Not got long to visit a city? Then you need a guide on what to miss, and what you can’t miss out. Barcelona makes a perfect summer city break, especially if you’re taking a day trip from Catalonia, or backpacking through Europe. Plus with hostels in Barcelona and other Spain hostels part of our summer sale, it’s even cheaper to make the trip there this summer.
Our guest blogger Gizelle Lau knows what makes the city tick, and recently gave herself 24 hours to sample the best of Barcelona. Here’s her guide to Barcelona’s hot list, with not a dud tapas bar or tourist trap in sight:
What’s Hot:
Jamonisimo. For a taste of some of the best ham in the world and a uniquely Spanish treat, this is the place to go. The ham served here is high-end Iberico ham: pigs raised in the Spanish countryside that are fed on acorns. With my limited Spanish and the shopkeeper’s limited English, when I managed to ask for a tasting plate (35 EUR), the shopkeeper’s face lit up. He took me to a room in the back of the shop where two small tables were set up. He brought out a bottle of Rioja, toasted tomatoes on bread, and sliced some of the most delicious ham I’ve ever tasted.
Gaudi: La Sagrada Familia is the most-visited attraction in Barcelona and packed with photo takers and bus tours. Although other Gaudi sights like La Pedrera, Park Guell, and Casa Batillo are worth the visit, La Sagrada Familia is one of the most fascinating structures I have ever seen. Only partially completed when Gaudi died, this unfinished temple is haunted by construction cranes and scaffolding, not to mention a lack of funding for its completion.
Tapas & Chocolate Cake: Bubo is best known as the purveyors of the World’s Best Chocolate Cake – although I would urge you to try their other amazing treats, which are even more delicious. Visit the shop for a delicious break of homemade marshmallows, macarons, mousses, and specialty cakes/pastries. Bobu Bar next door is also one of Barcelona’s top tapas bar right next door in the Old Quarter, just across from the Basilica Santa Maria del Mar.
Nighttime Entertainment: The Magic Fountain of Montjuic is located in the Montjuic area where you can find attractions like the Archaeological Museum and the National Palace. You can spend more than 1 day in this area alone, but if you’re short on time, be sure to visit on a day that the fountain’s synchronized water-lights-music show takes place at night. Built in 1929, it’s the first show of its kind (eat your heart out, Bellagio!).
The Bus Turistica: The easiest way to see Barcelona, especially if you’re short on time is to just give in and take the Bus Turistica. For a 21 Euro fare, you can hop on and hop off the bus at 24 of the city’s top sights all day until 9-10pm. Buses arrive every 15 minutes and traverse 3 different zones (east, north, and central) of Barcelona, taking you from Montjuic Mountain to Tibidabo Mountain, Olympic Stadium, Sagrada Familia, the Barri Gotic, and many more.
A Hip Hotel
If you’re planning on spending the night, Casa con Estilo is one of the chicest pads to crash in Barcelona. This small boutique hotel only sleeps 12, so has a homely but super cool feel, housed in elegant 19th century building, with funky decor and a terrace overlooking the city. (Ed. Stay at the Casa con Estilo for less with our summer sale!)
What’s Not:
Las Ramblas, the city’s busiest area: A tree-lined pedestrian avenue that begins in the heart of Barcelona leading to its port, it’s packed with shops, tourists, vendors trying to sell to tourists, tourist trap restaurants that serve low-quality food, and people looking to scam tourists, especially near the port-end of the avenue. It’s nonetheless one of the popular attractions – just beware of pickpockets and people looking to lure you into their shop in dark alleys. Go spend your time at the Barri Gotic instead.
Tibidabo Mountain: The top of Tibidabo is great for families because it has an amusement park. The cathedral is stunning and the views of Barcelona at your feet are great, but not worth the time and money to get to the top.
Need more travel inspiration? Discover more great Europe travel reads from TripAtlas.com, like the top European Destinations, the best of Rome, or Why Copenhagen is the Capital of Cool.
