Only have €10 in your pocket? There are still many ways to spend a day in Dublin. Whether you’re craving some fresh air, want to indulge in culinary pleasures, or even do a little shopping, here are 10 activities in Dublin that will set you back less than €10.

1. Kilmainham Gaol — €6

Every trip to Dublin should include a little history. A captivating guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol will shed light on a group of Irish revolutionaries that gave their lives for the creation of the republic.

2. Rent Bikes in Phoenix Park – €10

Dublin is home to the biggest city park in Europe, Phoenix Park. Visitors can take advantage of the bike rental program, Dublin Bikes, but a credit card is required and not all stands accept cards. Another simple option is to rent your bike from Phoenix Park Bike Hire, at the cost of €10 for three hours.

3. Cake Café – €6 for cake and coffee

Part of the fun of stepping into a new city is finding yourself at an off the beaten path café surrounded by locals. Venture into the Portobello neighborhood and located off a small street and through an even smaller courtyard is the Cake Café, home to mismatched plates and fresh baked treats.

Catch something edgy and independent at the Irish Film Institute. Photo: Pierofix

4. Jameson Distillery – €11.70 (€10.60 for students)

This one is slightly over budget for non-students, but worth every cent. A tour of the former Jameson Distillery will not only bring you to the interesting Smithfield neighborhood, but will also bring you through a distillery, teach you about the process of making famous Irish whiskey, and even includes a tasting.

5. Walk the Pier in Dun Laoghaire – €2 each way

Board the DART train in the city center and head south to the coastal village of Dun Laoghaire. Right near the train station you’ll see the entrance to a pier jetting out into the Irish Sea. For the price of the train ticket you can watch the sailboats, see local families fishing, and maybe even catch a glimpse of seals swimming around the pier.

6. Irish Film Institute – €9.90

If you need an alternative to another night in the pub, check out what’s playing at the Irish Film Institute. Not only is this a hangout spot for Dublin’s artistic and literary set, but it is also a great place to see independent, European, and Irish films.

7. Take Advantage of Lunch Specials – €10

One of the best ways to eat well in Dublin is eat your big meal at lunchtime. There are great lunch specials throughout Dublin, including at one of the city’s latest hot restaurants, the Rustic Stone. At this healthy-focused restaurant, for €10 you can dig into dishes like sushi-style tuna with ginger couscous, tofu, and lime.

8. Hike from Bray to Greystones – €2.50 each way

To get to know the waterfront city of Dublin, take a hike along the coast. One of the best ways to accomplish this without breaking the budget is to take the DART train bound for Bray, follow the coastal hiking trail south 2 ½ hours to Greystones, and hop the DART back to the center of Dublin.

9. The Dublin Flea Market – Free

If you happen to be in Dublin on the last Sunday of the month, head to Co-op on Newmarket Square for the Dublin Flea Market. Entry is free, and your €10 will stretch far on the goods for sale here such as vintage clothes and accessories.

10. Sample Local Cheeses – €10

Step into Sheridan’s Cheesemonger, tell them you have a budget of €10 and would like to sample some local cheeses. There’s more to Irish cheese than Cashel blue and farmhouse cheddar, you’ll learn from these cheese experts. Take your stash to nearby St Stephens Green for a picnic.

Also in our guide: Heading to Dublin? Don’t blow all your euros on sleeping! Our editors have inspected, photographed and reviewed the best cheap hotels in Dublin. Read more in our Dublin hotel guide.

Amsterdam isn’t the cheapest destination in Europe, but there are ways to get around the tourist prices. In fact, it’s easy to find freebies left and right in the city. Here’s a checklist of 20 great ideas for a free day in Amsterdam:

1. Start with a free map

Free maps are available at the tourist information office, as well as the blue kiosks at Central Station.

2. Food Markets

Stroll along and fill your senses with sight, sound and smell at one of the many outdoor food markets like Albert Cuypstraat and Dapper markets. Go for free samples of cheeses and produce!

Take a free trip on the Ij ferry behind Centraal Station. Photo: Nik Morris

3. Free coffee

Some Albert Hein grocery stores have a coffee machine dispensing freshly-ground cups for shoppers; follow your nose!

4. Ferry rides

All ferries behind Central Station are free; pick one and see where it leads you (the average travel time is just five to 15 minutes).

