Spain’s capital is naturally one of the country’s most expensive cities. It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to expect that you can easily spend a fortune here if you’re not careful. That said, the best things in life are still free, right?

While it’s true that Madrid can’t offer as many free museums as London can, there are still plenty of tasty attractions that can help to spare your pockets….if you know where to look for them.

Madrid: pigeon-friendly (1)

Reina Sofia Museum (Museo de Reina Sofia)

Located at Calle de Santa Isabel, Museo de Reina Sofia is Madrid’s world-famous modern art gallery. Here you can witness works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, including the latter’s masterpiece ‘The Guernica’. The museum is free on weekdays from 19:00 to 21:00 and on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.

Reina Sofia museum (2)

Prado Museum (Museo del Prado)

The Prado Museum is home to the finest artwork Spain has ever produced and is the country’s most popular tourist attraction. Luckily, the entrance is free from Monday to Saturday from 18:00 until 20:00 and on Sunday from 17:00 to 20:00.

Prado Museum (3)

Buen Retiro Park

Just around the corner from the Prado Museum, you’ll find Madrid’s most popular park: Buen Retiro Park. The park measures about 1.4km² and holds many beautiful sculptures, monuments, galleries, trees, gardens and a peaceful lake. Many events like capoeira and tribal drumming are hosted here throughout the year.

Buen Retiro Park (4)

Plazas de Madrid

Madrid has dozens of beautiful squares. One such is Puerta del Sol, located in a busy area, where you’ll find locals and tourists alike enjoying the street entertainment. Plaza Mayor is another great square where you can take in the beautiful architecture whilst wandering around. Plaza de Espana is the busiest traffic intersection in Madrid; set on the square is a beautiful fountain and a stunning monument dedicated to Cervantes, known for writing “Don Quixote”.

Plaza de Espana (5)

Neighborhood festivities

These open-air events take place from May to September on the streets of Madrid. Every week there’s a street party in a different neighbourhood, with a wonderful ambience and live music that you can enjoy for free. Plus, if you’ve brought a few Euros out with you, you’ll also be able to gratify your stomach with delicious local food and drinks.
Here are a few of the larger festivities: 15th May at San Isidro Labrador; 13th June at Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida; 15th-25th July at Virgen Del Carmen; 6th-15th August at Virgen de la Paloma, 7th August at San Cayetano and finally 10th August at San Lorenzo.
These big street parties attract many locals and tourists who want to enjoy the sun, parades and other events while setting their teeth into the delicious grilled chorizo and churros!

Local festivities in Madrid (6)

Madrid’s Royal Palace (Palacio Real)

This palace dates from the eighteenth century; even though it’s no longer a royal residence, it is still in use during state occasions. There are over 2,000 rooms in the palace and many of them are open to the public. Make sure to visit the impressive Reception Room and the State Apartments. Entrance is free on Wednesdays.

Madrid's Royal Palace (7)

Atocha Railway Station

A little less obvious but very popular attraction in Madrid can be found in the city’s main railway station.The tropical garden in the old atrium of Atocha Railway Station has a turtle pool and tropical flora and fauna. Have a walk around while waiting for your next train!

Atocha Railway Station (8)

Santa Maria Le Real de la Almudena Cathedral

In front of Madrid’s Royal Palace you can find the Santa Maria Le Real de la Almudena, the first cathedral to be consecrated by a Pope. It was built in the twentieth century with a mix of architectural styles including Neoclassical, neo-Gothic and Romanesque. The cathedral is open to the public for free every day, but is closed to tourists during busy periods.

Santa Maria Le Real de la Almudena Cathedral (9)

Templo de Debod

The Templo once stood in the village of Debod and was built in the early 2nd century BC. A gift from Egypt to Spain, it was rebuilt in 1970 in Madrid’s Parque del Oeste.

Templo de Debod (10)

The Old City Walls

Madrid was once surrounded by walls, initially built by Islamic rulers in the 9th century; hence the name: Muralla Árabe. Later, in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Christians added even more walls. Parts of the old city walls are still visible today. You can see some remains just behind the Santa Maria Le Real de la Almudena cathedral.

Old Madrid wall (11)

Madrid Rio

Close to the Puerta del Sol area you’ll find the enormous leisure parks centre: the Madrid Rio.This park along the Manzanares river has an urban beach, cafés, restaurants, terraces and sports facilities such as rowing lanes on the river.

Madrid Rio (12)

Anden 0

Another interesting sight is Anden 0. This showcases an old Madrid Metro station, and also holds a small museum that is definitely worth a look…especially as it’s free to enter.

Location: Plaza Chamberi

Opening hours: Tues-Fri: 11:00 – 19:00, Sat, Sun and holidays: 11:00 – 15:00.

Anden 0 (13)

Museo Arte Publico

This free open-air museum of abstract art makes the best use of the dead space under a bypass. Work by artists like Joan Miro and Eduardo Chillida can be admired here.

Museo Arte Publico (14)

Espacio Conde Duque

Espacio Conde Duque are former barracks that now house a number of interesting sights. The main attraction is the contemporary art museum, but don’t forget the Conde Duque, the city archive, libraries of history, music, newspapers and the artisan printing press.

Espacio Conde Duque (15)

Museo Arqueologico Nacional

An outstanding archaeological museum with its main attraction: a replica of a prehistoric cave.

It’s closed on Mondays, but free on all other days!

Museo Arqueologico Nacional (16)

Exhausted yet? I know I am.
So there you go – with these tips you can easily enjoy this wonderful city for free. Have you been to Madrid and visited one (or all!) of these attractions?
Maybe you know some other great free ones that we missed? Why not leave a comment below and tell us your “Madrid for free” tips…

Photo credits:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16

Airport dining sounds about as much fun as medieval surgery. Greasy, undercooked, carelessly composed and poorly presented ‘food’ is pretty much standard fare in far too many airports.

I’ll happily browse the duty free for deals on Absolut, Jim Beam and Bombay Sapphire, but my gastronomical expectations don’t dare venture beyond machine coffee and a factory muffin.

However, I’ve recently been forced to reconsider my stance; airport dining isn’t just a foreseeable possibility – it’s already here. These five top airport restaurants might make you think twice before settling for pretentious lattes in Starbucks or rubbery ‘burgers’ in McDonalds.

