From Barcelona to Berlin

Our globetrotting continues! We've written about the best sights, hotels and restaurants in Barcelona, handed the project over to the developers and have jetted off to our next location - Berlin!

These are exciting times for Trippa - we have a number of apps in development, with Oslo and Stockholm nearly ready and Barcelona going into the final stages. So seeing as us writers have finished our work, we see no reason not to discover the best of one of Europe's largest cities!

Famous for the wall which separated the Eastern Bloc from the Western powers during the Cold War, the rise and of Hitler's Third Reich earlier in the 20th Century and for being the capital city of one of Europe's largest and most powerful nations, Berlin is one of the continent's most high profile cities.

With such a rich history, as the world's main antagonist for much of the 20th Century and as one of the flourishing nations in modern Europe, Germany's capital has plenty to see and do, with an illustrious national story displayed in its monuments, museums and memorials.

The city isn't all wallowing in the astonishing past though. Berlin is a thriving metropolis, the epicentre of Modernity and  a fantastic destination for those wanting a luxurious, stylish city break.

An international hub for high tech industry, Berlin enjoys a very creative atmosphere which trickles down to all walks of life. We're working hard to capture that creativity and the ubercool style of Berlin, from the best hotels and bars to the most interesting sights and shops.

Keep an eye out for our newest travel destinations, check out the apps we've published so far - like Trippa Athens - and most of all, go and see the world and take Trippa along with you. Let us show you the very best of the world's most stylish cities. If we haven't been somewhere you think we should, let us know on twitter!

Photo Credit: Luke,Ma

We've had a busy month, because we've started work for Trippa Barcelona!

The Catalan city is one of Europe's best places to visit, with the sun shining and stuff going on all year round!

Currently, the city's summer festival is in full swing. Festival Grec is now in its 37th year and attracts visitors from all over the world as one of the highlights of the European performing arts calendar.

These days, Festival Grec takes over the whole city, with events from the Gothic Quarter to Mount Montjuic. The latter is where the festival originates, in the Teatre Grec (Greek Theatre) from which the festival takes its name.

Originally built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition, the amphitheatre Teatre Grec is now the main venue for Barcelona's summer arts festival, but festivities have spread into the rest of the city as the event has grown in size and stature.

This year sees all the theatre, dance, music and circus acts perform in the city once again. The festival started, as it always does, with Sala Montjuic - a one night open air film festival on the side of the mountain. After the opening ceremony and the film festival, a programme of more than 75 events around Barcelona kicked off, celebrating the cultural diversity of the Catalan capital.

Most of the performances are in Spanish and Catalan, but that won't stop you from enjoying some of the beautiful music or magnificent street performances. 

If you are in Barcelona, keep a look out for Festival Grec before it finishes at the end of the month. You probably won't have to look very hard - festival fever has taken over and the city has come together to celebrate summer!

Keep an eye out for Trippa Barcelona in the near future! In the mean time, take a look at our travel guide app destinations and see if there's one for where you're going. Alternatively, use it for a bit of inspiration for your next holiday, then download the app and let Trippa show you around!

Photo credit: Josep Anzar

Tasty Treats at Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival!

The sun is shining in Cardiff and everyone in the city is eagerly anticipating the opening of the first Urban Beach in beautiful Cardiff Bay. But before 300 tonnes of sand covers Roald Dahl Plass, the city's huge event space in front of the Wales Millennium Festival will play host to the annual Wales International Food and Drink Festival, part of Cardiff Festival 2013!

Cardiff is a great city for soaking up the sun in beautiful spaces whilst sampling some delicious food and great drinks. Weather you're sitting in the sun enjoying a post-rugby pint in the centre of town, or enjoying a meal on a cool evening outside one of the Bay's many fantastic restaurants, you can't deny that Cardiff provides a stunning location to feast your eyes and your belly.

Cardiff's combination of multiculturalism and a proud capital of a nation of food lovers makes it the perfect host to an international food festival. You'll be able to take a stroll around the waterfront just feet away from the Oval Basin, which will be jam packed with stalls and tents, offering samples of the finest foods from around the world.

The foods Wales is famous for will be represented, with traditional style. Quality Welsh lamb, Welsh Cakes and seaside delicacies will be on offer next to farmhouse cheeses, specialist liqueurs and samples of Mediterranean food indicative of Cardiff's place as an up and coming European capital.

Not only will you be able to sample the foods from local producers, but you'l be able to take it home after visiting the Farmer's Market or the Producer's Fayre. Relax in the summer sun on the Food Piazza for a delicious lunch alongside the city's foodies. We'll probably be there, as the event takes place just across the road from the Trippa offices! We can't wait!

If you fancy sticking around til after dark, the best restaurants in the city are just around the corner on the fabulous Mermaid Quay. The Festival is an absolute must for food lovers, providing a whole week's worth of outstanding food and drink. Treat your taste buds and sample everything you can. The beautiful surroundings will provide a treat for the rest of your senses!

To get more information on the best of Cardiff, download Trippa Cardiff! It's the most downloaded guide to the wonderful Welsh capital in the app store, because no-one knows our city like we do!

Here's a sneak peak: Fuglen, Oslo

Here's a sneak peak at some of the things you can expect from our Oslo app, which is coming soon!

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Tucked amongst Oslo’s University buildings and the nearby office blocks, just a five minute walk from the Royal Palace, sits Fuglen – one of the most stylish coffee shops in the world. So well respected is Fuglen that they have expanded internationally, opening another boutique location in Tokyo, Japan.

Fuglen – meaning “Bird” – isn’t just a coffee shop though. Its style emanates from the fact that it is also one of Norway’s best cocktail bars and a vintage design shop. The whole space is an exhibition of classic Nordic design and a celebration of doing simple things very well.  

During the day, you can buy hot drinks from some of the world’s best baristas, or buy coffee by the pound. At 7pm every day except Sunday, Fuglen transforms into a cocktail bar, led by award winning bartenders creating a mix of traditional and novel drinks for everyone from students, businesspeople and globetrotters. A classy environment to enjoy outstanding drinks crafted with love, day and night.  Prices are very reasonable too, with the most expensive coffee – a double mocha – leaving you with change from a fiver.

All the furniture and interior decoration of this beautiful little vintage cafe is for sale. Everything is designed in the classic 50s/60s Nordic style, and the coffee shop takes inspiration from this. If an object or piece of furniture really catches your eye, you can buy it! Fuglen is so well-regarded in terms of style that it received the coveted “Mark for Good Design” from the Norwegian Design Council - an accolade which cements its place as one of Oslo’s most fashionable venues.

Photo Credit: nalundgaard