Europe is a country of many stories.
Rome
Rome had first been discovered in 753 BC which is almost 3000 years ago. The city has encapsulated millions of historic events and witnessed empires rise and fall. So rich and plentiful is the history, almost every building in Rome has a story. One would witness the people of Rome indulging in their unique cultural traditions and practices which are for the most part, rich in religion. With about 900 churches spread across the city, devotion and pilgrimage is a common sight. Rome is also known for its art in it’s many many forms. Statues, sculptures and elegant architecture is a visual treat, and they’re everywhere. Roman artists also specialize in paintings and mosaic work. That’s not all, Rome an important fashion capital and home to one of the best dressed people and in the world. And last but not the least, CInecitta studios, which is the largest film making studio in Europe.
Barcelona
Most people in the world recognise Barcelona from the most popular European club – Football Club Barcelona. It is a stunningly developed city with beautiful panoramic views. This beauty was also previewed in the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It has a long coastline spread across the Mediterranean Sea. Long coastline means beaches and this city has one of the cleanest beaches of the continent. The city is pocketed by the mountain range of Collserla, which offer a fantastic visual spectacle. Although Barcelona is one of the safest cities in Europe, the most commonly stolen items are passports and wallets, so beware the Barcelonian pickpocketers.
Venice
A city with many names, City of Bridges, Floating City, City of Water. A city with many titles as well, the most prestigious of them all being, The Most Beautiful City in the World. Venice is not a city, it is simply paradise. Most people do not know this, but Venice is actually a cluster of almost 120 islands, connected by bridges and canals. Because the city is surrounded by water, there are massive ports bringing in ships and boats. Every street in Venice looks like a pretty painting. The architecture is inspired by Gothic style which is a tasteful combination of straight and curved arches. For the literature nerds out there, there are thousands of novels, essays and plays, both fictional and non fictional. The contest among foreigners to buy a house in Venice has become so high that residents are forced to move to other affordable parts of Italy. A house in Venice will set you back by at least a million US dollars.
Istanbul
Istanbul quite literally is as exotic as it sounds. A city connected by sea, you will surely make your way across town in a boat or two. As you’re sailing in the beautiful sun, you can see groups of local fisherman looking to catch some fish from the sea. When you reach land, there is a street food joint on the corner of every street. The Turkish food is healthy, fresh and de-li-cious. Donor kebab (delicious Turkish meat sandwich) and Pomegranates are available everywhere. The city is always in company of tourists and tour guides accompanying them. It is understandable to need a tour guide. The city has a great deal of treats to lay your eyes on. Innumerous museums like the TopKapi Palace and the Hagia Sofia are beautiful caves telling us tales of their past. Magnificent churches and mosques full of devotees in prayer. Irresistible shopping markets spread across at least a couple of blocks in the streets of Istanbul. After the sun sets, people head out to hang out in the streets and in the clubs. Smoking is very common here. A day in Istanbul leaves you utterly happy and hopelessly exhausted.
Monaco:
Before you go at me saying Monaco is not a city, a city-State is what it is called. It is an exceptional environment of excellence and extravagance. It is home for many successful racing drives including World Champions Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and many more. The city is hugged by the hills on one side and blends into the sea on the other. Apart from the luxurious houses, enormous yachts and breathtaking skyscrapers there is something even more special, The Monaco F1 Grand Prix. It is built around the city. The otherwise public roads are closed for the race. Gambling was introduced here in the late 18th century and not surprisingly, Monaco has one of the world’s richest casinos in the world. If your pockets are deep as the ocean, Monaco is the place to live. Budget travellers do have affordable hotels but pretty much everything else costs a lot. Calculate your expenses wisely!
6. Paris:
Undoubtedly the most well known city of Europe, the
Capital of France is a colony of everlasting beauty. Beauty lies in the form of the glorious past, the evolving present and the exciting future. The Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Palace are longstanding testaments of the past. Not to forget to mention the one and only Louvre Museum housing the Mona Lisa amongst other masterpieces. Of course, The Eiffel Tower. We see too many pictures of it but seeing it for real is a different experience. You will awe at the sheer height and structure. The Seine river flows through the city. You can take a boat ride tour of the city making it an unforgettably beautiful experience. The fashion capital of the world also has a plethora of shopping spaces for every price. The Eiffel Tower bejewels the night as the city shines.
Amsterdam
This one is or the party people! “Amsterdam is infamous for quite lot of the right reasons” is something the hippie local crowd would say. The city is quite notorious as well. Sketchy coffee shops that sell marijuana and a street called Red Light District that encourages sexual entertainment is all a part of the city. Amsterdam began locally brewing their own beer as they felt the corporate brewerie’s offering wasn’t great. The nightlife is never ending as parties go well into the morning hours. If you aren’t going to Amsterdam for the rave, there still is a lot more to it.. It is a well built modern city with its own displays of history. There are many museums that will help you catch up on the history of this city, especially the VIncent Van Gogh Museum. A cruise tour around the city is a relaxing and eye opening experience. You can also rent a bike and join the bike tour around the city. The Jordan District is a beautiful little colony branched by roads and rivers. Here you can take a boat ride, explore the street art galleries, chill at cafes by the serene river and unwind.
Santorini
In place of now the city of Santorini, was once a large active volcano which had caused one of the biggest eruptions on earth. This eruption caused deep collective deposition of ash around the island running hundreds of meters deep. The city is built around what seems like a valley encompassed by hills. This island with immense beauty has traveller flying in from all over the globe. Tourism is the primary source of Santorini’s income and has vastly improved the economy as well as the population. It has got some picture perfect beaches too. The Red Beach which gets its name from the sand that is red due to its volcanic rock origin. Santorini is also known for the beautiful black sand beaches. It is known for its delicious tomatoes and tasteful wine. Other places to explore include ancient settlements dating back to 7th century BC like the Ancient Thira and the Akrotiri Archaeological site. This picturesque city is the perfect getaway destination to enjoy the beauty of nature and modern architecture coming together.