Welcome to be a part of our journey of exploring the hidden escapes of Europe! This blog is part of BrandBase in cooperation with Lund University School of Economics and Management
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Thanks heaps for the fast reply! :-) I'll definitely visit Stockholm for a few days, but I think Malmö and Göteborg would be quite nice for a visit as well. Do you have any cool tipps for this cities? Cheers :-)
Oh, nice! Stockholm is super nice and Gothenburg during summer time is top notch! Malmö is also very nice and very close to Copenhagen.
We can provide you with some good tips to these cities. What kind of tips, restaurants etc. ?
Interrailing in Italy means that you will eat a lot of super-delicious food. Rome is not an exception in Italy and when staying here you can enjoy a food tour. Led by a food-loving guide, this small-group tour will teach you the secrets behind these Italian specialties. It can't be a much better and interesting way to get to know Rome and its food culture!
Link for info: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/activities/food-drink/small-group-food-tour-rome-espresso-gelato-tiramisu#ixzz3TFcHbVHW
Enjooooy food-lovers!
Vacation is of course about relaxing and having a good time but some exercising in combination with touristing is an excellent to get to know Rome a bit better! Taking a city bike tour is a perfect way to kick-start your stay in the capital. On your 4-hour tour, discover Rome's secret passages through ancient walls and ruins, stopping every now and then for amazing photo opportunities or to enjoy a cappuccino or gelato. So if you feel that you have been a bit lazy so far on your vacation this is the thing for you!
Enjoy!
Creamy Avocado Pesto Zoodles
Soo… Rome, what a place! Except from all the super nice and sweet tourist sightseeing that you can do such as the Colosseum, Vatican City, St. Peter's Square, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, The Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps and much much more, it is always nice to get away from the crowded tourist mass and find your own escapes! We believe in local culture and finding the unshaped pearls of every city and create your own experiences. A lot like "oh what did you do in Rome, this time? Did you see the Colosseum? - No, actually not, but we strolled around in the Testaccio area south from it, and took a food tour…"
Testaccio is a great place to find amazing restaurants, cafés and bars. It's a little neighborhood that introduce you to the city that loves to eat high qualitative, local produced and fresh meals. Cantina & Cucina the perfect place to rest your feet and legs after a long day of walking. There they serve the most easiest but deliciouses dishes, and specially hipster love this place. For vegetarians in Rome are really in heaven, since almost every restaurant has a vegetarian friendly menu, and Cantina & Cucina as well, with super fresh and delicious vegetable. Otherwise a good carbonara is always a great carbonara.
So if you travel to Rome, please visit the Testaccio region and find your own authentic experiences in the local neighborhoods, whereas the real Rome shows itself.
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Rome is the capital of Italy, with a city of population of 4.3 million residents it the most populated city of italy. Rome is one of the most ancient cities of the world with its civilization dated back to almost two and half thousand years back. The annual average temperature of the city is 20 degrees.Having a history dated back to almost 700 BC it a perfect blend of modern and ancient sightseeing. You cannot leave rome without seeing the Vatican city, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps, Colosseum and more. You have a lot to explore about different cultures from past and present in this unique city of ancient art. In addition to the cities sightseeing the open air markets make it more fun to walk around and shop as a tourist. One of the best quotes to define tourism in rome is "Even a lifetime isn't enough to see Rome." For all italian food lovers Rome is the best place to have the Italian pastas and pizzas, not forgetting to mention the exoctic wines of Rome. We recommend to take a taxi in case you want to conserve some energy from walking around the maleficent ancient city. Add the city to your travel cart, we will be posting more about food, hotels and activities in Rome.
Enjooooy! :D
Interrailing is all about finding new destinations and spots where you can soak up as much new culture as possible. The Brera district in central Milan is really a spot like the ones you are searching for! Strolling around finding second-hand markets, restaurants, cafés while enjoying the sun and the atmosphere makes this a great place visiting!
Hotel Windsor located in the center of Milan and offers an exclusive combination among tradition, design and innovation. The genuine elegance and the attention to detail enhance the maximum comfort and the vocation for hospitality offering first-rate services. The hotel is close to the main tourist attractions and shopping streets, besides it’s easily reachable from any area of the city. This hotel is the ideal destination to discover the trendiest venues and the most prestigious spots in Milan. . For more information please visit Hotel Windsor Milan.
