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If you’re planning on visiting this stunning city and are wondering what you shouldn’t miss in Venice, make sure to keep on reading. In this article I will tell you all about what you can see in Venice in two days.

See my itinerary on this map:

Trip map created with Wanderlog, for itineraries

Day 1: Rialto and Piazza San Marco

On our first day in Venice, we stuck to the touristic highlights. Sometimes, these can disappoint, as is the case with for example Manneken Pis in Brussels or The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, but I promise that you won’t be disappointed when visiting Venice’s main attractions.

Walk, explore, discover

Visiting only two things in one day maybe doesn’t sound like much, but a big part of Venice’s charm is that the city itself is one big open air museum. You can spend hours wandering the cosy, narrow streets flanked by colourful stately houses, while you walk over many of the three or four hundred bridges (the official numbers vary) crossing the numerous canals.

The keyword of visiting Venice is “walking”. Walk, walk, walk and walk some more. Explore all the streets, let the city guide you and take you wherever you feel like. Behind every corner there’s something new to admire.

Rialto bridge with gondola
The Rialto Bridge is one of the highlights of Venice

Visit the Rialto bridge from all sides

Somewhere along the way, you’ll find yourself at the Rialto bridge, crossing the Canal Grande. Both the Rialto bridge and Piazza San Marco are very well indicated with yellow signs pointing you in the right direction. So even if you wander off in a small street, or are exploring a new piazza or nook of this city, these yellow signs will tell you how to reach the main attractions of the island.

Make a compulsory stop at the top of the Rialto to take pictures of the Canal Grande, or walk along each side of the canal to take pictures of the Rialto bridge. It’s a sight for sore eyes. Another way to see it, is from above, by going to the Fondaco dei Tedeschi shopping mall. Here you can admire the Rialto and the rest of Venice from their rooftop terrace.

Enjoy some amazing Spritz and tasty cichetti at Bussola

Enjoy a Spritz and indulge in cichetti

If all the walking has made you thirsty, make sure to go for a cocktail at Bussola at Campo Bella Vienna, close to the Rialto. The Aperol and Hugo Spritz are to die for. Venice actually has their own type of Aperol Spritz, Select Spritz, made from Select liquor instead of Aperol. It is a bit more bitter than Aperol, so be aware of this if you’re not a big fan of bitter flavours.

In case you’d rather have a nibble, have some cichetti at Al Mercà. Chichetti are basically the Venetian answer to tapas. You order small sandwiches filled with mouth-watering ingredients like truffle cream, brie, spicy sausage and many, many more.

Piazza San Marco
A deserted piazza San Marco, definitely not something you see often

Piazza San Marco

Considering cichetti are fairly small, it’s very well possible you’re still a bit hungry. On the way to Piazza San Marco, you’ll find a delicious gelateria, where you can taste some of Venice’s finest ice cream.

The gelateria is called Gelatoteca Suso, and when we walked past we were immediately lured in by flavours like Mimosa, Cheesecake, Chocolate and almonds, and more. Also, the queue consisting of only Italians, told us the ice cream must be good. Believe me, it was some of the best I’ve ever had, so make sure to stop by Suso!

Piazza San Marco is located less than 10 minutes away from Gelatoteca Suso. Venice’s most popular square has a lot to offer: the gorgeous Basilica di San Marco, museo San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, etc. You can visit all of these if you’d like. We admired them from the outside and continued towards the Ponte dei Sospiri, another one of Venice’s main attractions.

One warning: if you’re planning on having a drink or a bite of food on Piazza San Marco, be aware it will cost you a lot. Some of the places offer live music, which you end up paying for. A simple cappuccino can set you back as much as €25! Opt for some of the bars and restaurants in the side streets instead, they are much cheaper.

Chances are, you’ll already be quite tired from walking all day and you’ll be looking into where to get your next Spritz or some more of those cichetti…

Day 2: Murano and Burano

On day two you can take the opportunity to explore some of the neighbouring islands. Two of the most famous ones are called Murano and Burano, which are famous in their own right.

Getting from Venice to Murano and Burano is fairly easy thanks to the ferries. The best way to get there is to leave from the ferry station Fondamenta Nove. From here you can choose between several different lines (3, 4.1, 7, 12, 13 & 18) which stop at Murano. The trip only takes about 10 minutes.

Man blowing glass
Murano is known for its glass

Admire a glass blower at work in Murano

Murano is known for its glass production. In this cosy little town with colourful houses, you can watch the glassblowers as they showcase their talent and make the most gorgeous sculptures, glasses, bowls, plates and much more.

There are dozens of different shops selling all kinds of goods made out of glass, and you’ll be amazed at how skilled these craftsmen are. I promise you, it’ll be difficult to leave Murano without buying a little something in glass for yourself.

Murano glass isn’t cheap, at least not if you’ve got your eye on something bigger, like a glass bowl or vase. These can cost more than €60, so it’s not for everyone’s budget. Luckily, all shops also sell smaller items, such as little gondola’s or animals made out of glass. These don’t cost as much and you can buy a small souvenir for as little as €5.

The colourful houses of Burano have become a tourist destination thanks to Instagram

Admire the gorgeous and colourful houses of Burano

From the Murano ferry stop “Murano Faro”, you can take the ferry (line 12) to Burano. This stretch takes a bit longer, around 30 minutes. Burano has mainly gotten popular in the last couple of years, thanks to Instagram (of course). When setting foot on Burano island, it becomes clear almost immediately why this town has shot to fame on the “Gram”.

All the houses on this island are painted in the most gorgeous, bright colours. It’s hard to describe how beautiful the colours were, and pictures don’t even do it justice.

Just like Murano, Burano isn’t that big, so it probably won’t take you too much time to stroll through it. However, the island has lots of cosy cafés where you can order another Spritz or nibble on a cichetto as you admire the gorgeous houses. It’s definitely worth the detour.

Afterwards, you can just hop on the next ferry back to Fondamenta Nove and you’re back on your way to Venice. At this point, your time in this beautiful city will be coming to a close, but make sure to enjoy the last couple of hours you have by exploring the cosy, small streets even more.

Cathedral in Venice
Behind every corner hides a new piazza, bridge, cosy street

To end your visit: explore a bit more

As I said before, a big part of Venice’s charm is walking the streets and admiring every alley, corner, house, bridge and canal. The city definitely has lots of highlights to offer, but for me personally, you get the best image of Venice by walking as much as possible.

