The Asian side of Istanbul often receives less attention by tourists since the majority of renowned places such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace are in the European side. Read this blog to know more the places to visit in the European side of Istanbul. However, if you really want to truly understand Istanbul, you need to step onto the Asian side of Istanbul. This side of Istanbul represents the modern and daily life of the city. Similar…
Exploring Istanbul by walking along the city can be exhausting due to traffic, crowds, and distance of sightseeing places. If you are searching for an alternative and want to level up your Istanbul experience, going for a Bosphorus cruise tour is an option. The Bosphorus cruise will help you capture the essence of Istanbul. The Bosphorus straight is a 31 kilometers long narrow waterway that divides not only Europe and Asia but also centuries of history. A Bosphorus cruise isn’t…
As tourists (and locals) you may find yourself overwhelmed by the busy life of Istanbul city — the heavy traffic, bazaars, and crowds. Visiting the Princes Islands is one way to see and experience the serene and slow rhythm of life of Istanbul. The Princes Islands (known as Adalar), consists of nine islands. It is historically known as the place for exiled princes and royalties during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Hence, it gets the name Princes Islands. Among the…
Istanbul Turkey is a special place to visit because it is the only city in the world that sits in two continents at the same time – Asia and Europe. These two continents can be literally crossed by a ferry, tram, or metrobus in just 15 minutes. At the same time, these continents do not only geographically divide Istanbul, but also manifest a living proof of historical and cultural blends. The European side is often the priority to visit among…
This summer of July 2025, I had an opportunity to go to Copenhagen Denmark for one week because of a conference that is rarely held in Europe. Despite the busy schedules of presenting, networking, and attending conference sessions, seeing places and experiencing Copenhagen is something that needs to be squeezed-in in my agenda. Despite the daily lack of sleep, I managed to experience Copenhagen – visit as much place, taste local foods, and observe their daily life. Of course, this…
Luxembourg city is a perfect place to visit for one day if you are in any of these areas: Northeastern France, Southeast Belgium, or Southwest of Germany. Staying within the city of Luxembourg is quite expensive. Therefore if you are in a budget constraint, it is best to stay in its neighboring countries and do a day visit. My family and I had an opportunity to visit Luxembourg in the summer during our stay in Bitburg, Germany, which is just…
Givet France is a small town that lies along the Ardennes trail near the Belgian border. Although not as rich, popular, and big as the other towns in the Ardennes, Givet has a charm in its own way especially when visited during good weather and season. The town lies on the Meuse river, which passes other countries such as Belgium and The Netherlands. Given the size of Givet France, the town could be toured in one day by walking. Below…
Dinant Belgium is a charming city that lies along the River Meuse and has a rich historical accounts especially during World War I. It is located in Namur region of Belgium in the south, and is one of the famous stops when touring the Ardennes region. If interested, see my blog about Belgian Ardennes: Seven Interesting Reasons to Visit and Summer holidays in Champagne-Ardennes: Reasons to do it. Dinant Belgium is a nice escape for those who seek tranquility in…
Het Land van Jan Klaassen is a budget friendly amusement park in Braamt (located in the east of the Netherlands and just 10 minutes away from the German border). This amusement park is a perfect family day out in the Netherlands since it is not so busy, affordable, and offers lots of fun activities for kids up to 8 years old. Kids can enjoy activities ranging from puppet shows, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and overnight camping experience in your own…
Bologna Italy is another destination to visit in Italy for food and cultural lovers. Located in the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna Italy boasts many of its outstanding architecture and famous city trademarks – such as the Bolognese spaghetti, Bologna sausage and the Bolognese luxury car maker Maserati. The rich history of this city dated back on the 3rd millennium before Christ, when the Etruscan settled in the area of Bologna that they then called as Felsina. The Celts civilization came after…