How to Travel Europe ON A BUDGET. A Guide by Erin Burns

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1 How to Travel Europe ON A BUDGET A Guide by Erin Burns

2 General Travel Notes: Stay at hostels. Use hostelworld.com and search by price. Look at reviews rather than what the hostel says about itself. Location is the best criterion to look at because of how much time you spend outside of your hostel rather than inside. Fly budget whenever possible. Airlines like RyanAir, WizzAir and EasyJet take you almost everywhere for much cheaper. Otherwise, use sites like skyscanner.com. Buy or bring a watch and an alarm clock. You may or may not have a cell phone and knowing the time and waking up for your flight are worth the couple extra bucks. Money belts are dumb. Keep your wallet in your front pocket and passport in a safe (if you have one). Journal, but not too much. You don t want the time you spend writing to be time you could have spent touring. Free tours are easy to find, especially at hostels. Take them as soon as you get to the city so you can get your bearings. Ask your guide for suggestions on where to go out, eat, etc. Make friends with the people on your tours and plan to go out later that night for dinner. Pub crawls are amazing and usually a pretty good deal for the money. Most hostels offer them. Be flexible with absolutely everything. If your plans change or the weather is bad, you can still have a phenomenal time. Grocery stores are lifesavers. Eating can be the most expensive part of traveling. As much as it s important to sample local cuisine, do a couple of bread and cheese grocery store lunches/dinners. No sleep, no regrets. Travel is tough and you will be tired, but the less you sleep the more time you have to do things and see stuff. Consider this when clubbing late. Pick up business cards from everywhere you go. You re going to want to remember the name later. If you re studying abroad, stay at home sometime. Although your time is limited in Europe, you re going to want to know your city better than anywhere else you go. Take a weekend and treat it as if you re touring your own city and budget accordingly. The clubbing nightlife can get old, so make sure you get out and do other things at night rather than hitting the bars. Go to a concert/ opera/ play/ etc. instead. Learn words. Always make an effort to learn the words for please and thank you in other languages. Travel with as many different people as possible. Don t get stuck in a group regardless of how well you travel together. Research, but not too much. If you go in with a completely blank slate, you end up discovering much more. If you re going to get a travel book, get Let s Go: Europe. It s got excellent suggestions for student travelers. 2 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

3 Florence Firenze, Italy Stay: If possible, stay at the Hotel Nazionale (22, Via Nazionale). That s the pensione- it s like a bed and breakfast- where I lived for the first semester of my study abroad. Wonderful people and it s in a great area of town. And they cook for you! Hostel: Plus Hostel is the one I hear the best things about. Little pricey-er than some of the others in Florence but it has the best location and there s nice amenities, etc. Food (cheap to expensive): Ristorante = fancy dining Trattoria = casual dining Osteria = restaurant known for wine menu Pizzeria = pizza as the specialty, but other things too Gelateria La Carraia: The one euro gelato place with every flavor under the sun! It s across the Ponte La Carraia (2 down from the Ponte Vecchio) and right on the corner. Closed during February. Gelateria de Medici: a little more difficult to find, ask for directions to the Forteza and But this is the best for cream flavors and chocolates. I recommend the Crema de Medici and Il Golosso. Grom: very close to the Duomo, this is a chain that you can find also in Venice. Their flavors are all seasonal so the fruit ones are the best. Pear is one of their classics (try it with chocolate). Gran Caffe San Marco: On the corner of Via Cavour and Piazza San Marco, this place has the best cappuccinos! Pay at the register first and specify you want it at the bar, not at a table (which is much more expensive). Chianti: Florence is just outside of the Tuscan Chianti region, so stock up on good Chianti. You can tell the real Chianti by the black rooster symbol on the wine s seal. *Daytrip: There are tons of organizations that do daytrips into the Chianti region for wine tasting. Some are done by vespa, hiking, or even horseback. Antica Sosta: great classic Panini place (for CHEAP!) by the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo. They speak English, have student discounts and the bread is amazing! (You ll recognize it by the green sign on a corner. Just follow the signs to the Capelle Medici and you ll see it). Gusta Pizza: If you prefer thick crust pizza, this place is the best! It s across the river by Santo Spirito and they have pizzas that change by the day. (Hint: you can special order one with pesto and tomato sauce = so good!) Kitch: Just off of Via Ventisette Aprile one block from Piazza San Marco, this is one of the coolest places I found. Italians have appertivo which is awesome: you go around 7ish and buy a drink (8 euro) and then you get all you can eat buffet of amazing food. Kitch has my favorite appertivo and it s very hip. Best part: once you re done eating, you have a prime table at a bar for the night! Mostodolce: If you need some phenomenal pizza, this is the best. Take away margheritta is