Europe Tour

Europe Tour by Taking The LTC Holiday Tour Package

Europe Tour who are spiritual and who want to explore age old monuments can have a real blast in India. If you are interested in some adventurous time then India has numerous hill stations within the Himalayas region where you’ll be able to perform different sports activities. However you may be wondering that how you are going to appear to know which a part of India offers what? Well to know about that it is possible to either consult your India travel agent or can read information available over the internet. You possibly can easily find abundance of information about which cities are worth to become visited in India and which places offer maximum fun and excitement.
Europe Tour read thoroughly before planning to buy any India tour package. There are a number of areas within this planet where an individual can devote some quality time while holidaying. But 1 on the most hottest and exotic destination in Asia is India. Traveling to India is always tempting and excited. It really is always fascinating to travel and stop by different areas inside the world. But going for a holiday requires preparation and planning. The really good news is that you are no more required to consider the headache of planning and preparation as there can be quite a few journey websites which give you India tours packages suitable to your budget.
Europe Tour has been found that folks all over the globe are fond of India, its culture, food, and people. The hospitality of India is actually incredible and individuals get to view the impressive mountains, terrains, and other beautiful places. You’ll be able to easily journey to India by employing an India journey agency or India journey agent who can present you with cheap and most effective tour packages. The bets thing about the journey companies is that they do everything for ones vacation like food, planning, accommodation and roaming. So if you are planning to devote some quality time to relax in your free time then India is surely one of your places to look out for.

Europe Tour variety of tour packages are available with all the ravel companies as well as locations like Goa, Kerela, north India tour, Rajasthan tour, Ajanta an Ellora caves, Konark temple, Khajuraho temples, pilgrimage tour to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar, Varanasi and Rishikesh and quite a few more. Internet acts as being a wealthy source of information about different countries and India is not an exception. Journey to India and immerse yourself in a entire new non secular and social encounter.

Europe Tour is certainly no other location such as this nation. Nestled in the coronary heart of South Asia, India nurtures one particular from the richest and most diversified cultures within the world. India is usually a place of cultural pluralism and serves as a dwelling place of numerous religious and social teams. In addition, India also houses a number of the most scenic and breath taking tourist destinations in the globe. Europe Tour and find out a few of its well-known heritage spots like the Taj Mahal, Umaid Bhavan Palace, Ajanta Ellora Caves, along with the Humayun Tomb. Be surprised with other intricately created and culturally-reflective infrastructures like Akshardham Temple as well as the Agra Fortin.

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Tourism in Barcelona SPAIN

How the 1992 Summer Olympics Benefitted Tourism in Barcelona

Not only did the 1992 Summer Olympics bring Barcelona to the centre of the world stage, but they also gave this historical city a new lease of life. As with many cities that have been given such a prestigious and monumental event, cash was injected to give visitors a good impression, and the numbers of these visitors increased dramatically. Tourism soared, and has continued to do so ever since.
However, the benefits to Barcelona went further than this. Barcelona is the capital city of Cataluña, one of the seventeen autonomous regions of Spain, and the Games brought the Catalan culture into the eyes of the rest of the world.
A survey carried out by the Games organizers had demonstrated that Spain was largely associated with sun, siestas and sangria, and also bullfighting, castañets and flamenco. The Catalan culture was virtually unheard of outside of Western Europe, and in keeping with the objectives of most other modern Olympic Games, the challenge was how to fairly and accurately project the culture and people of Spain while maintaining the essence of this part of the country.

