Be a Nomad This Summer: Cheap Cities You Can Visit on a Week-long Tour – Kiwi.com
10 min read
Eager to try the nomadic way of life this summer? Great idea! Travelers are always looking for ways for their cash to stretch as far as possible, and thanks to our Nomad feature, we’ve made this possible.
In a week, you can cover a lot of ground. Your journey could start with a few days in London, eating more crispy-skinned Peking duck than you can handle in Chinatown, and then before you know it, you’re nursing a pint of plain, overlooking Dublin in the Guinness Storehouse’s state-of-the-art Gravity Bar.
A trip with multiple stops may seem overwhelming, but it’s easier than you think. All the hard work is done for you when you’ve got all the flights on one booking. But where do you go? Well, in this article, we’re going to show you some cheap cities you can combine for a week-long tour.
Tour 1 – The Streets of Soho, Bustle of Temple Bar, and Castles of Edinburgh
Stop 1 – London, England
The charm of London never fails; it’s that gift that keeps on giving: the buzz of Soho, the glamor of Southbank after dark, and the magic of theater in the West End; it’s like a book you never want to put down.
Finding cheap flights to London isn’t difficult, so it’s an obvious starting point. Stansted tends to be the most affordable airport to fly into, but the drive is an hour and 20 minutes away from Waterloo Station in the center with the National Express Bus. Tickets are available on their website starting from £11.50 (€13.60) one way, but it’s better value to get a return ticket, which costs around £22 (€26.01).
Since London is quite a big city, you’ll want to plan your time there accordingly so you get to see all the main highlights. When you arrive, make your way to peaceful St. James Park, where you’ll see three of London’s famous royal attractions: the home of the royal family, Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament.
Next, it’s a short 20-minute walk to South Bank to soak up some gorgeous views of the River Thames. This is also where the London Eye, the city’s 135-meter Ferris wheel. If you want to ride on it, the cheapest way to get tickets is by booking the ‘Afternoon Saver Ticket’ online for £24.99 (€29.55); you’ll have to ride between 2 pm and 3 pm, but it can save you up to 40% if you buy at the right time.
Your last stop will be the Chinatown area, which is close to Soho and Leicester Square (you should totally check both places out if you have time). London is the last place you’ll feel like you’re in once you walk past the giant red pagoda gates, from vendors selling Chinese chicken buns for £3 to guardian lions on Gerrard Street. There’s no entry fee to visit Chinatown, but if you’re there solely to eat, it’s best to come at night when all the restaurants are open.
Be sure to get home early the night before you leave because most Ryanair flights to Edinburgh depart before 9:00 am most mornings.
Stop 2 – Edinburgh, Scotland
Let’s move away and head north to Scotland to experience the blend of Medieval and Georgian times, haunted stories, and a little pour of scotch from the Scottish highlands.
The Airlink 100 Express Bus is the cheapest way to get into the city; you’ll be able to book your return tickets online in advance for £8.00; it’s an open return ticket, so you can use it on the way back whenever you want. Luckily, it’s only a short 30-minute spin into the center, and there are departures every 20 minutes.
A classic starting point for many in Edinburgh is the Royal Mile, which cuts through the Old Town. You’ll be able to tick off a few historic sights down here, including Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish Parliament, and St. Giles Cathedral. If you’re feeling thirsty halfway, pop into the Grassmarket for a quick sip of whiskey at The White Hart Inn, one of the city’s oldest boozers.
On the odd chance that Edinburgh gets some sunshine, follow the hundreds of others to the top of the volcanic Calton Hill to catch an unbeatable cityscape. There are a couple of monuments up there, too, that you should check out, like the National Monument that was built in honor of the soldiers who died in the Napoleonic Wars.
If you want to tap into Ediburgh’s spooky side, a haunted graveyard tour is a must to unearth the secrets of the city’s horrifying past. Various operators run these experiences in Edinburgh, with tickets starting from around £19 (€22.47).
Stop 3 – Dublin, Ireland
I bet when you saw this pick, you said to yourself, ‘Wait, Dublin isn’t a cheap city.’ The Irish capital may have a pricey reputation, but with some local tips and advice from a fellow Dub like myself, you can do a lot for very little.
Fortunately, the public transport system from Dublin Airport has improved a lot over the years. Once you’ve got your bags, you’ll have to head to the bus and coach park near Terminal 1 arrivals to get the number 41 bus, which will drop you at Abbey Street on the city’s northside. A one-way fare will only set you back €2. Since the traffic in Dublin can be unpredictable, give yourself plenty of time if you’re in a rush, but it usually takes about 40 minutes.
Dublin is a very walkable city; you can stroll between a lot of the attractions, cutting out the need to pay for public transport all the time. It’s best to squeeze in all the attractions on the northside when you’re there; you’ll be able to see the Spire, the GPO, and the colorful Georgian doors at Mountjoy Square for free, saving you a few quid along the way.
