Why Do You Travel?
Question
For unparalleled culinary experiences
For history, museums, and metropolitan excitement
To immerse myself in culture, live music, and day-to-night fun
To explore incredible sights unseen
Visit Florence, Venice, Rome or Milan
Answer: For history, museums, and metropolitan excitement
If history, art, and culture are the sort of thing that make you itch for your next adventure, then Florence, Rome, Venice, and Milan should be on your list for what they offer in the way of both the historic and the avant-garde. Why wait to check any of them off when Lufthansa will deliver you to any of these cradles of creativity—in authentic European style, no less—directly from its hubs in Munich and Frankfurt? Be reborn into the Renaissance in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery (home to Botticelli's Venus!) and complement your artful visit with a stay at the impeccably designed Helvetia & Bristol. When in Rome, expect urban vibes set in direct contrast to its plethora of ancient ruins (from the Baths of Caracalla to the Foro Romano) and magnificent gardens (youmight even have a room overlooking a secret one, should you stay at the slick boutique Hotel Vilòn). To best take advantage of historic and contemporary Rome, stay at the newly minted Maalot Roma, which sits steps away from the famous Fontana di Trevi. And Venice? It’s not only for lovers, but truly for lovers of grandeur. If you time your visit right, you can even take in a performance at the historic. La Fenice Opera House, renowned as the debut stage for some of Italian opera's most beloved masterpieces. Should you choose to head to Milan, you’ll be thrust into an ultra contemporary vibe (complete with unparalleled shopping), especially at the Fondazione Prada, where you can enjoy art and have an espresso in the whimsically Wes Anderson-designed Bar Luce.
To imerself myself in culture, live music, and day-to-night fun
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This museum, though right by the famed Piazza del Duomo, does not get visited enough. Museo del Novecento, housed in the Palazzo dell'Arengario, features 20th-century art from a plethora of recognizable international artists from de Chirico to Kandinsky, but also has a major section dedicated to the work of the Italian Futurists.
Best museum off the beaten path
In this Florentine quarter, the name of which means “beyond the Arno,” you’ll find many notable sights—such as the Santo Spirito di Firenze church, Palazzo Pitti, and Piazzale Michelangelo—but you’ll also be treated to a bounty of intriguing local boutiques carrying everything from fashion and fragrance to homewares and crafts.
Where to find the buzziest local boutiques
Directly above Roma’s artsy borough of Trastevere stands Gianicolo Hill, from which you will be treated to the most eye-watering panoramic view of the city. Film buffs will recognize this so-called “eighth hill of Rome” as the site from the opening scene of director Paolo Sorrentino’s paean to the Eternal City, La Grande Bellezza, in which a tourist faints, overcome by the beauty of the vista beyond the hill.
Best vista for a photo op
Museo del Novecento, Milan
Oltrarno, Florence
Gianicolo ( Janiculum) Hill, Rome
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Visit Catania, Naples, Capri, or the Amalfi Coast
Answer: For unparalleled culinary experiences
It is no secret that Italy is synonymous with gastronomic exploration of the most fulfilling variety. “Mangia bene!” (“Eat well!”) is a lot more than just a wish uttered before a meal: eating well might as well be religion in this region of the world. For the culinary adventurer and Italophile, consider the city of Catania or Naples, the island of Capri, or the Amalfi Coast. Catania’s markets—in particular, the Fera ‘o Luni in Piazza Carlo Alberto and the pescheria (a fish market, which also sells an abundance of other fresh foods) are sure to delight all the senses. Napoli, of course, is the birthplace of pizza, and for devotees of the stuff, a pilgrimage to this city is a necessary one. Stay at Atelier Inés Arts & Suites so that you are merely steps away from Concettina ai Tre Santi, the pizzeria of one of the most in-demand pizza chefs, Ciro Oliva. And as for Capri and the Amalfi Coast, you’ll gorge yourself happy al fresco on all the pasta all’aragostayou can handle, while staying at the chic J.K. Place (near the Marina) or the opulent hilltop Capri Tiberio Palace, with its breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples. You cannot visit Capri without seeing the Faraglioni, the marine formation of monolithic rocks, so book a tour by boat with Capri Relax Boats. Plan your culinary caper with Lufthansa here.
Since 1944, Mimì alla Ferrovia has been offering the truest of Neapolitan cooking. Now helmed by young chef Salvatore Giugliano, the restaurant, which was founded by his great-uncle Emilio, started out as a casual trattoria frequented by everyone, from middle-class locals to famous Italian gods like comedic star Totò and auteur filmmaker Fellini. Try the pasta alla genovese, a Neapolitan meat-and-onion ragù, and finish your meal in true Neapolitan style with the delizia al limone (a sponge cake filled with lemon cream and brushed with limoncello syrup) for dessert.
Best hidden gem for an authentic meal
On the Anacapri side of the isle of Capri, you’ll find ristorante Il Riccio situated on a dreamy terrace of the Capri Palace hotel. Peer over the Tyrrhenian Sea and Capri’s poster child Blue Grotto as you dig into a sublime feast of Mediterranean flavors. Here, chef Salvatore Elefante has conceived of an entire culinary excursion, opening with the Plateau Royal—an assortment of raw fish, from clams and scampi to tuna and cuttlefish—and closing with a range of dolci from the Neapolitan tradition, such as babà with rum, caprese cake, and sfogliatelle.
