Hotels to suit all budgets
Taxis, petit taxis, buses
April - June
GMT
Moroccan Dirham
French, Arabic, Spanish
The Hassan II Mosque is one of the major landmarks in the city. It is the second largest mosque in the world and is located very near the Old Medina on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors may be awed by the exquisite craftsmanship of the wood, marble and granite and plaster accent pieces. Additionally, there is a glass floor that allows views of the ocean below. Located in the same area as the Hassan II Mosque is La Corniche, a popular beach front district replete with restaurants, beaches and pools.
The Square of Mohammed V is one of the most popular places for locals to gather during the course of the day. A large fountain forms the centerpiece of this area of Casablanca. Historical buildings like the Palace of Justice French Consulate and Banque of Morocco surround the square. The downtown district is also home to the bazaar, a souk (or market) frequented by tourists looking to buy souvenirs. You can also buy traditional clothing, jewelry, antiques, rugs and other pieces.
If you head over to the Habbous District, an enormous collection of souks located just behind the king’s palace, you have even more shopping opportunities. You can find just about anything here. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for fresh vegetables, house wares, clothing, jewelry or just souvenirs. Tourists are also welcome at the Royal Palace so you could stop there before you hit the markets.
Everything from budget to ultra-luxury hotels
Metro, buses and scooter
March-May and September-November
+2hrs GMT
Euro
French, Dutch and Flemish
The Grand Place, with its ornate baroque and gothic guild houses, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Built as a merchants market in the 13th century, it serves as the city center and a great place to enjoy Belgian hospitality at one of the many terrace cafes. It is also a venue for many concerts & events throughout the year and during the warmer months has a vibrant, daily flower market.
Built for the 1958 World Fair, the Atomium represents a molecule’s nine atoms – magnified 165 billion times. Something of a symbol of the city, it provides a panoramic view of Brussels and its surroundings. The 9 spheres that make up the “atom” are linked by escalators. The Atomium hosts a museum and is also a venue for special events.
The Museum of Ancient Art has got a vast collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 15th until 18th century. Built up around a core of revolutionary captures and deposits of the French state, this collection was constantly enriched by the acquisitions, but also by gifts and legacies of numerous patrons. The paintings of the Ancients of the southern Netherlands make up an essential part of this collection (Rogier van der Weyden, Petrus Christus, Dirk Bouts, Hans Memling, Jérôme Bosch, Bruegel, Pierre-Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, Antoine van Dyck).The visit also includes an exceptional collection of terra cotta "modelli" from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as a beautiful series of paintings representing foreign schools.
Plenty of hotels and guesthouses to choose
Taxis and buses
February to November
+1hr GMT
Euro
Italian
International hotels chains in addition to budget hotels
Travel by taxi or board a public bus.
All year round
+3hrs GMT
Lebanese Lira
Arabic, French, English
Beirut National Museum has everything from objects of the first citizens of the country to Jewellery from the Mamluk Period (AD1289-1516). Other must-visit museums in the city include Sursock Museum and Cilicia Museum.
The Middle East’s party capital, this is a city that literally doesn’t sleep. Clubs and discos dot the city and it’s the best place to celebrate a festive occasion.
Try an exciting new sport – canyoning – at Jezzine, which is an hour away. Get spectacular views as you descend into the canyon.
A host of first class hotels and guesthouses
August to October
Trains and taxis
+1hr GMT
Euro
German
Constructed of red sandstone the Munster Cathedral is an imposing structure with magnificent architecture. What makes this an unusual building is the uneven construction of its two towers.
Spread over 25 acres, the Basler Zoologischer Garten houses more than 4,500 animals. The zoo has been in existence for over 135 years.
Renowned for its variety of fascinating museums, the Naturhistorisches is a top attraction. Displays date back to prehistoric times with fossils and replica dinosaurs alongside their fossilized skeletons.
For every budget
All transport available
Throughout the year
Euro
+1hr GMT
Spanish, Catalan
Sample live music avenues such as Razzmatazz and Apolo. The Gran Teatre del Liceu is a splendid place, decorated by gold leaf, plush red carpets and ornate carvings. L'Auditori is a 2,400-seater venue that covers classical. jazz and world music. The Palau de la Música Catalana is celebrated for its Modernista architecture, and sheer volume of musical activity. There are a cluster of music festivals, ranging from the pop-infused Primavera Sound to the Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona.
