View of a Lufthansa aircraft
Europe’s Hidden Treasures
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Explore. Dream. Discover. Travel in style on Lufthansa and uncover contemporary fun and flair.
It goes without saying that Europe is a continent of diverse cultures and languages, renowned for its sense of history and tradition. For sure, its Roman ruins, medieval villages and baroque palaces are a marvel, but here at Lufthansa we know there is so much more to Europe. If names such as Krakow, Zagreb, Vilnius or Bilbao are not yet familiar to you, then you are in for a treat. Go on a discovery tour of all that modern Europe has to offer, and you’ll find trendy cities bursting with the latest fashion, fine dining, pulsating nightlife and vibrant arts scenes – not to mention buildings that feature chic burnished steel rather than baroque.
We believe Lufthansa is just another reflection of cutting-edge, trendy Europe: after all, with a modern fleet and impeccable inflight service, the airline has set the pace in aviation for quite some time. ‘There is no better way to fly’: we take our slogan seriously.
Dresden
Lufthansa, together with its STAR Alliance partners, offers more than 165 weekly connections to Europe from major Australian cities via 10 gateways in Asia, South Africa and North America. And no other airline offers as many flights to 23 destinations within Germany and 106 airports in 35 countries across Europe, offering seamless connection for visitors.
Welcome to our world, and we hope your next visit to Europe is a truly marvellous and varied experience.
For information and bookings, phone 1300 655 727 or visit www.lufthansa.com
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The Reichstagskuppel in Berlin
Magic cities of Germany
Experience the many attractions of Germany’s major city destinations, with a focus on art, culture, dining and sport. Lufthansa’s Welcome Lounge at Frankfurt airport, a world first, will allow first- and business-class passengers to freshen up after their long-haul flight, ready for Germany’s many fascinating aspects. A visit to any German city will bring its own cultural rewards; a combined tour of several will help travellers peel back the layers of this diverse land.
Berlin
A thriving arts scene, cutting edge fashion and festivals celebrating everything from punk music to slow food: Berlin is one of Europe’s most vibrant and colourful capitals. Soak up the city’s vibe at one of the 300 clubs and 7,000 bars and restaurants, many of which are open around the clock. Don’t miss a tour of Berlin’s world-famous Museum Island in the heart of the city, a treasure trove of five museums of international prominence.
Hamburg
Hamburg is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Europe. Large theatres and orchestras, and a vibrant collection of museums and concerts by international stars attract culture buffs from all over the world to this city on the river. Head for the Reeperbahn, originally a red light district, now developed into a first class entertainment district. Here you’ll find some of the best clubs in the city, innovative restaurants and plenty of music venues serving up live performances to crowds of nocturnal revellers.
Allianz Arena
Dresden
The city’s cultural scene effortlessly blends traditional and modern. The Elbe Valley, a World Heritage site, boasts lush meadows, magnificent villas and majestic palaces. Turn any corner in the old town of Dresden and your breath is taken away by a stunning building or cathedral. The recently restored Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, is a highlight. Theaterplatz Square is graced by the Zwinger Palace, the most important late-baroque building in Germany, the opulent Semper Opera House and the Residenz Palace with its impressive stables.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s impressive skyline, peppered with skyscrapers, exudes cosmopolitan flair and style. Home to the German Stock Exchange, the European Central Bank and over 300 financial institutions from around the world, the 1200-year-old city is one of Europe’s foremost finance centres. But not everything here revolves around money. Frankfurt has managed to retain much of its charm, serenity and old-town flair, especially in the time-honoured entertainment district of Sachsenhausen.
Munich
Germans are soccer mad, and Munich’s renowned soccer team is one of the best in Europe. If you want to experience the sport at its most thrilling, head to the vast and futuristic Allianz Arena to see home team Bayern München in action. You’ll endear yourself to the pub crowd, however, by praising lesser-known club TSV 1860 München, always a sentimental favourite.
Frankfurt skyline
In a city known for its Oktoberfest, there is no lack of venues for celebrating a win: beer halls and beer gardens are everywhere, and the atmosphere is convivial.
www.timeout.com/berlin/
www.allianz-arena.de
www.dresden.de
www.hamburg-tourism.de
www.magic-cities.com
The elegant Hotel Bergs in Riga
Riga right now
The largest city in the Baltic states and the capital of Latvia, Riga offers a lively and entertaining city break.
Business and leisure travel to Riga have been on the up and up recently, as improved infrastructure and a warm welcome for travellers energise this 800-year-old city.
