Days 7 and 8: Braga and Guimarães Braga and Guimarães are days five and six in EuroCheapo’s 10-day itinerary for Portugal. These two college towns are among the oldest and most historically important cities in the entire country. Whereas Guimarães is considered the birthplace of the Portuguese kingdom, Braga, is hailed as the place where the Catholic » Read more
Days 5 and 6: Valença and Ponte de Lima Valença and Ponte de Lima are days five and six in EuroCheapo’s 10-day itinerary for Portugal. Make the trek north to Minho: It’s about four hours in bus or train or 2.5 hours in a car from Coimbra to Valença. This region of Portugal’s known for its production » Read more
Sintra Vila looks like something out of a children's storybook. Photo: Peter Curb
Days 3 and 4: Sintra, Cascais and Coimbra Sintra, Cascais and Coimbra are days three and four in EuroCheapo’s 10-day itinerary for Portugal. With both destinations clocking in at around half an hour from the Portuguese capital for €5 or less, it’s no surprise that Sintra and Cascais rank high among popular day trips from » Read more
Check out the 16th century Belem Tower on your trip to Lisbon. Luis A.
Days 1 and 2: Lisbon Lisbon is our first stop in EuroCheapo’s 10-day itinerary for Portugal. Continuing with what might be an increasingly obnoxious California metaphor, Lisbon is to Portugal as San Francisco is to California; it’s hilly, coastal, quirky, and complete with cable-cars and foodie culture to boot. As Portugal’s largest city and capital, » Read more
The rooftops of Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Elisa Michelet
Portugal is long and skinny. With your choice of sandy beaches for sunbathing and rocky outcrops for climbing along the coast, a booming artisan food culture that includes a well-established wine and olive oil industry, historic cable cars, and quirky, captivating cities, it’s not unlike California, albeit a particularly European version. But here the striking » Read more
Looking out over Munich. Photo: rcdesigner
No doubt about it: Germany is one of Europe’s top tourist destinations at the moment. A big part of the tourist boom, of course, is because of Berlin’s growing popularity. This exciting metropolis is rich with culture, has a famously vibrant nightlife and is refreshingly affordable. However, if dirndl, lederhosen, beer gardens and quaint Fachwerk » Read more
Don't try walking along the banks of the Seine today! Photos by Bryan Pirolli
Paris’ Seine River has flooded and risen to its highest point since 1982, expected to peak today at 21 feet. What does this mean for residents and for tourists visiting the city? Barriers have been erected along the Seine to hold water back, and the city’s two most famous art museums, the Louvre and Musée » Read more
Enjoy a pint at The Harp. Adam Bruderer
When in London, drink as the locals drink, right? That means, of course, a visit to the pub. In previous articles, we’ve explained the etiquette of visiting a traditional pub, where to find a lovely (and affordable) Sunday roast, and how to save on London nightlife and culture, but where should you go for an » Read more
An 18th-century church in Braga, Portugal. Photo: domjisch
Portugal’s third biggest city, Braga offers cobblestone streets crammed with more churches (nearly four dozen!) and bells chiming than many other cities in Europe combined. Pair the city’s rich cultural heritage with a lively student population, thanks to the Universidade do Minho (hello, low-cost bars and restaurants), and you’ve got an exceptional destination for Cheapos. » Read more
A shop display in Berlin. Photo: Oh-Berlin
When visiting Berlin, you’ll no doubt want to get your shop on in one of Europe’s trendiest cities. Whether it’s a mainstream mall, posh shopping boulevard, a little mom and pop shop, trendy boutique, or a gigantic flea market, Berlin offers plenty of opportunities to shop ’til you drop. But how can you pick out » Read more
A peaceful morning in Ceské Budejovice. Photo: Pedro
Our third stop in our budget-friendly tour of the Czech Republic outside Prague is Ceské Budejovice. Ceské Budejovice German name: Budweis First, let’s get one thing straight: It’d be a sin to confuse Ceské Budejovice’s famous beverage with American Bud “beer.” This city is home to Budweiser Budvar, the globally exported lager. This is the one and only, and » Read more
Looking up at Františkovy Lázne's famous spa. Photo: klausnahr
Our second stop in our budget-friendly tour of the Czech Republic outside Prague is Františkovy Lázne: Františkovy Lázne German Name: Franzensbad Much smaller than Pilsen, but known for its equal charm. Františkovy Lázne has been a wellness holiday destination for centuries. Goethe himself described it as “heaven on earth,” and it was the setting for Milan Kundera’s novel, “The » Read more
Pilsen has much to offer to budget travelers. Photo: KiraHundeDog
