Europe Travel Guide » Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net Melissa tips Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:19:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 The Centers of the Nightlife in Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-nightlife/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-nightlife/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:33:15 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=199 There would be no doubt that nightlife is a way of life, and Spain nightlife is an absolute way to get a life. I bet even Spaniards party themselves to epic proportions more than any other people. La marcha, or Spain nightlife is at its highest in Madrid and Barcelona. For a party junkie like me, I should know better to use my afternoon siesta wisely if I am to crash the Spanish nightclubs since they are open until dawn.

In major cities and resort areas, nightlife is varied for all ages, there is the jazz clubs, cabarets, discos, sex shows, flamenco clubs and the usual music clubs, bars, night clubs, music halls and restaurants with floor shows. The popularity of Karaoke in many pubs and clubs wouldn’t be much for asking why.

Nightlife isn’t just about the booze and the balls in Barcelona and Madrid. It also means that whole families are out enjoying themselves while sipping coffee or sangria at sidewalk cafes until the wee hours in the morning.

Nightclubs in Barcelona

You’ll find Old Town Barcelona intoxicated with trendy, casual pubs mixed with tourist spots and local watering holes. Nightlife in this Old Town is very much simple, sitting at a sidewalk café watching people pass by in the night may be one. One should know that in Spain, the terms café and bar are quite synonymous. Although one should still have to know that a bodega specializes in wine, a cerverseria serves beer while refined palate tourists should visit Spain’s Xampanyeria or champagne bars.

It’s a sad fact that the hottest nightclubs in Barcelona are not open until midnight –because they start doing business at 1 or even 2 in the morning.  You should not be in tight budget though since these bars charge up to ten times you would normally pay for a bottle of beer. Nightclubs in Barcelona keep up with the latest and trendiest developments in the nightlife in Spain.

Some tourists in Spain may find disco music dead and dumb, so Barcelona still have nightclubs that features an edectic mix of live music. Every June, Spain holds the European Jazz Festival where the best jazz masters around the Mediterranean travels to Spain to witness and take part in the festival. In October and November on the other hand, Barcelona hosts an annual jazz festival where street concerts are very much alive and Spanish nightclubs gets a new beat.

The Madrid Nightlife

The epicenter of Spain’s nightlife can be found in Madrid. At 4 am, you’ll still have problems whre to park and how you will free yourself from the traffic jam as clubbers and ravers hop from discobares to discotecas. Discobares are the most common in the Spain nightlife haunt. These clubs entertain polysexual crowd as they play a mix of rock, dance, and salsa music. This gets going around 11pm until 2 or 3 in the morning. If Spain discotecas is what you want, don’t think about going there by midnight since they don’t open their doors until 1am.

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/spain-nightlife/feed/ 1 My Top 10 Cities to Visit in Europe http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/my-top-10-cities-to-visit-in-europe/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/my-top-10-cities-to-visit-in-europe/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:03:44 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=139 Everyone has their own favorite place to visit and I have mine. You can decide to agree or disagree with me, but here are my choices for the top 10 cities to visit in Europe.  You can find hot deals on hotels in Europe with Twenga.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 1: Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy is considered as one of the world’s fashion and design capitals. It’s the most modern of all of Italy’s cities while still keeping most of its history intact. Here’s a tip: save on travel and splurge on shopping. This is why Milan is one of my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 2: Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and also considered to be the capital of the European Union. Don’t worry about being surrounded by international diplomats though. The city has vibrant areas filled with restaurants and bars and beautiful parks. The city also happens to be right in the heart of Europe so you can easily go to other European hot spots from here. This is why this is in my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 3: Berlin, Germany

Berlin remembers its colourful past with monuments and museums that are definitely worth seeing. The city is the heart of Germany and is a wonderful and exciting city to visit. There are trendy restaurants, shops, bars and boutiques. It also has great transportation which makes getting around easy. The festivals are also a key factor in being chosen as one of my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 4: Munich, Germany

Munich is the largest city in Germany and it has a fabulous culture. The city is historical and grand and features some of the best museums in Germany. There’s great architecture, culture, fund clubs and the famous Oktoberfest beer celebration. Why wouldn’t Munich be in the top 10 cities to visit in Europe?

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 5: Istanbul, Turkey

If you want to feel intrigue when you arrive at a city, visit Istanbul. The city is shrouded in history, layered in religion and wrapped up in theater. There’s a rich culture to immerse yourself in. And that’s enough for me to name Istanbul as one of my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 6: Manchester, England

Manchester, England has a classy culture with a historic vibe. It’s never short of partygoers. They’ve got a great soccer team and tons of music venues to have a great time at. What else could you want in one of the top 10 cities to visit in Europe?

