Greece

Having exported chaos, drama, tragedy and democracy before most nations were staying up late enough to want souvlaki, Greece boasts an unrivalled legacy. But don't expect a visit there to be a sober study of the ancient world - the Greek propensity for partying dates back to Dionysos.
From sometimes smoggy Athens to blindingly bright islands, ancient fragments abound - the navel of the cosmos at Delphi, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos, frescoed Minoan palaces on Crete and even - as some might believe - the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini.

The Parthenon

When To Go

Conditions are perfect between Easter and mid-June - beaches and ancient sites are relatively uncrowded; public transport operates on close to full schedules; and accommodation is cheaper and easier to find than in the mid-June to end of August high season. Conditions are once more ideal from the end of August until mid-October, as the season winds down. Winter is pretty much a dead loss outside the major cities as most of the tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation from the middle of October till the beginning of April. This is slowly changing, however; on the most touristy islands, a few restaurants, hotels and bars remain open year-round, while the ski resorts on the mainland do thriving business.

Sunset on the greek sea!

Athens-The capital of Greece

It is the city of the Olympic Idea, the city of culture, of science and commerce. A city with ancient monuments like Acropolis, the inimitable ancient monument and landmark of Greece, museums, lively tradition districts like Plaka and numerous sights. These are some of the reasons that make Athens worth visiting.

The Acropolis hill

This unique monument, which represents the ultimate in architectural and artistic expression of the ancient Athenian spirit, occupies a rock 156m above sea level, which is itself a natural fortress. During the Classical period (450-330 BC) the most important temples were erected. It acquired its first temple in the 8th c. BC. Building started on the Parthenon itself, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, in the early 5th c BC only to be razed by the Persians in 480. It was rebuilt during Pericles’ rule in just ten years. The monumental entrance to the summit of the holy rock, the Propylaia, designed by Mnesicles, was under construction form 437 to 432 BC. The Erechtheion, dedicated to Athena Polias, was completed twelve years later. Pheidias supervised these brilliant architectural and artistic achievements of the 5th c BC, while the designs were the work of Iktinos and Kalllikrates. The foundations of the temple of Athena Nike, dedicated to Athena –Apteros Nike, were also laid at this time.

The Herodion

Temples of The Acropolis

The Parthenon:Perhaps is the most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization and still remains its international symbol. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. It was built between 447 and 432 BC, to plans of Iktinos and Kalikrates while Pheidias and his pupils had charge of general constructional supervision and of the decorative carvings. It was the first time that a peripheral temple in the Doric style was decorated all round with a sculptured frieze 160 meters long, illustrating the Panathenaean Procession (the most formal religious festival of ancient Athens). The 92 metopes were also sculptured with reliefs representing a battle with giants, a battle with amazons, battles with centaurs and scenes from the Trojan War. The gold and ivory statue of the goddess Athena, the work of Pheidias was set up in the interior. When construction of the temple had been completed, the pedimental sculptures were added. The two pediments of the temple are decorated with mythological scenes: the east, above the building's main entrance, shows the birth of Athena, and the west, the fight between Athena and Poseidon for the name of the city of Athens.

The Erechthrio:It was build during the Peloponnesian War (420 BC) by Philocles. The main temple was divided into two sections, dedicated to the worship of the two principal gods of Attica, Athena and Poseidon – Erechteus, from whom it got its name. Six female statues, the famous Karyatids, with canisters on their heads as column capitals, support the roof of the temple. Today five copies stand in their place. The originals are in the Acropolis Museum (the sixth Caryatid can only be seen in London).

Temple of Apteros Nike:It was constructed in ca. 420 BC, by architect Kallikrates. The temple is built in Ionic order, and it is amphiprostyle with a row of four columns in front of each of its narrow sides. The relief frieze on the upper section of the walls depicts the conference of gods on the east side, and scenes from battles on the other three. A marble parapet decorated with the relief representation of Nike (Victories), protected the edge of the Bastion on which the temple was erected. Athenians placed a statue of Nike without wings to ensure that she would never “fly” away from their city. Today the statue can be seen in the Acropolis Museum.

The Propylaia.The monumental entrance to the Acropolis was designed by the architect Mnesicles and constructed in 437-432 B.C. It consists of a central structure with two wings. The colonnades along the west and east sides had a row of Doric columns while two rows of Ionic columns divided the central corridor into three parts. The walls of the north wing were decorated with painted panels or wall paintings and that is why it was called the "Pinakotheke". The ceiling of the Propylaia had coffers with painted decoration and a perforated sima around the roof. The Shrine of Zeus Very little is left of this temple dedicated to Zeus Polios, to whom sacrifices, the Bouphonia, were brought every summer during the harvest season.

