Seoul, South Korea’s Economic Powerhouse

Seoul can be considered the soul of South Korea’s economy. It houses several of the world’s largest corporations such as Samsung Electronics, LG, Kia and Hyundai Motors. With a population of over 25 million, this city is perpetually busy. Below are some of the reasons that make Seoul an amazing tourist destination. You can check this Seoul Travel Guide and Offline City Map & Metro for more information as well.

Amazing Food

Korean cuisine offers a unique and amazing experience. Seoul’s most famous dish is its Korean Barbecue. It involves fresh cuts of pork or beef that is grilled right at the center of your table. An order comes with unlimited portions of side dishes that typically include fresh vegetables, soups, sauces, and a variety of condiments. Most Korean dishes also come with Kimchi – spicy fermented cabbage. Ingredients are mostly locally grown. A variety of other iconic Korean dishes are served in the city. Just remember that almost all Korean dishes are in the spicy side.

Fascinating Culture

South Korean culture is extraordinary, particularly how deeply respect is valued. Instead of a handshake, Koreans give a proper bow to greet someone, even a stranger. They also give and accept things using both hands to show sincerity and politeness. Koreans are also quite cheerful but become extremely dedicated and focused when at work.

Thriving Nightlife

Seoul is a city that never sleeps with a hectic nightlife. A night of fun in Seoul often involves drinking Soju – Korean rice wine. Soju is in fact the most popular liquor in the world selling more than 70 million cases in 2016. You can choose to relax and chill while drinking with friends, dance at a nightclub, or rent a karaoke booth. Gangnam, Itaewon, and Hongdae are the city’s premier entertainment districts where almost all establishments remain open until sunrise.

Tech-savvy Innovations

Korea seems a few years ahead in technology compared to the rest of the world, and Seoul is its most technologically advanced city. Streets remain bright throughout the night thanks to an overabundance of neon lights that even Vegas can’t compare with. Almost every building has a huge LED flat screen mounted on the wall. Various electronic gadgets are sold everywhere. And the speed and availability of its Wi-Fi is unmatched by any other city in the world.

Decided to pay Seoul a visit? Let eTips assist you on your travel.

Visit Bern, the Swiss Capital!

When tourists talk about Switzerland the most common topics are Geneva and Zurich. Often overlooked is the nation’s capital, Bern. Below are a few reasons to visit Bern. And when you do go and visit Bern, make sure to have this app ready: Bern Travel Guide and Offline City Map. It will make your exploration easier.

1. The BearPark

The BearPark, which was recently renovated in 2015, is one of the best places in the world when it comes to observing bears in their natural habitat. It is located just outside Old Town so you can make it the first item in your itinerary to get yourself pumped up by a few bear encounters. It has an area for bears to swim and relax and an inclined lift for visitors.

So sweet! Bern BearPark!

2. The Rosengarten

Just a short 10-minute uphill walk from the BearPark is another Park named Rosengarten. The Rose Garden gives you the best aerial view of Bern and is also home to a wide variety of roses. The park also has its own restaurant aptly named Restaurant Rosengarten where you can dine while enjoying a view of the city.

3. Old Town

Bern’s Old Town is like a bear city. You will see bears everywhere such as bear decorations in shop windows, bear carvings in residential houses, etc. You can’t walk five minutes without spotting a new bear. The cobblestone streets and fountains are a thing of beauty. If you are too lazy to walk, there is also a tram that runs throughout Old Town. There are two places you should never forget to check out while in old town:

• Zytglogge – the city’s landmark clock tower where mechanical figures come out to celebrate the arrival of each new hour.
• Bern Münster – the country’s tallest cathedral with a towering height of 300 feet.
• Old Town Park – offers the best view of the sunset.

Amazing Bern Old Town View

4. The Einstein Museum

Albert Einstein, one of the most renowned geniuses in the world, came up with his famous formula E = mc 2 and a huge portion of his Theory of Relativity during his two-year stay at Bern from 1903 to 1905. The Einstein Museum has a section of 1,000 square meters dedicated solely for Einstein. You can also visit the apartment where Einstein stayed which is just a few minutes away from the Museum.

Do yourself a favor and bring with you a virtual map of the city you are visiting. You can get the best travel guides from eTips.

Travel Basics in London

Awesome modern London skyline

If you're coming to London for the first time London Travel Guide and Offline City Map & Metro Support has some important things for you to remember and save yourself a little bit of embarrassment and make your trip to London easier.

