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.

Rumor has it you’re planning a trip to Paris! So bless your soul and grab my hand. I have a few recommendations for a dreamy Parisian bucket list, big or tall. Here is where I find my inspiration!

Hang out at Shakespeare and Company.

1. Book it!

While kicking down the cobblestones, why not pick up a Paris-related book or novella? Check out Shakespeare & Co. at 37 rue Bûcherie (Metro: Saint-Michel). Located near Notre Dame, it is the most enchanting bookshop in the city!

Through the hard times and the good, I also praise the San Francisco Bookshop at 17 Rue Monsieur le Prince (Metro: Odéon). Here is where I recently found a well-loved copy of “A Literate Passion: Letters of Anaïs Nin & Henry Miller”. Talk about the ultimate starry-eyed read!

Henry wrote: “I have not dared until now to say what I think. But I am plunging—you have opened the void for me—there is no holding back. I am in a fever.” Oh, sigh!

(Read more about our favorite bookstores in Paris.)

Get cheesy at the fromagerie.

2. Eat, Drink and be Merry

And speaking of Henry’s valentine, he also penned, “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware: joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware!”

Here’s the squeal! Paris is made up of beaucoup boulangeries, poissonneries, caves, and cafés, éspiceries, fromageries, charcuteries, pâtisseries, chocolatiers, confiseries, and glaciers. Clipping The Left Banke, don’t walk away, Renée—spurge away! Also, ask for tidbit samples and recommendations. Cheapos, they know.

My gastronomical checklist:

Don’t leave the city without trying a crème brûlé, a meringue, and at least one macaron, along with a baguette, a pain au chocolat, and a selection of young fromage (difficult to find outside of France). Let’s not forget the wine and the crêpes! “Je voudrais une crêpe fromage-jambon, s’il vous plaît,” is what I always say!

(Read more about our favorite cafes and bakeries in Paris.)

3. Big City, Bright Lights

I also advocate sipping a round on a café terrace. Winter, spring, summer and fall, you won’t forget it! For pumped-up kicks, give Suze a shot! A gentian-based apéritif, this old-school bar favorite is typically served on ice with equal parts water or orange juice. Challenge your mates to describe its strange and peculiar flavor!

Back in the day, Picasso quipped, “I put all the things I like into my pictures—too bad for the things, they just have to put up with it.” Yes, the iconic bottle played muse to Picasso back in 1912. Hands-down, his super-cube collage “Verre et bouteille de Suze” always sets my rain on fire!

(Read more about drinks to try at any cafe in Paris.)

Hanging out in the Jardin du Luxembourg

4. Parks and Rec

After you’ve picked up your reads and nibbles, head to one of my favorite parks: Jardin du Luxembourg (Metro: Notre-Dame des Champs, Rennes or Vavin), Jardin des Tuileries (Metro: Tuileries, Concorde, Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre, Pyramides) and the Jardin du Palais Royal (Metro Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre).

WWHD? (What would Hem do?)

Hemingway would most likely mosey on over to the Square du Vert-Galant (Metro: Pont Neuf, Cité or Saint-Michel), and chill with wine, books, and sausages while watching the fishermen. “They always caught some fish,” he wrote, “They were plump and sweet-fleshed with a finer flavor than fresh sardines even, and were not at all oily, and we ate them bones and all.”

(Read in detail about our favorite parks in Paris.)

Lovely, moody Pere Lachaise.

Last stop

Cemeteries are also perfect spots for a little peace, love and understanding. I often curl up with Oscar Wilde at the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise. Like a new pair of cat eyeglasses, the calm terrain not only changes perception, but also attitude. The surrounding beauty both soothes and re-energizes my spirits every time.

Here you’ll also find comfort with Chopin, Modigliani, Proust, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison. It’s free, and the perfect Paris experience, rain or shine. Come with a journal or sketchbook in hand. In the words of the dashing Wilde, “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” Oh, yes.

5. Taxi!

After nightfall, treat yourself to a cab ride in the City of Light. This is when the city truly twinkles. If you’re not already a wee intoxicated, you soon will be. I guarantee it.

