Tag: itinerary

Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

Early this year, I flew to Japan for a week for the first time since the pandemic and since I flew to Fukuoka in 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do. I went there to enjoy being in the country again after not visiting it for over 3 years.

In case you missed it, I already shared a few details about this trip. I talked about my domestic flight experience with Peach Aviation here: Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight. I also shared some photos of Osaka and Nara here: Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog.

One of the new places I explored during this trip is Kyoto’s green tea heaven, Uji. Allow me to share with you what I did and where I went on this half-day trip to Uji. I will also share photos and details of my side trip to Kyoto on the same day.

I have been to Kyoto a few times in the past. I went there last October 2015 during my first trip to Japan. I re-visited the city again in 2016 during my 13-day expedition around Nagoya, Kansai and Hiroshima. In 2019, I spent a day in Kyoto from Osaka with my sisters and explored the city highlights.

Uji

Uji is a small city nestled between Kyoto and Nara. The city became a beneficiary of developments during the Heian Period when Byōdō-in Temple and Ujigami Shrine were constructed.

Today, the city is famous for its quality green tea products. It is one of Japan’s most important green tea production and distribution areas; it is also the place-to-be for green tea and matcha lovers.

Transportation & Access

Going around Uji is easy and tourist-friendly. The best way to get around the important sights is by foot. The city center is so small to the point where you can walk around the center in one morning or one afternoon. The city’s tourist information center suggests a typical walking route to see and explore the city’s attractions in one loop.

The city is connected to the rest of Japan through two stations: JR Uji Station in the Nara Line (south of the Uji River) and Keihan Uji Station in the Keihan Uji Line (north of the Uji River). JR Pass holders are advised to get off at the JR Uji Station, while IC card holders can take the Uji local train line. Both stations are connected to other major train lines in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

Places Visited in Uji

I took the local trains from Osaka and got off at Keihan Uji Station. I dropped by the tourist information center and asked for the recommended walking loop, and I was given a map with the best possible route. I went to the following places:

UJIGAMI SHRINE

Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the north side of the Uji River. It is believed to be one of Japan’s longest-standing shrines and is linked to the Byōdō-in Temple. The shrine was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

UJI SHRINE

Uji Shrine is another Shinto shrine found lower than the Ujigami Shrine, also on the north side of the Uji River.

UJI RIVER

The Uji River is a beautiful river that flows through the city. River cruises and traditional fishing activities happen on this river during peak seasons.

ASAGIRIBASHI BRIDGE

Asagiribashi Bridge is a walking bridge that connects the northern part of the city to Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park.

KYOTO PREFECTURAL UJI PARK

Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park is an island park with scenic views of the city and a 13th-century stone pagoda. The park is on two islands – Tachibana Island and Tō-no-shima Island.

UJI CITY MUNICIPAL TEA HOUSE TAIHOAN

After crossing the river and walking around the park, I walked to the municipal tea ceremony house (taihoan) to witness a traditional tea ceremony. I had a wonderful experience watching the tea ceremony. The ceremony has a ¥1,000 fee, and it includes mochi and a high-quality Uji green tea. Photos and videos were not allowed during the ceremony.

BYŌDŌ-IN TEMPLE

Byōdō-in Temple is a Buddhist temple built during the Heian Period. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is also the temple found at the back of the 10-yen coin. Entry to the temple grounds costs ¥600 per person.

AGATA SHRINE

Around 100 meters from Byōdō-in’s exit is Agata Shrine. It is a Shinto guardian shrine of Byōdō-in.

MATSUSAKAYA KAHACHI

I randomly came across this local tea shop named Matsusakaya Kahachi. I was invited by the two old gentlemen to go inside their shop and was taught how to make a hot sencha green tea drink from dried tea leaves.

They offered me three small cups of sencha tea. They do not speak English but tried their best to converse with me using their hands and gestures.

I liked their sencha tea product and bought both sencha tea leaves and matcha green tea powder from this shop. I had a beautiful and heartwarming experience with these two old gentlemen. I want to visit them again in the future and buy lots of green tea leaves and matcha powder from their shop.

PS. I asked for their permission to post their photo on my website.

UJI BYODOIN OMOTESANDO

Uji Byodoin Omotesando is the city’s green tea and matcha heaven. This 300-meter street is full of wooden houses and merchant shops selling green tea leaves, matcha powder, and everything green tea or matcha.

