What first thoughts come to your mind when you think of Switzerland? Cheese, watches, banks, chocolate and crazy prizes for everything. Swiss people are also famous for their precision, perfectionism and punctuality. What else would you expect from people who produce watches?

While planning to go to Switzerland many people choose Zürich as number one city worth visiting. In my humble opinion, you might see most of the city in one day, but if you came for a weekend or more, be ready to pay double price for the same accommodation you would find in another European city. Every city has its own atmosphere and Zürich is a city of business. People in suits and expensive shoes with leather bags always seem to run somewhere. You might find a lot of hipsters there too, but even they look perfect and neat. Parks and public places are very clean and seem a bit unnatural for me because of their aristocratic look.

Paying a visit to Zürich, you might like to visit:

#1 Bahnhofstrasse
If you arrived by train, you might want to walk through this street to Old town. There are a lot of brand stores like Rolex and boutiques in here.

#2 Lake Zürich
Follow down the cosy streets of Altstadt (Old town) with a lot of shops to enjoy nice views of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich).

#3 Flea market “Rosenhof” in Weingasse
It is open every Saturday and there are so many nice things to buy as souvenirs. E.g. a real “Viktorinox” Swiss Army knife for five CHF (four euros 50 cents).

#4 Chocolate boutiques
There are plenty of them everywhere and you might do a little experiment comparing a Swiss chocolate from a boutique for 15 CHF with a chocolate from the nearest supermarket for five CHF.

#5 Frau Gerolds Garden
With warm weather, many people come here to chill in BBQ parties, soothing atmosphere and very nice decorations. A good place to try a traditional Swiss cheese fondue.

#6 Churches
Many tourists feel compelled to visit a church in every city. In Zürich, you have three options: Fraumünster, Great Minster Church (Grossmünster) and Wasserkirche. On the promenade, you will find Fraumünster. It was a female monastery for aristocratic ladies possessed considerable power in the city and even they had the privilege of printing money. The two towers which proudly rise in any picture of Zürich belong to the main cathedral – Grossmünster, which was built in the 12th century. According to the legend, the Grossmünster was founded by Charlemagne, whose horse fell to its knees at the tomb of Felix and Regula – patron saints of Zürich. The tower of the Great Minster – it is a great place to take beautiful pictures of the old centre. Close to the lake, the church Wasserkirche was surrounded by water (from whence the name), but the subsequently Limmatquai is connected to the church with the land. In Reformation Times, Wasserkirche was the first public library of Zürich in 1634. Having a “place of knowledge” – the Church- thus made a significant contribution to the formation of the University of Zürich in the 19th century.

#7 Kunsthaus (free on Wednesdays)
If you like art, you might love this museum which contains a collection of classical and contemporary art, including several paintings by Salvador Dali, Monet, Picasso and Marc Chagall.

#8 Thermalbad Zürich: From an old brewery to a bathing sanctuary
After a difficult day and if you have three free hours, you would love this SPA. What is special here is that there is a heated open-air swimming pool on the top of it from where you can enjoy the panorama of Zürich at any time of the year.

You have not seen Switzerland if you were not in mountains!

From Zürich, take a train to Lucerne (40 mins) and you will be surprised by the contrast from business to the romantic city. Lucerne is a city of art. It can indeed inspire you to write a sonnet or paint a picture. Somehow it happens that while most of Europeans and Americans walk the paths of Felix and Regula in Zürich, most, if not all, Asians go to Lucerne. Which might be good for you: follow an Asian person in Lucerne to see all the nicest sightseeings.

#1 Old town
Even without a guide, you discover most of it because there are so many murals or paintings around, narrating about the purpose of a particular building or historical events.

#2 Lion of Lucerne
It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Mark Twain praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”

#3 Take a ship from Luzern to visit the Swiss Alps, e.g. Mount Rigi.
You can hike, snowboard and ski from up there or enjoy spectacular views of the Alps at 1,800 metres above sea level. The cogwheel railway leaving from Vitznau is Europe’s first mountain railway.

Lifehacks:

• Swiss people speak German, but in a Swiss way. So, when you cannot understand what they are talking about, simply ask “Entschuldigung, könnten Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? Deutsch ist nicht meine Muttersprache” (Sorry, can you please speak a bit slower? German is not my native language). However, everyone can speak English there as well.
•  You should definitely try traditional Swiss Raclette:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWcz73qVel0
  (It is better to see once rather than describe)
• Talk to natives and do not judge a nation by one person. Swiss people might only seem too cold and a bit arrogant, but when you take your time to understand their mentality and try to be polite and courteous, you get to know them better.