Barcelona had applied for these Games three times previously without success, and it was particularly appropriate that the city should be awarded the 1992 Olympic Games because it was exactly 500 years after Christopher Columbus discovered America for Spain.
The city was transformed in preparation for the event, not only in terms of the new sporting complexes constructed but also with the refurbishment and renovation of the El Prat Airport and the Olympic Port in Poble Nou. Better known as Port Olímpic, this area is close to the Villa Olímpica, and famous for its fabulous restaurants and its unique clubs and bars.
However, the most important consequence of the Barcelona Olympic Games of 1992, other than the sporting spectacle itself and what it did for tourism in Spain and Barcelona in particular, was in the promotion of the Catalan culture. In 1992 Catalonia, as Cataluña is generally know outside Spain, was not generally recognized abroad as a distinctly separate area of Spain, and its culture was likewise unknown to all but those with an interest in the country.
These Olympics changed all that, and Barcelona and its Catalan culture hit the map and has been prominent in the geography, culture and cuisine of Spain ever since. Many tourists visit Barcelona only because of that. However, that was not the only aspect of Spain and Barcelona that was brought into the public eye. The architecture of Gaudi and the art of masters such as Goya became known to ordinary visitors, not just to those educated in these facets of Spanish culture. The great Pablo Picasso has a museum in Barcelona.
In terms of advertising Barcelona as a cultural centre and a ‘must’ on many people’s lists of places to visit, the Olympic Games of 1992 achieved in a few short weeks what it would otherwise have taken decades to achieve. It was not just the construction of Port Olímpic and Villa Olímpica, but also the sports facilities in Montjuic, Vall d’Hebron and Diagonal that are lasting reminders of the benefits that Barcelona won when they also won the Olympics.
Unlike most games sites, those in Barcelona have been put to use after the games, and many are still well-used sports facilities while others offer high-class luxury apartments for business and tourism. The Olympic Village (aforementioned Villa Olímpica) is one such area that now offers luxury apartments, many for short-term let.
The Olympic pool in Montjuic is still in use by the public, and not only facilities such as these, but also the significant increase in tourism since 1992, has rendered Barcelona a very popular destination for vacations and business shows and conferences. Over the 10 years from 1990 to 2000, the city experienced a 110% increase in tourism, and between 1992 and 2002, 105 more hotels have been opened.
Barcelona is now amongst the top 4 most visited cities in Europe, the others being London, Rome and Paris. The people of Barcelona are rightly proud of what have been described as the ‘model Olympics’ because of the sustained benefits to the city that that they brought. It is that word ‘sustained’ that is so important, because the ephemeral results of most other cities that hosted the Summer Olympic Games soon disappeared – but not so with Barcelona.
It is a source of pride, not only to the organizing committee, but also the people of Barcelona, that they can look at the benefits that this great city is still enjoying. In the words of the New York Times of August 1992, the athletes “could never dominate these Summer Games. The city won the Games. The people of Catalonia won the Games.”

Never were truer words written or spoken.

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Beautiful Island of Ibiza, Spain

Tourist Attractions in the Beautiful Island of Ibiza, Spain

Here one of the most beautiful islands in Mediterranean sea and has become one of the famous destinations in Spain, namely Ibiza island. The island of Ibiza is a part of the Balearic archipelago. Ibiza has an area about 571 square kilometers, making it become the third largest island in Balearic archipelago. This island has population about 116.000 people with three largest cities, they are Ibiza town also known Villa, Santa Eulària des Riu and San Antoni de Portmany. The island of Ibiza is very beautiful, it offers so many attractions to the visitors. This island also has some places which have been registered in UNESCO World Heritage List, one of them is God’s Finger in Benirràs Bay that points straight up to the sky. Beaches in this island also be one that attracts many visitors when visiting Ibiza. As everybody knows, almost beaches in Mediterranean sea are beautiful. In the summer months, beaches in Ibiza filled by so many people. Sunbathing, swimming, surfing, or just enjoy the beauty of beaches are some activities that you can do at Ibiza beaches. Besides famous by its beaches, the island of Ibiza also famous by its nightlife. This island has some of the best nightclubs in the world and has visited by famous DJs from all over the world. For those of you who likes shopping, the island of Ibiza is also great place for that.

The other attractions that offered by this island are San Antonio resort, The fortress of D’Alt Vila, An Egg monument that erected in honor of Christopher Columbus, Poblado de Balàfia, Ponylandia where the visitors can rides friendly ponies and many others. To reach Ibiza island is very easy, Ibiza’s Airport receives direct flights from some of big cities in Spain.

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Spain- Ibiza the island of the enthusiasm.

Spain- Ibiza the island of the enthusiasm and pleasure.

Ibiza is an island in Spain and Ibiza Town is the most important city.

The island is well-known for its summer club parties which attract large numbers of tourists, but the Spanish Tourist Office have been working in order to promote more family-oriented tourism.

