Insider Tips on European destinations

This isn’t going to be a traditional “blog entry”, per say, but rather a compilation of information that I wrote to friends who requested tips on what I did in Europe.

When travelling to Europe, use the following sites for booking hostels:

he best hostel sites are:

www.hostelworld.com (probably the largest database, but charges to book for a small fee)

www.hostelbookers.com (my favourite for layout, no charges)

www.hostelz.com (searches different hostel databases, you can compare prices here)

Barcelona
Barcelona was just an amazing city. I’d highly recommend eating some regional foods (like paella, fideua, pan am tomaquet, etc.) Definitely check out all the Gaudí sites…we didn’t pay to go inside La Sagrada Familia but I do regret it…it’s €10, but for the coolest church I saw in all of Europe, it probably would have been worth it. L’Exaimple has the other good Gaudí sites. We went to Museo Picasso and I would also HIGHLY recommend it. For a very good deal, it was one of the coolest art galleries I visited in Europe. Otherwise, I’d say the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotica) and Parc Güell are musts.

Vienna
I lived in Austria for six months (October-March) and visited Vienna on two separate occasions for the full weekend. There is SO much to do/see. The museums really are world class there. Depending on what you like, I’d say musts are:

-Schönbrunn; at least for the gardens, but the palace is great. If you’re doing Versailles, maybe scratch the palace to save on admission. It’s so gorgeous and has the world’s first zoo on the grounds (I didn’t go, though.)

-The Ringstrasse/Ringstraße. This is a combination of streets that rings the Innere Stadt (Inner Town) and has probably the most beautiful section of buildings you’ll find in Europe. They are very grand and gorgeous…check out the Opera, Hofburg, Rathaus (town hall), University, and Parliament at least.

-A Heuriger. This is a typical Austrian wine bar that is more or less the wine equivalent of a Bavarian beer hall. The atmosphere is great, the wine is good and cheap, and you can try traditional Austrian snacks. There’s a great one in the centre called Esterhazy Keller (just google maps it), but there is also an area just outside the city that is more or less just Heurigen. It’s great.

-Stephansdom. Awesome church.

-Karlskirche. Also cool…not sure if it’s worth to go in, but super cool from the outside.

-Kunsthistorisches Museum. One of the best art galleries in all of Europe.

You’ll have to try sachertorte (cake) and have coffee in a traditional coffee house…Vienna’s coffee culture is renowned worldwide. And of course Wiener Schnitzel and maybe apfelstrudel.

Salzburg – see a concert if you can! I think you’ll be there during festival time, so you will adore all the music going on! Go up to the fortress (Festung Hohensalzburg) for amazing views of the town and Alps, as well as amazing views. Just wander the little streets of the old town…it’s so gorgeously Baroque. SOM tours are great, I hear! Make sure you have hotel reservations, as it will be busy in August.

Prague
Visit the main things (Charles Bridge, Castle, Old Town), and then decide what else you like. Drink lots of pivo (beer)…the Czechs drink more than any country in the world, and it’s so cheap! I’d recommend going to an old beer hall called U Fleku…it is super old and is very famous with great atmosphere. We also went to a fun beer hall called Pivovarsky Dum where you can try a sampler of very unique beers. Eat svickova and other Czech dishes…it’s surprisingly good!

London
I would really recommend going to the Camden Market for an overwhelming mingling of humanity. Also, definitely look to get tickets to a Globe Theatre play…they are super cheap (especially standing room!), and it is SO cool to see an original Shakespeare play where it was intended. I would have seen more theatre (you can get great half price tix, and they say London is the theatre capital of the world), too. The British Museum and National Gallery were unbelievable, and are FREE! There’s a money saving tip, too. I wanted to go to the Tate Modern but didn’t leave myself enough time, so good luck!

I went on a walking tour with London Walks, and it was really cool. Check out their website for good tips.

Soho is a super cool neighbourhood for dining and going out. It’s also the centre of the gay nightlife…not sure if that’s your thing, but if it is, that’s your place!