The Brits drive on the left side of the road. Now, if you're not driving this may not seem like a big deal but actually when you're crossing the street that's when it's the scariest. Luckily the smarties in London put markings on the ground at every single crossing telling you literally if you should look left or look right, so make sure that when you're going to cross the street- you look down to see which way you should look.

Next is, if you decide to go to a pub and order yourself a beer or a cider, which I definitely recommend you do, you'll need to order by the pint. It's about 20 oz of drink. Remember that a lot of English beers and ciders are stronger than in America so just be careful when you're drinking. When you get the bill, double check to see if there was a service charge added on because usually this is around 12.5% if there is a service charge added.

England uses the pound, as its currency makes up one pound and if you ever hear someone saying quid, this is just a slang word for pound. The smallest note you can get is 5 pounds- there's no one pound note here.

You should try Oyster card. There are two different kinds of Oyster cards you can get, one is called a Visitor's Oyster Card that you can only get this if you order it ahead of time and get it delivered to your house or you can get a regular Oyster card which you can pick up at tons of shops around London. To use either of these Oyster cards, you need to top them up which means you add credit to the card as you start to use the underground and the bus system. Your credit will decrease and you'll have to top it up more and more if you're going to be traveling a lot.

Enjoy the beautiful dusk of London

Having an Oyster card is really good because the rates are a lot cheaper than if you paid cash and they have a daily cap which means, once you've reached a certain amount of money that you've spent, that's it and the rest of your travel is free for the day.

Classic English double decker buses are really fun to ride around on, if you can grab a seat on the top and especially in the front of the bus, it's really cool! To get on a bus all you have to do is tap your Oyster card at the front of the bus and that's it, you don't have to tap out.

If you need to change your cash into pounds then you'll probably get the best rate at the post office. Be careful taking black taxis because they can be really expensive and they get really expensive without you noticing. If you can't take public transport, use Uber all the time. They're all over the place!

Those are just few important things you should know before you come to London for the first time! Make sure that you read more of our eTips guidelines to know more places          all around the world!

Cheese hoarder? Amsterdam has it all!

A good start in your first Amsterdam adventure is to visit Borrel and Dutch, a wine or drinks store. Well a popular dutch invention is gin, and at the Wynand Fockink, a taste room located in a back alley at Dam Square you can taste many popular gins. If you want to see the best attractions and get around this glorious European city! Our Amsterdam Travel Guide and Offline City Map Support can surely help you.

Awesome Amsterdam canals and architecture

Here’s more of it:

Walking through the red light district, you’ll find Cafe Remember, it’s one cool place to stay but you usually don't find many locals at the red light district because they consider this place very touristy and try to stay far away from it.

Recently the Museum of Prostitution opened its doors. It is the first Museum in the world that is focused on prostitution. There is also the famous Vrolik Museum, it's a museum in the academic medical center of Amsterdam and has the largest collection of human deformities in one place.

Next stop is the Canal House Museum, a totally breathtaking place which is an old house by a banker, a dutch bank. Most of these houses were built for wealthy bankers and merchants, the soil was so swampy that they had to build them on stilts and that caused them to wobble and sink into the river. The Hermitage Museum is primarily visited by a mature audience, you will find here the Dutch Golden Age where in the 17th century, Amsterdam was the center of all the international trade. That is why the Dutch invented the modern stock market. Many rich Dutchman had their paintings created by now famous painters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and France Hals.

You can also step-into the museum of the most famous Dutch painter Van Gogh. It has 1.5 million visitors per year and the best time to go is on Friday evening when you can enjoy live DJ’s, an art show and some drinks!

Another hidden gem in Amsterdam is the Blue 360 restaurant, the place is hard to find but offers the best view of the city. It opens late so you can even experience a romantic sunset.

In a nearby place, is the authentic cheese store. This place is called   the Cheese Company, where you can try a sample of all the delicious Dutch cheeses. Their total cheese production is 30 million pounds per week which is the combined milk of 20,000 cows.

Say Cheese Amsterdam way!!!

Now, that’s about it. Know more about different places before traveling! Get some eTips guidelines!

You will surely love Philadelphia!

The Pennsylvanian city is home to over one and a half million people and is the nation's fifth largest city. Philadelphia is considered to be the birthplace of the United States. It was here that the nation's Declaration of Independence from Britain was first read publicly back in 1776.

The tolling of a two-thousand-pound bell marked the occasion. The bell has since become a symbol of freedom and can be admired in the Liberty Bell Center.

