You want to head to Europe for your summer vacation, but the Olympics really aren't your thing. Where can you go to experience charm without competition? Here's a list of European hot spots that are fun without the frantic atmosphere.
Dalaman, Turkey
Dalaman is both a town and a district on the southwestern coast of Turkey. The district is home to many white sand beaches, perfect for some scenic relaxation. In the actual town of Dalaman is the Alexandria train station, which is not used. It was built by mistake in 1906 when the Khedive of Egypt mixed up his shipping routes for a train station that was intended for Egypt and a residence intended for Dalaman. Deciding that it was too expensive to reship the materials to their correct destinations, the train station was built in Turkey, but no train ever arrived.
Malaga, Spain
Located in sourthern Spain, it is the second-most populated city in the providence of Andalusia and the fifth-most populated in the country overall. As one of the oldest cities in the world, there's a lot of history to the town, visible in the Moorish and Roman architectural remains. There are also modern attractions, like small bodegas serving exquisite thimbles of wine. A Picasso exhibit pays homage to the painter that once called this was born in the city. To date, there is no Antonio Banderas Museum, although he was born there, too.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scottish capital is located in the southeast part of the country, and it's the second-most popular tourist spot in the United Kingdom. August would be a great time to visit because that's when the annual Edinburgh Festival begins, which doubles the population of the city. The Edinburgh Festival is a group of official and independent celebrations that lasts about a month. The four best-known festivals in the group are the Edinburgh Fringe, which is the largest performing-arts festival in the world; the Edinburgh International Festival; the Edinburgh Military Tattoo; and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The Hogmanay street party and the Beltane Fire Festival are also worth seeing.
Lisbon, Portugal
While you're in the national capital of Portual, you can go see the Jeronimos Monastery or the Belem Tower, both built in the 1500s. There are many museums to take in that showcase everything from art to design and fashion to tile -- yes, tile. There is a Coaches museum, too. If nature is more your thing, the city has an Oceanarium.
Athens, Greece
We know that Greece's economy is having a bit of trouble, so why not help them out by taking a trip there? If the grape leaves and baklavah don't tempt you, perhaps you'll find the monuments and history enticing. There are also beaches and nightlife to experience, so don't miss out!
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