Norway

Norway is a beautiful country full of fjords and unique activities!

Norway Tips:

• Traveling across Norway is not as convenient as the rest of Europe: There are trains between some destinations but they can be quite slow. You can rent a car to drive around the country but everything is quite spread out and there are not many roads. Between most spots I would recommend flying.

• This area of Europe is incredibly expensive. Lodging is pretty affordable but food, drinks, activities, and transportation are all very, very pricey.

Himkok

Oslo, Norway

Oslo gives off big city vibes while still being tiny and very walkable. It is more industrial and not quite as exciting as other parts of Norway.

• You can take the Flytoget express train into the city from airport or the local train for half the price and only 3 minutes longer. Google Maps won’t tell you this but the Ruter app will and you can purchase tickets on the app.

• Himkok: A hidden distillery and cocktail bar that is quite a vibe. The drinks are expensive but it is a fun experience and they are delicious.

• Koie Ramen Torggata: A ramen restaurant that is popular, extremely delicious, and well-priced.

• Mad Goat: A nice beer bar with patio and indoor seating with a great selection and a ton of taps.

• Stay at Comfort Hotel Xpress Central Station: This is a cheap and conveniently located hotel that is still clean and nice.

• Brewgata: Solid little beer bar with a good amount of taps.

• Oslo Opera House: Walk up onto the roof for a nice view of the city and wharf.

• Spor av Nord: This is a cute little café with cozy vibes. 

• Akershus Fortress: This is a national monument of a medieval castle. Norway’s Resistance Museum is inside the fortress. This is a very informative museum with quite a bit of reading but overall quite interesting.

• Aker Brygge: The wharf neighborhood is a nice area by the water with a lot of bars and restaurants.

• Viking Ship Museum: This highly rated museum is closed until 2027, so if you are visiting after that be sure to check it out.

• Henry and Sally’s: Mikkeller’s Norway beer bar.

Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø is a small, touristy town north of the Arctic Circle. It is very small and walkable, and if you rent a car expect to pay for parking everywhere. I found the area to be beautiful and the food and drink to be very underwhelming.

• There are some epic views if you are flying up on a clear day—try to get a window seat on the left side of the plane for the best vantage point.

• Chasing Lights Aurora Tour: This minibus tour to see the northern lights is a great experience. They are visible on clear nights if you are lucky from mid-September to early-April. The guide was knowledgeable and I was very impressed with how determined he was for us to see the aurora. Expect a late night and a unique adventure! We also saw reindeer and fjords on our tour.

• Fjellheisen: Take the cable car up to stunning views of the entire region. The ticket prices for the cable car are pricey so you can also save money (and get some steps in) by taking the Sherpa Stairs up or down, but be forewarned it’s 1,203 stairs though beautiful through Aspen trees in the fall!

• Explore the island of Sommerøy:

  • Hillesøya-Nordkollen Trail: This trail is 1.6 miles long and climbs 600ft of elevation gain in half of a mile. There is a rope to help guide you because it is incredibly steep, so know your limits—AllTrails says this is moderate and that is a boldfaced lie, this is basically rock climbing. The views are insane—the water around the island looks like the Caribbean. It takes about an hour to complete.

  • Sommarøy Arctic Hotel: This is a great spot to stay or to stop for lunch. The views from the patio are beautiful and the food is incredibly delicious.

  • Check out the Kattfjordeidet viewpoint on your way to/from the island.

  • Ersfjord viewpoint: A beautiful fjord view on the way to Sommerøy.

• Stay at Æra Panoramic Glass Lodge: This is a very unique stay about 30 minutes from town on the Barents Sea. It is a nice and very cool stay, but it is expensive for what you get.

• Risø Kaffebar: A nice spot for coffee and snacks. Everything is quite good and surprisingly affordable.

• Arctic Cathedral: A super unique and beautiful church. The price to enter is a bit steep but it is pretty neat to see.

• Tromsø Mikrobryggeri & Balthazar Vinbar: A beer and wine bar with a nice atmosphere.

• Cafe Sånn: Cozy little spot for food and drink.

• Northern Yachting Catamaran Fjordcruise: I wouldn’t fully recommend this, but it is an option! I found the tour to be a bit boring and the guide to be underwhelming. The are some nice views and you get to see Ramfjord, but it’s mostly the same view the entire journey.

• Polar Museum: This is essentially a museum about how man hunted everything in Svalbard. Would not recommend unless you like hunting/gore.

• I would not recommend staying at Clarion Collection Aurora: This hotel is a little dingy and outdated.

Pulpit Rock

Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger is a cute little touristy town on the coast. It is very compact and you can see everything by foot pretty quickly. Be forewarned that cruise ships dock here during the day, increasing the amount of tourists, but by the evening it is a quaint, charming town.

• When traveling to/from the airport, Flybussen is far more affordable than a taxi.

• Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) Trail: This trail is 5.9 miles long with 1,305ft of elevation gain and takes about 3 hours to complete. It is rated moderate, and most of that elevation comes in the first 1.5 miles with a very steep start. Your ascent takes you to Lysefjord with gorgeous views the entire way up to the dramatic cliffs. This is a very popular trail and the trailhead is built up as a little village because there is so much foot traffic.

  • To get here without a rental car you can book a tour or just a bus transfer, which is what I did with Pulpit Rock Tours. There are limited times, so be sure to plan out your day in advance. It is an expensive ride and about 45 minutes each way from Stavanger.

