The Alpine city of Innsbruck, Austria, has long been a destination for winter sports. Innsbruck is also known for its architecture, and is home to a wonderful zoo. (iStock)
One of the first questions to come up in terms of vacation planning is the nature of the trip itself. Should it be an urban getaway, packed with museums, music and nightlife? Or perhaps an outdoor adventure? Fortunately, many European cities make fantastic bases for both kinds of experiences. Here are a handful of back-to-nature activities one can experience by day before returning to the pleasures of a big city by night.
Skiing: Innsbruck, Austria, capital of the Tyrol region, perches alongside the River Inn, the backbone of an important trade route since time immemorial. Delights of its cobblestoned inner-city core include elegant Baroque buildings such as the Golden Roof and Court Church, and within a half-hour’s walking distance is found the Alpine Zoo, home to the world’s most extensive collection of animals native to the Alpine region. Overlooking the medieval-meets-modern city that’s home to some 130,000 residents is the Hafelekar Mountain, a 7,400-foot-high summit that’s easily accessible from town. An eight-minute ride on the Hungerburgbahn funicular, followed by an ascent up the Seegrube lift, brings guests to the slopes of the Nordpark. The Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck is the name given to a ski pass valid at nine nearby ski resorts offering more than 180 miles of trails. Its ski areas are easily reached with the free ski buses and shuttles departing from various points throughout the city. The ski pass can be purchased at the Innsbuck Tourist Information office at Burggraben 3. Online: tinyurl.com/wt6dz8ms
Swimming: Basel, Switzerland, is known as a city of culture, art and architecture and home to numerous museums. Flowing through its heart are the milky green waters of the Rhine River, a local’s favorite place for cooling off on hot summer days. Swimmers drifting along with the flow of the Rhine are often spotted towing a “Wickelfisch,” a waterproof swim bag that keeps clothes and valuables dry. The bags are available for purchase at the Tourist Information point in the Stadtcasino at Barfuesserplatz at a cost of 20 Swiss Francs (about $22). A popular place to enter the water is the riverbank next to the Museum Tinguely. While it’s possible to swim any time the weather and river conditions allow for it, an official Rhine Swim takes place once a year; this is slated for Aug. 12 in 2025. Online: tinyurl.com/3sa4ryhr
Kayaking: The city of Utrecht, Netherlands, scores points with visitors for its medieval core, 14th-century bell tower and the nearby De Haar Castle and gardens. The city just a half-hour’s train ride from Amsterdam not only makes a great alternative base for exploring the Netherlands’ capital; its tree-lined canals provide the perfect waters for a leisurely canoeing or kayaking day trip. Visitors can either opt for a guided tour or rent their own watercraft from one of several outfitters. Canoe Rental Utrecht, located at Oudegracht 275, offers canoe rentals both by the hour and for a full day. Online: tinyurl.com/2499th55
Hiking: Marseille, a vast port city in the south of France, is a bustling melting pot of cultures and tastes, overlooked by the stunning Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, a church built where a fortress once stood. Once having tasted the city’s signature dish, bouillabaisse, and having thoroughly explored the yacht-lined harbor of the Old Port, visitors can set off on a stunning coastal hike. Their destination is the calanques, unique limestone geological formations along the Mediterranean Sea. The Calanques National Park, a protected zone stretching more than 20 miles between Marseille and Cassis, offers 26 of these natural wonder beauty spots. While some of the calanques are easily accessible, others will challenge even experienced hikers. Public buses from Marseille run frequently to many popular jumping-off points. Another option is to use one of the boat services operating from the Old Port. Online: tinyurl.com/4amv8mpj
Beach days: Málaga, Spain, in Andalusia in southern Spain, boasts of historical monuments such as the Alcazaba fortress and Gibralfaro Castle, coupled with numerous museums, including one dedicated to the city’s native son Pablo Picasso. When temperatures soar, as they often do here, the city’s 16 beaches offer much-needed relief. The busy urban beach of La Malagueta is just a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, whereas avid walkers might prefer to carry on along to the less-crowded Playa Peñón del Cuervo (Raven Rock Beach), where a limestone rock cleaves the beach into two parts. For even more ambitious hiking, look to the Malaga Coastal Path, a series of trails and wooden walkways for hikers and bikers covering 112 miles of Malaga province’s coastline along the sun-soaked Costa del Sol. The path, not yet completed, runs from Manilva to Nerja and passes through such well-known tourist hotspots as Estepona, Marbella, Fuengirola and Torremolinos. Online: tinyurl.com/yk8bzsuz
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Publish date : 2025-02-07 10:48:00
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