In the summer, the top DJs go to the island and play at various clubs. Some of the more famous DJs run their own weekly nights around the island.

The parties in Ibiza starts at 3pm and finish at 6am, at the disco sunrises.

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Spain’s tourism booms

Viva España – Spain’s tourism booms

Spain has been plagued with bad economic news of late, but things are looking up for Britain’s favourite holiday destination. “Spain had one of the best summers in its history for tourism,” the government said in a statement.

A survey conducted by Frontur, part of the Spanish Institute for Tourism Studies, showed the country received 20.9 million tourists between January and September and experienced the third busiest summer season since records began.

The figures represent an increase of 8.5 per cent from the previous summer, proving that tourists were not deterred by news of riots and protests against government cuts.

Spain has managed to post strong gains despite economic uncertainty in Europe and United States. Experts believe that unrest in North Africa has been the major reason for the bumper year. Tourists who once turned towards cheap beach destinations in North Africa have returned to Spain due to the current politican uncertainty in Egypt and Tunisia.

The tourism minister of Spain believes that while North Africa unrest has helped Spain, marketing campaigns have played a major role for the tourism industry. Spain has managed to penetrate markets like India and Russia this year. Strong arrivals from these 2 BRIC nations have helped the hospitality sector.

This year Spain attracted the maximum number of tourists from England and Germany followed by France and Netherlands. Balearic Islands were the most popular destination among with 9 million foreign tourists this year.

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10 of the best rooftop bars in London

Top drinking spots with bird's eye views of one of the world's greatest cities

London does pubs and pints famously well but you can increasingly add rooftop bars to the superlatives list, too.

True, summer lasts only about two weeks here but that hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm for an alfresco cocktail or two -- most of these spots are open year-round with outdoor heaters and cozy blankets if you want to leave the sheltered inside space.

These 10 panoramic places will be among the best perches in town for New Year revels.

Queen of Hoxton, East London

Queen of Hoxton -- upper crust.Located in the heart of Hipsterville with an uninspiring view of surrounding office blocks, this rooftop is a magnet for East London’s creative crowd.

There are fire pits and a toasty tipi in winter and BBQs, frozen cocktails and guest DJs when the sun is shining.

Screenings of cult films sell out in hours, so keep an eye on the bar's Facebook and Twitter pages to score a coveted ticket.

Food and drink menus change with the seasons. Right now the Pumpkin Spiced Cider ($8.80) and DIY toasted marshmallows ($1.60) hit the spot.

Queen of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3JX; +44 20 7422 0958; open daily, year-round

Radio Rooftop Bar, central London

Indoor glass atrium and warming cocktails make this a top winter spot.A newcomer to the city’s rooftop scene, Radio is among the swankiest.

It’s the crowning glory of a five-star hotel that was once the headquarters of the BBC.

Ten floors up in the heart of Theaterland, the wide terrace either side of the glass-walled bar lets you tick off most London landmarks.

A cosmopolitan post-work/pre-theater crowd mingles with well-heeled hotel guests, so you should dress to impress (no sportswear allowed for men).

Seasonal cocktailslike the Autumn Sundown with Gin Mare, vanilla, basil and apple ($19) are great.

Radio Rooftop Bar, 336-337 The Strand, Aldwych, WC2R 1HA; +44 20 7395 3440; open daily,year-round

Madison, City of London

Saintly sipping with St. Paul's in the background.Sipping is a spiritual affair at this City of London bar, with a large outdoor terrace overlooking the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral.

There are 150 different wines to choose from and a good range of beers, spirits and cocktails. But the signature drink is a Pornstar Martini with vanilla vodka ($17.60).

The mini-cheeseburgers with blue cheese and bacon ($14.40) are a manageable bite with drink in hand or you can take a table at the classy restaurant serving up European fare.

Come 5 p.m., it’s wall-to-wall City boys, while the weekend attracts a mixed crowd of tourists and locals.

Madison London, 1 New Change, St Paul’s, EC4M 9AF; +44 20 8305 3088; open daily, year-round

More: Futuristic London airport proposed for Thames island

Boundary, East London

Boundary: British weather-proof.Sitting atop a converted Victorian warehouse, this is one of the city’s most stylish rooftops.

