Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the largest city and the capital of Hungary and the Danube cuts it in two. The present city was created in 1873 by the merger of Buda, Pest and Obuda. It is often called the Pearl of the Danube and is considered one of the most beautiful European cities with the district of Buda Castle, the Andrassy Avenue and the Millenarian Metropolitan which are world heritage of UNESCO. It is a city with several theaters, cinemas, museums, many of which are in historical buildings such as the Museum of Decorative Arts in a Secession building or the Hungarian National Gallery or the Historical Museum from Budapest who are at Buda Castle. There is also the House of Terror located in the old premises of the Gestapo. Among the legacies of the Viennese influence, Budapest has several restaurants, cafes, tea rooms and pastry shops, some located on the boats at the river dock. Budapest is also recognized as a spa town with baths frequented by tourists and several places offer pools and rooms for medical treatment (rheumatism, arthritis). To see: the Chain Bridge, the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Holy Trinity Square; Varosliget (large park with several attractions in like a zoo and a botanical garden); the St. Anthony of Padua Church, the Budapest Historical Museum; the troglodyte church of Our Lady of Hungarians, among others.

Tips

There is a funicular that joins the Vár (castle) and the old town of Buda.

If you are there on a Sunday morning, take the opportunity to visit the peasant market that takes place in the walls of Szimpla Kert.

If you like flea markets, you can visit Ecseri which is in the southern outskirts of the capital. This is well known because you can find relics of the Third Reich or objects of Soviet propaganda among other traditional Hungarian items.

August 20th is commemorated the foundation of the Hungarian state and on this occasion there is a medieval market at Buda Castle.

To cross the Danube, you will find river shuttles.

Canterbury, Kent, England

Canterbury is a small city in Kent, one of the country’s oldest cities, in the southeastern of England, on the river Stour. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Kent. In 597 the city became the seat of the Archbishop Primate of England. The nine first archbishops have been canonized there. It is well known due to its Cathedral, which has seen a large part of English history; residence of the head of the Anglican religion, the Archbishop of Canterbury; which attracts thousands of tourists. There are still walls (2nd and 3rd century) that surround the city; they have been strengthened during the middle ages and they are relatively well preserved. High Street is the real economic and tourist point of the city; located at the west end of the famous High Street, and marking the end of the pedestrian city center, the Westgate Tower is one of the main monuments of Canterbury. See also: the ruins of the main building of the Castle (11th century), Dane John Gardens, the ancient Royal Museum and the library, The old Buttermarket, the small canals, among others. Canterbury is also considered a college town.

Tips

If you don’t have time to stay in Canterbury but you’re in London several days, you could dedicate a day to this small town given the short distance that separates them (about 60 km). You can visit it in a day and even enjoy its beautiful gardens for a picnic if the weather is good or relax in one of its cafes, bars, restaurants particularly in the pedestrian city centre if the rain is with you because it rains quite often in the region.
If you like shopping, High Street will be your favorite street with a lot of shops: used bookstores, big department stores likeMarks & Spencers, minimarkets, shops for clothes, etc, you will find everything there.
If you have several days in the city, enjoy and visit the interior of the Cathedral in a sunny day because you’ll see better its decorations but you especially will have the chance to see the stained glass windows in full color, it’s worth it!
And if you like chocolate, make you a present and go to Hotel Chocolat, a few steps away from the Cathedral, at the corner of Parade Street and the St Margaret’s Street. Here you will find an extraordinary selection of chocolates of all kinds: pots for fondue in white, black, hazelnut chocolate, whole decorated chocolate tablets, ballotins firmly packed, etc., it will make your happiness for sure…

Aix-en-Provence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

Aix-en-Provence is a French commune, ex-capital of Provence, headquarter of the Community of agglomeration of Aix, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur; founded in 122 BC. This is a spa town with a Mediterranean climate that has around 300 days of sunshine a year. The town is 33 km from Marseille. There are three rivers which cross it: the Arc, the Touloubre and the Torso. In its historic center, there are several buildings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the city counts with 140 historical monuments. To visit: St-Sauveur Cathedral with triptychs, altarpieces and remarkable tapestries, the cloister of St-Sauveur (late twelfth century), the Town Hall and the square of the same name with the clock tower, the Church of the Holy Spirit, the Church of St John of Malta, Des Quatre Dauphins Square, the Tourreluque (single vestige of the medieval walls), the fountains, among others. Outside the city there are also other historical monuments like the Bridge of Trois-Sautets or the Bridge of St-Pons,

Tips

You can explore the city and the countryside by bus, there are 26 regular lines.
If you want to go to Marseille or Gap, you can do it by train from the Aix-en-Provence center train station. If you arrive at the airport of Marseille, it is a good option to get to the city center.
There is also the TGV to 18 km from the city center for more remote destinations.

 

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