Europe
Authentic Gluhwein Recipe from an Austrian Chef
I’ve made it no secret about how much I love European Christmas Markets, especially those in Germany and Austria. I have a million reasons why but I’d be lying if I said that the gluhwein wasn’t one of them. Which is funny, because back in 2011, when I first visited European Christmas markets, I didn’t…
Vienna at Christmas: Christmas Market & Lights Guide
Vienna is one of the most magical places in Europe to visit during the festive season. Here are my top picks for what to do in Vienna at Christmas.
The Salzburg Krampus Run: A Unique Christmas Tradition
When I was travelling around Europe for the Christmas Markets I expected to see plenty of Santas and maybe a few elves and reindeer. What I didn’t expect to find was a giant, hairy, devil-looking creature known as Krampus; essentially a Christmas demon who has his own celebration called Krampusnacht or Krampus Run. This event…
Paris in 3 Days: A Paris Itinerary for First-Timers
Ah Paris. The city of light. The city of love. It’s a favourite destination for many and for good reason. The capital of France is not only beautiful to explore but offers plenty and see to do. From wandering through local neighbourhoods to discovering the treasures of world-famous museums. Not to mention the food scene,…
Experience the Magic of Paris at Christmas with These Festive Ideas (2025 dates)
I love Paris and I love Christmas, so getting to see Paris at Christmas was pretty, well, magical. I’m no stranger to exploring Europe during the Christmas season. After all, Europe’s Christmas markets are basically my version of Disneyworld. But, there’s something about the way that Paris does the Christmas season. It’s just that little…
European Christmas Market Itinerary by Train
If you are a regular reader then you already know that I LOVE Christmas markets. Ever since I discovered that they existed way back in 2011 when I travelled for the first time, I’ve been kind of obsessed. The holiday season may be cold in Europe, but it’s so darn magical and hands down one…
The Best of Romania in 1 Week
When I was originally planning my one week in Romania I anticipated plenty of vampire legends and spooky gothic castles. However, after spending 1 week in Romania, I quickly learned that this European country has so much more to offer than creepy legends. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I would like Romania but…
Affordable French Chateau Hotels to Stay In
What comes to mind when you think of France? Is it the romantic city of Paris? The sea-side towns of south coast? Lavender fields in Provence, or the vineyards of Champagne? Or perhaps the hundreds of beautiful castles that dot the countryside? Personally, I’m a sucker for castles so they are always one of the…
The Best of Slovenia in 3 Days
I first became interested in visiting Slovenia when I stumbled upon a photo of Lake Bled. It was basically love for first sight and I knew this was somewhere I needed to see for myself. I did some research on the country and discovered that there was a whole lot more to see than just…
Champagne Tasting in Reims
France is known for many things including champagne. The delicious, sparkling wine that is famous worldwide comes from a very specific area of the country. This area, called Champagne, is home to several towns and cities including Reims, the capital of Champagne. This city is home to many Champagne houses’ headquarters and many of these…
The Best of Stockholm in 2 Days
Nicknamed the Venice of the North, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, quickly became one of my favourite European cities. Made up of 14 islands in the inner city, Stockholm is a Scandinavian gem with tons to offer. Although, admittedly, it is also one of the most expensive places I have been , I…
Experience the Magic of Christmas in London with these Festive Activities
Flashing lights, roller coasters, and festive afternoon tea. Christmas in London isn’t as traditional or old-world as in some other European destinations like, say, Christmas in Vienna, but there’s something about the Holiday season in London that still gets me excited. There are London’s Christmas markets which range from carnival-esque fairs to quaint German-style wooden…
Innsbruck Christmas Markets: Everything You need to Know About Innsbruck at Christmas (2025 Dates)
I’m a sucker for Christmas markets and when it comes to Christmas markets in Austria I’m always quick to head to Vienna or Salzburg. However, after several times in each, it was time to switch it up so I chose Innsbruck- somewhere I had never been before but figured would be fun and festive and…
