3 Days in Barcelona

“There is where it all began… There is where I understood how far I could go.”

– Pablo Picasso –

PRINT & GO

Before your departure, do not forget to check/bring with you:

– Boarding pass and hotel reservation

– Barcelona city map

– Barcelona public transport map

– Barcelona tourist office website

DAY 1: VISIT BARCELONA (GAUDI SITES)

Barcelona is one of the most original cities in Europe (I would say in the world). The city can be visited with your eyes looking at the front and with the eyes looking at the sky, the “horizontal” view and the “vertical” one are different but both remarkable.  The “horizontal” view will show you  Barcelona’s everyday life and its great past, its small streets and its huge avenues, its way to be dark, scary, and Gothic and at the same time colorful, magic and happy. The “vertical” scenario will make you admire the stunning architecture, a great contribute to the city from Gaudi and many other remarkable architects.

Your first day in Barcelona can be dedicated to the master of the city, the architect who made Barcelona the unique wonder that is nowadays, the artist who makes us enjoy the city “horizontally” and “vertically” : Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi’s masterpieces are numerous in Barcelona but we can visit some of them in one day.

• The first place to see is definitely Park Guell. Considered as part of UNESCO heritage, this garden complex was built up at the beginning of the 20st century by request of Eusebi Guell, who wanted to create a public garden for the aristocracy. Nowadays this space is a unique fusion of nature and architecture, since it hosts fantastic architectural elements designed by Gaudi, such as the Dragon fountain at the entrance, or the balcony with colorful mosaics giving a great view on the city, or the house where the architect lived his last years (and that is nowadays a nice museum).

How to get there: Metro Line L3, stop “Lesseps”. From there, you will need to walk uphill for around 20mins.

  

• After a nice walk in the Park Guell, you can go back to the city to  visit other Catalan Modernism wonders. Before going back to Gaudi, you should stop by Casa Terrades (known also as Casa de las Punxes),  designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Despite of its aspect of medieval castle, Casa Terrades is a masterpiece of Modernism.

How to get there: Metro Line L5, stop “Verdaguer”.

• From Casa Terrades, take Passeig de Gracia and you will be able to admire another wonder signed Gaudi: Casa Mila. Known also as La Pedrera,  this original building respects all the aspect of the Gaudi’s Modernism: absence of straight lines and wavy movements everywhere, in the walls, in the balconies. This space is accessible for visits and hosts nowadays the Cultural Centre of Caixa de Catalunya.

How to get there: Metro line L4, stop “Passeig de Gracia”.

• La Pedrera is located in Passeig de Gracia, a huge modern avenue, plenty of high-fashion stores, bars and restaurants..it’s somehow the Champs Elysées of Barcelona. You can stop there to grab something for lunch.
• After a lunch break, keep on walking through Passeig de Gracia until you will get to Casa Batllo. This is probably one of the most beautiful Gaudi’s works: wavy lines, colorful facade, extravagant elements of decoration.

How to get there: Metro line L4, stop “Passeig de Gracia”.

 

• Time to leave Passeig de Gracia and visit one of the main symbols of the city: the Sagrada Familia. This is Gaudi’s biggest masterpiece, he consecrated so much time and energy to create this jewel that he died without finishing it. Honestly, I have never had the chance to see this church without the works in progress and I don’t know if I will ever have it (according to what I saw last time, there are still a lot of years left before the works are finalized), but even if half covered this church needs to be visited, outside and inside, since it’s a really unique wonder. Outside, La Sagrada Familia is a fusion of Gaudi’s architectural style and a pure representation of the symbols of the Christian’s Faith. The 18 towers indicates the 12 Apostles, the 4 Evangelists, Mary and Jesus. The facades evoke the pillars of faith and the main steps of Jesus’ life. The entrance to this church could be expensive (around 13€), but is totally worth.

How to get there: Metro line L2, stop “Sagrada Familia”

• The last Gaudi masterpiece to visit on the first day in Barcelona is Palau Guell. This is probably the building that stayed more intact inside. Outside is a show of wavy lines, with two big iron doors and 18 chimneys on the roof. Inside you can find Gaudi’s influence in the furniture, in the windows, in the stairs, in every single corner. The building is accessible for visits.

 

Your tour is over for the first day. Now you can go back to the hotel, take a rest, and go out again to enjoy Barcelona’s nightlife. The first night in the city can be spent in the several restaurants and cafes around La Rambla and Plaça de Catalunya.

 DAY 2: VISIT BARCELONA (CIUTAT VELLA)

The second day in Barcelona can be dedicated to the visit of the most popular area, the old town.

• You can start your tour from Plaça de Catalunya. This is a massive square, surrounded by elegant 19th century buildings,  park benches, pretty fountains, reflecting pools, and numerous neoclassical monuments. This is a focal point for public transportation (most of the metro and tram lines pass via “Plaça de Catalunya” stop).

• From Plaça de Catalunya, you can start walking through the most popular street in Barcelona: La Rambla. This is a 1km pedestrian street which describe two different aspects of the city. From the “in front” point  of view, La Rambla is surrounded by shops, cafes, restaurants (you can have your lunch over there) and continuous animation on the streets. From the “at the sky” point of view, La Rambla is surrounded by magnificent and elegant buildings, extremely beautiful at day and at night.

How to get there: Metro line L3, stop “Liceu” or “Drassanes”

    

• La Rambla will take you to the city port, but, before visiting this area, you need to go back and visit one of the most attractive areas in Barcelona: the Barrio Gotico (Gothic area). This is located on one side of La Rambla and it’s the old part of the town. Very narrow streets, old and small buildings, dark corners, few lights, this is the magic of the Gothic area. Walking down these streets will take you to an enchanted world. You will feel like transported in one of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s novels, sometimes it can be scary but attractive as well. The Gothic area has important spots, such as Plaça Reial, Plaça George Orwell, Casa de la Ciutat (Town Hall), the City Cathedral, although don’t stick on these corners only but  take your time to walk and get lost in the old narrow and anonymous streets.

How to get there: Metro line L4, stop “Jaume I”

  

 

• Going out of the Gothic area, you will arrive in the Old Port area. This part of the city starts with the Mirador de Colom, a statue in honor of Columbus. In front of the statue is Mare Magnum, a modern structure that you can access via a special bridge and where you can find shops and restaurants. The inside part is not so relevant, but it is nice to have a walk till Mare Magnum and enjoy the Old Port atmosphere.

 

• Afterwards, have an enjoyable walk along the Old Port, through Passeig Colom, a very nice street with a lot of green space and palms everywhere. You can relax, walk under the sun and breath the fresh air of the sea.