• Fargegaten: A very cute neighborhood with lots of bars to hop around. It is nicknamed “the colorful street” because the bricks are painted beautifully. A great area to hang out at night with lots of patio seating.

  • Bøker og Børst is a nice beer bar here

  • Bella Rose is a cute pink spot for cocktails and wine here

• Gamle Stavanger: Historic area with old wooden houses to meander around.

• Byparken: A small, pretty park in the heart of the city. 

• Thon Hotel Stavanger: This hotel is in a great, central location. There is a bus stop right outside of the front door and everything is very walkable. You even have meals, water and ice included in your stay.

• Sverd i Fjell: A famous spot with 3 swords at the beach. It is very touristy so I did not go out of the way to see this, but you can actually catch a peak on the bus from the airport on the left side.

• Headed to Bergen? Fjord Line is a great way to travel between Stavanger and Bergen. It is quite cheap and has nice touches with beautiful views along the journey. It’s essentially a coastline tour + transport for the cost of your ticket. The only inconvenient thing is the port in Stavanger is not close to downtown.

Bergen, Norway

Bergen is a beautiful, touristy town surrounded by 7 mountains. It is very small and walkable.

• Download the Skyss Billet app for public transit tickets.

• Take the ferry into town—the Fjord Line port in Bergen is located in town and a quick walk to get anywhere you need.

• Vidden Trail from Ulriken to Fløyen: This epic hike is a point to point trail taking you from the summit of Mt. Ulriken to the summit of Mt. Fløyen using the cable car and funicular. It is 10.2 miles long with 1,318ft of elevation gain and takes about 4 hours to complete. There are stunning views throughout the journey that change drastically—highly recommend!

  • Alternatively you could just take the cable car up Ulriken via Ulriken643 or the Fløibanen funicular up Fløyen, or you can also just hike the Floyen Trail or just hike the Ulriken Trail.

• Bryggen: UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old buildings that are colorful and now house bars and restaurants. Madam Felle is a good one to check out.

• Apollon: A great beer bar with 46 taps and a record shop.

• Take a Fjord Cruise: There are numerous options, but I booked with Rodne through Osterfjord and the Mostraumen straits. It is a pretty ride with unique views and a good length of time.

• Pinocchio Mat og Vinbar: The restaurant has immaculate cave-like vibes. Their tapas-style menu is full of delicious eats and they have a large selection of wine.

• Pingvinen: Tasty little gastropub with 15 beers on tap and a full food menu.

• Lucky: The Bergen taproom of Lervig Brewery. A solid spot with guest taps too.

• Last Monkey: A fun little cocktail bar.

• Løvetann Café & Bistro: A cute little spot for lunch or coffee away from the crowds.

• Bergenhus Fortress: This historic attraction was previously part of the Norwegian Castle. It is home to the Rosenkrantz Tower.

• Byparken: The city’s main park that occasionally hosts festivals and events.

• Lysverket Kode: An art museum with 3 buildings that is nice and informative.

• Nøstet/Nordnes neighborhood: Explore this old neighborhood with wooden houses—similar vibes to Gamle Stavanger just with less tourists.

• USF Verftet: Unique venue on the water with a couple of bars. Good spot for sunset.

• Gyro House: A solid spot for a casual, affordable lunch.

Finland and Sweden

Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden are two Pretty Scandanavian cities on the water

Finland and Sweden Tips:

• Both Helsinki and Stockholm are quite small and easily explored on foot and in a short period of time.

• This area of Europe is incredibly expensive. Lodging is pretty affordable but food, drinks, activities, and transportation are all very, very pricey.

• Saunas are extremely popular in the Nordic region of Europe so if that is your thing you can pack your trip with them!

Ateljee Rooftop Bar

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is a nice clean and compact city on the water.

• Download the HSL app for public transit. You can use this for the train from the airport to the city as well.

• If you are traveling between Helsinki and Stockholm I would recommend the overnight ferry to get a beautiful cruise through the islands + overnight accommodations all for a cheap price. I took the Viking Line, and Tallink Silja is another option.

• Beer Room Haka/Oluthuone Haka: A fun beer bar in the heart of the Kallio neighborhood with a great beer selection.

• SalamaNation: A great beer bar—pro tip get pizza delivered to you from next door at Restaurant Argegno.

• Uppenski Cathedral: A beautiful cathedral worth checking out.

• Stay at Hotel Indigo: This is a nice hotel in the heart of the city center. It is walkable to nearly everything you’ll want to explore.

• Esplanadi: A pretty green space in the city center with art installations.

• Helsinki Cathedral: Another beautiful cathedral to check out.

• Ateljee Rooftop Bar: A really nice rooftop bar with crazy views. Go up the spiral staircase after you get off the elevator for the best spots. They have a few different seating options both inside and out.

• Lazy Fox: A tasty spot for breakfast with nice vibes.

• Pien Shop & Bar: A solid beer bar and bottle shop in the heart of the city.

• Suomenlinna: This island is a UNESCO World Hertiage Site and can be reached via ferry, which runs every 15 minutes.

• Harju 8: A great little café overlooking a park serving up small plates to mainly locals.

• Old Market Hall: A historic food hall near the port.

• Beer Restaurant Pikkulintu Ruttopuisto: A solid beer bar with chill vibes.

• Restaurant Juova Hanahuone: A beer bar with a solid selection in the Kaisaniemi neighborhood.

• Kaisla: A beer bar with a full food menu and nice patio in the Kaisaniemi neighborhood.

