Berlin, Germany’s stunning capital city, offers a wealth of history and culture combined with a blossoming art scene and a lively, liberal attitude. It’s a must-see destination for city lovers, and fantastic hotels such as the great Hotel Adlon Berlin make it easy to see the city in style, but with so much to choose from, where do you start?

Berlin has six major districts:

Mitte: The city centre, primarily home to the city’s cafes, shopping malls and museums. You’ll also find clubs and bars in abundance in the smaller streets.

Don’t miss: The Bebelplatz, an open square with a strikingly simple monument marking the burning of books by the Nazi regime.

City West: Here you’ll find Ku’Damm, one of the city’s most premium shopping streets, especially noted for its luxury brands. The Charlottenburg Palace and Olympic Stadium is also located in this district.

Don’t miss: The Reichstag Building, Germany’s parliament building featuring panoramic views over Berlin from the domed rooftop.

East Central: A hub of activity for Berlin’s younger crowd, East Central is a clearly liberal-leaning area where artists, students and media professionals congregate. Lots of cafes, bars and independent shops to discover here!

Don’t miss: East Side Gallery, a breathtaking series of murals painted on the longest existing stretch of the Berlin Wall.

North: The North district of Berlin has retained the style of the old city, and contains a number of historical residential districts. Having avoided much of the bombing in WWII, it’s also one of the best places to find some of the oldest architecture in the city.

Don’t miss: Lübars, a small town on the city’s outskirts beautifully maintained in much the same way it was 100 years ago.

East: A district of contrasts, East Berlin is home to the former Stasi prison and a number of Cold War-esque apartment blocks, but also the beautiful World’s Garden, a park of ethnic garden designs and species with regular guided tours.

Don’t miss: The Tierpark, a large green space featuring a zoo and a 17th century castle to discover.

South: South Berlin is mostly residential, although nature lovers should note that the lake and forests in the Treptow-Köpenick borough are widely considered the best around the city, ideal for an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of the centre.

Don’t miss: Müggelturm, the observation tower over the forests and natural landscape that borders the city.

It’s worth remembering that this is only a small selection of what’s on offer in Berlin. Whether you’re a history buff, aspiring artist or just a backpacker looking for a new city to explore, there’s something to suit every kind of visitor, so get packing and start planning you next European city break!

The island country of Malta offers its visitors everything from history and culture to nightlife and stunning coastline. Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea the Island enjoys typical Mediterranean weather all year round. There are also numerous affordable hotels to suite your accommodation needs.

Being an Island Malta has some of the cleanest, safest and breathtaking beaches in the world. According to statistics from the government and locals, the top five beaches include the Ghajin Tuffieha, Dwejra-Dwejra Bay, Imgiebah-Mgiebah Bay, Ramla Bay-gozo literally meaning “Red Sands”, and Paradise Bay.

Malta boasts of a vibrant culture and history. As such one of the places you need to visit before departing is the Maritime Museum in Birgu, which for those of you with children is very family-friendly. Catch a round the harbour creek tour in traditional Maltese Dhaghsa and latter on enjoy a meal in the affordable restaurants.

Nightlife on the island is vibrant. The most renowned club for partying the night away is Paceville. Among the other well-known drinking spots are Qube Vodka bar bucket, the Nordic bars tray of 15 tequilas and the gentleman’s clubs.

Whether you are getting in touch with your spiritual needs or just stalling, the Hypogeum is totally worth visiting any day. It consists of a series of underground chambers, which are connected by low ceiling for passengers. Amazingly, they were carved out of the rock over 4000 years ago by the ancient civilization.

Prehistoric Malta hosts lots of temple sites near the Blue Grotto. The design of these temples is a clear indication of the great feats of engineering back in 3500B.C. For as little as 9 Euros you have the opportunity to investigate and explore the area and its temples.

When you are done exploring ancient temples you may opt to pay a visit mdina, also known as “the silent city”. This medieval, walled city is now part of the town of Rabat. Wander off through the narrow streets as you visit local cathedrals and museums. The architectural designs also tell of a town rich in history and culture.

