Greenland

Map of Greenland

While Greenland is technically closer to Canada than it is to Europe. It is an autonomous constituent country within the kingdom of Denmark. With a low population of about fifty seven thousand people, it is one the least populated territories on earth. The capital is Nuuk and most of the population is made up Inuit who began migrating from the North American continent about seven hundred years ago. Greenland was settled by the Norse a about a thousand years ago but most of the Norse either died out or interbred with the Inuit population.

Greenland has also the largest permanent ice sheet outside of Antarctica. Most of the map of Greenland you see above is just ice sheet.

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 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 Lithuania

Lithuania is known to be a country with colorful history. Located at the eastern part of Europe, the country has successfully shoved between the Russian pillar and Nazi post; stunning the world, having won its independence from Soviet Union.

Geography

The map of Lithuania shows that it is located on the coast of Baltic Sea. It is divided into four regions: the highlands which is located in the northeast and central part of the country; the lowlands in the west, southeast and the southwest.

Vilnius is the capital city which is located in the south western part of the country.

People

The people in Lithuania are called Lithuanians although there are other races like Polish and Russians who has permanently moved to the country. Their dialects are Russian, Polish and other unspecified languages but the majority speaks Lithuanian which is the official dialect in the country. Their religion also varies, most of them are Roman Catholic, others are Russian Orthodox, and some are Protestants and other unknown religions.

The Weather and Climate in Lithuania

If you want to travel Lithuania, the best time to go is between the month of May and September, when the temperature during daytime ranges from 70s Fahrenheit or 20-25 degree Celsius and the nights usually ranges from 40 to 60 degree Fahrenheit or 4 to 15 degree Celsius. During the month of January and February are the coldest months in the country

The are modes of transportations around Lithuania:

  • Land transportations includes buses, Car and motorcycle and train
    • Bus – There are international bus companies like Eurolines and Ecolines which has offices in Vilnius and some other main cities in the country. There are couples of buses that go to many European cities every week including German cities and London with a daily bus going to Berlin.
    • Car and Motorcycle – If you come from the South, you’ll wait for about 30minutes to an hour at the two Polish border crossings.
    • Train – The city of Vilnius is connected by regular direct trains going to Moscow, Kaliningrad, St Petersburg, Warsaw and Minsk.
  • Boat – Klaipeda is the major port for all international ferries that bounds for Lithuania.
  • Air – Kaunas is the destination for cheap flights but most tourist do not linger there for long and hops in a car rental, taxi or bus immediately to go all the way to Vilnius which is 1 hour drive away.

Top 3 Travel Destinations in Lithuania

Lithuania has numbers of tourist’s destinations any traveller would not dare to miss. These are the top 3 travel destinations in Lithuania: The Zarasi Region – The place is popular for its exquisite forests and lakes impressing every visitor with the rareness, flamboyance and diversity of its nature. Bending and twisting rivers, blue lake patches scattered all around with peaceful woods which makes it the main attraction of the region.
The Nemunas River Delta Regional Park- This spot is located in the south-west of the country; an award-winning attraction being able to protect its natural wonders. This was formed after massive glaciers have melted after the Ice Age.
Plateliai – The place is in the north-west of Lithuania and has been awarded for its excellence in maintaining its intangible heritage.
Overall, the country is the best destination for nature lovers. When you are up to a European cruise or holiday travel, go straight to Lithuania and get ready for an ultimate nature experience. No wonder why they call it Europe’s best kept secret.

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.

Iceland

Iceland is a country in Europe widely known for its beautiful glaciers and unmatched anywhere else in the world. It has an estimated population of over 300,000 people as of 2009. The language spoken in Iceland is Icelandic with a few other dialects in the small towns. Its capital city is known as Reykjavik and is much smaller in both population and size compared to other big European cities like Rome and Paris.

