Category: Destinations

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world both by area and population, covering an area of 49 hectares (121 acres). This place (religious superpower) have guided millions of people across the globe.

Home of the Roman Catholic Church and its spiritual leader – the Pope, Vatican City was granted a country status to enable the pope to exercise his universal authority.

The euro is the official currency of the Vatican City, although Vatican City is not a member of the Eurozone or the European Union. The euro has been the official currency of Vatican City since 2002.

This country have a population of around 764 (as of 2023) residents, and has its own flag. For many travellers, visiting this religious hub is a bucket list item. Visiting the Vatican is an unforgettable experience not only for lovers of art but also of history, culture, and architecture. 

There are multiple ways to reach here:

• Metro –> Line A (There are two metro stops located near the Vatican Museums entrance: Ottaviano and Cipro)
• Bus –>  Numbers 492, 990 (Via Degli scipioni); 32, 81, 982 (Risorgimento stop)
• 49 (Viale Vaticano / Musei Vaticani stop)
• Tram –> Number 19 (Risorgimento / San Pietro stop)
• Taxi –> Taxi Station Viale Vaticano (in front of the Museum)
• Car –> Payment Parks in Viale Vaticano

Vatican city Trip planning:

Entry to the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square is free, but to enter the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel you need to take tickets, except on certain occasions.

Vatican Museum:

Keep in mind, that the best time to visit the Vatican Museums is in the morning, as queues begin to form as early as 07:30 am despite the museums opening at 09:00 am. Do not leave this for later in the day as museums close at 6:30 pm hrs and visitors are obligated to leave the premises thirty minutes before closing time.

Book your tours and tickets for Vatican Museum, well in advance as the lines get very very long and it can take hours to get in. Without a skip-the-entrance-line ticket expect the line to be up to 1 to 2 km long (even starting well before 8:30 am)

We did the following to book our tickets:
1) Link : https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html#lnav_shop
2) Once you click the link, you will have to book the tour (We had selected ‘Museums and Vatican collections’).
3) Select the date of your choice and click confirm (you will have to give number of Visitors).
4) The next screen will show all the available ticket types. We had selected
‘Guided Tours for Individuals – Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel’.
5) Select the ticket type of your choice and click ‘Book’.
6) The next screen will show you the price distribution (like Full Ticket, Reduced Ticket (6-18 years including 18 years and students). You also have a option to select ‘Visit Language’ (This is for the earphones, as we had selected Guided Tours).
7) In the same screen, you will get to see the different timings and the corresponding availability. Select your convinient time.
8) If you are happy with all the provided details, click to proceed.
NOTE: In the tour that we seleted, the Guide fees is also included when you see the final ticket price.
9) In the next screen, you can provide your personal details (like name and so on) and proceed to Buy for Payments.
10) You will get the confirmation ticket / voucher in your email. You will have to show that ticket (better to keep a hard copy handy in case if somebody says softcopy is not allowed), when you reach the entrance. NOTE: Good to scroll through the Q&A : https://tickets.museivaticani.va/support

Steps to follow on the day of your visit:

There is a line reserved for the visitors with the booking. Visitors are asked to present themselves 15 minutes before the tour start time. The voucher is Non Transfereble and is valid only for the date / time that is reserved. Online booking allows you to skip the museum entrance line. Simply proceed to the entrance gate to scan your ticket. (NOTE: We somehow reached the entrance gate 15 minutes late, but still they allowed us to join the group tour that we booked online, but try to reach early). There are multiple security checks before entering the Museum.

This Museum is the home to some of the most priceless art collections (around 70,000+) accumulated by the Pope over the centuries.

The Vatican Museums are made up of 26 museums (about 5 miles of wall space) in all and display some dazzling exhibits.

The one thing that can’t be avoided is the crowds. You will be moving as one large mass, from museum to museum spread over two floors to get to the Sistine Chapel.

NOTE: Please note that Museum is not open on all Sundays. Please check the below link for the timings: https://www.thevaticantickets.com/timings/

Sistine Chapel:

This is one of the most famous and beautiful chapels in the world. The most famous part of the Sistine Chapel is, of course, the ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. One of the most interesting things about the Sistine Chapel is that it’s still in use today. The chapel is used for important religious ceremonies and events, including the election of new popes.

Don’t forget that it’s forbidden to film and/or photograph inside the Sistine Chapel (with or without flash)!  I managed a sneaky one (no flash) on my iPhone (OK, am not such a bad guy who breaks rules and regluations all the time, but somehow I couldn’t resist taking a picture)

The Sistine Chapel is located right on the other end of the Vatican Museums and you will have to walk through all the museums and exhibitions before you get to see the masterpiece.

Spiral Staircase:

Every photographer will want to capture the famous and most beautiful spiral staircase. You can find this famous staircase at the very end of the visit as you exit the Vatican Museums. It’s one of the most photographed staircases in the world.

St. Peters Square:

The square is also known as Piazza San Pietro and is located right in front of the basilica.

The square has hundreds of statues. One of the first things you’ll notice about St. Peter’s Square is its size. It’s one of the largest public squares in the world, spanning over 5 hectares (12.5 acres) and capable of holding over 300,000 people.