A popular weekend break destination, visitors can sample a taste of Latvian culture from a rich smorgasbord of opera, ballet, theatre and dance at landmark theatres including the Riga Russian Theatre and the Latvian National Opera.
Installation at The Contemporary Art Centre
For distractions of a more nocturnal nature, check out the thriving bar scene in Riga. The Pharmacy Bar was opened by an American-Latvian who perfected the formula in the bar’s Washington DC sister bar: think tables embedded with old-fashioned pills, and a wide selection of ‘medicinal’ ales.
Savour the ‘good’ old Communist days at Leningrad bar. The retro Soviet interior and period furniture mix well with the lashings of vodka served up nightly.
At Orange Bar, the interior decorator has gone wild with liberal doses of orange colour; its sunny hue reflects off the summer tans of Riga’s beautiful people as they dance and swill expensive bottles of champagne. A good recipe for holiday fun.
www.rigaoutthere.com
www.nightlifeinriga.com
www.inyourpocket.com
Arty delights
An undiscovered gem to most Australian travellers, Vilnius is home to an exciting arts scene.
There’s an old-world European charm to be found in the cobblestone streets of the Lithuanian capital. Look just beneath the surface of this city of 550,000 residents and you’ll find an easygoing destination with an emphasis on a lively appreciation of the arts.
For a real splurge, book a room at Relais & Château Stikliai, the most sumptuous hotel in town. Then don your best arty eye glasses and set out on foot to explore the arts scene.
St Petersburg fashion
The Contemporary Art Centre showcases a changing roster of local and international art stars: expect to see a video installation by a New York DJ one week, and original works by an up-and-coming Lithuanian sculptor the next. From there, swing by the Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center. Named after the Lithuanian-American filmmaker icon, it opened 18 months ago as a celebration of avant-garde creativity. A host of smaller private galleries around the city also celebrate Lithuania’s rich artistic history.
www.cac.lt
www.travelvilnius.com
www.culturelive.lt
Modern-day fairytales
The capital city of Estonia is a fairytale destination of spires and turrets in cobblestone streets that hum with the buzz of trendy young Tallinners.
This city may be famous for the historic architecture you’ll see at every turn, but prepare to be surprised by the new guard of sophisticated food and wine culture.
Any tour of Tallinn must start in the fabled Old Town. A protected UNESCO World Heritage site, all the cobbled streets lead to Town Hall Square and its open-air market that has been operating in some form or another since the eleventh century.
Shopping builds an appetite. For dining with awesome views, reserve a table at Horisont at Swissôtel. Housed on the 30th floor of the tallest building in Estonia, the views of the Baltic Sea are breathtaking.
Prague's clock tower and old town
Follow dinner with cocktails and cool conversation. Moskva, a high-end bar and members’ club, entertains gorgeous models, charismatic dealmakers and even a few dashing ex-KGB spies. People-watching here is Olympic standard.
The live music scene is also thriving in Tallinn; the best bar in town for a late night drink and midnight supper is Clazz. Playing live music most nights, the venue presents a wide variety of music styles.
www.tallinn-life.com
www.swissotel.com
www.partyintallinn.com
Russian style
The former Russian capital is setting a new global standard for sophisticated fashion.
Soviet austerity and dormitory-like hostels of the former Leningrad have been the public face of Russia for decades. Clothes were grey and the dish of the day was potatoes, again. Now, in the renamed St Petersburg, a brand new era of conspicuous consumption has emerged, heralded by cutting edge fashion.
Pay homage to the past first: don’t miss the candy-coloured cathedral domes of the city, and a walk along the main boulevard, Nevsky Prospekt. Here you’ll spy regal palaces, romantic lanes and dramatic canals.
Once you’ve had your fill of history, step into the future with a shopping spree to some of Russia’s most talented couturiers. Boutique Lilia Kisselenko is a favourite of the Russian fashion and publishing crowd: classic designs and silhouettes could see this designer translating well to an international market. Located on Nevsky Prospekt is Tatyana Parfionova’s boutique: drop in here for a wearable souvenir with Russian flair. If you’re in a hurry and want to shop in one place for a wide range of Russian-designed fashion, try Defile Boutique. Stocking original designs from right across the Soviet Union, the boutique’s owners also play a major hand in the city’s annual fashion festival, Defile on the Neva.
www.saint-petersburg.com
www.waytorussia.net
www.sptimes.ru
Taste sensations
It’s easy to spend your days in Krakow soaking up the museum and gallery culture, and your evenings indulging in fine food and wine.
