Hey, thank you for sticking about to read this- if you came from the first blog and didn't get bored of me, or this is your first read- hello! I'm making this up as I go so bare with me and please feel free to leave any feedback or suggestions down in the comments. I'll let you get on with the read now :)
In case you didn't notice there's been this virus going about these last couple of years- it's suspended us seeing our family and getting education, let alone travelling. It's been a tough time for so many of us, and we've all spent time dreaming of that beach getaway, urban paradise or beautiful pastoral landscape that we're going to make a B-Line to the second we get the chance. So if you've had enough of Covid and are ready to get back out there, here's my compilation of European destinations you need to visit as you enjoy unrestricted life again.
Photograph- Gerrard Street, London, December 2021
1, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
A series of gorgeous blue lakes connected by waterfalls and interspersed with vibrant greenery. Croatia's largest National Park, Plitvice Lakes is a natural beauty not to be missed.
Established after the Second World War in 1949, it's the country's oldest national park, and it can't fail to take your breath away. The vividity of its greens and blues are something of a fairytale, a fairytale you feel something of a part of as the wooden pathways take you through the park itself; here you are much more than just an onlooker from afar. Wildlife lovers are sure to feel at home as you can pick from 4 different trails to cover the heavenly park. As someone from the UK researching for this blog, I was shocked to find such a stunning place that I had never even heard of before; and for this reason Plitvice Lakes takes the first spot on this list, a (perhaps naive from my point of view) hidden gem in Southern Europe.
Photograph- Plitvice Lakes, Via Tourist Journey Website
2, Porto, Portugal
A 3 hour drive North of its capital, Lisbon, Portugal's coastal city of Porto is a place of cultural vividness and artistic beauty. A diversion from the ever-growing issue of over-tourism in the country's capital city, Porto is a refreshing take on what Portugal has to offer. Cobbled streets dating back as early as the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula in around 200 BC take you on a journey through the city's magnificent architecture and gorgeous range of cafes (not to mention of course, it's world famous Port Houses for the budding sommeliers), making it easy to see why the 1996 inducted UNESCO World Heritage Site earned European best destination awards in 2012, 2014 and 2017. Remnants of the Baroque era are evident in the city's infrastructure, and its oldest building, Porto Cathedral, is a must-see. And as an added bonus, the country's shared timezone with the UK means Brits travelling abroad won't have to worry about sorting your watch out upon arrival- a win in my books. So many factors are testament to the city's attraction as a tourist, and I really can't wait to visit one day soon.
Photograph- Porto, October 2020, Via 'Abdeljlil' on TripAdvisor
3, Lake Bled, Slovenia
Heading back over to South-Eastern Europe now to a backpacker's staple location, although one I admittedly (again, ignorant Brit) had not heard of until properly looking into my own European travels. For young travel seekers, outdoor lovers and culture fanatics alike, this historic area in the North-West of Slovenia is something of a rite of passage. The lake stands at over 2 km long and 1.3 km wide, with the medieval Bled Castle situated on the North Shore including a museum accessible by boat. As the aforementioned 'rite of passage', this tourist area is often very busy, which is not ideal, but it would be wrong to say the pros don't outweigh the cons. The castle, of course, isn't the only attraction- situated in the Julian Alps, it is surrounded by mountains and hills which provide breathtaking views of the surrounding area that are simply unmissable. I couldn't not put this location on this list, and I look forward eagerly to experiencing Lake Bled first-hand.
Photograph- Castle at Lake Bled, Via Trafalgar Website
4, Rottenburg, Germany
If Plitvice lakes was fairytale-like, this town in South Western Germany certainly one-ups it. In fact, this town is renowned for its similarities to the likes of Disney's Pinocchio, said to feel like walking straight into the movie when you enter- and it's not difficult to see why. The colours of the buildings, rustic design of the architecture and overall atmosphere of the place is, in a sense, fictional, yet there is something authentically German about it. Rottenburg hides itself just below the city of Stuttgart, and whilst this place is not somewhere for a long-term stay, it makes itself a notable candidate for a day trip from the nearby city. So soak in the German culture, enjoy the food and capture some beautiful photographs in this true fantasy-land on Earth.
