By Tensi Sánchez from Actitudes Magazine

Frankfurt on the Main, commonly known as Frankfurt, is one of the most important cities in Germany and one of Europe’s leading economic and financial centres.

Tradition and modernity live side by side in this German city on the banks of the River Main. Its skyline of metal and glass buildings is reminiscent of the famous views of Manhattan as seen from the Hudson River. Although modernity has made its mark on this Bavarian metropolis, many architectural treasures still remain of what was, centuries ago, one of the most important cities in the German empire.

A perfect symbiosis that endows Frankfurt on the Main with a timeless ambience, where conservative German style, contemporary architecture, classic European art and cutting edge design create a fusion that makes this city an ideal destination for all types of tourism.

From Haupbanhof, the city’s main station, we can explore almost the entire city without having to use public transport. As we stroll among Frankfurt’s modern building’s, the old city begins to make its presence felt ever more clearly with each step. Along the cobbled streets in the city centre, we discover magnificent examples of classic German architecture: balconies teeming with flowers, houses with red tile roofs and picturesque buildings that reflect the history of a Medieval city.

The main artery of the city is the Zeil and adjoining streets, all full of shops and shopping arcades. We recommend visiting Zeil Galerie, where we find shops like The Hub, a concept store offering such brands as Acne and Filippa K, as well as the boutique Balmain, Mathew Williamson and vintage articles at Moschino, Vivienne Westwood and Issey Miyake, among others. Another great option is Superette du design, a spectacular shop selling decorative items and gadgets, or Leonid Matthias, a multi-brand store with articles by both German and international designers. From the Zeil Galerie roof-top terrace, you can enjoy fabulous views over the city centre.

The city’s old quarter is home to many famous buildings, such as the former Römer city hall inRömerberg square, Hauptwache, Frankfurt opera house, St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the Stock Exchange guarded by a bronze bull and a bear that represent the ups and downs of the stock market. The historic city centre boasts modern, state-of-the-art buildings such as the European Central Bank and theMMK Museum of Modern Art, one of the most important contemporary art museums in the world. Its vast collection includes works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Pablo Picasso, Mario Merz, Jeff Wall, Marlene Dumas, Bruce Nauman… The museum is also home to the Club Michel City restaurant, offering a pop-art ambience, the perfect place to take a break and wind down.

On the banks of the River Main we find the museum area, popularly known as Museumufer (Museum Embankment) a series of ten wonderfully restored villas converted into cultural spaces, all with cafés, shops and extensive gardens. One of the finest is the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Arts), where you can find fashion design and Asian decor alongside locally designed furniture from 1925 through to 1985. The museum also has a concept store and restaurant. Another great museum in Frankfurt  is the Städel Art Museum, which houses one of the finest collections in Germany: Rembrandt, Edgar Degas, Johannes Vermeer, Botticcelli…along with other great masters.

One of the city’s greatest attractions must be the Frankfurter Skyline, which includes some of Europe’s tallest skyscrapers, towering over 331 metres. And some of the city’s bridges offer fabulous views of the sunset.

The Frankfurter Skyline encompasses over 26 skyscrapers, including: Commerzbank Towerdesignedby Norman Foster and at 259 m is considered the tallest building in Frankfurt and the second tallest in the European Union, although it is surpassed in height by Europaturm at 331m, but this observation tower is not generally regarded as a building as it has no consecutive floors that can be occupied.
It is also worth mentioning Westendtower, Opernturm, Tower 185 and Main Tower, the latter being one of the most visited by tourists (entrance charged) and has an excellent restaurant known as Main Tower Restaurant & Lounge.

The Eurotheum skyscraper is home to INNSIDE Frankfurt Eurothem, the ideal place to relax in the evening, located as from the 22nd floor and serving wonderful cocktails to the sound of live piano music while we marvel at the breathtaking views. A truly unique experience. While this hotel is quite incredible, those who are not too keen on heights and prefer a more relaxed atmosphere can stay at the vanguard hotel that is part of the same chain,INNSIDE Frankfurt Niederrad, just one stop from the main train station and the perfect place to relax and wind down after exploring the city.