5. See street art

A walk down Spuistraat will make you feel like you’ve entered a gritty and colorful street art exhibition. Art pieces can scale entire building faces, and much of the street is lined with different works side-by-side.

6. The Wave Game

My favorite game to play on a sunny afternoon. Dangle your legs on a canal that’s busy with touristy boats. When one putts along, wave at the boaters and count how many wave back (a good way to measure which boats are the most fun!).

7. Hang at the Dam

Spend time under the National Monument (you know, that tall, phallic-looking statue at Dam Square) and watch the many street performers and gathering crowds come and go.

8. Free jazz

There are quite a few free jazz nights at cafes like Jazz Café Alto and Chet’s. See what’s on when you’re in town. (Check out our previous post on free jazz performances for every night of the week.)

9. Free jigs

Mulligan’s Irish Bar, just off Rembrandtplein, hosts free live Irish music every night in its cozy and cheerful pub.

10. Flower power

Have you seen the floating flower market? It’s better to look and not buy the overly-priced souvenirs anyway, so have at it!

11. Jumping Jordaan

Walking the streets of the Jordaan district is a must for every visitor in Amsterdam. It was once an area for blue-collar workers during the 1600s, but now the quaint and cute streets and alleys have been gentrified and host a number of small art galleries.

12. Nose around Noordermarkt

On Saturdays there is a Farmers market, while Mondays are a mix of vintage clothing and antiques.

Free internet and great views in Amsterdam's public library. Photo: Jonas Savartberg

13. Nieuwmarkt is neat-o

The giant weigh station in the center of the square, De Waag, is often mistaken for a castle. However, this was the main entrance to old Amsterdam before the Golden Ages; then the square continued to lure locals interested in their main 17th-century attraction – public beheadings.

14. Free internet at the library

The public library (OBA) is right next to Central Station. It’s new and boasts a sleek modern look, with seven floors and the latest computers with free internet, free wireless, and even a free piano for tickling the ivory.

15. Priceless (and free) rooftop view

Also at the OBA is one of the best views of the Dam. Head to the top floor where café La Place is located, and outside there is a roof terrace overlooking the entire city.

16. Park it

Warm weather sends locals out to the parks. Spending the day in the sun with a good book and good company at hotspots like Vondelpark and Westerpark is one of the best ways to pass time in Amsterdam.

17. Naked ladies

Visiting the Red Light District is free, and safe! It’s the most visited part of the city, but hold off until dark when the red lights are glowing and swans gracefully float along the city’s oldest canals.

18. Free peace

In the heart of Spui square is the Begijnhof, a place where French nuns sought refuge from persecution in the 1600s. Inside this courtyard is a hidden Catholic church, a Protestant church (with services in English), and one of the two remaining wooden houses in Amsterdam.

19. Free art

Just next to Begijnhof on the left (from the exit facing the shopping street Kalverstraat ) is a hallway that’s part of the Amsterdam History Museum. It’s free to walk through, and the walls hold large portrait paintings of wealthy families and businessmen from the 1600s.

20. Beach it

A 20-minute train ride takes you to the North Sea coast town of Zandvoort. It’s the perfect place to soak up the sun with a good book.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Amsterdam right now? Check out our editors reviews of cheap hotels in Amsterdam, all of which we visited, inspected and reviewed. Read more in our Amsterdam hotel guide.

London is a costly city in many ways, but public transport prices are really ludicrous. For Londoners and commuters alike, January is an especially sore point and outrage spreads on an annual basis when the January 2nd price hikes come into force. 2012 is no exception, as this year the already barmy prices have gone up an average of 5.6%!

For most tourists, being charged over £4 for a single journey in central London is (understandably) a most baffling concept. While unfortunately I can’t tell you how to make travel on public transport in London cheap, here’s how to make it as cost-effective as possible:

1. Don’t rely on your walking shoes

If you’re planning to really explore all London has to offer, don’t make that common mistake of thinking it is a walkable city. It’s not and it never will be. With the exception of a few tube stops clustered around the area between Piccadilly Circus and Holborn, most stations are there because it would take a very long time to walk between them.