It may not be the capital of Poland (that honour goes to Warsaw), but Krakow is certainly the gourmet heart of this Eastern European nation.
The foodie trend of the moment is a move back to classic Polish cuisine fused with the influence of other popular European tastes. A hint of exotic Asian flavours is there too. Imagine hearty pork stew simmered in French white wine served over steamed basmati rice. For authentic Polish classics served in a refined white-tablecloth dining room, reserve a place at Amadeus. This classy restaurant is just the place to blow the holiday budget on a memorable meal.
Polish diners with a taste for Italian specialty dishes rave about neighbouring Aqua e Vino, an exciting restaurant/wine bar with cuisine inspired by Milanese traditions.
If it’s all too hard to choose, simply delve into the tasty pub grub at any one of the Gothic cellar bars overflowing with locals and tourists on Saturday nights.
www.krakow.pl
www.cracowonline.com
www.krakowpost.com
Room at the inn
Prague knows how to roll out the red carpet when it comes to world-class boutique hotels.
Known as the city of a hundred spires, the capital of the Czech Republic is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic masterpiece. Prague is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, capturing the imaginations of world travellers with its romantic squares and breathtaking cathedrals.
The sights may be historic, but the lodgings are modern, cutting-edge cool. Design enthusiasts will delight in Prague’s catalogue of boutique hotels, each one outdoing the next with its unique style and impressive features. Guests who seek elegant lodgings will be impressed by Kempinski Hybernska Hotel, housed in a restored seventeenth-century building and updated with chic amenities. Those with trendier tastes might be tempted by the 987 Prague Hotel, a modern oasis of sophisticated clean lines and the latest word on furnishings. Think Jetsons but with softer edges.
And for anyone who appreciates a sexy, sultry vibe, the Buddha Bar Hotel is where it’s at. From the creators of the iconic bars and CDs, this hotel captures the essence of contemporary Asian interior design with a twist of French colonial influence. The result is intoxicating.
www.prague.cz
www.kiwicollection.com/luxury-hotels/prague
www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/
www.prague-life.com
The Danube at Budapest
The best of budapest
There’s so much more to this Hungarian delight than the Blue Danube.
One of the highlights of Central Europe, Budapest is the capital of Hungary and home to more than 1.7 million people. It’s a dynamic city – one of the most beautiful on the Continent – and its popularity is growing exponentially thanks to a reputation as a progressive and stylish holiday break destination.
What’s not to love? Budapest’s Natural History Museum could rival New York’s famous version, plus there’s a National Museum on par with London’s best. The city’s Museum of Fine Arts boasts an impressive range of Raphaels and El Grecos, and the culture of art appreciation extends right down to humble painters who set up their easels by the iconic Danube River.
Fashionable cocktail bars, nightclubs and restaurants line the beautiful city streets, earning this town the nickname of Party Central and a reputation as one of the most fun cities in all of Europe.
www.budapest-life.com
www.museum.hu
www.budapest.travel
Zagreb’s café culture
The capital of Croatia offers a Mediterranean charm with a zesty Balkan attitude.
Walk around the city streets of Zagreb on a summer day and you’ll experience the streets alive with laughter and a Mediterranean laidback style. Lovers stroll the parks; shoppers browse fresh produce at open-air markets; locals relax in cafés over countless cups of coffee.
Zagreb’s love affair with the coffee bean extends beyond its one million residents to the visitors who spill into this rapidly modernising metropolis. Impressed by the sheer number of cafés spilling onto the pavement, and their proximity to one another, visitors soon understand this is a place where conversation, company and caffeine are highly valued. Locals flit from café to café, at all hours of the day and in all corners of the city, catching up with friends and sharing the latest gossip.
At Argentina café, the coffee is superb and the people-watching even better. Over on Gajeva Street at Charlie, even the city’s famous coffee drinkers can’t resist dropping by. Escobar captures the ambience of an authentically recreated coffee house, circa 1843. Just a tiny taste of the cafés on offer.
www.zagreb-life.com
www.10best.com
Lufthansa Italia exterior view
Italian beauty
A whirlwind tour of Italy’s gems will delight the senses.
Blending traditional Lufthansa values with Italian flair, the newly established Lufthansa Italia flies from Milan to three Italian and eight other European destinations to bring you closer to the heart of Europe. In the land of delicious pasta, scrumptious gelato and a romantic history and cultural life like no other, every Italian city offers its own unique appeal. Ciao Italia!
