Europe for Dummies

Reid Bramblett9780764575297, 0764575295

Lively and engaging, this invaluable handbook puts the continent’s great cities and regions at your fingertips, and includes all the highlights plus the very best off-the-beaten-path experiences that make any visit to Europe memorable. Packed with experienced insider tips, Europe For Dummies offers: Essential information on London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich & the Bavarian Alps, Vienna, Prague, Rome, Florence & Tuscany, Venice, Barcelona, and Athens A select choice of favorite hotels and eateries in every destination and price category Indispensable foreign language glossaries Advice on everything from planning a sensible itinerary and getting the best deals to using public transit and catching must-see sights Helpful tips on converting currencies, overcoming language barrier, avoiding crowds, and sampling local cuisine

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Table of contents :
Cover……Page 1
Contents at a Glance……Page 10
Maps at a Glance……Page 12
Table of Contents……Page 14
Introduction……Page 30
Introducing Europe……Page 36
Discovering the Best of Europe……Page 38
The Top Museums……Page 41
The Top Historic Sights……Page 42
The Top Culinary Delights……Page 43
The Architectural Highlights……Page 44
Going Everywhere You Want to Be……Page 46
The Secret of the Seasons……Page 50
Europe’s Calendar of Events……Page 52
Tips for Successful Trip Planning……Page 55
How to Schedule Your Time……Page 59
Presenting Five Great Itineraries……Page 60
The Everything-but-the-Kitchen- Sink-in-Two-Weeks Tour……Page 61
The Three-Week Grand Tour of Europe……Page 63
Two Weeks in Europe for Lovers of Art……Page 64
A Week of Romance, European Style……Page 66
A Week in Europe the Kids Will Love……Page 68
Planning Your Trip to Europe……Page 72
Managing Your Money……Page 74
Planning Your Budget……Page 75
Keeping a Lid on Hidden Expenses……Page 77
Cutting Costs — but Not the Fun……Page 78
Handling Money……Page 82
Exchanging Money at the Best Rate……Page 85
Buying Currency before You Leave……Page 86
Avoiding Theft……Page 87
Keeping Valuables Safe on Trains……Page 90
Coping with a Stolen Wallet……Page 91
Seeking a Travel Agent’s Advice……Page 93
Exploring Package-Tour Possibilities……Page 94
Joining an Escorted Tour……Page 96
Making Your Own Arrangements……Page 97
Flying Around Europe……Page 100
Taking the Train……Page 102
Getting Around by Bus……Page 113
Driving in Europe……Page 114
Understanding European Hotels……Page 119
Finding the Best Room at the Best Rate……Page 121
Discovering Other Options……Page 128
Traveling with the Brood: Advice for Families……Page 132
Making Age Work for You: Advice for Seniors……Page 133
Accessing Europe: Advice for Travelers with Disabilities……Page 135
Following the Rainbow: Advice for Gay and Lesbian Travelers……Page 136
Getting a Passport……Page 138
Playing It Safe with Travel and Medical Insurance……Page 140
Staying Healthy When You Travel……Page 142
Dealing with European Health Care……Page 143
Making Reservations for Popular Restaurants, Events, and Sights……Page 144
Packing It Up……Page 145
Mastering Communication……Page 146
Keeping Up with Airline Security Measures……Page 151
Bringing Your Goodies Back Home……Page 153
The British Isles……Page 154
Getting There……Page 156
Orienting Yourself in London……Page 157
Getting Around London……Page 160
Staying in London……Page 162
Dining in London……Page 169
Exploring London……Page 174
Traveling Beyond London……Page 184
Fast Facts: London……Page 190
Edinburgh and the Best of Scotland……Page 193
Orienting Yourself in Edinburgh……Page 194
Staying in Edinburgh……Page 196
Dining in Edinburgh……Page 201
Edinburgh’s Top Restaurants……Page 202
Exploring Edinburgh……Page 204
Traveling Beyond Edinburgh……Page 210
Fast Facts: Edinburgh……Page 215
Dublin and the Best of Ireland……Page 218
Orienting Yourself in Dublin……Page 219
Getting Around Dublin……Page 221
Staying in Dublin……Page 223
Dining in Dublin……Page 227
Exploring Dublin……Page 231