Wicker chairs and white cushions create a relaxed Mediterranean vibe, while the new weatherproof pergola means the infamous British weather won’t bother you one bit.

Classic cocktails are all around $15, or there are pitchers to share. The zingy Rooftop Garden with lemon vodka and apple brandy ($38) feels appropriate.

You can nibble on olives or go for something more substantial from the all-day menu of seafood, char-grilled steaks and salads (available until 9.45 p.m.).

Boundary, 2-4 Boundary Street (entrance on Redchurch Street), Shoreditch, E2 7DD; +44 20 7729 1051; open daily, year-round

The Big Chill House, King’s Cross

Creative student types call this place home in increasingly cool King's Cross.

This large Victorian pub in King’s Cross is a maze of different floors, with funky decor, rocking DJs and sweaty 20-somethings from nearby Central Saint Martins College predominating.

There’s a good selection of craft beers, spirits and cocktails, plus tasty bar bites such as chili popcorn prawns with sweet chili dip ($6.50).

The rooftop closes at midnight on the weekends, but downstairs stays thumping until 3 a.m.

Big Chill House, 257-259 Pentonville Road, King’s Cross, N1 9NL; +44 20 7427 2540; open daily, year-round

Vista, central London

Vista ... has a sweeping one, especially come New Year's Eve.Perched on top of The Trafalgar hotel in Trafalgar Square, the newly refurbished Vista has one cracker of a view -- and one of the best New Year’s parties in town.

The ambitiously priced drinks list is dominated by Champagne and creative cocktails.

The Movista is a blend of Jamaican rum with a touch of cherry wine and fresh lime juice, topped up with soda ($19).

With its monochrome furnishings and sophisticated air, Vista attracts a suited-and-booted crowd and cashed up tourists looking to escape the hubbub below.

The Trafalgar, 2 Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, SW1A 2TS; +44 20 7870 2900; open daily from April to October but also open on New Year’s Eve for the Thames-side fireworks display; $7 cover charge after 4 p.m.

More: 7 hot new London hotels

Upper Deck, Southwark

Being British, this rooftop bar comes with cream tea and scones.Opened in April 2013, this terrace overlooking the Thames has glorious views of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and World War II warship HMS Belfast.

Considering it’s in prime tourist territory, prices are reasonable, with more than a dozen wines on offer, plus bottled and tap beer and the usual spirits.

You could embrace all things British with a cream tea -- scone, clotted cream and jam ($8) -- or share a local cheese board with fruity chutney and artisan bread ($23).

You’re unlikely to hear a local accent during the day, but come evening time it’s packed with post-work punters.

Upper Deck, HMS Belfast Visitor Center, The Queen's Walk, Southwark, SE1 2JH; +44 20 7403 6246; open daily from March to November

Dalston Roof Park, East London

AstroTurf meets gritty inner city.There’s no real view (unless you count a sloping roof of solar panels), but this AstroTurfed pop-up atop a four-story former factory is the ultimate hipster hangout and a great stop to plan for once winter clears away.

It’s not as pretentious as it sounds, though, with a casual neighborhood vibe and DJs, stand-up comedy and classic films.

A team of local volunteers tends to grow-bags of herbs, fruits and veg that are blended to make yummy cocktails (from $10).

There’s also well-priced wine, beer and cider served in plastic cups and a changing line-up of street food stands.

Dalston Roof Park, 18 Ashwin Street, Dalston, E8 3DL; +44 20 7275 0825; open daily from May-September; one-off membership fee of $5

Frank’s Campari Bar, South London

Multi-story car park becomes hipster central.Who would’ve thought a multi-story car park in a nondescript South London suburb could be the site of one of the capital’s coolest bars?

Part sculpture project, part seasonal pop-up, Frank’s is one of the biggest -- and cheapest -- rooftops in town.

You can choose from Campari cocktails($8), local Meantime beer ($7) and a simple wine list -- it’s just white, red or rosé at Frank’s.

Then there's grilled sweetcorn ($4) to munch on while you admire the city skyline, including the Shard skyscraper, from afar.

