The key to sticking to your budget is finding affordable places to eat and free things to do. Keep reading for a full itinerary on a 20-euro Dublin day.

Breakfast at the Queen of Tarts. Photo: Spinksy

BREAKFAST

Start your day at Queen of Tarts, one of the best known bakeries in Dublin. You will have many choices for €5 or less here, including homemade apple scones with raspberry preserves (€2.95) or hot oatmeal with apple compote and maple syrup (€4.50).

Order at the counter and you won’t have to worry about leaving a tip (read more about tipping in Dublin).

MORNING ACTIVITY

Breakfast at Queen of Tarts will place you right at the far edge of Temple Bar. While this district is known for its rowdy tourist pubs, it is re-identifying itself as the cultural quarter of Dublin. Explore during the day when you will encounter street performers and markets full of €1 books and records.

Book enthusiasts will want to check out the shelves at the Gutter Bookshop while art lovers might want to duck into the (free) Gallery of Photography to catch an exhibition.

LUNCH

Finish wandering through Temple Bar at Curved Street, home to the Curved Street Café. This 2nd floor café is a cozy space serving up filling lunch options like hearty soups and sandwiches. The best value is the soups for €4 (served with a hunk of bread) while sandwiches cost about €6.

Once again, because you order at the counter, don’t worry about a tip. If you have a sweet tooth, all cakes here  (€2 to €3) are made at the excellent local Cake Café. Free Wi-Fi is also available here.

AFTERNOON ACTIVITY

After lunch, leave Temple Bar behind and cross the River Liffey over the whimsical Ha’Penney Bridge. Stroll along the Quays towards Dublin’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, and head north towards Parnell Square. Step down into the Garden of Remembrance, a peaceful outdoor space that serves as a memorial to all those people who gave their lives seeking Irish independence from British rule.

Right nearby on Parnell Square is the Hugh Lane Gallery. Entrance here is free, and the gallery is home to one extremely popular exhibit: Francis Bacon’s studio. Here the artist’s studio has been recreated exactly as it was found on the day of his death. Several of his paintings are also on display.

DINNER

This area on the north side is well known for being home to many of Dublin’s best ethnic eateries. One of my favorites is the cozy Hop House, a restaurant serving Korean and Japanese food. All orders come with a free cup of steaming miso soup to warm you up when you step off the street.

All of the noodle dishes – such as Japanese noodles with tempura prawns – are priced around €11. There are a few sushi options for under €10 and teriyaki chicken wings (€8.90) are another local favorite. One trick is if you arrive before 5 p.m., you get to order off the lunch menu which is very similar to the dinner menu, only with cheaper prices.

Any coins left?

If you have any coins left in your budget, head to the attached pub next door to enjoy a Korean or Japanese beer and some live music.

Also in our guide: Heading to Dublin and looking to keep it cheap? Be sure to check out our reviews of the best cheap hotels in Dublin, all of them visited, inspected and photographed by our editors. Read more in our Dublin guide.

The post Dublin: A full day for under €20 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So with Rolleiflex firmly in hand, channel your inner-glamour puss and look this way!

(If you haven’t already seen our first list of “Iconic Spots in Paris for the Perfect Photo Ops,” make sure to check those out, too!)

1. Pont Alexandre III
Metro: Champs-Elysées- Clemenceau, 7th arrondissement

Raise your hand if you haven’t seen English singer-writer Adele’s sulky-smooth, newly released “Someone Like You” video, and if not, then get thee to a computer. Pack a hanky!

Directed by Jake Nava, the Alexander III Bridge makes a cameo appearance like no other pont to date. In the tear-jerker video, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais (and the Petit) along with Les Invalides and Place de la Concorde. And yes, the La Grande Roue (Ferris Wheel) keeps on turning!

How to get the look: If you want the Eiffel Tower in the shot, photograph it on the Belle Époque beauty’s upstream right bank side of the bridge.

Note to fashionistas: Adele’s fetching black A-line coat with asymmetrical gold zipper is from Moschino’s fall 2010 runway line. I think she scored the very last one. Now who feels sorry for Adele? And the diva’s wild windswept hair? Not a problem, as the damp river air will merrily take care of that for you without a charge. I have been there!

