guide Archives - Europe Up Close

Insiders Guide to Munich

Published/Revised January 6, 2018 By Terri Fogarty This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Munich is one of the most charming cities in Germany. Located in the south near the alps, it is the capital of Bavaria and the most visited city in Germany. Two days is not enough time to see all there is to see and if you want to do some day trips from Munich, you can easily spend a week in Bavaria's lovely capital. Fun Thing to Do in Munich: Fairytale Royal Vehicles at Marstall in ... Read Full Article

Latvia Tourist Information

Published/Revised May 13, 2016 By Eric Barrier This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

If you want to learn more about Latvia, this post offers comprehensive Latvia tourist information designed to make it easy for you to plan your trip. Latvia is the middle of the three Baltic republics that gained independence after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Russia and Belarus to the east, Lithuania to the south and the Baltic Sea to the west. A 2010 ... Read Full Article

Copenhagen: a First Time Visitor’s Guide

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Mattie Bamman This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Copenhagen is an innovative coastal city that serves as a guiding light for European fashion, public transportation, gastronomy, and environmentalism. The mix of cool canals, bridges, avant-garde architecture, beautiful schooners, and a sea of bicycles make it easy for a first-time visitor to fall into step with the Danes to get the best out of Copenhagen. Copenhagen can be expensive, ... Read Full Article

Discovering Authentic Paris and Enjoying Places that Parisiens Love

Published/Revised June 14, 2014 By Julie H. Ferguson This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

James turned to the hovering waiter. “Encore, deux cafés.” The big cups of creamy coffee arrived and soon my husband had sketched out a plan for my seventh visit to Paris, his ninety-third. He filled our September week with authentic Paris, must-see places and events that any tourist can fit around the obligatory sightseeing. We meandered down the oldest street in Paris, the Roman road ... Read Full Article

First-time Visitor Guide to Milan, Italy

Published/Revised December 6, 2017 By Mattie Bamman This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

More than any other city in Italy, Milan, with a city proper population of 1.3 million and metropolitan area population of 4 million, is a thriving, international, cultural, commerce center. While Rome is the place to see what remains of the old Roman civilization, Milan is where you'll find sophisticated, modern Italy. Cutting-edge fashion boutiques, trendy restaurants, world-acclaimed ... Read Full Article

First Time Visitor’s Guide To Krakow, Poland

Published/Revised July 2, 2015 By Mattie Bamman This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Krakow is one of the most romantic cities in Europe. Though it’s located in the “Lesser” region, it’s no slouch: Krakow is the only Polish city that wasn’t decimated during World War II, and its Gothic architecture puts the city center on the list of World Heritage Sites. While it is the second largest city in Poland, Krakow retains a small-city feel, with plenty of small, winding streets and ... Read Full Article

Up Close Guide to Marseille

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By Brigitte Aflalo-Calderon This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Marseille, the second most populated city in France after Paris, was founded in 600 BC by Greek sailors. They named it Massalia. Under Roman rule, Massalia became Marsala, which, eventually turned into Marseille. With such a rich legacy, it should not come as a surprise that Marseille has been elected the European Capital of Culture for the year 2013. The city and its inhabitants are preparing ... Read Full Article

European Wine Guide: Spain

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By Jen Westmoreland Bouchard This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Have you ever looked at labels on European wine bottles and wondered about the meaning of AOC, DOGC, or QmP? Look no further. In my European Wine Guide series (organized by country), I will take you through a crash course in wine classifications and varietals found in major wine-producing regions throughout Europe. Let’s continue our “wine tour” in Spain. The Spanish wine classification system ... Read Full Article

Insider’s Guide to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By Cam Hassard This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in all of Europe. The essence of its former glory is rife as you traverse the coastal road, it’s seaside villages, and strikingly romantic vistas. The medieval town Amalfi remains the heart of the coast, a once affluent maritime hub and centre of International trade. With busy merchant routes from the ... Read Full Article

Reykjavik Up Close City Guide

Published/Revised August 29, 2017 By Katie Hammel This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and largest city. In fact, of the approximately 300,000 people who live in Iceland, about 200,000 live in Reykjavik. Situated on the harbor, in the shadow of snow-covered mountains, the size and sensibility of a small town meets the style of a city here. There’s plenty to do to keep a visitor busy for a few days, yet it’s easy enough to get around on foot. Despite ... Read Full Article