Scotland’s largest city has plenty to offer the budget traveler, whether it’s tremendous free museums or the city’s renowned social life. It’s a working city full of contrasts, by turns gritty, glamorous and generous – and one well worth getting to know a little better.

Here’s how to enjoy this great city while saving along the way.

Budget Guide to Glasgow

How to get to Glasgow

Air
Glasgow’s International Airport handles most of the flights and is well served by the budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair (with a £10.50 shuttle bus into the center of town). If you’re traveling within Europe, check out Ryanair flights from Prestwick Airport too. Slightly farther out, but it’s an easy and inexpensive journey into the city by bus.

Train
Traveling within the UK? Getting to Glasgow by train is probably the most convenient option: Make sure to book your journey well in advance for the best fares, or consider buying a BritRail pass before you go if you’re planning to do a lot of travel. Edinburgh is also just over an hour away by train. There are regular departures and tickets cost around £10-13.

Bus
Getting the bus is by far the cheapest option — although going by bus from London, for example, will take at least double the time than the train. Check out the MegaBus and National Express for prices starting at around £15 going all the way from London to Glasgow (book well in advance) and just £3.50 from Edinburgh.

What to see and do

There are plenty of tours that will help you get your head around the city’s rich history, although many, unfortunately, will leave your budget a little poorer. However, there are some great free downloadable options to be explored here, with self-guided walks covering everything from an “obscure history guide” to a tour celebrating Glasgow’s musical heritage.

Mackintosh, with a great view

The works of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh are among Glasgow’s main attractions (you can read more about it in our Glasgow Art Nouveau guide), but many of the Mackintosh attractions do charge admission.

A happy exception is the Lighthouse building, which was Mackintosh’s first architectural commission. It now hosts displays and exhibitions, including one about Mackintosh himself. For an added free bonus, climb its spiral staircase to the top of the tower for a fantastic view over the city.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is one of the most visited museums in the country. Photo: Gordon Chirgwin

Free galleries and museums

There’s an amazing array of free museums and galleries in Glasgow, which often comes in handy in a city not blessed with the sunniest of weather! This is just a taster of what’s on offer:

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of most visited museums in the country, with a collection that caters to all tastes, and encompasses everything from Salvador Dali to Spitfire planes, stuffed animals and armor.

The Hunterian, part of the University of Glasgow, is the oldest museum in Scotland. Head here for its archaeological and ethnographical displays.

The People’s Palace offers an excellent overview of the social history of the city, while the Gallery of Modern Art does exactly what it says it does. Take note of the statue of the Duke of Wellington outside and his alternative headwear: It’s actually a proud Glasgow tradition that he wears a traffic cone! 

Parks

Glasgow is blessed with lots of parks, perfect for relaxing. Pollok Country Park in the south of Glasgow is the city’s largest green space. It’s also the site of another excellent free museum, the Burrell Collection. Housed in a distinctive 1970’s-era building, this gallery includes medieval and Gothic art, Chinese ceramics and masterpieces by the likes of Degas, Manet and Rembrandt.

You’ll find the Botanical Gardens in the west end of the city. Established in 1817, it’s home to many rare and valuable plants, as well as being a lovely place to escape the bustle of the city. Don’t miss the magnificent Kibble Palace glasshouse.

Glasgow Cathedral

The building of this impressive cathedral was begun in the late 12th century, making it intrinsically linked to the history of the city. It’s still in use for Christian services today and is open for free visits.

Adjacent is the imposing Victorian Necropolis. More than 50,000 people are buried here, and although you may not have heard of its most famous “residents”, it’s still well worth a look. Take one of the free guided walks to find out more about its fascinating stories.

The Horse Shoe is a classic with a gigantic bar and plenty of Scottish ale. Photo: Adam B.

Affordable restaurants and bars

You are spoiled for choice for both eating and drinking in the city. Often you don’t have to decide between the two activities, as many bars and pubs also serve tasty and reasonably priced food. It’s also definitely worth seeking out a traditional fish and chip shop (although whether you want to test out the Scottish habit of deep-frying everything is up to you) — let your nose guide you to the best!

Bread Meats Bread

One for the carnivores. This no-bookings restaurant attracts rave reviews for its burgers. Prices start at £6.50 for a classic Scottish beef burger, but there are many variations on offer. See how Scotland tackles North American classics such as Poutine, hot dogs and pulled pork. Tempting extras include caramelized sweet fries.

Stereo

To atone for all that meat, pay a visit to this vegan restaurant, which — in true Glasgow style — also doubles as a late-night bar, gig and club venue. The food is reasonably priced but especially worth checking out on a Monday when you can indulge in five tapas dishes for £12. Like this? The 13th Note is another vegetarian (and arty!) option to consider.

Saramago

Another late night license bar/veggie restaurant in yet another great free gallery. It’s housed in the Centre for Contemporary Arts, a venue specializing in film, music, literature, and spoken word. A particular bargain is the theater menu, served between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., where a three-course meal is priced at £12.95. At other times, expect to pay around £10 for a generous main.

The Horse Shoe Bar

More of a traditional pub, this is named for the shape of its bar – all 104 feet and three inches of it! Its dark wood and antique-tiled interior (topped with an ornate ceiling!) gives a taste of what drinking in Glasgow was like in the past. It’s far from being a museum piece however: you’ll be drinking from its great range of Scottish drinks alongside sports on the TV and the pub’s legendary karaoke sessions!