Philadelphia's Famous Liberty Bell

Our Philadelphia Travel Guide and Offline City Map Support will surely help travelers to this country!

Well here are some good-to-know things before going around Philly!

Philadelphia is also the birthplace of the Constitution, which was debated eleven years later across the road in the State House, which is now the Independence Hall. America's Founding Fathers walked these Old City streets, and the many heritage buildings in this area are preserved as part of the Independence National Historical Park.

Take an audio tour to hear gripping stories that bring the world-famous jail back to life.

To hear more voices from the city's past, head to the African American Museum. Its audiovisual projections and artifact collection are aimed at preserving the heritage of African Americans.

Within Washington Square lies The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution. The city's colonial past is still apparent, but nowadays Philadelphia is a modern city, with plenty of art, shopping and culture. Do as locals do and explore the city by bike or public transport, or hop on and off a sightseeing bus.

Fairmount Park is the city's public backyard. It's great for a walk and it showcases many architectural treasures. Admire outdoor art on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, or check out the Smith Memorial Arch, dedicated to the military heroes of the Civil War. Strike Rocky's pose on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Set upon a hill, the neoclassical building is one of the largest museums in the country.

Amazing Philadelphia Museum of Art!

It has over 200 themed galleries displaying nearly 230,000 paintings, sculptures and objects.

The Please Touch Museum means play time for the kids. Even toddlers will love this hands-on museum, where they are never hushed.

Who doesn't want to get lost in Wonderland for a while?

The interactive displays in the museum are fun and educational. Children can also learn a great deal in the Academy of Natural Sciences on Logan Square. Admire the displays of the various species that roam the far North and take the opportunity to pet live animals.

To sample the local food, head straight to the old Reading Terminal Market. Find out why the locals love their Cheese steaks so much, or handpick deli treats from the colorful stalls. For more culinary discoveries visit Philadelphia's Italian Market on Ninth Street.

Philadelphia's climate is very pleasant in springtime and fall. Those colorful seasons bring out the best of the city, but it's fair to say that Philadelphia is stunning all year around.

Come to Philly any time you like!

Visit our eTips site to know more about places you will surely love to visit!

First time in Hong Kong?

It is a one of a kind place known as the shopping paradise of Asia. You wouldn’t want to miss its outstanding nightlife, international cuisine, and a number of festivals. Some travelers try Hong Kong first to explore their being as a jetsetter. But take note, it’s one of the world’s most expensive cities to live in. So expect cozy restaurants and hotels around. Check out our Hong Kong Travel Guide and Offline City Map Support to know more about this well-known urbanized country and be surprised that there’s really a lot to explore here!

Enjoy Hong Kong Beautiful Skyline

Here are our top 5 things-to-do:

Clock Tower

A 44-meters gigantic old Clock Tower built in 1915 as part of Kowloon-Canton Railway.It has served as a memorable infrastructure, located near Victoria Harbour. It is formed with red bricks and granite where the top of the tower can be reached by a wooden staircase.

Temple Street

If you are fond of visiting markets, well, this is Hong Kong’s busiest place to visit at night. A usual crowded market yet it is where you’d find stalls with various affordable merchandise, clothing, gadgets etc., It is a good place to load up cheap Chinese jewelries, bags, and more souvenirs.

Golden Bauhinia Square

Bauhinia is considered as the emblem of the country, and is an open area in Wan Chai.In history, this place is a landmark made to commemorate the handing over of Hong Kong to China from British rule. Now, it is one of the main tourist attractions where you can also witness the daily flag raising ceremony except on the first day of each month. A good place to take photos!

Victoria Peak

It is a mountain in the Western hald of Hong Kong Island. Riding the Peak Tram is the easiest way to get at The Peak. It offers a panoramicview of Hong Kong which is also makes it as one of its popular attractions.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

This temple is a major tourist attraction dedicated to the Great Immortal Wong. Considered a home to three religions - Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. It was established in 1921, and is now a must place to visit by different travellers- it showcases it’s colorful surroundings and award-winning pavilions.

Wonders of Hong Kong. Travel to Hong Kong

There are countless things to do in this country. This guide can help you experience a glimpse of what Hong Kong can offer. Visit eTips for more travel information!

Pack your things and say kon'nichiwa Tokyo, Japan!

Sit down and get to know our etips guide to have a smooth travel in one of the largest cities around the globe! It’s a pretty interesting place and you have to be prepared with all the fun-to-do things in this always on top destination among travelers. Our eTips guide will help you learn about some things with this bright and colourful city!

