Travel & Destinations

Sweden is well-known for many things. These include Saab and Volvo automobiles as well as the music group ABBA and pickled herring. IKEA, the home-improvement megastore, is also a big hit. The country is also known for its beautiful scenery, picturesque fishing communities, and being the home of reindeer.

Sweden is full of colorful wooden buildings, traditional homes, stone fortresses, cathedrals, and other innovative modern architecture. Sweden offers everything you need, whether it is hiking trails or art museums. Here’s a list of the top places in Sweden to visit:

Uppsala

Uppsala is located 70km (44 miles) north from Stockholm. It has been the spiritual center of Sweden since the 12th Century. Uppsala was once known for its idols of Norse gods. The Uppsala Cathedral is the seat of the archbishop for Sweden and the largest cathedral in Scandinavia. Uppsala University was established in 1477. It is one of the oldest colleges and universities in Scandinavia.

The city is bounded by the Fyris River, with the medieval area located west of it. The skyline is dominated by the Uppsala Castle and the cathedral. Carl Linnaeus, a nineteenth-century botanist, lived in Uppsala. You can also visit the botanical garden near the castle.

Stockholm

Stockholm is a beautiful city on 14 islands. It is Sweden’s capital, and the largest city of Scandinavia. Stockholm was founded in the 13th century. It is the place where the Nobel Prizes are awarded each year. The Vasa Museum is the most popular museum in Scandinavia. It’s dedicated to a 17th-century warship that went down on its maiden voyage.

Stockholm is more affordable than other Nordic cities. It offers free admission to 15 museums including the Swedish History and Medieval Museums, Royal Armory, and Skokloster Castle. The Royal Palace, Modern Art Museum, and City Hall are all worth a visit.

Malmo

Malmo is a historic medieval city that has been reconstructed with contemporary architecture. It can be described as something old and something new. The third-largest city in Sweden has a beautiful Old Town (Gamla Stoden), which includes three squares: Stortoget, Lilla Torg and Gustav Adlfs Torg.

Gustav Adlfs Torg is the main square. Old Town is also home to Malmohus Slott, a castle. This multi-ethnic city is connected to Denmark via Oresund Bridge. The Turning Torso is a must-see attraction. It’s an architectural marvel that stretches more than 190m (600 feet) into space. This makes it Sweden’s most talked about building.

Swedish Lapland

Swedish Lapland is the perfect place for wilderness adventure if you are looking for a unique and unspoiled experience. It is located in the far north of the Arctic Circle. Summer shines round the clock here. Lapland is ideal for hikers, canoers and wildlife viewers.

The Sami, a hardy and indigenous people of Swedish Lapland, live there. They live in vast forests and barren tundra. The Wilderness Way, which runs 359 km (223 miles) from Stromsund, to Vilhelmina’s terminus, is a great way to see the area. It passes through Fatmomakke and takes you to traditional wooden huts. Jokkmokk is the hub of Sami life and winter visitors can purchase reindeer hides.

Gotland

You would think that fishing, being the largest island in Sweden, is the main industry on the island. But it’s not so. Among the top industries are tourism, agriculture and information technology. It is a popular destination for sun seekers as it receives more sunlight than any other part of Sweden.

Visby, the island’s only city, is a charming Hanseatic walled town that has preserved much of its historic buildings and townscape. The island also has around 100 prehistoric sites and medieval churches.

Kosterhavet National Park

Sweden is blessed with a lot of coastlines. However, Kosterhavet National Park is the best place to see protected marine lines. Kosterhavet is the first national marine park in Sweden. It borders Norway. The park contains 6,000 species and is home to many species that aren’t found elsewhere in Sweden.

The park’s center is the Koster Islands, which lie along the coast and in the sea. Kosterhavet’s coral reefs are a draw for divers and snorkelers, while landlubbers will enjoy the charming fishing villages that await being turned into postcards.

Ystad

Ystad is a Swedish coastal town that attracts murder mystery lovers and sleuths. Henning Mankell, a noted author, set his Kurt Wallender detective novels around Ystad. Greyfriars Abbey is one of Sweden’s most well-preserved medieval monasteries and the Church of the Virgin Mary is a large medieval church. Both are excellent examples of Gothic Hansa architecture.

