Settling for the right holiday destination can be a difficult task. There are so many countries with beautiful places to visit you can include on your bucket list. You need to factor in a few things before settling for one place, however. Make sure you are familiar with the weather conditions of your preferred holiday destination within the specific season you want to go.
You also need to determine your budget to know the amount you have to spend on your trip. Travel blogs and magazines can be of great significance when it comes to choosing the perfect holiday destination. There are different sites that have proper information on the different places you can visit. Cyprus is one place you can pick as your next holiday destination.
Walking along the sea coast in Protaras, Cyprus | by Monika Kostera (urbanlegend)
This Mediterranean island nation has beautiful beaches and attractive sites you can check out. However, you need to have proper documentation before touring the country. This helps prove your type and period of stay. One document you will need is the Cyprus tourist visa which is a must for any tourist.
You can get it from their embassy by applying after following the right application procedure. There is also an option of getting one through different visa agents. You can visithttps://one-visa.com to get your visa processed fast.
The following are best things you can do or places to see when you are in Cyprus. Let’s have a look at some of them.
Tour the Villages of Cyprus
Cyprus, Fikardou, Village, Medieval IC: Pixabay
Away from the city or urban life in Cyprus, you can take the step of visiting their villages, which hold much of the more traditional way of life. You will come across so many things when you tour their villages.
Traditional Cypriot foods like Halloumi, Sheftalia, Kleftiko, and Tirokafteri are some of the things you will come across. You will get the first-hand experience of how they are prepared. You also have the opportunity to learn about their culture and their traditions. You can also sample some of their crafts.
This is one of the largest mountains situated at the heart of the island. It is made up of very steep slopes covered with beautiful tree species. There are also several villages around the mountain. It has one of the most scenic views in the country. There are some lovely restaurants you will find too where you can sample some of the island’s dishes. You should visit and catch that beautiful view.
Fasouri Water Park
Limassol Fassouri Watermania Water Park IC: altgiperon
You should visit the Fasouri Water Park to get some world-class water entertainment. It is one of the best water parks on the island and is perfect for the whole family. There are different features there that can also keep your kids entertained.
Limassol Old Town
Cyprus Limassol old town street architecture IC:Pixabay
You can also visit the Limassol old town and have a look at its many attractive features. Something that will catch your view is the beautiful architecture. Their streets are also designed perfectly. You can also sample some cuisine from the different restaurants in the area.
It is the time of the year when the berries are available in
the market-the most notable being strawberries.
The following are some delicious recipes using berries. Do try them out in your spare time.
Devil’s love bite cocktail
Ingredients
½ cup strawberry puree;
½ peg white rum,
Sugar syrup to taste;
2 tbsp. lemon juice
Preparation:
Blend fresh strawberries and strain the juice.
Shake along with the remaining ingredients in Boston shaker.
Garnish with fresh cut strawberries and salt on the glass rim.
Baked berry cheesecake
Ingredients:
75 gms butter melted plus extra for greasing;
175 gms digestive biscuits;
175 gms seasonal berries plus extra for decorating;
450 gms cream cheese;
150 gms caster sugar;
1 tsp. vanilla extract;
4 eggs lightly beaten;
Icing sugar to dust
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
Butter the sides and base of a 24cm cake tin. Place the biscuits into a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.
Alternatively, place them into a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin. Mix the crushed biscuits with the melted butter and press down into the base of the tin.
Spread the berries over the base and allow for chilling in the fridge for an hour.
Beat the cream, cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and the eggs together in a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
Pour over the top of the berries and then bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until pale golden and only wobbles slightly when you gently shake the tin.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin for about 10-15 minutes.
Then run a knife around the edge to loosen it and carefully remove the cheesecake from the tin.
Sprinkle over a few blueberries/strawberries, then dust with icing sugar Best eaten at room temperature.
Raspberry Macaroons
Ingredients
100 gms almond powder
180 gms icing sugar,
100 gms egg whites,
¼ tsp cream of tartar,
35 gms castor sugar,
A few drops of pink gel paste food color.
Preparation:
Baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Place the almond powder and confectioners’ sugar in a food processor and process until finely ground (about 1 to 2 minutes).
Sift the mixture to remove any lumps. In the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar gradually add the superfine sugar, and continue to beat, on high speed, until the meringue holds in glossy and stiff peaks.
Once the almond structure is completely folded into the meringue, fill a pastry bag with the batter.
Pipe rounds of batter onto the parchment paper. Let the macaroons sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes.
Meanwhile preheat your oven to 150 degrees c. Bake macaroons for about 16-20 minutes. Remove from oven and place the baking sheet on a wire rack. Let the macaroons cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet. Place the macaroons on a wire rack to cool completely.
Raspberry filling–
In a bowl beat or whisk, the cream cheese with the mascarpone cheese until nice
and smooth with no lumps. Stir in 3-4 tbsp. of raspberry jam until well
combined. Place in a small piping bag.
To assemble macaroons–
Start with two cookies of about the same size. Pipe a round of raspberry
filling onto the flat bottom side of one cookie. Take the second cookie and
place it (top side up) on top of the filling to sandwich together.
Preparation– Stack black grapes at the bottom of the tall glass. Add ice cubes over the grapes. Stack the entire remaining fruits one above the other. Pour white wine and garnish with strawberry.
What are the best & most affordable vacation cities in Europe that have a ton of stuff to see & do?
What European cities are affordable?
Well, here is our list of the 9 (actually 10) best European cities to visit on a budget.
Our list factors in the sights and activities tourists can see, prices for hotels, sights, and restaurants, available cheap transportation to that city and if you would actually want to have a fun time in that town.
Where should I go in Europe if I am broke or not broke? Well here is our list.
