Archive for the ‘Sightseeing’ Category

19
April
Hidden Copenhagen: Museums
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Image by nickboosCopenhagen is a city of museums. 36 institutions of art, design, science, zoology and maritime arts are scattered around the Danish capital, making it a destination surprisingly loaded with culture.

Art Museums

Any tour of Copenhagen’s museums should be started out at the Danish National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst (Sølvgade 48-50, 1307 Copenhagen K; +45 3374 8494; free). This traditional art museum (pictured above) began as the collections of the Danish monarchs and today contains around 9000 pieces, both sculpture and paintings, from 14th century to Modern Art. From here, art lovers will want to head to the classical Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (Dantes Plads, 71556 Copenhagen; +45 3341 8141; www.glyptoteket.dk; DKK60) for a heavy dose of 19th and 20th century Danish and French art. At the David Collection (Kronprinsessegade 30, 1306 Copenhagen K; +45 3373 4949; www.davidmus.dk; free), visitors enjoy a sizeable Islamic art collection, as well as extraordinary pieces from the Danish Golden Age; while the small but worthwhile Thorvaldsens Museum (Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, DK-1213 Copenhagen K; +45 3332 1532; www.thorvaldsensmuseum.dk; DKK20) is dedicated entirely to the Danish neoclassical sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen.

History Museums

Located a short distance away from central Copenhagen, Frederiksborg Palace is the Danish Museum of National History (Frederiksborg Castle, DK-3400 Hillerød; +45 4826 0439; www.frederiksborgmuseet.dk; DKK60). The collection here includes a number of royal portraits and history paintings, but the real star is the castle itself, which sits on three islands in the middle of Palace Lake and is connected to a beautiful Baroque garden. Closer to the city centre, the National Museum of Denmark (Ny Vestergade 10, Copenhagen; +45 3313 4411; www.nationalmuseet.dk; free) is the place to explore cultural artefacts that trace Danish history from ancient to modern times.

Unique Museums

Denmark being known for its naval arts, there are a number of interesting maritime museums in Copenhagen, including several museum ships. To start, head to Nyhavn, a 17th century docking canal lined with colourful facades. Here one finds the Nyhavn Veteran Ship and Museum Harbour, where several historic boats are docked, including Lightship XVII Gedser Rev. Other boat museums open to visitors around Copenhagen are the HDMS Sælen – a coastal war submarine, now docked in the Holmen district of the city – as well as HDMS Peder Skram, a decommissioned navy frigate (www.pederskram.dk; DKK60).

Danes are also famous designers, so no trip to Copenhagen would be complete without a visit to the Danish Design Centre (HC Andersens Boulevard 27, DK 1553 Copenhagen V; +45 3369 3369; www.ddc.dk; DKK50). Here, thought-provoking exhibitions challenge conventional thinking on modern design and elicit visitors to question the way we put our world together.

Pictured above: The Danish Art Museum
Photo by nickboos.

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18
April
Dutch Days: Meandering in Amsterdam
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Image by Mike McHolm

The wonderful thing about spending the summer in Europe is the walking. In Amsterdam, the sun warms your face as you peruse the fun and sometimes oddball shops, and the cobblestones massage your feet meandering over quaint canal bridges. What a lovely thought.

Sure, Amsterdam is crowded during the summer, but that just means you’ll be able to save more money by avoiding the tourist mobs and seeking out the city’s unique, less-travelled corners. Contrary to popular belief, Western Europe doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a plethora of affordable hotels in Amsterdam, as well as great, cheap shopping in the city’s many unusual stores and, of course, fantastic activities that will keep you out in the sunshine all summer.

Hotels

While Amsterdam is home to some of the loveliest expensive hotels in Europe, there are also plenty of cheap hotels in Amsterdam, not to mention youth hostels and other budget options, to cater to tourists of every budget. Many of the city’s accommodation options are situated in the Old Center, where it is possible to book a budget bed for only around £15. Prices go up from there, with a number of cute boutique hotels in Amsterdam’s Grachtengordel neighbourhood, also known as the Canal Belt, offering clean, 3-star accommodation for £50-85 a night. This area represents a great option for those interested in staying in the heart of Amsterdam’s architectural district, with beautiful 19th century buildings and scenic flowing canals right on your doorstep.

Shopping

In contrast to London and Paris, Amsterdam is not known for upmarket shopping. Instead, the city is home to several streets lined with funky boutiques and interesting small shops. Amsterdam has always been an artistic centre, so naturally there are plenty of artisans here selling their handmade wares and knickknacks. Secondhand clothing, sculpture, jewellery and local fashion are the specialties here.