Just tap your Oyster card on the sensor and go through. Photo: Tom Pagenet

2. Make sure you have an Oyster card

The Oyster card is a small plastic card that can be topped up like a “pay as you go” phone (perfect for shorter visits), or used for weekly, monthly and annual Travelcards. Valid for travel on London Underground (The Tube), bus, tram, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), National Rail Service and London Overground, the Oyster card offers savings of over 50% compared to buying individual tickets.

You can get your Oyster card at Tube stops and Travel Information Centres by paying a £5 deposit. If you return your Oyster card when you are leaving London, you get this money back. However, if you are planning on returning regularly then it is worth keeping hold of your Oyster.

With “pay as you go,” a Zone 1 Tube, DLR or London Overground journey will cost you £2. Depending on how much you travel in one day, Oyster will cap your daily spend at £7 for off-peak travel and £8.40 for peak-time travel. Bus rides alone cost £1.35 each with Oyster. If you are staying in London for a week, save some pennies with a 7-day Travelcard to Zones 1 & 2 for £29.20.

Cheapo tip: Just remember to touch in and touch out on the yellow oyster card readers when you enter and leave stations – if you forget your Oyster card will be charged a penalty.

3. Ditch the tourist bus and take the RV1

When you’re out and about in London you may be tempted to give one of those open top sightseeing buses a go. Well, they’ll set you back a whopping £23.

So here’s an idea for Cheapos: One of central London’s public transport bus routes, the RV1, takes in an incredible number of sights and is a whole lot cheaper. Pay with your Oyster card (max £1.35 and less with a Travelcard) and bag a seat next to the window. This is a great option in the winter, as shivering in the rain on an open top bus is certainly not my idea of fun!

Starting in Covent Garden, the RV1 makes its way past Somerset House and across Waterloo Bridge onto London’s South Bank. It then stops at the Royal Festival Hall, the London Eye and the Oxo Tower before heading towards City Hall and the Tower of London. Spend the whole day hopping on and off and feel incredibly smug every time you see an expensive tourist bus pass by!

4. Cruise down the Thames with your Oyster

Another perk to using your Oyster card is that it includes discounts on Thames riverboat routes, meaning that you can opt for public transport and forgo the overpriced tourist boats along the Thames.

Oyster Travelcards will get you a 1/3 off any of the public boat services on the Thames, while Oyster “pay as you go” will get you a 10% discount just on KPMG Thames Clippers riverboats.

KPMG Thames Clippers are perfect for visiting some of London’s biggest attractions, from the London Eye and the Tate Modern, to cruising passed the Millennium Dome and enjoying a leisurely day out in Greenwich. Fares cost between £2.30-£5.40 depending on how far you wish to travel.

Also in our guide: Heading to London and looking for more ways to keep it cheap? Our editors have visited, reviewed and inspected the best cheap hotels in London. Read reviews and see photographs in our London hotel guide.

You splurged on a scarf you couldn’t afford? Waiting for an urgent bank transfer from mom and dad? Whatever, you’re broke, you’re in Florence and you don’t know what to do. Well, rejoice my friend, here are some free activities to explore.

Music

1. Every night, the organ goes wild at the Santa Maria de’ Ricci church on via del Corso. Chillax on a bench and be blown away by the pipes of the God’s favorite keyboard.

Free concerts on the Ponte Vecchio. Photo: Hubert Gajewski

2. Or, you can take a stroll to Ponte Vecchio to take in a concert by the sunset. The local buskers will woo you with Italian ballads until you feel the urge to kiss a stranger on your path.

Outdoor Tourism

3. Seeing the inside of a museum is not free. But seeing the outside is! Grab a map from the tourist office and create your own day of outdoor tourism. The very masters who created much of the ornate interiors of Florentine have also contributed to the city’s exterior beauty. Walk and be wowed.

4. Also consider the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signora (next to the Uffizi). This impressive collection of sculptures is definitely worth a look. Behold the immensity, the drama, and the beauty of these creations. But don’t have a sandwich in your hand while you’re doing it or Mister Security Guard will kick you back into the Piazza.

5. For those with that certain architectural fortitude, go check out Florence’s recently completed courthouse. Everyone seems to have an opinion on this postmodern behemoth located near the airport.

6. And finally, there’s Piazza Michelangelo which offers that city view supremo – a perfect place to spend some idle time.