Airport restaurants: full of bottle (1)

If you have the hunger, browse our tips for top airport restaurants…and if you know anybody who’s passing through these airports, make sure you give them a recommendation – they’ll thank you for it later!

Deep Blue Sushi, New York: JFK

Deep Blue Sushi: way too popular (2)

There might have been something fishy about JFK and the grassy knoll, but that’s no reason to host a sushi restaurant in his airport. Must be something else, then.

As if departing this world for the afterlife, those travelling via JFK have the chance to enjoy a spectacular last meal before they leave New York. Deep Blue Sushi is a full-service Japanese restaurant, with meat and tempura besides the seafood.

Fresh fish, crispy seaweed and tasty wasabi conspire to make you wonder why on earth you’re leaving this gourmet’s pleasure kingdom – or at least to give you a final reminder of why you’re definitely coming back next year.

Deep Blue is the spawn of trendy Asian restaurant Buddakan in Manhattan, offering consistency of quality already associated with the brand. If you have the time and the dime, go for a wine and dine before flying back to the land of the unliving.

Deep Blue Sushi gets rolling (3)

Blue Sushi: Deep (4)

Piquillo, New York: JFK

Piquillo: awesome views (5)

Since we’re hanging around, let’s check-in to another famous taste-fest. Piquillo was the first tapas bar to open at the airport, and has been tremendously popular thus far. With delicious dishes and ravishing Riojas (Spanish, naturally), Piquillo is an outstanding option – especially if you prefer your portions bitesized.

If you find yourself delayed and without company, prop yourself up at the communal bar, order a sangria or a glass of very fine wine, and chat away the hours with your fellow travellers.

Never knowingly oversized (6)

Piquillo: a great place to shelter from the rain (7)

Bubbles Seafood & Wine Bar, Amsterdam: Schiphol

Bubbles: the new Emerald City (8)

Bubbles may share its name with an infamous massage parlour in my hometown, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end (apparently).

Although the seafood is mouthwatering here – particularly the raw herring and plump oysters – the real draw of Bubbles is…bubbles. Take a sip of first-class champagne in front of the massive saltwater aquarium and you’ll feel like a jet-setting connoisseur in no time.

If seafood doesn’t float your plane, there’s still loads of other things to do at Schiphol…but don’t just take our word for it.

Seafood: plentiful (9)

Bubbles: bottled joy (10)

Incheon Bibimbap, Seoul: Incheon

Incheon Airport food court (not in session) (11)

The range and quality of attractions on offer at Seoul’s Incheon Airport is so impressive…do the authorities even want you to see the rest of the city? Suspicious.

No wonder this airport is often ranked one of the best in the world: visitors can enjoy a spa, a casino, the Museum of Korean Culture, and even a golf course. So, once you’ve knocked your way around 18 holes, you might have worked up something of an appetite.

On-site food court Vitavia has a variety of restaurants, but people generally come here for the amazing bibimbap.
NOT a digital image format, bibimbap is a famous Korean dish that blends warm rice, chili paste, fresh vegetables, sliced beef, and a fried egg. Everything is made fresh, right in front of you.

Next time you’re busy sweating, gambling and teeing off at Incheon Airport, don’t forget to grab yourself a portion of this tasty treat.

Dolsot Bibimbap (12)

Pictures: not as tasty as real food (13)

Plane Food, London: Heathrow

Plane food: not quite airline food (14)

Superheroes are pretty well known for their painful punning and cheesy one-liners, and God’s-gift-to-food Gordon Ramsay is no exception. Plane Food, situated at London’s Heathrow Airport, is a great place to while away the hours this summer whilst waiting for all those immigration queues to go down.

The varied menu includes a crispy duck salad and a risotto with English peas and seared cuts of dry-aged British beef. If, by some act of divine intervention, your time is limited, order from the two-course Plane Fast list. Pumpkin soup and Suffolk pork belly come in at less than GBP 20 and touch down in under 20 minutes. The puns come for free.

Salmon Carpaccio (15)

Ramsay: Macho Man? (16)

Too hungry to continue! So let us know: did you recently eat in one of these restaurants? Bottoms up or thumbs down?
Did we leave out any truly great airport restaurants? Leave a comment!

Thanks to:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe (1)

At the western end of the renowned Champs Elysées you’ll find one of Paris’ most famous monuments, the Arc de Triomphe. With its impressive 50m height, this arch is one of the largest in the world. Don’t risk your life crossing the Place Charles de Gaulle (one of the busiest roundabouts in Paris), but instead take the ‘passerelle’ tunnel to have a closer look at the inscriptions on the arch and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, or to admire the stunning view of the Eiffel Tower and Grande Arche.

Beaubourg aka Centre Pompidou

Beaubourg Centre Pompidou (2)

Without a doubt one of Paris’ most remarkable architectural creations, the Pompidou Centre houses a library, music research centre and Europe’s largest museum of modern art. Many great artists have exhibited in this colourful building, ever since its opening in 1977. The centre’s top floor exclusive club and restaurant give an amazing view over the city. For the less wealthy amongst us, the Beaubourg area holds plenty of cute restaurants. Alternatively, why not enjoy a crêpe whilst listening to some locals playing music at the Place de Beaubourg?

Champs Elysées

Champs Elysées (3)

Au soleil, sous la pluie, à midi ou à minuit, il y a tout ce que vous voulez aux Champs-Elysées… – just one of many ‘chansons’ about the world’s most famous boulevard. As the song says, in the sun or in the rain, during the day or during the night, everything you want is at Champs-Elysées. How about trying some macarons at Paris’ famous Laduree pastry shop, or having coffee at the Renault showroom?

Dôme des Invalides

Dôme des Invalides (4)

The Dôme des Invalides is the remarkable centre of the Invalides complex, which contains museums and a retirement home for veterans amongst its structures. In the gilded dome church you’ll find the tombs of many famous war heroes as well as Napoleon’s mausoleum. This attraction is highly recommended for lovers of French military history.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower (5)

Since its construction in 1889 the Eiffel Tower has been synonymous with Paris. So much has been said already about this ‘Iron Lady’, but words can never compete with the real experience of actually standing in line for over 2 hours to access the elevator (or 300 stairs per level, for the brave ones amongst us) to enjoy a splendid view over the city.