Whether it’s the coastline, culture or clubs that appeal to you, you can find deals on Malta holidays through Thomson at any time of the year so don’t hesitate to start planning your trip to the wonderful Island country.

The stunning capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague is known for its medieval, fantasy-like architecture and romantic atmosphere. A bustling city centre and lively nightlife has cemented its place as one of the must-see European destinations throughout the year – if you’re planning on booking a Prague hotel, take a look at our guide to the top attractions.

History and culture

While there’s no shortage of museums and galleries, the real culture of the city can be found by exploring on foot. Prague’s city centre is characterised by its beautiful mixed architecture, the most notable example of which is Prague castle, which dominates the city skyline from the river with features of almost every major European architectural style in the last 500 years. Visit the castle and the adjoining St. Vitus Cathedral for a fascinating look around one of the city’s most historically significant buildings. Pure Gothic architecture can be found in the Old Town, including Týn Church, which towers above the surrounding buildings with striking black spires, and the medieval Astronomical Clock, a huge steampunk-esque black and gold timepiece, the third-oldest of its kind in the world.

Romance

There’s no denying Prague’s appeal as a romantic holiday destination – fairytale churches and castles, the wide, winding river through the city centre and stunning vistas from viewpoints around the city make it ideal for an unforgettable break away. Take a cruise on the Vlata River for a great sightseeing opportunity in the daytime, or at night for dinner, music and a fantastic view of the city lights from the water. Art lovers should visit the Mucha Museum, an intimate gallery of Mucha’s Art Nouveau works lovingly preserved by Mucha’s wife. Prague promises picture-perfect scenery whenever you visit, even if you just want to walk through the cobbled streets – visit in summer to enjoy the parks and gardens, or in the colder months to enjoy the city’s transformation into a winter wonderland.

Dining and nightlife

Prague offers a fantastic mix of gourmet restaurants and fast, delicious street food. Look out for traditional places to really experience the local cuisine – Czech food is usually hearty and warming, ideal after a day out exploring! Look out for duck and goose, quite commonly found in Prague, as it’s a fantastic match to most Czech beers. Popular desserts include fruit dumplings and freshly-made crepes, he best of which you’ll find from street vendors on almost every street in the city centre. Pub culture is prevalent thanks to the country’s large brewing industry, but if you’re looking for bars and nightclubs your best bet is the central Castle district, home to the city’s biggest and trendiest venues.

For information about what’s on, take a look at the city’s official website. Whether you’re an architecture buff or just a backpacker looking for a new city to explore, Prague offers something for every visitor, making it the perfect cultural getaway!

Istanbul is famous for its delicious foods with both eastern and western influences and it hosts some of the most amazing places to eat in Turkey. The grand bazaars, the busy streets, the high class locations, they all hide wonderful restaurants more or less known by the tourists. There are millions of visitors who come to Istanbul every year just for the tasty, traditional dishes that they can only find here. It takes time and passion to find and enjoy these hidden culinary sanctuaries, but the experience is definitely worth it.

Particularly popular for its incredibly delicious Kebab, Istanbul hosts the most delightful Kebab restaurants in the whole country. Antiochia is one of the most well-known Kebab restaurants in Istanbul, especially for its delicious ?i? et, a wonderfully flavored dish made of marinated beef, grilled over a charcoal fire. Dürüm, an incredibly tender minced meat wrap with a nice combination of fresh vegetables, is unquestionably the most savory in town. Keep in mind that this is a relatively small restaurant and you might want to book a table before actually going there, just to avoid surprises.

Located in the heart of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, Gaziantep Burc Ocakbasi is a lovely restaurant that serves amazingly scrumptious food in a nicely decorated environment. Enticed by the delectable scent that comes from this apparently simple restaurant, people can enjoy delicious dishes ranging from appetizing salads to succulent meat. Being in the middle of the Grand Bazaar, this restaurant might be difficult to spot because of the everlasting crowded streets, but once you will find it, you won’t regret your journey!

