Oktoberfest, you know it, I know it, and it’s the reason loads of people travel to Munich drooling like rabid dogs. The annual festival is the world’s foremost event celebrating beer in all its forms and quality. But because it’s so popular make sure you find a beer tent before 10am and stay there, or those huge strangely strong German women won’t be gifting you your enormous Maß with a litre of beer whenever you stomach desires. But Munichis much more that beer guzzling Germans and tourists. The cultural heritage of the city is the best in the country and one of the best in Europe. The city architecture alone is stunning and will leave most visitors in awe. And then for a more sober activity, there is the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Not a spot to take the little ones, but an important and haunting reminder of some darker days not so long ago. For “Tech Heads” or just the curious the Deutsches Museum is one of the largest technical museums in the world. There are loads of things to get hands-on learning and experience. The Residenz in the city centre is an old palace worth seeing and when you need to chill out a bit, take a trip to the Englischer Garten. Oh and Munich’s second biggest beer garden is also located here. What a coincidence!

Madrid is a true metropolitan European city, with top class art galleries and historical museums mixed with a pumping nightlife and an endless supply of “good eating”. The Museo del Prado is a world renown art museum with works from many different eras in history and some of the worlds most famous paintings. It’s also huge and you’ll probably get lost if you don’t buy a map! The Palacio Real and the National Archeology Museum are two other key visitors’ sites to go see and learn the history of the city and country. But if you really want to get lost in history then head to the Plaza de la Paja  where you will be surrounded by 16^th century buildings and design. The shopping in the city is varied and high quality and depending on what you are looking for – or how much you want to spend, either Calle Fuencarral or the Salamanca District are some of the best known places. And then there is the food, you won’t go hungry here that’s for sure! An interesting bite you can get is a bocadillo de calamares, but if you don’t like seafood you might want to stay clear of that one. And when you’ll finally ready just to sit down, catch a musical show at the Gran Via.

Krakow is a beautiful city with an incredibly troubled past. The city has constantly gone from a glorious symbol of grandeur to a suffering conquered several times during its history. Because of this you will find very in-depth and interesting displays and information in any of the multiple museums and galleries. On our travels we headed to the spots of interest like the Old City and Wawel Castle. The magically thing about the old city is the tree lined park that surrounds it. It’s a nice touch and gives an authentic atmosphere to the place. Originally this was where the city walls and moat were located. In the city you will find the majestic Wawel Castle where the Royalty used to reside, and some fantastic medieval town squares like Rynek Glowny and Plac Wszystkich Swietych. Besides the Castle you will also find plenty of other key buildings like the Town Hall Tower, the Barbakan, the Cloth Hall and Florian Gate. Krakow is also one of Poland’s largest cities and the most popular tourist destination in the country, so there is plenty of restaurants and places to drink and dance at night. Just don’t get caught out moving from place to place without a warm jacket as some of the nights can get incredibly cold.

No other place in Europehas such a fascinating mix of history and vibrant modern nightlife. Seville has many historical regions and buildings due to its key importance during the days of the exploitation of American goods into Europe. It is from this period that you will find some of the most incredible structures including the worlds 3^rd biggest cathedral, The Cathedral of Seville. The Real Alcazar is a palace built in a Moorish style is a beautiful site to see, and free if you bring student ID. These places and most of the other museums and historical sites are able to be access with what is known as a Sevilla Card. This is an multi access card that can also cover travel  costs if you purchase the extended card and runs for either 1, 2 or 3 days. But as I mentioned, don’t just come for the buildings and sites, the city has one of the largest proportions of pubs and clubs per habitant size in the whole of Europe. A guaranteed mix for a good night out. And you can even go see one of the many Flamenco shows in town over a meal or if you wish you can even take some classes.

