1. Start with a free map

Free maps are available at the tourist information office, as well as the blue kiosks at Central Station.

2. Food Markets

Stroll along and fill your senses with sight, sound and smell at one of the many outdoor food markets like Albert Cuypstraat and Dapper markets. Go for free samples of cheeses and produce!

3. Free coffee

Some Albert Hein grocery stores have a coffee machine dispensing freshly-ground cups for shoppers; follow your nose!

4. Ferry rides

All ferries behind Central Station are free; pick one and see where it leads you (the average travel time is just five to 15 minutes).

5. See street art

A walk down Spuistraat will make you feel like you’ve entered a gritty and colorful street art exhibition. Art pieces can scale entire building faces, and much of the street is lined with different works side-by-side.

6. The Wave Game

My favorite game to play on a sunny afternoon. Dangle your legs on a canal that’s busy with touristy boats. When one putts along, wave at the boaters and count how many wave back (a good way to measure which boats are the most fun!).

7. Hang at the Dam

Spend time under the National Monument (you know, that tall, phallic-looking statue at Dam Square) and watch the many street performers and gathering crowds come and go.

8. Free jazz

There are quite a few free jazz nights at cafes like Jazz Café Alto and Chet’s. See what’s on when you’re in town. (Check out our previous post on free jazz performances for every night of the week.)

9. Free jigs

Mulligan’s Irish Bar, just off Rembrandtplein, hosts free live Irish music every night in its cozy and cheerful pub.

10. Flower power

Have you seen the floating flower market? It’s better to look and not buy the overly-priced souvenirs anyway, so have at it!

11. Jumping Jordaan

Walking the streets of the Jordaan district is a must for every visitor in Amsterdam. It was once an area for blue-collar workers during the 1600s, but now the quaint and cute streets and alleys have been gentrified and host a number of small art galleries.

12. Nose around Noordermarkt

On Saturdays there is a Farmers market, while Mondays are a mix of vintage clothing and antiques.

13. Nieuwmarkt is neat-o

The giant weigh station in the center of the square, De Waag, is often mistaken for a castle. However, this was the main entrance to old Amsterdam before the Golden Ages; then the square continued to lure locals interested in their main 17th-century attraction – public beheadings.

14. Free internet at the library

The public library (OBA) is right next to Central Station. It’s new and boasts a sleek modern look, with seven floors and the latest computers with free internet, free wireless, and even a free piano for tickling the ivory.

15. Priceless (and free) rooftop view

Also at the OBA is one of the best views of the Dam. Head to the top floor where café La Place is located, and outside there is a roof terrace overlooking the entire city.

16. Park it

Warm weather sends locals out to the parks. Spending the day in the sun with a good book and good company at hotspots like Vondelpark and Westerpark is one of the best ways to pass time in Amsterdam.

17. Naked ladies

Visiting the Red Light District is free, and safe! It’s the most visited part of the city, but hold off until dark when the red lights are glowing and swans gracefully float along the city’s oldest canals.

18. Free peace

In the heart of Spui square is the Begijnhof, a place where French nuns sought refuge from persecution in the 1600s. Inside this courtyard is a hidden Catholic church, a Protestant church (with services in English), and one of the two remaining wooden houses in Amsterdam.

19. Free art

Just next to Begijnhof on the left (from the exit facing the shopping street Kalverstraat ) is a hallway that’s part of the Amsterdam History Museum. It’s free to walk through, and the walls hold large portrait paintings of wealthy families and businessmen from the 1600s.

20. Beach it

A 20-minute train ride takes you to the North Sea coast town of Zandvoort. It’s the perfect place to soak up the sun with a good book.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Amsterdam right now? Check out our Amsterdam hotel guide, with reviews of budget hotels that have been visited and inspected by our editors. Read more in our Amsterdam hotel guide.

The post 20 free things to do in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Summertime and the livin’ is easy… and cheapo if you know where to head in Paris. While every other tourist is heading to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, the city offers an abundance of summertime options that will keep you dancing, bopping or enjoying a free flick.

