London's St Pancras station is a place to linger. Photos © hidden europe
London’s St Pancras station is the grandest terminus in a city that is full of wonderful railway stations. It is a place to linger. For 140 years, this spectacular station has been the jumping-off point for travelers bound for the East Midlands and Yorkshire. Wider horizons Four years ago this week, St Pancras found new » Read more
Christmas shopping along Grafton Street. Photo: TeamAskins
Don’t worry about the cold – Christmas is the perfect time of year to travel to Europe, as the holiday season brings out old traditions, favorite songs, outdoor markets, and a variety of strategies for warming up. Dublin is no exception. This compact, walkable city is ideal for budget travelers looking to experience the holiday » Read more
Eau, the choices you'll have! Photo by T. Meyers
Here’s a quick tip for you: When traveling in Paris (or really in any city in our guide), buy your bottled water at a nearby supermarket and not at a newsstand, sidewalk vendor, or train station kiosk where they will have tacked on a steep mark-up. The supermarket is the obvious “local” way to go » Read more
Take in a sunset concert at Ponte Vecchio. Photo: Zhang Wenjie
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’ » Read more
When in St. Mark's Square, don't sit down! Photo: Tom Meyers
While Venice is high on the list of most visitors to Italy, it’s also one of the more challenging places to be a Cheapo – no matter how you slice it, this is one expensive city. After spending the bulk of your travel budget on airfare to Italy, which is always more expensive than you » Read more
Christmas lights along Oxford Street in London. Photo: Katling
By Nina Derham in London— While London has been known to disappoint during the summer months due to the lack of, well, summer, one thing this capital really knows how to do is winter. As autumn fades away and the temperature drops, London comes alive with sparkling lights, bustling shopping streets, cozy cafes and pubs » Read more
A look at the grand Sagrada Familia. Photo: Jonas Denil
The Sagrada Familia or Holy Family, is one of Barcelona’s “Oh-My-Gawd” sights and is a real must-do. It’s impressive, it’s wacky, it’s Gaudí’s last project, and it’s a basilica now, thanks to the Pope. If you see no other Gaudí buildings in Barcelona, see this one. Due to the fact that it is awesome, in » Read more
Posing in front of Paris' Hotel de Ville. Photos by Theadora Brack
Golden leaves are falling in Paris, making it the perfect time to roll out another batch of iconic French backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. Celebrating my favorite street photographers—Brassaï, Robert Doisneau, and Eugène Atget—I’ve meshed the old with the new, fully appreciating the dynamic, overlapping, ever-changing » Read more
A Eurolines coach in London. Photo: Sludge G
Okay, most folk at EuroCheapo HQ just love trains. And so do we. Exploring Europe by rail is generally civilized and convenient, but there are occasions when it just makes sense to hop on a bus or a coach. Several coaches each day speed from Riga to Tallinn in less than five hours. Just once » Read more
A midsummer's rain in Dublin. Photo: Laura Smart
Expect rain in Dublin. A trip that lasts a day or longer will inevitably include a little rain, a short shower, or as the Irish say, a “soft day” of persistent mist that isn’t quite strong enough to warrant the opening of an umbrella. Locals are thankful for any sunny days that they can get. » Read more
Don't pay more than €18 for that steak frites! Photo: John
Sometimes when I hear what people spend on certain items in Paris, I can’t help but feel a little depressed, especially if they tell me they’re on a budget. Splurge items aside, there are limits to what I’ll pay on everyday items (mostly in order to afford the aforementioned splurges — I’m only human!). To » Read more
The YHA Holland Park is actually nestled into Holland Park. Photos by Nina Derham
By Nina Derham in London— When I scoured the streets of London hunting down the best affordable hotels, B&B’s and hostels for EuroCheapo’s London hotel guide, I was constantly amazed by many of their brilliant locations. Most people expect to pay dearly to stay in central London, but if you know where to look, there » Read more
Enjoy a cheap, delicious panini in Rome. Photo: Avinash Bhat
When it comes to eating lunch in Rome, there are several cheap options, the most common of which are grabbing some pizza al taglio and panini. Back in the States, everyone is crazed over the panini “concept.” However to Italians, panini are just plain old sandwiches! Whatever you think, panini make a very affordable lunch. » Read more
