23 Jul Backpacking through Europe? Check out These 6 Capitals That Have Amazing Historical Heritage
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam, the capital city of The Netherlands is a place you should definitely visit if you decide to go backpacking through Europe. Its amazing architecture and buildings such as the Amsterdam Central Station in the heart of the city, and a multitude of museums like Anne Frank’s House, the Van Gogh Museum, the National Museum, The Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt House and some other unusual museums of photography, archaeology, handbags, etc. should be on your “must-visit” travelling list. You are craving for a real adventure? Pick what you like more – cycling through the city or sightseeing from a boat sailing through the canals of Amsterdam.
Berlin, Germany
Those of you who decide to go backpacking in Berlin should know that the best season to do this is summer or late spring, as winters can get quite cold. Nevertheless, if you don’t mind the cold weather, make sure that you come here in the second half of December when everything is marvelously decorated and Christmas spirit is felt in almost every street. Don’t miss walking down the Berlin Wall, once a barrier and now considered a museum, painted with graffiti that tell the authentic story of the Wall. On an island in the Spree River, you can find a complex of 5 amazing museums, thus the name Museum Island. If you are a religious person or an admirer of the architecture, make sure you visit Evangelical Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church, or shorter, Berlin Cathedral, as well as neoclassical Brandenburg Gate. Animal and nature lovers are recommended to go and check out the oldest zoo in Germany, The Berlin Zoological Garden with over 1,500 animal species and over 20,000 animals in the zoo.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Another capital that you shouldn’t forget when backpacking through Europe is Copenhagen. Apart from The Viking Ship Museum and The Sculpture of The Little Mermaid at Langelinie Pier, you will find many more tourist attractions worth visiting. Copenhagen hides some great cultural treasures like Kronborg Renaissance and Baroque Castle, famous for Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Rosenborg Castle where you can see royal crowns with jewels in great condition. Another thing Copenhagen is famous for is its Art Galleries and Museums, some of which are The National Gallery of Denmark – also the largest art museum in Denmark, or Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, where you can enjoy modern and ancient art. Tourists are suggested to relax a little bit after a long day of walking in Nyhavn – where they will have the opportunity to enjoy tasty food and street music by the canal. Another reason why you should visit Copenhagen is the fact that it houses the largest aquarium in Northern Europe, which you are free to explore. The walk through long underwater tunnels will most definitely leave you breathless and astonished.
Barcelona, Spain
Explore Barcelona’s Modernist Architecture on a Vespa. As soon as you put your foot here you will have the feeling as if you were in a giant Modernist museum. Buildings of famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí will be everywhere you look – from those with worldwide fame like the Sagrada Família to the equally amazing, yet omitted from many guidebooks Palau Güell, Casa Batlló and Casa Vicens. Enjoy your ride on a Vespa through this city and learn more about its history at the Museu d’Historia de Barcelona. Another interesting thing that you get to do when visiting a foreign country is tasting their traditional food and drinks. Did you mean to leave Barcelona without tasting their tapas or seafood? Call it a day, park your Vespa and you are free to sip a glass or two of vermouth while enjoying all these delicious dishes. This is something you shouldn’t miss for the world.
Rome, Italy
The best way to explore Rome is on foot. This way, you will get to see all you have ever wanted and spend as much time as you want sightseeing – no tour guide and no tour bus will get in your way. Months from May to September are perfect for visiting Rome – clear sky and warm weather make a perfect setting for leisurely strolls down the cobblestone streets of Rome . Where to go? The Colosseum, Vatican City and The Trevi Fountain is where you should start. Move on to Ponte Sant’Angelo and Pantheon, and finish your day in the gardens of Villa Borghese, Villa Doria Pamphili or Villa Ada.
Paris, France
What are the 5 things to do when in Paris, France?
- Climb The Eiffel Tower – the chance to overlook Paris from the top of The Eiffel Tower gives you a powerful feeling and the view is more than beautiful.
- Visit Louvre Museum – you must have heard of this enormous museum with more than 53,000 art pieces dating from the prehistoric ages to the 21st C. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is displayed precisely in this museum.
- Watch a dance performance in Moulin Rouge – watch dancers perform can-can in this cabaret house with a red windmill on the roof.
- Go to The Château de Versailles – go to the suburbs of Paris to see this great symbol of monarchy.
- Explore The Notre Dame Cathedral – see how the French implemented Gothic elements in their architecture and admire the greatness of this Catholic Church.
