By Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries— The big rail news in Europe this past week has been the successful launch of a new direct train service from Moscow to Nice, restoring a link between the Russian capital and the French Riviera that has not operated since before the First World War. Routed via Minsk, Warsaw, » Read more

Breezing through a Paris train station this month, we realized how easy European rail travel has become. We sit at home, plan and pay for trips online, and even print out our own train tickets. How times have changed. A few years ago, we envied rail pass holders for the freedom that came with being » Read more

Things are warming up in Helsinki (the high temperature for today, June 14, 2010, is a relatively toasty 68 °F). As summer comes to the Finnish capital, there are plenty of reasons to be outside. Where to go, you ask? Well, read on, because we’ve got you covered with some Cheapo-friendly ways to soak up » Read more

This month has seen quite a bit of low cost carrier activity, as airlines from Air Baltic to Ryanair and easyJet added routes eastward to the Baltics and down to the Balkans. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the most interesting additions. Air Baltic Recent weeks have seen Air Baltic aggressively expanding its network, » Read more

Three weeks ago, we reported here on EuroCheapo on how booking on a new air route or ferry service can cause a lot of grief for travelers intent on sticking to a fixed itinerary. All too often, teething problems can mean that a new service might not get started as smoothly as a carrier might » Read more

Located way up north (though at the southern edge of Finland), Helsinki is understandably chilly come wintertime. The low temperatures only add to the fun, however, as they give visitors the opportunity to partake in some quintessentially Finnish cold-weather activities. Read on for three ideas! Ice skating at Railway Square The Ice Park right outside » Read more

To be perfectly frank, Helsinki doesn’t offer much in the way of exciting, inexpensive eats. Sure, if you’re willing to shill out for Michelin-rated Scandinavian cuisine and seafood, you’ll find no shortage of gourmet options. For those of us on a budget, however, choices are limited to kebab and pizza joints, as well as “grillis,” » Read more

In the costly city of Helsinki, opportunities to cut costs are always welcome. While finding a budget-friendly bed is possible, some hefty expenses (museums, meals, and nights on the town) are unavoidable. If you’re planning a trip to the Finnish capital, chances are you’ll see the Helsinki Card advertised as a must-have for visitor discounts. » Read more

Two weeks in the Nordic countries visiting friends in familiar cities and discovering new territory required me to rely heavily on airplanes as well as trains to get around. I took five flights during my trip: Stockholm to Helsinki; Helsinki to Copenhagen; Copenhagen to the Faroe Islands; Faroe Islands to Copenhagen; and Copenhagen to Stockholm. » Read more