Cities and Towns in Europe
If you were a real estate agent in Borgarfjörður Eystri, there is one selling point you would want to advertise loud and clear: location. Set in a small bay, surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks, this village of 130 people is not as isolated as it once was – even in winter, super jeeps and snow mobiles make it possible to cross the mountains to the relative metropolis of Egilsstaðir. For travellers, it is a place to escape the crowds of the Ring Road. Despite its small size, Borgarfjörður Eystri has a lot to offer visitors. The Elf Rock – home of the queen of elves – has lovely views of the village and its surroundings, and a local guide can provide plenty of local myths, legends and stories about the hidden people living inside it. There are close to thirty day-hikes in the surrounding mountains, and some much longer ones, too. The local puffin colony makes for some of the easiest and most accessibly bird watching in the country, and turf-covered Lindarbakki – a private home which doubles as a museum – gives some wonderful insights into what life was like in these parts in the first half of the 20th century. For a livelier scene, this tiny village hosts one of Iceland’s biggest music festivals every August – but make sure to bring a tent, as only a fraction of the several thousand visitors can be housed inside the few hotels.
Húsavík was the first place in Iceland to be settled by the Norse when the Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson arrived in the year 870 CE. As recently as a few decades ago, there was nothing of any interest here for tourism. These days, however, visitors flock here by the thousand for a chance to see the largest animals on our planet. Húsavík is now Iceland's whale watching capital, as the bay is a popular spot for humpbacks and giant blue whales in summer. Another popular destination is Puffin Island, which can often be visited as part of a whale watching trip. The town itself (which has about two and a half thousand inhabitants - a veritable metropolis by Icelandic standards) is actually very pleasant, set on the shore surrounded by snow-capped mountains. There is a whale watching museum, a beautiful wooden church and a number of water-side cafes and restaurants. But whales, not wooden buildings, is undoubtedly why most people come here - and whales there are aplenty.
Reykjavík is Iceland's capital, with approximately 180,000 inhabitants – a fact you hardly notice, since the city seems rather small, so a few days here is enough. However, there is a very special and relaxed atmosphere in the central shopping area, specifically during weekends you will find plenty of live music performances, quirky galleries / shops and many "funky" people. Furthermore, the city offers some nice cafes, bars and restaurants, where you can eat whale and shark meat, for instance. The large, striking and modern concert hall / conference center Harpa, located on the quay, is also worth a short visit.
Why does any trip to Dublin end up in drinking. However, if you can drag yourself out of bed and do a bit of sightseeing before the pubs call again, there is actually a lot of reasons to fall in love with Dublin with does not involve a drinking. The rather small city is drenched in history and a great way to soak it all up is by walking through the streets. Trinity College (remember to see the old library), St Patrick's Cathedral, Marsh's Library, Kilmainham Gaol, and Dublin Castle (or just Dubh Linn Gardens behind it) should all be on the itinerary. And after that you're welcome to do the tour at Guinness Storehouse. Cheers.
Medieval Kilkenny is a fine little town perfect for a night or two. The focal point is of course the elegant Kilkenny Castle (built in 1195), which lies right at the river. There are a surplus of restaurants and pubs, ranging from tourist places with live music to fine dining. So even that they aren't that much to see, Kilkenny tends to charm its visitors.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Limerick was considered to be the most beautiful city in Ireland. Today Limerick is still a darn fine city, which is partly due to recent years of renovation. The River Shannon cuts through and splits the city into sections. From the boardwalk along the riverbank there are great views of Kings Island, which holds a great share of Limerick's historical buildings, including Thomond Bridge, King John's Castle, and St Mary's Cathedral. Luckily, there are lots of quirky shops and uncompromised pubs, so it's a great place to wander aimlessly around.
Douglas is the capital of Isle of Man and by far the largest town. It's set along a sweeping bay and has the feel of a traditional UK seaside resort with a beautiful promenade, which runs along the 3 kilometers long sandy beach. Many of the waterfront townhouses has been turned into boutique B&B and there are plenty of restaurants. Since Douglas is the transport hub of the island with bus (and train) connections to every corner, most visitors base themselves here.
Though most visitors come to Peel to see the castle, the traditional seaside town is also worth a look. It's set along a beautiful long beach, where you can catch the sunset. The protected harbour is nested at the foot of Peel Hill and is an active fishing port with an attractive marina. However most importantly, Peel has some charming local pubs.
Port Erin sits dramatically at the bottom of a beautiful horseshoe bay, which set between two rugged headlands. The sandy beach is popular with holidaymakers during summertime, but the views over the bay and Hadda Head with Milner's Tower on top is stunning year-around. Port Erin is the end station for the steam train from Douglas, and the starting point to explore (by bus, bicycle or walking) the southern part of the Isle of Man.
The small and quaint village of Port St Mary is known for its pretty harbour. The fishing industry isn't as big as it once was, but yachts and tour boats have replaced the fishing boats. The cottages around the harbour have, thankfully, not all been done up. To take in all the historical sights, follow the heritage walking trail loop (about 45 min).