s y a w a t e g e i l r Gi
Climb the tower at Hallgrimskirkja for fab views
Reykjavik The colourful buildings of Iceland’s Strokkur in the capital city – and the dramatic landscape geothermal area. But surrounding it – have attracted many the real highlight of a celeb over the years. The Kardashians our trip was relaxing celebrated Kourtney’s birthday there in the warm waters of last year, so we followed in their famous the Blue Lagoon while cleansing our skin footsteps to see what it’s all about… with a natural mud mask. Bliss! What to do: Hallgrimskirkja Where to eat: We weren’t parish church is a great first game enough to try some of the stop – take the lift up the 73m local delicacies, such as puffin, tower for stunning views of but we did have a fab seafood the city below. No trip to feast at trendy restaurant Reykjavik would be complete Sjavargrillid (Sjavargrillid.is). We The Kardashians without a tour of the Golden dined on grilled langoustine and love the city Circle. We saw wild horses in pan-fried salted cod, paired with out Thingvellir National Park, marvelled at of this world cocktails. If you’re a fish the 32m high Gullfoss waterfall and were fanatic, the five-course menu at Resto is also mesmerised by the fountain geyser a real treat. The garlic sautéed scallops are
WORDS: Lebby Eyres, Georgia Farquharson, Emi Scott, Jodie Spragg PHOTOS: Film Magic, Getty Images, VisitDenmark
Aarhus
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If you’re looking for a trendy city break with a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of culture, head to Denmark’s second largest city, which is this year’s European Capital of Culture. What to do: At ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, one of Europe’s largest art museums, you can see Ron Mueck’s famous sculpture, Boy. You’ll also experience Your Rainbow Panorama – an immersive experience on the top floor of the gallery, which provides amazing views of the city in all the colours of the rainbow. Next, visit Den Gamle By, an open-air museum where history comes to life as you travel through the 1860s, 1920s and 1970s, with actors greeting you along the way. It’s worth investing in an AarhusCARD if you’re visiting lots of attractions, as it includes bus travel as well as entry. See Visitaarhus.com for details, from £35, and for more things to do in the city. Where to eat: Aarhus has a fab permanent Street Food Market, where you can enjoy food from more than 30 stalls. We opted for a “duck boat” from Duck It, made up of shredded duck, chips and a hash brown – all cooked in duck fat. Yum! For dinner, we recommend Restaurant
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Perfect weekend breaks for you and your gal pals
Brussels
The Blue Lagoon is a real highlight
to die for. For a cheaper option, join the other tourists in the queue at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, where we had the best hot dogs we’ve ever tasted! Where to stay: We stayed at Radisson Blu 1919, a stylish retreat in the heart of the city. It has 88 modern rooms, with views of either the city or the sea, and a chic bar and restaurant. If you’ve got an early start, they even offer a Grab & Run takeaway breakfast. Book at Radissonblu.com, from £184 per night. getting there: WOW air flies daily from Gatwick to Reykjavik, from £29.49 each way. Book at Wowair.co.uk. See Viator.com for organised tours or Avis.co.uk for car hire if you prefer to explore at your own pace.
Head to ARoS Aarhus Art Museum for a colourful look at the city
Mefisto (Mefisto.dk) – a fish restaurant tucked down an idyllic street in the Latin Quarter. We enjoyed delicious lobster and the service was exceptional. Where to stay: We stayed at Guldsmeden Hotel, a small hotel with a Den Gamle By boutique feel. It’s museum close to the action but still has a laid-back vibe, and the friendly staff helped us plan
The Grote Markt looks spectacular at night
our stay. It also offers a healthy breakfast spread, including boiled eggs, cooked meats, granola, yoghurt and fruit. Book at Guldsmedenhotels.com, from £143 per night. getting there: See Ryanair.com for direct flights from London Stansted to Aarhus, from £19.99 each way. You can also fly into Billund, which is 90 minutes away by bus.
The UK may have turned its back on the capital of the European Union, but that doesn’t mean you should. This diverse city has plenty to offer, including beautiful monuments, amazing bars and great shopping. What to do: The Grote Markt (it looks better than it sounds, honestly) is the place to start any sightseeing trip, and the square looks spectacular lit up at night. It’s a short walk from here to the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, arcades lined with chocolate shops and boutiques. For a spot of culture, it’s worth checking out the Comic Art Museum and the Manneken Pis, a statue of a small boy weeing in a fountain! Art lovers should try the Fine Arts Museum, which is helpfully divided into six different collections, including Magritte. Where to eat: You can keep it simple in Brussels at one of the many bars offering moules-frites, but for finer dining at a very reasonable price we tried La Table de Mus (Latabledemus.be), which offers three, four and five
The Radisson Blu is centrally located
course seasonal menus from around £28 a head, with an optional (and very generous) wine tasting menu from £15.
After visiting the daily flea market in the arty Marolles district, we had a delicious Sunday lunch at the Wine Bar des Marolles (Winebarsablon. be), where you can choose from weekly specials or opt for more traditional FrancoBelgian fare such as duck or saucisse with lentils. If it’s just beers you’re after, traditional tavern A La Mort Subite is the place to go.
Nuremberg
This German city – the childhood home of actress Sandra Bullock – is best known for its Christmas markets, but the picturesque streets and buzzing nightlife make it perfect for a getaway all year round. What to do: Pack comfy shoes and head out on foot to be sure you don’t miss a thing. Your first stop should be the Kaiserburg, an imposing medieval castle with breathtaking views from its tower. Next, check out the Nuremberg Documentation Centre, a museum dedicated to the city’s past as the home of Nazi party rallies. Although harrowing, it’s a fascinating insight into the local history. Be sure to leave time for an al fresco beer in one of the pretty squares afterwards. Where to eat: Book a table for lunch at Albrecht Dürer Stube to experience authentic Franconian dining in kitsch surroundings. The restaurant is located just around the corner from the Renaissance artist’s house, which is worth a visit. Beer enthusiasts should head to Barfuesser (Barfuessernuernberg.de), a cavernous restaurant
Where to stay: The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel is centrally located near the Grote Markt, and has a fab buffet breakfast which will set you up for the day. Double rooms start at £130 a night B&B. See Radissonblu.com. getting there: The easiest way to get to the city is to hop on the Eurostar at St Pancras. See Eurostar.com, from £29 each way.
Kick off your stay with a visit to Kaiserburg Castle
Meat eaters will love BA Beef Club
and brewery foodies should try the hotel’s BA Beef where they make Club – a meat lover’s paradise! The their own beer rooms are contemporary, with in giant some overlooking the city and copper others facing into the central kettles in the middle of the hall. atrium. See Parkplaza.com, Where to stay: The Park from £133 per night. Plaza is directly opposite Nuremberg getting there: See central train station and just a short Ryanair.com for direct flights stroll from the historic Old Town. to Nuremberg from London Sandra lived You don’t have to go far to find Stansted and Manchester, in Nuremberg a selection of bratwursts, but from £22.98 return. as a child
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