Two days is a decent amount of time in Venice, but I assure you that you won’t be ready to go home yet. Venice, to me, is a city I want to keep on going back to, despite having been there several times before. It has this magical spell which makes you want to come back for more. And I’m sure you’ll be vowing to yourself to come back one day in the near future.

Tips:

  • Have an ice cream at Gelatoteca Suso
  • Enjoy the cichetti at Al Mercà close to the Rialto Bridge
  • Try a Spritz at Bussola
  • Go for a tasty dinner at Muro San Stae
  • If by any chance, you crave steak in Venice, make sure to go to Al Grill
  • You can buy your ferry tickets at one of the many stations (either at the till or the ticket machine)
  • Try a tramezzino (triangle sandwich)
  • If you’re visiting Venice in off season, consider taking a gondola. Before May 1st, they cost €40 for a 25 minute ride, compared to €80 during high season
]]> Winter hike to Monte Faiè https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2021/02/25/winter-hike-to-monte-faie/ Thu, 25 Feb 2021 16:31:05 +0000 https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=2582 In times like these, when COVID has the whole world in its grip, we tend to take any chance we get to do anything that resembles normal life. So when the province I live in, Piemonte, went into a yellow zone, we immediately took advantage of the opportunity to travel within our region. We went for a little weekend getaway to Lago Maggiore. And since I love hiking, we decided to squeeze in a hike during our short weekend trip. Destination: Monte Faiè. Today I will tell you all about this hike and how to get there.

Monte Faiè

Monte Faiè is located on the Piemontese side of Lago Maggiore. The mountain stands tall at 1352 metres and overlooks not only Lago Maggiore but also Lago di Merluzzo, a smaller neighbouring lake, and Lago d’Orta. It’s the ideal hike for anyone who loves gorgeous lake views.

How to get there?

If you want to hike up to Monte Faiè, there are two ways to go about it:

  • Option 1: Alpe Ompio
    If you leave from Alpe Ompio, the hike takes about 2.5 hours round trip and you have to hike up about 400 metres (dislevel).
  • Option 2: Bracchio
    The second option is longer and more strenuous. If you leave from Bracchio, the hike takes 5 hours round trip and you hike up 1000 metres.

Since we wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous weather, and not being locked up in our flat, we chose the 2nd option. Therefore, the information you find below is only applicable to this hike leaving from Bracchio.

Starting point of the hike

Bracchio is a small town 11 km (+/- 15 min) away from Verbania. You have to keep following Via Bracchio until you reach one of the two parking lots just before Trattoria il Risottino.

Here you can park for free the whole day, which is always handy. From the parking lot to the start of the hike, it takes about 10 minutes. You keep following Via Bracchio until the end and then take a right towards the church. Here you pass either left or right by the church and then keep following the road (Via Zanotti). You then turn left towards Via Montebello I and you have arrived at the start of the hike.

Once you reach the start of the hike, you will see a sign pointing both left and right to get to Monte Faiè. Having done both (we took left to hike up and came back the other way), I would suggest following the left sign (A52). This trail is a lot more scenic and you aren’t constantly walking in the forest.

1st part of the hike: Towards Vercio

The viewpoint from Vercio boasts gorgeous views

During the first part of the hike you will still mainly be walking in between the trees, but from time to time you see the lakes looming in the background. It will be hard not to turn around to take in the gorgeous views, but luckily there are several viewpoints along the way where you can stop and enjoy the landscape.

From Bracchio to Alpe Vercio, it takes about 1:15 and once you arrive there, you should make sure to walk up to the viewpoint. Here you already get an an amazing view of all three lakes, but it’s definitely worth to continue hiking up to see the view all the way from the top.

2nd part of the hike: Towards Cromlèch del Monte Faiè

Monte Faie with views of Lago d'Orta in the background
The 2nd part of the hike was quite strenuous

So far, the hike isn’t too strenuous or technically difficult. The second part of the hike becomes a bit more treacherous, especially when you do it in Winter, like we did.

From Vercio towards Cromlèch del Monte Faiè the trail becomes quite a bit steeper and zigzags up the flank of the mountain. After about half an hour after leaving Vercio, you turn the corner and from here it becomes very steep. We didn’t have any sticks with us and we basically crawled our way up the snowy hillside, using trees and branches to pull ourselves up (note to self: buy sticks!).

At this point we realised that going down this way wouldn’t be the best idea, so we decided we were going to do the whole Monte Faiè loop to get back to Bracchio. This part, towards the crest, took us about another 30 minutes. However, I’m sure that in Summer this normally doesn’t take as long.

3d part of the hike: Towards Monte Faiè

Monte Faie view from the top
The view from the top of Monte Faiè is gorgeous

Once we reached the crest, relieved we managed to scramble our way up, we were convinced Monte Faiè was just behind the next hill. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. We hiked over several hills before we reached the actual summit and sat down for lunch. Despite the efforts and the aching muscles, the view was absolutely worth it!

We arrived at the top about 2:45 after leaving the car park. As I said before, I’m sure it doesn’t take as long during Summer when you don’t have to plough your way through snow and the trail is easier to find.

The descent

After a refreshing (literally, our hands were freezing and shaking) stop and lunch, we decided to not turn around and go back the way we came from. The trail was a bit too slippery for our liking, so we decided to follow the A54 trail back to Bracchio. This way we’d make a loop around the mountain and we wouldn’t have to take the same road back.

This trail is a bit easier, and took us past Alpe Olmio (the other starting point). We realised that this is probably the most popular route to take to get to Monte Faiè but we still felt like the A52 trail was more scenic.

From Alpe Olmio we still had another 1:15-30 to get to the car park. At times the trail isn’t indicated that well, so it doesn’t hurt to have maps.me downloaded (since this works much better for hikes than Google Maps).

By the time we reached the car, our legs were shaking and quaking. No surprise, we hadn’t done any other hikes to warm up, we went straight from sitting on the couch all the time to hiking up and down 1000 metres in about 5 hours.

