NETHERLANDS:

• In the southern provinces of Brabant and Limburg (and to a smaller extent also in Twente, Overijssel) Carnival is celebrated ever since medieval times. It occurs immediately before Lent; which is usually during February or March. Parades can be seen almost in any town usually on sunday but monday is possible aswell. Parades can also be held during the evening, all the wagons are then lit up by numerous small lights. This mostly takes place on the saturday of Carnival. The rest of the days many activities can be found ranging from streetpainting (stoepkrijten) to beer drinking contests.
• 'Koninginnedag' (queen's day) is held every year at april 30 (except sundays, when it will be held the saturday before) all over the country. In every village and town, you will find frollicking Dutch, freemarkets and authentic Dutch games. In several larger cities (notably The Hague and Utrecht) the festivities start in the evening of the 29th.
• Three-day Pinkpop popfestival every year with Pentecost ("Pinksteren") in Landgraaf, Limburg.
• Lowlands popfestival - every last weekend of August at Biddinghuizen, Flevoland.
• Summercarnaval A big parade through the center of Rotterdam. One of the biggest events in The Netherlands.
• Heineken Dance Parade - A big dance parade through Rotterdam. Much in the spirit of the popular Love Parade in Germany.
• North Sea Jazz Festival - Big summer jazz festival, held in the Ahoy stadion, Rotterdam since 2000. It moved there from The Hague. Around 1800 jazz, blues, funk, soul, hip Hop, latin and r&b acts play during this 3 day event.

UNITED KINGDOM:

• Stonehenge - an ancient stone circle located near the cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire.
• The Georgian architecture and Roman baths in Bath.
• York Minster (Cathedral) in the historic city of York.
• Canterbury Cathedral - the seat of the head of the church of England. Located in the city of Canterbury in Kent
• Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• The ancient and world-renowned universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
• The Eden Project near St Austell, a massive botanical gardens including indoor rainforest and mediterranean biodomes.
• The Giant's Causeway sixty miles from Belfast on the north coast of Northern Ireland is a World Heritage site and a natural wonder.
• Portsmouth Historic Dockyard home to three of the most important ships ever built and 800 years of naval history.
• The United Kingdom has an array of National Parks and designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that serve to preserve the country's natural heritage. There are 14 National Parks in total spread across England, Scotland and Wales (9 in England, 2 in Scotland and 3 in Wales) and 49 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (35 in England, 4 in Wales, 9 in Northern Ireland and 1 in both England and Wales). There are no Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Scotland, but there are the equivalent National Scenic Areas, of which there are 35 spread across the country.
• Many cities and towns in the United Kingdom are of interest to travellers outside the capital city of London. Following is an alphabetical selection of nine - others are listed under their specific regions:
  • Belfast - capital of Northern Ireland
  • Birmingham - central England's main city, features great shopping, and is home of the famous Balti
  • Bristol - an historical city famed for its Georgian architecture and nautical heritage.
  • Cardiff - capital of Wales, host to varied cultural events and many other modern and historical attractions.
  • Edinburgh - capital of Scotland, home to the largest arts festival in the world and numerous tourist attractions as well as being the second most visited city in the UK
  • Glasgow - Scotland's largest city, new cultural hotspot, former European City of Culture
  • Liverpool - European Capital of Culture 2008 - famed for its music, sport and nightlife
  • Manchester - Thriving bohemian music scene, home to the world's only new work arts festival and dozens of tourist attractions as well as being the third most visited city in the UK
  • Newcastle upon Tyne - largest city in the north east of England with a busy nightlife, a rejuvenated cultural scene and Hadrian's Wall.

IRELAND:

• Cork (Corcaigh) - second largest city in the Republic of Ireland - located on the banks of the River Lee. Founded c.600 by St. Finbarre and known for good food, pubs, shopping and festivals.
• Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath) - the capital and the country's largest city. With excellent pubs, fine architecture and good shopping, Dublin is a very popular tourist destination and is the fourth most visited European capital.
• Galway (Gaillimh) - a city on the river Corrib on the west coast of Ireland. Famous for its festivals and its location on Galway Bay. Known as the City of Tribes, Galway's summer is filled with festivals of music, food, gaelic language and culture. Galway hosts over fifty festivals a year, including the Galway Oyster Festival. The locals seem to give off a positive Bohemian vibe. Galway is split between two types of beautiful landscape: the gorgeous mountains to the west, and the east's farming valleys.
• Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh) - attractive medieval town, known as the Marble City - home to the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival, held annually in early June.
• Letterkenny - Main town in County Donegal, designated gateway status and reputed to be the fastest growing town in Europe. Good base for traveling in Donegal.
• Limerick (Luimneach) - a city on the river Shannon in the south-west of the country. Centre of Irish rugby.
• Sligo (Town and County)- Home to W.B. Yeats, internationally renowned poet. Mountains and beaches, scenery in general are the best points of Sligo.
• Waterfordd (Port Láirge) - Ireland's oldest city. In the south-east and close to the ferry port at Rosslare. Waterford is a popular visit for those who want to learn more about the most ancient history of Ireland. It is quite possibly one of the best cities in the country as it is not too large and is full of history. Many festivals take place throughout the year including ((Spraoi)). The food is good and the Granary Museum is the best for ancient Irish history in the country. Don't forget to try a blaa before you leave. (A floury bread bun peculiar to this area of Ireland).
• Wexford - Town and county in the "Sunny South-East"
• The Aran Islands (Na hOileáin Árann), Co. Galway - located in Galway Bay
• The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, both located in County Clare
• Brú Na Bóinne some of the finest neolithic monuments in the world, situated in Co. Meath
• Connemara (Conamara), in Western County Galway
• West Cork - Mountains, coves, islands and beaches at the very south of the country
• Kinsale in County Cork - Gastronomic excellence in Ireland's oldest town
• The Ring of Kerry and Skellig Michael in County Kerry
• Glendalough fine ruins and hiking trails in Co Wicklow
• Carlow has rapidly become one of Ireland's fastest growing counties
• The Dingle Penninsula (Corca Dhuibhne), Co. Kerry - a Gaeltecht region (Irish-speaking district) in the very SW corner of the country.

FRANCE: 
France has numerous cities and towns of interest to travelers. Below is a list of nine of the most notable:

• Paris - the "City of Light", the capital of France.
• Bordeaux - city of wine, capital of South-West
• Bourges - a middle aged city, capital of central France.
• Cannes - host of the annual Cannes Film Festival.
• Lyon - France's second city, with a history from Roman times to the Resistance, restaurants (Beaujolais and delicatessen)
• Marseille - big harbor, heart of Provence
• Nice - a major resort on the French Riviera
• Strasbourg -- a historic city on the Ill Rhine and home to, among other institutions, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Ombudsman, the European Parliament
• Toulouse -- "La Ville Rose," a very nice and lively city in the south of France
• Annecy - Medieval city situated on the shore of a mountain lake in the French Alps
• Bayeux - this Norman town preserves the famous Tapestry depicting Duke William's conquest of England in 1066 - also the first French town to be liberated after the D-Day landings in 1944
• Carcassonne - perfectly restored walled medieval town
• Chamonix - hometown of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest point
• Grenoble - Capital of the Alps, renowned for its scientific research centers.
• Moissac - the Cloister ( twelfth and fifteenth centuries), Centre of Romanesque Art, wonderful countryside
• Mont Saint Michel - World Heritage preservation of a medieval abbey, situated evocatively on an offshore island off the coast of Normandy
• Oradour-sur-Glanes - the town preserved as a monument by Charles de Gaulle, its inhabitants murdered and the town destroyed by the Gestapo in June 1944.
• Versailles - on the outskirts of Paris, the vast royal palace and magnificent estate of Louis XIV, the Sun King, and his successors
• Avignon - Avignon is one of the major cities of Provence, in Southern France. It is the main city of the département of Vaucluse, and is located on the banks of the Rhône river. Avignon was one of the European Cities of Culture in 2000.
• Vitré - Medieval city with a very rich heritage (castles, churches, etc.) in the East frontier of Brittany.

