The vineyards and wine cellars of Europe are great tourist attractions and I can understand why – try some new wine, perhaps have a tasty meal and enjoy a good view while you’re there. When I lived in southern Germany, I thoroughly enjoyed having easy access to a variety of vineyards. Here at Europe a la Carte we’ve published serveral posts about European wine so I’ve put together this compilation of travel tips to help you explore Europe through wine.

Vineyards near Heilbronn in Germany by Amanda Kendle

France

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that the most often featured country when we talk about wine is France. One exciting time to visit France is on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, the third Thursday in November each year, when the new season of this popular red wine is released for sale. Karen wrote about the marketing of Beaujolais Nouveau Day a while back and Thomas described some of the Beaujolais Nouveau celebrations that take place – it certainly sounds like a fun time of year to visit France.

Beaujolais Nouveau by kobakou

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For a small country, the Netherlands, often (incorrectlly) known as Holland,  has many features which are well-known throughout the world: tulips, windmills and cheeses, just to name a few, and not to mention one of the most famous capital cities in the world in Amsterdam. It’s a great place to travel because everything is nearby and the public transport is great, too – or if you’re more energetic, cycling around is very practical. Here are our travel tips for 25 things to do in the Netherlands to inspire you to plan a Dutch holiday soon.

The Peace Palace in The Hague

Admire the Floral Displays at Keukenhof Gardens

One of my all-time highlights in the Netherlands was visiting the Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse. This vast area is planted with a spectacular array of tulips and other flowers and is only open for a couple of months each year (around March to May) but I would argue it is well worth timing your travels to catch it.

Keukenhof Gardens by Amanda Kendle

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I spent a fantastic year living in Bratislava, but it’s not the capital of Slovakia that I’m going to tell you about today – instead, I’ve compiled a list of travel tips on what to do in Slovakia which are located outside of Bratislava. It’s still a relatively little-known country on the tourist trail but there is so much to see and do and I’d encourage you to get there soon.

Bojnice Castle

A decent day trip from Bratislava gets you to Bojnice Castle – a particularly picturesque castle dating back to the 12th century and rumoured to have inspired Disney’s Cinderella Castle (and there are certainly some similarities between the two!). If you can hop on an English guided tour it’s worthwhile as the castle is home to some very interesting history.

Bojnice Castle by Amanda Kendle

Levoca

The small town of Levoca is World Heritage listed and is most famous for the altar inside the church attached to the town hall. It’s a painted Gothic wooden altar which is the largest in Europe and it’s really spectacular – and the rest of the town is a lovely spot too.

Levoca Town Hall by Yarotu

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Hungary is one of those particularly unique countries in Europe – despite being landlocked and sharing borders with seven other countries, it’s developed and maintained a quite distinct language and culture. Hungarian is well-known to be one of the most difficult languages in Europe, but fortunately plenty of Hungarians speak a little English and you don’t need to learn the language to enjoy a trip there. I found it a particularly welcoming country with friendly, helpful locals, and would love to go back there again in the future.If you’re considering a trip, here are our travel tips for what to do in Hungary

Admire Lake Balaton

When I lived in Slovakia, many of my local friends told me I should take a trip to Lake Balaton, one of their most popular holiday destinations. Lake Balaton is the biggest lake in Central Europe and there are numerous villages on its edges catering to tourists – tiny Tihany with its lovely Benedictine Abbey was one of my favourites.

Lake Balaton on a stormy day by Amanda Kendle

Enjoy History in Pécs

Down towards the Croatian border, the town of Pecs is a popular destination in Hungary for its cultural and historical sites – it was even elected one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2010.

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Bulgaria is a beautiful country in Eastern Europe full of art, culture, history, and fun. Prehistoric cultures in the area date all the way back to the Neolithic Period, and some of that history can still be seen today. There are also various UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the area, helping to make it a must-see destination on anyone’s travel bucket list. To help you plan your trip, here are my travel tips for what to do in Bulgaria.

Visit the Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was discovered in 1982 outside the village of Sveshtari. It dates back to the 3rd Century BC and contains unique decor architecture, with murals and half-human and half-vegetable female figures carved into the walls,  the only of its kind known in the Thracian region. A visit to this site will give you insight into the ancient Getae tribes, a group of Thracian people believed to be in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean of the ancient world.