We know traveling as a woman alone can sometimes be tricky, from worrying about safety to finding an all-girl dorm. So if you’re a female backpacker or solo traveler, have been traveling or are planning to hit the road alone in the near future, we want to hear from you!
We’re looking to find out what makes female backpackers tick, so why not help us out by telling us about yourselves – share you travel plans, travel tales or top places to visit, in our biggest ever survey of female travelers!
What’s more, anyone who fills in the survey can enter our prize draw to win a copy of High Heels and a Head Torch: The Essential Guide for Girls who Backpack by Chelsea Duke, courtesy of Pan Macmillan publishers. It’s the essential guide for any girl on the road!
The three girls that send us the best travel tips will all get a copy of the book – enter at the end of the survey, or send your answers to competitions@hostelbookers.com, with the title ‘Women’s Travel’ in the subject line). The results will be published here on the 24th-30th August.
We’ve also got some exciting stuff coming up in the future for all single female travelers - so check our website or our new blog for more information!
Planning a summer getaway but don’t have much cash to burn? Left it to the last minute to book a summer break?
Well we’ve got some exciting news here at Hostelbookers. We’re launching our first ever summer sale soon, with beds in top summer holiday destinations available from just £3pppn.
With savings of up to 70% at hostels in southern europe’s top cities and beach resorts, you can escape to the sun in August for alot less.
The sale will start on August 1st 2009 – stick around here for more details and we’ll keep you posted…
We’re cracking out the champagne (or cheap cava) over at HostelBookers…we’ve just heard that HostelBloggers, our old blog (and the daddy of blog.hostelbookers) has won a budget travel award!
Online travel tool Tripbase have named us as one of the ‘Best Budget Travel Blogs’ out there – chosen by their panel of travel experts who scour the web every day, and ranking alongside top bloggers eurocheapo and vagablogging.net, it’s a huge compliment to receive such a prestigious award.
You can still check out HostelBloggers selection of articles and travel guides online, but for now, here’s hoping our new blog will be as successful!
Tripbase Blog Awards 2009
Newsflash! We’ve had a great few years here at HostelBloggers, keeping you guys up to speed on the world of budget travel. But change is afoot. We’re all grown up and we’ve got ourselves a brand spanking new site over at http://blog.hostelbookers.com/!
You’ll still get the same top quality articles and budget travel advice, but the redesigned blog has a much prettier layout, and helpful features like drop-down menus and a search facility to help you find what you’re looking for, as well as handy sections on top destinations.
Of course we don’t want to totally abandon our loyal readers who’ve made it here over the years, so we will be popping up the occasional post from time to time. But log on to http://blog.hostelbookers.com/ for all our latest travel tips, and start seeing the world for less!
See you there!
Gay Pride rolled into London this weekend, and some of the HostelBloggers staff were lucky enough to go! In honour of such a great party, and for all those of you who didn’t make it here for the parade, we have a guest post from Pink Choice – a great online resource for gay and lesbian travelers. Here’s their guide to another weekend away, in vibrant Provincetown, Cape Cod. Stay in a hostel in Massachussetts and take a day trip to the coolest spot the Cape…
Mention New England, and places like Boston, Salem and Newport come to mind, but more adventurous travelers add Provincetown to the list.
About a 2 hour drive from Boston, Provincetown sits at the very tip of Cape Cod. It is where the Pilgrims first landed back in 1620; where the whaling industry thrived in the 1800’s; where Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill and Norman Mailer wrote; where Charles Hawthorne, Edward Hopper and Jackson Pollock painted; and where Marlon Brando, Eartha Kitt and Billie Holiday performed.
With the demise of the whaling industry Provincetown became a vibrant arts community, a tourist destination and home to gays, lesbians and drag queens. It is a favorite destination for gay and lesbian travelers from all over the world, a place embracing diversity, tolerance and acceptance of all life styles.