The Acropolis Museum.The museum was designed by the architect Panages Kalkos and constructed between 1865 and 1874. In the 1950's it was extended towards the east and the exhibition was rearranged by the archaeologist I. Meliades. The museum contains mainly pedimental sculpture, reliefs and statues found on the rock of the Acropolis, which formed part of the decoration of its buildings or were dedicated to the goddess Athena. The collections of the museum include: · Sculptural offerings of the Archaic period · Pediments of temples dated to the Archaic period · Archaic Horsemen · Sculptures of the "Severe" style · Pediments and metopes from the Parthenon · The Parthenon frieze · The Erechtheion frieze · Parapets of the Athena Nike temple · Frieze of the Athena Nike temple · The Caryatids · Clay figurines and vases from the sanctuary of the Nymphs .

Theatre of Herod Atticus (The Herodion):Erected in 161BC by the Athenian orator and benefactor whose name it commemorates. It can seat 5.000 spectators but most of its marble seats, except for those in the front row, are modern restorations. It hosts all the events of the Athens Festival, as well as a few other concerts and performs throughout the summer.

Temple of Poseidon-Sounio

Islands of Greece

Greece has a variety of very beautiful and attractive islands.Each one has its own characteristics which make it unique!Let's see three of them just to get a general idea!

Corfu:Exotic scenery, magical colours, flaming sunsets, romantic moonlight, luxurious vegetation, (lush green even in the height of summer) a riot of radiant flowers and colourful blooms, centuries old silver olive groves, glowing oranges, scented lemons, rich pergolas, sleepy lagoons, forgotten coves, bubbling springs, exciting caves, virgin beaches, golden sands, and pellucid turquoise emerald seas ­there is surely no other island in the whole universe to which these superlatives collectively apply.

Corfu

Pontikonisi-Corfu

Santorini:It has been said that the sunsets in Santorini are the best in the world. From the Caldera breathtaking views of the volcano & neighbouring islands. From the east, miles of dark sandy or pebbled beaches. Everywhere one sees small domed churches and remnants of days gone by.
This is Santorini seen through the eyes of people who know & love it ...


Magic scenery in Santorini!

Sunset in Santorini

Spetses: Are you the summer type of person?

Beautiful pebble beaches, clear waters and long days at the beach... Magnificent sunsets, long walks along the promenade gazing at the passing sailboats, a run of dolphins, just half a mile across the coast...

Maybe springtime?

Beautiful rainbow-tinted gardens, traditional settlements with bloomy gardens and flower-beds at the sides of narrow pebble-streets... The warm sun making your day magical...

And yet, ideal for a winter excursion!

The tranquility that characterizes the island of Spetses during the winter time, is ideal for a perfect weekend. Spetses offers a unique scheme for those who wish to enjoy excellent service during the so-called Low Tourist Season. Just pick your favorite lodgement and rest by the large fire-place while looking at the breath-taking sea view, through the large windows of your Deluxe Suite!

Around Spetses!

The Mermaid-Spetses

GERMANY

From the high Alps in the South, the Bavarian plain, and the flowing hills of central Germany to the coast of the North and Baltic Sea: it all looks like a miniature train landscape packed with the nicest of old towns, medieval houses, gothic churches and small villages. Thanks to the different regional princedoms, earldoms, monarchies and states Germany did not unite until the last centuries. Thus Germany has not one but many major cities. And each city has its own unique character, formed by its history and the surrounding region. Each is a whole new world unto itself in which you will experience not only different architectural styles and art treasures but also a very distinctive lifestyle. Local traditions and mentalities are clearly reflected everywhere - in the arts, the nightlife, the shops, the pubs and restaurants and the way people work and live.

Germany's cities have endless pleasant surprises in store for those who enjoy good food and drink. In addition to top-quality international cooking each region has its own local specialities, ranging from hearty country fare at simple inns to modern light cuisine at star-rated restaurants. Accompanied by our world-famous beers and wines, all this plenty is guaranteed to make your tour of Germany's cities an unforgettable culinary experience. Discover the beautiful Southwest of Germany with cities like Freiburg, Heidelberg and Tόbingen. In the western part cities still have some french influence, discover Bonn, Dόsseldorf, Cologne- the heart of the Rhineland, Trier, the oldest city of Germany and a former capital of the Roman Empire or Aachen with its impressive cathedral and history back to Charlemagne. Today, Germany is also an industrial powerhouse. In the Ruhrgebiet ( Essen, Oberhausen, Duisburg and surroundings) there is heavy industry, different car brands like Mercedes (near Stuttgart ), BMW and VW make Germany one of the world's biggest car producers and Frankfurt is the country's bank and finance centre, called also "Mainhattan" ("Main" is a river in Frankfurt). All this makes the standard of living one of the highest in the world.