To catch a ride, keep your eyes peeled for a cabstand. You could also hoof around the city after sundown. In Paris I always feel safe as houses, even when I roll solo.

6. Eiffel Tower

Like the moon and stars, the Eiffel Tower is a free show from almost anywhere in town, but better yet go there! Add it to your list. Just do it. Looking for a picture-perfect shot? Shoot up from below, center stage. Here the tower’s iron lattice resembles classic French black lace knickers. Oh, la, la!

I also highly recommend scoring an Eiffel Tower key chain at one of the souvenir shops in Montmartre. For the true love of corn, you’ll thank me one day in the near future. I have no doubts and no shortage of miniature replicas in my very own big box of life’s mementos. Just saying.

View from the rooftop.

7. Up on the roof

Right smack dab in the middle of town, I have a pet rooftop haven. Galeries Lafayette has never let me down! Up here, you’ll spy the Opéra Garnier, the Tour Eiffel, and Sacré Coeur. It’s another perfect spot to recharge your spirit, soul, and soles with sunsets and to-the-horizon boulevards and buildings of Haussmannian architecture!

(Read more about visiting the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette and tips for visiting the Sacre Coeur.)

8. Quill Power

Go vintage! Buy your postcards at the flea market! In the world of texts and emoticons, a little handwriting will feel good to the hand, spirit, cat sitter or paramour! Start the search for “cartes postale ancienne” at either the Porte de Vanves Flea Market or Clignancourt Flea Market at Caveyron Devey, located at stall number 7 and 8 in the Passage Lecuyer (off Rue Jules Vallès).

(Read our tips for shopping at flea markets in Paris.)

Signing off with yet another passage by Hemingway, Cheapos, “There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other.”

Bon Voyage! Carpe diem, Cheapos! Now start planning that trip!

The post First time in Paris? 8 activities not to miss appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

While each park has a different culture, no matter where you are, you’ll likely find musical performers, sculptures, and fountains, families with picnics and grills, couples young and old, and plenty of spaces for children and adults to play.

Here a sampling of some of my favorite urban strolls.

Autumn leaves in Hampstead Heath. Photo: Lenoz

Tiergarten, Berlin

I would be remiss if I didn’t start with *the* park of my hometown’s parks.  Many tourists in Berlin skirt the edges of this green space, which neighbors major central sites such as the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, and Holocaust Memorial, without so much as dipping in a toe — to their loss!

The park’s vast expanse makes it a great detour to Potsdamer Platz, the Kulturforum (including the Philharmonic Hall), the Soviet Memorial, the Victory Column, even the main train station! With vast areas of lush grass, the park has plenty of both sunny and shady spots, depending on your preference.

Hampstead Heath, London

Once you’ve passed through the recreational areas on the Eastern side of the park and taken in the views of the city from Parliament Hill, it’s entirely possible to forget where you are while crossing this expansive natural space.

Ponds, high grasses and wooded areas make this a pleasant and varied walk.  If you wish, take time to stop in the Heritage site Kenwood Estate, or watch the kite flyers paint the sky in long, colorful strokes.

Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

The scruffiest of the bunch, Retiro Park is loved by locals and a great stop for people watching. Let yourself be drawn into a musical performance or two. Shade is at a premium here, and if you don’t have a blanket, be prepared to get a little dusty.

To avoid these issues, simply join the crowd lounging on the stones around the lake while enjoying an ice cream. The park’s Crystal Palace offers free rotating displays of art.

Jardin des Plantes, Paris

From the entrance nearest Gare d’Austerlitz, the park’s shady grande allée may remind you of many of Paris’ other, more formal parks, beloved by joggers and stroller-pushers alike. Perseverance leads to a long promenade of beautifully maintained and varied flower beds, inviting (rather than forbidding) you to walk on the grass and take a closer look.

Exploration of the side allées yields a formally structured and educational botanical garden and even a small zoo.  It’s possible to end your adventure in the adjacent Natural History Museum.

Where do you park it?

