To really get into la dolce vita, it’s better to limit yourself to a few cities or towns and take your time in each one. Delays and unforeseen events (along with these common tourists mistakes) can derail even the best-planned schedules and cause stress, which is the opposite of what your vacation should be about.

If you’re planning to be in Italy for 10 days and want to see the best cities the country has to offer, while also leaving time to enjoy spontaneous events and relax, follow this itinerary. This schedule takes you through the greatest hits of Rome, Florence, and Venice for an unforgettable and affordable vacation.

In another post, we offer tips for exploring Italy by car, including small villages and towns. However, for this trip, we’re hitting up the country’s big three cities, so we’ll travel by high-speed train.

Related: 11 Simple ways to save on your trip to Italy

Day 1: Arrive in Rome

Fly into Rome, take the train in from the airport and spend the afternoon and evening relaxing.

Take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood of your hotel (we recommend staying at one of these budget hotels with central locations), and indulge in your first Italian meal. Roman food is unique to the rest of Italy, so ask your concierge or host for their recommendations on the best amatriciana or cacio e pepe in the neighborhood. If you find yourself near the Spanish Steps, you can try one of these restaurants.

Affordable hotels in Rome:
• All budget hotels in Rome

The Duomo is the heart of Florence and must-see for your first day. Photo: Dennis Jarvis

Days 2 & 3: Explore Florence

You’ll see everything Rome has to offer soon, but today we’ll take a train to Florence, about two hours away from Rome’s Termini train station. Book these tickets well in advance for the lowest prices (from €17!) directly from Trenitalia, the national railway. (By the way, don’t be confused if you type “Florence” into the search and nothing comes up. You need to search for “Roma” to “Firenze.” Another note: If Trenitalia’s website shows up as unavailable for your region, you can book the same tickets at the same rates, plus a €3.50 fee, through the U.S.-based Italiarail.com.)

Florence, the heart of Tuscany, is also one of the most beautiful and culturally important cities in the country. Arrive in the early afternoon and, after checking into your hotel, spend the rest of the day wandering around the famed Basilica (the “Duomo”) and climbing to the top. You’ll be hungry after the walk, and when in Florence, make sure to eat a panini or the famous dish, Bistecca alla Fiorentina! (Read more posts about eating for cheap in Florence.)

The next day is for sightseeing (Read: 5 ways to save on sightseeing in Florence). After a tasty breakfast, spend the day exploring Florence, whether you want to visit Michelangelo’s David sculpture in the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, pore over art in the Uffizi Gallery, or shop for handmade leather goods and souvenirs.

Cheap hotels in Florence:
• All budget hotels in central Florence

It’s hard not to fall in love with the Grand Canal in Venice. Photo: Gerhard G.

Day 4 & 5: Strolling in Venice

Head to Venice by train from Florence, a ride that takes approximately two hours. Again, book those tickets in advance through Trenitalia (and search for “Venezia”).

Once in Venice, you can immerse yourself in the romance of the canals and beauty of handmade blown glass. Venice is known for its seafood, so take advantage and feast on octopus and calamari. Unfortunately, Venice is also known for overpriced, tourist trap restaurants, so ask a local for recommendations. (Read more of our posts about food in Venice.)

When choosing a hotel in Venice, we like to go close, but not too close, to St. Mark’s Square. The Castello neighborhood is a nice option, with several affordable options that are tucked away and quiet-ish, but still super-convenient. Want a canal view? Consider these budget hotel picks. Want more options? Here’s a list of our favorite hotels in Venice.

On your second day in Venice, start your day at a delicious Venetian bakery, and then get ready for an unforgettable walk. From the Piazza San Marco (where every building turns a lovely shade of pink during sunset), to Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s brilliant Basilica, there’s plenty to do.

From our Venice sightseeing guide: visit these 10 sights for under €15, check out these lesser-known museums, hit up these 5 free sights, or take a walk through the Jewish ghetto.

Of course, one of the best things to do in Venice is sip a glass of wine while watching the gondolas glide by. You can also hop on a ferry, if a gondola ride is too expensive for your tastes. (It is for ours!)

Hotel picks for Venice:
• All budget hotels in Venice

Days 6 – 8: A Roman Holiday

Today, you’ll head back to Rome by train, passing through hill country and several castles along the way. It’s only three hours on the high-speed train from Venice, but the trip takes much longer on a regional train. (If booked in advance, the fast train will probably be about the same price as the slow one!)