Un Bel Farniente

7. Speaking of idle time, the national pastime of “un bel farniente” translates into “a pleasant do nothing.” The art of complete relaxation. Hanging out by the riverbank, frolicking in a meadow, reflecting while seated on a park bench – you get the picture. Florence has several places to do this. Take your pick, this is a wander-friendly city.

8. And then there’s always people-watching. The best spot for this – at the far right on the steps of the Duomo. Not only will you have your very own tourist parade, but there’s also a small corner of shade. Free shade.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Florence? Our editors have hunted down the best cheap hotels in Florence, all located in central neighborhoods. Read their reviews and see photographs in our Florence guide.

For many, Europe = plazas, or squares. Cobblestone plazas corralled by cafes, grand plazas with state buildings looking down on passersby, and intimate, hidden plazas with bubbling fountains sprouting from their centers.

Certainly, Barcelona has its fair share of city squares. The neighborhood with the most plazas in town is Gracia, where the famous Plaça de Sol is found. In this typical square you’ll find musicians strumming guitars and cool bars with boisterous clientele.

Plaça de Sol is fun, and well worth a coffee or beer in the afternoon. But you already know it. Here are three more must-see squares to visit in Barcelona:

1. Plaça Neri: Square of the Dead
Barri Gotic

I’d lived in Barcelona four streets over from this square for a two years and never came across Neri. Unless you’re looking for it or staying at Boutique Hotel Neri, a fabulous luxury hotel, then you won’t probably see this sweet cobblestone plaza in the Gothic Quarter. With a fountain in the middle and ancient buildings surrounding it on all sides, Plaça Neri has a peaceful vibe to it.

As soothing and quiet as Plaça Neri is, I can’t help but wonder if it’s not haunted. This lovely plaza has a gruesome history. First of all, it was once the graveyard for Barcelona criminals. In the olden days bodies were buried inside the city walls around churches. No one wanted to be buried next to a murderer, so there was a special cemetery for these undesirables, and that graveyard is Plaça Neri. Lots of bones and ghosts here, and what’s more, bad ones!

That’s not all, it gets worse. During the Civil War Mussolini’s air force lent Franco a hand and dropped bombs on Barcelona. Some of these where dropped on Plaça Neri, killing around 40 school children who were hiding in a school (there’s still a working school there today, but not in the same place) on the plaza. You’ll hear tell that all the pock marks in the walls containing Plaça Neri are from bullets, but it’s not so. The marks are from the second bomb dropped when people came to try and save the dead children.

Grisly history aside, Plaça Neri is beautiful, and well worth a visit. Have a glass of wine at the outdoor terrace of Hotel Neri, or take a look in the quirky Shoe Museum in the corner of the square.

2. Plaça de la Font: Square of the Living
Barceloneta

This is an excellent square to visit any sunny morning of the week for a coffee, croissant and some fun people-watching. The center of the fishermen’s barri, La Barceloneta, this plaza is large with a few cafes, a playground, benches, a newsagent, and a market.

I like this plaza because of its buzz and the fact that’s it’s a “real” plaza still very much used by residents (unlike Plaça Neri). Check out the Senoras buying fresh shrimp in the market and then pick up some bread at one of Barcelona’s best bakeries, Baluard, also on the square. Seafood restaurants and traditional tapas bars line the skinny streets ringing this lively square.

3. Plaça de Sant Pere: Square of the Hungry
Born/Ribera

Here’s another plaza that is very much used by locals of La Ribera. Plaça de Sant Pere is off the tourist beat of El Born, one of Barcelona’s hippest areas, but still in the heart of the old city. Surrounding this cobblestone plaza are elegant old apartment buildings and a few boutiques and cafes. I adore all the flowering trees on Plaça Sant Pere as wall as the old-school street lamps which cast a golden glow over the square when night comes.

One of my preferred Barcelona restaurants happens to be on Plaça Sant Pere, too, La Candela, which serves innovative, international, inexpensive meals. La Candela has terrace seating on Plaça Sant Pere, making it a stellar summer spot to have dinner.

Also in our Barcelona Guide

Visiting Barcelona soon? Check out our reviews of cheap hotels in Barcelona, all inspected, reviewed and photographed — and all located in central neighborhoods (within walking distance of each of these plazas). We recommend 38 budget-friendly hotels in our guide, plus offer additional euro-saving tips in our Barcelona articles.