Which parks have you fallen in love with, sought refuge from crowds and heat in, or simply stumbled into while traveling?  Share your favorites in the comments.

The post Hanging with the Locals: Our favorite urban parks in Europe 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.

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Oh, so hub-able

While touring, parks are the perfect spots for resting and picnicking. Tip! Grocery stores in Paris like Monoprix, Franprix, and Carrefour now have smaller “Mini Me” boutiques scattered throughout Paris. With ease, you’ll be able to stock up on fresh salads, sandwiches, and cold beverages. There’s also fromageries and patisseries! Bon Appétit.

Relaxing at the Jardin du Luxembourg.

1. Jardin du Luxembourg
6th arrondissement (Metro: Notre-Dame des Champs, Rennes or Vavin)

Fashioned by Queen Marie de Médici and garden guru Boyeau de La Bareaudière with a Florentine twist during the 17th century, it’s my favorite park.

Gossip! In the years before Hemingway could afford to shoot lions in Africa, he hunted urban birdlife here. Back in his salad days, Luxembourg was known for its voluptuous pigeons! “We got a little tired of pigeon that winter but they filled many a void,” Hem wrote.

Before or after your own moveable feast in the park, I recommend visiting the Musée du Luxembourg, the Église Saint-Sulpice, or the Musée de Cluny. The Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Panthéon are also fine options. Let’s not forget to mention the kitschy Latin Quarter. Don’t hate me because I think this touristic hotspot is beautiful!

Table service in the Tuileries.

2. Jardin des Tuileries
1st arrondissement (Metro: Tuileries, Concorde, Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre, Pyramides?)

And speaking of royal creations, here’s another one! Created by Catherine de Médici (with a slight Italian flair) in the 16th century, the Jardin de Tuileries was given a redo by landscape architect André Le Nôtre during the Sun King’s reign. After the Big Wigs’ big move to Versailles, it became one of the first public parks.

Ready to stroll? Look for the Musée du Louvre, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Musée des Arts de la Mode, along with the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and the Place de la Concorde.

Dig the Musée d’Orsay? Cross the river Seine at Pont Royal or Pont de Solférino. Want more? The Petit Palais and the Grand Palais are also in walking distance.

Sit like a king in the Jardin du Palais Royal

3. Jardin du Palais Royal
1st arrondissement (Metro Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre)

Here you’ll find beaucoup de benches, a fountain and a music box shop! Back in the day, writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette held court here. Some claim to still hear the tapping of her typewriter keys. Keep your little eye peeled for the historic plaque marking where she lived.

Nearby, you’ll find the Musée du Louvre, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Musée des Arts de la Mode, along with Place de la Concorde, the Musée d’Orsay, and the Palais Royal Musée. Shopping enthusiasts, the hustling, bustling Châtelet shopping district is located just a few blocks away.

4. Jardin des Plantes
5th arrondissement (Metro Monge, Jussieu or Gare d’Austerlitz)

I’ve spent entire days here. Created in the 17th century as a medicinal herb garden for the King Louis XIII, it’s chockfull of flowers, statues and ancient trees. Also in the area, you’ll be able to explore the Arènes de Lutèce, the Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, and the Institut du Monde Arabe, along with the Mosquée de Paris.

Tip! Check out its gift shop and restaurant. Their couscous is among the best in the city!

Clown murals and more at the Square de la Trinité.

5. Square de la Trinité
9th arrondissement (Metro: Saint-Trinité)

Located in the quaint “Nouvelle Athènes” area, the square is not to be missed! Its clown murals never failed to make me smile! Here in the historic neighborhood, you’ll also find the Musée Gustave Moreau (the artist’s studio and house), along with the Musée de la Vie Romantique.

Formerly the home of painter Ary Scheffer, it now features works from the Romantic Movement in art and literature. Yes, here is where George Sand, Chopin, Delacroix, Liszt, and Rossini would gather and gab. Interested in the Moulin Rouge or the Musée de l’Erotisme? Hotfoot it directly uphill!

“Je t’aime” so many things at the Square Jehan-Rictus.

