Summer is finally here and you’re probably making your vacation plans already. If you haven’t settled on a vacation spot yet, I have some ideas that my get you inspired. Europe is always on the top of the list for a lot of people, but there are so many countries and places to choose from that is just hard to decide. I recently went to Europe on a family vacation and I gathered a list of places that I think you should put on your bucket list that is definitely worth your money.
First on my list: Greece!
Greece
It was my first time in Greece last summer and I highly recommend it. One of the highlights of my trip was how kind, welcoming, and happy Greek people can be. Let’s not forget about the delicious food and the views which are just breathtaking! Greece has amazing places to visit and many of them are UNESCO world heritage sights.
Athens was the starting point of my trip. We stayed 3 days there, which I would say is enough time to get to know the main attractions. The capital of Greece is full of historical monuments, museums, and ancient temples.
In my 3 days there, I visited the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Central Market, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Lycabettus Hill, and the rest of the time just exploring the food and the views. If I had more time, I would have made a day trip to Delphi as well, which is one of the many archaeological sights of Greece and highly recommended but there just wasn’t enough time for us. Maybe in another trip in the future.
From Athens, we headed to the islands which was pretty exciting. You can fly there if you want to, but we chose to take a boat trip which is what most people do. There are regular day trips to the islands every day from the Athens port. The most popular islands in Greece are Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu, and Rhodes. They are a great destination if you are looking to party or just relax by the beach with a drink in your hand. Mykonos is definitely the place to see and to be seen and the nightlife is unlike any other. The beautiful sunsets from the islands and the amazing views give also a spectacular show of their own. In Santorini for example, small crowds of tourists gather every day at one of the popular spots of the island to take pictures and applaud the sunset! Mykonos has set itself apart from the rest of the islands and increased in popularity in recent years, so expect to pay a pretty penny for your trip there, especially if you go in the summer.
Paris
What can I say about Paris that hasn’t been said already? What I like the most besides the obvious (amazing food, fashion, wine, history) is the fact that Paris is a very walkable city.
So between going to the museums, sightseeing, and shopping, you don’t need to feel guilty from eating all the cheese and great food and drinking all the wine because you do walk a lot, so you get your workout that way! When you feel like taking a break, you can stop in one of the many cafes on the sidewalks and just people-watch while having a cup of coffee in the afternoon.
Paris has the perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway vacation, the city just has romance written all over it but on any occasion, you can still enjoy the city and all it has to offer. My favorite neighborhood is the Latin Quarter with its many restaurants and surprisingly affordable food.
Amsterdam
What I like about Amsterdam is its very charming architecture, the canals, and colorful buildings. They also have great food and I like that people there love to ride their bikes! Amsterdam is also a very walkable city but the bikes really steal the show.
So you can join in the locals, rent a bike and explore the city that way or take a trip down the canals in one of the many tours offered for sightseeing.
Amsterdam also has tons of museums, lots of street art, and music festivals. And if you are a beer drinker, you might want to take the Heineken tour which takes you to the old factory which nowadays operates as a Museum. And depending on what kind of ticket you get you have the option of a beer tasting session.
Milan
This is one of the most popular destinations in Europe but there is a reason for it: from its famous symbols to the architecture, the shopping to the food to the fashion… Milan is just full of European charm!
You can go for a drink in the Navigli area in the evening and discover the beautiful canals of Milan, nice and affordable restaurants or enjoy an evening at the famous La Scala Theater. Oh, the ice cream here is amazing too!
Budapest
Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. I was very impressed by its architecture. Great city to explore with a group of friends and even by yourself. A must-see place is the New York cafe, which is part of the hotel by the same name. Originally a castle inhabited by royals, the building itself has an impressive history and the food is amazing. Budapest has great nightlife, shopping, and amazing sightseeing. This city can get you inspired!