And remember a Swiss saying, small is beautiful!

Enjoy your time in Switzerland!

Written by Aliona Sytnyk, AEGEE-Berlin

“Lost between Europe and Africa, it belongs to nowhere. It belongs to nowhere, never having belonged to nowhere. To Spain and the Arabs and the Phoenicians more than anything. But as if he had never really had a destiny. No fate. Left out of time and history”

David Herbert Lawrence, Sea and Sardinia, 1921

I wanted to start with this quote because it is not easy to describe Cagliari, the capital city of an amazing jam in the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Sardinia. It is the result of many influences by different populations who ruled the island: Phoenician, Arabs, Romans, Pisans, Spanish and of course Savoy are just examples.  Cagliari is one of the most important harbours in the Mediterranean Sea and situated in South Sardinia, pretty close to Africa, especially to Tunisia. The weather in there is incredible. In fact, it is so sunny that locals call it CA(g)LI(ari)FORNIA. Here are ten things to do, eat and visit in this city.

Poetto Beach with a view on Sella del Diavolo

1) Poetto – You cannot say that you visited Cagliari properly if you did not go to the beautiful beach of Poetto. Poetto is so close to the city that you can actually reach it by a bus from one of the main squares of Cagliari, Matteotti’s Square. It stretches for about eight kilometres and it is said that it is the longest beach in a city after the one in Rio de Janeiro.  You can enjoy your time there looking at the beautiful blue sea and eating a sandwich with horse meat bought in one of the “paninari” or “caddozzoni” [that can be translated with very dirty people, ed.], as people from Cagliari call them, and of course drinking an Ichnusa, the traditional beer of Sardinia.

2) Sella del Diavolo – There is a small story hidden behind this beautiful hill near at Poetto’s beach, that is also one of the symbols of our city. The legend tells that Lucifer and his demons wanted to rule Cagliari’s Gulf, but in a battle Lucifer fell off his horse, lost his saddle that turned into stone and became the Sella del Diavolo, Devil’s Saddle in English. You should climb it because the view from there will be one of the greatest experiences of your life, plus you will see Poetto with its all beauties.

3) Viale Europa – It is a really long street and it is close to Monteurpinu Park (one of the biggest parks in the city). There you can enjoy the beautiful skyline of the city and if you turn around you can also see Poetto. It will take your breath away.

Flamingos, with Cagliari’s skyline in the back

4) Fenicotteri – How not to mention flamingos? People from Cagliari are very proud of them. To find them, you have to move just a little bit from the city and go to Molentargius Park, which is really close to Poetto’s beach. Rent a bike and enjoy your time there. I suggest you bring your camera so that you can keep memories of this beautiful experience forever.

5) Pizzetta Sfoglia – Finally, I introduce you just one of the many tasty dishes from the island. Pizzetta sfoglia is basically a small pizza made with puff pastry and filled with tomato sauce and sometimes capers. We usually eat it in the breakfast or as a snack in the evening. Like Ichnusa and flamingos, people from Cagliari are very proud and jealous of Pizzetta Sfoglia. Try it, it is delicious!

Carlo Felice’s statue in Piazza Yenne

6) Piazza Yenne – Piazza Yenne is the centre of Cagliari’s movida. Especially on Friday and Saturday, you will find lots and lots of inhabitants having their happy hours or just talking and sitting in a bar. I suggest you take an appetiser there, you will enjoy the view of Castello (one of the historic neighbourhoods of Cagliari), the harbour and, of course, our beloved Carlo Felice’s statue. Carlo Felice is the symbol of the city and when Cagliari FC was promoted to Serie A [the major football league in Italy, ed.], last year he was dressed in red and blue, the colours of our team.

7) Marina – Moving a little bit forward from Piazza Yenne, you will find the neighbourhood of Marina. Marina is really beautiful, there you can find amazing restaurants with typical Sardinian cuisine and small shops that sell souvenirs. They might not be cheap, but eating traditional food is an experience you cannot miss when you are in Sardinia, it will be totally worth it.