only 4 euro. (This is the bar I lived above during the first semester. It s at 23, Via Nazionale.) While you re there, grab a happy birra between 5:30 and 7:30. I recommend the Martellina. Also a pretty happening place any night of the week. Gatto e la Volpe: One of my favorite trattoria in Florence, you can get everything here. It s Pinocchio themed and delicious. You ll find it right behind the Bargello Museum. I highly recommend the pastas, only if you don t fill up on the foccacia and balsamic they give you before! Dante s Pizzeria: A study abroad student institution; free wine for students! Good food too. It s across the river on the first block across the Ponte La Carraia (2 down from the Ponte Vecchio). Trattoria ZaZa: In the Piazza Mercato Centrale, this is another favorite. Extensive menus, classic Tuscan interior, and incredible food. If you re up for trying something new, go for the Pizza ZaZa. Acqua al 2: Also right behind the Bargello Museum. Probably some of my favorite food in Florence. If you re splurging, go for the blueberry steak (mirtillo = blueberry). I don t even like blueberries, but this is incredible. Their specialties are the sampler plates; either pastas or secondi (meats). I honestly believe you can t go wrong with anything you get here. Even desserts. Going out: Lion s Fountain: Okay, it s a Scottish pub, but it s a cool atmosphere. Major stopping point for all the study abroad students so there s university shirts all over the ceiling. Kareoke on Tuesday nights. Prices are fair, but not great. Kikuya: English pub. Very cool. Dragoons are the most excellent beers. Wonderful place to start the evening because Dragoons are strong. This is also a nice place because it s on Via dei Benci which is a major bar street. 3 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

4 Astor, Naima: Drunk for cheap. Astor is right in the Piazza del Duomo around the back by the cupola. Two for one drinks on Tuesdays. Naima is just around back of the Bargello museum. One of the bartenders there dresses like a pirate and gives lots of free shots if you hang out by the bar enough. Space: Florence s club. It s now a 10 euro cover, but that includes a drink. It s around behind Santa Maria Novella (the church, not the train station). Quite fun, but don t go before 12:30. 21, Twice, Full Up: These are free clubs. 21 is by Casa di Dante and is hit or miss (only open on weekends). Twice is further down Via dei Benci away from the river. Usually quite good, but full of creepers. Full Up is across the street from Acqua al 2 and a pretty solid place. See: Uffizi Gallery: Get reservations because this can be a major time suck if lines are bad (which they usually are on weekends). But this is the collection of the Medici and includes works by DaVinci, Raphael, and every other Renaissance master. It also helps it is housed in what used to be a Medici Palace, so it s beautiful. (Warning: the collection is giant, so plan accordingly) Galleria Accademia: Michelangelo s David is here. If you want to pay, go for it, but there s also a replica in the Piazza della Signoria which stands where he was originally intended to be placed. Piazza Michelangelo: Across the river north of the Ponte Vecchio is my favorite place in Florence. A little climb up the hill and you have a panoramic view of the city and the hills around Florence. (Hint: take a bottle of real Chianti and some cheese and watch the sunset over the city. You will never be the same.) Santo Spirito: This is another great church and area to see on the south side of the Arno. On Sundays, there s a phenomenal market with handmade things that make wonderful gifts. Ponte Vecchio: The oldest bridge in Florence is now the home to the finest gold smiths. It s so shiny. Mercato Centrale: There are two parts to this; indoor and outdoor. The indoor section is a great food market. Outdoor in the stalls you can find everything from clothes and the traditional Florentine leather jackets to Carnivale masks and postcards. Shop around because you can usually bargain down quite a bit. Piazza della Signoria: Another amazing piazza that you can t miss. A David replica is here along with several other sculptures including the original Abduction of the Sabine Women all of which can be seen for free and outside! Duomo and cupola climb: The Duomo (Latin for home, not dome) is spectacular from the outside, but the inside is traditionally Tuscan: powerful yet simple and austere. The entry to the church is free but the climb up the cupola is 8 euro. If you re not afraid of heights and want another incredible view of the city, this is not to be missed. Fiesole: If you have time and want to see some of the Tuscan hills, take Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco to the end of the line. Fiesole is a small town outside of Florence where DaVinci used to test some of his flying machines. There are some fun hikes up there too. Santissima Annunciata: An under-recognized, yet stunning Baroque church that I highly recommend you see if you have time. (A good contrast to the Early Gothic Duomo). It s the big, hard-to-miss façade in Piazza Santissima Annunciata. Boboli Gardens: The gardens that inspired Versaille s gardens, these are part of the Pitti Palace across the Ponte Veccho on the south side of the river. Very fun to walk around in for an afternoon, but you have to pay the museum admission price. 4 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