 

• Passeig Colom will take you to Barceloneta. This is the area of the fishermen and is house of several fish restaurants, sandy beaches and nice cafes.

How to get there: Metro line L4, stop “Barceloneta”

 

The second day in Barcelona is more relaxing than the second one. For the nightlife, you can stay in Barceloneta and enjoy some delicious fish restaurants and go to one of the great night clubs.

 DAY 3: VISIT BARCELONA (MONTJUIC AND MUSEUMS)

The third and last day in Barcelona can be taken very easily, you can also have a late morning and start your tour at any time you wake up.

•  This time we will abandon the noise of the city to go to a quiet place: Montjuic. This is a nice hill located in the city and easily accessible through a funicular that you can take from “Parallel” Metro stop and whose ticket is the same as the city public transportation one. In less than 3 minutes you will arrive to another world, with  few cars, few paths and a lot of quiet and nature, where people prefer to go on foot or by bike. Created as fortifications site,  Montjuic Park has lately evolved into a vast spot filled with green areas and gardens,  cultural and architectural attractions (e.g. Palau St Jordi, used for many important concerts, or the impressive Telecommunication Tower designed by Calatrava), sports facilities and Olympic sites (e.g. the Olympic stadium), all implemented during the 1929 International Exhibition and the 1992 Olympic Games. Montjuic is also home to museums, such as the Fundació Miró, the Museu d’Arqueologia, the Museu Etnològic and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya-MNAC. When you arrive at this last museum, you will admire a wonderful view on the city and mainly on Plaça de Espanya.

How to get there: for the funicular get to Metro line L2, stop “Parallel”

  

• From the MNAC you can take the stairs down (there is also an escalator for the lazy ones) and arrive to Plaça de Espanya,  a place where many of the main roads in Barcelona intersect. It is also home to Barcelona’s old bull-fighting ring which is now nothing but a shell. Between Plaça de Espanya and Montjuic you can admire the magic fountain, an impressive fountain that creates color games during the night.

How to get there: Metro line L1,L3 and L5, stop “Espanya”

 

The visit of Montjuic and Plaça de Espanya will take you around half a day. You can spend the rest of your time doing something relaxing, such as shopping (Barcelona houses numerous designers’ stores, especially around the Old Town), going to the beach, or visiting some museums (Barcelona has many interesting museums, besides the ones mentioned above you can also visit the Museu d’Art Contemporani – Contemporary Art Museum, aka MACBA -, the Museu Maritim, the Museu Picasso or Museu de Ciences – Science Museum).

4 Days in Athens and Peloponnese

“Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts

And eloquence.”

– John Milton-

PRINT & GO

Before your departure, do not forget to check/bring with you:

• Boarding pass and hotel reservation
• Athens city map
• Athens public transport website
• Greece Tourist Office website

AT THE AIRPORT

Athens’ main airport  is the Elefterios Venizelos  International Airport. This is a very big and modern airport and is located at around 30kms from the centre. From Athens’ airport, you can reach the main city spots  in many ways:

• by bus: you can take bus x95 and it will take you directly to Syntagma Square. The bus is located outside the arrivals, between exit 4 and exit 5
• by metro: from the airport you can take line the metro line 3 (stop “Egaleo – Athens International Airport)

DAY 1 : VISIT ATHENS – ACROPOLIS AND SURROUNDINGS

The first day in Athens must be dedicated to the main spot of the city, the place that everybody is jealous of, the core of the Greek history: the Acropolis! Whatever words I can use to describe this place will not be enough to express the charm and the magic that you can feel when you are there. For me personally, this is the core of the entire history, not only the Greek one but the one of the entire world, nothing can be compared to the marvels that are in the Acropolis. This is the place who managed to make me cry for emotion and that still makes me a special effect while I’m writing about it. Every single stone seems like  talking to you, every single corner of this place has a huge story behind and a unique beauty. Take your time to admire this place, even the entire day! Be careful also to the season you are traveling  and the temperature, you may want to avoid to arrive on the top of the Acropolis during midday in summer, it might be too hot!

The Acropolis was built in the 5th century BC under Pericles as monument to the achievement of the inhabitants of the city. This was the upper part of the city (that’s why the name “Acropolis” which actually means upper city) and it was used also a refuge in difficult times. All the main buildings were built there.

• Take one of the entrances (south or west side – I’d suggest west) of the Acropolis, the structure is now surrounded by large pedestrian streets. If you enter from the west you will arrive immediately at the Propyla, the Acropolis majestic main entrance.  After this entrance another world will be open to you, a wonderland of the architecture.  The first fantastic building is the Temple of Nike Athena. To me, this temple has a special meaning since I had to present it and draw it when I was 18 at my high school test of Art and I remember having enjoyed so much exploring the perfection of this small temple and see every single part of it. So imagine my joy seeing it live! This tiny temple commemorates the victory of Athenians over the Persians and for many years it hosted a statue of Athena, till the moment the Turks dismantled it and used it for was purposes. The columns of the temple are Ionic style and the frieze stay quite intact. A small temple but with a huge charm.

 

• Keep on walking till the top of the hill and in front of you will be one of the most amazing buildings in the world: the Parthenon. I couldn’t stop crying when I saw it in front of me: this building is not a simple building, it’s THE history and THE architecture. It is simply perfect in every point of view, and since nowadays nobody managed to create something as wonderful as this building. The Parthenon was built in the 6th century BC in honor of Athena, the  goddess protector of the city, but it became later on a church, then a mosque, then a storage of Turkish weapons and finally it was bombed by the Venetians. Nowadays it’ s still under reconstructions, but we can still admire it in its entire beauty. Admire its unique style, its Doric structure and its Ionic features, see how the columns creates a special harmony with the exterior and how it could look like they are doing a sensual dance. You will be captured by every single part of this building, especially the fantastic Ionic frieze running around the external part of the cell. A big part of the Parthenon’s frieze can be found in the Acropolis Museum (for this, refer to my other trip in Greece “6 Days in Northern and Central Greece”) and another part unfortunately is still stuck in the British Museum.

• Next to the Acropolis is the Erecthion, a wonderful building that is famous especially for its Caryatids, maidens who form the trunk of the columns. Their clothes forms elegant lines like a Doric column. The Caryatids exposed now are imitations, since  the original ones are located in the Acropolis museum.

• Just below the Acropolis is the theater of Herodes Atticus, built by the Romans and used nowadays for classical concerts and ballets. Assisting to a play there is a unique experience!

• Next to this theater is the Theater of Dionysus, where the most important play-writers  in the history have given their best performances and where Romans had their gladiator fights as well.

• Next to the Theater of Dionysus is the Odeon of Pericles. Although no longer standing, recent excavations have revealed the exact site of the Odeon. This is believed to have been the first roofed theater-building devoted to performance, as well as the first permanent theater built on the south slope.

