As our South American adventure is coming to a close, it’s time to reveal what’s next for us! And more importantly, to ask all of you guys for help!
We are going to Europe from July 6 to September 24!! For an 80 day tour of Europe.
We jumped on plane tickets months back when Norwegian Air offered a promotional price flying from the US to London, on their new 787’s. We basically booked the earliest flight in and the latest flight out possible during their valid dates. Everything in the middle was one huge blank space. A huge space full of possibilities!
When it was time to start planning, and D asked me where I would like to go, my answer was always “I don’t care! ANYWHERE!”
You see, this is my first time setting foot in Europe, so I really didn’t care where to go. Anywhere would be new and exciting and provide adventures beyond my wildest dreams!
After what seems like hundreds of itinerary revisions, we finally narrowed it down to 16 cities. Because D is seriously obsessive-compulsive about planning and must have all accommodations and transportation booked farrrr in advance, the following plan is set in stone and our itinerary can/will not be changed.
On the other hand, I’m a horrible planner and he probably shouldn’t have left the to-do’s up to me. I prefer to just play things by ear, but a lot of the time after-the-fact, I’ll discover important sites we’ve missed because I didn’t plan.
So here’s where I need help from you guys – any suggestions for must see sights, must do activities, and of course, knowing us, must eats!! Trust me, no suggestion is too small or trivial!
London:
We will be landing in London to begin our 80-day tour of Europe. As much as I’d like to spend more time in London, our dollars, unfortunately, does not stretch very far here. So we will be only staying for 3 nights. We will most likely spend our precious 2.5 days being super tourists and hit up all the must-see sights, including a ride on The London Eye (which my inner 12-yr-old is ridiculously excited for!). And of course, eat a ton of fish and chips (cliché, I know)!
Paris:
What better way to get to Paris than riding the bullet train from London? We will be spending 5 nights in the Latin Quarter. Besides hitting up all the famous Parisian landmarks, we may take a couple of daytrips… Chartres? Versailles? or Loire Valley? I’m so excited for all the activities, but honestly, what I want to do most is to just BE in Paris… lounging in cafés, picnicking, and soak up the atmosphere of The City of Love…. Any suggestions on how to get the ultimate local experience in Paris?
Antwerp (with a day trip to Bruges):
We settled on 3 days in Antwerp instead of the more famous Brussels, well, mainly because the train to Amsterdam goes through Antwerp (remember, we’re lazy). But it looks so gorgeous in pictures that I hardly even care that we are not going to Brussels. We will also be taking a day trip to Bruges….. anyone’s been to Bruges and have any recommendations for a day there?
Amsterdam:
The Netherlands have always appealed to me for some reason, so I’m beyond excited to be spending 5 nights in Amsterdam. When in Amsterdam, I hope to do as the locals do and partake in their coffee shops. We’ll also be taking a trip to see the beautiful tulip fields.
Berlin:
Berlin is one of D’s favorite cities in the world. So even though he was there just a year ago, he wants to share the experience with me this time around. It also seems like that every single travel blogger absolutely loves it too (which makes me kinda not want to like it, but I’m sure there’s a reason why everyone loves it so much!). We will be spending 7 nights here to relax a little. Hopefully, we’ll even have time for some day trips out of Berlin to see other parts of Germany, like Potsdam.
Budapest:
From Berlin, we will fly to Budapest where we will spend a whopping 10 nights, on the Pest side. I’m really looking forward to an authentic Hungarian thermal bath experience. But the really exciting thing is that D’s cousin (who’s quite a traveler herself!) will be meeting us there! Since it’s just been D and I 24/7 together for the past few months, it’ll be really nice to have some other company.
Vienna (with day trip to Bratislava):
We will be staying in Vienna for 5 nights. And you know me, there’s NO WAY I’m going to be in this city and not visit the oldest zoo in history! We originally planned on staying in Bratislava for a few nights, but ultimately decided to nix that in order to spend more time in Budapest. Instead, we will be day tripping to Bratislava one of the days while in Vienna… So what are the must see sights there if we only have one day??