Flore Café

Cafe de Flore (6)

Back in the days when people preferred books over Iphones, Paris was the place to be for famous (and not so famous) writers and artists. They gathered in the Flore Café to discuss everything and nothing, the conversation lubricated by copious quantities of wine. Today Flore Café is mainly known as a restaurant or coffee place for those who want to bond with the intellectual spirits of the past (or who are just hungry).

Gare du Nord

Gare du Nord (7)

As I make my way from Amsterdam to Paris, the moment the high speed Thalys train arrives at the impressive Gare du Nord I’m flooded with great happiness and joy. Gare du Nord is one of Paris’ largest railway stations and one of the busiest in Europe, with departures for destinations in northern France and in countries further afield. Step off the train, let the police dog sniff your bag for ‘funny business’, and get ready to go and explore the beautiful city that is Paris.

Forum des Halles

Forum des Halles (8)

Take a metro to the most central station of the city (Châtelet Les Halles) and discover a huge underground shopping centre. Just below street level, this Parisian mall is known for its characteristic design of the glass and iron rooftops that stick out and determine the street image of the Châtelet area.

Ile de la Cité

Ile de la Cité (9)

Take a walk over the Pont Neuf, one of the oldest and most beautiful bridges of Paris, to the Ile de la Cité. This is one of two islands in the Seine river and is the most popular, due to the presence of Notre Dame Cathedral amongst the major attractions to be found here. Due to its central location, a lot of other interesting places can easily be reached; follow the Quais de Seine, which will lead you down the riverside and take you to the Institut du Monde Arabe in only a few minutes.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg (10)

No better place to go to after a day of wandering around in the VI arrondissement than the Luxembourg Gardens. A 25 hectare park with a huge pond, over a hundred statues (one of which is the very first Statue of Liberty) and lovely little green seats to sit down, rest your feet and enjoy serenity in the middle of the city centre.

Kong Restaurant

Kong Restaurant (11)

Wine and dine at the Eiffel Tower restaurant is so 2011. Restaurant Kong is the new place to be! Situated close to Pont Neuf, this interesting venue with a frameless glass roof gives you a stunning view over Paris. French cuisine reinterpreted by Japan, a restaurant for Parisians, designed by Philippe Starck. Nom nom, I’ll book my table now!

Louvre

Louvre (12)

One of the most famous museums in the world, filmed, shot and written about and an absolute must-see during your stay in Paris. You can’t leave without at least having had a sneaky peeky at the tiny Mona Lisa inside, or at the impressive glass pyramid just outside the beautiful Louvre buildings. Let your memory of all the beautiful paintings sink in during a walk in the Tuileries gardens – don’t get lost in the labyrinth!

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge (13)

Do the can-can! Back in the Belle Epoque, France’s good old times, the Moulin Rouge was an inspirational place to congregate for painters such as Toulouse-Lautrec and other admirers of extravagant dance spectacles. Nowadays the theater is mostly an attraction for tourists who want to take a picture of the famous red windmill, but it can still be frequented for music and dance shows.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame (14)

Paris has a fair amount of churches and cathedrals worth a visit, but the Notre Dame, situated on Ile de la Cité, is probably the most frequented. Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame gave this gothic cathedral world fame and still today, hundreds of thousands of visitors stand in line to check out Quasimodo’s whereabouts.

Opéra Garnier

Opéra Garnier (15)

With a surface of over 11,000 square metres, the extravagant Opéra Garnier is the largest opera building in the world. This impressive structure can house approximately 2,000 guests as well as a Phantom. Nowadays Opéra Garnier is mainly used for ballet; other performances are usually held in the Opéra Bastille.

Père Lachaise

Père Lachaise (16)

Every year, over hundreds of thousands of visitors wander around Père Lachaise, most likely trying to find the grave of Jim Morrison. But there is much more to explore: not only can you find the graves of Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust and Oscar Wilde, but everyone who has lived in Paris or has passed away whilst being there has the right to be buried at Père Lachaise. Definitely worth a visit, preferably on a sunny day. After all, it’s still a graveyard…

Quartier Latin

Quartier Latin (17)

This lively area, located in the 5th and 6th districts of Paris around the Sorbonne University, is known for its great atmosphere and many bistros and restaurants. This is a favourite place for students, writers and of course tourists to come together. There’s nothing better than enjoying a glass of red wine on a terrace whilst reading a French classic novel you just found in one of the many bookstores in the Quartier Latin. Don’t forget to check out Shakespeare & Company!

Rue de Rivoli

Rue de Rivoli (18)

For those who want just a little more exclusive fashion than the regular H&M or Zara in the nearby Les Halles shopping centre, there is Rue de Rivoli. Running past the Louvre, this street full of designer stores is definitely worth your time, if only to just browse the beautiful shop windows. Should you have any energy and money left over, the famous department stores of Printemps and Lafayette are just around the corner.

Sacre Cœur & Montmartre

Sacre Coeur (19)

Get up early and make sure you get to Montmartre before all the other tourists do. Wander around the small, cobblestone streets, have your portrait drawn by one of the artists at Place du Tertre, and take the 300 steps up to the terrace of the Sacre Coeur, the famous white church. From here, you have a great view over most of the city of Paris. And remember, the way down is always easier.

Tour Montparnasse

Tour Montparnasse (20)

A skyscraper in the centre of Paris…Tour Montparnasse is 210 metres high and has 58 floors, which contain mainly offices. On the 56th floor, however, you’ll find a restaurant, exhibition space and even a mini cinema. If you’re not afraid of heights, you can take the stairs to the terrace at the 59th floor for a 360° panoramic view over Paris.

Underground

Metropolitain Paris (21)

Everyone knows the characteristic Art Nouveau metro signs in Paris, even if you’re not one of the 4 million people that take the metro on a daily basis. Not only is the metro the easiest way to get from one point to another while avoiding the hectic traffic, it is also full of hidden treasures. Make sure to admire the stations of Abesses, Porte Dauphine, Cité and Palais Royal while you’re on your way.