Christmas in Strasbourg, France: Everything You Need to Know About Strasbourg Christmas Markets (2025 dates)
For me, the holiday season is the most magical time of the year and while I will always be home for Christmas, I absolutely love spending part of the holiday season in Europe experiencing Europe’s best Christmas markets. Germany and Austria tend to be the favourites with big cities like Vienna and Nuremberg taking the…
Nuremberg Christmas Markets: The Ultimate Guide (2025 dates)
Germany is king when it comes to Christmas markets and while I love so many that this country has to offer, I think the Nuremberg Christmas Market takes the cake. Or, maybe in this case the lebkuchen which is German gingerbread for those who don’t know. After all, we are talking about Christmas here! So,…
Christmas in Cologne, Germany: Everything You Want to Know About Cologne Christmas Markets
Europe’s Christmas markets are my happy place. The lights, the decorations, the gluhwein, the ornaments. I absolutely love them and have been multiple times over the years. Each year I go, I try to visit somewhere new and while I have yet to be disappointed some European Christmas markets make an impression and Cologne, Germany…
Christmas in Colmar, France: Everything You Need to Know About Colmar Christmas Markets (2025 Dates)
If you are at all familiar with France you’ve no doubt heard of the fairytale town of Colmar. It’s said to be the jewel of the Alsace region and the inspiration behind the village in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. After a couple of minutes of walking through ‘Little Venice’ you’ll see why! Colmar, like…
The Best Things to do in Zadar, Croatia
After spending a little over 2 weeks in Croatia, I can easily say that Zadar was my favourite spot that I visited. It didn’t have the crowds of Split, the costs of Hvar, or the unfriendliness of Dubrovnik. To me, it felt more local than touristic and had more than enough to keep me busy…
The Best Things to do in Hvar: Croatia’s Party Island
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I LOVED Croatia. Zadar was my favourite place that I visited when I spent a little over 2 weeks in Croatia, but the Island of Hvar was a close second. I loved checking out the massive yachts in the port, I loved strolling through the streets…
The Ultimate Croatia Itinerary: 2 weeks in Croatia
Is there a European destination that screams summer more than Croatia? Personally, I don’t think so. Gorgeous beaches, historic cities, majestic waterfalls, island hopping tours, sailing, and spectacular sunsets are just a few of the amazing things that Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast has to offer. Throw in the added perks of friendly locals, safe towns, and…
The Ultimate Day Trip to Douro Valley, Portugal (From Porto)
I bounced eagerly on the balls of my feet at the bottom of the stairs. It was 8:10am on a Saturday and the streets of Porto, Portugal were quiet. I, on the other hand, was buzzing with energy; eagerly looking to start my day trip to Douro Valley; Portugal’s famous port and wine region. The…
One week in Portugal: The Ultimate Portugal Itinerary
Portugal has quickly become one of the most popular destinations in Europe. The promise of exciting cities, a beautiful coastline filled with beaches, good food and wine, and reasonable prices is hard for any traveller to resist. But what if you are short on time? Is it worth it to do just one week in…
How to Best Spend 2 Days in Porto, Portugal
I spent an amazing (though fast) week in Portugal and quickly fell in love. The beautiful cities, affordable prices, and friendly locals made it a fast favourite. Not to mention I felt completely welcome and safe travelling solo in Portugal. However, while I enjoyed the whole trip it was Porto that I liked the most.…
Best Places to Travel Solo: Portugal
Portugal seems to have become an ‘it’ destination over the last years, and having been, I can see why. It’s a gorgeous country with friendly people and lots to see and do. I spent a week travelling solo in Portugal. I went from Porto to Faro; exploring cities, castles, and the wine region of Douro…
The Best Things to do in Eze, France: A Day Trip from Nice
The French Riveria is a beautiful part of France to visit. There’s no shortage of charming coastal towns here and after spending a week based in Nice, I enjoyed exploring a few of them. However, without a doubt, my favourite was the cliff-side village of Eze. I visited Eze as a day trip from Nice…