Buildings in Stockholm's Old Town. Photo by pntphoto.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Many cities throughout Europe offer free walking tours, though, unfortunately, Stockholm does not. Despite the ease in which Stockholm can be navigated on foot. Despite the natural beauty of a city built on islands. Despite Sweden being the land of the midnight sun.

However, on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Stockholm will be celebrating its International Tourist Guide Day with a free guided tour. This is a perfect opportunity for Cheapos in the area to take advantage of authorized guides and learn a bit about one of Europe’s best preserved medieval Old Towns.

The history and sights of Old Town

Old Town Stockholm has much to offer, including Stortorget, the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath in 1520 which eventually led to Swedish independence, the royal castle, and the colorful, picturesque buildings that complete any European Old Town.

Stockholm’s Old Town is rich with history, with several small squares tucked away on the island, as well as statues reminding visitors of the area’s history. And of course, there are the beautiful churches of Stockholm dotting the islands which are perfect for Cheapos looking for a free fix of medieval history and architecture.

Catching the tour

The Association of Authorized Local Guides (FSAG is the Swedish acronym) will be hosting the event and offering free walking tours of Gamla Stan and Riddarholmen in Stockholm. FSAG has about 290 guides and can teach you about Stockholm in 29 different languages, some of which will be on display this Sunday.

The walking tours will be available in several different languages, hence the international appeal of the day. All tours will be leaving from Slottsbacken, right next to the large obelisk situated near the royal castle and Storkyrkan in Gamla Stan. There is no need to book in advance.

If you have any questions about the event, and exactly which languages the tour will be offered in, check out the FSAG site.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Amsterdam's Brouwerij ‘t Ij offers free tours on Fridays. Photos by Audrey Sykes.

By Audrey Sykes in Amsterdam—

Amsterdam’s “Brouwerij ‘t Ij” brewery has been serving up a selection of Belgian-style organic brews since 1985. Located in an eastern corner of the city, the brewery is worth the trip for those seeking flavorful, fresh beer at a surprisingly low cost.

Plus, if you swing by Brouwerij ‘t Ij on Fridays, you can take a free guided tour!

History a-brewin’

The Brouwerij ‘t Ij stands beside an enormous, classic Dutch windmill once used for grinding oats. (Now a private residence, the windmill serves as a helpful landmark for those looking for the brewery.) As for the brewery, it was once a large bathhouse, yet the only remains of its soapy past are the old tiled walls inside.

The brewery was founded by Kasper Peterson, a Dutch citizen who spent years as a “beer engineer” in Belgium. Peterson’s first beer creation was the floral, blonde tripel named Zatte, a Dutch term for being “a bit drunk” — and still available on tap.

While the Brouwerij ‘t Ij’s logo is a humorous cartoon ostrich standing in a desert with a windmill in the background, the name “Brouwerij ‘t Ij” literally translates to “brewery on the Ij” due to its location near the Ij River.

The brewery produces only about 200,000 liters per year, a small amount compared to Heineken’s massive 220 million liters.

Cozy and beer buzzy

An assortment of beer enthusiasts flock to the “‘t Ij” brewery on sunny, warm weekends to sample the beers, snack away, and chill out. Tourists, locals, and families brew up a chatty environment, and the staff is a friendly bunch of connoisseurs who honestly enjoy their job. It’s a relaxed and pleasing setting for even the quietest of introverts: everyone has a new best friend after a few rounds at Brouwerij ‘t Ij.

Inside, the decor includes a sizable collection of beer bottles from around the world. Old photos of windmills, ostriches, random faces, and news clippings are pinned above the beer-logged tables. (There will never be enough coasters to keep the counters clean, so stay outside if you can’t handle the scent of stale beer!)

A pure and simple beer recipe

Regardless of beer type, the Brouwerij ‘t Ij’s recipes strictly adhere to just three organic ingredients: water, hops, and malted barley. Yeast acts as a natural preservative and filtering system, making additives unnecessary, and giving the beer a cloudy, smooth, and frothy body.

Following the introduction of “Zatte,” Brouwerij ‘t Ij has added six Belgian-style beers available on tap year-round, plus a few seasonal specials. The list includes:

So many choices...

Plzen:  A light Czech pilsner. Cost: €1.90. (ABV: 5%)
Natte:  Dubbel and mildly bitter. Cost: €2.20. (ABV: 6.5%)
Ijwit:  Citrusy wheat beer. Cost: €2.20. (ABV: 7%)
Zatte:  Tripel with a floral aroma. Cost: €2.20. (ABV: 8%)
Columbus:  Bittersweet amber. Cost: €2.40. (ABV: 9%)
Struis:  Dark stout-like ale. Cost: €2.70. (ABV: 9%)

The Brouwerij ‘t Ij will be interesting to anyone who considers themselves a beer devotee. It will be enjoyed by anyone who wants to sample the Dutch tradition of sipping something bubbly while relaxing in the sun with friends.

