Brussels is a bilingual town, where residents speak, and street signs are printed in, Dutch and French.

The people of Brussels are known for a sharp sense of humour, as evidenced by the Manneken Pis, the city’s most famous statue, which depicts a urinating boy.

Below are descriptions of five can’t-miss attractions if you’ll soon travel to this lovely city. If you are looking for cheap accommodation in Brussels look at Hostelbookers.com.

The Grand Place

The grandest place in Brussels is the Grand Place. Originally a market in the 1200′s, this palatial landmark is today a centre for the city’s residents and tourists.

It’s a gilded architectural masterwork, where you can take in concerts, admire quaint churches, enjoy charming cafes, and people-watch to your heart’s content.

Come in the spring and the summer, and you’ll see the Grand Place’s flower market in full bloom. Or come at Christmastime for the giant Christmas tree, elaborate lighting, and the Christmas Village, a market selling all kinds of Christmas decorations and edible treats.

Rue de Boucher

Stroll the Rue de Boucher and you might momentarily think you’ve stepped back in time to the 1600′s. This avenue is lined with restaurants and cafes, many boasting ornate doors and large fish hanging in the windows.

Many different kinds of cuisines are available on this street, including Indian and Chinese. For families, the restaurant Aux Armes de Bruxelles is a reliable choice. It offers tasty steaks, a traditional Belgian stew called waterzooi, and some of the best mussels in Brussels.

Atomium

The 1958 World’s Fair was held in Brussels, and for this fair the city constructed the stainless-steel Atomium Building, which resembles a giant, round molecule.

This monument includes nine connected spheres, and you can reach five of these spheres via elevators. The view from the top sphere, 335 feet high, is spectacular.

At night, the Atomium dazzles, decked out as it is in brilliant blue lights. The building is also home to an outdoor bar, an indoor panoramic restaurant, and a mini-museum dedicated to the 1950′s, including gigantic wall photographs of fifties movie stars.

Cathedral of Saint Michel and Gudule

The Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule, the seat of the Malines-Brussels Catholic archdiocese, began as a crypt in the 900′s and was finished in the late 1400′s.

Predominately built in a style of architecture known as Brabant Gothic, the cathedral sustained heavy damage in 1695, when French forces bombarded Brussels. State funerals are often held here, and the cathedral houses a collection of priceless medieval religious relics.

The Chocolate

Brussels is the world’s choco-champ. The chocolate companies Leonidas and Godiva make their homes here, and a Brussels chocolatier named Jean Neuhaus first came up with the praline in the early years of the twentieth century.

The city’s teeming with excellent places to buy the stuff. There’s Mary on Rue Royale, which since 1919 has offered all-natural gourmet chocolate made from beans from all over the world.

There’s Laurent Gerbaud on Rue Revenstein, which sells delectable concoctions mixing chocolate with spices and fruit. And there are many, many more.

Come to Brussels in late November for a brand-new tradition: Chocolate Week. This is a week when the city sells visitors “chocolate passes,” tickets admitting them to tastings and workshops throughout Brussels.

Be forewarned: if your friends and family know you’re going to Brussels, they’ll probably expect you to bring home some chocolate for them.

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Take a ride in a glass top boat, enjoy a stroll through the 9 streets, tour the Van Gogh Museum or simply enjoy a sunny afternoon in the country to see windmills and fields blooming with gorgeous tulips.

Accommodation.

You will probably be arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which is one of the busiest airports in the world. Although that doesn’t sound like the best way to start a holiday, the good thing about it is that it’s easy to find cheap flights to Amsterdam, with low cost carriers such as Transavia, EasyJet and Jet2 all catering the city.

Finding cheap hotels in Amsterdam, however, is more difficult, but in this city location is everything – and few places beat Crowne Plaza when it comes to this. It has received raving reviews, especially for location because it is situated in the heart of the city.

For something more budget conscious, check out CityHub, a new hotel concept with beds starting from €40 per night.

Food

Of course you’re going to want to eat, and Amsterdam has some great local restaurants. Stop in at the Grand Cafe, a comfortable restaurant for the weary traveler or the Supperclub for a more trendy style that is popular in Amsterdam.

An Amsterdam Brown Pub has food and drink and you may enjoy listening to live folk music while you’re here.

Museums

The Anne Frank Museum and the Van Gogh Museum are also favorites. Learn about Anne Frank and her family as they hid from the German Nazis during World War II and enjoy viewing the famous Vincent Van Gogh paintings while visiting Amsterdam.

