Though the German autobahn may be infamous for its never-ending construction and sneaky speeding cameras, it’s also famous for its high-speed and fast cars speeding their way down the left lane. What better way to embrace driving down these famous highways than by taking a road trip to see Germany’s most coveted castles, nature preserves, fairytale towns and wine? Fill up your tanks, turn on your GPS and choose any of these five famous roads for the perfect road trip!

Romantic Road

Originally created by English-speaking travel agents in the 1950s, the Romantic Road or Romantische Straße is located in the regions of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. This famous road stretches 261 miles long and highlights major experiences such as visiting the Franconian wine country and the Neuschwanstein castle. As you look out the car window and catch striking views of the Bavarian countryside, be sure to park your car and roam the quaint towns, castles and monasteries along the way. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a well-known and well-preserved medieval town in Bavaria’s Franconian region, is a pit-stop you must take! For the history buffs, visit Germany’s oldest city, Augsburg, which dates back 2,000 years. In this historic city, a 1,000-year-old castle, Burg Colmberg, calls its visitors to relive the medieval era.

Fairytale Road

Ever hear of the brothers Grimm? If the name doesn’t ring a bell, fairytales such as Cinderella, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty and Puss in Boots are tales originated from the creative minds of the German folklorists. During this road-trip which starts in Hanau, witness the towns and landscapes that inspired the brothers to write the folktales we all love and know today. Along your drive, you will be brought to Steinau where the brothers grew up.

Adventure awaits as this 370-mile-long expedition allows you to visit Sleeping Beauty’s castle, hunt the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood’s forest and ask Rapunzel to let her hair down in her famous tower. This trip in particular is perfect for children as they can appreciate real life fairytales that are imbedded in the magical towns that are filled with puppet shows, parades and even statues of popular characters. 

The Black Forest High Road

Perhaps the most known area, the Black Forest is synonymous with cuckoo clocks and deliciously rich Black Forest cake. However, it’s also home to the beautiful and adventurous 44-mile-long drive bursting with stunning mountain views and nature. The journey starts in Freudenstadt and runs north through the Schliffkopf and Kniebis mountain ranges. In order to catch a breathtaking view over the Rhine Valley, hike up the newly opened path on the Bühlerhöhe.

For those who enjoy skiing, this road trip has your name on it as many ski-lifts are open and connects to the Nordschwarzwald cross country skiing trail. 

Mummelsee, a serene lake at the western side of Hornisgrinde, is also a popular tourist attraction that brings its admirers to be one with nature. The Hornisgrinde tower provides picturesque views from the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest area. 

The Castle Route

When in Germany, one must marvel at all the castles this country has to offer. Luckily, the Castle Road allows us to see many of these ancient fortresses in a short amount of time. Stretching over 625 miles, Castle Road consists of winding and small back roads, typical of Europe, that is dotted with over 70 castles to include ruins. The road starts in Mannheim and ends in Prague, and it is recommended to pick a few castles to see due to how many there are. You can spend days exploring and taking yourself back in time to when knights and lords ruled the land. Ever wanted to feel like royalty? Stay in a castle hotel! Castle Hornberg is a four-star accommodation that will make you forget what century you’re in!

The German Wine Route

Considered to be the most popular driving tour, immerse yourself on wine culture and become a true connoisseur by driving through the German Wine Route or Deutsche Weinstraße. The 50-mile-long drive is branded by the grapes logo and starts off in Schweigen-Rechtenbach and ends in Bockenheim in the Palatinate wine region. Grape vines hung at the center of charming wine villages, local foods and farmer’s markets are all perks to stopping by any weingut areas, or wineries. One of the better-known destinations along this road is Bad Dürkheim which is not only home to the biggest wine barrel in the world but also serves as a spa town. This town is synonymous for its famous Wurstmarkt, a massive “sausage” and wine fest that takes places every September. Whether it’s the wine or the colorful and easy drive, the Weinstraße has got everything you need!     

With its rich history and many sights to see, these road trips are waiting for you to uncover the best of Germany! Drive safe!

Once upon a time, you read bedtime stories of princesses and knights and dreamed of living 800 years ago. Then you awoke in Europe, where the legends began. Perhaps you were crestfallen after countless castle ruins and torture museums exposed the unpleasant truths of the old world. Fear not! Europe’s medieval-themed feasts, hotels and events will restore your visions of the past’s grandeur, merriment and mystery — minus the beheadings, bubonic plague and privy pits.

