Europe | Viator Travel Blog

Aurora Borealis in Iceland

20. November 2009

"I am going to Iceland to see the Aurora Borealis," I said confidently. Everyone was envious. Which only egged me on. "Yeah, it’s the right time of year, and I’ve just got a feeling." Digging myself a whole trench full of trouble. Everyone knows the Northern Lights are capricious at best, downright elusive the rest of the time. But since childhood I’d wanted to see them. So here I was in Iceland. This was my chance.

Oberammergau Passion Play

19. November 2009

1 Comment

The 2010 Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, is a once-a-decade event that takes over, consumes, and essentially overwhelms the entire town of Oberammergau. Once every 10 years, more than half of this Bavarian village's 5,000 inhabitants take part as actors in the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play. This may be the world's most famous play... that you have never heard of!

Rome Catacombs Tour

17. November 2009

2 Comments

I arrive for my Rome catacombs tour early and so sit in the last of the October sun munching on a suppli (a Roman snack containing a deep-fried ball of rice and mozzarella). Aptly our first destination is the catacombs of Saint Calisto – one small part of a huge network of catacombs in Rome.

Madrid on the Cheap

11. November 2009

0 Comments

Before the arrival of the euro, Madrid was well known as one of Europe’s cheaper destinations. These days, as on the rest of the continent, you can go through money like water if you don’t come prepared. You need to plan ahead, and go with the local flow, to make Madrid achievable on a budget.

Atlas Obscura: Cemetery Edition

30. October 2009

2 Comments

This month, Atlas Obscura leads us through the dark alleys of Highgate Cemetery in London, St. Sebastian’s Cemetery in Salzburg, and Merry Cemetery, Romania. Happy Halloween!

All My Roads Lead to Dubrovnik

27. October 2009

1 Comment

Dubrovnik, in Croatia, just keeps pulling me back in. For starters it’s beautiful; for another thing there are a few different ways to experience it. In the past I’ve always stayed in or near the old town (Grad). The walled old city is so spectacularly beautiful that to wake up in the morning and look out the window at all that history is magical.

Reykjavik, Iceland: Top Things to Do

23. October 2009

3 Comments

Reykjavik (Reykjavík), despite its tiny population, is a very cosmopolitan place for being tucked away in distant Iceland. The nightlife in Reykjavik is legendary. And when the sun is out, the mustards and crimsons of its corrugated houses sit in happy contrast with the Nordic blue of the summer sky. Reykjavik is an awfully pretty town to meander through.

Madrid’s Top 5 Day Trips

20. October 2009

2 Comments

The Spanish capital, Madrid, isn’t exactly short of things to do. But for those who have got a little more time to explore, there are some awesome day trips from Madrid available. There are a series of interesting cities that are either a short distance away or can be reached in surprisingly quick times via high speed train. Whether it’s mosques, cathedrals and castles or a carnivorous feast on local specialities, these cities have plenty to offer. And then there are the royal and literary hang-outs that are just on Madrid’s door step...

Jack the Ripper Tour of London. Boo.

19. October 2009

1 Comment

It was a dark and blustery day in this dirty old town. Time was ripe to do something dangerous, weird and sinister. Well, perhaps I would just go and listen to something like that. I love all the crazy stories of London – if you have read Dickens you will know it have always been a throbbing hub of criminality and destitution. It still often feels that way as many of the buildings are remnants of times gone by, good and bad.

Bizarre Germany: Odd Things To See & Do

13. October 2009

0 Comments

So you've ticked off the wall in Berlin, the Oktoberfest, the Rhine cruise and all manner of stunning castles and cathedrals? Well, you’ve only just scratched the surface of Germany – and the way to get the most out of the rest is to make things a little weirder. We’ve picked out eight of the most bizarre places to visit in Germany and they’re far from the usual suspects.