Getting There
A day trip to Provincetown from Boston is easy. In season, high speed ferries make the journey in just 90 minutes ($86 return) and Cape Air flies year round from Logan airport ($100-$180 depending on the season). Once in Provincetown you can start your day with breakfast in one of the street side restaurants and cafes that dot Commercial Street. Just three miles long, it bustles with cafes, restaurants, shops, clubs, bars, boutiques and art galleries.
Getting around Town
The easiest way to get around town is on foot or by bike. Ptown Bikes and Gale Force Bikes rent by the hour or day. Out of town, there are 15 miles of cycle trails winding through the dunes and pine forest of the National Sea Shore, offering great views and a good workout!
History and a View
Back in town, the Pilgrim Monument and Museum chronicles the history of Provincetown. The top of the Monument has panoramic views of the town and the Outer Cape. And it looks like the Italian Sienna Tower.
Lunchtime!
Provincetown is the place to try a bowl of clam chowder or fried clams. The Lobster Pot is ‘a Provincetown tradition’ and serves perhaps the best clam chowder on the Cape. Another favorite is Ross’ Grill, located on the second floor of the Whalers Wharf just west of the town center.
Feeling Arty?
In the afternoon stroll through the gallery district in the East End of town. There are many galleries to browse and the famous Provincetown Art Museum to visit too. Most galleries are open late morning through to late evening in the summer months.
Up Close and Personal
Alternatively, head to MacMillian Pier and join one of the whale watching trips that go out several times a day from April to October. You will be able to see humpbacks, finbacks, minkes and pilot whales up close and personal as well as dolphins and porpoise.
Winding Down?
Night time takes on a life of its own. Drag queens hawk their shows from the side walk, and buskers of all shades of talent perform outside Town Hall. Some people head to Herring Cove beach to see a spectacular Provincetown sunset. Others head for one of the many quality restaurants offering plenty of choice to match individual tastes and budgets. Favorites from East to West are the Mews, Café Edwiges, Front Street, Jimmy’s Hideaway, Victor’s and The Red Inn.
Afterwards, take in a show at the Post Office Cabaret or the Crown and Anchor or dance the night away in one of the clubs in town like the famous “A” House or Vixen’s.
Some people do this all in 48 hours, others take a week. Whatever time you have, Provincetown is one destination like no other and one that will hook you for return visits, again and again.
Article courtesy of Pink Choice – Essential Reviews for Gay Travelers.
Images - Thanks to our friends on Flickr Chris Devers, MS Stephens, Jodo and Donnay.
Street festivals, music, parades, costumes… when the gay community parties, they certainly do it in style… If you’re wondering where to go on holiday this summer, forget beach resorts or city clubbing; celebrate your LGBT culture at one of these top gay pride events around the world in June and July!
Although gay travel events take place throughout the year, many of the pride events are held around June to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall riots – a defining event in the gay rights movement.
26 – 28 June: San Francisco Pride Parade
Lowdown: Hosting the largest gay pride event in America, California’s famously cosmopolitan city does partying and politics on a massive scale. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to San Francisco every June, with more than 200 participants in the parade and 300 exhibitors. 12 different stages and venues host events across the city.
Vibe: There’s something for everyone here. The weekend might start with a big parade (Saturday morning sees marchers gather on Market Street) but it’s also a festival of music, dance, politics, and wild parties that carries on into the early hours.
Stay: In such a tolerant city, you won’t have trouble finding somewhere to rest your weary head. If you’re looking for a San Francisco gay hostel, sociable Elements Hostel has a nightclub and lounge where you can carry on having fun after the day’s events.
More Info: For gay hotspots, nightlife, neighborhoods and where to eat, check out this Gay Travel Guide to San Francisco.