Milan
Armani reading glasses? Check. Tod’s loafers? Check. Furla wallet? You bet. Visitors to Milan will soon comprehend the strict standards of design and fashion that permeate every aspect of the city’s persona. From the cops in streamlined designer uniforms to the rows of fabulous handbag boutiques and the chic of the Westin Palace Milan, this city is all about style. Get the latest word from the (stylish) horse’s mouth at the Milan Furniture Fair, considered the most influential design conference anywhere. Each year in early April, designers from around the world converge on Milan to talk shop, swap ideas and consider the conundrum: is excess the new minimalism? Don’t miss it.
Rome
Here’s looking at you, Roma! Naturally, visitors to Rome must see the landmark sights: the Coliseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain. And when that’s done and you’ve found your way around this sexy, ancient, attitude-filled world city, head for Trastevere. Often described as bohemian, this charming, artsy neighbourhood will offer you a taste of the real Roma, the one loved on a daily basis by the residents who wouldn’t dream of battling throngs of tourists at the Spanish Steps. Wander around the intimate coffee bars, the one-of-a-kind boutiques and the cobblestone streets lined with Vespas and Smart cars. Finish your day with the much-lauded white chocolate gelato from Il Gelato San Crispino. When in Rome, you don’t need any excuses to indulge exactly as the Romans do. After all, they invented indulgence.
View over Capri from Hotel Grand Vesuvio
Naples
Wrap a Gucci scarf around your hair, put down the top on your rented convertible (you only live once!) and set out from Naples, the gateway to sunny Capri and the Amalfi Coast. Before you leave the beautiful city, make time for a pizza. Forget thick crusts and ditch the pineapple. In Naples, authentic pizza is made with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven, the traditional Margherita pizza is a stand-out at La Sorrentina, recently awarded top honours as makers of the best pizza in all of Naples.
www.cosmit.it
www.milantravelguide.net
www.italyheaven.co.uk
www.world66.com/europe/italy
www.lufthansaitalia.com
www.capri.com
French twist
There’s so much more to tourist France than the iconic sights of the capital, Paris. Look beyond the glittering lights and unabashed romance of Paris to reveal three very different faces of France.
Dawn on the waterfront at Nice
Nice
Live the glamorous life on the French Riviera with a visit to Nice. Although beautiful year-round, Nice really shines in the summertime when the beaches are packed and the seaside promenade thronged with alfresco cafés. A favoured playground of the stylish European jetset, a visit to this gem on the Côte d’Azur should be on every traveller’s Bucket List. Although you’ll find plenty to amuse yourself in Nice itself, with shops, galleries, restaurants and beaches to please, day trips are also possible – and highly recommended. An excursion to Monte Carlo for a turn at the roulette table, or a trip to the Cannes Film Festival to catch a glimpse of famous red carpet arrivals will create lasting holiday memories.
The streets of Lyon
Lyon
Prepare your tastebuds for an unforgettable journey. Regarded as the capital of French gastronomy, Lyon is the third largest city in France and one of the most popular tourist destinations. With the largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in France, it is a true gourmand’s paradise. Iconic chef Paul Bocuse has his restaurant here, though be prepared for a long wait – as in, months! – for a table at his restaurant. Perhaps it’s more rewarding to discover your own up-and-coming master chef at one of the cosy, oh-so-French bistros, where wine is local and bonhomie is mandatory.
Marseille
Many visitors will feel they have seen Marseille before they even arrive. Captured for posterity in countless Cézanne paintings and rustic Provençal landscapes, Marseille is in many ways the quintessential French village. Albeit a very large village: Marseille is the second largest city in France. With a large population of North African immigrants, and many residents with Italian and Spanish heritage, Marseille is a colourful and lively city with strong multicultural influences. Nowhere is this more evident than in the wonderful village markets (the Noailles market is a popular favourite) where traders bargain cheerfully with shoppers for exotic fabrics and spices that have come from afar.
Wander along the Vieux-Port (old harbour) and the seaside Corniche boulevard to see the waterways at work: Marseille is still a busy fishing port today, with more than its fair share of salty old fishermen straight from central casting.
www.festival-cannes.com
www.frenchrivieratraveller.com
www.bocuse.fr
www.indigoguide.com/france/
www.foodeu.com
www.marseille.world-guides.com/marseille_shopping.html
Spanish stars
Satisfy all the senses in Spain’s most vibrant cities. Chart your course through some of the most appealing cities in Spain, with a plan to enjoy nightlife, art and festivals.
