Brauerei Fässla works both as a brewery and a hotel. So if you fancy spending a few nights in a building where the bed is just a short stagger from the bar, this is the place to be. They offer a pilsener, two types of wheat beer, a lager and an extra-strong beer called ‘Bambergator’. You know you want to drink this one, if only because of its name!

Fassla Brewery in Bamberg.

Schlenkerla is probably the most visited Bamberg brewery, famous for its smoked beer prepared by drying the malt on an open fire. It features three types of smoked beer, each stronger than the last. Their strongest beer is so heavy and filling that you won’t need chips as a side dish. The brewery also makes a schnapps (liquor) using the same smoking process. If you’re a fan of Jägermeister, you’ll like Schlenkerla’s homemade equivalent.

Schelnerkla brewery in Bamberg.

The Kaiserdom brewery is the biggest in Bamberg, offering a range of beers that are special in their own way. Step into this charming old building and a selection of pilseners, dark, unfiltered and wheat beers await you. You might want to come for the special Winterbock beer, which is served in special festive cans and is available between October and March.

Klosterbräu brewery has been on the map since 1533. Their specialties include two strong beers of up to 7% alcohol: the Bockbier Hell and Maibock Hell. Both of these are seasonal beers – the Bockbier Hell is available from the middle of October and the Maibock Hell between February and April. 

Klosterbrau brewery in Bamberg.

Mahrs brewery is top of the class when it comes to the breweries in Bamberg. The beers crafted here have been awarded with several medals in a range of competitions. Among the winners are their light beer, pale ale and wheat/white bock, which comes in at a heavyweight 7.2% alc. The latter has been described by its makers as an ‘elixir’, with a dark brown color and a reddish tint. As a special touch, the brewery creates personalized bottles for special occasions. so you can see your own name on a bottle. 

Mahrs Brewery in Bamberg.

Anyone interested in visiting the city in August will witness the Sandkerwa, a five-day long kirmess (fair) which is celebrated by… drinking beer, of course! So pack your bags and set sail for a city where the beer flows and time stops.

This map shows the locations of the breweries mentioned above:

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1phngX3gya2mJnRzxRMTSBOqqKkc&w=640&h=480]

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About the food

Spanish cuisine is simply amazing, known for its fresh produce and rich flavors. Some might consider their obsession with food a bit too much, though, as Spaniards even have a festival called La Tomatina, during which they mercilessly pelt each other with tomatoes!

About football

Between 2008 and 2012 the Spanish team won two back-to-back European titles in soccer, completing the sweep with a World Cup in between. With world-renowned clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, the stadiums in Spain’s largest cities are constantly crowded with tourists from all around the world.

About the people

One word is enough to sum up why most of us love Spain: people. Spaniards are passionate, friendly and plenty of fun, earning them a positive reputation both at home and abroad.

About the night life

Every day in Spain could turn into a party – except for the weekends, which are always a party! Spanish people have the energy of the bulls they fight when it comes to staying out late.

About Mallorca

Mallorca, one of the best summer destinations in Spain, has it all: beaches, history, art, mountain ranges, night clubs and picturesque old towns. Over seven million tourists visit the resorts in the region every year, with Palma de Mallorca being the most popular.

READ MORE ABOUT SPAIN

READ MORE TRAVEL QUOTES

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Whoever is not familiar with the adventures of the McCallister family during the 90’s was either not born yet or just skipped through a decade of Christmases without watching one of the most emblematic Christmas-themed comedies. To cut a long story short – in the first movie when Kevin McCallister is forgotten by his family (and it’s a huge family, no wonder why he got left behind) in their house, all alone for Christmas, while they struggle to race back before something happens to him. In the second Home Alone movie things get a little bit hectic. Kevin hasn’t been forgotten but instead, accidentally boards a plane to New York instead of his familys destination, Florida.

View from the La Guardia airport

The first scene we see from New York in the movie is the view from LaGuardia airport. A huge panoramic shot that displays the famous Empire State Building, along with all the skyscrapers piercing the sky.

The Queensboro bridge, which Kevin crosses in a cab, connects the two biggest parts of the city – Queens and Manhattan.  It is an iconic location for New York because of its central position in the city. Battery Park is a place on the south side of New York that gives a clear view to the Statue of Liberty. The place has a rich film résumé. “Men in Black”, “Wall Street”, “She’s The One” and many other movies include a scene in this location. The World Trade Centre, Radio City Hall and South Street in Manhattan can be seen briefly in the movie.

Plaza Hotel in New York

Still early in the story, Kevin goes to The Plaza Hotel which is situated at number 750, 5th avenue and Central Park South, Manhattan. It was opened on October 1st, 1907 and is famous for providing residence to presidents, ambassadors, movie stars, musicians and many others. “Almost Famous” and “The Great Gatsby” are just some of the movie titles that feature the legendary hotel in their respective sets. A fun fact – in the movie “Home Alone 2” when Kevin enters the hotel, he is guided to the lobby by current US president and one time owner of the hotel, Donald Trump.