5 Rome Roma, Italy: Unfortunately, I have no suggestions on where to stay because I went with my parents and we were fancy. Get a map, good shoes, and see everything you possibly can. Rome has more churches than anywhere else in the world. Transportation: -Airport: Rome-Fuimicino is actually quite a ways outside of the city. You can either take a taxi to the city center, or take the Leonardo express train (which is about 14 euro). This will take you to the Roma Termini stazione which is in the historic center. -There are metros in Rome, but none really go where you will want to go (there are actually a lot of underground ruins in Rome, go figure?). So taxis are your best bet for getting around the city if you don t want to walk. Water: Rome is full of water fountains where you can fill up a water bottle, so carry one around. Food: -The region Rome is in is known for carbonnara pasta. It is delicious and not to be missed. -San Crispino: just off of Via del Tritone on Via Panetteria, this is one of the best gelato places in Rome. -La Pentolaccia: For a good fancy dinner ristorante, this is the best. It s on Via Flavia. It s best to make a reservation beforehand because it s relatively small. Vatican City: Every Sunday at noon, the Pope blesses the people in the square. Maybe something to wake up for to take care of those Saturday night sins? Vatican Museum: The entrance is around the left side if you re looking at St. Peter s. It s pricey, but the collection is enormous and incredible. Entry includes the Sistine Chapel which is pretty phenomenal. Also, don t miss the Papal crypts below St. Peter s. St. Peter s Basilica: This place is out of control: everything that looks like a painting is a mosaic. The canopy over the altar is taller than the obelisk outside. Michelangelo s most famous sculpture the Pieta is just to the right when you walk in. Villa Borghese: If you have time for another museum, this one is incredible. It s in a beautiful park behind the Spanish Steps in what used to be a family s villa. They have a huge collection of works by Bernini which are displayed in a beautifully preserved building. Spanish Steps: These are in the expensive district, so don t try to find lunch anywhere around here for cheap. Coliseum: duh. It s huge and awesome. You don t have to go in to get the full effect. Roman forum: this was the center of town in ancient Rome but it just looks like a bunch of old stones now. If you go on the side where the street is, it will tell you what everything is. No need to go in. Circus Maximus: Once was the old chariot race track (right behind the forum) but now just looks like a dirt path. Piazza Venezia: My friend who studied in Rome calls this the 1 million ways to die intersection. Look both ways. (Also, Via del Corso is one of the major streets in Rome) Trevi Fountain: A good way to use those useless 1 cent euro coins toss one over your shoulder for a speedy return to Rome. (Or two if you want to fall in love). Pantheon: largest unsupported dome in Western Europe. It was created with poured cement by ancient Romans. This is also the site of Raphael s grave. Boca della Verita: If you ve seen Roman Holiday, this is the thing that Audrey Hepburn puts her hand into thinking that if she s a liar, it will be bitten off. It s at Santa Maria Cosmedin southwest of the Roman Forum. Venice Venezia, Italy: Venice is expensive and small. It makes a better daytrip than weekend trip. Transportation: train is the best way to the city. If going by RyanAir, the Venice Treviso airport is about an hour outside of the city on the mainland, so plan accordingly. Doge s Palace and Bridge of Sighs: These are some of the most iconic buildings of Venice. No need to go in or pay. San Marco s: This is one of the most elaborate churches in Italy. It s beautiful from the outside and also from the inside, but the line can be incredibly long to enter. Food: seafood is the most popular food in Venice, but it can be very expensive. Bellini: The official cocktail of Venice, a Bellini is peach juice and prosecco (sparking white wine). 5 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

6 Murano: Another island accessible by water bus, Murano is the glass island known for its delicate glass blowing. Some of the things can be a rip off, but if you want to take a daytrip, this is a good one. Peggy Guggenheim Museum: If you ve been seeing too much ancient and Renaissance art, this is a good museum to go to. It s modern and contemporary pieces in what used to be Peggy Guggenheim s house right on the Grand Canal. Carnivale: Venice s biggest holiday season is Carnivale (Mardi Gras) but you can buy the masks yearround. Berlin, Germany: Checkpoint Charlie: Used to be a passing point between East and West Berlin. There s a museum which is supposed to be cool too. Berlin Wall: duh. Jewish Museum: Not sure exactly where it is, but it was very cool. Holocaust Memorial: Cool sculptures and it s very modern. Not supposed to be entirely understood, but walking around in there gives you an eerie feeling. Brandenberg Gate: iconic and neat. Potsdamer Platz: In the Sony Center, there s a brewery which has great house beer. You can sit up high and watch the courtyard. It s nice. Currywurst: It s like hotdogs, cut up, covered in ketcup with curry powder. Real good. Tomatozuppen: Tomato soup. Also real good. Prague Praga, Czech Republic: Five Story Club: It s epic and not that expensive ($8 equivalent about). Just across the Charles Bridge on the old town side of town. **Be REALLY careful about the cabs you take in Prague. Only get in one that says AAA on it. And negotiate a price BEFORE you get in Clocktower square (probably not the real