There are 2 fountains in the square. Located in front of St Peter’s Basilica and the charming Bernini colonnade, the Vatican Obelisk is one of the 13 antique obelisks of Rome.

It is free to visit but the lines might be veeeeery verrrrrrry long, so a skip-the-line ticket is worth getting (there are few different options like guided tours, small group tours and so on).

When the Pope is at home in Vatican City, he gives an audience each Wednesday morning in St. Peter’s Square that is open to anyone who would like to join.

More details here: https://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html

St. Peter’s Basilica:

St Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest amd most famous churches in the world.  It is not a part of the Vatican Museums.  Entry is free but you will have to get through the security, which can take hours. You’ll pass through a metal detector and will have your bags checked when you reach the front.

NOTE: There are some skip the line tickets available in ‘Get Your Guide’, ‘Viator’ and  other websites.

One of the most striking features of St. Paul’s Basilica is the massive 80-metre-long nave, which is one of the largest in the world. The nave is lined with marble columns and features beautiful mosaics and frescoes on the ceiling.

St. Peter’s Basilica was completed after 120+ years of construction.

St. Peters Dome is the tallest in the world and the entrance to the dome is on the right side of the basilica, above the visitor center. Climb the steps for a view of Vatican City (as it was very crowded, we did not do that and hence I don’t have a photo of how it will look like). Please note that you need to take a ticket to get to the top of Basilica. However, it is highly recommended to visit the Dome.

Dressed in their iconic yellow, red and blue uniforms (outside the Basilica), the Vatican’s Swiss Guard might remind you of jesters from Renaissance times.

Other places to see:

• Vatican Gardens
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Pont Sant’Angelo
• Send a postcard from Vatican City:
• If you want a memento of your travels, sending a postcard from the Vatican post office is not only fun but a cost-effective activity to enjoy. This unique opportunity of mailing a postcard from an independent country to yourself or even friends and families is a novel way to send greetings. The Vatican Post office lies at the exit gate of St Peter’s Basilica to the right.

Important point to note:

• The Vatican has an open-border policy with Italy, so if you have a visa or the right to enter Italy, you can enter the Vatican City too. We had used our Schengen visa to get into Vatican city. Even though it is a country, there’s no need to carry your passport when visiting the Vatican.
• When in Rome make sure to add Vatican City to your itinerary.
• Always budget an extra 20 to 30 minutes if you have a scheduled event like a Guided Tour. This way you don’t have to rush and it’ll give you time.
• The Vatican Museum is immense and full of so many incredible things that booking a tour guide or using an audio guide is strongly recommended. With just a day in Vatican City, you must budget the available time in such a manner to see the best attractions. A typical guided Vatican tour lasts only two to three hours which barely scratches the surface. 
• The Vatican has a strict dress code that requires shoulders and knees to be covered. Avoid shorts, skirts above the knee, and sleeveless tops.
• Like all great Italian museums, you can get coffee and food inside the Vatican Museums.
• Wear comfortable shoes. If you have any issues with walking for a sustained period of time, rent a wheelchair (for free). The Vatican Museums have very few benches where you can rest.
• Pack light, you will not be allowed to take bigger bags with you and have to go through security. The less you carry with you, the better. Food and metal tools (scissors and knives) are not allowed.
• With breaks, some stamina, and the right strategy, a one day visit to Vatican City can certainly be done and enjoyed. Don’t forget to schedule enough free time between sightseeing so you can get a bit of rest and have some food.
• If you know in advance that you are going to travel to both Rome & Vatican City, you should consider getting the Omnia Rome & Vatican Card. It will pay for itself in no time!                      More Details here  –> https://www.omniavaticanrome.org/en

Interesting facts about Vatican city:

• Smallest country in the world.
• One of the countries that is surrounded by a city (in this case, its Rome).
• You can just walk into Vatican City from Rome and you won’t even notice a major difference between when you’re in Rome or Vatican City.
• Latin and Italian are widely spoken.
• Vatican city has its own flag.
• One of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
• Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends tends to be the busiest.
• Vatican Museums are the second oldest museum in the world.
• Vatican City doesn’t offer passport stamps.
• The Sistine Chapel is one of the final stops when touring the Vatican Museums and can’t be seen without visiting the museums.
• Vatican City ATM’s give you a choice of instructions in Latin.
• The Vatican city is NOT part of the European Union.
• Make sure to pack some snacks and water, especially when visiting with kids. You can easil spend the whole day here and it’s best to be prepared.

As a part of my business trip, I got a chance to visit Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2023 . I tried to sneak in some time to visit a couple of major attractions in Copenhagen.

Copenghagen constantly ranks one among the happiest cities in the world. There are many attractions to explore here in Copenhagen, ideal place for a 2-3 days itinerary.

Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup:

Its is an international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark. The airport is the largest airport in the Nordic countries. I flew from Dublin to Copenhagen. The outside view from plane was really superb.  If you’re lucky you’ll get a fabulous view of Øresund Bridge (Architectural Masterpiece, bridge between Copenhagen and Sweden) as you fly into Copenhagen.

It’s a nice and modern airport, which is located just eight kilometres from the city centre.

The airport is well connected with lots of international destinations.

One strange thing that I observed in the terminal was the lack of multiple food outlets. I just saw a ‘Burger King’ outlet and its indeed a big one.