Cagliari’s Cathedral façade

8) Castello – Castello (or Castle in English) is the neighbourhood of Cagliari. In fact, in Sardinian language, Cagliari is called Casteddu which means Castle. In Castello, you will find the most important monuments of Cagliari: the cathedral, the Vice Regio Palace, museums, etc. I suggest you lose yourself in small and beautiful streets with full of the magic of this neighbourhood and of course, go to Bastione Santa Croce to enjoy the beautiful view on Cagliari.

Bastion St. Remy

9) Bastione St. Remy – It is one of the meeting points of young people in Cagliari. The view from there is totally worth it and breathtaking. You can go up by foot or with the elevator. You will see its main entrance from the shopping streets via Garibaldi and via Manno, it is situated at the exact crossroads between these two streets.

10) Lose yourself – Just like I have read in other articles of the Travel Guide series, I suggest you lose yourself in this beautiful city to see and taste everything it offers. Cagliari might not be a big city or famous like other beautiful cities in Italy, but it is unique.

Written by Paola Letizia Murru, AEGEE-Cagliari

If you want to tell 10 things to do, eat and visit in your city (even where there is no AEGEE), you can fill this form or contact us at aegeean@aegee.org. Let’s create a small travel guide for AEGEE people!

Like so many great cities in Europe, León was founded by the Romans. With a history going back to antiquity, León has a large amount of richly cultural things to see, and delicious nourishment to eat and drink. Here is the must-have travel guide for the Spanish city of León.

AEGEE-León

1. Get Your Private Tour Guide… Sort of

Before you visit the city, try contacting AEGEE-León’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/aegeeleon/. Depending on availability, our members might be able to give you some tips or (digital) assistance for booking your trip or for when you are discovering León.

2. Meet Isidore and Marc

Two of the main attractions in Leon are the Basilica of San Isidoro de León and Convento de San Marcos. The former is built on the site of an ancient Roman temple during the early tenth century as part of the monastery of Saint John the Baptist. In 1063, the church was rededicated to Saint Isidore of Seville. The San Marcos also used to be a monastery, before becoming an actual dungeon during the Spanish Civil War. Nowadays the building has become a hotel.

3. Get Ready to Walk (and Party)

The Barrio Húmedo, or ‘wet district’, is the nickname for both the ancient centre of León, surrounded by the still largely intact roman walls, and the relatively large number of bars and clubs that are packed closely together between these same walls. The Barrio Húmedo; visit it during the day, and during the night; visit the Barrio Húmedo.

León Cathedral

4. History? I Prefer the Present

The Museum of Modern Art; or, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MusAC), is one of the most recognisable buildings in all of León because of its avant-garde architecture. The building is covered in brightly coloured, rectangular panels and only hosts art from the latest generation of artists, meaning art from the last twenty to thirty years.

5. But Wait, There Are More… Churches

If you are in the mood for seeing another church, then this one will blow your mind. The Santa Maria de León, also known as ‘the House of Light’, is the city’s gothic cathedral. It looks like they built a tall building on a bridge that is adjacent by two towers, and, unlike the San Isidoro, this one is built on the site of a Roman bath house.

La Candamia

6. Mucho Mosto

When you are in León you have to try ‘mosto’, a sweet, non-alcoholic kind of grape juice. It is made from pressed grapes before they are converted into wine, but, depending on the grape, it might taste a bit like apple juice. It can be served chilled with a slice of orange and an olive, or bought in a store. Enjoy.

7. Nature

You should try to visit ‘La Candamia’, a park next to the Torío river on the outskirts of León. It is possibly the best location in the city for recreation, relaxation, and, if you climb all the way up the mountain, for the best views of León.

8. Barter Much?

If you are in León on a Saturday, it is really worthwhile to go to Plaza Mayor and visit some of our local markets, surrounding the square.

Tapas

It is a relaxing way to spend (part of) your day, strolling down the streets, browsing or maybe buying some products.

9. Spare Some Cheese?

Would you like try some good food? Have you, however, only ordered a drink? Do you like free stuff? Then why not try some of our world famous ‘tapas’. It comes free with every drink you order; every drink… it is literally FREE food. What are you waiting for, come to León.

Written by Laura Pérez, AEGEE-León

If you want to tell 10 things to do, eat and visit in your city (even where there is no AEGEE), you can fill in this form or contact us at aegeean@aegee.org. Let’s create a small travel guide for AEGEE people!

“How on Earth can you travel so much!?”. I am pretty sure that many of you have heard these words already. We are AEGEEans, we are tireless travellers and adventurers – yet at the same time we are young and (most of us) students that many times cannot afford the typical travel expenditures. When was the last time you travelled on your own and slept in a four-star hotel?

