Järvsö has a population of less than 2000 people and has an unmistakable small town feel.  Spend a weekend in town and you are sure to stumble across the same person once or twice.  But with that small town feel comes the requisite small town charm beautifully displayed at Järvsö church.

The founding of the church is a matter of debate, but remnants of a stone church from the 1200s have been found at the site of the current church.  Like so many churches in Sweden, this one too has a rune stone in the vicinity.  Just behind the church is a rune stone dating to the 11^th century, about the time that Christianity began to take hold in Sweden.

Along with the history though comes a stunning setting.  Järvsö church sits on an island in the middle of the Ljusnan River, the church spire rising up above the surrounding area.  Take the opportunity to wander around the church yard and admire the natural beauty of rural Sweden.

A great time to visit Järvsö is for traditional midsummer celebration in during the weekend closest to the summer solstice.

If you’re doing your European travel planning, be warned that Järvsö’s official website is only in Swedish.

About twenty minutes later, having snaked through the city in a trolley, I climbed off in a picturesque part of Vienna. The area is one of those classic Europe destinations, small churches, small houses, small streets. And it’s beautiful. That it sits on a hillside speckled with vineyards only adds to the ambiance. It’s a perfect Vienna day trip.

I wandered around a bit, but quickly found myself drawn to a little Heuriger advertising the new wine that the area is known for with a small sign and the traditional pine bough signifying that the establishment was open. The Heurigen tend to only be open at certain times of the year and so it is important to look for that hanging pine bough.

I don’t know if it was a good year for wine, or if it was a good wine. It didn’t matter. Not with the tree-covered courtyard, good company, and the sun still shining. Wine enthusiasts may be drawn to the potential of the year’s harvest, travel enthusiasts are drawn to the atmosphere.

One warning, when the sun is shining, the place is packed with tourists. Apparently, so much so that the Viennese stay away. Therefore my Europe travel tip if you still want to experience Grinzing and avoid the crowds, pick one of the dirt roads leading up the hills and start walking. The Vienna views are stunning and a perfect way to end a visit to Grinzing.

Right now, Sweden is being harassed by cold weather. Early this week, Stockholm saw temperatures nearing -23 Celsius. Several decimeters of snow has been piling up. Public transportation has come to a halt because the tracks are freezing. People are being warned to stay home. We are just hours away from the Arctic Circle and the winter is beating Stockholm.

But those people that heed the warning and stay home are missing out. Because Stockholm is glimmering right now. The city is covered in white, untouched snow and it is a spectacular sight. I have written several times about Gamla Stan in Stockholm. The Old Town. But no matter how well preserved it is, you cannot escape the present. Lights, signs, trinkets, they dominate the windows.

The snow though, the snow wipes that away. The signs disappear, there are fewer people around, the snowswept city is silent. The whole experience gives a sensation of being transported back in time when those medieval buildings near the castle were home to the Swedish gentry. And for any history nerd, there is nothing better than disappearing into a time long since gone.

So this European travel tip is an easy one. Bring a warm coat and come visit Sweden. Because you need to see this.

That’s because International Tourist Guide Day is in Stockholm on Sunday, February 21^st, 2010 and free Stockholm walking tours will be offered throughout Gamla Stan.  If you find yourself in Stockholm this weekend be sure to meet at 11:00 in the morning at Slottsbacken.  That’s the street next to the royal castle with the large obelisk climbing into the sky. You can’t miss it.

The free walking tours are sponsored by FSAG, the Association of Authorized Local Guides and the tours are completely free. The tours will focus on Gamla Stan and Riddarholmen, two areas of Stockholm’s Old Town and will be offered in several different languages.

You can learn more about FSAG at their website.

The tour is actually through the Guinness Storehouse, a building that once housed part of the brewery but is now home to what is essentially a Guinness museum and marketing tool. Flashy exhibitions give a brief history of Guinness, the ingredients in the beer, the equipment used, and of course, a number of old advertisements.

The tour itself was not all that impressive so I can’t really say it’s one of my top European travel tips.  Mostly because visitors never actually see the brewing process. Never actually see the yeast being added. Never actually see the Guinness being produced. It is a historical look at the Guinness brand, an interesting one, but not one that shows the magnitude of the world’s largest brewer of stout. Maybe you’d have more fun on the Dublin Ghost Bus Tour?

That being said, the end result was well worth the entrance fee. At the very top of the Storehouse is the Gravity Bar. A circular room with walls that double as windows looking out over Dublin. Quotes from famous Irish works of literature can be found on the glass. Along with the view, you’ll be treated to a pint of Guinness, straight from the tap, straight from St. James’s Gate Brewery. And that, despite the underwhelming tour, is hard to beat.

This is not a large amount of the population. Despite this, the street signs in Helsinki are written in both Swedish and Finnish. When looking for European travel tips though, you aren’t looking for bilingual signs. Luckily, there are more exciting things to look at while in Helsinki. Three churches of Helsinki really stand out.