Glamorous it is not, but today we’re talking about toilets in New York City. On a recent trip, a friend teased me for taking every opportunity to use the restroom: before we left the house, when we walked through a historic building, upon leaving a restaurant…

But during our bike tour, I had the last laugh—he had to stop and use the outhouse (and guess who didn’t). Turns out mom wasn’t so ridiculous after all when she used to urge, “Why don’t you just try?”

In New York, long days of walking around can often leave one with her (literal) pants down in the first disgusting restroom to be found. And so I present to you, dear Cheapos, some of the best public (or somewhat public) toilets in town, plus a few tips for finding others.

In Soho/West Village…

It’s a (surprisingly well-known) secret that one of the best public restrooms in all of Manhattan resides in the Crate & Barrel (611 Broadway) on the corner of Houston and Broadway (just below, it so happens, EuroCheapo’s headquarters in the historic Cable Building). The second-floor bathrooms are clean, accessible and you can head straight through the expansive housewares store without drawing too much attention to yourself.

Near Union Square…

In the past I’ve found myself (more times than I’d like to admit) cruising past the stacks in the Barnes and Noble (33 East 17th Street) on Union Square’s north side to use the third-floor restroom. But the truth is, they aren’t that clean and there is almost always a line.

Then the Nordstrom Rack (60 East 14th Street, between Broadway and Fourth Avenue), the “outlet” version of the fab West Coast department store, opened and I closed the book on Barnes. Now, my East Village/Union Square bathroom break can double as an excuse for browsing the store’s bargain designer duds.

The Lower East Side

On the northwestern edge of the Lower East Side (Bowery and Houston, to be exact) sits not only a clean restroom but one of the city’s most gorgeous food emporiums. I’m talking about the massive Whole Foods Market (95 East Houston), replete with tons of fresh eats, an entire room devoted to cheese and a second floor that houses an incredible food court (hello rotating sushi bar), art exhibits and a small but tidy restroom.

The potties can be used for free, but while there why not browse the aisles and maybe grab a delicious, healthy and cheapo-friendly meal. Stock up for later noshing in a park (just outside) or other public spot. You’ll be happy that you’ve just saved yourself a trip to the oft-icky outdoor facilities.

Another note: In general, the Whole Foods chain is a reliable source of clean restrooms throughout the city. Others can be found in Tribeca (270 Greenwich Street), Chelsea (250 7th Avenue at 24th Street), Union Square (4 Union Square South) and the Upper West Side (808 Columbus at 97th Street).

Midtown West – Columbus Circle

Just north of Times Square is the (in my humble opinion) far more civilized area of Columbus Circle (59th Street and Broadway). Located at the southwestern base of Central Park, and quite attractive in its own right, this business and traffic hub is marked by a lovely fountain and flanked by the entrance to the park on one side, and the Time Warner Center on the other.

The latter is part office building, part upscale shopping mall (also known as “The Shops at Columbus Circle“). For our purposes, it’s also the source of the neighborhood’s best respectable restroom. Head into the building and up the escalators to the second floor. Then beeline it to the right, through the kiosks and just past the Eileen Fisher clothing store that will be on your left-hand side.

Other Toilet Tips

I know the next question: What if you find yourself far from all of the above when nature calls? Here are a few other baño best practices for New York.

1. The Apple Store has four locations in New York, all large, all inviting and all with squeaky-clean facilities. Plus, they’ve got plenty of toys to play with on your way out. Stores are located in Soho (Prince Street and Green Street), Chelsea (14th Street and 9th Avenue), Midtown East (5th Avenue and 59th Street, at the southeast end of Central Park) and the Upper West Side (67th Street and Broadway).

2. The New York Public Library: Not only is it an oft-missed institution, but the New York Public Library has branches throughout the city, most with very clean facilities. (Note that some libraries, however, do not have facilities at all. Yikes!) Want a royal flush? Head to the gorgeous, lion-guarded main branch (40th Street and 5th Avenue), which, it must be notices, is well worth a visit in its own right—don’t miss the map room, one of my favorite spots in the city.

3. Parks: There are also excellent clean public toilets directly behind the main library branch in Bryant Park, between 40-42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues (facilities are located near 42nd Street). Note that many city parks (including Central Park) have public restrooms, however they’re quite often dingy, gross-out affairs. A private-public partnership maintains Bryant Park and keeps the bathroom facilities very clean.