I came across this unique restaurant that serves ramen with matcha noodles. I tried it for lunch and paired it with their signature Uji matcha gyoza. It was weird at first, but okay for the experience.

TSUEN TEA HOUSE MAIN BRANCH

On the way back to Keihan Uji Station, I dropped by Tsuen Tea House’s main branch and tried their sakura matcha soft serve ice cream. I had one of the best and most flavorful soft-serve ice creams in this store!

The soft-serve iced cream costs ¥380. Customers can choose between matcha only, sakura only, or sakura matcha (mixed) flavors.

SURUGAYA KEIHAN UJI STATION

I also dropped by a local confectionary shop named Surugaya and tried their ¥100 green tea mochi sticks.

Kyoto Side Trip

After spending 4-5 hours around Uji, I took the local from Keihan Uji Station to Gion-Shijō Station in Kyoto. I spent the remaining 3 hours walking around Gion, and I visited Nishiki Market, Ponto-chō, Ninenzaka, and the Instagram-famous Hōkan-ji Temple. Here are some photos of these famous Kyoto spots.

NISHIKI MARKET

PONTO-CHŌ

NINENZAKA

HŌKAN-JI TEMPLE

After my quick trip to Kyoto, I took the train back to Osaka, dropped by the supermarket to get some food, walked back to my hostel, had dinner, and called it a day.

This sums up my long but fun day around Uji and Kyoto. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blog. I hope you stay tuned for more Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

HANOI Weekend Photoblog: 3 Fun-Filled & Spontaneous Days around the Vietnamese Capital City

Early this year, my friend and I flew to the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi for a quick 3-day weekend getaway. We came across a ₱1 base fare ticket mid-last year and immediately took the chance to visit this beautiful city. We have heard great things about the place, so we decided to give it a go.

We did not get the chance to plan things out before the trip. We showed up to the airport with only a return ticket, a booked place to stay (accommodation) and an airport transfer – no planned itineraries, no booked tours and no whatsoever. Thankfully, the trip turned out fun and memorable despite everything being decided on the spot.

Allow me to share with you details and photos of this spontaneous and fun-filled trip to Vietnam’s beautiful capital city, Hanoi.

Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam; it is the second-most populous city next to Ho Chi Minh City. The city is in the northern part of the country, within the Red River Delta. The city used to be the capital of French Indochina back in the day. The influence is evident in the city’s centuries-old architecture and rich culture, particularly in the Old Quarter area.

Airfare

We took advantage of Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare promotion in August 2022 and got our return tickets for a little over ₱5,000. The ticket included the usual 7-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance per way and a randomly assigned seat on both flight sectors.

My friend booked a return ticket to Hanoi and paid ₱5,338.17. On the other hand, I paid for a ticket to Hanoi and back from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and paid ₱5,059.62. I spent a few more days in Saigon after Hanoi and met up with friends whom I had not seen in a long while.

The return fares above are a little bit pricier than the recent ₱1 base fare tickets in recent months. However, considering the high prices of everything, including jet fuel, these days, the tickets we paid for are still a bang for the buck.

After Hanoi, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines and tried their widebody business class product in a domestic flight. Check out the Vietnam Airlines business class flight report here.

Accommodation

Hanoi has thousands of affordable accommodations to choose from. The city’s accommodation rates are on the affordable side compared to the other capital cities in Southeast Asia. It also has a wide range of popular and local hotels, family-owned guesthouses, and backpacker-friendly hostels and homestays.

My friend and I booked a 3-night stay with Hanoi House Hostel & Travel. We paid VND 1,950,000 (roughly ₱4,500) for a twin room with a private toilet and shower. We paid around ₱750 per person per night for a large twin room with a refrigerator, television, work table, and fast Wi-Fi. We also enjoyed complimentary breakfast for 3 mornings.

One of the many available breakfast options at Hanoi House Hostel. Phở for breakfast. Why not?

Hanoi House Hostel & Travel is a nice place to stay when in Hanoi. The hostel’s location in the Old Quarter is central and very close to pretty much everything, including Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ta Hien Beer Street (Beer Street Hanoi).

Going around Hanoi

Going around Hanoi is easy. Like any other Vietnamese city, the best way to go around the city is by driving a motorcycle. These are available for rental practically everywhere. If you do not know how to drive a motorcycle, you can opt to take the local bus, a taxi, or Grab (GrabCar or GrabBike). Another way to explore the city is by renting a bicycle and riding it around the city.