Best of Germany

The Rhine

In Germany, The Rhine has a spectacular beauty and it is a popular holiday destination. There you can find impressive places to visit like castles, cathedrals, vineyards and hiking trails. Its magnificent scenery inspired a lot of painters and poets. In fact, Germany is full of castles, but the Rhine has an especially amount of important castles. Some are ruins and many of them have survived the past of the years.

The Rhine has a sunny, dry and warm climate. For that reason, the vineyard agriculture is famous there. In every village, there is at least one wine festival per year; the most famous series of festivals is the Rhine in Flames.

Its river is the best place from where you can observe the beauty of the area; every day tour boats set sail with many tourists. If you don’t like boating, you can also explore the Rhine by car. The best period to visit the Rhine is in summer, the weather is sunny and the festival season is in full movement.

Trier

Trier is located in Mosel River Valley, is known as Germany’s oldest city. The City was one of the seats of the old Roman Empire, a proof of that is the amazing ruins’ architecture. The most dominant structure is the mixture of two churches: The Dom St. Peter and the Liebfrauenkirche, both build upon ruins. The city is also home of the stunning Porta Nigra, the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps.

Currently, Trier is a gateway from Germany to Luxembourg. There are also a lot of wine producers. If you would like to you could even try to work for a week in the vineyards, it is a great experience! The city is also an active town; there you can find wine festivals, river trips, cycling, and an extraordinary cultural life.

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgadem, with its beautiful scenery, is an attractive town to visit. The city is mostly visited in winter by its ski resorts on the edge of the Berchtesgaden National Park. There is also the “Eagle’s Nest”, the famous mountain that was refuge of Hitler in the World War II, from there you have an impressive view of the Berchtesgaden area.

In the city’s center you can find many historical attractions, like the Royal Palace and the famous church of Maria Gern. The art is not apart from de city, many houses around the market place are decorated by artistic painting with mountain motives and animals.

The main attraction is the Berchtesgadem National Park that with its stunning high mountains and the renowned Lake Kφnigssee is one of the oldest protected areas in the Alps. In the park, there are many fauna that reflects the bio-diversity of its landscape; and if you are lucky, you will see the rare golden eagle.

The citizens in the Berchtesgaden area complement with nature and preserve their culture and traditions, many people wear traditional clothes like leather trousers and they love Ooompah music. You will be fascinated with this place!

Wόrzburg

Near from Frankfurt, Wόzburg is a vibrant university town surrounded by vineyards and full of architectural splendors. Its cultural scene includes traditions and popular events like the Mozart Festival and the Africa Festival which attract many visitors every year.Wόzburg is also a wine-centre of the Franconian region, the wine in the typical bottle "Bocksbeutel" is served by many taverns.

In and around the city there are many cultural attractions like the famous Main Franconian Museum with sculptures by the famous artist Tilman Riemenschneider, the Fortress Marienberg, the Cathedral museum, and the Martin Wagner museum that is a splendid archiepiscopal residence and the famous masterpiece of Balthasar Neumann, an extraordinary baroque architect.

The city is also the main shopping town for the Franconian region been the most important chain stores Domstrasse and Schφnbornstrasse, Furthermore, there are many small shops located on Juliuspromenade where you can find unique souveneirs.

Bamberg

Bamberg is a city with an original character and a very special atmosphere. 1000 years of history are united in an Old Town that is a cultural and architectural site of European rank.

In the Middle Ages, Bamberg was a powerful ecclesiastical center. Initially, it was two towns divided by the river: One was the Ecclesiastical Town of the prince – bishopric, and the other was The Secular Town of the burghers. Nowadays, Bamberg is known as “a beer drinker’s Eden” because there 9 Breweries with lots of different kinds of beer, being the most famous the “smoked beer”. The average Bamberger drinks 190 liters of beer a year!

