A bus in Florence. Photo by waxorian.

By Laura Mongillo in Florence—

Florence is a small and very walkable city, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never need a break from treading the cobblestone streets. Thus, visitors to Florence will benefit from understanding the city’s bus network.

Here’s a warning: it’s not easy, but it can be done. It’s always tempting to take the hop-on hop-off tourist buses, but if you don’t feel like shelling out €20, you should learn to travel like the locals.

The basics

The bus lines in Florence are pretty complicated, and they often change due to roadwork. The easiest thing to do is to pick up a bus map or ask the driver where the bus goes. However, it’s always best to plan out a bus trip beforehand so as not to get lost, as most buses continue outside of the city center. Route information can be found on the Florence bus Web site.

To catch a ride with the bus, you must first flag it down, as the driver only stops upon request. To get off at your stop, press the buttons on the railings or against the wall.

Tickets: Where (and why) to buy

Tickets cost €1.20 and are valid for 90 minutes. If you’re planning on taking the bus often, it’s more convenient to buy a Carta Agile for €10. The Carta Agile is an electronic ticket good for 12 journeys. You can buy one at any “tabaccheria” (tobacco store), which is marked by a large “T” over the door.  In a pinch, you can also buy a ticket from the bus driver at the higher price of €2.

In Florence, bus tickets work on the honor system: there is a machine inside where you either time-stamp your ticket or swipe your Carta Agile over the sensor to validate it.

It is all too easy to ride without a ticket, but I would greatly advise against this. Tickets are being controlled more often and the ticket controllers don’t fall for the dumb/cute foreigner bit. You will leave with a minimum €50 fine, paid on site.

Popular routes

If you’re touring central Florence and can’t stand to walk one more bit, there are small electric buses that service the city center on weekdays. The buses A, B, C, and D stop in main tourist areas such as Piazza San Marco, Santa Croce, Piazza Repubblica, and the Ponte Vecchio.

If the weather is nice, try taking Bus 17 from San Marco or the train station out to the Cascine, the Central Park of Florence. You’ll find long green lawns, tree-lined promenades, and plenty of kids playing soccer. It’s a great way to get some fresh air and lovely views of the river.

A few main attractions in Florence aren’t easily reachable on foot. Among these are the Piazzale Michelangelo, a large square offering lovely, panoramic views of the city, and the gorgeous church of San Miniato just up the hill. To get there you can take either the 12 or 13 bus from the Santa Maria Novella train station. The trip takes about 30 minutes, but the views are well worth it.

And don’t forget the hilltop town of Fiesole which you can reach by taking Bus 7 to its final stop. (See our earlier post about day trips to Fiesole.)

Popularity: 3% [?]

The city of Kotor in Montenegro. Photo by Audrey Sykes.

By Audrey Sykes—

Lovely Montenegro, with its mountainous landscape and outdoor terrain, is a Southeastern European jewel worth visiting. Due to its cheap prices, the country is experiencing a boost in tourism and a revamping of its transportation options.

However, there are a few key things to keep in mind when planning how to get around Montenegro:

Avoid trains, unless you’re heading for the mountains

Unlike Western Europe, the local train system in Montenegro doesn’t cover much ground and makes rail travel difficult. The line is from northeast to southwest, starting in Bijelo Polje and ending in the coastal town of Bar. Trains are a good option when heading into the mountains, but pointless when staying on the seaside. Cheaper than the buses but not as efficient (and some would argue not as safe), railways are to be used at your own risk.

The wheels on the bus go ’round through town

Planes fly in and out of the capital of Podgorica and the touristy town of Tivat, though the most common way to enter is via bordering countries (Croatia or Serbia, for example) by bus. What the train system lacks in broad coverage, the country’s bus system makes up for in frequency and destination choice.

Buses in Montenegro, like in many countries in Southeast Europe, are not the newest, but they are reliable and get travelers from Point A to Point B in a timely manner (around 80 kilometers per hour on the highways). Smaller shuttle buses are also available at bus stations and sometimes cost less.

We didn’t find the bus stations to be terribly confusing or too large, although the local language doesn’t make things simple for foreigners. It’s quite easy to figure out which bus goes where and when, so make a match and stay alert for the departure call. When people begin to board your bus, that’s a good notion for you to do the same.

