Europe Articles

2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival biggest ever! - Posted by Andrew Regan.

Record numbers of ticket sales for this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival marks a clear trend in the increase in popularity of the event by the numbers attending and travelling to Edinburgh.

Guide to Algarve. - Posted by Peter Nutter.

Due to the Moorish occupation of Iberia, the region was called "Al-Garb Al-Andalus". Its highest point is the mountain range of Monchique, with a maximum altitude of 906m (Peak of the Fóia). The Algarve is hilly, but traversed with rich valleys. The maximum temperatures in the Algarve fluctuate between 15 and 38 °C, with the temperature never falling below zero in the winter months. Faro, which the Christian residents had called Santa Maria, was renamed Faraon, which means "the settlement of the Knights".

Holidaying in Brighton, London by the Sea - Posted by Ken Brower.

Known as "London by the Sea", Brighton is one of the UK's largest and most famous seaside resorts.

Americans flock to Croatia - Posted by Andrew Regan.

What has Croatia got that has led to a doubling of the number of American visitors to the country in the space of only two years?

Holidaying in Scandinavia:Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki - Posted by Ken Brower.

Lands of fjords and the midnight sun, Scandinavia is a realm where ancient sagas spring to life, stave churches cling to hills on forlorn shorelines, and the legacy of the Vikings still lingers.
 
Oslo

Capital of ruggedly beautiful Norway, Oslo is a laid back city with plenty to see and do.
 
Transport:getting there and getting around

Oslo is well connected my air from Europe and North America. The international airport is located in Gardermoen, 30 miles north of the city. Bus services connect Oslo with other Scandinavian countries, Germany and Russia. There are ferries between Oslo and other Scandinavian countries along with the UK and Germany, and trains link Oslo with Stockholm, Copenhagen, Hamburg and London.

Getting around Oslo is a snap due to its efficient subway and a range of buses, streetcars, taxis, and ferries on the fjord. Oslo is a compact city so walking is a fine option.
 
Climate

Compared to the rest of Scandinavia, Oslo weather is relatively benign. May to September offers long sunny days with temperature of around 16 C and up. Its coastal location make it prone to rains, however. Winter is a time of deep freezing cold with the mercury hitting 1 C in the south though the Gulf Stream keeps the coastal areas from icing up. In winter, Oslo is shrouded in snow and gloomed in perpetual twilight.
 
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of <a href=" http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/Norway/Oslo/" title="Oslo hotels">Oslo hotels</a>
 
Events:what's on and what's hot

*Constitution Day (17 May) is the big bash of the year. Norwegians enjoy dressing up in traditional folk costumes.
*Midsummer's Eve is another biggy. This is celebrated with beach bonfires.
 
Stockholm

Stockholm is a dream city of parks and waterways, churches, gardens, museums, palaces and castles. It's a lively place too with a maritime cast and a cosmopolitan feel owing to a high immigrant population.
 
Transport:getting there and getting around

Stockholm's Arlanda airport is 28 miles north of the city. Long-distance buses use Cityterminalen which is situated adjacent to Centralstationen. From here, direct trains link Stockholm with Copenhagen, Osla, Storlien (for Trondheim) and Narvik. Ferries are available too to Helsinki and Turku.
 
Climate
Sweden's northern location results in a cool temperate climate. Rain is frequent all year round. Summer is delightful in Stockholm with an average of nine hours of sunshine daily between May and July. Winters are far less pleasant being, chill dark and often snowy. Temperatures average -1 C between January and March and 16 C from July to August.
 
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of<a href="http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/Sweden/Stockholm/" title="Stockholm hotels"> Stockholm hotels</a>
 
Events:what's on and what's hot

*The Summer Music Festival held at the Drottningholms Court Theatre lasts from late May through August. Enjoy performances of opera, classical music and ballet.
*A Taste of Stockholm in early June showcases the countries cuisine. The city's restaurants set up in the central Kungstradgarden to offer food, drink and entertainment.
*Mid July is the time for the Stockholm Jazz Festival blows and the gay and lesbian Stockholm Pride event is held in early August.
*The Stockholm International Film Festival is held in November. It's one of the few existing 24-hour film festivals.
 
Helsinki

Helsinki is an elusive entity. It emanates touches of Sweden and of Russia but nevertheless manages to remain very much iteself. It's an open city of parks and waterways fresh with winds blowing in from the sea.
 