Where to Stay

Booking.com

Like most of the UK, it can be hard to find super cheap accommodations, but Glasgow does offer a few budget gems in good locations.

Sandyford provides a full Scottish breakfast (eggs, meat, mushrooms, beans, the whole deal) and is within easy reach of good shops, museums and galleries.

The family-run Argyll Hotel is close to Kelvingrove Museum and rooms are equipped with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi.

For more options, search over 900 Glasgow hotels.

The post A budget guide to Glasgow, Scotland appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Why? Because past an outer ring of unattractive high-rise housing, the city boasts a pedestrianized city center packed with charming squares and lively terraces for a drink or a meal (seafood’s a local specialty), two historic citadels, and some of Spain’s best art museums outside Madrid’s Golden Triangle.

Luckily for Cheapos, Málaga, unlike some of the other destinations along Costa del Sol (we’re looking at you, Marbella) is also very budget friendly. Read on for our best tips to getting to know this southern city on the cheap.

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• 50 ways to save on your trip to Spain
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Málaga budget travel tips

Getting There

While direct transatlantic flights aren’t available to Málaga from Toronto or New York, we recently found a round-trip fare from New York (JFK) with a long layover (12+ hours) in Casablanca, Morocco on Royal Air Maroc starting at €484.

Related: Sign up for airline newsletters to find airfare deals to Spain and all of Europe.

Another good option to save some cash? Fly into a major European point of entry (London, Paris, Madrid, or Frankfurt) and then hop a flight on a budget airline into Málaga’s main airport. Flights start at €30 each way depending on your dates. For the best prices, travel Monday through Thursday.

If you’re arriving from elsewhere in Europe or Spain, buses, rental cars, rideshares, and trains are also readily available, but for the most part, they’re hard pressed to compete with low-cost flights.

Prefer to travel overland? Your best bet to stay on budget is a rideshare or a bus. However, if you’re traveling in a group, you may be better off springing for a rental car. For example, at the time of writing, rideshares with Bla Bla Car from Madrid to Málaga start at €21 one way, buses start at €26 each way and vehicle rentals start at €55. Rail travel it is by far the most expensive option, starting at €55 per person each way.

Before you book that rental car, read through our tips for saving on a rental car in Spain.

Getting Around Malaga

Málaga’s airport, also known as the Costa del Sol Airport, is 15 to 20 minutes away from the city center. There are trains every 20 minutes and buses every 10 minutes. Both will set you back substantially less than a taxi ride with fares starting at only €2. Taxis into the city center run relatively cheap for €10-15, but even when the traffic cooperates, it will only shave a few minutes off your time in transit.

Málaga’s city center, where most of the attractions are located, is best explored on your on two feet. That said, the city also boasts a shiny new subway (finished in 2014, check out the map) and a citywide bus system if you’re far from your hotel and a little worn out to return on foot.

Tips for the metro and bus

There are two types of tickets on Málaga’s metro system that work well for visitors. Both can be topped up and used for multiple passengers and multiple trips, but a billete monedero has a €5 minimum with each ride costing you €.82 cents. A billete occasional has a minimum of €1.35, and that’s what each ride will cost you. Just remember, since these tickets are rechargeable don’t throw them out when your trips are spent and buy a new one, just top them up.

The metro runs Monday through Thursday from 6:30 am to 11 pm, Fridays from 6:30 am until 1:30 am, Saturdays from 7 am to 1:30 am and Sundays from 7 am to 11 pm.

Note: There’s not an integrated ticket system that works for both the bus system and the metro. EMT Málaga bus services are available around town and a one-way ticket costs €1.30.

Free and Cheap Things to Do in Malaga

Among the top attractions in Málaga are its world-famous art museums and ancient monuments. Fortunately for budget travelers, all of them waive their entry fees for at the very least a few hours a week. And when you’re done with the museums, there are the numerous parks and outdoors spaces that are always open to the public and 100% free to explore.

Free Malaga Museums

Even if you’re not particularly interested in art, get an eyeful of Picasso over the years without paying a cent at the Picasso Museum Sundays from 5-7 pm March-June and September-October, 6-8 pm (July-August) and 4-6 pm (November-February).

Check out the Carmen Thyssen Museum’s impressive collection of 19th-century paintings for free Sundays after 5 pm.

Love modern and contemporary art? The city’s contemporary art center, the CAC is always free.

Another option is Málaga’s Centre Pompidou, the only one located outside of France (at the time of writing). Malága’s is housed in a colorful glass cube. Immerse yourself in 20th- and 21st-century art for free Sundays after 4 pm.

Free historic attractions

Looking for something truly ancient? Málaga has a Roman theater that’s in pretty good shape, all things considered, and it’s open to the public free of charge.

Entry to the equally historically important but slightly less ancient Alcazaba and Gibralfaro castles costs €3.50 daily or it’s free Sunday afternoons.

Or browse the traditional wares and pick up some tasty charcuterie and cheese at the Atarazanas Market — it dates back to the 14th century.

Outdoor recreation

Need some exercise and fresh air after taking in all that art and history? Head for the hills and take a hike on the trails in Montes de Málaga Natural Park.