Avoid taxis

In short, buses are the best way to get from town to town, and travelers won’t have to deal with fretting over fair prices. This is not the case with taxis, and it won’t be easy to find a driver willing to give you a “local price.” Montenegro runs on the euro, and bus transit prices run cheap at €5 to €10 for a two to five-hour journey. A taxi driver will easily ask for twice as much without blinking an eye, so either be smart when bargaining with private transportation or hop on a bus and enjoy the ride.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Follow the red diamonds. Photo by Diorama Sky.

By Cynthia Kane in Madrid—

Transportation is easy in Madrid, but if you aren’t aware of your options, you may end up losing money when you’re trying to save it. Here are some tips to help you get to where you’re going and still have money to spend once you get there!

10 bus or metro rides with the “billete de diez”

Although metro tickets are only €1 for a single ride within Madrid, buying multiple single journey tickets can actually cost you more than if you buy a metro pack. One option is to buy a ticket for 10 rides, which is otherwise known as a “billete de diez” or “Metrobús.” The cost is €7.40 and you can use this ticket to travel anywhere within Zone A, which is where most of the tourist attractions in the city are located.

What’s great about these tickets is that they can be used on both the metro and buses, and there is no expiration date! You can buy the “billete de diez” at any metro station, “estanco” (tobacco shop), and at the kiosks located in the metro station. You can’t, however, buy these passes on the bus.

Unlimited travel with the “Abono Turistico” pass

The second option for cheap metro travel is the “Abono Turístico.” This pass gives you unlimited travel throughout the city of Madrid on the metro and buses, and is also valid on the “cercanías,” trains that take you to Madrid’s surrounding areas. You can buy a pass for either 1-5 days or 7 days, and for either zone A or to for the entire Community of Madrid.

This pass is a great option if you know you are going to be traveling outside the city center for day trips. A one-day adult pass for only zone A is €5.20. For a 1-day pass that includes the Community of Madrid the cost is €10.40. A seven-day pass for travel in zone A is €23.60, and for travel that includes the Community of Madrid it is €47.20.

You will need your passport to buy the “Abono Turistico.” It can be purchased in metro stations, the tourism office in Madrid, at hotels, or online.

The “Abono” ticket for longer stays

A third option if you are in town for a month is to buy a season ticket, simply called an “Abono.” The “Abono” is valid for the entire calendar month, so it’s beneficial to buy the pass before the month begins. Zone A should cover everywhere you’d want to go, unless you are planning to travel outside the city.

An adult “Abono” for travel within Zone A costs €46. There are reductions in cost for young people and those over 65. To purchase the “Abono,” you will need your passport and a small passport size photo, and they can be purchased at most tobacco shops around the city.

Taxi Tips

Two quick tips about taking a taxi in Madrid:

For normal rides you do not need to tip the driver. Of course if you want to, go ahead. But again, you can save an extra euro just by knowing it’s not customary to do so.

Secondly, the meter always starts at €2.05, but depending on where you’re going and the time of day, you may be charged an extra fee on top of that.

There is an additional charge from 11 PM to 6 AM, on Sundays and public holidays, and there are extra supplements for travel starting from a bus or train station (€2.95), from the airport (€5.50), and to and from the IFEMA fair complex (€2.95).

About the author: Cynthia Kane is the editor of MAPMagazine.com, a Madrid travel e-zine, written by native English-speaking Madrid experts.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The Heathrow Express. Photo by geordieb1.

By Justin Bergman in London—

Every traveler has been there: You touch down in an unfamiliar city and feel immediately discombobulated. Getting out of the airport, sleep-deprived, with all of your luggage in hand is one thing—then you’re faced with the sometimes gargantuan task of figuring out how to get into town. Some of us jump in a taxi—and pay dearly for it.

Fortunately, London has a number of cheap transport options to and from Heathrow, making the journey a much more pleasant—and wallet-friendly—experience.

Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect

Without a doubt, the Heathrow Express express train is the fastest—and most comfortable—way into the city. Heathrow Express departs every 15 minutes from the airport and takes just 15 minutes to reach Paddington station in the city’s West End. (The trains also leave Paddington every 15 minutes going the other way.)

To save yourself even more time, you can buy a ticket online before you leave the U.S. and have the actual ticket sent to your mobile phone—a bar code in the text message will be scanned when you board the train. Plus, another bonus starting this month: Free Wi-Fi on board! What could be better?

