8 Debunked London Travel Myths

Like many places, London has many popular misconceptions about it. We’re debunking the top eight London travel myths, with additional travel tips along the way, to make your next trip the best (and most budget-friendly!) it can be.

1. Londoners are rude

The first unveiled truth in our list of London travel myths is that Londoners aren’t rude. Of course, London can be a frantic city, with so many people rushing to get to places and seemingly no regard for the lone, lost tourist in their way. Or what’s perhaps more spooky: the ghostly silence on a rush-hour tube as nobody speaks to each other, despite being pushed closer to each other than you’d probably want to get with your best friend. Like Paris, we’re a mixed bunch of people, but the average Londoner is usually more than happy to help if asked.

And we’re shy. We’ve got that reputation for a stiff upper lip for a reason. Strike up a conversation, and chances are we’ll join in—we’re just waiting to be asked.

2. Londoners are unfailingly polite

On the other hand, decades of period dramas have given us a reputation for politeness that we perhaps don’t deserve. Admittedly, it can be hard to work out when we’re being rude, as it’s hidden under so many levels of niceties, unfathomable to anyone who is not British born and bred. But we’re used to no one understanding us: learn to play the rules, and you’ll get along just fine.

That includes, if you crash into someone with your rucksack by accident and they say they’re sorry, that’s your cue to apologize profusely. And do remember to get on our right side, literally, by obeying the “stand on the right/walk on the left” rule on tube escalators. You’ll soon be embraced like you’re one of our own (i.e. we’ll happily ignore you).

3. London is busy

Well, there’s undeniable truth in this one. But with a population of around 8.3 million (compared to 2.21 million in Paris and just under 800,000 in Amsterdam), what would you expect? You can, however, do yourself some favors in how you approach the city. Visit around British holidays—Christmas, Easter, the “Bank holiday” weekends at the beginning and end of May—and you’ll find a much calmer city: basically because a large number of London residents use the time to leave town.

If that isn’t an option, be savvy about when you move about the city. Why squeeze yourself onto a Tube full of grumpy office workers at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m., if you’ve got the freedom to travel later? And there are plenty of opportunities to seek out some quiet spots in the city, such as its many beautiful, peaceful parks. In fact, there’s an entire book devoted to “quiet London”.

4. The Tube is the best way to get around London

Speaking of the Tube, it’s undoubtedly an easy and convenient way to get across the city. But it’s not the best way to see the city for many reasons. The first is in that word “see”: Exploring London is much more fun if you can see the sights when walking, taking a bus, or perhaps using one of the “Boris bikes”.

The second reason is that, with the exception of taxis, it’s the priciest way to see London (a single fare in zone one is £4.70 without an Oyster card, compared to £2.40 on a bus).

Finally, it’s often not the quickest way to get about in central London—the Tube from Covent Garden to Leicester Square takes nine minutes, compared to only two minutes if you walk it.

5. You must visit the Tower of London and London Eye

You really don’t. London is a large city, and it’s an old city. It’s stuffed full of attractions, where you could merrily spend your time and money, not to mention the hundreds of nice cafes, bars and shops that keep its residents happy and amused.

Instead of seeing “the sights”, seek out what really interests you instead: whether it’s Charles Dickens, street art or an overstuffed walrus. London has got something for every taste. Have fun exploring that, rather than standing in line for hours to get a glimpse of a wax Princess Kate (unless wax really is your thing…).

6. London is very expensive

Another London travel myth is how costly it is to travel here. Sure, it can be: transport and entrance fees all add up. Not to mention accommodations, if you don’t stick to our suggested affordable hotels.

But there are ways to make it cheaper: London has some great street food to keep you full and in pocket (check out our market guide for starters). We’re also immensely proud that so much of our culture is free: You can walk straight into Britain’s most popular tourist attraction, the British Museum, and soak up thousands of years of history without paying a penny. Same goes for the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum and many more. (Here’s our full list of free museums to help you plan ahead). Visit London and you can come back smarter, and not necessarily that much poorer in the process.

7. Londoners are either cockneys or lords of the manor

Perhaps sadly for us all, London no longer represent a scene from Mary Poppins. The cliché of the salt of the earth cockneys, compared to the upper crust gents living in their grand piles, simply no longer applies (if it ever did).

London is astonishing for its mix of people and cultures and how it welcomes people from all over the world. And, perhaps compared to a city such as Paris, how it all exists right alongside each other: old and new, rich and poor. Traditionally cockney areas of East London are now home to some of the most fashionable restaurants in town, as well as more long-standing traditional businesses. This invigorating blend is one of the reasons why visiting London can be so supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

8. It’s a city of football hooligans

The behavior of a small minority of English soccer fans has given us an unsavory international reputation. This just isn’t true for the vast majority of fans, or indeed the vast majority of English people for whom football is, basically, the national sport.