6. Square Jehan-Rictus
18th arrondissement (Metro: Abbesses)

Nestled in Abbesses, you’ll find the intimate square, along with its “J’taime Wall.” Created by Frederic Baron and Claire Kito, the phrase “I Love You” in 250 languages is inscribed on glazed blue tiles.

While touring Abbesses and the rest of Montmartre, do stop by the Espace Montmartre Salvador Dali, the Musée de Montmartre and Sacré Coeur. Tip! In Abbesses, the shops are always open on Sundays.

7. Square du Vert-Galant
1st arrondissement (Metro: Pont Neuf, Cité or Saint-Michel)

The Square du Vert-Galant, a centuries-old romantic hotspot.

Let’s now stroll to another favorite centuries-old romantic hotspot, le Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Île de la Cité. How did the park get its name? Parisians gave the little tear-drop-shaped park the flamboyant King Henri IV’s nickname, “Vert-Galant,” or “Gay Blade,” since he was larger than life, compassionate, and wildly loved!

Just beyond the le Square du Vert-Galant, you’ll find the downstream tip of the Île de la Cité. Pick a spot on the stone ledge and then settle yourself down for some smooth bateaux-cruise watching. What else can be spotted? Notre Dame and the Musée du Louvre. Feel up for a stroll? The Centre Georges Pompidou, the Hotel de Ville, and the Musée de Cluny are also worth the trek!

Where do you park it?

Do you have a favorite park in Paris? Do tell us in our comments section! Also check out our post on hidden parks in Paris.

Also in our guide: If you’re planning an upcoming trip to Paris and looking for an affordable hotel, do swing by to our Paris guide to read our expert reviews of budget hotels in Paris. Each of them has been visited, inspected and approved by one of our editors.

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After all, despite enjoying all the sights and experiencing all the “must-do’s” of a foreign city, it’s those special moments you have along the way – stumbling upon a striking statue, turning the corner and discovering the beautiful façade of a building or being taken aback by yet another astounding view – that remain in your mind when you reflect on your travels.

Here are three walks in Prague that I’ve taken many a time. Each step along their paths still satisfies.

Walk 1: Below the bridge, into the park and along the river

On the west side of the Charles Bridge, take a set of stairs down and into the lovely square Na Kampe. Walk straight ahead through the square and into one of the city center’s most lovely parks, also called Kampa. Keep to the side closest to the river.

Most likely you’ll come upon a number of kids playing around three massive statues of children crawling through the park made by Czech artist David Cerny. The statues are just outside the Kampa Museum of Modern Art. For free, you can walk through the outside entryway of the museum where there are several installations. There’s also an area on the ground where you walk over water that flows through a crack in the building that provides a view of the river. Once through the area, and out by the river, walk along the path that borders the water.

You can keep strolling or take a seat on one of the benches and look out at the island just across the way, the boats and the bridges.

Walk 2: Behind the castle, through the park and down into Lesser Town

For this walk, your starting point is the Prazsky Hrad (Prague Castle) tram stop on the street Marianske Hradby. Take a right at this back entrance to the castle, onto U Prasneho mostu and then a left into one of the Castle’s gardens – Kralovska Zahrada (The Royal Garden).

Inside you’ll find several lovely buildings and some stunning views of the city below. At the end of the Garden, where Queen Anne’s Summer Palace rests, you’ll go out the open gate (back onto Marianske Hradby) and make a right. Just a few steps away and on the right, you’ll walk into a park – Chotkovy sady. Here you’ll see some hidden sculptures and be immersed in the foliage of several big, beautiful trees.

Walking straight, you’ll cross over a small bridge and then you can either keep going straight ahead and into Letna park or walk to the left and around the corner (onto the larger street Chotkova) and down a set of stairs into the charming Mala Strana or Lesser Town.

Walk 3: Along the riverfront and back up to view a cubist gem

Starting at Palackeho Namesti (just look for the tram stop of the same name on a map) cross over the street toward the river. Walk down a nearby set of stairs that will take you to the promenade along the water (walk in the direction that will have Prague Castle at your back.).