Gram is another special place in Istanbul where you can taste mouth-watering dishes made by two passionate cooks. Even though Istanbul is a highly cosmopolitan city, sometimes it can be difficult for vegetarians to find a proper place to eat. Gram is suitable for vegetarians as it offers a wide palette of delicious foods made with seasonal vegetables, incredibly tempting pastries and guess what: there are all typically Turkish! Eating at Gram is a way of combining your way of life with the local culinary traditions. However, this classy restaurant can offer a variety of meat dishes as well as enticing deserts.

Situated on the Bosphorus, in an impressive boat-dock, Rumelihisikari Iskele is a high class restaurant offering a tremendously picturesque view of an inspiring medieval fortress. Visitors can enjoy an incredibly pleasant ambience along with the impeccable service delivered by the dedicated waiters and the talented chefs. The food here is extremely flavorful, the ingredients are always fresh and on top of it, there is quite a wide variety of traditional drinks available at the restaurant’s classy bar.

Detailed here are some established eateries in Istanbul but it’s always a delight to sample street food in new and exciting cultures. If you do venture outside of the restaurant scene, be sure to have up to date travel insurance just in case, your stomach takes a turn for the worse! For the best deals use Debenhams Travel Insurance.

Across the globe, there are many dishes that people from other countries find a bit of a novelty or a bit of an oddity.  Here are some European local speciality foods, considered strange or bizarre by many outsiders. You don’t have to travel far to sample the exotic and bizarre with cheap flights to Europe available year round.

As well as pizza and pasta, visitors to Italy may also find cibreo on a menu.  Most common in Tuscany, this dish is made up of the tufts on top of a male chicken’s head.  Song bird is also sometimes a dinner option.  You may be offered a drink of cynar, a very bitter drink consisting of artichokes.

The Italian island of Sardinia provides guests the opportunity to eat larvae-ridden cheese.  To make this cheese, known as casu marzu, live insect larvae are deliberately added to enhance fermentation and to break down the fats.  The cheese is enjoyed when in a rotting state, with the larvae visibly wriggling in the food.

Greek retsina is a wine that has a pine resin additive.

Black pudding is a common foodstuff in the UK and Ireland, although it is also found in other parts of Europe.  It is made from congealed animal blood, usually mixed with other edible substances such as potatoes or grains.

Cows’ stomach linings are eaten in several European countries, including the United Kingdom.  Known as tripe, it is also a common ingredient in tinned animal foods.

The famous Scottish meal of haggis also comprises an animal’s stomach, but in this case the stomach previously belonged to a sheep.  The stomach is used as a bag-like container for other ingredients.  Other sheep organs, including the heart, liver and lungs, are chopped and mixed with onion, oatmeal and seasoning before being tied in the stomach.  The entire sack is boiled and then served.

Frogs’ legs are meant to be a delicious treat in France.  Here, horse is also a popular meat at the dinner table.  Rare done steaks will perhaps be less cooked than one would like, with steak tartare being totally raw cows’ meat.

Yule brod in Denmark is made out of a mixture of beer and bread that is starting to go stale.

Icelanders enjoy eating cute puffins.  The bird is cooked by smoking, grilling, or shallow-frying.  The most unusual part though is the practice of eating the heart raw and before it goes cold; it is eaten that soon after removal from the recently killed animal that it is still warm.  Icelandic pony may also be found in some establishments, as may hakari.  Hakari is essentially rotting shark flesh.  A basking shark is left to ferment for a few months to soften the tough flesh before it is sold in shops across the country.

Swedish surstomming is widely available across the country, and is made up of rotting herring fish.  Not only is the fish left to ferment and decay for up to two months before being canned, it then continues to rot further when in the tin.  It has a really pungent smell, and is typically eaten with a type of bread.