For St. Paul’s and Westminster Abbey…they have steep admission fees. I’d recommend going to the evening concerts, or even a service (you’re Catholic, right?) to be able to see them for free. Check out times so you know when to get in.

Pay to go to the Tower of London and take a tour with the Beefeaters. My guidebooks highly recommended going right when it entered and going straight to the crown jewels…this was a great tip. If you do this, you’ll have them almost to yourself…later, they get crazy (especially after the tour with the guards, when they point everyone to go and check them out.) I wish I had more time to spend here.

I’d highly recommend a walking tour, either self-guided or guided, of both the City (it’s a specific neighbourhood) and the West End. For self-guided, either download the Rick Steves podcasts (he’s incredibly nerdy, but has good info) or ones in your guidebook or the Frommer’s website.

Buy an Oyster Card for the Tube…or maybe even a seven-day pass. You’re really doing London the right way, as seven days will allow you to see a lot.

The Astor Hyde Park was just fab. Such a gorgeous neighbourhood…it’s really swanky with beautiful buildings and a lot of French influence (it’s in South Kensington). It’s great being so close to the park, and the tube can whisk you to wherever you want to be.

To save money, I’d recommend a few things. #1, don’t go to Madame Tussaud’s unless you REALLY want to. It’s incredibly pricey and is apparently a big tourist trap. #2, eat ethnic food or pub grub. London has such a great mix of cultures, and international food can often be cheaper on the street. Otherwise, pubs will sell all your typical “English” food, like bangers and mash, fish and chips, and meat pies. Also, the hostel has a great kitchen that you can use, so you can always buy food and cook for yourselves (eating at restaurants actually gets tiresome). #3, walk around a lot and go to the amazing free museums. Oh, and buy your own booze if you want to go out so that you don’t order a ton of drinks at the clubs/pubs…though I’m sure you knew that.

If you like beer, you have to try “real ale” or bitter when you’re there. It’s so uniquely British, and watching them pump the beer is interesting enough.

Man I loved London. An American magazine did a very comprehensive study and named London the “capital of the world” over New York, even. Needless to say, I’d love to live there someday (Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and London topped that list for me.)

Munich
You just have to go to a beer hall. Half the clientele is over 60…it’s a very traditional Bavarian experience. You’ll probably see groups of old men and women getting together for clubs of different sorts. They’re just large rooms that serve beer in steins (1L) and larger portions, and they have big wooden benches and tables so you will probably meet other people (locals or tourists). The Hofbräuhaus is the famous one where Hitler made many speeches, but I preferred the less touristy and traditional ones. Your choice, though! The park he refers to in Munich (München in German; pronounced MOON-shyen) is the Englischer Garten and it’s massive (look out for nude sunbathers and pretty dogs!)

I went in Christmas and the Christmas Markets were such a great experience. A must wherever you are in Europe at the moment.

Strasbourg
It was so gorgeous and is such a fun mix between French and German. Eat choucroute if you can (sauerkraut like stuff with tasty meats) and drink their nice white wines (Gewürtztraminer or Riesling). Definitely see the Cathedral and Petite France, and I’d highly recommend a boat cruise in the evening.

Amsterdam
Do a canal cruise (they’re cheap and offer a unique view of the city). The museums are amazing, too…check out the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, or Rijksmuseum as they are all fantastic. Coffee shops are a cultural experience that really can’t be missed.

Berlin
It’s oh so big! I personally loved the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German History museum), but I don’t mean to just write about museums (honestly one of the most interesting/best laid out museums I’ve ever been to). See the East Side Gallery (stretch of the Berlin Wall that has been left standing and is now peppered with art from all over the world), and obviously check out all the main sites like Unter den Linden Str., the Bundestag (parliament), Berliner Dom, Brandenburg Gate. Eat currywurst at least once, and try döner (you can get this all over Germany (like donair made by Turkish immigrants)...my friends are mad for it and it’s more popular than McDonald’s here. Kreuzberg is the happening district for culture and the arts.

