Top 10 Places to See This Year

Caught the travel bug? I always have it. Here are some places you should check out this year to refresh your mind.

1) Dublin, Ireland

Grab a Guinness and hang out at a pub in Dublin. You’ll catch some of the best singers there. I caught a beautiful rendition of “Wish you were here by Pink Floyd”, and a traditional Irish song called “Black is the Color”.

I was hanging out in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland during one of my stops in Europe. I was talking to my AirBnB host about what places he recommends me visiting and he said to go check out Killiney because Bono lives there and maybe you’ll run into him. I got flashbacks to Gilmore Girls, when they took a detour during their European excursion to see if they’ll run into Bono at the Clarence hotel. I figured it was a good suggestion and thought I’d check it out.

Upon arriving, my search for a rockstar came to a halt but I found something even better. I walked down to the Pier and just kept walking along the Pier to see if I could find anything interesting. and BOOM. That view. It was the view from Killiney Beach.

2) Scotland

Yep. Scotland. Period. Rent a car and set out on your own expedition to find the Loch Ness, or Nessie, as we like to call her, a gentle and affectionate creature. Catch yourself a couple of castles along the way too. Just make sure to keep yourself driving on the left side of the road, or keep incoming traffic on your right side.

The trippiest part of driving on the other side of the road is the ROUNDABOUTS! I’ve missed a couple exits because the clockwise route in a roundabout was some real my mental gymnastics .

3) London, England

London is a huge city. There are so many cool places to roam around in. Get a taste of royalty walking around Kensington Gardens, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. Ride the double-decker buses around the city, black cabs, and the London Underground tube. Visit the Shakespeare Globe and right across from it Tate Modern.

London is soooo fun! and so large! Stay tuned for a full article on exploring London.

4) Barcelona, Spain

If you haven’t appreciated architecture before, you will once you get to Barcelona. Antoni Gaudi is the famous architect that as brought life into modern architecture in Spain. See La Sagrada familia, La Pedrera, and Park Guell. At night, enjoy an enchanting fountain show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.

5) Rome, Italy

BUONGIORNO A TUTTI! Rome is a great place to wander walking through ancient grounds. Naturally, you have to go to the Colosseum. Across the way, is an ancient city on Palatine Hill. On a hot summer day, get some refreshing gelato and make your way to the Spanish Steps for some shopping. And stop by at the Trevi fountain to make a wish.

6) Paris, France

Naturally, Paris is a fun stop to make along your European excursion. Check out the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Arc de Triomphe. You should also see La Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre and Saint-Chapelle for beautiful stained-glass artwork displayed on cathedrals.

7) Berlin, Germany

Berlin is an underrated stop in my opinion. For me, it’s home. Go to the Museum Island and check out incredible artwork, Brandenburg Gate, and the Holocaust Memorial. Get some delicious authentic döner kebab at Bali Döner or anywhere in Kreuzberg for the really good stuff. Explore the nightlife at the countless number clubs. Berghain - is one of the most exclusive clubs, so is KitKat for other reasons.

8) Prague, Czech Republic

Stroll through historic Prague with a Trdelnik in hand (a Czech cinnamon sugar pastry). Check out Charles Bridge and make your way to Prague Castle. On your way back, see the Astronomical Clock.

9) Vienna, Austria

One of my favorite places in Vienna was the Schönbrunn Palace. It is beautiful inside and the gardens are fantastic. There’s even a zoo and a maze inside the gardens. You get the best view of Schönbrunn from the top of the Gloriette (picture on the left).

10) Budapest, Hungary

Buda-pest. Did you know that Buda and Pest are two cities divided by the river that were combined into one to make Budapest? Spend the day at the Széchenyi Baths for some relaxation and detox at the thermal baths. Check out the Hungarian Parliament building and the Kings Castle.

Check out upcoming blog posts for detailed stops along each of these cities in Europe.