Here are some of my favorite outdoor festivals happening this summer:

Cinéma en Plein Air
July 19 through August 21, 2011
Web site

The Parc de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement hosts an annual summertime outdoor film festival that’s popular with cinephiles. An enormous screen in the park draws crowds every night of the week, except Monday, to view a variety of movies.

This year the films have been selected from around the world, including familiar French favorites like La Haine (Aug. 13) and Les Triplettes de Belleville (July 23). From the other side of the Atlantic, there will be plenty of English-language favorites as well. Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver will open the festival on July 19th and Woody Allen’s Manhattan will be shown on August 18th.

Keeping in tune with the Broadway musical theme that has pervaded Paris this year, both Singin’ in the Rain (Aug 10) and West Side Story (Aug 21) are lined up. Entrance to this event is, of course, free. Just bring a blanket, kick back and enjoy,

Outdoor Music Festivals

No urban summer would be complete without a concert series. Here are some of Paris most popular outdoor musical performances:

Paris Jazz Festival
Through July 31
Web site

At the Parc Floral in the picturesque Bois de Vincennes in the east of Paris, the annual Jazz Festival will run through July. Every Saturday and Sunday there are concerts at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. highlighting different types of jazz. Check out the festivals Web site for a schedule.

Classiques au Vert
August 6 through September 25, 2011
Web site

Picking up where the jazz left off in the Parc Floral, starting August 6th, singers and orchestras will be celebrating the Americas with concerts dedicated to their music during the Classiques au Vert. Every Saturday and Sunday there will be groups singing and strumming along, including concerts dedicated to great Broadway melodies (Aug. 13), Sousa marches (Sept. 18) and Hollywood repertoires (Sept. 25).

For those not interested in waving Old Glory during a concert, there are plenty of concerts dedicated to classical music as well, just check the program to discover what’s going on during your time in Paris.

Sadly the concerts during both festivals are not free. They will set you back €5, or €2.50 for children, so you may have to reconsider that second glass of wine. Concerts begin at 4 p.m. each weekend.

Keep an eye out for other garden concerts (click for the entire schedule). It probably won’t be translated into English before most of the events are over, but you can check by district and date to find out what musical performances are happening throughout the city.

Danse Avec Nous

Finally, why just listen to the music when you can move along with it? Along the Left Bank of the Seine, just behind the Ile-St-Louis, you’ll find all sorts of dancing going on late into the night.

Danse Avec Nous is a club that hosts free salsa, tango and regional French dance lessons in the tiny amphitheaters that line the river. Feel free to jump in with a partner–hopefully one that knows what he or she is doing–for one of the most memorable evenings in Paris.

Just walk along the Quai Saint Bernard near the square Tino Rossi (along the river, walking with your back to Notre Dame) and you’re guaranteed to stumble across the party– just listen for the music. Pack a picnic and the night is yours–free of charge!

Other summertime activities

Read our post about the ‘Paris Plages‘ for more summer fun. Know any other great outdoor festivals happening this summer in Paris? Tell us about them in our comments section.

The post Paris in the Summer: Outdoor film, music and dance festivals appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Which is why Umbria–the central Italian region famed for its undulating landscape, historic hilltowns, and rustic cuisine—is the place to be for anyone wanting to visit the Bel Paese without having to compromise on the creme della creme. Here are several ways guaranteed to keep your costs low while visiting Umbria:

Art and Architecture
Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi

Umbria hasn’t yet jumped on the “charging admission for churches” bandwagon—unlike Florence and Venice—so the region’s most iconic architectural monument (and one of the most important fresco cycles in the history of art) is still free.

The imposing 13th-century Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi is a breathtaking example of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture and home to works by Cimabue and, most famously, Giotto. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 and one of the most visited monuments in Italy, the Basilica is best enjoyed in the relative peace of the early morning or late afternoon, when day trippers and busloads of pilgrims aren’t crowding the chapels.

For opening hours and events, visit http://www.sanfrancescoassisi.org/.

