Espoo is the second largest city in and municipality in Finland, after Helsinki. Espoo is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the following cities; Helsinki, Vantaa and Kauniainen and is located close to the shore of the Gulf of Finland, in the province of Southern Finland and the region Uusimaa. The city has a population of 243 thousand people as of latest measurement.
The city of Espoo still has a quite original and urban structure visible throughout the city center, which is split apart in 5 districts. Each of the districts are as large as a regular sized Finnish town and perfectly well connected through public transport. Also the Nuuksio National Park can be reached through public transport, from pretty much every station it’s fine to walk to your final destination.
The most popular out of the 5 districts is probably Tapiola for its carefully designed gardens, spacious parks and architecture are in harmony with each other. The high tech city parts are reachable within just 15 minutes and shows interesting sightseeing including museums and festivals, of course the April Jazz festival and Espoo Ciné International Film Festival are the most well known reasons for repeatedly tourist visits to Espoo.
The Espoo skyline is a mix of old and new, in between some historical buildings and museums there’s various high tech buildings visible including the Nokia world headquarters, the headquarters of Fortum and the Helsinki University of Technology. Elsewhere if you are looking to have a fine dining experience, there’s restaurants and small eat cafes divided all over town, small horeca places which will serve food and have a bar to sit at. Local Finnish cuisine is popular, but international meals are also served.
American and European citizens are required a valid passport for entry to Espoo, when staying for less than 90 days there is no need to apply for a visa. No vaccinations are required either for entry into Finland. If you are from Africa, Asia, North America or South America you’re required to contact your embassy before leaving. The best time to visit Finland and Espoo are in the summer from June to August.
Gothenburg (Göteborg) is the second largest city in Sweden after Stockholm. The city is located in the south west of Sweden, with a total population of 510 thousand people, and over 920 thousand in the metropolitan area. The city has the largest sea port of the Nordic countries situated by the sea at the mouth of Göta Älv. Gothenburg is home to many students as the city has two universities: University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology.
The city was founded once by king Gustav Adolf but was developed in large by city and canal planners from the Netherlands and Germany. Hence the recognizable Amsterdam styled canals around city center, mixed in between 16th century churches and historical buildings which are still visible. To this day, the owes much to the influences of foreigners. Tourists seem to repeatedly visit the city year after year, therefore the Gothenburg region has grown to be one of the most popular travel destinations in Scandinavia.
The reason Gothenburg attracts so many tourists is simple as basic mathematics. The city has a cultural history which creates interesting sightseeing. For example the Skansen Kronan (Crown Keep), served as a prison in the 19th century, today its a military museum. Stop by the city district of Haga for 19th century houses made out of wood, while there explore the bohemian Långgatan streets, don’t forget the camera, or how about a Indoor fish market “Feskekôrka” with a unique shape of the building and sensational smell located nearby the harbor.
For the cultural and historical travelers the city offers ten’s of museums with the most popular being Gothenburg Art Museum, Gothenburg City Museum, Universeum and Museum of World Culture. Also as said, Gothenburg is filled with historical buildings like the Gothenburg Cathedral, Christinae Church, Crown House and Oscar Fredrik Church. When the sun is out in the city, and you wishto enjoy the pretty sight of high rising historicial buildings in between the Swedish locals there’s various of spacious parks located throughout the city any taxi driver can bring you including: Slottsskogen, Botaniska Trädgården, Trädgårdsföreningen
The famous street Avenyn is a perfect destination for great Swedish cuisine, terrace cafés and pubs, nightclubs and bars. Because the city is filled with students, the vibrant nightlife goes on untill the early hours. It’s defiantly the place to be for good foods and a night out in town for both local and tourist.
American citizens need a valid passport to enter Gothenburg, there’s no visa required for stays up to three months in any given six-month period. Yet another requirement to travelers is to show a visible means of support along with documentation and tickets for return or further travel.
Kavajë is a city in western Albania located less than a mile from the Adriatica Sea. It’s also the center of the District of Kavaj. The city of Kavaje was established in 1595 under under the name of Kavalje, it was the first city in Albania to start a anti communist revolution. In the prefecture area of Kavaje there’s 123 thousand people, the area of the country is 244 square miles, Kavaje is the capital of Kavaja Country. According to latest measurement the city has a population of 40 thousand people.
The city lies above sea level, the beach Golem has a coastline of approximately 22 miles which is also a main attraction for travelers and tourists. Across the shore is a boulevard where several large hotels and resorts are situated. The resorts include all facilities and have rooms with sea view, the beach is best described as large, with here and there a parasol to sit. In the summer months May and October you’ll find yourself in between locals coming from the capital Tirana and tourists, while other months it’s more like a private beach.