Frank’s, Level 10, Peckham Multistory Car Park, 95a Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST; open Wednesday-Sunday during summer

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10 best cities for a winter vacation

(CNN) -- I

ncessant rain and gray skies make winter a trial.

But hot drinks, snowy slopes, frozen lakes and a bright yellow sun?

That's the kind of winter we can all wrap our mittens around.

The cities below aren't necessarily the greatest in the world, but come winter they could just convince you that they are.

Prague, Czech Republic

With its snow-capped spires and cobbled, winding streets, Prague is a fairytale city that remains relatively tourist-free in the winter months.

The stunning architecture looks even prettier under a sheet of snow, with one of the most beautiful areas being the old town, with its turrets and Romanesque vaults.

Gas street lamps were recently reinstalled throughout the city center, adding a romantic hue to evenings.

Cafes here are ideal for escaping the bitter cold.

"Choco Cafe is a great place to take a breather from intense winter sightseeing in the Old Town," says travel blogger Girl in Czechland. "It's full of comfy chairs and sofas and they have more than a dozen kinds of hot chocolate, which is so thick you can practically stand a spoon up it in it."

Where to eat: Lokál Dlouhá. This recently opened restaurant is known for its svíčková na smetaně (beef tenderloin and cream sauce).

Lokál Dlouhá, Dlouhá 33, Prague 1; +420 222 316 265

Where to sleep: The Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa is a five-star, fairytale-like hotel in the middle of the city's old town.

The Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa, Tržiště 19, Prague 1; +420 257 286 011

What to do: After the Christmas markets, there's the fascinating Estates Theatre, where Mozart conducted the world premiere of "Don Giovanni" in 1787.

Estates Theatre, Ovocný trh/Železná Street, Prague 1, +420 224 901 448

More: 24 amazing hours in Prague

Salzburg, Austria

With its backdrop of Christmas carols and traditional markets, this is a perfect city for a winter break.

"Silent Night" was performed for the first time in the Oberndorf on the outskirts of Salzburg on Christmas Eve in 1818.

The city's main market is held in the shadow of Salzburg'sHohensalzburg fortress, but the one held in Mirabell Square is especially popular with foodies who come to sample local delicacies such as halusky -- pieces of dumpling mixed with fried bacon.

Where to eat: Goldener Hirsch on Getreidegasse. This beautiful restaurant is located within the old stables of an historic townhouse. The food is traditional Austrian with a modern twist.

Goldener Hirsch, Getreidegasse 37, Salzburg; +43 662 80840; everyday noon-2 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Where to sleep: The Statkrug. A beautiful four-star Austrian hotel with one of the city's best roof terraces.

The Statkrug, Linzergasse 20, Salzburg; +43 662 8735 45-0

What to do: For a different perspective on Christmas, there's the Christmas manger exhibition at the Panorama Museum on Residenzplatz between November 29 and January 12.

Panorama Museum, Residenzplatz 9, Salzburg; +43 662 620808-730; everyday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tromso, Norway

Tromso: One of the world's best spots for northern lights.

There are several reasons Tromso, known as the capital of the Arctic, is great in winter.

It's widely regarded as Norway's most beautiful city and is a base for spotting the northern lights.

More: Best places to see the northern lights

There are also several fascinating museums, including the Polar Museum, which offers an insight into the history of Arctic expeditions, and the Tromso Museum, which is famous for its Sami exhibitions.

Where to eat: Arcantandria is famous for its shellfish.

Arcantandria, Strandtorget 1, Tromsø; +47 77 60 07 20

Where to sleep: The four-star Clarion Post Bryggen has rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views.

Clarion Post Bryggen, Sjøgata 19-21, Tromsø; +47 77 78 11 00

What to do: The Perspektivet Museum on Storgata offers fascinating insight into Norwegian art.

Perspektivet Museum, Storgata 95, Tromsø; +47 77 60 19 10; Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Amsterdam

In winter, Amsterdam's museums are empty, making it the time to visit attractions such as Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House.

Built originally to house a circus, the Royal Carré Theatrecelebrated its 125th anniversary last year.

Children will love the spectacular performances, which feature athletes from Russia, North Korea and China.

Where to eat: The cozy Restaurant Greetje has traditional Dutch food (and lots of Delft).