Its quite easy to find the Train, Metro, Taxi and Bus Terminals. There are lots of display boards available everywhere.

If you are looking for Train tickets, you will find the DSB ticket machine / Kiosks (quite near to the Burger King outlet). Please note that such tickets are available in 7/11 shops aswell.

DSB, an abbreviation of Danske Statsbaner (Danish State Railways), is the largest Danish train operating company, and the largest in Scandinavia.

NOTE: You can also use sites like OMIO, for booking trains.

You can also use mobile app Viggo, if you are looking for taxis.

The kiosk is quite easy to navigate. English display is also available. Normally, you will also find a DSB employee near the Kiosk to support you (in case if you are confused how to operate the Kiosk).

There are lots of trains (ex: To Lund, Malmo, Stockholm and so on) from the airport. You will see tracks / platforms clearly indicated.

If you are looking for metro, you will see that also, clearly indicated.

The Metro is well connected to different parts of Copenhagen.

By chance if you want to drop off your luggage in the Airport, there is a self service facility available just outside the terminal building (very easy to use).

If you plan to cover a lot of places within Copenhagen, I strongly suggest to take a City pass (I had personally taken a 24 hours city pass large) .

NOTE:

1) City pass is available in different variants like 24, 48, 72,120 hours. The city pass comes with 2 options Small and Large.
The City Pass Small gives you unlimited access to buses, trains, metro and harbour buses in zones 1 – 4, which includes the center of Copenhagen and to and from the airport.
Meanwhile, the City Pass Large let you travel unlimited in zones 1 – 99, which includes Roskilde, Elsinore and other destinations in Northern Zealand.
A more convenient way to buy the City Pass is by getting the “DOT Tickets” app.
Get more information here : https://www.publictransport.dk/tickets/city-pass

2) There is also a Copenhagen Card worth exploring. See the link : https://www.copenhagencard.com/
COPENHAGEN CARD – DISCOVER is a ‘all-inclusive’ card that covers admission to 80+ attractions, includes public transportation including to and from the Airport.
COPENHAGEN CARD – HOP covers admission to 40+ attractions in the city center and Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing buses in Copenhagen.

Central Station:

The first destination I wanted to cover was the ‘Central Station’. It  is quite a big one with lots of platforms.

Both the metro and normal trains run from Copenhagen Airport to the central station. There are direct trains from airport to the copennhagen Central Station (around 15+ minutes). If you are taking Metro, you will have to get down at Kongens Nytorv and connect another Blue/red lines metro to reach the central station. So its obvious that taking a train would be easy/faster, if your destination is central station.

I had taken a train to reach the central station. Cycles play a major role in the life of locals here. You will see dedicated space for cycles in trains and stations. You will also find a lot of bike lanes all over the city. So be careful, while walking and crossing in the roads. You are not expected to walk in the cycle lanes. Copenhagen was ranked as one of the top Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet. Bycyklen is a good mobile app for the bikes.

In case of you wish to keep your luggage in the Central station, you have self servcie options available.

STROGET Shopping (Walking street)

Once you come out of the central station, walk straight till the main road and turn to right side. If you follow that road (you will pass in front of Tivoli gate), you will get into the walking street which will take you till the famous canals.

If you are going in the corerct direction, you will see Scandic palace hotel on your right.

It’s a very nice walking street (approx 1.1 Kms I guess, It is one of the world’s longest pedestrian street) with lots of shops in both sides. There are lot of souvenir shops (try to get a souvenir from this street) and eateries in both sides. The entire street is also packed with a number of interesting shops, restaurants, and street performers. One of the highlights is Lego’s flagship store which is an excellent place to browse for both the young and young at heart. It is nice to see how many cool Lego structures are available these days in the place where they were invented.

I had tried some Belgian Chips from a shop and it was really tasty.

You will also find lot of important buildings in that road.

After covering some distance, you will start seeing the glimps of Canal.

This Canal and the buildings nearby are famous photography spots, which you would have seen in many wallpapers. There are lots of bars and restaurants here, so it’s a great place to hang out.

Nyvahn Waterfront and Boat ride:

Copenhagen is a waterfront city, and there’s no argument that the most photogenic waterfront spot in the city is Nyhavn. It is the classic picture postcard view that helps everyone recognise Copenhagen. If you are in Copenhagen and would like to cover 1 or 2 main things here, this canal boat ride should be in the Top part of your priority list. I could see 2 companies operating the canal tour (not sure if there are any other companies).

You will find ticket counters in the end part.

The boat jouney is around 45min-1 hour. The boats can acccomodate lot of people and there is also adjustable roof (in case if want to save youself from getting wet during rains). Since the roofs are adjustable and transparent, don’t worry even if you failed to get a window seat.

Onboard, there will be a guide giving you the history and small bits of information about everything you pass by.  It’s a great way to get a feel for the city and to get a general overview. Its quite a relaxing journey and you will love every moment of that.

NOTE: You will get to see lot of important attractions / buildings like Frederik’s Church, Little Mermaid Statue, Church of Our Saviour in Christianshavn, the imposing Kastellet fortress, royal palace, Opera house and so on during this boat trip.