The best way to explore the city during a cold month (like our visit in January) is by foot. One can easily walk to many places within and nearby the Old Quarter.

Places Visited in Hanoi

We arrived in Hanoi with no pre-trip research or plans. We managed to visit a few places even without any plans. Let me share with you the ones we visited.

Day 1 – Mausoleum Complex & Old Quarter

After dropping our stuff at the hostel, we took a GrabCar to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. We went inside the Mausoleum, checked out the Presidential Palace, Stilt House, and the Museum. Then, we walked to the nearby Hanoi Botanical Garden to check out the place before heading back to the Old Quarter for lunch.

We went inside our room afterwards and took a nap. A few hours later, we explored the Old Quarter area and walked to St. Joseph Cathedral and Hoàn Kiếm Lake. We met with another Indonesian friend for dinner and finished the day with drinks at Ta Hien Beer Street (Beer Street Hanoi).

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Presidential Palace

Stilt House

Ho Chi Minh Museum

Hanoi Botanical Garden

Hanoi Old Quarter

Bún Chả + Beer for Lunch

St. Joseph’s Cathedral

Hanoi Old Quarter at Night

Ta Hien Beer Street

Day 2 – Halong Bay Cruise Day Tour

We went to Halong Bay on our second day in Hanoi. The cruise day tour included pick-up from and drop-off at Hanoi after the tour, seafood lunch onboard the cruise, and visits to a local pearl store, Ti Top Island, Luon Cave, and Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave.

After the day tour, we headed back to our hostel to freshen up. Then, we met up with new friends we met on the tour for dinner in Old Quarter and drinks on the Beer Street.

Ha Long Pearl

Ha Long Bay Cruise

Hòn Ti Tốp / Ti Top Island

Hang Luồn / Luon Cave

Hang Sửng Sốt / Sung Sot Cave

Hanoi Old Quarter at Night – Part 2!

Hủ Tiếu Khô + Beer for Dinner

Ta Hien Beer Street Again!

Day 3 – Walkathon Around the City

We spent our last day literally walking around the city with new friends from the tour the day before. We went to the controversial Hanoi Train Street, the Temple of Literature, and Trấn Quốc Pagoda. We had delicious local dishes and banana coffee in between the long walks. Our last day ended with another party night at Beer Street.

Hanoi Old Quarter in the Morning

Hanoi Train Street

Hủ Tiếu Khô again for Lunch!

Temple of Literature

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

Ta Hien Beer Street for the Last Time!

This pretty much sums up everything about our 3-day trip around Hanoi. The 3 days around the city went by smoothly, despite everything being planned on the spot. The spontaneity of the itinerary made the visit exciting, interesting, and memorable.

Have you been to Hanoi on your previous trips? How did you find the city? Share your memorable experiences and discoveries in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about the details mentioned and shown above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blogpost. I will surely visit Hanoi again in the future and I will take time to visit the nearby city of Ninh Binh and the iconic town of Sa Pa. I do not know when exactly will that be but I hope it will be in the next few years.

Before you leave, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and itineraries on this website. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

A Dream Come True Part 2: 24 DAYS Around FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN For Less Than ₱170,000 ALL IN – Airfare, Accommodation, Food, Museum Tickets & Transportation Included

I flew to Europe alone in 2019 and explored 4 countries – The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic and Denmark – for 19 days and spent a little over ₱117,000 for everything. The total expense included return flights via Singapore Airlines, hostel accommodations, visa application fees, travel insurance and daily expenses. Cheap-o, right? I honestly cannot believe I did it that time. I hope you can check out all the details of this life-changing EU solo trip here – Going Solo in Europe category.

Fast forward to 2022 when prices of everything went up, I did not think I will be able to do it again. In early to mid-2022, my friends and I talked about flying to Europe for a few weeks towards the end of the year. After months and weeks of planning and visa applications, we finally flew to Europe in November 2022 for holiday. I, with some friends, went around France, Italy and Spain for 24 days.

Guess what? I spent a little over ₱167,000 ALL IN for this 3.5-week trip! Curious how I made it happen? Let me share the breakdown of travel expenses below.

Air Tickets

Back in 2020, I booked a ticket with Emirates from Hong Kong to Munich and back from Budapest to Hong Kong for only HK$4,039 or ₱27,072.73 for October 2020. The pandemic happened; I was not able to use that ticket.

