Category: CITY BREAK

PARIS Museum Pass: Skip the Lines And See It All For Less

Posted onAuthorRenata7 Comments

You’ve been to the Eiffel Tower, you’ve seen Sacre Coeur, and sailed on the river Seine? Great, after you’ve checked the most important tourist sites off your list, you, my fellow culture vultures, can focus on Paris’ amazing museums.
Actually, it’s mainly the city’s museums and monuments that make me come back to Paris again and again.
Therefore, in this post, I’m introducing the key that allows me to skip the lines and quickly open the doors to the best venues: It’s the Paris Museum Pass that grants access to no less than 50 museums and monuments at a very reasonable flat rate.

A visit to the observation deck of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is included in the Paris Museum Pass as well. Paris Museum Pass Skip Lines
A visit to the observation deck of the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is included in the Paris Museum Pass as well.

Isn’t that far too much, you might ask? Well, you probably won’t visit all of them in one go.
Nevertheless, since with the Paris Museum Pass*, you don’t have to wait in the long lines that often form at the entrance doors, you’ll get to see more than you’ve ever expected.

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What Not to Miss in PARIS: 20 Must-Dos, Not Only for First-Timers

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Paris is the city of light, love, and unmatched charm! No matter if it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, the French capital never fails to enchant. Whether it’s the elegant boulevards or authentic quartiers, the leafy parks or world-famous museums: Paris blends effortlessly beauty, history, culture, and style.
But where to start and what to see?
Fear you not, as in this guide, I put together all the must-dos during your stay in Paris, no matter if you’re one of the lucky first-timers or a hooked regular. This way, you will soak in the essence of the city from the very moment you arrive.

Panoramic View of Paris.
This view never gets old.
This Way to the Whole Story ->

Three Days In Prague – For First-Timers And Repeat Visitors

Posted onAuthorRenata93 Comments

I might be the perfect person to guide you through Prague, granting three days of awe. Why so? Because I’m an unusual kind of local.

Statue John the Baptist on the Charles Bridge in Prague
John the Baptist showing the way to the Malá Strana quarter.

Locals know the best spots. They can communicate with other locals in the native language and, thusly, they might learn things visitors don’t.

On the other hand, locals tend to be oblivious to the beauty of their surroundings. Ignore iconic places. Bored by beauty.

So not being a real local actually works in my favor. I’m still amazed. And for some reason that I’ll explain below even deeply touched.

See? I’ve told you I might be your perfect guide!

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Comprehensive Guide to ROME – For First-Timers, Repeat Visitors, And Eternal Admirers

Posted onAuthorRenata100 Comments

Few cities can match Rome’s cultural wealth and fascinating variety. Hence, it is known as the Eternal City for a reason. There’s ancient history at every corner. Yet, this goes just fine with the modern, energetic, and sophisticated millennial metropolis. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you why mesmerizing Rome turns first-timers as well as repeat visitors into eternal admirers.

View of The Colosseum and Romolus and Remus drinking from the Capitoline Wolf - some of the Icons of Rome to be visited by first-timers.
View of the Ancient Roman Icons.
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Best Things to Do on a Long Weekend in Milan

Posted onAuthorRenata Green61 Comments

Of all Italian cities, Milan probably deems the least what we consider Italian. No jolly groups sipping Aperol Spritz while playing boccia. Instead, executives rush from their stately apartment houses to offices in glittering business centers. Hardly a narrow cobblestone alley. Rather big cars on broad avenues. Money makes the world Milan go round.

Piazza del Duomo - with the iconic cathedral.
Piazza del Duomo – with the iconic cathedral.

And yet, if you visit with an open mind, Milan will by no means disappoint: Get the big picture from the roof of the Duomo, and enjoy contemporary art at various industrial sites that were transformed into humongous art galleries. Window shop at the posh Brera district or the fabulous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Admire Leonardo da Vinci’s Cenacolo, hence, the Last Supper. Oh, talking ’bout food: Finish a long day of sightseeing with a relaxed Milanese Aperitivo in one of the countless bars alongside the Navigli, the city’s old waterways.
Sounds like a plan? Mind you, these are only a few of the best things you should do in Milan on a long weekend!