Streets of Copenhagen:

After getting down the boat, I spend some time exploring the beautiful city of Copenhagen. It is considered to be an expensive city to visit but you can cover a lot of places on foot (the main sights of the city centre are all quite close to each other) . Also as discussed earlier, its good to grab a 24/48 hours ticket, so that you can hop-on and hop-off in public transport. Ofcourse you can also hire a bicycle aswell.

NOTE: Renting a car isn’t practical in Copenhagen, because parking is limited and might be expensive aswell.

Copenhagen’s public transportation system is efficient and clean and can take you just about anywhere you need to go in the city. Switching from one form of transport to another is very seamless.

Tivoli Gardens:

Later in the evening, I decided to explore Tivoli. It is an amusement park (Did you know that Walt Disney came to Tivoli to get inspiration for Disneyland?) and pleasure garden, operating since 1843. There are 30+ rides and open-air concerts in the summer.

If you’re visiting Copenhagen with kids, it’s a brilliant place to visit. They’ll love all the various rides and attractions. Everyone will enjoy it too, especially on a warm summer’s day. It’s the ideal place to relax or enjoy the rides.

If you visit in the evening, you’ll be treated to a dazzling light display. Thousands of lights adorn the various rides at night creating a sight that is fairytale-like!

Located in the centre of the city (one gate is opposite to Central Station), Tivoli Gardens is one of the top attractions in the city and it is the third-oldest amusement park in the world.

Tivoli Gardens is the fifth most visited amusement park in all of Europe. The 20-acre property is known for its rollercoasters. The most famous of which is the wooden Rollercoast Rutschebanen, which was built in 1914.

People say it takes 4-6 hours to cover full place. As I dint had much intention to explore all the rides, I was able to cover in 2+ hours.

But it’s a interesting place to visit. When I visisted, there were lot of Halloween decorations (additional lights and pumpkins) aswell.

NOTE: https://www.tivoli.dk/en –> Check website for opening date/time.

It opens in 3 seasons (Ex: 2024 timings below) :

1. 22 March – 22 September (Summer)
2. 10 October – 3 November (Halloween)
3. 15 November – 5 January (Christmas)

Worth Noting:

1. What I dicussed so far is just a 1 day itinenary for Copenhagen. It’s a place worth 3 days, for sure.
2. Copenhagen can be very cold in winter, so prepare yourself by packing a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves.
3. Check opening times before visiting any attractions. In the winter it’s common for some venues to close a little earlier, so make sure to double check their websites so you don’t miss out.
4. If you want the highest chances of sunny weather, blue skies, and white clouds, aim for visiting in May-September.
5. Don’t foregt to try Danish hotdogs, Waffles and so on.
6. You can also find lot of LEGO stores which usually has a Denmark-specific set or two, since Denmark is where LEGO was created and is still headquartered.

Copenhagen has plenty to offer, you will not run out of idea.

Some other places/options worth exploring (in and around Copenhagen):

Amalienborg Palace (changing guards ceremony aswell)
Copenhagen Zoo
Botanical Gardens
Round Tower (climb the tower)
Aquarium (Den Bla Planet)
Frederiks Kirken – Marble Church
The Forest Tower – Camp Adventure
Kronborg Castle
Canal Tour
Christian’s Harbor (Painted Buildings)
Christiansborg Palace
Frederiksberg Palace
Statens Museum for Kunsk
Gefion Fountain
Walk up the Copenhill
Torvehallerne Market (food market)
Kastellet Fortress
Kronberg Slot (Hamlet’s castle)
Freetown Christiania
National Museum of Denmark
Louisiana Museum of Art
Church of Our Saviour
Reffen Market (street food)
Rosenborg Castle
Amager Strandpark
Roskilde
City Hall Square
Gråbrødretorv Square
Kultorvet Square
Illums Bolighus –Stylish Department Store
Free Walking Tours
Copenhagen Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Malmo (Sweden) : Since you can actually see Sweden from Copenhagen, the temptation to visit a new country is hard to ignore. This is easy to do with a day trip over the Øresund Bridge to Malmö. This Swedish city is full of history and character, and you can see quite a bit of it in just a day. (2 countries in a single trip, who won’t love it). Please note that there are high chances (but not always) that id/passport might get verified.

Best time to visit:

Summer in Copenhagen (June to August) is the best season for good weather and endlessly long evenings, but prepare for the city to be busy with visitors. Spring is also fine.

We did this day tour during a trip to Italy in April 2022.

This was a day trip from Milan, Italy. This is one of the most popular day trips to Swiss alps from Milan. The fascinating journey takes you along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the RhB (Rhaetian Railway).”

We had booked this trip in advance (few weeks before), through Viator.

For 2 adults and 1child (10 years old), we paid 302.5 Euros. The Tour commentary was in English and Spanish.

This was one of the beautiful day trips that we had ever done.

Milan to St. Moritz in Air-conditioned coach:

The trip was conducted by Zani Group. The trip started from Milan Visitor Centre – Zani Viaggi (Largo Cairoli, 18, 20121) around 7.15 AM (we had not opted for Hotel pickup/drop option).

