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The best price/performance ratio
Portugal is not a country that immediately catches the eye of all Central Europeans, and this is precisely one of its many advantages. You’ll find all the good things you want from a vacation there, and as an added bonus, it’s neither overpriced nor overcrowded. Of course you’ll meet tourists in charming Porto or cosmopolitan Lisbon, but even there it’s not common to fight your way through the crowds. If you prefer cultural but smaller cities, you can visit the university town of Coimbra or the magical Cascais.
Great food, even better wine and beautiful beaches are why Portugal was named European Destination of 2023 at the World Travel Awards’ Tourism Oscars. Thanks to Madeira and the Azores, the westernmost tip of Europe attracts even die-hard tourists who find marked routes with breathtaking views in a pleasant climate all year round.
Photo: Taťána Kynčlová, Novinky
In spring even the coast of Portugal blooms.
Central Portugal is perfect for romantics and modern “explorers” who like to enjoy beautiful and interesting places alone. Have you heard of the cluster villages in Serra da Lousã or the Portuguese Monsanto Hobbit, where people live in houses under huge boulders? If not, it’s time to fix the problem.
To the Vikings for culture and gastronomy
Denmark is a country that, unlike its Scandinavian neighbors Sweden and Norway, is not rich in stunning natural landscapes, but this does not cause any significant damage to the country. It prides itself on its own merits, which will attract lovers of picturesque historic architecture and cobbled streets, fans of museums and galleries and, last but not least, eaters for whom fried cheese is not the pinnacle of gastronomy. However, there is nothing against him.
Copenhagen is famous for its many Michelin-starred restaurants, but eating out in the Danish capital doesn’t necessarily mean breaking the bank and spending a month’s salary on fancy food; For example, there is the hipster street food Reffen with stalls in shipping containers. When the weather is nice, you can sunbathe on the sun loungers right by the sea. Copenhagen also offers many galleries; in addition to visiting the truly wonderful Glyptotheka, we recommend the former water reservoir Cisternerne, which serves as a novel exhibition space.
Photo: Michael Švarc, Novinky
Nyhavn harbor is practically empty in the morning.
Of course, Denmark is not only Copenhagen, but also the picturesque city of Odense, the birthplace of the fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen, Roskilde with the cathedral, which serves as the final resting place of the Danish kings, or Aarhus with the modern art gallery ARoS, dominated by the rainbow skyline.
Due to its flat nature, Denmark is also ideal for cyclists, as the highest point – you can hardly call it a mountain – is only 170 meters above sea level.
For inspiration behind mutual respect and traditions
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive destination that offers something for everyone than the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan is definitely not a country for first-time travelers. You will also enjoy this destination, but finding efficient transport options, solving entrance fees and sometimes a little more complicated translation of various texts (signs, instructions, essay) are a small complication that separates you from one of the most interesting countries in the world.
The capital, Tokyo, is a destination in itself where you can spend two weeks and not even have time to visit everything you want. Many people always stay in a different district of the capital on repeated trips to Japan in order to discover the beauty of individual parts. However, the tech-lover’s paradise also hides Zen parks, Michelin-starred restaurants and stalls that only sell cheap ramen but will perfectly warm you up and fill you up. However, Tokyo and Japanese gastronomy in general are a chapter in themselves.
Photo: Taťána Kynčlová, Novinky
Japanese gardens are characterized by their perfect aesthetics.
A very well-developed railway network, well combined with the bus network (similar to Switzerland), gives you the opportunity to cover distances of hundreds of kilometers in a short time using high-speed trains and thus see as much of the country as possible in a shorter trip. Don’t miss historic Kyoto and try to spend at least one day in peaceful Nara. Polite behavior and mutual respect are a given throughout Japan. So prepare for a potentially harsher collision with Central European reality upon your return.
Caribbean with added value
The same applies here: Cuba is not a country that everyone can travel to, and that is all the better. However, for tourists it offers a wide range of holiday options. He can frolic on the beautiful Caribbean beaches with fine sand and crystal clear waters and just enjoy the hotel’s entertainment programs focused on Latin dances and water sports, as well as go out to discover the many beauties of the island.
