Category: Travel

Sweden is a country with so much to offer visitors, especially when you’re visiting the country for the first time. Near the top of the list of things Sweden has to offer is undoubtedly its capital city, Stockholm. It’s a vibrant city that’s full of life, art and culture. You’ll never be short of things to do or see, so maybe this should be your next city break destination.

If you’re going to head to Stockholm, though, you first need to know a bit about how to enjoy it to the max. Apart from knowing what to pack in your suitcase, there are lots of things that you won’t want to miss out on while you’re there, and we’re going to run through some of the most important things you’ll want to see and do during your time there. Read on to find out more.

Head to the Top of City Hall’s Tower for the Best Views

If you want the very best views over Stockholm, you should head to the top of the tower that’s connected to the City Hall, or the Stadshuset in Swedish. Although you do have to pay to get to the top of the tower, you’ll be glad you paid for it. It’s an incredible panoramic view over the city. If you take your camera with you, you’ll get some incredible pictures of the city in its full glory.

Explore the Old Town

With narrow streets and cobblestone alleyways, it’s very easy to get lost in Stockholm’s Old Town, but that’s all part of the fun. Explore it for a full day and see everything it has to offer. It’s a part of the city that’s entirely unique and brimming with character. You certainly won’t want to miss out on this incredible part of Stockholm, so don’t fall into the trap of overlooking it.

Take to Stockholm’s Hiking Trails

You might not have been planning on going hiking when you decided to head to Stockholm, but it’s actually a great way to experience this location. Stockholm actually has three major hiking trails and they each offer something fantastic. If you love to explore and walk, make sure you hike at least one of them.

Image Source

Enjoy the Art Galleries and Museums

The Moderna Museet is one of the best art galleries you’ll find anywhere in Scandinavia, and you should be sure to stop off there and have a look around while you’re in Stockholm. You should also see which art fairs are on while you’re in the city because there’s often a lot of great art to buy at these. Some people say the best art gallery in Stockholm is actually the subway system. Its long passages are adorned with incredible art and it’s free to browse them; there are even tours available.

Tour the Swedish Parliament for Free

Sweden is famed for its long-standing and tolerant social democracy and if you’re interested in all things political, you should definitely take the time to visit the Swedish parliament, known as the Riksdag. It’s also possible to take advantage of one of the free tours that are offered there. They take place each weekend and start at 1:30pm during the winter and four times each weekday in the summer. It’s a lengthy and fascinating tour led by people who really know what they’re talking about.

Workout at an Outdoor Gym

There are 38 outdoor gyms in Stockholm alone. They’re something of a revelation in Sweden and many people enjoy spending time outdoors working out. If you’re usually a regular at the gym and you don’t want to lose your gains while you’re traveling, you should visit one of Stockholm’s outdoor gyms and workout in a context that you’ve probably never worked out in before.

Spend Time on Stockholm’s Popular Beaches

Not many people realise this if they’ve never been to Stockholm before, but there are actually a range of great beaches in Stockholm and you should be sure to make the most of them when you’re there. The best include Långholmsbadet and Smedsuddsbadet, but there are many others too. There’s also a lot of very beautiful and picturesque canals that you can explore. Be sure to take the time to do that.

Stockholm has so much to offer and if you haven’t yet taken the time to visit the Swedish capital, you should think about planning your trip there. It’s a city with so much to offer in terms of culture, and the Swedish people are great too. It’s the perfect place to start when visiting Sweden for the first time.

As Mallorca’s capital city, Palma is the island’s greatest treasure. It’s well worth visiting for its incredible beaches, charming city squares, and excellent bars and restaurants. Given its flourishing food scene, bustling waterfront, and awe-inspiring cathedral, Palma de Mallorca is an utterly compelling destination.

If you’re planning to visit Palma de Mallorca soon and wondering where to stay, check out this list below.

Image via Unsplash

1. Palma Centre

 

Also called “Distrito Centro”, Palma Centre is a beautiful neighbourhood famous for its charming seafront promenade and the Gothic cathedral called Santa Maria, which features the modernist ironwork of Gaudi. It’s one of the districts that make up Palma de Mallorca and is in the city centre.

