sightseeing – hee bune diaries

London Calling

August 22, 2025Posted in Hotels London, LondonTagged europe, London, sightseeing, travel, travel guideLeave a comment

London: A Long Weekend with a Teen 🏙️✨

A trip to London is just unbeatable when it comes to sightseeing, art, food and shopping. It was on the top of my daughter’s wish list for her confirmation, and as we really wanted to give her an experience to last, it was perfect. We stayed at The Clermont London, Victoria – not our usual boutique-style choice, but the location was great: walking distance to Buckingham Palace, The Wolseley, and the CitySightseeing bus stop, plus right next to Victoria Coach Station (perfect for the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour). Big, comfortable rooms and excellent service made it a perfect base.

NB! As of April 2025 all nok-UK-residents must have a visa to enter. Pls allow 3 days for this process, to make sure you are granted the visa before entering the UK. You can get an Express visa, if you forget to get one, however, it is relatively expensive.

Eat & Treat 🍴🍦

Restaurant Okay, Kingly Court – vibrant pan-Asian in Soho’s coolest food courtyard.

Los Mochis, Notting Hill – “Tokyo meets Tulum” fusion in a playful setting.

Sexy Fish, Mayfair – dramatic décor, mermaid sculptures, and Japanese-inspired seafood.

Pret a Manger – reliable fuel between sights.

Fortnum & Mason Ice Cream Parlour – The Parlour café on the first Floor is refined indulgence, still teen-approved.

Sakurado Mochi, Chinatown – freshly made mochis (the best we ever had); Chinatown in general is foodie heaven.

Fish & Chips – Golden Union, Soho for a classic, sustainably sourced version, or the Camden Market riverside stall for a casual, surprisingly good option.

Afternoon Tea – chic at The Wolseley or iconic at The Ritz.

See & Do 🎡🎭

Buckingham Palace – watch the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony (be sure to get there 30-60 minutes before, otherwise the crowds will not allow you a chance to see anything).

Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour – a magical must-do for fans (and also not fans) of all ages.

Chinatown – buzzing streets filled with food, paper lamps, and atmosphere.

Hamleys, Regent Street – seven floors of toy wonderland (don’t miss the PopMart shop in the basement).

PopMart & Miniso – quirky collectible and lifestyle just behind Chinatown.

Jellycat Café, Selfridges – plush toys meet coffee in this playful themed café.

CitySightseeing Bus Tour – the easiest way to get your bearings and tick off landmarks.

Hayward Gallery – bold, contemporary art exhibitions on the South Bank.

Tate Modern – world-class modern art in an iconic riverside setting.

Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral – walk across the Thames straight into architectural grandeur.

Camden Market – vintage stalls, global street food, and canal-side vibes.

Carnaby Street & Soho – fashion, music history, and buzzing energy.

We didn’t get to see a show/musical, which we would love to do another time, and of course a ton of other things; London is just always a treat to come back to again and again.

Ps. Just using your creditcard in the Tube (metro) by the card reader at the ticket gates instead of buying a ticket, is both money and time saving.

Florence, the city of gold (and Gucci)

July 1, 2025Posted in ItalyTagged europe, firenze, florence, Italy, sightseeing, travel, tuscanyLeave a comment

Florence: A Micro-guide

Florence is a city of golden light and Renaissance soul — where every narrow street opens onto timeless beauty. From Botticelli’s brushstrokes to the aroma of truffle pasta and espresso, the city stirs all the senses. Whether you’re here for fashion, food, or just to wander, Florence rewards slowness and curiosity. Here’s a small curated list of classic, stylish, and quietly exceptional places in the city.

🍝 Where to Eat (Classic + Cult Favorites)

Trattoria Cammillo – Family-run since 1945 in Oltrarno; cozy vibes and Tuscan staples .

