What do these three European cities have in common? A seriously cool art scene, great food and wallet-friendly activities. Travelstart brings you free and fun things to do in the coolest cities in Europe: Leipzig, Lisbon and Copenhagen.
Above image courtesy @almostlocals via Instagram
Leipzig
Heralded as the new Berlin, Leipzig is all about art nouveau architecture, music, street art and the tasty local pastry “Lerche Leipzig”.
Find cheap flights to Leipzig here.
By bus or train from Berlin is also a fun and efficient way to get to Leipzig.
South Africans require a Schengen visa to visit Germany, this is a straight-forward process. Find out everything you need to know about applying here.
1. Walk through the streets of the old town and take in the amazing street murals by Leipzig local Michael Fischer-Art.
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2. Stop in at one of the many fantastic patisseries in the city and pick up a “Lerche Leipzig”.
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3. Grab a cheap beer and enjoy the laid-back vibe and sunshine in an old castle at Moritzbastei (Universitätsstraße 9) on the university campus. This is a music, art and social venue.
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Lisbon
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Older than Rome, Lisbon has it all including its own Golden Gate-esque Bridge known as the Pont 25 de Abril! We’re there for the perfect seaside restaurants, the pastei de natas and the super cool art scene.
Top travel tip
There has never been a better time for South Africans to visit Lisbon with insanely affordable flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Lisbon with TAAG Angola Airlines.
Find cheap flights to Lisbon here.
South Africans require Schengen visas to visit Portugal, find out more here.
1. Dinner and Drinks on the rustic patio at Ponto Final restaurant. This is in Almada, just across the bridge from Lisbon central.
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2. Make time for perfect Pastéis de nata and coffee.
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These custard pastries are the 17th century invention of Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. At the time vast quantities of egg whites were used for starching nun’s habits leaving an excess of egg yolks perfect for inventing delicious pastries.
3. Spend the afternoon by the Pont 25 de Abril, having drinks on the terrace at the LX Factory.
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4. Visit the bookstore with the flying cyclist, the Livraria Ler Devagar, situated at LX Factory
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R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300 – 501 Lisboa, Portugal
Copenhagen
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Effortlessly cool and brimming with hygge, Copenhangen has surprisingly affordable clothes shopping, not to mention wonderful free activities like the Superkilen public park.
The best time to visit is in the spring and summer (May, June and July).
South Africans require visas, find out more here.
Find cheap flights to Copenhagen here.
1. Visit the Superkilen public park in the Nørrebro district
Image courtesy Collab Cubed
This amazing urban development covers 30 000 square metres. It’s a celebration of diversity featuring design from many different countries including Iraq, Russia, England, Japan, Morocco and many more and won the 2013 AIA Honor Award in the Regional & Urban Design category. It’s also just really fun to walk around and interact with the many surprising installations.
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2. Copenhagen has a fantastic food scene, for great tapas with a Copenhagen twist visit popular Vinhanen wine and tapas bar in trendy Vesterbro and Nørrebro.
Enghavevej 24, 1674 Kbh V
København
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3. Walk and bike this beautiful island city
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