EUROQUEST SideTracks

Most visitors to Germany's popular South Eastern-most State Bavaria will focus on the capital Munich as well as the Royal Castles in the Bavarian Alps. Few tend to venture further afield and even fewer head north of Munich to the area perched between Bavaria and its lesser-known northern neighbor, Frankonia. Here in the OBERPFALZ (Upper Palatinate) we find Regensburg, a university town of 130 000 on the Danube and among the oldest settlements in the region. Ratisboa, as this charming town was known during Roman times, occupies a priviledged scenic position on the Danube as the young river emerges from Swabia to flow through Bavaria southwards to become fully navegable near the tri-river town of Passau. Numerous Roman relics attest to Regensburg ancient history, including the Roman gate PORTA PRAETORIA, making this town considerably older than the capital Munich, the latter only dating back to the 12th century. Unscathed by the ravages of WWII, it is surprising how charming, well-...

Over two decades since the fall of Communism, many attractions located just behind the former Iron Curtain remain secrets to most foreign visitors. Tourists tend to focus on over-publicized urban highlights such as Prague, Krakow or Budapest, but apart from a few day trip destinations away from those urban centers, few tend to venture further afield to discover the true gems in the countryside. Among such gems, the LEDNICE VALTICE cultural landscape, a UNESCO world-heritage site, stands out as one of the most spectacular, scenic yet underrated destinations. Located conveniently on the Vienna to Prague route, the GARDEN OF EUROPE, as this area is known, can be found just a mere hour north of Vienna in the direction of BRNO, capital of Moravia. It is important to follow the signs for Brno rather than for Prague upon leaving Vienna, as the latter route via Telc is far less scenic and more congested. The Brno route, by contrast, is just as fast and can also be combined with a visit to S...

For decades now, the name Benidorm has been associated with mass tourism of the worst proportions. Drawn up and overdeveloped as early as the Franco years as one of the main tourist resorts of Spain, its skyline nowadays resembles those of an Asian metropolis and its beaches tend to overflow with package deal tourists from all over Europe. However, the COSTA BLANCA, as overdeveloped as it may have become between Alicante and Denia, still retains its charms and ranks among the most spectacular coastline on the Spanish Mediterranean. There ARE still quiet places to be found for solitude and peace away from the crowds. Two local getaways stand out among our favorites, i.e., the peninsula near ALBIR with its famous lighthouse, as well as the small remote beach of RACÓ DEL CONILL (Rabbit Corner) near Villa Joyosa. It may be a good idea to leave early to avoid the sizzling summer heat and potential crowds, although the peninsula of ALBIR hardly attracts too much of a following. It is locat...

Alicante has come a long way in the past decade - evolving from the ugly duckling on the Mediterranean to an attractive metropolis with diverse neighborhoods and modern infrastructure. Traditionally one of the most conflictive areas of town, the CASCO ANTIGUO of Alicante, its historic OLD TOWN, has undergone significant urban renewal in recent years. As we discovered during our nightwalk around Old Town Alicante, from the recently inaugurated Alicante Contemporary Art Museum near Santa Maria Church to the Alicante Water Museum near the ERETA Park ascending to Sta Barbara Castle, the neighborhood is buzzing with new developments, urban renewal as well as culture and arts projects. To help further dismantle Alicante stereotypes of only Sun, Postiguet Beach and the ESPLANADA seaside promenade, we set out to dig further into the small, twisted alleyways of OLD TOWN to discover yet another totally different world: the neighborhood of SANTA CRUZ. Leaving behind the busy bars on Calle Labra...

On behalf of the Hungarian LGBT community WELCOME to Hungary's Capital City. One of our missions is to provide LGBT visitors with current information on gay life in Hungary and to offer true Magyar hospitality to everyone coming to our city from abroad. As such, our mission is truly committed to diversity and tolerance, bringing Hungary in line with other European nations in their respect for human rights and minorities.  While images of Neo-Nazis throwing eggs at pride marchers may have dominated news media in previous years, we believe such incidents are not representative of Hungarian society as a whole. In fact, Budapest to us is a beacon of hope and tolerance in Central Europe, with far more repressive attitudes towards gays and lesbians looming in societies further East or down the Balkans. While gay life may not be quite the same as in Western Europe and North America, we may assure you that once you understand life the Magyar way, there is no limit to expressing who you...

Most visitors to Switzerland will opt for the mountains or, if they visit cities, tend to spend time in the more renowned Swiss tourist centers such as Lucerne or Interlaken. Not quite as many will opt to visit the capital BERN, although it holds great architectural appeal and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, Bern could be seen as among Switzerland's most charismatic and architecturally charming cities – as it lacks the crude business appeal of Zurich or the cold, diplomatic feel of Geneva. A good place to start any visit to Bern is therefore at the so-called ROSENGARTEN, a former cemetery and nowadays charming park area with numerous kinds of roses – and a spectacular panoramic viewpoint, from which the entire Old Town of Bern along with the AARE valley can be enjoyed in one sweeping view. Numerous photographers, painters and other artists tend to congregate here to capture the scenic beauty of the Swiss capital. From here, it is possible to choose a brief 5...

Switzerland is not known for low prices or mild climatic conditions. Despite being a country of unsurpassed scenic beauty and high standard of living, most visitors will either pass through briefly on a tour across Europe or pay a premium for longer vacations involving skiing or hiking activities in the wintery Swiss Alps. There are some exceptions, however, and climatically the area around Lake Geneva between Lausanne and the Castle of Chillon, the so-called Vaud Riviera or Riviere de Lavaux, boasts among the warmest and most moderate microclimates in Switzerland, second maybe only to Locarno in the Ticino. In addition, it is a region of unique and breathtaking scenery featuring plentiful vineyards and occasional palm trees on the slopes of the Vaud Riviera facing south towards mighty Lake Geneva, Lac Leman in French, with the backdrop of Mt Blanc in the French Alps. Yes, accomodation and food are not cheap, but there are alternatives to overpriced hotels and restaurants in the area...