Loveurope

On our first day of this itinerary of 15 days in Europe, depending on what time you arrive in Budapest, you will be ble to explore the city that was born out of the joining of Buda and Pest, following the construction of the famous Chain Bridge.

It’s time to explore the city which was born by unification of two sections: ‘Buda’ on the west side of the river Danube and ‘Pest’ on the east side.

Since  ’89 Hungary and it’s capital have undergone impressive development and every year they receive more and more tourist, youngsters above anyone else, are atracted by festivals held here as well as the nightlife provided by the famous Ruins Bars.

Feeling chilly? Then don’t forget your swimsuit as you will have the chance to enjoy the best thermal baths in Europe, either at Szechenyi or at Gellert.

Did you know…

• Wizz-Air, the second Low Cost flight company of Europe is Hungarian….that’s why it’s so easy to find cheap flights to Budapest.
• The first Ruins Bar to open in Budapest is called Szimpla Kert. 

Today we will continue our itinerary of 15 days in Europe. After saying bye to Budapest, we will start our day heading to impressive Tatras mountains, that mark the border between Poland and Slovakia. This drive is especially pleasant for nature lovers.

Once in Slovakia, only a few kilometers after crossing the border, we will visit a tiny town called Oravsky Podzamok, where we will visit one of the oldest castles in Slovakia, Orava Castle (optional entrance).

After visiting the castle we will continue on our itinerary of 15 days in Europe, passing through Slovakia until we arrive in Krakow.  Karkow s a very famous city in a country which was host to many battles and bombings during WW2: Poland.

Almost all the Polish cities have been totaly destroyed and there are very few with such an intact old town. One of them is Wroclaw, where we will make a stop if everything goes as planned, to feel the atmosphere of this young city, where more than 100 bridges cross the river Oder. From there, we will follow to the south of Poland, where the cultural and touristic capital of Poland awaits us: Krakow.

*Optional Activity:

• Visit to Orava Castle

Did you know…

• Every saturday, thrilling parties in thermal baths of Szechenyi take place, called  SPARTIES.
• Hungary used to be part of Austrio-Hungarian empire, thats why it has a lot in common with Vienna and Bratislava.

Krakow is the cultural icon of Poland, given its history: here you will have the chance to enjoy different zones developed in different eras, and that didn’t suffer too much damage during World War II.

The medieval old town is perfectly conserved and it’s possible to walk through it, following the royal path that goes from the north to the south of the city, starting at the Barbican, crossing the market square, the biggest in Europe, which is dominated by the Saint Mary’s cathedral, and finishing at the legendary castle Wawel, which overlooks the river Vistula.

In the  XIX century, the Jewish quarter was developed on the south from the castle, the most active and characteristic quarter of the town. This quarter was converted into a ghetto during the Nazi control and it’s where Schindler lived, a German that saved thousands of Jewish lives, lying to german authorities and whose story was reflected in a Steven Spielberg.

Moreover, Krakow has a district that is characterised by communist architecture, known by urbanists from all around the world as Nowa Huta. This also happens to be a very well developed industrial zone.

Close to Krakow, about a one hour driving distance, the only concentration camp that survived the German selfdestruction in their attempts to erase the proofs of the existence of these camps.

Auschwitz is a place of memory and reflexion, where a local guide will speak to us either in english or in spanish about all the atrocities of the Nazi regime and about the physical and moral destruction that Jews had to bear.

*Optional Activity:

• Trip to Auschwitz

Did you know…

• Auschwitz and Krakow have been scene to many movies:  Movies set in Poland
• The famous scientist Copernicus, the first one to notice that the sun, not the earth was the centre of the solar system, studied in Krakow.

Another day, another country, another language, another currency.

This time, the golden city of Prague awaits us! You will be amazed by the beautiful historic alleyways and the gorgeous 9th century castle that characterise ths city.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic laying on the Vltava River and is the largest city in the region of Bohemia. Throughout its history, it has been given several names, such as “The Golden City”, “City of a Hundred Spires” and “The Heart of Europe”.

Let´s make the most of the morning visiting this incredible city. We’ll go from the gunpowder tower and pass by the beautiful, modernist Municipal House to the Wenceslas square, universally known for the scene in “Prague Spring”.

The state theatre, where various works of Mozart were first shown, and the Jewish District are all close by. After, we can pass by the Clementinum, the old Jesuit college, to finally arrive at the Charles Bridge, with its 30 famous Baroque sculptures. If we have time, we can head to the “Old town Square” with its outstanding and fascinating astronomical clock.

In the afternoon we still have a lot to see of this beautiful city. If you have the energy, you can follow the path up to the Prague Castle, which sits in the bend of the Moldava river, and is the biggest castle in the world.