Conclusion

It took our bodies a whole week to no longer ache, but it was so worth it. I’m sure the pictures will give you a pretty good idea why. If you’re ever around Lago Maggiore, I would definitely recommend this hike. Even if you’re not the biggest hiker, it’s possible to reach Monte Faiè with less effort. In that case, I would advise leaving from Alpe Olmio. You’ll still be rewarded with those gorgeous views at the top.

If you do leave from Bracchio, like we did, I would advise to for sure take route A52 to hike up. Also, if you end up hiking up there in Winter: make sure to bring sticks, you won’t regret it.

Have you ever hiked around Lago Maggiore? Do you have any tips for my next visit? Please feel free to leave a comment!

Want to know more about what you can do in Piemonte? Read my blog about things to do in Torino, the capital city of Piemonte!

]]> What to do in Turin, Italy https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2020/01/23/what-to-do-in-turin-italy/ Thu, 23 Jan 2020 18:19:25 +0000 https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=2530 For the last 4 months I’ve been living in the Alpine city of Torino in Italy. I’ve spent a lot of hours exploring the beautiful streets of Turin. Of course, I still haven’t seen and done everything there is to do or see, but I still wanted to share my favourite spots and activities with you.

Explore the beautiful piazze

Italian cities are known for their gorgeous town or city squares (or “piazze” in Italian). Whether it’s Piazza San Marco in Venice, Piazza Del Campo in Siena or Piazza del Duomo in Milan. Italy boasts hundreds of gorgeous squares. Turin also has several amazing piazze that are worth a visit. After all, Turin was Italy’s first capital!

Some of the most beautiful squares of Turin are located quite close to each other. I would recommend going to Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello. Both squares are connected by Via Roma, the shopping street where you’ll find high-brow fashion stores. After visiting these two piazze, I would suggest walking along Via Po to Piazza Vittorio Veneto. All three squares are located in the city centre, so they will give you the chance to explore Turin’s most remarkable spots and highlights.

Enjoy the Alpine views

The city of Turin is surrounded by gorgeous mountains. The Alps are only about an hour drive away. This means you can get amazing views of the mountains from the city centre.

There are several ways to admire the Alpine views. There is the Monte dei Cappuccini, easily reachable from both Via Po and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II on foot. Once you reach the foot of the hill it only takes you 10-15 minutes to walk up. You can also drive up, but the roads are narrow and parking spaces are limited. Also, walking up makes the views so much more worth it, no? Once you reach the top of the Monte dei Cappuccini, you’ll get a gorgeous view over Torino, its most famous landmark the Mole Antonelliana and the Alps.

A second option to see the beautiful Alps, is to go to the Superga. Superga is a hill located a little bit outside of the city centre. It is very easily reachable by car and by tram. From Piazza Castello you can take tram 15 which brings you to the foot of the hill. Here you can take a funicular up for €9 round trip (during the weekend). The ride up takes about 20 minutes. The Superga boasts gorgeous views of Torino and the Alps.

Another option (but definitely not the last one), is going up the Mole Antonelliana. As I mentioned before, this is the main landmark of Turin. The Mole houses the National Cinema Museum, which is definitely a must see. It also houses a lift which brings you to the top and allows you to see the beautiful surroundings of Turin. Tickets cost €11.

Visit one of the many museums

visit-one-of-the-many-museums

Speaking of the Cinema Museum, Torino is home to lots of different museums and palazzi. One of the most famous museums is the Egyptian Museum, which has been around since 1824. A visit to this museum will set you back €15. Here you will see lots of artifacts dating back to Ancient Egypt. There are also several mummies on display and lots of amazing statues.

The Cinema Museum is also worth a visit. A ticket costs €15 as well (including a trip up to the top of the Mole). The museum guides you through the history of cinema and shows you what happens behind the camera. It’s spread out over several floors and is very interactive.

Another interesting museum is the Museum of the Italian Risorgimento. Although, you can take “interesting” with a pinch of salt here. It all depends on whether or not you’re interested in Italian history. I, for one, am so I enjoyed exploring this museum which tells you all about Italian history and the unification in the 19th century. You also get to see the very first parliament of Italy and the bedroom of the first Kings of Italy.

Museums in Turin aren’t particularly cheap, which is why it might be interesting to get the Museum Card. This card costs €52 and allows you multiple entries to all museums in Turin. Other interesting and notable museums are: The Lavazza Museum, Juventus Museum and Venaria Reale.

Stroll around in the beautiful parks

To be fair, I haven’t explored that many parks yet during my time here. But I really like Parco del Valentino and felt like it was worth mentioning. This park is located along the riverside of the Po. In this park you’ll find a museum, castle and a Medieval village. It’s the ideal spot to unwind for a bit or go for a walk. I especially liked walking through Parco del Valentino to Ponte Isabella and walking back on the other side of the Po. From Ponte Isabella you spot the Mole one one side and mountains on the other.

Cheer on Juventus or Toro

cheer-on-juventus-or-toro

After living in Malta for 3 years, it was nice to finally be able to attend a football game of high level again. I personally root for Juve, so I loved going to the Allianz Stadium to watch Cristiano Ronaldo, Dybala, Buffon, etc. play in real life. As you can imagine, tickets for a Juventus game don’t come cheap, but it’s definitely worth it.

While Juventus might be the most known football team of Turin, it definitely isn’t the only one they have. Turin is divided in die-hard Juve and Toro fans. Watching Toro, or Torino, play doesn’t set you back as much as watching Juventus. You can get tickets for around €20 and you still get to see big teams play (Napoli, Roma, Inter, etc.). The stadium is also located relatively central compared to the Allianz Stadium and can easily be reached on foot or by tram.

Indulge in delicious Italian food

indulge-in-delicious-italian-food

A trip to Italy wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of the best food Italy has to offer! After 4 months here, I can tell you: I haven’t had one bad meal yet. The cuisine in Torino is delicious. I’ve had some of the best pizza and ice cream in Turin. Here I’ll share some of my favourite places (this is only a short list since I haven’t been to that many restaurants yet. I try to avoid eating out too often since living in Italy usually leads to gaining weight).

