European Bonanza

As all roads lead to Rome, this city does not need an introduction. Here is one anyway. The Eternal City will always overwhelm with its sheer imperial scale - packed full of temples, residences, basilicas, churches, squares, parks, museums and fountains - Rome is breathtaking. Whether it is the unbelievable opulence of the Vatican, or the simplicity of a trattoria serving humble fare, you will always feel the city's timelessness and millennia of rich history on the very ground you walk upon. The city has many layers that correspond to periods in its history: such as Ancient Rome, Medieval Rome, Christian Rome and Renaissance Rome to name a few. The capital of Italy, the Rome's modern layer is also quite evident, and it is dynamic and efficient, always blending the old with the new.

Weather:
Spring: March to May 9-19 C
Summer: June to August 18-28 C
Autumn: September to November 13-22 C
Winter: December to February 5-14 C

Shopping:
There is so much to do and see in Rome, that you would think shopping couldn't interrupt your epic journey through the city. That fortunately is not true, and the sheer variety and richness of commodities and products available quickly makes even the most ardent non-shopper reach for their wallet. With all the designer clothing, jewellery, books, souvenirs, fragrances, and antiques available, you will definitely find something that will appeal to you. Visit the areas of Centro Storico and Trastevere for souvenirs and antiques both. You can also shop at Bulgari, an extravagant world of gems, jewels, and leather goods, the prices varying from affordable to incredibly expensive. The world famous Italian leather can be found at Campanile, everything from shoes, bags, belts to jackets are among the many items available here. Also visit Cesare Lampronti for an extensive selection of 16th, 17th, and 18th century oil paintings, with framed or unframed prints available. Visit Nicola di Castro for antiques and discover a variety of chairs, tables, ceramics and chests to add character to your home.

Must Do:
When in Rome, do as the Romans do, and let the city take over. You'll quickly find that there is not much you can't do in Rome. Other than visiting the gazillions of mind-numbingly old monuments, there is the opera, the amazing food, and wine that flows as if through aqueducts. If you're there for a short visit it's a good idea to be choosy with the monuments, as the sheer number can be exhausting. Try to definitely visit the famous Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, Ponte Fabricio, the Galleria Borghese, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. Historic centres like Trastevere and Testaccio are hubs of activity, and also where the nightlife and bars are. Do as the Romans do, in short, visit the opera, play some soccer, or just go dancing. On a gastronomic note, the food in Italy is offered in 4 types of shops. A trattoria is a family-run concern that serves home-cooking. A ristorante is more formal, with a wider selection of dishes. The osteria is an inn, usually with only a few local dishes and endless wine. Pizzerias can serve antipasto, pasta, meat and vegetable dishes as well as pizza.

Travel Tools:
ISD Code: +39
Currency: (EUR) 1 EUR is approximately 63 Indian Rupees (INR)
Time Zone: GMT+1 hour. IST -4:30 hours. Summer (Daylight Savings): GMT+2 hours
Voltage: 220V - 240V

Often described as one of the most romantic cities in the world, Venice lives up to that appellation. However, this does not mean that the city is only for lovers. Somewhere between dream and reality, present and past, it is romantic in the imaginative sense, its beauty somehow more, and less than real. It is also one of the most historic cities in Italy, and its varied architecture and rich culture offer plenty to see and explore, even to the most intrepid traveller. A city of canals, it is literally on water, and people own boats instead of cars, and maybe flippers instead of boots! Venice is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. These islands are connected by about 400 bridges. The resulting waterways and walkways are the chief circulatory systems of beautiful Venice, and to facilitate smooth and ordered movement, certain speed limits are enforced on boats. Venice is one of the few European cities to remain largely unchanged with the turn of the century, and for this reason the feeling of displacement with reality never seems to quite fade away. Gothic, Roman, and Venetian architecture impose themselves on you, and the canals' coruscating light reflects magically on the edifices. World renowned for its superior and artfully created glass, Venice's masks are also a highlight, and they can be seen everywhere during the Carnival.

