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The second small town I ventured to in Germany was Regensburg, a 1.5-hour train ride from Munich and a perfect location for a day trip.
I arrived in Regensburg early, like 8:00 in the morning early, but I wanted to give myself a good full day here. Coming out of the train station, I didn’t see much yet aside from a park. However, once I started making my way toward Old Town, that’s where the fun began. It was a beautiful sunny day, and Regensburg is full of gorgeous architecture, including St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Old Stone Bridge, among others. It’s also a very walkable city and was one of my favorite days on the trip, in part because I wasn’t on my own; my parents ended up meeting me here to spend the day together. As I explored Regensburg, awaiting the arrival of Mom and Dad, I happened to notice that quite a few people were wearing traditional Bavarian-style outfits. I wasn’t naive enough to think people in Bavaria wear this all the time, and I eventually found out it was for an Ascension Day parade. Apparently, Ascension Day is a religious thing, but as someone who’s not super religious, I couldn’t tell you what it’s about. However, it did make the day extra-eventful. As I sipped on a German beer, waiting for my parents, the parade passed by. The parade was fun to check out, and it was pure luck that we happened to plan a Regensburg trip on this day. We got a late lunch at a local restaurant. The meal consisted of potatoes, dumplings, and get this, white asparagus. I didn’t even know white asparagus existed. It was good, though, and tasted the same. I really enjoyed Regensburg and would absolutely recommend it if you’re looking for a fun day trip from Munich. Of all the major cities in Germany I visited on this trip, I’d argue that Munich was my favorite. It wasn’t as sketchy as Frankfurt and seemed to have more character than Berlin. Ironically, it was also the only place where I experienced an actual rainfall (a rarity for this part of Europe).
The train from Füssen to Munich was roughly two hours. After arriving, I went to the hotel where my parents were staying so we could explore together and I’d have somewhere to store my luggage until I could check into my hostel. We made our way over to Karlsplatz, an area full of shops (and occasional churches) that eventually led to the well-known historic square, Marienplatz. For 7 euros each, my dad and I got to go up to the top of the Munich Frauenkirche, a famous cathedral there. The journey to the top of the tower began with climbing stairs, followed by an elevator ride the rest of the way. I definitely recommend doing this; you get great city views and there are also displays that explain different areas of the city. If you’re not sure what to see and where everything is, this gives you an idea of the city's layout and what to do during your stay. After all that, it was time to go to my hostel to check in and get settled. The Euro Youth Hostel was conventionally located near the central station and reminded me of a college building inside. This was a great hostel, and the service was fantastic; the man at the front desk didn’t even ask for a towel deposit. I especially liked their bar and lounge area. There was plenty of space to work and just hang out. They even give you a free welcome drink ticket. I ordered a 'toastie' sandwich, and it solidified that I’ve been experiencing grilled cheese sandwiches wrong my entire life. During my time at this hostel, I met fellow travelers from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Canada – all of whom were absolutely fantastic. Day 2 My second day in Munich was the rainy day. The plan was that we’d go to Schloss Nyphemburg, a famous palace in the area. To get there, we took the 16 bus from Hbf Nord heading toward Romanplatz. After getting off at Romanplatz, it was about a 20-minute walk to the bridge, where you’ll see the palace on your left. Schloss Nyphemburg is insanely huge! I can’t imagine being a German royal back in the 18th and 19th centuries with access to that. As much as we got to see inside, it was probably a tenth of the entire palace. An audio guide tour costs 10 euros. Security is also tight here. I’m still not convinced half the people working here weren’t former spy operatives by the way they operated. Madrid is the capital city in Spain, and for many travelers, it’s one of those European bucket list locations. I recently stayed at the Ok Hostel in Madrid and will share my honest experience while I was there to help you decide if this sounds like a place you might stay at during your Spain vacation.
How Much Does It Cost to Stay at the Ok Hostel Madrid? The Ok Hostel Madrid was one of the cheaper stays on my Spain trip, with a nightly rate of 29 euros for a 6-person room. For reference, this was in April just after Easter in a six-person dorm-style room. Prices will vary depending on the type of room you book and the time of year. Why Are Hostel So Much Cheaper? Hostels are generally cheaper than hotels, with nightly rates at a fraction of the price you’d pay for a hotel stay. When you’re traveling around Europe, the price of hotels can quickly add up, so hostels are a fantastic way to help cut down costs. Of course, the reason why hostels cost so much less than hotels is because you don’t have a room to yourself, but if you’re out exploring most of the time, this isn’t a dealbreaker. That said, if you're traveling with a friend or partner, you have the option to book a private room, though this will cost you more than dorm-style rooms. What Time is Check-In at the Ok Hostel? Check-in for the Ok Hostel in Madrid is a 3:00pm (or 15:00 hours). How Do I Get to the Ok Hostel from Madrid Airport? If you plan to take public transit, the trip is about an hour, whereas a car ride is roughly 30 minutes. If you're taking public transportation, the easiest way is to catch the 203 bus at the airport ('T2 Aeropuerto') that's heading to Estación Atocha. Stay on that bus for about 45 minutes and get off at the Estación de Atocha. From there, take Bus 1 going to Pinar De Chamartin. Stay on Bus 1 for three stops (roughly 5 minutes) and get off at Tirso de Molina. Then, it's just a short 5-minute walk to the Ok Hostel. What I Liked About the Ok Hostel Madrid
What I Didn’t Like About the Ok Hostel Madrid
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About the author
Jill Zwarensteyn is a writer and comedian who has been featured on Amazon, truTV, The New York Times, Matador Network, BUST Magazine, Sleep Advisor, Tiplr, ARTRPRNR Magazine, YourTango, Thought Catalog, GoMad Nomad, Mashable, The Daily Mail UK, the Cannes Film Festival, LaughFest, Women's Lifestyle Magazine, and the Funny Women Festival LA. For more info visit: http://www.jillzwarensteyn.weebly.com Archives
July 2024
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