Here a few suggestions of near misses across popular destinations.

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa > Duomo di Pisa
Pisa, Italy

No trip to Italy would be complete without a stop in Pisa to take a picture “holding up” (or, for those more devilishly inclined, “pushing over”) the Leaning Tower of Pisa. And once you’ve turned down every vendor hocking watches, worked up the courage to walk on the forbidden lawn to get your picture, and perhaps even spent precious vacation time in line waiting for a timed ticket to climb to the top, you may finally take in the fact that the Tower is disappointingly small—and is, in fact, dwarfed by the other monuments in the ensemble, monuments you didn’t even know existed until you arrived in Pisa for this short visit.

Save your entrance fee money and buy a ticket for the Duomo, the large cathedral immediately adjacent to the Tower. The Duomo, with its green and white striped design, served as the archetype of the Pisan-Romanesque style and a model for other churches throughout Tuscany. Despite the hordes of tourists outside, the marble cathedral remains comfortably empty and, in the hot of summer, refreshingly shady and cool.

King Ludwig II spent his childhood in Hohenschwangau. Photo: Nataraj Metz

Anyone who may have felt crowded in cathedrals in Florence or Rome will be pleasantly surprised at the freedom to move, sit, and even pray peacefully in Pisa’s Duomo.

Entrance to the Duomo: €2; joint entrance to the Tower and Duomo:  €17.  Order tickets for the Tower online for a 2-euro additional fee.

2. Neuschwanstein > Hohenschwangau
Füssen, Germany

Mad King Ludwig II’s masterpiece, unfinished before his mysterious death in 1886, Neuschwanstein is clearly the model upon which Disney’s classic castle is based.  For travelers to southern Germany, this beauty is a highlight and a destination in itself.

Unfortunately, many overlook the neighboring castle, Hohenschwangau, where Ludwig spent his childhood.  Hohenschwangau is nowhere near as romantic from the outside, but inside, it hides countless treasures.  The castle was not damaged during either World War, and the castle’s contents — the royal family’s possessions — were saved from destruction or plunder during those years by local residents.

So whereas on most castle tours (Neuschwanstein included), one may be impressed by the luxurious decorations of the gigantic rooms, yet be left with little sense of how said rooms were actually used beyond the description of the tour and one’s own imagination, a tour through Hohenschwangau gives an excellent picture of everyday royal life.  Further, the tours at Hohenschwangau are more personal and informative and less rushed, without the assembly-line feeling one gets at Neuschwanstein.

The EIffel Tower rises over the Musée de Quai Branly. Photo: Theory

Entrance to Hohenschwangau:  €12; “King’s Ticket” joint entrance to Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein:  €23.  Book tickets online for a fee of €1.80 per person per castle.

3. Eiffel Tower > Museé de Quai Branly
Paris, France

Near the top of the list of European icons is Paris’ Eiffel Tower.  Originally constructed as a temporary part of the 1889 World Expo, the Tower won over the hearts and minds of Parisians and has since remained one of the city’s most significant landmarks.

Yet, if you failed to book your tickets for Tower entrance online and don’t have the time (or the legs) for standing in the ticket line or for walking up the Tower under your own steam, or if the weather simply isn’t cooperating, you don’t have to leave the area with a handful of pictures from the ground and a broken heart.  Instead, head over to the Musée de Quai Branly, Paris’s museum of ethnography.

Here you’ll find “an unpartitioned geographical itinerary comprising 5,450 artifacts from all four corners of the world.”  And on those hot summer and cold winter days, here you’ll find a temperate refuge from the weather outside (and a cloakroom for your luggage).

Entrance to Musee de Quai Branly:  €10 for all exhibitions; timed elevator tickets to the top of the Eiffel Tower:  €14.  Reserve online at no extra fee.

Your near misses?

What are some of your favorite “near misses”?  Share your ideas in the comments.

