The World Cup holiday quarter-finals
After three weeks of football, the end is in sight.
As four more teams return home this weekend, Cox & Kings takes a closer look at the European and Latin American countries remaining in the competition, and what they can offer travellers.
Closer to home in Europe
Belgium
Brugges, Belgium
Home to more castles per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world and famous for its beer (the country’s 150 breweries produce more than 1,000 different beers) and chocolate, Belgium is ideal for a city break. Visit picturesque Bruges, with its charming buildings and cobbled streets in the Dutch-speaking Flemish region, or Brussels in the largely French-speaking Walloon region in the south – home of the European Union as well as quaint cafes, antique shops and Art Nouveau architecture.
France
The most visited country in the world offers its visitors beautiful countryside, historical sights and fantastic food and wine. The 45th parallel north, marking the halfway point between the Equator and North Pole, is said to be the limit between Northern and Southern France, and is the boundary between the butter and olive oil cuisines. Paris is undoubtedly one of the world’s great cities: while away hours in the art galleries and museums, browse antiques markets in Montmartre, or simply walk along the banks of the Seine.
Germany
Brandenburg Gate
As of 2012, Germany has won more Olympic medals – summer and winter – than any country other than the US. Head to the sporting nation and discover modern cities, scenic landscapes, empty coastlines and alpine mountains. Spend a weekend exploring the many museums and historical buildings of Berlin, or spend longer combining some of the country’s other fascinating cities, travelling by the excellent and very efficient high-speed rail system.
The Netherlands
Amsterdam
With more bicycles than people, the Netherlands is an ideal country to explore on two wheels: meaning ‘low country’, more than a quarter of its land is below sea level and everywhere is very flat. Spend a weekend in Amsterdam, a city with over 1,000 bridges and one of the country’s two capitals, to visit its famous museums and world-class art galleries.
Further afield in Latin America
Argentina
Horses-in-Patagonia
Football is without a doubt Argentina’s favourite sport, but Pato – Spanish for ‘duck’ – is the official national sport. Played on horseback, combining elements of polo and basketball, in the game’s early versions a live duck inside a basket was used instead of a ball. From legendary gauchos and tango, to walking in Patagonia and wildlife watching, as well as fantastic wines and fine dining, there’s something to entice everyone to Argentina.
Brazil
Iguazu Falls
As the 5th largest country by population, the World Cup’s host has more to offer than just football – though it is the national sport. The Amazon river discharges more water into the Atlantic than the next seven largest rivers combined: in the wet season, it is up to 30 miles wide. Brazil has 19 Unesco world heritage sites including the impressive Iguacu Falls on the Argentinian border, the Fernando de Noronha archipelago and the colonial centres of Salvador and Olinda.
Colombia
An intriguing mix of forgotten ancient cultures, colonial architecture, lush coffee plantations and beautiful beaches, Colombia’s history has left the country with an image problem. However, tourist numbers are increasing and now is the time to visit. Colombia is the only country in South America with both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, and Cartagena is one of the continent’s best preserved colonial cities.
Costa Rica
red eyed tree frog
Reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, Costa Ricans have a lot to celebrate. One of the most bio-diverse countries in the world, and with over 25% of the country protected, Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise: more than 9,000 plant species, 750,000 different insects, ten percent of the world’s butterfly and many other animals can be found in this relatively small country.
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