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Comprehensive Guide to FLORENCE – Home of the Medici, Cradle of the Renaissance

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In this comprehensive guide to Florence, I’m taking you to the home of the Medici Family and all the paramount spots of the Italian Renaissance.

Looking up Giotto's Campanile, the free-standing tower right next to the Cathedral in FLORENCE - Home of the Medici, Cradle of the Renaissance
Looking up Giotto’s Campanile, the free-standing tower right next to the Cathedral.

To this date, there are so many art treasures that Florence deems rather an open-air museum than a North Italian city with ordinary people and everyday life.

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BUENOS AIRES – from the must-sees to the hidden gems

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Buenos Aires and me – from the must-sees to the hidden gems: It was love at first sight. The stately baroque architecture like in Barcelona, the elegant cafés – even a bit more charming than those in Paris. Old-fashioned gelato parlors like in Rome. The powerful street art of Bogotá next to the picturesque decay of old Havana, and an entire neighborhood named after Palermo.
In short: This city simply has it all.

Couple dancing Tango at the Cafe Tortoni in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tango – that’s what Buenos Aires stands for. But it’s only a fraction of what Argentina’s capital has to offer.

The beauty and energy of Buenos Aires took me by storm – and was definitely the highlight of my trip to Argentina.

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Best of LISBON – also for solo-travellers

Posted onAuthorRenata Green6 Comments

I’m back in Lisbon. It’s been far too long – you know, with the pandemic and all. But now I’m back, and as I take a good look around, I realize how beautiful this city is and how much I’ve missed it: The steep cobblestone alleys, the past glory of the palaces alongside the boulevards, and the shabby charm of the houses in the backstreets. The majestic views from countless outlooks, and of course, the lovely ring of the rickety trams.
Come on, follow me down memory lane, and let’s rediscover the best of Lisbon!

Asian Tourists Painting the Best of Lisbon
The contra-selfie culture: Asian tourist painting Lisbon’s Church and Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.
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Best of PORTO – Also if You Travel Solo

Posted onAuthorRenata Green61 Comments

Somehow, Portugal also seems to be one of the countries overpowered by centralism. Everyone is flocking to the capital Lisbon, which is groaning under the masses of tourists and has to be careful to remain livable for the locals.
Hence, while others are stressed out, Porto pours herself a glass of amber-colored port wine and relaxes as she gazes down the Douro River.

Panoramic view of the best places of Porto, visited on a solo travel.
The best of Porto in just one single picture.

Instead of overwhelming her visitors with innumerable presumably must-see landmarks, Porto invites her guests to take a relaxed stroll down picturesque streets and alleys and offers them a creamy Galão in one of the many charming cafés. The city impresses with cool street art and delights the eye with gorgeous church façades covered in exquisite Azulejos, and what is probably the most famous bookstore in the world.
By now, you’ve probably noticed: Porto is one of my favorite cities in Europe and I’m excited to show you the best the city on the Atlantic coast has to offer – also if, just like me, you travel solo.

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First Time in ATHENS – Beyond the Acropolis

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Yes, I’ve travelled the seven seas – at least metaphorically – but only recently I visited Athens for the first time. This is ironic since basically all of Greece is located on the seaside. With 13,676 kilometers of coastline – that’s roughly the little something of 8,498 miles – and 3054 islands and islets, Poseidon definitely is boss.

Not the only amazing facts. Next to Golgota and the Capitol, the Acropolis is one of the hills on which Europe was founded. So there is no excuse that I haven’t visited the cradle of our civilization before.

Cat at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
Although Greece is basically sea-girt, besides lots of water, there are many rocks. As well as cats.

So as we got nearer to Christmas and the holy days became holidays, the question of where I would spend them was quickly answered. Athens – for the first time.

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