There’s no better time than now to try and understand the always hopeful/always-prepared-to-be-disappointed English footballing psyche. Football will be dominating the screens of our pubs and clubs, and there are plenty of ways to get involved in a relatively civilized manner. We’ll even allow you to cheer for your own team (as long as they aren’t playing England, obviously).

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Fiorentina’s fan base is still very proudly Florentine and is a constant topic of discussion in any coffee shop or bar of the city. Fiorentina’s team color is purple or “viola” and wearing it is the best way to display your team pride.

Here are some tips on making the best of your Sunday afternoon by heading to the stadium for some wholesome soccer and some less wholesome Florentine slang.

Choosing a game

Tickets for games are usually available about one week before the game. Games for the Italian League, called “Serie A,” are usually played on Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m., although due to scheduling problems you’ll find the odd game on Saturday, Sunday, or even Wednesday nights. You can find the schedule here.

The best games are the ones with a heated crowd, so look out for games with noted rivals such as Juventus and Milan. However do stay away from games with notoriously dangerous fans such as Napoli and Roma.

Buying tickets

Tickets are sold in some Tabaccherie (tobacco shops), although it’s hard to tell which ones. Your best bets are either at the box office, which also sells tickets to major events and concerts, which you’ll find in Via Alamanni near the train station, or at the little sports bodega, Chiosco degli Sportivi, in a small piazza off of Piazza Repubblica (via degli Anselmi).

Note: You’ll need a valid ID to be purchase your ticket, as your name is printed directly on your ticket. It’s best to bring your passport, as a driver’s license or student ID is generally not accepted. You can also buy tickets online.

Ticket prices

Ticket price depends on the type of game (regular season, the special national competition Coppa Italia or Champions League/UEFA) and the area you sit in. Prices can range from €10 to €120, but most ticket prices will be in the €10 to €40 range.

If you care less about the view of the field and more about the crowd, sit in the “Curva Fiesole,” home to the loudest fans. Tickets here are usually really cheap, but sell out quickly and don’t respect the assigned seating.

If you’re more interested in the game itself, it’s best to sit as centrally as possible on the two sides of the stadium, either “Maratona” or “Tribuna.” If the weather looks like it’s going to be nasty, the Tribuna is mostly covered although seats here are more expensive. While other areas such as the “Ferrovia” or those marked “Parterre” are much cheaper, the views suffer and the crowds can be sparse leading to a less exciting experience.

Getting to the stadium

The stadium, Stadio Artemio Franchi, is located in the Campo di Marte area, in the city’s northeast. When there’s a game, it is best reached by bus. The numbers 7, 17, and 20 all go to the stadium and you can pick them up at either the train station or in Piazza San Marco.

The buses are easy to pick out as they are usually packed with purple-clad fans! Your ticket allows you free rides on any ATAF (Florence public transit) on the day of the game, so you don’t need to worry about bus tickets. The trip takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic. You’ll know where to get off the bus because the stadium will be in view and the fans will all get off as well! Head towards the stadium and check your ticket for which entrance gate (marked P#) to use.

Bring ID

You will have to present photo identification at the stadium, as well. Technically only a passport is a valid ID, but I’ve had luck getting in with only a driver’s license. You’ll also have to go through a security check, so be careful of what you bring with you.

Once inside, your seat is usually marked and there are plenty of staff who can direct you to the right area. Seats in the Curva Fiesole area, however, are first come, first serve, so make sure to get there kind of early for a decent seat.

Getting home

To get home at the end of the game, there are plenty of buses that leave from Via Sette Santi that go back to the city center. To get there from the main street around the stadium, turn onto Via Mameli (the street with Viola Point in the corner) and walk up two blocks.

The area outside the stadium is great for grabbing that bright purple scarf you’ll need to hold up along with the fans as well as for that last minute sausage, onion and pepper sandwich and cold beer.

Before you go

Enjoy the top rate players and maybe look them up beforehand so get a feel for the team and its capacities.

This year, for example, the team has a new coach and the players are getting injured, so the team isn’t at the top of the league, but the season just started. So go support the team, because it needs your help!

Enjoy this clip of the teams theme song. Now go cheer on the Fiorentina!

The post Forza Fiorentina! Getting tickets to a soccer game in Florence appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Italians eat, breathe and live soccer. There are radio and TV shows dedicated to it. There are even newspapers concerned solely with the subject. Not to mention, it’s the favorite topic for coffee talk at the local bar, where at the crack of dawn Italians engage in heated discussions about last night’s game.