Thracian Tomb by Klearchos Kapoutsis

Explore the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo

Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rock-Hewn churches reside in the village of Ivanovo and in the valley of the Roussenenski Lom River. A visit here will give you the chance to explore an entire community of rock-hewn churches, monasteries, chapels, and cells. From the 1220′s to the 17th century, monks inhabited the caves around the area, and were actually the ones to create this amazing site. At one time, there existed about 40 churches and over 300 other religious rock-hewn buildings. Today, there are five churches for you to enjoy, all with impressive frescoes and unbelievable history.

Rock-Hewn Churches by Klearchos Kapoutsis

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If you want to beat airline hand luggage restrictions, then wearing a Rufus Roo jacket could be the solution. While the six-pocket jacket isn’t going to win any fashion awards, the manufacturers say it can hold up to 10kg of luggage. Presently many airlines have a maximum size for hand luggage and a 1okg weight restriction (except easyJet who have no weight limit). If you want to take a bit more swag but not pay up for hold luggage, then pocket stuffing a Rufus Roo jacket could allow you to take more items for free.

Me taking a beach towel from a Rufus Roo jacket pocket

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I’ll be visiting Portugal for the first time at the end of March 2012. I was spurned into finally getting to Portugal when I spotted a £38 ticket on the easyJet Edinburgh to Lisbon route.

Museum of the Discoveries in Lisbon by Jeremy Branham

I decided to split my seven days between Lisbon and Faro. I found a Ryanair flight from Faro back to Edinburgh for around £40.

Faro by mickpix

Mary Goudie of Your Lisbon Guide has very kindly offered to pick me up at Lisbon airport to take me on a tour of Lisbon on my day of arrival. The following day she will take me to Tomar, where we’ll visit the Convent of Christ.

I’ll be staying at one of the Heritage boutique hotels in Lisbon.

We already have some posts for what to do in Portugal and a collation of the best of Lisbon travel tips on Europe a la Carte. If you have travel tips for the destinations I’ll visit, please leave a comment.

Belgium, located in western Europe, is well-known as being the host of the European Union’s headquarters. Along with being a political hub, the country also is home to many cultural, historical, and fun things to do. Here are my travel tips for what to do in Belgium, excluding the capital capitcal city of Brussels.

Visit Mechelen, the former capital of Belgium

Mechelen is a small city in Belgium that  used to be the capital from 1506 to 1530. The area may be tiny, but it is filled with history and activities. Visit the late-medieval Saint Rumbold’s Tower, with its unique wood carvings and 15th, 16th, and 17th century religious artwork. Boat tours and brewery tastings are also a popular option, and a stop at the Brewery Het Anker will give you the option to taste beer chocolates. Moreover, a walk around the main square of town will give you the chance to see eight beautiful churches.

Michelen by Clayirving

Make a stop in Durbuy, the world’s smallest city

Durbuy, which claims to be the world’s smallest city, is a traditional Belgian town in the French speaking part of the country. Simply wandering around the tiny city and its quaint streets can make for a relaxing day, and stopping at a local cafe for a strong brew can make the day even better. Begin your tour of Durbuy at the Chateau des Comtes de Marchin, where you will be given stunning views of the river Muse and also delicious Belgian waffles in their cafe. Next, move on to the Grotto de Han, a cave that has been offering tours since the 1800′s. Long stretches of tunnels and a natural cathedral are all part of the experience.

Durbuy by pickinjim

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Croatia Week will be running on Europe a la Carte from 15 – 21  January 2012. On Europe a la Carte we’ve put together 25 ideas on what to do in Croatia and city guides to Dubrovnik and Zagreb.

Krka Waterfalls

I’ve been to Croatia a couple of times; to Zadar and to the Istrian peninsula. I’d love to go back again to explore more of the country.

The Colosseum in Pula

Throughout the week I’ll be sharing our Croatian posts on things to do in Croatia on the Europe a la Carte Facebook page and in my Twitter stream using the hashtag #croatiatips.

easyJet just lost their “we’re the friendly face of budget airlines” image by ditching fee free payment by Visa Electron and introducing a flat fee admin charge of £9 on all bookings.

Now while this may not be as bad as Ryanair charges of £6 per person per flight (unless you pay with Ryanair’s fee riddled own brand Mastercard prepaid debit card) it’s still bad news for UK travellers who are sick fed up of money grabbing tactics such as increases in APD (Airport Passenger Duty) and airport drop off charges, pushing up the price of their travels.

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