Florence is an amazing city that has it all … well, almost. One thing missing from this city is green space. There are many piazzas and small gardens, but central  Florence is void of real open, green space. Luckily, the Giardino dell’Orticultura (Horiculture Gaden) offers some much-needed greenery not far from the city center. So » Read more

Too-too or too perfect? Either way, Prenzlauer Berg is the Berlin hood I can’t live without. Prenzlauer Berg isn’t packed with sights, but the atmosphere in this shabby-chic eastern Berlin neighborhood—especially the so-called Kollwitzkiez—is irresistible. A network of leafy lanes and avenues perched on a barely perceptible hill (“berg”) just northeast of the center, this » Read more

This travel lark takes quite a bit of courage. Heavens, just browsing through the new edition of the Rough Guide to Paris, we see the text kicks off with Notre Dame (and a handful of other sights stranded on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the River Seine), and then dives straight » Read more

As a full body-and-soul, foot-stomping nod to Django Reinhardt’s centennial birthday celebration, we’re giving away a super cool “Panier a Bouteilles” (Bottle Bag) in ruby red, created by Frédéric Périgot of Paris! Just in time for summertime shindigs in the sun or picnics by moonglow, it’ll hold tight nine bottles of your favorite beverages. (By the » Read more

When I left you last week, it looked as if I would make it out of Europe’s volcanic ash cloud nightmare more or less unscathed. Last Tuesday, my flight from Chisinau, Moldova to Istanbul was scheduled to take off as planned, while my mother’s flight to Milan was canceled outright. My flight ended up leaving, as » Read more

Whether you like romantic cobbled streets, nightlife, shopping or convenience to the main transport hubs, choosing the right Rome neighborhood can make or break your holiday experience. Here is our guide to help you make your choice. Trastevere For scenic streets and nightlife Literally meaning “across the Tevere” (or the River Tiber), Trastevere is a » Read more

Traveling from the US to Europe, it’s easy to fall into the same tipping habits you use back home, like handing over 20 percent without even really thinking about it. The tipping culture throughout Europe varies quite a bit, and Sweden is no different. However, knowing how the tipping culture works can save you some money » Read more

Note: The authors hoped to be in the Faroe Islands this week. That Icelandic volcano had other ideas. They reflect from Berlin on an interesting week in European travel. Air travel in Europe has taken a hard knock these past days. Media reports of all Europe being utterly paralyzed have a dash of hyperbole. Less than one » Read more

At first, the very idea that a plume of volcanic ash could force the closure of airspace seemed ludicrous. Until a few days ago, clearly, I knew nothing about the power of volcanic ash. Volcanoes of the world, hear this: I and millions of others stand corrected, now and forever. Never again will we doubt » Read more