Restaurant Greetje, Peperstraat 23-25, Amsterdam; +31 20 7797 450; Sunday-Friday 6-10 p.m., Saturday 6-11 p.m.

Where to sleep: The beautiful five-star 717 boutique hotel on Prinsegracht is housed inside a former sugar trader's residence.

717 boutique hotel, Prinsengracht 717, Amsterdam; +31 20 4270 717

What to do: For Christmas shopping, smaller shopping areas likeHaarlemmerstraat in the Jordaan, the Spiegelkwartier and theNegen Straatjes are better than the big department stores.

More: Insider Guide: Best of Amsterdam

Nagano, Japan

As a former Winter Olympics host city, Nagano is a great base for exploring nearby ski resorts.

The natural hot springs on the outskirts are perfect after a day on the slopes.

Beautiful, snow-covered Buddhist temples are worth checking out, as is the Togakushi Minzoku-kan folklore museum, which has a fascinating display about the ninjas who once trained there.

A top tip?

"The Neapolitan pizza oven place Qui E La that's tucked away in a private home in the woods is an even more welcome refuge in winter," says travel blogger Una, founder of lets-get-lost.com.

Where to eat: Fujiki-an on Daimonkikyocho is famous for its soba noodles, which they've been making since 1827. A picture menu makes ordering easy.

Fujiki-an, 67 Daimonkikyocho, Nagano, +81 26 232 2531

Where to sleep: Hotel JAL city on Toigoshomach is a short walk from both the train station and one of Japan's largest wooden temples -- in winter the views over snowy Nagano are breathtaking.

Hotel JAL city, 1221 Toigosyo-machi, Nagano-shi, +81 26 225 1131

What to do: The Zenkō-ji temple, built in the 7th century, ranks as the third largest wooden temple in Japan.

Zenkō-ji (Japanese only), 491-i Nagano-Motoyoshicho, Nagano-shi; +81 26 234 3591

Reykjavík, Iceland

Hiding within -- great geothermal pools.

Although Iceland's capital city is one of Europe's coldest spots, it has plenty of natural hot springs to warm up in (some of the best can be found in the Nauthólsvík area of the city).

The annual Winter Lights Festival, which takes place in February, is a spectacular celebration of winter.

Visitors can try their hand at a wide range of winter sports or skate on the city's Tjörnin pond.

Many cozy coffee houses sell rúgbrauð -- locally made, dark, sweet bread.

"An unmissable experience during winter is a dip in one of the city's many outdoor geothermal swimming pools," says Eliza Reid, who co-founded icelandwritersretreat.com with Erica Green.

"There is no experience quite like soaking in these naturally warm waters with snowflakes tickling your nose. Each swimming pool has its own character and everyone has their favorite."

Where to eat: Dill restaurant in the Nordic House cultural center. Chef Gunnar Karl Gislason is passionate about local produce and the food here is some of the freshest in Iceland.

Dill restaurant, Sturlugötu 5, Reykjavík; +354 552 1522

Where to sleep: Owned by Icelandair, Hotel Marina is a quirky, colorful hotel located in one of the city's trendiest districts.

Hotel Marina, Myrargata 2, Reykjavik; +354 560 8000

What to do: Harpa, the city's concert hall, was designed by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson to reflect Iceland's geology. It's constructed from more than a thousand glass blocks.

Harpa, Austurbakki 2, Reykjavík, +354 428 5000; daily, 8 a.m.-midnight

More: How to be a Reykjaviker: 8 ways to be cool in Iceland

Berlin

Christmas markets are the ideal destination for pre-Christmas retail therapy -- Berlin has more than 60 of them.

With a miniature train and puppeteers, the market at Mitte at the Rote Rathaus is ideal for children.

Gendarmenmarkt is famous for handcrafted goods.

The two-story Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas store on Kurfürstendamm is worth a look -- it's open all year and sells everything from tree decorations to candles. With 6,500 restaurants, 546 ice cream parlors and cafes and 2,800 snack stalls, there's no shortage of food.

Where to eat: Die Berliner Republik on Schiffbauerdamm is famous for both its food (currywurst is a specialty) and its beer, thanks to a stock exchange-style system that allows drinkers to purchase their favorite beer at rock bottom prices -- if they order at the right time.

