Amsterdam is so… well so Dutch.  Think canals and bridges… and wooden shoes with flowers in them in windows framed with lace.  (Yes the there are wooden shoes all over the place, but you won’t find many people wearing them in Amsterdam.)  It’s a city full of historic buildings, but it’s modern and progressive at the same time.

Back in its golden age of the 17th century, sea trade made it one of the world’s richest cities.  It was built up with its iconic tall skinny town houses.  Those wily burghers built them skinny because they were taxed by street front footage.

Dam Square is the very center and heart of Amsterdam.  It’s a BIG square and not particularly pretty, but it is historic.  The Royal Palace dominates the square.  If you arrive by train at the Centraal Station, it’s about a five minute walk to the square.  The Dam is surrounded by shops, food stalls and restaurants… and it’s crowded with locals and tourists all the time.

The center of the old city is shaped by its canal rings.  Walk along these canal streets.  Take a boat tour of the canals.  If you really want to get into it, rent a houseboat for your stay instead of a hotel.  You can also bike along these streets just like the Dutch do.

Yes, the Dutch do ride bikes… Amsterdam is a city where bikes outnumber cars.  A bike can be a great way to get around.  Avoid walking along the bicycle lanes…. They are clearly marked and bikes rule on them.  If you end up in one without thinking and hear a bike bell…, get out of the way!

Spend a morning examining the masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum. (The Rijkamuseum has been undergoing a restoration… check to see how much of it is open.)  Jump to the Van Gogh Museum for the afternoon.  It has more Van Gogh’s than anywhere in the world… something like 200.

Visit the Anne Frank House.  See where Anne and her family hid during the Nazi Occupation of the Netherlands, and where she wrote her diary.  The tiny rooms are empty, but they will make you stop and think.  The original diary is on display.  This is a very popular place to visit, and lines can be long.  During the summer, the house is open until 9 at night.  Consider a late afternoon or early evening visit to avoid the lines.

Oude Kerk - the Old Church - is the oldest church in Amsterdam.  As a quirk of history and geography, it’s in the red light district.  Are you ready for another quirk?  That’s a popular area for tourists at night.

When you’re ready for some food and drink, there are plenty of restaurants and bars.  Beer is the Dutch national drink.  Brown cafes are traditional Dutch local pubs with simple meals, coffee or beer.  They may seem old and crowded, but people are friendly, and they can be a real bargain.  And then there are the coffee shops… which aren’t what you think.  Read our page on coffee shops to see how quirky the Dutch really are.

Amsterdam has more canals than Venice.  Guidebooks tell us there are 100 canals crossed by 1,200 bridges.  You can spend a day or two just wandering along the canals and admiring those tall skinny houses.  There are a couple of thousand houseboats… and a couple of hundred agencies trying to rent them to tourists.

A trip to Holland wouldn’t be complete without seeing a windmill.  Other than those wooden shoes, what could be more Dutch than a windmill.  There are actually still eight windmills in the city, and you can visit two of them.  So there you have it… wooden shoes, windmills and all.

Lake Garda in Northern Italy is the largest of the celebrated Italian Lakes. Aside from its sheer size, it is also famous for its dramatic landscape of rolling hills and towering mountains surrounding the lake.

The town of Desenzano del Garda gets the most concentration of tourists because it is located right on a major railway. Although a practical choice, visitors looking for more impressive sights may want to head out north and stay in the more breathtaking lakeside towns. Take the boat and be on your way to other exciting destinations around the vast expanse of Lake Garda, one of which is the pretty lakeside town of Sirmione.

The popular resort town of Sirmione is just a short boat ride away from Desenzano del Garda. The magnetic pull of this lakeside town dates back to the Roman times when it was used as a spa by members of nobility. Today the thermal springs of Sirmione remain popular among visitors from all over the world. The Roman ruins of Villa Romana, found here, add to the already charming character of the area.

