Gerry Mullins continues his guide to some of Europe's most popular city breaks for Irish travellers
COPENHAGEN
It's difficult to avoid Hans Christian Andersen when you visit Copenhagen, but that's okay. The writer himself arrived in the city as a schoolboy in 1819, and following unsuccessful attempts to become a ballet dancer, singer and an actor, he eventually settled for a career writing some of the greatest children's books the world has known. His former home in the picturesque harbour area of Nyhavn draws tens of thousands of visitors each year. They also flock to his statue in front of City Hall, and even the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, where his characters are represented in its fairytale gardens, amusement rides, miniature villages, ice-skating lake, and exhibition of mechanical pixies.
One of the best ways to explore the city is by bicycle. City Safaris provides tours of historical Copenhagen, the Hans Christian Andersen landmarks, and Copenhagen by night (see www.citysafari.dk). Also look out for the free bicycles that have been left for your use at numerous bike stands around the city. For more detailed information on Copenhagen, visit www.visitcopenhagen.dk.
SAS travels direct to Copenhagen from Dublin (www.flysas.ie).
AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is also a wonderful city for cycling, with plenty of bike paths and no hills. Highlights of any visit to the Dam include the art treasures of the Van Gogh Museum, one of the city's finest galleries, which houses 200 paintings by the famous artist. (00-31-20-5705200, www.vangoghmuseum.nl. Admission for adults is €10.)
The other great tragic figure celebrated in Amsterdam is Anne Frank, who hid for 25 months in a city-centre annex before being found and murdered by the Nazis. The Anne Frank Museum displays her original diary, and the rooms of the secret annex, which have been maintained in their authentic state. (00-31-20-5567100, www.annefrank.org. Admission €7.50 per adult.)
But any discussion of Amsterdam must mention the primary reason a great number of Irish people visit the city. Its 400 "coffee shops" are designated by law as places one can buy and smoke marijuana legally, although this could change in years to come as authorities consider reviewing the law. Visitors can see new hemp fashions and examine smoking paraphernalia during the Cannabis Cup, an annual competition between the city's coffee shops, which this year takes place from November 20th to 24th (www.cannabiscup.com).
Aer Lingus flies direct to Amsterdam from Dublin (www.aerlingus.com).
KRAKOW
Krakow is the only city in Poland where the old architecture survived the second World War, and as a result it has been granted Unesco World Heritage status.
Poland remains a conservative Catholic country and an undercommercialised one, so Krakow might be the perfect place to get the real feeling of Christmas. Amid its many Gothic churches one can expect more religious symbolism than elsewhere in Europe, and with the added atmosphere of snow-covered rooftops.
Krakow is also associated with the late Pope John Paul II, once an archbishop here. Visitors to the Muzeum Archidiecezjalne (Archdiocesan Museum) can see the room where he used to live, and many of the presents received from world leaders during his time as pope are also on display. (00-48-12-4218963.)
Sixty kilometres west of Krakow are the Nazi extermination centres of Auschwitz and Birkenau. The best way to visit the area is by train from Krakow, which takes two hours. Shuttle buses transport visitors between the two camps. For further information on Krakow visit www.explore-krakow.com.
This year, both Aer Lingus and Sky Europe began flying the Dublin-Krakow route (www.aerlingus.com and www.skyeurope.com).
MADRID
As well as its top-notch music venues and clubs, Madrid is home to the fabulous Prado and Thyssen museums, and Teatro Real and Sala Arena concert venues. But for some of the world's greatest theatre, and some of the most famous performers, go to the Bernabeu Stadium for a Real Madrid football match.
The team might not be the best in the world, but it certainly has some of the best players, including the majestic Zinedine Zidane, the original Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and of course David Beckham. The Real Madrid players have won nothing in the past couple of seasons, and will be desperate to beat their main rivals, FC Barcelona, in Madrid on November 19th. Tickets for that match are officially sold out, but it is possible to obtain tickets for any of Real's other games at www.madrid-tickets.net.
A perfect antidote to the excitement of clubbing and football is a Sunday browse at El Rastro, Madrid's bustling flea market, which extends along several streets and squares from the Plaza de Cascarro. Thousands of stalls offer new and second-hand goods that include shoes, household goods, hippy paraphernalia and antiques.
Aer Lingus and Iberia fly direct between Dublin and Madrid (www.aerlingus.com and www.iberia.com).
EDINBURGH
There's far more to Edinburgh than rugby internationals, and far more to the Royal Mile than a row of pubs leading to Murrayfield. That famous historic route is one of the great city strolls, starting at the stunning Edinburgh Castle, ending at Holyrood Palace, and passing by St Giles Cathedral, John Knox House and the Georgian splendour of the New Town along the way. Edinburgh has great shopping and pubs, and unlike the other cities mentioned here, it's English- speaking.
Although Edinburgh's association with the writers Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson has gained it recognition from Unesco as the world's first City of Literature, contemporary readers might be more interested in its links with Irvine Welsh, author of the book that became a cult movie classic, Trainspotting.
Trainspotting Tours focuses on Welsh's works, and takes in some of the local sights of the Edinburgh suburb of Leith, where the 1993 novel (now translated into more than 30 languages) is set. The tour, which is not recommended for children, starts at the Port O'Leith Bar (immortalised in Welsh's book Porno), and costs £8 (€12). Further details on www.leithwalks.co.uk.
Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus service the Dublin and Edinburgh route (www.ryanair.com and www.aerlingus.com).