The Culture Bank

With a fascinating history, dynamic character, architectural landmarks, beer and sauerkraut – what’s not to like about a visit to Berlin, the capital of Germany? Having been divided into East and West Berlin after the Second World War, the two sectors developed distinct characters either side of the iconic Brandenburg Gate and the infamous Berlin Wall. Now reunified, it has a lot to offer visitors.

West Berlin is where most visitors stay, with easy access to the most popular attractions such as the Reichstag building, Berlin Zoo and a host of museums.  Museum Island is where the national collections of art, natural history and antiquities are housed, but there are many other superb museums and galleries to see. Enchanting palaces and tranquil parks include the dreamy Charlottenburg palace and park, the white palace on Peacock Island and the summer residences of Frederick the Great at Sanssouci and of William I at Babelsberg. Berlin’s entertainment is famous, ranging from jazz clubs to the German opera house to cabarets, clubs and live music venues and theatres.

Renting one of the modern, comfortable apartments in the centre will place you in the heart of this vibrant city. Many apartments are in very grand old buildings. Exploring the vibrant streets you will find everything from bookshops and antique shops to avant-garde boutiques and friendly cafes.  It’s a good idea to take a guided tour, and you can even join a guided cycling tour, enabling you to see even more of Berlin.

Tel Aviv is one of the major cities in Israel. The city is situated on the Mediterranean, enjoying a hot, rainless climate that becomes rather colder and damp in winter. Temperatures in Israel can vary from winter lows of around 10 degrees Celsius to summer highs of around 25 – 30 degrees Celsius. As Tel Aviv is on the coast, it enjoys a relatively breezier climate than the rest of the country, with only occasional humidity.

As a travel destination, Tel Aviv offers a good climate, proximity to beach resorts and nautical sports activities centres, interesting architecture, a vibrant cultural life and travel opportunities, such as flights to Damascus or other Middle Eastern cities. Architecturally speaking, Tel Aviv is a very eclectic city. Early buildings include European style housing with roof tiling. Other styles include Art Deco, Bauhaus, classical and modernist. Modernist architecture is especially evident in the business part of the city, with skyscrapers and commercial properties.

Cultural life in Tel Aviv is supported by the rich inflow of tourists from around the world, with a busy nightlife, stunning parks, an array of world class hotels including the Sheraton and Hilton hotels, as well as restaurants, museums and bistros.

For travellers interested in exploring Israel, Jerusalem is within a few hours reach, and other prominent locations such as the Dead Sea are not much further. The country is generally welcoming of tourists, with major world languages such as English, French or Spanish spoken by many people.

International travellers from all around the world book cheap flights to Venice in order to experience the various events and activities that occur throughout the year. Probably one of the most famous of these is the Voga Longa, which is the equivalent of a marathon, with competitors rowing 32kms in less than 3.5hrs to receive a certificate. This is a sight that will have you talking non-stop for years to come, including on your trip back home, regardless of whether you are taking flights to London, flights to Damascus or any other city in the world. There are literally dozens of festivals and events to choose from, so no matter when you book cheap flights to the city you are sure to find something to keep you occupied.

As far as activities go, many people book cheap flights to Venice simply to experience the cultural aspects of this romantic destination. Riding a waterbus, also known as a Vaporetto, is a great way to see the architecture and Venetian watercraft up close. You could also hire a Gondola, although they are considered extremely expensive, often costing upwards of €100 for a short ride. Be prepared to haggle and always agree on a price before you actually get in. One of the most popular activities in Venice and the reason for many of the cheap flights that bring people in is the shopping. Venice is packed to the brim with hundreds of tiny little stores tucked into every nook and cranny and you will be hard-pressed to walk away without buying something.

As one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom, Manchester Airport operates flights from a great many airlines to hundreds of destinations all over the world. Budget airlines are becoming increasingly popular as the cost of air travel skyrockets, and Manchester Airport offers several of these airlines to travellers.

