6 Best Places for Snow Photography in the Netherlands | Top 6 Winter Photography Spots in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is not known as a popular winter destination, as characteristically, the country receives a few days of snow every year. With climate change, the number of days is reducing with each passing year, and the day’s not far when we will narrate our grandchildren about the merry times we spent with our friends, ice-skating over the frozen lakes and canals.
Netherlands Off The Beaten Track | 43 Best Hidden Gems in the Netherlands
Being Dutch citizens ourselves living in the Netherlands since 2013, and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages across all the 12 provinces of the country, we’ve discovered many hidden treasures that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites, and many of our Dutch friends aren’t even aware of them, making them perfect for crowd-weary travelers.
Instagrammable Netherlands | 39 Best Photography Locations in the Netherlands | 39 Top Photo Spots in the Netherlands
Being Dutch citizens ourselves living in the Netherlands since 2013, and having traveled to 100+ cities, towns, and villages across all the 12 provinces of the country, discovering many hidden treasures on the way that are not featured in any travel brochures or websites, I can safely proclaim that we’ve seen this country more than many of the locals.
The Christmas Markets of Stockholm | Top 5 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Stockholm | 5 Best Places to Visit during Christmas in Stockholm, Sweden
Christmas in Stockholm is a time of coziness, shimmering lighting, copious amounts of food and drink, and a few unique traditions ranging from solemn to hilarious. Stockholm's Christmas markets await exploration, with a million Christmas lights adorning the streets and a chill in the air filled with seasonal cheer.
The Christmas Markets of Helsinki | Top 6 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Helsinki | 6 Best Places to Visit during Christmas in Helsinki, Finland
While the sun may be reluctant to rise as winter settles in on Helsinki, the aroma of mulled wine, or glögi, and shop window decorations warm the heart as the holiday season approaches. People take advantage of pikkujoulu, or "little Christmas," when they celebrate in pubs and restaurants, because Christmas is normally a quiet family affair. Despite the fact that the temperature drops below minus 10 degrees Celsius at this time of the year, the atmosphere still remains one of warm conviviality. Even when the temperature drops, shops and restaurants gleam with a warm glow, and Finnish structures are known for their ability to withstand the worst frost. When you add carol concerts in churches to the mix, it's hard to believe Helsinki wasn't built for the sole purpose of celebrating Christmas.
The Christmas Markets of Tallinn | Top 7 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Tallinn | 7 Best Places to Visit during Christmas in Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn's medieval Old Town takes on a particularly romantic look in the winter, when a new dusting of snow covers its rooftops and candles cast a flickering glow across its cobblestone alleyways. Tallinn is at its most enchanting during the winter, despite the dark nights. From ice skating on the Old Town's outdoor rink to sipping mulled wine on the ancient Town Hall square at one of Europe's best Christmas Markets, it's a true winter wonderland!
The Christmas Markets of Riga | Top 8 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Riga | 8 Best Places to Visit during Christmas in Riga, Latvia
With a strong pagan and Christian streak, Latvians commemorate Christmas (or the Winter Solstice) with zest and fervor. And since the world's very first ever Christmas Tree was put up in Riga back in 1510, Latvia has as much right to the title of ‘The Home of Christmas’ as the North Pole. At Riga, even if it's not a white Christmas, you can easily enter the seasonal spirit by simply following the aroma of gingerbread and mulled red wine and charming stalls selling hand-knitted shawls, mittens, socks, fragrant candle lights, artisanal spoons, and other woodwork in the Christmas Markets in the center of the Old Town. And don't forget to give yourself some rest from shopping with authentic delicacies like grey peas and bacon, best on a chilling winter day.
The Christmas Markets of Vilnius | Top 7 Things to See and Do during Christmas in Vilnius | 7 Best Places to Visit during Christmas in Vilnius, Lithuania
December in Vilnius is a unique time as Christmas and New Year draw closer and bring the associated festivities. Vilnius got extremely popular when ‘The Guardian’ listed Vilnius’ Christmas Tree amongst the most gorgeous ones globally in 2015. Its appeal increased with the Christmas Trees of 2016 and 2017. In 2019 when we visited, Vilnius set up a 27 meters (around 90 feet) high metal Christmas Tree made with 600+ branches and over 5 km of lighting themed on the Queen of Chess (ranked as finest Christmas Tree in Europe that year), surrounded by stalls offering well-crafted distinct handmade products, a wide variety of dining establishments open till midnight and youth choirs shouting Christmas carols all around. Certainly, Vilnius is a must-visit Christmas location.
15 Best Iconic Murals of Berlin Wall East Side Gallery | Top 15 Most Famous Graffiti and Street Art of Berlin Wall Memorial
For over three decades, Berlin, the present capital of Germany, was a divided city, with a wall running through its center. The Berlin Wall divided the city into East and West Berlin from August 13, 1961, until November 9, 1989. Today, the East Side Gallery, the Berlin Wall Memorial in Bernauer Strasse, the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial, a former Stasi remand jail, and the green Mauerpark are all places where you can find traces of the Wall, its remains, and memorial sites, with The East Side Gallery, formerly a part of the original Berlin Wall being the most famous one. Today I’m going to take you along with me on a journey across the 15 most iconic murals of the Berlin Wall East Side Gallery. Let the journey begin!