Luckily, through AEGEE or other experienced backpackers, it is easy for us to learn about ways to travel all over Europe on the cheap, either before or after attending a Summer University. I have noticed it for my own experience: just a couple of years ago, I was doubtful of embarking in an adventure of travelling on a budget on our own. Instead, now I know many tips to make my trips affordable – and I am continuously asked by non-AEGEEans: “but how can you manage!?”.

If you happen to be a ‘newbie’ when it comes to budget travelling, these are a few tips we can give you.

Know where, when and how to travel

We have to start from somewhere when planning a trip, right? Let’s take into consideration several aspects when you travel, such as the destination. A great idea is to travel to airports connected with low-cost airlines. However, there are many cities (like Barcelona) where there are not even two, but three airports (BCN El Prat, Girona-Costa Brava and Reus) which are connected with budget airlines. Whereas travelling to off-shore airports can be a great idea in order to save money, you might well consider to add 17 euro extra for the shuttle bus from Girona airport to the Barcelona city centre, so keep that in mind when checking your travel budget!

Finding airplane ticket bargains can be easier than we think – sometimes it is easier when you travel on off-season dates (around late October-April). I remember that I got my ticket to Autumn Agora Budapest in November 2012 at 25 euro round trip, and I even met a few members who travelled by… less than 2 euro by plane! Booking in advance is an option.

Furthermore, if you want to keep monitoring the rise and fall for the prices of a concrete destination, I suggest you to check Skyscanner or Drungli – the latter is even more useful for the flexible travellers who are open to any destination, as it also shows the cheapest travel fares on the dates you chose, regardless of the destination.

July 2012. I never thought hitchhiking could be that cool!

There are many other options to get around. The AEGEEan published recently a ‘hitchhiker’s guide to Europe’, whereas the former speaker of the Environmental Working Group, Iris Hordijk, presented last year some different ways to travel in an environmentally-friendly way, such as kayaking or biking. You might even consider travelling long distances by budget bus lines. Unsure of which is the cheapest way to get to some place? Check Rome2Rio, it shows you the way to schedule your trips by budget and amount of time to any destination (yes, anywhere!).

Travel, eat and stay with locals

They will know better than anyone else where are the coolest, tastiest, cheapest and prettiest places to take you to. I come from Barcelona, one of the most touristic and fairly expensive cities in Europe. While most of the travellers struggle to find a place to have a drink at sky-high prices, I always bring the AEGEE members who come to visit me at a bar -right in the city centre!- where the best mojitos I have ever tasted cost no more than 3 euro.

This is an easy step. If you travel to a city where there is an AEGEE local, you can easily ask to the members in there for some tips or even have a tour around. However, it might happen that the city you plan to visit has no antenna, but you can contact locals through places such as CouchSurfing or a website called AngelsForTravellers. Even if a new one, this website has exactly this purpose – an opportunity for travellers to ask locals for advice! Another -very popular- idea is to take a look at the Spotted by Locals website. You might also check the ‘free walking tours’ in many European cities. Even if usually run by long-term expats, it is an interesting way to get to know a city better and make friends on the way.

Of course, finding a place to sleep is one of the things that can make a big difference on a budget, so why not trying couchsurfing again? You must definitely check the AEGEE CouchSurfing Facebook group as well. You might be surprised of how many AEGEE members are spread around the continent… or the whole world!

These are only a few tips aimed for beginner travellers. But I am sure that you, experienced AEGEEan, have lots of other tips to share from your own experience. So, share them with us and we will collect the most interesting tips to travel ‘like a pro’!

Written by Anna Gumbau, AEGEE-Barcelona

Being the capital of Russia – the country, that unites East and West, Moscow has its own unique charm, which you can hardly find everywhere else in the world.

Moscow – the capital of Russia and one of the biggest cities in the world – is located in the western part of the country and occupies the territory of 2,500 square kilometers with the nationality over 12 million people. So far as the city is comparable in size to some European countries, tourists need to be very concentrated while making their timetable of the journey. For one-two days you can only have a short look on the center. To see all the interesting sights in Moscow you need to stay there not less than a week, but to break the ice of Muscovites’ affected severity and to discover the soul of the city can cost you at about a month.

