Top Destinations in Europe to Break Your Journeytravelopod.com /blog/top-destinations-in-europe/

July 08, 2014

by Travelopod Admin

No matter how we fly from U.S. to the East Asian countries , be it India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, thejourney is long and arduous and we almost always dread it. Especially, during summers when we planlonger vacations, the last thing we look forward to is, the tiring and lengthy air travel. However whatbetter way to travel than to take a break for a couple of days midway, get some rest, get to see a brandnew place at no extra cost and reach the final destination refreshed and ready for a good time.

Many of the shortest and affordable flights between U.S. and East Indian countries are via Europe andsummer also happens to the best time to visit some of its most popular countries. To make the most ofyour trip, its an excellent idea to have a stop over for 3-4 days in any city your airline flies through. Hereare a few suggestions to visit some of the most sought after destinations in Europe which are also mosteasily accessible on your way to India or Pakistan from America.

Historic London

London which is Europe’s most visited city, has a abundance of art, culture and history. It is a vibrant,multicultural city which attracts different types of people from all over the world. History comes to lifewhen you walk through London and you enjoy an interesting mix of both historical and modernarchitecture.

Its fantastic public transport system, a combination of tube and buses makes it one of the easiest citiesfor the tourists to go around and explore . It is best to get an Oyster card which saves you about half thecost of a one way ticket to the tube and buses.

The must do things to do when you are in London only for a few days are, of course The Buckinghampalace (change of guard), view the sights from Trafalgar square, Tower of London a popular landmarkof London, it houses the famous crown jewels. The National Gallery houses one of the largestcollections of European paintings in the world spans the periods from 1250 to 1900. Tate museum, theBritish museum and Victoria and Alberta museums are for museum lovers. St. Paul’s cathedral is one fthe greatest cathedral in Europe.

Walk around and take pictures of Westminster and Big Ben and make sure to check out Hyde Park andSt. James Park. Oxford street, Picadilly circus are a must visit for shopaholics where you can shop tillyou drop. The London Eye, another sought after attraction is a giant wheel which gives you wonderfulview of the city, can be done both during day or night is worth the sights.

Romantic Paris

To have a chance to stopover in beautiful Paris even if only for a couple of days on your way home isideal. The capital city of France, Paris is probably the most famous tourist landmark than any city in theworld. Paris has the reputation of being one of the most enchanting, romantic city situated along theshores of River Seine. It is also referred to as the City of Lights and the capital of Fashion. Paris hasworld’s most visited and iconic landmarks which include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, theNotre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, Moulin Rouge and Lido.

The best part of visiting Paris is being able to walk around and explore the city on foot. Walkability ofthis city is one of its greatest pleasure, it is possible to cross this whole city in only a few hours. Thereis of course Metro (underground train system) which is also a fairly inexpensive way of getting aroundin Paris. The cheapest and the most convenient way to see the sights is to buy the Paris Museum passwhich allows entry into seventy of Its monuments and museums which includes Palace of Versailles.This card allows you to also avoid lengthy queues.

Some of the things which are a must do while in Paris, is to take in the view from top of the Eiffel Tower,the most beloved monument of the city. Take a boat ride in River Seine at night though it is terriblytouristy but definitely worth it to feel the magic of this romantic city of lights. Stoll through the old marketstreets (Rue de Martyrs) to get a glimpse of an authentic Parisian life: markets bustling with activities,full of fresh fruits to fish, chocolates and high end pastry shops, gourmet cafes make a lively andcharming atmosphere. Catching a show of world famous Moulin Rouge is an absolutely great optionthough it has mixed reviews, people either love it or hate it.

Paris is also famous for its fine dining, though food can be expensive here so the most cost effectiveway is to make lunch your main meal of the day as most of the restaurants offer best price deals for it.Add a bakery breakfast and a self catered light dinner to your day’s meal, this will give you a taste ofbest of Paris’s dining experience within your budget.

Spectacular Switzerland

If you are a nature lover, taking a break in the most scenic country in the world can make you forget theinconvenience of any long journey. Switzerland is renowned for its natural beauty surrounded byspectacular Swiss alps, gorgeous lakes and rushing waterfalls. It is a small country so its attractionsare closer to each other and very easily reachable. A four consecutive day Swiss saver pass wouldcover nearly all public trains, buses and boats all along your journey to all its famous attractions.

The first day of landing in Zurich can be spend in exploring this magnificent city which boasts of themost efficient public transport system in the world. Many people in fact prefer this city over Paris, itoffers many things for tourists starting from beautiful churches, most famous are Grossmunster whichis an old Romanesque church and Fraumunster the old gothic church. Walking along the board walk ofLake Promenade is definitely an experience especially on a sunny day where you will see thousands ofpeople basking in the sun. You can choose to spend time in some of its famous museums which areKunsthaus Zurich9 ( Art Gallery) or Rietberg Museum which is known for its Asian art. If you are

travelling with children a visit to the Zurich Zoo might be an excellent option.

Bahnofstrasse is the stylish shopping area of the city showing off its many designer boutiques andstreet cafes. A visit to the old town will allow you to explore its many art galleries, antique shops andbook stores. It is also an entertainment quarter for the general public because of, its colorful nightlife.

Next day you can take a train to Lucerne, only a forty five minute ride from Zurich and you enter thegateway of central Switzerland. Lucerne has a small but exceptionally well preserved old town. You canwalk around admiring many and varied painted murals on every other building, it has a unique quaintquality. Take a boat tour in Lake Lucerne.

A trip to mount Pilatus is a must from Lucerne, a famous mountain overlooking the town gives you amarvelous view of the alps. It has a good four hour hike or alternatively you can take a cable car.Paragliding down the majestic mountains surrounding the Lake Lucerne is a unique experience.

If Zurich is kept as a base then from there the train to Interlaken takes about two hours and takes youto this city between two beautiful alpine lakes. This city offers a load of activities and adventure sportsincluding paragliding, hand gliding, bungee jumping, rock climbing etc. It has plenty of great hikesopening up some gorgeous views. You can also take a boat trip in Lake Thune it passes through manycute towns and lovely castles big and small.

Depending on the time there is a load of other places like Mount Titles, Mounted, Bern and Genevawhich also can be visited on your Switzerland break.

So, do not waste a journey to Asia without taking a break in any of your favorite places in Europe!