You’ll pass bikers, see boaters, and have a full view of the cityscape of Prague’s fifth district across the way. At Vyton, which is near a bridge that trains cross over (there is also a tram stop called “Vyton” that you can look for as a marker) go back up on the street and keep walking in the same direction.

Just after passing under the train track bridge, look on your left for the Kovarovic Villa – a house built in the Cubist style by architect Josef Chochol between 1912-13. On the same side of the street, you’ll also pass by the Neo-Classical house by Emil Kralicek and the Sequens Villa (named after the family that constructed it) by Otakar Novotny in a Modernist Rationalist style.

The post Prague: 3 do-it-yourself walking tours appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But not so fast, Paris! There’s also an endless supply of romantic spots in Rome. The Eternal City inspires romantics from every vista, piazza and fountain. Looking for the perfect spot to profess your love? The hardest part will be narrowing down your options!

Of course, you’ll also need a romantic nest to cuddle up in every night, so reserve one of these romantic hotels in Rome that won’t break the bank and start planning your trip.

Here are five of the most romantic spots in Rome:

Janiculum Hill

There’s simply nothing like going for a late afternoon passeggiata (stroll) from Trastevere up to the top of the Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill). On the hike up, the breathtaking views of the the city’s skyline will make any heart flutter. It’s also an amazing place to watch the sunset.

Giardino degli Aranci

Viale Nino Manfredi

Many tourists overlook this beautiful spot, so popular with locals in love. The magical Giardino degli Aranci (“Garden of Oranges”) is situated near many of Rome’s most enchanting churches. This garden is popular, and if you visit on a weekend you’re likely to run into newlyweds getting their wedding photos taken.

The beautiful orange-scented garden offers a stunning bird’s-eye view of Rome’s most romantic panoramas. Make sure to snag a spot on the little terrace and watch the sun set over St. Peter’s Dome.

Pincio Gardens

Villa Borghese

Whether for a picnic or an afternoon stroll, there are a slew of things to keep lovers busy in Villa Borghese, Rome’s most popular park. Nothing, however, tops stealing a bacio (kiss) or two at Pincio gardens while gazing over the magnificent Piazza del Popolo. The Pincio balcony and gardens are especially popular with love birds.

Via della Conciliazione & Borgo Pio

Citta del Vaticano

There’s nothing quite like walking up Via della Concilliazione, the street that leads you to St. Peter’s Square, at night when the Basilica is lit up. Regardless of whether or not you’re a pilgrim, you’ll find yourself inspired by the scene. Once you’ve reached the square, turn back around to the Borgo Pio (the mostly pedestrian neighborhood) that surrounds Vatican City and duck into one of the restaurants for a candlelit dinner.

Villa d’Este

Tivoli

The Villa d’Este is one my favorite spots, and one that I always recommend for those looking for an easy day trip from Rome. Villa d’Este is a villa located in Tivoli, a town just outside of Rome, that boasts perfect examples of Renaissance architecture and splendid gardens.

The villa itself is filled with marvelous frescoes and an extravagant array of artwork. Perhaps the most beautiful part of the villa is it’s exterior: a maze of lush gardens with some 500 fountains running all at once. During the summer, the villa is also open at night and believe me, it’s equally gorgeous lit up at night. It’s a perfect place to propose!

The post Rome: The 5 most romantic spots in town appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Prague is home to about 30 cemeteries that are maintained by the city. Two into which I recommend venturing are located nearly side-by-side in Prague’s third district. Both are free to enter, and hours are posted outside of each.

Olsany Cemetery (Olsanske Hrbitovy)
Vinohradska 1835/153
Praha 3 – Zizkov

Olsany has several entrances. The easiest to locate is the one just to the right of Palac Flora mall. I know it sounds weird having a mall next to a cemetery—and it is—but once down the stairs, through the gate and inside the walls, the mall melts away and is replaced by singing birds, lush trees and ivy growing everywhere.

Founded in 1680, Olsany is the oldest burial ground outside of Prague’s old city walls and the city’s largest, with nearly 1.5 million people buried within it. Comprised of 46 hectares, it was started to accommodate the increased deaths during a plague epidemic at the end of the 17th century.

