Austria is all at once breathtaking Alpine mountains, picturesque villages, lush valleys dotted with crystal clear lakes and bordered by vineyards, and bustling cities with ultramodern skyscrapers and medieval castles. The country is famous for its classical music and opera, the baroque excesses of the Hapsburg imperial dynasty, glorious food and wine, and festivals celebrating all of these things. Vienna was the capital of the Hapsburg Empire, which included parts of what is now Germany and Hungary, so the city is threaded with monumental castles and cathedrals. Vienna is a city o......

Austria??s capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm. Vienna??s history dates back to the first post-Christian century when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. Today??s cityscape is characterized by the abundance of baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia and Emperor Franz Joseph who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture round the Ringstraße. ......

Sweden is a diverse country. From timberlands to highly modern cities, there is something for everyone in this land that still overflows with Old World culture. Sweden is an excellent place to enjoy the outdoor sports of hiking, skiing, and boating. You will rarely see a "No Trespassing Sign" since Sweden has The Allemansratten, a law that allows public access to all lands as long as the land is treated with respect--and the Swedes do respect their lands and its history. From the capital city of Stockholm you can access the archipelago, a grouping of islands, some with towns and so......

The capital and largest city in Sweden is Stockholm, a major commercial, manufacturing, financial, transportation and cultural center. Located on the eastern coast of Sweden, where Lake Malaren joins the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is situated on approximately 20 islands. With its many waterways and parklands, Stockholm with its beauty is often called the ?°Venice of the North?± or ?°the city that floats.?± Adding to the beauty of the city are the colorful structures. There are block and glass buildings next to dark stone buildings, which punctuate the skyline along with the ancient red-washed......

Finland??s boundaries extend well into the arctic circle so this is a prime destination if you are looking for some midnight sun. From the modern and developed south to the furthest reaches of the northern wildernesses you will find Finland a pleasant and attractive country that is largely unspoilt with notably clean and healthy air. Don??t let this fool you into thinking that Finland is a backwards country, they are in fact one of the most hi-tech countries in the world with internet connections per head of population surpassing even the US and the UK. The beauty of Finland is that aroun......

Surrounded by sea and a vast archipelago, Helsinki is at its best in the summer when the dialogue between the city and nature is at its fullest. Classical Helsinki's sights are mostly of the low-key sort and can be divided into an eclectic set of churches and another slew of museums. Suomenlinna fortress, seen from a passing ferry A beautiful archipelago (saaristo) surrounds the Helsinki city center. In addition to the major islands listed below, there are scheduled services to many smaller islands, and you can also tour them by sightseeing cruise. Most of the cruises depart from the West......

Knocking at Europe??s door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts. Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah??s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach. Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans. In Turkey, you can also cruise along m......

Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey has enormously diverse scenery, with rolling central plains, soaring mountains, desert and orchards, white sand beaches and towering sea cliffs. The Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Selçuks, Ottomans, Armenians and a host of smaller civilizations have all added intricate layers of architecture, art and culture, creating a mosaic as rich as any of the gilded Byzantine glories. Today, Turkey's thousands of kilometers of magnificent coast, sunshine and fine food have turned it into a major tourist destination. Much more than that, it is still fasci......