2. Shhhh! Mural at the Centre Pompidou
Place Georges Pompidou
Metro: Rambuteau or Hotel de Ville, 4th arrondissement

I recently stumbled upon a massive mural one recent Sunday afternoon while making my way to the Beaubourg (aka, the Pompidou Center) to buy more reporter notebooks. Neatly tucked behind the Stravinsky fountain, “Shhhh” was created by graffiti artist Jef Aerosol back in June 2011.

Measuring in at an impressive 350 square meters, it was created with spray paint, stencils, and plenty-o-scaffolding, along with the mayor’s stamp of approval and commission. The massive mural’s message? “Stop, look and appreciate the city,” according to the artist. It certainly stopped me in my tracks. Flâneurs, while strolling out and about the city, keep your eyes peeled for street art. It’s everywhere.

3. Le Passe-Muraille
Place Marcel Aymé, at rue Norvins and rue Girardon
Metro: Abbesses, 18th arrondissement

In hilly Montmartre, you’ll find Le Passe-Muraille (“Walker-Through-Walls”). The captivating bronze sculpture is a tribute to novelist Marcel Aymé.

Based on his book by the same title, the main character wakes up one morning with the fantastical ability to walk through walls. At first it’s all fun and games, until his newly-acquired gifts lead him into headlong into harm.

The statue was created by actor and sculptor Jean Marais, who starred in Jean Cocteau’s classics “Beauty and the Beast” and “Orphée.” Cheapos, perhaps it’s time to bust a move?

4. Hôtel de Ville
Metro: Hôtel de Ville, 4th arrondissement

Calling all incurable romantics, this one is for you. Here is Paris’s City Hall is where Robert Doisneau staged his legendary photograph, “Le Baiser de l’Hôtel de Ville,” for LIFE magazine in 1950. After spotting Françoise Delbart and Jacques Carteaud smooching, he requested a little replay action for his camera, and the rest was kiss-tory in the making.

Granted, the cooing couple’s relationship only lasted for nine months, but one can still dream about me and my boo and my boo lip locking, all up in the back (near the fountains) because the pigeons keep flocking—pinching from Beyoncé.

5. I’m waiting for the (meat) man on rue Lepic
Boucherie des Gourmets, 18 Rue Lepic
Metro: Abbesses or Blanche, 18th arrondissement

Meet my new boyfriend. Okay, so he’s a little stiff, but he’s never let me down. Whenever I’m out of sorts or suffering a bad hairdo, he’s there for me. With his wolf calls, he’s never failed to make me smile (except when the shop is closed on Mondays!).

Cheapos, you can find eye-catching, funky signage like this all over Paris. Backdrops for photo-ops abound! Boulangeries, fromageries, and pâtisseries, along with cafes and even pharmacies hire artists to create signs, murals or window displays of their own. Most are creatively fun, a few inevitably fall into the category of exquisitely beautiful, but each and every one contributes a little something more to the city’s evolving vistas!

Take one from Hemingway, Cheapos: “There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other.”

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Channeling photographers Robert Doisneau and Robert Capa (who often showcased France’s beloved national moments in their haute couture spreads), it’s now time to snap, crackle and pop! Shall we?

Morning Glory

1. Sacré Coeur
Metro: Anvers or Abbesses, 18th arrondissement

Color scheme: Wedding cake white
Attire recommendations: Warm tones from orange to scarlet

Avoid crowds by arriving early in the morning. Blue skies suit the iridescent basilica, though she also glows at dusk. For inspiration, climb Brassaï’s Les Escaliers de Montmartre, located next to the funicular on Rue Foyatier. Also, watch out for the pair of “living sculptures.” Donned in white and mimicking Roman statues, they’ll pose with you if you throw a few coins their way.

Film buffs, yes, a pivotal scene in “Amelie” took place here near the carousel. In nearby Abbesses, you’ll find Amelie’s “Au Marche de la Butte” on rue des 3 Freres and Café les Deux Moulins at 15 rue Lepic.