Weather:
Spring: March to May 8-17 C
Summer: June to August 18-27 C
Autumn: September to November 10-18 C
Winter: December to February 0-8 C

Shopping:
As with every major Italian city, there will be streets filled with all the major brands of high fashion and other luxury products. However, the city of Venice has many unique industries of its own, such as glassmaking, lace-making, and mask-making. Venetian glass, famous across the world, is best made in Murano, an island of Venice. Take a vaporetto (ferry or water bus as it is called) down to the island, and then a conducted tour of one of the factories. It is quite an educational and beautiful experience, seeing the artisans at work upon the sublime material. Souvenirs are of course, available. Lace-making can best be observed at Burano, another island of Venice. The intricate lace that is produced is sheer and priceless, desired across the world. Oil and watercolour paintings of the city can be found all over the place, often freshly produced by the artist, right in front of your eyes.

Must Do:
There is a lot to do and see in Venice, and what follows is a list of experiences that are definitely worth your while. Visit the opulent expanse of the St. Mark's Square (San Marco Square) and feed the pigeons. Take a gondola cruise to the beautifully designed Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto), and the Bridge of Sighs, and truly enjoy the waterways the way the city's builders did. One should also visit the Galleria dell'Accademia, where famous works of art like Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man are displayed. Sample the fresh sparkling wine, and Venetian cuisine in one of the many cafes, inns and restaurants. Many restaurants serve excellent fish of the Adriatic including the sea bass, mackerel, mullet and soft-shelled crabs. For those who want to pick up a simple snack while they are making their way around the city to see all the sights then cichetti or bar snacks are highly recommended. On the nightlife front, Venice is a relatively quiet town in the early evenings, after which the party starts, centred around the many bars and cafes around the Piazza San Marco.

Travel Tools:
ISD Code: +39
Currency: (EUR) 1 EUR is approximately 65 Indian Rupees (INR)
Time Zone: GMT+1 hour. IST +4:30 hours. Summer (Daylight Savings): GMT+2 hours.
Voltage: 220V - 240V

Located in the heart of Switzerland, Lucerne is a picturesque city that strikes a plangent chord with all who visit it. Lake Lucerne's blue waters are exquisite, more so beside the glory of Mount Pilatus, which is also known as the Dragon Mountain. A must see in Lucerne is the famous Chapel Bridge, a covered wooden bridge built in the 14th century. Other places to see within the city include the Lucerne Art Museum, the Swiss Transport Museum, the old city wall, Alpineum, and The Glacier Garden. Taking a boat cruise to Alpnachstad is also a good idea, from where you can also board the steepest Cog Wheel Train in the world to reach to Mount Pilatus.

Interlaken, a small town in the Bernese Highlands, is one of the most beautiful areas of Switzerland, and is easily accessible from both Zurich and Geneva. There is much to do here, from walking along the banks of the beautiful lakes of Thun and Brienz, to hiking to such places of scenic beauty as Harder Mountain and Schynige Platte. There are also various adventure sports available, such as mountain biking, bungee jumping, paragliding, and many, many more. Interlaken also has easy access to many skiing paradises of Switzerland. Nearby Grindelwald is a must visit, which is a glorious mountain town. Other interesting activities include taking the famous Jungfrau railway till the top of Jungfraujoch, the world's highest railway station, as well as visiting the Aletsch Glacier, the biggest glacier in the Alps.

Located on the Mediterranean Coast of France, Nice is more than nice. Its beautiful pebble filled beaches, sunny and sprawling squares, rocky cliff sides, wide promenades, and 2,500 year history make it everything a wonderful city on the Cote d'Azur, or French Riviera, should be, and much more. So, apart from enjoying the world-famous French Riviera food and lounging at one the many beaches, you can visit many places of interest, such as the major squares and plazas of the city: Place Massena, Place Garibaldi, Place Rosetti, Cours Saleya, and Place du Palais. There is also Colline Du Chatel, a ruined castle that overlooks the bay, and provides a wonderful view of the city. The origin of the city can be seen at the Gallo-Roman ruins of Cimiez, which also contains a monastery and some museums. The best ways of seeing and understanding the city is by taking the Cliff Walk tour, and a guided cycle tour. Old Nice, Marche aux Fleurs, Monument aux Morts, Saint Nicolas Orthodox Cathedral, and the Nice Observatory are other places that should not be missed when visiting Nice.