Trattoria Sostanza – Historic butter chicken & artichoke omelette, cash-only, tiny spot since 1869

Buca Mario – Authentic 1886 Florentine underground trattoria; bistecca alla Fiorentina & traditional pasta

Cucina Torcicoda – Pizzeria + osteria + gourmet restaurant under one roof; near Santa Croce

Il Santo Bevitore – Rustic-chic, modern Tuscan cooking, natural wines in Santo Spirito

Osteria delle Tre Panche – Hidden gem with truffle‑rich menu overlooking the Arno

🍨 Sweet Breaks & Cafés

Vivoli Gelato – Florence’s classic gelateria; must-order affogato

Caffè Gilli – Elegant historic café (since 1733) near Piazza della Repubblica

🍷 Rooftop Bars with a View

SE·STO on Arno – Rooftop bar at Hotel Excelsior with 360° views of Florence

La Terrazza – Chic drinks terrace at Hotel Continentale overlooking Ponte Vecchio

🌄 Morning Rituals

Piazzale Michelangelo Run/Walk – Early morning ascent via the rose garden or stairs; add San Miniato al Monte for more serenity

🛍️ Shopping & Souvenirs

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy – Florentine herbal apothecary offering historic skincare & perfumes since 1612

The Space Outlet – Prada (Levanella) – Designer outlet for Prada, Miu Miu & Church’s; pair with The Mall (that offers Gucci, Marin, Versace, and many many more). You can take a shuttle bus from the city centre to go there, it costs 18 euros return and takes approximerer 50 minutes

📚 Culture

Biblioteca delle Oblate – Rooftop café, city views, calm workspace

Giardino dell’Orticoltura – Historic garden & greenhouse with seasonal events

Palazzo Gucci (Gucci Garden) – Fashion-museum & exhibition space with on-site café

Uffizi, Bargello, Marino Marini & Palazzo Gucci – Museum-rich Florence for slow cultural immersion

Budapest

May 9, 2025May 10, 2025Posted in BudapestTagged Budapest, europe, Hotels, hungary, microguide, restaurants, sightseeing, travelLeave a comment

Harbour view towards the Buda of Budapest

Budapest: A Micro Guide 🇭🇺

Budapest is a city split by the Danube and stitched together with history, design, and thermal waters. From grand architecture, cool cafés, playful parks and world-class culture, here’s a curated micro-guide of where to stay, eat, explore — and just enjoy the city.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Stories Boutique Hotel

Eclectic, colorful, with a cozy courtyard. Located in the lively Jewish Quarter and with all the good restaurants just around every corner: Stories Hotel

Vernon House

Modern, minimalist, and peaceful. Perfect design entusiasts and great location: Vernon House

Moments Hotel

Elegant hotel on Andrássy Avenue with spa and comfortable rooms and a also close to everything. Andrássey Avenue was inspired by Champs Elysee in Paris and is home to the main international fashion houses: Moments Hotel

🍽️ Eat & Drink

Fleischer Restobar

A beautiful little spot serving elegant dishes and (good) local wines. It is a mix between tapas and Asian fusion, and we absolutely loved it. Very small. Get there early or make a reservation: Restobar

Costes Downtown

Michelin-star dining in a light, relaxed setting. Recommended for an amazing lunch: Costes

Mazel Tov

Lush ruin courtyard with greenery, lights, and delicious Middle Eastern food: Mazeltov

Franziska

Bright, modern brunch spot in Buda with healthy dishes and good coffee: Franziska

New York Café

Gilded and dramatic — come for the atmosphere, stay for the cake: New York

Gelarto Rosa

Because gelato as a rose is always a good idea: Gelarto Rosa

🖼️ Museums & Culture

Museum of Fine Arts

From ancient Egypt to 20th-century masters, all housed in a stunning neoclassical building: Szepmuveszeti

Lumiere Hall

Immersive digital art experiences in a striking industrial space: Lumiere

👀 Things to See & Do

• Parliament Building – Neo-Gothic beauty right by the river.

• Buda Castle Funicular – Ride the old cable car up Castle Hill for views and charm.

• Fisherman’s Bastion – White stone lookout towers with panoramic views.

• Chain Bridge – Budapest’s most iconic bridge, glowing beautifully at night.

• Heroes’ Square – Monumental statues and a gateway to City Park.

• City Park (Városliget) – Green space with lakes, playgrounds, and castles.

✨ Local Highlights (that we did not get to try, but is on the list for our next visit)

Széchenyi Baths

Baroque-style thermal baths — We heard you should go early morning or near sunset for the best experience.