Bamberg is also famous for its architecture, with styles ranging from Romanesque to Gothic, Renaissance to baroque. There you can find narrow cobblestone streets, ornate mansions and palaces, and impressive churches. In Bamberg there is always party going on somewhere, the Franconian hospitality expresses itself when people get together, and the major occasions to celebrate are the frequent anniversaries of churches’ consecrations.

Potsdam

Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg state, is a suburb of Germany’s cosmopolitan capital: Berlin. This beautiful baroque city is home for the magnificent palace of Sanssouci that is comparable with other amazing European royal palaces like Versailles and Windsor Castle. Other impressing attractions include Nikolaikirche church, Cecilienhof, Hollδndisches Viertel, Franzφsische Kirche church and the historic Dutch quarter among others. Potsdam is also a green city surrounded by lakes, hills, and several “palace gardens”

During the 18th and 19th century the city was the residence of the Prussian kings, many of Potsdam’s sights date of this epoch. As many cities Potsdam was damaged by bombings in 1945, but a number of palaces in the Sanssouci park remained intact.

The film industry is important in Potsdam, particularly Babelsberg Film Studios that made many important German films. Also, in the city you can find many cafes, riverside villas and historic streets which you have to stroll before leaving. For those reasons and more, Potsdam is a very attractive place to live.

SWEDEN

From berserker Vikings to Nobel Peace Prize in just a few centuries - Sweden really has earned its reputation as a model for progressive society. Throw in its gorgeous people, high standard of living, clean-lined design and magically archipelagic capital, Stockholm, and you're onto a very good thing.
Gothenburg and Malmö beckon with urban delights, and away from the cities, Sweden takes in vast areas of scenic coastline and idyllic islands. The wilderness areas of Norrland have the legendary midnight sun in summer, Arctic Scandinavia's highest mountain and marvellous hiking trails.

Top 10 things to do in Sweden!

1.Take a boat trip from Stockholm city centre among the islands to Drottningholm Palace where the Palace Theatre opera house has been preserved in its original 18th-century form, and stages productions in period costume and using authentic instruments.

2.If you have a couple of days to spare, take a cruise on the MS Ceres along the historic Göta Canal. The tours start at both Stockholm and Gothenburg.

3.In summer, make the most of Sweden's hundreds of miles of beaches, particularly on the west coast, and its 96,000 lakes. There are numerous waterskiing and windsurfing centres on the coast and lakes.

4.Indulge in active sport: there are excellent facilities around the country for skating, tobogganing, snowmobiling, ice climbing and dog sledding.

5.Practice your golf. Sweden has over 400 courses: one situated north of the Arctic Circle enjoys 24-hour daylight during the summer months and many midsummer championships take place at midnight.

6.Try to spot Sweden's only herd of musk ox in the Härjedalen Valley, southern Lapland, which also has abundant reindeer, buzzard, beaver and lynx. Elk are common too. In winter, this region is also known for its skiing.

7.Take to two wheels - cycling is a popular holiday recreation, particularly in the south. The Swedish Cycling Promotion Institute, in cooperation with regional tourist offices, offers scheduled cycling tours in almost every region.

8.Go fishing - Norrbotten is an angler's paradise with plenty of mountain streams and excellent sea fishing. It is situated on the so-called Midnight Sun Coast, which is a 1,500km (900-mile) stretch of Baltic coastline that runs all the way to the Finnish border.

9.Take the kids to Mora, in the heart of the Swedish Lakeland region, where they can meet Father Christmas at the Santaworld theme park.

10.Explore Swedish history. For those keen on the past, southwestern Bohuslän province is also one of the most important centres of ancient Swedish civilisation and there are many archaeological relics dating back to the Bronze Age and Viking times.

When to go
If you want sunshine, visit between late May and late July, bearing in mind that August can be both hot and wet. Many youth hostels, camping grounds and attractions open only in summer, from late June to mid-August. Swedes are big on holidays, and even Stockholm shuts down for two or three days around Christmas and midsummer, so plan accordingly. Most Swedes take their vacations from late June to mid-August, so hostels are crowded, but this is also when most hotels offer discounts of up to 50%.
Travel in winter is somewhat restricted and requires some planning as well as serious winter clothing, but there are good opportunities for activities like skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. The big cities are in full swing all year, but the smaller towns almost go into hibernation when the temperatures begin to drop (the notable exceptions being popular ski resort towns like Åre, and Jukkasjärvi, home to the Ice Hotel).