Well, the price, for one. A one-way ticket on the Heathrow Express costs a whopping £16.50 online (or £18 at Heathrow); a round-trip ticket will set you back £30 online (or £32 at the station).

A slightly cheaper option is the Heathrow Connect train. It takes slightly longer to reach Paddington (25 minutes), but the price is only £7.90 for a one-way ticket and £15.80 for a return if you purchase online. Watch which train you board—both the Heathrow Express and the Heathrow Connect stop at the same platform at the airport.

The Tube to Heathrow

Heathrow, mercifully, is also served by the Piccadilly line on the Underground. (Why can’t La Guardia be this well connected?) With an Oyster card, which you can buy at the Heathrow Tube station for £3 pounds, the cost of a one-way journey into central London is just £3.80.

The only major drawback is the travel time—allow yourself at least an hour to get to or from the center of the city; sometimes, the journey can even take an hour and a half. Another annoyance: Parts of the Tube are routinely shut down on weekends for maintenance, meaning you may have some difficulty reaching your final destination if it’s not on the Piccadilly line.

Car Service to Heathrow

This is the biggest secret in London when it comes to Heathrow connections. It’s actually how I suggest most of my out-of-town guests go to the airport at the end of their stay—it’s far less trouble than trying to figure out the train schedules and worrying about being late for a flight.

There are numerous car service companies in London that will take you to any destination of your choosing for a flat rate (no tipping necessary). Most companies charge around £30 per trip from central London (anywhere in Zone 1) to Heathrow, which is actually cheaper than purchasing two one-way tickets on Heathrow Express.

It’s simple to find a company if you have a cell phone that works in London. Just text the word “home” to the Transport for London’s information number (62967) and within minutes, you’ll receive a message with the numbers of several car companies near you.

If you aren’t that technologically savvy, fret not. Try calling Bloomsbury Cars, a reliable company that I’ve used before, at 020-7631-1334. They’ll pick up passengers from any location in Zone 1 and charge £30 per trip to Heathrow. The journey usually takes less than an hour.

About the author: Justin Bergman is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times and Monocle magazine. He’s also previously worked for Budget Travel magazine and the Associated Press.

Popularity: 8% [?]

A train at Telefonplan Metro Station. Photo by harry_nl.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Each day in Stockholm, 700,000 trips are made using public transportation. Considering only about 800,000 people live within Stockholm city limits, that number is pretty impressive. With the efficient and user-friendly SL, Stockholm’s public transportation company, it makes sense that so many Stockholmers take to the metro, buses, and more.

The lowdown

Stockholm is a very walk-able city, but if you’re less interested in wandering around than getting around efficiently (or if you just want to get out of the cold on your way to your next destination), public transportation is really the way to go. Subways, buses, trains, and even boats and street cars are covered by the SL umbrella, and every single one of them is clean and on time.

SL offers a smorgasbord (pun absolutely intended) of ticket options. Luckily, the SL website gives a great rundown of everything that is available. Some of the options are perfect for a short trip to Stockholm.

Standard and prepaid tickets

SL offers standard one-trip tickets. These are not worth your money if you plan on using public transportation more than once or twice, but they are worth explaining. Stockholm is broken up into three different zones according to SL. Zone A will cost you two tickets, Zone B will cost you three, and Zone C will cost you four.

Really, if you’re just staying in the city all you need to worry about is Zone A and the two ticket price. These tickets are only valid for an hour after you use them. If you plan on using public transportation more than four times during your stay in Stockholm, consider a pre-paid strip of tickets or a day pass.

The prepaid strip of tickets is 16 single tickets for the price of 180 SEK. This gives you eight trips within the city and ends up being about half the price of the standard one-trip tickets. You’ll get a stamp which, unfortunately, is only good for an hour after stamping. But remember, you’ve got seven more trips before you need to think about paying for transportation again.

Day passes

There are also day passes. The 24-hour pass costs 100 SEK, the 72- hour pass is 200 SEK, and the seven-day card is 260 SEK. Day passes are valid at any time and can be used as many times as you wish. Depending on your length of stay, day passes are a great way to save money and still get everywhere you want to go.

The Stockholm Card

Finally, there is Stockholmskortet, The Stockholm Card. The Stockholm Card ranges from 375 SEK for 24 hours to 595 SEK for 72 hours. It allows you free entrance to over 70 museums in Stockholm and gives you free access to public transportation.