Margaret Island 🏝️

A traffic-free island in the middle of the Danube with fountains, bike rentals, and shady walking paths.

Boat tour on Danube 🚤

We just stayed 3 days and though we could have spend more time, I would sat that 3 days is enough that you get a good feel of the city. Till next time, Budapest ❤️.

Tingvellir National Park

May 26, 2024May 26, 2024Posted in Iceland, ReykjavikTagged europe, Iceland, Laugarvatn fontana, oxararfoss, Reykjavik, roadtrip, sightseeing, Silfra, Silfra snorkel, tingvellir, travelLeave a comment

Silfra – in between two tectonic plates

Iceland Day 3

In the National Park (UNESCO protected) Tingvellir a crack in between the North American and the European continents is visible. I never saw or heard about this natural phenomenon anywhere else and here in the park it is even available for a snorkel (or diving) trip.

Silfra is actually a fissure created by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates cutting through Iceland. The Silfra fissure fills with glacial water that has been filtered underground for decades through hardened, porous lava rock. The filtering process of the glacial water makes Silfra one of the clearest bodies of water on earth with up to 120 meters of visibility. How crazy is that?

We were a little in doubt as to whether this trip was something for us to try, but it was such a mind-blowing experience and we would recommend it to everyone thinking about it. Yes, it is cold, 2 degrees all year around, yes it is a somewhat transgressive decision to make, but I promise it is so worth it; 35-40 minutes of what feels like entering another dimension. Nature is just amazing.

The underwater images was taken by our guide and is available after a tour for 20 euros. We booked our tour with Dive.is and we highly recommend them as we had such a good trip and was well taken care of all the way through.

Some of the Silfra fissure

On the way to Silfra we did a small stop at the Oxaràrfoss and also saw the place where the first Scandinavian democratic meeting took place (it is marked).

There are probably a lot of other places to be seen in this UNESCO protected area, but on this day it was just so cold and windy, so after the snorkel trip we got in our car and drove to Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths. The drysuits did prevent the cold water from “cooling us down”, however we did get a little cold from the water and the high chill factor of the ice cold winds after walking back from the water to the changing rooms, so the 38-40 degree geo-pools was just perfect 🙏🏼.

Post geothermal baths and sauna, we drove back to Reykjavik and had dinner (very convenient) at the hotel, trying to digest another amazing day.

South Iceland

May 26, 2024May 26, 2024Posted in Iceland, ReykjavikTagged Black Beach, europe, Guide to Iceland, Iceland, Katla Icecave, Katla tour, La primavera restaurant, Marshall House, Reykjavik, Reynisfjara Beach, road-trip, Sejlandsfoss, sightseeing, travelLeave a comment

The Katla Icecave

Iceland Day 2

As we had planned and booked this trip to the Katla Icecave a long time ago, we had no idea about the weather, so we felt beyond blessed to have a completely sunny day to enjoy this experience. The Icecave is the only Icecave that can be visited during the summer period but sadly (due to global warming) it might not be so in just a few years from now.

Katla is the third largest volcano in Iceland and on top of it is a Glacier. It hasn’t erupted since 1918 and as it statistically erupts every 50-60 years the locals are waiting for it to “wake up” soon. Katla is a Icelandic female name, but it is also the name of the dragon in Astrid Lindgrens “The Brothers Lionheart”. We had booked a tour with Katla Track with Pick up in the town of Vik.

On the way we did a stop at the amazing waterfall Seljalandsfoss. It is an impressive waterfall where you can walk all the way behind it, which is a very special experience. Bring waterproof clothes as you get wet coming up behind the fall and definitely going down as well.

Very convenient (after a 2 hour drive) the location offers restrooms, a small coffee shop/ bakery and even a tiny souvenir shop.

Then we went straight for the Katla Track meeting point in Vik. Here we had a little lunch and got ready for our pick-up. We had a small group of 10 people and went off road to enter the Icecave.

On the way to Katla we drove through the Starwars landscape (where some of Starwars had been filmed), and it was so special. Kind of felt like being on the moon (not that any of us ever tried that ;-)).