Versailles

Versailles (22)

If you want to escape the claustrophobia of the city centre, there’s a beautiful palace waiting for you just outside Paris, in Versailles. Since the chateau was built, many changes have taken place to extend it. Nowadays, the Versailles palace is a wonderful place to spend a day enjoying the beautiful weather whilst walking around in the gardens. The surroundings still breathe the history of France’s old system of absolute monarchy.

World Fair 1900

World Fair 1900 (23)

The World Fair, in French Exposition Universelle, was held in Paris in 1900 to celebrate the architectural achievements of the past century and to discuss innovations for the coming century. Man of the hour Gustav Eiffel was one of the jury members. Many of the characteristic Art Nouveau masterpieces in Paris were once the subject of discussion during the World Fair.

XX arrondissement

View from Parc de Belleville, XX-Arrondissement (24)

Paris’ XX arrondissement is a very popular multicultural neighborhood. This arrondissement has a lively nightlife, with the Flêche d’Or concert hall being of the major venues. The Belleville Park, on the 108m high Belleville Hill, gives you a splendid view over the city. This district also holds Paris’ second largest Chinatown, which is a colourful way to while away your afternoon.

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent (25)

French fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent was born in Algeria, but spent most of his life in Paris. His luxury fashion house was founded in 1962 and is one of the most renowned and remarkable names in the industry. Still today women wear blazers and tuxedos based on YSL’s innovative design.

Zoo de Vincennes

Zoo de Vincennes (26)

The Parc Zoologique de Paris, near the Bois de Vincennes, is said to be one of the largest zoos in Europe, with 15 hectares of space and 1200 animals, of which a certain number are exotic species. The zoo even has a huge artificial rock 65 metres high, which gives you an amazing view over Paris! If you want to include a visit to the giant panda in your Paris trip, you will have to come back in 2014, as the park is currently closed for renovation.

Parisian charm (27)

So, how many of these features can you tick off your list? Better pack your bags and drag yourself off to Paris while hotel rooms are still affordable. Drop a comment below to let us know your favourite Parisian attraction, and while you’re at it why not post a photo on our Facebook page?

Photo credits:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Portugal, Germany & the Netherlands

The Portuguese team will be based in Opalenica, just west of Poznan, Poland. They will be staying at the Remes hotel. With a spa, a nightclub, bar/lounge and a health club, they’re more than likely to enjoy the stay.

The German team will set up camp in Gdansk, Poland. Their home will be the Dwor Oliwski Hotel. This 17^th century manor is equipped with an indoor swimming pool, a gym, massage rooms, a sauna and a solarium.

The Netherlands, while playing all of their matches of the first stage in Ukraine, chose Krakau, Poland as their base. It might have something to do with the beautiful Sheraton Krakow Hotel. This spacious hotel offers the Dutch all-stars everything they need, from gyms to saunas and much more besides.

Although staying in Poznan, Gdansk and Krakow, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal will play the first three matches of the first stage in Lviv and Kharkiv. If you want to be part of this football fun, Lviv is definitely the place to be.

Hotel recommendations for these games:

The Buhta-Vikingiv Lviv

This 3 star hotel is just a few minutes away from the city’s cultural attractions, standing in the shadow of the Carpathian mountains. But more importantly, it’s only 10 kilometres away from the Arena Lviv stadium.

Old Town Apartments

For your home away from home, try renting an apartment here. Located in the city centre, this is an ideal base for the football summer. Of course, free wifi is available, so you can keep up with all the important football news.

Fan Camp Lviv

For the real die-hard fans, there is the Fan Camp, located in Lviv. Situated in the forest, the campsite territory is divided in different zones, for fans of each nationality. Renting a tent comes with 2 camping mats and 2 sleeping bags.
Showers and toilets are accessible on-site and drinks and snacks are available throughout the day. Restaurants, breakfast areas and of course a big screen for the football matches are all provided.
There are three lakes nearby where you can relax and unwind in between matches; with sunbeds and sports facilities, it’s all there!

Spain & Italy

The Spanish national team will play all three games in Gdansk, Poland. Their hotel will be an hour and a half drive from the city. The Mistral Hotel in Gniewino provides the team with fitness areas, a whirlpool and massage therapists.

The Italian team chose Wieliczka in Poland as their temporary home. The Turowka Hotel & Spa is the lucky place to welcome the team. A spa tub, beauty salon and designer toiletries will sure please the Italian stallions.

Spain and Italy will play in Gdansk and Poznan, two big Polish cities. Be part of it and stay in one of these (or both!) great places.

Hotel recommendations for these games:

Lezno Palace Hotel

The Lezno Palace Hotel in Gdansk offers several excellent facilities such as a shoe polishing service (you have to look sharp!) and a sauna…hot stuff.

Villa Pascal

If you’re on a budget, there’s no better place to stay than Villa Pascal. This hotel is located in a quiet district of the city, only 50 metres from the beach. Car parking, internet access and a restaurant are all provided here.

Hotel llonn Poznan

Hotel llonn Poznan is a modern three star hotel with a restaurant and a sauna. The hotel even offers party rooms to celebrate the football victories!

Activator Camp Gdansk

Last but not least, you can also choose to stay at the Activator Camp Gdansk. Close to the PGE Arena, this camp is good way to meet other supporters and football fans. Meet up at the common barbecue grills and play a game of football.

France & England

The chic and sophisticated Hotel Stary in Krawkow will certainly suit the English team. A number of museums, Krakow Zoo and the Collegium Maius are all within a five minute walk, but somehow we think the boys will be more inclined to enjoy the hotel bar.

The French choose to stay at a training facility called The Kirsha Training Facility in Donetsk. Instead of steam rooms and saunas, they get consulting rooms and medical offices. I guess they’ll do anything to avoid going home early again….!

If you want to bend it like Beckham, go to Donetsk and Kiev!

Hotel recommendations for these games:

Partner Guesthouse Baseina Kiev

This small intimate hotel offers a variety of high end services. For instance, you can order a limousine to arrive at the stadium in style. Save some room in your limo for the guests you will take with you to the hotel’s own nightclub. The rooms even have kitchens, where you can cook your own winning meal.