• Hietaranta Beach: A nice beach with volleyball courts and different amenities.

  • Sibelius Monument: A unique, neat monument near the beach.

• Kallio neighborhood: I found this “hipster neighborhood” to be overhyped with not much to do, but Citybox Helsinki is a good basecamp if you decide to stay over here which is very affordable.

• Puu-Vallila: Helsinki’s wooden house district is historic but not worth venturing too far out of your way for.

  • If you do venture to Puu-Vallilia, Bar Petiit is a little bar on the corner with a wine-heavy menu and plant-filled interior.

• Temppeliaukio Church: A unique church in the rocks—not sure it is worth the admission fee but it is pretty cool to see.

• Museum of Contemporary Art: I would only recommend this if you love contemporary art, otherwise it is not worth the cost of admission.

• Skip Helsinki City Museum: This is a free museum but very lame, I would not recommend it.

• National Museum of Finland: I have heard good things but this is closed until 2027, so if you’re reading this in the future check it out and let me know how it is.

• Sightseeing cruises are popular here as well but since I took the ferry to Suomenlinna and took the cruise from Helsinki to Stockholm I got a pretty good sightseeing experience—if you’re just flying in and out or training, it may be worth checking the tours out.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is a beautiful little city on an archipelago. You can see it all in just a day or two.

• Download the SL app for public transit. You can take the express train to airport but it is a little pricey. Also consider taking the train to your next destination.

• Eat some cinnamon buns—this is very Swedish, they are everywhere, and they are delicious.

• Gamla Stan: This is the old town of Stockholm which can be quite touristy but also charming.

• Stigbergets Fot: A great brewery and beer bar with 50+ taps and a food menu as well. It is a popular spot with solid beers.

• Omnipollos Hatt: Omnipollo is one of the best breweries in Europe, and their Stockholm taproom is a cool little spot with solid beers and a pizza menu.

• Stay at Hotel Frantz: It is a beautiful, trendy hotel in a fantastic location while still being very affordable.

• Fotografiska Museum: A small but neat museum with 4 exhibits that is a little pricey but enjoyable.

• The Royal Palace: A massive structure with numerous buildings to explore: The Treasury is home to the crowns and jewels. The Hall of State is where business gets kicked off. The Apartments are very fancy and arguable the main attraction. Museum Tre Konor is essentially the construction of the palace. Riddarholmen is the church with a beautiful exterior and underwhelming interior.

• Barrels Burgers and Beer: A beer bar and burger restaurant in Gamla Stan with Mariatorgets Mikrobryggeri beers. Solid spot.

• National Museum: Nice art museum.

• Monteliusvägen: A walking path with elevated views of the city that is popular for sunset.

Paris, France

Paris is usually a top destination when visiting Europe and for good reason—it is gorgeous and full of things to see and do!

City of Lights Tips: 

• You do not need a car anywhere in Europe. Period. Point Blank. Simple. Even the cute little towns you want to visit you can do so on public transport. Use public transportation or Ubers/taxis if you’re fancy.

  • For public transport your tickets work on both the metro and buses, they are 1.90 each 

• If you’re flying in, Charles De Gaulle Airport is 45 minutes north of the city. Le Bus Direct is $18 for a one way adult ticket. The pick up is directly out front and it comes every half hour. Follow the signs for the bus and you can pay either at the bus counter or the ticket machine.

  • You can also take the metro into the city depending on where you are staying. Google Maps can give you the best option to your destination for which form of public transit is best!

• I found 3 days to be the perfect amount of time for me in Paris to see and do everything that I wanted. Some people spend 3 days just in The Louvre, so it really just depends on what your goals are.

• Museum Pass: I usually don’t do museum or city passes but it financially made sense with all that I wanted to see in Paris so I would recommend looking into it. You can do a 2, 4, or 6 day pass and get it at any participating attraction. I got mine at The Louvre and it was super easy there.

• London is a super quick train ride away and is one of my favorite cities! Check out my guide here! I enjoyed exploring the Alsace region of France after my time in Paris—check out my full guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Paris Recommendations: ​

• La Fine Mousse: A craft beer bar and sister restaurant across the street from each other. I visited the little rustic bar that has 20 taps of all great beers! They even had the ever-popular Cantillon on tap when I visited.

• Liquiderie: An awesome craft beer shop and bar. They have a fantastic selection of beers, three taps, and a small food menu. It is a cute little spot right in the heart of the Folic-Mericourt neighborhood. Their staff is super nice as well!

• Musee d’Orsay: An art museum in an old railway station. I loved this museum—the space is awesome and there is some amazing artists on display. My favorite area was the 5th floor gallery!

  • This was the longest I waited to get into any museum even with my museum pass, but I went on a Tuesday when The Louvre is closed, so if you have the option avoid Tuesdays so the masses don’t go to The Orsay with you. The Orsay is closed Mondays—so try to visit Wednesday-Sunday if possible.

• Maison BAPBAP: A tiny little brewery with a super chill taproom and a small food menu. A 5 minute walk from La Fine Mousse!

  • Hop Malt Market is a bottle shop next door as well!

• Sainte-Chapelle: A gorgeous church! Be sure to go upstairs as well, the stairs are on your left when you walk in. The museum pass saved me a lot of time here as well

Top Touristy Paris Spots Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• The Louvre: A must! So much art, be sure to get a map when you go in. Expect crowds always. I HIGHLY recommend reserving a time slot ahead of time online, which you can do here. You get to go in a much shorter line. You can also go in the back entrance through an underground mall, The Carrousel du Louvre.