Or stroll along the seafront among manicured hedges, fountains and flowers in the botanical garden at Paseo de los Curas Park.

Or if you’d rather just relax and watch the waves, soak up the sun on one of the city’s many beaches. Playa Las Acacias, Playa de la Malagueta and Playa de la Misericordia are all easily reached on foot or via public transportation from the city center.

For more ideas, check the official website of Málaga Tourism.

Fried seafood is a specialty in Málaga. Photo: JD

Inexpensive Eats and Drinks

Málaga is well known for its high-quality seafood. Unfortunately, unlike other Spanish destinations, it’s not known for its free tapas. Sure, the odd bar may offer you a smattering of olives or a small dish of nuts with your beer, but don’t expect the elaborate offerings you’d be likely to get in cities with old-school free tapas culture like Granada.

The good news is that around town it’s pretty easy to fill your belly and throw back a drink or two for €10 or less.

Affordable late-night eats: For a late night meal on the run, we like Mafalda (Paseo Maritimo del Pedregal, 71), a local institution popular with students because of its late opening hours and Málaga’s famous hot sandwich, a campero, a toasted ham and cheese sandwich for €4-8.

Hidden jewel of a restaurant: Want something cozy and a little quirky? Head to La Recova (Pasaje Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de San Juan, 5). This old pottery shop hides an authentic local treasure — a small kitchen serving up specialties like a delicious stew of spicy grilled chorizo sausage, octopus, and vegetables.

Fresh seafood: For local seafood (mostly fried) head to Marisqueria Casa Vicente (C/Comisario 2) or Hermanos Alba in the El Palo neighborhood for shrimp, mussels and fresh fish.

A private room at the Ibis Budget Málaga Centro.

Cheap Sleeps

Dorm rooms in hostels start at €10 per night, while private hostel rooms go for around €35. Basic rooms with a private bath in the city’s budget hotels are available from €40.

Ibis Budget Málaga Centro

We particularly like the very clean and centrally located rooms at the Ibis Budget Málaga Centro. Located right in the heart of the city and quick walk from the marina, rooms at this budget chain go for around $50 — even in the high season. Book early for the best deals.

Want more budget hotel options? Search over 1,000 hotels in Málaga.

Your Malaga budget tips

Have you been to Málaga? Share your best tips in the comments section below.

The post Malaga, Spain: A budget travel guide to Malaga appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Once home to Spanish King Charles I’s court, in its heyday, Toledo was known as the Imperial City. Beyond the iconic walls and historic buildings, its also a good place to obtain a souvenir like a traditionally made sword, knife or weapon, as the city has specialized in steelmaking for centuries.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Madrid. Budget airlines fly regular routes between Madrid and major European cities like Paris, London, and Barcelona. You can search for flights on EuroCheapo.

From Madrid, you can hop a high-speed train for a 33-minute trip to Toledo for around €20 round trip. If you want to save a little bit, spend about half that and get to Toledo in around an hour with a direct ALSA bus from Plaza Eliptica. If you’ve got more time than money, go for a ride share with BlaBlaCar for around €5. You’ll get there in a little over an hour.

And regardless of whether or not you take the train, make sure to have a look around inside the city’s main station, a 19th-century Neo-Mudejar style building with tiled ceilings and floors, and stained glass windows.

Free and Cheap Things to Do

Free Walks

While many of Toledo’s attractions charge an admission fee, all of them are free to look at from the outside, so come dressed for the weather, wearing good walking shoes.

One option is exploring the city’s old town on foot, stopping to snap shots of historic convents like the Convent of San Pedro Mártir and opulent government buildings like Toledo’s Town Hall with its twin towers and Tuscan columns and Fuensalida, a 15th-century noble’s palace.

Don’t miss local landmarks like the Alcazar, a Moorish fortress perched on the highest hill in the city, the charming Bridge of San Martin, first built in the Middle Ages, the Roman era Alcántara Bridge, the 13th-century Primada Cathedral, and the ancient Cristo de la Luz Mosque with its red and white horseshoe-shaped arches, built in 999.

Or you can stroll the outskirts of the old town in search of Toledo’s eight famous city gates, what’s left of the wall that once protected the city. There’s a gate for every personality, from castle-like gates at Bisagra and Sun Gates to simpler arched gateways like the Bab-al-Mardum and Alfonso VI Gates.

Yet another option is putting Toledo’s historic buildings in better perspective with a hike up the ancient hill of the Cerro de la Virgen de Gracia for views of the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery. You could also cross the river Tagus, and head to the Mirador del Valle for panoramic views of the entire city.

Free Afternoons and Weekends

When heading to Toledo’s most famous museums, buildings, and monuments, remember that going on the weekends or late afternoon can save you the entry fee.

·      See the spectacular Gothic-style Great Reading Chamber at the Synagogue of El Transito for free on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.

·      Wander the Alcazar fortress and the Military Museum inside for free, all day Sundays.

·      Get to know El Greco at the museum dedicated his life and works, particularly his over 40 years residing and painting in Toledo, free Saturdays after 4 pm, and Sundays, all day.

·      Walk the halls of a 16th-century hospital in search of mosaics, artifacts, and art at the Santa Cruz Museum, free Monday through Saturday from 5 pm – 6:15 pm.