Shop at antique stores, specialty shops and a flea market as well while visiting Amsterdam.

The Spiegelstraat Antique Store is filled with quaint furniture and relics from the past, and The Oude is a specialty shop that you must visit. The 9th Street shops await you as well.

Exploring The Nature

Amsterdam is not your typical bustling city. The city center is peaceful and quiet so you can walk or ride a rented bicycle all day long.

Enjoy Amsterdams folk music, take in the beauty of the windmills and tulips, see the canals and bridges from a glass top boat or just stroll along 9th street to window shop while visiting Amsterdam.

For that, the UK is perfect. Not the typical sunny beach holiday destination, the UK has some picturesque and wonderful beach towns that offer a unique and typically British experience.

Here are some of the very best…

1. Walberswick, Suffolk, England

Not far from Southwold (another quaint beach town) is this picturesque beachfront hamlet just past the River Blyth. To cross the river from the Southwold side to Walberswick you can take the row boat ferry or the bridge.

The small community is nestled in the idyllic Suffolk countryside. There is a harbor trail you can follow and several beautiful beaches almost overshadowed by forests.

The town has ancient ruins and the 15^th century St. Andrew’s Church as well as cozy pubs serving local dishes.

From the 13^th century until World War I Walberwick was a major trading port but now half the houses in the town are holiday homes and the tourist industry is the heart of this great beach town.

The town has marshlands and heath which attracts flocks of birds and the town is surrounded by protected wetlands.

Walberswick is also a popular spot for celebrity holiday homes. In August the town hosts the British Open Crabbing Championships where the prize goes to the one who catches the largest crab within 90 minutes!

2. Camusdarach, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Travelers come to this beach near to Morar and Glenancross in the Highlands for the wide windswept beach of white sand facing the Isle of Egg.

The beach was the location for the filming of Local Hero. The austere landscape and stunning sunsets makes this a quiet peaceful beach town perfect for long walks on the beach and getting back to nature.

3. Woolacombe, Devon, England

This is a beach town for those who really want to spend their time on the sand and in the sea, unlike other towns on this list where the focus is more on the town itself, Woolacombe is all about the beach!

It is known as a good surfer’s beach and you can get lessons here. The Blue Flag beach runs for 2 miles and in the summer can get crowded with people enjoying both the family atmosphere and the perfect surroundings.

If you prefer a more secluded stretch of sand then walk along the coast to discover some of the hidden coves.

You can take boat excursions out on the open sea to see dolphins, seals and maybe even sharks. Above the water on the cliff tops is a path following the edge of the cliffs and in and around the town are marked cycle routes.

In July Woolacombe hosts the Woolacombe International Sandcastle Competition.

4. Margate, Kent, England

This is one of England’s typical seaside towns like Brighton, Blackpool and Ramsgate. The town has been a magnet for tourists for the last 250 years and was once a thriving port city.

Today many historic buildings remind us of the town’s illustrious past and the Victorian pier gives the seafront a certain elegance.

One of the town’s attractions is the Shell Grotto, a Grade I listed building of unknown origin. Inside the rooms and tunnels the walls are covered with over 190m² of shells. Also in the town you can see a 16^th century timber framed Tudor house.

Margate has a Blue Flag beach where you can swim and take surf lessons. You can discover the place where the Vikings landed by following the Viking Coastal Trail past historic buildings and magnificent Kent countryside.

For those seeking culture there is the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery and the Margate Museum. The Theatre Royal is the 2^ndoldest theatre in the UK. The Tom Thumb Theatre is the 2^nd smallest theatre in the country.

5. Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales

This is a fortified Norman town with picture perfect Georgian buildings colored in a rainbow of pastels.

Many of the small narrow lanes are pedestrian-only and perfect for exploring the unique stores and tearooms.

Facing the sea are rolling dunes which break onto the Blue Flag beaches considered some of the best in the country.

Tenby is at the entrance to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park so you can connect up with the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path which can be followed from Tenby to Pembroke. Take a boat trip to Caldey Island.

On the island you can visit the Cistercian Abbey, see a large seal community or sun yourself on Priory Beach.

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1. Eat!

Lyon is France’s gastronomic capital and you could spend your whole trip just going from romantic bistros to gourmet restaurants and sidewalk cafes.

