Travel tips

Oct 18, 2011, 3:06 GMT

European Parliament opens new 'Parlamentarium' visitor centre

Brussels (dpa) - The European Parliament's new visitor centre in Brussels has opened to the public. The objective of the 5,400-square-metre 'Parlamentarium,' which will be accessible in 23 languages, is to give visitors a unique insight into the work of MEPs and the European Parliament.

Visitors are guided through the state-of-the-art exhibition by an electronic multimedia guide. The exhibition is open daily and entrance is free. There are also special one-hour tours for children under 14 years of age. (www.europarl.europa.eu)

Audio tour on the Brisbane River

Sydney (dpa) - Tourists travelling down the Brisbane River can now learn about sights along the way by downloading an audio guide onto a smartphone or MP3 player, according to the Queensland tourist office. Depending on where they embark on the ferry, visitors can inform themselves about highlights along the shoreline. (www.citycattour.com)

Time machine in Estonian museum

Tallinn (dpa) - The Great Guild Hall in Tallinn is the location for the world's newest time machine. Visitors can experience 11,000 years of Estonian history thanks to the interactive machine and several themed rooms. The newly reopened 600-year-old Great Guild Hall houses Estonia's historical museum, the Eesti Ajaloomuuseum. (www.ajaloomuuseum.ee)

Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof Museum shows 'Cloud Cities' exhibition

Berlin (dpa) - Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof, once a railway station and now a museum of contemporary art, is home to Argentine artist Tomas Saraceno's interactive exhibit 'Cloud Cities' until January 15, 2012. The exhibit consists of 20 bubbles, inflatable domes and structures suspended throughout the museum. Visitors can also enter the bubbles and see the installations from within. (www.hamburgerbahnhof.de)

Night racing in Switzerland's Leukerbad

Leukerbad, Switzerland (dpa) - The second Night Race 777 Leukerbad takes place on December 10 in the Swiss winter sport resort of Leukerbad. The course is 3.6 kilometres long and ascends 777 metres. Participants can run the race using touring skis or snowshoes. It starts in the early evening from the bottom station of the cable car in Flaschen at an altitude of 1,536m and finishes at Rinderhuette Torrent (2,313m). Competitors can enjoy a spaghetti dinner with the other participants afterwards. Register at night-race-leukerbad@torrent.ch. (www.leukerbad.ch)

Visas to Sri Lanka must be applied for in advance online from 2012

Colombo (dpa) - From next year, foreign visitors to Sri Lanka will have to apply for their visas online in advance at the www.eta.gov.lk website established by the Immigration and Emigration Department. Tourists arriving at airports without a visa will only be granted one in exceptional circumstances and at a higher cost of 75 instead of the usual 50 dollars. It is also still possible to apply for a visa at a Sri Lankan consulate or embassy and at certain travel agents. A holiday visa is valid for 30 days but in certain circumstances can be extended.