4. Department Stores are plentiful in the city, especially in Midtown and the Upper East Side, and their restrooms are always well maintained. Some, like the one at Henri Bendel (56th Street and 5th Avenue) even verge on extravagant. And don’t fret, Cheapos, you can use these luxe loos without having to plunk down a hefty sum on designer duds.

5. Hotels. They’re everywhere. And whether cheapo or “un-,” any moderately-sized hotel will have a lobby bathroom. Just waltz in like you belong there and look for relief.

6. Additional resources. Believe it or not, there are entire sites—and apps—devoted to finding a toilet in New York City. The best I found (yes, I looked) is sitorsquat.com. This helpful site and mobile app provides a comprehensive map of New York, with public restrooms marked. Best of all, it rates them, gives a brief description and sometimes even provides a photo. Bonus points for a fantastic name.

Your public toilet suggestions?

Where do you find relief when out and about in New York? Tell us in the comments sections.

Visitors to Paris quickly realize that, even before hitting their last centime, time is the city’s most precious commodity. Tourists want to do and see it all in… but have limited time.

From the top of the Eiffel Tower to the bottom of the Catacombs the options are vast. So while you’re budgeting your euros, here are a few tips to budget your time as well to make sure you don’t waste a single second while in Paris.

1. Book your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance

Waiting in line for the Eiffel Tower can cost you hours, so book your ticket in advance on their Web site here. With this reservation, you can get in a much shorter line for the Iron Lady’s elevator and spend those hours doing something else.

2. Get a “Museum Pass” and skip the lines

Consider the Museum Pass. It may seem expensive, but if you’re planning on visiting several different monuments and museums, the pass can help you avoid waiting in ticket lines and will pay for itself if your heart is set on visiting as many museums as possible.

3. Make a dinner reservation

Make a restaurant reservation in at least one restaurant. Cheapos often like to treat themselves to one nice sit-down meal in Paris, so instead of walking around aimlessly looking for the perfect spot, do some research in advance and find a nice, little bistro to treat yourself to and book a table. Check out Paris by Mouth for some great suggestions.

4. Use the ATM

Contact your bank and use ATMs to avoid currency exchange offices. Tourists often spend time heading to American Express offices to exchange money, but this is a time waster. Talk to your bank and see what the fees are for using ATM machines and just withdraw cash (read more here). Paris has no shortage of banks and you’ll be on your way much faster.

5. Grab a quick coffee at the bar

Get your café at the bar if you need a quick caffeine fix. Sitting down at a table in a café means you’ve engaged yourself for at least 30 minutes by the time the waiter takes your order, brings your coffee, gives you the bill and takes your money. It’s a sort of ritual that can be bypassed by doing like the locals and going right to the bar for un café. It’s cheaper, too.

6. Line up early, if you must

Get in line early for activities that are must-sees for you, like the towers of Notre Dame or the Catacombs. Forgo an hour of sleep, wake up early, and queue up at least 30 minutes before the monument opens. You’ll be happy you did as you look at the line of people snaking around the block to get up the cathedral’s towers or to climb into the old mine shafts lined with 6 million Parisians skeletons.

7. Grab a sandwich for lunch and take it to go

Bakeries offer great deals for a sandwich, drink, and dessert, and you can eat it in a park or on the go as you race off to your next destination. The same sandwich in a café will take at least 30 minutes (and be more expensive).

8. Consider “nightseeing”

Certain sights are best at night. Think of checking out the evening openings at the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay when prices are cheaper and lines are shorter. And the Eiffel Tower is open until midnight in the summer, so don’t think that 11:30 p.m. is too late to venture up for a midnight view of the city.

9. Ask for help if you need it

Everyone says Parisians are rude and impolite, but sometimes it’s worth running the risk. When a girl from Japan asked me for directions the other day in the Marais, a Parisian went out of his way to butt in, look at her map (all in Japanese) and point her in the right direction as I translated his French into English for her. He might be the exception instead of the rule, but Parisians can be helpful, and getting brusque assistance from a local is better than wandering for hours in search of the Musée Carnavalet.