After paying homage to Amelie’s gnomes in the hood, take Metro line 12 from Abbesses to Galeries Lafayette at Metro Saint-Lazare.

The rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette

2. Galeries Lafayette
Metro: Saint-Lazare, 9th arrondissement

Color scheme: Blue, beige and black brought to you by Haussmann
Attire recommendations: Mercantile green or pale baby blue

When it comes to classic French backdrops, it’s all about the view and location. Galeries Lafayette’s rooftop possesses both. Avoid crowds by arriving during the morning or after lunch. Here you’ll find one of my all-time favorite views of Paris. A triple-threat photo-op, so get your cameo on with the Tour Eiffel, the Opéra Garnier, and Sacré Coeur.

While calling on the grand magasin, don’t forget to check out its ever-changing vitrines (“windows”) and the stained glass coupole (“domed ceiling”). Heaven on earth, this Belle Epoch beauty meshed with a little exquisite Byzantine styling was installed in 1912. Try gazing up without getting all weepy. Borrow my hanky. I won’t tell.

Afternoon delight

3. Opéra Garnier
Metro: Opéra, 9th arrondissement

Color scheme: Gold, beige, black and “Statue of Liberty” copper green
Attire recommendations: Gold, purple and ruby red, too

After spending time at Galeries Lafayette, jeté across the street to the Opéra. I usually photograph outside the Métro Opéra main entrance. Shining like a superstar, blue skies are this edifice’s friend, though it’s also ideal to arrive just before an evening performance in order to see the red carpet-worthy glittering garb dart across the busy rues.

Drool, much? Fashionistas, I’m talking to you. The Repetto ballet shoe shop is located just a shop, skip and a pirouette away at 22 rue de la Paix. Heaven, I am in heaven.

Reflecting on the Place Vendome

4. Place Vendôme
Metro: Opéra, 1st arrondissement

Color scheme: Beige, black and pale green
Attire recommendations: Gold, royal blue and shocking pink

After snapping a few pix at the Opéra, take Rue de la Paix to Place Vendôme. Keep your eyes peeled for Napoléon’s column. In 1935 designer Elsa Schiaparelli opened one of the first prêt-à-porter boutiques under its shadow at 21 Place Vendôme. Although the shop closed decades ago, the awning still flaps above the entryway. A promotion guru, Elsa would often unveil her collections with squads of circus performances in the middle of the square, complete with elephants and tightrope walkers!

More inspiration? Here’s where Robert Capa photographed the iconic images of poodle-toting models for Dior in 1948! Calling all cinematic fans, Billy Wilder’s “Love in the Afternoon” with Audrey Hepburn and Maurice Chevalier was shot here at the Hôtel Ritz.

5. Arc-de-Triomphe du Carrousel
Metro: Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre, 1st arrondissement

Color scheme: Black, beige, gold, and pink marble
Attire recommendations: Black, beige and one piece of bling

After your Place Vendôme photo session directly below “le petit caporal’s” watch, strut on over to the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, located by the Louvre and the Jardin des Tuileries. The petite size of this “Mini-Me” of the big Arc de Triomphe at the far end of the Champs Elysées makes for an easy, breezy shoot. Also, this is where the infectious balloon scene in “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire was filmed.

Twilight time

6. Moulin Rouge
Metro: Place Blanche, 18th arrondissement

Color scheme: red, black and white
Attire recommendations: Sequins and feathers in all colors under the rainbow

It’s now time to wind it back, wind it back, Cheapos, at the end of the day at the Moulin Rouge in historic Pigalle. Yes, we’ve come full circle back to romantic Montmartre! For your portrait taking, I’d recommend arriving around l’heure bleu (twilight). You just might spot the spirit of writer Henry Valentine Miller on the literary prowl. An avid and competitive cyclist, he’d be quite happy with the new bike lanes!

After your photo session, tempt yourself at the Musée de l’érotisme at 72 boulevard de Clichy. It’s usually open until 2 a.m. (oh, la la!). Check out their permanent exhibit on Paris’s brothels. Tired feet? Do like my Moulin Rouge dancer friends do after a long show. Prop your legs up against a door for twenty minutes. It works!