Luckily, Emirates offered the most flexible option for tickets booked that year. They offered to keep the ticket and extended its validity for 3 years. They allowed passengers to book their tickets when they are ready to fly. On top of that, they also allowed the passengers to change the airports of origin and destination as long as the airports are within the same Emirates region. Emirates also waived all fare difference, rebooking and change fees.

After securing my tourist visa last October 2022, I called Emirates and advised them my preferred dates and flight schedules. I got my new ticket in less than a minute after I ended the call. I wrote about my Emirates flight experiences last year under the Flight Reports category – EK 335 Manila to Dubai, EK 073 Dubai to Paris CDG, EK 256 Barcelona to Dubai and EK 332 Dubai to Manila. I hope you can check them out.

My friends and I also booked our inter-country tickets before flying to Europe. We flew with Air France from Paris, France to Rome Italy and paid ₱6,854.74 for a one-way ticket. After Milan, my friends all flew back to Manila while I continued my journey to Barcelona. I flew with Vueling from Milan, Italy to Barcelona, Spain. I got my ticket 2 months before the trip and paid ₱3,442.29 for this one-way ticket.

On top of these flights, I also paid the Philippine Travel Tax of ₱1,620 before leaving Manila. This travel tax is required for all Filipinos going out of the country for holiday or vacation.

Accommodation

I mentioned in my 2019 Euro trip summary that accommodations in the continent are expensive. After the pandemic, I noticed that accommodation rates got more expensive in general. I still cannot afford staying in these hotels and private rooms so I opted in staying with hostels again! I am happy I found a travel buddy / friend who is also keen on staying in hostels to save some cash. Just like before, I stayed in popular and high-rated hostels found in central and well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels for 4 nights in Paris (€147 paid during check-in), The Romehello for 5 nights in Rome (€89,26 paid through Agoda days before check-in), YellowSquare Florence for 4 nights in Florence (€95,60 paid during check-in), YellowSquare Milan for 4 nights in Milan (€109,24 paid during check-in) and YEAH Hostel Barcelona for 4 nights in Barcelona (₱5,589.42 paid through Agoda in Philippine Peso).

Travel Insurance

Schengen tourist visa applications require a travel insurance with up to €30,000 medical coverage for the duration of the trip, some even up to 15 to 30 days after the trip.

I got my travel insurance from Oona Insurance (previously known as Mapfre Insurance) and paid ₱1,969.43 (€34.95) for a 35-day coverage.

Schengen Tourist Visa

I applied for my own tourist visa with the Italian Embassy in the Philippines’ Visa Center – VIA Italy. I paid ₱4,494 (€80) for the visa fee and ₱1,350 for the visa handling fee including the courier fee / service. I opted for the passport pick-up to make sure I get the visa in time for my trip. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa from VIA Italy without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Travelling around Europe is a lot easier when you are connected to the internet throughout the trip. I did not want to get lost during the trip so I ordered a 3UK internet sim card from Travel Sim PH Shopee Store (not sponsored). I got the sim card that has 12GB data allocation valid for 1 month after activation. I paid ₱1,521 for this sim card including shipping fee and had it delivered at home weeks before the trip.

Pre-Booked Tickets & Tours

Weeks before our trip, my friend and I booked several tickets that we will use for the trip. We booked our bus tickets from Rome to Florence, Florence to Milan and the return bus tickets to Serravalle Designer Outlet. We also booked entry tickets to museums like the Vatican Museums in Vatican, Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence and the Last Supper in Milan. We also booked day trips to the Colosseum in Rome, Tuscany countryside in Florence and Lake Como in Milan.

All these tickets were booked using our credit cards and cost us ₱20,206.70 each.

Daily Expenses

I tried to set a daily budget for the trip but I noticed I have been spending more than the allotted amount. I decided to just let things go with the flow. Most of the day-to-day expenses came from food and transportation. I brought some euros to Europe and used my credit card for other purchases.

POCKET MONEY

Before leaving for Europe, I managed to change some cash to Euros to serve as my pocket. I changed ₱29,980 worth of Philippine pesos to €500. Towards the end of my stay in Italy, I also withdrew some cash from the ATM. The withdrawal cost me ₱9,435.93 including the international withdrawal charges.

I used the cash for day-to-day expenses like transportation and food. I also used the money to get my Navigo card and Paris Museum Pass in Paris.

TRAVEL EXPENSES CHARGED TO CREDIT CARD

Credit cards are widely accepted in Europe. In fact, it is the preferred mode of payment of some establishments. I used my credit cards a lot of times during the trip – mostly for food and transportation.