The heart of the city, as red and beating as all the other hearts,  is Moscow Kremlin. Being historically a fortified complex and now the official residence of the President, it stand on the bank of the Moskva River and overlooks Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square to the East and the Alexander Garden to the West. Within the Kremlin walls you can find four palaces, four cathedrals and well known Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell – the largest cannon and bell in the world.

Cannon and bell are not the only things, which are large in Moscow. Ruling such a big country, Russians got used to have everything big: big parks, big houses, even the cars on the streets are quite big until now. It is totally inconvenient for the city with incessant traffic jams, but has no disagreement with unbounded Russian soul.

Red Square is the first important touristic target and not in vain. State Historical Museum is waiting for history-lovers at the beginning of the square. Tourists, interested in the Soviet period of Russian history, will definitely like Lenin’s Tomb. And of course no person is allowed to go to Moscow and not to make a picture of Saint Basil’s Cathedral – the geometric center of Moscow.

In walking distance from the Square you can find Bolshoi and Maly Theaters, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Lubyanka Square, where in Soviet time the headquarters of the KGB was situated, Russian State Library, Moscow Manege Building, the Alexander Garden with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and many more interesting places, which deserve to be the object of tourists’ interest.

Only one metro station divides you from the Arbat Street – a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical centre of Moscow. It became an important tourist attraction because of the many historic buildings, and the numerous artists who have lived and worked there. But the Moscow Metro itself should be also mentioned as the underground museum of Soviet art.

There are numerous parks within the Moscow area, such as All-Russia Exhibition Centre with the Museum of Cosmonautic near it, Tsaritsyno and Kolomenskoye Parks, Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill with the Obelisk of Nike and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.

The thing, that needs to be noted separately, is Russian weather. Of course it is a prejudice, that Russian winter is hardly to survive, but nevertheless it’s quite cold. That’s why the travelers, who decide to visit Moscow in winter, should be ready to choose more indoor-activities, such as museums and Galleries. Among them the most important place wins State Tretyakov Gallery. Tourists, who like more to walk the streets and to enjoy nature, are advised to choose summer time for their visit to Moscow.

Moscow is the magic place. It is the city, where a person can go to sleep poor and wake up reach, but can happen also vice versa. This is definitely the city, that never sleeps, and where your life depends not on you, but mostly on your destiny. And if you are lucky enough, Moscow as a big mother will love you and keep your peace.

Written by Aleksandra Antokhina, AEGEE-Moskva

Are you going to visit this amazing city and you don’t know where to start from? Well, keep reading for some help.

Turin is the fourth Italian largest  city after Rome, Milan and Naples. It’s a multicultural city as well as a very important university city. You can admire the beautiful buildings, most of which were built by the Italian kings, as the city was the first capital of the Reign of Italy. This is why the city is famous for its baroque aspects. Palazzo Madama is an obvious consequence of the kings’ style , but also Palazzo Carignano with its undulated  facade.

The two largest squares are piazza Castello and piazza San Carlo where concerts or manifestations are held. Another huge space ,but green this time, is Valentino’s Park, near Po river. It’s a huge park space where the Castle of Valentino found place, which  now hosts the Faculty of Architecture. Young people call it Hogwarts for the likeness with Harry Potter’s school.

The symbol of the city is la Mole Antonelliana, the most imposing building of the city. You can get on the top of the building thanks to a lift and admire the panoramic view. Inside the building you can visit the National Museum of Cinema. Besides, if you like museums, you will enjoy the Egyptian Museum as well.

For those who are passionate about soccer, you can visit Juventus Stadium or the stadium of the other team of the city, Torino F.C. An interesting museum is the National Museum  of the Automobiles, owned by Agnelli, the possessor of the well-known Fiat factories.

Another major attraction is the Duomo, where you can visit the Holy Shroud. Near the Duomo, there is Porta Palatina, which was one of the main entrances in the ancient city during the times of the Roman Empire. In the surrounding there is a very interesting archaeological area.

A typical aspect of the city is its arcades that cover 18 km of the city’s streets. What is  the reason? Well, the king had to have the opportunity to go for a walk and not to get wet in case of rain. So if you visit the city and it suddenly starts to rain, you won’t get wet even though you don’t have an umbrella and even though you are not a king.

Outside the city, you can visit the royal residences. There are many, but the most famous are the Stupinigi (where you can get by bicycle) and Venaria Reale, both protected by UNESCO.

Last but not least, if you visit Turin, you have to try gianduiotto, typical chocolate with a glass of piedmontese wine.

