EuroCheapo's hidden europe Articles

Jul 11 Seven countries claim a share of the Alps. Think of the Alps, and Switzerland inevitably springs to mind. Closely followed by Austria, France and Italy. But three other countries are blessed with a slice of Europe’s most celebrated mountain range. Liechtenstein, Germany and Slovenia have the smallest portions. The many ranges of the Alps boast » Read more

Jul 05 Little San Marino, the independent republic in the Apennines, is a gem. And like most gems, you have to take time to appreciate it. Forget the overpriced day trips touted by bus operators, and instead plan to spend two or three days in San Marino. By day This diminutive polity, with its capital (also called » Read more

Jun 27 When exploring Europe, the easy option is to choose a central city and use that as a base for exploring the area around. It often makes sense. Paris is a sensible jumping-off point for a day trip to Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny — and in truth in mid-summer the glorious shade and pools at » Read more

Jun 20 It’s that time of year when, with the onset of summer, Europe’s rail schedules are amended to reflect holiday travel patterns. The exact dates when new services kick in vary by country, but here’s a flavor of what’s on offer for 2012. Summer means vacation and many European rail operators run holiday specials to coasts » Read more

Jun 13 The European Commission, the Strasbourg Parliament and the Council of Europe have all done their bit to help shape Europeans’ perceptions of their shared continent. But, for many Europeans of a certain age, it was an innovation in rail ticketing 40 years ago this summer that did more than any institution to forge their views » Read more

Jun 06 Okay, let’s say you’ve made the decision to go for a rail pass. Of course there are times when a pass makes total sense. It may be that you really are making a lot of journeys, or perhaps you just want to relish the freedom to roam at will. Here’s how to get the most » Read more

May 31 The high season for airline bankruptcies in Europe tends to be the fall, but 2012 is sending spring shivers through the industry with a number of carriers having stopped operations in recent weeks. When German regional carrier Cirrus Airlines filed for insolvency earlier this year OLT Express looked set to take over Cirrus. But that » Read more

May 23 Tourism in Greece hasn’t fared at all badly this past year or two. Indeed, in 2011 visitor numbers were very buoyant as travelers who might otherwise have taken vacations in Egypt or Tunisia opted instead for Greece. Greece was a key beneficiary of the Arab Spring. Germany shuns Greece Yet over the past year, Greek » Read more

May 16 A dense web of connections links America with Florence. Some argue it massively invigorates the Tuscan city, while others aver that Florentine life has been distorted by the American impact on the city. What view you take on the American influence on Florence, there is no doubt that the Italian city (as seen through American eyes) » Read more