Category: City Break

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City City Break Europe Gibraltar Sun Winter Sun

Gibraltar

If you have a look at the current travel corridors, Gibraltar is one place that you can travel to at the time of writing without having a Covid test prior or on entry and there is no need to quarantine on your return.  Daytime temperatures are average around 16oC in January and can get into the low 20s.  It is pleasant enough to sit out and eat lunch during the day, but gets a bit chilly for dinner in the evening.

Although Gibraltar is relatively small, there is still plenty to do.  Scenery wise there is a little bit of everything. There are beaches which during the winter you might not want to sit on but they are great places to walk, take in the sea air and the views. There is plenty of history on Gibraltar due to its geography at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea which has been a highly valued possession.   You will find a mixture of influences and reminders of the Romans, the Moors, the Spanish and the British all over the island.

St Micheal's Cave, Gibraltar - visitgibraltar.gi
St Micheal’s Cave – Gibraltar – visitgibraltar.gi

St Michael’s Cave is one of the many wonders of Gibraltar, and has enticed visitors for hundreds of years. While staying in Gibraltar it’s well worth paying a visit.  The cave is actually a series of caves that are 300m above sea level.  They are Gibraltar’s main tourist attraction with over 1,000,000 visitors a year.  One of the largest caves serves as an auditorium and during WW2 the caves served as a hospital.

You cannot visit Gibraltar without seeing the Barbary Macaques, these monkey inhabitants of the rock are the only monkeys on the continent of Europe.  They are well looked after in the Gibraltar nature reserve that covers 40% of the country. 

Barbary Macaque - African coastline of Morocco in the background.
Barbary Macaque – African coastline of Morocco in the background.

Two other attractions I wouldn’t want to miss out on if I were going on a short break. One would be the 11th century Moorish castle complex.  In its heyday it was much larger that it is today.  Look out for The Tower of Homage and the Gate House. In 1704 the British flag was placed on top of the castle and it still files today. The other would be the Great Siege Tunnels which were built at the end of the 18th century during the Great Siege of Gibraltar when France and Spain attempted to capture Gibraltar.  The tunnels dug out by hand mainly using sledgehammers and crowbars with the occasional gunpowder blast are impressive.

Moorish Castle and view over Gibraltar. visitgibraltar.gi
Moorish Castle and view over Gibraltar. visitgibraltar.gi
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California City City Break Driving Los Angeles Surfing USA

L.A. CA. USA.

It might seem strange to suggest that you visit LA because of the beaches, but it actually has some of the best beaches in the US. The names of them are easily recalled by most of us due to their locations being used in numerous US films and TV series. Venice Beach is one of LA’s most known beaches, with its numerous galleries, quirky shops, street performers, what is less well known are the Venice canals. Whilst in the area dont’t miss out on Muscle Beach. The perfect place for people watching.

Guitar Player – Venice Beach LA

Many people prefer Santa Monica Beach to Venice, I will leave that up to you to decide. Santa Monica attracts more than 7 million visitors a year who come primarily for the beach connection. It is also close to other Los Angeles attractions. Santa Monica is very attractive as a walkable and bike friendly destination. Don’t miss a trip to the world famous Santa Monica Pier, yes they have them in the States as well.

Santa Monica Beach, LA, CA
Santa Monica Beach, LA

For the kids and young wizards at heart. Los Angeles is home to the brand new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Hollywood. Complete with its own Hogwarts Castle and Harry Potter themed rides. Of course you can not really visit Los Angeles without doing something celebrity / entertainment based. You can make your own tour if you plan ahead or book yourself onto many of the themed tours. Fully recommended are the tours of Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures or Sony Pictures. Finally we can not do justice to all LA has to offer so we will be back.

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City City Break Europe Italy

Venice, Italy

Venice or Italy for that matter can be visited any time, not just the summertime. In fact you could say that the Spring or Autumn were preferable for city tourists as the day time temperatures are better suited for wandering around.

Looking for a weekend or half term break then Italy should be your destination.  Italy offers so many beautiful attractions for visitors, whether it’s the cities, the lakes or the coast.  In fact we visited Milan in August here on Travellogs.

Canal Grande, Venice, Italy
Canal Grande, Venice, Italy

If you are looking for a single city destination then why not head for Venice.  With tourist numbers down this year, a trip to Venice at this time just makes so much sense.  Imagine not having to queue for restaurants, museums and other attractions, taking leisurely walks around the main thoroughfares, plenty of space on the water taxis and being able to book a hotel at a reasonable price right in the middle of hundreds of years of history.

Direct flights to Venice from London take around 2 hours and 15 minutes.  The transfer from the airport to the centre of Venice is around 20 minutes.

For those of you who have been to Venice before, you will not need convincing to return.  For first timers then this is what you have missed so far.  Venice comprises of over 100 islands, separated by canals but connected by over 400 bridges.  As capital of the Republic of Venice from 697 until 1797 Venice became the financial centre of the world and was at the cross roads of international trade between east and west.  This gave the city to wealth to build a city that rises out of the lagoon, with its domes and spires.

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
Piazza San Marco – Venice, Italy

Try to get to the Piazza San Marco at least once during your visit.  It is the most famous square of Venice and probably the most photographer destination within the city.  It is here that you will find the Basilica San Marco. Entrance is free to this stunningly beautiful church.  Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to make the most or your time in Venice.

And whilst you are in the Piazza San Marco make sure you visit the Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace).  The palace is worth a visit in its own right because of the architecture, but today it also houses many important art works. It’s a good idea to book your museum tickets in advance, thereby making the most of your time in the fantastic city.

Venice at Night, Italy
Venice at Night, Italy

One to save for the evening is a walk across the Ponte Rialto where you experience a stunning view of the bridge and the city lit up at night. Remember that gondola rides have fixed prices. Standard gondola rides in Venice have cost 80 euros for a private 25-30 minutes tour in the day and 120 euros at night. Gondolas normally take up to 6 passengers.