Great smaller cities in Germany include Heidelberg (though touristy), Bamberg, Regensburg, Tübingen, Marburg (where I lived…between Frankfurt and Berlin), and many more. There are lots of good finds.

Frankfurt
Walk along the Main river, check out the Altstadt (old city) around Römerberg. Sachsenhausen (south of the river) is where you can find cobblestone streets with cozy little pubs, and where you should try Apfelwein (apple wine, traditional Frankfurt drink that’s cheap and really good!) Another Frankfurt specialty is grünersauce (green sauce…yoghurt based and mixed with herbs). The Städl Museum has some great art (from older Flemish religious paintings to French impressionists like Monet.)

Budapest Favs:

1) Szechenyí Baths.

2) Heroes Square

3) Castle Hill (Fisherman’s Bastion and Castle…amazing views of the city and the Danube). Gellert Hill has even better views.

4) Parliament

5) Terror House (not much in English, but it shows a lot of interesting information on the Hungarian’s time under Fascism and Communism. Might be, or might not be for you)

6) Walk along the Danube at night to see the Castle and bridges all lit up.

7) St. Stephen’s Church

8) Danube Bend for a great day trip if you have time.

9) Synagogue

Most of these I didn’t go in (except the Terror House), but just looked at from the outside. Admission’s cheap to most, though.

For food, try goulasch soup and chicken paprikash…most things are flavoured heavily with paprika.

Scotland

Eat/drink: have to try Fish and Chips, Real Ale (watch how they pour it!), and whisky (kinda expensive). I had Haggis, so if you’re brave go for it (it was surprisingly very tasty!) In Glasgow, you’ll have to have go for curry…it’s vies for the title of “UK’s curry capital.”

Edinburgh

• Castle. It’s kinda expensive, but so worth it. The history is amazing, view of the city is unreal, and there’s SO much to see! We went early in the morning and had fewer people and lots of time that way :)
• Old Town (Royal Mile) walking tour. A must-do. You can get one here: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/edinburgh/0050020033.html
• National Gallery and/or National Museum. Both are amazing and free! All museums in Scotland are…it’s amazing. We didn’t have much time for the museum, so we just focused on the top floor which had a lot of stuff on Scottish culture…but it was really amazing. The Gallery had a less stuffy vibe than most, but still a lot of awesome artwork.
• New Town walking tour. So different but I REALLY want to live there! Here’s the link http://www.frommers.com/destinations/edinburgh/0050020035.html
• We did Mary Kings Close, but I wasn’t all THAT thrilled. I’ve heard other ghost tours are better…maybe check out tripadvisor.com to see what’s the highest rated. The city has SUCH a cool history.
• We went to the movies twice in Scotland…they were reasonable (4/5 pounds) and in English of course!
• If you stay at Budget Backpackers, there’s the cafe where JK Rowling apparently dreamt up Harry Potter nearby. It’s fun to check out.

Glasgow

• There are more walking tours on that website if you like! We did the “Merchant City” one (can’t remember the official name), but it wasn’t bad.
• Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis Cemetery. The Cathedral wasn’t open when we were there (are catching the theme…we always got up early in Scotland), but the Cemetery blew our minds. See our pics…some of the best I’ve taken in Europe.
• See the traditional Victorian houses
• The main square (near Queen Street Station) is really pretty
• Awesome, really old bar called “Horse Shoe” in the centre. There were people lined up for its opening on Sunday at like noon…it has a great rep and some interesting features with lots of history.
• We went to two museums: The Kelvingrove and The People’s Palace. The first was a first-class, interesting museum with lots of great art. The latter was a bit underfunded, but gave awesome insight into Glasgwegian culture. Still great, though. I’ve heard the Burell is also fantastic.

We only had one day in Glasgow really, but culture really is its selling point. It felt more “North American” than any city I’ve been to in Europe, and had a working class, alive vibe. I liked that a lot, but Edinburgh’s definitely more of a tourist spot.

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