Written by Cosmina Bisboaca, AEGEE-Torino

Are you finally planning your long-awaited trip to Greece and you are not sure which places to pick? Do they all seem beautiful and attractive but you can only choose a few? Well, no worries, the choice is obvious: pick Heraklio! But why should you go there? Read on and find out.

Heraklio is the capital city of the island of Crete and the 4^th largest city in Greece. It was built in 824 AD by Saracen pirates and was used as a safe harbour for them. In 961 the city was taken over by the Greek forces of Nikephoros Phokas and until 1204 it remained under Greek control. It was then bought by the Republic of Venice and for more than 400 years stayed under their control. In 1669 the city was taken over by the Ottomans and in 1913 it returned to Greek control.

The city has the biggest port and the largest number of connections to ferries or planes on the island. Its airport is the second busiest Greek airport and the ferries connect Heraklio with many other islands in the Aegean Sea as well as with the capital of Greece, Athens.

Heraklio is a very energetic city and many students live here due to the variety of study courses one can take in the public as well as the Technical University. Thus, there are many places for young people to go, such as cafes and bars but also clubs that operate until sunrise. There are tons of things one can do in Heraklio but of course not all of them can be mentioned here. Keep reading and I will let you know about the places you must definitely visit once you are in the city.

The Palace of Knossos

Probably the number one thing visitors tend to see when they visit Crete are the ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos, the centre of the Minoan civilisation and cradle of Western civilisation. The ruins are located about 6km from the city centre and are easily reachable by a bus which runs frequently from the main bus station near to the port. There is much to see in the ruins and guided tours can be arranged. Make sure to plan a visit in the early morning to avoid the hot sun.

The centre

Heraklio’s centre is not very big and it can be explored easily in one or two days. The focal point of the centre is the Lions Square (also known as Eleftheriou Venizelou Square, however the locals rarely use that name) where a Venetian Fountain consisting of four lions can be found. Many shops are located in the “Dedalou Street” which begins at the Square and connects it with the city’s other main square,  Liberty Square. Another road (beginning close to Lions Square and called “Chandakos Street”) is a nice road for a walk or to taste hot or cold chocolate at one of the most famous cafes in the city called “Ουτοπία” (which means utopia). Around the Square there are many places where one can eat or go for a drink and also many roads full of bars, restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops.

The traditional market

Starting again from the Lions Square (I told you it is the focal point) you can find “1866 Street” where there are many shops selling traditional products, from goat cheese and meat to raki and honey. Also some restaurants are located there, serving very tasty food at moderate prices. If you walk all the way to the end of the Street you will find yourself in yet another square, “Kornarou Square”.

The Venetian fortress

On the North side of the Lions Square the “25^th of August Street” begins which leads you to the Venetian Fortress, also known by most locals as “Koules”. You can watch the waves crashing on the breakwater there or take the long walk of 2.3km to reach the lighthouse where you can enjoy an amazing sunset.

The Natural History Museum and Talos Plaza

Starting from the entrance of “Koules” you can walk your way along “Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue”, which follows the coast. Less than a kilometre away you will find the Natural History Museum, a great place to see animals and plants which live and grow on the island but also some models of prehistoric beings. If you keep walking in the same direction soon you will come across the Talos Plaza; a modern mall where you can enjoy a coffee or a snack next to the sea but also satisfy your shopping needs or watch a movie at the cinema.

The city walls

The “old centre” of the city is surrounded by thick stone walls built by the Venetians. One can climb up those walls from many different points and enjoy a tour around the city “from above”. There are three main gates to the walls. The grave of the famous Greek writer Nikos Katzantakis is a “must stop” during your walk.

The beaches

Of course no visit to Heraklio would be complete without enjoying the beaches of the area. “Ammoudara” is an easily accessible (by bus from the main bus station) seaside area with lots of hotels and hostels but also restaurants and bars. Another choice is the beaches in “Ammnisos”, an area reachable also by bus from the main station. However, the most unspoilt (and least visited by tourists) beaches are the ones in the South part of the Island, connected with rural buses from the main station.

The food and the drinks

One of the greatest things in Heraklio is the vast variety of food and drinks one can taste. Make sure to try the well-known Greek salad, sided with a portion of “apaki” which is smoked and fried pork meat. Also, the sausages with vinegar and the Cretan “dakos” are great choices. For those who want to go a step further, “kokhlee” or fried snails is a good start. Don’t miss the chance to try Raki, traditional Cretan alchoholic drink or even better try “rakomelo” which is Raki mixed with honey.