Picture by Rubén Seco

What are you waiting for to book your vueling? The perfect way to enjoy a weekend break.

Lisbon has that special magic of the cities that simply reek of history, that charm of the cities where so many things have happened and that offer so many ways to enjoy them. Lisbon, an intellectual and Bohemian city like few others in Europe, can be found at the mouth of the River Tagus on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The historic centre is built on seven hills, meaning that many of its streets are quite steep and that the three cable cars and one lift are very much appreciated by locals and tourists alike. Yes, the cable cars in Lisbon are truly special and give you the sensation of being in a city where things take their time and where being in a rush is not something the city’s inhabitants are fond of. Prepare yourself for enjoyment, relaxation and a wealth of experiences as you stroll through the delightful districts of this city.

Chiado is located between the famous Bairro Alto and La Baixa. Almost everyone who has been to Lisbon before remembers the district of Chiado for the statue of the Portuguese poet, Fernando Pessoa, sat at a table on the terrace of the Café A Brasileira. However, Chiado has much more to offer: businesses, cafés dating back to the early 20th Century and old shops. Chiado is the part of Lisbon where writers used to meet in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, meaning that it has a certain aura of intellectualism (similar to Saint-Germain-Des-Pres in Paris) well-earned for having witnessed many literary geniuses walk its streets.

1. Young people gather at the Mirador de Santa Catarina for a drink at the feet of Adamastor while they observe the sunset as the day gives way to the Lisbon night life.

2. Starting you night in Chiado at Bicaense is never a bad idea. One of the coolest venues in Portuguese night life, this place has style, lacks pretension and offers a relaxed atmosphere. DJs and drinks to begin the night before heading over to the liveliest part of the Barrio Alto.

3. One interesting aspect of Chiado is Caza Das Vellas Loreto. This candle shop offers little in the way of cool and is nothing special if you are looking for unique places in the Portuguese capital but that is precisely what makes it special. If you happen to be in Chiado, take a look around this candle shop – they come in all shapes and sizes.

4. Cafe A Brasileira is the place you simply must visit in Chiado if you are a fan of poetry, literature and/or Pessoa. It is a legendary café and meeting place for the literary community in Lisbon. There is one table that has a seated statue of Fernando Pessoa. You have to see it.

5. Try a saikirinha (sake mixed with kiwi) on the chill out terrace on the top floor of the Hotel Bairro Alto. This is where all the beautiful people in Lisbon meet. It was recommended to us by one of the most influential bands in Lisbon, Buraka Som Sistema. Absoutely essential if you want to know what the local people get up to in Lisbon at night.

6. Perfect for enjoying a nice steak. Bohemian atmosphere, busy, happy. Treat your stomach and eat at La Brasserie De L’Entrecôte. Your stomach will thank you for it.

7. If your budget won’t stretch to an excellent steak or if you prefer to eat something lighter, theRestaurante-Lounge Storik offers wonderful international cuisine that will give something to remember from your visit to Lisbon.

8. Another interesting place in Chiado in terms of shopping and somewhere that is 100% Portuguese is A Vida Portuguesa. Here you will find a little bit of everything Portuguese: embroidery, pencils, traditional Portuguese products, soaps, icons of saints, etc.

9. The Cafe No Chiado is the perfect spot for a chat or reading the paper. You can also enjoy a bite to eat if that’s what you’re after. An oasis of peace and tranquillity to be enjoyed alone or in good company.

10. At the Teatro Mário Viegas, they perform the best and newest pieces from the world of Portuguese theatre. If you like the theatre, you should go see a show.

These places make you feel like going yourself, right? Check out our flights for a short break in Lisbon here.

Play it again, Sam. These are the words that come to mind when you hear the name of Casablanca, the legendary Michael Curtiz film, but the truth is that neither Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and put their feet in the city for its construction, which was shot entirely in studios at Hollywood. It is true that there is aRick’s Cafe , but is due only to attempting to take advantage from the film’s success.

