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Last posts

Europe’s Best Cycling Cities

Hans Rankings, Travel Tips

One of the biggest challenges you’ll face in your travels is navigation. Each new city presents its own unique system of taxis, busses and subways – and the occasional pedicabs, monorails, and trams. When you know little of the city and less of the language, public transport can be a confusing, frightening headache. Just about anywhere you go though, there’s an alternative to public transport: the bicycle. Not only can you navigate the cities of Europe at your leisure, but you can explore far off the beaten path. Areas that you might have missed are suddenly accessible, so you’ll end up seeing far more of the culture. All across the great continent of Europe, you’ll find fantastic spots to cycle. Many towns maintain dedicated bike lanes, and a growing number of locals rely solely on bicycles for transportation. Because of this, you’ll find great cycling opportunities in most every city; however, we’ve found a few that really stand out from the rest. Without further ado, here are our top picks for Europe’s best cycling cities: 1. Amsterdam, The Netherlands Of all European cities, the Dutch capital is unrivaled for its bike-friendliness. In fact, bicycling is possibly the best way to get around the city. The city is almost completely flat, and the only upgrades you’ll find are canal bridges. Bike lanes crisscross the city, offering unlimited access to every nook and cranny. And of course, you can hire a bike just about anywhere. Bike City, for example, offers stylish black Dutch-made bikes at the reasonable rate of €13.50 for a half-day. 2. Reykjavik, Iceland If you’re looking for safe... read more

Eating in Bologna, a whirl of sensations

Pedro Paterna Florentine, Food and Drink in Florence, Only-Be

Have you ever been to Italy? It´s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole world. Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice or Pisa are unique monumental cities, witnesses of the Roman Empire´s legacy and the greatest universal artists. However, there are other great attractions that you can find in Italy, such as its wonderful cuisine. You are entering the historical city of Bologna to show everything it has to offer when it comes to food. Bologna is located in northern Italy, flanked by the rivers Reno and Savena, close to the Apennines. It´s a medium-sized city with 400,000 inhabitants, and its historical legacy is one of the best preserved ones in the world, despite having an Old Town that is only overcome in terms of size by the one in Venice. The cradle of pasta Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna and it´s precisely this region that has been labelled the ´cradle of pasta´, for many the best Italian cuisine that you can eat in the country. The tortellini, cappelletti or tortelloni are especially popular in this part of Italy. In Italy they have breakfast continental style: a coffee and some chocolate or cream pastries. In the many cafes that you can find in Bologna you can enjoy a fantastic Italian coffee and, of course, a nice chat. Le Petit Cafe or Fashion Cafe are good places to start the day in Bologna. Healthy food in Bologna However, you can enjoy the food best during lunchtime. Some of the products that Bologna stands out for are its vegetables (golden onion, potato, Altedo asparagus…), its cured meats (mortadella,... read more

The Historic Side of Porto

Mónica Boixeda Only-Be, Portuense, Practical Guide - Porto

A beautiful city no matter what time of day, a romantic destination, full of both history and poetry, Porto is all of this and much more. This northern port of Portugal captivates every visitor with its wonderful architecture, its relaxed atmosphere and its delicious gastronomy. Foto: Ewan-M A World Heritage Site Porto immediately gives one the impression that the city is being modernized. Its airport, one of the best in Europe, and its comfortable and clean Metro hint at these changes. But this is not why people love Porto, and it is not what the traveler in search of the true identity and culture of the city is going to seek out. The other Porto, the old port, which has long since been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site is where you want to go. There are countless streets that seem to start from the northernmost parts of the city before emptying into the Douro, with multicolored houses, ancient buildings, and libraries that inspire one with their rich history. You will likely see women preparing food through open windows, a cat on the threshold of a door or a window sill, and laundry hung out to dry on the balconies. This is Porto, with the smell of the sea, of rivers, of wine, and of history itself. A tour of the historic The historic old town is so full of places that one must visit. It really is ideal to spend at least five days. To start out, I would recommend visiting the Santa Catarina street before going down to the Ribeira. This vital artery of Porto has several buildings... read more