  • Amici Miei: located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, this pizzeria has everything you want: tasty pizza at very reasonable prices. Not only is the pizza delicious, also the pasta and salads are to die for.
  • Pizzium: located on Largo IV Marzo and Via Eusebio Bava. Here you won’t find the typical Italian pizza like prosciutto e funghi, margherita, quattro stagioni. The pizza here are named after the different Italian provinces. They are a bit more pricey than at Amici Miei, but they’re finger-licking good.
  • Fratelli Pummarò: located in Via Principe Tommaso. This is one of my favourite pizzerie in Turin. The pizza is amazing, the service fast and the prices cheap. What more do you want?
  • Volver: okay, this is not an Italian restaurant but it’s too good to not mention. Here you can indulge in Argentinian cuisine. The empanades, cheeses, steaks, dulce de leche, everything was amazing.
  • Lucco: this gelateria is also located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Here you’ll taste some of the most delicious ice cream you have ever had in your life. I can personally attest to that, and I’ve had plenty of ice cream in my life (believe me!). It’s out of this world.

Once I’ve done more exploring, I will update this post to share my favourite spots, eateries and things to do. Keep checking for future updates!

]]> 24 hours in Zürich https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2020/01/03/24-hours-in-zurich/ Fri, 03 Jan 2020 08:09:26 +0000 https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=2510 Having friends who live all over Europe is definitely a blessing. Last November, I travelled to Zurich to visit one of my friends who lives there. Is it worth visiting a beautiful city like Zürich when you only have 24 hours to do sightseeing? Definitely! Curious to read what I did? In this article, I will guide you through my 24-hour itinerary. 

Disclaimer: since I travelled on a low budget, Switzerland isn’t exactly known as a wallet-friendly destination, I mainly got everywhere by walking. This means that my itinerary here is primarily based on things I did on foot. I also didn’t sit down for drinks or lunch, since I opted to go to the supermarket instead. This way I managed to keep my spending in check. I only paid for the train to Üetliberg and the metro.

Üetliberg

uetliberg

If you’re starting your visit from Zürich Central Station, I would advise you to first of all head to Üetliberg. From the Central Station you can easily reach this mountain by taking the S10. This train takes you to Üetliberg in only 20 minutes. A return ticket sets you back 17.60 CHF.

Once you reach the Üetliberg, you still need to walk uphill for about 10-15 minutes. The view from the mountain is absolutely gorgeous. You get to see the city, Lake Zürich and the Alps in the background, all at once! Make sure to take your time up there because you will want to admire the view from all sides.

Old town Zürich

Old town Zurich

Up next: explore the Old Town. From Zürich Central Station, cross the Bahnhofbrücke in the direction of the Niederdorfstrasse. Here you can stroll through the cosy and narrow streets which are full of colourful houses and fancy stores. In this street you’ll also find tons of fondue restaurants. If you would like to try some typical Swiss fondue, I would advise to book a table. The Old Town can get very busy in the evening, so in order to avoid disappointment make sure to make a reservation.

From Niederdorfstrasse you can walk down to the Limmatquai where you get a gorgeous view of the river flanked by beautiful medieval houses. Here I would advise to cross over to the other side of the river to visit the Lindenhof Hill. From this hill you get a beautiful view of the city. Afterwards you can walk along the Limmat river towards Lake Zürich.

Walk along Lake Zürich 

Lake Zurich

Since Lake Zürich is 40 kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide, it’s not possible to walk around it. You can, however, choose to walk along the lakeshore. Keep walking straight ahead once you reach the Quaibrücke, in the direction of the Chinese Garden.

The walk along the lake is gorgeous. There’s a pedestrian walkway, so you don’t have to be worried about cars driving by. I would advise to walk towards Lake Side Restaurant where you get a gorgeous view of the lake and the Alps in the background. From the bridge to the restaurant it takes about 25 minutes.

Eat Swiss fondue

eat fondue in zürich

After all this walking and sightseeing, you’re probably starving. What better way than to finish of your 24 hour trip in Zürich than with some typical Swiss fondue? Just a reminder: Swiss fondue might not be the same as the one you’re used to. The Swiss eat fondue with alcohol in it. Restaurants will offer both versions, however if you want to enjoy fondue the proper Swiss way, you should try it with alcohol. 

Like I said earlier, you’ll find tons of restaurants in the Old Town. We went to Le Dézaley where we paid around €35 for a fondue with bread and drinks. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but hey, it is Switzerland after all.

]]> My favorite low budget restaurants in Malta https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/06/14/low-budget-restaurants-in-malta/ Thu, 14 Jun 2018 08:35:47 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=1188 I usually don’t write blog posts about food and restaurants, but today I’d like to make an exception. After living in Malta for more than 3 years I’ve gotten plenty of opportunities to try out both tasty and cheap restaurants. And who doesn’t like this combination? So, today I would like to share my favorite low budget restaurants in Malta with you.

Low budget restaurants in Malta
Courtesy of Malta Today

KuYa, St. Julians

KuYa started out as a food truck in the Ta ‘Xbiex area. KuYa is known for their healthy, tasty and cheap Japanese food. Right now you can not only go to their food truck, but also to their very own restaurant in St. Julians (closest bus stop: Ross). At first you might glance over the restaurant because it’s very small and narrow, and frankly not that easy to spot. However, it’s definitely a must when visiting Malta.

I personally love KuYa because it’s not only cheap and tasty, but they also serve super fresh food with tons of vegetables. You can choose between dishes like “Bang Bang Chicken” (with peanut butter and chilli, my personal favorite), “Yellow Curry” and “Baby Pork Ribs with BBQ sauce”. They serve about 10 different dishes, which are all to die for. The starters are also amazing, with tasty appetizers like “duo fries” (normal and sweet potato fries!) and “Tori Karage Chicken with sweet chilli”. And the best of all is that all the mains are less than €11 (except for the special)!

Tip: make sure to book a table beforehand. KuYa is very popular and since it’s a tiny restaurant you might not get a table without booking first.

Zero Sei, Valletta

When visiting Malta, you’ll notice that the majority of restaurants are Italian. This makes it difficult to figure out which ones are worth visiting and which ones are not. However, one of my personal favorite Italian restaurants is located in Valletta. Zero Sei is a small Roman trattoria which serves some of the best pasta I’ve ever tasted. The menu is also quite small, however the food is incredible.

The staff is extremely friendly and helpful and thoroughly enjoys introducing you to their delicious Roman food. My favorite is the pasta all’amatriciana (the best one I’ve ever had). Other very good dishes are: pasta carbonara and pasta bolognese. At Zero Sei you will mainly find pasta dishes and some meat dishes, so don’t go here if you want to try Italian pizza.