Now you should have a pretty good idea of Heraklio and I hope that you have already decided to book your tickets. I can assure you that your holidays there will be an experience worth remembering and that you will find yourself wanting to go back time and time again.

Written by Kyriakos Avgoustis, AEGEE-Heraklio

Imagine a harmonic morning in the capital of Hungary. A short walk in the morning sun on the riverbank of the Danube, a delicious coffee in the castle. Then you open your newspaper and spend another half an hour in the café, looking down from time to time to the Parliament building on the other side of the river. Afterwards you decide to take a sightseeing bus and discover the city of hills, spas, culture, nightlife and many more.

Oh no, save this plan for your 50’s. During 31st October – 4th November 2012, no romantic, relaxing mornings and sightseeing buses. Get ready for the most intense days of your life… in BUDAPEST! Let us provide you with a short travel guide so that you make the best of the short time you spend in the city. Let see how a typical AGORA day in Budapest will look like.

View The AEGEEan’s Budapest guide in a larger map

Arriving to Agora Budapest

The first thing you will experience is going to be a strange flow of words coming out of people’s mouth. This is called Hungarian language. Say “szia” (meaning hello) to the country and start to search for the AGORA gym. Follow me.

From the airport you have to take bus 200E. Get on a fancy blue bus and go until station Kőbánya-Kispest which will look less fancy but do not worry, you will spend only some minutes there in the outskirts. Next you have to change to the subway direction Újpest-Központ. After 4 stations you will be already really close to your temporary home. Népliget is the station where you have to get off for the gym (called “Építők Stadion”).

One day’s diary

Agora plenary hall at Corvinus University of Budapest

Listening to nice music we get up fresh in the morning and take the Agora bus to go to the plenary. You might notice that the river Danube divides the city into two sides: Buda and Pest. The plenaries and prytania will take place on the Pest side, near the Liberty Bridge, at Corvinus University of Budapest. This is also the place where you will have your meals. If you got up too late and would like to reach the university by public transport, take the subway (direction Újpest-Központ) until the stop Kálvin tér. From here you can walk to Corvinus University, located on the coast of the Danube. If you look at the other side of the river, there you see Buda with the Gellért Hill. On top of it there is a girl lifting a palm leaf over her arms, that is our Liberty Statue. A nice point to look at if you get lost.

Free time before/after plenaries

View from Citadella, top of Gellért Hill

If whole day’s democracy seems to be enough and you need a break  just walk across Szabadság híd (Freedom bridge) which is one of Budapest’s oldest bridges. Reaching Buda you can either climb up to the hill and visit the girl with the palm leaf: the surrounding is beautiful specially in darkness.

From Citadella you can see the whole city glittering in night lights, the view from the top of the hill is breathtaking. Along with the Buda castle the panorama became part of UNESCO’s world heritage.

Is your energy level too low? In this case your solution’s name is Gellért thermal bath. Budapest is the only capital in the world with medical thermal baths, to experience one of them located even close to the plenaries is of high recommendation. After refreshment you will have enough power again to get back to the assembly with new thoughts and clear mind.

In the mornings if you still feel hungry after Agora breakfast you can go to the Vásárcsarnok (Central Market Hall) situated right next to the university. It is the largest indoor market in the city that offers a huge variety of stalls on three floors. You can easily notice the building for the huge queue of elderly people with big bags full of paprika, onion, etc. Grab a túró rudi or a kakaós csiga (it is a kind of pastry filled with chocolate cream – an ideal breakfast type for those with sweet taste) and start the day in the neighbour building.

Budapest nightlife

Agora Budapest will take place between 31st October and 4th November

After the whole day of excitements it’s time to discover another side of the Hungarian capital, and throw yourself into the city’s buzzing nightlife. The city offers you a wide range of bars and clubs to choose from. In the next paragraphs, we’ll be presenting some of these, but we encourage you to head to the city center and discover more.

Pubs

The creepy rabbits from Instant

Budapest is well-known for its ruin pubs that are open every day, making them a possible choice even for less busy nights, such as on Sundays or Mondays. The rooms of these pubs are filled with old furniture where you can sit down for a chat while having a drink. Make sure to try Hungarian beer or a spritzer made of Hungarian wine and soda for 1,5-2 euros. Szimpla Kert is one of the biggest and most well-known ruin pubs in the city, located in Kazinczy Street, in the heart of the city. Other pubs worth visiting  include Instant (Nagymező Street), Bar O (Ó Street), and Fogas ház (Akácfa Street).

