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People say that Ireland, once visited, is never forgotten. Being one of the most magical places in the world, I believe that adage about Ireland to be true. Now, they also say that getting lost in Ireland is part of its charm. Maybe. If you had all the time in the world. But if not, you can take a guided tour and enjoy all the magic of the Emerald Isle without getting lost.

VisitIreland.com can take you on mystical guided tours of the island which will definitely pass through the best places the country has to offer. You can choose among the different guided tours that will take you to places you would want to see around the mystical Emerald Isle.

You can take the Introduction to Ireland tour which is eight days of sight-seeking and shopping around Connemeara, the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher.

You can stock up on Waterford Crystals along the way. You can also take an Unforgettable Ireland tour, a glorious 12-day comprehensive tour that includes a 2-night stay in a 15th century Cabra castle, visits to the sights of Dublin, Wicklow and Glenalough, Kilarney, the Ring of Kerry, Sligo, and Meath. In this tour, you get to see ancient and modern Ireland, and enjoy the country and culture at its best.

Once you see Ireland, it will always be in your soul, calling you back. No matter how many times you come back, you will always look for more.

So, do what is best. Visit Ireland.

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There’s more to it than booking flights and making hotel reservations. Going on vacation is actually harder than you might think. Not because you get to have a few days out of the office doesn’t mean that you’re scott-free. You have to ensure that your actual vacation is much more fun than the planning.

The first thing you need to do in planning a European vacation is to choose what type of tour or cruise or what part of Europe you want to see. Let me give you an example. You can choose one from the many European cities I’ve already written about from here. Or, you can choose a theme. Let’s see, what about traveling through classical Europe. I’m sorry, this is actually my dream European vacation.

Anyhow, for a Classical European vacation, you have to choose your intinerary rather carefully. Which wonderful places do you want to visit? My suggestions would be Athens, Rome and Paris in that order. These are the places that most define Europe at its classic fineness. In these places, you can go back and sample the ancient civilizations of the Greeks and Romans.

For more ideas, click on the links I’ve provided above and see which cities appeal most to you. After all, vacations are for you to enjoy.

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I am so obsessed with Greece right now. It hasn’t always been my dream vacation spot, but it has always been one of my top three since I discovered Greek mythology when I was nine and wished that I was Pallas Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom. And! I have to find out that one of my uncle lives in Greece!

He’s currently living in Glyfada which is a luxurious suburb of Athens, and one of its largest, south of the metropolitan area. It’s what millionaires, celebrities, high profile political figures and various Greek A-listers call home. Located at the foot of the Hymettus mountain, it reaches out to touch the Saronic Gulf. The area is famous for upmarket cafes, famous and expensive boutiques, and cosmopolitan clubs. According to it’s Wikipedia entry, it has also been called the “Hellenic Hamptons”.

Currently, it’s where Athens’ most famous nightclubs, upscale restaurants and shops are located. And real estate is as prime as prime can get. The waterfront location, luxurious commercial center and business district make sure of that. Which is why it is where the most decadent beachfront properties in the whole of Europe can be found.

This is also where Greece’s original 18-hole golf course can be found. The Glyfada Golf Club is Greece’s first golf course, established in 1962. Not only that, it is also near enough to the Acropolis that you can happily mix in the glory of the past with modern conveniences.

I’m actually planning my vacation now, and hope to go to Glyfada soon. See you there!

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Very few places can be called genuinely beautiful but the stunning city on the South Wales coast called Swansea is apparently as pretty as its name. It is the second largest Welsh city, and located on the beautiful Gower Peninsula - the United Kingdom’s first designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.

Swansea has mild climate and enjoys lots of sunshine from June to August, and offers crisp and fresh air from September to October, perfect for solitary walks and contemplative strolls. But, of course, pack your umbrella and prepare for rain. You are going to Wales after all.

There are a lot of places to go to in Swansea, but why visit museums when you have historic beauty everywhere? First on your list should be Swansea Castle, the ruins of a 13th-century castle where you can see the contrast of the battlements and the surrounding contemporary architecture. Being a sucker for historic places, seeing the battlements would be enough for me.

The elegant Guildhall is built of white Portland stone and has been standing on the city center’s western front since 1934. You would be interested in Sir Frank Brangwyn’s murals, though. Murals that were thought to be too frivolous for the House of Lords.

The original Oystermouth Castle was founded by William de Londres of Ogmore in the early 12th century. What remains of it today are well preserved and a trip up the battlements offer a majestic view over Swansea Bay.

For more information, visit the Wikitravel article of Swansea for more gorgeous places to visit in the area.

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Ayia Napa, now officially Agia Napa, is THE nightlife location in the Mediterranean part of Cyprus. Ayia Napa is literally Greek for “Saint Napa”, the town’s patron saint whose monastery is located right smack at the center of town, right next to to the city’s clubbing central. Ayia Napa has recently built a reputation for itself as a “dance party capital”. Agia Napa is small enough to be a walkable town, or you can also use bikes.

Let’s dispense with the historic part of town before we go have fun. The Ayia Napa Monastery, a building that was built in the 1500’s, is the one cultural site that you have to visit in town.

Now, let’s hit the beaches! The most infamous beach among the most incredible beaches in Cyprus is the Nissi Beach where bars, clubs, blond beauties and hunks flock over the summer holidays. You have make sure that you get there early though to reserve some space for yourself as it tends to get over-crowded.

Farther away as Makronisos Beach which is probably nicer, less busy and more family- oriented.
The beautiful Grecian Bay is closest to the center of Agia Napa, and stretches along three coves to the east of the small fishing harbor.

For the famous nightlife, you just have to jump to The Square, probably one of the, if not the, best area for bars such as Bedrock and The Castle Club. Clubs and bars are open until the break of dawn, so the night scene usually starts late.