One of the main selling points of Zero Sei is their wine cellar. When choosing wine, you will be asked to go downstairs to the wine cellar to pick out a bottle of your liking.

low budget restaurants in Malta
Courtesy of Malta Today

Sotto, Valletta

It took me a very long time to find a pizzeria I actually liked in Malta. However, this year I finally managed to find one! Coincidentally, Sotto is owned by the same people as Zero Sei. So if you were a bit disappointed Zero Sei doesn’t serve pizza, Sotto is the place to be! Also located in Valletta, this restaurant is very cosy and lively. We went there for a Sunday lunch and were greeted by tons of other people who had the same idea (which is always a good sign!).

The pizza at Sotto is also Roman. This means that the crust is slightly crunchier. They have an endless list of pizze on offer which will make it very hard for you to decide what you want! One thing I really liked was that you can order pizza with the same sauce as the pasta’s they serve at Zero Sei. This obviously meant that I had to try out the pizza with amatriciana sauce. And it has to be said, it was one of the best pizza’s I’ve ever had!

One of the other “bests I’ve ever had”, is the “crème brûlée” that is served at Sotto. It’s literally out of this world.

La Vida, Sliema

Before moving to Malta I had never tried tapas before. Probably because I’ve never actually been to Spain before (I know, shocking right…). However, there’s a very good tapas restaurant in Sliema, which you should definitely visit. Since tapas is more of a group experience, I’d advise you to go there with a group of at least 4 people. La Vida is also quite a small restaurant, so it’s best if you book in advance.

They have tons of tapas on offer which are all mouth-wateringly good. My favorites were the chorizo, the patatas bravas, the prawns and the sweet potato fries. However, not only the tapas are to die for, the desserts are also amazing! We tried the brownie with ice cream, and I have to admit I’m actually not a brownie person, but this one blew me away. I would recommend it to anyone!

La Vida is a bit pricier than the other restaurants on this list, which is why it’s best to go with lots of other people. However, it’s definitely a must when visiting Malta!

low budget restaurants in Malta
Courtesy of Pepperoncino

Pepperoncino, St Julians

This restaurant is located in Balluta Bay. During Summer you can sit on the steps outside of the restaurant and admire the beautiful and picturesque bay whilst trying some of their amazing Italian food. Pepperoncino offers various pasta’s, fish, and tons of meat options.

My personal favorite is the pasta with duck leg confit and pistacchio’s (yes, it is as good as it sounds). Most of the pasta’s cost less than €10 and are extremely tasty. As usual, the main courses (fish and meat) are a bit more expensive. The service is always impeccable and you will genuinely have a good time when eating at Pepperoncino!

These were my top 5 favorite low budget restaurants in Malta. Of course Malta has many more other good restaurants, but these are the ones I particularly enjoyed. If you’re more into fine dining, stay tuned because I will introduce you to these kind of restaurants too!

]]> My favorite hikes in Malta https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/05/16/my-favorite-hikes-in-malta/ https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/05/16/my-favorite-hikes-in-malta/#comments Wed, 16 May 2018 17:45:51 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=1135 One of my good friends told me she browsed through my entire blog looking for interesting hikes in Malta, but couldn’t find anything… I hadn’t written about any hikes in Malta yet, but thanks to my friend I decided to change that. If you’ve been following my blog, you might know I’m quite fond of hiking. I’ve hiked Trolltunga and Pulpit Rock in Norway, done the Poon Hill trek in Nepal and been on countless hikes in the French and Italian Alps. So, it comes as no surprise that I also enjoy hiking in Malta! Today I’d like to present you my favorite hikes in Malta.

Is Malta a hiker’s paradise?

Malta isn’t really known as a hiker’s haven. To be honest, the country isn’t quite adapted yet to people who enjoy going on hikes. The trails aren’t always that easy to follow, and they are basically never indicated. I only started hiking in Malta after I stumbled upon a very practical book called “The Malta Coastal Walk“. The hikes in this book are described in a lot of detail, which makes it basically impossible to get lost, even if there are no signs along the way. So, keep that in mind before heading out on a hike in Malta.

hikes in malta

Mellieha Bay to Cirkewwa

This was one of the first hikes I did in Malta. Mellieha Bay is mostly know for its nice sandy beach, but it’s also the departure point of this hike. When you start the hike, you are surrounded by hotels and buildings, but you will quickly make your way to nature, following a narrow hiking path along the coastline. It’s a very picturesque hike with gorgeous views all over Mellieha Bay and the city of Mellieha. Along the way you will run into a beautiful Chapel, a fort and an impressive cave (called Coral Lagoon). After the Coral Lagoon, you’ll pass by Armier Bay on your way to Cirkewwa. During this part of the hike you’ll get amazing views over both Comino and Gozo. As you will pass by several beaches and bays, you will get plenty of options to go to the bathroom or buy refreshments. The whole hike takes between 4-5 hours.

Summary

Start of the hike: Mellieha Bay (bus stop: Mellieha Bay Beach Bus Stop, buses: 222 – from Sliema, 41, 42 -from Valletta).
End of the hike: Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal
Duration: 4-5 hours
Length: 11 km


Marsascala to Marsaxlokk

Marsascala

Another hike I really liked was the Marsascala to Marsaxlokk hike. If you’ve ever been to Malta before, chances are big you’ve heard of Marsaxlokk. This small village is known for its fish market, which takes place every Sunday. Usually the place is crowded with tourists who enjoy strolling past the stalls selling fresh fish, clothes and all kind of gadgets. This hike will take you from the coastal town of Marsascala, past some amazing cliffs, to Marsaxlokk. On the way you will pass by beautiful spots such as St. Thomas Bay and, of course, St. Peter’s Pool!

I loved this hike because it showed me a part of Malta I hadn’t seen before: less touristic areas with cliffs towering over the azure blue water. This is, before you arrive at St. Peter’s Pool where you will spot tourists no matter what time of the year. However, you should definitely include this stop in your hike. It’s a gorgeous spot, which is great for swimming and who knows you might even spot Malta’s very own swimming dog!