Should you buy a Toledo Pass?

The Toledo Pass offers entry to different attractions for one price. There are five different passes and prices ranges from €4 – €36.

Think about what you want to do before you buy it. Unless you really want to go inside multiple monuments and can’t make a free entry day work with your itinerary, you might want to pass on it. If you’re happy enough to wander around, and there’s only one or two buildings or museums you actually want to go inside, it won’t be worth the money.

On the other hand, if you’re in a rush or want some guidance and plan to see lots of sights, all of the passes let you skip lines at admission and offer guided visits.

A sampling of local specialties from Toledo. Photo: michalo

Eating on the cheap

Make a cheap breakfast or snack of coffee and delicious pastries at La Felipa Pan y Café (Avenida de Madroño, 6). They’ve also got reasonably priced hamburgers and sandwiches on offer if you’re really hungry.

Fill up on local specialties like Venison in mushroom sauce and Carcamusa—stewed pork with tomatoes and peas for around €10 to €15 with wine and bread at Bar Toledo (c/ de las Armas, 15).

For an after dinner treat pick up a box of Toledo’s celebrated handcrafted marzipan sweets for around €5.

Hotel Sol is an affordable choice ideally located close to the center of town. Photo: Booking.com

Sleeping without breaking the bank

Due to the somewhat limited accommodations in this smallish Spanish city, staying overnight here can be more expensive than in Barcelona or Madrid. Even so, sleeping in Toledo is quite reasonable, with clean and basic hotels and pensiones in the historic city center starting at €60 – 75 per night. Shared dorm rooms in hostels and albergues start at around €13 per night.

We like the basic but clean rooms with private bath at Hotel Sol, less than half a kilometer from the city center and Toledo’s main sights. If you want to spend less and are traveling with a group, they also have three and four bed hostel rooms.

Search now: Search Toledo hotels on EuroCheapo

The post How to save on your trip to Toledo, Spain appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Then there’s the food. Granada is easily one of the cheapest destinations in Spain to eat, drink and be merry — a tradition of complimentary tapas and a large population of university students (around 80,000) may have something to do with it.

Related: How to buy tickets to Alhambra in Granada

Here are five tips for a fun Granada escape on a budget.

1. Visit during the week to save on hotels

Hotels in Granada are already pretty cheap, which some running as low as €35-70 a night. However, many are even cheaper in the middle of the week. Private rooms at hostels are even more economically priced, ranging from €30-50 a night.

Looking for a place to stay? Search our Granada hotel listings.

Order a sherry at Bodegas Espadafor and get a plate of delicious (and free!) tapas. Photo: Craig Nelson

2. Free meals! Take a culinary journey through tapas

Tapas are the way to go in Granada. In most bars, custom still dictates that when you order a drink (alcoholic or otherwise) a small bar snack is included. That’s right, you can fill up on free food all over town.

Whereas, elsewhere in Spain, this tends to mean olives, popcorn or a bowl of peanuts, in Granada it means actual food — spicy sausages dipped in cognac and lit on fire, stewed garbanzos, meatballs, Spanish omelet— all kinds of tasty eats come free with your beverage. Best of all, the more drinks you order at any one bar, the better the free tapas get (and the stronger the drinks tend to become along the way).

Try Bar Reca (Plaza de la Trinidad 11) or hop from bar to bar on Calle Elvira, known locally as the “Tapas” street. You can also find a variety of tapas cuisine from seafood to North African specialties.

If you’re really, really hungry go out to a restaurant for lunch, not dinner. At the midday meal, fixed-price menus include wine and bread and start at €7.

Or, for a cheap snack, stop off for Moroccan tea and pastries in the Albaicín neighborhood at bakeries like Casa Pasteles.

Wandering through the famous Medieval streets of El Albayzín. Photo: bruchez

3. Travel by foot

Granada is easy to explore by foot. It’s a small and compact city that’s easy to navigate with a good map. It can be hilly, but that means you get a lot of scenic views. Wander the narrow streets and historic Moorish buildings of the Albaicín, an enchanting district and UNESCO World Heritage site,. This is a highlight of a visit to Granada that won’t cost you a dime.

For transportation during your stay, don’t waste your money on the bus anywhere but to and from the airport. Just invest in a good pair of walking shoes and you can get around with ease.

A passionate Flamenco show in Granada. Photo: whertha

4. After Alhambra, focus on Flamenco and free attractions

Save your spare cash for the Alhambra — the Moorish citadel, palace and gardens is the one paid entry attraction in town that you simply must see. (Check out guide to getting tickets to Alhambra.)

With your leftover euros, look into seeing an authentic Flamenco show at Peña Flamenca La Platería (Placeta de Toqueros, 7) — the oldest flamenco club in Spain. The Thursday night shows are legendary and €8 buy you a show and a bottle of Manzanilla fortified wine.

Spend the rest of your time on free, open-air sights. See the ruins of the historic Arab baths at Banuelo. Walk along the River Darro at Paseo de los Tristes. Browse the wares at the Saturday morning flea market in Zaidín. Listen to buskers at the Mirador de San Nicolas while you watch the sun set behind the Alhambra.