When choosing a hotel in Rome, check out this list of our favorite budget hotels. This includes several that are near the train station, as well as those in extremely convenient locations near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona and Spanish Steps. (See all recommended hotels in Rome.)

Once checked in, take a night stroll through the city. The piazzas are bustling until late in the evening, and the city sparkles at night. If you have time, visit the Trevi Fountain by moonlight.

Related:
• 25 Free things to see and do in Rome
• 10 Easy ways to save on your next trip to Rome

Plan what you want to see in Rome, and split it up over the next few days. A tour of the Vatican will take about half a day, as will a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum.

Related:
• 10 Tips for visiting St. Peter’s Basilica & the Vatican Museums
• Rome’s 4 commonly overlooked treasures

But give yourself at least one day to explore Rome away from the big sights. Explore outdoor markets, shop for Italian fashion, relax in one of Rome’s many gardens and parks, and just wander along the city’s cobblestone side streets!

Don’t forget to eat lots of gelato and drink house wine! Seriously, the house wine is much cheaper and just as good as most of the bottled stuff. It’s local! (Read more about eating and drinking in Rome.)

The beautiful waters of Anzio, Italy are just a quick and cheap train ride away from Rome. Photo: Helen Cook

Day 9 – Day trip

If you’re in love with Rome, go ahead and spend another day checking more attractions off of your wish list.

If you’re up for something new, there are several fun day trips easily accessible from Rome. Whether you want to enjoy some sun at nearby beaches, the hillside villages of Castelli Romani, or the ruins of Ostia Antica (one of the best-kept secrets in all of Italy), getting out of the city is worth it to see a different side of Italy before you leave. Most trains depart from Termini Station.

Day 10 – Arrivederci Italy

Have one last cappuccino and cornetto for breakfast and you’re off! Of course, your memories from 10 days in bella Italia will last a lifetime.

Your Italy tips

Have you been to Rome, Florence or Venice? Tell us how you like to save when you are sightseeing (and eating!) during your trip.

The post 10-day itinerary for Italy: An affordable trip to Rome, Florence and Venice appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When putting your travel itinerary together, try to remain calm and realistic. If possible, give yourself a minimum of two nights at every stop in order to minimize travel expenses and keep everyone happy.

Note: This is Chapter Two in our Ultimate Budget Travel Guide to Europe.

The trip planning experience can be exhilarating. You know that you have a set number of days (or weeks!) to travel, and you look at a map with all the lip-smacking excitement of a kid in a candy store. Where do you want to visit? Where don’t you want to visit?

Imagine that you’re putting together an itinerary for a 10-day European trip. You could start in Paris, head to Amsterdam, then take a train to Salzburg, Venice and Rome? Wait, maybe start in Madrid instead, then drive up to Barcelona, Nice, Milan, Munich and then Amsterdam? But hold on. What about Prague?!?!

If you’re only traveling for 10 days, either of those options is certain to cost you dearly (in transportation costs alone) and, without question, lead to grumpy and exhausted travelers.

My epic misadventure

I know, because I’ve been there. In a state of unabashed enthusiasm, I once rented a car for about 10 days and drove with friends from Berlin to Paris, then to Madrid, Lisbon, Seville, Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Locarno, Tubingen and back to Berlin.

Sounds great, right? It certainly started out with a blast–and ended with silence, as nobody talked in the car for the last day.

I had made a classic mistake: I’d overbooked us. When I had mapped it all out beforehand at my kitchen table it all seemed like so much fun. It worked, technically. But in practice, it meant that we spent far too much time sitting in a car (or, in my case, driving the car), and not nearly enough time exploring the cities we slept in or the tiny towns we raced by.

We ended up resenting that we had to keep on driving past places we wanted to visit. And if we did stop to check out the scene, we’d end up arriving late at whatever hotel I’d booked (months beforehand). We’d have time for a late dinner, then wake up and start over. There was never any time that wasn’t in motion–we could never actually relax.

A note to first-time American travelers to Europe

I grew up in the great state of Ohio and spent many wonderful summer breaks cruising from state to state in the family van. We took in a lot of territory during our one- and two-week family jaunts, often spending much of day taking in the scene from the air conditioned comfort of the big old Ford. Sure, we’d stop for meals, photo ops and major tourist sights (Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, a day at Disneyland), but much of the adventure was the drive itself.