Paris is a city like no other. The heart of Europe, it throbs its way into people's inner sanctums, romancing them, making them love it. Paris (Pah-Ree to the locals) makes you indulge; fulfilling your desires and stimulating your senses. There is something for everyone, throughout the year. Paris is a city that never sleeps, and you shall never get bored, not even for a minute. The city is a stunning contrast of decadence and vitality, of old-world charm and avant-garde restlessness.

Weather:
Spring: March to May 9-16 C
Summer: June to August 16-24 C
Autumn: September to November 10-16 C
Winter: December to February 4-8 C

Shopping:
With a shopping scene that is inviting and forbidding at the same time, Paris makes you want to eat your heart out, or rather, have your cake and eat it too. From lively flea markets to lofty boutiques, Paris has it all, giving you an impossibly good chance at finding something that appeals to you: which might be something you might treasure for the rest of your life or something you'll spread on your toast (for the lack of a croissant) back home. So, try the Champs Elysees for its massive range of shops, or Le Bon Marche and its massive range of shops! Visit the Boulevard Haussmann, where the rather enormous Galeries Lafayette store is located, where you can get anything from slippers to cars to cheeses. You can window-shop at the boutiques of Rue Etienne Marcel, be amazed at the antique clothes for sale in the Galerie de Montpensier (on Sundays). The most famous flea market in Paris is called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, or unofficially Les Puces (The Fleas). It is located at Porte de Clignancourt, where the rue des Rosiers is the main street, further radiating innumerable streets filled with many tiny flea markets. Last but not the least, visit the Monoprix Supermarket for various kinds pates, cheeses, and wines, all fairly cheap.

Must Do:
From museums to architecture, cafes to crepe stands, bars to cabarets, Paris has it all. The list is endless; however, we have narrowed it down to some must dos, to make your Paris experience truly unforgettable. A walk along the River Seine is incomparable in its tranquillity, and a cruise during night or day is one of the best ways to experience the lifeblood of the city of Paris. Let us start with the architectural wonders. No visit to Paris is complete without the Eiffel tower. It is visible from any point in the city, but a view from its top is a wonder by itself, revealing the most beautiful city in the world in all its splendour. The Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Place de la Concorde are all stunning, and not to be missed. The definition of a museum for most people begins and ends with the Louvre in Paris. It was built in 1793, and is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world, housing over 300,000 unparalleled works of art, including the Mona Lisa. But other than the Louvre, do not forget to visit Fragonard Perfume Museum, the Centre Pompidou which houses modern art, and the Musee d'Orsay. Another must visit is the wonderful and fascinating science museum, the Cite des Sciences at de l'Industrie. If you are in Paris on a Friday (around 3 p.m.), visit the Galleries Lafayette department store for a free fashion show, getting a taste of the city's world famous fashion scene. As for food, Paris is known the world over for is culinary expertise, and you can sample it anywhere at the innumerable cafes, restaurants, bistros, and stalls. Good areas for great food are: Centre Pompidou, Forum des Halles, and Le Marais. A crepe at a crepe stand is a must try however, fast and cheap, and part of traditional French cuisine. They are thin pancakes made from wheat flour. Anything can be put inside such as meat, cheeses, creams and eggs for a main course of food, vegetables for appetizers, and for desserts sometimes fruits, ice cream and jellies. For entertainment, Paris has limitless options: visit the many bars, enjoy the opera, groove to the many jazz or rock concerts, or go to Disneyland! If you have time left over, visit the Moulin Rouge, but not in the company of children.

Travel Tools:
ISD Code: +33
Currency: Euro (EUR) 1 EUR is approximately 65 Indian Rupees (INR)
Time Zone: GMT+1 hour. IST -4:30 hours. Summer (Daylight Savings): GMT+2 hours
Voltage: 220V - 240V