The Zani Group is a collection of multiple companies operating in the tourism and transport sector. It has 2 tourist centres in Milan. You can check out in their website to book directly aswell.

https://www.zaniviaggi.com/tour/swiss-alps-bernina-red-train-and-st-moritz-full-day-trip/

We were staying in Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto which was a bit far from the pickup point. As the start time was 7.15 AM, we took a taxi from the hotel to Milan Visitor Centre and paid around 30 Euros.

As it was a fully packed day trip (almost 13 hours trip), the tour company started the trip on time. One family lost the bus as they reached the pickup point 5 minutes late. They had to ideally hire a taxi and chase the bus and managed to onboard the bus later after a few kilometres. So, ensure to reach on time.

Route plan: Milan Visitor Centre (Milan, Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) in air-conditioned bus. Journey time is approximately 3 hours (around 170 kms)

St. Moritz to Tirano (Italy) in Bernina Express (the most thrilling part of the journey)

Tirano station to Milano in Bus (same bus in which we went to St. Moritz).

We had a tour guide who accompanied us throughout the trip. An audio unit was also provided during the start of the journey and the same had to be given back upon return.

Enroute, the bus to St. Moritz from Milan, the bus stopped at a cafeteria named ‘Moreschi’ (https://www.moreschichiavenna.it/) for some time in order for the tourists to have some refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

The route towards St. Moritz is very scenic with lot of photography options. They don’t have any other stops before St. Moritz. There was no cross broder checking (immigration check) during the trip.

Enroute you can also see the St. Moritz lake.

Just as the mountains above St. Moritz draw skiers in the winter, the lake below is the focus of attention for many summer visitors.

After reaching St. Moritz, the guide gave clear instructions around:

1. Places to see
2. Restaurant options for having lunch
3. Return trip details like where and when to come back and so on.

Then, we were left alone to explore the beautiful city of St. Moritz at our own pace.

St. Moritz, Switzerland:

St. Moritz is a luxury resort town with a small lake in the middle of the Alps, with cableways to viewpoints and glaciers. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice.

The magnificent view from St. Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west.

There are plenty of places to see and visit around St. Moritz.

In a day trip like this, you will get around 3-3.5 hours and that is more than enough time to stroll through the streets, have a lunch from some restaurant, take some beautiful photographs and grab some Swiss souvenirs and chocolates.

After seeing a few places within the city, we went to the following places:

a) Laderach to buy some chocolates:

b) Wega to buy some souvenirs

c) Galleria Caspar Badrutt to do some shopping

d) Coop to buy some snacks

Return Journey –> St. Moritz to Tirano in Bernina Express (Train Start time :13:48)

We were asked to be back at Railway station at 1:30 PM. The station is sightly at a lower elavation compared to city. There is a series of escalator that will help you to reach station easily.

The train took approximately 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Tirano station.

(NOTE: The second-class train ticket was already booked by the tour agency, So we just had to follow the guide to the right coach (remember to reach back the station on time that is specified by the guide, else you will loose the train). There were no specific seat numbers. We could sit in any of the available seats in that coach)

Operated by Rhaetian Railway (launched in 1920), the Bernina Express, passes through the Bernina Alps of Switzerland and down into northern Italy. This is a narrow gauge train.

On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through a large number of tunnels and bridges.  

(The actual train route is Chur (Swiss city) –> St. Moritz (Swiss city) –> Torino (Italian city). The overall journey is 4 hours (144 Kms) one way, which has 55 tunnels and 196 bridges)

The Bernina Express train winds up the mountain from an altitude of 2253 to 429. The views were very scenic. You will certainly love this train journey.

Between St. Moritz  and Tirano the train runs round the famous Brusio Spiral Viaduct (single track viaduct), where most of the classic Bernina Express publicity photos are taken. It consists of a 360-degree spiral that enables the train to change the elavation. However, the viaduct is not a feat of engineering only, but an object of beauty. Nine elegant arches with a span of 10 meters made using local stones blend in seamlessly with the surroundings.

Bernina train is a voyage through nature;  from the palm trees and apple orchards of Tirano, passing chestnut trees and forests of fir and larch on the way.

Tirano Railway station to Milan in Air-conditioned coach:

The same bus in which we went to St. Moritz was waiting for us at the Tirano station to take us back to Milan.

The journey time was approximately 2 hrs 15 min (167 Kms).

Enroute, they stop at a restaurant ‘Bracere Tirano’ (https://www.labrace.it/en/)  for refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

We reached back Milan city centre late evening (around 7PM).  Had our dinner from a restaurant in city centre and went back to our hotel Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto in a cab (paid 30 Euros)

The trip mentioned above was operated by the tour company Zani Viaggi.

The service provided by Viator / Zani Group was excellent and well orgaized.

In some other companies itinerary, you might find them going from Tirano to St. Moritz in Bernina express and return back by air conditioned coach.

In case if you want to avoid all these tour companies and plan the trip by your own, that is also a possibility and might work out cheaper aswell.

How to book this entire trip by yourself.

(NOTE: You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveller)

It’s better to book the train tickets well in advance.

Always look out for the related railway websites to get a clarity on the timings and rates.

Onward Journey:

You can book Milan to Tirano train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 06:20 -09:05 Train

Have your breakfast at/near Tirano station

Leave the Tirano train station and walk across the square to the Bernina station.

And book the Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 10:06-12:35 Train (33 Euros)

NOTES:

1) The Bernina express train coaches are designed in a way that you get great views, as they have large panoramic windows. So please feel free to book any seat.