AUSTRIA:

• Zell am See - one of the most important touristique city in Austria (European Sport Region)
• Kaprun - part oft the European Sport Region
• Wörthersee - one of Austria's warmest lakes
• Bodensee - a big lake situated in Vorarlberg/Switzerland/Germany
• St. Anton - the leading ski resort in Austria
• Pinswang - one of the most ancient settlements of the North Tirolean Ausserfern, on the border with Bavaria and a short walk or drive to King Ludwig's castles.
• Skiing
  • Lech and Zürs am Arlberg - famous for its royal clientele, but an underrated ski area
  • St. Anton - the Tyrol's best-known resort and hardest skiing
  • Ischgl - a progressive resort with a link into Switzerland and the village of Samnaun
  • Sölden (Ötztal) - popular with snowboarders and apres-ski enthusiasts
• Cycle Touring - Austria is well known for its scenic cycle routes along its largest rivers. Though Austria is a mountainous country, cycle routes along rivers are flat or gently downhill, and therefore suitable even for casual cyclists. The most famous route is the Danube cycle path from Passau to Vienna, one of the most popular cycle paths in Europe, drawing large crowds of cyclists from all over the world each summer. Other rivers with well-developed cycle routes are the Inn, Drau, Moell and Mur. Most routes follow a combination of dedicated cycle paths, country lanes, and traffic calmed roads, and are well suited for children.
• Music - Many visitors come to experience Austria's musical heritage. Salzburg and Vienna offer world renowned opera, classical music and jazz at moderate prices, but performances of high standards are also widely available throughout the rest of the country. There are dozens of Summer festivals for all tastes, the most famous being the avant-garde Salzburg festival (Salzburger Festspiele) but because they're aimed at tourists prices can be high. Austria's strong musical tradition is not confined to classical music alone. Austrian folk music (Volksmusik) is an integral part of rural Austria, and is said to have influenced many of the nation's big composers. In the Alps almost every village has its own choir or brass band (Blasmusik), and you'll often see groups of friends sitting down to sing Lieder in rural pubs. Traditional Alpine instruments are the accordion and zither. In Vienna a type of melancholic violin music known as Schrammelmusik is often performed in Restaurants and Heurigen.
• Movies - Austria has quite a special kind of cinematic culture, that is worth taking notice of as tourist. Many films star celebrities from cabaret, a kind of staged comedy popular in Austria. Most of these movies are characterized by their rather cynical and sometimes bizarre black humour, usually portraying members of Vienna's lower or middle class. Josef Hader, Roland Düringer, Reinhard Nowak or Alfred Dorfer are among the most outstanding actors here. Recommendations include Indien (1993), Muttertag (1993), Hinterholz 8 (1998), Komm, süßer Tod (2000) and Silentium (2004). Popular directors are Harald Sicheritz, Michael Haneke and Ulrich Seidl. Haneke received positive international praise for his films Die Klavierspielerin (2001), based on the novel by nobel-price winning author Elfriede Jelinek and Caché (2005). Seidl received various awards for his drama Hundstage (2001). Also, the 1949 classic The Third Man was shoot in Vienna, and is shown in Vienna's Burg Kino regularly.
• Hiking - It is normally safe to hike without a guide in the Austrian Alps, as there is a dense network of marked trails and mountain shelters. However, a few lethal incidents do happen every year as a result of carelessness. Walkers are strongly advised not to stray off the trails and hike in bad weather or without suitable equipment. Before setting off, always check with the local tourist office whether the trail corresponds to your abilities. Also check the weather forecast. Sudden thunderstorms are frequent and are more likely to happen in the afternoon. A rule of thumb is that if you haven't reached the summit by noon it's time to give up and return to shelter. Though the scenery is by all accounts majestic, don't expect an empty wilderness. The Alps can be very crowded with mountaineers, especially in high season (there are even traffic jams of climbers on some popular mountains). Littering is a no-no in all of Austria, but especially in the mountains, and you will enrage fellow walkers if you're seen doing it. If you really want to show respect pick up any litter you happen to see in your path and dispose of it at the end of your hike (it's a bit of an unwritten rule). Long distance trails are marked with the Austrian flag (red-white-red horizontal stripes) painted onto rocks and tree trunks. Most trails and mountain huts are maintained by the Austrian Alpine Club. Some are run by other equivalent organizations, such as the German, Dutch and Italian Alpine Clubs. Mountain huts are meant to be shelters, not hotels. Though they are normally clean and well-equipped, standards of food and accommodation are basic. Don't expect a high level of customer service either. A sleeping bag is not required as blankets are provided. During the high season (August) it's a good idea to book in advance. Mountain huts will not turn anyone down for the night but if they're full you'll have to sleep on the floor.