Edinburgh is an amazing city that kept us enthralled and entertained everytime we have gone. Between August and September there seems to be a festival for every occassion. Unfortuntely this also means that at this time there is a whole bunch of tourists and getting accomidation can be tricky. It is best to book well in advance, and this goes for any of the festivals as well. The Edinburgh International Festival is the original festival that started the trend in the city but now you can also find the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edge Festival, Jazz and Blues Festival, International Book Festival, International Film Festival and even more! But there is plenty to do and see even outside of this events. The Edinburgh Castleis a fanatastic castle in perfect condition that overlooks the entire city. This place is used by the Edinburgh Tattoo which has it´s own military display once a year. There is also the Abbey and Palace of Holyroodhouse which is still a Royal residence and has a Royal collection of art within the building. Mary King´s Close has a good presentation of the local medieval history of the region. And when you need a drink, remember Scotland is also the home of Whiskey and here you will find lots of places to some sample quality scotch.

Moscow is an intriguing city that is once again becoming a potent sign of Russian power and pride. First things first, it’s not cheap here so don’t think you’ll going to be rolling in bargains. Eating is especially expensive so the best is to go for the local or nearby Ethnic restaurants for a good meal. The main location that all tourists migrate to, and rightly so, is the Red Square in the centre of Moscow. Strangely enough the Red Square is actually made up of black bricks – but hey, with the mountain load of quality sites that are there who is going to argue? Number one has to be the Lenin Mausoleum where you can see the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin. Some people question if it is actually him and the inability to take cameras or other recording equipment just adds to the suspicion. The most recognisable building is St Basil Cathedral with its spiral roofs and red brick construction. And then there is the Kremlin. This is a huge site and has an extensive assortment of things to see within its grounds including a fascinating Diamond Collection in the Armoury. There are a bunch of nice churches here and you can even get the chance to see a ballet performance.

Brussels is a city that has always been an important and significant place. During the colonial days and its infamous reputation with its African colonies, Brusselsliterally painted its streets with gold. And there is no better place to see the effect of this period of extreme wealth than in the Grand Place. You will see many golden figures amount the gilded buildings that surround the square. Take a bit of time to drop by the City Hall or learn a bit more with one of the guides about the past of the city. At the grand Place you can also chose between a wide selection of food. The country of Belgium is a fusion of German, French, and Flemish and this is evident in the number of restaurants and the various languages you can hear the locals speak. Brusselsis also the so called European Capital since the EU uses the city for its political meetings. Also, you can find loads of things to purchase or have you credit card blown on in Rue Antoine Dansaert. While the city specialises in lace and chocolates, you will find anything you imagine available for purchase. The pubs and eateries in St Gilles are conveniently close to Rue St Boniface which becomes a boiling pot of activity within the restaurants and cafes during the night.

Avignon is one of the most popular destinations in Provence, Southern France. And the main reason people come here is to see the fantastic and awe inspiring Popes Palace. Wait; doesn’t the Pope live in the Vatican? Ah yes but for a brief time during the Medieval Ages the Pope resided in Avignon in Europe’s largest Gothic Palace. Because of the city’s importance during these days the city is wonderfully built with spacious cobbled roads and open plazas. In one of these plazas you can find Place Pie, a covered market filled with loads of different things to buy. Nearby you will also find the rivers of Rhone and Durance. Our boat trip up the Rhone was a tranquil delight and quite beautiful during the night. The other two main attractions are the Le Pont Saint-Benezet, a ruined medieval bridge with an interesting history, and the annual Theatre Festival which is known the world over and takes place inside the Popes Palace. The festival also draws loads of street performers and you will find performances in several different languages. The tickets are expensive (much like most of the things in the city) but city has an atmosphere that fits perfectly with the festival.