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 7: Athens, Greece

Athens has a lot to offer with its many old and beautiful buildings and ruins that date back to BC. It’s rich in history and culture too. Why wouldn’t the birthplace of modern civilization be in the top 10 cities to visit in Europe?

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 8: Seville, Spain

Seville lures tourists with its colors and vibrant nature. It’s the cultural and financial center for Spain. With a fascinating history, sights and attractions that will blow you away, and the wonderful coastline, Seville makes it into the top 10 cities to visit in Europe easily.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe 9: Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is built on history, romance and culture. It’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for history, festivals and a great nightlife. From visiting Edinburgh Castle to experiencing a rugby match, this city left an impression that made me list it in the top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

Top 10 cities to visit in Europe  10: Marseille, France

Forget Paris for a moment and think of Marseille. It’s one of the older cities in Europe and is listed as a major center of art and history. The city is fashionable in different aspects without forgetting its rich history. Marseille offers great bars and fun around every corner. This is the final entry to my top 10 cities to visit in Europe.

What’s on your list?

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/my-top-10-cities-to-visit-in-europe/feed/ 0 Museums in Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/museums-in-spain/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/museums-in-spain/#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:29:00 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=119 Art lovers must not take for granted Spain’s magnificent collection of Museums that offers the finest works of world class artists. The first museum one must visit is the Museu del Temple Expiatori de La Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudi is the author of the architecture of Barcelona. Sagrada Familia, a giant temple, is one of Gaudi’s greatest creations. This is one of the most visited attractions in Barcelona catering over two million visitors per year. Spain definitely made an impact when it housed the museum inside a building. The museum tells significant developments and history of the Sagrada Familia as well as to the author himself. The photos of how the Sagrada Familia developed through its reconstruction will surely capture you as its photos dates back from the early beginnings up to this day. This huge piece of art is one the Spain is really proud of having.

Another of Gaudi’s work is La Padrera. The building itself is the museum. It is the second most visited museums in Barcelona, another pride of Spain. La Padrera outstands the other museums as it has the most unusual apartment building’s ever built. Though potential tenants were hesitant to rent the rooms due to its irregularly shaped rooms, today, La Padrera houses renaissance drawings and a collection of modern art paintings. It is also considered as one of the most important museums in Barcelona, Spain.

Museu Futbol Club Barcelona is the fourth most visited museum in Spain. Ever wondered why it is named as Futbol Club? It is for the very reason that it houses sporting artifacts from the club dating back a century ago. Two types of admission is offered to tourists and visitors: One would give you access only to the museum and the pitch are while the other would provide tour a guided tour of the changing rooms, press rooms, VIP lounge, and actually see the pitch at ground level. You will also be allowed to sit on the players’ benches and get to feel how it is like to sit in the best seats of the stadium. Football lovers must never miss this place!

Barcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture is known for its regular exhibitions of widely varying artworks ranging from photography, paintings, sculptures and frescos from around the world and from different periods as well. It is the 8th most popular museum in all of Barcelona, Spain.

The history of Catalunya can be well studied in the Museum d’ Història de Catalunya. It does speak for itself doesn’t it? Its artifacts deals with the different periods in the Catalunya history, it also has those artifacts which will allow you to interact with the displays.

The Maritime Museum of Spain is one of the oldest one in Barcelona. It covers the period of 1750 to 1850. After visiting this museum you may want to take a quick stroll to see Colon (the giant statue in honour of Christopher Columbus) and then on to Port Vell which is a picturesque walk across the marina.

Spain also offers an archeological museum through Catalan Museum of Archaeology. The curator of this museum has given a significant emphasis on the archeological remains of Catalunya. If only for the novelty of the subject material, the ancient history of Catalunya, it is well worth a visit.

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/museums-in-spain/feed/ 1 The Best Cities to Visit in Spain http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/the-best-cities-to-visit-in-spain/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/the-best-cities-to-visit-in-spain/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:59:23 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=101 The Best Cities to Visit in Spain

I haven’t been to Spain yet but my aunt has. According to her, Spain is among the greatest countries to travel. It’s equipped with amazing historical structures and breath-taking landscapes and scenarios. The affluence of Spain’s cities is something that the country must be so proud of. She told me a couple of things that you need to visit when in Spain.