FOOD

I tapped my card in a lot of restaurants, fast food chains, hostel buffets and supermarkets during the trip. For instance, I used my card in paying for all the hostel breakfast buffets I availed at The RomeHello and YEAH Hostel Barcelona. I also used it in various restaurants in Florence, Milan and Barcelona. I even used my credit card in getting food from different fast-food chains and supermarkets.

In total, I charged ₱20,424.28 to my BPI Credit Card (not sponsored) only for food.

TRANSPORTATION

I also used my credit card in paying for transportation costs like airport trains, subways, buses and ride-hailing applications such as Uber, Bolt and FreeNow. In total, I charged ₱6,865.51 to my BPI Credit Card (not sponsored) for all transportation-related expenses.

Summary of Expenses

Here is the summary of all the expenses mentioned above.

The total amount spent for this 24-day trip around France, Italy and Spain is ₱167,752.45. This total cost includes flight tickets, accommodation bookings, visa application fees, travel insurance, entry tickets, food and transportation costs.

Please do not get me wrong, ₱167,752.45 is a big amount of money. At the same time, it was everything I spent for a 24-day trip to Europe from the Philippines. It may be a little over 40% higher than my 2019 Euro trip but it is still cheap given all the places I have been to in this trip.

Blog List

Here is the list of blog posts that are related to this 2022 trip to Europe.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 335 – Manila to Dubai – Overnight Long-Haul Flight with the Middle Eastern Global Carrier [November 2022]
Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 073 – Dubai to Paris CDG – Excellent Airbus A380 Superjumbo Flight to the Famous French Capital [November 2022]
Flight Report: AIR FRANCE AF 1304 – Paris CDG to Rome – Short Inter-European Hop to Italy’s Capital City [November 2022]
Flight Report: VUELING VY 6333 – Milan Malpensa to Barcelona – Superb Flying Experience with a Spanish Low-Cost Airline [December 2022]
Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 256 – Barcelona to Dubai – Impressive Intercontinental Flight on a Rare Long-Range Aircraft [December 2022]
Flight Report: EMIRATES EK 332 – Dubai to Manila – Underwhelming Inflight Meals on a Busy & Full Flight Back to Manila [December 2022]

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

Hostel of the Day: LE VILLAGE MONTMARTRE BY HIPHOPHOSTELS – Authentic & Affordable Parisian Property in the Artist District
Hostel of the Day: THE ROMEHELLO – Affordable, Hospitable & High-Rated Accommodation That Felt Like Home
Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE FLORENCE – Lively & Social Hostel Outside (But Near) Florence City Center
Hostel of the Day: YELLOWSQUARE MILAN – Hidden Hostel Gem in Milan’s Porta Romana District
Hostel of the Day: YEAH HOSTEL BARCELONA – 4 Fun & Solid Nights in One of the World’s Best Hostels

VISA APPLICATION ✍️

Tuesday Tips for Philippine Passport Holders: Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application with VIA ITALY

PARIS 🇫🇷

N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2]
N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 3, 4 & 5]
N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog
PARIS MUSEUM PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

ROME 🇮🇹

N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Arrival, Colosseum Tour & Trastevere Food Tour [Part 1 of 3]
N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Vatican City, Necropolis Tour & Papal Audience [Part 2 of 3]
N9 Friends in Europe: ROME – 6 Days Around the Italian Eternal City – Rome at Night, City Walking Tour & Departure [Part 3 of 3]

FLORENCE 🇮🇹

The Rape of the Sabine Women

N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City
N9 in Europe: TUSCANY EXPERIENCE CLASSIC TOUR Photoblog – A Day Trip to Pisa, San Gimignano & Siena
P’s List: 7 Food Places to Check Out in Florence

MILAN 🇮🇹

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital
N9 in Europe: LUGANO & LAKE COMO DAY TRIP FROM MILAN Photoblog – Exploring 3 Places in 2 Countries in 1 Day

BARCELONA 🇪🇸

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Is there anything you want to ask how I planned the trip in general? Or maybe how I made it happen? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in summarizing my 2022 trip to Europe. I may be months behind in posting everything about this trip but I hope it is never too late to share these details. I would like to thank my N9 friends for joining me in this life-changing and memorable trip to Europe. I cannot wait to go back to the continent in the future!