name of it): Every hour on the hour the oldest astronomical clock in the world chimes. It s quite cool. Pub Crawls are rampant here and cheap and pretty fun. Some end at the 5 story club too so you could kill two birds with one stone. Most Czech food is beefy, covered in gravy sauce and served with rice. I loved it, but that s also my heritage so just try it. Vienna Wein, Austria: Belvedere Museum: if you like Gustav Klimpt, tons of his paintings are here along with other Austrian artists. Stevensplatz: a very cool area to walk around in the center of town. St. Steven s Cathedral: Try doing the climb to the top if you re up for it. (Warning: it s a winding staircase of 343 stairs!) Going out at night: Schwidenplatz has a number of good bars. Just outside of the city, there s the Schenbrunn Palace, which is stunning and huge! If it s a nice day, take an afternoon and wander the gardens. Demel (in Stevensplatz) is an incredible chocolate/ ice cream shop. Get anything and you will never go back to ice cream sundaes ever. Opera House: Never made it there and I wish I had. Cinqueterre, Italy: An easy train ride from Florence, these are 5 cities connected by hiking trails on the coast. From Florence Santa Maria Novella, get a train to La Spesia and then catch the 5 minute train to Riomaggiore. You can train, bus or hike along the cities. Hiking is the best, but you need to buy a cinquecard for 5 euro to allow you to hike the trails. The hike took me about 5 hours, but I m a machine. If you re up for a challenge, take some of the trails that go back into the hills more. They re less crowded and give you the most spectacular views of the coast you ll ever see! This is a DAY trip. Staying in the cities can be expensive and is for the most part, unnecessary. This region is where both pesto and foccacia bread were invented 6 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

7 Hike from the bottom city (Riomaggiore) up to Monterosso Al Mare if you want a tougher hike with a rewarding public beach at Monterosso where you can swim in the Mediterranean! Make sure you stop in Vernazza and wander the city a bit. This one was my favorite. Amalfi Coast, Italy Sorrento: Best place to stay if you re planning on seeing the Amalfi Coast. This is where the ferries to Capri depart from, you can take a bus to Positano, and a train to Pompeii. Save for the ferry to Capri, transport is inexpensive. Downtown is a fun area to explore, lots of good places to eat English Inn: Pretty fun bar. Go upstairs to the patio and dancefloor! Limoncello: traditional drink of the area, it s a lemon liquor. Lots of the places in Sorrento have free samples! Canoli: traditional southern Italy snack. Eat as many as you possibly can, they re delicious. Capri (pronounced Cah-pre ): Absolutely worth the ferry price! But it s kind of the fancy area of southern Italy, so be prepared to spend more on the island. There s a hiking trail to the top of the island which is phenomenal too!! Spainish steps: you can take these up to the top, but they re much easier to take down Boat cruises: The grottoes are some of the most spectacular parts of the island, so don t miss them. The Blue Grotto is the most famous, but you have to pay to get in so not really worth it. If you get a boat captain who is chill, he ll probably let you swim around too. Just tip well! Positano: If you re looking for a beach, this is a pretty good one. The town is fun to wander around too. Grab some fruit and alcohol from the grocery store and chill on the beach! Pompeii: This place is a metropolis, don t expect a couple of small ruins. It s a little expensive to get in, but don t pay for a tour guide. With the admission, you get a guide book and map which tell you everything you would want to know. Palermo (Sicily Sicilia), Italy Southern Italy is VERY different than the north. It is dirty, less focused on timeliness and more known for seafood. *If you re looking to see Italy, go to the North instead. But if you have time, certainly make a trip down south for a bit. Transportation: from the airport, you can get a bus to take you to the city center for 10 euro. The same bus takes you back to the airport as well. Busses run every hour. Stay: Ai Quattri Canti was where I stayed. It s relatively central, but not super clean and hot water is hard to come by. But they did have good suggestions for places to go and things to see. Teatro Massimo: very pretty, but you can t get in without a tour Palermo Cathedral: very pretty, and quite cool to go in as well because it s free. Canolis: You must have a traditional Sicilian canoli! Settevelli: Italian for seven layers this is one of the most delicious desserts I ve had. It has chocolate, hazelnut, crunchy things, flaky bits, and crème. Fruit markets: fruit is absurdly cheap here and beyond good. Beaches: You can take a bus out to a nice beach, if you feel so inclined, but make sure you stay in the city because there s more to do. Daytrip: Cefalu. This is a neat tiny city accessible from Palermo by train (ticket is 12 euro approximately). You can hike up to the old Roman ruins and have a great view of the Palermo bay and if the weather s nice have a view of mainland Italy. Spain España Barcelona Stay at the Kabul Hostel: If you re down to party, so are these guys. Great location. Paella: rice, spices and shellfish. Super delicious, you have to try it. But share with a group, it s big! Tapas: Try everything. That s the point. Stay for a while. Socialize. It s a culture thing. Also, try the patatas bravas (potatoes with either sour cream and chili oil or a chili powder). FC Barcelona (Camp Nou): If it coordinates with your travel schedule, try to see a Barca game. Messi and David Villa are stellar and the stadium is the second largest in Europe. At least go to the team 7 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

