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

Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries of hidden europe magazine report for EuroCheapo on the pleasures and value of European night trains: Do you know Tczew? Perhaps not. It’s an unexciting sort of spot. Poland, top right, more or less. We had never imagined that we might enjoy a leisurely breakfast of caviar, crackers, and coffee » Read more

1. The September Monocle has a bit of a state-within-a-state theme going on. The issue includes features on Finland’s autonomous Åland Islands, Bolzano, the capital of Italy’s Süd Tirol/Alto Adige region, and an especially fetching multipage feature on Georgia’s Russia-supported breakaway region of Abkhazia. A Monocle dossier on European microstates would be the perfect follow-up. » Read more

The good people at The Foundation for Tourism in Geneva and Unireso have given Cheapos another reason to visit their fair canton (as if lounging about Place du Bourg-de-Four wasn’t reason enough.) As of January, tourists staying in one of Geneva’s hotels, youth hostels, or camp sites are entitled to a free Geneva Transport Card. » Read more

Those Swiss really know how to send winter out in style—or, as it were, in effigy! We think the folks in Zurich have the right idea with their spring Sechseläuten festival, which takes place on Sunday, April 15 and Monday, April 16. Sunday’s festivities will include a children’s parade, followed by Monday’s procession of the » Read more

Tango and Easter were never two things we put together before. Tango and Easter and Switzerland—well, now that’s crazy talk! Crazy yes, but also true. Through Monday, April 9, Easter and Tango enthusiasts alike will flock to Basel for the EasterTango Festival. Attendees will enjoy powerful performances by Tango masters, workshops for Tango-ers of all » Read more

We love the Swiss capital, and not just for its beautiful streets and quaint tile-roofed buildings. Here are some of the reasons we adore Bern: 1. Physics Lessons. Where was Einstein when he created that famous E=MC2 formula? Bern, of course. And that’s where the first Einstein Museum is too. Maybe you’ll learn what sort » Read more

Today, Swiss sorta-low-cost carrier helvetic announced that their planned weekly Zurich-Split and Geneva-Split summer flights will not be going forward. Croatia fans up and down Switzerland are no doubt crying into their spätzle. Tied to this decision is the airline’s announcement that they’ll be ramping up service to Lamezia-Terme (Calabria) and Brindisi (Puglia) in July » Read more

We just discovered rooms.ch, a network of over 200 Swiss budget hotels in over 140 localities throughout Switzerland. Given Switzerland’s Cheapo-hostile price index, a resource like this one is indispensible. We weren’t able to find any available rooms on the site for some random dates in July, however. We’re not sure if this inability reflects » Read more