  • Closed on Tuesdays!

• Arc de Triomphe: Awesome views of the city from the top, definitely try to go on a clear day! If you have a museum pass you can skip both lines here. Access via the underground tunnel on the Avenue de la Grande Armee side of the circle.

• Eiffel Tower: You can go up the tower for a fee and for a large chunk of your time, but I would recommend just hanging out in the gardens in front instead. Be aware of panderers in the area, they are quite annoying, but bring a picnic & some drinks and enjoy the view!

• Jardin des Tuileries: Right near The Louvre, these gardens are super pretty and a great place to relax

• Notre Dame Cathedral: Closed due to the fire, but still worth walking by as they work to repair

• Explore the Latin Quarter: A bustling neighborhood full of bars and restaurants. Rue Mouffetard is a great street to explore here.

• Luxembourg Gardens: Pretty gardens to relax in near the Latin Quarter

• Pont de l’Alma Bridge: A historic bridge and a good spot for pictures of the Eiffel Tower 

• Ô Chateau: A wine bar that offers wine tastings. I would recommend getting a flight to try a few different things. They also do a wine and cheese pairing lunch and dinner if you’re looking to treat yourself (it is quite pricey). Overall it is a bit touristy and a bit pricey, but I did enjoy my wine flight

Sainte-Chapelle

Other Things To Do in Paris:​​

• Mozaic: A craft beer shop and bar. They have a great selection, including Cantillon, and a few beers on tap as well

• Explore the Folic-Mericourt neighborhood: A cute area with a bunch of bars and restaurants

• Paname Brewing Company: A brewery on a canal that is quite touristy and overpriced, but a cool place to hang out with solid beers. They have pizza and other food from 3pm onward.

• La Cave de Bulles: A craft beer bottle shop with a few taps and good beer selection. The space is a bit odd if you’re looking to enjoy something onsite as there is only one table

• Le Willi’s Wine Bar: A famous wine bar known for their posters, it can be a bit touristy but overall it was a nice spot for a glass of wine

• We Are Brewers (WAB): A brewery with solid beers, happy hour, and a small food menu.

• Explore the Montemarte neighborhood: Some cute cobblestoned streets full of bars and restaurants

• Sacre Coeur: A large church on a hill. The inside is nothing special but the outside is gorgeous. Free to visit!

• The Shoah Memorial: Paris’s Holocaust Museum. Not as impressive as what I’ve seen in some other cities, but it is free and if you haven’t visited many before it is worth a stop!

• Explore the Pletzl neighborhood: A cool area with lots of bars and restaurants

A Day Trip to Fontainebleau:

• I chose to visit Château de Fontainebleau over the Palace of Versailles because it is less touristy and crowded.

• To get to Fonainebleau:

  • Go to the Gare de Lyon Station and then follow the signs for the main line train. There are ticket machines right by the platforms, get a ticket towards either Montereau, Montargis, or Migennes. Make sure to validate your ticket at a machine before boarding. The train takes about 45 minutes and you will get off at Fontainebleau Avon.

  • From the train station take the #1 bus towards Les Lilas or you can walk 35 minutes to the Chateau. Quai 1 is where the bus picks up outside of the train station, it comes every 15-20 minutes. You can check the schedule posted at the stop to see when the next arrival is. You use the same tickets for this bus as your Paris public transit tickets, just be sure to validate it when you get on.

  • Get off at the Chateau stop and use Hotel de Londres as your destination to walk to—it is very confusing to enter the Chateau, the main entrance is directly across from this hotel so that is much easier

• You can use your Museum Pass here as well!

• It is a very pretty chateau and the grounds are gorgeous as well. There are information cards throughout and audio guides as well.

• To return to the train station you will get on the #1 bus again from the numerous stops throughout town towards Avon. The last stop is the train station!

Alsace, France

Alsace is a region full of adorable little villages for you to explore—with a glass of wine in hand of course!

Alsace Tips: 

• Make sure to drink the local wines! This area is bursting with wineries producing some delicious vino

  • Gewürtztraminer and Riesling wines are the main wines produced in this region. They also have unique wine glasses here too that are smaller and have a long green stem

• Overall there is an extremely heavy German influence in Alsace since it is nestled on the border—you’ll see riit in the architecture, food, and drink especially

• Be sure to try Tarte Flambee/Flammekueche: Very thinly rolled out dough topped with cheese/cream and topped with onions and bacon. There are many varieties of this with different toppings

• Trains between Strasbourg and Colmar (the two biggest cities in the area) run every 30 minutes and cost ~$27 round trip. You can grab a ticket at the station or use the Trainline website or app which is easier to navigate

• It is definitely not necessary to have a car when visiting this region (or anywhere in Europe in my opinion). The wineries that this region is famous for are all in the villages and walk-able, not up on a hill an hour outside of the city like a lot of places

• To explore the smaller villages from Colmar you have two bus options (the villages are too small for train stations):

  • Local bus—Fluo Grande Est: I chose this option because the timing was better for what I wanted to do. You can see the stops and times on the website in advance and they are posted at each stop as well

    • If you are starting in Colmar take a right out of the train station towards the bus loop and Line 106 is the last post on the right which makes the loop between Colmar, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé.