As the centre of Palma, it’s where you will find most of the attractions of the city. Beside the cathedral is the royal palace La Almudaina, which dates back to the 1200s. It holds paintings and tapestries alongside Moorish arches and gardens. Its narrow, cobblestone streets are lined with souvenir shops selling Mallorcan coloured glasses. The area is also home to busy taverns serving delectable rice broth and island wines.

You’ll find lots of great accommodations here. If you want to be close to everything, stay in Palma Centre.

2. Santa Catalina

 

Santa Catalina is a former fishing town located on the western side of Palma’s Avenida Argentina. It’s a hip enclave centred on an ancient old market selling local produce. Exuding an ambience of a village that combines old and contemporary lifestyles, Santa Catalina is home to colourful cottages, art nouveau mansions, designer boutiques, and vintage stores.

Located close to the sea, Santa Catalina was named after Santa Catalina of Alexandria, the patron saint of merchants and sailors. On its leafy streets are cool cafes and martini lounges sitting alongside dive bars, where a Bohemian crowd would often gather. Santa Catalina is also home to world-class restaurants serving global cuisines, occupying the squares and backstreet alleys.

Santa Catalina’s traditional old houses are very photogenic, boasting cheerfully painted facades, small front balconies, and old wooden shutters – many of which are adorned with plants and flowers. The centre of the neighbourhood is an indoor market supplying local produce to cafes, bars, and restaurants, which makes Santa Catalina a popular area for foodies. If you want to base yourself in Santa Catalina, stay at Bordoy Continental Palma, an upscale hotel with a sauna, spa, and a deli.

3. La Lonja

 

La Lonja is a historical landmark in the Old Town of Palma where locals and visitors would gather after dark, as it’s home to a great selection of bars, restaurants, and clubs. A former maritime trade exchange, La Lonja is now a popular hangout spot in Mallorca.

Nowadays, when darkness descends on Mallorca, La Lonja comes to life, and the Gothic building is superbly illuminated. However, it’s somewhat upstaged by the numerous dining areas and bars close to the area. Above the mighty portals of La Lonja, you’ll find a sculpture of the Guardian Angel of Commerce standing mightily. The sculpture is a reminder that centuries ago, this area was a significant hub for business in Mallorca.

As the heart of Palma’s nightlife scene, La Lonja is often bustling with tourists. But its main artery is the Apuntadores. As soon as you get into the narrow thoroughfare, you’ll be bombarded with different businesses trying to get your attention. But keep your eyes peeled on small side streets branching off into the main street lined with restaurants offering delectable cuisines. Other notable hotspots in La Lonja include Hotel Tres, a beautiful hotel housed in a former 16th Century Palace. The hotel features an interesting mix of stylish contemporary design and traditional Majorcan decor.

4. Palma’s Old Town

 

Known in Spanish as “El Casco Antiguo”, the Old Town of Palma is where you will find a majority of the island’s most popular attractions. Some of the most notable attractions in the Old Town include the Royal Palace of Almudaina, La Seu Cathedral, and Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum. Given the many attractions in the area, wandering its medieval streets is enough to keep you entertained!

In Old Town, you’ll never run out of interesting things to explore, making it a great place to base yourself in Palma. From pretty squares to Gothic churches and centuries-old interior patios, you’ll find many beautiful things to discover in this neighbourhood. If you are into antiques, you’ll love staying in this area even more. It’s home to antique shops, old bookshops, and even an outlet for vintage Vespa. The famous “Golden Mile” is also part of the Old Town.

Stately homes from the 17th and 18th Centuries are some of the most significant features of this area. These homes have been beautifully restored, with some of them transformed into luxury boutique hotels. When staying in the Old Town, visit Parc de la Mar, an artificial lake that glistens amidst the walls of the Palma Cathedral.