My aunt does have her own selection of favorites from the cities that one can visit in Spain. These are Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Madrid is the capital and the Spain’s largest city. This city houses one of the most important galleries in the world called The Golden Triangle Art which is then composed of three museums namely, The Prado Museum, Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and Reina Sofia Museum. Nevertheless, this city in Spain still has a great number of museums and galleries that its travelers and tourists can enjoy.

You can find excellent deals on hotels in Madrid and throughout Spain with Twenga.

Another milestone in this city in Spain is that it is the center of bullfighting which is done every in the festivity of their patron saint, San Isidro. Bullfighting is highly regarded in Spain.

This city of Spain is also a green advocate since in their quest for preserving their ancient history, culture and environment that they became the city which has the most number of trees in the world. This city that can be visited in Spain truly cares for its tourists and travelers that aside from giving them the great collection of arts, it also gives the most relaxing environment one could enjoy.

The second must-see city to visit in Spain is Barcelona. Auntie said that she, being an art-fan, enjoyed much of her travel here since this is where the brilliant works of Master Artist Antoni Gaudi like the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. She even joked that she would never forgive herself if she did not get to see these outstanding creations laid down in this affluent city.  The youth in her wants to own her once again when she went in Spain.

After visiting the art stuff in the city, her friends wanted to go to the beach –only they can’t figure which beach to go to since there are quite a number of it in Barcelona, Spain. They said that going to the beach was the most soothing way to complete your travel. If you’re not a beach bum like her, there are also 68 parks from where you can stroll and walk your day off in Spain.

And my aunt’s travel has yet to end with a blast when she visited Valencia, Spain’s largest city to visit. This city of Spain has been known for its famous cuisine, Paella. This mouth-watering delicacy in Valencia, Spain has been a tourist-magnet for years. The largest aquarium in the City of Arts and Sciences also lies in this marvelous city of Spain.

Of course, it will not be like you’re in Spain if it does not have the great city landscapes and museums. So for those of you who have happy feet and would love to travel Spain, these are but a few of the cities that you can visit.

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]]> http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/the-best-cities-to-visit-in-spain/feed/ 0 Top European Cities for Singles http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/top-european-cities-for-singles/ http://www.europetravelguide.net/2009/top-european-cities-for-singles/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:51:58 +0000 Melissa http://www.europetravelguide.net/?p=70 Regardless of what your status in life is, there’s likely to be a city in Europe that would fit the lifestyle you live or would want to live. If you want to mingle with other singles, whether you’re gay, lesbian, a young one, divorcee, retiree or whatnot, try taking a vacation to any of these hotspots in Europe which I think are the top European cities for singles.

I think Amsterdam is one of the top European cities for singles. It’s a city rich in culture, it has a booming nightlife and the city itself is pretty open-minded. Gay singles can meet up during Amsterdam’s annual LGBT film festival to meet culturally aware film enthusiasts. Amsterdam is also a popular spot because of its marijuana cafes and being known for its legal red light district. That easily makes it one of the top European cities for singles.

For the younger generation of singles, the best places to visit are always the ones with the best parties. So why not visit Ibiza? It’s one of the top European cities for singles for being internationally known as the party island off the coast of Spain. You can enjoy a world of clubbing, lounging on the beach and having an adventure of a lifetime.

If you’re someone who’s trying to gain some personal fulfilment or discovery, then London is the place for you. It may not be as overtly PDA as cities like Paris or Rome but history buffs, art enthusiasts, theater patrons, food gurus, bookworms and a whole load of other people can benefit from this capital rich in culture while still in the middle of the busy streets of London.

If you’re a single who’s looking to just let go of all inhibitions, then I’ve got a few top European cities for singles on my list for you. Namely, these are the cities that have nude beaches where you can stare at any hot guy or girl without being called a pervert. There’s Red Beach on Crete, Paradise Beach on Mykonos, Greece, Leucate Plage in France and Costa Natura in Spain.

But if you’re more like the single who wants to get a vacation away from all the wild parties and meet someone stable and traditional, here are my choice of top European cities for singles. Vatican City can easily take you away from the nightlife and get immersed in the religious architecture, gardens, historical arts and monuments. Dublin, Ireland may have some rowdy crowds during parades and festivals but there are also plenty of opportunities for shopping, going to the cinema, visiting historical monuments and museums or just relaxing in one of the city’s many parks.

Of course, these are just some of my choices for top European cities for singles. I haven’t visited all the cities yet so I don’t know if there’s something better than the choices that I made. Do you have any other ideas as to what the top European cities for singles are?

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