The North-East of Spain, also known as Catalonia, is an autonomous region spread over an area of 32000km having a population of nearly 6 million. It is divided into 4 regions namely Barcelona, Tarragona, Lieida, and Girona. Many who are not aware of this division are surprised to know about a country within a country as Barcelona happens to be the 2^nd most famous city, especially after 1992 Olympics. Most of the people who come to Spain have a desire to visit this region that is blessed with natural scenery and great diversity of landscapes. The Pyrenees in the extreme north have so much to offer to nature lovers that it is full of hikers, mountaineers, and walkers all year round.

It is not just the north of Catalonia that is a paradise for the hikers. It has long 600km Mediterranean coastline, rivers and lakes, dry land and lush green plains, historic monuments and buildings with ancient architecture. It has villages and also modern cities, making it a must visit area for the hikers.

If you are one of those who arrive in Barcelona to have a wonderful hiking time around Catalonia, booking an apartment Barcelona is perhaps the best idea as it is not only inexpensive in comparison to hotel rooms, it also allows a tourist to move to other parts of Catalonia without any worries. It is akin to booking a Milan apartments or Rome apartments in Italy that are central places making it easier to visit the countryside of Italy.

Garraf National Park

This National park, just 30 Km away from Barcelona, is a paradise for the hikers as it is one area full of mountains and majestic views of the adjoining area. However, hikers have to come prepared as there are harsh climatic conditions with not enough potable water and even vegetation. The landscape is so enticing that it makes up for all shortcomings. It has some places that are accessible on foot only which is why hikers prefer the terrain. There are dozens of trails with increasing difficulty and you can choose according to your liking and level of expertise. If you desire, there are also guided tours with some bird watching trips to let you see some exotic species of birds not seen anywhere else.

Montserrat

This is a natural park near Barcelona that is full of natural scenery and provides ideal hiking trails along with the world famous basilica and Montserrat Monastery. This means that tourists get a taste of both nature and ancient culture in this part of Catalonia. This is not a place for novices as at some places of hiking trails, there are dangerous rock stairs with steep inclines.

St Miquel del Fai

How about getting a chance to see mountains and waterfalls in a single trail? Yes, this hike, that is limited to a small group of 8 people, requires tourists to start from Barcelona and driven to the start point of hiking trail that includes many cascades and pools in a valley.

In case you are wondering whether to visit Amsterdam in the winter, my advice would be to go. The weather here is milder than in Berlin for example and the crowds are not that frustrating, not to mention that the prices are lower. Actually, winter in Amsterdam can be very, very tempting, especially in the evenings when all pubs and bars ate full of people enjoying themselves and keeping warm with a few drinks or other people ice-skating outside and trying the food sold on the streets.

In December the tourist crowds are smallest, with the exception of a few weeks during the holidays. The days are short and this is the period of the year with largest drop of rain. The holiday season starts right on the 5th December when the locals celebrate Sinterklaasavond holiday. During that day the locals exchange gifts and read poems to one another. A good option is to enjoy the Amsterdam museums and galleries at that time, since there are many performances, exhibitions and others, but fewer crowds. Other things that should be mentioned for Amsterdam in December is that all the big squares are turned into holiday markets and large ice rinks. There are any stalls as well, where one could buy some seasonal delights such as a Christmas cake and a warm alcoholic drink, as well as hot cocoa and mulled wine.

Other festivities in December in Amsterdam include the Christmas Day, known here as Kerst, which is celebrated on 25th December, the second day of Christmas known as Tweede Kerstdag when relatives are met and of course, the New Year’s Eve when there are parties all over the city.

In January the temperatures in Amsterdam are at their lowest point and the days are quite short. January, however, offers the best airplane tickets to Amsterdam and many bargain accommodation offers, not to mention the city attractions and museums, which are great to be visited at that time of the year. In January is also organized the annual Amsterdam Fashion Week and the prices in the shopping area are significantly reduced.

February in the city of Amsterdam could be quite cold and snowy, but also very beautiful. If you love cocoa, you can warm with a nice cup on the Museum Square, or you can try the fondue. The cultural scene is also exciting and offers plenty of performances, including opera and theatre. The airplane tickets and the rates of the hotels and the serviced apartments usually reach the bottom this month, so if you are attracted to the competitive rates, this is your time. There are two main holidays that have to me mentioned here and they include the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in late January or in the beginning of February in the center of the Chinatown in Amsterdam. The other major holiday is Valentine’s Day, even if it is not that much celebrated. Still there are many romantic activities going on in Amsterdam.