Contrary to many sports in other countries, soccer season in Italy lasts a whopping 10 months each year. That’s a whole lot of calcio! Romans are especially passionate about soccer. In fact, Rome is host to not one, but two teams: A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio.

A.S. Roma

A.S. Roma, or simply “La Roma,” was founded in 1927. The team is also known as “i giallorossi,”’ named after its official colors (yellow and red). Its mascot is also the official symbol of Rome, the Lupa Capitolina, a she-wolf who nursed the founders of Rome Romulus and Remus back to life. The team’s club anthem and motto is “Roma, Roma, Roma” and “Grazie Roma” written by Roman singer Antonello Venditti. The giallorossi’s beloved team captain is the famous Francesco Totti, who (according to fans) is the next best things since slice bread.

Roma fans refer to themselves as “romanisti” or “i giallorossi.” While la Roma is traditionally one of the top teams in the Serie A league, the giallorossi are having a tough start to the season this year. Though it has one of the largest followings in Italy (after Juventus, Inter, AC Milan and Napoli), its current ranking is near the bottom.

Associazione Sportiva Roma (A.S. Roma)
Founded: 1927
Colors: Yellow and red
Emblem: She-wolf (the Capitoline wolf)
Coach: Claudio Ranieri
Website: www.asroma.it

S.S. Lazio

Rome’s other team, S.S. Lazio was founded in 1900. Its team colors are sky blue and white and its mascot is an eagle. While Rome technically has more fans within the city, “la Lazio,” as the team is also nicknamed, has more supporters in towns within the Lazio region (where Rome is also located). Lazio fans are referred to as “laziali” or “i biancocelesti.” Its captain is Tommaso Rocchi. Currently (October 2010), the team is ranked first in the Italian Serie A league.

Societa Sportiva Lazio (S.S. Lazio)
Founded: 1900
Colors: Sky blue and white
Emblem: Eagle
Coach: Edoardo Reja
Website: www.sslazio.it

Hometown rivals

The giallorossi share the Stadio Olimpico (the olympic stadium) with their arch rivals, the S.S. Lazio team. The Stadio Olimpico can hold up to 72,000 fans and is the second-largest stadium in Italy after Milan’s San Siro Stadium.

The hardcore Roma fans sit in the “Curva Sud,” whereas the die-hard Lazio fans sit in the “Curva Nord” whenever their team plays (during which things can get very rowdy). When both teams play each other at the Olimpico it’s called the “derby,” which is probably the most heated and anticipated game in Italy.

Where to buy tickets?

Tickets for both teams can be purchased from one of their official merchandising stores. Because of recent changes to safety laws at the stadium, each person must show their passport or ID when buying a ticket. Each ticket is printed individually with the purchaser’s name on it. Ticket prices vary, depending on the game, but usually run from €14-€100 each. (Interestingly, sometimes tickets for women are sold at a reduced rate.)

A.S. Roma merchandise stores:

Piazza Colonna, 360 (Prati/Vatican area)
Via Cola di Rienzo, 136/A (Centro Storico)

S.S. Lazio merchandise stores:

LAZIO STYLE 1900 ROMA
Via Guglielmo Calderini 66/C (Flaminio area)

Alternatively, tickets for S.S. Lazio can be purchased from any Lottomatica distributor, which are typically found in Tabacco (tabacchi) shops around Rome. Two locations are: Via M. Colonna, 37 (Prati/Vatican Area), and Via della Scrofa, 110 (Centro Storico).

The post Understanding soccer in Rome — and how to get tickets appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Glass Tunnels and Sharks: The Aquarium

Right on Barcelona’s central Port Vell, a visit to the aquarium makes for an interesting afternoon activity. As you walk towards the aquarium, take in the enormous cruisers, wooden sailboats and million-euro yachts bobbing in the port.

The aquarium is located in the Maremagnum complex, an area with a shopping mall (the only one in the city opened on Sundays), many restaurants, a movie theater, and an iMax theater which shows 3D movies. (Movies here could also be a good family option for rainy days, though films are sure to be in Spanish.)

To tell the truth, I have been to some killer aquariums, and this one did not knock my socks off when I visited. However, the glass tunnel leading through a watery world filled with sharks was impressive (and a bit scary!).

Website
Admission: €16.50, free under 4 years
Metro: Barceloneta: L4; Drassanes: L3

Hands-On Science: CosmoCaixa

CosmoCaixa. Photo: Mataparda

The CosmoCaixa science museum, the city’s best science museum, is not in the center, so getting there takes some planning. Take the old trolly (that, incidentally, is said to have run over the architect Guadi) up Avinguda del Tibidabo and then walk ten minutes to the museum. Or take the bus 196 right to the front door. (Or, of course, you could take a cab.)