Many of the “must-eat” dishes can be sampled in the many “Bouchon”, intimate restaurants which serve traditional Lyonnais cuisine in multi-course meals.

Try the offal (tripe, bone marrow and pork offal sausages), fish dumplings and chicken liver cake. Café de la Cloche is a good choice for trying the Lyon café culture and chocoholics can enjoy the Chokola chocolate-only shop! Wash down your meal with some of the local wine like Brouilly.

2. Vieux-Lyon (Old Lyon)

Wander through the meandering pedestrian cobbled streets, take in the historic buildings, stores, craftsmen shops and sidewalk cafes.

You can see Renaissance and Medieval architecture and this is one of Europe’s largest concentrations of Renaissance architecture.

The buildings which have struggled to survive have been lovingly restored and renewed. Within Old Lyon is the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Lyon and St. Jean cathedral.

3. Traboules

These are tunnel-like passage ways which wend their way between and even through houses. The majority of traboules are found here in Lyon.

You may just follow a traboules which opens up to a secret garden or courtyard. It is believed that the French resistance used these passages during the Second World War to hid from the Germans.

4. Saint John Cathedral

Although there is also the hill top Notre Dame de Fourviere Basillica, this one, the cathedral St. Jean is a 15^th century masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Roman Catholic cathedral was built on the site of earlier churches and parts of the earlier structures dating back to the 6^th century still remain.

The cathedral’s most stunning feature is the astrological clock, a 13^th century addition.The church also has stunning stained glass windows and a beautiful rose window.

5. Parc de la Tete d’or (Golden Head Park)

This is one of Europe’s largest parks covering 290 acres, here you can enjoy the wide open green spaces, a small zoo, botanical gardens, rose gardens, a velodrome, greenhouses, a large lake, mini-golf, miniature train, sports grounds and a statue commemorating the 22^nd G7 conference of 1996.

Enter through the ornate 1901 wrought iron Porte des enfants du Rhone. The park is one of only a handful of parks in Lyon and is very popular. Come here to picnic, play or enjoy the attractions.

A Leading Destination

Turkey attracts many repeat visitors, captivating those that travel to this beautiful and fascinating country and drawing them back year after year. In fact, Turkey is one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world, according to the country’s official tourism figures.

What’s more, last year, the country’s resorts and destinations netted a large proportion of the first-place prizes at the World Travel Awards, securing 15 out of the 72 awards.

Three times larger than Great Britain, Turkey offers visitors a diverse range of holiday options in resorts around its coast.

However, if it’s luxury you’re after, you’ll find everything you’re looking for in the southwest in the districts of Bodrum and Antalya.

Bodrum

The district of Bodrum in Aegean Turkey is home to many picturesque bays, while the attractive port city stands beneath an impressive 15^thcentury castle.

If you love bustling bazaars and exceptional shopping opportunities, you’ll have a great day out in the city. You can also enjoy discovering its rich and varied history, which was known as Halicarnassus of Caria and was the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Tomb of Mausolus, built around 350 BC.

The area’s historical centres of Ephesus, Pamukkale and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hierapolis are day-trip destinations that aren’t to be missed.

The best accommodation in the area can be found in the pine-covered hills around the peninsula’s turquoise bays and pebbly beaches, which are favoured by lovers of water sports and relaxation in equal measure.

Amongst the best all-inclusive resorts in the area is Club Med Bodrum Palmiye, where you can stay in a bungalow set amongst hibiscus, laurel and olive trees.

Antalya

Antalya is a stunning combination of mountain scenery, sparkling Mediterranean Sea and pine forest. Home to miles of exceptional beaches with shallow waters, the area is popular with couples and a good choice for families with children.

Meanwhile, the historic centre of Kaleici, Hadriana’s Gate, the Roman ruins at Perge and the ancient theatre of Aspendos are fascinating daytrip destinations.

The Belek region is famously home to nesting sea turtles as well as being a major destination for four and five star hotels and prime golf courses, making is a great place for a luxury break.

The resort of Kemer, nestled beneath the imposing Taurus Mountains, is also a sound choice, especially for anyone looking to combine a beach break with some time in Istanbul.

Club Med’s all inclusive holidays to Turkey are a great choice for holidays in Antalya, with accommodation options that include bungalows, superior hotel rooms and suites.

But whichever luxury resort you go for, you’ll be glad you tried Turkey!

