“Artemis” by Rembrandt. One of the masterpieces on display at the Prado.

The Museo Nacional del Prado is Madrid’s most famous museum. Opened to the public in 1819, today it boasts a world-class collection of European artwork, including more than 7,000 works spanning from the 12th century to the early 19th century. At any time, about 1,300 pieces of art are on display.

The museum started out as a royal collection of art, and visitors can still get a feel for the varying tastes of monarch’s past. The Prado is especially acclaimed for works by Spanish painters, including Velazquez, El Greco, and Goya, as well as “foreigners” Titian, Bosch, Rubens, and Rembrandt.

Visiting the Prado Museum…

The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM, and closed on Mondays.

General admission to the museum costs €6 if tickets are bought at the museum’s ticket office. Advance tickets (allowing you to skip the line) can be purchased online through the Prado’s website, for €9.

…for free

However, the Prado offers free admission at the end of every day for two hours (three on Sunday). From Tuesday through Saturday, the museum’s doors are wide open from 6 PM to 8 PM, and on Sunday from 5 PM to 8 PM.

With so much to see, we’d suggest visiting the museum multiple times for free. Popping in to tackle one artist or one section of the museum is not only doable in two hours, but could help prevent “museum burn-out.”

Tip: Check out the museum’s recommended list of 15 masterpieces on the Prado’s website. This virtual tour offers historical insights into the collection’s most famous paintings.

Also see: our list of budget tips for Madrid and our reviews of budget hotels in Madrid.

Next stop: Munich! 

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If you’re heading to Barcelona, there’s no doubt that Antoni Gaudi’s art and architecture will be high on your list. From whimsical apartment buildings to the imposing spires of a Roman Catholic church, the Catalonian architect’s work dominates the city. You could pay €10 to scale the steps of the (perpetually-under-construction) Sagrada Familia or spend €8 to explore Gaudi’s art nouveau Casa Mila. Or, you could check out a more Cheapo-friendly option - the magnificent Parc Guell, which has free entrance.

The park is a local favorite, complete with a colorful mosaic terrace overlooking the city. Impressive columns, a sprawling staircase, and a large-scale Gaudi dragon make for an incredible ambience. Best of all, taking in this virtual garden of Catalonian color costs nothing, apart from a hearty walk across Guell’s 42 acres!

Parc Guell is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or dusk. Take the green line Metro to stop “Lesseps” and follow the street signs to the park’s entrance. For more information, visit the Project for Great Public Space’s Parc Guell page.

Join us again tomorrow, Cheapos, for another free tip. Next stop? Berlin!

Popularity: 22% [?]

When it comes to our list of travel essentials, iPods and MP3 players are right up there with good city maps and sun block. And, if we hit a bump in the road or happen to meet with a European transit strike, there’s no better way to while away the hours than with a few portable travel guides.

Read on, dear Cheapos, for five free podcasts we love for Barcelona, Spain:

For those with unique taste

If you’re more into meandering side streets than queuing up at the Sagrada Familia, check out Notes from Spain’s frequently uploaded casts. Audio guides offer an “anti-tourist” take on exploring Barcelona, from back street tours of the barri gotic to a bike route through the Basque region.  

For well-rounded travelers

We like Tourcaster for its wide array of podcasts—from tours of art museums to jaunts through national parks—highlighting destinations around the world. Although some audio guides get super-specific (Madrid’s Royal Palace, anyone?), the Barcelona City Guide provides a comprehensive introduction to the city’s top attractions, like Gaudi’s Parc Guell or the best places to eat tapas. And, unlike other Tourcaster podcasts, it’s free!

For the language buffs

Don’t know your por qué from your por favor? Radio Alicante International FM, a radio station broadcasting from Spain, doles out language lessons in a free podcast on learning Spanish. Download the courses from iTunes and listen, repeat, listen, repeat.

For architecture aficionados

For a Cheapo architecture fix, we like LoDingo’s comprehensive building tour. The two-hour podcast winds its way through Barcelona’s best examples of “el Modernisme Catal,” the style made famous by the Catalonian architect Antonio Gaudi.

For some in-flight entertainment

Okay, so the Barcelona Vidcast HD podcast is in Spanish, but since it’s a video, the sights and sounds of the city speak for themselves. It’s available on iTunes (search “Barcelona Vidcast HD” to find it), is perfect for the plane ride over or for distracting yourself during a classic Spanish conundrum, the rail strike.

Popularity: 24% [?]