GERMANY:
Germany has numerous cities of interest to tourists; these are the top seven travel destinations.

• Berlin — the reunified and reinvigorated capital of Germany; known for its division during the Cold War — and the Berlin Wall. Today its a metropolis of diversity with elegant clubs and galleries and traditional restaurants. It is also a haven for shoppers.
• Cologne (Köln) — Germany's fourth-largest city, 2000 years old with its huge cathedral, Romanesque churches, and archaeological sites, also well known for its carnival and its Christopher-Street-Day parade. Don't forget to try the local cuisine and of course the beer—called "Kölsch".
• Dresden - World-famous for its Frauenkirche and historic center, the city offers more than the average traveller knows. Great festivals, all kinds of cultural entertainment, vibrant night life, and surrounded by beautiful natural vistas. There is a reason it was once called 'Florence-on-the-Elb'.
• Dusseldorf (Düsseldorf) — the capital North Rine Westphalia is famous as Germany's capital of fashion, offers a wide scale of fascinating new architecture. Right along the shores of river rhine, the "Altstadt" and the "Medienhafen" are among the most decent places in Germany to enjoy a vibrant nightlife! Being one of the country's wealthiest cities, the atmosphere for the tourist is very pleasent. Germans call it "the only metropolis ending with -dorf (German for village)".
• Frankfurt — Germany's leading financial center, transportation hub, seat of the European Central Bank (ECB), international trade fair center (Book Fair, Motor Show), hub of multicultural activity (30% Immigrants), and site of numerous world-class museums and theaters. It is also Germany's only city with enough skyscrapers to have a skyline.
• Hamburg — Germany's second-largest city, famous for its harbour as well as its liberal and tolerant culture. Don't miss the Reeperbahn with its night clubs and casinos. Hamburg is also popular for its many musicals.
• Munich (München) — Bavaria's beautiful capital city and Southern Germany's leading city, site of the famous Oktoberfest and the gateway to the Alps.
• Forests - Germans are fanatic about their forests. While they are much smaller now than they used to be in medieval times, they are still huge compared to forests in other, especially western and southern European countries and only thinly populated. Among others, the Black Forest and the Bayrische Wald have been declared national heritage and will, over the course of the next centuries, slowly return into a wild state. Although Germans love to go for long walks and hikes in these dark and humid woods, there's space enough for everyone to get lost. If you take one of the smaller paths you may not meet another person for the rest of the day (this in a country of 230 people per square kilometer). Especially the more remote areas are of an almost mythical beauty. It is no wonder the brothers Grimm could collect all those fairytales among the dark canopies, and a large part of the German poetry circles around trees, fog and those lonely mountain tops. Even Goethe sent his Faust to the Brocken for his most fantastic scene. Today, wild animals, although abound, are mostly very shy, so you might not get to see many. While a few wolves in Saxony and a bear in Bavaria have been sighted, their immigration from Eastern Europe caused quite a stir. In the course of events "Bruno" (the bear) was shot, and while the wolves are under heavy protection local hunters have been suspected of killing them illegally. The most dangerous animal in Germany's forests is by far the wild pig, especially sows leading young are nothing to joke about. Wild pigs are used to humans, since they often plunder trash cans in villages and suburbs and their teeth can rip big wounds. If you see one, run.
• Mountains - The middle half of Germany is a patchwork of the so-called "Mittelgebirge": Hilly rural areas where fields and forests intermix with larger cities. Many of these hillranges are tourist destinations. Most noteably are the Bayrische Wald (Bavarian Forest), the Black Forest, the Harz, the Ore Mountains and Elbsandstone Mountains (Saxon Switzerland). In the very south, Germany contains a small portion of the Alps, Central Europe's highest elevation, rising as high as 4000m (12,000 ft) above sea level, with the highest summit in Germany being the Zugspitze, at 2962m (9717 ft). While only a small part of the Alps lie in Germany, they are famous for their beauty and the unique Bavarian culture. A lot of people go there or further south into neighboring Austria and Switzerland for skiing in the winter and hiking and climbing in the summer.
• Lake Constance - Lying along the country's south-western border with Switzerland and Austria, Lake Constance is Germany's largest fresh-water lake. The area around the Lake and up the lower Rhine valley has a very mild, amenable climate and fertile grounds, making it the country's most important area for wine and fruit growing.
• OTHER DESTINATIONS:
  • Baltic Sea Coast (Ostseeküste)
  • North Sea Coast (Nordseeküste)
  • North Frisian Islands (Nordfriesische Inseln)
  • Rügen
  • Lueneburg Heath (Lüneburger Heide)
  • Weserbergland
  • Harz
  • Spreewald
  • Ruhr area (Ruhrgebiet)
  • Eifel (Eifel)
  • Rhine Valley (MIttelrhein) between Bonn and Bingen
  • Upper Rhine Valley (Oberrheinische Tiefebene) between Bingen and Basel, Switzerland
  • Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge)
  • Heidelberg
  • Black Forest (Schwarzwald)
  • Lake Constance (Bodensee)
  • Bavarian Alps (Bayrische Alpen) (Berchtesgaden, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, (Neuschwanstein castle) )
  • Bavarian Forest (Bayerischer Wald) (Bodenmais, Arnbruck)
  • Bad Reichenhall