Cafe’s to visit

Hunt for the unusual yet fun places to relax in these themed cafés such as the robot restaurant, cat café, owl café, reptiles café, ninja, and the Alice in wonderland café. Yes, they are weird but you will surely enjoy every moment!

Foods to eat

You won’t regret to try eating the most popular foods cooked from the local. Try getting some Kushiyaki, Tonkatsu, Sushi, Tamagoyaki and their ever famous ramen.

Enjoy the exquisite Tokyo cuisine

Don Quijote

It’s a marketplace in Tokyo that is extremely busy and is where you will find almost everything you need from food, cosmetics, to gadgets. It’s open 24-hours a day, but the best time to visit is around 9 AM and 9 at night onwards.

Visit Tokyo, visit Asakusa

Yoyogi Park

The most interesting, well lighted, and largest green area in Tokyo. It is located in Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo.There, you will find the Meiji shrine, which is a place for spiritual relazation, yoga or cleansing.

Ginza

It’s a luxury and entertaining district which is the largest in Japan. Known to have huge establishments including brands from all over the world. You may want to spend your time in an outdoor café during your weekends or shop around the famous stores like Cartier, Apple, Uniqlo, Adidas, or Sanyo.

You’ll get a handful of things to do anywhere in Tokyo, and a week visit isn’t really enough to get into the places it is most proud of. Above details for first time travellers are highlights of what Tokyo can provide to your trip. It has always been one of the dream countries of travellers because of the people, culture, interesting boutiques, and many unforgettable sceneries. Check Tokyo Travel Guide and Offline City Map Support to remind yourself of our quick tips for Tokyo travellers!

One of the most romantic places on earth, Barcelona

Who will not fall in love with one of the most romantic places on earth, from the various performances in the street, the art and music, wonderful people, laid-back lifestyle, breathtaking architecture and a bunch of activities around- oh man! This is where you can spend the best time of your life. Barcelona is a gigantic destination that offers a lot to tourists. Our eTips travel guide will give you some highlights of this city with near-limitless options!

Restaurant

No Barcelona trip is complete without dining at their restaurants. The ever famous tapas is likely to be found in almost all restaus including paella, esqueixada, escalivada, and canelons- are just some foods you must try.Well known places to eat are in Can Solé, El Atril, Kaiku, Quimet i Quimet and Bracafe are most recommended!

Barcelona most romantics restaurants! Try Paella!

Museum

Plenty of art collections that span the medieval times to the 1990’s are prominent in the city, but if you are on a short vacation you won’t be able to visit all 70!Yes, seriously!Aside from the famous attractions including Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, don’t forget to include Picasso masterpieces, The Renaissance and Baroque Art Collection includes works by Titian, Tintoretto, Cranach, and the Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) which are indeed historical. Some famous art modernist collections are Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol, Gaudi, Josep Maria Jujol, Picasso, and Pablo Gargallo.

Park Güell one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona

Market

La Boqueria, a food market like no other, is a tourist landmark in Catalonia that will definitely encourage you to come back in Barcelona! It’s a very busy place and is absolutely crammed with diverse selection of foods such as olives, seafood, fruit, meats, and cheeses. The hustle and bustle around here are things you really wouldn’t want to miss!

Park

Of course, visiting Barcelona won’t be complete without getting a good hotel and to discover the place on foot. You'll want to see all the Parc de la Ciutadella has to offer as well as the Parc de Joan Miró, and the Montjuïc castle. These are widely considered as the most beautiful park destinations in the country.

Ooops there you go! There are more things about Barcelona that you’ll get to know more from people around the central area where transportation is easy. Experience the life of Catalonia and feel like a local. Know more about Barcelona by clicking Barcelona Travel Guide and Offline City Map Support.

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Madrid’s Nightlife

Famed American novelist and hardcore barfly Ernest Hemingway once said: Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night.And who could argue with the wisdom of a man who has lived his life on the bar stools of Madrid?

Since Hemingway’s time, Madrid has kept its spot as one of Europe’s best places to party. The city’s nightlife -as anyone who has survived it will tell you - is the stuff of legends.

No one in Madrid makes only one plan for the night. Madrileños enjoy socializing and would often make at least three plans on how they’ll spend their evening before hitting the city.

An app like Madrid Travel Guide and Offline City Map which has alerts for the latest events as well as an offline map, can help you decide your route to cover more of the scene.

Before the debauchery – eat.