10. Plan a return trip to Paris

Be ready to make concessions and start planning a return trip to Paris. You can’t do it all, and preparing mentally for this now will make things easier for everyone. I was recently with a family who looked at the line to enter Notre Dame and they all shook their heads, “No.” Instead, we went for ice cream and wandered in the Marais, much to everyone’s delight.

Your time-saving tips

There’s no shortage of happenings in Paris, and every minute can be stretched to the last second if you’re thrifty with your time. So, Cheapos, what other advice do you have for budgeting your time in Paris?

Florence was recently billed as the most polluted city in Italia. Not cool. So what did the mayor do? He started kicking out cars from the center in favor of more pedestrians zones. Coolissimo! So which streets are making happy feet? Check this out to know more.

The Danger Duomo

The first area to go completely car-free was the ring around the Duomo. It seems ludicrous in retrospect, but just two years ago the snaking lines of church-goers ran the risk of “attack by speeding car.” But not anymore. The entire Duomo ring is now carless and harmless. But do keep an eye out for the bicycles, horses and determined stroller-pushing nonnas.

Okay, that’s great. But what about the rest of the monuments (or monumental walking hazards)? Well, it’s just been announced that as of June 24, 2011, the following parts of the city will be completely car free! (Click here for a map of the city’s new pedestrian zones.)

Palazzo ["it’s a"] Pitti there are so many cars

Remember the good old days of getting clipped by the mirrors of passing vehicles while walking from Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti? Ah, the nostalgia of injuries past.

Okay, it never happened but now it surely never will because the entire Piazza de’ Pitti area will soon be traffic free. That includes that congested 5 inch-wide deathtrap of a sidewalk all the way from Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. (But please, hold your applause until the end.)

Shopping Sanctuary

Florence, city of fashion, has a street called Via Tornabuoni where you’ll find the shops of style sultans such as Gucci, Prada and Emporio Armani.

And soon, that little strip of garment pedigree just off Palazzo Strozzi will be – wait for it, wait for it – traffic free! Just imagine meandering with a gelato in your hand and gazing through the windows of fashion greatness with only the sounds of ringing cash registers echoing through the street. Sounds about right, doesn’t it?

Be the best pedestrian you can be

In Italy, two pedestrians per day are killed by cars. This is a place where even motorcyclists use their mobile phones when they drive. Be careful!

Sidewalks are notoriously narrow which makes walking in the street a common habit. Italian drivers may be very good at slalom but still, make use of your peripheral vision!

Travelers have been spoiled recently by the constant sunshine in Paris, but this past weekend the rain returned with lightning strikes that give new meaning to the name “City of Light.”

Walking or biking around Paris, however, can become a drag when the sky opens up and even the most prepared tourist may be caught off guard. Fear not, there are plenty of things to do in Paris when it rains–if not, do you think so many of us would still live here?

Here are five activities perfect for Paris “when it drizzles”:

Heading to the Louvre in the rain. Photo: Bellevuestudio

1. Museums — but be careful!

Museums seem like an obvious choice, but choose wisely. If you decide to visit the Louvre on a rainy day, you very well may be lined up outside of that big glass pyramid waiting under your umbrella like everyone else who had the same idea.

Instead, try the Carnavalet museum in the Marais which features highlights of Parisian history, and it’s free. Or for €8 you could easily spend an entire day in the Hotel des Invalides visiting Napoleon’s tomb and the museum’s collection of war artifacts from medieval times until World War II. The perk? The museum is in French and English.

2. Pompidou Center Library

Everyone heads to the Pompidou Center for their modern art galleries, but if you just need a break from the rain, head to their library which is free of charge. The entrance is along rue de Rénard and any line that may form is rain-free.

Head upstairs to browse the collections or just bring your own book and grab a seat by the large windows overlooking the city and watch the rain fall. There is even a little café, bathrooms, and a covered balcony for smokers.

3. Park it at a café

Everyone always wants to play Parisian by passing a few hours sitting at a sidewalk café, and a rain storm provides the perfect excuse. Head to any café and order coffee for €1-3 and kick back.

Going solo is entirely acceptable, just bring a book or a notepad to make yourself look busy while you enjoy the pitter patter of the rain on the sidewalk.

4. Movies!

Movie time was always the perfect rainy day solution when I was a child. In Paris, the cinema is still a great option. Many theaters have special daytime or student prices, just make sure you see the “VO” version, the version original, or else you’ll be getting the version dubbed in French.