Brno:
Brno will be only a quick 2 night stop. I’m not sure what to expect from it yet, except that it looks like a perfect Czech fairy tale city. Any suggestions very much appreciated!
Prague:
Prague is another city that D has been to previously and loved (and another one that everyone else loves). He hit up all the big touristy things last time, so this time, I hope to discover some less well-known places and activities (Mind Maze, perhaps?). One thing for sure we’ll do is take a day trip to the bone cathedral because he didn’t get to do that last time.
Poland (Wroclaw, Krakow, Warsaw):
Visiting Poland holds a special importance to us because D’s dad’s side of the family is from Poland (as in, his grandfather was born there and is a concentration camp survivor). So we’ll be spending over 2 weeks exploring Poland through these 3 biggest cities. No real plans yet for what we’re going to do in Poland, but a visit to Auschwitz is a must. We will be staying with some of his relatives in Warsaw and I’m really looking forward to it (the only time our accommodation will be FREE)! I hope to eat lots of home cooked meals!
Istanbul
Originally, we had Riga, Tallinn, and Helsinki in our plans, but nixed ALL of them in order to spend a lot of time in Istanbul (2 full weeks, to be exact)!! I don’t know why, but Turkey fascinates me… Probably because of its fusion of European and Asian cultures, not to mention the amazing food!
Izmir
We added Izmir kinda at the last second, because we wanted to see more of Turkey than just Istanbul! The main draw of visiting Izmir is to see the ancient ruins of Ephesus, and the Pamukkale thermal springs. I’ve seen so many gorgeous surreal pictures of them, and I can’t wait to see them in person!
Phew… that’s all. I’m exhausted just writing about it. We’re going to be moving pretty fast (our pace in South America is practically at a sloth level compared to how it will be in Europe. But in all seriousness, I’m pretty freaking excited!). But I also know that it’s important to slow down so you don’t burn out, so we won’t go too crazy with sightseeing. I’m looking for unique and authentic experiences, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, or links to blog posts that I should read for ideas (whether yours or someone else’s!).
On the other hand, I’m a little anxious about where blogging will take me in Europe, because what can I possibly have to add that’s new to the travel blogging community? And since we’re moving fast, I hope I will still continue to hit my weekly blogging goals!
In any case, I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my travel diaries. And I thank everyone for your support and help!
_____________________________________
Photo credits:
London, Paris, Berlin, & Prague photos taken by Daniel on his previous visits to Europe.
All other pictures pictures are from Wikipedia.org
Anna, are you skipping Croatia?! It must be an error in writing, and you just forgot to list it here :)). Awesome destinations! I am a bit sceptical about Antwerpen. We’ve been there in winter two years ago, and it looked a bit sad with many businesses closed down permanently. Maybe the economy got better since, and the summer makes it look more cheerful. However, the old town is nice, and we stuffed ourselves on moules & frittes :).
Trust me, Frank, after all your beautiful posts on Croatia, I was ready to change the plan somehow to include it! But like I said, the boyfriend is a bit obsessive about planning so there wasn’t any more flexibility. But it’s ok.. it just means that we’ll definitely be going back to Europe to hit up Croatia!!
And I haven’t heard that about Antwerp at all… hopefully it’ll be move lively in summer! And I need to look up what moules is now. :)
Hi Anna, You’re going to have an amazing time exploring all these great places on your list. I just wrote about things to do/see in Kasadasi. Ephesus and the Library of Celsus are a must. Enjoy your trip!!
Popping over to check it out now! Thanks Carmen!
If you’re able to, try to fit in a trip to Ghent..its absolutely gorgeous and I fell in love with. It’s way better then Brussels. For Holland, Zaanse Schans was a nice visit and you can still see some of the working mills. Maybe we will end up being in some of the same areas at the same time!! I will be doing most of these cities as well :)
I love the idea of quaint little towns with working mills… I’ll have to check those places out and see if we can make them fit :). Yes! I’d love to meet up if we happen to be in the same places at the same times!!
