3 great European travel destinations to consider

During my recent visit back to the US, my friends and family were interested in knowing “What’s your favorite travel spot?” My answer began as a babbling reply about how I’ve liked each place for their own unique qualities…and then ended in a complete avoidance of the answer. It’s actually overwhelming to think about! I have loved each and every experience I’ve had throughout our journeys and as I reflect on our travels up until this point, I can’t believe I’ve visited 13 countries within the last 20 months.

When I first started traveling, I was really timid. Years ago, while in Germany, Jim and I went to a bakery in a very small town south of Cologne where no one spoke English. An extrovert, I normally smile and look forward to interacting with new people, but in this case, I purposely avoided eye contact when it was our turn at the checkout counter. Jim speaks basic German so I heavily relied on him throughout that trip, but I was angry at myself for how helpless I became! I remember almost hiding behind him when the cashier was scanning our purchases! It’s ridiculous now to think about how I reacted, but I hadn’t yet become a traveler. Even though by that point I had lived in New York City for a few years, at heart I was still that small town girl in unknown surroundings.

Nowadays, I’ve figured out how to adapt. There are places that take longer to acclimate to and other places that feel easier, where I immediately feel comfortable. People seem to genuinely want to help and don’t get impatient with us even though we can’t speak their language. What’s similar about each one of the destinations below is the warm, kind people we’ve encountered during our travels. It’s amazing what a difference that makes, and definitely one of the reasons I credit them as standout trips!

So, though I still can’t really give you a clear answer on a favorite, I may be able to give you some insight into certain destinations to consider based on the type of travel that fits in with your expectations. Here are the countries that I would jump at the chance to go back to (assuming a cheap EasyJet flight, of course!):

FOR THE MEDIEVAL BEAUTY & PRESERVED OLD TOWN ARCHITECTURE – 

Tallinn, Estonia

Years ago, on one of my first real “backpacking” excursions,  Jim and I traveled for a consecutive two weeks, starting in Gdansk, Poland then venturing on to some Eastern European countries (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), before completing our trip in Germany for a friend’s wedding.

From the top of St. Olav’s church tower overlooking Tallinn

The visit to Tallinn fell somewhere in the middle of those two weeks of travel, at which point I was not necessarily loving the whole backpacking experience and feeling worn out from nonstop travel.

On arrival, we boarded a bus, completely confused on where to get off or what to do next, when an Estonian girl standing next to us recognized our lost faces and asked us (in fluent English) if we needed help. When she found out we were Americans and this was our first time in Tallinn, she gave us specific directions and even shared with us her recommendations on the good places to visit. I immediately felt a sense of relief and happiness.

As we got off the bus, I stopped to readjust and securely fasten on my 50lb backpack. It was there in front of me that I saw my first glimpse of the medieval old town streets enclosed by the towering stone city walls. The beauty of the town gave me chills up and down my spine!

Tallinn Old Town

Tourism is important to the town (many of the cruise ships make short stops here during the days), but during the evenings the old town seemed quieter. For me it was the perfect amount of quietness. A huge party scene didn’t seem to take over the streets but there were still plenty of choices of bars or restaurants we could visit.  Equally, there was just as many things to see from museums to shopping to tours. We booked a 4 hour bicycle tour that took us through the Kadriorg Park, the Song Festival grounds, and the seaside promenade.

FOR THE CULTURAL VIBE, CYCLING & GREAT CITY SCENE – 

Copenhagen, Denmark

I experienced two seasons in Copenhagen during my travels over the last year. Once in the middle of December in snowy conditions, and once on warm, mild sunny days in June. (Previous posts: The Copenhagen Experience & A Weekend in Copenhagen)

Copenhagen, Denmark

During our visit in the cold weather (ongoing precipitation that weekend included freezing rain, heavy wet rain & snow), I expected to see a sleepier city where the locals would be happily spending their weekend indoors keeping warm by the fire.  But I observed the complete opposite! Bicyclists everywhere, kids out and about on the shopping streets (dressed in their snowsuits!), and busy restaurants where people sipped on the warm Glogg drink, a classic Scandinavian spiced wine punch.

I have a tough time finding the exact words to describe just how I feel about this city except to say that I love it ! It has everything I want from a city experience – the liveliness, the culture, friendly people, outdoor activities and it ranks high on my list of “livable cities”!

FOR A SECLUDED, ROMANTIC VACATION NEXT TO THE ADRIATIC SEA – 

Jelsa, Croatia (on Hvar Island)

The main tourist attraction on the island of Hvar is Hvar Town, on the southwest corner of the island. In the summer season, the entire town transforms into one big party scene. Jim and I were aware of its reputation, but were a little surprised at the magnitude of the partying. I felt like I was watching a recurring episode of MTV’s Spring Break reality TV show.

We needed an alternative. So, on our second day in the island, we boarded a bus that took us to the northern, middle tip of the island, (based only on a random google search we carried out prior to the trip where we remember spotting the name “JELSA”). An hour and a half later, after making stops at another ferry port and driving through pine woods, we stopped. We had arrived.

Jelsa on Hvar Island, Croatia

A quote from one of Hvar’s tourism websites describes the town as being “open hearted to the guests and travelers”. (Hvar info) I’d have to agree after staying in Jelsa for 3 nights. We coincidentally timed our visit with a large wine and music festival in the town (more to come on a future post) and the Croatian people couldn’t have been more welcoming to us! (Meeting the Locals)

Jelsa view from our apartment balcony overlooking the town

Our time in Jelsa was mostly occupied with eating, drinking and admiring the postcard-like views. At our apartment accommodation, the owner generously allowed us to use his outdoor wood stove. One of my favorite nights started out with a trip to the local grocery store and a climb back up the mountain to our accommodation, armed with heavy food and wine bags. Next, Jim fired up the wood stove while I prepared the side dishes. Our home-cooked dinner was amazing and we spent the next few hours eating, drinking wine, and sitting out on the balcony overlooking the town below!

If you need a little more variety, there’s also plenty of other good activities in and around Jelsa, including boat trips to nearby islands (like Bol in Brac Island), renting cars or scooters to find your own private beach, or browsing through the shops situated around the port.

SUMMARY –