To begin your Amsterdam shopping adventure, you should start in the Leidseplein, a 17th square with cafes, nightlife and entertainment. There is plenty of shopping along the streets that branch off from here, heading into the Old Center toward the Centraal Railway Station. In particular, a group of streets that weave in between the main canals, known as the 9 Streets, are popular shopping areas filled with adorable boutiques, cafes and galleries.

Activities

If there is any city in Europe that should be easy on your pocketbook, activity-wise, it is Amsterdam. Topping the agenda for many visiting the Dutch capital should be enjoying the city’s beautiful 19th century buildings, which include stately architectural jewels that overlook the glorious canals that divide the Old Center into some 90 islands connected by more than 400 bridges.

With that in mind, the best activity in Amsterdam is both free and delightful: meandering! There are two ways to do this: on your own two feet (my preferred method) or on a bicycle (most Amsterdammers’ preferred method). Popular myth suggests that there are almost as many bikes in the city as there are people – a notion you can well-believe when perusing Amsterdam for the first time. The city is extremely bike-friendly, with cycle lanes and laws that encourage people to get on two wheels.

Whether you prefer the breeze of a bicycle or the stability of your own two feet, simply wandering through Amsterdam, admiring the collections of ancient buildings that stand crookedly over peaceful canals, is surely the only activity you’ll need. If you find yourself with extra time, though, be sure to check out the city’s more than 50 museums. From Van Gogh to fluorescent art to Anne Frank to Heineken, there is a museum for just about everyone in Amsterdam.

Image by Mike McHolm.

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16
April
Sizzling Summer, Bangkok Style!
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Image courtesy of Flickr / telmo32

Bangkok is one of the world’s truly exotic cities. Just a few degrees north of the equator, this tropical metropolis is everything you would expect it to be: an assault on the senses with sweltering heat, intoxicating aromas, pristine temples, and the chaotic swarm of trucks and motorbikes. Although often touted as a dangerous city, Bangkok is remarkably safe. It is the type of city where everyone is welcome, and no matter what type of lifestyle you choose, you will probably find something to cater to it in Bangkok.

Since it is equatorial, Bangkok’s weather is almost always steamy, no matter which time of year. If you’re looking for an escape from summer heat, Bangkok probably won’t be your first choice. However, if you are interested in a city where you can eat gorgeous meals and sleep in beautiful hotels on a dime, just a few hours from some of the world’s best beaches, and the exotic splendour of Asia, Bangkok should most definitely be on your list of places to visit this summer. A remarkably cheap city, there are no shortage of affordable hotels in Bangkok, not to mention cheap streetside eats and colourful markets to pick through.

Hotels

Bangkok is an amazing city for cheap accommodation. Hotels of all shapes and sizes, from 4-star high rises to funky backpacker hostels are scattered all over the city. Because Bangkok has no real city centre, it is difficult to pinpoint just one district for good hotels. However, Bangkok is well connected by public transport, including its modern elevated metro system, the SkyTrain, as well as the more historic river taxis, including the popular Chao Phraya Express Boat, which speed visitors up and down Bangkok’s massive network of waterways.

Generally speaking, Bangkok’s most affordable accommodation options are located along Khao San Road, an older district popular with backpackers for its plethora of inexpensive youth hostels, cheap markets and dive bars. Likewise, a number of both affordable and upmarket options are available around the Silom district, Bangkok’s financial centre. Here, you’ll find familiar names such as Holiday Inn and Sofitel, as well as boutique hotels and upmarket youth hostels.

Shopping

By far, the coolest and cheapest shopping in Bangkok is found in the city’s night markets, where rows of vendors set up under tents lit by bare bulbs, transforming some of the city’s streets into virtual indoor markets. Goods here range from cheap and cheerful handbags and jewellery to pirated DVDs, clothes, fruits and vegetables and CDs. Whether or not you are on the market to buy something, a visit to one of Bangkok’s night markets is a must for first-time visitors. One of the more popular night markets in the city is the Suan Lum Night Bazaar in Silom, where the beer flows freely and you can spend hours perusing the endless array of trinkets for sale.

Activities

None of Bangkok’s sightseeing activities are terribly expensive. Tickets to Bangkok’s most popular attraction, the Grand Palace, for instance, cost 350 Thai Baht (around £7), and likewise entrance fees to Wat Po, a temple that is home to the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue, are a mere 50 Baht (around £1).

One of the best ways to get a feel for Bangkok is to take a ride on one of the city’s river taxi boats, such as the Chao Phraya Express. These boats run up and down the length of the Chao Phraya River, which splits Bangkok down the middle, stopping a around 20 docks along the way that provide access to the whole of the city. From here, you can take a meander through Bangkok’s incredibly authentic Chinatown and explore some of the oldest parts of the city.

Image courtesy of telmo32.