    • Make sure you have cash for the bus. You can buy a day pass for $15 or pay for each journey individually

  • Hop on hop off style bus—Kutzig: This is obviously the more touristy option, but the prices are the same for either one. This bus runs less frequently but goes to more places

• Each city and village is quite small, you can see a lot in a day or two

Colmar

Strasbourg RecommendationS:

• You can walk everywhere in Strasbourg, but if you need to hop on public transit there are trams and buses all over

• If you’re in town during a busy time (I was there during a German holiday) consider making reservations for dinner, places were packed!

• Sights to see while wandering the small town:

  • Barrage Vauban: A historical covered bridge that you can walk on top of

  • Ponts Couverts: Where the bridges connect, leading into Petite-France

  • Petite-France: The central toursity area of town with photogenic canals

  • Place Klebar: The main square of town

  • Place Gutenberg: Another large square with a historic carousel

  • Cathedrale Notre Dame: Absolutely stunning. You can see the Cathedral from all over town (it actually used to be the tallest in the world), but it’s worth getting up close and personal to see the detailed design. You can also go up the Cathedral for views of the city

  • Palais Rohan: An archaelogical, decorative arts, and fine arts museum

  • Place du Marche Gayot: A cute little tucked away square with lots of restaurants

  • Place Broglie: Another square, this one has a frequent market

  • Neustadt: The “German Quarter” across the river. The gardens of Place de la République when you cross over the river are a nice area to sit and enjoy the city

  • Eglise Reformee Saint-Paul: A beautiful church on the river

  • Krutenau neighborhood: Across the river, this area is more local

  • Le Comptoir d’Eugene: A brewery with traditional Alsace food

Gewürtztraminer

Colmar Recommendations:

• Colmar is a small city south of Strasbourg that is a good jumping off point for the nearby villages. I would recommend having your base in Strasbourg and taking the quick train to Colmar, wandering around town a bit, then jumping on the bus to explore the villages

  • The city center is a fifteen minute walk from the train station so it’s easy to explore without needing transit

• La Petite Venice: The main area of town with quite literal gondolas to make you feel like you’re in well… a petite Venice! It is a touristy area but it’s worth swinging through

Brasserie du Vignoble

Riquewihr Recommendations:

• A tiny little village that is absolutely adorable and absolutely touristic

• There are tons of wine bars to enjoy some of the local wines at, all very reasonably priced

• Brasserie du Vignoble: An awesome little brewery and beer garden overlooking the vineyards. They have three beers on tap and a bottle selection

• Hotel Restaurant Au Cerf: I enjoyed a fantastically priced cheese plate and glass of wine on the front deck here. The signs out front just say Hotel Wistropub as a heads up.

Colmar

Ribeauvillé:

• A slightly bigger, slightly less touristy village in the area

• Wander through, have a glass of wine, and admire the architecture

Obernai:

• Another cute little village

• Fun fact: the main square has had a market every Thursday since 1301!

Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne, or Luzern, depending on where you’re reading this is absolutely gorgeous

Lucerne Tips: 

• Switzerland is insanely expensive. I’m sure you’ve heard how expensive it is before, but truly it is the most expensive place I have ever been. Be prepared.

  • Also on the money front, Switzerland does not use Euros like most of the continent, they use Swiss Francs. Personally I did not need cash for anything, so it was not an issue

• I stayed at Hotel Bellevue which was just outside of the main city center via an easy bus ride. The views of the lake and mountains were really great!

  • Most hotels come with a Lucerne Visitor Card that gets you free access to public transportation and discounts on various attractions

• Overall the city is tiny, you can see it all in 24 hours!

• The city is quite touristy overall which is not my favorite vibe, but it was nice that English was everywhere as a result

• If you’re on a Swiss adventure, check out my guide to Zurich here!

Adventures & Ales Top Lucerne Recommendations: ​

• Relax by the water and soak in the gorgeous views of Lake Lucerne and the Alps!

• Rathaus Brauerei: Brewery on the water lots of outdoor seating. Get. The. Soup. It is basically a mixture of beer cheese and potato soup and truly incredible!

  • All of the other breweries in town had really weird hours so I wasn’t able to visit them but as a heads up there are a couple others

• Bierliebre & Friends: Craft beer bar also on the water right next to Rathaus Brauerei

• Pastarazzi: Super fresh pasta restaurant where you build your own dish

Rathaus Brauerei

Top Touristy Spots in Lucerne Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Wander the town! Lucerne is really small and you can walk everywhere very easily. Here are some highlights to see:

  • Chapel Bridge: A historic covered bridge—be sure to actually walk across it to see the inside

  • Spreuer Bridge: A second, smaller covered bridge

  • Museggmauer: The old city wall. It is a relatively steep climb up but absolutely worth it for the views of the city

  • Weinmarkt: One of the main squares

  • Rathaus Stadt Luzern: Old town hall building

  • Kornmarkt: Another large city square

  • Jesuit Church: A pretty church overall but nothing overly impressive

  • St Peter’s Chapel: Another historic church, right next to the covered bridge

Mount Rigi Views

Go up a mountain!

• I chose Rigi and Pilatus is another popular option.

  • There are several different ways you can choose to go up Mount Rigi—there’s a combination of trains, cogwheel, boat, cable car, or if you’re extremely ambitious—hiking!

    • For my route up I took the Voralpen Express for a short but gorgeous ride to the Arth-Goldau stop to switch to the Rigi Cogwheel that leads you directly up to the summit. This process takes around two hours to get to the top of Rigi from Lucerne.

