Berlin’s East and South are remarkably different in character. Friedrichshain, Lichtenberg and Hohenschönhausen in the east are densely built-up, former working-class areas, while green Treptow and idyllic Köpenick in the far southeast seem like independent villages. The tenement blocks of East Berlin were steeped in history during World War II and later under the East … Read more
Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district attracts locals and tourists like virtually no other part of town because it has undergone the most dramatic changes in recent years. Today, the old tenement blocks in the former workers’ district of East Berlin have been taken over by cafés, pubs and restaurants, and the nightlife is exciting and vibrant. … Read more
Nightclubs & Bars The Middle East A live music club to rival any in New York or Los Angeles, the Middle East rocks its patrons from three stages and nourishes them with delicious kebabs and curries. 472–480 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge 617 864 3278 Adm Western Front Live soul, R&B, hip-hop, Latin, and especially reggae make … Read more
Live Music Venues Alexanderplatz A little bit off the beaten track, in Prati, but the best jazz club in Rome bar none – Winton Marsalis, Lionel Hampton, George Coleman and many other international jazz stars have played here . Via Ostia 9 Alexanderplatz Big Mama Rome’s real house of blues, where the big names book … Read more
Budget Hotels and Hostels Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, and have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning Coventry Motor Inn A good, basic motel, offering large pleasant rooms with bay windows, located on the Marina’s “Motel Row.” It isn’t beautiful, but it’s functional and reliable. All rooms are no-smoking, and parking is complimentary. … Read more
The Cambridge Curriculum Morning Call the Museum of Science early to learn what features are playing at the Omni Theater and book tickets over the phone for an afternoon show. Then begin your morning with a stack of pancakes at Davis Square’s legendary Rosebud Diner. Next, ride the “T” inbound to Harvard and head straight … Read more
Locals’ Favourite Shops COIN This good-value department store is where real Romans shop, for back-to-school clothes, kitchen utensils, stationery, household appliances, and much, much more. There’s also a supermarket in the basement, which is great for buying a picnic. Via Cola di Rienzo 173 Franchi One of the best grocers in the city, extremely popular … Read more
Neighborhood Hotels Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, and have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning Hotel Del Sol Called “festive and spacious,” this place really is a ray of sunshine. Bright colors and cheerful patterns greet you around every corner, and the staff is just a nice as can be. An especially great … Read more
Harvard may hold Cambridge’s undeniable claim to worldwide fame, but that is not to diminish the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, superb restaurants, unique shops, and colorful bars lying just beyond the school’s gates. Harvard Square, with its international newsstands, name-brand shopping, and numerous coffee houses, is a heady mix of urban bohemia and Main Street USA. … Read more
A Tour of Trastevere Morning Begin at San Crisogno
Boutique Hotels Note: Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, and have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning Topaz Hotel The striking interiors here are in the highest contemporary style along with exquisite design. The Topaz Bar is among the best in the city, and hotel services include a daily proverb. 1733 N St, NW … Read more
Places to Eat Le Jules Verne Book a window table for the view and then sit back and enjoy the fine food from Alain Ducasse. Reserve in advance. 2nd Level, Eiffel Tower, Champ-de-Mars, 75007 01 45 55 61 44 No disabled access Le Divellec One of the best fish restaurants in town, including oysters, salmon … Read more
Trastevere, which literally means “across the Tiber”, is Rome’s left bank and Bohemian neighbourhood. The former working-class ghetto has retained its medieval character better than any other part of Rome, despite having become one of the most restaurant- and nightlife-packed zones of the city. The Borgo is Vatican turf, a largely uninspired grid of streets … Read more
Child-Friendly Hotels Note: Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, and have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning Holiday Inn Capitol Outdoor rooftop pool with a view, where kids under 12 eat free, one block from the Air and Space Museum – this combination is hard to beat. The on-site deli provides quick meals and … Read more
Mansions Hôtel Biron Built in 1730, this elegant mansion was home to the duc de Biron. From 1904 it was transformed into state-owned artists’ studios. Among its residents was Auguste Rodin (1840–1917), who agreed to donate his works to the nation in return for his apartment and studio. After the sculptor’s death the house became … Read more
A Day Exploring Maritime Greenwich Morning Start the day from Westminster Pier, because the best way to arrive at Greenwich is by boat. The journey takes 50–60 minutes and there are terrific river sights on the way. The old tea clipper Cutty Sark is undergoing restoration until 2010 but the visitor centre is worth a … Read more
Potsdam is an important part of European cultural history – a splendid centre of European Enlightenment, which reached its climax in the 18th century in the architectural and artistic design of Frederick the Great’s palace. The palace complex of Sanssouci, with its beautiful, extensive park, is both magnificent and playful and has been designated a … Read more
Many people are afraid of traveling regardless of the exciting and exotic nature of their destinations, because they have to endure long flights or road trips. They do not like the idea of breathing in dry and recycled air or being confined for many hours. More importantly, they are afraid of exposing themselves to germs … Read more
The palaces that once graced London’s river to the south and west of the city centre were built in places that remain popular today, from Hampton Court and Richmond in the west, downriver to Greenwich. There, on a deep meander in the Thames, a vast Tudor palace was the dramatic first sight of the city … Read more
A Morning Walk on the Appia Antica Start at the Porta San Sebastiano, the grandest city gate of them all, where you can visit the Museo delle Mura . Climb the stairs for great views. From here, continue straight on along the Via Appia Antica . One of the first sights you’ll come to, on … Read more