Åre Ski Resort

Snowboarder at Salen Ski Resort

Dog sledding

Snowmobiling safaris

Where to go

The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi

The Ice Hotel is an innovative idea and a turned out to be a really unique creation. You can find this elaborate structure by the shores of the Torne River in Sweden where the ice used for the hotel is actually taken. It takes 10,000 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow in order to build this hotel each year. The pure waters from the river as well as the constant movement allow the ice to be crystal clear.
The hotel is reassembled each year with a different construction. The architects are busy at work because they create a totally new hotel with all new design, suites, and reception. The process is building these massive ice hotels is really remarkable. The Ice Hotel near the village of Jukkasjarvi, in Sweden, is the first and most famous of them all.
There are more than 80 rooms and suites including an Absolute ice bar, a reception and a church. Everything is made of ice! The price for a night stay can cost about 1,400 Swedish Krona which would be around $196 U.S. dollars. Availability of the hotel is from December to April but many come to visit in the summer as well because there is an art exhibition made of ice.
You may think what is there to do at an ice hotel? But, you will be happy to know that there are plenty of things to do during your stay. There is a guided tour of the hotel which is open to visitors in the winter season from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. You can also experience ice sculpting because they allow you to sculpt yourself with the guidance of a professional, daily at 11 A.M. There is also cross country skiing and snowshoeing available to guests. This is truly a unique experience and anyone who has the chance to visit should do so.

Gothenburgh

Gothenburgh or Göteborg as the Swedes call it is on the west coast of Sweden facing Aalborg in Denmark, directly north of Copenhagen.

King Gustav II Adolf founded the city in 1621, but it was developed largely by Dutch and German city planners and canal experts.

The Göteborg region is one of the most popular tourist areas in Scandinavia. The Göteborg region is an old and exciting cultural area. There are ruins that prove that people were living here as many as 8,000 years ago.

Göteborg was intended to act as Sweden´s gateway to the west. Its position was strategic. The area around the mouth of the River Göta had been an important trading centre since the 12th century. The city was built in Dutch style, with streets and manmade canals in a well-designed system and a large square, now called Gustaf Adolfs Torg, next to the Large Canal.

Surrounded by walls, bastions and a moat, Göteborg was one of the most well defended fortresses in Northern Europe. Three of the fortresses that were built outside the city: Skansen Kronan, Skansen Lejonet and the New Älvsborg Fortress, still stand today.
The East India Company, which made Göteborg a flourishing city, was founded here in 1731. The following year, the first East-Indiaman set sail for China and returned with a valuable cargo of tea, silk and china.

The city changed dramatically during the 19th century. The fortresses were demolished and made way for the Kungsparken Park and the Horticultural Society. The city expanded, some of the canals were filled in, the harbours and quays were extended. There are various famous buildings from this century such as the Stock Exchange and the Central Railway Station.

Flower display on a bridge in the centre of Gothenburg

Helsingborg

Helsingborg, the second largest city in Skåne, is located on the south-western coast of Sweden. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Oresund’, this is Sweden’s closest entry point to Denmark and is situated on the northern side of the Oresund strait. The Landborgen ridge runs parallel to Helsingborg on the eastern side.

Helsingborg has a maritime temperate climate with mild winters, which result in occasional snowfall, and warm summers. This is due to Skåne being surrounded by the Kattegatt Sea, the Øresund and the Baltic Sea on its three sides. Winter is the best time to take in the beauty of the scenic coastal locales and rich heritage of Helsingborg.

With a population of about 1,23,000, Helsingborg is the country’s ninth largest municipality. The major industries are those of service, trade, transportation and tourism.

Lund
Lund is the seat of the Lund Municipality, Skåne County in southern Sweden. It is the country’s second oldest town and is well known as a ‘Cathedral and University city’.

This climate here is much more favourable than in other areas in Sweden. With mild winters and warm summers, any time is ideal for a visit.

Though Lund became an important Roman Catholic centre in the twelfth century, it was badly destroyed by the Danish-Swedish conflicts in the seventeenth century. Thereafter, it was taken over by the Swedes and the University of Lund was set up in 1668.

With a population of about 90,000, Lund is a bustling activity centre with a variety of businesses. Tetra Pak, the manufacturer of milk/fruit juice cartons, and Sony Ericsson have their production units here. The hospital and the university also employ a large number of people.

The great Domkyrka cathedral in Lund

Malmo

The port city of Malmo is the third largest city in Sweden and is situated in the southern part of the country in the province of Scania.

This picturesque city overlooks the Baltic Sea and parts of the city are encircled by canals. Due to its southern location, the city has a temperate climate with average temperatures above 10°C in summers and −3°C in winters.

