Free Souq Waqif Walking Tour, Doha, Qatar

On my first evening in Doha, I did a free Souq Waqif walking tour seeing all the highlights of the bazaar area. The tour was organised by my hotel Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels and all guests staying in any of their 9 boutique hotels in Souq Waqif are welcome to join in.Souq Waqif (“standing market”) is a lively bazaar area right off Doha’s seaside promenade Corniche. Souq Waqif is a combination of traditional and modern, and it is one of the most culturally rich places in Doha. Walking around in the maze of narrow alleyways takes you on an authentic journey back in time and you get to feel what

48-hour Stopover in Doha – What to See and Do in Doha, Qatar

On my recent trip to Indonesia, I flew Qatar Airways via Doha and took the chance to book a stopover in Doha with no extra cost. I am always up for new adventures in a new country. Furthermore, I used the Qatar Airways stopover programme for a free 5-star hotel stay (I actually stayed 2 nights for a nominal booking fee, more information on this at the end of this post).Doha, the capital of Qatar, is a relatively compact city and can easily be seen in two days. I stayed in Doha for 48 hours and managed to cover Doha’s most interesting attractions. Public transport is literally non-existent in Doha so to get from one place to another I mostly used

Kusadasi Travel Guide: What to See and Do in Kusadasi, Turkey

The lively town of Kusadasi on Turkey’s west coast is dominated by package tourists from all across Europe and offers plenty to do for all ages. As I wrote in my earlier post, my first impression of Kusadasi was not the best ever, as the town is too touristy and busy for my taste, but on a positive note there are however lots of interesting things to see and do hidden behind the scenes so you just have to go out there and explore!

Izmir: Shopping Like a Local at Kemeralti Bazaar

Kemeralti is a historical market area of Izmir, the lively heart and soul of the city, where you can enjoy hustle and bustle 7 days a week. Izmir’s Kemeralti bazaar dating back to the 17th century is similar to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.The market stretches over a large area from Konak Square all the way through to the ancient Agora. In the bazaar area you can try to navigate by looking for the minarets of the main mosques, which lie in the centre of the district. I opted to forget maps, map apps and minarets because getting lost in the narrow alleyways

Best Things to Do and See in Copenhagen in Winter, Denmark

Having visited all Scandinavian capitals, I can honestly say that Copenhagen is my favourite Scandi capital. Copenhagen is a charming city all year round, with an interesting mix of old and new architecture, friendly people, lively streets and vibrant foodie scene. Not to forget the wide variety things to do and see in Copenhagen.Winter in Copenhagen may be cold and wet, and even white and snowy. So you should wear lots of layers to stay warm. The world-famous Danish hygge will

5 New Places to Visit in Helsinki 2017

I must say that I am extremely happy to live in such a vibrant and evolving city as what Helsinki is today. Recently lots of new interesting places and revamped oldies but goldies have appeared on the map in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. I can proudly introduce the following 5 novelties that I find very captivating as they bring a revitalising vibe to the cultural and restaurant scene of Helsinki.

1. Dock yard Konepajahalli R24

This revamped former dock yard Konepajahalli R24 in Telakkaranta in the district of Punavuori by the sea at the southwestern edge of the city, is becoming a bohemian

Finding the Essence of Finnish Design at Iittala & Arabia Design Centre in Helsinki

You may have heard of design brands such as Iittala and Arabia? These two brands are the most well-known Finnish design brands for tableware and glassware, and I can guarantee that every single Finnish person owns at least a few pieces by Iittala and Arabia, not to forget their sister brands Fiskars and Hackman.Just a couple of months back in November 2016 Iittala and Arabia joined their forces to open a new Iittala & Arabia Design Centre in the former Arabia factory in the district of

Soaking up Christmas Spirit at Helsinki Christmas Markets, Finland

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Helsinki! The city centre is beautifully illuminated with seasonal lights and Christmas Markets opened their doors on the weekend.Already a couple of weeks ago I took a head start to the Christmas season exploring Copenhagen’s atmospheric Christmas Markets and admiring Copenhagen’s festive city lights and decorations. So I was getting a bit anxious waiting for

5 Atmospheric Christmas Markets in Copenhagen, Denmark

What a beautiful Christmas city Copenhagen really is! With atmospheric Christmas markets, stunning seasonal lights and Christmas decorations all over the city, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, must be one of the best cities in Europe where to find real Christmas spirit and exotic Nordic holiday mood.

The best places to soak up Christmas spirit are Copenhagen’s many Christmas markets. Magical

Best Things to See and Do in Rhodes New Town

Rhodes Town, situated on the northeastern tip of the island is without a doubt one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval fortress towns. Rhodes Town can be divided into old and new quarters: medieval buildings and narrow streets within the old town walls as well as vibrant and historical attractions by the waterfront in the new town.

There are so many interesting things to see and do in Rhodes New Town that it is difficult to decide where to start. I want to