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In order to assist you with your preparations whilst also ensuring you don’t miss anything important ahead of your departure, read on for a checklist that you can follow which starts three weeks before you go…

3 Weeks Ahead of Travelling

• Do some research to discover whether or not you or anyone you are travelling with requires a visa to enter the country you are going to as you will encounter problems if the relevant visa is not in place when you arrive.

• Arrange how you are getting to and from the airport from your house; calling a local taxi firm with your flight details or discussing the time you need to be picked up with a friend or family member if they have offered to take and pick you up, or checking the time table for local transport.

• If you are travelling within Europe, make sure everyone on the holiday has a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and that the details on each are correct.

• Ensure you have the necessary travel insurance in place to ensure you are fully protected whilst on your holiday.

2 Weeks Ahead of Travelling

• If you don’t have a credit card that offers free transactions from ATM machines abroad (which we highly recommend you arrange for next time you travel), it’s best to exchange some money before you leave.

• Head to the shops and stock up on the holiday clothing appropriate to your holiday location; for instance, shorts and t-shirts for somewhere hot or thick jumpers and coats for a skiing break!

• Whilst you are shopping around, find a bookshop and pick up a guide for your holiday destination so you can read up on the area before you travel and have a good idea of some of the things you’d like to do before you arrive.

1 Week Ahead of Travelling

• With just seven days to go before you depart, this is the time at which you should ensure you have received all of the necessary travel documentation from your travel agent or airline, checking that the details are correct for each member of the travelling party.

• Check how much luggage you are allowed to take with the airline you are flying. If your bags are too heavy when you check-in, you could find that you face an extra charge for your bag to be loaded onto the plane, so check beforehand to avoid any unwanted surprises.

• Once you know the weight allowance, create a list of the items you wish to pack as this will make the packing process far less time consuming and will help to keep track of exactly what you are taking with you.

3 Days Ahead of Travelling

• With just three days before you head off on your holiday, now is the time to use your packing checklist and add everything you want to take with you to your suitcase. It is always advisable to check the weight of your suitcase once packed too, ensuring the weight doesn’t exceed your allowance.

• Arrange with a friend or family member to regularly check on your property whilst you are away; giving them a spare key and the details of where you are staying whilst on holiday so they can get in touch in the event of an emergency.

1 Day Ahead of Travelling

• The day before you travel is often the best time to pack your hand luggage, ensuring anything you want with you on the plane is in there along with your passports, tickets, insurance details and hotel information so you have the important documents with you at all times.

• Go online and check on the airline or airport website that your flight times haven’t been changed.

• If you are travelling to the airport by taxi, call the company to confirm the time they will be picking you up the following day and how much it will cost.

On the Day you Travel

• Check online again that there haven’t been any alterations to your flight

• Make sure all the important documents have been packed in your hand luggage

• Ensure all windows and doors are locked before you leave and that any electrical appliances have been turned off and unplugged.

After following this checklist, starting three weeks before you leave, you should have everything in order so all that will be left is to have a fantastic holiday wherever you are travelling to!

This post was written by Oliver Kyle for Debenhams Travel Insurance; providers of comprehensive insurance to ensure you can tick off this area of your checklist and be well on the way to a great holiday!

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Foie Gras

This is in essence goose liver pate, the texture is soft and creamy and although it can look unappetizing the taste is divine.

Foie Gras is incorporated into several dishes it can be pan-seared, roasted or it can be eaten on its own or with toasted French bread.

Sometimes Foie Gras is flavored with liquor, fruit or fried onions. During the Christmas season you’ll find it on a lot of menus and it is generally considered a gourmet-type delicacy often served with truffles.

French Bread

The most well known traditional French food has to be the baguette, many imagine Frenchmen cycling along wearing a beret and with a baguette in the bicycle basket! Well you may just see this image on a trip to France.

Try buying a freshly baked baguette and pairing it with good French cheese and wine – simple and delicious. French bread can be eaten as a simple meal or accompanying any meal to soak up the gravy and wipe your plate clean.

Apart from the French baguette there are other types of French bread that should be tried and of course the delicious pastries like the French croissant.

Escargots

Although some may turn their noses up at this uniquely French treat escargot or snails are delicious.

Served as an appetizer, the mollusks are often part of a gourmet menu. They are usually taken out of the shell to be cooked with garlic and butter then returned to the shell with generous amounts of butter and garlic and served to the diner.

The diners are given special tongs to grip the shells while digging out the snails with a small fork.