Malmo has a population of approximately 270,000 people. It is one of the most multicultural cities in Sweden and has many immigrants from countries such as Yugoslavia, Denmark, Iraq and Poland.

Malmo was originally founded in the year 1275, and the culture of the city represents its ancient heritage as well as the traditions of the various ethnic groups that inhabit it. The city also has a vibrant modern culture with many plays, operas and art exhibitions.

Windmill in Malmo

The statue in Malmo was unveiled in 1896 and depicts the king who conquered Skåne who conquered Skåne from Denmark

Öland Island

Öland Island, the second largest island in Sweden, is situated off the coast of Småland in the Baltic Sea in Kalmar County. The island is connected to the mainland by the Öland Island by the Öland Bridge. Öland was under the sea for around 10,000 years after the Ice Age and as a result, limestone and shale make up its bedrock.

It is best to visit this place during spring and early summer. During winter, it might snow heavily and the temperature occasionally drops below 0°C. The weather is quite unpredictable with heavy rains and wind.
Excavations on the island reveal that settlement took place around 8,000 BC. During the Middle Ages, the island was reserved by the Swedish royalty as exclusive hunting ground.

With a population of about 25,000, the main economic activities here are agriculture and related activities.

Stone circles and windmills in Öland Island

Stockholm
Stockholm lies on the Swedish East Coast, between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city centre is built on fourteen islands. The climate is varied because of the sharp difference between summer and winter daylight time. The capital of Sweden (776,000 population) is the site of National Government and the residence of King Carl Gustaf XVI.
It was founded around 1250, but its golden age was in the XVII century, when Sweden was one of the main European powers. However, after the golden century the city went through a period of demographic and economic stagnation. Only in the late XIX century were new industries founded and Stockholm experienced a new renaissance.
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites are based in the Stockholm area: the Drottningholm Royal Palace and the Skogskyrkogården Forest Cemetery.
The city is also famous for many museums, around seventy, visited by millions of people every year. In the oldest part of Stockholm the first choice is usually to visit the Royal Palace and the main museums, like Livrustkammaren (the Royal Armoury) and Skattkammaren (the Royal Treasury) and the Changing of the Guards in the Outer Courtyard.
In Gamla Stan, there are also the Nobelmuseet (the Nobel Museum) and Riddarhuset (the House of Nobility).
Stockholm is a vibrant water city, where we can find parts of Venice and Amsterdam at the same time. Moreover, its centre has a lot of parks and gardens.

The Old Town is one of the most popular places in Stockholm

Stockholm in winter

Riddarholmen is a small island in the center of Stockholm

A winter afternoon at sunset, view over Riddarholmen and the Old Town

Uppsala
Uppsala is the fourth largest city in Sweden and is located about 70 km north of Stockholm.
The city is situated amidst fertile flatlands, surrounded by lush vegetation. The beautiful Fyris River adds to the charm of this picturesque landscape. Uppsala has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Spring and summer are the best time to visit with temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 °C. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures ranging from –5 to –30 °C.
Uppsala has a population of approximately 130,000 people. The city has a long and glorious history and culture; it has also been the seat of Sweden’s archbishop since 1164. The city houses Scandinavia’s oldest university, the Uppsala University.

Church Steeple

Landscapes in Sweden

Every child’s fantasy is to meet Santa Claus. With a trip to Lapland in Sweden, home to Santa Claus, one can come close to this fantasy by visiting Santa World at Mora in Dalama. Skokloster Slott Castle is worth a visit for its innovative interiors, baroque architecture, paintings, books etc. Apart from being a castle, it is also a museum and houses a restaurant. For some Viking-style experience, one can visit the towns of Birka and Visby.

Castles of Sweden

Here are some of the most popular castles that you should visit when you come to Sweden!

Skokloster Slott Castle

Stockholm Royal Palace

Wik Castle

Bohus Castle

Ekenäs Castle

Kalmar Castle in February

Tjolöholm Castle

Charlottenborg Castle

Trolle Ljungby Castle

Malmo Castle

Ellinge Castle

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Public transport is efficient, comprehensive and well-integrated. Stockholm has bus, trams, metro (T-banan) and local rail services. Pre-purchase multi-tickets and passes are sold, though single tickets can also be obtained on the bus. There are trams in Gothenburg and Norrköping. Taxis are widely available; large taxi companies are cheaper than independents. Several of the main cities, particularly Stockholm, have boat excursions and services.