After you’ve finished up on the north side, take the tourist pilgrimage across the Ha’penny Bridge down into the winding alleyways of Temple Bar for a cheesy display of cozy taverns, thumping Irish ballads, and endless craic! I’ll warn you in advance: avoid the pubs here unless you want to get ripped off. There are plenty of other cheaper areas to enjoy yourself, like Smithfield and Stoneybatter.
No trip is complete without a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Learn about the brewing process behind one of Ireland’s most famous exports and have the chance to try the goods straight from the source; a free pint is included in the swanky Gravity Bar with every ticket, which costs €20.
Tour 2 – The Riverside Charm of Porto, Historic Treasures of Rome and Timeless Allure of Vienna
Stop 1 – Porto, Portugal
On the banks of the Douro River, Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto is brimming with life. A few days isn’t enough here, but the rainbow-painted terracotta-roofed buildings stacked upon rolling hilltops, quaint local markets, quirky bookshops, and mouthwatering seafood straight from the Atlantic will give you a good taster.
At Porto Airport, you can ride on the subway into the city for as little as €2, but ticket prices vary depending on the zone you get off at. There are a few machines in the station that allow you to buy tickets on the day, but beware; it can get cramped if a couple of flights have landed at the same time.
I think it’s a good idea to squeeze in all of Porto’s ancient attractions early in the morning so you dodge the crowds. You’ll want to stop by Clerigo’s Tower, Igreja do Carmo, and Sao Bento Train Station; the last two can be visited for free, while Clerigo’s Tower has an entry fee of €8 if you want to go inside.
Once you’ve had your fix of history, walk across the enormous Dom Luis Bridge for an evening in the buzzing Ribeira District. Here, you can pick up a small portion of freshly caught sardines (a local specialty) for as low as €1.50 at Escondidinho do Barredo. After a bite, the perfect way to finish the evening will be a river cruise to see some of the main bridges that tower over the Douro; a 50-minute ride only costs around €15.
Stop 2 – Rome, Italy
You’ve seen the pictures and heard the stories, but until you actually experience Rome for itself, it’s hard to put the Eternal City into words. Sure, it’s busy; however, you can never take away from its fascinating past, delicious gelato, and crazy traffic that’s hilarious to watch as long as you’re not behind the wheel.
You’ll likely fly into Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, which has many connections to the center, including a shuttle bus with tickets for €7 one-way. It will drop you at Termini Station in the city, and the ride should only take 45 minutes, but it being Rome, who knows how busy the roads will be?
I’m sure the Colosseum will be at the top of your list of things to do in Rome but don’t make the same mistake as many others and do not book your tickets in advance. They cost €18 but sell out fast, and if you’re not quick enough, you may risk not seeing it at all. With your ticket, you also get access to the Roman Forum/Palatine Hill; you can walk between all the sites without arranging transport.
Following a splash on the ticket for the Colosseum, you can tick off a few of Rome’s free highlights from your bucket list, like St Peter’s Basilica, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and parts of the Vatican City.
If you do potter up to the Vatican on your way back, make it your mission to explore the gorgeous area of Trastevere. When I say you won’t be able to put your phone away, I mean it: between the ivy-drenched buildings and the Vespas zooming past both ways, it’s everything you imagine Italy to be like.
Stop 3 – Vienna, Austria
Finish up your week-long trip on a high note with a final stop in the peaceful Austrian capital of Vienna. After spending a few busy days in Rome, you’ll thank yourself for the slowdown of pace, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be relaxing; there’s a lot to get through here.
A convenient train system runs from Vienna Airport all throughout the day, and one-way tickets into the city are priced at €4.50 for the 23-minute journey. Try to get the S7, as it’s a direct route, or you’ll have to do a changeover; that won’t be ideal if you have a lot of luggage.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral will be an ideal starting point for exploring Vienna; it’s well worth seeing for the incredibly detailed Romanesque architecture, and part of it is free to enter for all visitors. Afterward, have a walk up the nearby Graben, a notable shopping street, to get a taste of the local Viennese way of life. A few hundred meters away is the famous Café Central, one of Vienna’s many upmarket coffeehouses, but this one tops the others for its luxurious interiors and intensely bold espresso; it’s €4.20 for a small one, but boy there’s some kick off it.
Vienna is known for its palaces, and you can visit two of its main ones, the Hofburg and the Schönbrunn Palace, without paying anything. As for our readers who want something more adrenaline-fueled, Prater amusement park doesn’t charge for entry; you’ll only need to pay for any of the rides you want to try out; the prices range between €3.50 and €15, depending on the attraction.
See More of the World the Nomad Way This Summer!
Visiting a handful of cities in one trip just got a whole lot easier thanks to Kiwi’s exciting Nomad feature. We made these two itineraries using it, and you can do the same by selecting the Nomad option in the search bar on our homepage. Simply go to the homepage, find the search bar, and click on the “Nomad” option to start planning your multi-city adventure.
Pick your departure location, choose the dates, and soon, you’ll be seeing multiple cities in one holiday!
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