The coastal city of Valencia, the third largest locale in Spain, is an ideal destination for a long, relaxing weekend or an action-packed adventure. We asked Heather Cowper, travel blogger extraordinaire, how to make Valencia a cheapo-friendly spot. Here, her insight for an inexpensive getaway:

Cheapo activities in Valencia-

Head to the Mercado Central: The main fruit and vegetable market in Valencia is a feast for the eyes and a great place to buy all the makings for a picnic—saving the cost of lunch in a café. The building itself is airy and light with colorful tiles and stained glass windows. Don’t forget to check out the amazing fish section at the far end of the market. It’s a true treat and a fantastic way to see real deal Spanish seafood.

Linger at La Lonja: The 15th-century silk exchange is a Unesco World Heritage site and has been recently restored. The entry is free. Follow along the colonnaded hall with its twisting stone columns and cathedral-like atmosphere. Next, walk through the shady courtyard decked in orange trees. Finally, go up the steps to the upper room with its beautiful coffered ceiling. The whole experience will make a lasting, and cheap, impression.

Go to Plaza de la Virgen: This plaza is a pleasant place to sit with a drink, admire the fountain, or eat a picnic. If you want to visit the Cathedral, it will normally cost you €4 including an audio-guide. But, if you attend one of the many masses, you can enter for free. Try the Sunday 9:30 a.m. mass held in the Chapel of the Holy Grail where you can hear the Gregorian chant as a bonus.

Walk through Turia Gardens: The Turia River flowed through Valencia until it was diverted in the 1950s due to flooding. Today’s picturesque riverbed is a series of public parks. Do as the locals do and take an afternoon stroll or have a picnic there. The area around the Palau de la Musica is especially pleasant.

Don’t leave without… 

Getting your architecture fix. You can’t leave Valencia without stopping to admire the amazing architecture of the town’s museums, cinemas, and concert halls. Sure, the venues are expensive, but it costs nothing to wander around and look. Take in the buildings, cool blue pools, and metal sculptures in the gardens. And, be sure to pop into the shady botanical greenhouse, L’Umbracle.

Finding a free museum. There are many great museums in Valencia where average prices are about €2-3 for entrance. However, the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Bullfighting Museum, Museo Historico Municipal, and Museo de Prehistoria (also known as La Beneficienca), are free. The Palacio del Marques de dos Aguas, which contains the Ceramics Museum, is free on Saturday afternoon and Sunday too—and is well worth a visit.

Basking at the beach. If the sun is shining, take a bus or tram to the port of Valencia, which hosted the America’s Cup last year. Then move on to the beach and wander along the boardwalk, relax on the sand, or go for a swim. If you want to sample some authentic Paella, a traditional Valencia dish, you can try it in one of the many restaurants along this strip.

Dining tips-

Have a gourmet lunch on a budget. For a delicious 3-course lunch at only €9, head to the ground floor restaurant in the free Museo de Prehistoria, known as La Beneficienca. Service starts at 2 p.m., but arrive a little earlier for a drink in the shaded courtyard, also popular with the locals.

For nightlife-

Check out Barrio Carmen: If it’s nightlife you’re after, head for Barrio Carmen. By day, it’s the sleepy old quarter of the city replete with hip and trendy shops. After 10 p.m., it comes alive with bars, restaurants, and nightclubs—and the party goes on until dawn! Make sure you check out the incredible graffiti-art on surrounding walls.

About the author: Heather Cowper is the author of the well-known travel blog, “Heather On Her Travels“. She lives in Bristol (United Kingdom).

Popularity: 42% [?]

You came, you saw, you captioned, dear Cheapos. But, alas, there can only be one winner.

First, the office favorites deserve a call-out here.

From happybrowngirl: “Jesus, take the wheel!” - We admit, we’re not sure we grasp the context implied here, but we like the concept. Something about a dog so desperate and at wit’s end that he cries this out hits our funny bone where it counts.

Momo sent us, “I coulda been a star!”, a quote that made one office Cheapo nearly snort his lunchtime soup.

A couple of others that we enjoyed: “My owner wanted a cat.” (sent by Elizadoodle), “I would do anything for a Rick Steves DVD. Anything.” (from Tanya2), and “Does this outfit make me look fat?”, (by Mama Llama).

The winner—doggy drum roll please—is: “I can’t believe she wore stripes when I specifically told her I was wearing stripes! (sigh) People will do anything for attention.” This terrific take was sent in by withawe, who will be receiving the Rick Steve’s DVD, Italy’s Countryside (2000-2007 edition). Congrats!

