The Best Places I Visited In 2018

Every year, I do a few big yearly recap posts on the year just gone. I’ve already written about my top experiences of 2018, and the worst travel moments of 2018! But I always like to do one about the best places I visited each year.

In 2016, my favorite places were heavily skewed by my big Balkans trip, time in the UK, and adventures to N ew York City and Zambia. In 2017, I loved my time in Russia, Kiev, and destinations (including the Lake District!) around England.

I don’t have any kind of guidelines for what destinations can make the cut. They can be new places or places I’ve already visited, cities or countries, really whatever speaks to me. The only qualification is that I have to have visited them in 2018.

Looking for hostels? Book here!

So here you go: here are the best places I visited in 2018!

Iceland

By far, one of the most incredible destinations I visited in 2018 (and in my entire life!) was Iceland. The country is a land of extremes. It has some of the most dramatic and staggering landscapes you could ever imagine. It is very isolated, very expensive, and now it’s very touristy. When I went, I was really wondering—is Iceland really worth the hype? Well, I’m here to tell you that YES, it is worth the hype. It’s one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been in my life, and I already want to go back.

Georgia

When I went to Georgia this summer, I fell head over heels in love with Tbilisi. Rarely does that happen to me, and I maybe I should have just put Tbilisi on this list. But the entire country of Georgia is incredible. The scenery in the Caucasus Mountains in Kazbegi, the cable car rides in Kutaisi, the history of the churches in Mtskheta, the marshrutka rides that you think will kill you, the khachapuri and chacha readily available everywhere you go—Georgia is amazing. It draws you in and takes hold of your heart. I had just over a week here, and it definitely wasn’t enough. Georgia is still relatively undiscovered (compared to the rest of Europe—it’s definitely the most popular destination in the Caucasus!), the prices are low, the food is amazing, and you’ll never want to leave.

Tallinn

I had a few days in the capital of Estonia to start off a quick trip to the Baltics in April. Estonia was one of the last countries in Eastern Europe I had to visit, and after visiting both Riga and Vilnius, I was especially excited to finally see Tallinn. The city is like a fairytale, it’s that beautiful! The Old Town is impossibly charming, with cobbled streets and hidden alleyways. There’s a lot of history to uncover, but I also loved just strolling around with no real purpose. It was especially nice to stay overnight in Tallinn—most of the tourists visit as a daytrip from nearby Helsinki, and the city becomes so lowkey in the evenings once the daytrippers have left. Do yourself a favor, and don’t miss a visit to Tallinn!

Belgium

I set off for a solo trip to Belgium over Easter this year. It’s one of those countries that a lot of people seem to pass over, but the people who have been tend to rave about it. I stayed in Brussels, and also visited Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent—and had the best time. The cities are historic with stunning architecture, there’s good beer and waffles and fries, and the country is relatively compact so it’s easy to get around by train. I didn’t expect to love this destination quite as much as I did. It really surprised me, in the best ways!

Scottish Highlands

A destination that has long been on my bucket list: exploring the Highlands of Scotland. The stars aligned at the end of the summer, when I had enough random time off work and enough money to invest in some camping gear for a last-minute getaway. Driving through Glencoe, through Glen Etive on the way to Loch Etive, hiking up Ben Nevis, seeing the Glenfinnan Viaduct—all of it made me feel so small, and made me reflect on what a small place I occupy in this world. The scenery would take my breath away at times. There is so much to see in this area, I’m already planning on going back in 2019!

Gdansk

With a random week off work and £30 return flights, I set off to the city of Gdansk this November. Having already visited Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Krakow, I was so excited to finally visit another area in Poland! Gdansk wowed me. The Old Town had so many pretty buildings, with cobbled streets that make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. There’s a lot to see in the city, but there’s also plenty of good restaurants, cafes, and bars for when you want to hang out and relax. Visiting in the winter off-season, there weren’t that many other tourists, and sometimes I felt like I had the city to myself. This should definitely make it onto any itinerary for Poland!

Lake District

This year I took another two trips to the Lake District. It is by far one of my favorite places in England, in the UK, and in Europe as a whole. This year, I explored Wastwater, hiked up Scafell Pike (England’s highest mountain!), admired the views from Kirkstone Pass, and celebrated my birthday at Castlerigg Stone Circle. There is so much to explore in this relatively small corner of England—I know the Lake District will be a destination that I continue returning to, time and time again.

Dublin

Dublin is one of my favorite cities in the world. In 2018, I went back for my 7^th (!!!) trip to the Irish capital on a short weekend. I ate and drank loads. I visited my favorite places, and explored new ones. I got to go back to one of my favorite pubs, The Celt, where I’ve been a visitor for the past 7 years of trips. The city has an infectious kind of energy and I had so much fun there. I’ve been to Ireland (and Dublin) nearly every year since 2011 (besides 2012 and 2017), and I know this won’t be my last trip there!

Armenia

This Caucasus country really surprised me this summer. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect—besides fewer tourists than neighboring Georgia. But Armenia is a fantastic destination! It has some of the most historic monasteries in the world (not to mention the world’s oldest shoe), a lively capital in Yerevan, and low prices. Yerevan comes alive in the early evening, as the sun goes down and the oppressive summer heat dissipates—and everyone goes outside to enjoy the cafes, and watches the fountain show in Republic Square. I did two daytrips to different regions of Armenia, and really loved my time here. If you’re wanting to get off the beaten path, I’d recommend Armenia!

Riga

On my trip to the Baltics this spring, I had a few hours in Riga, the capital of Latvia. This was my third visit and, like the others, I had the best time. Riga is such a beautiful city—it’s changed a lot since my first visit, but it’s still a delight to visit. I took my friends through the Old Town’s winding streets, to eat in LIDO, and to see the Art Nouveau architecture. Riga is a real gem. I know I’ll be back again someday.

North York Moors

I really am spoiled living in Yorkshire, and one of my favorite places has to be the North York Moors National Park. I loved my visits to the Moors this year—walking from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay, climbing Roseberry Topping (the “Yorkshire Matterhorn”), seeing the purple heather in bloom at the Hole of Horcum, and having a rural, quiet, weekend away in Fryupdale. There is so much to see and do here, so many good walks to explore, and so many good pubs to enjoy. I know I’ll be visiting again in 2019.

Istanbul

I didn’t have a great time in Istanbul. I only had two full days, and I ended up getting sick and could barely get out of bed for one of the days. But wow—Istanbul is something else! I loved the hustle and bustle of this massive metropolis. The history is staggering, and the culture is so different to my own. I loved seeing the Hagia Sophia, hearing the call the prayer outside the Blue Mosque (Sultanhamet), wandering through the Grand Bazaar, and seeing the sun set over the Bosphorus. This is definitely a city that merits a few days (probably a full week would be better!), but I loved what I could see in my limited time.