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I will end this post with this statement. I DID IT AGAIN – 24 DAYS AROUND FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN FOR LESS THAN ₱170,000 ALL IN AND I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: BARCELONA – 4 Lazy Days Around the Bustling Spanish City

My friends and I parted ways after visiting France and Italy. They all left Milan and flew back to Manila while I stayed for 4 more days and flew to my next destination – Barcelona, Spain. I was supposed to fly to either Copenhagen (again) or Berlin but I decided to fly to Spain (with Vueling on flight VY 6333) to spend some time with friends. I met with Nico, a friend who I met in Prague in 2019, and spent the last 4 days of this trip in the bustling city of Barcelona. I also met with my Barcelona-based friends who I met in Komodo, Indonesia back in 2017.

I intentionally did not go all out in exploring Barcelona. I had a hectic schedule around France and Italy in the last 2 weeks; I decided to just take it slow, be lazy and enjoy the city without any pressure of seeing everything. I missed a lot of spots; I did not go inside the beautiful museums and buildings. At least I have a reason to go back to the city in the future. For now, allow me to share some details plus photos I took during these 4 days in Barcelona.

Barcelona

Barcelona (the city) is the capital of Barcelona province and the autonomous community of Catalonia. This port city and commercial center is the 2nd most populous city next to the capital Madrid. The city is known for its iconic structures such as La Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – all designed by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí.

Aside from the beautiful architecture, the city is also known for its world-class cuisine, lively night scene, distinct history and culture and of course, its outstanding football team – FC Barcelona.

Paella – one of the best known Spanish dish. Had this in Vinitus – one of my best meals in BCN 😋

Accommodation

I noticed that Barcelona has cheaper accommodation prices compared to Florence, Milan and Paris but I still decided to stay in a hostel. I booked my 4 nights with Yeah Hostel Barcelona – a multi-awarded large hostel in the middle of the city in Eixample area.

I booked my stay with Agoda and paid ₱5,589.42 – that is ₱1,397.36 per night in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. I recently wrote about my solid and memorable hostel experience with Yeah Hostel Barcelona. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Going Around Barcelona

Going around the city of Barcelona is easy and convenient. The important and famous places to visit are all connected by the city’s wide metro / subway network. These places are also connected by a more extensive local bus network. The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants, locally known as Sants Estación. This station connects Barcelona to the rest of the country and internationally.

I purchased the T-casual Individual Ticket for €11.35 and got 10 single journey trips of up to 75 minutes each within Zone 1 (city center area). I ended up only using 4 trips out of the 10 allowed because I walked around the city most of the time. Barcelona is a walkable city; its sidewalks and streets are pedestrian friendly.

Places Visited in Barcelona

As mentioned above, I did not bother to go around and visit as many places as I can. I still saw a few ones in these 4 days.

Basílica de la Sagrada Família – The Sagrada Família is the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the church started construction back in the 1882 and is still under construction as of writing. According to the latest reports, it is set to be completed in 2026. Entry tickets cost €26 per person.

Park Güell – Park Güell is a park located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. The park houses unique masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudí. It also offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Park entry tickets cost €10 per person.

La Pedrera-Casa Milà – Casa Milà is a private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí for the Milà Family. The building is also one of Gaudí’s last masterpieces. Entry tickets to the building cost €25 per person.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is masterpiece made by Antoni Gaudí for Lluís Sala Sánchez. A few decades after, the property was bought by the Batlló Family. The house was passed on to several owners and has been refurbished a few times to what it is now. Entry tickets to the building cost from €29 per person

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – Commonly known as the Barcelona Cathedral, this church is famous for its gothic and neo-gothic architectural style. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona.

Plaça de Catalunya – Known as Catalonia Square in English, Plaça de Catalunya is a large public square in the center of Barcelona. It is often regarded as the centermost part of the city. It is also the final stop of the Aerobus from BCN Airport.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the city’s historic old center. It is one of the oldest surviving parts of Barcelona that has some historical landmarks in it. These landmarks include the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, the Roman and Medieval walls and a whole lot more. This is the place where you will see small pedestrian streets with higher walls and balconies.

La Rambla – La Rambla is a pedestrian-only tree-lined street that spans 1.2-kilometers from Plaça de Catalunya. The street is full of cafes, restaurants and shops which tourists love to visit.

Passeig de Gràcia – Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s famous shopping street that leads to Gràcia. Think of a brand and this brand will most likely have a store or branch along this street. It is the shopaholic’s place-to-be.

Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia – Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia is a small public square in Gràcia that houses the iconic Clock Tower. This small square is mostly visited by locals and is surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants.

Ciutadella Park – Ciutadella Park is a 31-hectare public park found in the middle of the city. It is a famous picnic and leisure place among the locals and is the city’s largest green space.

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar – The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is a famous church known for its Catalan Gothic-style of architecture. It is uniquely-designed, not found in most medieval large structures.

Arc de Triomf – Arc de Triomf is a triumphal arch built by Spanish architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in the 1880s. The arch leads to Ciutadella Park.

La Barceloneta – La Barceloneta is the seaside neighborhood of Barcelona. It is area full of restaurants, bars, hotels and even clubs; it is a famous destination every summer.

Missed Places

I stayed in Barcelona for 4 full lazy days and I have not been to many places. I have seen the usual ones but I have not explored them deeply. For one, I have not been inside the Sagrada Família, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. I also have not been to FC Barcelona’s home turf and one of the biggest stadiums in Europe – Spotify Camp Nou.

I also missed out going to the beautiful mountain range of Montserrat and the Benedictine Monastery found on top of the mountain. These missed places are enough to convince me that I need to go back and explore Barcelona more in the future.

And that’s a wrap! This ends my quick 4-day stay in Barcelona. I know I did not go and explore that much but I still had a great time with friends.

Have you visited the city in the past? Did you like it? It has a different but more youthful vibe than the other cities I have been – I still like it! Which places did you enjoy most? If you have not been, which specific place are you looking forward to seeing? Share you thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s N9 in Europe post. n case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano, Lake Como and Milan on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 in Europe: MILAN – 4 Beautiful Days Around the Italian Business, Shopping & Fashion Capital

After going around Paris, Rome and Florence for almost 2 weeks, we headed to the capital of Italy’s Lombardy Region – Milan! We took Flixbus from Florence Villa Constanza Bus Station to Milan San Donato Station and only paid €8.99 per person. We found the travel experience to be comfortable, quick and affordable. We stayed in Milan for 4 full days, enjoyed the city and even took a day trip out to the nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano. Know more about our adventures in today’s post about the beautiful city of Milan.

Before exploring Milan, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris, Rome and Florence. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2, Rome Part 3, Florence & Tuscany Region!

Milan

Milan (Italian: Milano) is the capital of the Lombardy Region in the northern part of the country. It is the country’s financial, business and fashion capital. It is the home of the country’s stock exchange – Borsa Italiana. The city is also the home of many headquarters and offices of both national and international companies. The city is one of the world’s fashion capitals with many luxurious brands headquartered in the Italian metropolis; it also hosts the world-famous semi-annual Milan Fashion Week.

Milan is an important Italian city – it is the center of business, trade, finance, fashion and all other aspects.

Accommodation

Milan, like Florence and Rome, is a popular tourist destination to local and international visitors. The city’s profile and popularity led to surging accommodation costs anywhere in the city. The city’s accommodation options are far more expensive than Rome and Florence’s options.

My friend and I were travelling on a budget. We decided to go for a hostel and booked 4 nights at YellowSquare Milan. We stayed in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory and paid €109.24 each (charged ₱6,644.92 by our local credit card) – the most we paid in an accommodation during our trip to Italy. We had a great stay with YellowSquare.

I recently wrote about YellowSquare Milan and our hostel experience for 4 nights; I hope you can check out YellowSquare Milan’s Hostel of the Day feature here.

Going Around Milan

Going around Milan is easy. The main and important parts of the city are connected by an extensive metro and bus network. The city’s main train stations are Milano Centrale and Milan Porta Garibaldi. The city’s main bus stations for intercity travel are Milan Lampugnano Bus Station in the north and Milan San Donato Bus Station in the south. 

My friend and I purchased 10 single-journey tickets (carnet) each and used these tickets during our 4-day in Milan. These tickets are sold from €18 to €20 per 10 tickets, depending on the price the tabaccheria has.

Citywalkers Milan Free Tour

You might have noticed that I am a fan of free (tip-based) city walking tours. I consider this as the best way to learn about a city while not spending too much on private guides and tours. During our visit to Milan, my friend and I joined the 10:00am Citywalkers Milan Free Tour in English.

Our tour guide, Marco, shared the history of the city, its landmarks and the stories behind them for almost 3 hours. He literally walked us through the University of Milan, the Duomo Cathedral, the Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, the Theatre and Square Alla Scala, the Merchant’s Square and the Business Square.