Buy your ticket before boarding the bus

Note that you cannot buy tickets on the bus. Bus drivers stopped carrying money a couple of years ago in hopes of speeding up service and keeping everyone safer. There are plenty of places where you can buy tickets though, including SL service centers, most subway and train stations, Pressbyrån (a Swedish convenience store), and, if you happen to have a Swedish cell phone provider, with your cell phone.

Popularity: 7% [?]

London's famous double-decker buses. Photo by Salim Virji.

By Justin Bergman in London—

Any visitor to London will undoubtedly leave singing the praises of the Oyster card. Not only is the Underground’s “pay-as-you-go” card efficient—you just swipe in when you get on the Tube and swipe out when you get off and the fare is deducted from your pre-paid account—it can also save a traveler loads of pounds. A single-ride ticket on the Underground costs a whopping £4 (or $6.50… Yes that’s right, $6.50). A single ride with an Oyster card in the center of the city is only £1.60 ($2.50).

But the Tube doesn’t go everywhere. Here’s what you need to know about one of the city’s other major transport options—those giant cherry-colored double-decker buses.

Get On The Bus

It’s weird. In London, as in most of the rest of Europe, people actually use the city’s bus system. Having lived in New York for four years, I think I can count on two hands the number of times I took one of the grindingly slow city buses. You can probably walk across Manhattan on 14th Street faster than the M-14 bus can get you there.

The London bus system, aside from affording some of the best views of the city from the front seat on the top floor of the double-deckers, is also fairly speedy, thanks to dedicated bus lanes on most city streets. Most bus stops also have electronic screens telling you in real-time which buses are coming next and how long they’ll take to reach the stop. And unlike the Tube, the buses run all night long.

Plus, buses are cheap. The Oyster card works—just tap the card on the sensor when you get on; each ride is £1 ($1.60). Or, if you don’t have a card, you can buy a ticket with cash at a ticket machine at some bus stops or from the driver on the bus (£2, or $3.25).

Mapping the Route

The bus stop. Photo by Fabbio.

But here’s the big question: With so many buses whizzing about the city, how do you figure out where you’re going? Map out the route before you leave the hotel by using the handy Transport for London website. Here you’ll find bus maps for every section of the city, as well as a nifty journey planner.

This tool is absolutely brilliant. This is how it works: On the right-hand side of the home page, enter your starting point and destination point—it can be an address, a post code, a Tube station or even a place of interest. Then click on the “Leave Now” icon, and the site will give you up to a dozen different transport options on how to get there.

For instance, to get to the Tate Modern from my house in East London, the site tells me to walk to St. Thomas’s Square, jump on the 48 Bus to London Bridge and then walk to the museum. Or, if I want to include the Tube, I can walk to St. Thomas’s Square, take the 254 Bus to the Bethnal Green Underground station and jump on the Tube to St. Paul’s, a short walk from the museum. Each trip takes an hour. And maps are included on the site to show you ever step of the way.

Hailing a Bus

Here’s an extra tip, one I wish someone had told me when I moved to London. Buses don’t automatically stop at every bus stop on the route—you need to flag them down if you’re waiting to catch one. Otherwise, you’ll be left at the curb, frantically checking the screen to figure out when the next one is coming.

Oh, and while you’re waiting, stand back from the curb. I know this goes without saying, but the buses drive extremely close to the curb in London, so much so that you could be clipped if your backpack is hanging out in the street even a few inches.

The last thing you want to do on vacation is go head-to-head with a seven-ton double-decker bus. Believe me, you won’t stand a chance.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Waiting for the Metro in Barcelona. Photo by Jamison.

By Regina Winkle-Bryan in Barcelona—

Barcelona is small enough that you can walk most places, but big enough that you will probably want to hop on the Metro or grab a ride at some point. Here’s the scoop on how to navigate Barcelona on a budget.

Metro

The Metro is the fastest way to get from point A to point B in the city. Buy a T-10 card for €7.70 (good for ten journeys on the Metro or bus) and you’re on your way (tickets and cards are sold in the Metro entrance; cash or credit card). The Metro is not dangerous unless you are going way out to the outskirts late at night. Open from 5 AM to 12 midnight Sunday through Thurs; 5 AM to 2 AM Fridays, and all night long Saturdays.

