mTrip Blog » Attractions

Must see in Vienna: The Schoenbrunn Palace

Sabrina — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 21:02:02 +0000

The Schoenbrunn Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria. It’s an attraction you can’t miss while in Vienna.

Today this museum attracts more visitors than any other in Vienna. The mass appeal is the museums rich history – The Schoenbrunn Palace was once owned by the famous Habsburg family, who used it as their summer retreat. What’s interesting for visitors is being able to see how the royal family once lived, their personal belongings and the opulent rooms they once occupied.

Website: Schoenbrunn Palace
Address: Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse 47 | 1130 Vienna | Austria

Opening Hours:
April 1st to June 30th  - 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
July 1st to August 31st - 8.30 am to 6.00 pm
September 1st to October 31st - 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
November to March 31st -    8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Ticket sale starting at 8.15 am . Entrance to exhibit area at 8.30 am

As such a culturally rich city, each street, building and neighborhood in Vienna tells a unique story. There is so many monuments, museums and attractions to set your eyes on. Get the most out of your stay while visiting Vienna.

A few more suggestions for your trip include:

Museum of Fine Arts
Stephansdom
The Imperial Treasury
Austrian National Library
The Museumsquartier complex

Download mTrip’s Vienna Travel Guide

Sightseeing in San Francisco? Check out SFMOMA.

Sabrina — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:13:37 +0000

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is internationally recognized as one of the leading modern and contemporary art galleries in the world. Its architecture and focus are what make SFMOMA inspirational and iconic worldwide.

SFMOMA’s beautiful design can be attributed to the talent of Mario Botta. He created the building with striking brick layers and a black and white stone turret centrepiece, which guarantees a spotlight in SF’s cityscape.

SFMOMA isn’t recognized as one of the best modern art galleries for nothing – the museum houses a vast collection of modern works including paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, and media arts.

Get yourself to SFMOMA’s newest showing, Calder to Warhol, which showcases works from the collection of Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher Collection. More than 1,100 works by iconic 20th-century artists are shown. Artists featured include Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Anselm Keifer and more.

Current Exhibition Calder to Warhol

Dates June 25 – September 19, 2010

SFMOMA Address

151 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA

Phone 415.357.4000

Full Rate $18.00

Seniors & Students $9.00

Download mTrip’s San Francisco Travel Guide

AUGMENTED REALITY ON THE IPHONE: A NEW JOURNEY FOR TRAVELERS

Sabrina — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:19:04 +0000

Augmented Reality (AR) appeared on the iPhone a few months ago as an experiment. Some iPhone apps are now offering practical apps in various fields and particularly in the travel industry.

Helpful information is super-imposed onto ones iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4, allowing the person to get a snapshot of all the points of interest in any given area.

Its a new journey with AR and this technology offers exciting opportunities for travelers:

• Better understanding of the environment abroad

• A quick snapshot of points of interest in the area (museums, monuments, restaurants, subway stations …)

• An easy and useful guide around the city (no need to read a map)

Characteristics of a good Augmented Reality application include:

• Operation without a connection (using roaming abroad is extremely expensive)

• Not limit to display the names of landmarks and their distances from the screen (to avoid going back and forth between multiple screens, which can be annoying over time)

• Augmented reality must be connected to a comprehensive directory of points of interest in order to show a true snapshot

A travel guide for iPhone that integrates augmented reality, for example, allows a traveler to view the restaurants around the area, display their distances, the types of cuisine, price ranges, the ratings given by travelers, whether a point of interest is open or closed, etc …. and therefore making an informed restaurant choice within a few seconds. Very convenient!

Here is a clip of augmented reality in the mTrip Paris Travel Guide:

Dive into THE DEEP at London’s Natural History Museum

Sabrina — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:11:12 +0000

Discover strange creatures and cruel environments, see surprising images and life-size installations, find out about unusual falsifications in the myths and monsters exhibition and a snapshot of the work Museum scientists are doing to maintain the important habitat of these extraordinary creatures.