Alhambra is one of the tourism treasures of Europe. Photo: RaMaOrLi

5. Arrive in Granada for less

Budget airlines like Ryanair and Vueling fly to the Granada Airport from big cities in Spain and elsewhere in Europe for less you’d pay to check a second bag on a major airline. More often than not, budget flights are even cheaper than Spain’s national rail, RENFE. Book your tickets as far in advance as possible and don’t check a bag for added savings.

Search for a flight on EuroCheapo.

The post Granada: 5 ways to save big on your trip appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

For those looking to experience the lesser-known side of the country, here is why Spain’s southernmost port should be added to your itinerary.

It’s The Epicenter Of Kite Surfing

While once just a tiny fishing village, water sport enthusiasts began flocking to Tarifa once they realized how strong and steady the winds were. Today, it is one of the most popular destinations for windsurfing and kitesurfing in Europe.

When visiting Tarifa, the first thing you’ll notice are the myriad kite surfing schools littering the town, as well as the hundreds of colorful kites zipping over the water.

Relax at night with a table of tapas.

Easy Access To Morocco

For those who wish to step onto the African continent, you can take a speedy ferry from Tarifa in about 45 minutes. Several ferries leave daily, and are €31 (about $40) each way. You’ll land in Tangier, where you can hire a local guide at the ferry terminal or just wander the streets on your own.

Fresh Seafood

You know you’re getting fresh seafood because you’re right on the coast. Additionally, the small local restaurants of this laid-back Andalusian town use traditional methods to create high quality tapas. Some worthwhile restaurants serving fresh Spanish seafood and tapas include Restaurant Morilla and Bodega La Casa Amarilla on Calle Sancho IV el Bravo and Bar Los Melli on Guzman el Bueno.

Alternatively, Tarifa is also home to many non-Spanish restaurants, like Ali Baba for Middle Eastern, Rosso Pomodoro for Italian and Surla for Sushi, crepes and burgers—for when you’re in the mood for something else.

Hit the beach—and take a kit-surfing class!

Both Atlantic And Mediterranean Beaches

When visiting Tarifa, you’ll be able to swim in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean in one day. There’s Beach Playa Chica which sits on the Mediterranean, while less than a 10 minute walk away is Beach Playa Los Lances on the Atlantic.

In the Old Town, you can also walk out on the dock to have the windy Atlantic on the north side, and the calmer Mediterranean on the south side.

Active Pursuits

Along with being the windsurfing and kitesurfing capital of Europe, it also features opportunities to horseback ride, surfski, surf, scuba dive, stand up paddle board, cycle and hike.

While water sports and horseback riding can be enjoyed at the many beaches, cycling and hiking can be done at one of the local parks or nature reserves. For example, Los Alcornocales Nature Park showcases untouched mountain, beach and forest landscapes, an array of bird and land-animal species and lookout points providing views of Andalusia beyond Tarifa.

Take a ride on a zipline.

Rich History

Tarifa has a rich history that is still visible today. At the end of Tarifa’s main road, Batalla del Salado, you’ll see a giant arch letting you know you’re passing into the old town. Narrow cobblestoned streets, Moorish architecture and whitewashed buildings create an Old-World atmosphere, while sights like Guzman Castle, medieval ruins and 10th-century Arabic city walls are a reminder of the city’s Muslim rule from 710 to 1292.

The Castle of Guzman El Bueno was built in 960 AD and is the site where General Guzman el Bueno’s son was held hostage by the Moors in 1294, wanting him to surrender the castle. The general refused, even tossing his own dagger down to his enemies to show his bravery. Unfortunately, the Moors used the dagger to kill the boy.

Getting There

If you’re flying, you’ll arrive in Pablo Picasso Airport (AGP) in Malaga. From there, you can either rent a car and drive to Tarifa, or opt to take a bus from the city center. To go straight to Tarifa, the bus comes three times per day, at 7:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Your other option is to take a faster bus to Algeciras, which is only 12 miles from Tarifa. There are about 15 buses per day leaving from Malaga to Algeciras. In Algeciras, you’ll walk about 10 minutes to get to the COMES bus station, where you can catch a bus to Tarifa. For more information on how to get to Tarifa, click here.

Cheapo Accommodation

Tarifa is home to many affordable and comfortable accommodation options. The Melting Pot is popular with backpackers, and is right in the center of town walking distance from all activities and attractions. If you don’t want to share a dorm, which costs €13 (about $17) per night, they also offer a double room for €35 (about $45) per night. All rooms include breakfast.

For something a little more upscale but still affordable, Hotel Misiana is a charming, 21st-century hotel that starts at €39 (about $50) per night, including breakfast. And while you won’t find over-the-top luxury hotels in Tarifa, one that comes close is Hotel Copacabana, located just opposite Valdevaqueros Beach and in front of Los Alcornocales National Park. Room rates start at €85 (about $108) per night.

The post Tarifa: Spain’s oft-overlooked destination appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Boulogne is situated in the northeast corner of France near Calais.

But onward travel through France was slow and so, for a generation of Brits, this little fragment of France abutting the English Channel was the only portion of the country that they really knew.