If you are planning a trip to Budapest or are currently in Europe, don’t miss these best places to visit in Budapest
Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion, Budapest
IC: Pixabay
The Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fishermans bastion are very popular attractions on the Buda hill. You can walk across the towards the end of the chain bridge and there is a funicular which takes you directly to the castle hill. Be sure to see all these places and there are a number of important museums out there like Hungarian History Museum, National gallery etc..
Szechnyi , Gllert or Rudas Baths
Baths are must-see and unique to Budapest. You have to spend about 3000 forints to enter baths.
The Hungarian Parliament
Hungarian Parliament building IC: Godot13 Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 4.0
The Hungarian Parliament is a majestic aesthetically crafted building and the front of the parliament is really beautiful. You can’t miss the guided tour inside the parliament and it is a must-see.
Heroes Square (Hosok Ter)
Hősök tere (meaning “Heroes’ Square” in Hungarian) is one of the major squares of Budapest, Hungary, rich with historic and political connotations. It lies at the end of Andrássy Avenue (with which it comprises part of an extensive World Heritage site), next to City Park.
Heroes Square is the place where Andrassy street ends and it is not far from Deak Ferenc square. There are important museums on either side of the square and visiting them takes at least 2-3 hrs. If you walk behind the heroes square, you can visit szechnyi thermal baths, the castle and a beautiful park. This is a very important monument and well worth spending your time visiting.
St. Stephens Basilica (Panoramic view)
IC: Pixabay
The St.Stephens Basilica is one of the important tourist attraction and the third highest church in Hungary. The sheer size of the basilica, its facade and bell towers is worth admiring. You can go on top of the tower through life and see the best panoramic views of Budapest and you can’t certainly miss that.
The Margarit Island
Budapest cosmos Margaret island Mexican autumn rose IC: Pixabay
The Margarit island, not far from Parliament is a long island completely a park. You can relax if you are a nature admirer of green vegetation. The park is very well maintained and is very big and certainly renting a cycle is very recommended to see the island. There is a bus which runs through the island and there are also hotels at the end of the island.
Gellert Hill is also a very important tourist attraction in Budapest. If you wish you can climb the hill starting from Gellert bath near Szabadsag and climb up. It might be tiring to reach Gellert but climbing up and down is a really fun part of exploring the hill.
The Chain Bridge (Szechenyi Hid)
Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest, connecting Buda with Pest, by Silar 2010
Walk on the chain bridge at night (amazing)
Deak Ferenc Ter (Main city centre)
Károly Boulevard, ‘Deak Ferenc ter’ temporarily tram stop and bus – waiting area for tram replacement buses. The ‘real’ Deak Square is two blocks away. IC: Kleszczu
Main city centre in Budapest. Start from here and all the tourist buses start from here
Vaci Street (shopping street)
Váci utca | by nedrichards
Vaci street is one of the main shopping and restaurant street in Budapest. It starts with Deak Ferenc and is a very long street buzzing with tourists.
The Terror Museum on Andrassy avenue contains exhibits related to the fascist and communist dictatorial regimes in 20th century Hungary and is also a memorial. Tickets are not free but I think you can get discounts with Budapest card. It is at a walkable distance from opera.
The Hungarian State Opera
View of the Hungarian State Opera House at night. Budapest, Hungary, Eastern Europe, 22 October 2012. IC: Mstyslav Chernov
The State Opera is one of the buildings and must be visited at least for a photo. Guided tours are available inside the opera and are worth visiting. For timings please the www.opera.hu website.
The Central Market Hall
Budapest great market hall Hungary building IC:Pixabay
The Central market hall is one of the biggest market halls in central Europe. It attracts many tourists for its sheer size and there are hundreds of shops inside for shopping souvenirs, food items, Hungarian delicacies at very reasonable prices. It is at Szabadsag bridge and it can be reached by taking a tram from Deak Ferencter.
Castle of Vajdahunyad
Vajdahunyad Castle | by Kurayba
The Vajdahunyad Castle and entrance is not very far Heroes square and in fact if you walk it is just behind it. This castle cannot be missed and especially a beautiful church inside it and you would love to take pictures of the castle and gardens. The castle is now Agriculture museum.
Museum of Applied Arts
Lake Balaton: 1 -day full tour
Lake Balaton is the largest fresh-water lake in Central Europe and is about 1 hr from Budapest and there are full-day bus tour trips conducted by tourist companies which include Herend porcelain visit, lunch and spending half a day at Balaton. During summer, over a million tourists visit Lake Balaton and is one of the main attractions in Hungary. Enquire about this at the tourist information office in Budapest and they will book you with one of the companies. You can also take a train which runs from Deli Payaudvar station (Red line metro) to Lake Balaton if you prefer. Very certainly, you will get to enjoy unique Lake Balaton and there are plenty of souvenir shops out there to shop. Be sure to add 1 more day to your trip itinerary, if you want to visit Lake Balaton.
Danube Night River Cruise with dinner and live music
The cruise ride during Night is the best way to see Budapest with all bridges and parliament and castle lit up at night and it is so beautiful. You can get to catch a glimpse of both Buda and Pest on both sides when sailing. The cruise trip starts at night 20:00 and is about 2.5 hr trip including dinner. You have to get tickets at Budapest port or near Erzsebet bridge (White bridge) on the riverside, and there is a ticket counter to buy tickets.
River Ride Bus
The River ride bus is very unique and is the main attraction in Budapest. The bus runs both on land and water and this way you get to see Budapest both on land and water.
You will find nice restaurants in these areas. walk around liszt ferencz
square near oktogon, then raday utca. There are tonnes but Gundel is the most
famous and expensive restaurant.
Coffee Shops
Grab a coffee in Central cafe, New York coffee, Alexandria cafe (worth seeing)
