Travel tips

Aug 23, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Fashion museum opens in Basque port city of Getaria

Madrid (dpa) - A new museum dedicated to the career of fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga has opened in the Basque port city of Getaria where he was born.

The museum opened its doors in June and is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on one fashion designer, according to the Spanish tourist office.

A permanent exhibition in the building beside the Aldamar palace displays 90 works, including the wedding dress of Queen Fabiola of Belgium. The museum is open until the end of September. (http://cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com)

Sailing ships and summer fires in Turku

Turku, Finland (dpa) - Everything will revolve around sailing in the Finnish city of Turku on the last weekend in August.

As part of a regatta between August 26 and 28, vessels will sail from Klaieda to the current European Capital of Culture, docking along the river Aurajoki where a festival will take place.

Visitors can board boats, some of which are up to 122 metres in length, according to the local tourist office. A fire will be lit along the coastline on Saturday evening, while the festival concludes with an acrobatic show titled 'The Elements.'

Entrance is free to all events. (www.turku2011.fi)

Free city tours in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur (dpa) - The municipal authorities in Kuala Lumpur now offer free city tours in English every Saturday.

The tours through the Brickfields/Little India area of the city show tourists the cultural mix present in Malaysia's capital, says the country's tourist office.

During the two-and-a-half hour tour, visitors experience Chinese and Indian temples, churches and the modern KL Sentral train station. The tour begins at 9 am in front of the YMCA Kuala Lumpur youth hostel. Holidaymakers can book the tour in advance or else register half an hour before the tour is due to start.

New flight connection between Mombasa and Lamu

Nairobi (dpa) - Tourists now have an extra flight connection between Mombasa and the island of Lamu. The Kenyan internal airline Mombasa Air flies three times a week to Lamu and its UNESCO protected Arabic old town, according to the Kenyan tourist office. The flights leave every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Take in some art while in the Caribbean

Munich (dpa) - Holidaymakers visiting the Caribbean between August 29 and September 3 have the added attraction of an art festival to enjoy.

The Plein Air Curacao festival in Curacao allows tourists the chance to view artists at work in the open air, the Caribbean island's tourist office said. The painting takes place not only on canvas but also on the walls of buildings, with concerts and art workshops also planned. (www.pleinaircuracao.com)

Swedish crab festival celebrations in August

Kalmar, Sweden (dpa) - Swedes traditionally celebrate the last of the summer nights in August with so-called crab festivals.

The festivals date back to the start of the 20th century when crab fishing was only permitted for two months a year in order to protect stocks. Visitors to Smaland in southern Sweden during this time can fish for crabs in the river, before preparing their catch the Swedish way by boiling them in salt water and garnishing them with plenty of dill.

The crabs are eaten at tables decorated with paper lamps in the form of laughing half moons, and washed down with some schnapps while folk songs are sung. (www.smaland.com)

Bread and circuses at Trier's Roman festival

Trier, Germany (dpa) - The Roman Empire will be remembered this autumn in Trier when the German city celebrates its very own Bread and Circuses festival.

Between September 2-4 and 10-11, lots of events will commemorate the city's ancient history, according to the Historic Highlights of Germany online portal.

While an all-new production of 'Hercules and the Queen of the Amazons' with exciting fights and battles for fame and glory is performed in the amphitheatre, a multi-media show in the Rheinische Landesmuseum will show art treasures.

There is also an insight into the equipment and training of a Roman gladiator in the gladiator school. (www.brotundspiele2011.de)