The cemetery is notable for its many art nouveau monuments. Its oldest stones can be found in the northwestern corner, close to the 17th-century Chapel of St. Roch (“kaple sv Rocha”). Final resting place to actors, writers, artists, politicians and many others, a few of Olsany’s most famous inhabitants include artist and writer Josef Lada, Klement Gottwald (communist president of Czechoslovakia) and Jan Palach (a student who committed self-immolation on Wenceslas Square in 1969 in protest against the Soviet invasion).

The New Jewish Cemetery (Novy zidovsky hrbitov)
Izraelska 712/1
Praha 3 – Zizkov

Located on the same street, just a short walk west and across the busy intersection at Jana Zelivskeho street, the New Jewish Cemetery was built in 1891 when the Old Jewish Cemetery (located in the city center and the more familiar of the two) ran out of space. The New Jewish Cemetery is still in use today.

Home to some 100,000 graves, the New Jewish Cemetery houses tombstones in a wide range of styles including Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance, Art Nouveau, Classicism, Purism and Constructivism. Many monuments were designed by the country’s best-known artists, architects and sculptors.

For example, renowned architect Jan Kotera designed two art-nouveau monuments for members of the Perutz family. Sculptor Josef Vaclav–creator of the famous St. Wenceslas statue on Wenceslas Square–created two busts that adorn one of the cemetery’s most elaborate tombs belonging to the Waldes family.

The cemetery’s most famous inhabitant is world-renowned writer Franz Kafka. When you walk into the cemetery you’ll see a sign directing you to the grave, just a short walk to the right. Designed by architect L. Ehrmann, the tomb’s shape is a hexahedral, truncated crystal. Kafka shares the burial with his parents. Just across from him on the wall is a memorial plaque to Kafka’s friend and promoter, Max Brod.

Other cemeteries

Another cemetery worth having a look at is located in the Vysehrad neighborhood. Here you will find the tombs of author Jan Neruda, writer Karel Capek, poet Karel Hynek Macha and composer Antonin Dvorak. Read more here.

Do you have a favorite cemetery in Prague? Tell us about it in our comments section.

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For such a small city, Dublin is rich in parks. It has the largest city park in Europe as well as small parks and a charming little canal. Venturing to the following parks will get you face to face with local Dubliners kicking around a soccer ball, having a family picnic, or sneaking a few cans of Bulmers (that’s “Magners” to us Americans) in the sun.

St. Stephens Green
Web site

It’s certainly not off the beaten path, but St. Stephens Green is the main artery of the whole city. This park, situated smack in the middle of Dublin, is beautiful and serene, particularly in spring and fall. When the first daffodils break ground in Stephens Green, this is the first signal that winter is on the way out.

Plan a picnic here and you might encounter lunchtime concerts. Don’t be surprised to see kids walking around with bags of stale bread–they’ve come to feed the swans and ducks.

Herbert Park
Web site

In the leafy neighborhood of Ballsbridge is a gorgeous little park called Herbert Park. This is where you will find the family picnics, the after-work rugby matches, the outdoor yoga classes, and in season, lovely flowers. In the spring Herbert Park is especially spectacular, when the trees flower and the ducklings have just hatched.

One easy way to reach Herbert Park is by Dublin Bike, the city’s bike share program. The park is less than a 15-minute cycle from St. Stephens Green.

Phoenix Park
Web site

Located on the north side of the River Liffey, Phoenix Park is the largest city park in Europe. Famous for the deer that roam wildly, this is one of the best places in Dublin for a serious cycle or long run. The massive park also hosts concerts from time to time, and makes a fantastic outdoor venue.

Iveagh Gardens
Web site

Of all the parks in Dublin, Iveagh Gardens is one of the best-kept secrets. It’s tucked away just beyond St. Stephens Green, and feels as if you’re making a great discovery when you enter through its ancient gates. It might be small in size, but between fountains, statues, and flowers, there’s plenty to see. Bring your picnic here, and you are sure to be surrounded only by Irish accents.