Helsinki Cathedral is of course the most well-known. Situated in Senate Square, the cathedral boasts a large dome and enough columns to make you think you’re in Greece. The view from the steps of the Cathedral is amazing and on sunny days, the square below is bustling with locals and tourists alike. Depending on the time of year, and the fact that entrance is free, you might have to fight slight crowds.

On a little island in Helsinki, just off the main part of the city lies the Uspensky Orthodox Cathedral, an impressive red brick structure. Opening hours are limited, but entrance is free. Even if you find yourself getting there after 4 in the afternoon, the exterior is beautiful and really shows off the Russian influence in Helsinki.

Finally, my favorite, simply because it is so different. Temppeliaukio Church. The church is literally built into a large rock quarry. I wasn’t sure what to expect and while trying to find the church, eventually realized that I was walking on top of it. When I finally made my way inside, I was amazed by the stone walls. Not because they were carved stone, but because they were actual rock walls. Temppeliaukio Church is also free, but has some very strange opening hours depending on the season and the day of the week so be sure to check ahead if you want to get inside.

The museum was crawling with people, many of whom were still in there large winter jackets because of the weather outside. It made for some crowding around the exhibitions, but no one seemed to mind.

The museum itself was beautiful; the only preserved portion of Stockholm’s medieval wall is the center piece of the museum. Around it, you can learn the history of the town. From the morbid exhibition about crime and punishment, to the tunnel leading from the museum to the castle.

The mock medieval building of Stockholm situated right inside the museum brought the history to life to an extent. There is a church, a garden, a town square, and plenty of small shops, all of which give a great medieval feel.

In the end the museum felt very new, which was both good and bad. Good because it is a gorgeous museum, bad because it is a medieval museum. While the exhibitions were interesting, they lacked actual artifacts. I want to see coins dug up from 14^th century Stockholm. I want to see household items. I want to see art. They had some… just not enough.

It seemed like the museum was aimed at a younger audience, a kid-friendly audience. As someone who loves medieval history, I love the idea of getting little kids interested in history; I just wish they worked a little harder to keep big kids like me interested.

The tours start every day at 11 and 13 and meets at City Hall.  No matter the weather the tour must go on.  We tested this theory on the icy streets of Dublin, and while the city itself was running out of grit, the 20-25 of us in the group managed to trek through town with no broken limbs.

The walking tour of Dublin focuses on the main attractions such as Dublin Castle and Trinity College.  It is a cursory glance at the sights themselves, but the stories and history told give a great overview of the city, everything from the Viking history of the 800s to the 1916 Easter Rising.

Our guide, Christopher, did an excellent job of mixing the history of Dublin (and Ireland) with a healthy dose of pride in the city he grew up in.  In the end, they stay true to their word, and the tour is free.  Of course, tips (as mentioned above) are greatly appreciated and after a nearly three hour tour of the city, I was more than happy to give a few Euros.

The tour gave a great introduction to the city and helped to focus the remainder of the trip.  Plus, having never been to the city before before, the tour was a great way to get comfortable with the streets of Dublin and which sights were worth revisiting.

Le Chamoniard Volant is an inexpensive option just a short walk from the middle of town.  In ski boots on snow covered roads maybe 10 or 15 minutes.  The hostel itself is perfect for the traveling ski bum, although, there were some older people and even a family or two staying there.  They even have free parking if you’ve managed to get yourself a car.

The hostel is filled with wood, wooden walls, wooden floors, wooden tables, which, in the mountains seems to work quite well.  The bedrooms are tight, but have bunk beds which make for a good place to hang your wet ski clothes to dry overnight.  I suggest bringing your own sheets, those provided are thin and don’t leave much to the imagination.

The bathrooms were all shared and did not have a sink.  Luckily, each room did have a sink.  The showers were incredibly clean and well maintained, although they had the habit of going a bit cold halfway through only to regain the temperature later.

If you’re really looking to save some money for the skiing, the hostel offers a community kitchen.  If you’re looking to save a bit of money but not willing to cook, pay for dinner at the hostel.  For just 12.60 EUR I ate enough salad, bread, cream of broccoli soup, beef stroganoff, and cheese to feed a small army served in the dining room.  Or at least one of the four bunk rooms in the hostel.

All in all, the hostel was simple with very few frills.  Considering it was a ski trip, that was perfect.  A place to sleep, a warm meal, and a nice shower.  Plus the view of the surrounding mountains was amazing. I couldn’t ask for more.

Before you go in, walk around the exterior of the building.  Saint Mary’s Church is an impressive display of brick.  That may seem strange, but when seen up close, the use of brick in the architectural style of the church is remarkable.

When you enter the church, turn left and walk towards the wall.  In a small case hidden away stone reliefs are displayed.  The reliefs were removed from the exterior of the church and replaced with replicas. The meaning of the faces is still unknown.

Along with the faces, take a look at the altarpiece from the 1400s and keep your eyes on the wall of the church looking for remnants of frescoes painted long ago and now fading.

The church is open to the public, and entrance is completely free.  Couple it with a trip to Kärnan, Helsingborg’s medieval fortress for a good look at the Swedish/Danish history of the region.