Geoff Roe's blog

The French Riviera by Eurail Pass: Cannes

Cannes

Cannes is famous for its legendary Cannes Flim Festival each spring.  If you did not receive an invitation to this year’s festival, make sure to check out a Eurail flexi pass and start your train tour across the Riviera to Cannes.

La Croisette symbolizes the style and glamour of Cannes, This boardwalk lines the shore and is full of excitement. There are vendors selling souvenirs and treats, with some activities for the kids. You can also dip down the beach to visit a cafe and take a break.

Palais des Festivals et des Congres is where the famous red carpet of the Cannes film festival is rolled out of. It is at the end of La Croissette and hosts many events during the year.

Musée de la Castre was a castle that is now a art museum and offers a great view of Cannes below from its tower.

Musée de la Mer is a unique museum off the shore of Cannes features hosts underwater archaeology collections. The museum's highlight is the exhibit devoted to the mysterious man in the iron mask.

La Suquet is the Old Town of Cannes and is built on what used to be a Roman military camp before. The Old Town is the highest point of the city where tourists can still find remains of Chapel of St Anne from the twelfth century.  Other places which are worth visiting include St marguerite Island, St Honorat Island, Villas of Cannes and Notre dame de Bon Voyage.

Cannes is also famous for its high-end shopping. This ranges from local boutiques to malls and features all the top brands you can think off.   So if you are lucky enough to experience the Riviera by train, make sure to make a day trip to Cannes, only a short train trip from Nice.

Eurail train pass summer tour: Venice

Venice

When on a Eurail train tour of Italy, no trip is complete without a visit to Venice. Here is a quick run-down on events and places to visit while in this magical city.

Basilica di San Marco; Campanile - This is a great place to start your Venice vacation with a amazing bird’s eye view of the city from the tallest bell tower in the city.

Piazza San Marco – Considered the center of Venice, this is one of the most popular tourists' stops today with its classic architecture and style

Doge's Palace - This gothic palace of Venice once housed the rulers of the city. This popular tourist activity hides some of the best highlights to be seen behind the closed doors and prison-tour of the Doge's Palace.

Grand Canal - A vaporetto boat ride along the Grand Canal is another way to see Venice by the water. This is the busiest canal in the city where you'll find yourself at the heart of Venice life and with beautiful buildings on both sides. This canal ride is cheap and convenient way to get around, which gives you a chance to enjoy the Venice scenery each time.

Squero di San Trovaso – This boatyard has been in existence since the 17th century and still lets visitors watch canal boats be made. It is also next to the famous San Trovaso Church and there are also several lovely scenic locations nearby to enjoy.

Ponte dei Sospiri – This name translates to Bridge of Sighs and it is a famous destination in Venice. This is because it was originally for transporting prisoners, but now is a romantic spot for couples to visit.

Piazza San Marco – Also known as St. Mark's Square, is a center of activity in Venice as it is the location of Venice's first church and Citadel, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale. The architecture in this Piazza is very unique, being a combination of Islamic and European styles. This location is ideal for a day with the family for roaming through the various tourist sites and taking breaks at one of the many cafés and gelato shops in the area.

Venice Carnival - This carnival is held during February and draws visitors from all over the world. This carnival holds a number of parades, costumed balls, masquerades, ceremonies and other festivities throughout the city. This is a truly unforgettable way of experiencing Venice culture and life.

Venezia In Musica – This international choir competition takes place every year to celebrate the wonder of music. The competition takes place in a series of choral concerts, with a number of genres of music featured. During this festival, several competitions that take place at the various squares and churches across Venice.  A great event for any visiting music lover.

Hope this list helps you plan a must-see stop on your Eurail train tour of Italy.  Click here for a train tour of the hills of Tuscany.

Train Tour to Beautiful Vienna

Vienna

Vienna, Austria is a beautiful city, surrounded by the majestic landscapes of the Swiss Alps.   A big feature of this country is its winding mountain railways, making this a perfect reason to buy an Eurail pass.  There are many attractive cities, but I would like to give you some tips on what to see in do in Austria’s capital city. 

The capital has a population of over 1.6 million and has lovely summers, with an average temperature in the mid-20s (celsius). The city is filled with art and culture, and there are many opera houses, theatres and The cultural centre of the city is the Museumsquartier in the 7th district of Vienna where many of the cultural houses are to be found.

Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most famous museums in the world, featuring art from all over the world.  Schloss Schönbrunn is the former summer home of the Habsburg family and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its beautiful extensive gardens and impressive architecture, this home makes for gorgeous pictures. Visit St Stephen's Cathedral for its Gothic architecture of rising spires, it truly is a sight to behold.  The Opera House has become an icon of Vienna, with its intriguing history and beautiful design. The elegant interior will impress you, as will the plays that are frequently staged within the Opera House.  Take a tram ride along the Viennese Ring to be transported back to Vienna's past.  

Naschmarkt is one of Vienna's biggest markets, the Naschmarket will allow you to do your shopping as well as take in the local culture.  Enjoy nature at Wiener Tiergarten where you can choose to hike at one of its many hiking trails, or simply get up close and personal with its wildlife.  The best nightlife is to be found in the area known as Grinzing where a variety of taverns and beer houses stay open into the early hours. As you would expect from a city with the population of Vienna, there is no shortage of fine restaurants to choose from but visitors should also try the traditional eateries known as Beisl where the world-famous Wiener schnitzel can be sampled.

Vienna is truly a timeless and beautiful city, and makes a perfect stop during an Eurail train tour of Austria.  Click on these links if you want to learn about some other popular Austrian cities: Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz.