What's On, May in Berlin

It’s here again, the start of May is just a few days away so we’re running through another list of the biggest events taking place in one of our favourite cities.  It’s the turn of Berlin this month and we’ve got some cracking listings for you.

Gallery Weekend Berlin; 2nd – 4th May

This event started in 2004 and has been running every year since.  On this weekend, over 50 galleries will throw open their doors to let people look, comment and buy some of the best contemporary art in the city.  As well as featuring some of the best known galleries in Berlin, some lesser known spots will open their doors.

The event draws in thousands of people every year from all over the globe.  For more information, take a look at the official website here.

Long Night of Museums; 17th May

For one night a year more than 100 museums and cultural institutions open their doors late into the night for people to get a closer look at paintings and installations.  As well as existing works, special performances are put on exclusively for people visiting that evening.

The night starts at 18:00 and ends at 02:00, with exhibits suitable for the whole family.  A shuttle bus service is provided to connect visitors to different parts of the city.  For more information visit the official website here.

Velothon – 18th May

The second largest bicycle race in Europe, the Velothon attracts more than 13,000 competitors and over 250,000 spectators.  Three different entry levels are available, ranging from 60km for beginners, to 120km for more ambitious cyclists.

The race starts and finishes at Brandenburger Tor and further details can be seen here

DMY – International Design Festival; 28th May – 1st June

This event aims to bring together creative thinkers in one place.  Held at the DMY gallery, the International Design festival is a melting pot for ideas brought together from creative minds across the globe.

Over a period of five days, people will have a chance to see the latest design trends and get to meet people they otherwise might have never had a chance to speak with.  For more information visit the DMY website here.

If you’re planning on visiting Berlin at all this month, make sure you download the TrippaBerlin guide before you go to get all the essential information on the best places to stay, eat, drink, see and shop.  If you’re not going to Berlin any time soon why don’t you download one of our other fantastic guides like Trippa Athens,Barcelona, Cardiff, London, Helsinki, Marseille,Palma,Oslo, Seville or Stockholm

Oslo Open 2014

It’s been quite some time since we’ve done a feature on the fine city of Oslo, but when we found out about Oslo Open 2014, we just had to write about it.  Oslo Open is an artist run festival established in 2000 by a number of major institutions to give artists a different way to show their work and a brand new opportunity to be discovered outside the established ways.  Oslo Open isn’t curated by anyone, which means the artwork you come across while you visit spans a broad range of genres and styles, providing an exciting and diverse experience like no other.

Over 410 artists will be taking part in this years event, throwing their studio doors open to the general public.  Oslo Open gives visitors a unique experience to have an informal meeting with artists to discuss their work and discover new aspects of the artwork in a way they may have never thought about before.  The exhibition gives you  chance to see artwork in it’s rawest form, before it ends up in a gallery and in a more intimate setting, where the art was actually created in the first place.

It’s not just studios that you’ll be able to explore, Oslo Open has signed Cinemateket up as a partner for the two days to provide visitors with a selection of some of the finest art films as selected by Rachel Dagnall.  Tori Wrånes, Anawana Haloba, Marte Aas and Mattias Härenstam are just some of the names you can expect to see at Cinemateket and later visit in the studio to discuss what you thought of the films and other artwork.

If you’re going to be visiting with the kids, pop along to the BOO! Children’s Open Oslo for workshops produced by Oslo Open artists for children and young people to get involved with.

Oslo Open is completely free and runs from the 26th – 27th of April.  For more information take a look at the official Oslo Open website here.

If you do decide to make the trip to Oslo this weekend make sure you download the Trippa Oslo guide before you go to get all the essential information on the best places to stay, eat, drink, see and shop.  If you’re not going to Oslo any time soon why don’t you download one of our other fantastic guides like Trippa Athens,Barcelona, Berlin, Cardiff,London, Helsinki, Marseille,Palma, Seville or Stockholm

Helsinki in Easter 2014

It’s the Easter holiday weekend coming up, normally a good indicator that spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner.  Generally people will try and get away for a few days or do those few unfinished jobs around the house or get started on a new project.  If you’re planning on the (much more fun) getting away option and haven’t booked anything yet, why not take a look at Helsinki.

Starting on April 18th at 9pm watch a procession which begins in Kaisaniemi Park and culminates on the steps of Helsinki Cathedral.

The following day at Seurasaari Island holds the lighting of Easter Bonfires.  These bonfires are traditionally lit to ward off bad spirits.  Children dress up as trolls with teapots and brooms and there is a whole spectacle taking place.  The programme for the evening starts at 18:00 and the bonfires will be lit at 18:30.  For more information take a look at the full programme here.

If you’re with the Kids and they want to see something extra special, go to Helsinki Zoo to see all the newborn animals that bring in the new season.  The kids (or the adults, depending on how you’re feeling) will also get the chance to feed the animals at Helsinki Zoo Theatre.  The zoo is open for most of the weekend, but take a look at the website here for more information about the programme over the weekend.

If you’re not with the kids and fancy something a bit more refined, head to UMO Jazz Orchestra’s Silent Music Easter concert.  Legendary saxophonist Jukka Perko features as soloist and the night is sure to be one to remember.  It will be held at Mikael Agricola Church on April 18 at 18:00.  Information on how to get tickets and a preview of what you can expect can be found here

So those are our tips for an Easter Weekend to remember in Helsinki. Make sure you download the Trippa Helsinki guide before you go to get all the essential information on the best places to stay, eat, drink, see and shop.  If you’re not going to Helsinki soon why don’t you download one of our other fantastic guides like Trippa Athens,Barcelona, Berlin, Cardiff,London, Marseille, Oslo, Palma, Seville or Stockholm

Top Five San Sebastian Sights

As well as working on Trippa Paris these last few weeks, we've also really quietly been working on another project - Trippa San Sebastian.  One of the five most popular tourist destinations in Spain, San Sebastian is a beautiful coastal city in the Bay of Biscay.  We’re planning on launching Trippa San Sebastian before the end of May, but while you wait here’s a guide to the five best sights the city has to offer.

Mount Urgull

This little mountain in the north east side of the old town has a castle with a chapel at the top and statue of the Sacred Heart on top of that. It can be accessed from different entrances spread around the base of the hill and the top can be reached by following different paths with signs explaining the buildings and the rich history surrounding the area.

You could easily spend hours exploring the area, learning about the history of the different conflicts that have taken place around Mount Urgull.  Alternatively if you just want to sit and admire the view of the bay, head to the museum and walk through to the base of the statue, it’s fantastic on a sunny day.

Mount Igeldo

Whereas Urgull is on the north east, you’ll find Igeldo to the north west of San Sebastian.  Boasting probably a better view, it also attracts more tourists, many of which come for the theme park which sits at the peak.  Adrenaline junkies don’t get too excited about the theme park though, it’s over 100 years old and is more of a novelty experience.

You can get up Igeldo by car or bus, but we’d recommend the funicular train, it’s only a couple of Euros and you get a fantastic view as you ascend the climb

Parte Vieja/Alde Zaharra

San Sebastians old town, although the city walls were demolished in 1863, you can still clearly see what makes up Old Town and what doesn’t.  If you want to properly see the history of San Sebastian, head towards 31 de Agosto street for the oldest houses in the city and San Vicente church (16th century) or the Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro (18th century).

Bahía de La Concha

La Concha (The Seashell) is the most famous urban beach in Spain and the bay formed between the mounts Urgull and Igeldo, with the isle of Santa Clara in the middle. It's a really charming 2 mile walk starting at Paseo Nuevo, across the port, following the City Hall, Paseo de la Concha, Miramar palace, Ondarreta beach and finishing at El Peine Del Viento. During the nights, the streetlights give it a special elegance as they illuminate the walk. It may look insignificant, but the white railing surrounding the Concha beach is considered one of the symbols of the city.

Peine del Viento

A set of three iron sculptures hammered onto the rocks, designed by Eduardo Chillida next to a square built by the architect Luis Peña Gantxegi. The name translates to ‘comb of the wind’, which makes quite a lot of sense really, looking at the sculptures.  The square itself sits above the sea, so when the waves get a bit fierce, holes in the floor create little geysirs that spurt up out of the ground.

So there you have it, the best sights San Sebastian has to offer.  The finished guide will launch with a whole stack more than that as well so keep your eyes open for more details. If you’re not planning a trip to San Sebastian any time soon but are planning on getting away, why not take a look at one of our other smart city guides like Trippa Athens,Barcelona, Berlin, Cardiff, Helsinki, London, Marseille, Oslo, Palma, Seville or Stockholm