Traveling the Irish Countryside……Page 238
Fast Facts: Dublin……Page 242
Central Europe……Page 246
Paris and Environs……Page 248
Getting There……Page 249
Orienting Yourself in Paris……Page 250
Getting Around Paris……Page 254
Staying in Paris……Page 256
Dining in Paris……Page 263
Exploring Paris……Page 268
Traveling Beyond Paris……Page 278
Fast Facts: Paris……Page 282
Amsterdam and Environs……Page 285
Getting There……Page 286
Orienting Yourself in Amsterdam……Page 288
Getting Around Amsterdam……Page 289
Staying in Amsterdam……Page 291
Dining in Amsterdam……Page 296
Exploring Amsterdam……Page 299
Traveling Beyond Amsterdam……Page 306
Fast Facts: Amsterdam……Page 310
Getting There……Page 313
Orienting Yourself in Munich……Page 315
Staying in Munich……Page 317
Dining in Munich……Page 321
Exploring Munich……Page 324
Traveling Beyond Munich……Page 330
Fast Facts: Munich……Page 334
Getting There……Page 336
Orienting Yourself in Vienna……Page 337
Getting Around Vienna……Page 339
Staying in Vienna……Page 340
Dining in Vienna……Page 345
Exploring Vienna……Page 348
Traveling Beyond Vienna: Innsbruck……Page 355
Fast Facts: Vienna……Page 357
Getting There……Page 360
Getting Around Bern……Page 361
Staying in Bern……Page 363
Dining in Bern……Page 366
Exploring Bern……Page 369
Traveling Beyond Bern……Page 373
Visiting the Bernese Oberland……Page 376
Fast Facts: Bern……Page 385
Prague and Environs……Page 388
Orienting Yourself in Prague……Page 389
Getting Around Prague……Page 391
Staying in Prague……Page 392
Dining in Prague……Page 397
Exploring Prague……Page 400
Traveling Beyond Prague……Page 408
Fast Facts: Prague……Page 411
Mediterranean Europe……Page 414
Rome and Southern Italy……Page 416
Orienting Yourself in Rome……Page 417
Getting Around Rome……Page 420
Staying in Rome……Page 421
Dining in Rome……Page 426
Exploring Rome……Page 431
Traveling Beyond Rome……Page 443
Fast Facts: Rome……Page 445
Florence and the Tuscany Region……Page 449
Orienting Yourself in Florence……Page 450
Getting Around Florence……Page 452
Staying in Florence……Page 453
Dining in Florence……Page 458
Exploring Florence……Page 462
Traveling Beyond Florence……Page 471
Fast Facts: Florence……Page 478
Getting There……Page 481
Orienting Yourself in Venice……Page 483
Getting Around Venice……Page 485
Staying in Venice……Page 487
Dining in Venice……Page 492
Exploring Venice……Page 496
Traveling Beyond Venice……Page 504
Fast Facts: Venice……Page 507
Getting There……Page 510
Orienting Yourself in Madrid……Page 511
Getting Around Madrid……Page 513
Staying in Madrid……Page 514
Dining in Madrid……Page 519
Exploring Madrid……Page 523
Traveling Beyond Madrid……Page 529
Fast Facts: Madrid……Page 534
The Best of Barcelona……Page 537
Orienting Yourself in Barcelona……Page 538
Getting Around Barcelona……Page 539
Staying in Barcelona……Page 540
Dining in Barcelona……Page 546
Exploring Barcelona……Page 548
Fast Facts: Barcelona……Page 555
Athens and the Greek Islands……Page 558
Getting There……Page 559
Orienting Yourself in Athens……Page 562
Getting Around Athens……Page 563
Staying in Athens……Page 565
Dining in Athens……Page 570
Exploring Athens……Page 573
Traveling Beyond Athens……Page 580
Fast Facts: Athens……Page 586
The Part of Tens……Page 590
London’s Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace……Page 592
Athens, Greece……Page 593
Four Shopping Disappointments: the “Big Names” in London, Paris, Rome, and Florence……Page 594
Dingle Peninsula, Ireland……Page 595
The Heuriger of Grinzig, Austria……Page 596
Venetian Islands, Italy……Page 597
Medieval Hamlets and Hill Towns……Page 598
Marbleized Paper from Florence……Page 600
A Glass Trinket from a Venetian Shop……Page 601
A Swiss Army Knife from — You Guessed It — Switzerland……Page 602
Do as the Locals Do……Page 603
Visit a Small Private Museum……Page 604
Pick Grapes or Olives……Page 605
Liberate Yourself from Your Guidebook……Page 606
Average Travel Times by Rail……Page 607
Metric Conversions……Page 608
Clothing Size Conversions……Page 609
Toll-Free Numbers and Web Sites……Page 612
Where to Get More Information……Page 614
Index……Page 618