Kozatskiy on Antonova Kiev

Another good budget hotel is the Kozatskiy on Antonova Kiev. This newly renovated hotel even offers some of the luxuries that the football players have, such as a sauna, a bar and a transfer service!

Kiev Rent Apartments & Kreshchatyk Guesthouse Apartments

Convenient for groups, Kiev Rent Apartments and Kreshchatyk Guesthouse Apartments Kiev offer great accommodation for short and long term stays. Both places are situated in the city centre, within close range of Kiev’s cultural attractions. More importantly, both are only a thirty minute walk from where the magic happens: the Olimpiysky National Sports Complex.

Are you getting excited about the championships yet? Why not let us know your plans during the European Cup!

Visiting London without travelling on the tube is a bit like going to a restaurant without ordering an entrée. The London Underground is one of the oldest and best working public transport systems in the world, carrying over 3 million passengers every day.

So far so yeah yeah yeah…but there’s more to be found below the surface. Since the opening of the first tube line in 1863, a number of stories, rumours and incidents have been brewing underneath the streets of London.

London Tube trunk line (1)

As today is the 11th, how fitting that we’ve dug up 11 fascinating facts about one of the world’s most famous transport systems. Let’s dive right in:

1. Escalation

What runs around the garden without moving an inch? Think about it for a bit….
Similarly, the Underground system’s 409 escalators travel a distance equivalent to two trips around the world every week.

London Tube escalators (2)

2. Filthy habits

No shit, Sherlock: in terms of asphyxiation, travelling on the tube for 40 minutes is the equivalent to smoking two cigarettes.

Shadows: rebellious (3)

3. ‘Underground’ music

The Underground is a good place to stumble on musicians busting out tuneful tunes to the delight of passers by. Following in this spirit, Julian Lloyd Webber is rumoured to have been the London Underground’s first official busker.

Easily distracted - Julian Lloyd Webber (4)

4. Dead centre

Bubonic plague swept through England in 1665, and was especially rife in urban areas. Aldgate Station, on the Circle and Metropolitan Lines, is built on a massive plague pit, where more than 1,000 bodies are buried.

Aldgate Station (5)

5. Fast food

Swimming, travel and THC all give us the munchies, and for this reason the tube system is choc-full of vending machines dispensing all kinds of marked-up goodies. Whilst Kit Kats and Monster Munch hold their own on the shelves, the Cadbury’s Whole Nut chocolate bar is by far the biggest seller.

Wholly nuts, Batman; can you break a tenner? (6)

6. Famous catchphrase

Falling between the platform and the train can sometimes be a mild inconvenience. For centuries the English puzzled over the riddle of how to prevent this type of accident. The answer finally came from an unlikely source when, in 1968, the phrase “MIND THE GAP” originated on the Northern Line.

Class war goes underground (7)

7. Close for comfort

The walking time between two underground stops in central London is never more than 10 minutes, and is sometimes a lot less. In fact, the shortest distance between two adjacent stations on the underground network is only 260 metres. The tube journey between Leicester Square and Covent Garden on the the Piccadilly Line takes only about 20 seconds, but costs £4.30.

Walking: cheap (8)

8. In plane site

Many tube stations were used as air-raid shelters during WWII, but the Central Line went one better and was actually converted into a massive aircraft factory that stretched for over two miles, with its own railway system. Its existence remained an official secret until the 1980s.

Central Line aircraft factory (9)

9. Hidden corners

There are several unused stations down there. For instance, Down Street Station was used by Winston Churchill and his cabinet during the Second World War. The British Museum also has an abandoned tube station, lying on the Central Line between Tottenham Court Road and Holborn.

British Museum Underground Station, 1937 (10)

10. Ancient heritage

How does a tube line celebrate its birthday? Drop by to find out next year, as the Metropolitan Line marks its 150th. Having opened on 10^th January 1863, this is the oldest tube line in the world.

The Metropolitan Line (11)

11. Grapes of wrath

Next time you walk into a tube station, keep your eyes peeled for roguish fruit. Green grapes are particularly notorious offenders, causing more accidents on the London Underground than banana skins. Just like Marvin, remember where you heard it.

Marvin (12)

Well, Marvin brings our journey to an end. Thanks for riding it out with us, and we look forward to meeting again further down the line. How many puns can you fit into one paragraph? More to the point, do you have any curious facts to add to this list? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

And if you want some useful info about London’s wider transport system, there’s a comprehensive article about it here.

As the say in France, buona sera!

 Thanks to:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

I’m really good at leaving stuff behind – I’ve fished my money out of the bin more than once, I’ve dropped my debit card several times, and I regularly used to lock my keys in the car.
That said, I’ve never left anything at the airport without being forced to, so this little list of gems is very much on the amusing side.

Unclaimed Baggage Center (1)

Here are some of the strangest items filling the shelves of the Unclaimed Baggage Section:

A Canada goose

This one makes more sense than you might think: after all, geese can fly on their own – they don’t need to use aeroplanes for that. However, stuffed geese don’t move so freely, and this full-sized stuffed bird is still stuck at the Unclaimed Baggage Center Museum.

Canada Goose (2)

13th century bronze plaques

These genuinely ancient bronze plaques hail from Nigeria. They were originally hung in King Oba’s palace, in the Benin kingdom. We all need a change of scene now and again.

Bronze Plaque (3)

A full suit of armour

I’ve turned up to parties without a bottle of wine, but never to a joust without my suit of armour. Okay, this was just a replica of a 19th century suit…but still has the potential to ruin someone’s re-enactment.

Suit of armour (4)

An aeroplane

Inception luggage: a plane within a plane? This remote controlled aeroplane measured approx. 1.5 x 2.4m…not the kind of thing to fall out of your pocket.

Remote controlled airplane (5)

A rattlesnake

This venomous snake was found alive and kicking (metaphorically). Fortunately it was found a suitable home before anyone came to any harm.

Rattlesnake (6)

A Tibetan Dung Chen

It’s hard to imagine how a 3m horn can be so easily overlooked, but stranger things have happened at sea. Personally, I can’t say I’ve ever stumbled on an enormous brass instrument, that makes a sound like Brian Blessed, just lying around the departure lounge.