Our first stop in our budget-friendly tour of the Czech Republic outside Prague is Pilsen: Pilsen Local name: Plzen “The government that raises the price of beer will fall,” the old Czech saying goes. Named the EU Cultural Capital for 2015, Pilsen is best known for, what else, Pilsener (or “Pilsner”) beer. Back in the 1200’s, » Read more
The original Budweiser Brewery in the Czech Republic. Photo: debarshiray
It was my second visit to this delightful country. I should’ve known better than to ask the waitress if they offered anything to eat that “wasn’t so heavy.” “Everything in Czech Republic is heavy!” came the curt reply. And so I gave in, succumbing to giant portions of crispy roast duck with plump Knedliky dumplings. And afterwards, palacinky — sugary, stuffed » Read more
EuroCheapo Flash: Eurostar has just announced €39 one-way tickets between Paris and London for summer 2016 travel. Planning to take the journey this summer? Book it now through the SNCF to get this sale fare. But don’t delay, as the sale fare has been limited to 100,000 passengers. Related: See all flash deals on European » Read more
Neuschwanstein Castle is dramatic, romantic, and fortunately, affordable, too. Photo: Sharon Mollerus
A trip to Neuschwanstein Castle is on the bucket list of many a European traveler. Nestled away in the Bavarian Alps about a two-hour drive south from Munich, this castle was one of several built by the eccentric Bavarian king Ludwig II, also known as “Mad King” Ludwig. If its white, limestone façade and fairy » Read more
Templo de Debod. Photo jlcernadas
Without a doubt, Madrid deserves a place on your European itinerary. The third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, it’s packed with museums overflowing with amazing art, restaurants and bars serving up tasty tapas and local cuisine — but what about your budget? ¡Ningún problema! No problem — you don’t have » Read more
Always keep an eye out for this very important sign. Photo Patrick G.
London is a shopper’s paradise, catering to all needs and budgets. Suffice to say, you could blow a load of money very, very easily in London’s shops. This guide will help you navigate the huge choice and save a little bit of cash in the process – how much you save, of course, depends on » Read more
A Paris flea market. Photo jafsegal
It’s the only time that anyone in Paris will be excited to hear the word puces — or fleas. The city’s iconic flea markets, often just called les puces, allow tourists to spend hours browsing everything from vintage prints and dusty books to tarnished jewelry and Louis XV furniture. The odds of finding an affordable, one » Read more
Fresh crepes in Paris. Photo: Dottie Day
Whether it’s with a fork and knife or on the go, eating a crepe just feels so Parisian – even though they are supposed to have originated in Brittany. Finding them is not particularly difficult, especially if you are around the Montparnasse neighborhood. Around the rest of Paris, however, it’s good to have a few » Read more
The Museo del Prado in Madrid. Photo: emijrp
Widely considered the world’s best single collection of Spanish art, The Prado Museum, in central Madrid, is not to be missed. Priceless paintings and sculptures by Spanish masters like Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco, not to mention the largest collection of works by Italian masters outside Italy, are housed in a beautiful 18th-century government building. » Read more
Biking in Berlin. Photo: bvi4092
There’s no question about it — one of the best ways to see Berlin is on two wheels. Nearly every street in the city has a bike lane, and many locals pedal as their main form of transportation come rain or come shine. Berlin is also massive. Biking makes it possible to get between sights, » Read more
The iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Photo: tchacky
There’s much more to Basque country’s biggest city than Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum. Beyond its stunning modern architecture, this gritty but charming metropolis is packed with historic churches and government buildings, and traditional shops on narrow cobblestone streets. An industrial center since the Roman era, Bilbao (Bilbo in Basque) is a combination of ancient » Read more
Fresh bread at a market in Paris. Yukiko Matsuoka
Grab your canvas bags. It’s market day in Paris! While the supermarkets in Paris provide all the food necessary to survive, the outdoor markets offer more variety of fruits and vegetables, often at lower prices. It’s a weekly ritual for many Parisians, but there’s no reason that the casual tourist can’t stock up on a few snacks » Read more
A lovely view of Toledo, Spain. Mussi Katz
An easy jaunt from Madrid with good rail connections, the charming city of Toledo makes an ideal day trip destination. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, the city’s shared Christian, Jewish and Muslim roots are particularly evident in its mountaintop old town with its striking monuments and traditional shops. Once home to Spanish King » Read more
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