As things stay relatively cool, we think a walk in one of the city’s many parks makes for a perfect, cost-free way to spend time between visits to the Acropolis and the Agora.

National Garden of Athens

Metro: Exit at Syntagma (line 2 or 3)

Located in central Athens right behind the Greek Parliament Building, the National Garden of Athens makes a scenic place for a stroll. The garden is filled with plenty of gems to discover, including a smattering of ancient runes, a duck pond and a small zoo. For a fix of greenery in the city (and a nice spot to eat your Cheapo-friendly souvlaki), we can’t think of a better place.

Pedion tou Areos

Metro: Exit at Victoria (line 1)

The Pedion tou Areos Park is marked by a large statue of King Constantine I on a horse and a memorial to soldiers who fought in the Battle of Greece. Like the National Garden, the Pedio tou Areos Park offers plenty of greenery and no shortage of peaceful paths to explore.

One of the largest parks in the city, it also boasts a popular playground. Stop by before or after visiting the nearby National Archaeological Museum, but don’t linger past sunset; we’ve heard the scene gets slightly sketchy after hours.

Kifissias Park

Metro: Exit at Kifissia (line 1)

Kifissia is an attractive, affluent suburb on the northern side of Athens. In addition to some shopping and eating options, the neighborhood offers a lush botanical garden. If you’re itching for a taste of local life, take the metro out here and explore the expansive greenery. (Bonus tip: If you’re in town during April or May, you can catch the annual Kifissia Flower Show, which brings a colorful variety of flora to the neighborhood.)

Where else to walk?

Well, these are our Athens park picks, Cheapos. But we’re no Socrates: If you’ve seen better spots for strolling in the city, set us straight by leaving a comment!

And if you’re interested in reading more tips for Athens and Greece, have a look here.

The post Athens: Parks and gardens for some good, green fun appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, the timing of the Catalan version of Valentine’s Day—Sant Jordi Festival—has always made a bit more sense to me. The holiday is held on the 23rd of April each year, when spring has officially sprung with love and pollen blowing in the air. What says “amor” more than beautiful Barcelona in full bloom!

Book stalls fill the streets in Barcelona on Sant Jordi’s Day. Photo: Regina W Bryan

Sant Jordi Festival

For Sant Jordi’s Day, either a book or a rose are given as gifts. Men, you’ll want to look for a few select red roses to give to the special women in your life. Women, you’ll need to browse the many book shops and book stands that set up on La Rambla and get a paperback for the important men in your life. These are the rules, and as someone who appreciates both flowers and reading, I like to break them!

Where to stay for an affordable romantic getaway

If you’re traveling through Barcelona in April with that special someone, look for rooms in these hotels that make the perfect escape for lovey-dovey couples.

The rustic lounge is a perfect spot to cozy up for the evening. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

Cozy charm in the city – Hosteria Grau

Doubles from: $83 to $143

Privacy is key to romance, so avoid the backpacker hostels and instead go for double room at Hosteria Grau, one of the coziest hotels in the city center. The two-star rooms are cute and clean, and the staff is incredibly helpful. Furthermore, Grau is a couple blocks from La Rambla and Passeig de Gracia, where much of the Sant Jordi fun will take place.

The stylish and romantic rooms at Hostal Goya are a real bargain for Barcelona. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

Designer decor – Hostal Goya

Doubles from: $97 to $152

Ambiance is important if you’re on a romantic escape. Avoid faded rooms with questionable artwork and amateur silk flower arrangements, and instead book at Hostal Goya, a chic option in L’Eixample. Goya’s interiors are some of the best we’ve seen in Barcelona budget hotels. You’ll be wowed by not only the modern tiled floors, the abundance of natural light and the elegant attitude—but also the very affordable price!

Wonderful city walks are just outside the door of Hotel Banys Orientals. Photo: Andrej Nicolas

Old city strolls – Hotel Banys Orientals

Doubles from: $138 to $145

What’s more romantic than wandering the old city with your lover, arm in arm? Not much. So make sure to book at Hotel Banys Orientals in El Born for lots of cobblestone charm. Picture yourself sipping Spanish wine in front of Santa Maria del Mar Church, and then window shopping at the many boutiques near Banys Orientals.

Bonus tip: Not only is love in the air, but spring, and the months of April and May, are some of the best months to visit Barcelona because the weather is gorgeous, and the city is a lot less crowded than summer. Enjoy!

The post Budget romantic hotels in Barcelona to celebrate Sant Jordi Day appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And although “Tulipmania” (yes, that’s a real term) ended in the 1600s, the craze of experiencing fields of flowers is still an attraction for thousands of travelers to Holland, especially during tulip season, which spans from March to May. And if you’re one of the many dreaming of walking through an endless garden of flowers, the Keukenhof is your destiny.

Getting there: Keukenhof

Keukenhof is located just outside of Amsterdam, a short trip to a town called Lisse where nothing much goes on except for the yearly flock of flower lovers that happens every season. This means it’s not easy to get to unless you have a car, but it’s not impossible.

