Johannesburg is the largest city of South Africa and the financial center of the country. It is the capital of the region Gauteng and it has a population of more than 3.8 million people of different nationalities. There is no language group dominating the city. Johannesburg is located in the eastern plateau area. The city has around 6 million trees in it which makes it one of the greenest city in the world.
Johannesburg is the home of Nelson Mandela. In the city you can take official tours that will lead you to his earlier and more humble home, where he lived before he went to prison, and his modern home. The city is divided into two districts, Soweto and Sandton. Soweto is known as South Western Townships and is pretty safe for tourists to visit. Sandton is heart of the business center of Johannesburg. It holds the 6 meter tall bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, a favorite photo spot for many.
Johannesburg has a modern center and has mostly been influenced by American style malls. There are many shopping malls including Sandton City, Bedford Center and Mall of Rosebank. Oriental Plaza offers shops with South African Indian owners. The city has different museums and galleries such as Johannesburg Art Gallery and The Apartheid Museum. This museum is certainly worth a visit if you would like to understand the true history of the city and South Africa. Other attractions are Market Theatre Complex, Gold-Reef city theme park, an amusement park with casino, the Gubbins Library in university and Lesedi Cultural Village with traditional dances and food.
Travelers to Johannesburg need a valid passport. Visitors from Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom and Virgin Islands do not require a visa. Citizens from other countries don’t need a specific visa if their stay is less than 30 or 90 days, depending on the country you come from. Crime is a serious problem in Johannesburg. Public transport use is even discouraged. Keep valuable belongs at a safe spot. Stay away from unpopulated areas. The city has two telecommunication towers, Hillbrow tower and Brixton tower (or Sentech) that will help you locate where you are.
Ibiza is part of the Spanish Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located 79 km off the coast of the city of Valenica. It is by far the most extreme island of Spain with its rocky landscape and wild visitors. Ibiza really is the place to enjoy nightlife clubbing. The capital city is Ibiza Town. Other large cities are San Antonio and Santa Eularia des Riu. There are 84 thousand people living on Ibiza.
Ibiza forms with Formentera the Pine Islands of Pityuses. The island mostly attracts tourists that enjoy partying all night. Top DJ’s from all over the world come to Ibiza in the summer to play at big parties. During the summer you will find non-stop partying going on. The island knows little rainfall, ideal for outdoor parties. Spots are Playa d’en Bossa beach, Es Canar beach and Cafe del Mar. Nightclubs are Privilege, Eden, Es Paradis, Amnesia, Space, Pacha and D10.
Although Ibiza is famous for its nightlife, tourists can do more than partying alone. Ibiza has a harsh and rocky landscape. Olives, figs and almonds are growing alongside the hardy pines. About half of the island is covered in thick woods. Large parts of the island are even registered as U.N. World Heritage Sites. If you are looking for a fairly unspoiled place on Ibiza, you should visit the northeast.
Travelers to Ibiza need a valid passport and sometimes a visa. For Non-European visitors most of the time a return or onward ticket is needed. No visa is required for visits less than 90 days or three months. You should always check passport and visa requirements before traveling to Ibiza.
Valencia is the third largest city in Spain with a population of 1.7 million people in the metropolitan area. The city is located on the Mediterranean coast to the south of Barcelona. Valencia has the best beaches of Spain on the Costa Blanca, more quite than others. The city has its own port, the biggest on the Western Mediterranean coast and the second of Spain.
The area around Valencia is known as orange country since you will find orange trees everywhere. The main festival in Valencia is Las Fallas which is held in March and has a reputation throughout Spain. The famous Spanish dish paella is originated from this city. Valencia is also home of football club Valencia C.F. one of the top teams in Spain.
Valencia started as an industrial city. Now it is starting to become a tourist place as the work of architect Santiago Calavatra is changing the landscape around the city. His most famous work is Ciudad delas Artes Y Las Ciencas. Tourists can also see old landscapes like the old Towers of the medieval city, monasteries as the San Miguel de los Reyes and museums. There are numerous convention centers, several 5 star hotels and the Conference Place. The city has different parks where you can enjoy a picnic or just enjoy the weather and it has a bubbling nightlife, many restaurants and shops.
Travelers to Valencia need a valid passport. For the 14 countries part of the Schengen agreement an official national ID card will also be enough. Travelers from America and other non-European countries don’t require a visa for visits less than 90 days.