Prices from: 65€
Ostello Bello is a hostel with a great location close to the Duomo and other main attractions of Milano’s vibrant downtown, with distance to all its historical points of interest, the city's nightlife and world famous shopping neighborhood. If you're looking to meet people while travelling, this is surely one of the best places in town to do so. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Milan. For more information please visit their site Ostello Bello Milan Hostel
Prices from: 25€
Enjoy life and get interrailing experiences at Colonne di San Lorenzo in Milano!
Having some time over and just want some drinks? Meet up with new people? Listen to music? Enjoy life?
Colonne do San Lorenzo in Milano is the perfect spot for you to go! Have some drinks at this melting-point and see what the night will bring you. Laid back and casual place with great atmosphere ✌️👍👌🍺🍷💃
When spring and summer arrive, there’s usually one place where you need to spend some time, and that is the Colonne di San Lorenzo; not only because it is genuinely a beautiful place in Milan, with the Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore and the remains of these old columns in front of it, but...
Located in the northern part of Italy you find the fashion city Milano. The city is the second biggest city in Italy primarily known for fashion and luxury stores, but the city has soo much more than this to offer! Architecture, fashion, football, restaurants and great looking people are some of the things that the city is really famous for. Traveling to Milano is really easy and the railway station located centrally in the city simples things. Going here gives you opportunities to enjoy the true fashion spirit that Italy has developed and is originated from Milano. Strolling around watching all beautiful people in costumes, sipping espresso and eating at great restaurants is truly worth a visit. Besides that we will provide you with some other really interesting tips when visiting Milano.
So don´t forget to bring a nice shirt when backpacking for your visit in Milano!
The lagoon city has a long and glorious culinary tradition based on fresh seafood. A writhing, glistening variety of sea creatures swims from the stalls of the Rialto and Chioggia markets into local kitchens. Going with the flow ofla cucina veneta requires a certain spirit of openminded experimentation. Not everybody has eaten granseola (spider crab) before, or garusoli (sea snails) or canoce (mantis shrimps), but Venice is definitely the place to try these marine curios.
More information about: Rialto Fish market.
A certain must to do in Venice is to ride the canal in any different way. Take in and experience the Grand Canal by riding it is an extraordinary way to discover the city. There is different ways of take in the city from the canal’s point of view. The classic Gondol rides is a romantic and slow going ride where you can relax, bring some wine or cheese and prosciutto to eat and drink, thats awesome! And the Gondols are even able to get into the smaller and tighter canals which is flourished with old authentic buildings and bridges. Another way of view the city is by the Vaporetto, which is a rounded 230-passanger boat that goes on the Grand Canal and is not able to get in the smaller canals, but it’s still a great experience!
Vaporetto tickets can be purchased at most stops, at tabacchi (tobacconists, identified by a white T on a black or blue background) and at Hellovenezia offices. On board, you can only buy single tickets. Tickets are for single trips (€6.50 – valid 60mins on multiple boats), 12hrs (€16), 24hrs (€18), 36hrs (€23), 48hrs (€28), 72hrs (€33) or seven days (€50). The fare for a shuttle journey (ie one stop across the Grand Canal, the hop across to the Giudecca, or from Sant’Elena to the Lido) is €2.
For more information, see Tickets & passes.
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Strolling around in Venice makes you want to try out some authentic Italian food. But although you're in the mecha of Italy it is actually quiet hard finding some really good Italian food. This is why we want to provide with some really good tips regarding great, authentic Italian restaurants. Cicchetti or, pronounced Chee-keett-eeeh, are Venice´s answer to Spain´s tapas or Milan´s appertivo. Small plates with food and often different kinds of dishes like fish, meats, cheese etc. A perfect meal together with friends and a glass of wine after a long day of walking around! A perfect place is All Arco to sit down at, genuin staff and greeaat food. In combination with good prices this makes an excellent choice!
Breathtaking Venice! Is this place on your interrail checklist?