Happy hours at any of these bars offer drink specials every night of the week. Photo: Vancity Allie
New Yorkers love their “happy hours,” that delightful window of time before dinner when many bars and restaurants drop their prices on wine, beer and cocktails in an attempt to lure in the post-work crowds. Happy hours can be found throughout New York on every work night, but we thought we’d highlight five of our » Read more
Barcelona's public libraries offer free Wi-Fi to members. Photo: CWagner
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Cheapos rejoice! There are plenty of ways to Tweet, Dig, Tumble and surf in Barcelona for free. While many hotels and hostels in Barcelona have free Internet access (or should, anyway), here are a few options for when you want to get out of your dimly lit hotel room. » Read more
The lengthy line for the Book of Kells. Photo: Ewen Roberts
Tourist traps are the same everywhere: Prices are higher than they should be and they’re packed with tourists instead of locals. In some cities – like Dublin – certain tourist traps change by day and by night. It isn’t enough to avoid entire areas, you need to know when to avoid them. Here is some » Read more
How to find the best pain au chocolate in Paris? Read on... Photo: Saraicat
Whether it’s a trendy rosewater macaron or a classic chocolate éclair, Paris is a pastry-lover’s destination. Knowing where to go and what to get, however, can be daunting with so many tempting options in front of you. Sometimes it’s best to turn to the professionals for a little bit of advice before blowing euros on » Read more
Go under water when it rains at London's SEA LIFE Aquarium. Photo: dconvertini
The bitter truth is that London is never short of rainy days, meaning that popular cheapo activities such as picnics in parks and city walks may well have to be called off. The good news is that the city is jam-packed with fun, wallet-friendly things to do under cover! Here are five suggestions for cheap » Read more
The Golden Gate Bridge -- not a tourist trap. Photo: Ladybugbkt
As one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., it’s no surprise that San Francisco is full of popular tourist attractions, some of which are best avoided. Some are decidedly underwhelming and some are overpriced. There are, of course, some very famous attractions that you shouldn’t pass up, even if you’re an off-the-beaten path » Read more
Tramming it in Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo: Dieter Zimig
Sofia boasts an oddball mix of museums and galleries. Probably not a lot of Cheapos would normally add the National Museum of Military History (92 Cherkovna str.) to their list of “must-see” sights in the Bulgarian capital. The Web site is not calculated to wow the casual surfer, but it does have some splendid promotional » Read more
Drinking at the counter? Put the change in your pocket. Photo: Elisa Caula
Cheapos can rejoice when it comes to tipping in Dublin. While etiquette varies according to the situation, generally locals believe in keeping their money, and tips aren’t expected like they would be in other countries (especially the United States). For example, approach a bar in Dublin and order a drink. The total will most likely » Read more
Look for Princess Anna Troubetzkoy at the top of the Tower. Photos by Theadora Brack
Snuggle tight, because it’s high time to throw a few ghost tales your way. It is, after all, Halloween today in the United States. So I thought we’d spend a minute discussing some of the women and men who haunt the most famous sights in Paris. Grab the flashlights, marshmallows and sleeping bags while I » Read more
Barcelona's charming Placa Neri hides a tragic history. Photo: Manelzaera
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 » Read more
There's nothing with enjoying a burger à la Francaise in Paris. Photo: Vince Kmeron
By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— The long Parisian culinary tradition takes a sharp turn when it comes to the most quintessentially un-Parisian food, “le burger.” I can hear the groans of purists who wince at the very thought of ordering “un burger” in Paris. But for better or worse, the hamburger has become something of » Read more
Biking through Florence. Photo: Michelle Brunner
Unless you’re that guy I see once in a while on his unicycle circling the Duomo, chances are you ride a bike. And since you’re reading this, chances are you have some remote interest in visiting Florence. So why not combine the two? Join a bike tour before it joins you! What? Here’s a quick » Read more
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