You might want to time your visit out of season. It can get pretty crowded during the summer months and a full exploration of the area may not be as enjoyable with countless tourists milling about.

The historical center is a must visit. With its fairy tale castle, Sirmione makes for an exciting and picturesque destination. Walking around the historical center is the only way you can explore the area. Its narrow winding lanes may seem like an overwhelming maze but all you have to do is follow the signposts and sooner or later you are out into the promontory to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake.

The 13th century castle of Rocca Scaligera is one of the iconic attractions of Sirmione. Although the castle is nothing but an empty fortress, it is still worth visiting. Its ramparts are ideal for a laid back stroll and climbing its tower is also quite thrilling.

The Villa Romana, remnants of the Roman world gone past, is located at the end of the promontory or the headland. You can easily reach it by following the signposts that can be found all over Sirmione’s historical center. The ruins also feature a small museum, delightful olive groves and beautiful views of the lake - making it a delightful place to visit and explore.

Although a boat ride is a more enchanting way of reaching and leaving Sirmione, the town is also accessible by bus. It is in fact within the route of buses between the towns of Brescia and Verona. Since these two towns are serviced by a budget airport and are easily accessible by train from other major Italian towns, visitors can easily drop by Sirmione and leave as they please.

If you want to maximize the Italian railway route, the nearest train stations in the area are in the nearby lakeside towns of Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera.

Nafplion may not be as famous or as often visited as the popular Greek city of Athens or the charming island of Santorini, but it holds a beauty and magic on its own.

Located in a seaport town of Peloponnese, Nafplion features century old houses, marble paved squares, historical fortresses and attractive cafes and restaurants situated on a jutting peninsula overlooking the Argolic Gulf.

A mere 2-hour drive from Athens, Nafplion is often regarded as nothing but a short stopover spot for the nearby ancient sites of Argos, Corinth, Epidavros, Nemea and Myceneae. However, this charming little town offers more than just a convenient break from a long drive. It has its unique offerings that visitors to Greece will want to see.

The center square or platia of Syntagma is paved in marble and surrounded by inviting cafes, shops and hotels. Take a seat in one of the many delightful outdoor cafes, sip on a cup of frappe coffee and enjoy the sights of people casually strolling about or shopping for baked goodies or expensive jewelry. Nearby is Kathni, a cafeneon that retained the old world charm of the 60s, and the Ellas Taverna where great restaurants of mouthwatering sumptuous Greek meals abound.

If you want to watch the sun set in the turquoise blue waters of the sea, take a walk to the big square located at the waterfront beautifully landscaped with palm trees, lush greens, and pretty flowers and lined with many café-bars and restaurants. The Bourtzi or a fortified islet can also be seen from the many café-bars that line the waterfront.

The Bourtzi was originally built in 1473 by the Venetians to protect the harbor from pirate attacks. If you happen to visit in the months of May and June, see the Bourtzi for yourself while you listen to musicians from all over the world at Nafplio Folk Music Festival held on the premises of this island fortress.

Another must visit attraction in Nafplion is the walled fortress of Paladi. Originally built in 1714, this fortress offers a breathtaking panorama of the city against the sparkling sea. If you are up to the challenge, take on its 999 steps on foot. But, if you’re just in it for the view, a taxi to the top will do the trick for you.

Don’t leave the city without passing by its oldest part, the Akronapflia that was built way back in the 13th century.  If you can afford it, Nafplion Palace Hotel offers the best view of the city and the Harbor and a great base to explore the fortifications above and the rocky shore of the Peloponnese on the southern part.

Take a stroll to the nearby fisherman’s district of Psaromahalas and do some shopping for the famous Greek worry-beads known as komboloi or for musical instruments such as a hand-made flute, a guitar or bouzouki. Art shops selling original local arts are also aplenty in this area. Even if you are not planning to buy any of these, they all look pleasing to the eye and some window shopping is a fun way to while away the time.