Summary

Start of the hike: Marsascala (bus stop: Marsaskala – continue walking to bus stop Bajja), buses: 13A, 13, 14, 15, 16 + 92, 93 – Sliema, 92, 93 – Valletta)
End of the hike: Marsaxlokk
Duration: 2 hours (or 6-7 hours if you decide to continue hiking to Birzebbuga).
Length: 11 km (or 15 if you go to Birzebbuga)

Golden Bay to Bahrija

Hikes in Malta

Last year, Simen and I decided to hike from Golden Bay to Bahrija without the use of the book I mentioned above. Simen had told me about this beautiful bay called Fomm ir-Rih (take a look at the picture below and see for yourself), which I really wanted to see.

When looking at the map, I realized Fomm ir-Rih was quite close to Golden Bay. So I managed to convince Simen to go on a hike to see this beautiful bay with my own eyes. I hadn’t been on that many hikes yet in Malta and had forgotten about the fact that the hikes are not indicated, as I mentioned above. There are no signs, colors or any kind of indication along the way. When we started our hike in Golden Bay, everything still went okay. We managed to make our way to Ghajn Tuffieha and Gnejna Bay quite easily (here you can still spot hiking trails).

One wrong turn led to an unexpected swim

However, after Gnejna Bay we made a capital mistake: we decided to follow the coastline. Be aware that the right track to Fomm ir-Rih does NOT follow the coastline, it goes inland. However, since I didn’t have the book yet, we decided to follow another hiking trail which seemed quite well indicated (for Maltese standards). We followed the trail until it suddenly ended out of nowhere and we were on top of a high hill with no idea how to get down to the water. We didn’t realize we weren’t following the right track, so we kept on looking for indications of a potential trails.

This led us down the hill, but now we were faced with another obstacle: there was no way we could reach Fomm ir-Rih. Luckily, we knew where Fomm ir-Rih was located, and realized it was only one bay away, but it was impossible to walk there. We were now standing in front of a small bay, with rocks towering over us on our left, and water on our right. We realized we would have to swim part of the way. So, we took of our shoes, carried our backpacks over our heads and waded through the water until we could climb on the rocks again. It was definitely an adventure, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to do the same. Despite this small mishap, the hike was still very nice. Just make sure you follow the right road.

Note to self and everyone else: after Gnejna Bay make sure you walk inland, do not follow the coastline!

Summary

Start of the hike: Golden Bay (bus stop: Ghajn Tuffieha Bus Terminal, buses: 225 – Sliema, 44 – Valletta)
End of the hike: Bahrija
Duration: 2 hours
Length: 7 km


Victoria Lines

hikes in Malta
Courtesy of Victoria Lines Malta

The Victoria lines were built by the British in 1897 (in honor of Queen Victoria). These walls cross the island from west coast to east coast. Since this hike isn’t included in the Malta Coastal Walk book, I decided to do some Googling before we left. However, once again I was faced with the fact that hikes and trails in Malta are never indicated. It took us more than an hour to get on the right track after we left from Bahrija (our starting point, you can also start from Pembroke and hike from east to west). It’s not that easy to spot the actual road so make sure you have very clear instructions with you (unlike me).

The best part of the hike for me was from the Dwejra Lines to Mosta. Here you get to see some of Malta’s most amazing nature! I managed to snap this shot along the way:

Hiking the Victoria Lines takes quite some time, so I would advise leaving early in the morning. We decided to call it a day in Mosta (since we lost an hour at the beginning of the hike), but I heard from friends that the hike is beautiful from start to finish!

Summary

Start of the hike: Rabat (bus stop: Lellux, buses: 14 + 52 + 109 – Sliema, 51, 52, 61, 62 + 109 – Valletta)
End of the hike: Pembroke
Duration: 5 hours
Length: 12 km

Have you done any hikes in Malta? What was your favourite? Please feel free to leave a comment below!

]]> https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/05/16/my-favorite-hikes-in-malta/feed/ 2 My top 5 attractions in Gozo, Malta https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/04/29/my-top-5-attractions-in-gozo-malta/ https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/04/29/my-top-5-attractions-in-gozo-malta/#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2018 14:54:58 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=1093 The 8th of March 2017 was basically a day of national mourning in Malta. The biggest attraction of the Maltese Islands, the Azure Window, fell victim to the forces of nature. Luckily, the beautiful island of Gozo still has plenty to offer, even without the impressive Azure Window. Today I would like to introduce some of the most beautiful attractions in Gozo.

How to reach Gozo?

Gozo is the most northern island of the Maltese islands. Because public transport in Malta is quite time-consuming, I would advise you to rent a car. The best option is to rent a car in Malta and drive up to the ferry station in Cirkewwa.

If you still prefer to take the bus, you have to be aware of the fact that it takes quite a long time to get there. From Valletta (bus X1) the bus takes about 1 hour and from Sliema (bus 222) about 1.5 hours. The ferry only takes about 20 minutes and brings you to Gozo quite quickly. However, all the buses in Gozo depart from the capital Victoria, which means that whenever you want to go somewhere, you first have to go back to Victoria to change buses. This means you most likely won’t be able to see/do much in Gozo if you’re pressed for time. Also, bear in mind that not all places are accessible by bus.

Another option is taking the “Hop-on, hop-off” buses to explore the island.



5 attractions in Gozo

Xlendi

Xlendi is a small coastal town in Western Gozo, which kind of reminded me a bit of the beautiful Italian coastal towns you can find in Liguria. Thanks to the gorgeous houses which are situated next to the beautiful azure water, Xlendi immediately gives you a holiday vibe. It’s a very small town but it’s extremely cosy and has a couple of tourists shops and some very good restaurants. My favorite is “Boat House” which serves amazing duck and steak!

Xlendi is also home to a couple of cool caves. You can easily reach one of them on foot from restaurants Ta Karolina and Stone Crab. Here you’ll spot the start of a hiking trail which brings you to a small cave.

Wied il-Ghasri

Wied il-Ghasri is located in the north of the island. This beautiful creek with cyan colored water is still a quite unknown spot in Gozo. Although during summer a lot of Maltese people come here to picnic and swim. It’s also a very popular diving spot thanks to the gorgeous caves surrounding the creek. So even though it’s still considered a “hidden gem“, it’s basically impossible to get Wied il-Ghasri to yourself.

