“Germy” sites? Whatever.

CNN.com reports today on “The 5 Germiest Tourist Attractions.” Must be a slow news day.

Photo Credit: brosner on Flickr

Here’s the list:

• Blarney Stone (Blarney Castle, Ireland) because about 400,000 people kissed it last year alone.
• Market Theater Gum Wall (Seattle) because it’s a wall of chewed gum.
• St. Mark’s Square (Venice, Italy) because pigeons crowd the air and cover the ground here and leave their mark (poop) wherever they please.
• Grauman’s Chinese Theater (L.A.) because people put their hands in the handprints of their favorite celebrities.
• Oscar Wilde’s Tomb (Paris) because of the massive amount of lipsticked kisses covering it.

Yea, you can see the point. But, really, is it a big deal? You probably pick up the same amount of germs using a public restroom, pushing a shopping cart at the grocery store or just by using weights at your gym. I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone and the germs didn’t kill me.

So, don’t let the thought of germs put a damper on your travel plans. Between the rain and scheduled cleanings of the above-mentioned, you’re okay.

After we asked you guys to name your cheap summer travel destinations, we asked for your favorite “must-see” things or places in Europe.

We had an overwhelmingly 130 responses and – after much deliberation – we are pleased to present the top 30 “must-see” spots in Europe according to our readers. Make sure to click on the linked text to see a picture of the suggestion on Flickr.

The Monasteries of the Meteora, Greece (Suggested by Kyanne)

The Sacre-Coeur, Paris, France (Suggested by Monica)

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy (Suggested by Jenna)

Interlaken, Switzerland (Suggested by Caitlin S.)

Grant Museum of Zoology, London, UK (Suggested by Harriet Baskas)

Marienplatz, Munich, Germany (Suggested by Kara)

The British Lawnmower Museum Didn't Make the Cut

Belem, Lisbon, Portugal (Suggested by Oscar)

Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy (Suggested by Giovanna Palatucci)

The Narva Gate, St. Petersburg, Russia (Suggested by Chris)

Worm’s Head, Swansea, Wales (Suggested by Renee O.)

La  Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain (Suggested by Cara Z.)

Bruges, Belgium (Suggested by Hannah Kim)

Saint Melo, near Rennes, France (Suggested by Graeme)

Dubrovnik, Croatia (Suggested by Emily Osvold)

The Keukenhof, near Lisse, Netherlands (Suggested by Marisa)

Mercat de la Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain (Suggested by Jenn Vargas)

Grandhotel Pupp, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic (Suggested by Lauren)

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, United Kingdom (Suggested by Ng Sook Zhen)

However, the Sacre-Coeur did

Isle of Skye, Scotland (Suggested by Cassie S-C)

Sainte Chappelle, Paris, France (Suggested by Jamie)

Dunnottar Castle, near Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Suggested by Brianna C.)

Bonehouse of Sedlec, Kunta Hora, Czech Republic (Suggested by Karina Giraldo)

Chiesa di San Ignazio, Rome, Italy (Suggested by Arielle)

The Gorges of Verdon, Provence region of France (Suggested by Lauren)

Canterbury, England (Suggested by Cherie)

Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Italy (Suggested by Kassie)

Jungfaru, Switzerland (Suggested by Sarah)

The Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden (Suggested by Jordan Brooks)

Nyhavn, Cophenhagen, Denmark (Suggested by Marie Z.)

Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland (Suggested by Gloria)

Check out STA Travel’s top 30 recommnedations and see how they compare to our readers.

The Sacre-Coeur Photo Credit: ndrewfgg on Flickr

Another week, another giveaway from your friends at STA.

Whether you are a photog or just a voyeur, everybody goes to Europe to see the sights. From the Louvre in Paris to St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Europe is full of  must-see locations for any traveler.

Our travel experts across the country came up with ten of their favorite must-see places in Europe. After you check out our list, make sure to let us know what your must-see place is in Europe.

On Friday, April 17, at 5 p.m. CDT, we will select one suggestion for a must-see place in Europe at random and that person will receive:

- 1 Round-Trip Ticket to a European destination courtesy of STA and Virgin Atlantic

- 1 Eurail pass

- 1 Busabout pass for hop-on-hop-off travel

So get to reading our list and then leave a comment for your chance to win.

STA Travel’s 10 Must-See Places in Europe

1. Vondelpark in Amsterdam – Imagine Central Park, but with a connected series of ponds and streams and you have one of the most beautiful parks in the world. 10 million visitors flock to this 120 acre park each year to see the park and its open air theater and film museum.

Wouldn't you like to see that in person?

2. Prague Castle in Prague – One of the biggest castles in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, this castle is home to the Czech Crown Jewels. Measuring at 570 meters in length and an average of 130 miles wide, make sure to bring your wide-angle lens.

3. The Colosseum in Rome – Have you ever seen Gladiator? Check out the spot where the real Gladiators fought in brutal battles for their lives. Later in its existence, the Church tried to turn it into a wool factory to provide employment for Rome’s prostitutes.

4. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona – Easily one of the most spectacular buildings in the entire world, Sagrada Familia is a massive Catholic church that has been under construction since 1882. The construction budget for 2009 is 18 million Euros.

5. Alhambra in Granada – The Alhambra was completed towards the end of Muslim rule in Spain, which is evident in the architecture of this beautiful building.  You may recognize Alhambra if you’ve ever read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

6. BMW Museum in Munich – The visually stunning four-cylinder BMW headquarters and adjacent museum is as beautiful outside as the cars are inside.  One of the most recognized car brands in the world, the BMW Museum showcases some of the best offerings ever produced by the manufacturer.

7. Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy – Most people go to Italy for the fine food, beautiful people and beautiful Duomos, but Lake Como is a can’t miss for anyone looking for breathtaking scenery. Make sure to scan the shoreline for some of the most amazing – and probably expensive – Villas you will ever see.

8. Hyde Park in London – While the park itself is great, the real must-see is located on the north-east corner. That location is home to Speakers’ Corner, where free speech reigns. Step on your soapbox and get ready to be heckled, just make sure to avoid profanity to avoid the ire of the police.

9. Paris Plage in Paris - Imagine walking through beautiful Paris seeing the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and then….a beach. Paris Plage, located in central Paris, is an artificial beach on the banks of the Seine River that is attracting tourists and locals who can’t afford to take a vacation.

10. Uffizi in Florence – Home to a statue of the famous hometown poet Dante, the Uffizi is also home to works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. Make sure to get your ticket in advance, because the wait can be long during peak season.

Let’s get the suggestions rolling.

Fine Print on Giveaway

Next stop for the trendsetting traveler is Italy. So many designers began their career here so it is no wonder that the Italians are the royalty of fashion.

Milan:

No words strike endearment into a fashion follower’s heart like Milan. You can find EVERYTHING here.

At Via Montenapoleone (or the Quadrilatero di’Oro, cross streets of Via Sant’Andrea and Via della Spiga) you will find EVERY famous designer. Georgio Armani, D&G, Fendi, Gucci, Prada, and others call this “golden square” home. As the name implies, do not expect any bargains, even during the sale season.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – The famous shopping mall with bold frescos and tons of designer shops. These scaling marble walls and golden frescoes are truly inspiring. To get here, exit metro stop Duomo and you will find the towering beautiful galleria to your left.
For more shopping, head west from the galleria on Corso Vittorio Emmanuele past the Duomo towards the metro stop San Babila. Along this route you will find department stores like La Rinascente, high end stores, and even stores like H&M, Zara, the North Face, Diesel and affordable boutiques .

Not to be missed is Corso Buenos Aires and the marketplace to the west (Galleria Buenos Aires between Via Francesco Redi and Via Plinio). From metro stop Porta Venezia to Loreto, you can find affordable H&M, Zara, department stores, United Colors of Benneton, and more Italian boutiques, as well as affordable grub and gelato.

Galleria Buenos Aires (an open marketplace) hosts some of the best fruit you will ever taste. Additionally, there is an abundance of supermarkets near Corso Buenos Aires, but beware of the street at night.

Portofino:

From Cannes, sail your yacht into the harbor find to find Hermes, Gucci, and everything utterly lavish. (Alternatively, coming from Milan, take the train to Santa Margherita Don’t forget to bring a picnic and follow the path on the south side of the harbor for a beautiful hike up the hillside for incredible views of the Mediterranean.

Florence:

A city of Renaissance beauty, Florence is sure to leave you astonished. After you have scaled all 463 steps to the top of  the Duomo, admired David, and ascended the steps to Piazzale Michelangelo, it is time for some fashion indulgence.

The morning is the best time for scanning the marketplaces, and the San Lorenzo market and central market are the best markets of Florence. Along Via Roma from the Battistero di San Giovanni down to the Piazza della Repubblica (Via degli Speziali) you can find Gucci and Zara. Further past Piazza della Repubblica towards Via Tornabuoni and via Della Vigna Nuova you will find the other high end stores Italy is famous for. To find essentials, there is a five story La Rinascente near Piazza della Repubblica.

Roma:

There are two main streets in the Eternal city that offer shopping galore.
Via del Corso runs from Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II all the way to Piazza della Popolo. Along here you can find Sisley, Calzedonia, and other affordable shopping.

For entertainment, you will often find street break dancers and chalk-artists.

The high-end district of Rome can be found near the Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spagna
along Via Condotti. This is arguably the most expensive shopping area in Italy. You can find the glamorous shops of Max&Co., Yves St. Laurent, and Burberry.

Make sure you take some time to rest at the Spanish steps or along the gardens along the edge of Villa Borghese between the Villa Medici and Piazza della Popolo. From the Pinicio you can see the entire city and is great for capturing Rome at sunset.

Photo Credit: Via Condotti by Jezuez471 on Flickr

Photo Credit: Galleria by Karynsig on Flickr