Dung Chen (7)

A violin from the 1770s

Following a tragic oversight, this centuries old instrument now resides in the Unclaimed Baggage Center Museum.

Violin 1770's (8)

A diamond

A ring, containing a 5.8-carat diamond, was found packed in a sock. Hopefully this particular escapade proved a valuable lesson for someone with one bare foot.

5.8 carat diamond ring (9)

A Barbie doll

Sounds innocent enough, but this particular doll had a secret. A woman bought the Barbie from the Unclaimed Baggage Center for her daughter. In a fit of…something…the girl then pulled the head off her Barbie, unleashing $500 in rolled-up notes.

Barbie (10)

Hoggle from “Labyrinth”

Yes, Hoggle. Another doll, this time slightly less attractive, and with apparently more fidelity issues. Hoggle is now a permanent part of the Unclaimed Baggage Center Museum.

Hoggle (11)

Ancient Egyptian artefacts

A decent hoard of objects, dating back to 1500 B.C., were left in a Gucci suitcase. Items included a mummified falcon and a shrunken head. Presumably too attractive a money-spinning opportunity, the artefacts were offloaded by Christie’s auction house in the ’80s.

Animal Mummies (12)

A naval guidance system

Clocking a value of about $250,000, this piece of equipment was never claimed by its careless owners, but was returned to the Navy by the friendly people at the Unclaimed Baggage Center.

Naval guidance system (13)

A camera for a NASA space shuttle

I hate it when I leave my space camera behind….it’s a good thing there’s lovely people at the Unclaimed Baggage Center to return expensive items like this back to NASA.

NASA camera (14)

What a hoot. And as a special bonus, here’s an additional list of ten items left on London’s public transport system. If any of these items belong to you, you might be able to locate it here:

1. A Samurai sword
2. A prosthetic arm
3. A coffin
4. A stuffed fox
5. A puffer fish
6. A lawnmower
7. A park bench
8. World War 2 gas masks
9. A home vasectomy kit
10. A pair of breast implants

That’s all, folks; thanks for sticking around.

Thanks also to:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14

Known as the Night of Fire, Sant Joan (San Juan in Spanish) coincides with the summer solstice, which marks the turning of the calendar. It’s a hugely popular event in Barcelona, celebrated with lots of merriment, fireworks, bonfires and music.

Parties rage well into the morning, in all corners of the city as well as on the beach. This is a time when the Spanish hold festivities to rival the Dutch Queen’s Day. Personally I’ve been part of it, so I can say from experience that it’s pretty nuts.

I’d definitely love to go again, but this isn’t about me; it’s about you. Thanks to the fabulous generosity of Andante Hotel we’re offering you the chance to win 2 nights for 2 people in Barcelona over Sant Joan.

Andante Hotel enjoys a fantastic location close to many of Barcelona’s major tourist attractions. Las Ramblas and Port Vell are a five minute walk away, so you can easily walk to Barceloneta Beach, the Aquarium, and Plaça Catalunya from here.

Inside, the hotel is completely brand new, sleek and modern, and has attractive facilities that include a rooftop swimming pool, solarium, and an on-site gymnasium.

As Sant Joan is pretty much an all-night festival, you’ll check into Andante Hotel on 23^rd June, and then join in the revelry that night. You’ll need the following day to recuperate and perhaps also take in some of Barcelona’s incredible attractions.

You’ll check out on 25^th June with a pocketful of stories to take home, and maybe even some photos to back it up.

So, once again: how on earth are you going to win this fantastic prize?

Sant Joan celebrates one of Spain’s most popular saints. Believe it or not Sant Joan (St. John the Baptist to some of us) is the patron saint of, amongst loads of other things, French Canadians. Here’s a question: if you were a saint, what would you be the saint of? Giraffes? Discounted cleaning products? Have a think about it.

1. ‘Like’ us on Facebook
   
2. Leave a comment on this post telling us what you’d be the saint of. You can leave your comment using your Facebook or Twitter account.

These special conditions apply:

• the voucher is valid for 2 nights in a double room
• check-in on 23rd June; check-out on 25th June
• you must be a fan of our Facebook page
• we’ll announce the winner on Monday 28th May 2012

Remember that there are plenty of people in our office who would rip my arm off to get at this prize, so make sure you’re in it to win it and don’t be selfish: share and share alike. May we all have a wonderful approach to summer.

Most tourists coming to Netherlands have Amsterdam at the top of their list. Many have Amsterdam as the only thing on their list. True, there’s loads to see in Amsterdam, but there’s also plenty of attractions just outside the city. These hidden gems are often no more than an hour away and can easily be seen and enjoyed in a day.

Colorful Clogs (1)

Muiderslot Castle

Muiderslot Castle (2)

Just a twenty five minute drive from Amsterdam lies lovely Muiden. This old town is situated on the shores of the ‘Ijmeer’. Muiden is known for its medieval castle; the ‘Muiderslot’. This UNESCO-listed fortress was built in 1285 by Count Floris V. Being one of the oldest castles in the country, it has a long and vibrant history. Even Dutch ‘Shakespeare’, P.C Hooft, spent the majority of his life living at Muiderslot. In the late eighteen hundreds the castle was fully renovated, restoring its former glory. Today the site attracts tourists from all over the world.

There are several tours around the castle grounds.  For instance: follow the Knight’s Route to the Western tower, the highest point of the Castle. Discover Muiderslot’s seven centuries’ worth of history on the Historical Floor. Take the Tower Route for a tour of the Eastern Gate and Southern towers. Afterwards, go for a stroll through the Dutch Renaissance gardens and watch the owls, falcons, and other birds during live demonstrations at the Falconry. The castle also regularly hosts classical music concerts and theatre plays.

Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans (3)

If you really want to get down to the roots of Dutch culture, you will have to visit ‘Zaanse Schans’. Zaanse Schans is a municipality of Zaanstad that has been remodeled into an open air museum. Between 1961 and 1974 old houses, buildings and windmills were uprooted and brought to a designated area, now known as Zaanse Schans. Sights to see include the old windmills, a small clog factory and a replica of the first Albert Heijn grocery shop.  In one the five museums, you can gather information about the Netherlands, the Dutch and their unique culture. Don’t miss the cheese making demonstrations at the Catherina Hoeve cheese factory, where you can taste and purchase some of the best cheese Holland has to offer!