      • The signage to the cogwheel is not great at Arth-Goldau as a forewarning, it is up above the rest of the normal trains.

  • The views from the top of Rigi are stupendous. They are absolutely breathtaking in each direction! It is freezing at the top of the mountain, as is the case with most mountains, so be sure to dress in layers

  • There is a restaurant at the summit that you can grab a hot chocolate, beer, snacks, or a full meal at. I would recommend planning for an hour at the summit, as the cogwheel runs on the hour

  • For my journey down I took the cogwheel to the Vitznau station then took the boat from Vitznau back to Lucerne. The cogwheel ride down provided gorgeous views—I would recommend sitting on the right side for the best vantage points

    • The boat ride was pretty, though not as “epic” as I thought it might be. When you buy your ticket you choose first class (upper deck) or second class (lower deck), the views are not drastically different from either

  • Overall the round trip journey was really quite expensive (almost $150) which is way more than I would’ve liked to pay but as I said above, Switzerland is really expensive so it was to be expected. It was my favorite thing I did in Switzerland—getting into the Alps was worth it for me, but just be aware of what you’re getting yourself into

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is a cosmopolitan city nestled on Lake Zurich with distinct neighborhoods to explore

Zurich Tips: 

• Switzerland is very expensive. I am a hustler and usually am able to do trips pretty cheaply (even in Australia), but Switzerland was shockingly expensive, so be prepared

• A lot of places have limited hours in Zurich. Sundays are extremely quiet in the city and a lot of places are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as well

• If you are flying in or out of Zurich it is a very easy train ride to/from the airport that takes 10 minutes and costs ~$7

  • Trainline is my favorite website to book European train tickets through. They also have an app so you can quickly and easily buy tickets while on the go abroad

• Zurich is quite small. There are some distinct neighborhoods to check out but overall a day or two is sufficient time to see it all

• Personally I did not love Zurich as much as some other European cities. It lacked character to me and felt a little blah overall—if you’re only making one stop in Switzerland I would recommend Lucerne! Check out my Lucerne recommendations here!

Adventures & Ales Top Zurich Recommendations: ​

• The International Beer Bar: A very fun spot with 8 taps and a plethora of bottles. The beer selection is fantastic, the staff is super nice, and they have a little outside patio as well. My favorite spot in Zurich!

• Frau Gerolds Garden: A fun beer garden in a shipping container development. As a heads up the beer garden closes based on weather

• Eldorado Craft Beer Bar: A chill spot with 101 beers, four of which are on tap. Occasionally they have live music as well

• Vineria Centrale: A cozy Italian bar with tasty food and a lively atmosphere

• Wander Zurich-West: An industrial neighborhood with lots of cool bars and restaurants to pop into

Top Touristy Spots in Zurich Actually Worth Visiting: ​

• Wander District 1, the center part of Zurich with winding cobblestone streets

  • Across the river the Niederdorf area has more bars and restaurants than District 1

• Lindenhof Hill: A nice spot for views of the city

• Zurich has lots of nice clock towers. The Church of Saint Peter and Fraumünster Church both have nice ones to see!

• Hang out at Lake Zurich. Get out on the water or sit along the banks

• Grossmünster Church: Pay 5 Euros or Swiss Francs (cash only) to go up the tower. It is quite a lot of steps to get to the top but provides the best views of the city and lake

  • Be sure to check out the colorful status men out front at the church as well

• Swiss National Museum: It has high reviews but was closed while I was in town

The International Beer Bar

Other Things to do in Zurich: ​​

• Spend a morning at Rhinefall: A waterfall about an hour north of the city. There are two sides to the falls, Neuhausen and Schloss Laufen, I chose to visit the Neuhausen side, but you can do either and there is also a long bridge connecting the two sides that you can cross to visit both if you want. The falls are pretty but it was touristy overall

  • There is a castle on the Schloss Laufen side so I chose Neuhausen so I could see the castle alongside the falls. There are also lots of benches, a restaurant at the falls, and boat tours on the Neuhausen side. The town of Neuhausen itself is slightly larger as well.

  • A round trip train ticket from Zurich is ~$50. It is about a 15 minute walk to the falls from Neuhausen station with clear signs to guide you

    • While here you can hop on a quick bus to the neighboring town of Schaffhausen, ten minutes away. It is a little bit bigger and has some spots for lunch, but it’s nothing too special

• Ambrosi: A slightly more affordable Italian restaurant with tasty food

• Andorra: Another beer bar with a solid selection

• Sasu Juice Bar: A good spot for a healthy lunch or smoothie

• Brauerei Steinfels: A very swanky brewery with six house beers and a list of Brlo beers from neighboring Germany. They have a food menu, but as a heads up the kitchen has limited hours. There are fun neon lights all around the space and the beers were solid, but the service I received was sub-par

• Bauschanzli Beer Garden: It looks like a cool spot on the water but it was closed while they were setting up for Oktoberfest while I was visiting unfortunately

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is probably my favorite city in the world. Take my bias into account, or better yet, go and decide it's also your new favorite city.

