Photo by oliviagiovetti

We overheard this brilliant aside from an American backpacker in a bar in Zizkov: “What the hell is up with all the puppets?”

It’s sort of a good question. Prague’s more touristy areas have marionette shops on practically every corner. The art of puppetry has been a popular form in Prague since the 17th Century. It was one of the first forms of theatre performed in Czech. Historically, the innocence of the marionettes and the naïveté of their puppeteers have allowed many censored ideas to reach the public.

The National Marionette Theatre (Zatecka 1 in Stare Mesto) performs Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni twice daily. With a theatre bar that allows you to bring your Pilsner into the performance, this Giovanni is a burlesque send-up for those who love and loathe opera alike. Sit in the front row if you don’t mind getting wet.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Photo by larcenette

July 6 through 8 marks the 9th annual Solidays festival in Paris. Solidays is a giant reunion of rock, hip-hop, and metal, all designed to raise money to fight AIDS. It’s held at the racetrack of Longchamps, and the first day’s lineup includes Ms. Lauryn Hill, JoeyStarr, and our personal favorite, No One Is Innocent.

On the July 7, participating groups include Sean Lennon, Sum 41, and Zenzile. On the final day, the man everyone’s been talking about recently, Abd Al Malik, will play, along with Trust, Mass Hysteria, and others.

Tickets are expected to go very fast. Prices aren’t outrageous by any means. A three-day pass is €44, a two-day pass runs €39, and a day pass will set you back €29.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Photo by vxla

Summer in Budapest means long, warm nights, which the city uses to best effect to host some excellent outdoor theatre performances. The most extravagant summer performances are on Margit Island, the luscious green spot in the middle of the Danube.

This year, the season’s first performance on the island stage is on June 10; the program closes out on September 15. The performance series features music and dance for every taste, from Aida to Riders on the Storm, and from a musical versions of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Dracula to the Budapest Klezmer band.

Tickets can be ordered from the box office on the island, or online. Ticket prices start at HUF2500 (€9.90; $13.20).

For pre-theatre or post-theatre drinks or dinner the island boasts some good, atmospheric terraced cafes and restaurants.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Photo by Zé Eduardo

Ethereal truffle ravioli that melt in your mouth. Heavenly mascarpone sprinkled with bitter dark chocolate shavings. Dreams are made of such things.

At Drogheria della Rosa in Bologna, jovial owner Emanuele Addone keeps you smiling all night. After all he did take home the prestigious San Pelligrino Cooking Cup. If his contagious enthusiasm doesn’t hit you, the continuously flowing wine certainly will.

Drogheria della Rosa’s cellar has several hundred choices of vino for every budget. Second piatti range from €9 to €15 per dish. Each dish is simple, made from the freshest ingredients, and prepared to perfection. Be sure to reserve a table ahead of time. During the summer months, we recommend outside tables.

Drogheria della Rosa is located at Via Cartoleria, 10. Telephone: +39 51 22 2529. Hours: 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m., and 8 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Vienna’s fascination with sports and healthy living has always been striking. There’s the city’s popular spring marathon, the women’s marathon, the children’s marathon, and a host of additional runs.

Registration for the four-kilometer Erste Bank Vienna Night Run 2007 opened this month. The run will kick off at dusk on October 10 and will raise money for the benefit of blind and disabled people of the poor countries through a non-governmental Austrian organization, Licht für die Welt (Light for the World). Licht für die Welt’s aim is to totally reduce blindness among the poor people who need medicinal care through 2020. The start and finish lines will be around the former imperial stables in the Seventh District.

The registration fee is €20. Your cash will get you a trendy blue Puma running shirt along with the satisfaction of having done a good deed.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Air France is offering a flat rate of €50 on all one-way trips in France purchased before June 26. Return trips are priced at €99. Rates apply from July 14 through September 2 and are good across the entire domestic grid. The only catch is a minimum three-night stay—or one Saturday night.

For European trips originating in France there’s a separate promotion available for purchase before June 18: return trips starting at €99, departing anytime between July 14 and September 2, and returning by September 23.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo by Jet2

Plucky UK low-cost carrier Jet2 is launching two ski season routes to Chambéry in France—one from Edinburgh; the other from Belfast. Both routes will kick off on December 15. One-way fares (including taxes) will start at £28.99.

We like the way that Jet2 continues to quietly expand and evolve. The airline doesn’t overwhelm with bluster and fuss—it just does its thing. Next to Flybe’s bizarre decision to ban its passengers from eating food they’ve brought aboard flights (not to mention last summer’s staffing shortages at another leading British airline, which resulted in a whole mess of cancellations), Jet2 continues to emerge as a reliable UK low-cost alternative.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Photo by oliviagiovetti

If you’re in Prague on Saturday, June 16, don’t spend your day museum-hopping. Wait until 7 p.m., when the bulk of the city’s museums and galleries will waive admission as part of Prague’s Museum Night.

In its fourth year, Prague’s Museum Night is part of a European movement to make art open, accessible, and (best of all) free. The only two museums not offering free admission are asking for “symbolic admission”: the Museum of the City of Prague is charging CZK1 (€.04; $.05), while the City Gallery Prague is asking for CZK10 (€.35; $.47) per entrant. If you’re completely strapped for crowns, don’t fret. There are over 15 other museums and galleries to keep you busy.

Transportation between museums will also be free. A handful of other cultural events and exhibitions will complement the evening’s festivities. So if you’ve ever found yourself jonesing for a Cinderella, stroke-of-midnight moment at Prague Castle, June 16 is your chance.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Photo by GoGap

Kecskemét, 86 kilometers from Budapest in the center of Hungary, possesses arguably the most beautiful town center in the entire country. Almost every building on the main square is art nouveau. The finest examples are the Town Hall and the new college, which houses elementary and high schools specializing in music education and named in honor of Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály.

The town has other treasures, too. It is home to the Pálinka Museum, where, for HUF1250 (€4,90; $6.60), you can take a tour of the original and modern schnapps distilleries.

We recommend you finish a trip to Kecskemét with a visit to a wonderful Rrench restaurant, the Montmartre Francia Étterem, located at the charming mill centre (Malom Központ 3).

To get to Kecskemétfrom Budapest take a direct train from Nyugati (West) Station. The journey takes 85 minutes and costs a mere HUF1770 (€7; $9.30.)

Popularity: 10% [?]

Photo by Chris Kurkowski

The EXIT Festival has got to be one of the best deals for fun and live music in Europe this summer—just €78.50 for a four-day pass!

Set to take place in Novi Sad, the capital of the Serbian province of Vojvodina, the EXIT Festival’s line-up this year features more than 125 artists on six different stages, including the Beastie Boys. (Want to know how good the EXIT Festival entry deal is? You’d pay at least €60 to see the Beasties, along with Underworld and Madness, perform live this Saturday at the EJEKT Festival in Athens.)

Other EXIT performers include Frankie Knuckles—who will be making his first live appearance in Serbia—Lauryn Hill, Robert Plant, and Snoop Dogg. Quite a funky mix of musical madness.

The EXIT Festival is going down from July 12 to July 15. With the Petrovaradin Fortress providing the gorgeous background, this is a music fest not to be missed.

Popularity: 8% [?]