The Nord / Pas-de-Calais region

But what a lovely corner of France it was… and still is today. Its charms are too easily overlooked by British travelers today, whose arrival in France is often all-too-hurried. They are too intent to rush on, keen to head south to the Dordogne or Provence. Insofar as they stop at all in the Calais or Boulogne region, it is usually only on the way home and then merely to load the car with the cheap wine that has become the Brits’ favorite import from France.

Viewed from the perspective of Paris, and even more so from the salons of the Riviera, the cities and ports of the far north of France are still seen as impossibly remote. It’s a sentiment nicely captured in the hugely successful film Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (“Welcome to the Sticks”). “North of Paris lie only the boondocks,” says our Avignon friend, going on to recount stories of pungent Maroilles cheese, cauliflowers and mining communities in terminal decline. Such are the prejudices of one too pampered by life in the sunny south.

Boulogne’s Old Town

Visiting Boulogne

So we told her that was nonsense and hopped on the next train to Boulogne, the one-time ferry port that once thrived on its links with Britain. The cross-Channel steamers have gone, now focusing their commercial efforts on Calais just 35 km up the coast. And, without the day trippers, that makes Boulogne all the more enjoyable.

The local tourism authorities still have a sharp eye on the British market, ever conscious that in terms of travel time Boulogne and Calais are closer to London than they are to Paris. “Real France, real close” run the ads prepared for the UK market.

Boulogne highlights

And this is real France, for Brits just a quick hop from London with Eurostar or a pleasant 90-minute cruise from Dover on P&O’s magnificent ferries.

Boulogne in particular is something special. We wandered the Gambetta Quai each morning, which boasts a superb fish market. And each evening we ate fresh fish in whatever manner Tony Lestienne favored that day. Lestienne is the most accomplished of chefs in a town with a rich culinary tradition. If you eat at the La Matelote restaurant, you are in for a treat. But if budgets are tight, head to the restaurant in the nearby Nausicáa Centre, where Monsieur Lestienne runs the in-house catering.

With its ramparts, walled Old Town and maze of narrow streets, Boulogne is pure France. And there are enough sights to detain you for three or four days.

The castle museum is a gem, with its oddly eclectic mix of exhibits. The range runs from a hall devoted to the funereal rites of Ancient Egypt through a stunning collection of Alaskan masks to delicately beautiful paintings of local Opale Coast beaches and dunescapes.

The big-draw sight in town is of course Nausicáa, an aquarium and environmental education center that lies on the northern fringes of town. It is justifiably celebrated.

Riding the coast: North to Calais

We left by bus, taking the morning local service up the coast to Calais. This is a roller coaster of a route that takes in cliffs and bays aplenty, the entire run enlivened by wonderful views of the white cliffs of the Kent coast just across the Channel. It is a good reminder that this is a corner of France whose fortunes have been forever shaped by its proximity to England.

Getting to Boulogne

From England, we strongly recommend the P&O ferry link from Dover to Calais. This is travel as it should be – relaxed, sedate and stylish. From Calais Port, it is an easy (if not exactly beautiful) hike into town to take one of the regular local trains from Calais Ville station to Boulogne.

Calais Ville station wins no prizes for grace or grandeur, but do take a few minutes to see Calais town hall, just south of the station. It is one of the most strikingly beautiful buildings in all of Flanders.

The rail route from Calais down to Boulogne runs inland, which means that you will only get occasional glimpses of the sea. So you might consider taking the none-too-frequent local bus service that departs from the Place d’Armes in Calais and hugs the coast all the way down to Boulogne. (Just note: No Sunday services on that bus route.)

From London St Pancras (and for that matter also from Brussels Midi), there are Eurostar trains direct to Calais Fréthun, in each case with a travel time of just one hour, where you can walk down to the very spartan local platform for the onward train to Boulogne. Calais to Boulogne takes just 30 minutes.

And if you are in France and can overcome local prejudices about the far, far north, you’ll find great rail connections from Paris to Boulogne. We recommend the line via Amiens, used by classic old-style but very comfortable InterCité trains, which take about 2hrs 45mins for the journey.

There are also five-times-daily TGV services which speed from Paris to Boulogne in just over two hours. The route they take is less immediately appealing than the more traditional Amiens line, but you do get some nice views of the landscapes of Picardie and Flanders.

The post France: Visiting Boulogne and Calais appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

“Berlin with a shade more flair” is how our Leipzig friend describes her home town. This magnificent city, overshadowed in Saxony by Dresden and too close (some say) to Berlin to really pull the crowds, is a place to visit in fall. For hundreds of years, merchants and traders from across Europe made their way to the city’s Michaelmas Fair, held in late September and early October.

Related: Leipzig budget travel guide

Catching the Zeitgeist

Kim Rupp-Gregory, co-editor of Leipzig Zeitgeist magazine, sees more than merely trade in the mood of the season: “Fall in Leipzig is revolutionary. As the leaves turn and become restless the people here revive the spirit of autumn 1989, when they took to the streets in peaceful protest against the East German communist regime. The knife-edge bravery of so many paid off with the subsequent fall of the Berlin Wall and ultimately Germany’s reunification.”

Peaceful Revolution

21 years on, visitors to Leipzig can still catch the buzz of a city that has long punched far above its weight. A well-marked trail through town recalls the highpoints of the peaceful revolution that was wrought on Leipzig’s streets. “Things come to a head on 9 October,” explains Kim. “That’s when the city positively glows for its annual commemorative Festival of Lights.” It’s a chance to mingle with the crowds and just experience Leipzig’s distinctive flavors and style.

