EuroCheapo's islands Articles

Stockholm Day Trips: Viking history at Birka Island

Birka island in Sweden
A reconstructed building on Birka island. Photo by Catrijn.

Aug 12 The Viking stereotype is prevalent the world over when discussing Sweden. The Swedes even play it up a bit: Just look at the Swedish fans anytime the country competes in an international soccer game. (If their failed attempts to qualify for this year’s World Cup are any indication, you might have to wait a while…) They » Read more

Posted in Day Trips, islands, Museums, Stockholm, Sweden

Paris Place: Le Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Ile de la Cité

Paris Place: Le Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Ile de la Cité

May 10 Spring has finally sprung in Paris, so with arms tangled and hair highly mussed, let’s stroll like real Parisians to my favorite centuries-old romantic hot spot, le Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Île de la Cité. Created by passionate King Henri IV, its spectacular view of la Seine and currents crashing into its » Read more

Posted in France, islands, Neighborhood, Paris

The Sky is the Limit: Rethinking travel in Europe, post-volcano

The Sky is the Limit: Rethinking travel in Europe, post-volcano

Apr 21 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

Posted in Airlines, Airports, Bus, Europe, hidden europe, islands, London, News, plane, round-up, Train, transportation, Trip Planning

Malta and Gibraltar: Oft-overlooked and intriguing destinations

Malta and Gibraltar: Oft-overlooked and intriguing destinations

Jan 20 Combing through old posts here on the EuroCheapo blog, we were surprised to notice that more than half the countries and territories in Europe have hardly had a mention. Among the lacunae are the Mediterranean outposts of Malta and Gibraltar. Malta is of course a sovereign country. Tiny Gibraltar, by comparison, is one of those » Read more

Posted in Europe, hidden europe, islands, Malta, tips

Stockholm: Ideas for short winter days and empty wallets

Stockholm: Ideas for short winter days and empty wallets

Nov 05 On October 25th, the clocks changed and Sweden fell back one hour. For many people around the world, this just means that it gets darker a little earlier, in Stockholm it means that on Monday the 26th Stockholmers were greeted with a sunset around 4:00 pm. The days are short in Sweden now and only » Read more

Posted in Art, Entertainment, Events, Exhibitions, Free Stuff, islands, Stockholm, Sweden

New York: Free ferries to historic Governors Island

New York: Free ferries to historic Governors Island

Aug 12 It’s balmy here in New York City and we’re dreaming of breezy bike rides and picnics in idyllic settings. Time for a trip to historic Governors Island, the small island located 800 yards from Manhattan in New York Harbor. Read on to find out how to get there (for free!) and what fun awaits. A » Read more

Posted in City Transportation, Day Trips, Free Stuff, islands, New York, United States

Guadeloupe Cheapo: Terre-de-Haut, Les Saintes

Guadeloupe Cheapo: Terre-de-Haut, Les Saintes

Mar 20 The island of Terre-de-Haut in the tiny Les Saintes archipelago just south of Guadeloupe is a little slice of Francophone heaven in the midst of the Caribbean. But unlike St. Barts, another tiny French Caribbean isle, Terre-de-Haut isn’t so French that it doesn’t also feel as if it’s part of the region. Terre-de-Haut marries its » Read more

Posted in France, French Caribbean, islands, Wandering Cheapos

Wandering Cheapo: Europe in the Caribbean?

Wandering Cheapo: Europe in the Caribbean?

Mar 18 Three European countries have territories in the Caribbean today: France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. If one measures things in terms of citizenship rights, then all of these three countries’ Caribbean territories are part of Europe. If one measures them instead in terms of full territorial integration with their European “mother countries,” then only » Read more

Posted in French Caribbean, islands, Wandering Cheapos

Cyprus Journal: Adventures in eating

Oct 07 Alex’s aunt sets the table for a Cypriot family dinner. Editor’s Note: This week, the blog will be tagging along with fellow Cheapo Alex Christodoulides as she visits family in Cyprus. Sure, the language spoken in Cyprus is Greek, but the accent is distinctive and so is the food. For one thing, Cyprus recently made » Read more

Posted in Cyprus, Food, Greece, islands, Wandering Cheapos

The most beautiful island in Europe?

The most beautiful island in Europe?

Sep 26 The Scilly Isles. Photo © hidden europe Okay Cheapos! Indulge us for two minutes. We’ve just been taking a break on an island full of surprises, a place so beguilingly beautiful that we think it’s worth a mention. There must be a thousand candidates for the accolade of “Europe’s most beautiful island.” One of our » Read more

Posted in islands