Bus

You might be intimidated by the bus system with its multicolored route maps. Never fear, it’s easier than it looks! It is much slower than the Metro but more scenic. You can use the same T-10 cards on the bus and the Metro. If you don’t have a card, you will have to buy a ticket—but be warned: the bus driver will only accept small change.

Train

If you’re planning to travel outside of Barcelona, the train will be the obvious transportation choice. The trains that serve Catalonia are called the Cercanias (‘the close ones’) and the company is RENFE.

Here’s a tip: Don’t buy your RENFE tickets online. Go to the office. The RENFE website is a bit of a mess, although you can usually find the train departure times and locations on it with relatively little hassle. The main train stations are Passeig de Gracia and Sants Estacio.

Biking Barcelona. Photo by Silatix.

Bike

Renting a bike for a day is not expensive (€7-15), and it’s a fabulous way to explore the city (just be prepared for riding in traffic!). A word to the wise: Do not leave your bike unattended. Check Bike Rental Barcelona, which offers bicycles rentals from €10.

Taxi

Taxi fares are relatively reasonable, especially if you are a group of three of four people and can split the cost. Most rides across town will run you about €10. At night and on holidays, however, taxi prices are more expensive. Taxis to the airport will run about €25-30, and they will add a surcharge for your luggage.

Check out our Barcelona city guide for more Cheapo advice on planning your trip.

About the author: Regina W. Bryan is a Barcelona-based freelance writer and photographer. When not eating tapas and exploring Europe, she is tending her balcony veggie garden and practicing Catalan. For more of her thoughts on Spain, check: www.regwb.com and www.thespainscoop.com.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Passengers on the 95 bus. All photos by Theadora Brack.

By Theadora Brack in Paris—

Gather around, my fellow multitasking “Puces de Paris” junkies. Here’s a twofer for you: a hot “flea market sandwich” with a virtually free bus tour filling in between. Tous à bord!

Two flea markets and a Paris city tour

The bus stop.

My name is Theadora and I am addicted to flea markets in Paris. One is never enough. Cheapos, haven’t we all been there?

No worry lines, though, because I have the solution: Let me introduce you to the 95 bus line, or, as I call it, the “Oriental Rug Express.” It connects the two best flea markets in the city: the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves (bus stop: Porte de Vanves) and the Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt (bus stop: Porte de Montmartre).

For the mere price of a metro ticket (the same tickets work for both buses and metros), you’ll not only travel between the flea markets in comfort (the markets are at both ends of the line, so you’re guaranteed a seat), but you’ll also be able to kick back, catch your breath, and boast about your first kills of the day while the panorama of Paris rolls by en route to the next market. The 95 is one of the most scenic bus lines in the city, so don’t pack your camera away!

Junket bus tips

Hit the Porte de Vanves market first, since it’s open only on weekend mornings. Arrive early—vendors start packing up at noon. Shop your heart out, and then hop on the 95.

Cold outside and no bus in sight? Grab a café at bar “Grill 14” directly behind the bus stop. While warming up, you can keep an eye out for your ride. There’s a WC in the bar and an ATM machine just around the corner, too.

Once aboard, you’ll cruise clear across Paris to Clignancourt, which stays open till 7 PM. The ride is as good as a guided tour! Here are just a few of the hotspots you’ll glimpse whilst snaking through Paris’ narrow streets for the next 45 minutes.

Keep your eyes peeled for:

1. Institut Pasteur — Got milk? here’s why!

St. Germain des Pres

2. Gare Montparnasse — Jumping off place for Chartres, and points west and south-west.

3. Tour Montparnasse — Tallest building in France.

4. Musée de la Poste — Way more than just a stamp collection.

5. Rue de Rennes — Left bank shopping mecca.

6. Félix Potin building, 140 rue de Rennes. Art Nouveau masterpiece, now home to a Zara.

7. L’Eglise Saint-Germain des-Prés — Oldest church in central Paris.

Sennelier Art Supplies.

