The Large ferris wheel (The Merlin Entertainments London Eye) - Western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames, Lambeth, London
Amsterdam
- Zaanse Schans - this is a traditional village with more authentic feel - no entrance fee
- A cheese factory is right next door to the hotel
- Volendam/Edam (Zeestraat 37 1131 Edam-Volendam) is about a 20 minute walk. Its a pretty little town, very picturesque settings, by the meer.
Volendam is a popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands, well-known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents.
http://travelonthedollar.com/2009/04/08/north-south-holland-a-one-day-trip/Edam is a town with authentic 17th century architecture, convincing proof of its rich past. When walking along the old streets and quiet canals, one can easily imagine how it was in a Dutch town centuries ago. Well preserved gables, squares, bridges and monuments capture and hold the attention of the visitor. A stroll takes one past the tea-houses on the ‘Schepenmakersdijk’, the leaning Carillon tower (1561), the historic museum with the floating cellar, the Dam, the Town hall of Edam to the Great Church. This is one of the largest churches in the Netherlands. It has an extraordinary collection of richly coloured stained glass windows dating from the 17th century.
- Zaanse Schans (Schansend 7 1509 Zaanstad) - Windmills and Museums
- A day trip in a century old boat called the Golden Belouft
Paris
See the typical highlights
- EIFFEL TOWER
- CLUNY ROMAN BATHS - Boulevard Saint-Germain
- Maubert Square - charming square with a typical open-air market three times a week
- Pantheon - resting place for some of the most famous French citizens
- Notre Dame Cathedral - The world's most famous Gothic Cathedral
- Bridges of Paris / The Seine River
- Luxembourg Gardens - One of the most famous public parks on the left bank
- The Louvre Pyramid
- Alexander III Bridge
- Champs Elysées Avenue - Said to be the most beautiful avenue in the world
Day trips
The Chateau de Versailles
and its Park - http://www.chateauversailles.fr
Take the RER train line C5 from Saint Michel - Notre Dame station to the end of the line Versailles Rive Gauche (RG).
Trains run every 10 minutes. The trip takes 30 minutes by train, then a 5 minute walk to the Chateau grounds.
There is a special ticket "Forfait Loisirs - Chateau de Versailles" which includes the return train trip + entrance to the Chateau, Grand & Petit Trianon, Hameau de la Reine & Ecurie. This is great value at 20 euros for adults, children under 18 14,50 euros.
You can only buy this ticket at the RER station Saint Michel - Notre Dame at the ticket office in front of the entrance of line C5 (take the Quai Saint Michel entrance, on the quayside near the river).
The Chateau:
Versailles is open from 9:00 - 17:30 - Closed on Mondays
The Fountains:
The fountains are on from 11:00 - 12:00 Saturday end of april - end of september 15:00 - 16:00 Sunday
- Go on a tour bus
- Bateau Mouche, cruise on the Seine - http://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en
Paris Visite cards - give unlimited city metro travel and entries (not sure if they are free or concessions) to museums.