Many travelers from the US approach their European travel planning with a similar mindset. Why not jump from town to town every day, taking in the landscape, driving through cities and finding fun spots for dinner along the way?

Add to our inherent “road trip” instinct the fact that we get the fewest days of vacation each year of any industrialized country, and the high cost of flights to Europe in the first place, and you’ve got a situation where American travelers understandably want to pack in as many experiences as possible during their European trips.

Nobody’s going to stop you from doing this, of course, and you might have a grand time. However, you’d be missing out on a lot. Many of the cities that you’ll be passing through have histories that go back more than a millennium. A region that you could speed through in an hour probably has its own cuisine worth sampling, wine worth tasting, and dessert worth gobbling. It’s worth slowing down to experience it.

Step one: Slow down!

I’ll get off my soapbox now, but you get my point: When pulling together your perfect itinerary for your upcoming trip to Europe, my first piece of advice is to slow down.

There’s a budget upside to slowing down, too. Aside from your sanity and the happiness of your travel companions, slowing down can also lead to real savings. Read on…

Gas is expensive.

Slowing down means less gas. Gasoline in Europe is far more expensive than in North America. If you’re planning to rent a car and drive like crazy, you’re in for a real shock at the pump.

Don’t believe me? As I write this, the average cost of gas in the US is just over $3. As you can see on this European gas tracker, it’s currently $6.59 in France — and higher in Italy.

Slowing down means fewer train tickets.

Zipping from city to city on Europe’s high-speed rail network is an experience in itself and is highly recommended. You can speed from Florence to Rome in 90 minutes on the high-speed train (and for as little as €20 off-peak if you book directly in advance!).

However, those seats (and those on France’s TGV, Germany’s ICE, and Spain’s Renfe) can be expensive in high season. Save on transportation costs by scaling back your itinerary. Not to mention that if you speed from one city to the next day after day, most of your trip memories will be of train stations and cafe cars.

Tips for creating the perfect Europe itinerary

Now, let’s start putting the trip itinerary together. How many stops? How many nights in each stop? Here are some thoughts:

Where are you starting?

You probably already have an idea of where your trip is starting, and, in some ways, the scope of the trip. Is this a trip to France? Italy? Ireland? For most travelers (especially those flying to Europe from North America, Asia or Australia), you’ll be flying into the capital city or a major airport. And thus, many itineraries will start here.

Check out these suggested itineraries:

• 10-day itinerary for Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice)
• 10-day itinerary for Portugal
• 10-day itinerary for Spain
• 5-day itinerary for Switzerland
• Weekend in Bruges

Rest up before taking off

Of course, some adventurous travelers might feel compelled to immediately hop in a car or train upon their arrival, and head off on the road.

One word of warning: If you’re taking a long, international flight to get to Europe, you will arrive tired. Boarding a train (or connecting flight!) and heading off for another part of the country is certainly doable, but I’d caution against hopping immediately behind the wheel of a rental car.

Again, I speak from experience, in this case that of a close friend (who shall remain anonymous). Ever the optimist, he picked up a car immediately after arriving on a red-eye flight into London Heathrow, and then headed south for Brighton, only 2 hours south by car.

Perhaps it was the “left side of the road” driving. Or maybe it was the fog. But let’s just say that his rental car had suffered significant scrapes before the day was done, the result of a silly parking lot mishap. I’ll speculate that this would never have happened had he rested for at least a day before heading off on the road.

Minimize the one-night stands.

Try this: When building out your itinerary, don’t allow yourself any one-night stops. Unless you’re really on a mission to get somewhere, give yourself at least two nights in every hotel you book.

This little tip will force you to slow down and take in your surroundings a bit. But on a more practical note, it will relieve the hassle of schlepping your bags from hotel to hotel, packing and unpacking, checking in and checking out. All of that busy work can be a time-waster and add stress to your trip.

I recently helped a friend plan a trip to Normandy from Paris. His instinct was to drive up from Paris to a small B&B near the American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, spend the night, and then head back to Paris the next day.