• On the northwest side of the Acropolis is the Thission, one of the most intact temples nowadays. Thission took its name after the temple of Hephaestus and Athena Ergani, which was falsely called Thissio in the older days due to the representations of King’s Theseus tasks on its metope. In Ancient Athens, the large feasts and festivals for the celebration of the 12 Gods started from the temple of Thission towards the Parthenon.

• Once you get out of the Acropolis, you cannot miss the Acropolis museum. This is a brand new building, which by the way integrates perfectly with the historical buildings around. The museum is almost totally made of glass, in such a way that from the inside you can see the Acropolis almost everywhere. The Acropolis museum contains the treasures of the Acropolis, such as the frieze of the Parthenon and other important statues. For its structure and its treasure this museum is a pearl in the center of Athens. You can find more information on the section “6 Days in Northern and Central Greece”

• The tour of the Acropolis will take you a big part of the day and will probably make you feel tired, since you have to walk longtime under the sun, but it is worth so much! After this, you deserve a good dinner or coffee. And which better place than the Plaka? As I said before, the entire area around the Acropolis is pedestrian, so walk along these nice streets and you will be in the heart of the Plaka, the oldest Athens’ neighborhood. This is a special neighborhood, formed by narrow old streets  with thousands of art crafts. These streets  are a mixture of ancient and new and are always crowded with tourists. You can go there to buy some souvenirs or to have a good meal with the view on the Acropolis.  These places benefit of the most beautiful view of the world! Stop there for a dinner or for the city nightlife, you will not regret it! Just in the Plaka area is Monastiraki, a very special square considered one of the main meeting points. A great flea market runs in Monastiraki every Sunday, do not miss it! All this neighborhood is vibrant day and night, it never sleeps! Bars, restaurants, music everywhere! Enjoy your nightlife over there!

DAY 2 – VISIT ATHENS – THE CENTRE AND ITS MUSEUMS

The second day is dedicated to the wonderful city center of Athens. This is probably one of the most suggestive city centers in the entire world, where you can immerse yourself into the fantastic history of this country.

• The tour of the center can start from Syntagma Square. This is the core of the city, the main meeting point for everybody. The word “syntagma” stands for Constitution. This square has indeed a very important history: it was the place where Greeks kicked the foreigners away and created their first Constitution in 30 days. Since that moment all the most important historical and social events in Greece took place here: the fight against the nazis, the first speech of Karamanlis to get the country back to democracy, the rallies of the main political parties as well as the main concerts and festivals. At the top of this square is the Parliament building, a neo-classical building that dominates on the view of the square.  The tomb of the unknown solider over there is guarded by Evzones, the elite soldiers who guard the Palace and who are chosen for their height and strength. Do not miss the change of the guard, it is a special moment. On the right side of the square is the Hotel Grand Bretagne, probably the most elegant and historical hotel in the city, that previously was the headquarter of the Wermacht during the nazi occupation.

• If you have the Parliament in front of you, take the street on its right and after 5 minutes you will arrive at the Temple of Olympian Zeus. This fantastic building  in Corinthian style was built in the 6th century BC but was mostly finalized 600 years later by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Nearby is the Arch of Hadrian, which was the gate between the ancient city and the Roman city.

• Next to the temple are the National Gardens, a nice spot of green between the crowded and polluted streets of the city.
• Now go back towards Syntagma Square and take the direction opposite the Parliament building, more exactly Ermou street, a nice street with a lot of shops, if you like shopping you can stop there and buy some nice clothes and shoes. If you think that you can have shopping in any other place and that you didn’t go to Athens to stay stuck inside stores just keep on walking and you will arrive at Kapnikarea, a splendid relic of Byzantine architecture. You can have a good lunch or coffee around there.
• After a lunch break, go back to Syntagma Square and now take the left side of the Parliament building, Venizelou boulevard, after a nice 30mins walk you will arrive at the Panepistimiou (university) area: this is where you will find the National Archaeological Museum. This is one of the best museums in the world and a big piece of the Greek history is there. For all those who have had Art classes in the scholar career, they will find in this museum most of the masterpieces that were in the art books. Walking in this museum and admiring the masterpieces humanity left is a pure emotion and a huge pleasure for your eyes and your soul. Years and years of history, art and creativity will pass in front of your sight, do not miss any single corner of this marvel.

• After this full immersion into the Greek art, go back to Syntagma Square and if you still have time have a nice walk behind the Parliament, in the Kolonaki neighborhood, known for its elegant streets and houses.

 DAY 3: VISIT PELOPONNESE

After two great days in Athens, it is time to explore the marvels outside the city, more exactly in the Peloponnese region. This is the part of Greece linked to the continental one through the Isthmus of Corinth and it’s full of interesting natural and archaeological sites. In order to get there, the best options are: either rent a car either go by bus with one of the several tour operators that organize day trip over there. Using the trains is practically impossible (since many archaeological sites are outside the cities) and it might take too long. So choose the best option and go to explore this fantastic region. From a distance point of view, I would suggest the following itinerary:

• Corinth. The city is located at 80kms from Athens and in the history it was a  cultural and commercial center, as well as a naval power. It enjoyed a commanding presence in the ancient world, owed largely to its strategic positioning. Something you cannot miss there is the Temple of Apollo, built on a hill overlooking the agora marketplace, and including 38 Doric columns. Next to the temple is the agora, the ancient marketplace. Surrounded by colonnades and covered walkways, the agora served as the hub of the city’s political and economic life. There were shops, museums, temples, and administrative buildings. Just outside the city is the famous Corinth canal, that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.  It is 6.4 kilometres in length and only 21.3 metres wide at its base, making it too narrow for most modern ships.

• Epidaurus. At 60kms from Corinth is Epidaurus. This place offers a fantastic archeological site with one of the best conserved theaters. The Epidaurus theater is one of the few that has kept its original circular “Orchestra” and it is a rear aesthetic sight. The view, aesthetics, and acoustics of the theater are breathtaking, try to go in the middle of it and sing something, you will experience the fantastic acoustic game (which is amazing especially if you think when the theater dates back and the baggage of skills people had at that time) . The theater is still in use today with frequent plays, concerts, and festivals.
  Next to the theater are the ruins of the sanctuary of Asclepios (the god of medicine), an extended archaeological site with many interesting buildings and a newly excavated stadium. There is also an interesting museum where you can admire the sculptures and artworks of the ancient Epidaurus and surrounding area, together with a set of ancient tools used in the past for the medicine. A very interesting part to see the difference between medical tools in the past and medical tools nowadays!

• Nafplio. Drive 40kms from Epidaurus and you will arrive in Nafplio. Known as former capital of Greece, this charming city is formed by old and narrow streets  plenty of tavernas and cafes, and a wonderful promenade on the seafront. Stop there to have lunch and to enjoy the landscape in front of you, this city is a very charming and relaxing place to be!

• Mycenae.  Located at 30kms from Nafplio, Mycenae is a real pearl of Peloponnese. This site was the center of power in the Late Bronze age, and the excavated ruins that sculpt the top of the rocky hill protected the royal families inside the famous Cyclopean walls.  The ruins of the Mycenaean Acropolis are simply amazing. The famous and unique Lion Gate takes you to the interior of the acropolis, and a path takes you to several ancient buildings and pathways, towards the palace where Agamemnon was murdered by his wife Klytemenestra and her lover after he returned victorious from the Trojan war. One of the most impressive features of the citadel is the Grave Circle A which contains six royal shaft graves and where many important artifacts, statues and masks were found (they are currently in the Athens Archeological Museum).
  Next to the Acropolis of Mycenae is the Tomb of Agamemnon. It was built around 1250 BC, and it is an impressive monument worth visiting and with a very special trick: when you see it from the inside you have the impression that the tomb is like a cone, high and narrow…but actually it is an optical illusion, since the width of the tomb is exactly the same as the height.

After this long day, you can go back to Athens and rest a little bit..then get ready for the nightlife! The ideal would be to go to the coast side and go to one of the numerous bouzoukia, big concert halls with seats and tables, where you can listen to traditional Greek music while having a drink.

Alternatively, if you want to make another stop at your way back to Athens, you can stop in Loutraki, a very nice city on the coast located at 20kms from Corinth, which is famous for its thermals and casinos.

DAY 4: VISIT ATHENS – THE COAST

The last day in Athens can be dedicated to the seaside, one of the most suggestive ones in the Mediterranean landscape. If you are located in the city center, you can reach the coast by the coastal tram (departing from Syntagma Square) or by car. You can spend the entire day over there, laying down the beach, walking along the coast or simply having some drinks in one of the several fancy bars.  Do not forget to stop in the main spots of the coast, such as Pyraeus (where the port is), Glyfada or Vouliagmeni, fancy neighborhood with classy hotels and clubs. Still driving along the coast, you will reach a pure marvel of the Greek architecture: Cape Sounion. This fantastic place hosts the Temple of Poseidon that faces the wonderful sea. The contrast between the deep blue of the sea and the white marble of the column and the green around the temple is simply amazing, especially at the sunset, where the red of the sun joins this fantastic orchestra of art and nature. You can find more details in the section ” 6 Days in Northern and Central Greece”.

If you still have a car or if you stay additional days  and you want to explore other archeological sites, you can drive 250kms and get to Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, or drive 180kms and get to Delphi, with its great archeological site and its famous oracle. You can also combine Delphi with Thebes (70kms from Athens).

4 Days in Albania

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.”

– Rumi –

PRINT & GO

Before your departure, do not forget to check/bring with you:

– Boarding Pass and Hotel Reservation

– Tirana City Map

– Durres City Map

– Albanian Tourism Website

AT THE AIRPORT

Tirana Mother Teresa International Aiport is the only international airport in Albania. Unfortunately there are no low-cost flights going there, but if you book in advance you can find good fares also with the regular air companies.

You can get to the city center in several ways:

– by taxi: there are plenty of taxes available at the airport exit. The journey lasts around 25mins, depending on the traffic.

– by bus: there are not a lot of public transportation options from the airport. At the airport exit you can find Rinas Express bus operating hourly from 6:00 to 18:00 and gets you to the city center, in front of the National Museum.

DAY 1: VISIT TIRANA

Tirana is the capital of Albania. All main attractions are concentrated in the same area, therefore you don’t need any means of transportation to visit the city.

• You can start the tour of the city with a walking along Bulevardi Curri or Bulevardi Fishta, the two main roads along the “river” of the city. There is indeed this small path of water passing through the city, but I don’t know if it’s the case to call it river, since it is one of the results of the “wild” urbanization. In fact many years ago there was a proper river there, but afterwards the government decided to reduce it and build houses instead. In the recent years the government tried to reduce the horrible constructions around and insert more greenery and give the river a new life: the result is a nice long street with small shops where you can have a walk and see the small river.

• The river will take you on your left to the Taiwan Complex, a nice area with a park, a big beautiful fountain and several good international restaurants. This is one of the main meeting points in the city and it’s very nice to have a coffee there and enjoy the sun.

• From the Taiwan Complex, take the street behind and you will arrive at Skanderbeg Square, the main square of the city. The main official buildings of the city are there: Skanderbeg Statue, Clock Tower,  Et’hem Bey Mosque, and the National Historic Museum. Skanderbeg is the national hero and the statue in his honor is in the middle of the main square, together with the Albanian flag.

• The Clock Tower was for many years the highest building in the city. It has some Italian influence, especially on the top, where the structure recalls the tower in San Marco’s Square in Venice. The bell comes from Venice as well and rings every hour.

• Just next to the Clock Tower is the Et’hem Bey Mosque, the main mosque of the city. It dates back 1821 and is one of the most suggestive ones in Albania, especially thanks to the indoor decoration. Entrance is allowed also to non-Muslims.

• Next to the mosque is also the National Historic Museum, that can be recognized by the huge mosaic in its facade. In this museum you will find the main pieces of the Albanian history. The museum is open everyday but Monday.
• From Skanderbeg Square you will access a very big road, Bulevardi Zgou I, surrounded by travel agencies. This is important in case you plan any international trip. There are buses going to Montenegro, Greece, Croatia and all surrounding countries everyday and at very reasonable prices. At the end of the boulevard you will arrive at the Tirana Train Station, where you will find the domestic trains and buses.
• From Skanderbeg Square go back towards the Taiwan Complex, by taking Bulevardi Deshmoret e Kombit. This is a street built by Italians, who wanted to create a copy of the Champs Elysées. In this street you will find shops, historical buildings, hotels and business centers. Please note that a big part of the city was actually constructed during the Italian Fascist invasion, hence the influence of the Italian style in the architecture of the city.
• Keep walking along Bulevardi Deshmoret e Kombit, cross the river and you will arrive in front of the Piramida, a pyramid-shape modern building hosting the House of Culture. This was one of the most expensive architectural projects under Communism and nowadays it’s a famous venue for congresses and art exhibitions.

• At the end of the boulevard you will arrive at Mother Teresa square, built in honor of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The square hosts photos about the blessed Albanian nun who dedicated her entire life taking care of the poor, sick and orphans. The entire square was built initially during the Italian invasion and features all Fascist-architecture buildings.