The Deep, the Natural History Museum’s new exhibition for the summer is thoroughly entertaining for adults and children alike. The exhibition highlights the planets biodiversity and is part of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.

Exhibition Highlights:

Bathysphere steel ball
Giant Earth Globe
Lights in the Darkness
Modern Exploration Devices
Inside a Submersible
Whale Fall
Giants and Dwarves

…and much, much more

The exhibition runs until September 4th. $10 Adults, $5 Child and Concession

Open 10.00 – 17.30 daily; last admission 17.00

Download mTrip’s London Travel Guide

Image: markhillary at http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/

Half Gallery presents Hanna Liden Exhibit

Sabrina — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:44:26 +0000

Don’t miss the much-anticipated opening of As Black as Your Hat, by Swedish artist Hanna Liden. The exhibition opens in New York at Half Gallery tonight from 6-8pm. If you can’t catch the opening be sure to visit Half Gallery between now and May 15^th for a peak at this fascinating collection of still-life candles that were captured after they were blown out. Liden’s inspiration derives from her exploration of religious and gothic subculture.

Hanna Liden has been featured in notable group exhibitions in the US and abroad but she is also known for her solo projects. For more on the exhibit and Hanna Liden visit Half Gallery.

Visit the gallery: 208 Forsyth Street, New York

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Download mTrip’s New York Travel Guide

Upcoming Exhibits and Displays at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Sabrina — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:46:31 +0000

The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) has something exciting upcoming exhibits and displays, featuring iconic rockstars, hollywood celebrities and famous artists. Don’t miss out if you are heading to the UK this Summer.

My Generation: The Glory Years of British Rock – April 30– October 24, 2010

It was 1964 when BBC began filming the famous TV show, Top of the Pops and it was photographer Harry Goodwin who was capturing legendary rock stars in the in the most striking and unforgettable moments. From the Rolling Stones, to Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, Goodwin had a way of capturing the mood, the essence and the musical influence on an era that couldn’t be forgotten. The exhibition celebrates Goodwin’s most striking photographs including both musicians held in memory and those who are still part of the music scene to date.

Grace Kelly: Style Icon – April 17-September 26, 2010

As a tribute to style icon Grace Kelly, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum will feature the actresses magnificent wardrobe beginning next Saturday. Spanning 50 years of one of Holywood’s most famous actresses, visitors will get a peak at her ensembles from her films, her civil marriage ceremony to Prince Rainier, couture gowns by Dior, Yves St Laurent, Balenciaga, Givenchy and more.

Modern Masters: Matisse, Picasso, Dali and Warhol – May 1- June 23, 2010

The 20^th century represents one of the most unique artistic periods in the history of western art. In celebration of this, the V&A will be showcasing four of the greatest artists from this time period – Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. There will be a focus on print mediums with both popular and unfamiliar prints showcased.

Admission to the V&A is free but prices may vary on some exhibits and events.

V&A Address

Phone: +44 (0)20 7942 2000

More about Victoria & Albert Museum

Download mTrip’s London Travel Guide

Image source: Elsa Dorfman at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ginsberg-dylan.jpg

A Renewed Experience at Berlin’s Neues Museum

Sabrina — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:58:45 +0000

Berlin’s Neues Museum re-opened its doors to the public only recently after almost 70 years of being abandoned.

After a drastic $270 re-build, Neues is elaborately restored, housing the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collections as well as the Museum of Prehistory/Early History and the Collection of Classical Antiquities.

Some other points of interest at the museum include the silver treasures from third millennium, BC and barbed wire from the Berlin Wall.

If you are planning a visit here is what you need to know…

Opening hours: 10am-6pm daily (8pm Thursday-Saturday)

Admission: $13.50

Address: Genthiner Straße 38, 10785 Berlin

Phone: +49(0)30 266 42-4242

www.neues-museum.de

Download mTrip’s Berlin Travel Guide

The Cultural Highlights of Barcelona

Sabrina — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:18:51 +0000

Samantha Lister from Tripbase.com shares some expert advice on the cultural highlights of Barcelona.

