The Old Town of Vitebsk, Belarus. Photos ©hidden europe.
A few months back, we gave Belarus a mention here on EuroCheapo. No surprises of course that our posting opened up a mini-debate on the ethics of travel to a country that wins no awards for liberal enlightenment. Yet, it is precisely because of its unusual politics that Belarus is a top destination for European » Read more
New York never sleeps. OK, sometimes we take the occassional midsummer nap. But, for the most part, the city sparkles and goes into high kicks even when it’s sweltering and balmy in July and August. The Big Apple also likes to kick up a whole lotta free offerings throughout the summer, and this includes hundreds of » Read more
A statue of the Dutch author Multatuli. Photo: Mark.
Amsterdam is bursting with arts and entertainment, and The Netherlands itself boasts over 400 museums to marvel at. Although viewing the work of Van Gogh and Rembrandt can often be pricey, there are still ways to satisfy a museum craving free of charge. Here are five hotspots that offer a complimentary dose of Amsterdam culture. » Read more
You must visit the "other Lady" in Paris. Photos by Theadora Brack.
Yes, Cheapos, the Statue of Liberty is back and looking ever so fierce in her spiky nimbus (or halo—after all, it’s not a crown!) and her matching floor length chiton robe in all its coppery green tonalities. It’s an exquisite nod to the style of classical Greece, I must say. Pinching from Christian Dior, “Darling, » Read more
Ernests Gulbis practices before taking on Andy Murray. Photo by e01.
Taking in the tennis at Wimbledon last week was a peculiarly British experience. Pimms cup in one hand, strawberries and cream in the other, I sat 10 feet away from the players, dressed all in white (of course), and watched them bash a ball at each other for hours on the magnificently green courts. On » Read more
The June, 2009 opening of the Hermitage in Amsterdam. Photo by wizse.
On June 19, 2009, the newly renovated Hermitage Amsterdam opened its doors to reveal the best of Russian culture. Located on the Amstel River, this museum is a grand venue. The Hermitage Amsterdam’s building, known as the Amstelhof, dates back to 1682, when it served as a retirement home for elderly women. Now it houses » Read more
Going up at the CaixaForum in Barcelona. Photo by Hector Milla.
By Regina W. Bryan Cheap or even free is a great price in an expensive town like Barcelona. There are many museums in eastern Spain’s capital city, some with high entrance fees, such as Casa Batllo, and others with ocassional free admission. Let’s explore the latter. 1. Caixa Forum Funded by the Catalan bank, La » Read more
The perfect station at Schaanwald in Liechtenstein. Photos © hidden europe.
Remember George Dubya? Here in Europe he is still revered as a remarkable pioneer in “alphabetical tourism.” After all, during his first-ever visit to Europe in June 2001, the presidential itinerary featured Spain, Sweden and Slovenia – or perhaps it was Slovakia. Even Dubya himself was a shade uncertain, but he did a grand job in » Read more
Rome's Basilica of San Giovanni. Photos by Sav D'Souza.
The distinctive Porta San Giovanni gate welcomes you to the Rome’s San Giovanni neighborhood. The area lies south of Termini station, near enough to Rome’s center, but ideally located away from the hustle and bustle, and most tourists. Among other delights, Rome’s San Giovanni neighborhood offers its share of interesting sights, cheap clothing opportunities, and sweet eats. Here’s » Read more
Live music at Maloe Melo. Photo: Simon Groenewolt
Looking to groove to some live music in Amsterdam on a weekday? The city’s got you covered with bands performing nightly across town. And there’s no need to dish out funds from your “miscellaneous” pile: Here are some hot music venues that are free (or nearly)! Sunday: Mulligan’s Irish Bar Amstel 100 Website: www.mulligans.nl Cost: » Read more
The bustling Boulevard Haussmann. Photos by Theadora Brack.
It’s that most wonderful time of the year for shoppers in Paris, Cheapos! “Les Soldes d’Eté” (the summer sales) kick off Wednesday, June 24! Mark your calendar, get set, but first create a plan of transaction. Here are some tips for scoring big during this glorious five-week event. 1. Get smart. I spy. Visit your » Read more
An artist at work in Berlin. Photo: Wendelin Jacober
Berlin—Critic and curator Emilie Trice writes, “Berlin is the graffiti mecca of the urban art world.” And a recent New York Times article confirms Trice’s assertion with the observation that “The city’s skyline might be defined by a Sputnik-era TV tower, bombed-out churches and the ghost of a certain wall that once split the German » Read more
A Deutsche Bahn train in Berlin's main station. Photo by hidden europe.
