Photo by netmyller
Centuries ago, when Vienna, Austria was the center of music and the best composers felt compelled to come to town, prodigies and wannabes set their eyes on the city and dreamed that one day, they, too, would be celebrated in the Austrian capital—and later, around the world. Fast forwarded to today. Vienna’s days as the » Read more
Breathtaking views at Delphi. Photo: askii
While in Athens, you want to visit nearthe navel of the universe—but you don’t want to rent a car or embark on a €90 tour. Here’s our Cheapo solution to your dilemma. Take an inter-city bus from Bus Terminal B in Athens (Liossion Street 260, +30-210-831-7096) and pay only €13 each way. You will need » Read more
Salle Pleyel in Paris. Photo: Mario
There are a lot of great concert venues in Paris but few can match the fine-tuned acoustics of the new Salle Pleyel. Recently reopened after an extensive two-year renovation, the Salle Playel is crisply minimalist in design and optimal in sound quality. The music hall is located at 252, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the glitzy 8th » Read more
A line of hungry customers at I Fratellini. Photo: Dan Costin
Florentines love their Viniai, and consider them among the city’s most authentic and beloved spots for a bite. And man, are these wine bars cheap! Though viniai are technically wine vendors, they’ve adapted to changing times and appetites, including the sandwich and snack craze. These days, a couple of Euros gets you a glass of wine, though » Read more
Montenegrins are in love with their Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor). After a 1500-step climb to the old Kotor fortress for the most spectacular of views, we must admit to becoming a bit smitten as well. Start in Kotor’s old town and meander through the narrow streets, soaking up the Mediterranean ambiance. There’s a reasonably-priced » Read more
Photo by calley_nelson
Dostoevsky called St. Petersburg the “most abstract and fantastic city on earth.” The city’s power to amaze is at its best in the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, built in 1714 on the granite banks of the River Neva to house Tsar Peter the Great’s bizarre collection of abnormal anatomy. Siamese twins in formaldehyde, the » Read more
Photo by Bekim B
For many, Kosovo conjures up memories of violent ethnic cleansing. And yes, Kosovo has its share of burned-out houses, international troops toting semi-automatic weapons, and countless cemeteries lining the roads. Despite this, Prizren, a town in southwestern Kosovo, is perfectly safe for visitors. Strolling along the Bistrica in Prizren’s charming town center, you’ll feel the » Read more
Photo by david_fisher
Tarifa, perched on the southern tip of Spain, is a major windsurfing center. We’ve shared our take on a top budget-friendly Tarifa hotel in the past. Now we’re expanding the network. Read on. Misiana is another standout on the Tarifa hotel scene. It is not only one of the town’s more stylish (and affordable) places » Read more
Photo by Sunnia Ko In Bulgaria, herbivores and carnivores alike can enjoy the delightful and addictive red pepper relish known as lyutenitsa. Made from red peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, sugar, and other spices, a little bit of lyutenitsa can add life to a dry piece of bread or any of the grilled meats so commonly » Read more
Photo by marlandova
The beauty of travel in the Balkans is the authentic experience it provides its visitors. Without much of the tourist infrastructure set up in other parts of Europe, an adventure is always just around the corner. Like when you want to inquire about transport options to Montenegro from Bulgaria and your handy Bulgarian phrase book » Read more
Photo by Melanie Clatanoff Cafés, the pinnacle of French culture, operate with their own rules and regulations. These can get confusing. Here’s a crash course on how they work. Follow them and ensure a faux pas-free trip to France: 1. Always greet the staff Say “bonjour” and make eye contact with the bartender if you » Read more
Twin City Line. Photo: fortysix_vie
Last Sunday the Twin City Line opened up for business after a long winter slumber. The ship connects the capital cities of Vienna and Bratislava via the Danube River three times a day. The journey takes about 75 minutes and the Twin City boats can accommodate up to 102 passengers. The liner is not only » Read more
A dreamy sunset at Lake Velence. Photo: Darinko
Everyone has heard of Lake Balaton. Few, however, know the pleasures of Lake Velence, Hungary’s smaller resort lake. The big exceptions to this rule? Hungarians and Poles, who rival locals in their love of the place. The lack of attention probably explains why Velence is less touristy, more peaceful, and cheaper than Balaton. It is » Read more