If you’re looking for more places to grab a drink with your friends, head to Deák Ferenc square and enjoy Akvárium Klub, or walk a bit more and visit Szóda, in Wesselényi Street.

Clubs

Catching up with friends, check. Drinks, check. Now it’s time to hit the dancefloor! You can visit Morrison’s Music Pub 2, a place frequented mostly by students, that has several halls, each of them with a different style of music, including a room for karaoke. You may also visit Doboz (Klauzál Street) or Ötkert (Zrínyi Street), both of them providing a good atmosphere for you to spend the evening.

You cannot leave without visiting…

And finally let’s see the places you definitely should manage to see.

View of the Parliament Building from the Fisherman's Bastion in the Buda Castle

Leaving Budapest without visiting Buda castle is like going to Rome and missing to visit the Colosseum. The castle is the most historic district of the city with various monuments such as the Halászbástya (Fisherman’s bastion). The bastion’s seven towers symbolize the seven tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 896. In this central point of the castle you will be provided with another panoramic possibility. Look down and on the opposite side you will face the House of Parliament.

Szent István Bazilika in the city centre

Szent István Bazilika (Basilica of St. Stephen). Take a trip to the top of the dome, which can be reached by lift or by taking the 146 steps. The top offers another nice view to the city. In the church itself you can have a look at the right hand of our first king, St. Stephen. Although it might sound impossible but it is true: the Basilica is the home of the Holy Right.

Heroes’ Square: near the embassy quarter of Budapest you can find the square which shows the main figures of our history starting from István (Stephen), remember, whose hand is in the Basilica.

Boating lake in the City Park

City park: Next to the Heroes’ Square you can find a huge green area with zoo, amusement park, the Széchenyi termal bath which is also a perfect place to relax, ideal for department or arrival day.

We hope that we could persuade you with our little travel guide to participate in the biggest show of autumn 2012! For more info visit: www.agorabudapest.hu

Written by Kata Szabó, AEGEE-Piliscsaba & Zsófia Komáromi, AEGEE-Budapest
Cover photo by Ákos Szőts, AEGEE-Budapest 

If you are thinking about applying for one of the Spanish Summer Universities or maybe have another reason to go to a Latin country but do not know how to get around, then look here! This article gives you a few tips on how to reach cities that may not have a large airport.

Last year I visited almost every Spanish city during my Erasmus in Madrid. I am not rich but I did not get broke either because I managed to travel around at a reasonable price but with a lot of patience.

First up: travelling by train

I arrived in Madrid and started out by living with a Spanish family. They were so kind to let me come along when they took a holiday in the South, destination Almería. However, they were so fortunate that they were going to spend one month in the south whereas my Spanish adventure was going to continue in the North. So I had to return to Madrid and chose the cheapest way – train. Renfe is the Spanish railway company and it takes you pretty much everywhere in Spain. From Almeria to Madrid it was about 25 euros and from Madrid to Valencia it was about the same price. It should be noted however that the journeys took around 7-9 hours each.

Second up: Going on the road

An example of a promotion from ALSA

Another way to travel around the country of sangria is by bus. You can say that I got pretty familiar with the Spanish bus company ALSA and the duration of the trips was never too much. The price varies depending on the destination and here are some examples:

Return trips Madrid-Leon (40 €), Madrid-Zaragoza (27 €) and a little bit less for Madrid-Valladolid. Furthermore, you can get 20 % discount if you get the ALSA bus plus card  (you will get a card number that you can use when buying the tickets online, and do not need the actual card to get the discount) and there are regular promotions on their Facebook page too.

Third up: Going up high

Last option that I used when adding Spanish cities to my “places I’ve been” list was the unofficial AEGEE airline Ryanair. This option was used when traveling from Barcelona to Valladolid (around 25 €) but I also know that routes like Madrid-Alicante & Madrid-Santander are very cheap too!

Valladolid is one of the less known cities in Spain, but they are in the process of creating an antenna and they already have a mascot : Chazo Le Chazo

There are most probably many other ways to travel around Spain but hopefully these tips can help make your upcoming Spanish adventure as fantastic as mine!

Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København