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, as well as the capital of the province of Florence. It lies on the River Arno and three other minor rivers that flow through the city. It is surrounded the Senese Clavey Hills. Florence has a population of 368 thousand people. The city is popular thanks to its monuments, churches and buildings. Many people call it the “cradle of Renaissance”.
Florence is a busy city. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself surrounded by horns honk and breaks squeal. Moped riders find their ways around larger vehicles. Florence has stunning views, fields of sunflowers, miles of vineyards, rolling hills, and mountaintop castles. When visiting Florence there is an awful lot to see. Highlights are the domed cathedral Santa Maria del Fore or The Duomo, the Campanile (Bell Tower) and the Baptistery buildings.
Florence houses a reproduction of the famous David of Michelango in front of the Palazzo della Signora. You might take your time to enjoy this masterpiece. Other things not to miss: gardens Giardino di Boboli, restaurant Carpe Diem, galery Galleria dell’Accademia, Museo di Storia della Scienza or Institute and Museum of History of Science, Pallazo Pitti, chapel Capella Brancacci, the hill San Minato al Monte with Cardinal of Portugal Chapel and Cappella del Crocifisso, the old bridge Ponte Vecchio.
Travelers to Florence need a valid passport. Tourists from the EU countries, such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, don’t need a visa for visiting Florence. Travelers from other countries, including America, don’t require visas for tourist visits of up to 90 days. Visitors that come to Florence for anything other than tourism require a specific visa.
Antalya is a popular beach city in the southwest of Turkey on the Mediterranean coast. The city has more than 777.000 people living in it. The province and city Antalya are part of the Turkish Rivera and mostly known for its beaches and nightlife. It is definitely a popular destination for travelers. Due to this fact Antalya has a great infrastructure and many restaurants, shops and clubs.
Antalya is situated on coastal cliffs on the Mediterrenean Gulf of Antalya. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on the other side. The town center is located on the rocky plain closest to the coast. The old center of the city is called Kaleici with narrow winding streets. The city also houses the Katel, the Ottoman citadel, and marina Yat Limani, which was once the old harbor.
Most tourists come to Antalya to enjoy the beaches. But the city also offers tourists places of ancient Greek and Roman times. Traveling to the ancient sites of Aspendos, Perge, Phaselis, Manavgat, Side and Termessos is easy. The city has one of the most impressive archaeological museum. Adventurous people can go scuba diving, sailing, paragliding, rafting, mountain climbing and tracking.
Travelers to USA or European travelers to Antalya need a valid passport and visa. This visa need to be bought on arrival at the airport, the VISA can be bought with your own currency, the visa is valid for a period of 3 months.
Istanbul is the cultural and financial city of Turkey as well as the largest and most popular in this country. The city with its different districts has a population of 12.6 million registered people. It is believed that there are over 6 million non-registered people. Istanbul is strategically situated in the west of Turkey on two continents with the western portion in England and the eastern portion in Asia, divided by the Bosphorus Strait.
Istanbul has a long history since it has been part of many empires. It began as a part of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium. After this colony formed an alliance with the Roman Empire, emperor Constantine made it into the capital city of his Roman empire. The city then became known under the name of Constantinople and turned into a magnificent city. Under the leadership of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed in 1453 the city became a major cultural, political and commercial center. The city stayed capital city until Kemal Ataturk moved the capital of the Republic of Turkey, founded in 1923, to the city of Ankara.
Istanbul offers tourists many museums, parks, bazaars, old mosques and palaces, such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Sultanahmet Mosque. There are also many beautiful waterside palaces around the Bosphorus. Tourists can take a boat trip along the Bosphorus. It is always recommended to visit a special Turkish bath, known as a hamam. The city of Istanbul is crowded with restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs. The transport system of the city may be difficult to figure out as maps are rare and transferring is often necessary. Tourists can easily use the Turkish Smart Tickets, AKBIL, to get around the city.
Travelers to Istanbul need a valid passport and visa. Tourists from the USA or the European Union can buy their visa directly on the airport of Istanbul, before queuing for passport control. This visa can sometimes be bought with own currency and cash money is required, since there is almost no change available. It is valid for three months. The city of Istanbul can be reached by airport bus, metro and tram or taxi, by train or by ship.
