City-trips: 5 destinations to visit in 2017
Want to escape a few days? Opt for a city trip! We suggest you discover five cities to visit this year.
Seville
Crossed by the Guadalquivir, on which it is also possible to make cruises to discover Andalusia, Seville is a historically rich city . The Cathedral of the city, which was a mosque until the reconquest ( Reconquista ) of Seville, is located in the heart of the district of Santa Cruz and is imperative to visit. Impressive, it houses an altar of more than 1,500 figures decorated with gold. Take also the height at the top of the Giralda , the old minaret of the Mosque, today become steeple of the Cathedral: at more than 100 meters high, you will enjoy a 360 ° view of the entire city.
Not to be missed also, the Alcázar (former Umayyad fortress that later became the residence of the kings of Spain) and its gardens, as the arena located in the Plaza of torros, which is one of the oldest Spain , a country in which bullfighting is extremely popular.
Enjoy your visit to the Andalusian capital to enjoy tapas : more than 4,000 bars serve in the city. Seville being the cradle of flamenco, many places offer tourists to attend shows.
Budapest
The Hungarian capital is organized in two parts: Buda and Pest . In the new city, Pest, you will discover the Parliament, imposing building, and the Church of St. Stephen , two of the city's must-see monuments. The Marché Couvert is also worth a visit , where you can stock up on souvenirs and local food.
To get to Buda, take the Liberty Bridge or the Chain Bridge . On this side of the city, you will reach the Royal Palace, located on a hill. From here you can admire the most beautiful panorama of the city.
Visit Budapest is also an opportunity to spend some time in the Széchenyi thermal baths , the largest in Europe, and enjoy the hammams and saunas in an exceptional setting.
Port
The second largest city in Portugal , Porto has an incredible architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1966. Strolling the streets is the best way to discover Porto, although there is plenty to do there.
Climb the 200 steps of the Clergy Tower ( Torre dos Clerigos ) to reach its summit and enjoy a magnificent view of the entire city. Also make a detour to the Lello Bookshop : its sumptuous interior and its large central staircase painted in red inspired JK Rowling for the bookstore in the Harry Potter saga.
To go to the left bank of the city (Vila Nova de Gaia), and so discover the many cellars of Porto, take the Ponte Luis I. During your stay, also take a boat trip on the Douro , to discover the bridges of the city and their history. Back on the mainland, stop and eat in one of the restaurants along the river. You can enjoy a specialty of the region, the francesinha : it is an improved croque-monsieur, consisting of sandwich bread, ham, sausage, cheese, egg, and beer sauce.
Bucharest
With great avenues inherited from the communist era, the capital of Romania is full of surprises , between highly developed nightlife and rich cultural heritage. The emblem of the city is undoubtedly the Palace of Parliament, built in the 1980s, and whose construction stopped during the revolution. Symbol of a painful past, the building, which includes 1,100 rooms spread over 12 floors, can be visited.
To better understand the country, a visit to the Peasant Museum is essential : it will help you to understand the Romanian folklore, the daily life of its inhabitants, as well as the architecture of the different regions of the country. Stroll through the historic Lipscani district. The rich houses, present among the buildings in ruins, give the place a particular atmosphere.
A visit to Bucharest is also an opportunity to visit the largest market in the city, that of Obor, and discover the Romanian culinary specialties, such as mititei (grilled sausages made from minced meat of pork, beef and lamb). The most revelers, they will enjoy the many bars and night clubs of the capital, young and lively, until the wee hours of the morning.
Valletta
Designated capital of culture in 2018 , the capital of Malta is worth the detour! Co-Cathedral St-Jean, commissioned by the Knights of the Order of Malta, houses magnificent frescoes , as well as an impressive pavement composed of tombstones of the most prestigious knights. Also make a detour to the Palace of the Grand Masters , which was the official residence of the great masters of the order of Malta, before being that of the English governors. Since the 1970s, the Chamber of Deputies has been there, and the President of the Republic has his office there.
Museums are also numerous in Valletta. Among the highlights, the archeology museum , which presents a large collection of prehistoric objects; as well as the National War Museum , which is housed in Fort St-Elme. For lovers of sensational views, visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Suspended, they overlook the city and offer a panorama of Vittoriosa, Copuscua and Senglea, the three cities of Valletta.
As far as food is concerned, Maltese cuisine is essentially inspired by Mediterranean gastronomy . Local specialties include pastizzi (triangles of puff pastry stuffed with ricotta cheese) and figolli, biscuits with almond paste and lemon.
Want to discover one of these destinations? Editus helps you to find the travel agency that can organize the perfect city trip!