The Tenth Cup // Travel to Europe

I usually prefer to travel without tour. Plan everything from zero, find every point of interests in each country and able to taste what the country has by wandering around the city using public transport or by foot. Travel is not only visiting the country, but also to feel the culture and the people.

For some people, travelling to Europe is easier with tour. Yes, it might be easier that way, but you can't get the flexibility. So far, I traveled to 10 countries in Europe without tour agent. So, it is definitely possible to travel to Europe without using tour agent!

Planning

First, you need some planning. There is no need to go into a very detail itinerary. What you need is just list of countries that you want to visit, plan the best route based on your chosen countries, and check the flight ticket. I usually bought a flight ticket from Jakarta to the first country then flew back to Jakarta from the last country and used train in between. Also, you must also buy travel insurance as it is one of the visa requirements.

Once you map out your route, you can buy the flight ticket, accommodation (either hotel, hostel or AirBNB) and train ticket from EuroByTrain (I'll explain below). Then, it is time to apply your visa. European countries are using one type of visa – Schengen Visa (except for UK). But, you still need to apply visa from one of European countries and to decide which country to apply from is by counting where you will spend most of your time.

For example, this is your route:

Amsterdam, Netherlands (2 days)

Frankfurt, German (3 days)
France, Paris (3 days)

Milan, Italy (2 days)

Florence, Italy (2 days)

Hence, you will submit your visa application to Italy because you will spend 4 days in Italy compared to other countries. All Schengen visa need to apply from VFS Global located in Kuningan City, Jakarta. Applying the visa isn't really complicated though.

Schengen Visa

1. Book an appointment from here. In the website, you might find the first step is to prepare all the documents but you can actually prepare the documents while waiting for the appointment date. It is important to check the slot first, because usually you can't just get the appointment for the next day.

2. Prepare all the documents needed. The list of documents can be found here. 

3. Go to VFS Global in Kuningan City based on your appointment date and time for biometric (photo and fingerprint taken) and bring ALL the required documents, then pay the visa fee on the spot by cash only.

4. You will get application number in your receipt so that you can check your application from the website. But if it is already passed the maximum process days, you can call them to check because sometimes their system isn't up to date.

Important note: To get your visa approved is you have everything settled (accommodation, flight and train ticket) and bank statement (at least IDR 50million for one person).

Euro by Train

They have several office branches, you may call the nearest branch and ask for an email address of their representative. 

They have 2 type of tickets; point by point and global pass. Point by point is you will pay full priced ticket from A to B, B to C, etc. Global Pass is you will pay ONE price for all and counts by how many countries you travel to and from. From the above route, you travel to 4 countries so they will give you Global Pass 4 countries' price and you can use within that countries. Usually, it is cheaper to buy Global Pass.

The train in Europe has 2 classes; first class and second class. If you don't have a lot of luggages, you can buy second class but if you have a lot of luggages, I suggest you buy first class.

This is what I usually do:

1. Email them my route with confirmed date with passenger name, date of birth and passport number.

2. Wait for their reply. They will usually reply with the timing and price (point by point and global pass). 

3. Reply them with your desired timing and whether you would like to reserve the seat or not.

4. Once everything is confirmed by them, they will give you an invoice which you can pay on their office and pick up the ticket or you can do it via bank transfer and opt out for the ticket to be mailed to you.

Some of you might like that flexibility. If you still don't know what time you'd like to take the train or you like to play spontaneous, you can skip Step 3 and just add in Step 1 that you'd like to buy Global Pass only. I've never done this before, but you can ask from EuroByTrain.com for some advice.

Important note: You need to activate your Global Pass for the first time. You can ask from information counter for which counter to go to activate your pass. So, come earlier to the train station for the first time.

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Where have I been?

1. United Kingdom (London)

 Must visit place:
- Big Ben
- Westminster Abbey
- Buckingham Palace (for Changing Guards)
- Trafalgar Square
- Borough Market
- Tate Museum of Modern Art (go to the top level for a 360º view of London)
- Oxford Street & Piccadilly Circus
- Tower Bridge
- National Gallery
- Emirates Stadium
- Baker Street (go to 221B for Sherlock Museum & Sherlock Statue near Baker Street Stn)

Optional:
- Monocle Coffeeshop
- Flat White Coffeeshop at SOHO

Tips: Buy London Pass with Oyster Card before you travel to UK and get many benefits for sightseeing experience in London. For example, get in for free to Tower Bride, Westminster Abbey, Emirates Stadium, etc.

2. Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Must visit place:

- Volendam

- Windmill (well, any would do though)

- The Fault in Our Stars bench (if you're a fan)

- I Amsterdam sign

- The Canal (all canals are just beautiful)

- Anne Frank Museum

Must do:

- Cycling around the city (you can find a lot of bike rental place)

- Canal Tour

- Take a photo using Netherlands' traditional costume.

Optional:

- Toki Coffee

Note: Marijuana is legal here, so if you're a coffee fan, be careful before going in to a coffeeshop :)

3. France (Paris)

Must visit place:

- Eiffel Tower

- Arc de Triomphe

- Champs-Élysées

- Musée du Louvre (Monalisa is here!)

- La Palais Royal

- Notre Dame

- Musée d'Orsay

Must do:

- Eat Laduree

- Sit down in any cafe and try their crepe

Note: Be careful with pickpockets here! Just don't talk to any strangers (eventhough in a form of a little kid) and mind your belongings all the time. A little tips: do not wear something loose, better to wear something tight to keep your important stuff :D

4. Switzerland (Interlaken)

Must visit place:

- Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe)

- Interlaken City Center (I stayed in Grindelwald area and there are people selling food even after dark around the hotel)

Note: I used my Global Pass to buy train ticket to Jungfraujoch

5. Italy (Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome)

Must visit place:

- Milan : Duomo di Milano

- Venice : The Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco

- Florence : Piazza Le Michaelangelo, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, San Gimignano

- Rome : Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Vatican City (St. Peter Basilica, Sistine Chapel)

Must do:

- Take gondola ride in Venice

- Go inside to Pisa Tower, Colosseum, Duomo di Miilano

- Eat Gelato wherever you can

- Toss a coin to Trevi Fountain

Note: Italy is another city known for pickpocket too.

6. Germany (Münich, Berlin)

Must visit place:

Munich

- Allianz Arena

- New Town Hall / Marienplatz (Rathaus-glockenspiel)
- Old Town Hall

- Karlsplatz
- Siegestor (Famous 19th Century triumphal arch featuring a bronze sculpture of Bavaria with 4 lions)
- St. Michael Church

Berlin
- Reichstag Building (if you want to go to the top, you must come early due to a very long queue and limited access)
- Brandenburg Gate
- Soviet War Memorial
- Berlin Wall Memorial (there are a lot of spot but I went to East Side Gallery)
- Memorial of the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust)
- The World Clock at Alexanderplatz
- Bellevue Palace


Must do:
- Eat pork knuckle
- Eat pretzel
- Guided tour to see the inside of Allianz Arena


Note: ALMOST everything closed on Sunday.  So, it is better to not be in German on Sunday! Also, be careful for pickpockets in Alexanderplatz. Berlin is divided in two areas – East and West – which can be seen from the look and feel of the city. West is more modern and alive compared to the East area.


7. Czech Republic (Prague)

Must visit place:
- Dancing House
- Old Town Square (Prague Astronomical Clock)
- Charles Bridge
- St. Vitus Cathedral
- Prague Castle

Optional:
- Pauseteria Coffeeshop
- Apple Museum
- Kafka Museum

Must do:
- Eat TRDLO / Trdleník with vanilla ice cream


8. Hungary (Budapest)

Must visit place:
- Hungarian Parliament Building
- Heroes Square
- Chain Bridge
- Shoes on the Danube Bank
- Fisherman Bastion

Must do:
- Cruising on the Danube River


9. Slovakia (Bratislava)

Must visit place:
- Bratislava Castle
- Main Square / Roland's Fountain
- Presidential Palace
- Man at Work Bronze Sculpture
- Schoöne Nàci Silver Sculpture

Note: I can't say much about this place as I came here only for a few hours. But this town surely has a very interesting installation / bronze sculpture.


10. Austria (Salzburg, Vienna)

Must visit place:

Salzburg
- Mozartplatz
- Mirabell Palace*
- Residenzplatz
- Stift Nonnberg*
- Pferdeschwemme*
- Mozart's Birthplace
- Mozartsteg*
- Leopoldskronstraße*
- Hallstatt

Vienna
- Vienna State Opera House
- Schönnbrunn
- Belvedere Palace
- State Hall of the Austrian National Library
- Rathaus / State Hall Vienna
- Michaelerplatz
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Mozart Statue at Burggarten

Must do:
- Eat chocolate cake from Cafe Central, Vienna
- Do Sound of the Music Tour in Salzburg

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