What else do you want to see in a party place?

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The walled town of Tenby in South Wales, also known as Dinbych-y-Pysgod (”little town of fishes”) is made of pretty pastel-colored buildings that stand along cliffs and bays. It is also one of Wales’ most popular tourist spots, located west of Swansea.

It was founded during the Norman Conquest and was built in 1093. It was not renowned as a tourist spot until the Victorian era, when it became popular as a spa. Today, it is still one of the most famous holiday destinations, probably because it offers relaxation and wonderful family holidays.

The quaint town is filled with cobbled streets where you can find shops and cafes to your heart’s content. You can also visit Caldey Island, a Cistercian Monastery just off the coast. They are known as producers of a number of things including heavenly chocolate, ice cream, yogurt and clotted cream. There’s also a 15th-century town house, the Tudor Merchant’s House, as well as the Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.

The most important thing to remember about Tenby is that there are numerous shops hidden in alleys where you might just find some gorgeous treasure. Maybe your first stop should be the Caldy Island gift shop.

For more information on Caldy Island, click here.

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Lausanne is the capital if the Swiss canton of Vaud which sits at the northern most point of Lake Geneva. And because of the large student population in the area, if is, of course, a popular spot for nightlife and the arts. Its setting, a spectacular hilltop one, faces the Alps.

The neighborhoods of Lausanne are quite interesting. Probably the best place to visit would be Cité, the Ville Marché, and the port of Ouchy. La Cité, the area’s Old Quarter, has an impressive medieval cathedral and a castle. Ville Marché is a medieval city with outdoor markets. An interesting place, however, is the old fishing village of Ouchy. You definitely won’t get hurt there. Instead, there are unbelievable views of the lake and the Alps. It’s somewhat of a tourist summer Mecca in the area because of this, and it conveniently offers hotels and restaurants. It’s actually a port and a popular lakeside resort. While there, you can visit the castle of Ouchy which is an old medieval castle that had been converted into a hotel.

Other places to visit in Lausanne are the Palais de Rumine, which is a lovely building that houses five museums; the Mudac, which is the Museum of Design and Contemporary Applied Arts; and the Musée de l’Elysée, which is a photography museum located in a wonderful park, on its own a piece of art.

So don’t be scared. There are actually no ouchy in Ouchy.

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Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is built on top of seven hills, just like other places such as Istanbul, Rome and Seattle. It is famous for the great nightlife and known as “Europe’s cosmopolitan center”.

The best way to see Lisbon is to take a trip through a tourist tram, or one of the ordinary trams, such as line 28, that would take you to most of the most famous sites in Lisbon.

One of which is the Gulbenkian Museum which was created to showcase the personal collection of Calouste Gulbenkian which includes paintings by Rembrandt and Monet. It is located in downtown Lisbon and shouldn’t be missed. Even the gardens outside the museum are gorgeous.

You can reach St. Jorge’s Castle by taking a scenic trek from downtown through Alfama, which is a lovely neighborhood. The castle is located in a great place, up the hill, and offers a great view of the city.

If you want a productive day, take a trip to the Belem where the Belem Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Belém Cultural Center are clustered together. There are many gardens to enjoy and relax in, and they are conveniently and beautifully located by the water.

There are also several Lisbon versions of other incredible monuments around the world, such as the Ponte 25 de Abril which is Lisbon’s answer to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Cristo Rei, which is Portugal’s version of the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro.

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Helsinki (also known as Helsingfors) is the capital of Finland. Founded in 1550 AD by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, it was given its status as capital in 1812.

It is actually surrounded by a saaristo, or an archipelago, and is best to visit during the summer where it is incredibly beautiful. There are many islands that surround the city center but there are three major islands where tourists go.

Suomenlinna is known as the greatest sea fortress on the Baltic. It is a charming place, steeped in history, and is still the proud home of catacombs, cannons and old fortifications which was why it was included in Unesco’s World Heritage List. There are a few houses, mostly old buildings, theaters, restaurants and museums in the location.

Just north of the center is the island of
Seurasaari where you can follow walking trails and see charming authentic Finnish houses where you can be educated on the traditional Finnish wat of life. Well preserved old buildings represent all the provinces of Finland in the more than 80 buildings at the Seurasaari Museum.

The island of Korkeasaari is where the Helsinki Zoo is. It houses about 200 different animal species.

Aside from these three islands, Helsinki also offers more tourists attractions such as numerous parks such as the sea-side Kaivopuisto, museums, churches and monuments.

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Volterra, a town in Tuscany, Italy, is a great town for walking. But then, that’s not the reason why I was compelled to blog about it. You see, Volterra has been one of the highlighted locations in the very popular young adult novel by Stephenie Meyer, New Moon, which is the sequel to the soon-to-be-released movie, Twilight staring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

Apart from its popularity in the said series as the royal vampire city, Volterra is a town of stunning architecture set more than a thousand and seven hundred feet above sea level. It is surrounded by strong walls protecting the town’s treasures, real alabaster, mineral waters and salt springs.
The first sight you would have you see is the Porta all’Arco, the gate that is built of volcanic stones during the 4th century B.C.

The Pinacoteca is a 14th century palace that houses classic paintings uncluding the Annunciation & the Deposition of the Cross. With a combo ticket, you can see the Pinacoteca along with the Sacred Art and Etruscan Museum which offers the best of Etruscan art in the whole of Europe.

Fancy thinking you’re one of the Godfathers? You can visit the Medici Fortress, a prison for Sicilian mob figures. You can also relax at the nearby park which used to be the Acropolis of Volterra for 3000 years.

There are also some great places to eat at Volterra, like the Ristorante Enoteca del Duca which serves Tuscan food in a beautiful setting. Albergo Etruria is an ancient stone building that had been turned into a good hotel.