Best meal with a view
Two words: Ciro Oliva! There’s only one Ciro Oliva! And at his pizzeria, Concettina ai Tre Santi, in Napoli’s Sanita district, you will not only be blown away by his pizze—ranging from traditional Margherita to experimental options like one heaped with salmon and caviar—but if you are lucky, you’ll be regaled by the jovial man himself, who is bubbling over with zest, humor, and sincere warmth. Dining here is an experience well worth an entire afternoon!
Coolest culinary experience
Mimì alla Ferrovia, Naples
Il Riccio, Anacapri
Concettina ai 3 Santi, Naples
Visit a Scandinavian city like Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, or Helsinki
In uniquely Euro style, Lufthansa will transport you, the sight-seeing enthusiast, to the marvels of Scandinavia in the blink of an eye. In Norway’s capital Oslo (one of the world's largest capitals in terms of area), you will find a plethora of parks, protected forests, hills, and hundreds of lakes. Start your eye-opening adventure at the iconic Vigelandsanlegget (Vigeland Sculpture Park), housed inside Oslo's famous Frogner Park (Frognerparken)—and whatever you do, do not leave without exploring the Olsofjord, which connects the city to the North Sea by boat, with cruise options ranging from fully guided tourist boats to more rustic options such as sailboats. In Copenhagen, renowned as a center of interior design innovation, fill up on exterior beauty in its many grand gardens, including King’s Garden (Kongens Have)—Denmark’s oldest royal garden—in the epicenter of the city. Or, head to the Finnish capital Helsinki for some of the region’s finest sights. Here, don’t miss the Suomenlinna sea fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is one of the country’s primary calling cards.
Answer: To explore incredible sights unseen
Escape the city of Stockholm for the village of Harads, population 600, and stay in this arboreal paradise of uniquely designed “tree rooms,” each suspended 4 to 6 meters above the ground, proffering powerful views of the Lule River and its valley as well as vast expanses of forest.
Coolest hotel with a view
In the heart of old-town Copenhagen lies Kongens Have—The King’s Garden—a delightful oasis of serenity in which to enjoy the perfect summer picnic (or, equally alluring, a pensive winter promenade).
Best park for a summer picnic
It doesn’t get more Scandi than being outdoors and immersing oneself in nature; it is as simple as that. Profit from the long summer nights (the further north you go, the brighter those summer nights) and dive into a late swim in one of the region's numerous natural bodies of water.
Most definitive Scandinavian experience
Treehotel, Sweden
Kongens Have, Denmark
Being at one with with the wilderness
Visit Munich, Berlin or Hamburg
Answer: To immerse myself in culture, live music, and day-to-night fun
When the arts and culture are your reason to travel, look no further than Germany. The German cities of Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg each offer an embarrassment of riches in the realm of artful intrigue. Experience the difference by flying Lufthansa directly to Munich from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, or Newark, and you’ll find yourself steeped in German history and culture. This capital of Bavaria boasts museums of all varieties, from modern art to ethnographic, technical, and even archaeological, as well as more particular curations, such as the Kartoffelmuseum (“potato museum”), and for fans of soccer, the FC Bayern Museum. Berlin too is a city well known for its abundance of art and artists. An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 artists call the city home (most of whom live in the hip and happening Kreuzberg quarter), and there are 153 museums and over 700 art galleries in the city— including the Atles Museum ("old museum"), where you will find the bust of Queen Nefertiti on display. The city is equally recognized for its nightlife; they don’t call Berlin the capital of techno music for nothing. With clubs like Berghain, Watergate, Tresor, and KitKatClub, you’ll be spoiled for choice with world-class havens for tripping the light fantastic. In Hamburg (interestingly, the hip-hop capital of Germany), you can envelope yourself in music at one of the largest concert halls in the world: The Elbphilharmonie, where the acoustics of its Great Concert Hall were designed by Yasuhisa Toyota, who installed about 10,000 individually microshaped drywall plates to help disperse sound waves perfectly.
There are clubs, there are bars, and then there is Berghain. Beats booming from the storied sound system in this techno powerhouse (which is housed in a former literal power house (station)) draw in a cast of eclectic and eccentric characters. For worshippers of techno, Berghain is the church. And since the reverend DJs here blast their tunes nonstop from Friday until Monday morning, feel free to enjoy communion at the perfectly bourgeois hour of, say, 11:00 a.m.
Best place to go out dancing
Reviews for this laid-back concert venue in Munich read like this: “One of the best alternatives to the very upscale and hip nightlife scene of Munich.” “The best concert venue in Munich. Be there!” “The sound is good, snacks are cheap and tasty…best concert location in town!” In the sophisticated city of Munich, it goes without saying that Backstage is a crowd-pleasing breath of fresh air for the lover of alternative music.
Where to catch a concert
The museum of things does precisely what it says on the tin: it chronicles things, specifically memorializing the product culture of the 20th century, which was one marked by mass production and industrial manufacturing. Visit on a Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and you can participate in a free guided tour of its permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Quirkiest under-the-radar museum
Berghain, Berlin
Backstage, Munich
The Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge (Werkbund Archive – Museum of Things), Berlin