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12
April
Sydney for Savers: Affordable Hotels, Shopping and Activities
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Image courtesy of Corey Leopold / FlickrWhile it may be summer 2010 for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, in Sydney, June, July and August are the dead of winter. That is not to be off-putting, though, for Australia is not known for terrible weather and Sydney’s balmy winter temperatures, which hover around 15°C during the day, make it a great place to escape the excessive tourism and blinding summers in Europe.

As one might expect, Sydney is a sunny city, from its gleaming harbour waters that reflect the pitched roof of the iconic Opera House to the disposition of its people, who are always game for a laugh and constantly in a good mood. Like any great metropolis, Sydney has a range of wonderful tourism options, from a fantastic arts scene to beautiful outdoorsy activities, such as climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Probably the best thing about Sydney is that it is a very affordable place to holiday! Cheap hotels are plentiful here, as is inexpensive shopping and free activities to keep you going all day. So we’ve rounded up some of the city’s best, from the most affordable hotels in Sydney to its cheap and cheerful shopping and activity options.

Hotels

Where you choose to stay in Sydney depends largely on what types of things you are interested in seeing and doing. One of Sydney’s largest draws is its selection of beautiful beaches, and beachgoers have no shortage of choice when it comes to affordable accommodation. The Northern Beaches, a strip of waterfront communities that stretches north from central Sydney along the Pacific Ocean, are some of the best places to get warm and enjoy the water. In Manly, for instance, you’ll find a plethora of affordable hotels, many with beachfront property.

Other great oceanside spots around Sydney include the Eastern Suburbs, home to Sydney’s most famous strip of sand, Bondi Beach. Here, plenty of backpacker hostels offer rooms and dorms for around £15 or less, while motels and cheap hotels go for a few quid more.

In the city centre, the City South district, which includes Haymarket and Chinatown, is probably your best bet for finding cheap hotels that aren’t too far from Sydney’s great nightlife, shopping and attractions.

Shopping

Whether you just want a cheap pair of sunglasses or a designer skirt, you’ll easily find it in Sydney, where affordable shopping abounds. A number of up-and-coming designers are based in Sydney, which has a burgeoning fashion scene, and you’ll find plenty of cute boutiques with unique designs and funky labels along Oxford Street, Sydney’s high end shopping district.

If your pocketbook is empty, a day window shopping here still isn’t a waste, and there are plenty of side streets with shops that offer more affordable, lesser known labels like Ginger & Smart. As well, there are a number of large markets and specialty shops in the City South district of Sydney, such as Paddy’s Markets, where stalls brimming with funky coloured stockings, cheap clothing and food, and Australian souvenirs are crammed together under one roof.

Activities

The city’s fantastic weather (even in winter) makes it possible to find plenty of fun and free activities in Sydney. In addition to beachgoing, many of the best free options involve walking and being outdoors – a favourite pasttime of Australians. One of the coolest options on offer is the I’m Free walking tour of Sydney. Given by seasoned travellers and Sydney locals, the 3-hour tour begins at Town Hall Square and takes visitors on a delightful architectural and cultural stroll through Sydney City Centre.

If you’re on a true budget, you might want to skip the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, which costs upwards of A$200 and takes you over the bridge’s main arch. Instead, simply walk the bridge itself for a stunning view of Sydney’s skyline reflected in the harbour.

And of course, the outdoors on offer around Sydney is difficult to match. Most of Sydney’s outdoor activities are free, including The Rocks, a district of quays that play host to history and modern life, including street theatre, shopping and pub-going. The Royal Botanic Gardens are also free, or you can exercise your brain by partaking in a game of giant chess in Hyde Park.

Image courtesy of Corey Leopold

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11
April
London: Cheap Hotels, Free To-Dos
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Image courtesy Flickr: Trodel

Ah, London. It is a city of great shopping, chic hotels, intriguing history and fantastic shopping. In the summer, London buzzes with tourists eager for a glimpse of the queen and a photo with one of her crazy-hatted stoic guards. For many people, the trouble with visiting London can be the prices which, considering the value of the Pound Sterling, are not always affordable for those on tight budgets.

However, the tightening economy has actually transformed London into a delightfully cheap city, if you know where to look. Summer 2010 could prove to be one of the cheapest on record, so here are a few tips on the most affordable hotels in London, as well as the city’s cheapest shopping and activities.

Hotels

Searching for affordable hotels in London is a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Unlike Paris, London doesn’t have specific neighbourhoods that are home to only cheap accommodation. Instead, affordable hotels sit side-by-side with high end ones across London, so finding the perfect one for you can be tricky. The city’s endless sprawl and hundreds of winding streets can make choosing a district difficult.

In general, the best way to find affordable accommodation in London is to choose a district or neighbourhood slightly away from the city centre. London’s massive public transit system, including the extremely convenient London Underground network, makes getting around the city quite easy, even across longer distances.