2) You can plan for a second class ticket one direction and a first class ticket in the opposite direction.  (First class tickets are costlier).

In second class, there are 4 seats (2+2) in a row and in the first class, there are only 3 seats (1+2). The seats are more comfortable (leather) and bigger in first class and there are chances that the first class will be less crowded.

The first-class coach is at the last. So, you get to enjoy seeing the train itself traveling through the mountain.

3) There are rest rooms available within the coaches

4) Seat Reservation is mandatory in Bernina express.

5) Children under 6 can travel free. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare.

6) There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchair

7) Dogs are allowed on the Bernina Express and do not require a reservation. Depending on the size of the dog, a dog ticket is required. Please check their website for details.

8) On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.

9) There is also a Bernina express bus available from Tirano to Lugano. It’s a 3 hours / 90kms journey and does not operate in Winter. Please check the company website to know more details.

You can spend 3 – 3.5 hours in St. Moritz.

Have your lunch at St. Moritz. Multiple restaurants and café shops are available.

Return Journey:

You can book Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 16:14 – 18:39 Train (33 Euros)

Have your dinner at/near Tirano station

And book the Tirano to Milan train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 19:56 – 22:40 Train (remember that there is another train at 18:56 aswell)

Total train ticket cost for one side per person is around  : 12 + 33 = 45 Euros

Both sides might come around 90 Euros (45+45)

Whereas tour operators might charge you around 139 Euros.

So, you can easily save around 49 Euros per person for the entire trip.

Other things that you might miss when you plan the above train trips are:

1. Commentary by the guide (& audio device)
2. One side journey in Bus (the route is also scenic)
3. Refreshment options (as Bus stops at proper restaurants in both journeys)

Summary:

Bernina Express is without doubt one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You can certainly include this 1-day trip into your itinerary, if your budget and time permits. Ofcourse this will be a time bound tight full day journey, but it is worth the money and time.

If you have more days in hand,  please try out the entire Chur to Tirano via St. Moritz and think about staying one night at St. Moritz.

There is also another popular route operated by Glacier express, which is a direct train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps.

The Dubai Frame is the largest photo frame (a golden frame) in the world. This was opened to public on 1^st January 2018.

Interesting Facts:

1)Dubai Frame measures 150 metres high and 95 metres wide.

2)Over 9,900 cubic metres of reinforced concrete, 2,000 tons of steel and 2,900 square metres of laminated glass were used in its construction.

3)More than 15,000 square metres of gold-coloured stainless steel covers Dubai Frame, which incorporates a ring design inspired by the Expo 2020 Dubai logo.

4)Dubai Frame’s rectangular design was inspired by the ‘golden ratio’ of 1.618, which many architects and artists believe forms an ideal structural balance.

5)The elevator to the Sky deck carries visitors 48 floors in 75 seconds.

The astonishing frame-shaped building (designed by Mexican Artist Fernando Donis) is near Zabeel Park Gate 4.

It is always better to book the tickets well in advance. You can look for tickets here :

https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en

There are 20+ time slots (each slot is 30 minutes) from 9 AM till 8:30 PM.

The ticket price for Adults is 50 AED (Above 12 years) and children is 20 AED(3—12 Years). Children below 3 years are free.

NOTE: . The staff told us that the ticket includes an entrance pass to the park, so we can stroll around if you want to.

As per the terms and conditions, the Booking Confirmation is valid only for the specific date and time mentioned in the ticket and shall automatically expire upon the lapse of this specific date and time.

We had booked the 8:30PM slot. From our personal experience it is not a good slot to book your tickets. You should try picking a slot just before sunset, so that you can see both day and night views.

There is a beautiful musical fountain near to the entrance. But you cannot really enjoy this fountain if you are picking up a late evening ticket of Dubai Frame.

Your journey starts with admiring the Frame from underneath.

With the admission ticket, visitors can experience “the past, present and future of Dubai.” (All inside the Dubai Frame)

The first experience to the frame is to a very small exhibit on Dubai’s past (no photos allowed) in the mezzanine floor. It consists of a mock-up of an old-style market street. 3D projections and special effects adds more originality.

The Second experience is the Sky deck level which represents Dubai at the present time. A glass elevator will take you to up to 48 floors in 75 seconds. The bridge or sky deck is made of both concrete and solid glass panels, allowing you to walk along the glass and see everything beneath the frame.

The Dubai Frame has been constructed in such a way that when you look through towards the South of the frame you can see the views of the modern metropolis & skyscrapers. When you look through towards the North of the frame you get to see the older Dubai, reminding those of simpler times and how far the city has come along from its humble beginnings as a fishing village that was popular for the pearl diving trade.

There are quotes from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum displayed on the wall and changes from Arabic to English continuously.

Dubai Frame is 150 metres high and Burg Khalifa is 828 Metres high. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money for tickets @ Burg Khalifa, Dubai frame can be an economical option. Of Couse  spectacular city views are also guaranteed.

At the other end of the hall, we entered another elevator to descend back to ground level.

The last part of the experience is given by taking you to a room (again in the mezzanine floor) where we saw a glimpse of the future Dubai. Again photos/videos are not allowed at that place.  