Throughout the edgy months of political protest in 1989, Leipzig folk were just a tad more daring than Berliners. Perhaps it was easier to be daring away from the capital. That still holds true today. Liveable Leipzig sticks its neck out, and the many facets of city life are beautifully captured in successive issues of Leipzig Zeitgeist, an unpretentious magazine that is a must for English-speaking residents and visitors.

Leipzig by Bike

Kim’s co-editor on Leipzig Zeitgeist is Christina Nielsen-Marsh who is quick to emphasize that Leipzig residents are still quick to take to the streets, though nowadays it is more for fun than for protest.

“The finest way to see Leipzig is by bike,” says Christina. “My favorite route is to pedal down through Clara Zetkin Park and along the Karl Heine Canal into the western district of Plagwitz for a taste of a more alternative Leipzig.

“Kanal 28” is a great place to refuel and take in the industrial architecture of the area. And, when it comes to industrial architecture, the Spinnerei, also in Plagwitz, is something special – this former cotton mill is now home to a collection of artists, artisans and galleries, and has been attracting local, national and international interest in recent years.

“After an afternoon exploring the city by bike, an evening at Noch Besser Leben drinking a Beton (German for ‘concrete’), or three, will hit the spot, as will the live music at their frequent concerts.”

Getting There

Leipzig-Halle Airport is north-west of the city. Regular trains will whisk you from airport to city center in just 15 minutes. The airport is served by twice-daily flights from both Paris (with Air France) and Vienna (with Austrian Airlines). Ryanair will debut at the airport next month, launching five flights per week to London and three to Rome.

Travel times to Leipzig Hauptbahnhof on direct InterCity or the sleek fast ICE trains from other German cities are as follows:

Berlin (Hourly), taking 70 to 80 min.
Dresden (Hourly) taking 65 to 75 min.
Cologne (Every 2 hrs) taking 6 hrs
Munich (Every 2 hrs) taking 5 hrs 30 min.

The post Germany: Exploring Leipzig in the autumn appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Where to stay

Naples is full of affordable hotels if you know where to look. I spent one week in the Hotel San Giorgio, a three-star hotel by the train station that charged about €30 a night.

I was skeptical, too. Many reviewers online said the train station neighborhood, by Piazza Garibaldi, was too seedy and far from the action. The neighborhood, however, while not the most charming, is adjacent to the historical center and I never felt unsafe. Within 10 minutes I was at my favorite pizza restaurant and could indulge in a bottle of wine with dinner. It was clean, convenient, and comfortably close – and did I mention cheap?

Tip: Do a quick search on EuroCheapo for cheap hotels in Naples. Rates and availability fluctuate with the season, so check your dates and make sure that you’re not planning to come during high season.

How to roam

Naples is a great base to visit the surrounding area, which has enough destinations to occupy you for at least a week. The Circumvesuviana train, a regional line, will get you out to the Roman ruins at Pompeii or Herculaneum for around €6 round trip. To take the train all the way to Sorrento, the home of Limoncello, you’ll pay only €8 round trip.

Ferries out to the islands, like Capri and Ischia, can be trickier. The Naples Office of Tourism provides you with a schedule with no prices (ranging between €10 and €20 a ride), but be aware that there are two ports, one for expensive hydrofoil ferries (Beverello) and one for less expensive boats (Porta di Massa).

Even among the cheaper boats there are two different prices. There is no science to it, so get to the port at least 30 minutes in advance to figure out which boat you want, and know that the cheaper one does not take significantly longer to get anywhere and is a great way to enjoy the coastlines from the deck of the ship.

Eating in Naples

I can’t imagine coming to Naples and eating anything other than pizza. The native Margherita pizza, with tomatoes and mozzarella, sets you back between €3 and €5. No typo there. Just look for pizzerias that display “Verra Pizza Napoletana” to be sure you’re getting a real, traditional pizza – there are rules and the Italians aren’t kidding around.

Similarly, gelato and pastries are extremely inexpensive and you can eat copiously without heading repeatedly to the ATM.

Like Paris, coffee is always cheaper at the bar, where many Italians gather for a quick espresso and biscotti. If powerful tiny shots are your thing, you’ll fit in at the Napoli café counter and you probably won’t pay more than a euro for your coffee.

Attractions

In Naples itself, there aren’t many must-see attractions. There is no tower, cathedral, or museum that I was itching to enter. Instead, wandering around the city, you quickly realize that most monuments and buildings are free to enter. The Castel dell’Ovo offers great views of the city from up above, and it’s free to wander.

Atop the city, the Castel St. Elmo offers some of the most breathtaking views of the city, the ports, and Mount Vesuvius lurking in the distance. A man sitting at the entrance will direct you to a ticket booth, but the ticket is unnecessary. You can simply take the elevator on your left up to the top of the Castel and stroll the ramparts without entering the tiny museum that requires the ticket.

Museums and excavation sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum do cost money and unfortunately very few discounts are available, but with a €3 pizza for dinner, the entrance fees don’t seem so daunting.

Your budget tips for Naples?

Do you have any tips for visiting Naples on the cheap? Share with us in our comments section.