What was the problem with this plan? It didn’t leave any time to actually visit the beaches, cemetery, or surrounding towns. He might have been able to see a few things, but not take the time to really take it in. Fortunately, he booked two nights, and he greatly enjoyed exploring not only the beaches and cemetery, but the surrounding villages. He later told me about an unforgettable experience he had going to mass in a small village church–something that certainly would have fallen off an over-packed itinerary.

Use your two-day stops as bases for exploration.

If you do take my advice and give yourself at least two-day stops along your trip, use those stops as bases for exploration. This way you can wake up, not have to pack things up, head off to explore, and feel relaxed that you can come back to your “home base” whenever you please.

You also have the added bonus of exploring a territory that your hotel owner will be very familiar with. He or she will be able to offer all kinds of inside advice for activities not to miss, restaurants to try out, and views to take in.

A few years ago my partner and I were married in France. For our honeymoon we headed to the Greek island of Crete. During the planning stages, we were both so excited about experiencing the island that, in typical fashion, we planned to move from town to town each day, making our way around the island over the course of the week. There were so many things to see on the east coast, and amazing villages in the west, and great beaches along the south… and the ancient Minoan ruins in the north!

And then something happened. We remembered that this wasn’t a race: It was our honeymoon. At the last moment, we booked one amazing mountainside hotel in the southeastern part of the island, and used this as our home base. We checked in and unpacked for the week. Although we had brought along a travel guidebook, some of the best advice we received was from the friendly hotel manager.

From here, each morning, we took off to explore the beaches, the ruins, the villages, and the amazing restaurants. And every night, we came home, relaxed, and happy that we didn’t have to pack up in the morning.

This is an extreme example (it’s a honeymoon, after all), but I bring it up as it’s one trip where I forced myself to overcome my instinctive “go, go, go” trip mentality. And, in the end, the trip was more relaxed and full of surprises.

Prefer one night stops? Cut back on travel time.

I know that the (minimum) two-day stop isn’t going to work for everyone and for every trip. Sometimes you’re on a mission — you’re just trying to get from Venice to Paris by car, an 11-hour drive. Some will be tempted to just do the whole thing in one epic day on the road.

Do a search on Google maps for the route and you’ll see several halfway marks that would be perfect for an overnight. (I would recommend either Lyon or Geneva.) If you’re on a mission, I probably won’t be able to convince you to spend two nights in either city. (Even though either would be amazing. You could explore the vineyards of the Cotes-du-Rhone during your day off in Lyon, or search for the perfect cheesy raclette in the mountain villages surrounding Geneva!)

However, I would at least recommend an overnight in one of these towns, or at countless smaller villages along the way. The point is to break that 11-hour trip up into smaller, manageable trips. For this example, I think at least two overnights would be better. Three or four hours of driving every day will still give you time to explore the territory.

You don’t always need to drive in circles.

When you’re checking around for flights to Europe for your trip, remember to check “open jaw” flights that allow you to fly into one city and home from another. (For example, a flight from Boston to London, and then a return flight from Amsterdam to Boston.)

Increasingly, these flights cost about the same amount as flights into and out of the same city. “Open jaw” flights can have a big impact on your itinerary, as they can free you to plot your trip in a straight line, avoiding that end-of-trip requirement to circle back to your city of arrival.

For example, say that you’re flying from Chicago to London, then heading by train to Paris, and then down to Nice before heading home. Check flights from Chicago to London, but with a return from Nice to Chicago. There’s no need to make the mad dash from Nice all the way back up to London. So many travelers do this, and it can add unnecessary stress and expense to the final days of your trip. (Wouldn’t you rather be hanging out on the beach for another day than hustling back to London?)

One caveat: These “open jaw” flights might not work for you if you’re renting a car. (You’re in luck if you’re moving around Europe by train or by one-way flights inside Europe.) Renting a car in one European country and dropping it off in another can be quite expensive, as the company usually tacks on a fee to go fetch the car and bring it back home.

Your trip itinerary

Now, back to your drawing board (or kitchen table). Try plotting out your destinations, giving consideration to all the stops along the way. Play around with your itinerary and see what it looks like if you trim a couple of stops, and double up the nights on others.

And remember, by building more time into each step of your trip, you’re giving yourself more time for surprises and serendipity. You don’t need to know what you’re going to do on your day off in southern Spain. You’ll find something tasty, we promise you!

