Category: CITY BREAK

PALMA de MALLORCA – what to see in two days

Posted onAuthorRenata75 Comments

Since I’m afraid that the capital Palma de Mallorca might be the most underrated place on the entire island, I urge you to spend at least two days in this vibrant’n’wonderful city – and don’t worry: From Palma, you’ll quickly get to all the other magnificent places the island has to offer – even by public bus!

Beach at Palma de Mallorca with a view of the city.
The mountains, the palm trees, the architecture, the fun in the sun: Palma sure has it all.

From the beginning, I wanted to do things differently. I didn’t want to roast on beaches, getting wasted on Sangria made from cheap wine, surrounded by party people from Germany, France, and Great Britain.

Mallorca is a Spanish island. I was keen on experiencing Spain with all my five senses. I wasn’t searching for the extraordinary, but wanted to dive headfirst into the common!

What better place to do so than a standard Spanish city full of local day-to-day routines.

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Guide to DUBROVNIK, the Lustrous Pearl of Dalmatia

Posted onAuthorRenata Green60 Comments

Guide to Dubrovnik, the Lustrous Pearl of Dalmatia. It was the grand finale of my bus road trip along the Adriatic coast.

View of the Old Town of Dubrovnik
Best of Dubrovnik: Architecture, mountains, and the deep blue sea.

Despite the large crowds and the flaws that come with tourist sellouts that overshadowed my stay a bit.

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Best Things to Do in BRUSSELS, the Capital of Europe

Posted onAuthorRenata Green83 Comments

Brussels is not only the amazingly vibrant capital of Belgium, it’s actually the historic, political, cultural, and gastronomic epicenter of Europe, for that matter. Breathtakingly beautiful historic architecture, fantastic museums, mighty street art, powerful international organizations, and last but not least beer, fries, and chocolate: This cosmopolitan city truly holds something for each and every one in store.
Therefore, it was quite a challenge to put together a list of just the very best things to do on a visit to Brussels.

Guide Capital Europe Brussels: Chocolaterie Manneken Pis
Different strokes for different folks: World’s most famous wee-er made of chocolate. Bon appetit.

If it hadn’t been for my daughter studying in Brussels, it probably wouldn’t have come to my mind to visit Belgium’s capital. Or Belgium at all, for that matter.

But Christmas came and families and loved ones were expected to get together. So I packed a couple of warm sweaters, threw in some fun presents, and hopped on the late flight to Brussels.
Just to find out that this European capital with all its old architecture and new street art, its pralines and beers, surrealist art, and political reality is not only for me but for everyone.

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LONDON – Off the Beaten Path

Posted onAuthorRenata10 Comments

Yes, London is packed with iconic landmarks that every first-time visitor should see. But what if this is not your first visit to London or you simply want to add some unusual and quirky – in short: very British – spots to your itinerary? Fear you not, after many visits to London – and with a little help from a local – I put together the most intriguing, interesting, and idiosyncratic places off the beaten path.

Street in the center of London.
There’s a lot going on in the streets of London, hence, it’s not always easy to find your way off the beaten path. Yet, this is what this post is for.
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LJUBLJANA Mon Amour: What Not to Miss During Two Days in Slovenia’s Beloved Capital

Posted onAuthorRenata Green71 Comments

Ljubljana mon amour: In fact, already the city’s name sounds like a tender song and derives from the word ljubljena which translates to beloved. Various charming bridges are crossing the picturesque river Ljubljanica. With an amazing number of captivating buildings from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Deco, onion-domed churches, and an imposing fortress high above the city, Ljubljana absolutely lives up to her lovely name.
And since Ljubljana is small but definitely mighty, you can explore the city’s most iconic spots and landmarks easily in just two days.

The Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Like in every decent fairy tale, you have to make it past the dragon to get to the beautiful princess. Ljubljana is no exception.

Although the city is no secret anymore and can actually get quite busy in the high season, Ljubljana has kept its sleeping beauty charm and is a sparkling gem.

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Guide to HAMBURG, the self-proclaimed Gateway to the World

Posted onAuthorRenata Green117 Comments

Let me guide you through Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest city and self-proclaimed Gateway to the World. Personally, I took the slogan of my hometown very literally and became a globetrotter and travel blogger. Hamburg’s maritime charm and traditional cosmopolitanism will delight you and you will be enchanted by seductive views that will whet your appetite for undiscovered shores. Germans call this wanderlust Fernweh – loosely translated to aching for distance.

Sailors at the Port of Hamburg
For ages, sailors from all over the world anchored at the Port of Hamburg.
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VENICE on a Budget: When to Go, Where to Stay, What to Eat, And Much More

Posted onAuthorRenata51 Comments

Venice on a budget? Is that even possible?
Agreed, visiting Venice can be pretty pricey.
After all, you find yourself at one of the world’s most unique places – and it comes with a price tag.

Italy Venice Canale Grande
Every visitor to Venice will know this sight: The Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo across from the main train station Venezia Santa Lucia, photographed from the Ponte degli Scalzi.

However, if you follow my simple hacks, visiting Venice on a budget is easy and still very enjoyable.

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Two Days in MARSEILLE – What Not to Miss in the Belly of France

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Marseille is a port city that has been around for a while. In fact, it is the oldest city in France and has always been a major hub for immigration and sea trade. Consequently, its heart is the Vieux-Port where fishmongers sell their catch fresh off the boat to this date.
For me, Marseille has always been a myth, a place of longing. Marseille awakens wanderlust, yet at the same time, it makes you homesick.
Marseille is a city full of contrasts and contradictions.
In this post, I show you what not to miss in two days in Marseille.

Old Harbour of Marseille
My heart will go on: View of Marseille’s old harbor.
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Best Things to Do in SEOUL: The Must-Dos And the Hidden Gems

Posted onAuthorRenata Green14 Comments

No matter if you stay two days in Seoul or two weeks: This exciting city has so much to offer that basically any stay will be far too short. However, to ensure that you get to see not only the most significant must-dos but also some of the countless hidden gems in Seoul, I clustered this guide according to eight very different neighborhoods. This way, you save on commuting and can invest all your precious time in the best things to do in Seoul.

Change of the guards at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.
Despite Korea’s booming economy and industrialization, there is still a lot of culture and heritage to indulge in.
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VIENNA – visited by streetcar

Posted onAuthorRenata Green82 Comments

Although Austria is one of the smallest countries in Europe, its central location and especially its influential past make it the heart of the continent.
Austria’s capital Vienna is looking back at an ever-changing and compelling history. Whether it is the Congress of Vienna where Europe’s faith was determined after the Napoleonic wars or the powerful Habsburg dynasty including Empress Sisi. Since the gilded years around the turn of the 20th century, Vienna has been the center of the artistic and intellectual avant-garde. Progressive painters like Egon Schiele, innovative designers like Koloman Moser, inventive architects like Otto Wagner, exciting musicians like Arnold Schönberg, and, obviously, the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud made a compelling case for the city’s glory.
Amazingly, you don’t need to join an expensive city tour to explore all of Vienna’s wonders since all the magnificent landmarks can be easily and inexpensively visited by a public streetcar!

View of the Kunsthistorisches Museum from the Leopold Museum in Vienna.
The Leopold Museum is not only worth the visit for the art, but it also opens to Vienna’s most beautiful views.

So hop on, let’s explore a city full of history, stories, and myths!

This Way to the Whole Story ->