EasyJet offers flights to Manchester from destinations such as Malta and Athens, and is very popular with British expats living in the Mediterranean. Other airlines which offer cheap flights to Manchester include Jet2.com and Viking Hellas and all have websites which offer good rates for early bookings.

Manchester has something to offer everyone from all walks of life. Sports fans may find themselves visiting the City of Manchester Stadium, home to Manchester City Football Club; alternatively if you are more of a red supporter than blue, there is Old Trafford, home to Manchester United Football Club. There are tours available around the grounds and photo opportunities alongside the trophy cabinets.

Manchester has an array of museums and art galleries for those who prefer a cultured trip, and the Lowry Centre also has regular theatre productions showing. Of course if theatre is what you are looking for, there is the Opera House and the Palace Theatre running top named shows such as ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Evita’.

Shopping in Manchester is a highlight, boasting stores such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges and visit at Christmas time and there are the continental Christmas Markets offering handicrafts and foodstuffs from Europe as well as unusual Christmas gifts.

The largest city in Scotland and the third largest city in the UK, Glasgow is becoming an increasingly popular choice for friends on wild weekend breaks and as a convenient base for holidays in the country. Not only is this captivating city filled with an unrivalled Scottish charm, but it also boasts a captivating array of modern and historical architecture – the Clyde Auditorium, City Chambers and Glasgow Cathedral being among the highlights.

Culture fans will also enjoy a break in this captivating city. Named a UNESCO City of Music (along with the Bologna in Italy and the Spanish city of Seville) Glasgow has an impressive average of 130 music performances per week – with enough variety to cater to any musical taste.

Of course, being such a modern and vibrant city, Glasgow has a wide range of accommodation that will meet the needs of any visitors. From the big hotel groups to cheap and cheerful budget hostels, there are plenty of locations to choose from.

Convenient flights to Glasgow are very easy to come by and the nearby Glasgow International Airport (only 14 kilometres from the city centre) is served by a number of different airlines. As it is such a sought after weekend destination, you will that a good range of budget airlines will offer cheap flights to the city. Also, if you are planning a tour of the UK or even Europe, there is a good service provided to other destinations. Flights to London and Amsterdam are two of the more popular routes.

The history of Bari is such that it literally stretches back over the sands of time to the days when the Peucetii first lived here. To the average traveller the name means nothing, considering they were an ancient people who lived in the area long before the Romans first showed up in the third century B.C. and developed the port into a thriving hub of trade to the east. Many scholars consider the port of Bari to have been the single most important Roman port in the B.C. times and since then Bari has been the centre of attention until 1943, when the city had the unwelcome distinction of being the only European casualty to chemical warfare during World War II. It has been a slow rise back to the top since those days, but the amount of historical architecture and ancient ruins interspersed between modern buildings and the Adriatic coastline makes for the perfect Italian holiday destination.

Whether a visitor is looking to relax in the shade of a café while sipping coffee and taking in the views across the port, or exploring the streets and seeing such wonders as the Basilica of St. Nicholas and the Cathedral of Bari, there is more than enough to keep a person busy for as long as they choose to stay. Extended trips are well-suited to renting apartments for the holidays, although the popularity of Bari is increasing in the 21st century and accommodation should be booked at least six months in advance.

The second largest city in Israel after Jerusalem, to visit Tel Aviv is one of the main reasons for taking cheap flights into the country. Located on the Mediterranean coastline roughly 60km north of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv has a history dating back to 1909 when it was founded, although the history of Israel dates back as far as recorded history.

Tel Aviv is a major Middle Eastern city with an international airport offering cheap flights all over the world, including flights to Edinburgh, flights to London, flights to Baku, flights to Amman and flights to Tehran.