We parked close by the glacier and got helmets and spikes for our boots. Then we started the climb up to the cave on a tiny track walking on black ice (old volcano dust had turned the ice black). You don’t have to be super fit to do this trip, but I would say you need to be somewhat agile. We crossed narrow wooden “bridges” and jumped small glacier water flows. All worth it, I mean wauw, such a unique and beautiful tour. The glacier is melting and so the iconic round cave will probably be gone within the month (it has been there for more than 3 1/2 years. But as our guide told us, the landscape in Iceland is ever changing and the locals are very use to this.

Recommendation to go for such a trip is 10/10.

On the way back we stopped by the famous Reynisfjara Beach to see an impressive wall of lava columns. Lots of scenes of from Game of Thrones (season 7) was shot here and it really was film worthy in many ways.

Then we took a 2 1/2 drive back to Reykjavik to have dinner at The Marshall House. Such a hidden location at the end of a pier with an art gallery on top and view of Reykjavik Harbour and the mountains. The restaurant, La Primavera, has a sister restaurant very close by (be careful not to confuse them). The restaurant was fully booked and we seemed to be the only tourists. It was casual with a tasty Italian menu and a very nice bar.

The Golden Circle – An Edited Version

May 25, 2024May 26, 2024Posted in IcelandTagged Golden Circle, Guide to Iceland, Iceland, Katla Icecave, Reynisfjara Beach, Sejlandsfoss, sightseeingLeave a comment

Iceland Day 1

On the first day we arrived, we went straight to pick up our rental mini-jeep and drove towards the Golden Circle.

We did a quick stop at the street food market in Selfoss and from there the Kerid Crater was just 15 minutes away.

Kerid Crater

Next stop was the mighty Gullfoss, probably the most iconic waterfall on Iceland. The water in Hvítá is from the glacier Langjökull and drops 32 meters down in two dramatic waterfalls.

There is a huge parking lot just next to the water fall and very “family friendly” walking paths all the way alongside as well.

Our third stop on this tour was the Geysirs. It is located in valley Haukadalur and is just south of the Gullfoss fall. The entire area is very active and it is free of charge to enter.

A geysir in action

After visiting the Geysir area we drove towards Reykjavik to end the day in the Sky Lagoon. Originally, we had booked for Sunday (but this was Friday), but when we checked the weather forecast the day before, Friday just looked very nice for the weather and Sunday looked rainy and windy. we re-booked and that turned out to be a very good idea. As we entered the geo-pool at the Sky Lagoon the sun came out and we had such a good visit to this beautiful hot spring.

Sky Lagoon

After the Sky Lagoon we checked in at The Edition hotel and had lobster dogs, truffle fries and a glass of wine before heading to bed early after an amazing first day.

As the sun doesn’t set before 11.20PM, we arrived and went to bed by full sunlight…

Arriving at the hotel in the evening by full sunlight

Quy Nhon, sightseeing

April 11, 2023April 13, 2023Posted in Quy Nhon, VietnamTagged Quy Nhon, sightseeing, Tampa TowersLeave a comment

Around Quy Nhon you will find several Cham Towers as the Cham people ruhed this area for more than 500 years. They are not difficult to spot when driving through this area as they are usually on top of a hill. The two most famous Cham towers here are Thap Banh It and Thap Doi.

The two twin Cham Towers was built from the 10th to 15th century. But undergoing a long history with many wars in Vietnam, the towers were ruined. The authorities then in the 90’ties decided to restore the Twin Cham Towers as it plays an important part in showing the Cham’s culture and architecture.

Legend has it that Champa towers normally consist of 3 towers and so do the Duong Long Cham Towers that we went to see. These towers dates back to the 12th century and are the tallest of its kind in South Asia (the central tower is 39 meters). The towers were build as tempels for hindu worship of Deties, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The construction is influenced by Khmer architecture and consist of bricks only (no mortar), which makes the question of how the towers still a standing present time a mystery. Do be careful, as many bees live in these towers, so be sure to maintain a safe distance.

We also went to see the oldest pagoda in the area outside of the city, where young munks live (orphans) and we ended the day with a visit to a local restaurant that served Ban Xeo. Ban Xeo – Vietnamese pancake – is a savory and cripsy dish, where you role a trin omelet with either squid, shrimps or beef together with Bean sprouts, cucumber, mango, salat inside a wet rice paper roll. It is one of the our favourite things to eat in Vietnam and the ones they make in Quy Nhon are just so delicious. Ban Xeo is made in other variations as well, but Quy Nhon claims to have the original version.