Volendam

Volendam (4)

North of Amsterdam you can find dozens of small old-style Dutch towns and villages. The most popular of these is Volendam. In this authentic village the old wooden houses are built on stilts and locals still wear their colorful traditional dresses. It’s very popular to have your picture taken in full traditional clothing. Volendam also has its very own music style; ‘Palingsound’ or ‘Eelsound’. Palingsound is a combination of typical Dutch sounds with pop music. Make sure to stop by the Palingsound Museum, a museum dedicated to this particular style.

Haarlem

Haarlem lies just west of Amsterdam. Actually, it’s the exact distance from Amsterdam as Harlem in New York is from the tip of Manhattan. Fascinating fact? I’m full of them. Here’s another: did you know that Haarlem shares a ‘friendship link’ with the world-famous English settlement of Derby?
Though only a fifteen minute train ride from the big city, Haarlem has a very different feel to it. The old city center revolves around the ‘Grote Markt’ – the big market. The market square holds a number of notable buildings such as the Grotekerk (or St. Bavokerk), the Vleeshal (literally, ‘meat hall’) and the city hall.

Haarlem - Grote Markt (5)

One outstanding feature of Haarlem is the Teyler’s Museum – the Netherlands’ oldest museum. This diamond in the rough holds a dazzling array of fossils, bones, and geological specimens, including a display on luminescence. A massive collection of scientific instruments, crowned by the world’s largest electrostatic generator, is perhaps the museum’s most impressive inclusion. The free audio tour makes it well worth the EUR 10 entrance fee.

For the finishing touch, end your day enjoying a beer in one of Haarlem’s many bars or cafés.

Bloemendaal & Zandvoort

If you’re visiting in the summer, the beaches of Bloemendaal and Zandvoort are two places you shouldn’t miss. You can catch a direct train to Zandvoort from Sloterdijk Station in Amsterdam. Alternatively, both Bloemendaal and Zandvoort can be reached on foot from Haarlem. Bloemendaal has seven beach pavilions, all organizing summer parties, making it a popular place with younger visitors.

Bloemendaal beach (6)

Zandvoort’s nine kilometer beach makes it a perfect place to enjoy a long promenade. It’s also great for sunbathing or for watersports like windsurfing. The Dutch don’t see a great deal of sunlight through the year, so these beaches can get crazy busy at the first hint of sun. Nevertheless, spending a day here is well worth it for a break from the city.

Zandvoort beach (7)

Keukenhof

Keukenhof (8)

This enormous flower park attracts over 850,000 visitors from all over the world each year.  Seven million bulbs are planted in different shapes and patterns, creating the most colorful site in the Netherlands and a true feast for the senses. Rent a bike and enjoy the beautiful sights and smells. Alternatively, hop on a boat to float alongside the bulb fields. Whatever you do, make sure to bring your camera because the Keukenhof is something you don’t want to leave out of your photo album.

Alkmaar’s Cheese market

Alkmaar Cheese market (9)

Say cheese! And cheese is what you’ll get. Alkmaar’s famous cheese market is the only place where you can still witness the cheese weighing according to tradition. Every Friday 2,200 cheeses, weighing 13.5 kilos, each are stocked on Alkmaar’s Waagplein. The cheese traders then start their task of smelling, touching and tasting the cheese. A traditional ‘handje klap’ will determine the price and two carriers will carry the cheese to the trucks. It is not possible to actually buy the cheese, but fortunately the market stalls surrounding the spectacle offer all the Edammer and Gouda you’ve ever dreamt of.

The Hague

The Dutch government and parliament, the Supreme Court, the Council of State and Royal Residence of the Queen are all situated in The Hague. Besides this, 150 international organizations, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, are also located here.

The Hague- Court pond (10)

Take a stroll around The Hague’s narrow streets, get some ice cream at ‘Florencia Ijsfabriek’ and stop by the historic Binnenhof and medieval Ridderzaal, which now contains the Houses of Parliament and government offices. Shoot your pictures from the Lange Vijverberg, which runs alongside the Hofvijver (court pond). Finish the day with a walk on the beach and a cup of tea in the famous ‘Kurhaus’, a high-end hotel on the beach at Scheveningen.

Holysloot

Holysloot (11)

If you want to escape all the city fuss, try renting a bike in Holysloot. Holysloot is a small village and a true oasis of peace and tranquility. Holysloot is situated just north of Amsterdam, near the Markerlake. With only one main street, there’s not much to do but to hop on a bike and explore the beautiful landscape around Holysloot. Barns, cows and windmills – you will encounter all the Dutch stereotypes. There are several cycling routes for you to choose from: stick to the dykes and polders to go ‘au naturel’, or follow a livelier route that takes in some of the surrounding villages.

Madurodam, The Hague

Madurodam (12)

Not enough time to visit all that Holland’s got to offer? Miniature Park Madurodam might be the solution to your problems. Located just ten minutes from The Hague, this model village covers 1.77 square kilometres and holds a number of famous Dutch buildings and destinations. Madurodam was built in 1952 and has been visited by tens of millions of visitors ever since. Complete with moving trams, cars and airplanes, Madurodam gives you a good insight in the Netherlands. In addition, this park inspired Fernando de Ercilla to design Catalunya en Miniatura, one of the largest miniature parks in the world.

Dutch windmills at dusk (13)

So, we’ve lined them up…it’s up to you to knock them down! If you’ve visited any of these destinations, what are your recommendations? Have you been on any other day trips in the Netherlands? Leave your comments, tips and suggestions below!

View Day trips from Amsterdam in a larger map

Photo credits:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13

Just as running water doesn’t become stagnant, change keeps us fresh and invigorated. We’ve presented our site with the same design for long enough; it’s time we changed it up a little.

The point is not only to make it look more attractive for you as a user, but also to make it easier to find what you’re looking for. No matter what type of traveller you are, we want it to be simple and even fun to find the hotel that suits you best.