There are numerous places to spend your vacation or holiday but first you must grasp some travel facts before packing your bags. The best places for you to travel Iceland are found outside the cities where there are serene environments to be enjoyed throughout the day. If flying to Iceland for a short holiday, you can spend it anywhere as you will be there only for a short time. Always remember to have with you a good travel insurance cover as it is the only form of protection you can have away from home.

The main currency in Iceland is the kroner. You can always change your currency to the kroner from most local and international banks at competitive exchange rates. This is always important as most places accept payments only in the kroner. There are a few places where payments can be made in other major currencies but one should not rely on such places as things can change any minute.

Tourist destination are more than enough in Iceland and with a map of Iceland with you, you can get confused with where to start from. There are lakes, rivers, beautifulglaciers and awesome to look at waterfalls in different regions of the country. The longest water fall in Iceland is the Botnsa waterfall in Glymur falling at a remarkable height of 190 meters. The tallest mountain is Mount Hvannadalshnjúkurstanding at 2119 m. the largest glacier is the Vatnajökull glacier stretching 8300 km2 wide. These are just but a few tourist destination sites in Iceland. More information can be found at the Iceland tourism board.

Iceland experiences the four common seasons like any other European country. They are summer, autumn, winter and spring. Summers are generally cool and sunny with little or no showers at all. Winter on the other hand are very cold and can be extremely wet and damp sometimes. Spring is normally the best season to travel to Iceland as you can have the best time around with little or no fears of the weather.

If you do not enjoy sightseeing or travelling around the country, there are good theatres and museums in the city where you can have wonderful time by yourself and other theatre lovers. You can also go skiing or take a walk around the city and interact with the city dwellers. Some of them understand English and can converse pretty well with you in broken or perfect English. Language should be the least of your worries as most tour guides speak good English and can help you with the conversations. If you want to travel Europe then you can’t miss out Iceland as part of this experience.

Map of Finland

Finland. It is the home of Nokia, Santa Claus, and the only country in the world that broadcasts its news in Latin!… And it is better seeing the place than just reading about it! When you travel Finland, its wonderfully eclectic culture and biodiversity can fascinate even the most fastidious of travellers!

Finland is situated in the northern part of Europe, and a map of Finland will reveal the country to be richly blessed with lakes and other bodies of water with more than 180,000 lakes! It even houses Europe’s fourth largest lake, Saimaa. It’s a Nordic country and it is officially known as the Republic of Finland, and its long history reveals that this water- laden country used to a part of Sweden. The country is largely agrarian, and its forest is one of the major sources of income, hardly surprising, really, with approximately more than 70% of Finland covered in trees and shrubs! It’s a veritable wilderness that is as strong as the spirit of the country is represents! Despite of its forests and mirror- smooth waters, it’s a nation whose bustling capital is as technologically advanced as the rest of the world!

Going to Finland on a holiday or vacation will be worth all the time and effort; one can feel the serenity and revitalizing atmosphere so much that all the stresses and hassles of everything you have left behind on another country just drains away. Take a trip to Lemmenjoki National Park and Oulanka National Park and hike through their treks, you’ll really appreciate the beauty and power of nature in the imposing heights of the conifers and clarity of the lakes, you’ll even get to see Finland’s national Bird, the Whooper swan!

For those who simply cannot let go of the city nightlife and all its excitement, then Corona Bar & Ka?e Mockba might just be the place for you! It is located in the city centre and is run by two of the most unique film makers in the industry! It has pool tables, dens and plenty of beer. It’s a great way to unwind after that long trek in the woods. If you’re feeling spoiled and you have that extra cash to spend for an exceptional bar experience, the Arctic Ice bar can cater to you. It’s expensive, but rightfully so with everything, from tables, bar, chairs all carved from ice! Plus, you get to wear a nice fluffy parka to keep you warm while sipping at your drink.

For individuals who prefer a *quieter* night out in Finland, then travel to Telakka in Tampere, its theatre offers its patrons with an inventive menu, theatre performances, and a bohemian air that can let you cut loose without losing your poise…or your consciousness!

