Six Nations Rugby In Cardiff

Rugby fans will already be well aware, but this weekend the Six Nations kicks off in Cardiff. It's Wales v Italy at the Millennium Stadium. If you're coming from anywhere else inside Wales, from Italy or even from England, Scotland Ireland or France for the game, you'll want to know what's best to get up to in the Welsh capital before and after the big game. We've put together a couple of tips for you.

Eat

Everyone needs to eat, the best place to get a bite to eat before the game would probably be one of the many bars that serves food in the city. Cosy Club is an excellent venue right in the heart of Cardiff which would probably be your best bet. If however you don't have a ticket and want somewhere you can get some food, a few drinks and watch the game try Buffalo Bar on the other side of town.

After the game there's only one place to go - Chippy Lane. This street full of almost exclusively chip and kebab shops is the best place to get some food at 1 in the morning.

Nightlife

If you want a few pre- or post- game drinks then you should head to Womanby Street. Running parallel to the Stadium, you won't be disappointed by the selection of bars. Urban Tap House serves a selection of fine Welsh and International craft beers while the City Arms, Clwb Ifor Bach and the Moon Club are all good spots to spend a few hours.

Once you’ve had a few drinks and you’re looking for more of a nightclub vibe, head across to Mill Lane or up St Mary’s Street for the biggest (but probably most expensive) venues in the city.  

Shopping

If you're actually not that bothered about the sport but wanted to come along to Cardiff, you might want to check out Cardiffs top shopping options. St Davids was the largest shopping centre to open in Europe in 2009 and stays as one of the country's top shopping spots. More designer names than we could possibly mention.

If you're more a fan of the niche, try one of the legendary arcades around Cardiff. Full of boutique stores selling quality goods, you won't be disappointed

That’s just a small selection of what you could get up to in Cardiff this weekend, for full details of the best shopping destinations, nightlife spots, places to eat and sights to see download Trippa Cardiff for iPhone here and Android devices here.

Henrik Vibskov at Helsinki's Design Museum

Trippa Helsinki was published late last week, it’s the best free guide to Helsinki city available for iPhone and we can’t wait for you to download it and let us know what you think.  To celebrate the launch of our latest guide we’re taking a look at an exhibition which is happening in one of the 20+ sights we’ve included in the guide.

The main exhibition at the Design Museum this Spring, Henrik Vibskov shows us his creative process and allows us to exlore his brilliant world.  A true pioneer of the Danish fashion Industry this Vibskov exhibition is a must see for anyone interested in fashion and design.

Originating from the Danish Countryside, Vibskov graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2001, since then he has created over 20 collections, becoming one of the most important Nordic fashion designers the world round.  Designing both men's and women's clothes, he also creates collections of playfully styled, fashionable accessories.  Vibskov is also known for his visual art installations which frequently act as the sets for his own and other designers fashion shows.

Curator of Design Museum, Suvi Saloniemi commented on the exhibition to say “Our aim is to bring the unique world of Henrik Vibskov to be studied by the public,”she adds. “We want to delve inside the head of this designer. Sometimes we display only the results of a designer’s work, but with Vibskov we will show the endless abundance of his ideas and the machinery of his creativity. The exhibition is above all a celebration of creativity and creative thinking.

The exhibition will focus mainly on Vibskovs latest solo work and exhibition "Neck Plus Ultra" which has been on tour in Paris and Copenhagen during 2013.  You will also have the opportunity to see an installation piece which was used at the Paris Fashion Week earlier in the month.

The exhibition opens it’s doors on the 24th of January and runs until the 11th of May. Entry is charged at the standard Design Museum rate of €10.  This will also get you entry to the other temporary exhibition running at the same time, Shop Show which is aimed to educate people on the long term effects of their consumer habits.  For more information about the show and for directions, take a look at the Design Museum website here.

If you’re thinking about taking a trip to the Finnish Capital, you can download our guide fromiTunes today.  If you’re thinking about taking a trip somewhere else then why not take a look at one of our other guides like Trippa Cardiff, Trippa Berlin,Trippa Stockholm, Trippa Barcelona or Trippa Oslo.

Top Five Paris Sights

Our guide to Helsinki is almost ready to be published (it's been submitted to Apple and they just need to publish it now) and Trippa London is pretty much there as well.  We announced last week that we'll be covering Paris next, with Trippa Paris being launched in a couple of months time!  As we always do when announcing a new destination we're going to take a look at the top five sights that city has to offer.

Eiffel Tower

The most iconic building in all of Paris, the Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1889.  It's the tallest man made structure in Paris and gives an excellent view across the whole of the city.  Our recommendation would be to visit at night when the tower is illuminated.

Arc de Triomphe

Sat at the end of the Champs-Élysées, the Arch of Triumph was built as a tribute to the the soldiers that died in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars.  You can walk around the base to see engravings and sculptures or climb to the viewing platform and look down one of the most famous streets in the world.