There are Souvenir and gift shops available at the exit.

We went there in Taxi.

Nearest Metro stop is Al Jafaliya station. Do note there is no direct access to the Dubai Frame from here, it’s approximately a 25-minute walk around the outside of the park to get in.

Points to note:

1. It is worth vesting just before sunset, so that you can experience both day and night views.
2. Keep in mind that the staff are strict with the timings as they need to accommodate the incoming visitors. They allow only 250 Guests at a maximum on the bridge of the frame.
3. For Photographers (especially at night), please adjust your camera as there will be huge reflection of the glasses.
4. There is a very detailed security check before entering the frame.
5. The whole place can easily be covered in 1 hour.
6. Luggage and large bags are not allowed inside the Dubai Frame. 
7. Pets are prohibited here.
8. Sky deck has a nice chocolate-cum-coffee bar where you can buy your coffee and snacks.

Summary:

It’s definitely worth the visit at least once just for the sky bridge experience and the unhindered views of the city from the bridge.

Victor’s way is an Indian Sculpture Park located in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland. It is a 22-acre park surrounded by lush green forest and typical Irish countryside. The park also has some open green fields, ponds and several small lakes.

We followed the below route:

The entire route is quite scenic.

We had spent some time at the Cloghleagh Bridge and at the Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake) before reaching Victor’s way.

Cloghleagh Bridge:

This lovely Single arch bridge (over Shankill River) is surrounded by woodland and is adjacent to a quaint church. It’s a beautiful quiet place surrounded by shady trees, with small waterfalls and large flat rocks. There is also a Walking Trail available here.

Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake):

The lake is located along the Sally Gap drive and you’ll be treated to magnificent views of its inky black water. The Guinness Lake, as it’s known, is situated within a private estate, but it can be viewed from above from several viewing points along the Sally Gap.

Victor’s way:

You can either book online or pay as cash (10 Euros for Adults) for the tickets. I have not seen any ticket counter as such. There is a small slot where you deposit the money. When we visited, there was a person available near the car park to collect the cash. I don’t remember them giving us any printed tickets or so.

There is enough parking space available within the park.

The entry to the Victor’s Way is an unusual opening, with two ladies on either side. It is known as Victoria’s Gate and the opening represents the birth canal. The birth canal in other words is the one through which we came through into this world. It’s the first journey we ever make in life, and at this point our world becomes so much bigger.

The birth canal here represents being born again and entering into the park, with all the worries of the world left behind on the other side.

The park was known as Victoria’s Way until 2015, when it was closed by the owner who felt that too many day-trippers were coming into the park for fun activities (for parents & children). It was reopened in 2016 as Victor’s Way with new age restrictions as it was designed as a garden for over 28’s year old only.

Although the park won’t suit everyone’s taste, it’s one of the unique things to discover in Ireland. If you’re looking to escape from your busy daily life, then a trip to the peaceful Victor’s Way Park might just be what you need. In addition, it was created for those between the ages of 28 to 60 years old.

It is indeed a great place for a relaxing walk. You can easily spent a good hour or two, walking around the sculpture gardens and it’s best to follow the arrows to guide you through the different areas. There are lot of sculptures (lot of Indian/Hindu deities aswell) within the campus. Some statues appear stunningly beautiful in their black granite.

Seems that many of the sculptures here were directly carved in Mahabalipuram, India.

Please note that this place is not intended for Family Fun (like other parks). This is more of a meditation park.

There is a lot of walk around. So please plan accordingly if you have small kids or elderly people within your group.

Its always better to check their website for the opening season/timings. Please note that this is not open throughout the year. Also, I believe they don’t encourage pets.

Website: https://victorsway.eu/

The Irishman Victor Langheld designed and created the park. Victor also stays within the campus. So there are high chances that you might see him somewhere within in the park.

One of the most famous sculpture here is The Ferryman’s End.

The Ferryman’s End represents the icon of burnout, is set in algae covered waters.

     The ferryman ferries himself and others from ‘this shore’ to the ‘other shore’ (and where the grass is always greener). In other words, he/she ferries from here (meaning sameness) to there (meaning difference) and so from death to life. (Courtesy: https://victorsway.eu/sculptures/ferryman.htm)

(Note: One personal comment. Don’t underestimate the size of this sculpture after seeing the images in Internet. It is relatively small and is set in algae covered waters)

There is a craft shop onsite selling Indian made products. The interesting thing is that there is nobody available within the shop for selling the items. All items have the amount details mentioned in that. If you liked any item, just check the price, and deposit the money in a small box (Honesty Box) kept at the entrance.

We visited Howth in August 2021.

Howth is in the outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district as a whole occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, which forms the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, and includes the island of Ireland’s Eye.

Its stunning location surrounded on three sides by the Irish Sea makes it a favourite with tourists.

One of Dublin’s oldest working harbours, Howth has been a fishing village and port since at least the 14th century.

We took the Public transport (Luas) from Saggart to Connolly (Last stop of the red line)

Other Travel Options:

1. You can get the 31 number bus that will take you to the Howth Harbour. Or you can take the 31A number bus which goes through Howth Village to Howth Summit. Both buses leave from the same location, Eden Quay (just off O’Connell Street).
2. If you are coming from downtown Dublin, follow the R807 road along the coastline. This road will turn into R105 and this will lead you to downtown Howth. It is about 18km and might take about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Connolly luas (Tram) and the dart (train) stations are quite near to each other.