The post In the Shadow of an Icon: 3 Sights not to miss in Pisa, Fussen and Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The options for day trips from Prague are nearly endless, but here are two classics.

Kutna Hora

In less than an hour you can arrive in Kutna Hora from Prague’s main train station. Dating back to 1142, the town has a rich history in silver mining and a city center that boasts UNESCO status since 1995.

Along with the Italian Court, the Gothic Stone House and the Gothic St. James’ Church, Kutna Hora’s architectural offerings include St. Barbara’s Cathedral, which was established in 1388 and took 500 years to complete. Just next door is a former Jesuit College that now houses the Czech Republic’s second largest art gallery. Opened in 2010, Central Bohemian Art Gallery – known as GASK – includes both permanent and temporary exhibitions with a focus on 20th-century Czech avant-garde art, but also includes the work of international artists like recently featured Damien Hirst.

Kutna Hora’s most famous attraction, however, is Sedlec Ossuary. Here, over 40,000 bones from those buried there (including victims of the 14th century plague) have been decoratively arranged. The work dates back to 1870 and includes bones that now form a bell, a coat of arms and a chandelier. You can see the name of the artist – Czech woodcarver Frantisek Rint – written (yes, in bones) on the right hand wall.

Karlstejn Castle

Just 45 minutes from Prague by train, Karlstejn is one of the Czech Republic’s most well-admired castles. Perched on top of a hill, this Neo-Gothic structure was founded in 1348 and built by Czech King and Roman emperor Charles IV as a place to protect family jewels.

The castle’s beautiful surroundings only enhance its charm. You’ll get to enjoy it with a good walk from the train and then up the hill, so put on your walking shoes. After your tour, you can explore the lovely forest setting with a walk on a wooded path. There are some restaurants (and unfortunately kitschy tourist goods on the walkway just below the castle), but it’s not a bad idea to pack a lunch to enjoy outside.

For train schedules from Prague to both locations, check idos.cz.

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You have a coffee, munch a croissant, ride the bus and buy a postcard for your mom and BAM!…. another €10 is gone! This is a city where it is very easy to spend money at a rapid clip. Here are a few places where it pays to lay down your euro bucks:

1. Rent a bike

A bike tour with most cycle companies in the city is about €20. Instead, rent a bike for four hours for €10, get out your map and create your own bike tour! It’s best to stick to the bike lanes and paths near the beach. http://www.barcelonarentabike.com/en/

2. See a Spanish movie

Obviously there is a language issue with this idea, but if you do speak Castellano, then try out your verbs and vocabulary at one of Barcelona’s many cinemas! This can be a relaxing way to end an evening if you have been trekking around the metropolis all day. Renoir is my cinema pick for Spanish films and other original version films. Films cost about €7 each. (Watch out; popcorn will put you over €10.)

3. Visit a market

Barcelona has some fantastic markets which are, of course, all free to visit. Stop into Santa Caterina Market in the morning and spend your €10 on lunch inside the market (Plaça de les Glories Catalane, C/ Dos de Maig, 186). Or head to Encants Market (Mon/Wed/Sat from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.) to check out Barcelona’s best flea market. You never know what treasures you may come across!

I love going to flea markets because in many ways it’s like a history lesson from the place I am visiting. Looking through people’s junk from 50 years ago, you get an idea of what life was like in Barcelona once-upon-a-time….

4. Tour Catalunya Caixa’s Casa Milà

Believe it or not, this one is FREE. So you just saved €10, which means more Spanish Rioja wine for you later. One of the best deals in the city, Catalunya Caixa’s Casa Milà houses rotating art exhibitions. Check ahead to see what’s on but know that their shows are always top quality. Casa Milà is also one of Gaudí’s most important buildings (but you’ll have to pay more to go into the Gaudí Museum part). http://www.lapedreraeducacio.org/