8 store, which is epic! Tickets range depending on who they play but expect to pay around 60 euro for a cheap seat. Absolutely worth it if you re a soccer fan. Parc Guell: Designed by Gaudi, this is one of the coolest places I ve ever been. The longest park bench in the world is there and it s all made of broken ceramic pieces. Go on a clear day and you get an incredible view of the city. Picasso Museum: On Sundays after 12 it s free! But get in line early. La Rambla: the main street in Barcelona. Just walk up and down for hours. La Boquerilla: the best market in the world! Our hostel had a kitchen so we were here every day getting food and fresh fruit. The juices are amazing as well! Parc Montjuk: Take the metro because it s uphill but then walk down past the Olympic Stadium. Sagrada Familia: This will be the cathedral of the city when it s done being constructed. Also designed by Gaudi, it s the coolest church you ll see in Europe. Palau di Musica Catalana: The opera house of Barcelona is very cool too. You can t get in without a guided 10 euro tour. But it s another cool example of the Modernista style and very informative. Going out: Partying in Spain is very different than anywhere else in Europe. Don t even think about going to a bar until 1 or a club until 3. Staying out until 6 or 7 is usual. Mancester and Milans: These bars are really close to one another, they re not bad. Relatively good prices on drinks. Lots of locals too. Along the beach there are a ton of cool clubs. Most have a relatively high cover and drinks are pricey, so drink beforehand at a bar or something. The clubs in Port Olympic are good, but ones like Shoko or Razzmataz are much better. Halloween is one of Barcelona s biggest holidays. If you decide to go there for the holiday, book a hostel early! Valencia Certainly another phenomenal city to see in Spain, if you have the time. Stay: Home Youth Hostel or Home Hostel. Both are in good locations and are super clean. Horchata: invented here. It s different than most horchata if you ve tried it before because this is made with a nut rather than rice. Very delicious and kind of like a natural energy drink. Paella: Valencian paella is different than all other Spanish paella because it doesn t have seafood (instead chicken and rabbit). I went to a good place called Pepe Pico in the square by the cathedral. Valencian oranges: biggest and best ever. Go to the central market for cheap fruit. City of Arts and Sciences: Down by the ocean, there is a new complex of contemporary buildings that have an IMAX theatre, aquarium and museum. Even if you don t go to anything, just take a walk down the old river which is now a park. Biking there is also a good option. Street art: Valencia is one of the few cities in the world that has a huge street art following. If you walk around in the narrow winding streets, you ll see some of the coolest graffiti ever. Valencia cathedral: beautiful, but you have to pay to get in (you get an audio tour too). If you like Goya, some of his paintings are here. Beach: The beach is also really nice here if you are there during a nice part of the year. Going out: I did a pub crawl through the hostel and it was a pretty good deal. We went to a club at the end called the Music Box. Seville Sevilla Another historic city of Spain that you should get to if you have the time. Stay: as close to the cathedral as possible. I stayed further out in a place called Samay which was clean and nice but too far from everything. Sevilla is kind of like the Manhattan Beach of Spain. They have phenomenal weather year-round (except, apparently, for the weekend I went there). Tapas: My favorite thing to have come out of Sevilla; tapas bars are plentiful around the bullfighting arena. I really liked a place called Los Collones. Tapas crawls are pretty popular- you go to a tapas bar, get a drink and a couple tapas (which come out quickly) and then pay and go to another place. Alcazar: This used to be a Moorish palace. It s free for students to get in and super worth it Sevilla Cathedral: Third largest in the world and incredible. It s cheap. Climb up to the top of the tower (Giralda) to get great city views. Flamenco: Sevilla is where flamenco was invented, so it s a very popular activity to see a show. Often, with entry, you get a drink. Bullfighting arena: I just walked around it, which is all you need to do because it costs to enter. Churros y chocolate: The best dessert ever! And what is a trip to Spain without churros? 8 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