But culture and food aside, as most people come to Quy Nhon for the serenity of the coastal area in this region. There are also a number of small islands off the coast of Quy Nhon. Some are so small that you can only sail and snorkel around them. The most famous ones are Ky Co Island and Kho Island. We heard that Kho Island is a good place to see coral reefs and that Hon Kho has a turtle conservation center. If we come back some day, it is surely something we would want to go explore.

Hoi An

April 11, 2023April 11, 2023Posted in Hoi An, VietnamTagged Hoi An, Hoi An Old Town, sightseeing, VietnamLeave a comment

It is our second time in Hoi An and we really loved coming back. Especially the UNESCO protected Old Town is such a nice place to just hang-out, people watching and have amazing food and drinks. The international influence through hundreds of years is very clear in Hoi An in both architecture and cuisine. The small charming streets are beautifully decorated with handmade lanterne on every corner, and the atmosphere is both buzzling and relaxed at the same time. The town is famous for it’s many skilles tailors, elevated cuisine and spas.

If going to Vietnam we highly reccommend going by Hoi An. The town has so much to offer, and if you crave a little beach time, there is a super nice stretch of that and also some “bigger city vibes” just around the corner in Da Nang (if you fly or go ny train, you go by Da Nang).

Phu Quoc, sightseeing

March 11, 2023March 30, 2023Posted in Phu Quoc, VietnamTagged pearl farm, Phu Quoc, sightseeing, snorkling trip, starfish beach, VietnamLeave a comment

Phu Quoc is especially known for its watersports and beautiful beaches.

Recently the longest non-stop 3-way cablecar was build, and it stretches an impressive 8km from the south tip of the “Sun World”going up till 174 meters at the tallet point and taking just 15 minutes to ride. The Sun World also offers tickets with a laser show, that is quite extra-ordinary. We didn’t try the cable cars this time around, since a ccouple of us are affraid of heights, but the view would be pretty amazing, and definitely an experience worth.

Instead we stayed on the ground and went for the Star-fish beach. Very important to note, that there is a star-fish season (which apparently is October), and if you go out side of this season, there are very few starfish to see. The beach is still beautiful, and the small local restaurants on water serves really nice food and cold drinks (the small fishing village Rach Ven is just next to the Star-fish beach and very authentic with great local seafood). We also paid to go with a small wooden boat just 5 minutes up the coast, and it was worth the 400.000VND as this area was true secluded paradise with small shaded chairs, a hammock in the ocean and a tiny kiosk for cold beverages. The Star-fish beach is located on the Northern shore of the island and the road there is very rough the last part of the way up there. But it is super nice to spend a day exploring the area, and even though it felt a bit disappointing at first (as there weren’t really any starfish), we ended up having a nice day swimming and hanging out).

Phu Quoc also has a couple of Pearl farms, and we visited Ngoc Trai Ngoc Hien to do a Little shopping. Vietnamese pearls are really nice and very fair in price when visiting one of the Pearl farms. This Pearl farm at Phu Quoc has pearls from all over Asia, and a large vamriaty of prices.

As Phu Quoc is a tropical island, it offers a diverse marine ecosystem and striking coral reefs. The tours offered to go scuba diving or snorkling are many. But we booked for a private tour, since we only wanted to go for half a day and avoid the “tourist traps”. Both Dagmar and I get sea sick very quick, so we wanted the chance to get into shore if we were too sick and we didn’t want any visits to “photo option location” and such. Finally, we wanted to go out early, to catch the reefs before the rest of the many tourists ;-). This plan was a succes (we actually did get very sea sick, but we always do), we went off 1 hour before the many other tours from the An Thoi harbour heading towards May Rut island, and we had the spot entirely to ourselves. Later we had lunch at the Ham Gi island. A lot of the other tours offers 2-3 island snorkling visits for a full day and I am sure that is nice, if you don’t get as sea sick as us.

Of other things to do on the island can be mentioned trekking to waterfalls and through the “jungle” in the national park area.