Okay, we’ve said it before, but we’ll gladly say it again. Have Cheapos realised just how much rail fares in Europe can vary according to where you purchase your tickets? We took a day out from our regular work with hidden europe magazine last week and conjured up a tempting palette of trips criss-crossing the » Read more
Barcelona's beaches are hard to resist. Photo: Manuel Martín
It’s June and the weather has been delightfully hot lately in Barcelona, perfect for hitting the city’s beaches. While the Mediterranean is still a bit cool, these long hot days promise to warm up the calm waters that flank Barcelona and tempt swimmers to take a dip. Let me say that as a Barcelona local, » Read more
Lunchtime at a boulangerie in the Marais. Photo by Tom Meyers.
For many people, living in Paris (or just visiting) conjures up visions of buying fresh baguettes and croissants every morning at the local “boulangerie.” But those delightful bakeries offer so much more than breakfast breads! They can also serve as a Cheapo-friendly lunchtime resource! Here’s our guide to the boulangerie’s “other” baked goods, thinking beyond the baguette… More “pain,” » Read more
Dublin's Liffey Boardwalk.
When we cracked open the June 2009 issue of Budget Travel magazine, we were happy to see a great “Trip Coach” article on Dublin. Writing to Trip Coach, Shana asks what she and her partner should do on a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Irish capital. Budget Travel provides many good tips on where to eat, » Read more
Make the most of the Tube. Photo: Jim Bahn
London, a sprawling city offering no shortage of things to see and do, can be a bit daunting when it comes to public transportation. But one huge advantage to getting from place to place in Her Majesty’s city is that many sights and attractions are in the most central neighborhoods. Cheapos on-the-go can save quite » Read more
Castel San Angelo and Bernini's angels. Photo: Francisco Antunes
By Sav D’Souza in Rome— The release of the movie “Angels and Demons” is set to do for Rome what “The Da Vinci Code” did for Paris—bring a lot more Dan Brown fans to town! But while Rome is currently afire with pricey “Angels and Demons”-inspired guided tours, you can visit most of the sights featured in the film » Read more
Febo is always ready to vend. Photos by Tom Meyers.
Say you’re on your way to catch the train out of Amsterdam and don’t have time to sit down for a meal. Maybe it’s a nice day and you just want to take in the city’s floating flower market while munching on something cheap. Or maybe you’re having trouble pronouncing those Dutch entrées when ordering » Read more
“When the well is dry, we know the worth of water, my friend,” quipped famed Francophile and frugality fan Ben Franklin. Fortunately, in Paris there are 108 “fontaines Wallace” and three functional “puits artésien” (artesian wells). Situated around the city’s busiest squares and at intersections in each arrondissement, the water is free for sipping; all » Read more
Cheapo Reinhardt Suarez braces a wall in Rome, after being lost in the hills for four hours.
There are lots of creative ways to get to Europe and save money in the process. We checked in with Cheapo Reinhardt Suarez after he spent two months living and working on a farm in Grossetto, Italy, a small community in Tuscany. Read on for his take on this alternative to agriturisimo. Choosing the farm » Read more
Another blurry night at the Weinerei. Photo by angermann.
For years we’d heard about a cool Berlin bar where you drank as much as you liked and paid whatever you thought was right at the end of the night. However, no one mentioned that the bar also offered vats of wholesome food and cushy couches! Welcome to the Weinerei Tourists to Berlin often refer » Read more
The "World's Smallest Museum" in Superior, AZ. Really? Photo by Danny McL.
Years ago, we drove across Arizona on US Highway 60, and after hours of agave, mesquite, and thorny acacia, stopped off in Superior. Ground squirrels, Harris hawks, and lizards were everywhere in this Arizona backwater. The town also offered a museum that claims to be the smallest in the world, which is actually a piece » Read more
Read the "Menu del Dia" carefully! Photo by Papalars.
Barcelona can be an à la carte aficionado’s dream. All those lovely bites stacked up on the bar… Hams, cheeses, mushrooms, omelets, seafood, salads, sausages. Sure, they’re all very tempting, and seemingly cheap, but for the price of two tapas and one beer (about €6), you could enjoy a three-course lunch with bread and wine! » Read more
A temporary exhibit at Centquatre. Photos by Liz Webber.
Wandering through Paris‘ many museums, it’s easy to see how the city was once a place to which artists flocked from all over the world in order to practice their crafts. But wait, it still is! And the new art being created isn’t hidden away behind closed doors. The Centquatre center in the 20th Arrondissement » Read more
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