I have been in Europe for a while now. You have probably noticed that I still write about Thailand and on my social media, it’s all about Europe. I have a huge backlog of posts about the Land of Smiles, so trying to catch up on those, but since I’m on the old continent, I have been traveling a little and planning some more trips.
So, I have actively searched through blog posts and Pinterest posts in a lookout for inspiration. Recently I have found an article about luxury homes in Italy and have decided that I need to treat myself somehow this year and go to some places I have never been before. To give myself an extra boost I have decided to create my own list of my top dream vacations in Europe, start saving money and visit these places before I go back to Thailand again.
So, here you go – my personal bucket list for Europe! Don’t forget to comment and let me know where you would like to go this year.
Iceland seems to be the top destination for travelers nowadays. I actually want to visit the whole of Iceland, but this place got stuck in my mind. When I first saw a picture of it, I was in love straight away. What a view! The sandy beach is surrounded by tall rocky columns and the waves here are huge. From nearby Dyrholey – a pillar of black lava – you can see distant glaciers. It looks really romantic. I am even prepared to brave the cold weather to be able to see the dramatic landscape.
Old typical farm in Val d’Orcia (Tuscany, Italy) with yellow fields and winding road
I’ve always dreamed of going to Tuscany. Italy was my first foreign destination. I visited Rome and in the hotel lobby saw that it was possible to go to Tuscany and that it’s not that far from the capital. Unfortunately, at that time I was traveling on a budget and had a limited time. I went back home feeling in awe of Rome but also disappointed because I couldn’t see the other places I liked.
Now I can afford more and I can spend more time abroad, so I think that this year I will go to Tuscany and will rent a luxury villa there. It would be a great present for myself for my birthday!
I sometimes see a place in a magazine, or on tv and I love it so much that I decide to go there. It happened with Tuscany and it was the same with Madrid.
I once was looking for places to go in Europe and I found pictures of Madrid. I have been dreaming of going there ever since. Madrid doesn’t seem to have impressive historical sites, but it has a lot of culture. There are museums, galleries and events take place almost every day. I have recently heard from one of my students that Salvadore Dali used to study at a university there and as it’s my favourite painter, I want to go even more!
Ocean view from the cave at Praia do Beliche
This summer I am ready to discover Portugal. I have a whole list of places to see and things to do there. Living here gives me a great opportunity to visit the whole of the country. I heard that Faro is very busy during the summer, so I might wait until it is a bit quieter, but I cannot miss the chance of going there! I would love to see the yellow cliffs and the blue water. There are also some local attractions that look great and would keep me busy during my stay.
It is a shame to admit, but I have never been to Hungary. There are frequent flights from the UK and Poland, so I have had a chance to do it many times and yet I have never taken it. Since I am now living in Europe, I have decided that this year is the year! I really need to go there. I also heard that Budapest is an ideal destination for digital nomads, offering affordable cost of living, lots of coworking spaces and fast internet. Sounds like a perfect place for me!
Westminster Bridge at sunset, London, UK
If you follow this blog, you know that I lived in London for 10 years and quite recently I have visited it. I enjoyed my time so much that I really would like to go there again. Why? I think the city has a lot to offer to travelers. Yes, it is expensive and sometimes a little overwhelming, but overall it’s exciting and beautiful. I love to discover some unknown spots in the city and I really would like to do it more often.
I visited Berlin only once before when I was still at school. I heard that the city has changed a lot and it’s now a hub for young and talented. I would like to go for a few days and experience the vibe of the city. This time I would avoid all the historical places and only focus on culture and food.
To be honest my list of places to see this year is very long. I have at least 10 more destinations there, but these are my top seven. For the time being, I have been traveling quite extensively and I hope that I will have time and money to tick at least a few items from the above list.
And what about you? What destinations do you want to visit this year? Remember to leave a comment!