The second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is a cultural gem that has much to offer you if you venture there on a short break or a longer holiday. One of the first things that will strike you about Barcelona is its magnificent architecture. The city boasts numerous artistic influences across many historical periods, including Gaudi and Picasso.

The Barri Gothic, close to the La Rambla, the hub of Barcelona, is one of the best places to experience the striking medieval Gothic buildings that the city has to offer. Dating back to the 14th and 15th century, many of Spain’s greatest Gothic buildings are around the Placa de Sant Jaunme, a spacious square where a busy market can also be found.

Spain is particularly famous as the birthplace of one of the world’s greatest architects, Antoni Gaudi. When visiting Barcelona, not to be missed is Gaudi’s monumental La Sagrada Familia; a magnificent cathedral which unfortunately Gaudi was unable to complete before he died. La Sagrada Familia is another fine example of Gothic and Baroque architecture, with an impressive bell tower and prominent spires stretching to the skyline. Inside the interior is awe-inspiring, boasting outstanding artwork and the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Plan a visit to the Gaudi Museum if you are interested in seeing more of Gaudi’s unique work. This famous pink building in Barcelona displays unique furniture designed by Gaudi, as well as drawings, portraits and examples of his architecture. This is a truly extraordinary experience, full of intrigue and surprise as you uncover Gaudi’s creations.

The work of Gaudi is just an insight into the many cultural wonders that Barcelona has to offer. If you are planning a trip to this cosmopolitan city, you are sure to be greatly entertained and will take back many long-lasting memories and amazing photographs to treasure.

Guest blogging by Tripbase

Tripbase eliminates the time-consuming and frustrating online search process by providing travelers with personalized travel recommendations for their next trip.

www.tripbase.com

Download mTrip’s Barcelona Travel Guide

Image source: Bernard Gagnon at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sagrada_Familia_01.jpg

Madame Tussaud’s in Amsterdam

Sabrina — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:42:49 +0000

If you had the opportunity to meet your favorite past cultural figure who would it be? And would you actually ever get that chance? Well, at Madame Tussaud’s you do! Meet your favorite cultural figures such as Albert Eintein, Mona Lisa, Pablo Picasso and of course, Madame Tussaud herself. This 18th century lady is known as the infamous wax sculpture artist and of course the founder of this great museum, admired not only in Amsterdam but also London, Shanghai, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Hong Kong and New York.

Do you have a fascination for Hollywood celebrities? Have your picture taken with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe and many more. Even star in your own film under the watchful gaze of these celebrities.

Meet world leaders from Barack Obama to the Dalai Lama, the Royals including Princess Diana, Queen Beatrix, Queen Wilhelmina, popular musicians from Elvis Presley to Justin Timberlake, and play sports with some of the world’s most admired athletes like David Beckham or Lance Armstrong.

Click here to plan your visit or learn more!

Address:

Dam 20
1012 JS Amsterdam, Netherlands

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10.00 am – 6.30 pm (entrance closes 5.30 pm)

Open in evenings until 24:00 (must reserve in advance).

For more information, contact +31 03 12 05 23 06 23
Prices (subject to change at discretion of Madame Tussaud’s)

Adult

€23,00

60+ €20,00

Children

5 – 15 €17,50

Children up to 5 Free

Groups or family bookings

Pack A (2 adults, 2 kids and a Madame Tussauds Guidebook) €70,00

Pack B (2 adults, 3 kids and a Madame Tussauds Guidebook) €82,50

Download mTrip’s Amsterdam Travel Guide

Free! London National Gallery application for iPhone

mTrip — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:14:01 +0000

Love Art: National Gallery is a 209 MB free application offered by the London National Gallery.

250 paintings and around 200 minutes of audio and video comments.
A must-have application for your iPhone if your are visiting London.

Download Love Art from Apple’s online iTunes store

More info on National Gallery website: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/news/iphone-app