You will also find charming pastel-colored half-timbered buildings as you walk along cobblestone streets. You can also take a stroll along the pretty sandy beaches of the town. East of Ystad lies the megalithic monument, Ales Stenar. It consists of 59 large boulders that form a stone ship.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is located on Sweden’s West Coast and is home to many parks of different sizes. Many of these parks date back to 19th-century, including Kungsparken which circles the city’s center. Liseberg has the most rides in Scandinavia and is home to many more.

Gothenburg is the largest port city of Scandinavia and hosts the largest regional film festival. There are also numerous music festivals throughout each year. Are you hungry? Try a Haga hagabulle, which is a large cinnamon roll made at Haga. Haga is a district famous for its beautiful wooden houses.

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Peru is among the most important centers of early civilization. Norte Chico civilization already flourished along the Pacific coast around 3000 BC. Numerous other civilizations, including those of Moche, Chavin, Chimu and Nazca followed, leaving amazing artifacts and ruins. The most well-known ancient ruins of Peru have been constructed by sun-worshiping Incas who came into existence around 15^th-century and became the biggest empire of pre-Columbian America.

There is no need to be an expert on history to appreciate Peru. However, other well-known tourist destinations in Peru include some amazing natural beauty spots. The Andes are the whole length of Peru, climbing to 7,000 meters and segregating the deserted coast in the lush Amazon rainforest that offers a broad variety of experiences for travelers.

Machu Pichu

Amidst the top ten most stunning and breathtaking ancient places in the world, Machu Picchu is the undisputed number one of the most popular tourist destinations in Peru. It is the “Lost City of the Incas”. It is inaccessible by its location in the Urubamba Valley below and completely isolated, surrounded by agriculture terraces and fed with natural springs. While it is known to locals, Machu Picchu was largely unnoticed by the world until it was discovered in 1911 by the historian Hiram.

Paracas National Reserve

Paracas National Reserve, on the southern coast of Peru is a reserve for desert that covers the entire Peninsula de Paracas. Nature Conservancy says it’s a fantastic illustration of Pacific subtropical coastal desert with desert stretching all the way up to beaches. The area is home to various species, including sea-lions dolphins and 215 kinds of birds. The reserve also houses dozens of remains of Paracas. Those Paracas inhabitants who lived in the area in the past times.

Huacachina

The town is situated close to Ica. Huacachina is a tiny town surrounded by an oasis that surrounds the lake, which is small in size and its own dunes of sand. The town was once a popular playground to those of the Peruvian elite. Nowadays, Huacachina most often draws international visitors. The most popular attraction here is the possibility to sandboard and take Dune Buggy rides on the dunes made of sand.

Kuelap

Kuelap blends ancient ruins with clouds as well as an Amazon River. This is an old city with a wall built by the Chachapoyans who were also known by the name of Cloud People, who lived near the point where the Amazon cut a valley more than Grand Canyon in the Andes. The fortress in Kuelap is the biggest fortress located in South America and pre-dates the Incas. Bromeliads and orchids flourish within the fortress.

Colca Canyon

People who believe that they think the U.S. Grand Canyon is deep may change their mind when they visit Colca Canyon in southern Peru. With a height of 4,160 meters, Colca Canyon is twice deeper than it is the Grand Canyon, though the walls of the canyon are not as steep. The most notable thing about Colca Canyon apart from the stunning views, are those Andean condors. They can be observed in close proximity when they are floating on the rising thermals.

Mancora

Located on the northern coast, Mancora is a small town that has Peru’s most pristine sandy beach. This town stretches over several kilometers across the Pacific. Mancora is also home to an abundance of beaches, luxurious restaurants and nightclubs in tiny town. The Pan-American Highway serves as the town’s main avenue. The consistent good waves make Mancora an increasingly sought-after surfing spot and a lively nightlife attracts visitors when the sun goes down.

Cordillera Blanca

Cordillera Blanca is a mountain adventurer’s dream with its climbing, hiking as well as mountain bike. The region is located in the northern part of Peru. It boasts 16 peaks over 6000 meters  high, which has earned it the title as “the highest tropical mountain range in the world.” It is part of the Andes the highest mountain in Peru, Huascaran, is located there. Cordillera Blanca also is an excellent place to view remnants of the pre-Inca culture.