Cheese

Just like the wine, every region of France has its own famous cheese. Cheese is a standard part of most traditional French food. A cheese platter can be served as a final dish of a multi-course meal or as a small meal in itself.

The range of French cheeses is vast with about 400 unique kinds including Brie de Meaux, Roquefort, Camembert, Comte and Chevre.

When in France either order a cheese platter in a restaurant or visit the local fromagerie to select a few samples. The local markets are also a great place to try French cheeses.

Cuisses de Grenouilles

If you’re really adventurous and want to try something uniquely traditional French then the ultimate traditional French food is frog’s legs!

The taste can be compared to salty chicken with the consistency of white fish. They are usually prepared with salt, pepper and lemon juice then crumbed and fried in olive oil. 

If you try frog’s legs “a la Parisienne” they’ll be served with an onion cream sauce. The legs are quite healthy and are high protein and low fat!

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However there are a few European cities which make ideal summer destinations.

1. Riga, Latvia

Riga has it all, huge beautiful parks, a perfectly preserved Old Town, the sea, canals, large shopping centers and beer gardens. But perhaps the best thing about Riga is that it has not yet been overrun with tourists.

The prices are reasonable and you have a great combination of modern amenities, a complex history, historic buildings and Riga has a dynamic nightlife. A great summer destination whatever your travel style.

Although summer is the high season for traveling Europe, you can still find good Europe travel deals to Riga and its neighboring countries, as they’re cheaper than the most popular cities.

2. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is known for its many pedestrian routes and you can spend lots of time outside enjoying the weather as you make your way from site to site. There is a hop-on-hop-off bus which goes past all the sites and you can see the outrageous architecture of Gaudi.

Barcelona has the advantage of being both a major metropolis and a beach city, there are 7 beaches, plenty of large malls if the weather gets too hot and you can take boat excursions up and down the coast.

3. Budapest, Hungary

Enjoy the thermal baths and pools as well as the Danube River which cuts through the city offering boat excursions.

The Palatinus Beach on Margaret Island has 11 pools including a wave pool and thermal pools and the Alfred Hajos Swimming Centre and Gellert Gyogyfurdo are just two of the many swimming opportunities in the city.

The city has all the history and beautiful buildings as London and Paris but without the crowds. It is a great city to cycle in and the many outdoor cafes and mix of East and West make it fascinating to Western travelers.

4. Biarritz, France

Biarritz is one of the most beautiful coastal cities in France, and its great mixture of people gives the city a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

Glamorous party groups and girls in stilettos rub shoulders with hardcore surfers in flip flops, and everyone enjoys the beaches, the nightlife and the food and wine Biarritz is so famous for.

After all, who says surfers can’t be fussy with their wine, or that glitzy girls can’t enjoy some good waves?

During summer, Biarritz becomes an international city with people arriving from all over the world. Traveling to France from Canada is easier than ever before, so many of the French speaking people you hear on the streets may just be Quebecans..!

5. Salzburg, Austria

The city of the Sound of Music offers an exquisite castle, large open squares with market stalls, street musicians, delicious food and interesting stores. The city has some quality museums and beautiful churches.

You can visit Mozart’s house, enjoy the many outdoor cafes and the city is conveniently located so that you can make day excursions to places like Munich, Germany and Neuschwanstein Castle.

If you’re getting too hot then take to the nearby mountains…”the hills are alive with the sound of music.”

6. Amsterdam, Holland

This special city has a number of interesting summer festivals like the Roots Festival, Robeco Summer Concerts and the August Open-Air Film Festival.

Although it is a fun city all year round, the summer brings the people onto the streets, along the canals and into the parks.

The city is perfect for renting a bicycle and exploring the smaller neighborhoods and the nightlife will not let you down. Amsterdam is also conveniently located for easy access to other countries for day trips.

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Coastal wildlife is abundant and beautiful, as is the variety of plants and geological makeup – many of our beaches offer a variety of water sports and activities for any thrill seekers too restless to relax beside the water.

I’m going to list a few of my favourite beaches and hopefully convince you that British beaches should not be put out of sight and out of mind this summer.

Tynemouth Longsands

One of the finest beaches in the UK has to be Tynemouth Longsands in North Tyneside. A jewel in the crown of the North East and home to surfers, fishermen and a steady stream of sandy-footed beach lovers.