SWITZERLAND:  

GREECE: 

• ATHENS: (ÁèÞíá) 
  Is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.7 million inhabitants. It is in many ways the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization.
  • the Acropolis - the ancient "high city" of Athens, crowned by marble temples sacred to the city's goddess Athena
  • the Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio - charming historic districts at the foot of the Acropolis, with restored 19th century neoclassical homes, pedestrianized streets, shops and restaurants, and picturesque ruins from the city's Roman era
  • Kifissia - the northern part of Athens, rarely visited by tourists
  • Kolonaki - upscale residential area with many cafes, boutiques and galleries
  • Omonia and Exarheia - formerly seedy district home to Greece's students, anarchists and the National Archeaological Museum, now somewhat revitalized by the metro
  • Piraeus - the ancient port of Athens, Piraeus is today an independent, heavily industrial municipality located southwest of Athens, whose modern-day port serves almost all of Attica's ferry connections to Crete and the Aegean Islands.
  • Psiri - up and coming former industrial district, full of trendy or alternative restaurants, cafés, bars, and small shops.
  • Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos) - dominated by the old Royal Palace, Syntagma Square is the business district of Athens, complete with major hotels, banks, restaurants and airline offices.
  • Near Athens, in Glyfada (50 min by tram from the center), there is the Sea Turtle Rescue Society Archelon. They are regularly looking for volunteers who are willing to work on their own costs and are able to take care of injured Sea Turtles.
  • Attend an event at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. It runs during the summer and offers a wide spectrum of events covering almost every taste. Try to attend a performance at the ancient theater of Epidaurus -a truly unforgetable experience.
• HERAKLION: (ÇñÜêëåéï) 
  Crete's largest city and main hub.
  • Heraklion Summer Arts Festival - from June to September
  • Amoudara the city's beach area; a three kilometer strip of sandy beach, lots of cafes, bars and hotels and the site of "Technopolis", a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theatre.
  • Horseback riding, experienced and amateur riders can ride at the beach of Karteros, or take riding lessons at Ippikos Omilos Hrakliou, located 6km east of Heraklion, in Karteros.
  • Rock Climbing, localers and visitors can climb on a 50 foot rock at the suburb of Karteros, east of Heraklion. Safety equipment is provided, but one can use his own gear too.
  • Water fun, at the nearby Water City and Aqua Plus water parks.
• PATRA: (ÐÜôñá)
  Patras is the third largest urban conglomeration of Greece, (after Athens/Piraeus and Thessaloniki). It is the capital of the Prefecture of Achaia on the Peloponnese and the western gateway into the country, thanks to numerous ferry connections with Italy.
  • Patras is well known for the wines produced by the Achaia Clauss wine factory and especially for a variety called Mavrodafni.
  • Visitors should also taste the local liqueur called Tentoura which is usually served as a digestive.
• THESSALONIKI: (Èåóóáëïíßêç) 
  The country's second largest city.
  • Thessaloniki is home to many museums, mostly archaeological and ethnographic. It also has a very active nightlife, as a 2007 New York Times article calls it "Seattle of the Balkans".
  • Other Greeks consider Thessaloniki a gourmet city - but bear in mind that this refers to the excellent local specialities and cheap-and-cheerful ouzo taverns rather than to haute cuisine or a range of foreign restaurants. The latter are best avoided in Thessaloniki.
    • For a morning or late-night snack, try Bougatsa pies: cream (sweet) or cheese (savoury) filling.
    • For a carnivore's treat, try soutzoukakia: minced meat pellets either grilled (at the central market or rotisseries) and topped with with chilli pepper flakes, or in tomato and cumin sauce (Smyrna-style).
    • Go for a meal in one of the many downtown ouzo restaurants (ouzeri) - some of the best are Agora (off Ionos Dragoumi, one of the most interesting old downtown areas); Odos Aristotelous off Aristotelous Square; Vrotos, off Athonos; Bit-Pazar and Selini in the Bit-Pazar area. Accompany your ouzo or tsipouro with a battery of small dishes - by far the best way to eat in Salonica. Particularly good are the fava beans, the octopus either grilled or in wine sauce and mussels (fried, or in pilaff, or with a hot cheese sauce, saganaki).
    • There are also a couple of good Cretan restaurants: Myrsini (behind the State Theatre) and Apo Dyo Horia (near Navarinou). Here, order raki rather than ouzo or tsipouro.
    • If you see "boiled vegetables' on the menu in wintertime, go ahead and order them- you'll be amazed at how good they taste.
    • Another typical winter salad is politiki, a combination of shredded cabbage and pickles.
• VOLOS: (Âüëïò) 
  Is the 5th biggest city (and 3d largest port) in Greece, situated in Thessaly, almost in the middle of the distance between Athens (326 km) and Thessaloniki (219 km).
  • Volos specializes in "Tsipouradika" (Greek Τσιπουράδικα) (also called "Ouzeri" (Greek Ουζερί)) where ("Tsipouro") (local Greek spirit) is served with a huge variety of tidbits. There are plenty of "tsipouradika" along the waterfront near the port. Cheaper choices can be found in Nea Ionia area.
• OTHER DESTINATIONS:
  • Delphi - site of the famous oracle of Apollo
  • Meteora - monastery
  • Mount Athos - monastery
  • Olympia - sanctuary dedicated to Zeus, site of the ancient Olympics
  • Parnassos National Park
  • Parnitha National Park
  • Olympos National Park