To survive Madrid’s nightlife, there are only two things you have to remember – it starts late and it goes on all night.

You need your stamina, so make sure to fill up your tank with local favorites such as oreja a la plancha, seared pig’s ear for starters, followed by a healthy serving of huevos rotos which is typically served with bread, fried potatoes, chorizo, and topped off with an over-easy egg, and rounded off with a classic, callos with slices of morcilla.

Try Callos a la madrileña a delightful Madrid tapa

In a city where there is one bar for every 192 people, there will be no craving left unsatisfied in Madrid’s gastro scene.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Once you’ve had dinner, choose from which of Madrid’s three distinct nightlife scenes you’d like to start your night in.

Chueca is considered as Madrid’s gay district. Majority of the bars here cater to the gay community. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the nightlife here if you’re not waving the rainbow flag. There’s also a good selection of restaurants, cafes, and art galleries around Plaza de Chueca and Mercado de San Antón to choose from.

Calle Huertas is for those that want a taste of the city’s more traditional nightlife. Music lovers will enjoy the district’s wide assortment of jazz clubs, theater cafes, and bars that offer flamenco music located around Plaza del Ángel, Café Central, and Calle Echegaray.

Malasaña is the center of Madrid’s hipster culture. The neighborhood is filled with shops and boutiques that cater to the city’s younger generation. Because of its selection of quirky-themed bars and restaurants that draw in the eclectic crowd, it has been likened to similar communities like the East Village.

Madrid nightlife with eTips Travel Guides

Now that you have an idea of Madrid’s unique nightlife, forget about sleep and check out eTips for suggestions on bars, restaurants, and events Spain’s most cosmopolitan city has to offer.

The Art of Meriggiare: How to Leisurely Travel Rome in One Day

If there is one person who knows the right way to see Rome, it’s Italian poet Eugenio Montale. In his famous work, Meriggiare, he talks about spending the day in deliberate languidness - observing the cracks on the pavement and watching the ants march in a single file - and the pleasure derived from doing it.

Meriggiare means “to pass the hottest hours of the day in a shady outdoor place.” It has no direct translation in English, but if it did, it would simply mean “the best way to enjoy Rome,” which is to say purposefully unhurried.

Even if you’re only in Rome for a layover, all you have to do is download the Rome Travel Guide and Offline City Map find a cozy café using its offline maps, order an espresso, and check out eTips suggestions on how to travel in Rome based on the art of meriggiare.

Take A Walk

Rome is notorious for its bad traffic. In fact, it’s widely recognized as one of the worst places to drive in the world. So, if you only have a few hours to spare in the city, forget about traveling by car.

There is no better way to see Rome than by foot. Take a stroll in the alleys of the Jewish Ghetto,

the oldest Jewish community in Europe, and indulge in the community’s historic and picturesque charms.

One of the ghetto’s must-see attractions is Bocca della Verità or the Mouth of Truth located in the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedia. Legend has it that it was used in ancient times as a lie detector during trials.

The way it works is that the accused will place his hand inside the mouth. If he’s telling the truth, he gets to keep his hand. If he lies, the Mouth of Truth will punish him by biting off his hand.

You’ll probably recognize the Mouth of Truth from Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s film Roman Holiday.

Rome best places to visit

Visit A Local Market. But first, a grattachecca.

As Anthony Bourdain would tell you, if you want to know a city, you have to visit its local market.

Found just south of Piazza Navona, Campo de'Fiori is known as one of the best open-air markets in Rome. It has everything from fruits, vegetables, spices, cheese, flowers, even tableware. There are also stalls that hawk unique souvenir items.

But the highlight of any market are the food stalls. Snack on some porchetta, pizza al taglio, deep fried cod, supplì, and even a cone or two of gelato for a pre-pub hopping fill, before Campo de’Fiori transforms from midday market to an open-air pub at night.

But first, get yourself a refreshing glass of grattachecca, a dessert made from shaved ice, syrup, and fruit toppings, to start your day.

Don't miss Rome amazing markets

Nightcap at Trastevere

Trastevere translates to “across the Tiber” is a laidback neighborhood which seamlessly combines Rome’s medieval past and bohemian present.

Indulge in its hipster neighborhood vibe while getting a bite from a trattoria or sipping on wine in an outdoor cafe.

You can start your day with a walk through Trastevere’s winding cobblestone streets. Get your aperitivo on while admiring the well-preserved Medieval architecture, before heading to Piazza Santa Maria to do some people watching.