Top 10 European Destinations.
I've had the delightful pleasure of living in Europe twice now; once in London, UK for an entire year in 2013, and for the second time in Berlin, Germany for 6 months in 2016/2017. For me, Europe feels a lot like a magnet, constantly pulling me back for more. Whenever my bank account permits, I am more than happy to indulge that pull, and find myself back on that side of the world adventuring. Each time I've been to Europe I've made a point to travel as widely and as often as permits, and thus far have seen 32 different European countries. Whilst I've genuinely loved every country I've been, there are some definite favourites. Here are my top 10;
1. Poland.
I've never quite fell in love for a place like I've fallen for Poland. It is, without any doubt in my mind, the most surprisingly brilliant country I've ever visited in Europe and somewhere that I will always head back to whenever I find myself on that side of the world. In 2015 I took a solo trip to Wroclaw, Krakow and Warsaw and in 2016 I headed back to visit Poznan and Szczecin over in the East. All are cities I would strongly recommend you visit. Much to my delight, I've found quite an unexpected diversity of vegan food in Poland, as well as an abundance of castles, cute buildings and a truly fascinating and colourful history. Poland is the first place I recommend people should visit when in Europe and you really should visit sooner rather than later!
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| Backstreets of Poznan, western Poland. Delightfully colourful and quaint! |
Most people probably haven't even heard of Montenegro which is truly their loss because this small country is, in my opinion, the hidden gem of the Mediterranean. Formerly a territory of Serbia until 2006, Montenegro is now independent and man does it pack a punch when it comes to beautiful scenery, amazing weather and all round good times. Kotor is the best place to base yourself from, though a trip to Porto Montenegro in Tivat and over to Budva is well worth your time. I visited in late September, which was an ideal time to be there I could enjoy beautifully warm summer weather without the hordes of tourists, who mostly return home in August. Make sure you hike to the top of the fortress in Kotor - the views are outstanding!
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| Sunset from the top of the fortress in Kotor; a rather short but strenuous hike, though you get rewarded with this view, so who's going to complain?! |
Greece is a must see destination for anyone travelling in Europe/the world. It's quite cheap compared to many other European countries, making it perfect for the money-conscious traveller and on the flip side, there are some ridiculously luxurious experiences and accommodations available too. The best time to go is almost certainly in the Summer which means you'll be contending with quite a few tourists in the main hotspots of Mykonos and Santorini but the other, lesser known Greek Islands have a lot to offer as well. I'd highly recommend Paros or a beach house on the mainland where the crowds are smaller and the beaches and lifestyle are still brilliant!
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| The cliff tops of Santorini, as pictured in the hazy midday sunshine. Also, that super yacht down there had a mini boat drive up to it and park in a literal baby boat garage underneath and man if that isn't the definition of too much cash money, I dunno what is! |
Whilst the weather in Ireland isn't always great, it's still a truly stunning country. The Irish people are some of the most fun in the whole of Europe so you're bound to have a ball even if it is raining! I've visited twice now, once in May 2013 and again in November 2016 and both times I have been suitably impressed with the country. I particularly loved the Connemara region along the Western coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Kylemore Abbey was a particular highlight along with the stunning greenery absolutely everywhere you go! Oh, and don't make the mistake I did during my first visit and inadvertently skip having at least one day to explore Dublin; as a capital, it's surprisingly diverse and quaint!
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| Kylemore Abbey, located in Ireland's wild Connemara region. |
I have a particular fondness for Germany having learnt German since 2008 and having called the German capital, Berlin, home for 6 months over the winter 2016/2017. I highly recommend getting to know some German people, particularly those from the Bavarian countryside as they're among the most hospitable, generous and kind people I've ever met. Southern Germany is a particular favourite of mine along with the region around Münster in the North-West as well as the capital, Berlin. It's well worth going off the beaten track to some smaller towns and cities, with my top recommendations being Cologne, Hamburg, Lübeck, Landshut, Potsdam and Heidelberg.
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| A golden sunset over the city of Cologne, which is coincidently home of the Lindt Chocolate Museum which is absolutely not why I was there... |
Denmark had been on my travel bucket-list ever since Mary Donaldson, your average Australian met and married the Crown Prince of Denmark. See, I had to visit a country where such a modern-day fairytale was able to take place and also to stand outside Mary's palace and hope she might see me and adopt me as her own. Fun story, I swear that Mary did actually see me that day because I was in the square outside her palace when the changing of the guards was happening and someone peaked out the curtains and obviously it must have been her. Anyway. There's lots to do in Denmark other than royal watch, though that is an activity I recommend nonetheless. In Copenhagen, the charming Danish capital, I suggest hiring a bike, getting totally and hopelessly lost and simply enjoying the pace of the city. Also, don't be deterred by cold Scandinavian winters - the snow simply makes everything all the more charming, though I do suggest packing your (thickest) jacket!
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| Copenhagen's Nyhavn, a colourful waterway filled with pubs, cafes and also quite a few tattoo parlours! Also, that is real ice floating in that water and yeah, it was cold! |
7. Austria.
Being what many consider the smaller version of Germany's southern region and often overshadowed by Switzerland's scenery, Austria is sometimes forgotten. However this little country stands out as a highlight of my time in Europe. I visited 3 separate times over the year in 2013, as well as again in 2016 and 2017, and each time seemed better than the last. Year round Austria is beautiful so I'd recommend a visit regardless of the season. Salzburg, the Tirol region and Vienna were particular highlights. |
| View from the top of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, featuring one of the most fabulous rooftops I've ever seen! |
8. Switzerland.
I actually went to Switzerland twice in 2013 - it was just too amazing to stay away! I visited Lauterbrunnen in the Southern Alps and Zurich over in the east of the country as well. Switzerland is hands down the most stunning country I've ever been to including both the scenery and the people! It was so beautifully quaint, probably the cleanest country I've ever been and so Instagramable it's not even funny.
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| Launterbrunnen in the Swiss Alps; one of the most picturesque places on this planet! |
I've wanted to visit B&H since 2011 after first learning about their complex and violent struggle for independence in the early 1990's. I finally made it there in September 2016 and, as I thought might be the case, totally fell in love. Despite a shockingly bloody recent history, B&H has well and truly overcome the horrors of the past and is today a completely safe, stable and incredibly fascinating tourist destination. Mostar and Sarajevo (the capital) are the two most popular cities to visit and are an easy 2/3 hour bus trip/car ride apart from each other. Whilst in Mostar, I strongly recommend doing an organised day trip to the region around the city, which is filled with ancient Ottoman cities and stunning waterfalls. In Sarajevo, make the time to visit the tunnel under the airport that was used to sustain the city during the 1992-1996 Siege.
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| Kravice Waterfalls, just outside Mostar. The water was (very) refreshing and to get to the other side we had to strip off and swim across with our stuff balanced on top of our heads, but to spend an afternoon lounging about next to such natural beauty was amazing! |
The UK couldn't not make the top 10. I called London my home for a year and the city will always hold a piece of my heart. The UK is an absolutely fabulous country from Scotland in the North, Wales in the West and England in the South-East. The UK is by no means last on this list, it's in a league of its own! You'd be a fool to not visit the UK at least once in your life. Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, the three capitals, all offer something different as does the beautiful British countryside. I'd book a flight sooner rather than later if I were you!
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| Cambridge, UK; home of very smart people, a world renowned university and some truly gorgeous young men punting down the river. What more could a girl want?! |
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