8. Sennelier art supply, 3 Quai Voltaire — Where Picasso & friends got their paint.

9. Pont du Carrousel — Statues representing Industry, Abundance, Paris, and the Seine.

10. Pont des Arts – First cast-iron bridge in the city, for pedestrians only.

11. Musée du Louvre – ’nuff said.

12. Pyramide du Louvre — I.M. Pei’s pointy glass peak.

13. Arc-de-Triomphe du Carrousel – The “Mini-Me” of the big Arc de Triomphe.

14. Rue de Rivoli — Colonnade made for promenading à la mode.

The Pyramid du Louvre

15. Comédie-Française — Home to thespians from Molière to Sarah Bernhardt.

16. Rue de la Paix — Priciest address in the French version of Monopoly!

17. Palais Garnier, a.k.a. the “Opéra de Paris’ — Haunt of the Phantom; it sits atop an underground lake.

18. Boulevard Haussmann — Starring grands magasins like Printemps and Galeries-Lafayette decked out in Belle Époque.

19. Gare St-Lazare — Train-station-muse of both Monet and Manet!

20. Place de Clichy — “The Times Square of Paris”.

21. Brasserie Wepler – One of writer Henry Miller’s favorite hangouts.

The Palais Garnier.

22. L’Hippodrome — With an indoor horse track it was the largest theater in Europe, now a Castorama hardware store.

23. Cimetière Montmartre — Deathplace of Dalida and Degas.

And finally, at the terminus, the flea markets of Clignancourt! Soothed by all these sights, your junk-searching eyes are ready to roll again. Bon chance!

About the author: Theadora Brack is a writer working in Paris. Her fiction has appeared in more than 30 literary publications, including 3AM International, The Smoking Poet, Beloit Fiction Journal, Mid-American Review, and the Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Berlin's newest U-Bahn line. Photo by Blogging Dagger.

By Susan Buzzelli in Berlin—

It may only have three stops, but Berlin’s newest (and shortest) subway line, the U55, makes it easier than ever to explore the city’s major sights.

Designed with tourists and politicos in mind, the U55 conveniently links the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate) to the Hauptbahnhof (central train station), with a stop in the heart of the Regierungsviertel (the government district, where the Reichstag and the Kanzleramt are located) in between. When the U55 debuted on August 8, 2009, 70,000 passengers hopped on for the three-minute ride.

Situated at the base of the landmark-studded Pariser Platz, the sleek Brandenburger Tor station, sheathed in marbled brown stone, is the most architecturally interesting of the new stops. The station also comes with a free museum: photo collages along the walls provide a history of the 18th-century Brandenburg Gate, which was once blockaded by the Berlin Wall. (Look out for the photo of John F. Kennedy with the city’s then-mayor Willy Brandt.)

Cheapo transit ticket tips

The U55 is only one tiny link in Berlin’s vast transportation chain. Because it’s nearly impossible to explore the sprawling metropolis without catching a U-bahn (subway), S-bahn (commuter rail), Tram (streetcar), or Bus, getting to know the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) is key for a stress-free and Cheapo visit. Even if you prefer the other Cheapo-friendly way to get around Berlin—by rental bike—you’ll inevitably “get on board” at some point during your stay.

Don’t make the mistake of shelling out €2.10 for an “Einzelfahrausweis” (single ticket) or €1.30 for a “Kurzstrecke” (short ride, between 1–6 stops) every time you take a ride. Snap up a “Tageskarte” (day ticket, €6.10) or a “7-Tage-Karte” (7-day card, €26.20) instead, and you’ll not only get your money’s worth, but you’ll also give your feet a break from all that walking.

Check out the BVG’s website for complete details about fares and to download the free “Discovering Berlin by Train and Bus” flier. It includes a transport map and a city map marked with major sights.

The U55's celebratory first ride. Photo by Blogging Dagger.

Free Tourist Bus: The bus 100 and 200

The BVG does more than schlep you from Point A to B. The bus lines 100 and 200 double as unofficial city tour buses. As you travel between Zoologischer Garten in the west and Alexanderplatz in the east, you’ll pass by nearly every major landmark, including the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche (Emperor Wilhelm Memorial Church) on Kufürstendamm, the angel-capped Siegesäule (Victory Column) in Tiergarten, and the Brandenburger Tor at the base of Unter den Linden. Climb to the top of the double-decker bus, grab a window seat, and enjoy the view—all for €2.10.

Beer and a tram ride: The M10

To sample Berlin’s nightlife without paying a cover charge, buy a beer at a late-night kiosk and take a ride on the M10 streetcar, which travels between Nordbahnhof (on the Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg border) and Warschauer Strasse (on the Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg border).