• Time to take a big rest now and charge the batteries for the Tirana nightlife. During the day there are people everywhere but in “casual” style, walking, having a coffee, going to the market. In the night these Dr Jekylls turn into Mr Hydes: they dress very stylish, they create special effects with their hair and make up and they all go out in the lively Tirana’s streets. For the nightlife the main area to hang out is the Block. This area is located in the city center, mainly in Ismail Qemal street and the other streets nearby. During the Communism period, this area was reserved uniquely for government officials, whereas common people couldn’t have access. In 1991 these streets of villas became opened to everybody and nowadays it’s the main core of the nightlife. The area is all pedestrian and plenty of fantastic bars (for instance bars with sofas and palms and fountains), restaurants and clubs. During the night these places get overcrowded with young people and music, food, drinks till late. Do not forget to enjoy the nightlife experience there, the restaurants are delicious and very cheap, as well as the bars. And do not forget to take the opportunity to know local people, they are very friendly, kind and generous, it’s always a pleasure to meet them!

DAY 2: VISIT KRUJA AND DAJTI NATIONAL PARK

Kruja is a very nice town located at 45kms from Tirana. The best way to go there is to negotiate a day-trip with a taxi driver (since there are not a lot of taxis to come back): you can have the transport to there and the taxi waiting for you and taking you back to Tirana at a very low cost. Another interesting alternative – which is very used by Albanians – is the van. The way the van works is very simple: there are private van owners who stay in the main spots of the city (for instance in Skanderbeg Square) and propose you a lift to a city (they normally scream the name of the city to see if someone is interested). These vans do not belong to any official company, therefore there is no timetable or stop stations, but it is very cheap and common for local people, and it’s safe as well. Otherwise there are local buses running very often from the bus station to the city.

The visit of Kruja will not take you longtime, once you get there you can easily do everything on foot.

• The main spot in Kruja is the Citadel with its big fortress. This fortress is one of the main symbol of the Albianian resistance to the Ottoman invasion. Inside this fortress you can find many artworks of that period and you will find Skanderbeg’s museum, a museum dedicated to life of the Albanian hero of the resistance. From the fortress you will also be able to admire a wonderful view on the city and surroundings.

• Just under the fortress, you can have a walk in the old bazaar, a street of quaint shops with windows full of antiques, silver filigree jewellery, folk costumes, woven rugs and traditional felt hats.

The visit of Kruja will take you maximum 3 hours, afterwards you will have the time to admire the natural side of Albania. At only 26kms from Tirana you will be in the heart of the green, you will be in Dajti National Park. This is one of the main Albanian national parks and is a treasure of nature. Unfortunately there are no buses to go there, so you need to rent  a car or to negotiate a good rate with the taxi driver (the ideal is basically a daily rate including the transport: Tirana-Kruja-Dajti Park-Tirana). The park contains a number of beautiful 200 year old beech trees that are really worth seeing. The Park is frequented by daily visitors and it is considered Tirana’s “natural balcony.”

DAY 3: VISIT DURRES

After two days in internal cities and National Park it is time to explore the Albanian seaside. The closest main city on the sea is Durres. Durres is located at 40kms from Tirana and it’s very easy to reach. You can take the available vans or you can take a bus from Tirana bus station, there are connections several times per hour.

• Once you get there, start your visit with a nice walk along Bulevardi Dyrrah, a nice street with shops and restaurants.
• At a certain point, on your right you will find the Amphitheater, built in the 2nd century AD, with a capacity of 15,000 spectators. Its diameter must have been more than 120 meters. It is one of the biggest monuments that have survived from the ancient city.  This amphitheater is also a scandal of the wild urbanization culture in Albania, that for many years did not have any system or regulation in building the houses. The result is that you will find apartments right in the middle of this amphitheater.

• Not far from the Amphitheater is the Archaeological Museum, which displays a large number of valuable archaeological findings such as the Amphitheater Chapel, the very unique chapel inside the amphitheater; “The Beauty of Durres”, a famous mosaic that was discovered beneath a dwelling in a residential area of town and measures 17 by 10 feet. You can see also the Fatih Mosque, the Roman Baths, the Mosaic of Orpheus, the Aqueduct,  etc.

• After a visit of the main cultural sites in the city, it’s time to enjoy the seaside. Just take a walk along the coast or go to the beach (for this, you need to go to the other side of the city) or have a drink in one of the several bars.

DAY 4: LAST TOUR OF TIRANA (OR OTHER EXCURSIONS)

The 4th day can be dedicated to some shopping or relax. If you rent a car or if you have more days to spend there, you have several options. For instance, if you are a nature lover it would be worth visiting the Northern side of the country, where you can immerse yourself into the fantastic nature of Shkoder lake, at 100kms from Tirana and at the border with Montenegro. A paradise of wild nature. If you prefer the seaside or the archeological sites, it would be worth visiting the Southern part of Albania: Apollonia, Vlora (170kms from Tirana) or Saranda (300kms from Tirana), pure jewels of the Ionic coast with fantastic Greek ruins to see.

6 Days in Northern and Central Greece

“There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover’s whisper, irresistible—magic to make the sanest man go mad.”

– Homer, “The Iliad” –

PRINT & GO

Before your departure, do not forget to check/bring with you:

– Boarding Pass and Hotel Reservation

– Greek Tourism Website

– Thessaloniki Tourist Map

– Meteora Tourist Information

– Athens Tourist Map

AT THE AIRPORT

I started this fantastic trip from Thessaloniki, the capital of the Macedonian region, the second biggest city in Greece (after Athens). I took a Ryanair flight from Brussels to there and after 2,5h…kalos orisses stin Ellada!

The airport, located at around 14km from the city center, is linked to the city in 2 ways:

– by public transport: you can take bus 78 just outside the main hall. The bus runs hourly from there to Thessaloniki train station. The journey takes around 45mins and costs around 0,50€.

– by taxi: there are taxis just outside the airport running the entire day from the airport to the city center. The trip lasts around 20mins (depending on the traffic) and costs around 15€.

DAY 1:  THESSALONIKI

After a good rest in the hotel, time to wake up early in the morning and explore the wonderful Thessaloniki. Besides being the second biggest city in Greece, Thessaloniki is a student city, with a famous university. Therefore the atmosphere is great: young people everywhere, shops, bars, restaurants, concert places, theaters, ouzeries.

There are many interesting places to see in this city (all on foot), which is a mix of Roman and  Byzantine art and modern architecture:

• Start your trip from Egnatia odos, one of the main boulevards in Thessaloniki. If you are a shopping fan, you must stop there and check all the stores. If you don’t like shopping, just go ahead and turn to Venizelou street, in the opposite direction of the coast. After few minutes, on your right you will find the Roman Forum, the ruins of the Roman town, with some columns and a theater.
• On the street above the Roman Forum you will find Agios Dimitrios church, probably the most popular one in the city. This church dates back the VII century AC and has very interesting interiors.

