Europe in Two Weeks – Part I

 

Even though trains and public transport is really good in Europe, it is cheaper, more free and easier for four people to rent a car and share the expenses. Because we will travel a good part of Europe, the car has to be comfortable, economical and a good size. An average car rent for two weeks with insurance and unlimited kilometres will cost you about 250 Euros, but it depends on the car agency and wishes. It is also worth remembering that most of the agencies require that the driver is older than 20 or even 25 in some countries and has some driving experience. If you rent a car, you make sure that you will have a safe and warm back-up accommodation if you change your plan, get lost or the hostels are full, which is definitely possible in the summer season. The car is booked, you just need to choose your first destination and make a travel plan. A lot of websites can help you with that if you don’t have any idea on where to go, but you will definitely enjoy the trip more if you adjust to one another and make everyone’s wishes come true.

The first destination is Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Don’t forget to exchange your Euros for forints. You will finally feel rich – 50 Euros will bring you around 15000 forints. The first thing that traveller’s guides recommend is the castle on the hill, west of Danube river, which is also part of the world heritage. It is inhabited since 11th century and I’m sure that this place will give you an insight of what medieval times looked like. You can sleep in Hostelling International hostel Casa de la Musica that offers accommodation for no more than 9 Euros per night and spoils you with a pool and concerts in the basement bar so you don’t even have to leave the building to drink a beer or two. The whole neighbourhood has a lively nightlife and if you’re a little adventurous and have a bigger budget, you can go to a spa party on Saturday, which is a very popular type of a party in Budapest. Hungary is known for its sausages, langosh and palinka and for fruit brandy that will definitely warm you up as it translates as rocket fuel. Budapest isn’t so modest as it sounds. If you’re going to take a walk through the centre, you will see a lot of the beautiful buildings. The parliament will definitely charm you as well as its neighbour, the museum of ethnography and the ministry for agriculture building. The parliament is the third biggest parliament in the world and a real beauty. 

After hanging out in Budapest, you can go forward to another student-friendly city, Bratislava. Richard Tulloch said on the Traveller that this mini-Vienna can be explored on a mini-budget. If you’re going to park your car and explore the city with public transportation, you can buy Bratislava Card that will cost you 10 Euros and offer you 24-hour of commuting and some discounts for museums and restaurants as well as city tours. You will also be able to get a discount on apothecary museum and weapon museum. The centre of the city will charm you with paved streets and bronze statues. These were built to give some humour and life to the city and to the communist architecture. You can find a photographer, a man that’s coming out of the drain and even Napoleon. You can see the castle Devin, built in the first century. You can find some student parties in a student town Mlynska dolina and its pubs Unique, ELAM and Club 39. You will also find some cheap accommodation in Bratislava, I recommend hostel Patio. I also recommend that you spend two nights in Bratislava and go on a longer trip in the morning.