Get to know its patios, where we will find the Saint Vito Cathedral, with its artistic treasures, gothic palaces and ancient palace of the Bohemian kingswith the magnificent hall of Vladislav, which was the biggest civil hall in Europe in its time. Also, the St George Basilica, made in the year 920 and the Golden Lane, where the castle guards, medieval artisans, goldsmiths, alchemists and even the great Franz Kafka all stayed.

We hope that you didn’t get too tired today, because there is a huge variety of Czech beer to try and it’s very very cheap…

Did you know…

• The Prague Castle is described as the largest ancient castle on Earth. This is where the monarchy of Bohemia and the presidents of the Czech Republic stay. (We will visit this site and highlight the Golden Lane, as well as the Black and White Towers)
• Prague beer is cheaper than water! This is because beer is part of the everyday life and is sweet and drinkable. Awesome!
• Prague is not at the height of its fashion. The city still sees the “socks and sandals” look… Don’t believe us? Keep an eye out when you go

Once we have left Prague, we will head for the famous German capital! But before, we will make a stop in Dresden, the last German city we will visit and which is known as “Florence on the river Elbe”, We will have a chance to try “wurst”, German sausage and to admire the Baroque architecture of Berlin.

*The route from Prague to Berlin will be made on public transport. Unitrips will take charge for factors such as times organisation and the costs that this implies.

Did you know…

• The Berlin wall, which divided the city between 13th of August of 1961 and 9th of November 1989, was 45 km long. This wall separated the occidental part of Berlin from the communist part. Known as “wall of shame” it was 3,6 metres high.

“Ich bin ein Berliner”, which means “I am a Berliner” is what JFK said in ’63 to show support with people who were separated from their families due to construction of the Berlin wall. Today, it’s time for you to repeat the phrase and spend a day as a Berliner.

We will continue to the Checkpoint Charlie, running across a large portion of the former wall of Berlin, destroyed in ’89, which is certainly the most important political event of Germany to occur in the past 50 years. If there is time, we will get to famous Alexanderplatz, where you will have an opportunity head up to see a token of Berlin, its skyline and impressive views from the TV tower.

*Optional Activity:

• Berlin bus tour (with professional guide)

Did you know…

• One tenth of the population of Berlin is made up of mainly Turks, Italians, Poles and Russians. In addition, the German capital has the largest Turkish community outside Turkey, comprising of more than 150,000 people. The district of Kreuzberg is the most mixed city called “Little Istanbul”.

We shall say goodbye to Berlin with tears in our eyes… But don’t worry! The liberal city of Amsterdam is waiting for us!

To get to today’s destination on time, we must wake up early, and get on the bus; where we will cross most of Germany!

Did you know…

• There are more bikes than cars in Amsterdam, and it is thought that by 2025 all combustion cars will be banned.
• Most men and women are tall in Amsterdam. Men measure an average of 184 cm and women 170 cm.

Today we will have the whole day to enjoy Amsterdam and its unique architecture. Houses are so narrow and high that they appear to defy gravity.

Put on some comfortable shoes, because in Amsterdam, we will be walking a lot.

Amsterdam is a city full of surprises, so we will let you stay here another day, so that you can discover its streets, bridges, bars and the atmosphere of this modern and cosmopolitan city that attracts tourists from all around the world.

Do you enjoy  museums? Well, here you have various options; from classical Rijksmuseum, to the Flemish museum of Rembrandt, without forgetting the museum of the craziest european painter, Van Gogh Museum.

Not your cup of tea? In Amsterdam you can also find a contemporary art museum (MOCO) and if you fancy a beer, Heineken is your star choice! You like diamonds? Then go to a museum dedicated to the “forever stone”.

*Optional Activities:

• Boat trip on the Amsterdam Canals
• Visit to Anne Frank’s  Museum* (skip the line)
• Heineken Experience
• Zaanse Schans windmills

Más información acerca de los Coffee-Shops:

Los mejores Coffee Shops de Ámsterdam

Today on our itinerary of 15 days in Europe we will visit another BENELUX country, after the NE, we will take on the BE of Belgium, otherwise known as the heart of the EU.

Brussels, despite being a modern and relitavely small city, is the capital of Belgium and the whole of Europe. This decision was made due to its central position and the fact it was one of the few countries that belonged to the union of countries that formed the nucleus of todays European Union.

You´ll fall in love with the diplomatic and modern city with its bars of hundres of types of beer, its chocolate shops, the Grand Place, which will make your jaw drop at night. We will visit the city, and we´ll see the most characteristic and touristic places.

Brussels is also home to the head offices of many international organisations such as the CEE and the European Parliament, which is why it is easier to spot a diplomat on the street than it is to see a plane in the sky!