9 Barrio Santa Cruz: Old Moorish residential area that s built like a labyrinth and way fun to walk around in Plaza Espana: Giant plaza which is great for pictures if the weather s nice Going out: Go across the river to the area called Andalucia. Drinks are incredibly cheap! We went to a couple of bars right along the river across from the Torre del Oro. One was called the Music Box. Madrid Stay: Way Hostel. It s really close to a metro stop (which you can get to the airport to/from). They also have a kitchen and free breakfast. Madrid is much larger than Sevilla and Valencia. Transportation is best by metro, so buy a pass. Cathedral: Built in 1992, so it s not particularly worth seeing from a historical standpoint, but the area around it is cool to walk around in. Museo del Prado: The place has the second largest collection of art in the world. Lots of Velazquez, Goya and traditional Spanish artists. Reina Sophia museum: Another phenomenal museum, this one has more modern works by Picasso and the like. Puerta del Sol: The main square of Madrid, this place was always happening. Further north of the city by the Tribunal metro stop is the gay district which was full of cafes and stores that are fun to wander around in Gran Via: good place to look for restaurants if you re willing to spend a bit more than usual. Parque del Retiro (Retiro metro stop): There s a big pond in the center and you can rent boats for cheap and row around. So much fun if you have an afternoon to kill and good friends. Near the Tribunal metro stop, there s a great club called Pacha. Drinks are incredibly expensive, but it s a fun place. Belgium Brussels: I stayed in a bed and breakfast on the south end of the city, but I wouldn t recommend it. Hostels are the way to go but book early! Belgian food is French food. EAT WELL! Don t be afraid to splurge on dinner one night. UN headquarters are located here. Waffels: do not pass up waffles ever Musee of Art e Historie: The Louvre of Belgium this place has everything including an Easter Island head! Cathedral of Brussels: very pretty, but I m into churches Chocolate: this is the chocolate capital of the world. The best advice I got on the best chocolate is from the super market. Think about it: that s where the locals buy their chocolate! Just look on the back label for something made in Belgium. But, chocolate shops are not bad either! Fries: Europeans eat them with mayo, so make sure you specify you want ketchup The main square is beautiful and cool to hang out in for a while, but places around there are expensive. Delerium: Guinness Book of world records for most beers on tap (2,000!!!) You could spend days in here tasting Belgian beers. Go crazy. Peeing Boy (Mannekin Pis): I don t understand this thing at all, but it s a major tourist attraction. Brugge: Easily accessible from Brussels via train (tickets are like 20 euro max) Stay: St. Christopher s Bauhaus Hostel. Best location, beds aren t the best, but it s part of a complex with a bar, restaurant, free breakfast and club. They also have a great In Brugge tour led by this guy named Kai who is insane. Brugge is tiny, just walk around all of it. Windmills: There are windmills outside of the city too by the river. Garre: The most amazing bar in the world. Get the house beer, served to you with a bowl of cheese. Laurenzino: off the main square with a black and white striped awning, this place has the most phenomenal waffles ever! Beers: Belgians are all about fruit flavored beers. Sounds weird, but try it. The cherry and peach are my favorites. Lisbon Lisboa, Portugal 9 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

10 Stay: This place has the highest rated hostels on Hostelworld.com. I stayed at the Lisbon Lounge which was amazing for the price I paid. (Note: flights are more expensive here because discount airlines don t fly here, but everything else is pretty cheap in Portugal so that s the trade off). The metro is the easiest way to get around Lisbon Belem: (by metro about 10 minutes) This was my favorite area. There s a really cool monastery and the Discovery monument to all the Portugese explorers (Columbus, et al). Pasteis de Belem: You have to go here and get these pastry things. They are to die for. Covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon.. nom. We Hate Tourism X Daytrip: this made the trip for me. You pay 20 or 30 euro per person for a 7 hour day trip with 7 people and a local driver who tours you around the surrounding areas of Lisbon. You must do this if you re in Lisbon! Going out: Barrio Alto is the prime nighttime area Food: Portugese food is like Spanish food. It s all good and there s not really a way to go wrong. Amsterdam, The Netherlands Stay: NOT at Aivengo Youth Hostel. It was in a good location, but dirty. Instead, go to the Flying Pig. Coffee shop: weed Coffee house: coffee Café: bar Lunchroom: for lunch only Wok to Walk: The most epic Asian take out you ll find anywhere in Europe. It s a little pricey, but fast and there s a lot of it. (This chain is also in Spain) Heineken Experience: book tickets online beforehand. Definitely worth a tour. And they give you samples! Red Light District: Just walk around at night. It s pretty cool. But DON T take pictures! Fun fact: purplish lights mean the girl is transgendered Anne Frank House: Also book tickets online beforehand because it can fill up quickly. Her actual diary is on display there too. Vondelpark: nice to wander around if it s a nice day out! Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum: Expensive, but both entirely worth it if you have time! Rembrandtsplein: My favorite area of the city. Smoking: Recent legislature may get in the way of tourists smoking now, but if you can do it. -Balou: Just off of Rembrantsplein, this was my favorite coffeeshop. It s Jungle Book themed and they had the best edibles. -The Bulldog: There are 3 of these in Amsterdam, and the First Coffeeshop is the original coffeeshop of Amsterdam. Just on the edge of the red light district. -Gray Area: Another solid coffeeshop, but I can t for the life of me remember where it is. Such is Amsterdam! *I also went to The Hague, but beyond the museum I went to, it wasn t worth a trip. There s plenty to do in Amsterdam and even outside the city if you want to see the tulips in the spring! Ireland Dublin: 3 days is plenty to see the city, but I spent 5 there Stay: Times Hostel College Street or at the Barnacles Temple Bar. Both are lovely with a good location and priced relatively well. Fish and Chips: classic. Must eat. Beef and Guinness stew: I ate so much of this and I was never hungry. Brick Alley Café: right in the Temple Bar District, this was my favorite tea house. I loved the Irish Morning tea. They had cheap American breakfast too, if you re craving it. Temple Bar: The original Irish Pub. Live music every night, but drinks are pricey. It s a good time. Trinity College: neat to walk around. If you want to see the Book of Kells, it s in the library, but you have to pay to get in. Guinness Storehouse: Take a bus, because it s a far walk. Pretty solid brewery tour; they show you how it s made, you get to sample it and even pour yourself a pint! BEER. You won t regret it. 10 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

11 Daytrip: I took a bus tour around Wicklow through a company called Wild Wicklow. They did a great job and it was a really full trip given how much I paid. We saw a lot of places that had been in movies like Braveheart and PS I Love You. Book in advance online. Galway: Stay: Barnacles Galway. Right on the main street in town (Quay street). 1 day to see the city, 1 day for a daytrip. Every bar around is wonderful. Can t go wrong. Girls may be interested in getting the Claddaugh ring. You can get the original design from a place called Thomas Dillon on Quay street. Revive Café: Amazing café and tea house. Food is amazing. Also on Quay street. Galway is a tiny town! It s beautiful and everyone is incredibly friendly. It s easily accessible by bus from Dublin (take the Go Bus: 10 euro and free wifi on board!) Nimmo s at Ard Bia: Right by the Spainish Arch, this is one of the most phenomenal restaurants I ve ever been to. If you re going to splurge, do it here. Day trip: Galway Tour Company Burren and Cliffs of Moher. For about 30 euro, you get an entire day of touring in the countryside around Galway. Absolutely worth it. The Cliffs are a natural wonder and it s impossible to take a bad photo. Plus the tour guide Desmond is a hoot. Bled, Slovenia I did this trip through a travel company, so we were put in a hotel. It was super cheap. Hike up to the castle: Takes like 20 minutes and the castle costs a bit to go in, but the views are spectacular. Take a boat to the island: there s an island with a beautiful old church on it in the center of the lake. The boat ride is a little pricey again but also pretty. (You can also rent little row boats which is fun) Traditional Slovenian food: Goulash! It s delicious, and usually quite cheap. Salamanca: Mexican restaurant that s surprisingly not bad. If you ski, there are a couple of phenomenal mountains nearby too. Easily accessible by bus. Ljubljana is a bus ride away too. ** Might be a better option for a weekend trip because it s more of a city. Bled is small and quiet whereas Ljubljana is young and lively it also doesn t hurt that it s one of the birthplaces of electronic so the clubbing is excellent. Slovenia in general: basically everything is cheaper than in Western Europe. This includes things that you might not think to get when budget traveling for example, I went with a bunch of girls and we got nice spa treatments for a pretty good price. Istanbul, Turkey Certainly one of my favorite places I traveled to the entire year. If you get a chance, go to Turkey. It s the only city in the world that spans two continents! Visas: Cost 15 euro at the airport. It s a pain, but you get a sweet sticker in your passport. Money: withdraw money at the airport when you get there. Changing it costs too much even though the exchange is very favorable. Flights: I flew Lufthansa because there weren t budget flights there. Kind of pricey, but once you get there it s super cheap. Stay: Orient Hostel or Bauhaus Hostel. Both are phenomenal. Bauhaus has a free shuttle to/from the airport, which is nice. If you can t stay there for some reason, definitely stay in Sultanahmet which is the historic district. Culture: Istanbul is very cosmopolitan. Girls don t need to cover their hair, but long pants are expected. Getting around is really easy. Between walking and the cheap metros, you won t have a problem getting to where you want to go. Hagia Sofia: Used to be the main church of the Eastern Roman Empire (which was the more powerful part), it was turned into a mosque and is now a museum. Easily one of the neatest buildings ever. It has the largest (and oldest) unsupported dome in the world. Blue Mosque: Right across the square from Hagia Sofia, this is a working mosque. It s also beautiful (and free to get in) and has millions of blue ceramic tiles! Basilica Cisterna: Mystical, kind of creepy, and amazing. That s all I m going to tell you. Grand Bazaar: The oldest and largest covered market in the world. You can find anything here. Just don t get lost! Rules of bartering: The price they tell you straight out is at least double of what you 11 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