5. La Calatrava

 

La Calatrava is one of Palma’s most charming neighbourhoods, attracting all kinds of people – from tourists interested in learning about the island’s history to those looking for alternative areas to stay. The neighbourhood forms part of the Old Town of Palma, stretching back from seafront Parc de la Mar and towards a warren of shaded alleys.

At the centre of La Calatrava, you’ll find the Palace de L’Almudaina and the Gothic La Seu Cathedral. There are also 10th Century Moorish hammams contrasting with the contemporary and modern designed Teatre Municipal Xesc Forteza.

La Calatrava is where the culture and history of the city were born, a fruit of the melting pot between Christians, Muslims, and Jews, giving rise to the unique Mallorcan roots and traditions. A few metres away is Sa Gerreria, one of Palma’s most picturesque and authentic areas.

If you’re approaching retirement age, and you’re dreaming of spending the rest of your life in a sun-soaked paradise, then Spain is sure to appeal. It’s affordable, accessible, and provides a great mix of hospitable weather and culture. You’ll benefit from the healthcare and low crime rates of a developed country, too.
Would-be migrants to Spain have a range of destinations to choose from. Let’s take a look at a few of the more attractive ones.

Image via Unsplash

Costa del Sol

If you’re looking for warm weather and sandy beaches throughout the year, then the Costa del Sol is sure to appeal. There’s a wealth of golf courses to explore and a thriving community of English-speaking expatriates. So better start getting a hybrid golf bags so you can carry everything you needed for the play. If you’re going to be flying into Malaga airport, then you can cut your costs by booking the transfers well in advance. The same goes for any family members that might look to visit you while you’re out there.
Whether you’re a fan of world-class golf, or you’d simply like to spend your retirement soaking in the sunshine and lounging beside the beach, this is a part of Spain with a huge amount going for it.

Benidorm

Benidorm has welcomed plenty of tourists over the years, as well as older people looking to settle permanently. As such, it’s ideal when it comes to accessibility, with long promenades, and a car-free town centre. You’ll find plenty of entertainment, restaurants and bars targeting English people. If you’d like to supplement your income with a little bit of bar work, then you might find that it’s easy to come by.
While this place is better known for its tourist trade, this can actually be a good thing – if you choose to come back to the UK for a visit, then you can rent out your accommodation in Benidorm for a respectable profit.

Madrid

If you’d prefer something with a little more hustle and bustle, then a spell in the Spanish capital might be what’s called for. It’s a little more fast-paced than the other destinations we’ve mentioned, and you’ll have to learn to speak the language to get the best from it. But you can expect a thriving culture, an ever-changing and diverse slew of entertainment, and a world-class transit system.
While you might expect to enjoy warm weather in the summer, the winter can get chilly (though rarely freezing). Thus, you’ll want to pack clothing for all occasions. The cost of living is lower in Madrid than in other European capitals, though you can expect to devote a considerable chunk of your spending to restaurants, as there’s a thriving dining culture.
What you won’t get is the coast – Madrid is more-or-less right in the centre of the mainland.

We live in an age when it has never been easier to set sail and explore the world. However, it’s true that this ease of travel comes at a cost — we typically end up having the same kind of travel experience. It looks like this: we board a flight, check into our hotel, use a chauffeur service like Driven worldwide roadshows and spend a couple of days checking out the local attractions. While there’s nothing wrong with this, there are plenty of other ways to see the world. Below, we take a look at a few different options that will spice up your travelling adventures.

Source: Pexels.com

Go Independent

There are plenty of companies who can help you have a fluid journey. They’ll take care of the flights, the hotels, and even the attractions, if you want them too. These are fantastic options if you’ve never been on your own trip out of the country, but once you have a little bit of experience, you’ll find that it’s much more enjoyable to do your own thing. For starters, it’s usually cheaper, and it’s more exciting. Plus, you’ll find that there’s more satisfaction to be had from organising your own travel adventure, rather than just turning up after someone else has done all the work for you.

