a population of approximately 16.6 million people. The capital city is Amsterdam The political system of the Netherlands is a Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy and the official language is Dutch.

Map of Moldova

Moldova: The Forgotten Travel Destination

Rich in fertile soil and history which produces plenty of vineyards, Moldova is one of Europe’s forgotten travel destinations. In this country is found vast monasteries, trek through its ancient forests and taste its local wines.

Geography and Map of Moldova

Moldova is located at the Eastern Europe and Northeast of Romania which has a total of 33,843 sq km of land area. Compared to a state in the U.S. it is slightly larger than the state of Maryland.

People in Moldova

Moldova has a total population of 4 440 000. Although the country is highly populated, it has a few large cities and the most valuable is the capital city called Chisinau. They have different ethnicity and the majority of them are the ethnic Moldavians. Some are Ukrainians, Russians, Bulgarians and more. Christianity is the predominant religion and some of them are Muslims. The people in Moldova are known to be hospitable and friendly and the capital city has much to offer to any visitor.

Then there are the mouthwatering seafood and drinks that have distinct tastes and flavors experienced nowhere else in the world. They are available in all the big hotels and restaurants in Moldova at affordable prices. They can be enjoyed on the beach with cool breeze or one can make an order for room service and enjoy the delicacies in his or her own privacy. With such a nice treatment, one feels like a king or queen and may easily think of extending his or her days in the wonderful island of Moldova. This happens to most tourists or others go and fail to resist to the temptation of coming back. To them, Moldova is a home away from home.

The Weather and Climate of Moldova

The republic of Moldova has a temperate continental climate located approximately halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. The country’s four seasons are defined clearly, winter is warm and summers are long accompanied with lots of sunny days. Winter is moderate, some days it may fall. Spring is not stable compared to the number of sunny days. Summer is lasts long and is really hot. When summer rains occurs, it is usually heavy, causing local flood. Autumn is warm and long and may bring the first frosts and snowfalls.

4 Best places to go when you travel Moldova:

  • 1. Chisinau is the capital city of Moldova which has very modern green and the most comfortable town in the heart of the country. The trip here includes going to the historical center of Chisinau, the administrative and the cultural establishments on the main blvd called Stefan cel Mare which is the main square of the General National Meeting, churches and museums, 2 central parks, market of souvenirs and Central Market. The whole duration of the excursion is about 3-4 hours.
  • 2. Crivoca and Miletii Mici wine cellars- This spot is known to be the biggest underground wine cellars across Europe. Its wine factory and collections are found in tunnels made out of limestone forming an underground wine city. It has motor streets which are named from its famous brands of wine namely Shardonait, Cabernet, Sauvignon, Feteasca and more.
  • 3. Soroca town- This is visited for its historical importance during the medieval period for its defense system against the invasion of the polyaks, tartar, ottomans, Cossacks, and the Slavs coming from the East.
  • 4. Saharna Monastery complex – This spot is a must-see for its historical and natural wonders. It may take up to 6 to 7 hours to tour around the place.