A view from Central Park

A good portion of footage in the movie is based in Central Parк. It is considered to be one of the most filmed locations in the world, and the most visited urban park in the United States in 2013, with over 40 million visitors annually. The renovations have been constantly ongoing for over 30 years now. Central Park has been classified as a national historical landmark since 1962. The park is a similar size to London’s Hyde Park and it has been used as an inspiration for young architects to create similar parks around the world. The Central Park Zoo, “Tavern of The Green” (an indoor restaurant), the Delacorte theatre and the Bethesda terrace and fountain are some of the places worth visiting while taking a walk through these historical patches of grass.

Later on we see Kevin hiding in the attic at Carnegie Hall along with another character he meets throughout the movie (not giving out spoilers). Carnegie Hall is a concert venue situated in the centre of Manhattan. It is one of the most prestigious scenes for performing classical music. When it was built in 1891, the first ever concert was conducted by Walter Damrosch and no other than the Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tschaikovsky. Apart from classical music, jazz concerts also have had a frequent exposure in the venue.

A view of Times Square by night

And last but not least, Times Square. Who hasn’t seen a picture of this location during the night with all the billboards and commercials shining brighter than a thousand suns? It is one of the world’s most visited tourist places with around 50 million visitors per year and 300 to 400 thousand people per day, passing by one the busiest intersections in the world. Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, the former Paramount theatre building, Times Square Church and Ed Sullivan Theatre are just some of the places to set foot into. And, of course, you can’t miss the chance to enjoy Broadway shows like The Music Man musical, Wicked, or The Phantom of the Opera in Time Square. The restaurant row, located on west 46h street, provides home to a variety of restaurants that feature cuisines from all around the world. Thai, Spanish, French, Brazilian, Japanese, Italian and a whole lot more different dishes are to be expected among the food joints.

To make it easier for you, we made a map with the locations in our article:

A movie fanatic or not, you cannot deny that New York has a special vibe when it comes to movies. “The Family Man”, “Good Fellas”, “Metropolitan”, “Scent of a Woman”, “The Usual Suspects”, “The Devil’s Advocate’, “Leon: The Professional”, “Scarface”, “Wall Street”, “Ghostbusters”, “Hitch” and many, many more! The unique style of the city makes it an must-see destination for any traveller!

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The legendary Glastonbury festival, held at the end of June, features one of the world’s best live music line-ups, as well as a host of comedy, theater, cabaret and other performances.

Location

The festival is located in the southwest of England near a small village called Pilton, six miles east of Glastonbury town. There’s not much to see in Pilton, but the town of Glastonbury itself offers plenty of landmarks worth checking out if you need a break from the madness and mud of the festival. The church of St. John the Baptist, the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, the George Hotel and the Pilgrim’s Inn are among the iconic town’s must-see spots.

Glastonbury town center.

Line-up

Every year, the festival features a mind-bending line-up of some of the world’s biggest pop, rock, dance and hip hop artists. Over the past five years these grounds have been host to Muse, U2, Pharrell Williams, The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Skrillex, Lana Del Rey and many, many more. The star line-up draws a lot of attention, with the number of visitors each year ranging from 120,000 to 140,000 people.

Sunday evening at Glastonbury.

Accessibility

The fastest way to get to the festival is by air, with Bristol International Airport the closest major hub in the region. A bus link from the airport takes you to Bristol Temple Meads railway and bus station. From there, you can catch regular buses and trains to the special station by the festival ground. If you’re considering going by car, be advised that a car pass for the festival costs £45.

A view over the Glastonbury skyline.

Costs

This year, the ticket price for the festival is £238 plus a small booking fee of £5. That covers the whole festival, as you can’t buy tickets for separate days. Every festival ticket includes a camping pass, with caravans also welcome at campsites. If you prefer to stay indoors, the city of Glastonbury offers plenty of accommodation during festival time, with hotel prices ranging from £50 to £150.

Because of its huge popularity, the 2017 edition is already sold out. Featuring acts such as Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and Major Lazer, Glastonbury is sure to be a memorable start to the summer for those lucky enough to go. However, you can get your foot in the door for next year’s festival if you’re prepared to plan early. Don’t worry, we’re sure the 2018 line-up will be just as spectacular! More information here.

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Sziget festival in Hungary has existed since 1993. Literally, the name of the festival means ‘Island’, so that might give you a hint about what kind of scenery to expect. Here are the most important things to know if you want to join in the action.

Location – The festival takes place on a small island in the Danube River. How cool is that?! Plus, if you need to take a break from the party, you have Budapest right at the tip of your fingers. Budapest is one of the most versatile European capitals, with plenty of beautiful architecture to admire and a hectic nightlife scene all year round.

A colorful crowd at Sziget feistval.

Line-up – The event actually started off as a festival for student bands and included only Hungarian artists. Over the next five years Sziget gained international popularity for the artists that came to perform: Iggy Pop, Slash, The Prodigy, David Bowie and Rammstein, among others. Nowadays there is a bit of everything, from soft rock to hard techno.