Great to hear that you are setting your foot in Europe. I originally come from Poland and I’ve been to Warsaw and Wroclaw so many times I can’t even recall. If you need some budget travel tips for Poland, don’t hesitate to ask! Wroclaw is a typical student city, full of cheap bars and free attractions so you will meet a lot of awesome and hospitable Poles there. I’ve been also to Bruges – lovely, charming and stunning! One afternoon is definitely enough to see most of this place. Bon voyage!
Cheap bars + free attractions = happiness for us! Thanks so much Agness, I’ll look to you for more tips! And you’ve already got some really helpful posts on your blog :)
You should spend more time in France! And travel around the regions more. Lyon, Lille, Annecy and my fav Strasbourg are at least 1.5 times cheaper than Paris in basically EVERYTHING :)
Loire Valley – definitely! The castles are absolutely charming :) Same for Versailles, though it may be really crowded.
As for Paris – wander around Montmartre. Get off the main streets around Moulin Rouge and Sacré-Cœur and get lost :) Oh, and you should check out the vineyards there. A quick google search will give you the address.
The district around Saint Martin Canal is lovely. And Promenade Plantée park is cool!
Feel free to drop a message if you need any other advice. I’d be happy to help :)
Thanks so much for all the tips, Elena! One of my favorite things to do is to just get lost through the streets, so I love the Montemartre suggestion! And of course, the lure of wine is even better. I think we most likely will make it to Loire Valley to see the castles. I really wish we had more time to explore other parts of France, but that’ll just have to wait for another trip :)
Anna, What a plan! I would like to make the case for you not to stay in those cities, explore them, enjoy them, then get out and see some of the countryside around them. Istanbul and Izmir are great, but the villages not far from there is where the people are the friendliest and the food the tastiest. I would say that’s true in almost all the countries you mention. Have fun!
I think we definitely can get out of Istanbul because we’re there for so long :). I think it’s true that other smaller less-touristy cities have way friendlier people, but for my first time in Europe, we stuck with capital cities. I’d love to get a more local/authentic experience another time though. It’s just so hard to choose where to go when there’s so many options!
Anna, for coming to Europe for the very first time, it looks like you are having some great ideas already of where to go and what to visit. I am definitely happy to see that Berlin and Potsdam made it into your itinerary and I am sure you will have a great time exploring this interesting area of Germany. If time permits, I would recommend instead of flying to Budapest, rather taking the train and seeing places in-between. Europe is pretty small and distances can be covered quickly, plus you get to see a lot more of the countryside when travelling by rail… :)
We already booked transportation tickets (remember, the bf is obsessive about pre-planning, haha), but I do enjoy taking the train and seeing the countryside roll by. But don’t worry! For practically everything else (except the Poland-Turkey leg), we’re going by train or bus :).
A great list of destinations! For London, why not be a tourist for free? That’s what my parents and I did over Easter!
http://hithernyonder.com/sightseeing-in-london-for-free/
I just left a comment on your post! I love just using my own two feet as transportation within a city too. We are thinking about getting the London Pass so we can get entrance tickets to all the major attractions, because individual fees are just SO expensive!
WOW what an exciting trip! You’re going to see so many wonderful places. I don’t have anything to add as I will be taking my first trip to Europe to Italy in 2015 but have a wonderful time and can’t wait to read all about it.
I’m so excited to go to Europe for the first time too :). I’m also so excited for you to go! We do have plans for Italy sometime in 2015, so who knows, maybe we’ll be there around the same time :)
I’m super jealous of your upcoming European adventures! Looking forward to seeing the continent through your eyes. Let me know if I can help in any way :)
Thanks Adelina! You’ve already helped so much, and your blog posts are a major help too!
What an exciting trip for you! Hope you enjoy every moment! If you need any tips for London, let me know – always happy to share tips about home :) I know what you mean about dollars not stretching too far – unfortunately, London is frustratingly expensive (even for those of us who live here) – the only real perk is that we feel a real sense of joy when going most other places because our pounds go further!!