Chan Chan

The sprawling adobe city in Chan Chan in Peru was at one time the biggest urban area in Pre-Columbian America. It is believed that approximately 60,000 people resided in Chan Chan. It was established by the Chimu around 850 AD. Chan Chan continued to exist until it was conquered by the Inca Empire in 1470 AD. While Chan Chan must have been an impressive scene at the time, massive floods and heavy rains have seriously damaged the walls of mud of the city. Today, the most impressive feature of the place is its dimensions.

Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuaman is an old walled city that overlooks Cusco. The Incas constructed Cusco in the form of a puma. This represented one of their gods with Sacsayhuaman as its head. Sacsayhuaman is thought to be as one of the greatest human construction feats. The walls of the fortress were constructed with massive stones that dwarfed humankind. The pieces were cut to size so that mortar was not required. The foundations are visible today.

Inca Pisac

In the mountains over the bustling colonial town of Pisac are numerous stunning Inca ruins, known in the region of Inca Pisac. The ruins contain a citadel for military along with religious temples, as well as private dwellings. They also overlook an area known as the Sacred Valley. It is believed it was Inca Pisac who defended the southern entrance to the valley and was the master of a route that connected to the Inca Empire to the boundary to the forest.

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Most people tend to be snobs whenever they travel. Most of them only prefer to visit the top and famous destinations of a certain country. This scenario is particularly true when talking about France. It is true that Paris is amazing and Nice is beautiful however, travelers should know that there are also plenty of wonderful destinations that are worth visiting in Gaul. It is in those underrated destinations where you will find striking sceneries, gorgeous cathedrals, and scenic villages. Who knows, maybe when you choose to visit these places, you might get to contribute in making these places the next top destinations.

Avignon

Found on Rhone River, there is an old town in Avignon that is ideal for wandering only. The main attraction in this town is the papal buildings that the pope used to live at between 1309 & 1327. After a few years, the pope purchased the town and the town remained to be under the control of the church until 18^th-century.

Surely, you will also want to witness here the Palais de Papes as well as the ramparts surrounding the Old Town. Tourists can spend all their time in this medieval city trying the local specialties in a huge covered market – Halle. Also, you can try the Rhone River cruise and have a relaxing ride.

Arles

Once became the home of Vincent van Gogh, the remote city of Arles offers tranquility and an exquisite beauty. One of the biggest attractions in this city is the Roman architecture’s surviving remnants including the Roman Amphitheater. Today, this huge arena serves as a venue for festivals, special events, and even bullfights. Some of the important Gallo-Roman structures here are the Cryptoporticus, Obelisk, Classical Theatre, and Church of Saint Trophime. At my other job, at Rx Catering, my boss recommended I take my paid time off to visit this place. It’s my personal favorite out of all 12 countries I have visited!

Biarritz

In French Basque country’s heart, just a couple of miles away from Spain, Biarritz is a calm but elegant seaside resort. Along Bay of Biscay, the Biarritz is valued for its enchanting beaches which offer world-class surfing and superb swimming. Its main beach, the Grand Plage, can get a bit crowded during summer season. But you should not worry because there is a long beach for surfers on Boulevard du Prince de Galles called Cote de Basque.

You can find along its main bay the remarkable rock formation of the town, Rock of the Virgin, which is linked to the mainland through an old iron bridge that was constructed by Gustav Eiffel.

Colmar

Colmar usually does not belong to France. There are times where Alsace, the location of Colmar, will also belong to Germany. That is the reason why you can see architectures that look Germanic with a mix of French here. An example for this is the 13^th-century Eglise Saint-Martin. This architecture is popular for its early stained-glass windows, various Gothic chapels as well as sculptures. You can find the church in Old Town of Colmar, a scenic place that you will surely want to spend a great time in.

You should also follow the streets with narrow cobblestones to the half-timbered houses that has decorative balconies on the way. On your way, you can also see statues that adorns the sidewalks.

Etretat

Dover in England have white cliffs, but beyond the English Channel, the country of France has Etretat which has white cliffs too. These cliffs claim Etretat’s fame. Etretat have gained this fame with the help of Impressionist artists including Claude Monet.