• From Agios Dimitrios church, take any street up and walk around 15mins: you will arrive at the Old Town. This is a very nice area, with traditional old houses, small cobbled streets, the ancient city walls and the Byzantine Citadel. But the most beautiful thing in this area  is definitely the view. Since the old town is in the upper side, you will have the honor to have an amazing view of the whole city and its gulf…something that will leave you speechless!

• From the Old Town, take the streets down again, this time more on your left, so that you will pass by Agios Nikolaos Orfanos Church, another religious wonder of this city,part of the UNESCO heritage. From there, take the street down passing through the Evangelist Cemetery and after that, just on the left of Agios Dimitrios street, you will arrive at the Thessaloniki Panepimistimio (University). I never visit universities in the cities where I have been, but this one was very tempting and I don’t regret my choice at all. Just take a walk inside the campus, it’s always nice to see students’ areas!
• From the university, take the big street in front  (Egnatia str) and you will arrive at the Galerius Arch, a jewel of the Byzantine art in the heart of the city. Admire all the sculptures on the pillars of this arch, it’s simply wonderful.
• From this arch, take the street behind and you will see immediately Agios Giorgos church, a very small building but plenty of charm.

• Now go back to Egnatia Odos and after some minutes turn on your left to Hagia Sofia street: you will get to Hagia Sofia church, another great building of the city.
• Go straight towards the coast now and turn to Tsimiski street, and after few minutes you will get to Aristoteliou Square, the main square of the city. This square is surrounded by very elegant buildings, cafes, and in one side it is entirely open to the sea, by giving a fantastic view.
• After this big day, it’s time to go back to the hotel, take a rest, and get ready for the nightlife! Thessaloniki is definitely the place to be for the nightlife. The streets  get crowded with people hanging out in restaurants and bars. For the first night in Thessaloniki, you can explore the area near the port. It is an area that has been entirely renewed for the Olympic games; nowadays you can go there and enjoy a good Greek meal in one of the several tavernas located in those small pedestrian streets. For a drink after dinner, you have a huge choice!

DAY 2: VISIT THESSALONIKI

The second day of your staying in Thessaloniki can be taken more easily. You can dedicate it to shopping, museums and relaxing promenade.

• Leave from Aristoteliou Square and take the street in front of you, the one that passes along the coast. This is also a wonderful waterfront that has been renovated for the Olympic games and the result is simply great: a very long pedestrian street, with a cycling path, parks, modern sculptures…and of course the view on the blue sea!
• Along the coast, you will see the White Tower, which is the hallmark of the city. This is the only Byzantine tower that survived. Inside you can find the Byzantine Museum.

• Just behind the White Tower (taking Germanou street) you will arrive in the Museums district. A MUST is for sure the Archeological Museum.
• From the Museums district you can go through the park nearby and then go back to the coast, just in front of Alexander the Great statue. Then keep on walking and enjoy the beautiful view in front of you.
• After a big walk, you can go back to the hotel and take some energies for the last night out in Thessaloniki. This time you can eat and drink in one of the several restaurants and bars located around the small streets near Egnatia odos.

DAY 3: PELLA, VERGINA, EDESSA, DION

After 2 days in Thessaloniki, it’s time to leave the city and explore other places nearby. I must say that for this big trip to Greece I had a fantastic co-traveler with a car, and I can honestly tell you that the trip we have done can be done only by car. Consider that most of the archeological or natural sites in Greece are located outside the city or in very small towns, and the train system in Greece is not excellent; therefore it might be very difficult to get there. There are some agencies organizing guided tours, so it could be a very good option. But if you want to have enough flexibility you need to rent a car. Renting a car in Greece is not expensive, so for once you can do it!

So let’s switch the car on and leave. First destination: Pella.

• The city of Pella is located at around 45km from Thessaloniki and it is a treasure of ancient Macedonia. In the past this city was one of the main cores of the intellectual and artistic world. Aristotle was born in Pella in 356 BC. Pella’s ruins take only an hour to be seen, as most of the archaeological site is being excavated by students from the University of Thessaloniki. As you enter the site from the right, there is the House of Dionysus, where several floor mosaics have been lifted and are on display at the museum. In the heart of the site are the remains of the agora, the commercial center of the ancient city, with the three wells from which much of the pottery in the museum was collected.  On the north of the houses and the agora are the acropolis and palace, which are off-limits to visitors. Directly across the highway, the museum houses gold-leaf jewelry, terra-cotta figurines, and a white marble bust of Alexander the Great.
• From Pella, take the way to Edessa, located 48kms far away. There you cannot miss the waterfalls, falling from a big height and creating a great nature show with all the greenery around.

• After this short stop in Edessa (it will take you just 30mins to see the waterfalls), take the car again, drive 60kms and you will get to Vergina. The interesting thing to see there is the Tomb of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. Together with the tomb, you will be able to see some jewels, weapons and rests of the Macedonian Empire.

• Now take the car again and drive 70kms to get to Dion. Dion is a very nice site, located just under the legendary Mount Olympus.There you can admire the ruins of the ancient city, one of the best preserved till nowadays.

It has been a long day, you are probably very tired and the car is starting getting crazy. So it’s time to go somewhere to rest. We decided to spend our night in a very nice town at around 20mins from Dion: Platamona. This town has a unique location, that makes you see the Mount Olympus on one side and the blue sea on the other side. For dinner, just go to the port of this nice city, eat in one of the several fish restaurants and have a relaxing walk along the coast.

 DAY 4: METEORA

I have always believed that, although people have created many artistic treasures, what nature has created is unique…and I had the confirmation of this thanks to Meteora, this wonderful site located on the central-western side of Greece, at around 150kms from Platamona and just next to Kalambaka.

In my life so far I had the luck to travel quite a lot and to see several places…but what I have seen in Meteora is certainly one of the most beautiful thing in my life!

You will stay simply breathless in front of what the nature has created there: huge rocks with fantastic shapes, spaces of green with the background of a light blue sky, ancient monasteries on the top of  rocks. A pure poetry for the eyes and for the soul.

What created this rare geological phenomenon is one of the mysteries of nature and there are many theories though they remain theories and none have been proven. But as amazing a marvel of nature as these giant rocks are the buildings on the top of these are a marvel of man and seem just as miraculous and make Meteora one of the most spectacular places to visit in Greece.

