The Netherlands has so many fascinating cities that it’s tempting to ignore the verdant countryside. However, this isn’t just any countryside: this is The Netherlands, where two-thirds of the land is below sea level and the vast green fields are framed and dissected by canals. The three villages of Volendam, Edam, and Marken are less …
An amazing feeling creeps up when you visit the coastal city of Split for the first time. You see an entire city that grew out of the ruins of an ancient Roman palace, much as a walnut tree might grow out of a walnut shell. The modern main streets are the same streets built by …
The Istrian peninsula, which contains portions of Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, has loads of wine tasting opportunities, and they come at a good value. The best way to taste Istrian wine is to visit the source. Because most winemakers produce only small amounts of high quality wine, it is impossible for them to sell to …
Onboard Viking Odin, I left the Port of Amsterdam and cruised north to the fishing village of Volendam. I was lucky enough to have the experience thanks to Viking River Cruise, who had invited EuropeUpClose.com on a three-day mini cruise after the christening of their new longships. My cruise companions and I would visit Volendam, …
Where to Stay in Naples – Best Hotels According to our Editors Deciding where to stay in Naples, Italy isn’t as easy as in most European cities. Naples has some iffy neighborhoods, rife with pickpockets. These neighborhoods are also home to incredible pizzerias, mom and pop stores, and ancient churches; and they give Naples its vibrant atmosphere. …
Where to Stay in Prague – Editor’s Pick To help you choose where to stay in Prague, we’ve compiled a fairly comprehensive list of recommended hotels in Prague. While hotel location is always a consideration, getting around Prague is quite manageable and most of these hotels are located in or near the Old Town. The high-end hotels …
We’ve compiled a list of recommended hotels to help you choose where to stay in Heidelberg, Germany. Though Heidelberg does not have many 5-star hotels, and budget accommodations are even harder to find, we’ve found a few worth considering. Note that few hotels included the cost of breakfast in the price of the room. Here’s …
The exuberant city of Berlin provides a huge number of ‘where to stay’ options; and we’ve put together a list of the best hotels for every price-point. These hotel recommendations also provide information on how close the hotels are to the major sights, a description of the neighborhoods in which the hotels are located, and descriptions of …
Even though Italy has one of the highest obesity rates in Europe, the Mediterranean diet is alive and well in the southern Italian region of Puglia. Here traditional foods include fresh seafood, eggless pasta, and plenty of hearty, often foraged vegetables, such as chicory and wild artichokes. For the first time in all my …
Where to Stay in Venice Italy When deciding where to stay in Venice, it’s important to know something about the differences between its many neighborhoods. Should you stay near the main piazza, Piazza San Marco, or would you prefer to stay closer to the train station, eliminating the otherwise long walk or water taxi ride to your hotel? …