Student Savvy: Europe on a Budget

By Kathryn Kean

As Semester Two gets off to a wintery start, many of you will already be thinking about where to head to in Spring Break to escape the stress. To help you out, Kathryn Kean gives us her top three budget-friendly picks for a European city break:

Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg is known as the ‘Jewel of the North’, and it’s not hard to see why: it boasts so many different distinctive districts that sometimes it’s hard to believe this is only one city. The Schanzenviertel is Hamburg’s gentrified, more alternate district: head here to see some cool street art, flea-markets and have a leisurely latte macchiato in an independent café (or a beer, this is Germany after all).

To see some beautiful historic buildings and hunt out some museums, the Speicherstadt is the place to go. This warehouse district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with red-brick façades interspersed by long canals. It’s also famed for its nightlife: the district of St. Pauli has many clubs and bars so there’s one to fit everyone’s tastes. This district also includes the infamous Reeperbahn, nicknamed “die sündigste Meile” (the most sinful mile).

There’s nothing like some good sea air to nurse a hangover, so to get your fix head down to the Fischmarkt —and for those of a mind, sample some of the city’s specialty Fischbrötchen and take a boat tour to appreciate the port city’s seaside sights, the highlight of which is the newly built Elbphilharmonie, a beautiful concert hall. You can also visit the interior of the building free of charge which is well worth your time!

Brussels, Belgium

There’s a lot more to this city than chocolate, waffles, fries and beer- although don’t expect to eat healthily while you’re here without seriously strong willpower. The city is brimming with history. Its central square (Grand Place or Grote Markt) is another UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s well worth your time just wandering around to take it all in.

Just around the corner, you’ll find Mannekin Pis, a fountain statue of a little boy doing, you guessed, a pee. It sounds odd, but it’s become quite the tourist magnet, and the little guy even gets his clothes changed every day.

The Belgian royal palaces are also beautiful and worth a trip- if you’re lucky, they are sometimes open for you to visit and it’s definitely something you should do if you get the chance! If you’re a beer or chocolate fan, take a tour or simply follow the crowds to try out some tasters and find your favourite.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is beautiful. There’s no denying it. The city is in fact the union of two separate cities, Buda and Pest, which are divided by the Danube river. Each side retains its own character, so be sure to visit both while you’re there.

A stroll along the Danube will lead you to the Hungarian Parliament building, which is simply gorgeous.

Stop by St. Stephen’s Basilica to enjoy some great views both inside and outside- for a panoramic view of the city, with some minor athletics, climb the tower inside.

For some Game of Thrones style scenery, Fisherman’s Bastion is the site for you. Here you can enjoy panoramic views as well as stunning architecture.

For your night out- the ruin bars are the place to go to enjoy some unique nightlife as you’ve never experienced before. If you wake up with a sore head the next day, Budapest has your back- simply head to one of the many thermal baths for some rejuvenation. And don’t forget your Ed Sheeran soundtrack.