Across the shore of Kavaje several restaurants with true Albanian cuisine, which is had strong influences of Greece, Italy and the Turks. The main meal throughout Albania is lunch, don’t let at least one day pass by in Kavaje accompanied with a salad and fresh vegetables such as olives, green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and vinegar with salt and olive oil. The lunch should also include meat of choice. For dinner times, it’s recommended to have the seafood specialties, especially since you’re right on the shore, any restaurants in Golem en Kavaje can serve you the following Albanian dishes Durrës, Vlorë and Sarandë.
If you are an American or European citizen visiting Albania, Kavaje you do need a valid passport to enter the country. However, short vacations under 90 days do not require any type of visa. You also need to present a return to be allowed into Kavaje. Petty theft and crimes against tourists aren’t common in the city, but always make sure to look after your belongings.
In the province of South Holland located about 15 miles of Rotterdam lies the city of Gouda. It’s the 48th largest city of the Netherlands, and 13th largest of the province South Holland with a total population of 72 thousand people as of latest measurements. Within its region its often referred to as the “Groene Hart” which in Dutch means “Green Heart”.
The city of Kraków officially spelled as Cracow in the English language has grown from a stone age settlement to Poland‘s second most important city. In the period of 1038 to 1596 it was the capital of Poland, nowadays its Warsaw. Nowadays, it is the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Krakow is a city of size with a population that exceeds 755 thousand people according to latest count.
Lots of times travelers visiting Krakow pre-assume it’s a big gray and boring city, but in fact it’s a lively city with a nice infrastructure, lots of big and ancient buildings and clean streets. Krakow is one of Poland’s major academic and artistic center with the ongoing establishment of new universities and cultural venues. A popular destination within the city is the main market square, where pigeons dominate the area. The square is about the size of 656 ft. and is the historical center of Kraków’s Jewish social and religious life it also has several old churches, museums and a fourteenth century building of the Jagiellonian University.
As there’s many students from all over Poland move to the city, it’s nightlife is alive and vibrant. The street scene is filled with pubs and bars, and late night clubs that are open until the early hours. Most of the bigger clubs are located in dungeons under the ground, the average price of a beer is 3.5 PLN (about $1.20). Getting around in the city is no problem, there’s bus stops throughout the city and the taxis are available, to any location in the city it shouldn’t be more than 70 PLN (about $25.00)
There are two main seasons in Krakow, with hot and humid summers (June, July and August) and cold winters (January and February). The month of September has the most rain. American and European tourists visiting Krakow only need a valid passport if their stay does not exceed 90 days. Confirmation of travel itinerary and proof of accommodations may be required at the border.
Niš (Ниш) is a city in the Nišava District, Serbia situated on the banks of the Nišava River. The city of Nis also has its own international airport named Niš Constantine the Great Airport (Аеродром Константин Велики) with as destination code INI. With a little over 300 thousand people as population it’s the third largest city in southern Serbia after Beograd and Novi Sad.
Unfortunately Nis suffers from a variety of accommodations, there’s a short supply. The major hotels are “Ambassador” and “Motel Nais”, in all honesty, generally seen the private and small hotels are in much better shape. A couple of recommended hostels by travelers include Hostel Evropa, Marvel, Hotel Nis and Sweet-Hostel Nis. If you inquire any issues finding a room in Nis, step in one of the many tourist agencies which have local contacts.
As the city was heavily damaged in the second world war only a few pre-war architecture remain. There’s a few interesting sightseeing’s like the ancient monument from the Turkish-Serbian war called The Scull Tower. Another few interesting attraction includes Turkish Fortress in the city center, and an archeological site “Mediana” which features a summer residence of the Romane Emperor Constantine the Great. A small archeological museum “Narodni Muzej” can be found in city center.
The city of Nis has a lot of domestic travelers common referred to as “health tourists”, an popular destination includes the Niska Banja Spa. Besides health freaks, the city is suitable for all sorts of people, whether you enjoy a lively nightlife with a large numbers cafeteria packed in the afternoon and evenings, or like fine dining at local restaurants serving original Serbian cuisine, Greek or Turkish meals and desserts.
Getting round in the city isn’t of any problem, taxi’s and public transport is widely available. When travel abroad to other major European cities tickets can be purchased at the main bus station. As earlier mentioned the city Nis has a international airport which has daily flights to Zurich and Paris. Currently the airport is only served by two airlines, Montenegro Airlines and JAT Airways.
American and European citizens aren’t required a Visa to enter Nis when the duration of your stay does not exceed 90 days. A valid passport is that’s valid for at least 6 months needs to be shown upon arrival at the international airport. Tourists are required by law to register with the Serbian police within 24 hours after entering the Serbian border.