The post Europe Itinerary: Creating the best trip for your budget appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, it is possible to ride the rails without breaking the bank. With a little bit of scrappy research, cheap accommodations can be found. And as elsewhere in Europe, supermarkets are a reliable way to keep food costs low.

Let’s look at how I tried to keep this Swiss adventure as inexpensive as possible and how I decided where to go.

Transportation: Benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass

Cost

For 251 CHF ($249; €234), I bought a four-day second-class Swiss Travel Pass. Beforehand, I did some research to make sure it was worth it. Although it was far less of a deal than I’d hoped it would be, it did end up helping my budget. I added up each of the four days of travel and realized that I was just saving 25.20 CHF ($25; €23.50) over the four days of the pass. Not great but better than nothing!

Benefits

However, beyond the modest savings, there are distinct advantages to the pass beyond the modest savings.

One, it covers public bus transportation in many cities, including, for my purposes, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Zürich, and Scuol, places where I knew it would come in handy and save an additional, not insignificant, sum.

Secondly, it includes access to many museums, including the Musée International de Horlogerie (the International Watch Museum) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which otherwise charges 15 CHF ($14.90; €14) for adult admission.

Thirdly, the pass gave me a great deal of freedom. I didn’t have to make a single seat reservation, and I was able to break up my journeys at leisure and make on-the-spot itinerary changes.

Museums

Here is a list of museums included on the pass.

Switzerland budget itinerary

I keep a notebook with lists of places to visit. These are places I come across in articles, history books, novels, and blogs. A few months ago, I noticed that the page titled “Switzerland” had four places on it:

• La Chaux-de-Fonds, a gritty, watch-making city in Romandie, the Francophone western part of Switzerland
• Zürich, a city I hadn’t properly visited since I was a child
• Scuol, a Romansch-speaking town in Graubünden with natural hot springs
• Soglio, a tiny village of gray, slate-roofed houses in the Italian-speaking Bregaglia Valley, also in Graubünden

What of an itinerary that combined all four? I checked calendars and schedules. With a four-day Swiss Travel Pass and some serious research, it would be expensive but not impossible: a true mountain-to-shining-mountain tour of Switzerland. I planned it for June, flying into Basel and out of Zürich.

Looking out over La Chaux de Fonds. Photo: Nelson Minar

Day 1: La Chaux-de-Fonds

La Chaux-de-Fonds is a striking city, sitting at 1,000 meters above sea level in the Jura Mountains, just a few kilometers from the French border. Organized in a grid and historically dedicated to watchmaking, the city is also the birthplace of modernist architect Le Corbusier.

The architect’s first solo project, La Maison Blanche, a house he built for his parents in the foothills above the city, is a fascinating place, with mismatched wall heights and uncorrected mistakes. Lovingly cared for by the Association Maison Blanche, it is open to visitors on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for 10 CHF ($9.90; €9.30), with a 3 CHF reduction for under-12s and the elderly.

Hotel: I was pleased to come very close to my goal in La Chaux-de-Fonds. I found modest accommodations at Hotel Chez Gilles near the center of the city. The bill was just a bit over my budget for 120 CHF, but the location was great. This rate included a breakfast which I found to be pretty lackluster.

Day 2: Zürich

I stopped in Biel/Bienne, another city tied to watchmaking, on my journey from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Zürich. This bilingual city sits on the country’s Röstigraben or the German/French linguistic divide. Its old town is well preserved; one highlight is the town church, which was built in the middle of the 15th century.

From there, it was on to Zürich, where I spent an afternoon and evening soaking up the city’s amazing summer energy. The streets and parks were thronging, the vegetarian buffet at Haus Hiltl (Sihlstrasse 28) was surprisingly delicious (if not dirt cheap), and Im Viadukt is just as stylish as its reputation. After having avoided Zürich for so many years out of a generalized fear of the city’s cost index, I found myself taken by it. The city’s diversity, the hipster energy of Züri-West, the clean, quiet streets, the parks, and the crispness of its retail shops are all very attractive.

Hotel: In Zürich, I stayed at the very cute Zum Guten Glück for 71.50 CHF ($71.10; €66.70). Both the shower and the toilet room were shared. Breakfast is not included in this rate, though it is on offer in the café downstairs. I loved Zum Guten Glück — see my Hotel Crush article for more details.