Snappy advice

Cheapos, do you have a favorite picture perfect location for a photo-op in Paris? Do spill!

The post Paris: 6 Iconic spots for the best photo-ops appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Foam holds a roster of spectacular collections by world-famous photographers past and present, though its discreet Keizersgracht location keeps the place relatively peaceful. Its interior is modern and inventive, and the gallery size is manageable: It can take less than an hour to go through the entire museum.

Bresson’s “Behind Saint-Lazare Station”

As a college undergrad, the one photographer I remembered from my “easy A”  photo class was Henri Cartier-Bresson. Five years later, I ran into his ability to capture the “decisive moment” when visiting Foam. This made me an instant Foam fan, and the museum just continues to impress.

Last year’s Richard Avedon exhibit delivered a spot-on portrayal of the innovative portrait and fashion photographer. I admit that I didn’t originally recognize his name, but after studying work displayed ever so elegantly around Foam, I’ll never again forget Avedon and his stunning shots. Nor will I forget turning the corner and seeing pop star Beyoncé gazing at a Marylin Monroe portrait.

Beyoncé! See? You don’t have to be a pro photographer or know-it-all shutterbug to enjoy Foam’s exhibitions. The laidback vibe at this museum allows visitors to take their time and explore the meaning of reflection and self-perception. For photo connoisseurs, Foam offers a private library full of photo books and classic albums. These are available to peruse by appointment.

An added bonus is the museum’s affordable admission charge. While big-name museums can charge €15 to €20 without blinking, Foam charges a more manageable €8 for adults and €5.50 for students and seniors.

I absolutely love Foam as a museum. The Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt House, and Rijksmuseum are obvious city pearls, but don’t forget the city’s smaller museums, galleries, and studios located along the canals (“grachts”).

Foam
Keizersgracht 609
From Dam Square, take trams 16, 24 or 25 and stop at Keizersgracht.

Open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM
Thursdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 9 PM
Closed: Jan. 1st, April 30th, and June 21 to 24

Admission
Adults: €8,00
Students/65+: €5,50
city card/ cjp: €4,00
Club, Fan, Fund: free
children under 12: free
ICOM: free
Museum card / I amsterdam card: free

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1. Botanical Gardens at Vrije University

Large and impressive glass houses and about 2.5 acres of botanical bliss await those willing to venture outside the city center for photo ops. Built in 1967 as a biology addition for the local university, the garden is home to about 10,000 plant species, from cacti to a variety of trees and orchids.You don’t need to know the difference between biennials and perennials to enjoy this plant paradise.

Address: Van der Boechorststraat 8
Get There: Tram 5 to de Boelelaan Vu, metro 50 and 51 to Amsterdam Zuid
Hours: September through May: M–F 8am–4.30pm May through September: M–F 8am–4.30pm, Sa 9am–5pm.
Email: info@hortus.vu.nl
Web: www.vu.nl/en

2. Melkweg Photogallery

The Melkweg’s west entrance from Marnixstraat leads visitors to a café and free photography room which boasts a new exhibition each month. The work on display ranges from portraits to photojournalism to scenic abstracts, and it’s rarely disappointing. The mounted photo selection is ample enough to keep you busy for a good half hour.

Address: Lijnbaansgracht 234a/Marnixstraat 409
Get There: Tram 1, 2, 5, 7 and 10 to Leidseplein
Hours: Daily from noon–8pm.
Email: info@melkweg.nl
Web: www.melkweg.nl

3. Hollandsche Schouwburg (The Dutch Theater)

During the height of World War II, this theater was a hub for Nazis deporting between 60,000 to 80,000 Jews to concentration camps. Today the building is a war memorial, with a number of touching monuments scattered throughout the building. The museum also offers up informative history of the building and the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam during WWII.