ITALY:

• North - The North of Italy is the country's most populated and developed portion. Cities like Turin, Milan, Bologna, Verona and Venice share the region's visitors with beautiful landscapes like the Lake Como area, impressive mountains such as the Dolomites and the Italian Alps and first-class ski resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo and others.
• Northwest - Piedmont (Piemonte), Liguria (home of the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre), Lombardy (Lombardia), Valle d'Aosta
• Northeast - Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto.
• Central Italy breathes history and art. Rome boasts the remaining wonders of the Roman Empire and some of the world's best known landmarks such as the Colosseum. Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, is Tuscany's top attraction, whereas nearby cities like Siena, Pisa and Lucca have much to offer to those looking for the country's rich history and cultural heritage.
• Lazio (the region around Rome), Marche, Tuscany (Toscana), and Umbria, Italy's green heart.
• Southern Italy - Bustling Naples, the dramatic ruins of Pompeii, the romantic Amalfi Coast and laidback Apulia, as well as up-and-coming agritourism help making Italy's less visited region a great place to explore.
• Abruzzo, Apulia (Puglia), Basilicata, Calabria, Campania and Molise
• Italian islands - Sardinia (Sardegna) and Sicily (Sicilia), the large island located to the south of the Italian peninsula (the "ball" to Italy's "boot") also Capri, Ischia, Elba, Procida, Aeolian Islands, Aegadian Islands, Tremiti and Pantelleria.
• Of the hundreds of Italian cities, here are nine of its most famous:

• Rome - (Roma): the capital, both of Italy and of the ancient Roman Empire; center of the Roman Catholic Church (the Vatican).
• Bologna - A major trade fair city.
• Florence - (Firenze): History, art, architecture. Uffizi gallery, David of Michelangelo Buonarroti.
• Genoa - (Genova) a vibrant and historical port city, birth place of Columbus.
• Milan - (Milano) - shares with Paris the title of fashion capital of the world and is the main financial and business center in the country.
• Naples - (Napoli) with its famous gulf and Vesuvius volcano, including Herculaneum and Pompeii.
• Pisa - home of the famous Leaning Tower.
• Venice - (Venezia): History, art. Saint Mark's Square. The city is built on a lagoon, filled with canals, with no roads for cars. Very poetic and romantic.
• Verona - a restored Roman coliseum is the stage for modern opera productions. Verona is the city where Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is based.