Die Berliner Republik, Schiffbauerdamm 8, Berlin; +49 30 308 722 93.

Where to sleep: Hotel Otto on Knesebeckstraße is located in one of Berlin's quieter neighborhoods. Extras include a "surprise" button in the lift.

Hotel Otto, Knesebeckstrasse 10, Berlin; +49 30 54 71 00 80

What to do: Dr Pong on Eberswalder Strasse much surely rank as one of Berlin's quirkier bars. It's a ping pong bar, and perfectly sums up Berlin's underground nightlife scene.

Dr Pong, Eberswalder Strasse 21, Berlin; Monday-Saturday 8 p.m.-late, Sunday 7 p.m.-late (May-September), 6 p.m.-late (October-April)

Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa's Winterlude festival is one of the world's largest winter festivals.

It takes place from January 31 to February 17 and is famous for its ice sculptures, outdoor concerts and toboggan courses.

The Christmas Lights Across Canada scheme, which runs from December 5 to January 7, sees some of the city's largest monuments and buildings bedecked with Christmas lights.

From January, the city has the world's coolest commute -- the 7.8-kilometer (4.8-mile) Rideau Canal Skateway, which is used by commuters, schoolchildren and students to get through the heart of downtown.

Where to eat: Restaurant 18 on York Street serves traditional Canadian cuisine with a modern twist.

Restaurant 18, 18 York St., Ottawa; +1 613 244 1188

Where to sleep: The Arc Hotel is a warm winter retreat, with a fire in the lobby and complimentary champagne for guests.

Arc Hotel, 140 Slater St., Ottawa; +1 613 238 2888

What to do: From January to February visitors can take a spin on the world's largest natural ice rink -- the Rideau Canal.

Rideau Canal Skateway; +1 613 239 5234; January-February

More: How to pretend you're Canadian when you travel

Washington D.C.

Lightning up a white Christmas every year.

If you're arriving in Washington DC by rail, you shouldn't miss the enormous, 30-foot Christmas tree that was given to Union Station by the Embassy of Norway.

In November and December, the ZooLights show at the National Zoo opens late and stages spectacular light shows.

The White House and Lincoln Memorial look especially beautiful in the snow.

During winter months, the Washington Ballet stages performances the Nutcracker.

Where to eat: Equinox Restaurant specializes in what its head chef refers to as "Mid-Atlantic cuisine." He basically means fish, and lots of it.

Equinox Restaurant, 818 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.; +1 202 331 8118, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Thursday 5:30-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5:30-10:30 p.m., Sunday 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Where to sleep: The Palomar is a small, vibrant hotel just a short walk from the Whitehouse, the National Mall and the Smithsonian.

Hotel Palomar, 2121 P St., Washington, D.C.; +1 202 448 1800

What to do: Zoolights at Washington Zoo kicks off on November 29 and lasts until January 1. Half a million individual LEDS turn the popular attraction into a veritable winter wonderland.

Zoolights at the Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.; +1 202 633 4888; November 29-January 1, daily, 5-9 p.m.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Cobbled streets, a beautiful castle and lovely public gardens make Edinburgh a beautiful city any time of year, but in winter it's breathtaking.

Since the launch of Virgin Atlantic's Little Red service, it's even easier to get to, with regular flights between other UK cities including Manchester and London.

Princes Street Gardens are transformed into a wonderland, complete with ice skating rink, enormous Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel, all in the shadow of the castle.

On the edge of the city, Arthur's Seat is the perfect location for a winter walk and the views from the top are second to none.

Where to eat: Edinburgh isn't about haggis and tatties. For fine dining, One Square restaurant and bar at the Sheraton Grand on Festival Square is the place to go. The drinks menu is impressive -- there are 52 types of gin to choose from.

One Square, 1 Festival Square, Edinburgh, +44 131 221 6422; daily, 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Where to sleep: Jurys Inn is a short walk from the main attractions and offers a warm Scottish welcome.

Jurys Inn, 43 Jeffrey St., Edinburgh; +44 131 200 3300

What to do: A tour around Edinburgh's underground vaults is a great way to learn about the city's fascinating history.

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