12 should pay for it. Pillow cases, lamps, and ceramics are the most popular things to bring home so make sure you have room in your suitcase! Closed on Sundays. Spice market: From the Grand Bazaar, you can easily get to the spice market. Don t pass this up thinking you don t need spices; you can find some amazing Turkish desserts (Turkish delight for DAYS) and incredible loose teas which make great gifts. You can also buy the world s most expensive spice (saffron) here more expensive per ounce than gold! Closed on Sundays. Boat ride: A great way to see the Asia side from the water. We caught a boat in an area called Ortakoy which is up by Taksim square and it cost about 15 Turkish Lira (about $8). Taksim Square: the new end of town. Certainly worth a walk around if you have a free afternoon. Bellydancing: I saw a free show in my hostel. You probably don t need to go out to pay for one. Whirling Dervishes: Traditional Turkish thing, but I ve heard it s actually quite boring, so don t bother. Turkish baths: Amazing cultural experience, but you have to prepare yourself for it. You must be naked (no bathing suits). You are in a steam room, exfoliated, and then rubbed with oils. Expect a cost of about $50. But you feel like a new person afterwards. Going out: The main bar scene is in Taksim square, which is accessible by metro but they stop running relatively early. If you re staying in Sultanahmet, your best bet is a pub crawl where they bus you there and then pay for a cab back. *The second Sunday of every month, there s always a big benefit party for free with well-priced drinks. For example, we missed the White party to benefit animals by one day. So make sure you check! Food: Turkish food is awesome! Lots of spices, sugars and deliciousness. -Teas: Turkish tea is a black tea, but you need to try the apple tea -Coffee: very different than traditional coffee, it s more like a thick espresso -Meatballs/ Kebabs: You haven t had an awesome kebab until you ve had one in Turkey -Baklava: sugary deliciousness -Turkish Delight: best place to try all the different flavors is the spice market (rose is great!) -Baked potatoes: Gives fully loaded baked potato a new definition Budapest, Hungary Another cheap, fun Eastern European destination. (I toured Budapest with a school trip) Budapest is actually two cities: Buda and Pest. Buda is the historic, hilly and residential side. Pest is younger, lively and more metropolitan. Both are easily accessible by the metro. Stay: There are tons of great hostels, but you should get one on the Pest side of the city where most of the bars are so you can walk easily home at night. Flight: Wizzair has the best rates to Budapest. Budapest is full of parks, and was the site of a World s Fair one year. Thermal baths: These are the coolest! They re like naturally hot pools and they re open year round, so bring a bathing suit! Prices vary depending on which pools you want to go to. (Pest side) Chain bridge: Oldest bridge connecting Buda and Pest over the Danube river. Budapest Castle: very cool, and giant. (Buda side) There s a church up by the Budapest Castle which is so pretty. It was taken over by the Moors at some point and the inside was whitewashed entirely but it s been restored. (Buda side) Central Market (Pest side near the river): Cool place to find souvenirs, but most things are pretty kitchy. The upstairs portion has food as well where you can get the traditional Langos ( lang-osh ) which is deep fried dough covered with sour cream and cheese. Going out: Budapest is famous for its Ruin bars. These are converted abandoned buildings which are now hip clubs. The one I went to and loved was called Instant (Pest side). Drinks are not too much, but you might want to buy some Hungarian wine before you head out. If you can get out of the city a little (not accessible by metro), there s a park full of old Communist sculpture which is neat. Also that direction, there is of the three largest wine barrels in the world where you can do wine tasting. They re famous for their rose wine. Marrakesh Marrakech, Morocco I did this trip through a travel company called SnoworSand. They did a phenomenal job and I was able to see a lot given the price of the trip. They arrange all transportation except for flights, and even then they recommend RyanAir flights to take. They cap their trips so they are small, culturally immersive and tailored to what you want to see. HIGHLY recommend if you go to Morocco. 12 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide

13 Argan Oil Women s Cooperative: got to see how this oil is made Lunch with a Berber family: We hiked up to a house near the Atlas mountains and ate traditional food with them Camel ride: If you go to Africa, you kind of have to ride a camel. Souk market: The market that stems from the main square of town was incredible, and we found a lot of cool things there for pretty cheap. Monkeys and snake charmers: Are in the main square. Be careful though; sometimes the monkey guys just come up to you and put a monkey on you and ask for money. Majorelle Gardens: These are a little walk from the center of the city, but so pretty! Everything is brightly colored it gets you out of the sun a little. Henna: You can get two kinds; black or brown. Brown is the natural kind and doesn t last as long as black which is darker. Very cheap and easy to find in the main square. Hammam spa: This was essentially a Turkish bath. It was an experience to say the least Food: **Food in Morocco often upsets people s stomachs. Be really cautious and plan your tours accordingly -Potatoes, vegetables, olives, sauces, chicken, beef -Couscous: kind of pasta-y, and served with practically everything -Tagine: beef or lamb covered in sauce served with vegetables and couscous. -Mint tea: SO good. You can get it sweetened or unsweetened. Locals drink it with lots of sugar. -Bread, potato, egg, spicy sauce sandwiches = super good! -Orange juice: cheap and very refreshing 13 E rin Burns Europe Travel Guide