Barcelona Tips: 

• Barcelona is incredibly walkable, so be sure to pack your appropriate shoes

• Catalan is the main language here, not Spanish, so don't be surprised when you see and hear it being used. Basically everyone speaks both Catalan and Spanish but there is a lot of tension between Catalonia and the rest of Spain

• There is a super convenient shuttle to and from the airport called the A2 I would highly recommend

Adventures & Ales Top Barcelona Recommendations: 

• Abirradero: A brewery popular with locals, sit outside and enjoy a flight (I also highly recommend their cheese plate obviously)

• Casa Batllo: My favorite of the Gaudi works, check out this gorgeous house 

• Barcelona Beer Co: Definitely catering to American tourists, but they make delicious beer so it is worth your time

• Barceloneta: Time to hit the beach! Marvel at the yachts in the harbor, wade into the sea, then grab a drink at Arenal Bar right on the sand. Preferably cava sangria [yes you read that right. sangria made with champagne]

• El Born neighborhood: the more "hipster" neighborhood full of bars and restaurants 

• Eixample neighborhood: home to some of the Gaudi works and a slew of restaurants 

• Palau de la Musica: See a show in this gorgeous music hall, tickets can actually be reasonably priced

Barceloneta

Top Tourist Spots in Barcelona Actually Worth Visiting: 

• La Sagrada Familia: The infamous church that may never be finished. It's exterior facade is one of the most intriguing things I've ever seen

• Park Guell: The classic Gaudi park in the north of the city. They limit the number of people that can enter per hour, so book your tickets ahead of time and try to choose an off-peak time

• Cathedral of Barcelona: Absolutely stunning

• La Boqueria: Food market right off Las Ramblas

Park Guell

Other Things to do in Barcelona:​

• Take a peek at the Arc de Triomf. Pro Tip: Go early before there are too many people passing through

• Maestro Brewery: Centrally located and solid beers

• Casa Mila: The least exciting of the Gaudi works, but still much more interesting than your average building

• Garage Beer Co: Average brewery with some interesting collaboration beers

• Guell Palace: Worth a quick look while you're meandering the city

Besalu

Day Trips from Barcelona: 

• Get into the Pyrenees Mountains! 

  • I went with Explore Cataluyna and we went to the medieval village of Besalu, then took the curviest road up a mountain to the tiny town of Rupit, then ventured to Tavertet after stopping on the mountain side to gaze at the view

Skip: ​

• Las Ramblas: Sure you might be thinking "but I have to see Las Ramblas while in Barcelona!" Okay fine, but make it brief. This famous street is extremely far from the "real" Barcelona. Do not eat or drink anything while near this area unless you just like wasting money

• Montjuic: This castle and park is pretty overrated and the funicular ride up to it is a short but expensive ride

• Picasso Museum: If you're a big art fan, go for it. If you're an average art fan like I am, I found the museum less than worth the relatively high price and extremely long line to enter

Zaragoza, Spain

Zaragoza is Spain's fifth largest city with a gorgeous cathedral and small town vibes

Zaragoza Tips: 

• Zaragoza is small enough to see everything you want to see in 24 hours, don't plan on spending much more than that 

• The train station, Delicias, is open air so it is very hot or very cold depending on what the temperature is outside, be prepared

Adventures & Ales Top Zaragoza Recommendations: 

• Catedral del Salvador: The most amazing church I have ever seen (including the Vatican)

• El Tubo neighborhood: Windy streets full of bars and restaurants bursting with locals and tourists alike

The Classic Tourist Spots in Zaragoza Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar: In the main square with the cathedral, you can't miss it!

• Go to the Piedra Stone Bridge to see the Cathedral from another angle 

Catedral del Salvador

Other Things To Do in Zaragoza:​

• Aljaferia Palace: Medieval Islamic palace, slightly outside the center of the city

• Museo del Teatro de Caesaraugusta: An ancient Roman theater that makes you question what country you're really in

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian is a super cute little beach town in northeast Spain

San Sebastian Tips: 

• There are two different train stations for this small city so that can be relatively confusing. Make sure you are going to the correct one for your train!

• It gets PACKED on La Concha during peak beach going weekends, so try to hit it up during the week or in the off-season

Adventures & Ales Top San Sebastian Recommendations: 

• La Concha: The ever-so-popular crescent shaped beach is the hub of energy. Hit the beach, lounge in the park, grab a drink at one of the neighboring bars, or even take it in from the carousel 

• Sakona Coffee Roasters: Fantastic coffee and breakfast spot

• Monte Igueldo: Hike or take the funicular up the left mountain overlooking the bay, city, and surrounding mountains

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Constitution Square: Check out the old bullfight seat numbers above the restaurants!

• San Telmo Museum: A museum of the Basque Country

Other Things to Do in San Sebastian: ​

• The East side neighborhood is full of delicious restaurants! My favorite one closed down, but there are a plethora to choose from!

• Playa Zurriola: Check out the surfers on the less popular beach catching the wicked waves that come in

• Miramar Palace: Bavarian style building and park. A quick stop on your way to Monte Igueldo

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has a nice beachy vibe to it with a mix of Latin and European culture. The best of all worlds? I think it might be. 

Lisbon Tips: 

• Dude. This is a weird thing, but also might save your life. The sidewalks are made of tiles. These tiles are INCREDIBLY slippery. Rain, sun, it doesn't matter. My first day in Lisbon I tallied the number of times I almost fell on my face from slipping all over the place and it was 26. Good luck!

  • Lisbon is also really hilly. So prep for sliding down a hill, whether you're actually trying to go up or down. 

Adventures & Ales Top Lisbon Recommendations: 

• Sit by the river (or really anywhere outside) and relax with a drink. Preferably sangria. Lisbon has a great culture of outdoor drinking since their weather is pretty much always perfect. 