One of the great things about living or visiting London, is that not only does it have a rich history when it comes to music, but also a thriving contemporary music scene. If you are a lover of music the city simply does not disappoint when it comes to offering the best venues for music lovers. If you are keen to see new and upcoming acts, then going to bars that offer live music is the perfect way to do this. If you are keen to see new and upcoming acts, then going to bars that offer live music is the perfect way to do this. For a full listing of London Bars visit www.worldsbestbars.com.

The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch

This bar is made for music lovers. Known as having the best jukebox in the whole of London, it also hosts the best bands and DJs every night of the week. As well as this you can expect great service and an electric atmosphere. Some of the more famous artists to have performed in this bar include Lilly Allen, Young knives and Arctic Monkeys. Entry to the bar is normally free but they may charge during special events.

The Filthy McNastys Whiskey Café, Islington 

The bar has grown in popularity for hosting some of the city’s best rock artists. One cool thing about the bar is that it has memorabilia from some of the best music groups in London on its walls. You can be assured that some of the most popular artists in London can trace their roots to this bar. Bands such as the Libertines used to play here when they were getting started. Their memorabilia can attest to this.

The George And Dragon, Acton

The bar has both an old man and a youthful feel to it. The bar is quite popular judging by the large number of people who visit every single night. The live music is great coupled with great DJ’s who seem to know how to pull in a crowd.

New Cross Inn, New Cross

This bar started out as an Irish bar in London but has over the years opened its doors to all people. The atmosphere in the bar is simply amazing as different bands grace the stage every night. Visitors are guaranteed quality music from different world-class bands throughout the week. The bar hosts an open mic night every single Tuesday. The open mic nights are quite something and you are bound to enjoy every part of it. Due to the large number of people coming to the bar, entry is normally free until 2am when they charge.

Famous for its amazing wine, its incredibly rooted traditions, the locals’ bohemian style and the delicious food, Porto is a splendid city with picturesque views and a fascinating culture. From the beautiful narrow alleys to the breath-taking parks, Porto is one of Portugal’s most outstanding destinations, extremely popular among tourists all over the world.

Ribeira

The most stunning district in Porto is Ribeira, a medieval area along the Douro River, filled with antique streets and picturesque views of the scenic harbour with its beautiful boats. If one would have just one day to spend in Porto, Ribeira would be the place to visit, as it is the most exciting part of the city. Its bohemian restaurants, the joyful street singers, the lively bars and cafes make Ribeira the best place for sightseeing.

Casa de la Musica

An innovative building, one of the most famous among the futuristic architecture beauties in the world, Casa de la Musica is a twelve-storey, asymmetrically-shaped edifice especially designed for musical performances. A blend of traditional influences and modern minimalism, Casa de la Musica is a remarkable not only for its unusual shape, but also for its 1.300 seat auditorium, that hosted some of the most reputable international orchestras in the world.

Serralves Museum

A top-notch cultural landmark, the Serralves Museum is an eclectic, boldly shaped building with an interesting art-deco style and a lavish ornamentation. Tourists that are not easily impressed by art should test their preferences by visiting this astonishing museum and they might be surprise to be left speechless at seeing both the stunning structure of the edifice and the intriguingly moving exhibitions.

Palacio de la Bolsa

Palacio de la Bolsa, a sophisticated 19^th century edifice with an impressive neoclassical architecture, was Porto’s stock exchange for several decades, until it became a popular landmark among the city’s striking attractions. The palace has aplenty rooms, each being uniquely decorated as an emblem of the majestic building.

Porto’s bridges

Some on the most extraordinary architectural achievements are Porto’s amazing bridges that offer lovely views of the city. Almost all these magnificent bridges are located in the City Centre, commonly known among the locals as Baixa. Ponte Luis I is a very high structure that offers an absolutely breathtaking view of the river, especially at night when the city lights are beautifully reflected into the shiny river. Dom Luis is an impressive bridge, used both by trams, buses and pedestrians. Arrabida Bridge is the nearest to the river and it is only designed for vehicles, so if you rent a car, make sure you don’t miss this fantastic bridge as part of your road-trip.