Transport:getting there and getting away

You can reach Helsinki by air or train from Russia or by ferry from Sweden, Germany or Estonia. Helsinki Vantaa International Airport (HEL) is situated about 12 miles from the city centre.

Helsinki has one of Europe's best public transport systems with the metro, trams, buses and ferries all accessible with a single ticket. It's a company city, too, so walking is a pleasure. Plus there are extensive cycle trails with bikes for rent from coin machines.
 
Climate

Winds from the Gulf Stream and the Baltic Sea gives Helsinki enjoys a more benign climate than most of Finland. Nevertheless, winters are dark and freezing with temperatures ranging from -3 C to -5 C. The summer months from are June through September are very pleasant with temperatures of around 25 C.
 
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Helsinki hotels
 
Events:what's on and what's hot

*Vappu, the May Day festival is a time for alcoholic overindulgence.
*Helsinki Day on 12 June celebrates the city's anniversary.
*The summer sees free classical and pop concerts every Sunday in Kaivopuisto park.
*The crowning event of the year is the Helsinki Festival from late August through to early September which celebrates the arts.

Holidaying in Germany:Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt - Posted by Ken Brower.

As a holiday destination, Germany has a lot going for it - fashionable and dynamic big cities, quaint towns straight out of the Brothers Grimm, deep forests, fairy-tale castles, and to top it all off, an unequaled range of beers.

Climate

Located at the heart of Europe, Germany has a temperate climate with regional variations. The best weather is from May to October. Winter is freezing and wet.

Berlin:finally in from the cold

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 ushered in a new era for this city, long cloak and dagger capital of the cold war. The Berlin of today is a dynamic and creative city with abundant theatre and music with imposing public buildings, splendid museums, sophisticated restaurants, and a host of pubs and clubs.

Transport:getting there and getting around

Berlin is not well served with direct flights. Connections are usually made through hubs like Frankfurt or Amsterdam. You can reach Berlin by bus from most European cities and German trains run like clockwork.

Berlin is walker and cyclist friendly and its underground system, the U/S Bahn is efficient. There's a new tram system in the eastern parts of the city.

Climate

Rain is possible in any month. The winter months from November to early March, tend to be gloomy with temperatures often dropping below freezing.

Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Berlin hotels

Events:what's on and what's hot

Berlin's calendar is loaded with annual fairs, festivals, concerts and parties.

*The Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), the world's second largest, is held in February.

*April sees Festage (Festival Days) a host of gala concerts and operas held over 10 days.

*Christopher Street Day in June is Berlin's big gay event.

*August features JazzFest Berlin.

*In November Christmas markets are held throughout the city.

Munich: Bavarian good living

Capital of the southern province of Bavaria, Munich brings to mind images of ledehosen and raised foaming steins of beer. In fact Munich is a sophisticated city that's home to a multitude of cultural offerings including museums and a lively arts scene.

transport:getting there and getting around

Munich's Franz-Josef-Strauss Flughafen serves flights bound for Europe, New York and Sydney, either direct or via Frankfurt. It also connects with many German cities daily. Rapid trains connect with all the major German cities as well as Vienna, Prague, Zurich, Rome and Paris.

Getting around Munich is easy via an excellent public transport network which includes an underground and buses. You can also cycle.

climate

May to September are the finest months. April-May and September-October offer sunny weather too. November to March is a time of sub-zero temperatures and sunless skies.

Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Munich hotels

Events:what's on and what's hot

Munich features events and festivals all year round.

*Fasching in January is a bawdy six-week-long extravaganza of street parties and balls.
*Lent comes to an end in March with Starkbierzeit, a time for quaffing strong brews
*April is the time for a mini Oktoberfest known as Fruhlingsfest.
*June features the Munich Film Festival.
*Christopher Street Day in July is a three day gay fest, celebrated with street parties.
*Oktoberfest, the world's premier pub bash, is held, surprisingly, in September.

Frankfurt:big city with a heart

Frankfurt is often seen as a neat and tidy business city with no real soul. In fact Frankfurt spends more on the arts than other city in Europe and there's always something on at one of its many museums.

transport:getting there and getting around

Frankfurt is the major European rail and air transport hub. Flughafen Frankfurt-am-Main receives flights from all over the world and Hauptbahnhof is Germany's busiest main train station. Long-distance buses connect Frankfurt with almost all countries in easter and western Europe.