However, the journey up Avinguda del Tibidabo is half the fun (the street is full of once-exquisite mansions) and the museum, with its many family-centered exhibitions, is worth the effort it takes to get there. Kids will enjoy “Toca Toca!”, a tactile exhibit where visitors are encouraged to touch the displays.

Website
Admission: €3, free for 3 years and under
Bus: 17, 22, 58, 196

Surfs Up: the Beach

Some people try to surf along Barcelona’s Mediterranean shores, but unless there is a storm brewing, there are few waves. This makes for the perfect sea for small swimmers. Most of the city’s beaches are sandy and shallow, and there are lifeguards stationed throughout the summer. A day at the beach is a great way to spend an afternoon from June to September. Beach umbrellas and beach chairs can be rented for the day once at there.

(Note: I recommend Marbella Beach – though it is a nude beach – and do not especially recommend Barceloneta Beach for swimming. Keep an eye on your possessions while at the beach, there are many pickpockets who will run off with your bag while you take a dip!)

Metro: Barceloneta: L4; Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica L4

Lions, Tigers and Bears: the Zoo

Situated right in the center of the city off Parc de la Ciutadella, visiting Barcelona’s zoo is a cinch. See dolphins, penguins and Iberian wolves. The zoo often has activities for families during the week.

Website
Admission: €15.40, €9.30 3-12 years, free under 3 years
Metro: Barceloneta: L4; Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica L4

Cycle Tours: Bike Barcelona (with older kids)

See the city by bike! Rent your own bikes and ride by the seaside (there are bike lanes), or sign up for a bike tour of the city.

Barcelona By Bike offers Modernista architecture and Tapa bike tours in many languages. Born Bike also rents out quality cycles. Note that there are no helmet laws in Barcelona and hardly anyone uses them. All bike shops should provide helmets and other gear if asked for.

Futbol! the Barca Stadium

Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium, is a must-dvisit for young (and old) soccer fans (or “futbol” fans, as it is called here). Take the guided tour to check out the President’s Box, the players’ tunnel, dugouts, locker rooms and more. There is also a museum at Camp Nou where 100 years of FC Barcelona history is on display.

Website
Admission: €8.50; guided tour is €13
Metro: Collblanc: L5; Maria Cristina L3 Avinguda Aristides

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Friday AM: Boats and beaches of the Elbe River

Cheap boat rides can be found along the Elbe River areas of Altona, Elbstrasse, and Landungsbrücken. They cost as much as a bus ride (about €1.60) and stop at many ideal places for eating, drinking, and sunning on the sandy beaches around the Elbe River. The Alster lake area is another option for organized boat tours.

Friday PM: Watching the St. Pauli Football Team

Snag tickets to one of the most raw, gritty, and hardcore soccer teams in Europe, the St. Pauli Football Team. St. Pauli has it all: a loyal fan base who love to party, sponsors like Hamburg’s signature Astra beer, and a skull-and-crossbones logo. It’s the “Harley Davidson” of European football.

Tickets range from €7-50. Check here for more information. The stadium is located near Feldstrasse, an area rich in World War II monuments, vintage shops, and a Saturday yard sale market.

Saturday AM:  Walking through Sternschanze

Stroll along the hip and bohemian Sternschanze neighborhood for a taste of Hamburg’s café terrace vibe and culture. Streets are lined with interesting boutiques, cheap eats, and bargain bars with a classic décor. A large park, the Planten un Blomen, is nearby – grab an ice cream and do some people-watching in the sun.

Saturday PM: Partying on Reeperbahn

Spend a night out on the Reeperbahn – Hamburg’s main party strip. See the blend of sailor roughness mix with trendy locals at the bars, music venues, clubs, and wurst stands. Beatle-maniacs should try out the nightlife around Grosse Freiheit, the street where the four “mop tops” made their European debut on stage and at parties.

Sunday AM: Stroll through the fish market

A Sunday morning in Hamburg is incomplete without a trip to the lively and exciting Fischmarkt. Located directly on the harbor from Reeperbahn S-bahn station, stroll around the dozens of seafood and produce stands. The market is action-packed with amusing characters and partygoers still out from Saturday night. Stop by anytime between 5 AM to noon.

Sunday PM: Historic Hamburg and the harbor

Spend the rest of Sunday walking along the Elbe River and surrounding harbor. Old harbor vessels permanently dock along the walkway as museums and cafés, and the surrounding area is a historic part of Hamburg undamaged from World War II.

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