5. Groove at a Jamboree Jazz Concert

In the Gothic Quarter, I adore Jamboree and its fabulous line-up of jazz, blues and soul concerts nightly. The best part about it is that almost all their shows are €10. Sometimes they bring in a Big Dog in the jazz scene and tickets shoot up to €15 or €20, but this is an exception to the rule. See their line-up ahead of time and get your tickets in advance to save. http://www.masimas.com

6. Wander Park Guell

Another freebie! Well, almost free, seeing as you have to pay for the bus ticket up to the park. If you are in good shape do yourself a favor and don’t take the bus. Instead take the Metro to “Lesseps” and walk up, up, up to the park’s main entrance. Then walk some more inside this weird Gaudí wonderland. If you do take public transportation, you’ll only pay about €3 for transportation there and back. Use your remaining €7 to get a drink in the park and tip the many musicians who play along the pathways. http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/

Update 2013: Sadly, the city announced that they will start charging €8 to visit Park Guell as of October 2013.

7. Jam Sessions at Jazz Si

This place is great and I would go there a lot more often if their concert times weren’t so early. By early I mean the Saturday Night Jazz Jam session begins at 7:45 p.m. Not early in most parts of the world, but basically the afternoon in Spain. Still, for €5 a concert, Jazz Si is a steal. Also consider their Rock-Pop-Blues-Funk Jam Session on Tuesdays. (Note: Get there early, as this place is popular!) Address: Club del Taller de Músics, C/ Requesens, 2 – Barcelona.

8. Picnic in the Park

On a sunny day, pack yourself a picnic of bread, cheese, ham and a bottle of Rioja and head to Park Ciutadella in Barcelona’s city center. Walk around the park taking a peek at the Zoo (warning: expensive to get in), the gardens, the palms, the man-made lake and the elaborate fountain.

On certain evenings in the summertime there is free live music at the gazebo in Park Ciutadella, one of my favorite Barcelona perks! The cost is in the food for this outing, as a visit to the park is free. If you want to take a boat out on the pond, that’s a bit more, and not really worth it.  http://www.bcn.es/

9. Castle on the mountain

Take the zipper train up the mountain to the Castillo de Montjuic. Again, the cost for this outing is in the transportation, as getting into the castle, which dates back to the early 1600’s and has a dark past, is free. Honestly, there are some fabulous views to be had from the castle and it’s well worth the trip to get an idea of how the city is laid out. There is a small restaurant inside the castle offering snacks and lunch, but not much else. http://www.castillomontjuic.com/

10. Tours with Runner Beans

Runner Beans offers free tours of Barcelona’s old city center every day at 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The guides take you on a two-hour tour and you tip them at the end depending on the experience.

Obviously, this is how the guides make all their money, so it is important to tip. I have not been on one of these tours, but have heard a lot about them, as this is a new concept in Barcelona. Would you tip your guide €10? Maybe. Or maybe €7 with €3 leftover for a cafe con leche. http://www.runnerbeantours.com/

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History has it that a castle was founded here in the first half of the 10th century, and thanks to its high rocky location overlooking the Vltava River, enjoyed a period of importance for roughly 50 years. The area is now mostly green space with walking paths and beautiful views of the city, including the more famed Prague castle. Mythologically speaking, Vyšehrad is also the spot where Princess Libuše apparently foretold the future of Prague’s greatness.

Statues in the park

Highlights and landmarks

Strolling through, you’ll spot some interesting landmarks. One of the first will be St. Martin’s Rotunda. Built in the second half of the 11th century, it’s not only the largest rotunda in Prague, but also the city’s oldest complete Romanesque building. There’s been a church at Vyšehrad since the 14th century, but the current one, the Church of St. Peter and Paul, was built in the early 1900s.

Slavin cemetery

Next door is Slavín, Prague’s “pop” cemetery. It was designed in the mid-19th century as a final resting place for Prague’s famous writers, scientists, artists, and the like. Prominent bodies laid to rest here include the writer Karel Capek, artist Alfons Mucha and composers Bedrich Smetana and Antonín Dvorák. The headstones and memorials are quite interesting and it’s definitely worth a wander.