A Baltic and Scandinavian Christmas | A 7000 km Cruise and Road Trip across Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden from the Netherlands | Travel Itinerary, Tips, and Tricks
Today I’m going to tell you a Christmas story. An epic Christmas story of a 7000 km cruise and road run across Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden from the Netherlands.
The Best of Bulgarian Architecture | Top 3 Architectural Landmark Buildings of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is impressive for its variety of surroundings - its majestic mountains, quaint Black Sea resorts, an east-meets-west mosaic architecture, religious heritage, and cuisine. At the foot of domed Vitosha mountain is its capital city, Sofia, dating to the 5th century BC.
4 Best Places to Visit in Kosovo | Top 4 Must See Attractions of Kosovo
The Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognized country and a disputed area in Southeastern Europe. Kosovo became part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to the early 20th century. In the late 19th century, it came to be the center of the Albanian National Awakening. Following their defeat in the Balkan Wars, the Ottomans ceded Kosovo to Serbia and Montenegro.
11 Best Places to Visit in Skopje | Top 11 Must See Attractions of Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje is the capital and also the biggest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, social and economic hub. To me, it is hands down one of the most beautiful Eastern European capital cities. The massive architectures built under the redevelopment project 'Skopje 2014' (a €560 million controversial makeover in a country whose one-fourth population is unemployed and one-third lives below the poverty line) focused on reshaping Skopje to attract foreign investments has left the city surprisingly beautiful but non-Balkan.
6 Best Places to Visit in Albania | Top 6 Amazing Must See Travel Attractions of Albania
With its doors closed to the world until the end of the 20th century, Albania, home to enticing history, gleaming coastline, ruffled hills and collection of fascinating Ottoman-era citadel towns, has always been Mediterranean Europe's enigma, a blurry dot on travel maps. However, with the end of an oppressive communist regime in 1991, Albania swung open its gateways to a land of enchantment.
The Best Places to Visit in Slovenia | The Most Beautiful Must See Attractions of Slovenia
With snow-capped peaks of the Julian Alps, gleaming emerald-green lakes, turquoise rivers, Venetian shoreline along the Adriatic Sea, and the underground magical world of Postojna and Škocjan caverns, tiny Slovenia (formerly a part of Yugoslavia and not to be confused with Slovakia that was previously a part of Czechoslovakia) certainly appears to be the 'Promised Land.' An extraordinary combination of climates brings cozy Mediterranean breezes to the foothills of the Alps, where it can also snow in summer. With more than half of its overall surface area still covered in woodland, Slovenia is one of the greenest nations in the world.
A Summer in Eastern Europe | An 8000 km Road Trip across Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia from the Netherlands | Travel Itinerary, Tips, and Tricks
Today I’m going to tell you a summer story. An epic summer story of an 8000 km road run across Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia from the Netherlands.
Family Weekend Getaway Holiday in the Moselle (Mosel) Valley, Germany | Travel Itinerary, Tips and Tricks, Road Trip, and Hiking Route Map
The Moselle Valley region offers families the opportunity to vacation by the Moselle, spend time with their families, have fun, be active, and learn new things right from a child-friendly guided tour of the Cochem Castle, the Reichsburg, to a ride on the chair lift up to the Pinnerkreuz, the fantastic viewpoint above the small town of Cochem, from where it's not far to hike to the Klotten Game and Leisure Park, which, among other things, has a large enclosure with wild animals, to a must-do boat ride from Cochem to Beilstein, that will leave you awestruck! So based on our personal experience, today I’m going to share with you the tips and tricks on how to get the most of this amazing piece of creation named the ‘Moselle Valley’ over a weekend with your family. Let the journey begin!
An Alpine Weekend in Zell am See-Kaprun, Austria
Zell am See is a quaint alpine town on Lake Zell, around 100 km south of Salzburg. Trails and lifts lead to the ski slopes of Schmittenhöhe mountain and Gipfelwelt 3000 panoramic platform at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.
The Chronicles of Bosnia and Herzegovina | The Best Places to Visit in Mostar and Surroundings
The ruggedly charming Balkan nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (abbreviated as BiH) is known for its passionate human warmth, magnificent mountains, raftable rivers, impressive waterfalls, gorgeous Turkish-era stone architecture with quirky bars, inviting street-terrace cafes, traditional barbecue restaurants, and vibrant arts scenes.
The Best of Belgrade | 3 Most Popular Attractions in Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade is a contemporary European city with a population of about 1.7 million. It is the administrative, cultural and political center of Serbia and is the seat of the Serbian parliament. Among the earliest cities in Europe and the only one built on the confluence of the two rivers Danube and Sava, Belgrade is the city that never sleeps.