Your best bet is to get to the Amsterdam Schipol Airport via train and take bus No. 58 to Keukenhof. It runs Monday through Friday every 15 minutes, the last bus back to the airport leaving around 7:30 p.m. Local buses leave from the airport just outside the main entrance. The ride lasts a little over half and hour, and the bus drops you off right at the park’s entrance. A round trip ticket from Amsterdam to Keukenhof shouldn’t cost more than around €10.

Getting in and around

Keukenhof is a national landmark in Holland. Kodak deemed it one of the most photographed places in the world. Everyone knows about this place, and since it’s only open a few months out of the year it gets packed. Real packed. It might be tricky to get to on your own, but don’t forget about all the package tours that scoot to this picture perfect spot on an hourly basis.

Just get there early and make a day out of it. There are over 6 million flowers to see, but if you do it on time you’ll save yourself a lot of pushing and shoving. Keukenhof is open daily from 8 a.m to 7:30 p.m. daily, including Sundays and public holidays. If you make an effort and sight see early, you’ll be able to relax at the café or chill out on a bench and people watch the afternoon away.

What not to miss

It’s hard to pin point particular flowers as a “must see” when there are millions of them, so the best tip is to walk the 15 kilometers of footpaths and never blink, ever.

Just kidding. The best part about Keukenhof is that you don’t have to see everything. Grab a map and start by sections. The “Walk of Fame” is a popular one, and every year there are new tulip species with different celebrity names – from Hillary Clinton to Madonna. There is also a guide available, in different languages for €4.

If you’re in the mood to bike around the outskirts amongst the tulip farm fields, Keukenhof offer bicycle rentals and routes ranging from five-kilometer cruises to 25-kilometer day adventures. It’s €8.50 per day to rent a bike from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. – not a bad deal, and cheaper than some bike rental spots in Amsterdam.

There are also boat trips available through the countryside, and even photography courses are an option. In addition, check the Web site to find out about upcoming events and plan either on or around those dates. Either way, Keukenhof is a must for springtime visitors to Holland.

Keukenhof Fees
Adults and seniors: €14.50
Children 4 to 11 years: €7
Parking: €6 per vehicle

Also in our guide: If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam and looking for an affordable place to stay, be sure to stop by our guide to budget hotels in Amsterdam. Our editors visit, inspect and review only hotels that are central, clean and cheap. Read more in our Amsterdam hotel guide.

The post Keukenhof: A sweet-smelling daytrip from Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Today the Netherlands is the largest exporter of tulips worldwide, and many visitors flock there each year for the explicit purpose of enjoying these colorful blooms. One thing is certain: Those in the country during tulip season (March through mid-May) should not miss seeing them.

The Keukenhof garden, located about 45 minutes outside of Amsterdam, is one of the most popular places for tulip viewing, but if you wish to stay in the city, we have some tips for tulip spotting, buying and exploring in Amsterdam.

Bloemenmarkt: Look but don’t buy

Amsterdam’s famed Bloemenmarkt (located at Muntplein) is the only floating flower market in the world, and the stands are packed wall to wall with flowers and bulbs available for purchase. But hold back temptation and stick to snapping pictures. These prices are the most expensive in the city.

If you want to buy tulips, a good alternative is the Albert Hein supermarket, with locations just across the way on both ends of the market. And keep your eye out for tulip vendors walking around the city streets—they often sell bundles of up to 50 flowers for €5!

Try the Tulip Museum

If you’re interested in how tulips shaped the history of the country, as well as global trade, check out the Tulip Museum. It’s small, it’s cute and it’s conveniently located on the Prinsengracht. It takes about 30 minutes to go through museum, and the admission price is €6. (There is no charge to browse in the upstairs Museum Bulb Shop.)

The best part about the museum is that it’s run buy flower farmers, which means they’re passionate and well-educated about all things tulip. Yes, these are the people whose job is to tend to those beautiful, orderly rows of flora along the Dutch countryside. They know the best tips and tricks for tulip tending, as well as where to find the best deals of the day.

Bulb buying? Look for labels

In North America it’s possible to bring tulips home if they’re bulbs. However, you must absolutely, definitely, 100 percent make sure they are certified to be admitted into your country. How can you tell? Look for a sticker on the bag that specifically says you’re good to go.

To buy bulbs with a lucky label, you may have to dish out a tourist price. The Bloemenmarkt is an option, as is the small flower stand located on Damrak just between Centraal Station and Dam Square. Also visit the Tulip Museum for a heads up on the latest good finds.

Take a tulip-spotting stroll

The Artis Zoo is one of the sweetest spots (especially for familes) to walk around and admire Amsterdam’s tulips. But tulips are everywhere in the city, especially along the Museumplein, Vondelpark area and Canal Belt.

If you’re a real tulip lover, however, get out of the city. There are endless tulip fields, and nothing beats a day trip biking along scenic, peaceful farmland. Keukenhof, one of the most photographed spots in the world, holds more than 6 million flowers. To reach it, catch a bus from Schiphol Airport. A ticket costs €21 and includes admission to the garden. (Keukenhof is open until May 20).

For more information, read our post on taking a day trip to the Keukenhof.

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