Carved by water, erosion, and wind, these cliffs guard the water in Normandy. One thing that is responsible for the 3 arches that you can find along these cliffs are the forces of the erosion.

Annecy

This city is also known as “Pearl of the French Alps”. You’ll certainly get to know the reason behind this name when you visit this city. There is only one word that can describe the surroundings of this city and it is “fabulous”. Sometimes, the name of this city is “Venice of the Alps” since there are 3 canals and a river that runs through the city.

The city of Annecy is an all-year-round destination where you can hike during summer and ski in winter. Whenever you feel like going, you must allot some time to visit the Palais de ɭ’Isle, a castle which served as the government headquarters of Geneva ‘til 1815. Now, this place holds the local history museum. 

Corsica

Corsica is a Mediterranean island that is close to Italy rather than to France. This situation may account for the island’s and the mainland France’s differences. The islanders here speak Corsican as their main language, and French as second. Even though a portion of France for over 200 years, this island has still reserved its old customs. Aside from the island’s abundant nature, this “island of beauty” also offers beautiful coastal cities, captivating hilltop villages, and great beaches.

Nimes

Whilst you can find Roman ruins all through France, another place where you can see more of it is in Nimes. Nimes has plenty of ruins that it is seldom referred to as the French Rome. It’s amphitheater which was built during the 1^st-century is France’s best-preserved arena, today, this is being used as a bullfighting ring. Another attraction that you will want to visit here is Maison Carrée, this is a Roman temple that is dedicated to Agrippa’s sons.

Toulouse

The university found at Toulouse which was founded during 1229 has 103,000 students. But note that this university is only the 4^th largest university in France. Even if you visit Toulouse because of this university, you will surely notice the unique architecture of this city. Pink City or Ville Rose is the nickname of Toulouse because most of the buildings here are made of pink terracotta bricks.

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Fjords are narrow, long arms of the seas that have steep sides which are carved by a glacial activity. A lot of people consider this as Norway’s symbol. Norway has a number of the deepest, longest, and most stunning fjords all over the world. Interestingly, there are also some countries who have beautiful renowned fjords. Find out more about this in this article.

Below, we have listed the top 10 most stunning fjords in the world so that you will know where to go in your next vacation.

Kenai Fjords

In south-central Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, you will find Kenai Fjords, a National Park measuring 650,000-acres. The dramatic landscape of the park includes incredible mountains that has huge glaciers that flows down to the sea. Also, you can find fjords here that are about a mile deep which provides habitat for plenty nesting seabirds and small marine mammals like harbor seals, sea lions, and sea otters.

Aisen Fjords

The Aisén Region’s landscape in southern part of Chile has numerous glaciations which forms plenty of channels, lakes, and lovely fjords. The most popular destination here is the Laguna San Rafael National Park. The park is only reachable by plane or boat. Also, you should note that the park has some of Patagonia’s higher mountains.

Howe Sound

In North America, you can find its southernmost fjord, Howe Sound which is situated to Vancouver’s northwest. Being surrounded by various towering peaks that rises out of the sea, the Howe Sound is the playground of Vancouver for fishing, sailing, camping, diving, and also a host to several recreational activities. There are various islands in this fjord, three of it are mountainous and large.

Misty Fjords

At the southern point of Alaska Panhandle, you can find Misty Fjords, a wild and remote National Monument. The massive cruise ships cannot navigate across these steep-walled, narrow fjords thus, they offer an outstanding opportunity for sea-kayaking. However, note that frequent storms and the tides can make this boating experience quite challenging.

Doubtful Sound

On South Island of New Zealand’s southwestern corner, you can find a massive fjord – Doubtful Sound. This fjord is known best for its wildlife and wilderness. The Doubtful Sound is Fiordland National Park’s second largest fjords. Also, it is 10 times bigger and 3 times longer than the accessible and famous Milford Sound.

Geirangerfjord

Among all of Norway’s popular fjords, its crown jewel is the Geiranger. The lovely waterfalls, snow-covered peaks, deep blue waters, and lush-green vegetations all add up to a great experience. You can explore this fjord by ensuring a reservation from the cruise shIps that come there each year. Another option to visit this fjord is to take a car ferry in between Geiranger and Hellesylt. 