The city is classified as a beta+ world city, which basically means it is a major economic hub. In addition, it is the richest city in Israel and regardless of the cheap flight to Tel Aviv, once you arrive you will find yourself in the middle of a cosmopolitan city that combines the elements of ancient and modern Israel into a melting pot of diversity. It is currently in the middle of a transition from medium sized urban development into an international metropolis; many Israelis consider this their own version of New York City. As anyone can see this is not a stretch of the imagination, but is becoming fact. There are over 50 different neighbourhoods spread throughout the city, some of them hosting their own unique cultural heritages, and as writer and editor David Kaufman, from New York, recently wrote, Tel Aviv is the Mediterranean’s ‘New Capital of Cool’.

Lisbon is around two hours from the UK. It’s a mixture of ancient and modern buildings and attracts people from all over the world. This is a great place for a long weekend, or to use as a base for exploring the rest of Portugal.

Accommodation is plentiful in the city and ranges from a room in a shaded villa to modern apartments, or hotels. Pricewise there is something to suit all pockets.

What characterises Lisbon’s old city is its network of creaky trams and the cobbled streets, not to mention the artistic and beautifully designed eighteenth century buildings. To see old Lisbon at its best it is worth visiting the suburb of Belem and seeing some of the most interesting buildings, including the monastery of Jeronimos which was built in 1502 to give thanks to God for the riches found in the New World.

In 1998 the area along the waterfront was redeveloped for the Lisbon Expo and there is some amazing modern architecture in the Parc des Nacoes area of the city. The fabulous sweeping palm-like lines of the Oriente train station bring modern metal architecture to a city full of ancient buildings.

The super modern Vasco da Gama suspension bridge stretches out across the River Tagus and is a major landmark not to be missed.

Since the end of the twentieth century, thanks to EU funding, the old city of Lisbon has been given a new lease of life and it is now an international city which attracts lots of visitors and is almost as interesting as Barcelona. 

Considered to be the first capital of modern Italy, Turin is also one of the most popular ski resorts entire country, and although it is not as famous as places like Rome or Venice; its charm lies in the fact that it combines elements such as the Po River, the Alps of the Piedmont region, and a variety of ski resorts that were used in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Considered by many,( including the famous architect Le Corbusier),  to be one of the most beautiful natural locations in the world, Turn is not only a popular ski resort but is also a major city for technology and industry, and doubles as a headquarters for many of the largest Italian companies, including Fiat.

The Alps are considered to be the premier skiing mountains on the planet, and Turin is nestled up against the southern slopes of the range. During the winter months the Alps transform into a haven for ski-lovers from around the world, and Turin is one of the places that offer a complete winter package, regardless of the veteran or novice status of the skier.

In addition to the ski resorts and slopes offered by Turin during the winter months, the city is also a major architectural headquarters for Italian Baroque-style buildings. It is also home to the Parco della Pellerina, which is the largest urban park in Italy, and dozens of other parks that offer a refreshing view of nature, during the summer months when the snow is but a lingering memory.

Cheap flights to Dublin are available from many cities on the United Kingdom mainland and from Belfast in Northern Ireland. The flights are mainly operated via two airlines, Ryanair and AerLingus, although flights with other airlines such as KLM, BMI and Flybe are also available.

Flying from outside the United Kingdom may pose problems if wishing to fly directly into Dublin as there are a limited number of direct flights available; for instance if travelling from the USA to Dublin there may be a changeover at London Heathrow. When shopping around for the best deal on cheap flights to Dublin it is worth taking into account stopover time as some can be lengthy waits.

Dublin for the history buffs is like paradise. There are so many historical buildings and monuments to visit while in Dublin there may be the need for a second trip. Kilmainham Gaol is Ireland’s most famous prison and is actually the largest disused prison in Europe. Dublin Castle was the centre of English oppression in Dublin for over 700 years and should not be missed. It also has a new visitors centre in the basement.

Dublin has a lot to offer the serious shopper, with several department stores and a number of markets, but if you want a more relaxing time take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse.  A complimentary drink is on offer at the Gravity Bar, the highest bar in Ireland, after the tour. After learning all there is to know about Dublin’s favourite tipple, sit back and relax with uninterrupted 360° views of the beautiful city below.