Cheapos know that you don’t have to spend big to scratch beneath the surface of a destination. You just need to find a free park bench and open your eyes.

Your favorite park in Dublin?

Have a favorite park in Dublin that we didn’t mention? Tell us about it in our comments section.

The post Dublin: Best parks for exploring nature and meeting locals appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a few of my favorite rendezvous-worthy places, squares and gardens, along with the les bancs (benches) and statues that bring them to life. So allons-y! Pack an umbrella, reading material and a picnic. Oh, je t’aime! Je ne me quitte pas!

1.) Place du Trocadéro

Where: Place du Trocadéro, 16th arrondissement (Métro Trocadéro)

Here you’ll find my favorite view of the Eiffel Tower! Let’s first meet up for a brownie and a Coke Zero at the bustling, family-friendly Café Carlu nestled inside the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine. This is my new happy place! I think you’re going to dig the bookshop, too.

2.) Place Dalida

Dalida at Place Dalida

Where: The tip of rues Girardon and Abreuvoir, 18th arrondissement (Métro Abbesses)

Pilgrims from all over the world visit the quite fetching bust of Dalida (the female Elvis of France) and touch her for

luck! By the way, the pop diva’s house is located nearby on rue d’Orchampt, and her grave is in the Cimetière de Montmartre. (Katy Perry’s fireworks got nothing on you, Dalida!)

3.) Le Jardin du Musée Galliéra

Where: 11-13 avenue du Président Wilson, 16th arrondissement (Métro Iéna or Alma-Marceau)

Though the museum is still closed for an extensive makeover, the gorgeous garden is still open. I love this place. This is where I catch my breath, gaze out at the mile-long lines across the street at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris and Le Palais de Tokyo and feel completely satisfied.

4.) Square Jehan Rictus

Where: Place des Abbesses, 18th arrondissement (Métro Abbesses)

Please take heed! The “J’taime Wall” will get you in the mood for random kindness, imagine! After touching the wall, we’ll saunter over to the Café Saint Jean for a lil’ vin chaud and the best chicken salad on this side of Sacré Coeur. Inside or outside, this joint is a prime people watching hot spot.

5.) Place Constantin-Pecquier

Where: 18th arrondissment (Métro Lamark- Caulaincourt) The Fontaine Steinlen

Ah, Cheapos, I’ve a confession up my faux fur sleeve. After my cat left this world for another Fancy Feast, this is where I spent many hours. Both Montmartre residents Steinlen and Erik Satie understood the wonderous feline, and I found and still find great comfort in that.

6.) Église de la Sainte-Trinité de Paris

Where: 4 Place d’Estienne d’Orves, 9th arrondissment (Métro Trinité)

I love this church not just for its beauty alone but also for its brilliant solution to the ugly construction in the works. They didn’t just apologize, Cheapos, they brought in the clowns! Bars and cafés round out the Place. The Musée du Romantisme (Museum of Romantic Life), with George Sand’s bling and other personal artifacts, is just a Chopin hop, skip and away!

7.) Jardin des Tuileries

Where: 1st arrondissement (Métro Tuileries)

Let’s meet at Métro Concorde or at Métro Carrousel du Louvre because we’ll be able to pick up reading material at either W.H. Smith Book Shop or at the fabulous museum shop at the Musée de la Mode. Let’s not forget the Jardin de Tuileries gift shop either. Cheapos, how green does your garden grow?

8.) Square du Vert-Galant

Where: Tip of the Île de la Cité, 1st Arrondissement (Métro Pont Neuf)

For the love of vitality, admiration and gossip, Parisians gave the little tear-drop-shaped park the flamboyant King Henri IV’s nickname, “Vert-Galant,” or “Gay Blade,” since he was larger than life, compassionate, wildly loved and quite the looker in the day. Mad about music, wine and women, Henri would horse around here with his friends, entertainers and favorite mistress, Gabrielle d’Estrée. Ooh, ta ta.

As Henri IV liked to say, Cheapos, “Great cooking and great wines make a paradise on earth!”

The post Paris: 7 oh-la-la spots to rendezvous with a view appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.