As most of you already know, Venice is a beautiful city in the north-east Italy, but how beautiful is it? If you want to experience a more holistic view of the old city we really recommend you to walk the stairs of any high tower or viewpoints in Venice. The Campanile http://www.timeout.com/venice/attractions/venue/22472/campanile is Venice’s tallest building, at almost 99 meters (325ft) over the ocean you will perceive the city in a new dimension and you can point out where you want to go, where you think you will explore new sites of the city. The Campanile was built between 888 and 912, but collapsed in July 1902 and rebuilt exactly “as it was, where is was”, which the town council of that day promised. Back in 1451, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III rode his horse upstairs to the original top, but nowadays there is an elevator that takes you up, so forget the stairs! The view is superb, taking in the Lido, the whole lagoon and on a clear day the Dolomites in the distance.
For more towers and viewpoint please check out Timeout. http://www.timeout.com/venice/search/?tag_id=4252
Hotel San Samuele Venice is a great budget-friendly hotel, with a great location less than 5 minutes from two of the most stunning attractions in Venice: Piazza San Marco and Ponte di Rialto. The hotel is surrounded with great small restaurants and interesting art galleries. Hotel San Samuele Venice is a great choose for the traveller looking for great room rates. For more information please visit their site.
Prices from: 35€
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With its shimmering gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one's bucket list. A worth site to visit in case you want to sit back and capture the view in painting . To have an unforgettable experience in Venice opera and the classical music are a must go. No one can resist the fresh pastas and italian food when it comes to visiting Venice. The best time to make a trip is in spring and summer. you might get captivated by its classic grandeur and classical paintings. Visit the oldest cafe in venice Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) and have a delightful cup of coffee , San Mark’s Basilica, Fondamenta della Misericordia, and Galleria dell'Accademia are a must to visit.
Venice a beautiful city in the northeast of Italy located with a group of 117 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. Venice is renowned for its beauty, canals, artworks and romantic sites. The historical city of water is an amazing vacation site. the weather average in January is 3.3 °C (37.9 °F), and for July this figure is 23.0 °C (73.4 °F). Stay tuned for more pearls that Venice has to offer!!
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The Hostel Celica in Ljubljana is a great hostel for travelers traveling in groups. The Hostel was formerly a military prison, but is today designed in a colorful and lively way with double and triple rooms available. The Hostel Celica is located in a great area near the main universities and is a great place to stay for nightlife and making new friends. Don’t miss out on this unique accommodation experience. For more information please visit Hostel Cecilia's website.
Prices from: 50 €
For the traveller who wants to squeeze the most out of its money, its worth considering the Austria Trend Hotel. This hotel has a great location with clean, elegant bedrooms with great amenities including wellness centre, sauna and whirlpool. Great accommodation option for the traveller looking for a top-quality hotel with attractive prices. For more information please visit their site.
Prices from: 85€ Photo source.
South-west of Budapest we find the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. With train the trip between the cities take about nine hours, perfect opportunity to catch up with your sleep or a photo-session of the nature traveling through. Ljubljana is a city not very well known by the general mass making it perfect in terms of finding new, unexplored escapes. The city itself is mid-size and has around 280 000 inhabitants. It is a very unique city dotted with pleasant picturesque places where you can expect all kinds of nice little surprises. The city has two different features: on the one hand the city is full of history with old houses and various traditions. On the other hand the city has a young and modern touch which makes it very dynamic and full of life. All in all, a Ljubljana is super nice city with a great setting in which you can breathe out and explore its escapes.
As in many capitals in the world have their own Market Hall, Budapest's Central Market Hall is a must to discovery, during your inter railing escapes in Europe. Here you can find the authentic food that has flourished Hungary's history and culture. Everything from Hungarian smoked sausages, cheese, meat, langos, soups, spicy dishes with paprika and all kind of pastries and confectionery, such as Hungarian Bukta, warm pastry filled with jam, delicious! But here, in the central market hall of Budapest, its not only the food that is interesting, the hall, designed by Samu Pecz, is an authentic building, built in the end of the 19th century. With its open and high ceiling space that creates an experience that you want to discover. This market is the largest indoor market in Budapest and there is four other markets like this one in Budapest, which were all built in the same style. And some show off information about these markets is that they all opened on the same day, on February 15th 1897. Just browse around, find something that interest you, maybe you find some souvenirs such as hungarian spices, which is a perfect gift! Specially when you are inter railing with limited backpack space.