All these picturesque bridges and most of the bohemian city centre can be admired from one of the enticing river cruises available for tourists. Just go to Ribeira, at the Douro River and it is impossible not to see the wide range of river cruises advertised by the locals. It is a unique opportunity of seeing this spectacular city from another perspective. A trip to Porto would not be complete without a river cruise. Porto is a fairly safe city but as with all cities it’s important to keep an eye out for pick pockets. For more information click here.

Many people spend Christmas at home, with their loved ones in a more traditional environment. However, during the past few decades Christmas travelling has become more and more popular among people all over the world. Usually, people who live in Northern countries choose destinations such as the Caribbean Islands for a more exotic and sunny Christmas Holiday. Yet, most people would rather keep the tradition of a white Christmas and choose a skiing holiday.

From France, Austria, Finland to Switzerland, Europe is filled with amazing countries perfect for those with an addiction to skiing. In fact, a lot of Americans are fans of the European peaks when it comes to the winter sports.

Kitzbühel is the mecca of Austrian ski slopes. Advance skiers come here for the famous and most dangerous downhill trail in the world known as Streif. However, unprofessional skiers have the opportunity to exercise their skills on 54 lifts and 60 groomed trails on a 170km area of amazing slopes.

With 300 km of slopes and a village surrounded by 5 mountains, Davos is a legendary resort located in Switzerland. Apart from skiing, the fans of winter sports can come to these great slopes to do snowboarding, tobogganing, skating and hockey.

Part of the France’s Trois Vallée, the largest ski linked area in the world, Courchevel is an outstanding winter resort perfect for beginners that have the opportunity to better learn how to ski in a themed area. Courchevel has 10 slope-side remarkable restaurants, 600 km of trim trails and 66 km of cross-country trails. Not to mentions that the whole Trois Vallée consists of over 1,300 acres or terrain.

Switzerland’s Verbier is one of the most famous ski destinations among the travelers who seek to enjoy the nightlife as well. It is advisable to hire a guide if you are planning an adventurous skiing trip in areas like Bec des Rosses, an off-piste zone for professional skiers only. Make sure you save some energy for the night as well, because, apart from the wild slopes, the classy hotels, and the first-class restaurants, Verbier has to offer a wide range of lively night clubs and animated pubs as well.

Also known as Ibiza on Ice, Pas de la Casa is a mountainous region located in Andorra. In the heart of the Pyrenees, Pas de la Casa is the oldest ski region in Andorra, extremely famous for its incredible slopes. Offering 100 km of trails and 31 lifts, this amazing resort is linked with another region called El Tatar, popular for its off-piste slopes. Travelers who visit this great area will be impressed by the numerous slope activities available in both Pas de la Casa and El Tatar.

No matter which ski destination you choose, make sure you hire a guide before going to any of the off-piste slopes, even if you are a professional skier, as it can be pretty dangerous. For more information click here. 

Somerset; a little corner of the UK often overlooked by the masses heading to more ‘fashionable’ Cornwall and Devon for their summer holidays.  Stop in the West Country throughout the year and I guarantee you’ll be surprised by what Somerset has to offer.  Why not look a little closer and give it a go for your next holiday?

Beautiful beaches

When it comes to beaches, Somerset has something to offer everyone.  For great surfing and kite-surfing opportunities head to the quieter but picturesque beaches of Brean or Berrow.  Choose from Weston-super-Mare or Minehead if you’re after a traditional seaside holiday experience.  The newly-opened pier in Weston offers traditional fairground amusements as well as theme park-style rides.  The touristy resorts are best avoided during the summer holidays; stick to the quieter spots for a better day out!

Cider and folk music

Where better to enjoy a refreshing glass of cider than the county with more than 35 producers?  Somerset is very proud of her cider heritage and encourages visitors to give one of the traditional drinks a try; you’ll soon be hooked!  Local band The Wurzels are popular in these parts and many local groups perform covers of their most popular tracks.  Come the weekend you’ll be hard pushed to find a local pub without a traditional West Country band.  Go in and enjoy; you won’t regret it!