The post Naples Budget Tips: How to keep it cheap in Napoli appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A great location

Few other European capitals boast such a distinctive location as Luxembourg City. Berne and Ljubljana spring to mind as possible candidates, but Luxembourg City has the edge over both.

The gorges that divide the city are just spectacular, creating some wonderful vistas. It is not for nothing that the Chemin de la Corniche is often dubbed “le plus beau balcon d’Europe” – Europe’s most beautiful balcony. Two rivers, the Pétrusse and the Alzette, join in Luxembourg. Both have carved deeply incised gorges thus making Luxembourg a city defined by dramatic topography.

Exploring the ramparts

There is a great one-hour wander that takes in the key sights and the spectacular neck of high terrain that juts south with the two rivers far below on either side. The walk skirts the restrained late-Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral to reach Plateau du Saint-Esprit, from where there is a superb panorama. Then it’s an easy walk north along the Corniche to the rocky fortifications of the Bock.

If steep climbs are not your thing, don’t worry. The deep valleys that bisect the center of Luxembourg City are traversed by high-level bridges, and a free elevator from Plateau du Saint-Esprit will whisk you down into the bottom of the Alzette Valley in a matter of seconds.

So, despite the topography, Luxembourg is actually a good city for cycling. Vélo en Ville (at 8 Bisserweg) is good for bike rental. In addition there are Vel’oh stations around town where you can pick up a bike.

Connections

Luxembourg is blessed with some fine walking country, and it is easy to escape the compact capital. There are excellent bus and train services. The finest rail journey is the one-hour run north from Luxembourg City towards the Belgian border. Clervaux is a good place to stop off for an hour or two.

Travel tickets are extremely cheap throughout Luxembourg. A one-day Dagesbilljee Letzebuerg gives unlimited travel on the day of purchase (and until 8 a.m. next morning) on trains and buses throughout the Grand Duchy. It costs €4. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Billjee Weekend for €6 gives a group of up to five free run of the entire country for a day.

Luxembourg is easy to reach. There are frequent direct trains from Paris (2hrs 10mins), Brussels (3hrs) and Cologne (3hrs 20 mins).

The post Exploring Luxembourg City appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Times have changed. For those with the means, Nice was surely truly delightful in its pre-World War I heyday, when royalty from Russia, England and Germany enjoyed a leisurely winter season in the Riviera city.

The Roaring Twenties

Cycling along the Promenade des Anglais

In the early 1920s, Nice changed dramatically and the city was reshaped. Reshaped to accommodate the automobile, and reshaped to accommodate a totally new kind of visitor: Americans. Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald wanted to drive, not walk, along Promenade des Anglais.

The new Riviera was brasher and louder than its pre-war counterpart. And the thousands of flappers and playboys who cruised over the Atlantic to enjoy an American summer season on the Côte d’Azur created a new kind of Riviera. They drank cocktails (free from Prohibition restraints), explored the Mediterranean coast and revelled in summer rather than winter sun. It was visitors from the US who persuaded Nice hoteliers that they should not bar and shutter their premises from Easter to early October.

The Americans did not stay long. Their love affair with the Riviera was abruptly curtailed by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression. But the Roaring Twenties left their mark, creating a Riviera style that still greatly inflects how we perceive the region today.

Nice today

The Promenade des Anglais is not the gentle walk it was a hundred years ago. Six lanes of traffic speed along Promenade des Anglais, unhappily separating the city from its beach. Critics of the Riviera city argue that the beach was overrated anyway. There is not a speck of sand in sight on this long stony sweep of coast.

Yet Nice still has something going for it, and it’s a great city to explore for a day or two. In the Musée Matisse and the Musée Chagall, both north of the city center, Nice has two world-class art galleries. Its Orthodox cathedral is a very fine example of Russian sacred architecture and contains a treasure trove of Russian religious art.

The old part of town (called Vieux Nice) is a great place just to wander, especially on weekday mornings (not Mondays) when the streets and squares around Cours Saleya host a lively open market. Then climb up to Le Château (which curiously has no château) for fine views of Vieux Nice and the port below.

Where to stay

Nice remains a popular spot for Russian visitors and the city has a good range of restaurants and shops that cater to this Russian clientele. And for somewhere to stay, why not try the hotel favored by both Lenin and Chekhov? They both stayed at the Pension Russe.

Okay, the name has changed and nowadays the old Russian guesthouse styles itself Hotel L’Oasis. The hotel reopened last year after renovation. It is in a lovely leafy courtyard, a calm green retreat off Rue Gounod that offers the perfect antidote to the noise and bustle of Promenade des Anglais. Double or twin rooms run from €65 low season to €79 high season (including breakfast).

How to get there

Nice is easy to reach. It has direct trains from seven European capital cities, among them half a dozen daily trains from Paris. The journey time from Paris is less than six hours.

The local Nice Côte d’Azur Airport receives direct flights from over 100 cities in Europe and further afield. Travelers from North America can fly into Nice on direct daily flights from New York (JFK) with Delta and twice weekly flights from Montréal with Air Transat.

Nice has one of those small and manageable airports that make a great gateway into Europe. But rather than just changing planes, why not stop off for a day or two to explore the French Riviera’s major metropolitan center?

The post Nice, France: Give Nice a chance! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.