Music and General Merry-Making
Umbria Jazz Festival (July)

Umbria hosts over 20 music festivals each year–an astonishing number given this region’s tiny size and population—and Umbria Jazz is the uncontested king. Held each July in Perugia, this juggernaut of an international event stretches over two weeks and attracts some of the biggest names in jazz (and beyond—I’ve seen R.E.M., Alicia Keys, and Eric Clapton here, as well).

Sure, the headlining concerts may be out of your travel budget, but take a stroll down Perugia’s main Corso to enjoy the irresistable festive vibe and pop in at one of the many free outdoor concerts in the piazze downtown. For a complete schedule: http://www.umbriajazz.com/

History and Culture
Mercato delle Gaite (Bevagna, late June)

There is nothing like an Umbrian town during its annual festival when banners flutter under each window, taverne (temporary outdoor eating areas) sprout overnight in the squares, and street musicians, costumed processions, medieval markets, and crossbow tournaments are center stage.

Almost every town has its own historic festival and a perennial favorite is Bevagna’s Mercato delle Gaite held in late June. Each town district–or gaite—accurately reconstructs functioning artisan workshops using both the techniques and technology of the 1300s to produce items that include silk (from silkworm to cloth), paper, bronze bells, beeswax candles, and religious icons. For a program, see http://www.ilmercatodellegaite.it/ (a €6 ticket buys you a visit the ten workshops)

Wine (and, if you’re lucky, Food)
“Open Cellars” (May)

One of the most anticipated days of the year is the last Sunday in May when wineries across Umbria open their doors to the public for Cantine Aperte (Open Cellars).

Participating vineyards—there were more than 50 this year–organize wine tastings, cellar tours, vineyard walks, live music, and (in some cases) food. At the entrance to the vineyard, each visitor purchases a souvenir glass in a pouch (which you hang from your neck to keep your hands free for the buffet!) for €5, which is good for filling at any participating vineyard all day.

Each winery has its own procedure, but generally their house wines are free (in your official glass), their higher-end wines may be available for tasting for a small charge, and food can be either free or available for a small fee. You can find a list of participating vineyards here.

Nature and the Great Outdoors
Sibilline National Park

There’s a reason Umbria is known as Italy’s “green heart”, and not just because it’s a catchy hook. This region is dotted with natural parks and reserves and offers some dramatic hikes.

One of my favorites is the trail up Mount Vettore in the Sibilline National Park. Climbing from the Piano Grande plateau near the tiny hamlet of Castelluccio, the path leads to Lago di Pilato (Pilate’s Lake) famed for its tiny prehistoric crustacean, and for the legend that Pontius Pilates bones lay in its depths.

Fact or fiction? You can take your time to mull it over while you picnic near its shores, soak in the view, and rest up for the hike back down to the plain–all this for the price of the CAI Monte Sibillini trail map. For more information about this National Park, check out their Web site.

About the author: Rebecca Winke moved to Italy from Chicago in 1993 and shortly thereafter opened an agriturismo in her husband’s renovated family farmhouse at the foot of Mount Subasio near Assisi, Umbria. She spends her time taking care of guests at Brigolante, blogging about the lovely region she now calls home at Rebecca’s Ruminations, and wondering about what strange winds blew an urban vegetarian to a farm in Umbria.

The post Umbria: 5 ways to explore Umbria à la cheapo appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

You have a coffee, munch a croissant, ride the bus and buy a postcard for your mom and BAM!…. another €10 is gone! This is a city where it is very easy to spend money at a rapid clip. Here are a few places where it pays to lay down your euro bucks:

1. Rent a bike

A bike tour with most cycle companies in the city is about €20. Instead, rent a bike for four hours for €10, get out your map and create your own bike tour! It’s best to stick to the bike lanes and paths near the beach. http://www.barcelonarentabike.com/en/

2. See a Spanish movie

Obviously there is a language issue with this idea, but if you do speak Castellano, then try out your verbs and vocabulary at one of Barcelona’s many cinemas! This can be a relaxing way to end an evening if you have been trekking around the metropolis all day. Renoir is my cinema pick for Spanish films and other original version films. Films cost about €7 each. (Watch out; popcorn will put you over €10.)