On the south side of the church, you’ll spot a large green expanse dotted with four statues. These depict mythological heroes from Czech history. If you come across three huge granite slabs, take a photo. According to legend, these slabs were thrown through the roof of the church by Lucifer, made angry by an insubordinate cleric. They’re now called the “Devil’s Pillars.”

The view from Vysehrad

Aside from the church and monuments, there are a couple cafes, but more importantly a huge beer garden that is filled with locals, families, and dogs at the weekends. A cool wooden playground makes it a great place to allow kids to run and be free for an afternoon.

How to get there

Vyšehrad is listed in nearly all the guidebooks and there’s easy metro access (the stop is on the red metro line C and is named “Vyšehrad.”) It’s about a 10-minute walk from the metro station.

The views from all sides are amazing; you’ll probably spot from above many of the landmarks you’ve already been to down below. I predict it will be a highlight to your Prague visit.

The post Favorite Place in Prague: Vyšehrad Castle appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But, one of Bratislava’s national treasures is free and open to the public every day except for holidays and Mondays.

Bratislava Castle sits high on a hill. It’s a national landmark you simply can’t miss, visually or otherwise. The castle itself probably dates back to the 9th-Century and was first inhabited by the Celts. It’s known for the four, massive towers at each of its corners; these giants seem to dot the sky with importance.

Today, the Castle houses the Museum of History – an impressive collection of art, artifacts, and architectural marvels – all under the umbrella of the Slovak National Museum. Exhibits at the Castle include art and sculpture by Slovaks, venues exploring Slovakian culture’s reach across Europe, and lots of military objects, ceramics, and items of folklore. Note: From time to time, some exhibits do charge a nominal admission fee, typically SKK60 (about $3).

To visit the grand collection and see parts of the old castle, pick up a free ticket, available at the visitor’s center on the premises.

Note: Much of the Castle will be undergoing planned renovation from 2008-2011. While the castle doesn’t have its own web site, you can check for more details via the Slovak National Museum page, where you can also learn more about the current exhibitions that open to the public.

Join us again tomorrow, Cheapos, for more free tips. Next stop? Brussels!

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When visiting any city, we’re always relieved to find free activities to take the burden off our wallet. We’re happy to report that enchanted, moody Dublin offers a wide-range of high class sightseeing opportunities that won’t cost you a euro-cent. Our three faves:

Dublin Castle

For die-hard history buffs, reaching the Dublin Castle is like reaching the legendary pot of gold. The impressive stone castle is perched high atop the center of Dublin, overlooking the city. Tour the 13th-century Norman Tower and take a trip through the halls of its medieval prison. Free guided tours of all buildings on the castle grounds are available daily. Check out this historical landmark’s web site, with its interactive maps, 360-degree panoramic photos, and bite-sized history lessons.

Tip: Leave time for the gift shop where crystal jewelry and one-of-a-kind Belleek china pieces abound.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Old meets new at the impressive national modern art museum, housed in the 17th-century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, once home to retired soldiers. The museum was founded in 1990 and has been an artfully-big hit in Dublin ever since. As a result of generous donations and grants, its doors open daily for free. (cue: applause) A bit off the beaten path—it would take you about 40 minutes on foot—we highly recommend hopping on a bus and heading west of the city to take advantage of this collection.

Tip: Guided tours are free, but fill up quickly. Phone ahead or email the museum at least three weeks in advance to book a spot.

National Gallery of Ireland

Less of a gallery and more of a giant art consortium, this collection offers masterpieces by Irish superstars and European masters, alike. Free tours and lectures are offered daily and are often pegged to national themes. (Recent offering have included Turner’s influence on 20th-century artists, and the significance of Yeats and his diverse body of work.) The National Gallery is centrally located just off Merrion Square.

Tip: Stick around for a concert! Offerings range from chamber orchestra to quartets highlighting Irish composers. Many, but not all, of the concerts are free.

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