Tonight on our itinerary of 15 days in Europe, prepare youself to enjoy one of the most beautiful squares in Europe… which is even more beautiful after a few Beligum beers.

Did you know…

• The famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, also known as meón child, is not the original. There have been silent replacements of the statue due to it being damaged and stolen by vandals repeatedly.
• The three typical delights of Brussels are: fries, waffles and beer
• There are  many types of beer in Brussels, and the Delirium bar is one of the most picturesque, collecting them all
• There is a wellspring of hot water, cold water and sparkling water in the middle of the city, located at the Gare Central
• Some of its universities follow the Flemish method of education, while others remain French

Unitrippers!

Today we´re giving you 2 excellent options to choose from: you can stay in Brussels to rest and gain the energy you need to face the rest of the itinerary of 15 days in Europe, and enjoy its parks and avenue full of all kinds of shops. Alternatively, you can hop on the Unitrips bus that will head north of Belgium, in the direction of Ghent and Bruges, the 2 Flemish cities par excellence.

We will start the day visiting the beautiful and university city of Ghent and end up in the city of Bruges, which is the most visited city in Belgium, ahead of the capital. On the way back we will also stop at the Atomium to take some pictures.

Here you will be delighted to see how well these two medieval cities have beem preserved, where the medieval architectural style of Northern Europe is still very much intact!

*Optional Activity:

• Excursion (Bruges- Ghent – Atomium)

Did you know…

• During the Middle Ages, Bruges encountered its most prominent financial height which is reflected in its Gothic design. The city started its decay when its port was blocked by sandbars
• Contrary to the popular belief that relates the name of the city to a story about witches, “Brugge” has its roots in the Old Dutch word for “bridge”.
• It belongs to Flanders, cuturaly much richer region than Wallonia (the southern part of Belgium).

We’ll say our goodbyes to the amazing Brussels!

It’s time to Set our GPS in the direction of where we’ve all been waiting for… Paris!! After  breakfast we will head towards “The City of Lights”. It’s known for being the cosmopolitan capital of France and also it’s one of the most populated and visited cities of Europe. The city of Love

Do you want to know why it is called the city of lights?

Come with us to the panoramic tour bus around this city, driving aroung the most important spots of Paris, incredibly illuminated.

*Optional Activity:

•  Paris by Night

We’ll wake up in Paris and after having eaten a croissant and a hot drink, and begin our tour!

It’s going to be an intense day in the “Ville Lumiere”, so put your comfortable shoes on because it’s time to walk. We will start in Notre Dame, the great Lady of Paris, and going through pont Neuf, we will admire Paris’ river, The Seine and we will pass by the museum that contains the most famous painting of all times, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Of course, we’ll finish our tour at the most famous tower, the Eiffel Tower, a massive structure of steel which was a result of a universal exhibition in the nineteenth century and since then has watched the people of Paris from above, covered in trillions of their little locks. And you don’t have to be in love to enjoy Paris.

Did you know…

• The Eiffel Tower is 18 cm higher in summer, due to the expansion of iron.
• Why Paris is called City of Light? Its because many burglaries used to take place, so the mayor ordered putting candles in all windows, until gas lamps were installed on the streets.
• A problem called “Paris Syndrome“ affects many Japanese who arrive to the city with very high expectations which are not fulfilled during their visit so they suffer great disappointment. There is even a phone line available 24 hours a day for victims of the syndrome.

Today on our itinerary of 15 days in Europe you´ll have the day free to do what you like in Paris, giving you all the time you need to to see some of the places left on your list. If you don´t have any, we can give you some tips to know what do!

Now is the time to visit the Louvre to enjoy its long exhibitions and learn how to not wink at the Mona Lisa. If you prefer it, you can enjoy modern architecture and futuristic skyscrapers in the  La Défense neighbourhood.

Would you rather see somehting more exotic and multicultural? There is a very curious neighbourhood called Belleville, where Mr. Mallaussene used to live. If you want to see a bit of Italy in Paris don’t hesitate to visit the gardens of Luxembourg, which were owned by Maria dei Medici, and on the way appreciate the Pantheon, the Sorbonne (the top university in France) and stroll through the Latin Quarter and its thousands of pubs.

Enjoy your last day of this tour through Central Europe … Because at night, we will get back on the bus, heading for Madrid. (Around 16 bus hours).

We will cross the border n the morning, bright and early, and arrive  in the north of Spain. You’ll get to Spain through the windows as we drive across the country and end up where it all began: Madrid.

We hope you had an amazing time travelling with Unitrips and now you´ll be able to say that you have seen half of Europe and you will go home with memories of the most beautiful corners of this old continent, with your new friends from all over the world.