Belvilla CityTrips

City trips are more popular than ever. The big advantage of a holiday home or pied-à-terre in Brussels, Paris or Venice – or any other city – is that your stay will turn out far cheaper than a hotel accommodation. And you will always be close to where the action is! Experience the various European cities from up close. Feel the pulsating metropolitan life, view their history and savour their culture first-hand. All this is possible if you rent one of our holiday homes in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Bruges, Budapest, Florence, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome or Venice.

We wish you lots of fun during your city trip!
Belvilla

Compared to other metropolises, Amsterdam is only a small city; however, it offers all the advantages of any metropolis. Here, you find a variety of historic places of interest, such as the Royal Palace, the National Museum of Art and History, and the world-famous Van Gogh Museum. Your children will love Amsterdam as well; especially Artis Zoo and the Vondel Park, both located in the very heart of Amsterdam.

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Barcelona was once the capital of its own Kingdom; today it is the capital of the independent region of Catalonia. The city borders the Mediterranean Sea and has lengthy sandy beaches; north of the city is a mountain range with mountains over a thousand metres high. Tourists will have a hard time planning their tour: will they wander the old city alleyways first? Or go straight to the famous esplanade called the ‘Ramblas’? Whichever you choose, make sure to visit the ‘Sagrada Familia’ – the famous edifice built by Gaudí, which is indisputably the city’s number one object of interest.

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If there is one thing that distinguishes Berlin, it is its constant change. One of the most important changes was the fall of the Berlin wall in the night of 9 to 10 November 1989, after a divided Germany that lasted over 28 years. A historic event with world-wide impact, which is honoured in 2009 with the thematic year: ‘20 years after the fall of the wall – 20 years of change in Berlin’ with many exhibitions and events. Today, Berlin is a true ‘Gate to the East’, which makes this lively capital of Germany worth a visit any day of the year.

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Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities of Europe; in the year 2000, the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Between the meandering alleyways and the romantic canals, you will find many museums, excellent restaurants, trendy lunch spots, and cosy cafés. All year round, the Bruges air is tinged with the scent of chocolate, and the countless creative confectioners conjure up kilos and kilos of delicious chocolates called Brugsche Swaentjes, the famous Bruges Swans. Can you imagine anything sweeter? No? Then try the chocolate museum called Choco Story. Life’s sweet!

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Not only is this bilingual metropolis the pulsating capital of Belgium, it is also the capital of the European Union. In addition, the royal family is domiciled in Brussels; hence the beautiful lanes, triumphal arches and monumental palaces. Take a stroll around one of the most beautiful marketplaces in the world, the Grand Place, or visit the 102 metres high Atomium. While Brussels is a well-known centre of arts, culture, shopping and business, it is also the capital of comics and Jugendstil, and attracts night clubbers as well as lovers of culinary delights.

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The fascinating capital of Hungary, indisputably the most beautiful city on the Danube, is famous for its magnificent location, its outstanding architecture and its unique cultural scene. Budapest is love at first sight for most of its visitors; like a broad, silver ribbon, the Danube river flows through the city, separating mountainous Buda from flat Pest. Three islands mark the stream: Óbuda, Margaret and Csepel. Of the nine city bridges across the Danube, two serve railway traffic. The capital accommodates two million inhabitants and has a rich history and an unparalleled cultural heritage. To date, it still retains the charm and grandeur of old. The ‘Queen of the Danube’ - as Budapest is often called - also offers many therapeutic springs; nearly one hundred thermal springs bubble up out of the depths of the earth. Together, these are combined into twelve commercial spas.

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The Central-Italian city of Florence is of great cultural importance; that is why it is often called the 'Athens of Italy'. The city boasts seventy museums, of which the most highly recommended include: the Cathedral Museum, the Medici Chapel, the Bardini Museum and the Archaeological Museum. The most well-known Florentine objects of interest include the Cathedral of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery, the Fountain of Neptune on the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, Palazzo della Signoria, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and the Ponte Vecchio, from which you have a wonderful view across the city. Florence is the former capital of Italy, and both then and now, the heart of Florence beats between the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza Della Signoria. The historic city centre of Florence is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.

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Although Lisbon’s cultural heritage alone justifies a visit to this multifaceted city, there are a few things you should definitely include in your Lisbon experience. If you arrive to Lisbon by ship, you are first welcomed by the Torre de Belem, the number one object of interest of the city, which is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. The Park of Nations – an area that was developed on the occasion of Expo 1998 – with its many bars, cafés, and tall shopping mall, attracts many people from all around. This is also where you will find the largest Oceanarium of Europe; it was Portugal’s contribution to Expo 1998. Especially beautiful in Lisbon are the many ''miradouros'', or panorama points, which provide a meeting place for locals and youngsters, a front garden for recreational purposes, and a children’s playground all in one. The best views of the city are provided by the Castelo de São Jorge, on the Burg mountain.