Tapas is particularly good around Barceloneta, this was originally a fishing village and there are still many quaint little local places where you can get fresh seafood tapas for good prices.
Hotels to suit all budgets
Taxis and public buses
October to February
Indian Rupee
+5.30hrs GMT
Kannada, English, Hindi
Brigade Road, near central Bangalore, is one of the city's most important commercial areas. This bustling high-street, linking Mahatma Gandhi Road with Hosur Road and Residency Road, is one of the leading shopping hubs in the city with many prestigious brands with international recognition selling their wares along this route. Brigade Road is also home to a number of restaurants purveying a range of international cuisine, including Italian, Chinese, North Indian and South Indian food. Vibrant New Year's celebrations are also held on this road and often draw jubilant crowds of revelers. Visiting this thriving, cosmopolitan commercial area is enough to remind one that Bangalore is India's most modern city.
The Bengaluru Palace was bought from the Reverend John Garrett, a principle of the Central High School in Bangalore and Wesleyan minister, by Chamarajendra Wadiyur X, Maharaja of Mysore, in 1884. The property was then expanded into a palatial complex by its new royal owners, with lavish gardens and a grand building inspired by Tudor and Victorian Gothic architecture that is said to have been inspired by Windsor Castle in England. In recent times the palace was acquired by Prince Srikanta Wadiyar, member of the Mysore royal family, who brought the palace back into his family's ownership and began renovating the property in order to turn it into a tourist attraction and boost the local economy.
The Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, thought to have been constructed in the ninth century, is one of the most mysterious, sacred and awe-inspiring locations in Bangalore. This prime example of Hindu rock-cut architecture is situated in a cave and dedicated to Lord Shiva. Features of the temple include a Nandi sculpture near the entrance, stone disks in the forecourt, four pillars, an image of the fire-god Agni and a Lingam representing Shiva enshrined inside. Twice a year, during important dates of the solar calendar in January and between November and December, a sunbeam moves across the temple-floor to illuminate the Shiva Lingam.
Hotels offers good value for money
Taxis, buses
October-April
+3hrs GMT
Bahraini Dinar
Arabic, English
One of the largest mosques in the world, capable of accommodating over 7,000 worshippers at a time and is the largest place of worship in Bahrain. It is also one of the top tourist attractions in Bahrain. The dome is currently the worlds largest fibreglass dome and is over 60,000 kg in weight. Al-Fateh includes the new National Library which opened to the public in 2006.
On the east coast of the city, this pleasant seaside promenade offers good views of the skyscrapers to the south and planes taking off from the airport nearby. Plenty of fun fair rides for the kids and shisha bars for the older set.
Is considered as the most important historic buildings in Bahrain. It derives importance as being the first official center for Bahrain Courts. The building was inaugurated by Late H.H. Sh. Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the past Governor of Bahrain, during Calendar year 18th October, 1937. At that time the building comprised of four Supreme Courts, apart from three Directorates. Later on, during 1984 the building was transformed into a Traditional Heritage Center. Currently, the Museum of Pearl Diving is under the control of Directorate of Archaeology and Heritage, one of the major Directorates of Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Information.
Budget hotels are available
Trains operate to major points. You can also ride a camel into the desert.
October to April
+2hrs GMT
Egyptian Pound
Arabic, English
Visit the Harraq Monastery. Located a few hours from the city, it is home to an old mansion, beautiful trees, a library and a souvenir shop.
Alexan Palace highlights Assiut’s contribution to the Egyptian Civilisation and is a must-visit for its architecture.
Banana Island is a great picnic spot.
Hotels to suit all budgets
Tram, metro and buses
June-August
+2hr GMT
Euro
Dutch and English
A canal tour makes a wonderful first impression, as the tour boats take in much of the monumental architecture that lines the Canal Belt, the four concentric semi-circles that loop around the historic centre. While any canal tour will be an experience to remember, the options are plentiful: hop aboard an open-top boat or charter a private boat or a special themed or catered tour.
The Amsterdam Museum (formerly the Amsterdam Historisch Museum) maps the last eight centuries of urban evolution using unusual found objects. Nest on the itinerary is the Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder ('Our Lord in the Attic'), a delightful that has been recently restored to its 17th century glory.
The flea markets showcase the multi-ethnic spirit of Amsterdam. Traipse through the Albert Cuypmarkt, a large general market that winds its way across Pijp and it sells everything from smoked eel to Surinamese sherbets. The Dappermarkt in Oost and the Lindenmarkt in Jordaan are the other good flea markets.