Disneyland is gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary next year.
22.11.2024 - 15:09 / lonelyplanet.com
Nov 22, 2024 • 6 min read
By now, just about every savvy traveler knows about the beauty and vitality of Prague. Yet fewer know that the rest of Czechia also enchants, and its capital is by no means the country’s only beautiful city.
Towns like Olomouc, Český Krumlov and Karlovy Vary showcase stunning historic architecture. Protected areas like the Czech Switzerland National Park offer unexpected natural beauty. And throughout the country, you’ll find offbeat attractions – like Kutná Hora’s bone church – that you won’t soon forget.
What’s more, it’s easy to get around Czechia to see it all. Roads are excellent, and a public transport network of trains and buses serves every corner of the country. The country is small enough that just about anywhere is within a few hour’s reach of Prague.
Here are some of the best places to consider including on any Czechia itinerary.
Best for medieval architecture
In the 14th century, Prague was a true megalopolis: the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and one of Europe’s largest cities. And you can still see what that city looked like today. Stroll around Old Town Square and gawk at the medieval Astronomical Clock, then cross the Gothic Charles Bridge before climbing up to Prague Castle, by some accounts the world’s largest castle complex. Explore the Prague Jewish Museum and tour beautifully manicured baroque gardens, like the one at Wallenstein Palace.
Prague, of course, is also a vibrant 21st-century European capital, with the galleries, museums, restaurants and pubs to match. Enjoy a vaunted Czech beer at a restaurant like Lokál, or traditional Czech duck or schnitzel at restaurants like Hostinec na Výtoni or Výčep.
Best for cafes and bars
Czechia’s second city, Brno brims with authenticity and a youthful vibe, evident in a local bar and cafe scene that feels buzzier than Prague’s. Bars like the secretive Super Panda Circus or centrally located Bar, Který Neexistuje (the “Bar that Doesn’t Exist”) set a trendy, speakeasy tone. Emerging coffee shops like Kimono and Kafe Friedrich keep the scene fresh.
Between pit stops, check out quirky underground attractions like the Labyrinth under the Cabbage Market or the Ossuary at the Church of St James. Pushing the envelope on ghoulish, the Capuchin Crypt below Capuchin Sq shows off the mummified remains of 18th-century monks and benefactors.
Planning tip: Book ahead to tour the UNESCO-listed Villa Tugendhat, a modern masterwork from 1930 designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as a residence for a Jewish industrialist family.
Best for a fairy-tale setting
Wrapped lovingly around a tight bend in the Vltava River in the south of the country, Český Krumlov is Prague in miniature. The town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
Disneyland is gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary next year.
Next year ushers in an important anniversary for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Founded in 1955, the resort will observe seven decades as the Happiest Place on Earth.
I start out by washing my face with my line’s cleansers, the clearing oil and cleansing water. Then I use my plumping lotion; it has these gold specks in it and it really does something nice to your skin. I use Clearstem’s Hydraglow stem cell moisturizer before I put on my foundation, and then at night I’ll put on their Clearity serum with vitamin C and mandelic acid as well as their CellRenew serum. The beauty product most nostalgic to me is red lipstick. It’s something I started to wear once I moved to New York, because my mom didn’t let me wear lipstick as a teenager. I’ve been using Anna Sui Cosmetics the longest; we’re going on 25 years of that. We always do a red lipstick, number 400, that I wear. I also like the Nars lip pencil in Dragon Girl that I put underneath my lipstick. And I always wear my Perfect eyeliner. I use this eyeliner brush that’s Thierry Mugler, and it’s thick — it gives me that wide eyeliner look that I like. I wear my signature winged eyeliner everywhere, even when I go to the gym, even when I go to the drugstore. I love going to Bigelow [in the West Village] because they have a bubble bath that I like, Mistral in Lychee Rose Floral. I realize that bubble baths must not be popular now, because it’s really hard to find. But I like those bubbles. I guess from old movies, you always see the glamour pusses in the bathtub with all the bubbles. Garren New York, he’s cut my hair forever and nobody cuts hair like Garren. I get so many comments like, “You have such a great haircut.” I get my hair cut maybe three times a year, but I trim my own bangs in between with whatever scissors I have on hand. I wash my hair with R+C Television shampoo and conditioner or the Primary shampoo and conditioner and masque from their Bleu collection. I always use a Denman brush. Every time I go to London, I buy some from Boots. I also just bought a Dyson flat iron. I guess I copy my mom because she always wore fragrance, Chanel No. 5, and lipstick. I wear fragrance every day. I’ve been wearing our new Electric Whisper. I love the black currant and lychee, which give a slight fruitiness, but then the pink pepper patchouli and vetiver add a spiciness. And of course the hint of rose. Again to the gym, to the drugstore … it’s just natural for me to wear it all the time like my mom. The other thing I always wear is nail polish. My favorite color is Seafoam Green. I hate chipped nails, so I usually do my own, twice a week.
Dec 4, 2024 • 4 min read
During a six-month trip around Europe, I embraced the "slow travel" mindset, which encourages travelers to spend quality time in each destination they visit. This was important to me because I really wanted to get to know the places I was staying in.
In Vienna, Christmas markets go hand-in-hand with the winter season. The Austrian capital sees its many public spaces play host to stalls and vendors peddling all manner of warm treats and artisanal crafts that are sure to get anyone—whether local or traveler—into the holiday spirit. Though there are many iconic Christmas markets in Europe—ranging from nearby Germany all the way over to the United Kingdom—Vienna’s Christmas markets are special for their venues, set against the kinds of glittering imperial palaces and grand squares that you’ll only find in Austria. The market season in Vienna is also relatively long, with some running from early November all the way to January, making the city—one of our Best Places to Go in Europe for 2025—a magnificent Christmas destination.
We all need a little advice sometimes, and winter travel is sure to bring up some questions about what to pack, what not to pack, and what we should consider as we enter the busy holiday travel season.
Dec 1, 2024 • 7 min read
The average price of a hotel in Austria tends to be over $200 a night — even higher if you want a five-star experience.
People around the world are traveling more than ever, with international tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024 just about reaching pre-pandemic levels — and destinations around the world are feeling the pinch.
One of the biggest worries when flying is that your luggage will get lost. Arming your suitcase with an AirTag has become quite popular, and Apple has now teamed up with over fifteen airlines to make it even easier to track down your checked baggage.
‘Tis the season for savings. And theme park fans have a lot to be thankful for this Black Friday and Cyber Monday with holiday deals they won’t want to miss. If your wish list includes a ride on the newly opened Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, or a festive visit to one of Disney’s award-winning holiday food festivals, there’s plenty of theme park tickets and hotel offers to make that dream a reality. And many of these deals extend into 2025 for those anticipating the opening of Epic Universe.