Day 3: Scuol

Then I was off to the mountains, to Graubünden in the country’s southeast. Switzerland’s geographically largest and only trilingual canton, Graubünden is home to isolated valleys connected to the rest of the world by single train lines and efficient yellow Postbuses.

First up was Scuol-Tarasp, a Romansch-speaking town where I was greeted in shops and on the street with the Romansch greeting “Allegra.” I walked from one end of the village to the other and spent hours in the heavenly Bogn Engiadina, where 26.50 CHF ($26.40; €24.70) got me three hours of soaking in hot and cold pools, taking saunas, and sampling three distinct types of mineral water from the surrounding region – one of which, high in iron and carbonated, has a deliciously odd taste.

Hotel: In Scuol, I found Villa Maria, which has unfortunately closed since my stay. I found the hospitality of the proprietors quite remarkable. There was a small basket of fruit in the room upon my arrival, and I was sent off after breakfast with a newspaper, apples, and the offer of a sandwich.

If you’re planning your own trip to Scuol, check out over 100 accommodations in the city.

Hiking through the scenic village of Soglio. Photo: VC

Day 4: Soglio

The following day, after connections by train and bus, I walked the extraordinary Sentiero Panoramico hiking path, which stretches from one tiny village, Casaccia, to another, Soglio. It’s 17 kilometers long, and winds its way through fields, by a dam, through the sleepy village of Roticcio, across a dozen or so waterfalls, and through chestnut forests.

It is, without an iota of exaggeration, one of the most satisfying hikes I have ever undertaken. With several breaks, it took five and a half hours. I ran into just one other walker on the path. The one piece of advice I’d pass on would be to do this hike with someone else, or at the very least to notify friends of your plans – though not terribly demanding, the terrain was wet and occasionally slippery and the mountainsides are very steep.

Soglio is a treat of a village, with gray slate-roofed stone houses and a village church with expansive views over the valley. During the afternoon, tourists explore the town’s little alleyways and locals gossip in the squares. After sunset, most visitors leave. It becomes quiet and the mountain air gets cooler and cooler.

Hotel: In Soglio, I found Pensiun Mürias, a tiny guesthouse with a kitchen (and, crucially, a coffee machine!) for 87.50 CHF ($87; €81.60). An old farmer’s house rebuilt as a pension, it has all the atmospheric magic that you might expect, located on a narrow lane a few minutes’ walk from the epicenter of the tiny village.

Day 5: Back to Zurich

The following morning, I took two buses and two trains to get to the Zürich Airport. The journey was over. And though it was a whirlwind of a trip, it hadn’t felt in the least bit hectic. The variety of landscapes, the contemplative effects of train and bus travel, and lots of walking all had a restful effect.

Tips for eating on the cheap

Two of my hotels came with a complimentary breakfast. On those mornings I overindulged at breakfast. For lunches and dinners, I went with a combination of supermarkets and restaurants. The Swiss supermarket chain Migros offers delicious, fresh ready-made salads. I combined these with smoked salmon and cold cuts for lunches in the neighborhood of 15 CHF.

Restaurant dinners were more difficult to arrange on a budget. I splurged at Villa Maria, where, without a car, I was essentially housebound, and made a serious misstep in Zürich at an overpriced Japanese restaurant.

My big tip for affordable eating in Switzerland: Think of dinner as an extended picnic. Stock up on supermarket goods that don’t need to be refrigerated.

The post Switzerland on a Budget: Our 5-day cheapo itinerary appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Weekends pass slowly and satisfying as people embrace the feeling of this 14th century sleepy Flemish town. Plus, there’s no lack of affordable hotels and hostels in town starting at $47.

But where do you begin to figure out how to spend your time here with a range of good neighborhoods? Have no fear, because we’ve assembled a perfect Cheapo weekend in Bruges.

Day 1

Grab breakfast at a supermarket like Delhaize (they’re stocked with fresh baked goods) and enjoy the view of the Markt before the tourists arrive. On Wednesdays there’s an open market here well-equipped with locally made jams and a dozen chocolate praline stands. Unless it’s already high on your list, you should probably refrain from the €50 horse carriage ride—Bruges is extremely walkable and best absorbed by foot.