20 – 28 June: Gay Pride Barcelona
Lowdown: New for 2009, Barcelona hope to emanate Madrid’s hugely successful festival. A week of events around Catalonia, such as the LGBT Fire! Film Festival, will culminate in a parade on Barcelona’s Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and a huge closing party at the Avinguda Maria Cristina, at the foot of the Palau Nacional.
Vibe: Perfect for gay travelers looking for something on a much smaller scale, the first Barcelona gay pride event will have a more alternative feel to the well-established events, with locals buzzing from the excitement.
Stay: Located in Urgell-Gran Via, the city’s famous gay area, Barcelona Rooms is in the perfect spot from which to enjoy the fun.
1 – 5 July: Madrid ‘Orgullo’ Gay Pride and Party
Lowdown: One of biggest events in Europe, it attracted 2 million people to the parade in 2008 and more than 300,000 attended the street parties. The big parade starts at Plaza de la Independencia at 5pm on 4 July, with festivities happening all week around Plaza Chueca, Plaza Vazquez de Mella, Plaza del Ray and Pelayo Street.
Vibe: Loud, vibrant and colorful, the Madrid gay pride festival reflects the city’s insatiable appetite for nightlife and fiestas. Energetic and international, it’s basically one fantastic party with the wonderful backdrop of a cool, cultural city.
Stay: Head to Gay Pizarro Hostal in Cheuca, Madrid’s gay district, or Gay Hostel Puerta del Sol, one of the top gay hostels in Europe.
More Info: Traveling to Madrid? This Gay Scene Guide to Madrid.
has the lowdown on eating, drinking and clubbing.
4 July: Pride London
Lowdown: The climax of two weeks of “queer culture” events (including theatre, art, debate, film and comedy), London hosts a huge parade on Saturday 4 July, along with an afternoon and evening of entertainment. The streets of gay district Soho will be closed off for five stages of music and dance whilst after parties in the city’s big clubs carry you on until dawn.
Vibe: With its emphasis on culture and celebration, the London gay pride festival is one of Europe’s more arty events – with a healthy dose of partying thrown into the mix. The 500,000 strong crowd is a diverse mix of cosmopolitan locals and international visitors.
Stay: London House Gay Hostel is a well-established retreat for gay travelers in North London and a good place to meet other festival-goers.
31 July – 2 August: Amsterdam Gay Pride
Lowdown: A wide variety of street parties (centred around Rembrantplein) and club events take place all weekend to warm up the city for the spectacular and unique canal parade on Saturday through the Prinsengracht and Amstel river. Hundreds of thousands of visitors head to the city every August, making this one of the biggest public events in the Netherlands.
Vibe: Amsterdam has long been notorious for its liberal values and atmosphere, and the pride festival is as fun and lively as you’d expect from such a city – even the city’s government show their support and openness by taking place in the boat parade.
Stay: The Golden Bear was the first exclusively gay hostel in Amsterdam and it remains a very popular place to stay in the city.
For more information on gay travel, gay pride and gay news, head to Pride Life.
Fancy an even more action-packed break? Adrenaline junkies everywhere will love GayOutdoors.org, with heaps of advice and ideas for gay outdoors and adventure travel.
Images – thanks to our friends on Flickr, silkaphon, john curley, pridelondon and roman stoppelenburg.
Avid traveler Kate Cooper backpacked for 4 years before settling in New Zealand to edit online magazine, Mad Travel Mag. The world might have been hit by a recession, but Kate share’s her reasons why now is actually the best time to travel…
There were a few reasons that I postponed my ‘year out’ or ‘gap year’; my first excuse was that I was afraid to go traveling by myself and couldn’t work out if I should travel alone or with friends. But to be honest, if you stay on the main backpacking routes and don’t go to places known to be unsafe then you’re going to be okay if you do choose to travel alone. You just have to be sensible and don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger. Don’t accept that lift from the dodgy looking fella you’ve just met, and it’s probably wise not to hitch-hike! The biggest thing that put me off traveling, though, was money.
So here are a few reasons why now is the best time to stop thinking about and just start traveling!
Number 1 – Selflessness
With the current global financial crisis, people around the world are either having trouble finding a job, keeping a job or justifying to their boss that they are entitled to a pay rise. So, why not take a year out? You probably won’t make that much money if you work this year anyway so what better excuse to give up the miserable 9 to 5 life, plus you can cheer yourself up by thinking that you’re doing a good deed to the company you work for and your colleagues! They may let you have extended unpaid leave because they’ll be happy that there’s one less person to pay, and your colleagues will be happy because there’s less likelihood of redundancy! Give yourself a pat on the back for being so selfless by being a globe-trotter!
Number 2 – Spread Happiness
Everyone at home is miserable because they can’t afford to go out or they’re struggling to pay for all those things they bought on credit, and all they do is whine! Rather than be brought down too, you should surround yourself with happy people. Happy people tend to be those that are on holiday at the beach or doing things they never dreamed of doing. Be one of those happy people and spread the happiness further by lying on a beach as well… and knowing at the same time that you wouldn’t have been this happy at home…
Number 3 – Save $$$$
Flights are getting cheaper, accommodation is getting cheaper, tours and activities are getting cheaper! Why? That financial crisis again… Even better deals can be found in destinations that are currently in their low season. Find out which countries – and fly there asap! Tourism operators need an income, so in off-peak seasons they’ll do everything they can to attract as many people as possible to them. This includes heavy discounts and including lots of free stuff to entice you to their product. You can be safe in the knowledge that by traveling to a country in it’s ‘off season’, in addition to there being a financial crisis, you are in fact saving yourself loads of money!
Number 4 – More Cash
Depending on where you’re from, you may find that your currency is still strong against others. In addition to all the savings you’re making by getting loads of discounts and free stuff, your money could actually stretch further. Check with your local bank or exchange bureau for up to the minute news on which country is going to be the cheapest for you to have an adventure in..
Now really is the best time to travel. You can have fun, save money and be smug that you’re sunning yourself while your friends at home are miserably concerned with the credit crunch!
Mad Travel Mag has articles written by Kate (including How to Save Money When Traveling) and other backpackers, for backpackers. The website also has a social network where travelers can meet and ask each other questions in the forum.
There’s more to Scotland’s capital than bagpipes, haggis and kilts flapping in the breeze. Dubbed the “Athens of the North” for its beautiful architecture, Edinburgh’s grand Georgian streets come alive at night- modern day Scots sure know how to party, and when the internationally renowned Edinburgh and Fringe Festival rolls into town, most places are packed out until the wee hours.
A chic and cosmopolitan city, Edinburgh can seem quite pricey, with the top site the Edinburgh Castle costing around £12! Luckily there are plenty of cheap Edinburgh hostels around town, so by saving $10 with Hostelbookers, and following this budget guide, you’ll have more to spend on that traditional Scottish Whiskey.
1. The National Galleries of Scotland
Aside from the historic architecture on the city streets, Edinburgh is blessed with some excellent museums and galleries that will satisfy culture vultures. The National Galleries of Scotland are free to enter, and are housed in five beautiful buildings across the city. The Modern Art Galleries are set in a huge stately home surrounded by parkland dotted with sculptures, and the National Gallery has an extensive collection of fine art from the Reniassance to the nineteenth-century. Special exhibitions are hosted throughout the year and are well worth the £4-6 entry fee – current shows include a retrospective on British Artists and Collectors in Spain.
2. Scottish Eats
Forget Shortbread and Smoked Salmon – the scarier traditional Scottish food may sound (and look) daunting, but ignore the ingredients and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food is. Haggis, Neeps (Turnips) and Tatties (Mashed Potato) is available in most local pubs, but usually costs a little over $10- to stick to your budget buy one from a local deli and take it to your hostel to cook. Macsween’s is the most famous for haggis, and they can be boiled or microwaved – it’ll cost you around £5 for a haggis for 2-3 people.