Accessibility – Budapest has excellent flight connections to destinations across Europe, so you’ll have no problems finding tickets. The festival takes place right in the middle of the Danube in the center of this well-planned city – you can’t miss it!

The festival stage lights up the night.

Cost – Tickets for this festival vary in price, from one-day tickets for 65-75 euros to seven-day passes that range between 275 and 325 euros (depending on how early you buy the tickets). Accommodation in Budapest is easy to find, and if you’re looking for something on a budget you can choose from a range of guesthouses and hostels costing around 15-20 euros per night.

More information here.

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Copenhagen is known for its rich cultural heritage, cycling and capricious weather. It is enriched by the dynamic lifestyle of the people and the artists that live and create here. And yet, what is the most entertaining way to discover a city without actually visiting it? It’s watching a movie shot there.

Statue of the Little Mermaid

Copenhagen, the way it is now

Canadian writer and director Mark Raso thought exactly that when he made the movie „Copenhagen” in 2014. In this romantic drama, the main character, William, goes to Denmark in search of his grandfather. While in Copenhagen, he meets a young girl who helps him trace his relative. You are actually taken on the adventurous trip that William challenges himself to do. The movie focuses on Denmark, exactly as it is in present time – rich day-life with cafes, museums, restaurants and parks, and feverish nightclubs after dark. A few rather famous tourist places are slipped into the movie for extra authenticity. One of the locations that has been used is the Thorvaldsens museum that has been active for over 150 years. It features the works of Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsens (1770 – 1884). The museum is mostly filled with sculptures but some of the sketches used for them have been used as separate art. An interesting fact is that the venue can be hired to provide a fairytale wedding ceremony for you and your soulmate.

The quayside of Nyhavn

Copenhagen, the way it was before

And yet probably no other movie can show the beauty of Copenhagen, even if it is set in the past, like “The Danish Girl” (2015). Tom Hooper, director of the award-winning movie, succeeded in recreating the city as it was in its post-World War I period. It received both praise and criticism due to its controversial story, but who are we to judge. The scenes show a lot of iconic places in Copenhagen, such as Børsen, The Royal Theatre and the Fiolstræde Læsesal library, which is a part of the Copenhagen University. The scene shot in this library was actually portraying a library in France, but the crew decided to show that Copenhagen is beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. The Nyhavn canal district is also used a lot in the movie since it is the residence of the main characters (Einar and Lili). This district, in the past, was a big commercial port that had lots of tradesmen, fishermen and pubs. It is also famous for the houses that were built in that area since some of them date back to the late 17th century. One of the most cult Danish writers, Hans Christian Andersen, lived on Nyhavn in the house at number 20. Nowadays, those houses and most of the building have been renovated. A number of different cafes and food joints reside on the street, while tourists have the chance to experience the relaxing atmosphere of the quayside.

Some Danish cuisine

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It’s summer. You feel like you want to go somewhere and have a great time but you have trouble figuring out where? Well, we have a solution. Novi Sad, Serbia, might not be the first place that comes to your mind but what started off as a student movement for democracy in 2000 is now one of the biggest summer music festivals in Europe!

Location

The festival is hosted at the Petrovaradin Fortress that overlooks the city of Novi Sad. The fortress is placed on the right bank of the Danube river (Sziget is another music festival that takes place on the banks of the Danube). You can visit museums and the old city center in Novi Sad but you won’t get bored if you stay inside the fortress, as a museum of the city of Novi Sad, the Academy of Arts, and an observatory are located there.

A view to the the Petrovaradin Fortress

Line-up

Lots of different genres and renowned world artists perform on several stages. The main stage has all the big names while the dance area with its capacity of 25,000 people has gained as much attention as the main stage in recent years. The party there does not stop until dawn! Most of the metal/punk bands perform on the Explosive stage. The fusion stage provides a stage for a lot of alternative and pop-rock Serbian and World bands.

Stage view of the crowd during a DJ set

Accessibility

The festival is fairly easy to reach. The city of Novi Sad doesn’t have a big airport so the easiest way to get there is through Belgrade and then 55 miles/90 km to the north. If you rent a car, the trip will last for about an hour. Buses to Novi Sad leave from Belgrade every 20-30 minutes. Tickets can be bought 1-2 hours before departure.

A view of Novi Sad in the evening

Money cost

Serbia is an affordable country so the costs for the stay are modest. A night at a guesthouse ranges from 25 to 40 euros per night. The five-day festival ticket costs 125 euros per person, and resepctively 160 euros per person if it includes camping. Food and beverage prices in the festival area are modest. Have in mind that spirits stronger than beer and wine are prohibited inside the festival grounds. There’s a token system to reduce lining for beer, wine, energy drinks or juice.

Exit Festival 2018 Edition: The line-up for the 2018 Exit festival includes The Killers, Years & Years,  Rag’n’Bone man, Alan Walker. The 12th to 15th of July is all the time you need to visit Serbia and this amazing festival!

More information about the festival here!

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