Frankfurt is not a practical city for walking. Luckily, it has a first-class public transport system composed of the city's bus, tram, S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines. Cycling is also an attractive option as most streets have designated bike lanes.

climate

Typical for Germany with freezing winters with frequent storms. The summer months of June to August are hot and prone to afternoon thunderstorms.

Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Frankfurt hotels

events:what's on and what's hot

*February in Frankfurt is marked with the pre-Lent Fastnacht parades.
*In March, there's the International Music Trade Fair.
*Summer has many events to celebrate Frankfurt's famed apple wine.
*In July, the riverside springs to life for Museumsuferfest with art, music and exhibitions.
*September/October is the time for the world's largest Book Fair, and the International Jazz Festival.

Holidaying in Italy:Milan and Rome - Posted by Ken Brower.

Steeped in antiquity yet bursting with all that's fashionably modern, Italy is the birthplace of La Dolce Vita - the sweet life that celebrates beauty and happiness.

Roscommon:The Heart Of Celtic Ireland - Posted by Alistair White.

Visit Roscommon in the western hinterlands of Ireland to experience the true Celtic soul of Ireland. The old Irish ways linger here as the area was little touched by the Anglo-Norman invasion. You can discover authentic Ireland in the ancient burial mounds, tombs, castles and forts of Roscommon. More importantly, you can experience the Gaelic spirit in the congenial local pubs where the locals make time to chat to strangers.
 
Wedged between the Shannon River to the east, and its chief tributary, the Suck River, to the west, water dominates this county. These rivers together with a beautiful array of island-dotted lakes make Roscommon the perfect spot for water sports. You can enjoy angling along the River Suck and cruising and boating on the Shannon river.
 
County Roscommon's flat terrain makes it perfect for rambler and cyclists too. There are miles of pathways to explore including the Heartlands Cycle Trail, a 135 mile cycle route that runs along quiet country lanes from Roscommon town to Athlone. A number of golf courses also await and you can saddle up at the many equestrian centers. If you're there between April and October you can enjoy the Roscommon Racecourse program.
 
The culture and history buff can visit ancient castles and tombs, museums, stones, abbeys and heritage centers.
 
Transport: getting there and getting around
 
You can get to Ireland by ferry from the UK or France or by air from most anywhere. Roscommon is accessible by Bus ษireann from Sligo (53 miles), Galway (51 miles), and Dublin (91 miles).
 
Roscommon is also served by the Dublin-Sligo rail line, with a station at Boyle.
Plus the Dublin-Westport-Ballina line serves Roscommon with a station at Roscommon Town.
 
The nearest airports are Knock, Sligo and Galway. These are minor airports with limited services to other parts of Ireland and to Britain.
 
Climate: Irish weather and seasonal variations
 
In Ireland you should always be prepared for rain even at the height of summer. Fortunately, summer rains tend to be brief showers. And remember when you're packing that even in August it can get chill. Average summer temperatures range from 57 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees to 24 degrees Celsius). In winter it gets down to 39 degrees to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees to 7 degrees Celsius). Spring and autumn can also be delightful as the weather can be mild and there are fewer visitors.
 
<a href="http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/Ireland/Roscommon/" title="Roscommon accommodation">Roscommon Accommodation</a>: from cheap stays to castles and manors
 
Country Roscommon offers a broad range of accommodation options ranging from intimate inns, hotels, guesthouses, bed & breakfasts, farmhouses, cottages, villas, apartments, and self catering properties. And if you really want the best, a number of country manors and castles offer the true aristocratic experience. The <a href="http://www.cheaperthanhotels.co.uk/Ireland/Roscommon/" title="Hotels in Roscommon"> Roscommon hotels</a> are very inviting.
 
Events: there’s always something on in Roscommon
 
County Roscommon features a vibrant schedule of uniquely Irish events and activities including festivals, movies, theatres, live music, concerts, exhibitions and sports activities.
 
*O'Carolan Harp and Traditional Music Festival and Summer School
*The sport of Kings; day and evening meetings in Roscommon Racecourse.
*Castlerea Trade and Agricultural Show
*Boyle Arts Festival famed for its Group exhibition of contemporary Irish art

Discover the Docklands, London - Posted by Adam Singleton.

Taking the road less travelled to the east London area of the Docklands provides many treats and surprises to visitors of the neighbourhood, plus a chance to get up close and personal with the tallest building in Britain.

More Brits Pay Malta A Flying Visit - Posted by Andrew Regan.

More Britons and Irish visitors are flying to the island of Malta following the opening up of the island's airport to low-cost airlines