The area of Meteora was originally settled by monks who lived in caves within the rocks during the 11th Century. But as the times became more unsure during an age of Turkish occupation, brigandage and lawlessness, they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until they were living on the inaccessible peaks where they were able to build by bringing material and people up with ladders and baskets and build the first monasteries. Nowadays the monasteries are all connected by a series of paths that you can do by car or on foot. Unfortunately I did not have a lot of time to visit all of them, so I just saw 3, but if you have time take your entire day to explore these marvels. Please do not forget that these monasteries are still religious buildings, therefore they require an adequate dress code and a good behavior.

Meteora is for me one of the best places in the world, every corner of this place has a special charm. You cannot go to Greece without visiting it!

After a visit to Meteora, we took the car again and drove to Athens. The trip takes 5hours, but in the way to the capital  you will be able to see very nice places, such as Agios Constantinos, a nice town just along the sea, and Thebes (Thiva), with its archeological sites.

DAY 5:  ATHENS

Time to leave the car now and go back to the foot and public transport: we’re in Athens! If I had to describe this city with an adjective I would say “magic”! Everything is magic in this city: the architectural masterpieces, the streets, the life, the food, the people, the sea..every single thing has a special and unique charm. I have been there two times and every time was a unique emotion. It’s one of the few places where I come back with pleasure and where I want to go back again.

Since I had already visited the main sites on a previous trip, this time I just visited the places I missed last time.  Of course if you have some more days I strongly suggest you to explore this wonder of the world. You can find all the instructions and places to visit in my post about the trip to Athens and Peloponnese.

In that specific trip I visited three wonderful places: the Acropolis Museum, Cape Sounion, and the coastal area.

• The Acropolis museum is located just outside the Acropolis, in the city center of Athens. You can get there by metro 2 (stop Acropolis). It opened in 2009  and it is a real marvel outside and inside. Outside, the building is made with a contemporary style that fuses perfectly with the environment and the ruins. The entire building is made of glasses, that make the inside part very luminous and always with an eye to the Acropolis. Inside, you can admire the ancient sculptures and the rests of the Parthenon, and its reconstruction with the missing pieces (that are unfortunately in London). A huge artistic and historical heritage is inside this museum, open everyday (except for Monday) from 8:00 to 20:00. The admission fee is 5EUR.

• Cape Sounion is a promontory located 69km south of Athens, at the southernmost tip of the Attica Peninsula. You can get there by car or with some organized trips that leave from Athens city center. Cape Sounion is noted as the site of ruins of an ancient Greek Temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in classical mythology. The remains are perched on the headland, surrounded on three sides by the sea. A wonderful site, where the blue sea and the architecture live together, where man and nature find their harmony. Try to be there during the sunset and you will assist at something that will leave you breathless.

• From Cape Sounion, hit the road again and drive all the way along the coast. The coast side around Athens is very special, with great houses, cafes, restaurants, bouzoukia (the Greek typical concert halls) and fancy hotels. When you arrive in places like Vouliagmeni or Glyfada you will feel like in California, thanks to the large and modern streets and the fantastic seaside. If you are a sea lover, don’t hesitate to go to the beach there, or even just for a coffee, and don’t forget to go out there during the nights, the numerous hyper-stylish bars and clubs get full of people, completely tied up from head to feet. And don’t miss a bouzoukia, a night of great Greek music and Greek atmosphere is always good for the spirit!

DAY 6: LAST DAY IN ATHENS

Unfortunately my trip to Greece is over. As I told you, if you have 1 or 2 days more return your car and stay in the city, visit the treasures of Athens, have some shopping, have some relaxing time and taste the various and delicious Greek cuisine. For additional information on Athens, you can see my post about my trip to Athens and Peloponnese. On the last day then take the metro from the city center (there are metro stops from the main sites: Syntagma, Monastiraki, etc) directly to the airport, the metro runs very often all day long and takes you around 45mins to get to the airport. Leave with all the memories of this unforgettable country with you and with the hope to go back there again soon!

3 Days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

“Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you traveled.”

– Mohammed –

PRINT & GO

Before your departure, do not forget to check/bring with you:

– Boarding Pass and Hotel Reservation

– Abu Dhabi city map (please note that every hotel has a city map, so you can take a more detailed one at your check-in)

– Abu Dhabi Tourist Office

– Dubai city map

– Dubai Tourist Office

AT THE AIRPORT

The U.A.E. have 2 main international airports: Dubai Airport and Abu Dhabi airport. I arrived at Abu Dhabi, a huge and modern airport, that makes you feel transported to the future. Please bear in mind that the queue to exit the airport at the controls might be very long and take you very longtime (it took me 1h).

Once you exit the airport, in order to reach the city center, you have 2 options:

– by taxi: the trip – depending on the traffic – can take 40mins. This could be the most suitable way to move, since in the U.A.E. taxis are ridiculously cheap (fuel is very cheap and currency conversion rate is very favorable).

– by bus: if you prefer the public transport, there is a  bus running from the three terminals and stops at all legal bus stops going into the city. It passes by the Bus Stand at Muroor and Street 11 and terminates at the Old Fish Market on Al Nasr Street (near NYU Abu Dhabi). The bus runs every 40 mins and takes around 45mins to get into the city, depending on the traffic.

If you arrive in Dubai International Airport, you can also get a taxi to go to your hotel, the journey will take around 30mins (depending on the traffic conditions).

There are also several buses to and from Dubai Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport and buses between the two cities. The journey takes around 2hours.

DAY 1: VISIT ABU DHABI

Despite the jet lag, on the first day wake up very early and start exploring the city.

The best way to move is by taxi, very cheap and very comfortable, whereas  buses are very old and do not run frequently.

The first place to go and that you cannot absolutely miss is the Sheikh  Zayed  Mosque.

• Sheikh Zayed Mosque:  this is the second biggest mosque in the world (after La Mecca). This jewel of the spirituality is located outside the main city, so you have to go by taxi. For me it is the most beautiful mosque I have ever seen! A corner of spirituality, calm and architectural charm. It is seen as a construction to ‘unite the world’, using artisans and materials from countries such as Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE. The construction of the Mosque was finalized in the 90s. The first surprising thing is the brilliant white marble that forms the mosque, so pure and bright! Outside is a show of white columns with floral decorations, the interior  is  very sober but magnificent at the same time, with Murano-glass lamps, floral mosaics, golden pillars. Please note that the access to the mosque is allowed to everybody outside praying times. It is very important to respect the dress code: no short, no transparent clothes. Women will be provided at the entrance with a scarf and a black long dress, wear it as soon as possible in order to respect the regulation of the place.