Diving straight in, you’ll notice quite a difference to the home page:

One of the major improvements to the website is the size and quality of the images we display. There’s no point you straining your eyes to try and get a feel of what a place is like – we let our pictures speak for us. This applies across the board; the new design includes the presentation of larger, higher quality photographs of cities, attractions and accommodations.

There’s now this interesting presentation of hotel choices on each ‘city’ page, with snippets of info for you to easily digest and choose from….or you can start your own search.

And if you want to book a hotel with us, you’ll certainly be able to do that too!
The booking process is made easier thanks to clearer buttons and guidance, and additional interactive functionality has been added to the ‘hotel location’ section:

If you open the map at the top, a useful widget allows you to select individual places of interest (such as museums, districts and conference centres) to be marked on the map. From this you can easily see the distance from the hotel to the point you selected.

On the hotel’s main page, the photos are given prominence to help you get a feel of the accommodation:

You can also filter on more factors, for example on review score:

It’s now easier to see what your discount is, and what it is based on (time of stay, percentage etc). Everything that’s included in the price is now shown much more clearly:

While we were messing about with all this ‘new design’ stuff, we also threw the logo and slogan into the mix, to see what would come out:

The new logo and slogan reflect the direction we’re heading in: clean, straightforward, and relevant. Our goal is to give you all the information you need without you having to go searching for it: basically, to make it as easy to book as possible.

What do you think about the new design? You can let us know via the comments field below, or drop by our Facebook page.

In the meantime, watch out for upcoming competitions and loads more city info on the blog.

Having covered Paris, Rome and Amsterdam in our ‘top blogs’ series, we’ve decided to keep up the momentum with one of Europe’s most fabulous cities: Berlin.
Berlin has so much to offer and teach; culturally and historically it’s one of our richest cities.

Around 80% of Berlin was destroyed during the Second World War. The separation of East and West didn’t do much to help reparation of the city, but more recently great buildings such as those on Museumsinsel have been restored to their former grandeur. That said, even two decades following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dichotomy of the city is still apparent. Berlin has become a city full of secrets that draws tourists from over the world.

Wonders of Berlin

We previously gave you tips from our Berlin local, Lisa, as well as an alphabetical rundown in our Berlin A-Z. It’s now time to look beyond our knowledge and identify some expert Berlin bloggers. Besides English, we’ve also included German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian blogs, for a greater degree of variety.

So, without further ado, here’s our list of Top Berlin blogs:

Alternative Berlin is an inspiring site about street art and culture in Berlin. Urban art projects, squat houses and communes spill their secrets here.
The “Linda’s Ex Campaign” was developed by an artist who wanted to get his girlfriend back and wrote poignant love letters all over the city asking her to come back. The whole city was touched by the gesture, and people were eager to reunite the tragic couple. This instance illustrates the engagement of street art with Berlin’s citizens.

Bang Bang Berlin will give you loads of information about fashion, arts and the buzzing club scene in Berlin.

Berlin Cheese Cake is run by Emily Vanessa, a British girl who has travelled a lot and has been living in Berlin for 3 years. She publishes many Berlin recipes and photos of the city.

Das Berlin Blog is written by Aaron Wiener, an American journalist living in Berlin. His writing offers a fresh and intelligent view of the German culture and Berlin.

Slow Travel Berlin is a relevant website that aims to teach people how to travel in Berlin and encourages them to enjoy their journey as much as possible.  “Slow Travel encourages people to resist “Fast” Travel – the frustratingly frequent habit of speeding through all the best known landmarks of a city in 24 or 48 hours – then leaving again.”

Finding Berlin is an online magazine dedicated to Berlin and its culture. The authors of this website share photos, videos, city anecdotes, and urban art… everything that gives a fresh image of Berlin to visitors and residents alike.

Berlin Reified offers many lovely photos and lots of insider info. Sylee Gore, the owner of the blog, shares insights with a personal touch, making it a beautiful blog to share.

U Berlin is run by two native English speakers, Zoe and James, who share their experience and their life on this blog. There is no way to get closer to a  place than to get to know the people who live there.

I Heart Berlin is run by a group of local people who love the city – and you can see it through their blog. They want to share all the things they love about the city with tourists and other locals. As they say, “…if you visit or live in Berlin and want to know how to find the good stuff. From restaurants to shops, from theaters to art galleries, from concerts to party, from places to people”.

Foodie in Berlin is another great blog about food in Berlin. This one is run by Suzy, who was born in Kuwait and has been travelling a lot. Now she lives in Berlin. Suzy shares her likes and dislikes and of course her food passion. “Yes, I like to eat but not half as much as I like everything that goes with eating.”

Needle Berlin is a guide for people who would like to move to Berlin. You can find all the information you need, about costs (mobile phones, apartment), about neighborhood, about safety, about transport, about learning the German language and even more about films and books. As we can say: almost everything you’ll need to move in the best way.

Berlin Wall (1)

Generation Berlin is a funny and well-written French website about the life of Manon, a French expat in Berlin. Manon writes about her life in Berlin and the ups and downs that go with it.

Berlin-Blog covers a wide range of issues arising from Berlin life. Politics, lifestyle, art and culture all make appearances in this intelligent take on Berlin and the rest of Germany.

In Notes of Berlin Joab Nist, the owner of this blog, posts on all the notes that Berlin leaves everyday in the city. Guests can also submit notes that they have found around the city.

My Berlino is a useful website that shares a lot of relevant information about the city and events scheduled.

Berlijn Blog is run by Marjolein, a Dutch expat who lives in Berlin. She writes about her life in Berlin and what it’s like to live there. She also talks about restaurants, cool spots, parties, news and loads of other fun things that Berlin has to offer.

Reichstag (2)

Well, this is my list so far, but if I’ve missed something critical out of here, feel free to comment or send us an e-mail. We will review it and, eventually, add it to our list of favorite Berlin Blogs.

To place the badge on your blog (if you are one of the bloggers mentioned in this post) copy and paste the code below.

<a href="http://blog.easytobook.com"><img src="http://blog.easytobook.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/klein.png" alt="City Expert: Berlin" /></a><br /> by <a href="http://www.easytobook.com/">Easytobook.com</a>

Photos: 1, 2