Stockholm is a city to just wander around and take in the views. Wherever we walked, I found myself saying “this looks like X city - but cleaner and with wider streets.” Stockholm builds off the architectural greats of all of Europe - but within a less polluted, more livable urban plan. The result is that everything you’ve come to expect - even the chain stores - just seem much nicer in Stockholm.
Read MoreVisby has one of the best preserved medieval quarters in Europe - and it now is seamlessly home to a modern, thriving beach town. Its 3.5 km city wall is almost entirely intact, the city plan is largely unchanged, there are hundreds of buildings that date back the 12th - 14th century, and the city center still has several stone ruins from the period. In August, there’s even a medieval festival!
Read MoreWhile Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, the district has so thoroughly caved to tourism that there is little local charm or economy left. It feels a bit like an amusement park or a singular attraction - a place you go to see but not to have a holistic experience of another place. Once you leave the Old Town, though, the modern spirit of Tallinn quickly.
Read MoreHelsinki’s urban core is surrounded on all sides by natural beauty. Head west, you can spend a day at a true sand beach. Head north, you have two lakes. Head east, you can take a ferry to one of the many islands. Head south, and you’ll get rocky sea views and places to swim. I think the best part of Helsinki is jumping to one of these four and then retreating back into the city for an urban night.
Read MoreFounded in 1201, Riga was a member of the Hanseatic League and is now the largest city in the Baltic States. The city itself feels like it’s half park - never cramped, never far from a green space. All of Riga is pedestrian friendly, bursting with stunning architecture, and it boasts one of the best food markets in Europe. Honestly, it’s just so damn liveable that I was in a state of pure delight.
Read MoreI had low expectations for Klaipeda and was surprised to find a charming city that prioritized green spaces and walkability. From an idyllic old town to a sculpture garden - the city out-delivers for its size. Memorable for me is that Klaipeda is home to the oldest brewery in Western Lithuania. Or, as I liked to quip: “Klaipeda is home to the oldest brewery in Klaipeda.”
Read MoreGdynia is a port city that largely built up during Poland’s communist rule - and it looks and feels like it. The buildings, public spaces, and art are uninspiring. If you find yourself there, I recommend heading to the farmer’s market (Miesian Hala Targowa), grabbing a generous serving of pierogies, and heading to the beach. Best yet, if you can, just head to Gdańsk.
Read MoreYou’ll most likely be in Rostock on a Baltic Sea cruise or to take a ferry into Scandinavia. The city makes for a charming day-trip - so it’s perfect for that kind of stop. Rostock was a major Hanseatic city and is home to the oldest university in northern continental Europe. You can spend a day taking a stroll through the historic sections of town - and then relax along the beach in Warnemünde.
Read MoreWhile Copenhagen may be best known for colorful houses along the canals, bikes, and the Little Mermaid statue, the city also delivers in some surprising ways - from the world’s third-oldest amusement park smack in the city-center, to a semi-autonomous commune, to plenty of spots to jump in the water to swim. It’s a great place to wander without purpose and let the city surprise you.
Read MoreWith over 1 million people, Dublin is your only option to explore a metropolitan Ireland. The city gives some of what you’d expect - like Guinness, Jameson, and places to listen to traditional Irish music - and also some unexpected wins - like socialized deer you can pet. I recommend just exploring, shopping, and drinking - and to not feel pressured to see all the sights, which can disappoint.
Read MoreI’m 3 months into my 16-month round the world trip, and I’ve found something to love everyplace I’ve been in 39 cities across 10 countries. Month three for me was about confronting deeply rooted self-destructive habit energies that crop up when I’m sick or moody. It was a month of tough introspection - and of big growth. This summary covers where I’ve been, what I’ve learned, and how I’ve grown.
Read MoreCork is not an exciting tourist city bustling with once in a lifetime sights. I think it’s important to not go in with that expectation. Nonetheless, it has a quiet, relaxing charm that you can sink into for a chill few days. Every other shop seemed to be a local cafe and that the city is full of two-story colorful homes. I’ll remember the calm that stretched over me as I wandered through the streets.
Read MoreMy first thought as I approached Edinburgh was “maybe I live here now.” It was simply the most magical place I’ve been to. From a street that inspired Diagon alley, to castle views nearly everywhere you go, to a mountain smack in the middle of the city - Edinburgh feels like a dream come true. The city is paradise - if paradise can be subject to Scotland’s chilly and wet weather.
Read MoreGlasgow deserves your time if you’re in Scotland. It won’t win on architecture, natural beauty or charm - but it bleeds culture. One way of describing its culture is: there’s a famous statue that is usually sporting a traffic cone as a hat. Another way: I found a queer, anarchist, Yiddish, pay-what-you-can vegan cafe - and it fit right in. The city is cool, authentic, and evolving.
Read MoreManchester was the world’s first industrial city - a former textile manufacturing hub. You can see this history in the city - from the grandeur of its libraries, to its newly repurposed warehouses, to its creative and quirky neighborhoods just starting to shine on their own. The city is more than its famous football teams; it’s a vibrant creative hub that is a delight to explore.
Read MoreEvery UK person I told I was going to Norwich asked me why. I’m a bit baffled by this because Norwich is super cool. It was the second largest city in the UK throughout the medieval period, and it now claims to have the most preserved medieval city center in the UK. The city has an effortless blend of new and old, leaving it charming and livable. AND it was full of painted dinosaurs!
Read MoreCambridge preserved its status as mainly a university city during the industrial era so it still feels like a college town through and through. The downtown cobbled, winding streets are still bustling with local businesses - and the nightlife is fairly calm. The result is a very quaint, idyllic place to stop for a day or two and step into a piece of history.
Read MoreImagine my delight when I arrived at a friend’s house outside of Oxford to find a golden limestone cottage in a village of 200 people, including a Baroness, where my friend raises chickens and bees. It was literally a British fantasy, only describable by my new favorite adjective - cotswoldsy. I think a trip to the UK would be lacking without being charmed by a market town in The Cotswolds.
Read MoreOxford can exude old-world charm or modern, soulless, corporate homogeneity. From Oxford University, to meadows full of cows and horses, to strips of big business and a mall that have come to replace Oxford’s lost auto manufacturing economy - Oxford forcefully juxtaposes where we’ve been with where we are. Depending on what you’re doing and your mood, it can be a delight or a downer.
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