Lugano & Lake Como Day Tour

My friend and I took advantage of our stay in Milan and decided to go on a day tour to Lugano and Lake Como. We joined Citywonders’ 10.5-hour day tour that explored Lugano (in Switzerland), Bellagio and Como (in Italy) and traversed Lake Como by ferry and local boat. We paid €108.30 (November 2022 rate) each for the guided tour and all modes of transportation – lunch and snacks not included.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts; I hope you can check out our Lugano and Lake Como Day Tour Photoblog here.

Places Visited in Milan

Like any other city, Milan has a long list of places to visit and check out while in the city. However, my friend and I decided to relax during this leg of the trip and just went to the usual ones. We spent a considerable amount of time shopping and looking for stuff to bring home since Milan was the last stop of my friend’s trip. We still visited a few notable places within the city.

Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) – Duomo di Milano is a cathedral in the center of Milan dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. The cathedral took 6 centuries to finish and has witnessed different rulers and leaders throughout the period.

Today, this Duomo is the most famous landmark in Milan. Millions of people visit the cathedral every year. The cathedral can be accessed for a fee from its interiors to the rooftop. My friend and I decided not to go inside the Duomo but basically went to the place everyday during our stay in the city.

Cathedral Square (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The cathedral square is the largest public square in Milan bounded by the Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is also the famous meeting spot / area in Milan.  

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the oldest shopping arcade and gallery in all of Italy. Named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy, the galleria opened in 1877 and is shaped like a cross covered by glass dome and roofing. The shopping arcade also houses luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci and the likes.

Quadrilatero d’Oro – Dubbed as the Golden Rectangle of Fashion in Milan, Quadrilatero d’Oro is Milan’s main shopping district. Think of a worldwide fashion brand and you will certainly find it here. My friend and I walked around the shopping district for days and we still have not been to all shops. Milan is the place to go for shopping.

The Last Supper Museum (Italian: Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano) – One of the most interesting places we went to in Milan is the Last Supper Museum. The museum houses the Last Supper Mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the last 15th century.

People go inside the museum and the mural area by groups. Each group is given around 30 minutes to look at the mural. Tickets to the museum cost €15 per person and are pre-booked online. Tickets usually sell out fast; it is best to book tickets months before your intended visit.

The Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie – Right beside the Last Supper Museum is the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The Last Supper Mural is part of the heritage-listed church complex since the 1400s.

Merchant’s Square (Italian: Piazza Meranti) – The Merchant’s Square is an important hub of commerce and politics in Milan since the Middle Ages. It is the place for trade and business for most locals during that time.

Serravalle Designer Outlet Day Trip

While in Milan, my friend and I decided to check out one of the biggest designer outlets in the country – Serravalle Designer Outlet. Located a little over an hour away from Milan in the commune of Serravalle Scrivia, this village-type outlet has over 180 specialty stores offering designer-branded items at big discounts.

We took the timed Autostradale Viaggi shuttle bus from Milan to the outlet and back for €20 (November 2022 price) per person. We only went to selected stores and did not have the chance to go around everything. We managed to find some good stuff for ourselves and our families back here in the Philippines. It was a successful day at the outlet village.

Missed Places

As mentioned in the start of this blog, we took our time going around the city and focused more on getting stuff to bring back to the Philippines. We had to miss some notable places to visit like Sforzesco Castle, Teatro alla Scala (from the inside), Pinacoteca Di Brera, Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) and Navigli Lombardi. These places are already enough to lure us back to Milan in the future.

Milan may not be everyone’s favorite city but it surely has its own charm. Yes, it is the best shopping destination in Italy but it offers more beyond that image. The city has interesting museums and landmarks that are unique in the world.

Have you been to Milan? How did you find the city? Which places were your favorites and which places did you regret going to? Feel free to share your Milan adventures and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Milan or anything mentioned above? You may also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will try to answer them as soon as possible.

Thank you for joining me in today’s run-through of our time in Milan last year. Milan was my friend Leng’s final European city on this trip. We spent most of our time just enjoying the city’s vibe and the cold weather, going around supermarkets for food finds and shopping for our friends and loved ones back home. We will surely go back to Milan to explore more.

In case you missed it, we have also been to Paris, Versailles, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Lugano and Lake Como on this trip. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to my last destination on this trip – Barcelona, Spain!

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.