Notre Dame

Probably the most famous Church buildings in the world (this probably has a lot to do with the Victor Hugo novel and Disney film about a certain Hunchback who lived here.) You can walk through the cathedral building and see the fantastic stained windows and 7,374 pipe organ or climb to the top of the stairs to come face to face with the city's scariest gargoyles.

Basilica du Sacré Cœur

Found at the highest point in the city (butte Montmartre) this 100 year old building has pletny to see inside.  Photographs are prohibitted though with militant security checking on you as you walk around.  You can pay €6 to climb to the top of the tower for the best view back across Paris, or just stand at the top of the steps for not a bad look back.

Moulin Rouge

Founded in 1889, this cabaret house close to Montmartre is the spiritual birthplace of the can-can dance and the setting for the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film of the same name.  You'll find it easily, just look for the red windmill on the roof.

Those were our top five favourite sights in Paris, keep your eyes peeled for the launch of this which will be in the next month or two.  In the mean time if you’re off on a little trip away then why not take a look at one of our other smart city guides like Trippa Cardiff, Trippa Berlin,Trippa Stockholm, Trippa Barcelona or Trippa Oslo.

What's on, January in Berlin

Happy 2014, just like the start of every month we've been out for a look at the best events one of our favourite European cities has to offer, this month we're looking at the German capital - Berlin to see what it has to offer on what is normally one of the quietest months of the year.

Berlin Fashion Week  - 14th to 19th January

Every January and July, Berlin becomes the home of international fashion when it holds Berlin Fashion Week.  During the event, fashion enthusiasts, fashion fans buyers from some of the worlds biggest companies and members of the fashion media gather at various locations across Berlin.  For more information, click on the link above for more information.

International Green Week – 17th to 26th January

We like to cover a wide range of events, so going from fashion to food, International Green Week Berlin started in 1926 and is running for the 79th time in 2014.  This one of a kind exhibition of food, agricultural and horticultural industries makes for an excellent day out for anyone with even a passing interest in going green, living green or eating green.  Over 1500 exhibitors will be there from over 65 countries around the world selling produce from spirits to seeds and everything in between.  Follow the link above for more information

 Berlin Six Day Race – 23rd to 28th January

A six day long race in Berlin's famous Velodrom.  The event has an assortment of competitions including the traditional, international “pacemaker race”, a derny and a sprint race.  Amateurs from around the world get the chance to compete against seasoned pros.  If you want to spectate (it's a bit late to enter now) follow the link above for tickets and more information.

Transmediale – 28th January – 2nd February

For fans of things slightly different, Transmediale is an annual event which takes a particular topic and allows that to shape the scope of events that take place over the week.  This festival for media, art and digital culture first started just before the Millennium in 1999 and has been running every year since.  The theme for this years events is Afterglow, for more information and to buy tickets visit the link above.

So that was our run through of Berlin in 2014, if you like the sound of any of these events then make sure you download Trippa Berlin to guide you through the best hotels, sights, restaurants and shops the city has to offer.

Photo Credit -  logy by Vanessa Gageos, photo by Benoit Piccand

Europe's Best Christmas Markets

Berlin

Every year thousands of people head to Germany for the Christmas atmosphere.  The best place to catch Berlin's Christmas spirit though is Weihnachtszauber at the Gendarmenmarkt.  Right in the centre of three popular monuments, you can't go far wrong with this popular destination.

Open every day until 31st December from 11:00 – 22:00, entrance costs 1 euro.

Cardiff

Located right in the centre of Cardiff Town, at the Hayes, Cardiff Christmas market is an excellent place to go and pick up gifts for your loved ones.

Open every day until 23rd December from 10:00 – 17:30 (20:00 on Thursdays), entrance is free.

London

London is just one of those places people love to be around Christmas, the usual rushed, hustle and bustle feel to the city slows down and people revel in Christmas cheer.  The one located at the Southbank Centre is a German themed market selling selling an assortment of hand crafted gifts and glasses of Glühwein to keep you warm.

Open every day until 24th December from 11:00 – 21:00 (22:00 on Saturdays), entrance is free.

Reykjavik

Where better to be at Christmas than the worlds most northerly city.  Reykjavik Market is only open on the weekends but a fire in the middle of the square, Christmas Carols and an abundance of Christmassy feelings will give you that extra special time of year.

Only open again on the 21st and 22nd of December from 11:00 – 16:00, entry is free.

Stockholm

Open since 1915 (well annually, it does close in between seasons) the little red stalls in Gamla Stan sell warm “glögg”, gingerbread, cheese, sweets and craft.

Open every day until the 24th December 11:00 – 17:00, entry is free

Oslo

In the middle of Oslo (Spikersuppa) you can find this sweet and small Christmas market, suitable for kids and adults.  Selling an assortment of toys, sweets and alcoholic beverages, the whole family is guaranteed to have a good time.

Open every day until the 22nd December 11:00 – 19:00 (18:00 on Sundays), entrance is free.

Other markets can be found in all of these cities and even in our other destination cities you’ll find a really good selection, these are just the ones we’ve picked as the best; have fun shopping!

Photo via: Mark Turner