Casablanca is the closest thing to a modern Western metropolis. During the colonial period, the French came up with a program of urban development that provided the city with of broad avenues and parks and real gems of modernist and art deco architecture. This French colonial style blends elements of traditional Moroccan architecture.

The great pride of the city is the huge Hassan II Mosque, a wonder of modern religious architecture and one of the largest mosques in the world, which has the advantage of being one of the few Islamic buildings that can be visited by tourists not Muslims. Its construction was completed in 1993 and its minaret is the tallest in the world with an altitude of 200 meters.

Apart from this must-see, the most interesting of Casablanca is walking their neighborhoods. You will find that is a rather chaotic city but also therein lies part of their decadent charm. The medina, the oldest part, is just north of the city and is rather small in proportion to the large size of the city. It is accessed from Place des Nations Unies. Once crossed the walls, we passed the clock tower and the mosque of Chleuh to find a labyrinth of tiny streets where it is nice to wander between the characteristic smells of perfumes, spices and mint tea, which is drunk at all hours .

To get a typical souvenir and traditional handicraft, it’s best to come to the Nouvelle Medina, in the Quartier Habous, near the Royal Palace. Here the prices are lower and the tourist is not as pressed as in other souks in some other cities.

Getting lost in the park of the Arab League, in the heart of Casablanca, is a good choice to relax. Another good option is to get close to any of the resorts in the city, such as Bouznika, where you will find magnificent beaches such as Dar Bouazza, very close to Tamaris, a water park that opened recently.

Why not take a trip to Casablanca? Have a look at our flights here!

Picture by Othmanlah

We are Carlos and Sophie, designers and creators of CURIUM (a line of leather accessories for men) and THE BOX (a second line of accessories for women).

We live in Barcelona but constantly travel to different cities in search of inspiration. Milan is one of the global capitals of fashion that we visit regularly. Besides stores selling the most famous brands, Milan is also home to smaller establishments with their own character and personality.

One such place is Corso Como 10, a concept store where you can find a fantastic selection of photography, art, fashion and perfumes that ranges from dresses by Christopher Kane to jewellery by the North American designer Eddie Borgo.

For those of you on a tighter budget, the 10 Corso Como Outlet, in a somewhat hidden away back yard at 3 Via Tazzoli, sells clothes and accessories for men and women at knock-down prices with discounts of up to 70%.

Another of the places you simply must visit in Milan is Wok Store Apparel Art – an eclectic multi-purpose space where you can enjoy music events, visit a good exhibition or be daring with some of the latest creations from English, Swedish, Italian and Japanese designers; Opening Ceremony, Henrik Vibskov, Comme des Garçons – a real temple to creativity!

Daad Dantone can be found in a kind of passageway that connects Corso Vittorio Emanuele with Corso Matteotti in the historic centre of Milan. This is a family business that started out as a tailor’s in 1960 and now stocks such indie Italian brands as Antonio Marras (before they become enormous flagships). They are currently fascinated by the Japanese darkness: Mastermind, Number 9, Undercover; an alternative to Italian design. (*they have 2 stores: 24A Via Spirito and 25 Via della Spiga).

If what you want is to get away from the crowds, the place for you is Antonioli. You’ll find this place in the Canal Navigli district (deserted during the day), at 1 Via P. Paoli. There is absolutely no sign whatsoever that any kind of multi-brand store lies behind its doors but that is exactly what the owner, Claudio Antonioli, wants. You’ll find designs by Rick Owens, Martin Margiela, Raf Simons and Balmain, among others, or end up buying a scented candle by Mad et Len.
By the way, they open every day of the week!

The best way to end your day is to visit Pane e Acqua, the domain of Rossana Orlandi at 14 Via Mateo Bandello, where you’ll enjoy Mediterranean and haute cuisine in surroundings that recreate an industrial aesthetic with a certain air of romance about it.

By Sophie Pastor

Why not take a trip to Milán? Have a look at our flights here!