A cheaper lunch is Cullen Skink, a creamy fish soup, or a haggis pasty – you’ll need to walk to the top of Edinburgh Castle to burn that one off!
3. The Botanical Gardens
The Royal Botanic Garden is over two centuries old, and makes for a beautiful afternoon stroll. Explore acres of local and exotic plants – highlights include the largest collection of wild-origin Chinese plants outside China, the Scottish Heath Garden, the Rock Garden, and the Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden. Plant Lovers can discover unusual varieties of flora and fauna from across the globe in the quaint Victorian Glass House, browse the oldest Botanical library in Britain or catch an art exhibition at Inverleith House. The Garden is free, the Glasshouses just £3.50 each.
4. See Nessie away from her Loch
You don’t have to venture to the Highlands in search of Scotland’s most famous mythical beast – touristy but hilarious fun, the 3D Loch Ness Experience is based on the work of Loch Ness expert Adrian Shine, with 3D displays and an exhibition on all the facts and myths surrounding the Loch Ness Monster. Entry is £5
5. Explore a Georgian House
Edinburgh is famous for its elegant Georgian architecture, but why not step back in time and see how the well-heeled lived in 18th century Edinburgh. The rooms are accurately restored with Period details and the informative guides will tell you anything you need to know about the city during this period. Entry is £5.
6. Dessert at the Queen’s Deli
Edinburgh is packed with royal heritage, and the Queen herself is a big fan of the city – she orders her cheeses from Valvona and Crolla, a famous artisan deli. The restaurant and cafe upstairs serves dishes made with the top quality produce, with regal prices to match. You may not be able to afford to eat like a Queen, but you can certainly squeeze in dessert – the ‘dolce’ here are to die for, and each dish costs around £4-6. Try the real Italian gelato imported exclusively from Milan, the Torta di Cioccolato – a devilish Chocolate truffle cake made with 70% Valrhona chocolate, and the Limoncello Pannacotta.
7. An Afternoon at The Queen’s Gallery
Carrying on the Royal theme, make like a monarch and visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, still used by the Queen as an official residence. When she’s back in Blighty, the building is open to the public, and the Queen’s Gallery (entry £5) is filled with a changing programme of exhibitions from the Royal Collection and Library at Windsor Castle.
8. A Dram of Whisky in Greyfriars Bobby
One of Scotland’s most famous exports, you couldn’t leave Edinburgh without sampling a ‘dram’ of malt whiskey. Greyfriar’s Bobby is a legendary watering hole named after the famous dog and city mascot who watched over his master’s grave, and the pub is a cozy place for a drink, if a little crowded in tourist season.
9. A Spooky Drink
Edinburgh’s gothic landscape of spooky catacombs, dungeons and dark alleyways of cobbled streets mean that the city is the setting for many ghost stories. You can fork out for a ghost walk tour around the city, or create your own horror stories by visiting two of Edinburgh’s best themed bars. Frankenstein’s (or ‘Frankie’s) and Jekyll and Hyde are delightfully kitsch bars that are surprisingly slick- with horror movie memorobilia on the walls, huge screens showing old films, and themed cocktails. Splash out on a scary drink for around a fiver – try the ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ at Frankie’s – a ghoulishy girlie mix of Tia Maria, Kahlua, Baileys, milk & chocolate sauce.
10. A Night in a ‘Wee Red Bar’
This achingly hip venue at the Edinburgh College of Art is a refreshing alternative to some of the pricier mainstream clubs. Not as cramped as its named suggests, there’s plenty of room for a good dance. Entry at the Wee Red Bar ranges from £3-5 and club nights are an eclectic mix of art shows, indie, dance and anything slightly offbeat.
LJS – Got any more budget tips for a city break Edinburgh? Comment below!