On the coast of the Adriatic Sea you can find one of the most prestigious tourist locations in Europe. Dubronik was a key trade centre that rivalled Venice and the Old City and Fortress are two of the key highlights of the city. Now it is know as a celebrity hotspot and one of the best destinations in the Mediterranean. After the damage suffered during the bombings in the nineties, the city has been restored and once again retains its medieval beauty. Apart from seeing the Old Town and the endless brilliant cafes, you must take a walk along the City Walls. On the walls you will get a perfect view of the whole city and a great opportunity for photos. The only place to get a better look is climbing Mt. Srđ. The view there overlooks the city and the bay and has some damaged fortresses from the recent war. Within the city itself, there are quite a few different and impressive historical buildings. Sponza Palace is a good example of Gothic architecture, while the Franciscan Monastery is a beautiful Baroque church. The city also has a ton of festivals as well, like the Summer Festival which is primarily a music festival, and the Libertas Film Festival.

Saint Petersburg is a fantastic destination, especially if you are into architecture, museums and art. This city was once the capital of Russia during the time of the Czars, a fact represented by the magnificence of the Hermitage and WinterPalace . This is a huge building with amazing designs and construction that now also functions as a museum and art gallery. The Hermitage has one of the best collections of unique and rare items in the world in a setting that is unmatched. There are several other important and distinctive buildings throughout the city, but one of the other most impressive is Saint Isaac’s Cathedral. This place is the 3^rd largest cathedral en the world, but it will cost you extra to look out through the observation deck. A lot of people call Saint Petersburg “the Venice of the north”, because it is also built on the waterfront. So just like in Venice, you can take a ride down the canals and see the city in a more relaxing style. And speaking about relaxing, forget the gym or lying on the beach – the people here like to relax in the local “banyas”. These are steam baths where you will also see people hitting themselves with birch branches. Ideal or bizarre, one never knows until it’s tried.

One of the most famous and historically preserved medieval cities in Europe, Carcassonne is in the heart of Cathar Country. As long as you avoid the high season for tourists, this can be a fantastic trip. The walled ‘Cite’ is in amazing condition and there are several historical aspects that can be seen and learnt about. The Cite was built before the spread of Christianity and has been the site for several timepiece movies like Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves. Nighttime is a brilliant time to take a view of the whole of the Cite. With all the pointed ramparts and towers lit up at night, it gives a feeling of a fairytale rather than reality. When you decide to visit the interior, you will find that you have to take the guided tour whether you like it or not, especially if you want to climb the tower. After make sure you eat in the lower city or Bastide St-Louis, as the prices in the Cite are priced for tourists. In the surrounding areas there are a stack load of wonderful villages that most tourists miss, and the city of Carcassonne can be a great home base. Be careful how late you come back though, as taxis are difficult to find very late at night.

The city of Naples, originally built by the Greeks facing the Gulf of Naples, is an incredible city of contrasts. With the scenic view of Mount Vesuvius, a city centre that is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its large number of historical buildings, an a local language that can be completely undecipherable, Naples will definitely keep you entertained. When we last went, the city was still suffering from the “Garbage Crisis” which left loads of litter all over the streets. This has now been cleared away and the city is quickly becoming a destination favorite. Cheaper than Rome and only a couple hours south on the train, Naples will offer you some of the best food available in the Italian Peninsula. Also the home of Pizza, every single restaurant cooks fantastic fresh pizza that has to be tasted. You will not get anything that tastes the same anywhere else. It’s also handy that mozzarella also comes from this region. It’s a hungry man’s dream city! Outside of the city, either Caserta Royal Palace or excavation sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii are excellent destinations. The Royal Palace is amazingly grand and the excavation sites show a much darker side of the majestic Mount Vesuvius.

Berlin, Germany’s capital is a city that has greatly evolved from its earlier days. Even though the city has an enormous historical significance, after unification in the 1990s the city has been constantly trying to show itself as a modern open city for all. Because of this you will find wonderful sites like the museum island – Museumsinsel, and some more haunting ones dedicated to either the time of the Berlin Wall or Second World War. I also recommend going on one of the many sightseeing tours as there is a huge amount of important and interesting things to see in the city including the Berliner Dom, one of the biggest and most impressive churches around, and the Kollhoff Tower with the world’s fastest elevator. One of the most well known sites, even if it is now a bit touristy, is Checkpoint Charlie. Once a famous gateway between the divided East and West Germany. Apart from all this, Berlin is rapidly becoming a “night out” destination, with a wild nightlife with parties that generally start around 1am in the morning, and can continue well into the morning. The underground or U-Bahn, works like clockwork but only runs between 1am and 4:30am during the weekend (including Friday night).