Čačak (Чачак) is a city situated 86 miles south of capital city Beograd in Serbia. The city of Cacak is the administrative as well main industrial, cultural and sport center of the Moravica District. As of latest count the city has an population of 170 thousand people.
When taking a walk in downtown Cacak there’s many narrow streets going left and right connected together, the city map looks like a labyrinth. As Cacak tries to improve their tourist hospitality and attractions they have opened countless breathtaking summer gardens just around the corners of cultural and historical Serbian cuisine restaurants, where even the restaurants designs seems to come from the nineteenth century. As both the summer gardens and a visit to one of the many restaurants need to be checked on your check list be sure to visit the great number of stores, shopping malls and hypermarkets, which makes Cacak the leading shopping center in Serbia, after Belgrade. When getting hungry during endless shopping, make sure to try the Serbian fast food snack “pljeskavica” which is a giant beef burger served at minimum size of 150 grams.
What attracts most tourist to the city of Cacak is the geographic location on the river bank, it’s diversity, traditions, historical monuments, cultural establishments, entertainment and sporting manifestations. For tourists its rather easy to get in touch with the locals, meet them and learn about their history and tradition as the local Serbians are very friendly and welcoming people, Cacak is a place to forge new friendships and enjoy nature at the same time.
American and European citizens aren’t required a Visa to enter Serbia or Cacak if your visit does not exceed 90 days. A valid passport is that’s valid for at least 6 months needs to be shown upon arrival at the international airport. Tourists are required by law to register with the Serbian police within 24 hours after entering the Serbian border.
Novi Sad (Нови Сад) is the capital city of the Serbian province Vojvodina located in the north of the country, and also the administrative center of the South Bačka District. Novi Sad is situated on both banks of the Danube river and is Serbia‘s second largest city, after Beograd, the country’s capital. The current population of Novi Sad counts 290 thousand people.
The city of Novi Sad is an easy reach by bus or train from Belgrade, within a few hours you’re in what’s today the historical center of Serbian culture. For overnight stays there’s a wide selection of choices including, camping, pension or a hotel room. Walking around Novi Sad gives a pleasant feeling, strolling over the wide boulevards with buildings from the early nineteenth century, its central square surrounded by an old City Hall on the opposite side of an Roman Catholic church.
Since it’s a city of size, locals as well tourists won’t get bored easily, just the several historical museums and art galleries in town mixed with theaters and cinemas fill up the most of travelers needs. And how about a lively clubbing scene, that’s pretty much every night going with Fridays and Saturdays running at top. Another popular tourist attraction in the city of Novi Sad is the Exit Summer Fest which is the largest music festival in South Eastern Europe taking place on a beautiful fortress named Petrovaradinska tvrdjava. This festival attracts thousands of travelers enjoying the performance of the world’s most popular DJs and rock bands.
American citizens do not require a Visa to enter Serbia or Novi Sad. A valid passport is all that is needed to enter Novi Sad for any stay that doesn’t exceed 90 days. Tourists are required by law to register with the Serbian police within 24 hours after entering the Serbian border.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is the international airport of The Netherlands located just 10 miles of Amsterdam city, Schiphol is considered to be one of the busiest and most important airports in Europe. The airport is owned by Schiphol Group (N.V. Luchthaven Schiphol) with as main shareholders the Dutch government and the municipality of Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Arinsal is a village located at the head of valley with small mountainous and rocky landscapes in the Pyrenees mountains of Andorra, Europe. Nowadays the village is known as a ski resort which has shown significant growth in the recent years which attracted new hotels and restaurants owners to this area. The ski resort is only seasonal and pretty much everything is closed once the season is over. The Arinsal Ski Resort is very popular with foreign travelers.
The city of Arinsal can easily be reached by car through the main road up from La Massana which originally comes from Andorra La Vella within 10 minutes. If you prefer public transport, you can choose to travel by bus. Be sure to check the time schedule since its not a daily service.
Arinsal is a good city for outdoor activities, besides skiing for novice and intermediate skier it possible to take a long walk and enjoy the mountain scenery, or to go up hiking and climbing the mountains. All over the town there’s ski and snowboard stores along with a couple of supermarkets, if you go to Andorra for shopping purposes you’re better of visiting Andorra la Vella for duty free shopping at department stores. During off and/or no season months the area is suitable for hiking and/or biking around the mountains.
If you are an American citizen seeking to enter Andorra, Arinsal you will need a valid passport. You also need to present a return ticket from Andorra towards an foreign destination. You can stay up with 90 days without the need of any visa.
