The Balkans is a region located in southeastern Europe that generally comprises the countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. It is one of the most underrated yet stunning areas not just in Europe, but possibly the whole world! I recently traveled to the western half… Read More 15 Signs You’ve Traveled in the Balkans
There is no doubt about it… London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. There’s so much to do and see in London (like these 25 places you can’t miss), and you never seem to have enough time or money. While London is expensive (to the point where you feel even breathing… Read More How to Do London on the Cheap
Postojna Caves is one of the largest cave complexes in the world, and located in central Slovenia. It is, in fact, a real-life version of Gringotts from Harry Potter! Massive caves, train rides, stalactites and stalagmites—Postojna is really just missing a dragon or two and huge quantities of wizard gold. Here’s everything you need to… Read More Visiting the Real-Life Gringotts: Postojna Caves
On my most recent trip to Ljubljana, I gave myself a few days to explore more of Slovenia outside of the capital. Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist destinations, and with good reason! The beautiful lake is complimented by its picturesque island, watched over by a castle on a hill, and surrounded… Read More A Lake Bled Daytrip from Ljubljana
Ljubljana (pronounced lee-yoob-lee-yana) is a mouthful to say, but is still absolutely worth visiting. I arrived to the Slovenian capital knowing next to nothing about the city, only to find that is an incredibly charming and underrated European capital. While you can see most of the main sites in a day, I’m definitely glad I… Read More Charming Ljubljana: A First-Timer’s Guide to the Slovenian Capital
On my most recent trip to Croatia, I finally made it to the capital city: Zagreb. I only had one day to explore, but I did my best to make the most of my limited time! Zagreb is full of Austro-Hungarian architecture, al fresco cafes, and lots of squares and parks. If you have only… Read More One Day in Zagreb
The island Lokrum is the closest island to Dubrovnik’s Old Town, and one of my favorite spots in Croatia! It is a great way to escape the crowds from cruise ships that inundate the Old Town during the day. Here’s everything you need to know about this island daytrip! Lokrum is a nature reserve, full… Read More Lokrum: A Perfect Dubrovnik Daytrip
“If you want to see paradise on Earth, come to Dubrovnik.” –George Bernard Shaw Nearly two years ago, I visited Croatia for the first time. I fell in love instantaneously with Dubrovnik, the coast, the scenery, the sea, everything. I knew that tourism would only increase in the upcoming years: this jewel of the Adriatic… Read More Dubrovnik: 10 Tips for Visiting the (Increasingly Popular) Jewel of the Adriatic
Montenegro is a small country in the Balkans with some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe. I was continually amazed at the beautiful landscapes, from mountains to lakes, from coastal towns to the sea. The country has a lot to offer and in my brief stay I know I only uncovered a small part… Read More Highlights of Montenegro
The Dervish Monastery (or tekke) in Blagaj is located in an incredibly beautiful and picturesque part of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Set into a rocky cliff face, the tekke is located next to the Buna River, giving the whole area a feeling of tranquility. The tekke complex is joined with two restaurant/cafes across the river by… Read More Visiting Blagaj Tekke in Bosnia & Herzegovina
The city of Mostar, in the southern Herzegovina region of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH), suffered vast damage during the Bosnian War from 1992-1995. Today, this city is characterized by its picturesque Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the famous Stari Most bridge, and for remaining intensely divided between the Bosnian-Muslim-east side, and the Bosnian-Croat-Catholic-west… Read More Mostar: Divided Yet Delightful
The capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina still retains its reputation as a war-torn city under siege. In reality, it’s an incredibly vibrant and fascinating city with different cultures constantly mixing. The territory of Bosnia & Herzegovina was under the rule of the Ottoman Turks for centuries, something which is still evident today—meandering around the Old… Read More Sarajevo, Where East Meets West
Every once in a while, I stay somewhere that’s so nice I feel like I discovered some secret place that (for some reason) isn’t shouted from the rooftops. Hostel Bongo is one of those places. If you are looking for accommodation in Belgrade, STAY HERE! This is one of the nicest hostels I’ve ever stayed… Read More Hostel Review: Hostel Bongo, Belgrade
For my first trip to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, I had a lot of preconceived ideas and stereotypes in my mind as to what the city would be like. I was continually surprised throughout my whole trip. Let me just say—Belgrade is SO COOL. Belgrade suffered extensive bombing by NATO forces in 1999, and in… Read More First Impressions of Serbia: Belgrade
How had I never been to Budapest before this trip?! The intriguing capital of Hungary, beautiful Budapest blew me away. After four wonderful days exploring, I already know that Budapest is a city I’ll visit again. There is so much going on in this city, it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s my guide… Read More A Beginner’s Guide to Budapest
The Danube River cuts through Hungary on its way south to Serbia and beyond. The Hungarian side of the river is home to several picturesque twists and turns, giving it the nickname the “Danube Bend.” Esztergom and Visegrad are two popular towns (evident from the number of tour groups) that are strategically located on the… Read More Esztergom and Visegrad: Danube Bend Daytrip Towns
There are so many things to do and see in Budapest, it’s hard to know where to start! If there’s one activity to put on your bucket list for the Hungarian capital, it should be the thermal bath spas. There are several different thermal bath spas throughout Budapest, but the Széchenyi Bath was consistently recommended… Read More Visiting the Szechenyi Thermal Bath: Everything You Need to Know
Being based in Bratislava for my time in Slovakia, both Devin Castle and Trencin Castle were easily accessible to me. Slovakia seems to be full of castles, and I definitely recommend visiting at least one. Here are my tips for visiting Devin and Trencin Castles! Devin Castle is very close to the city center of… Read More Exploring Slovakian Castles: Devin and Trencin
My three days in Bratislava were my first introduction to Slovakia, an entirely new country for me. Bratislava’s currency is the Euro, but prices are much cheaper than they were in my previous city, Vienna in Austria. While Slovakia still seems to get lumped together with the Czech Republic (due to the former Czechoslovakia), it… Read More Bratislava: A Brief Introduction to Slovakia
I had just two days on my trip in the Austrian capital, so I hit the ground running. Vienna is prominently known for being one of the most important cultural cities for art, music, and stunning architecture. There is so much to see and do, and I absolutely recommend staying for more than 48 hours!… Read More 48 Hours in Vienna
