Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner take the seasonal pulse in Leipzig: “Berlin with a shade more flair” is how our Leipzig friend describes her home town. This magnificent city, overshadowed in Saxony by Dresden and too close (some say) to Berlin to really pull the crowds, is a place to visit in fall. For hundreds » Read more

Amid Europe’s frenzied political turmoil of 20 years ago, there were all manner of landmark dates that were stepping stones en route to a new order. And August 31, 1990 was one of the most significant. For it was 20 years ago today that representatives of the governments of East Germany and West Germany met » Read more

“Dark tourism” has come of age. Yet traveling to encounter the macabre or the gruesome is not just a modern whim. Many medieval pilgrims headed for spots where martyrs were allegedly killed. In our home city of Berlin, thousands of visitors head for the Topography of Terror, a chance to stand at the very spot » Read more

  May 1, the day when comrades used to march in solidarity in Europe’s streets, has come and gone. And in many European cities this past weekend, visitors were possibly surprised to find just how seriously local folk still take their demonstrations. From Paris to Athens, from Moscow to Milan, the streets were thronged with » Read more

It is almost time for us to put down our quill pens and leave the scriptorium for the last time this year. Three weeks of quiet retreat are in the offing, a chance for us to recharge our batteries and plan a few journeys for 2010. So a good moment, perhaps, to look back and » Read more

Okay, so you think you’ve got Europe absolutely sussed out? You recognize the difference between an ogonek and an umlaut, know your pelmeni from your pierogi, and can map with precision the boundaries between the six time zones that straddle the European mainland? (Yes, there really are six separate one-hour time zones on the mainland » Read more

Madrid is filled with Cheapo-friendly activities, including complementary admission to the Prado museum and nightlife options that are easy on the wallet. For a less conventional Madrid freebie, however, consider paying a visit to the Spanish capital’s Congreso de los Diputados. The Congreso de los Diputados is a democratically elected body, 350 members in total, and is » Read more