Prices from:69.00 €
We recommend you should take a little luxury for staying in Nemzeti hotel this time, as the prices in budapest makes it convenient to have a treat on vacations. A standard room charges starting from 69.00 € is a good price to stay in a hotel. A beautiful, spacious and clean hotel makes it worth staying for a nice vacation. The hotel is located in the heart of the city an easy walk to major tourist attractions and access to tram, metro and buses just outside the hotel. Rooms at Nemzeti offer a classic design with a modern touch. A nice sauna at the 5th floor where you can relax and have some privacy. Breakfast at Nemzeti is of great value for money enjoy a wonderful and healthy breakfast while you stay. We highly recommend Nemzeti as it would be a great opportunity for staying in a hotel which offers great experiences.
For more information please visit Nemzeti hotel at Accorhotels.
Prices from: 69.00 €
The Three Corners Hotel Art is a comfortable hotel that has a great location with walking distance to all the main tourist attractions in Budapest and is only minutes away from the historical city center. The rooms are extremely comfortable with modern facilities, including a sauna and gym. There is a 24-hour reception, with friendly staff that makes sure the necessary inquiries are provided. This hotel is a great hotel for the budget minded traveler. For more information please visit: http://www.threecorners.com/index.php?page=hotel&hotel=93cfce01-9afe-464e-afdf-162c81228c0f&dest=hu
Giving good tips about restaurants in Budapest is kind of a hard task since dining options are endless. Anyway, we will start with presenting you a restaurant that brings you the feeling of having dinner in your own kitchen. Szerecsendio is the kind of place where gatherings regularly take place with friends and friends of friends. The restaurant is one of Budapest's popular apartment based restaurant and always advertise their upcoming dinners beforehand, each with its own theme. A perfect way of creating unique memories from your interrailing vacation!
Check it out!
Have you started saving for your next interrailing vacation? We will provide you with the best escapes for your route! 👊👍✌️💃
In the heart of Europe you find the beautiful capital of Hungary, Budapest! The city with about 1.7 million residents is commonly known for the rolling Donau that splits the city in two halves. With a rich history the city have always been an interesting option to visit. Nowadays the city is so much more than its past history with museums or the traditional baths. Parallels are often drawn to Berlin and its more alternative neighborhoods, but with a more sophisticated touch and much more unexplored. In general, the city is a hidden pearl that in greater extent only have been visited by the travelling vagabond rather than the general mass. Hopefully, the city can keep its charm although we hope that more people can enjoy its beauty!
In Prague, it’s beautiful everywhere and you will enjoy walking! Even if you could easily spend a whole week in the city, I had enough of three days. The morning I arrived, I dropped my backpack immediately and I crossed Charles Bridge to go see Prague Castle in Lesser Town. Since I’m more of an outside person than a museum person, I spent the whole day walking in the small streets around the castle and I came back in the Old Town Square to eat. You’re going to love those buildings which are representatives of Gothic architecture (like the astronomical clock) and I suggest you try to find David Cerny’s controversial sculptures hidden in the city! Unfortunately, I only had one day of sun and it was raining on the second day, but that didn’t stop me from renting a bike to ride along the Vltava River and reach the New Town to see the dancing building. I also went to Petrin Hill for fresh air and since I had a little extra time on the third day, I took a train to go see the Sedlec ossuary in Kutna Hora. It’s worth it if you’ve never seen so many human skeletons, but the journey was a little long for such a short visit. Prague is definitely a must-see city and you don’t even have to plan your stay before going there; just walk the streets and you’ll see great things everywhere!
“I almost decided to stay in Prague forever” Alexia mentioned in one of her Instagram posts, check it out @me.myself.and.a.backpack.
Alexia traveled around in Europe during the summer of 2014 and she is studying master in Pharmaceutical Science not Medicine! :D
Thank you so much Alexia for sharing your experience in Prague! Please join her journey on Instagram and have a splendid weekend!