http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16148
After all that lolling about in comfort on the train anticipating a bit of stork-spotting and flammekueche-chomping (well-known top activities in Strasbourg), what better way to explore the city than from its 480km cycle network – and it’s flat! Plan your trip before you leave with the comprehensive help of www.velolocation.net - a bike-rental service managed by Vélo-Emploi and supported by Strasbourg city council. As their motto says, "Good bicycles for true jobs".]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16148 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16069
You pay atround 1Eur/hr and drop bike off at a convenient point when you've finished with it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16069 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15938 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15938 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15926
A knock on the door and several minutes later it's opened by dishevelled caretaker. It's all a little unpromising, but head to the rear hall and you're met by the sight of enormous generators, weird cars, bikes, street-lamps, enough to distract you from the fact you're in an electricity museum.

A great find, and an offbeat excursion for a morning away from the red-light hustle.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15926 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15925 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15925 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15910
There is a place called Central Rent a Bike which is quite close to the station at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 55-1hg.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15910 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15900
Make sure you hire a reasonably modern bike though, as the trip may not be very comfortable otherwise!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15900 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15815
Me and a group of friends found ourselves stranded in the middle of Paris when a pedal fell off one of the cycles.

A phone call to the hire shop informed us that it was up to us to sort it out. The rest of the day was spent looking for a garage with the correct tools to sort the problem.

When we eventually made it back the hire shop was happy to refund our money – perhaps this is cheaper than sending someone out!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15815 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15807
They give you a 24hour pass for just 1 Euro and you get to use the bikes as often as you like, keep it to 1/2 hour slots and you don't pay a penny more.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15807 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15802
Tried and tested with initially reluctant friends who later admitted it was the best part of the holiday.

You see so much more and it's better for the environment so what's to lose?

Tours can be arranged in your own language and the tour guides are excellent.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15802 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15125
No worries, there’s another station a short walk away on my road, rue Louis Blanc. But it’s permanently ‘hors service’... Carry on then to the Vélib station at Jaurès for a chat in the long queue before finally getting your hands on the ‘deux roues’.

Cycle along the pretty canal for a picnic at Parc de la Villette before heading back to Jaurés for a canalside drink at the MK2. Voilà!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15125 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11387 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11387 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5882 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5882 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5856 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5856 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4107
The sledge path takes you down the mountain to the metro stop and you just get the train back up the mountain again, as many times as you want.

It’s about £4 for a day pass for the metro and train and about £7 to hire a sledge.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4107 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2743 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2743 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2569
One word of warning, however: make sure your ferry is returning to Istanbul! With slowly dawning panic, we became aware that our poor grasp of Turkish and ferry routemaps had put us on a one-way trip to the Black Sea.

Once we had realised this, we were halfway down the Bosphorus (having ogled many a fortress along the way) and more than a little worried. Fortunately, it was an all-stopper and we disembarked at an unnamable little town past the glassworks with a lively looking square.

We found a local store where they told us where to find a bus heading back to Taksim Square. Very kindly, they gave us a pair of bus tickets to get back.

Unfortunately, when we caught the bus, it turned out we needed three each! No worries, a collection was taken up and the passengers on the bus made up our deficit! It was amazing to be rescued and no one would accept any payment in exchange for their tickets. We sat sheepishly and grinned like idiots for the whole hour and a half journey back to the city.

It was dark, very late and we were very tired when we got back, but we had had quite an adventure. We will never forget the kindness of the Turkish people!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2569 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2428 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2428 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2398
It’s a great way to get acquainted with the city and get a bit of history thrown in - in three languages. I loathe to admit it but even as a local I look forward to having guests from out of town solely because I get to take them on a refreshing canal boat ride.

All the boats depart from Nyhavn - the canal that ends at Kongens Nytorv. Most of them have a hop on - hop off system. Prices vary but count on roughly 30 kroner.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2398 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2055 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2055