(Don’t forget to check out our Brussels city guide for more budget tips.)

Free things to do in Brussels

Here are five free attractions to enjoy in the Belgian capital:

1. The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula

Sinter-Goedelevoorplein
Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Saturday), 8:30 to 2 p.m. (Sunday)
Website

Dating back to the 11th century, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a prominent fixture in the Brussels cityscape. Inside you’ll find stained-glass windows and beautiful arched ceilings. The cathedral is home to a Romanesque crypt, though visitors must pay €2.50 to view it.

In addition to holding daily services, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula hosts classical music concerts, may of which are free. Check the cathedral’s calendar of events to see who’s playing when you’re in town.

2. Visit European Parliament

Wiertzstraat 60
Tel: +32 (0)2 284 21 11
Website

Lest you forget, Brussels is the administrative center of the European Union. This special distinction affords visitors the opportunity to tour the European Parliament—without spending a euro.

To get your international relations fix, catch a guided tour of European Parliament’s debating chamber. Tours are conducted at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday and at 10 a.m. only on Friday. If you want an extra special glimpse into the workings of the EU, check out the plenary sitting schedule to see when events are open to the public.

3. The Royal Museum of Armed Forces and of Military History

Jubelpark 3
Tel: +32 (0)2 737 78 33
Hours: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday)
Website

A visit to Brussels’ Royal Museum of Armed Forces and of Military History is completely free. The exhibitions document Belgian and European history chronologically, with no shortage of tanks thrown in for good measure. After winding your way through the galleries, head up to the museum’s roof. You’re in for a real treat: Look out and enjoy a panoramic view of Brussels.

4. Free museums on the first Wednesday of the month

While some Brussels museums are always free, others open their doors gratis monthly, on the first Wednesday of the month. Among the participating museums are the Museum of Old Masters and the Museum of Modern Art. Free admission begins at 1 p.m. Visit the Brussels Museums Website for more information.

5. Free concerts

L’Archiduic, a popular bar in the Ste. Catherine hood, hosts live jazz throughout the week. Check the site to see what’s on—but don’t blame us if you end up shelling out for a few drinks.

What else?

Have other suggestions for free activities in Brussels? Share your wisdom by leaving a comment!

The post 5 free things to do in Brussels appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The city is one of those difficult-to-place communities. France with a twist, you might say. We knew just that when we wandered the streets of Strasbourg last week and found the Rue de L’Ail (“Garlic Street”) cheek by jowl with the Rue Martin Luther. France and Germany colliding, as it were.

Exploring Strasbourg

The great thing about Strasbourg is that it is easy to reach, easy to explore on foot, and–if you choose your moment carefully–it won’t break the bank. The city is home to the European Parliament, but if you can visit at a time when the parliament is not in session, then you’ll get great deals on hotels.

Related:

• Our favorite cheap hotels in Strasbourg, France

The crossroads of Europe

The fast rail routes from Paris to Munich and Brussels to Zürich cross at Strasbourg. Even Milan and London are both less than six hours away by fast train, Marseille and Berlin less than seven.

So no surprise perhaps that Strasbourg styles itself “Le carrefour de l’Europe”–the crossroads of Europe. Yet despite having a nodal position in Europe’s transport networks, the city is relaxed and unhurried, a place to chill out for a few days.

Strasbourg’s Old Town

Wander the streets of “Petite France,” the old part of town just a five minute walk from the main railway station, where the street names tell of the local industries that brought wealth to medieval Strasbourg: lace-making, milling and tanneries. There are heaps of little cafés and restaurants in this part of town, which features on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

One of our favorites is the unfussy “La Petite Alsace,” which is a place to relax over a jug of the local Gewürztraminer, the aromatic slightly oily white wine which is the very essence of Alsace. Try it once and you’ll be smitten. There are hints of lychees in this not-quite-dry wine that is the perfect partner for choucroute garnie, Strasbourg’s signature dish. Choucroute is not grand cuisine, but good hearty winter fare, as unpretentious as Strasbourg itself.

Stopping off

Strasbourg makes the perfect one-night stop on long journeys by train across Europe. Come out of the station, with its assertively modern armadillo-like frontage, and you are spoiled for choice for hotels jostling for your euro.

Our advice is to ignore them all, but just head over to Rue Kuhn, a three-minute walk, where the Hotel Monopole Métropole is a classic French family-run hotel. It has a chic reception area with bar and coffee shop, and a really lovely lounge. Faded, but comfortable, and a place to linger on rainy days. We love this kind of hotel, which combines all creature comforts in the rooms with lashings of local character.

Three generations of the Siegel family have presided over the Monopole Métropole. Rooms for double occupancy from about €70. This rate is usually restricted to weekends, but it is always worth checking. You can make bookings direct with the hotel or via www.bestwestern.com.

The post Strasbourg, France: The crossroads of Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.