Dining
During the Middle Ages, wealthy families had grand banquets. Buffet tables were decorated with banners, floral arrangements and elaborate displays, like stuffed birds and gilded pies arranged to form giant crowns. Attendees drank wine or mead and listened to musical stories sung by minstrels. By night’s end, the great hall was quite rowdy.

Today, you need not be royalty to have a feast. But you must book in advance, lest you “kiss the hare’s foot” (a medieval saying that means you have missed a meal and are stuck eating scraps). Here are a few that will please even the fussiest lords and ladies:

Spider Tavern and Tavern Brabant in Prague, Czech Republic: Spider Tavern’s package is five food courses, unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, and two hours of juggling, dueling and dancing. Join feudal society’s lowest class in the Tavern Brabant dungeon for all you can eat and drink, plus a lively show Tuesday to Sunday evenings.

Olde Hansa in Tallinn, Estonia: Locatedin historic Tallinn, Olde Hansa’s kitchen cooks forest game — bear, elk, wild boar and rabbit. Choose a Feasting Menu (minimum two people) for fare and theatrics. Purchase leather accessories, traditional pottery and metal home décor as mementos of your time travel.

Schloss Auerbach in Bensheim-Auerbach, Germany: The restored 13th century Auerbach Palace has entertainment programs throughout the year. The popular castle in flames extravaganza is celebrated with fire breathers, fire jugglers and fireworks.

Medieval Banquet in London, England: Borrow jester, maiden or knight attire to impress the peasants and curry favor with the queen. Discounted family tickets are available select nights.

Bunratty, Dunguaire and Knappogue castles near Shannon and Limerick, Ireland: For more than 50 years, Bunratty has hosted guests as it did in the 1500s. Irish tunes are played on bagpipes, harps and fiddles following a retelling of the local history. Productions of works by Irish playwrights and authors accompany Dunguaire’s dinner. At Knappogue, a villain stands trial in the earl’s court.

Accommodations
Red-carpet hospitality awaits his majesty at these family-friendly destinations.

Burghotel Castillo Alcazar in Rust, Germany: Hit the hay after exploring Grimm’s Enchanted Forest, an area of Europa Park dedicated to the Grimm Brothers’ fantastical fiction. The alcazar is a fourstar lodge borrowing architecture from Spain’s spectacular Moorish fortresses.

Dětenice Château Resort in Dětenice, Czech Republic: The Dětenice Château returns visitors to a time when weary travelers stopped at rural inns to have hearty suppers and ales before stumbling to bed. Actors portray aggressive beggars
and sword-wielding patrons in the tavern. Modern amenities of the Medieval Hotel are hidden behind primitive facades — the room’s wooden “outhouse” is a cleverly disguised 21st century bathroom.

Kulturinsel Einsiedel’s Baumhaus Hotel in Neisseaue, Germany: Enter a fairy-tale tree house with barrel bathtubs and quirky wooden furniture; only the elves, pixies and talking animals are missing. Dinner shows take place in Coronation Hall.

Leeds Castle in Kent, England: First a Norman citadel and later Henry VIII’s home, Leeds Castle is a legacy of England’s regal past. Daily from April 1 to Nov. 8, the Battle of Agincourt is re-enacted. The bustling grounds feature the Squire’s
Courtyard and Knight’s Realm playgrounds, gardens, mazes, museum exhibits, and glamour camping (glamping) in furnished knights’ tents.

Fairs and markets
Thou art invited to journey across Europe  to partake in a world of long ago.

Grand Fauconnier in Cordes-sur-Ciel, France: Since 1971, the fortified French village has held an annual fête commemorating the region’s heritage. Come hither for cavalcades, bazaars and banquets.

Kaltenberger Ritterturnier in Geltendorf, Germany: Processions, fireworks, craft sales and demos, “bellytimber” (an archaic term for food) stalls and concerts are part of the tournament fanfare. Cheer for gallant champions representing noble
estates in armed matches.

Europæisk Middelalder Festival in Horsens, Denmark: Entrance to this interactive exhibition is free. There’s a market place, combat and jousting spectacles, music, games, skits, parades and activities for young ones. Children may learn how
to be squires, archers, bakers or carpenters.

England’s Medieval Festival in Herstmonceux, East Sussex, England: Herstmonceaux Castle is the backdrop for the U.K.’s largest Middle Ages event. Highlights include sieges, birds of prey demonstrations, archery competitions, and the Kids Kingdom. Bring your own gear to camp or upgrade to a king’s tent.

