Europe
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Prague Highlights: What to See in the City of Spires
Following my visits to the capitals of Hungary and Austria, I finished my February holiday with several days in Prague! Β Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is nicknamed “The City of a Hundred Spires.” Β I was actually surprised at how small the historic center was! Β Though it is a large city, it has a small town feel with very well preserved architecture. Prague is a beautiful city with lots of history. Of course, I went on a walking tour as soon as I arrived (shocker!). There are Sandemans Free Tours in Prague, including a longer walking tour (3 hours). This was longer than most walking tours I…
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From Heurige to SchΓΆnbrunn: Discovering Vienna, Austria
Vienna is the capital of Austria, but I might describe it as the cultural capital of Eastern Europe. I’ve never had such a culture-filled visit! There are so many amazing things to do and see in Vienna. The only downside is that it’s a pretty expensive city! The prices seemed especially daunting after visiting Budapest, where one euro is 300 Hungarian forint! This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. If youβre planning a trip, check out myΒ hotel recommendations for some great places to stay in Vienna. Heurige Vienna was so fun to visit! During my February holiday, I was traveling solo.…
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My Visit to the Labyrinth at Castle Hill
Before arriving in Budapest, I read briefly about the Labyrinth under Castle Hill.Β There are caves and underground tunnels that you can access with tickets or private tours. The caves sounded super interesting and I wanted to visit at least one of them while in town. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. If youβre planning a trip, check out myΒ hotel recommendations for some great places to stay in Budapest! After getting to know the city for a couple days, I was a bit jumbled up. I stopped at a tourist stand to ask how to get to the caves or…
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SzΓ©chenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest
One of the first things you will see when you google Budapest is “City of Baths!” Budapest is located on top of more than 120 hot springs! These springs were used by the Romans during the Roman Empire. Then, when Hungary was occupied by Turkey during the 16th and 17th centuries the springs were converted to bathhouses. Most of the thermal baths in Budapest now are more modernized, but some have the original Turkish domes. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. If youβre planning a trip, check out myΒ hotel recommendations for some great places to stay in Budapest. Budapest has…
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Budapest Highlights: What to See in Hungaryβs Capital
Before arriving in Budapest, I didn’t know very much about it! I had my list of things to do and see in Budapest, but knew little to nothing of the history of the city. Between the fascinating history, affordable prices, spas, and nightlife, this city quickly won me over. I spent nearly 5 full days in Budapest and was still upset to leave! This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. If youβre planning a trip, check out myΒ hotel recommendations for some great places to stay in Budapest. I try to go on walking tours when exploring a new city. After peeking…
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24 Hours in Brussels: A Perfect Day in Belgium’s Capital
Brussels is the capital of Belgium, and home to the infamous Mannequin Pis.Β When my mother visited in December, we dedicated two days to visiting both the capital of Belgium and the nearby charming city of Bruges.Β Although Brussels is quite large for just a one-day visit, it’s manageable to see the highlights during that timeframe. Brussels by Day We started the day in Brussels by checking out the Eglise Saint NicolasΒ and the little shops around Grand Place. Β During December, there were several Christmas markets around. Β As we walked around the center city we peeked at the various huts of food, crafts, and tchotchkes. Β Grand Place is absolutely stunning, both…
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Only Lyon: France’s Best Kept Secret
What I love most about France is that each region of the country is so different from the next. There are so many different cultures and traditions within this country alone! Lyon is the third largest city in France, behind Paris and Marseille. Situated in the middle of the RhΓ΄ne-Alpes region, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It used to be an important site for silk production. Lyon sits right where the RhΓ΄ne and SaΓ΄ne rivers meet. Plan your visit and check out my hotel recommendations! The FΓͺte des LumiΓ¨resΒ takes place in Lyon every winter. Another interesting tidbit involving the term LumiΓ¨re – Lyon was home of the…
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Travel Tips: Planning a Cheap Trip in Europe like a Pro
The best part of being in Europe is taking advantage of how close and accessible all the different countries are! Β Getting to Europe and back from the States may be a long and pricey flight, but once in Europe it’s super easy to frolic around for cheap! Β During my semester studying in France, I became familiar with some of the resources for cheap travel. Β Now that I am working in France for 8 months, I am taking advantage of all these resources ! Β Here’s how I typically plan out a trip. 1. Pick a destination Sometimes I choose my destination based on an event or time constraint. Β How long of…
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A Day in Luxembourg City
In my New Year’s post, I mentioned briefly that I visited a new country in December! I visited Luxembourg City. Luxembourg is the small country at the intersection of France, Belgium, and Germany’s borders. The country is only 2,586 sq km! I was curious about the size ranking so I looked it up and apparently Luxembourg is only the 28th smallest country! I thought it would be higher on the list. Anywho, I went to Luxembourg City, the capital of Luxembourg, with my momma in tow. This was one of the stops we made on our little Christmas week voyage. I partially chose the city just to break up one…
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Lyon’s FΓͺte des LumiΓ¨res: A Celebration of Lights
Every year, Lyon hosts the amazingΒ FΓͺte des LumiΓ¨res (Festival of Lights). It takes place over a three day period on a long weekend. About a month ago, I headed south to Lyon with a friend to explore the city by day and the lights by night! The FΓͺte des LumiΓ¨res website provides an idea of the different installations there will be ahead of time. I didn’t have time to check out the website beforehand, but luckily all the hotels and hostels in Lyon are prepared with tons of pamphlets for the festival. Check out my recommended hotel picks for Lyon if planning a visit! There was also an app for…