Free tours every Friday

Guided tours revealing the ins and outs of the brewery are offered for free on Fridays by the current brewmaster. Tours start at 4 PM.

And don’t worry–you won’t go hungry. Trappist cheeses dipped in beer, sliced salami meats, and local sheep cheeses are a few of the snacks served while sipping the aromatic brews.

Brouwerij ‘t Ij
Funenkade 7
Transportation: Tram 10 and 14
Phone +(31)(0) 20 6228325
Open daily: 3 PM – 8 PM

More information is available on the brewery’s website.

Also consider:

Heineken Experience (The Official Tour)
Stadhouderskade 78
Trams: 7, 10, 16, 24 and 25
Phone +(31)(0) 20 5239222
Hours: 11 AM – 7 PM, daily

Tour prices: €15 (no discounts given, except for groups, in advance)
Website: www.heinekenexperience.com

Popularity: 11% [?]

The intricate facade of Florence’s Duomo is worth a visit. Photo by Catching Flies

One of our favorite must-sees in Florence is the Duomo, or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (sometimes known as Florence Cathedral). And, lucky for us Cheapos, it’s free to enter the main sanctuary daily. 

Duomo do!

But, get this. Did you know that every 40 minutes Florence’s Center for Art and Culture also offers FREE guided tours of the church? Highlights of the jaunt include a look into the care and craft of that gorgeous facade, why the church was originally built, and more.  Tours are available in English and Italian.

Before you go…

If you plan to take a tour, enter the sanctuary via the left-side doors. The church is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and on Fridays from 10 AM to 5 PM; Thursday it’s open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM; Saturday it opens at 10 AM and closes at 4:45 PM. On Sunday, the sanctuary is only open from 1:30 PM to 4:45 PM.  And, the first Saturday of each month the church is only open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. For information on special holiday hours and more, visit the Duomo’s official tourism site.

Note: If you want to see more of the basilica and travel up the stairs to the top of the dome, you’ll need to shell out €8. (Hint: We think it’s worth it.)

For more information and lots of budget tips for Florence, go here.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Photo courtesy of AndreJenny.com

Ah, Vienna - land of sacher torte, carriage rides, and Mozart! The ringed city, we think, is best viewed on foot. While traditional tram rides provide a respite from hoofing it, if you want to experience the true Vienna, consider a themed walking tour.

While tours through travel agencies could cost you anywhere from €10-20 or more, there are a slew of easy-to-navigate walking tours available for free on-line.

Free Mozart walking tour-

Our favorite walking tour comes courtesy of the Vienna Tourism Board. Retracing the Footsteps of a Genius: A Mozart Walk, is available for free as a downloadable PDF file.

The tour kicks off at The House of the Teutonic Order, where Wolfgang got his start after leaving Salzburg for the big city. The trek continues with visits to mainstays like Mozart’s deathplace at 8 Rauhensteingrasse, a building which now houses a department store, and the memorial to Mozart in Burggarten. Make sure you snap some photos of the noble sculpture of Amadeus here, especially if you visit during warmer months when the floral landscape is in full treble-clef bloom!

The Vienna Tourism Board’s tour ends with an optional second tour (also available in the PDF format) of Schonbrunn and its surroundings.

South of the Ring Vienna tour-

And, if you still can’t get enough of Mozart’s Vienna, try Frommer’s “South of the Ring” tour. This walk, while not all about Amadeus himself, does pass some of his old haunts and eventually leads you to Freihaus and the Theater an der Wien, where Mozart’s “Magic Flute” first premiered.

Also see: Our recommended budget hotels in Vienna.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Photo by ladgie353

A quick tour of Southeast Dublin will land you in the cobblestoned Merrion Square, home of many of Dublin’s government buildings. Here you’ll find at least two great structures well worth a visit.

Leinster House, the former residence of the Duke of Leinster, today houses Parliament, and is surrounded by gardens and sculptures. Nearby, on Upper Merrion Street, stands the Department of the Taoiseach, which is similar to the Prime Minister, and also houses the Department of Finance and the Attorney General. Dubliners, known to scoff at any over-the-top pomp, sometimes refer to the ornate building as “Chas Mahal,” a reference to the late Charles Haughey, the sixth Taoiseach. (Most residents, however, simply refer to the structures as “Government buildings.” Simple, but it works.)

All government buildings here are free and open to the public. You must book a tour in advance (for groups only) if you wish to see Parliament, but show up during normal hours of operation at Leinster House and the Department of the Taoiseach and you can view current exhibits and take advantage of free guided tours, free tickets for which can be picked up at the nearby National Gallery (also a free sight).

Once you’ve completed your tour, be sure to take a gander at the structure at One, Merrion Square. This Georgian structure, where Oscar Wilde once lived, is now a museum.

More information, including tour times, can be found on the Dublin Tourism Board’s website. 

Popularity: 13% [?]