Address: Plantage Middenlaan 24
Get There: Tram 6, 9 and 14 to Plantage Kerklaan
Hours: Daily from 11am–4pm
Email: info@hollandscheschouwburg.nl
Web: www.hollandscheschouwburg.nl

4. Multatuli Museum
Multatuli was the pen name for Edward Douwes-Dekker (1820-1887), a former general during colonial Dutch times who was the first to speak out about the injustice and racism happening in the Dutch colony of Indonesia. His book, Max Havelaar(1860), was a revealing testimony to the realities of colonialism. The book sent a shockwave through The Netherlands and inspired the freethinker and anarchist movements. Multatuli’s house has been converted to a museum where visitors can view the space where the writer worked and learn more about how people of his time lived.

Address: Korsjespoortsteeg 20
Get There: Tram 1, 2, 5, 13 and 17 to Nieuwezijds Kolk (walking distance from Central Station)
Hours: Tu 10am–5pm, weekends 12pm–5pm
Email: multatulimuseum@zonnet.nl
Web: www.multatuli-museum.nl

5. Reflex New Art Gallery

This modest art gallery has been hosting a unique collection of work from young, international talent since 2003. Reflex features exhibitions showcasing the work of four to six artists. With a vibrant array of paintings, photography, and everything in between, Reflex will suit anyone interested in new and different modern art.

Address: Weteringschans 83
Get There: Tram 7 and 10 to Spiegelgracht, 16, 24 and 15 to Weteringcircuit.
Hours: M, Tu, Th and Sa 10am–6pm.
Email: info@reflexnewartgallery.nl
Web: www.reflex-art.nl

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It was a wintry thrill to visit this northern city in the colder darker months.  It also, however, provided some stunning views of the city during the long, winter night.

Today I thought I’d post some of my favorite photos of St. Petersburg at night. Glowing lights, snow, beautiful bridges. Talk about drama!

The pictures

As you can see, walking along the canals–or anywhere, really–in St. Petersburg in January can be hazardous. The sidewalks might simply look wet, but they’re often covered in ice. Check out the frozen Moika  Canal.

But when you do venture a look up from the sidewalk, behold the city! I took this photo along the Moika Canal heading toward the Hermitage. The beautiful canal is one of three that winds its way through the heart of St. Petersburg.

Along the Moika’s banks are 18th and 19th-century government buildings, offices, museums, restaurants, apartments, and palaces. As you can see, during my visit there weren’t very many tourists walking along the canals. It was very, very cold outside.

St. Petersburg’s canals are crossed by 313 bridges, many of which are works of art. Many incorporate statues, most involve intricate metalwork, and almost all are photogenic. This bridge is crossing the Moika.

Continuing westward along the Moika, we cross another bridge and spot St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The day after I took this shot, I climbed to the top of St. Isaac’s and circled the giant rotunda in whipping winds.

Returning home along the Neva River, we pass the Peter and Paul Fortress, with its illuminated cathedral glowing through the falling snow. Under that shining spire rest nearly all the czars of Russia, including Peter the Great, himself.

Good night, St. Petersburg!

The post St. Petersburg: Photos album of the city at night appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Happy Friday, Cheapos!

Touring the canals throughout Amsterdam’s Old Center

The weekend scene at Dam Square

Our friends at Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo

Seeking The Dutch “Dukes of Hazzard”

The post Amsterdam “Photo Friday” Bonanza! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Last night, Kari wandered Madrid, photographing the city’s finest monuments. Is it just us, or do the Spanish have a gift for lighting their monuments with a dramatic gusto unmatched in other countries?

Allegorical paintings decorate the Casa de la Panaderia at Plaza Mayor.

Benches line the Paseo del Prado connecting the Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Canovas del Castillo.

The impressive headquarters of Spain’s postal service was built between 1905 and 1917 by Antonio Palacios sits on the Plaza de Cibeles.

The Ministerio de Asuntas Exteriores y de Cooperacion built in 1636 sits across the street from Plaza de Santa Cruz and Plaza de la Provincia.

Designed by Francesco Sabatini, construction of the Puerta de Alcala started in 1769 and took nine years to complete. It stands in the center of Plaza de la Independencia.

This fountain is found in Plaza de la Puerta del Sol.

Many thanks to Kari Hoerchler for the fabulous photos, and for taking us along on a tour of Madrid monuments by night.

Also see: Our recommended budget hotels in Madrid.

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