A big runner-up award goes to Emily who posted, “Horizontal stripes + too many chalupas = Chubhuahua”. Don’t worry, Emily, you get a prize too. How does a Milan or Croatia tote bag sound?

For more funny chihuahua photos, check this gem out.

***And, be sure to tune in today at 20:00 BST (that’s 3 pm EST) when Tom blogs live at Europe a la Carte!

Popularity: 18% [?]

While strolling down La Rambla in Barcelona, one of our editors walked past this jazzy dog. The little guy was sitting in a bicycle basket and was flanked by colorful flower stands and live bird cages.

Our editor snapped the photo, but it still needs a caption. We know there are a lot of creative Cheapos out there, so add your two cents in the comments section below and show us what you’ve got! The best caption will receive a place in the Cheapo Caption Hall of Fame and a free DVD of Rick Steves Italy’s Countrysides (2000-2007 edition).

Enter early and enter often, Cheapos!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Doubles € 105-155
Neighborhood: La Rambla

The Sant Agusti is one of our favorite hotels in Barcelona, and it just happens to be the oldest hotel in the city, too. Built in 1880, the hotel is named after the nearby church of Sant Agusti and was a working convent in the 1700s. Many of the rooms still feature original wood beams and stone walls.

We especially adore the attic suites at Sant Agusti (eight in all), replete with their cutesy little tables and chairs and fun views of the square below. Rooms are decorated with modern furniture. The breakfast room, where an old cast iron stove takes center stage, is large and airy.

The only thing we found lacking about Agusti was its location. While it’s near La Rambla and close to pretty much all the sights, its neighboring streets are a frequent stopping point for the area’s homeless and tend to be more unkempt than other areas of Barcelona.

Other than that, Sant Agusti is a unique, family-run hotel with tons of charm!

Read our full review.

Popularity: 13% [?]

A reader asks:

“In Barcelona, we’re thinking of staying in the Gothic Quarter to be close to everything, but we’re worried that it’s not safe. Is this area sketchy at night?”

Regina WB responds:

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter has the Cathedral, Plaza del Rey and many other fabulous sites that most visitors want to ‘oohh and ahh’ over. And therein lies the problem, while St Juame’s Square is lovely, and the craved gargoyles frightfully fantastic, is it safe? Yes and no.

Petty theft in Barcelona is rampant. For the most part it is safe to walk the streets of the city center at any time of night, because there are always people out in Barcelona. Violent crime is not a problem. But, you’ve got to watch your bag, your camera, your wallet, your cell phone and maybe even that gold chain around your neck (less someone rip it from your being on the subway!). Small theft is not punished (really) in Spain, and thieves are well aware of this. The problem is HUGE.

A friend of mine visited for a month from the United States. During her visit she experienced three robbery attempts. My friend is no novice, having traveled to over 50 countries in her time. But thieves in Barcelona are good, and they are everywhere the tourists are, and tourists are usually in the Gothic Barrio.

I do recommend staying in the Gothic because it’s really the heart of what’s happening in the city. Just be aware, and stay clear of the following places: La Rambla, (a.k.a. La Rob-la), the Metro (one of the places I’ve seen the most robberies, averaging one sighting a week), Calle Ferran (filled with drunk tourists) Irish bars (obviously). To play it safe, get a bag with multiple zippers and be alert. Never set your bag on the floor or casually on a chair. Don’t be the guy with the camera hanging on his neck.

Finally, don’t be afraid of Barcelona’s Gothic area, just be a ninja!

Regina WB lives in Barcelona and wrote EuroCheapo’s guide to Barcelona hotels. Additional writing by Regina can be found on her website www.regwb.com and on PlanetEye.com.

Have a question for EuroCheapo? Ask us!

Popularity: 13% [?]

In the spring of 2006, I was able to score some super-cheap tickets on Ryanair for a last-minute getaway to Barcelona from London, where I was living. It had been a great weekend, made possible by my low-cost flight. I booked a 6 PM flight in order to extend my holiday as long as possible, pushing off the reality of the next morning’s workday. As long as I was in Barcelona, I was on vacation!

The tickets were basically free—I only had to pay the airport tax. The catch? I had to fly into and out of two less-than-central airports, London’s Stansted and Barcelona’s Girona airport. It was worth it, right?

What follows is a diary of my flight experience en route from Barcelona to London.

4:30 PM: I arrive early at the airport for a 6 PM flight. We all know you have to get to the gate before the other passengers in order to snag the best seat.

5:00 PM: Shortly after check-in, an announcement is made. The flight has been delayed an hour.