Head to the UGC at Bercy, for example, where shows before noon are only €6. Rainy mornings are just as bad as rainy evenings, right?

5. Brave it outdoors

If rain doesn’t faze you, then bite the bullet, put on some rain boots, grab an umbrella and take advantage of the fact that the rain scares most tourists away from the city’s most popular sights. A promenade in the rain through the Tuileries or Luxembourg gardens can be spectacular when no one else is around.

As long as you’re feet are fine and you leave your electronics in the hotel or hostel, you can really enjoy Paris during a summer afternoon shower.

Accessories

No matter what you do, plan accordingly. Proper shoes and umbrellas are a must for all seasons in Paris. If you are carrying any documents or important papers, keep them in a waterproof bag or leave them in the hotel safe–nothing is worse than a soggy passport at customs.

Your rainy-day activities

Paris proves, again and again, rain or shine, it’s always one of the most beautiful cities in the world. What are your favorite rainy-day activities? Share with us in the comments section.

A day on less than €20 in Amsterdam? Can it be done? Why, yes it can! Amsterdam might not be the cheapest Euro destination, but thanks to its outdoor happenings and entertainment freebies, it’s certainly possible.

Here’s my plan for a perfect Cheapo-day:

Start out with Albert Heijn. Photo: Easternblot

Breakfast: Head to the Heijn

The local grocery store here is called Albert Heijn, and its shops are well equipped with meals “to go.” Find one with a coffee machine (sometimes free!) and grab one of the many warm, freshly-baked delights at the bakery.

While you’re there pick up a fresh, packaged sandwich and a bottled fruit smoothie for lunch. Find the drink section for a row of beers, sodas and bottled water all for under a euro each. Now you’re set for the day!

Cost: Warm ham and cheese croissant with a coffee/tea: about €2 (Tourist cafe price: €5)
Sandwich, smoothie and a drink: about €4.50 (Tourist cafe price: €12)

Transport: Rent a bike

Cycling around town is a fun way to see the city and cover lots of ground without your feet hurting from cobblestones. They’re also the quickest and cheapest way to get around. Trams cost €2.60 one way, and don’t even think about taxis.

Learn these bike safety rules, find a good bike rental store, and enjoy money well spent for your ride (and your health).

Good deal on daily rental: €7  (Typical tourist price: €12.50+)

Get thee to Vondelpark! Photo: Amsterdamize

Take in the big sights–on your bike

Between the canals and beautiful greenery, Amsterdam has endless opportunities for bicycle cruising. Start in the center and knock out the main sights: Dam Square, the Royal Palace, national monument, and Nieuwe Kerk.

Next, pedal over to Spui and peek inside the quiet walls of the Begijnhof, or follow Spuistraat and snap shots of all the funky graffiti coloring squatter residences.

Vondelpark-it

Make your way to Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s largest central park, and ride along the winding paths past lakes, ducks, rosebushes and weeping willows. Join the masses soaking up the sun, or follow the Amstel and Ij rivers for a canal-side break (there are plenty of benches with gorgeous views).

Munch on lunch as you people watch. Wave at the families and groups on boats cruising by.

Sunset from NEMO. Photo: Erwyn van der Meer

Sunset and a free boat ride

For a unique view of the city and an ideal spot to watch a sunset, walk up the stairs of Amsterdam’s science center NEMO (the curvy green building near Amsterdam Central station).

While you’re there, why not take a free boat ride? Jump on one of the free ferries headed north (the one to “NDSF Werf” takes about 20 minutes each way).

Cheap dinner and a stroll

After returning your wheels for the day, split an order of the famous Dutch treat: “frites” with mayonnaise (€2 – €3). Yum.

Then treat yourself to a healthy falafel or vegetable wok (€3 to €5) at one of the many “in ‘n’ out” food shops along Zeedijk, Spui, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.

Looking for a little free romance? Couples will love strolling along the canals of the Jordaan, while others can do a bit of “window shopping” in the Red Light District.

Free concert

End the night with a bit of (free) live music at Jazz Café Alto, Mulligan’s Irish Pub or the Waterhole. And if you still have a few euros, buy yourself a drink. You successfully spent an Amsterdam day the EuroCheapo way!