In the North of England it doesn’t actually matter if the sun is out or not, the beaches are so beautiful and atmospheric that they are a year-round attraction for families, dog-walkers and runners.

Longsands is a glorious stretch of golden sand and is nestled just below Tynemouth town-centre. The seaside settlement is an up-market Victorian town with tall, terraced houses and cobbled streets.

The town centre is nostalgic and cheery and a relatively easy town in which to book accommodation.  It is home to an array of high-end bars, restaurants and appealing little boutiques full of one-offs and surprises – the perfect setting in which to relax after a brusque walk along the beach.

Rhossili Bay 

Rhossili Bay in Wales, often tops the ‘Best Beach in UK’ polls and rightly so. It is huge and encircled with luscious green grass – the perfect contrast to the nearby sea which is always a perfect, crisp blue. The water is clean and inviting – perfect for a splash about – and always lively with surfers and swimmers!

Rhossili village is traditional and unspoilt, despite having a lot of visitors from ramblers, hikers and surfers, and has held onto its quaint charm. There are plenty of bed and breakfasts or camping spots so it makes an ideal location for a weekend break.

Hengistbury Head

Hengistbury Head at Bournemouth is a superb choice for families; the pebble beach meanders gently around a pale-blue sea. The area is dotted with traditional multi-coloured beach-huts which really add to its charm. The beach is surrounded by an unspoiled environment and has stunning views across the Dorset coastline.

Highcliffe Castle is a nearby rambling option (to break up your day at the beach) with its cliff-top grounds, ancient architecture and breath-taking view of the sea!

Cornwall

Cornwall, of course, has an expanse of beautiful beaches, which will leave most visitors utterly spoiled for choice. Penzance, the seaside town, has some of the best. The drawback – as the most westerly town in Cornwall – it’s quite a trek (for most) to get there.

On the plus side, it has a noticeably warmer climate and has a gorgeous Georgian high street speckled with quirky shops, art galleries and lovely places to eat and drink.

The area is dotted with great beaches, including Longrock Beach, which is perfect for families, and is close to the town of Penzance so isn’t a long walk from the action. Make sure you head to one of the restaurants in the town serving fish caught that day – a real treat!

Don’t write-off Britain as a destination for a coastal holiday.  Check it out this summer and you’ll, without question,  be glad you did…

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1. Dubrovnik

“The Pearl of the Adriatic” and one of the country’s most famous cities, Dubrovnik is a fortified city with winding narrow cobbled lanes perched on a cliff top overlooking the sea. The city is rich with Baroque and Renaissance architecture in its pedestrian-only Old City.

There are sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants, all the tourist amenities you could ask for and the city is framed by the green mountains (Dinaric Alps) behind the city and the white sand beaches below.

2. Hvar

Take a ferry ride out to the UNESCO island of Hvar, one of 1,000 Croatian islands. It is considered the Mediterranean’s best preserved ancient Greek landscape with rural beauty in the islands olive groves, fruit orchards, vineyards and farms.

Hvar town is a quaint town on the edge of a bay, the rest of the island has a number of small villages like Starigrad and Jelsa.

3. Split

The Roman remains in Split have put it on the map but it also has the longest coastline of any Croatian city with the Riva promenade running along the water front. The magnificent Roman UNESCO Diocletian’s Palace is a unique and well preserved architectural masterpiece used for shops, restaurants and luxury apartments.

The pine forest in the Peninsula Park adds green to the city. Visit the underground caverns, the St. Domnius Cathedral and see the Grugr Ninski Statue – the historic harbor town of Trogir is a popular day trip from Split with Venetian buildings and palaces and a 13^th century island fortress.

4. Zagreb

This city looks like many of the beautiful Western European cities with many medieval buildings but with an Eastern twist. Zagreb is the country’s largest city it is located on the slopes of the Medvednica Mountains and the Sava River snakes through the city.

The city has a rich cultural life with historic theatres, a cathedral and impressive museums.  The city has urban parks, pedestrian streets and a deep and interesting history.

5. Plitvice Lakes National Park

For natural beauty visit this untouched paradise which has 16 lakes and lush forests, it is located near the Bosnia Herzegovina border in the mountain karst area. The cacophony of colors, green trees, bright blue lakes and the many colored leaves make this a nature lover’s dream.

There are a number of animals like the brown bear, lynx and wolf as well as a variety of birds including owls and eagles.  See the many waterfalls, prehistoric caves and flora and fauna as you follow the marked paths through the park.

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