Rough Guides - The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget (Travel Guide eBook)

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TRADITIONAL GREEK TAVERN, LEFKOS PORT ON KARPATHOS ISLAND

Contents

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Cefal waterfront, Sicily, Italy.

Introduction to

Europe

Europe presents an irresistible challenge to the budget traveller. A potent mix of culture, landscape and history on the one hand and a cash-gobbling monster on the other, sticking to your daily allowance can prove tricky. But learn to zone out the Spend! Spend! Spend! siren song of its myriad restaurants, bars and shops and youll find that this compact little continent is simply the worlds greatest labyrinth. From Londons Royal Parks and Amsterdams canals to Istanbuls Grand Bazaar and Germanys Berlin Wall, just getting tangled up in its sights is a huge draw you can do the Algarve, the Alps and the Arctic, all in one trip. Theres time travel here too: with Stonehenge and Ephesus, cathedrals and castles, chteaux and palaces (not to mention statement-making modern architecture), Europes man-made structures zoom you through millennia of civilization, a tumultuous history that scars and bejewels the continent by turns.

With its cultural kaleidoscope shifting not just from one country to the next but between towns and villages, relatively short distances can mean profound changes bang for your backpacking buck, in other words, especially with the average gap-year trip getting shorter. And you neednt miss out even in some of the worlds most sophisticated cities , with many iconic European experiences mercifully light on the pocket: think of aperitivo time in Rome, the freebie wonders at Londons British Museum and bargain lunchtime concerts in Paris or Dublin. You will have to spend a few bob, of course. Accommodation and travel are bound to devour a fair chunk of your funds; the glass-half-full response is, What do I spend the rest on?. Start by giving your taste buds the ride of their lives, be it in a Lyon bouchon , a smoky Turkish ocakbai , at a market or on the hoof. Dont be tempted to skip breakfast, either an oven-fresh croissant or calorie-jammed full English are not to be missed, and all the more important in a morning-after-the-night-before context, especially since Europe lives for the wee hours. Whether its Berlin and Londons hipster dives, flamenco in Seville, Budapests ruin bars or craft beer and organic wines in Bologna, there are countless reasons to stay up till sunrise. For fun en masse, check out the continents festivals both traditional and modern and the outdoor activities that animate its wide-open spaces, from horseriding in Bulgarias Rila Mountains to surfing on Portugals gnarled Alentejo coast. One advantage of budget travel is that it makes splurging all the sweeter for a little flashpacking guidance, keep an eye out for our Treat Yourself tips throughout the Guide.

With just a few exceptions, red tape wont be an issue thanks to Europes unique open borders policy you can travel hassle-free between countries that were once fierce enemies. To bolster your funds, consider working, which can be a great way to meet people, immerse yourself in a countrys day-to-day life and improve your language skills. But a word of caution while youll come across sleepy corners where things seem unchanged since some distant Once upon a time era, theres an atmosphere of unrest in others. The Eurozone financial crisis is rippling across the continent, having already destabilized governments from Ireland and Greece to Portugal and Slovenia, while 2016 saw Britain opt out of EU membership in the groundbreaking Brexit referendum. Recent terrorist attacks in France and Germany may make you wary, but remember that theyre infrequent occurrences. When planning your trip and before you set off, keep an eye on the news and scour Twitter, which is also invaluable for up-to-the-minute reviews of new openings and off-the-beaten-track recommendations. The disaffected mood does have one upside: with its citizens so politically engaged , this is one of the most interesting times to travel in Europe for decades, and youre bound to have conversations and encounters that define your memories, whichever road you take.

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SEVILLE FAIR

Given the political situation between Russia and Ukraine at the time of going to print, Rough Guides has not included chapters on these countries, as we were unable to provide accurate and up-to-date information on these destinations.

Where to go

Europe has it all: sprawling cities and quaint villages; boulevards, promenades and railways; mountains, beaches and lakes. Some places will be exactly how you imagined: Venice is everything its cracked up to be; springtime in Paris has even hardened cynics melting with the romance of it all; and Oxford s colleges really are like Harry Potter film sets. But others will surprise, whether for their under-the-radar nature or because theyre stuck with an old-established, out-of-date reputation but then, isnt tweaking your mental map all part of the fun?

Budget travellers are best off combining practicality with stick-a-pin-in-the-map impulsiveness. If youre flying out, look for where the cheap fares will take you and start from there try our Itineraries section for inspiration. Those getting around by train still the best option should note which countries are accessible with an InterRail Global pass and the equivalent Eurail pass. Depending on your time and budget, choose one corner of the continent then consider a budget flight for that unmissable experience elsewhere, be it a foodie pilgrimage to San Sebastin or a cultural splurge at the Edinburgh Festival .

Great Britain maintains a certain psychological distance from its neighbours (as the Brexit referendum dramatically evidenced), and yet for many its a European must-do, with iconic sights ranging from Big Ben and the Tower of London to Baths Royal Crescent. North of the border, Scotland may opt for another independence referendum, given the populations dissatisfaction with Britains decision to leave the EU. London has been feeling rather pleased with itself ever since the 2012 Olympics, and their legacy endures in the shape of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A reuse of the Games site, its close to the hip, budget-friendly buzz of the citys East End. A quick flight away, Ireland s west coast is an altogether more dramatic slice of the great outdoors, while a wander through Galway s cobbled streets is the perfect way to explore 2020s European Capital of Culture. With steep fares in Great Britain especially, this is one region to really milk an InterRail card. Those without one should book tickets far in advance, or get ready for some very cosy long-distance bus rides.

The English-Scottish rivalry runs deep, but its not a patch on the Catalan-Spanish equivalent, and Catalan capital Barcelona fairly pulsates with dynamism. From there, Spanish capital Madrid is within easy reach while, to the south, Granada and Andalucas great city of Seville provide an undiluted shot of Spanishness. To the north and east, France and Italy could exhaust your rail pass in one fell swoop, with some of the worlds finest cuisine, architecture, landscapes and museums. Marseille in the south of France recently had a spectacular shake-up, and the Vieux-Port is now studded with gleaming modern architecture. Out west, Portugal is relatively easy on the purse strings; its beautiful Douro Rail Route will make a veritable golden ticket of your rail pass, and even the Algarve has a thriving hostel scene these days. Further south again, voyage to Morocco the romantic way by boat and splash out on a stay at a traditional riad, where Europe can feel very far away indeed.