When night falls, the so-called “party express” tram turns into club of sorts: club-crawlers and bar-hoppers, beers in hand, hitch a ride on the way to party spots in Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain, and Kreuzberg. You’ll see a kaleidoscope of types: hyped-up dance-clubbers, low-key hipsters, pierced punks, and chained gothsters. (If you join them out on the town, a night bus, designated with an N, will take you home after the festivities.)

Sea even more: The F10

The BVG will even take you out to sea. You can cross two of the city’s largest lakes, the Wannsee in the west and the Müggelsee in the east, by ferry.

If you’re out west, pick up the F10, which docks just outside the Wannsee S-bahn stop, for a ride across the tree-fringed lake to the village of Kladow. Over in the east, take either the F23 or the F24 to criss-cross the vast Müggelsee, which includes the smaller Kleiner Müggelsee, a popular swimming hole, and the Grosser Müggelsee, which fills up with sail boats on sunny days.

About the author: A Pittsburgh native, Susan Buzzelli has been a sworn Germanophile since she spent a high school summer as an exchange student in Buxtehude. After stints in Dresden, Munich, and Hamburg she settled (possibly for good) in Europe’s most dynamic city: Berlin. When she isn’t exploring Berlin, she’s traveling throughout Germany (with an occasional hop over the border). Her comprehensive guidebook to Germany, Zeitguide Germany, will be published soon. Look for updates on her website, www.susanbuzzelli.com.

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Amsterdam tram; Photo by vitalyzator

By Audrey Sykes in Amsterdam—Public transportation in and around Amsterdam can be confusing for outsiders. And now a recent makeover in the city transit system has altered the cost and protocol of inner-city travel. Here’s some useful info to keep trams, buses and metros convenient and affordable for sightseers. Remember, there are low-cost and efficient ways to get around this city. You just have to know how to use them.

The basics: Standard fare

Hopping on a tram or bus will cost €2.60 for a one-hour ticket—meaning the ticket sold to you by the driver or ticket agent is valid for the following hour. Exact change is not required, though breaking large bills is frowned upon. Also new this year, each bus now has gray electronic pads at each doorway which keep track of entry and exit. Look for these circular pads when you enter and exit the tram/bus. And, be sure to press your ticket against them when both getting on and off. Otherwise, your tickets won’t remain valid.

Most common travel option: Strippenkarts

Long thin tickets called “strippenkarts” are available for purchase at Centraal Station, all GVB stations, Albert Heijn supermarkets, post offices and most kiosks. One strippenkart for €7.30 provides 15 boxes. These ‘boxes’ are verified with a stamp from a transport drivers or ticket sellers upon entry onto a bus or tram. One zone, which encompasses the city center, will cost two boxes. A strippenkart can usually provide about seven one-way rides, and once a box is stamped the one-hour-travel rule applies. Also, a strippenkart can be used for more than one person.

Short and sweet: Day tickets

Travelers looking to use public transport for just a day or two might find the most affordable and easiest option day tickets valid for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours. Prices range from €7 to €18, and they work the same way as basic fare tickets—meaning it is still necessary to use those circular, electronic pads (on trams and buses) to keep a day ticket valid. These tickets are available from drivers and ticket sellers (only the 24-hour ticket), GVB outlets, tourist offices and kiosks as well.

Late line: Night buses

Amsterdam has a reliable and timely night bus system which is easy to use and much more affordable than a taxi, especially if you’re staying outside of the city center. Buses pick up hourly from locations like Rembrandtplein, Centraal Station and other main train stations throughout the night. Night bus tickets are purchased from the driver only, for €3.50 (one-way) and are valid for one and a half hours. Strippenkarts are available for €25 and provide about six trips (12 boxes).

The metro; Photo by Daniel Sparing

One more option: Try the metro

Amsterdam’s underground metro system is basic and ideal for escaping outside the city or attending an Ajax football match at the Amstel Arena. Most metros leave from below Centraal Station, and valid tickets include strippenkarts, basic fare tickets and day tickets. This website offers online directions, in English, to easily guide travelers on getting from Point A to Point B. For more information and maps of Amsterdam public transportation, visit www.gvb.nl (English is available).

About the author: Audrey Sykes hopped across the pond from the US three years ago for a Masters degree in global journalism. Since then, she’s lived all over Europe, reporting and editing for music sites, snowboard mags, and travel media.

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