London, the largest city in Western Europe, is a city of great importance both currently and historically. The capital of England and key city of the United Kingdom, this is a city that operates 24 hours a day and caters for every possible taste or desire. Because it is such an important city, there are a multitude of attractions to see, both modern and historical. The Tower Bridge was one of the engineering marvels of its day, while the Tower of London is a medieval treat that originally was the place where many important prisoners were imprisoned – and executed! But if there aren’t enough scary stories or tales of dangerous prisoner’s another great tourist attraction is the London Dungeon, a place that takes you through some of the worst moments of London’s history. Outside of being frightened to sleep, you can take the more relaxing option of the more typical site seeing options like a boat ride down the Thames, a ride on the London Eye, a visit to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, or even go see Buckingham Palace and the surrounding grounds. Open top buses and all night cafes are plenty, to allow you to have lots of energy for the sites and extensive shopping you can do!

The lagoon city of Venice is a unique city that is known the world over for its charm and gondolas. This place is always promoted is a place of romance and intrigue, and to be fair, it offers everything that it promises. The city still appears very similar to what it would have been like over 600 years ago, when it was the centre of culture, art and thinking in Europe. The place has no cars, buses or taxis so you feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you get there. Apart from water transport, the only other option is walking as Venice is the only Pedestrian city in the world. This place has so many churches to see that you can actually buy a “church pass” to allow entry into them all at a cheaper place. Museums are plentiful as well as good food. One of the “most do” activities is taking a Vaporetto down the Grand Canal just before sunset, while the other option of a gondola ride, either as a nice relaxing trip or a romantic gesture that will never be forgotten, depends on your travel money as it can be daylight robbery with the prices they charge!

Dublin is rapidly becoming one of the preferred destinations in Europe. With the friendly and enjoyable Irish atmosphere mixed with a city steeped in history and a vibrant nightlife, Dublin is a “top 10 place” for any list of European destinations. The city holds over a quarter of the population of Ireland as well as some of the countries best attractions. Dublin Castle is one of the obvious places to drop by, but the city also holds Europe’s biggest enclosed park, Phoenix Park. This park is so large that Dublin Zoo is actually located inside its walls! We also decided to see how brave we were and visited the Bram Stoker Museum. Talk about a frightening exhibit! And if you still haven’t found the type of thing that you are into, there is also several old buildings and sites that you can visit like the Kilmainhim Gaol or Chester Betty Library just to name a few. And if you’re still looking, well there’s always the Guinness Factory tour! On top of all of this variety and intrigue, Dublin is also has one of the best nightlife’s in Europe where the typical welcoming Irish attitude turns the night into endless fun and dancing.

Paris is the “City of Love”, but also the city of the insane traffic round-a-bout and flocks of tourists. If you go to Paris expecting a wonderful tourist holiday, then you won’t be disappointed. But if you go hoping to experience true French culture than you may feel you’ve missed out a little. There is an absolute multitude of sites to see from the famous Eiffel tower, Tomb of Napoleon, Arch de Triumph to the fantastic Louvre Museum. If you don’t speak French it isn’t too much of a problem as almost everywhere in this city someone will speak a language you understand. Also most signs are posted in multiple languages. Restaurants are plentiful and we found the best selection at the best prices in the Latin Quarter. During the day, as mentioned, there are countless sights to see but we recommend walking along the river Seine which will also bring you past the likes of the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Bastille. If you really know very little about the city, one option is the open top bus tours that go round and introduce you to all the major sites. It’s a hop-on hop-off bus so anything you fancy you can stop and see and continue your trip later.