Paris is very vast and there's quite a bit to see and do during the day and at night.
I enjoyed walking around and going on the terraces of some of the buildings to get a different perspective of the city. You can try Parc des Buttes-Chaumont which is a beautiful park on the opposite side of the city, Le Printemps department store or the Institute Du Monte Arabe. You can go up the Eiffel Tower as well, but the others are free and although not as high, still offer a nice view of the city.
In the evening you should try and find the one of the secret bars in the city - it'll be like a treasure hunt! If you want the name of the secret bar....you'll have to ask me!
Paris isn't cheap but if you want to stay within a 20-25 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower, you can try the 15 arrondissement near Cambrone Metro stop.
When people talk about Amsterdam, I'm sure you think of the usual things like the main square - Leidseplein - Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank's House, the Red Light District, canals, Heineken, Vondelpark, cheese or tulips. There's definitely more to do that will give you a different view of the busy city and from a new vista.
Try visiting Zaanse Schans which is with is in the neighbourhood of Zaaandam. It's not far from Amsterdam city centre at only 20-30 minutes, so it can be done as a full or half-day trip. You'll see a row of windmills and others dotted around, as well as shops, barns, workshops and a museum that hosts interactive chocolate making exhibitions. You can find out how they make chocolate as the area is home to the production and processing of chocolate.
You can also try getting high up in the city at the A'DAM Lookout. If you like a bit of excitement you can swing over the edge of its quirky building - and it's random lift! It's a 5 minute ferry ride (free) from Amsterdam's Central Station. It's also in the same place as Eye Film Museum so you can do the two at one time.
There's a lot of hostel's to say in if you're on a budget - I stayed at Stayokay Vondelpark and it was easy to get to all the main parts of the city. If you have a bit more to spend, you can also try the NH - it's a nice hotel not too far from Leidseplein.
If you're looking for a good time to travel, I'd avoid early February and mid September as there are two industry trades shows taking place at that time - ISE and IBC. You may find accommodation prices higher than usual (aside from bank holidays) and they'll also go quickly too. Plus everywhere may seem busier than usual as people from around the world descend on Amsterdam.
Copenhagen is a really vibrant city to visit. It's compact enough to get around all of the main sights in a couple of days and you can even walk or bike a lot of the city’s centre it if you don’t fancy public transport. I found everyone really friendly and helpful and I never felt uncomfortable at all - even when I was coming back late at night.
It has canals and you’ll see colourful buildings at it’s waterfront Nyhavn, which is always buzzing during the day or late into the night. I hung out there a couple of times and it’s very lively. It kind of reminds me of a trendier Amsterdam.
The city has amazing views from street level or high up in some of its towers and if you have time, you should visit one of it’s palaces or castles, like Frederiksborg Castle or Kronborg Palace.
Copenhagen can be an expensive city and a short weekend break may end up costing a small fortune, so make sure you plan for that. It’s definitely possible to find cheaper alternatives for eating out and you can still see a lot of the attractions and keep to a budget. I was there for 3 days and managed to spend just under £200 for everything (incl flights and accommodation)!
You can even add another country to your trip by popping over to the city of Malmö in neighbouring Sweden. It’s possible to do a day trip there by crossing the Øresund - The Bridge.
Copenhagen’s a quirky, cool city to visit for a weekend break. I went in May and it was the perfect time - it was actually really warm. I’d definitely visit again and if you do you should make sure you:
- Visit Nyhavn
- Climb to the top of The Round Tower
- Stroll around Christianshavn and along Gammel Strand
- See fortress Kastellet
- Grab a hotdog at the well-known DØP (Den Okologiske Polsemand) near The Round Tower
Paris is very vast and there's quite a bit to see and do during the day and at night. I enjoyed walking around and going on the terraces of some of the buildings to get a different perspective of the city. You can try Parc des Buttes-Chaumont which is a beautiful park on the opposite side of the city, Le Printemps department store or the Institute Du Monte Arabe. You can go up the Eiffel Tower as well, but the others are free and although not as high, still offer a nice view of the city. In the evening you should try and find the one of the secret bars in the city - it'll be like a treasure hunt! If you want the name of the secret bar....you'll have to ask me! Paris isn't cheap but if you want to stay within a 20-25 minute walk from the Eiffel Tower, you can try the 15 arrondissement near Cambrone Metro stop.
When people talk about Amsterdam, I'm sure you think of the usual things like the main square - Leidseplein - Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank's House, the Red Light District, canals, Heineken, Vondelpark, cheese or tulips. There's definitely more to do that will give you a different view of the busy city and from a new vista. Try visiting Zaanse Schans which is with is in the neighbourhood of Zaaandam. It's not far from Amsterdam city centre at only 20-30 minutes, so it can be done as a full or half-day trip. You'll see a row of windmills and others dotted around, as well as shops, barns, workshops and a museum that hosts interactive chocolate making exhibitions. You can find out how they make chocolate as the area is home to the production and processing of chocolate. You can also try getting high up in the city at the A'DAM Lookout. If you like a bit of excitement you can swing over the edge of its quirky building - and it's random lift! It's a 5 minute ferry ride (free) from Amsterdam's Central Station. It's also in the same place as Eye Film Museum so you can do the two at one time. There's a lot of hostel's to say in if you're on a budget - I stayed at Stayokay Vondelpark and it was easy to get to all the main parts of the city. If you have a bit more to spend, you can also try the NH - it's a nice hotel not too far from Leidseplein. If you're looking for a good time to travel, I'd avoid early February and mid September as there are two industry trades shows taking place at that time - ISE and IBC. You may find accommodation prices higher than usual (aside from bank holidays) and they'll also go quickly too. Plus everywhere may seem busier than usual as people from around the world descend on Amsterdam.
Copenhagen is a really vibrant city to visit. It's compact enough to get around all of the main sights in a couple of days and you can even walk or bike a lot of the city’s centre it if you don’t fancy public transport. I found everyone really friendly and helpful and I never felt uncomfortable at all - even when I was coming back late at night. It has canals and you’ll see colourful buildings at it’s waterfront Nyhavn, which is always buzzing during the day or late into the night. I hung out there a couple of times and it’s very lively. It kind of reminds me of a trendier Amsterdam. The city has amazing views from street level or high up in some of its towers and if you have time, you should visit one of it’s palaces or castles, like Frederiksborg Castle or Kronborg Palace. Copenhagen can be an expensive city and a short weekend break may end up costing a small fortune, so make sure you plan for that. It’s definitely possible to find cheaper alternatives for eating out and you can still see a lot of the attractions and keep to a budget. I was there for 3 days and managed to spend just under £200 for everything (incl flights and accommodation)! You can even add another country to your trip by popping over to the city of Malmö in neighbouring Sweden. It’s possible to do a day trip there by crossing the Øresund - The Bridge. Copenhagen’s a quirky, cool city to visit for a weekend break. I went in May and it was the perfect time - it was actually really warm. I’d definitely visit again and if you do you should make sure you: - Visit Nyhavn - Climb to the top of The Round Tower - Stroll around Christianshavn and along Gammel Strand - See fortress Kastellet - Grab a hotdog at the well-known DØP (Den Okologiske Polsemand) near The Round Tower