Haha seriously, I bet that’s awesome! I wish we had more time in London because I would really like to do more than just the touristy things :(. But since we have so little time and London is so huge, I know we’re just going to be super tourists!
You’ve chosen some fantastic cities to visit, many I’ve enjoyed my self, and some I’m jealous about – like going to Istanbul!
What dates are you in Berlin? We might be there already.
Hi Dale! We’re in Berlin July 23-30. I would love to meet you two if you’re there too! :D
Fantastic! It’s not confirmed that we’ll be there on those exact dates, but it’s highly likely.
I’ll let you know as soon as we know when we arrive :)
Ok! That’ll be great!! :D
Oh no!! Only 3 days in London is not enough time! There is SSSOOO much to do and see!
Ok, lets start with the flight. If you are sitting on the right side of the plane, you’ll get a good aerial view of the city on your approach to Heathrow. You’ll see the Themes, the London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, etc. It’s quite a nice view so try to sit on the right side when flying in.
Get a 1-2 zone Travel Card. You can get one that is valid for 3 days and it can be used on the busses, subways, trains, trams, and DLR.
For food, you definitely need to try fish n chips but many can be a hit or miss. So ask around for the best fish n chips place close to you before you go. Believe it or not, London is now the best place to get Indian/Pakistani and Middle Eastern food. For Indian/Pakistani, head to Drummond St (close to Euston Station). Edgware Road for Middle Eastern food. Whenever I go to London I always make a trip to Ranoush Juice. They have some of the best shawarma and they will make fresh squeezed juice for you (closer walk from the Marble Arch Station). They also have a proper sit down restaurant called Maroush. For quick bites my favorite places are Wagamam, Nandos, and Pizza Express. These are chain restaurants so are easily found.
Go see Buckingham Palace, just from the outside. If you can try to go in the morning for the Change of Guards ceremony. You can see the times on their website. The inside is nice but I would say skip it since you have so little time.
Go to Leicester Square (pronounced like Lester). They usually have some summer carnivals setup here. This is also where all the cinemas are and London Premiers are held. So you might see some red carpets if there is going to be a movie premier and possibly some celebrities.
Just north of Leicester Square is China Town. Walk through it. There are some good restaurants in there so worth an eat here too. Just look for places with a lot of Asians in it.
Just south of Leicester Square is The National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. Take a stroll through and look at Nelson’s Column and the fountains. They sometimes have exhibits setup in here too.
Just West of Leicester Square is Piccadilly Circus. Don’t miss the HUGE M&M store. From Piccadilly Circus, head up Regent St, to Hamley’s. It’s the world’s oldest and largest toy store. Take note of Cafe Concerto on the left side as you walk up. They have some amazing pastries and is a very good place to stop for tea. They also setup a Gelato stand in the summers.
Also, if you’re interested in books, take a look at Waterstones Piccadilly (on Piccadilly St just south of Regent St). It is one of the largest book stores I have ever seen.
I know you’re already planning to go to the London Eye. I would recommend purchasing the tickets online before you go as the lines can be VERY long. Westminister Bridge is not too far away and gives a good photo view. Also from Westminister, you can take a boat tour of the Themes and get dropped off in Greenwich where you can look at the Royal Observatory where the concept of Longitude and Latitude was conceived. The Prime Meridian is also located at the observatory. Then you can take the train or the DLR back to London Bridge.
Take a look at the Tower of London from outside. It’s interesting inside but again with your limited time I would say don’t go inside. The Tower Bridge is right next to it. I would say do the bridge tour. You will go all the way to the top and then under it to see the engines and gears that lift the bridge open for boats. It’s very cool.
Go look at St Paul’s Cathedral. If you don’t have enough time or don’t want to climb the gallery to the top then that’s fine. Head south towards the Themes from the Cathedral to the Millennium Footbridge. On the other side of the river is the Tate Modern (a modern arts museum), and just next to it is Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. You can take tours of the theater if there are no plays going on.