In general, though, some of the more affordable areas of London in terms of accommodation include the historic Bloomsbury neighbourhood, home of the British Museum, as well as Westminster, where a number of affordable motels and B&Bs are located nearby some of London’s most famous sites, such as Westminster Abbey and Parliament, home to the iconic clock tower, Big Ben.

Shopping

The wonderful thing about a city of London’s size is that it has just about everything on offer that one could possibly want. Although often known for its high end shopping in areas like Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road, where rows of upmarket designers like Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo have camped out, there are also plenty of affordable shopping options in London’s more bohemian corners.

This summer, London’s most affordable shopping options are its undiscovered secondhand bookshops and alternative music and clothing stores. Head off the tourist masses in Covent Garden by making for the sleepier and much more interesting Charing Cross Road nearby. Here, rows upon rows of quaint bookstores peddle every type of book imaginable, from antiquarian editions to new titles.

Meanwhile, both Soho and Camden Town offer heaps of alternative clothing shops, craft markets and army surplus stores  where funky colours and patterns spill out onto the footpaths in bargain bins. Prices here won’t break the bank and represent some of the most affordable shopping in London.

Activities

London is a city of infinite activity possibilities, many of which cost little or nothing. This is great news for budget travellers who are already daunted by the city’s reputation as one of the most expensive in the world. Fear not! There are plenty of things to keep you interested in London on the cheap; indeed, many of the city’s most famous sites can be visited for free.

This summer, find affordable activities in London by avoiding the traditional tourist buses in favor of a self-guided city tour. Opt to buy a refillable Oyster Card, which provides access to all of London’s public transportation network. London is a city of architectural delights, many of which can be appreciated for free from the outside, including the Palace of Westminster and Buckingham Palace.

London is also a city of many beautiful outdoor parks and gardens, so if you get a spurt of good summer weather, head to Trafalgar Square for an afternoon of people-watching or meander through leafy Hyde Park to Speakers’ Corner, where you can hear locals shouting a piece of their minds from a small soapbox.

Photo by Trodel.

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5
April
Spend the Summer in the City of Lights
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Montmartre - Sacré-Cœur Basilica 4

When imagining Paris, it’s easy to think of romance, wine and culture, but affordability is not always the first thing that springs to mind about the City of Lights. Like most great European cities though, if you know where to stay, how to eat and what to do, you can actually see Paris without spending a bundle. So we’ve rounded up

Hotels

Depending on the area of the city, there are plenty of cheap hotels in Paris. The best neighbourhoods for finding affordable hotels in Paris are Montmarte and the Latin Quarter. If you’ve ever seen Amelie, you’ll recognise the bohemian district of Montmarte immediately as a series of winding streets that carve their way up to the city’s best overlook at the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur. Hotels here tend to be charming, with funky rooms that boast great views, if not much space. Budget doubles in Montmarte run £50-65, for which you’ll get a clean, small room within walking distance of sweet cafes, bustling boulevards and the infamous Moulin Rouge cabaret.

Similarly, doubles in the Latin Quarter, Paris’s student-friendly district with nightlife-a-plenty, go for £45-85. Situated in the 5th arrondissement of the Left Bank, the Latin Quarter is more centrally-located than Montmarte and provides easy access on foot to the Seine and Notre Dame.

Shopping

If you want to look like a Parisian but haven’t got the budget for designer outfits, then you’ll want to head straight for Paris’s marques dégifées, consignment shops where you can dig through upmarket castoffs that run the gamut from vintage blazers to current runway trend pieces. The shabby chic atmosphere of shopping in a Parisian consignment shop is only outdone by the actual finds – you could come away with a new Marc Jacobs handbag or classic Dior summer dress to wear for a fashionable night out.

If you’re unsure where to start, try Fifty-Fifty on rue Corvetto in the 8th arrondissement, a classic consignment shop with a rotating stock of cheap designer labels.

Activities

You can easily keep to your budget by enjoying the many cheap activities in Paris. Skip the guided tour this summer and instead spend your day strolling the streets of Paris, imagining yourself in an Angès Varda film as you window shop and eat a deliciously melting ice cream. Walking is, of course, the best and cheapest way to see Paris, but if you need to get across town quickly, the Metro is a great cheap transportation option in Paris.

There are plenty of free activities in Paris, too. A number of the city’s museums are always free, including Notre Dame Cathedral, Maison de Victor Hugo, Musée Curie, Maison de Balzac and Musée Carnavalet. If you hit a good weather day, other free activities will keep you outdoors for free, such as a stroll around Versailles Gardens, a walk along the Seine or a trip up the steps of the Sacré Coeur.

Creative Commons License photo credit: illiam™

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