Travel Facts About Europe
Europe stretches from the Atlantic to Asia, from the Arctic Ocean to Africa and spreading over a territory of 10,400,000 sq. m. The highest peak in Europe is called Mont Blanc (4,810 m) and is set in the Alps, close to France and Italy. The longest river is the Volga, which runs through Russia for 3,530 km before flowing into the Caspian Sea.
Europe is a dream destination for many travelers and has a fabulous array of historical sights, a rich cultural heritage, spectacular nature and cosmopolitan spirit in the big cities and capitals. Europe can be conditionally divided into five regions, namely Western, Northern, Central, Eastern and Mediterranean Europe. The people from the European countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement enjoy free traveling and no border controls. However, not all European Union countries have signed the Schengen treaty and not all countries that follow the Schengen treaty are members of the European Union. That's why at some airports on the continent, the airlines will ask for an ID card or a passport. Staying healthy while traveling in Europe isn't difficult, as the tap water in most countries is safe to drink and hygiene regulations are observed. There are many ways to travel around Europe. The fastest and easiest way is to travel by plane, especially with the increasing number of budget airlines, whose offers are often much cheaper than train or bus tickets for the same distance. Some of the most popular low-cost airlines are easyJet, WizzAir, SkyEurope and CentralWings, offering online reservations and credit card payments.In order to keep the prices extremely low, the budget airlines use smaller airports that are quite outside the major cities, but there are good transport connections provided. The regular airlines always use the main airports, the largest being those in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna and Frankfurt, which offer connections to all countries in Europe. Another good way to travel across Europe is with the help of trains, which offer more flexibility than the airlines, especially when planning to extensively explore one region. Eurail covers a great part of Europe. Besides airlines and trains, a lot of tourists use the Eurolines, which connect more than five hundred destinations all over the continent. When traveling for long distances, the bus isn't a good option, thus low-cost airlines are preferable. Europe is accessible by ship as well, and actually in the Baltic Sea there are several lines that connect the major cities like Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm and Gdansk, while in the Mediterranean Sea there are many ferries and cruise ships connecting Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Croatia. The ships are large and offer excellent service.Besides these ships, there are regular cruise lines that offer boat excursions and flow through the Danube and the Rhine. Many students and young people who have graduated recently prefer to explore the continent by hitchhiking or car-pooling. This is a very pleasant way to meet new people and reach various destinations at a low cost. And, while hitchhiking in Germany and the Netherlands is both easy and safe, doing so in Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova isn't advisable.There are several top places a dedicated traveler should visit in Europe. Below, we will present just a brief list of the cities and sights which are worth a visit. Let's start in Spain, with the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, which fascinates with its architecture by Gaudi, such as La Sagrada Familia and the Palau Guell, plus the art collections of Picasso and Miro, etc. In Italy, The Eternal City of Rome is an open-air museum where there's the Coloseum and Paladin Hill, Navona Square and the Spanish Steps, not to mention the miraculous Trevi Fountain.
In the fabulous city of London, worth being visited are the Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, along with the numerous museums and art galleries.
The City of Light, Paris, enchants with its small curving streets, romantic atmosphere and the Montmartre district with its artists and painters. A trip to Paris should include a visit to the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, La Sorbonne, Jardin du Luxembourg and the Eiffel Tower.
Another top European destination is breathtaking Prague, with its Old and New Town, many bridges, various castles, and the numerous pubs serving cold beer and tasty meals.
While in the Austrian capital of Vienna, visitors should go to the Belvedere Museum and the Museum of Fine Art, the Schloss Schonbrunn and the Hofsburg Castle, St. Stephan's Cathedral and the Old Synagogue.
The nearby city of Berlin, Germany has many museums and art galleries, the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the Nikolaikirche. If heading towards Russia, the tourists should visit its capital, Moscow, which is so huge and absorbing that several days won't be enough.
Go to Red Square and the Kremlin, see a play at the Bolshoi Theatre and spend some time at the Pushkin Museum.
While in the Netherlands, tourists should see Amsterdam and visit the Van Gogh Museum, the NEMO science centre, its many parks, canals and more.
The Greek capital of Athens is another of the important tourist destinations, where the Acropolis, Temple of Olympian Zeus and Panathianiko Stadium can all be seen.
These are just a few of the sights one should visit when going to a certain country. In each city, there are many museums, art galleries, cultural sights and historical heritage of great importance. All these sights are important to be seen. However, when organizing a journey, the tourist should leave some free time for watching people, trying the local dishes and beverages and just plain relaxing!