OTHER DESTINATIONS:

• Calabria and its pearl Praja a Mare - the italian best kept secret
• Capri and Ischia - the famed islands in the Bay of Naples
• Cinque Terre - five tiny, scenic, towns strung along the steep vineyard-laced coast of Liguria.
• Vatican City - the independent city-state and seat of the Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Lago di Garda - A beautiful lake in Northern Italy.
• Italian Alps, including The Dolomites - Some of the most beautiful mountains there are.

PORTUGAL: Surrounded by sea in almost its entirety, the Portuguese beaches are well worth visiting. A lot of activities are offered, from surfing, to kite-surfing, and during the summer months the most frequented beaches offer sand based activities such as aerobics. If you're not the type of breaking into a sweat during holidays, almost every single public beach will have a bar where locals sit. The climate, combined with investments in the golfing infrastructure in recent years, has turned the country into a golfing haven. Portugal was recently named "Best Golf Destination 2006" by readers of Golfers Today, a British publication. Fourteen of Portugal's courses are rated in the top 100 best in Europe. Portugal is also a great location to learn the game and perfect technique. Many resorts offer classes with the pros. Courses can satisfy the most demanding golfer, while newcomers won't be intimidated, unless they find the beautiful landscapes and stunning vistas distracting to their game. The countryside also offers a great deal of possibilities, although you will have to incite the travel agent's advise a little more than usual, as they tend to just sell beach holidays. Cycling through the mountainous terrain of Geres or white-water rafting in the affluents of river Douro is an exhilirating experience. 

Events
The annual Ecotopia 2007 gathering is being held in Aljezur from 4th till 18th of August south of Portugal. Aljezur is 250km south of Lisbon, the capital and 30 km from Lagos, the nearest city. There are several Fairs, specially in the Summer months, particularly in the Northern Portugal. During the summer music festivals are also very common. In the north of the country two of the oldest festivals such as Paredes de Coura and Vilar de Mouros. The regions chosed for the festivals are most of the time surrounded by beautiful landscapes and pleasant villages. In the south, the most famous one is Festival do Sudoeste, in the west part of the south cost with a summer landscape and never ending beaches.

SPAIN:

FESTIVALS: Spain has a lot of local festivals that are worth going to.

• Córdoba en Mayo (Cordoba in May) - great month to visit the Southern city
• Las Cruces (1st week in May) - big flower-made crosses embellishing public squares in the city center, where you will also find at night music and drinking and lot of people having fun!
• Festival de Patios - one of the most interesting cultural exhibitions, 2 weeks when some people open doors of their houses to show their old Patios full of flowers
• Cata del Vino Montilla-Moriles - great wine tasting in a big tent in the city center during one week in May
• Fallas - Valencia's festival in March - burning the "fallas" is a must
• Seville's April Fair - flamenco dancing, drinking sherry, bullfights
• San Fermines - July in Pamplona, Navarra.
• Fiesta de San Isidro - May 15 in Madrid - a celebration of Madrid's patron saint.
• Holy week - best in Seville and the rest of Andalusia; also interesting in Valladolid
• Carnival - best in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Cádiz
• Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (Three wise men parade) - on the eve of epiphany, 5th of January, the night before Spanish kids get their Christmas presents, it rains sweets and toys in every single town and city
• La Tomatina - a giant tomato fight in Buñol
• Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians, mostly found in Southeastern Spain during spring time) - parades and "battles" remembering the fights of medieval ages

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:

• Canyoning: According to outdoor activities operators, Aragon canyons are the best in Europe (most long and intensive) and third in the world--and there are up to 150 canyons available in the region. Canyons are both in Sierra de Guara and Pireneus. Alquezar is the main starting point for canyons in Aragon.
  Canyons:
  • Basender
  • Cabrito
  • Fornocal
  • Portiacha
  • Río Vero
• Climbing in: Los Mallos, Aragon
• Rafting in: Murillo de Gallego

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