| Are you looking for ideas and inspiration for a great | | | | Stunning! (I've been here maybe 30 times) Fairytale |
| Euro city break? | | | | architecture abounds - The Charles Bridge has to be |
| * Are you "local" and looking for a fabulous long | | | | seen to believed - pictures not enough but you'll take |
| weekend break? * Or maybe you're form the US, | | | | a lot! Food from candle-lit restaurants to banging |
| Canada, Australia or elswehere and are planning a | | | | party bars. Not as cheap as it once was but still good. |
| European your? | | | | If you're adventurous try a locals bar or club - half |
| No matter! As long as you're looking for city's that | | | | the price you'll pay in the main tourist ones. And take |
| match the criteria below then look no further - | | | | a day trip to the spa town of Karlovy Vary if you |
| 1) Easy to get to. | | | | can, absolutely stunning. |
| 2) Have loads to see and do. | | | | AMSTERDAM - |
| 3) Great food for all budgets | | | | Yes a party town and you can do all the things you'e |
| 4) A wide range if shopping. | | | | heard :-o But if you're gorwn up you'll find a |
| 5) And sights and events for culture vultures | | | | wonderful canals crossed city lined with gabled |
| ***Here are my top 10 European City Breaks*** | | | | houses and moored up huge houseboats. Something |
| STOCKHOLM - My local town :-) | | | | for everyone from mad nightlife to chilled dayimes |
| Amazing. Vibrant. Modern and old at the same time. | | | | and a lot of culture e.g., Rembrandt's house and the |
| Timeless and charming. Built on 14 islands where the | | | | Van Gogh museum. |
| huge and beautiful Lake Malaren joins the Baltic. | | | | VENICE - |
| Water so pure and clean that you'll see people | | | | See the stunning Rialto Bridge, Doge's Palace and St |
| salmon fishing in the middle of the city. (Except in | | | | Mark's Square. Venice is simply unforgettable. Quaint |
| winter when you'll see ice skaters) | | | | shops & enticing restaurants abound. And you must |
| Be sure to walk the cobbled-stoned streets of Gamla | | | | take a ride on a waterbus and get an ice cream! |
| Stan (old town), maybe buy an axe at the Viking | | | | Ideal for a short break. |
| shop & for sure take one of many boat trips to the | | | | BARCELONA - |
| local islands of the 14,000+ island archipelago. Oh, and | | | | Just has to be done at least once. Bustling, lively and |
| if you're after a mad party try the Finland boat on a | | | | fun. Amazing Gaudi and gothic architecture. Legendary |
| spring or summer weekend crossing. Madness! | | | | nightlife at the Olympic area and more sedate old and |
| LONDON - | | | | modern art museums. A fantastic climate too. |
| My previous home. Hardly needing introduction. 2000 | | | | STRASBOURG - |
| years of history goes head to head with the modern | | | | A cosmopolitan, bustling French city with loads to see |
| world. Bursting at the seams with restaurants & | | | | and do. Canals and mediaeval bridges. La Petite |
| shopping (Oxford Street and Camden for starters) | | | | France, a beautiful quarter of the city with |
| Museums. Madame Tussauds wax works. The | | | | half-timbered houses in contrasting pastel shades. |
| London Eye, art at the Tate Gallery, and of course | | | | Spectacular views from the top of the Notre Dame |
| any sort of nightlife you fancy. | | | | cathedral. |
| BRUSSELS - Great beer ;-) | | | | MILAN - |
| Fantastic architecture & numerous museums. More | | | | See Via Montenapoleone for world leading Italian and |
| Michelin ***** restaurants for it's size than any other | | | | international fashion designer studios. Great festivals |
| European city. Visit the Place du Sablon for bargains | | | | throughout the year. Stunning local lakes with superb |
| galore at the weekend antiques markets. | | | | facilities for visitors. Milan Duomo, the third largest |
| LILLE - | | | | cathedral in the world. Loads of art galleries & |
| European Culture Capital 2004. Crammed with | | | | museums. |
| designer shops lining beautiful olde worlde cobbled | | | | ***What about Paris and Rome and...*** |
| streets. Visit the Musee des Beaux Arts for art. | | | | OK I know I know, no Paris? Berlin? Budapest? |
| Brilliant restaurants. A must is the Les Heures Bleues | | | | Rome? Vienna? Well there's the problem with a top |
| where global artists fill the streets & squares | | | | 10 European city holiday review. All of the others - |
| performing in parades, concerts and festivals on | | | | and many more besides are fantastic and should go |
| holiday weekends. | | | | on your list. It's simply that the top 10 listed are this |
| PRAGUE - | | | | humble travellers top ten. |