It was less than thirty years ago that Budapest began the long climb out of it's frozen-in-time Communistic hole, but it has caught up with a vengeance. Now a part of the elusive European Union, Budapest offers all of the benefits of streamlined services with the old-world charm of a truly ancient civilization.
Prague is a city that must be explored at leisure. Even those who have visited many times will discover new treasures in this ancient and dark city each time they return. It is the birth place of emperors, astronomers and artists, from Mozart and Klíma to Kafka.
Once you've seen the Tower of Big Ben, the Tower of London, taken a ride on the London Eye, visited Buckingham Palace and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, caught a red double-decker bus, and taken a freezing-cold cruise on the Thames, you've pretty much ticked off the tourist traps. Now it's time to live a little more like a local.
Covered in cohesive art and architecture, Florence, Italy may be one of the most idyllic cities in all of the country. Rusty red and creamy yellow cover every street in the city. With very few modern touches, Florence, for the most part, has remained just as it did when the Medici roamed its cobblestone streets during the Renaissance era.
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Amongst the capital cities in Europe, Amsterdam belongs to the smaller siblings. It doesn't stand up to London or Paris in sheer size, and the number of sites and places to see and go to. But Amsterdam has its own unique charm, that isn't matched by any other place in Europe.
Anyone who has been to Paris begins to smile when the city is mentioned. A thousand writers have described her a thousand ways, and while all of the lofty descriptions are true, there is still something quite magical about this city that simply must be experienced to be understood.
Rome could easily be the destination in Europe with the most striking sites to see. Of course there are other places, like Paris with it beautiful structures, London with it palaces and museums, or even Athens with it many, many ancient sites. But none of them combine the sheer number of highlights, and none of them combine the publicly visible ancient structures like the Colloseum, the many museums with a large variety of ancient and classic art, as well as the stunning views of the religious buildings and arts that can be found in the Vatican, as well as scattered all around the city of Rome.
Bruges is a small town in Belgium, with lovely sites in and around it. Belgium is known for its gourmet chocolates and countless types of heavy beers. You will find plenty of that in Bruges. But you will also find a unique charm, and a friendly atmosphere that will make sure you enjoy a trip of a few days to this lovely little city.
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Although Milan is often called the Fashion Capital of the World, it is actually off the beaten track for most visitors to Italy, being (relatively) far from any of the other major centers of interest. It is definitely worth a look though, for at least a couple of days of your Italy trip.
Saturated with history, the city of Athens offers a combination of ancient and modern cultures. Athens is considered by many to be the birthplace of civilization, but don't be surprised to find historical sites like the Acropolis resting alongside modern designer stores and restaurants.
Zurich is as tidy and efficient as, well, as Swiss watch. The city is straight out of a story-book, albeit quite a cutting-edge one. Behind the historic architecture and clipped public gardens are the hallowed halls of a political and financial power unsurpassed in precision and longevity.
Portugal was once the most powerful country on the planet, and the heart of that lion was Lisbon. The city's rich cultural heritage is not a museum piece, but lived-in and used by the locals and visitors who sleep in hotels housed within two-hundred year old buildings and dance the night away in clubs that were once the halls of kings.
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