Naeroyfjord

Nærøyfjord is the most beautiful and wildest branch of Sognefjord, Norway’s largest fjord. The narrowest point of Nærøyfjord measures 250m wide and the fjord measures 17-km long. The passage that you will be passing through Nærøyfjord is one of Europe’s most melodramatic fjord trips.

Lysefjord

This is southwestern Norway’s popular attraction. Aside from the fjord’s unique scenery, the 2 points on its length are also popular. The Preikestolen, Pulpit Rock, is a plateau on top of a vertical drop that measures 604m and offers a wonderful view of Lysefjord and the surrounding scenery of the mountains. At the fjord’s end, you can find Kjerag Mountain. This is a famous hiking destination that has spectacular drops.

Milford Sound

The Milford Sound is New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination. Also, it claimed the top spot for TripAdvisor’s 2008 Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards. At Fiordland National Park’s most accessible and northern end, you can see Milford Sound lying and offering some of the most stunning coastal sceneries of the world because of its amazing peaks and blue waters. The frequent downpours of the area boost the beauty of South Island, sending various waterfalls flowing down the various cliffs.

Ilulissat Icefjord

Ilulissat Icefjord is close to Ilussat town, on Greenland’s west coast. This fjord runs about 25 miles (40km) from ice sheet of Greenland to Disko Bay. The icefjord’s head area is a wonderful site where the icebergs from the fastest moving glaciers of the world create a dramatic and whimsical scenery.…

Mexico is a country of countless natural wonders, but the best way to explore them is by foot. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to get around; you’ll never be bored with all the new scenery, people and adventures it offers! From ancient pyramids to hidden waterfalls, here are some of our favorite things that we’ve learned about exploring Mexico on foot.

Mexico City – The land where pre-Hispanic cultures met and merged: Aztecs, Mayas and Olmecs lived here happily together… before they got conquered by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Since then Mexico has been governed under different laws but conserved its cultural richness which you can enjoy today as well as many other modern places across the country.

Puebla – Beautiful colonial style architecture with Spanish influence, amazing food and warm people are just some of the things you’ll find when visiting Puebla in Mexico City. This place is also known for its Talaveras pottery which has been handcrafted here since before it was even discovered by Europeans!

Chichen-Itza – If there’s one must-see location in all of Mexico, this would have to be it. The ancient Mayan city of Chichen-Itza features a pyramid that will leave you speechless no matter how many times you’ve seen pictures or videos about it… but nothing can prepare you for seeing it up close with your own eyes! Make sure not to miss the sunset from the top of it.

Cancún and the Mayan Riviera – If your ideal Mexican vacation has a bit more luxury to it, then you should definitely visit Cancún and the Mayan Riviera. In this part of Mexico there’s an endless number of beaches that have been given awards for being some of the most amazing in all of Latin America!

Guadalajara – If you’re looking for a place where modern culture meets old traditions… look no further than Guadalajara. This is one city with so many different activities going on around every corner; from festivals to museums, everything here will make sure not to bore you. You can even learn how traditional methods are used today by visiting any one of its 40 tequila factories, which produce over 100 million liters each year!

Puerto Vallarta – Beautiful beaches, incredible resorts and amazing food are just some of the things Puerto Vallarta has to offer. The area surrounding this city is filled with quaint little towns that will make your jaw drop; you’ll want to visit all of them!

Huatulco – Beautiful clear waters, inviting white sand beaches and lush green mountains… Huatulco truly feels like paradise on Earth! This place not only offers a wide variety of activities but also makes for an excellent getaway from big cities because it’s located in Oaxaca where locals still maintain their traditions alive. You can take part in festivals or even learn how to dance traditional dances by visiting one of its many schools which provide lessons during tourist season

Chichén Itzá: The Mayan Metropolis – Beautiful, Beautiful. Chichén Itzá is one of the most incredible places in all of Mexico due to its architecture and history… but imagine seeing it for yourself! Or better yet… discovering a new undiscovered part that hasn’t been seen by anyone outside your group since before you were born .

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