• Now take a taxi back (better to reserve it at your trip to go, since there are not a lot of taxis outside the mosque) and ask the taxi driver to stop you in Corniche. The corniche is a wonderful waterfront, you can have a long walk there (or ride a bike) and admire the wonderful landscape, or go to swim on the beach, the water looks like a swimming pool! This is the only place where people walk….yes because strangely people don’t walk there! It is probably because of the weather (in March it is still OK, but in summertime the temperature and humidity are so high that you really cannot walk), or also because of the structure of the city ( huge skyscrapers everywhere and wide roads, different from the European small streets made for walking), but for me it was so strange to see a city without people walking! Locals just have fun doing car racing in the middle of the city with their Ferrari or Lamborghini (I haven’t seen one single normal car there) and look at you weird when you walk, the only walkers are the foreigners from Pakistan or Philippines working like crazy in several building constructions.. So I didn’t care and kept on walking along this wonderful corniche for many kms, it was a great sight.

• Emirates Palace: located at the end of the corniche, this is the greatest hotel in Abu Dhabi. It looks like a Royal Palace: the building is wonderful, with colors and gold seen from far away, and there is a huge garden all around.

• Marina Mall. This is the Abu Dhabi mall, a huge structure with plenty of shops inside. This is the place where people hang out, especially locals. In general, they are nice and respectful,  I have never felt unwelcome there. If you want to meet them they are all in the Marina Mall, walking along the shops, eating in the restaurants. I’m not a shopping fan, so I didn’t stay longtime there, but it was nice to see locals and  go up the tower located in the middle of the structure; take the elevator there and you will arrive at a restaurant with a view on all the city…an amazing view, especially during the night! You will see the sea all around and the wonderful buildings along the coast. For modern architecture lovers, this is one of the places to be!

 

• Now go out of the Marina Mall (you can go back there also during the evening, since shops are opened till midnight) and take the street on your left, you will arrive at the Abu Dhabi theatre and at the Heritage Village. The Abu Dhabi theatre is a beautiful building with a roof plenty of mosaics and colors. On its right is the Heritage Village, the reconstruction of a traditional oasis village. Traditional aspects of the desert way of life, including a campfire with coffee pots, a goats’ hair tent, and a falaj irrigation system, are attractively displayed in the open museum. There are workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills, such as metal work and pottery, while women sit weaving and spinning.

 

• For Formula 1 lovers, you cannot miss the “temple” of the Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi, a wonder of the modern architecture. A short stop there by taxi is a must!

DAY 2: VISIT DUBAI

Time now to leave Abu Dhabi and go to Dubai. If you rent a car, the journey will take you around 1h30mins (It is surprising to see that once you are out of the city there is nothing at all: no house, no people, just fuel stations). If you don’t want to rent a car and use the transport to get to Dubai,  there is a bus service available between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The bus departs from Abu Dhabi Municipality Bus Station to Al-Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai, just near the Creek.  The frequency of the service is about every 40 mins. The journey takes 2 hours.

Once you arrive in the city, you will be breathless: as in Abu Dhabi, you will be in a paradise of contemporary architecture. Very high skyscrapers in different shapes, wide streets with fancy cars, a  modern metro connecting the city, and an amazing coast with bright-blue sky. Everything in that city smells luxury: the buildings, the cars, the people. The city is very big and spread so you need to  move by taxi or by metro.

• Dubai Mall:  this is a huge shopping mall with fancy shops, fountains, chic bars. If you are a shopping lover, you can spend the entire day there…but it’s not my case, so go out from this mall and just there you will be in front of the amazing  Burj Khalifa, a jewel of  modern architecture and engineering. The world’s tallest building pierces the sky at 828m (to give you an idea, seven times higher than the Big Ben) and opened on 4 January 2010, only six years after excavations began. Inside  are offices, apartments and the chic Armani Hotel. Unfortunately when I was there the tower was closed but I strongly suggest you to go to the top and have the entire view of the city. All around the tower  is a huge fountain (the biggest fountain in the world) – so huge that can be seen as a small lake – and very nice buildings.

• Burj Al Arab: this is the most grandiose and exemplified hotel in the world. It is the world’s first seven-star hotel and stands like a glittering gem on the coastline of Arabian Sea.  It is a splendid example of stunning architecture with a soaring height of 312 meters dominating the magnificent Dubai coastline.  Built on a man-made island, this hotel is 280 meters away from offshore. This hotel is popular among the tourists because of its manifestation and astonishing appearance. I had the chance to get in there thanks to my wonderful local  friend. From the Burj Al Arab you can also see the Jumeirah hotel, another amazing architectural jewel.

• Staying in the modern world of Dubai, another thing you cannot miss is the Palm Islands, the three largest artificial islands in the world. Each of the islands is shaped like a palm leaf, with a trunk connected to the mainland, fronds extending from the trunk, and a crescent (a breakwater encircling the trunk and fronds). Of the three planned, the Palm Jumeirah, near Dubai Marina, is the only one yet open, connected to the mainland by a freeway bridge and a monorail and sporting marinas, luxury resorts, and upscale shopping areas. Take some time over there to visit the Atlantis Hotel, with its huge Murano-glass lamp in the hall and with its huge aquarium with its hundreds of different species.

 

• Leave Palm Islands and go to  Dubai Marina, one of the popular areas of Modern Dubai. It offers numerous features such as a phenomenal skyline, world class hotels, a fabulous beach, a mall, and 2 different walkways (The Walk and Marina Walk) with coffee shops, restaurants, and shops.
• If you want to leave now the modern Dubai and have a tour in the past, you can visit the Dubai Museum, a museum hosting pieces of the social history of the Emirate. You can see  the al-Fahidi fort, which has  few examples of the traditional reed houses and other artifacts, and an exhibition (underneath the fort) on Dubai’s history accompanied with authentic sights and sounds. It is quite fascinating to see the speed at which the transition from poor pearling village to modern metropolis occurred.
• Another pearl of this city is the  Jumeirah Mosque,  a wonderful example of Islamic architecture built in the medieval Fatimid tradition with the interior decorated with elaborate Arabic calligraphy. It is one of few mosques in the city open for visits by non-Muslims, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding  conducts special tours for non-Muslims to help promote understanding of Islam.  Located on Jumeirah Road, the mosque is a great place to visit in the evening when it’s  illuminated by floodlights.
• Dubai is not only a place for sightseeing, but also a place for activities. The city and its nature offer a wide range of possible things to do, such as: beach, desert safari, ski (yes, also ski).

DAY 3: LAST DAY IN ABU DHABI/DUBAI

On the last day in the U.A.E., I had a last short tour in Dubai and went back to Abu Dhabi (because I had my flight there), but  I suggest  you  to take the flight back from Dubai, so that on the last day you will have more time to visit the city. You can either do one of the activities above or visit something or just relax and do some shopping.