3. Visit a market

Barcelona has some fantastic markets which are, of course, all free to visit. Stop into Santa Caterina Market in the morning and spend your €10 on lunch inside the market (Plaça de les Glories Catalane, C/ Dos de Maig, 186). Or head to Encants Market (Mon/Wed/Sat from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.) to check out Barcelona’s best flea market. You never know what treasures you may come across!

I love going to flea markets because in many ways it’s like a history lesson from the place I am visiting. Looking through people’s junk from 50 years ago, you get an idea of what life was like in Barcelona once-upon-a-time….

4. Tour Catalunya Caixa’s Casa Milà

Believe it or not, this one is FREE. So you just saved €10, which means more Spanish Rioja wine for you later. One of the best deals in the city, Catalunya Caixa’s Casa Milà houses rotating art exhibitions. Check ahead to see what’s on but know that their shows are always top quality. Casa Milà is also one of Gaudí’s most important buildings (but you’ll have to pay more to go into the Gaudí Museum part). http://www.lapedreraeducacio.org/

5. Groove at a Jamboree Jazz Concert

In the Gothic Quarter, I adore Jamboree and its fabulous line-up of jazz, blues and soul concerts nightly. The best part about it is that almost all their shows are €10. Sometimes they bring in a Big Dog in the jazz scene and tickets shoot up to €15 or €20, but this is an exception to the rule. See their line-up ahead of time and get your tickets in advance to save. http://www.masimas.com

6. Wander Park Guell

Another freebie! Well, almost free, seeing as you have to pay for the bus ticket up to the park. If you are in good shape do yourself a favor and don’t take the bus. Instead take the Metro to “Lesseps” and walk up, up, up to the park’s main entrance. Then walk some more inside this weird Gaudí wonderland. If you do take public transportation, you’ll only pay about €3 for transportation there and back. Use your remaining €7 to get a drink in the park and tip the many musicians who play along the pathways. http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/

Update 2013: Sadly, the city announced that they will start charging €8 to visit Park Guell as of October 2013.

7. Jam Sessions at Jazz Si

This place is great and I would go there a lot more often if their concert times weren’t so early. By early I mean the Saturday Night Jazz Jam session begins at 7:45 p.m. Not early in most parts of the world, but basically the afternoon in Spain. Still, for €5 a concert, Jazz Si is a steal. Also consider their Rock-Pop-Blues-Funk Jam Session on Tuesdays. (Note: Get there early, as this place is popular!) Address: Club del Taller de Músics, C/ Requesens, 2 – Barcelona.

8. Picnic in the Park

On a sunny day, pack yourself a picnic of bread, cheese, ham and a bottle of Rioja and head to Park Ciutadella in Barcelona’s city center. Walk around the park taking a peek at the Zoo (warning: expensive to get in), the gardens, the palms, the man-made lake and the elaborate fountain.

On certain evenings in the summertime there is free live music at the gazebo in Park Ciutadella, one of my favorite Barcelona perks! The cost is in the food for this outing, as a visit to the park is free. If you want to take a boat out on the pond, that’s a bit more, and not really worth it.  http://www.bcn.es/

9. Castle on the mountain

Take the zipper train up the mountain to the Castillo de Montjuic. Again, the cost for this outing is in the transportation, as getting into the castle, which dates back to the early 1600’s and has a dark past, is free. Honestly, there are some fabulous views to be had from the castle and it’s well worth the trip to get an idea of how the city is laid out. There is a small restaurant inside the castle offering snacks and lunch, but not much else. http://www.castillomontjuic.com/

10. Tours with Runner Beans

Runner Beans offers free tours of Barcelona’s old city center every day at 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The guides take you on a two-hour tour and you tip them at the end depending on the experience.

Obviously, this is how the guides make all their money, so it is important to tip. I have not been on one of these tours, but have heard a lot about them, as this is a new concept in Barcelona. Would you tip your guide €10? Maybe. Or maybe €7 with €3 leftover for a cafe con leche. http://www.runnerbeantours.com/

The post Barcelona: 10 great things to do for under €10 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.