When you travel Finland in June, be sure to drop by Olavinlinna Castle which is considered as the most outstanding and remarkable castle in North of Europe! By this month, you may be fortunate to catch some opera stars rehearsing for the Savonlinna Opera Festival which is celebrated the whole month!

Map of Estonia

Estonia is one of those little known about European countries. Although tourism is not as strong in this nation as other more established European countries, it still has a healthy little holiday market. Estonia has sandy beaches, wooded countryside and well preserved old towns. On top of this is is great value for money. We are talking about summer here, however Estonia is a true winter wonderland. Skiing is now very established and so are most of the other winter sports. Add to this the cultural tourism you will experience and it will make for a great winter holiday, whether you are travelling alone or in a group.

However as always Travel Insurance is a must. Holidaying without travel insurance is just asking for trouble. Knowing that any eventuality will be covered by your insurance is a real load off you shoulders. Being able to book a hotel if your cheap flight is cancelled is a real bonus. Some parts of Estonia 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.

Here are some facts about Estonia
Official name is the Republic of Estonia. It is situated in the Baltic Region of Northern Europe. Bordered by the countries : Latvia and the Russian Federation. The Seas that border it are : Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea. The land mass is 45,228 km/squared and a population of approximately 1.34 million people. The capital city is Tallinn. Estonias political system is a Parliamentary republic and the official language is Estonian.

Map of Denmark

Denmark is a land of rich history, fascinating monarchy and magnificent terrain. When you travel Denmark, one cannot help but be enthralled with the menagerie of places and hot spots to go to! Going around the area with a map of Denmark in hand is a great method for selecting the best sites to go to by highlighting the areas you want to visit, and before doing so, you can check out the great travel spots on the web and ask around for the most interesting sites.

The country is Scandinavian and sits at the Northern portion of Europe. It sports a temperate climate, which means no extremes of temperature all year round. Although their autumn is their wettest season, so one would think twice about traveling to the country walking in soggy socks and shoes. The place is ranked as one of the countries with the lowest unemployment rates and with this, you can expect very happy people, in fact, Denmark is statistically one of the happiest countries in the world! It’s also home to so many world wonders like the Viking boat burials, the bog mummies, and magnificent castles that simply take your breath away! It’s like living the fairy-tale only it’s real! Spending your holiday and vacation here are well worth the trip!

Copenhagen is Denmark’s capital, it boasts of cafes and restaurants that serve you with Denmark’s finest cuisine. Their cuisine, like any other Nordic nation, their meals consist primarily of fish and meat. Foods will include rye bread sandwiches and the main food of the day called Frokost that features smoked eel and pickled herring. One can also enjoy Copenhagen’s cold roast beef or liver pate with bacon and mushrooms. If you’re out to taste the best of Denmark, then opt top go out in the evenings and enjoy their Middag, the largest meal for the day that’s made of meat with plenty of rich gravy with boiled potatoes, pasta or rice.

Aside form the food, Copenhagen can offer the tourist more exciting places to go to. Downtown Centrum is the “Historical Center” of Copenhagen and is filled with splendid church spires, excellent shopping options, and historic buildings. Vesterbro is one cool district which has transformed tremendously over the years. Christianshaven is a neighborhood known for its canals.

Another interesting fact about Copenhagen is that it is the leader in the Bright Green Environmental Movement in Denmark and was cited as the key Cleantech cluster by Clean Edge.

Denmark has also contributed greatly to the world in terms of fashion, architecture, and graphic design, their flawless craftsmanship are exhibited in Denmark’s castles, paintings, artifacts, and buildings!

Denmark’s rolling plains is also an irresistible invitation to nature lovers. Its ground has been renowned for its burial rites and historic bog people, mummies which have been preserved by the high acid levels of the bog. Denmark’s castles are a major tourist attraction, too. You can’t help but feel awed by the sheer size and magnificence of these architectural wonders.

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