Tal-Mixta Cave

This cave is located in Nadur and gives you a spectacular view on the red sand of Ramla Bay. However, it’s not that easy to find. You aren’t able to get there by bus, so I’d suggest visiting this cave when you have access to a car. To get there, you have to drive from Nadur to Ramla Bay and take a right, right before the descent to Ramla Bay. After following a lot of winding roads, you will arrive at a farm where the road ends. From here you only have to walk a couple of meters until the entrance of the cave (which is like a small tunnel leading down to the cave).


San Blas

San Blas beach is also located in Nadur. It’s not that easy to reach since we’ve tried to go there twice and only succeeded once. The first time we found the beach very easily, but the second time our GPS sent us down some very questionable roads. Some of the roads in Gozo are really not made for modern traffic. After the GPS directed us to an extremely windy and narrow road of about 50 percent, we decided to call it a day and not head to San Blas after all.

However, San Blas is a beautiful hidden beach which you have to see when you’re in Gozo. Bear in mind that you can’t drive down to the actual beach since the road is extremely steep. If you’re not in good shape or don’t feel comfortable walking down the hill, you can use the shuttle service which drives up and down for only €1.

Victoria

Of course I also had to include the capital of Gozo in this list: Victoria. The city is located on top of a hill which gives you very beautiful views all over the island (go to the Citadella for the best views). It’s easily accessible by bus (you can take a bus from the ferry station to Mgarr which takes you straight to Victoria). Stroll down the narrow and winding roads of the city center and visit the Citadella (a must!), while you’re here.

Of course there are more beautiful places and attractions in Gozo, but I decided to share the ones I like the most. What were your favorite attractions in Gozo? Please feel free to leave a comment below!

]]> https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/04/29/my-top-5-attractions-in-gozo-malta/feed/ 2779 Castelmola: a hidden Sicilian gem https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/04/02/castelmola-hidden-sicilian-gem/ Mon, 02 Apr 2018 11:47:25 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=930 Happy Easter everyone! I decided to make the most of the long weekend and headed to one of the most beautiful towns in Italy: Taormina. Because we had already been to Taormina twice before, we decided it was time to pay Castelmola a visit. Castelmola has been classified as “one of the most beautiful villages of Sicily”, and boy that is not an understatement! 

Castelmola

Where is Castelmola located?

Castelmola is a small village with only about 1100 inhabitants. It is located on top of a hill that towers over Taormina and the Ionian sea and has spectacular views on Mount Etna. The bus ride to the village is also very spectacular and makes you really admire the skills of the Sicilian bus drivers. From Taormina there is a bus that drives up to Castelmola every 45 minutes. You can take the bus from the bus terminal in Taormina or from the bus stop in front of the city entrance, Porta Messina. A round trip ticket only costs 3 euros! If you prefer to take the bus to Castelmola and walk down, then this will cost you 1.90 euros. The bus ride only takes about 15 minutes and gives you the opportunity to admire the amazing surroundings of Taormina and Castelmola.

Castelmola

Bird’s eye view from the castle

As the name of the town already suggests, Castelmola is the proud owner of a castle. This castle was built by the Normans and can still be visited today. However, don’t expect a proper castle. At the moment there are only ruins left. This doesn’t ruin your visit to Castelmola at all, because from up top you get an amazing view over Taormina, the Ionian sea and Mount Etna. You will get a spectacular view from all sides of the castle, and you won’t know where to look first. The way to the castle is clearly indicated when you arrive at Castelmola. It takes about 5 – 10 minutes to hike up the steps to the castle. You can’t visit this cosy village without paying the castello a visit.

Castelmola

Castelmola

Small and cosy streets

One of the things I really like about Italy is that most of their towns and villages consist of very narrow and cosy streets. Castelmola may be a very small town (you won’t need more than 2 – 3 hours to wander around), but it has such a charming feel to it. While you explore the cosy streets, you will bump into charming cafés and bars while every once in a while you catch a glimpse of Mount Etna or the sea. What more can you want?

Bar Turrisi

One of the most remarkable bars of the village is Bar Turrisi, located on Via Pio IX. Because of its, er, interesting decoration, tourists from all over the world head to Bar Turrisi. Don’t be surprised when you see lots of people snapping pictures of literally everything in the bar: the chairs, remarkable statues, interesting wallpaper in the bathrooms, etc. Do you want to know why? Head there and see for yourself (or you can of course always do a quick Google search…). The bartender was extremely nice and let us try out some almond wine and Sicilian granita. 10 out of 10 for hospitality and creativity!

Castelmola

Castelmola

Because the village is so small, you don’t need much time to see all of the town. We spent about 2 hours in this cosy village, wandering the streets and enjoying the spectacular views. Castelmola is a must for anyone who’s visiting Taormina or Messina. I can’t believe it took me 3 visits to Taormina before discovering this hidden gem!

]]> 5 of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Malta https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2018/03/07/5-beautiful-sandy-beaches-in-malta/ Wed, 07 Mar 2018 14:57:55 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=910 If you’re a bit like me, you imagined Malta to be a tropical paradise with pearly white beaches and wavy palm trees. To be fair, the landscape I was imagining was more like the Seychelles or Mauritius, which not really what Malta looks like. I didn’t expect that most of the beaches in Malta are rocky beaches. However, don’t despair if you don’t particularly like lying down on hard rocks when you’re sunbathing. There are a couple of very beautiful sandy beaches in Malta which I would like to introduce to you!

Ramla Beach

Malta might not have many of those pearly white beaches I was talking about, but you can, however, sunbathe on a beautiful red beach! If you want to admire this red sand, you have to visit Malta’s sister island Gozo. Ramla Beach is located in the town of Nadur, on the north-western part of Gozo.

To get there from Malta, you have to take a bus or taxi to Cirkewwa where you can take the ferry which will take you to Gozo in only 20 minutes. Once you’ve arrived in Gozo you can either take a bus or a taxi to reach Ramla Bay.

From Ramla Bay you can hike up one of the surrounding hills to reach the Tal-Mixta Cave. This cave gives you an incredible view all over Ramla bay.

Mellieha Bay

If you want to relax on the biggest sandy beach of Malta, you have to head over to Mellieha Bay. Here you will find an 800 meter long stretch of sand with beautiful views. At Mellieha Bay you will find all possible amenities, there are a couple of restaurants on the beach and plenty of opportunities to try out different water sports (water skiing, wind surfing, banana rides, etc.).