Exploring the scenic canals of Bruges is a fun and free activity. Photo: Audrey Sykes

Sightseeing and strolling the affordable attractions

For some great sightseeing in town (and on the cheap), you could start at the center Burg Square. Skip the €8 walk up the Belfry clocktower—you’ll get a city view later. With a casual stroll south, through alleyways and cottages, you’ll wind up under the Gentpoort gate. Hang in the sun by the canalways at Minnewater Park. Nearby is the Bruges photo-op Begijnhof, a peaceful garden with romance written all over it.

Window shopping for free

Window shopping might sound like an obvious to do when on a low budget, but Bruges is great for it. Small lace boutiques, Belgian waffles and chocolates are on window display like glamorous stiletto heels. Tiny handmade toys, a glistening array of Belgian beer glasses and even private houses show off quirky collections on their street facing windows.

Related: Cheap Bruges hotels in Markt and Burg

Indoor activities for cheap

Hitting the town on a rainy day? Try a visit to the Dali museum for €10, and upgrade the experience for a few extra euros—€13 gets you a glass of Cava and a Belgian chocolate. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is an ornate chapel said to house a vile of Jesus Christ’s blood, while The Church of Our Lady houses the Madonna and Child statue by Michaelangelo. Both churches are free, although viewing times of Chirst’s “blood” is an extra €2.50 donation.

De Halve Man brewery tour

Despite the hundreds of beers bottled around Bruges, there’s only one working brewery in the city. De Halve Maan (meaning The Half Moon) is family-run brewery known for their smooth Bruges Zot blond and brown beers. Their 45-minute tours happen every hour, both informative and entertaining, with a chance for a great city view, and ending with a beer to enjoy in their authentic Belgian beer cellar café. Even better, they cost only €7.50 and run all day from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Café Vlissinghe is the oldest tavern in Bruges dating back to 1515. Photo: Audrey Sykes

A wallet-friendly evening out

Cheap eats out are best found at restaurants that don’t have menus in a rainbow of languages. You can always stick to frites and waffles, but it’s not difficult to find local fare. Ribs ‘n Beer have all-you-can-eat specials for €18 on Monday (daily for groups of six or more), or a more healthy bistro Hashtag Food (€13) and fast Pasta Delizia (€6).

Turn your walkabout day into a café beer hopping adventure. Some great and authentic favorites include Le Trappiste, De Garre and T’ Brugsch Bieratelier. Many Bruges cafes hold over 300 assortments of beer. If the weather is warm check out the beer garden at Bruges oldest pub Café Vlissinghe (circa 1515!). More lively late night pubs are brought by backpacker bars like Charlie Rockets and Lybeer Traveler’s Hostel.

Day 2

If you didn’t splurge on dinner, then you should have some money left over for a tasty start to your next morning. A good patisserie or bakery in Bruges is a cheap alternative for eating a pricey breakfast. Some favorites are the Gingerbread Tea Room (€10), Patisserie Academie (€4), Books & Brunch (€12) or La Baguette (€4).

Biking around Bruges for €10

If bicycling in Amsterdam was too intimidating to try, Bruges is the best place for a round two attempt. Pick up a bike for a day at Bruges Bike Rental (€10) or Bicycles Popelier (€12) and head out of town.

Get out of town for a quick jaunt to Damme by bike. Photo: Audrey Sykes

Exploring Damme and beyond

There are bicycle signs around Bruges, and many of them point to Damme. From downtown follow the Potterierei along the canal. Once you exit town you’ll be on DamseVaart-Zuid. It’s a an easy two-mile bike ride along the river to Damme, a tiny port town from the 1400s. The bike ride offers a sweet sample of the Flemish countryside, while Damme is the perfect place to picnic for the afternoon.

A slightly more challenging bike ride north of Damme will reward visitors with the Belgian beaches of the North Sea. Towns like Blankenberge and Knokke-Heist are modest seaside towns with small sailboat harbors and windsurfers. Blankenberge gets extra points for a nice pier and a marine life park.

The post Bruges on a Budget: The perfect weekend itinerary appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We recently asked our London correspondent, Nina Derham, to pull together a blockbuster itinerary for London-bound tourists intent on taking in as much as possible in one day. Here’s a sampling from her one-day itinerary, which we’ve just published in our London guide:

1. Start with a morning coffee from Borough Market.

The post How would you spend one day in London? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.