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London – City on the Thames. London is well-known for its historic buildings, museums, shops, theatres and, above all, its nightlife. Make sure to visit the National Gallery, the famous Madame Tussauds with its wax figures, the oldest church in the city: Westminster Abbey, and, of course, the Big Ben. You will never tire of London! Every year, a sheer infinite number of tourists are attracted to London from all over the world, for a variety of reasons. New attractions include the Tate Modern and a round trip on the London Eye: from a height of 135 metres, you will enjoy a superb view across the City on the Thames. A city trip to London will prove a fireworks of experiences for the whole family!

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'From Madrid to heaven...' ... that is how the inhabitants of Madrid, the capital of Spain since 1562, describe their city. Situated at the centre of the Iberian peninsula, on a high plateau, Madrid is characterised by a climate of hot summers and relatively cold winters. Naturally, Madrid is a monumental city, and the highlights of a visit should definitely include the medieval city centre, which was mainly built during the years of the Habsburg Empire, and the magnificent Art Museum ‘El Prado’. Its cultural wealth, as you might expect from a capital of this size, is wonderful. However, Madrid is also distinctly a lively city, with fashion shows, concert cafés, discotheques, and a nightlife that never stops. Don’t be surprised to come across a traffic jam at four in the morning!

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Paris, the city of love and fashion, is one of the largest metropolises in Europe with a population of 2.1 million. First and foremost, Paris is interesting because of its broad range of cultural sights. Make sure to visit the city’s many places of interest, including: the Eiffel tower, the Notre Dame, the Sacré Coeur, the Cathedral of Invalids, and the Bastille – each with its own history and its own particular charm. Especially interesting is the Louvre Museum, with the famous painting, the ‘Mona Lisa’ by Leonardo Da Vinci. Paris is well-known for its famous fashion designers – the established as well as the young-and-upcoming ones – its models, and society’s rich and famous. For many centuries, numerous fashion trends originated in Paris, which were worn here before anywhere else. Today, most of the well-known fashion shops are located on the Avenue Montaigne, not far from the Champs Elysées, on the Rue Saint Honoré, and on the Rue Cambon. For children, a visit to Disneyland-Paris, just 30 minutes’ drive by car, will be the absolute highlight of their stay in the city of Paris.

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Prague stands for many things: music and Middle Ages, Kafka and Kisch, beer and pork joint with dumplings. These are some of the labels that stick to the city, like all large cities in the world have theirs. And, like all stereotypes, these labels have an element of truth in them. When you are in Prague, make sure to cross the Charles Bridge at least once. If you have children, the Prague Zoo is a must. If you don’t, have a pub crawl in the old city centre. Experience the city according to your needs and wishes. There’s something here for everyone!

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In Rome – the city of eternity – one Piazza is even more beautiful than the next, and each monument as important from a historical point of view. Piazza di Spagna, Fontana di Trevi, the Vatican, Forum Romanum… Over 2700 years ago, Rome was built on seven hills. Today, the city on the Tiber is as fascinating as ever. Tourists and religious believers from all over the world flock to the ancient city. And when in Rome, do as the Romans do: immerse yourself in ‘La Dolce Vita’. Treat yourself to a tasty espresso in one of the many small cafés and enjoy the hustle and bustle around the Spanish steps.

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Venice spreads across 117 small islands, which are connected by more than 400 bridges. The city was built upon millions of wood piles, which were rammed into the sandy, sludgy soil. Thanks to the unique architecture of this ‘island colony’, the UNESCO put Venice on its list of world heritage sites in 1987. The city has a special atmosphere, especially during the autumn and winter months, when the canals are shrouded in a foggy veil; turning a Venice trip into a misty and mystic adventure. Quite the opposite of the hustle and bustle during the ‘Carnevale’, when the city is immersed into a sea of colours and fantasy figures. Don’t miss it!

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There are a few things you must be sure not to miss during your visit to Vienna. We especially recommend you to visit: the Vienna Hofburg, where you can learn all there is to know about the Austrian imperial period. Here, you will also find the Sisi Museum, which describes the life of the empress between fact and fantasy. During your sightseeing tour of the city, make sure to visit the oldest church of Vienna, the Saint Ruprecht, as well as the Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, which was built 850 years ago. If you can manage the 343 steps, be sure to mount the southern tower – and you will be rewarded by a breathtaking view across the city. The largest and most famous market of Vienna – the Naschmarkt – will provide hours of fun for visitors of all ages; as will a visit to the Museum Quarter, with its own children’s museum for the young scientists among us.

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