Middle Ages Christmas markets in Germany: During the holidays, many towns have Mittelalter Weihnachtsmärkte. Characters from beloved fables stroll through Berlin’s Fairy Tale Market, and wenches serve flaming cocktails in goblets at Munich’s Medieval Christmas Fair. The remains of Burg Lichtenburg are restored to days of yore at the beginning of the Advent season, while facilities of the living museum, Histotainment Park Adventon, add authenticity to Osterburken’s market. Esslingen has one of the biggest Middle Ages/Renaissance markets. Dates vary. Find comprehensive fest listings at http://frank66furt.de/burgen/termine.htm, www.medievalfayre.com and www.renaissancefairefestival.com.

Your dad’s milestone birthday. A cousin’s wedding. The birth of your first niece. The need to be with friends in family in times of crisis or celebration. Being based in Europe has advantages to be sure, but at times the gap from loved ones can feel as vast as the sea.

While there’s nothing to be done about the distance, a pair of low-cost airlines have gone far in reducing the hit to our finances in recent years, meaning a short hop across the pond for that special occasion has a greater chance than ever at becoming a reality.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, the fifth largest low-cost carrier in the world, was founded in 1993 and began operating as a low-cost carrier in 2002. Over the past five years, it’s steadily expanded in the trans-Atlantic market, and it continues to launch new routes and establish new bases in Europe, the U.S. and beyond. The U.S. cities served by the airline include Austin, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, New York, Oakland-San Francisco, Orlando, Providence-Boston, Seattle and Tampa. The airline offers three basic fare options, and on its long haul flights, it has a premium cabin with two fare options. Norwegian’s hubs are in Oslo and London Gatwick.

A route of potential interest to U.S. military members in Europe might include the one between New York (EWR) and Munich. From Berlin, travelers can take direct flights to Los Angeles, Miami, New York or Orlando. And flights from Prague fly directly to Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Orlando.

Granted, most of Norwegian’s European destinations aren’t close to our communities. However, our savvy, thrifty travelers know how to fly across the European continent with ease. This means that, with a little creativity, a traveler could fly from Providence-Boston (PVD) to Dublin, Ireland on Norwegian for as little as $113.90, and pair that with a flight from Dublin to Stuttgart on Ryanair for 16.99 euros. (These were actual fares pulled up for a theoretical booking of one-way flights in March 2019.)

Other airlines worth checking out when searching for low transatlantic fares might include Aer Lingus, Icelandair and Level. The online travel agency Kiwi is a great resource for discovering low-cost carrier offerings and creative pairings of flights on airlines that don’t generally coordinate with one another.

Could the time be right to ditch that heavy bag and fly on over to meet your new nephew or crash your college roommate’s wedding? You can always send the gift by post!

Italy is a dreamy country filled with countless treasures from architectural masterpieces and picturesque coastal towns to some of the world’s best food and experiences waiting to be had.  As you escape to Italy, ensure you cross these items off your Italian bucket list.

1. Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain.

2. Explore the villages of Cinque Terre.

3. Snap an iconic pic with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

4. Take a gondola ride through the canals of Venice.

5. Indulge in delicious gelato, pizza, pasta and, of course, wine.

6. Hike through the Dolomites.

7. Visit the Amalfi Coast and take a short boat ride into the cave, Blue Grotto of Capri, to witness its illuminated blue waters.

8. Visit the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica.

9. Appreciate the art and architecture of Florence.

10. Stare in awe of the Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral in Milan.

Have you ever been to Italy? Tell contentteam@stripes.com some bucket-list-worthy items you would put on this list!

You can find the area on a map, but you might not know which countries belong to Scandinavia. Norway, Sweden and Denmark form this region, but what do you really know about Scandinavia? Yes, there are the Vikings, pickled herring and the Northern Lights. There are also whales, beautiful scenery, unique museums and fabulous outdoor activities. Here's what makes Scandinavia so much more.

Denmark

“The Little Mermaid” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes” are familiar stories from our childhood. Hans Christian Andersen, one of the country’s most famous authors, lived and worked in its capital, Copenhagen. Today, one of the best ways to get a glimpse of the author’s life and a view of Copenhagen is to book a Hans Christian Andersen Walking Tour. A guaranteed stop on the tour is Denmark’s most photographed attraction, The Little Mermaid.

Looking for a little amusement? Perhaps, the most famous of Denmark’s parks is Tivoli Gardens. This fairy-tale-like park, created in 1843, is open from mid-April through mid-December. Over the years, it has been painstakingly maintained and improved, and its seasonal themes and decorations are breathtaking to see. Do not fear; it isn’t all historical. The small park has some wonderful and modern rides and roller coasters, as well.