Head to Knightsbridge and look at the world famous Harrods store. Check out the sweets and baked goods section, the Egytian Escalator, and head to the top floor for their Pets section where you’ll find some of the most expensive breeds on display. There’s also a grooming station where the rich bring their pets and you can watch them being groomed. There’s also a really good Gelato Parlor and there is also a Laduree inside which is a world famous french bakery known for their macaroons.
Also, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum are close by. The Natural History Museum is worth visiting for its architecture alone. And the V&A has some very interesting artifacts from all over the world collected during the British Colonial times. Keep in mind that most of the museum exhibits all over the UK are free.
If you can spare one day, I would highly recommend taking a day to visit Windsor Castle. It’s one of the best castles you can visit. It’s about an hour’s train ride from the Waterloo station.
I also forgot to add… if you are close to Bayswater there are some good restaurants there also.
Gah!! Another thing I forgot to mention… on the other side of Westminster bridge is the London Eye and Westminster Abbey where all the Royal Weddings are held.
Ok, I’m still jet lagged… I meant Big Ben is on the other side of the bridge
Omg thank you soooo much!!! The only problem is that I want to do ALL of these, but there’s not enough time!! I’m weird and I’m actually most interested in stuff like large toy stores, bookstores, and Harrods, hehe. Let’s see how much I can hit up tomorrow!
I know! One more thing I forgot, if you have the time you definitely need to check out the Camden Street Market. After you’re done walking around the market you can take a canal boat back to London. It goes past the zoo and drops you off close to St John’s Wood where you can visit Abbey Rd and the famous Abbey Studio where of course the Beatles recorded their albums. The Abbey Road album’s cover photo is the cross walk right in front of the studio. It’s a popular destination for tourists to come and recreate the album cover photo. Our first apt in London was only 3 blocks from here!
Oh no!! SO many things to do! But… thanks to your suggestions, our first full day in London so far is a success! We went to Café Concerto and Hamley’s (where Daniel wouldn’t let me get a guard bear), and also Chinatown. We really like the Soho area!
Hahah, don’t worry, there’s a Hamley’s in Heathrow so you can still get a guard bear from there.
Soho is nice, but be careful at night around there. Some parts of it can be really shady.
You are going to have so much funnnnn!
Ok so I’m pretty sure you are in Paris now based on your instagram photos :)
PARIS- Montemarte area is my fav, for amazing views check out the ones from the top of the hill where sacre coeur basilica is- stunning!
BRUGES: Great day trip…so much chocolate! Take a little canal cruise, it’s super picturesque. and stop at 2Be in Bruges bar to grab a pint and sit on the patio overlooking the river. They have a ton of different things to try and a cool beer wall.
VIENNA: Yes the zoo! I went to see the pandas two years ago…so much cuteness. I also really liked Schonbrunn Palace and Schwarzenburg- just for wandering through the gardens. So pretty!
PRAGUE: lots to see and just wander, I definitely recommend taking a day trip out to Kutna Hora (45 min train ride) to see the city and, just outside by the train station- Sedlec Ossuary which is incredible (and a little creepy!)
BERLIN: Lots to see in the city but I also recommend a day trip to potsdam to see the castles and palaces
BUDAPEST: I just wrote a little travel guide on my ‘bests’ for the city- check it out for my fav ideas.
KRAKOW: LOVED IT! Working on a guide for there as well- will keep you posted because there is so much to see and do!
Excited to follow you on your adventures! Have a blast!
Thanks so much for all the tips Hannah!! I actually did go to Montemarte area following a tip from another comment, and I loved it! It’s just toooo crazy during this time of the year with all those people! We didn’t go into Sacre Coeur but still enjoyed the view from out front!
And yay, I’m going to Antwerp/Bruges next, and now I’m so excited for CHOCOLATE!
I’ll keep an eye out on your city guides!