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Home to an unprecedented number of historical sites, from ancient Roman arenas to towering Gothic churches and beautiful medieval towns still surrounded by 15th-century walls, Europe will likely be on your radar this summer. especially if you are interested in one cultural go away.
If you’re already sold on the idea of crossing the pond but can’t bear the thought of the hustle and bustle of Rome, the chaos at the Paris Olympics or the anti-tourist sentiment brewing in Barcelona, we have four alternative destinations in the Old World for you. consideration that is just now so incredible.
And the best part is that, even though they are not as popular as the continent’s usual tourist hotspots, you can still fly there nonstop from America:
Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade is perhaps the most unexpected capital where transatlantic flights can take place largest city and cultural and economic center of Serbiaa landlocked Eastern European country that you’ve probably never thought much about.
This vibrant metropolis has a nightlife as taboo-free as Berlin’s, a Danube riverfront that rivals Budapest in beauty, lined by the medieval Kalegmadan fortress, and a row of beautiful Orthodox churches, not to mention of delicious Slavic cuisine that leaves nothing to be desired.
Top attractions include the monumental Church of Saint Sava, which was once built one of the largest in the world in 1939 the incredibly fun and interactive Nikola Tesla Museum, in honor of the famous Yugoslavian inventor, and Kneza Mihaila, a car-free street full of elegant Belle époque buildings.
Believe it or not, despite its relative anonymity, Serbia is more good connections with America then the neighboring coastal hubs of Croatia and Montenegro: flights are offered by the national carrier Air Serbia and depart from two major US airports, Chicago O’Hare and JFK.
Fly to Belgrade, Serbia (BEG) from:
1 flight per day every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
1 flight per day every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Madeira, Portugal
Madeira is a Portuguese island surrounded by the azure blue Atlantic Ocean and is often skipped by tourists alien territory of rugged mountain peaks, settlements on hills amid vast banana plantations and exceptionally beautiful nature that you have to see to believe.
Funchal, the island’s capital and oldest city, flourished in the late Middle Ages as a prominent port on the Madeira settlement. The remaining remnants of its glorious past can still be admired in the city, including a 15th-century cathedral and the colonial fortress of São Tiago. .
Elsewhere on the island, in Porto Moniz, you can swim in Madeira volcanic sea poolswhile Fanal is both a forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site at an altitude of 1,400 meters, famous for its twisted, old trees shrouded in mist.
As well as soaking up the culture – and the intoxicating sea breeze – you can go hiking around Madeira, with a whopping 147 peaks to conquer, and for New Yorkers, this subtropical paradise is a short six-hour flight away on Azores Airlines.
Fly to Funchal (Madeira), Portugal (FNC) from:
1 outbound flight every Thursday, 1 return flight every Sunday
West coast of Ireland
Ireland is a hugely popular destination for Americans, especially the Irish diaspora, but for the majority of them, Dublin is the only way to reach the Emerald Isles (or so they think): Shannon airporton the West Coast of Ireland, Also welcomes transatlantic flights.
It is closest to the quaint town of Shannon, a popular stopover on the way to the world famous Bunratty Castle and folk park. It is also used by travelers to reach the cities of Limerick, just 16 miles away, and Galway, 53 miles north of the airport.
If you like castles that look like they came out of a children’s book, impressive sea cliffs and picturesque hinterlands with lakes, then you’ve come to the right place: Limerick itself is best known for its King John’s Castle. , built in the 1200sand picturesque riverbank.
Galway, on the other hand, is one Bohemian city full of pubsoften serving as a base for exploring County Clare, with its Cliffs of Moher – a natural wonder stretching 8 miles (13.8 kilometers) with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean – and The Burren, a rocky terrain dotted with monuments from the stone age.
Fly to Shannon/the West Coast of Ireland (SNN) from:
Aer Lingus
1 flight per day every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
United Airlines
1 flight per day every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
United Airlines
1 flight per day every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Delta Airlines
1 flight per day every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Aer Lingus
1 flight per day every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Bucharest, Romania
Back to the mainland of the continent: Romania is an Eastern European country most associated with vampiric stories. birthplace of the factual Dracula––and mystical, castle-studded Transylvania, but not so much cosmopolitan city breaks.
Look no further than Bucharest, the vast Romanian capitalcentered around a picturesque Belle époque The old city that has inspired comparisons with Paris over the years, but above all a sea of towering socialist-era apartment buildings, dotted with green man-made parks.
Aside from its unique blend of traditional European and brutalist architecture, so is Bucharest is known for its boisterous nightlife: Calea Floreasca is one of the continent’s liveliest party zones, surrounded by stylish lounges, busy nightclubs and entertainment venues.
Last but certainly not least for the price-conscious traveler, Bucharest is one of the most affordable city trips in Europe: according to Numbeoa meal in a cheap restaurant costs only $11.17, or the equivalent in Romanian leu, while a pint of domestic beer costs about $3.
Fly to Bucharest (OTP) from:
HelloSky (recently launched non-stop route)
1 flight per day every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
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