Photograph- Rottenburg, 2018, Via Imgur
5, Cephalonia, Greece
A European travel list wouldn't be complete without a Greek island- and my pick has to be Cephalonia. The largest of the Ionian islands, its crystal clear waters, perfect Mediterranean climate and incredible sandy beaches make it the perfect choice for your picturesque post-covid island getaway. The North-East of the island is home to Melissani Cave, one of Cephalonia's most well known attractions; access via boat across waters so unclouded it could almost be floating, and a natural beauty the memory of which is sure to never leave you. Outside of this natural wonder, the main residential areas of Cephalonia offer something for everyone; idyllic waterside restaurants and cafes, beautiful Greek architecture, and even an Archaeological museum if that's of interest. If there was ever a time we needed to take a week and find the perfect place to relax, it's now, and Cephalonia might just fit the bill. Hence, the Ionian settlement takes the #5 spot.
Photograph- Melissani Cave, Via Which Greek Island Website
6, Rome, Italy
I know, basic, but I mean come on- it's Rome. An established settlement for over 2700 years this city can't help but draw in people from across the globe to see everything it has to offer. The Colosseum, one of the seven modern wonders of the world, Europe's most visited tourist destination, is obviously the main attraction of the city, you really can't miss it. But the real key to the marvel of the Italian capital is the sheer quantity of things to do here: visit the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Pantheon; get lost in the gorgeous cobbled streets of the city,
indulge in the unmatched Italian cuisine at the birthplace of pizza and pasta, enjoy the beautiful buildings that bring the city to life, and get involved with the local bars, cafes and restaurants amongst other leisure activities Rome has to offer. There simply is no city in the world like it, a combination of dense, rich history and modern beauty. Of course, being the tourist hot-spot it is, it struggles with over-tourism; crowded streets of global visitors can retract from the appreciation of the beauty in front of us. I've included a statement at the end of this piece regarding that and how to deal with this as you embark on your upcoming travels.
Photograph- Trevi Fountain, Via Flavor of Italy Website
7, Valencia, Spain
Taking the final place on this list is Spain's 3rd largest city, Valencia. The perfect combination of modern, futuristic even architecture, and the brilliant Spanish constructions of years before, Valencia is a city which has long been in my sights for travel. Situated on Spain's East coast, and around 3 and a half hour's drive South of Barcelona, Valencia is a gorgeous city waiting to be explored, yet it often finds itself overshadowed by the likes of Madrid and Barcelona. One of the modern gems of Valencia is its 'City of Arts and Sciences', a major attraction of the city that looks straight out of the year 2100. Its futuristic design and avant-garde architecture earns itself a place as one of the 12 treasures of Spain; something that is not difficult to understand once you see it. But on the complete other side of this, we have the stunning Valencia Cathedral, finished in the 17th Century, a staple of the city and a symbol of the importance of Valencia's history. This city is so interesting because of the two completely juxtaposing sides to it, and they are both so rich and diverse to explore- so go for it, why not?
Photograph- Valencia, Via Spain-Holiday.com Website
So again, thank you for the read- I know it's been a long one but I hope you've found something of interest here. I mentioned earlier that I would make a note on the importance of avoiding over-tourism, and being as eco-friendly as possible when travelling. Climate change is something I feel very strongly about, and we all should- it is so worrying that we are heading towards a place where we are losing the only world that we have. So how can you be more environmentally friendly? Being conscious about your travel choices is a great place to start; travel by trains rather than on planes when you can; opt to walk or cycle around cities rather than take a cab or Uber; and in the cases where you need to use air travel, offset your carbon footprint by donating to approved websites. And on over-tourism, try to travel on shoulder seasons to larger cities, or search for alternatives to the major travel destinations when going abroad. I know it's difficult to be unselfish when travelling: you use your hard-earned money for this, and so you have the right to enjoy it, and by no means am I telling you to not go somewhere if that's where you want to go- but consider the impacts on local businesses and communities.
Cheers for the read,
EV.
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