The Dart station is in the first floor and you can take lift/escalator from the Luas Platform to reach there.

If you are interested, you can use Leap Travel Card. More detail about Leap Visitor card can be found here:

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

If atall you don’t have leap cards, you can buy it from the shops within or nearby the Luas/Dart stations.

You can touch off your leap card in the machine provided at the entry. Don’t forget to do that at the exit aswell.

Connolly station:

There are around 7 platforms in Connolly (+ 2 Platform for Luas).

The train timing and Platforms are clearly marked in the boards. So you don’t have to panic and there are even sign boards clearly indicating the platform number.

The dart train from Connolly to Howth would take around 30 minutes. Trains are available at regular intervals.

If you are visiting Howth using you own car, there ae plenty of parking space available near to the dart station.

There are multiple trails available in Howth. It’s worth to note that many of these trails get busy over the Weekends / Public holidays.

In the beginning of the cliff paths, there are clear indications of the various paths like Green, Blue, Red, Purple and so on. But there are high chances that you miss the actual path (as colour codes are missing at many places, enroute)

All Trails website will give you a rough idea about the various options.

https://www.alltrails.com/ireland/county-dublin/howth

We had gone with the Cliff walk from the dart Station towards the Howth Summit (Howth head Cliff Walk-lower cliff walk). The distance is around 6 Kms (walking time of 1.5-2 Hours approx)

NOTE: If you have more time, you can try Black Linn Loop Walk that goes through Ben of Howth (highest peak of the peninsula). From the summit, you might get a full 360 degree view overlooking the entire peninsula, Howth Castle, Howth village and so on.

Another option is the Bog of Frogs Loop Walk, which follows the coastline for 12km.

If you are taking the Howth Summit route, the best way is to take Google search option to look for Howth summit (as the destination) . The good thing with that destination is that you can take a Return Bus either to Dublin city centre or back to the ‘Howth’ Dart station.

 The beginning of the cliff walk is relatively very steep.

But you have some parking space available at the end of the steep.

Enroute the way to  the cliff parking, you can also visit Balscadden Bay Beach.

NOTE: When you walk past the village towards Howth Head, walk up the hill until you reach a little gate, behind which there is a set of quite steep steps, that lead you down to this beach.

Please note that the path is quite narrow there is no fence available throughout the cliff walk. So please be careful if there are small children in your group.

The view throughout the cliff walk is excellent. There are tonnes of photography options throughout the walk.

Near to the Summit, you can also see a path going down to the Baily Lighthouse (the last lighthouse in Ireland to be automated). This cottage-style, 13-metre tall lighthouse sits out on the cliffs with a stunning view over the Irish Sea. Baily (built in 1917) is one of Ireland’s most photographed lighthouses on the eastern coastline.

In this trip, we did not go to the Lighthouse.

NOTE: If you really dont have the energy / time for a 6Km walk, you can drive till the Howth Summit and walk down the Baily lighthouse.

Just check out for sign bus board (near the summit) from where you can get the return bus (H3) back to Howth beach or the Dublin City Centre.

There is also enough Car parking space available near the summit.

Compared to the Main Howth City centre, the summit has relatively less number of restaurants/shops.

After the cliff walk, we took the bus back to the Howth beach (Bus H3, which goes to city center via Howth Beach), got down the bus at Howth beach stop and went to the Ferry / Bay area to take a boat service to Ireland’s Eye.

Currently uninhabited, Ireland’s Eye was once home to a monastery, established around 700 AD.

Ireland’s Eye can be visited every day during the summer months and on weekends / bank holidays only during the rest of the year.

There are different companies that are operating ferries here.

A 45 minutes TO and FRO trip to the Ireland’s eye will cost around 25 Euros/person.

We had taken the service of a company named ‘Howth Cliff Cruises’. (http://howthcliffcruises.ie/)

NOTE: I have read in many places that we can get down at the Ireland’s eye and walk around. You can visit the Martello Tower aswell. Landing on the island is at the discretion of the captain depending on weather conditions. Since we had take a evening ferry, such an option was not available for us.

This is a great boat trip, something that should not missed during your journey to Howth. You will see a lot of birds and probably seals, during this journey.

During the return journey in boat, you would also get a chance to see the Howth Harbour Lighthouse from different angles.

NOTE: There are options available to walk down the Howth Pier to see the Lighthouse at a closer distance.

After the boat trip, we returned back to the Howth Dart station and further to the Dublin city centre.

Howth is a very safe destination. Coast guard security is also present at important points.

If you are looking for some food options, there are multiple options available.

We had tried ‘The Bloody Stream’ and the service/food quality/menu items were really good.

Also there are a few Indian restaurants like ‘Okra Green’ in Howth. Due to a tight schedule with a limited time, Personally I did not try any items from Okra.

You need to spend around 6-7 hours to complete the itinerary/places , that I mentioned here.

NOTES:

1.Please note that there are many other places to see like Howth Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, Howth Market, Howth Village, National Transport Museum, Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum and so on.

2.There are some limited accomodation options available like ‘King Sitric’.