Enjoying an evening meal at the Port Olimpic in Barcelona
Barcelona
Olé, Barcelona! Sexy, out there, and unapologetically hedonistic, this Mediterranean city is a magnet for pleasure seekers. Work up an appetite by monument-hopping and then relax into an evening of pure foodie delight. Alfresco seafood restaurants line the beaches, while tapas bars serve up delicious morsels of Spanish cuisine. Don’t forget to order up a jug of chilled sangria or a round of chilled caipirinhas. Barcelona’s avant-garde chefs are recreating the nation’s menu: following in the footsteps of Adrian Ferra, said to be the best chef in the world, they work wonders with liquid nitrogen and molecular gastronomy. Leave all notions of fried calamari at home.
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
Bilbao
The largest city in the Basque country of northern Spain made it onto the list of global art centres with the opening of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao a decade ago. A sister museum to the famed New York institution, this modern and contemporary art museum attracts the crème de la crème of international touring exhibitions. Designed by iconic architect Frank Gehry, a visit to admire the building’s unusual shape and structure is worth the trip alone.
Malaga
Head for the sunshine of the Costa del Sol coast and arrive in beautiful Malaga, a port city in southern Spain. Thousands flock to the Malaga Fair during August each year, when the weather is at its hottest. The streets come alive with a grand celebration of Spanish culture and history as delicious morsels of tapas are served from street-side bars and live flamenco shows entertain the crowds. During the day, the focus is on family-friendly events while at night, the fair moves to the Recinto Ferial district: restaurants, clubs and a fairground with carnival rides get the party started.
www.aboutmalaga.com
www.whatmalaga.com
www.golfmalaga.com
www.malagaturismo.com
www.guggenheim-bilbao.es
www.barcelonaconnect.com
http://barcelonanightlife.com
SWISS Business
Comfort beyond the clouds the new SWISS Business
SWISS has teamed up with leading Swiss textile company Lantal to develop a dynamic air cushion for its Business seat – a benchmark raising, world-first in air transport. Adjusting the degree of air-cushion support involves manipulating only two buttons.
This unique innovation significantly enhances your comfort in any sitting position – on take-off and landing, and in the lounge or bed position. Now you can sit or lie completely flat as softly or as firmly as you are used to doing at home.
The entire long-haul fleet will be updated by 2011. To find out more about the new enhancements to SWISS Business Class, call Australia 1300 724 666, or visit swiss.com
Jazz festival in Lugano
Lugano’s lakes
Switzerland’s Lugano is as pretty as a picture and just waiting to be explored.
Known as the Monte Carlo of Switzerland due to its roll call of celebrities – movie stars and athletes flock here in the summertime – Lugano is a picturesque town near the Swiss-Italian border. Home to just over 50,000 residents, it still manages to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Switzerland, due in no small part to the beauty of its lakes. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a dip: summer water temperatures are invitingly warm. Hop on a boat, sunbathe, or spend your days on the lookout for George Clooney and his pals: Clooney owns a villa on Lake Como and is known to tool around the Lakes District of both Italy and Switzerland on his motorbike. If a Clooney sighting is too much to ask for, content yourself with sampling some Swiss chocolate (reputed to be the finest in the world) in one of Lugano’s cosy cafés.
www.myswitzerland.com
www.lugano-tourism.ch
www.lugano.ch
On the lakefront in Geneva
Swiss cities
Allow the magic of the thriving cities of Zurich and Geneva to rub off on you.
Once a conservative banking town, Zurich has recently undergone a glamorous transformation to emerge with some of the hottest nightlife and shopping on the Continent. Begin a big night out in the Niederdorf district, an old town warren of lanes that has been reinvigorated with bars, restaurants, lounges and boutique hotels. You’ll find everything from Brazilian churrasco restaurants to punk clubs to quirky art-house cinemas. Continue on to the latest and coolest suburbs of the city: Zurich West is lauded by young trendsetters for its fusion restaurants and sexy wine bars. The streets of Geneva also hum with a hundred different languages and a thousand possibilities. A recent survey found Geneva to have the second-highest quality of life in the world and it’s not hard to see why: clean green parks abound, the public transport runs like a Swiss watch, superb museums are everywhere. For many people, the real appeal of Geneva lies in discovering its historical and political significance. Others may want to time their visit to coincide with the Geneva Motor Show, one of the biggest car expos in the world, held annually in March.
www.geneva.info
www.salon-auto.ch
www.10best.com
www.timeout.com/travel/zurich/
www.museen-zuerich.ch
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