Photo or at the very least something requiring a fork—lunch is the way to go. Loads of restaurants knock down prices to as little as €5 for a plate of pasta, and around €6 or €7 for meat and fish dishes. Fiaschetteria-Trattoria Mario (Via Rosina, 2r. Tel. 055218550) is only open for lunch. Go early » Read more
Photo by Philip Sheldrake It’s no secret that Londoners love literature just about as much as they love their tabloids. When not sifting the mags to find out where Posh and Becks are currently being preposterous, Londoners are usually nose-in-novel on the Underground or while queueing at Sainsbury’s. Here are just some of the places » Read more
You have to stop by La Grande Mosquée de Paris. Joi
La Grande Mosquée de Paris, built in 1926, is a Paris must-see. Constructed in traditional North African design, the mosque is a stunning piece of foreign architecture planted among rows of typical French buildings. It serves as a reminder of both the French colonial past and France’s substantial Muslim community. Contained within the enormous structure » Read more
Photo by Miranda Siegel
Wondering how we captured this excellent sky-high view over Salzburg? We didn’t climb Mönchsberg, the mountain from which we snapped the photo. Instead, we entered a building in Museumsplatz, pressed a button the size of a dog’s paw, and took a bizarre James Bond-ish elevator straight up through the mountain rock. Mönchsberg stands approximately 523 » Read more
Grab a cheapo lunch at Au Banquier. Photo: Metro Centric
Last Friday’s Le Parisien had a round-up of cheap and hearty canteens in Paris where you can get a meal for less than €10. Jot these down! 1. Regis, la soupe populaire. 35, rue Mauconseil, Paris 75001. Metro: Les Halles. Open for lunch and dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Main courses like shepherd’s pie » Read more
Yesterday’s New York Times travel section contained several pieces of particular interest, namely: A Cook’s Tour of Milan Mimi Sheraton’s front page feature examines Milan’s somewhat surprising culinary reputation. It ain’t just fashion and furniture, folks! (Caution: Contains mouth-watering photos of risotto, pears in wine, veal cotoletta, and more…) For Your Next Trip, Stock Up » Read more
Q: My wife and I are planning our daughter’s wedding in New York City this fall. We’ll have about fifty people traveling to the city for the occasion. Should I book 25 rooms myself or ask everyone to be in charge of their own reservation? – Steve K, Bellevue, Ohio A: Good question, Steve! Planning » Read more
If you appreciate rural tourism and distinct ethnic traditions, you will certainly enjoy visiting the hilly country of northeast Hungary, the home of the Palóc people. Palóc traditions combine folk elements of Turkish and eastern origins with a Hungarian way of life. Their rather peculiar dialect of Hungarian is famous for its long vowels. Each » Read more
A surprising pharmacy experience awaits. Photo: Richard
How many pharmacies can claim frescoed ceilings and whispering shoppers? Only the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella in the former chapel belonging to the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Since the 15th century, this herbalist and pharmacy has collected a faithful following of jet setters and average Florentines who fancy luxurious » Read more
Photograph by Rita Crane
Apparently the French Ministry of Culture caught on that €8 is a lot to pay just to get lost trying to find the Mona Lisa. For younger visitors, there’s a better way. The Louvre is absolutely free for everyone under 26 years old, every Friday evening. The free hours are from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 » Read more
Órgiva, the main town in Spain’s western Alpujarras, is a small—though bustling and slightly crunchy—place. Since the publication of Chris Stewart’s book Driving Over Lemons in 1999,the town has absorbed a large influx of Brits. Be sure to be around on a Thursday, market day, when locals and the sizable expat community gather to buy » Read more
We highlighted London’s love affair with the Oyster card. To simplify things for short-term visitors, there are also two Oyster cards specifically intended for tourists—a one-day card and a three-day card. The Oyster card for Visitors gives cardholders nearly 50% off all cash fares around London on tube, tram, bus, and Docklands Light Railway. Although » Read more
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