This beach is perfect for families since the water is shallow and Mellieha bay is easily accessible. Lots of buses on their way to the north of the island stop here. From Sliema you can take the 222, from Valletta the 42 or X1, from Bugibba the 221 and the 222.

Ghajn Tuffieha

As someone who’s been living in Malta for 3 years, I know very well how crowded Malta can get. Especially during summer. Most tourists head over to Golden Bay, one of the biggest sandy beaches in Malta. If you don’t mind the tourists, Golden Bay is a very beautiful swimming spot. But next to Golden Bay you have a smaller sandy beach which usually is a bit less crowded. Ghajn Tuffieha is a beautiful beach with amazing surroundings. You can walk from Ghajn Tuffieha to its neighbouring beach Gnejna Beach, but don’t be surprised if you suddenly bump into naked people since part of Ghajn Tuffieha is reserved for naturists.

You can reach Ghajn Tuffieha from Sliema by taking bus 225. However, chances are very big the bus will be completely full. So be prepared to leave early or take a taxi instead.

San Blas

San Blas beach, also located on Gozo, is one of my personal favourites. During summer you can even camp next to the beach, it looks so romantic! Just like Ramla Beach, the sand at San Blas also has this beautiful red colour.

One of the things I particularly liked about San Blas is that it’s closed off to traffic. To reach it, you have to walk down a very, very steep road which leads to the beach. There’s also the option of taking a jeep which drives up and down the hill for only €1. Because of this steep hill, San Blas is still relatively quiet and unknown, which makes it an even better spot for some sunbathing and swimming! When I was there, I had to pinch myself in the arm several times; I could barely believe I live in such a beautiful spot.

Golden Bay

As I mentioned earlier, Golden Bay is the most popular sandy beach in Malta. It’s easily accessible with the bus (same bus as the one that goes to Ghajn Tuffieha), has quite a lot of parking space in case you decide to go there by car, and has a couple of restaurants and food trucks (don’t expect anything super tasty). Since it is so popular, I wouldn’t advise going there during peak summer. You will be fighting for a a small stretch of sand. Golden Bay is a better shout if you’re travelling to Malta during Spring or Autumn. During those times, when the beach isn’t as touristy, you can really enjoy the beauty of Golden Bay!

Have you ever been to Malta? Which one of the beaches was your favourite? Please feel free to leave a comment!

]]> Weekend getaway: Lille https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/11/26/weekend-getaway-visiting-lille/ https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/11/26/weekend-getaway-visiting-lille/#comments Sun, 26 Nov 2017 15:20:06 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=825 Since my hometown is located about 30 minutes away from the French city of Lille, I’ve visited this city quite often. Not only did my family take me there from time to time, I also went to Lille on school trips several times. It might not be the most known French city, and I can imagine that most people opt to got to Paris or the south of France instead. However, Lille is the tenth biggest city of France and has a lot to offer to everyone. 

Flemish influences in Lille

Lille is located in the north of France, about 200 kilometers from Paris. Since it’s so close to the Belgian border, it comes as no surprise that you can find quite a lot of Flemish influences in this city. In Lille, you will spot tons of beautiful and colourful brick houses. This type of architecture isn’t found that often in the rest of the country. In that sense, it might even feel more like a Flemish city such as Bruges or Ghent. You will get tons of opportunities to snap amazing pictures here.

One of the best spots to admire the Flemish architecture, is Vieux-Lille (or Old-Lille). The old town is extremely cosy and is a must see when visiting Lille. I would suggest just strolling through its streets whilst admiring the beautiful architecture and enjoying the bohémien atmosphere. On almost every corner of every street you’ll find shops selling things. From macarons to baguettes, you can find anything in Lille. The city isn’t that big, so you can basically visit it in about one, max two days. You don’t need a car to get around, you can easily explore the city on foot. If need be, you can also take the metro which takes you everywhere.

Lille

Beautiful Main Square

The main attractions of Lille are located around the main square, or the Grand Place. Here you’ll find tons of restaurants, bars and shops where you can sit down and enjoy a café or a glass of wine. I would recommend visiting the Vieille Bourse de Lille, built between 1652 and 1653. This is one of the most beautiful buildings of Lille. It basically consists of 24 identical houses which are built around a courtyard where you can find tons of second hand books, comics and posters. I loved spending time here, going through old books and posters, hoping I could get my hands on an old gem. I never went home empty handed!

Lille

Tons of opportunities for shopping

A city of more than 200.000 inhabitants needs tons of shopping opportunities. Luckily, Lille is not lacking in that department at all! Next to the Lille Europe railway station you can find Euralille. This is a massive shopping centre which houses more than 100 stores such as H&M, Levi’s, Primark, Pull and Bear and many, many more.

If you’re looking for more haute-couture stores, then les Galeries Lafayette might be more your thing. Here you can find stores like Armani, Alexa Chung, Dior and Hermès.

If you prefer strolling through a shopping street, then you need to head over to Rue de Béthune. You will always find tons of people here, eating Belgian waffles with tasty toppings such as Speculoos whilst doing some shopping.

Lille

Cosy Christmas Market

The city turns into a proper Winter Wonderland in November and December. A big Ferris wheel is installed on the Grand Place, which gives you the perfect opportunity of getting a beautiful view over the city. You’ll also find lots of wooden stalls selling gluhwein, local and foreign delicacies and Christmas decorations. It’s the perfect time to explore this beautiful city in the North of France! So, if you don’t have any plans for the upcoming Christmas holidays yet, a city trip to Lille might be the ideal way of spending the holidays!

Lille

Other tips for visiting Lille:

  • Visit Patisserie Meert, here you can eat amazing waffles, cakes and other delicious delicacies. The shop itself is an attraction in its own, it looks exactly the same as it did in the 19th century.
  • Visit Parc Zoologique de Lille. An entrance ticket only costs you 4 euros and gives you the chance to see more than 300 different animals.
  •  Visit the Opéra de Lille, a beautiful building which was built in between 1907 and 1913.
  • Admire art in the Palais Des Beaux-Arts, the second most important museum of France (after le Louvre).
  • Visit the yearly Braderie de Lille. This event takes place during the first weekend of September. The whole town transforms into a big flea market which is visited by a staggering 3 million people!

Have you ever been to this city? What did you like most? Feel free to leave a comment!

 

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