Images – Thanks to Martydev, amortize , chatirygirl, derrickting, and hanuman.
This week, Iain Haywood of Ooh Blog takes us to Sarajevo for a cheap city break in the unspoiled Bosnian capital…
Sarajevo is the city that constantly surprises. From the shocking tales of the 1990s conflict and the city’s 3-year siege, many expect to see a city still licking its wounds. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, although there are plenty of scars. Sarajevo is a sublimely beautiful and cultured capital; a jewel in the Balkans that is yet to be affected by mass tourism.
Day One
Bašcaršija: The first place to head to (as many do) is Bašcaršija (pr: Barsh-CHAR -shee-ya) – the Old Town. This is the area that looks most prominently to the East and its Ottoman past, with minarets, fountains and traditional architecture. Complete with bustling bazaar, one can meander around the quaint alleys, shop for traditional eastern goods and visit a few interesting sights. According to legend, he who drinks from the Bašcaršija Fountain will return to the city…. So if you’re not so keen, I’d recommend a traditional Turkish coffee from one of the local cafes instead!
Sarajevo’s main mosque is the Ghazi Husrev-beg’s Mosque, usually known as the Beg’s (Bey’s) Mosque. The inscription also notes the date of its construction – 938, which in universal terms translates to 1530/31 CE. Husrev-beg is widely considered Sarajevo’s greatest patron, having financed the construction of much of the old city.
Traditional Lunch: Step back in time in one of the atrium restaurants and enjoy some “mantı” – a sort of Bosnian ravioli.
Vjeèna Vatra, the Eternal flame: This monument on the main street is dedicated to the liberators of Sarajevo in the Second World War, and burns constantly – although this example of Serb and Bosnian co-operation to liberate the capital may feel bitterly ironic to those remembering the events only a decade ago.
Watch a Movie: It might sound like a strange thing to suggest I know, but Bosnia has an extremely active film industry, and holds a huge international film festival annually that’s one of the biggest in Europe (it even started during the siege). If you’re in the city between 12th and 20th August, you could run into the likes of Kevin Spacey…
Go Clubbing: Sarajevo has a reputation as a great destination for nightlife. While away the early evening smoking Shisha in the local cafes, and then hit one of the local clubs.
Stay Central: For a great place to crash on a budget, HCC Sarajevo has an excellent downtown location, great reviews and beds from €11 a night.
Day Two
Take a Tour: If you’re feeling at least semi-respectable after last night, you must take a proper guided tour of the city! Often conducted by guys who were kids or teens during the siege, they’re typically peppered with amazing insight and bittersweet humour about their experiences.
Visit the Tunnel Museum: This tunnel was built secretly under the airport runway by the besieged Bosnians to bring food, supplies and reinforcements into the surrounded city. As UN troops had blocked off the airport, and the only way to get there in the first place was via the infamous “sniper alley”, the Bosnians would have fared much worse had it not been for this miracle piece of engineering. You’ll need a car or taxi to visit, but it’s well worth it.
Snack on Your Feet: A wide variety of local meat dishes are avaialble at street stalls. Recommended are Burek (meat pie) or Cepavi (rolled meat in pita). Whilst there are vegetarian dishes available, it seems the Balkan countries do love their meat…
See Where Archduke Ferdinand was Assassinated: Perhaps the most historically significant spot in the city, there’s a memorial and museum marking where Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Chotek, were shot dead on 28 June 1914 by Bosnian Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip – a momentous event which sparked WWI.
Sarajevska Pivara: Finish your two days with a touch of class with dinner and a few drinks in the Sarajevo Brewery. Opened in 1864, it operated through the period of Ottoman Empire, the period of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and even the war. It’s a fantastic place to dine out and try some of the finest beers in the region.
Iain Haywood is a member of the team over at www.ooh.com, launching September 1st. They currently run a blog on the most interesting and unique things to do around the world at Ooh blog.