Ok, some extra time to score a panini at Girona’s atmospheric café. (In the above photo, do I look like I’m ready for take-off?)

Tip: Stock up on food, just in case. Girona’s airport café closed at 9 p.m. I’m glad I grabbed a sandwich when I did. Others would not be so lucky.

7 PM: A second announcement. The flight has been delayed for another hour. All assembled groan and pull out iPods, books and approved electronic devices. One nearby traveler starts clipping his nails over a waste basket, violating all manner of social codes (are clippers even allowed on airplanes?).

8:15 PM: A third announcement. Drum roll, please: The flight has been delayed for another two hours. The announcer says, with a tinge of exhaustion in her voice, “We hope to leave by 11. Thank you for your patience.” The thought of work the next morning was beginning to make me vaguely nauseous.

Around 10 PM: Boredom sets in. All other flights have taken off. The airport feels empty, save the other poor souls flying to Stansted. With hardly anyone around, I attempt to fit myself, horizontally, into a row of seats in any way that could lead to sleep. I am not successful.

Above: Nothing happening under flourescent lights.

Tip: Bring back-up diversions. That could mean catching up on your trip journal, watching all the TV shows you earlier loaded up on your iPod, making progress on that novel, or even flipping through some celeb mags. In short, have something to do. I had packed “Madame Bovary,” which only helped put me to sleep.

11:30 PM: All other flights have left the Girona airport, and there’s still no sign of our airplane. The 20 Stansted-bound passengers are told we will not take off until after midnight. No excuse is given.

Tip: Make friends…if there are any out there. At some point after midnight, I found myself chatting with a couple from Los Angeles. A bottle of vodka became open. (Glad they took advantage of Duty Free when it was open…hours ago.) I pass up a shot (work seems ludicrously close), but others around happily partake. The mood lifts… and distorts.

1:30 AM: We take off, nine hours after my arrival at the airport.

Tip: Know when to go! Turns out there’s more than one good reason not to check any luggage on a budget flight. If you’re delayed, you could risk missing the last bus out of the arrival airport.

2:30 AM: We arrive at Stansted and immediately there’s a mad dash for the bus to London. And for good reason: The last one leaves the airport at 3 am (and sometimes earlier, depending on reasons I couldn’t quite understand). If you miss the last bus, you have to get a taxi, which can cost upwards of £60, or wait until 7 am when the buses start up again. I make the bus.

3:30 AM: I’m dropped off at Marble Arch on Oxford Street. What’s my name? Who am I? And how do I get a taxi? Work the next morning was, well, another story…

In the end, this experience didn’t deter me from flying on budget airlines. Over the next year, I’d often take cheap flights, including easyJet and Aer Lingus, for quick getaways. But I learned something about flexibility that long night in Girona.

Read another Cheapo’s tale of a long night in Stansted. Got a good airport story? Leave a comment or send us a note.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Sightseeing in Barcelona can get pretty pricey. But never fear, there are plenty of things to do in Barcelona that won’t cost you one Euro-cent. Our recommendations:

1) Go, go, Gaudi!

Stroll through Park Geull, an incomplete masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi. Walk up the grand staircase, explore the cavernous shelters and sit on benches laden with mosaic tiles and glass—Gaudi’s trademarks. Geull is open year-round, but closes at dusk. Call (34) 93 413 24 00 for more information.

2) Take it to church

A visit to the Barcelona Cathedral, in the center of the Gothic district, places you in the middle ages, and won’t cost you a shilling. Pieces of the original building dating back to the 10th-century are still intact. To find the cathedral, simply head to Plaça de la Seu and look up. How in-spire-ing!

3) Grab a bongo

Got your own? Bring ‘em along and join the many bongo players who congregate in Parc Ciutadella on weekend afternoons. You’ll see the majority of them there on Sundays. Otherwise, just swing by, chill out, and feel the local beat.

4) Check out the gallery scene

The incredible Fundacio Caixaforum is a gorgeous art nouveau fortress, originally a factory, that today serves as a cultural space open daily and free to enter. Catch a lecture on architecture or just browse the galleries. Free concerts occur weekly. Bonus tip: For more art openings, hit up Conseil de Cent Street between Mutaner and Rambla Catalunya, where there is a whole slew of freebie galleries.

5) Listen up

Before you go, here’s an idea: Why not take a thread from one of our favorite budget travel blogs, Less Than a Shoestring, and download The Independent’s free Barcelona podcast. It’s chock full of good advice and ideas to get you crazy for Catalan.

Have fun, save your cash, and send any other freebie tips our way!

Popularity: 11% [?]