Nature at its best

Somerset is home to wonderful countryside notably the Exmoor National Park and Quantocks and Mendip Hills both designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  This beautiful landscape has been inspiring locals for generations, Wordsworth and Coleridge called this area home, and it’s easy to see why.  Head onto the Somerset Levels for miles of unspoilt countryside with unique wildlife spotting opportunities punctuated by charming towns and villages.  After a day on the Levels, you’ll be ready for a well-earned rest.  Renting a cottage for a holiday in Somerset is a great way to explore the West Country.  With plenty of space for all your gear and your own kitchen, it’s also much better value for money than choosing a hotel.  Perhaps you’ll choose a holiday cottage with a hot tub or an open fire for a really chilled out evening.

Cars to castles

However you choose to spend your time in Somerset, you’ll find something to keep you entertained.  The huge variety of attractions throughout the county means that even those with the most obscure of interests will leave happy.  The International Motor Museum in Yeovil is home to more than 400 cars from classic 1950s motors to modern supercars.  Not only a day out for petrol heads, this is also a great trip down memory lane for those who enjoy a touch of nostalgia.  For something a bit more traditional, Dunster Castle is a great day out.  The castle was once a feudal stronghold before becoming a family home for several centuries.  Explore the castle before enjoying a walk through the garden which is home to a variety of unusual plants and offers glorious views over the Bristol Channel.

Fuerteventura is a part of Spain and one of the loveliest Canary Islands, located off the African coast in the Atlantic Ocean. This beautiful island enjoys about 3000 hours of sunshine per year and has weather conditions similar to the likes of Florida and Mexico, thus making this place one of the most romantic, dream destinations.

It is home to some of the most exquisite beaches, which are not over-crowded, rocky hidden coves, wonderful and pleasant jogging and cycling paths. The island also has breath-taking underwater scenes in the form of volcanic seabeds, a true under-water ecstasy for adventure-lovers and divers.

In case you want to catch a glimpse of the picturesque locales of Fuerteventura, participating in the Fuerteventura Grand Tour is a great way to explore the island and get the real taste of nature at its best. Always accompanied with a tourist guide speaking in English, the tour is well organized in terms of ensuring that the tourists don’t miss any location. If we haven’t convinced you yet to book your flights to Fuerteventura then read on for even more reasons.

Lobos Island

This is an ideal place for tourists interested in flora, fauna & geology. It is a famous location where people get to enjoy a boat trip through a varied landscape, thanks to Corralejo Harbor for their standard boat services. The island features a plethora of natural habitats, a large variety of seabirds, a huge diversity of fish and not to mention the fact that it has about 130 plant species. The transparent beach water is worth mentioning, in addition to a large number of restaurants that enable people to thoroughly treat themselves to a host of mouth-watering dishes.

Baku Waterpark

This is a fun-filled family park that seems nothing short of a mini paradise and a perfect place to be for families travelling along with kids. It houses a large number of slides, Jacuzzis, a stunning wave pool, solariums built out of sand and to top it all a wide variety of food and drink courts. A noteworthy feature about this place is that it is always offers constant medical services and is guarded by on-duty lifeguards.

Deep Sea Fishing in Corralejo

This is the place to be for people who are keen about fishing, thanks to the vast variety of fish that can be caught. Some of these varieties include the legendary swordfish, the marlin and many more. The best part of this is that there is absolutely no need for prior experience and all that the tourist has to do is to relax and enjoy the thrilling experience.

Dolphin Safari

Nothing can be compared to the exquisite site of watching dolphins dance and sail past crystal clear waters. Accompanied by a guide, be a part of this safari on a yacht of 40ft, where you get to swim and snorkel in the clear transparent waters. The great part is that there is also an unlimited supply of soft drinks and wine.

Submarine Safari in Fuerteventura

Make sure not to miss this experience of a lifetime where you get to explore the hidden beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. Witness the enthralling and fascinating magnificence of the underwater marine creatures from the dusky sea perches to angel sharks and barracudas and many more.