Pick by Theme

It’s normal to simply pick a destination of which you’ve heard good things, and turn up and see what it has to offer. However, it’s not necessarily the best way. Instead, take a look at picking a theme, and using that as a base for your trip. For example, if you love, say, coffee or craft beer, then you could visit a European city with the sole intention of sampling what they have to offer. This offers a stable anchor from which the rest of your trip will grow. You generally can’t go wrong if you’re visiting a place that’s famous for food and drink products, or music.

Avoiding Tourist Traps

Now, we know that it’s somewhat popular to talk bad about tourist hotspots, but we don’t want to do that. However, we will suggest that you may want to look at other places on your travels. While these places are usually popular for a reason, in certain areas they’ve simply become too jam-packed, and they don’t offer a true representation of the area. Big chain companies have moved in all around the world’s most popular attractions, and driven local businesses away. For wherever you’re going, try to research the best neighbourhoods to explore rather than specific attractions. You’ll leave feeling that you’ve seen a real part of the city/area.

Getting Around

The usual path to pick a destination, and then get there via plane. But this isn’t the only option, and it’s certainly not always the best. Sure, if you’re flying long-distance, then it’ll be the most convenient, and can be enjoyable, but if you’re not going too far, then it’s worth exploring other options that you have. Flying isn’t always fun; it’s just a way of getting to the place you want to explore. But if you’re travelling via other means, you’ll find that the journey can add to your adventure. The getting there will be nearly as enjoyable as being there. Arguably the most fun way to move is to hitchhike, but that’s not always an option. Train is another exciting option, as is travelling by ferry. If you have your own set of wheels, look at driving. Driving is a great way to give you the freedom and flexibility to do your own thinga s and when you want. You can get off the beaten track in a 4×4 and explore sites that public transport may not take you. Or get yourself a nippy Ford Focus used car to zip around news towns and cities exploring quant and undiscovered parts of town at your own leisure. Whether you ship your own vehicle, rent a vehicle or car pool, even visiting places far away from your home is doable if everyone in the vehicle chips in for the costs.

Longer-Term Travel

We’re used to boarding a plane, briefly exploring a destination, and then returning home. We only ever get a glimpse into the place we’ve visited. Wouldn’t it be much better to have the option of really getting to know a place, over a longer period? When you rent or own a flat overseas, that’s just what you’ll be able to do. If you’re going to explore this option, then take a look at finding a place that’s located nearby like apartments from Stay Líbere to other destinations of interest.. Southeast Asia, for example, is terrific for this type of thing. If you have a Singapore hdb flat, you won’t just be able to effortlessly take a trip to Singapore; you’ll also be able to make the most of all the affordable flights to the surrounding countries, too. With more time there, you could even try your hand at a cooking course or music lessons at the LVL Music Academy, whatever takes your fancy! You’ll find that you see new, enjoyable sides to famous attractions when you spend so much time there. You’ll see it like a local, eventually.

Giving Back

Most people want to go on a travel adventure in order to have fun. But there’s more to life than simply living the good life. We should also give back. You can do your bit to make the world a better place and also get your fill of travel by looking at overseas volunteer opportunities. There are a couple of ways you can go with this. You can dedicate yourself to a program with a charity, which you usually have to pay for, or you can connect with locals, and help out with whatever they need. You’ll have all the enjoyment of doing something new and different, while also getting the satisfaction of helping others. It’s a win-win situation, essentially.

Challenging Yourself

You may also want to look at using travel as a way to challenge and improve yourself. It’s a big old world out there, and it’s not always a walk in the park. There’s much you can learn about yourself by trying to say, complete the Santiago de Camino in Spain, when it’s just you, out there on your own, trekking through the outdoors. Indeed, you’ll learn more about yourself in that environment than you ever could in a city, but if travel fails to deliver, consider a challenge closer to home such as violins for beginners. Here you will find 16 violins to suit any budget, a great way to learn more about your possibilities and limitations, and to find your creative spark.

Without a Plan

Finally, put an extra dose of excitement into proceedings by travelling without a plan. You don’t need to organise everything, or even anything, in order to have a good time. You’ll find that it’s a lot more exciting to simply figure things out as you go!