Photo: Taťána Kynčlová, Novinky
Trinidad is full of colors.
It would be a shame to ignore the capital, Havana, in particular, which has an incredible atmosphere. Would you rather drive around in a shiny vintage car, tour a cigar factory or go to a world-famous cabaret?
Cuba is also suitable for adventure travelers. The greatest concentration of outdoor activities can be found near the colorful colonial city of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But nature reserves with hiking trails and a national park can also be found on the island. And if you like to treat yourself to a cocktail on vacation, you can be inspired by Hemingway. Cuba is simply incredibly diverse by exotic standards.
Modern on an island shaped like a sweet potato
Czechs most often hear about Taiwan in connection with the expeditions of Czech politicians or with chips. It’s a shame, because the island, which the locals also call “sweet potato” because of its elongated shape, has a lot to offer. Taipei is an East Asian metropolis with everything – it is modern, busy, but at the same time somehow calm and orderly. Don’t expect any disorganized overtaking or honking, Taiwanese don’t have that in their nature. Instead, they are respectful, similar to the Japanese, but at the same time more relaxed and not as tied to conventions and traditions.
Taiwan has a total of nine national parks, which is a respectable number considering the small area. The largest of these is Taroko with the gorge of the same name, along which there are often easy hiking routes. Other national parks include Yu-shan or Kchen-ching on the south coast. You can easily get around the island using bullet trains, the local version of the Shinkansen. For the Czechs, who are used to a series of delays and exclusions, this is pure fantasy.
Photo: Michael Švarc, Novinky
Tea plantations are scattered all over Taiwan. Oolong, a partially fermented green tea, is the most popular drink here.
The chapter itself is about local gastronomy, which can be a bit of a shock for a European at first. While on the Old Continent we are used to baking crispy dishes, for example chicken, in this part of Asia we enjoy soft, slimy dishes, and identifying this or that ingredient is sometimes a difficult puzzle. In such a case, dumplings come to the rescue – dim sum, gyoza, Šumai. You can’t go wrong with them. But in the end, everything has to be tried, and that includes the famous stinky tofu, which is one of the local specialties.
In short, Taiwan is a country that is welcoming and modern, but also capable of surprising. The plus point is that Taipei is connected by a direct China Airlines line from Prague, and Moravians won’t sneeze at the award-winning EVA Air connection from Vienna.
Behind the cellars and an impressive history
That we don’t lure you to any spiders? Okay, okay, maybe we didn’t capture it in the best light. However, Cambodia is a destination in Southeast Asia that definitely deserves attention. The biggest tourist attraction for those traveling to this country for the first time are, of course, the temples of Angkor. And it is no coincidence that this temple complex, located just a few kilometers from the city of Siem Reap, is one of the most amazing architectural and artistic sights you can see in the entire region. There is probably no need to talk about it as it is a more touristy place where you won’t really be alone.
Photo: Jakub Kynčl, Novinky
If you feel like it, you can treat yourself to an event with a larger crowd. The sunset from the top of Pre-Rup Temple has its own charm.
However, Cambodia has even more to offer for the adventurous. Just hop in a car or tuk-tuk and head from Siem Reap to the magical villages of Tonlé Sap Lake. There you can see not only houses on high stilts, but even houses that swing directly above the surface of the water. If you don’t like crowds of tourists, take a speedboat to the village of Kampong Khleang, which is away from the main tourist traffic and offers the ultimate in authenticity.
However, the capital Phnom Penh is also not uninteresting. In addition to the impressive Royal Temple, don’t miss the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in a former school. During their brutal rule, the Khmer Rouge turned it into a prison from which no one left alive.
Whether you are looking for architecture, excellent gastronomy (compared to Thailand, Cambodian dishes are not spicy but full of fragrant spices) or dark tourism, Cambodia will definitely not disappoint you.
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