Copenhagen can also boast about its shopping and dining experiences. The Strøget, located in the historic district, is Europe’s longest pedestrian-only shopping zone. While you can dine at any number of fine restaurants, why not dine at a place that you know will be a culinary experience? Noma is one of the top-ranked restaurants in the world and has received the No. 1 designation three times, so a meal there is sure to be a memorable occasion.

For an adventure outside of the capital city, take the train along the Danish coast from Copenhagen to Helsingør. Not only is the town quaint and vibrant, but its nearby castle, Kronborg, is also a wonder to see. From the castle, Sweden is only four miles across the sea, and this strategic location not only served as a military fort until the early 1920s but also as Elsinore, the setting of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

Norway

A visit to Norway’s capital, Oslo, can provide an abundance of unique sightseeing opportunities. Plan to see the Kon-Tiki Museum, which follows Thor Heyerdahl’s crossing of the Pacific Ocean in 1947. Claiming that settlers from Peru, using rafts made of balsa wood, could have discovered French Polynesia, Heyerdahl and his crew members succeeded in making the 101-day journey. Continuing on a boat theme, Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum contains the best preserved wooden Viking ships from the 9th century.

The most visited tourist attraction in all of Norway is the Holmenkollen National Ski Arena. The arena hosts various World Cup Nordic skiing events each year, but what is an incredibly impressive sight is the ski jump. With a start gate at 60 meters above ground, it is the most modern ski jump in the world. Visiting in September or October? Adrenaline enthusiasts will want to schedule time to take the zipline from the start gate to the finish. It is an exhilarating and thrilling ride.

To know Norway is to get out and explore the countryside, and there is no better way to do it than to book a train ticket on the Oslo-to-Bergen line. Called the best train ride in the world, the seven-hour journey links Norway’s two main cities. The train climbs Europe’s highest mountainous plateau at 1,222 meters above sea level. Started in 1875, the line took 34 years to complete, utilizing 15,000 men who dug 182 tunnels. While on this journey, take a side trip on the Flåm Railway. On this 20-kilometer journey, you will climb steep mountainsides and view incredible waterfalls and ravines. There are several tour companies with packages that include a journey on the railway from Oslo to Flåm, a fjord cruise and transportation to Norway’s second biggest city, Bergen. While there, spend a couple of days exploring the quaint port city, home of composer Edvard Grieg, before taking the train back to Oslo.

Head north for an unparalleled experience above the Arctic Circle. Lofoten is a cluster of mountainous islands 100 kilometers off northern Norway’s coastline. In late fall through early spring, it is one of the best places in Scandinavia to view the Northern Lights. Most people, however, go to the islands for whale watching. From October through mid-January, head out on a tour boat and search for killer whales, sea eagles and seals.

Sweden

Sweden is the largest of the Scandinavian countries. Its capital, Stockholm, consists of 14 islands and more than 50 bridges and is frequently hailed as being the most beautiful capital in the world. The oldest and most visited of its neighborhoods is the Old Town, Gamla Stan.  It was the original Stockholm and today, this medieval neighborhood boasts cobblestone streets, trendy shops, and beautifully maintained 17th century buildings. A stop in Gamla Stan must include a visit to the Royal Palace. It is one of the largest in Europe with more than 600 rooms and several museums, which are open to the public. 

The Djurgârden neighborhood is not only Stockholm’s summer recreation area, but it is also the location for some of Stockholm’s most unique attractions. In 1628, the warship Vasa sank within a few minutes of its maiden voyage. In 1961, it was completely salvaged and reassembled. Today, a museum completely encases the original warship (more than 95 percent of the Vasa is its original structure). 

If you are a lover of ABBA, then you cannot miss the ABBA Museum. It has been designed to let you experience what it is really like to be part of the epic late 1970s rock group.  Or perhaps a literary tour is more your style? Make a stop at the Stockholm City Museum and register for the Stieg Larsson Millennium Tour. Based on the books from the creator of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” the walking tour allows you to follow in the footsteps of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander.

Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, claims that it is the gourmet seafood capital of the country. With five Michelin-starred restaurants, it is easy to support that claim. The food scene is vibrant here. Visit the Feskekörka, or Fish Church, a fabulous indoor seafood market housed in a structure that looks like a Gothic church. Take a lobster safari! The west coast islands are located only a short boat ride away, and many hotels offer packages including boat trips to catch your own lobster.

For more tips about living and traveling in Europe, check out our digital edition of Welcome to Europe on Stripes.com.