• Mercado de Fusao: Outdoor park/food trucks/music/bars, definitely a cool spot

Top Touristy Spots in Lisbon Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Just poke your head into a sardine store. There's a bunch. It's crazy to see

• Praca do Comercio: The center of the city, right on the river, surrounded by gorgeous buildings

• Sao Roque Church: Gorgeous interior + the park right behind the church provides great views of the city

Other Things to do in Lisbon:​

• Barrio Alto neighborhood: Lots of bars and restaurants, but it is definitely more popular at night than during the day

• Time Out Market: Tons of food options and generally a pretty cool spot​

• Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Monument to Discoveries: All three of these attractions are near each other outside of the central city. All three are worth a visit, but if you go to the Monument to Discoveries don't pay to take the elevator (unless you need to) it's not worth it and you can easily get sucked into it because it does not seem like you have a choice

Cabo de Roca

Day Trips from Lisbon: 

• Sintra: Check out Quinta da Regaleira, it's essentially a small castle and a pretty park, then wander around the city center

• Cabo da Roca: The end of the world! That's what Europeans thought until they discovered the Americas. Personally I combined this with my trip to Sintra and it worked out very well. 

• Cascais: A gorgeous beach town a short train ride from Lisbon. Check out Boca do Inferno and then lounge on the beach!

Porto, Portugal

Porto is a beautiful yet gritty city filled with colorful buildings and fantastic tile work. In my opinion it feels much more South American than European!

Porto Tips: 

• This may be obvious but… drink port. Port wine is definitely an acquired taste, with the heavy alcohol taste really shocking you at first, but after a couple samples it'll taste smooth!

• Make sure you explore the areas not centered around the river too. It's easy to just marvel at the river and the surrounding landscape, but there is lot to see in the rest of the city as well! However, Porto is a little sketchier than other European cities, so make sure you're careful, especially at night!

• If you're a vegetarian (like me) : good luck. I've never struggled to eat somewhere as much as I did in Porto. If you see a menu that has food you can eat, jump on it! 

Adventures & Ales Top Porto Recommendations: 

• Ramos Pinto: My top recommendation for port wineries (and trust me, I tried a lot)

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Porto:

• Take the tram to the Atlantic and hang out at the beach!

• Calem: Another good, but touristy, port tour and tasting

Other Things to do in Porto:​

• Burmester: Another solid port winery with a pretty interesting tour

• Clergio's Tower: Climb up to overlook the city! [You have to pay, heads up]

Skip: ​

• Crystal Palace Gardens: Totally not worth your time and energy

• Bom Sucesso Market: Hot, sweaty, not good food. Honestly a joke. Skip it. 

Bratislava, Slovakia

Slovakia isn't generally at the top of people's 'must visit' lists, but it's a gorgeous country with a lot of history. ​

Bratislava Tips:

• Bratislava is super touristy. Go to the rest of Slovakia.

  • Do your best to not eat at the overly touristy spots to save some cash​

• The town is extremely small, you can walk everywhere ​​

• Check out the tile roofs, they are gorgeous!

Adventures & Ales Top Bratislava Recommendations: 

• Wander. The main square, the Napoleon statue, the old town hall, the man at work statue... just wander, the town is small enough that you can check it all out by just strolling

• Bratislava Mestianske Pivovar: Brewery near the old town hall

Top Touristy Spots in Bratislava Actually Worth Visiting:

• Bratislava Castle: Gorgeous gardens and a great view of the city and the UFO bridge

• The Blue Church: Looks like something out of a cartoon, pretty cool to see

• The destroyed synagogue: When communists took over and built the new rail line they destroyed the Jewish synagogue in town. There is a memorial to commemorate this event that is worth checking out 

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is nestled in the Alps, providing breathtaking scenery while you explore. 

Salzburg Tips: 

• The city is really small, you can easily walk everywhere you want to go

• Salzburg LOVES the Sound of Music and Mozart, or at least they love the draw their city has for tourists because of these two things. If you too have an obsession with the Sound of Music and/or Mozart Salzburg is for you

• This city is full of cute winding streets so just wander around! [beware of herds of tourists]

Adventures & Ales Top Salzburg Recommendations: 

• Go. To. The. Lakes. Fuschl am See is the best. The water is insanely blue, the mountains are gorgeous, and the town is tiny and adorable. Mondsee is another good option, definitely a larger town but still a nice lake. There is a Hop On Hop Off for the Lake District that is extremely convenient, buy tickets outside the Mirabell Gardens

• Check out the sunset from the bridge crossing the river!

Top Touristy Spots in Salzburg Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Mirabell Palace and Gardens: Really pretty, but also quite crowded with tourists

• The Fortress: Although a bit pricey, the Fortress atop the hill is pretty cool. It also provides a nice view of the city and surrounding scenery

Champagne at Fuschl am See

Other Things to Do in Salzburg:​

• Don't forget about the north side of the river! Things are cheaper (everything in Salzburg is still pretty pricey)

• Dom zu: The Cathedral is essentially the hub of the south side of the river. Sometimes there are food trucks set up and festivals based here as well

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a gorgeous and historic city. They also do gardens really well if that's your thing!

Vienna Tips: 

• Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the street art throughout Vienna!

• If you're traveling during the summer it is HOT. Stay hydrated and be prepared for little to no air conditioning when it is 100 degrees + 

Adventures & Ales Top Vienna Recommendations: 

• Naschmarket: Warm pita and hummus from 50+ booths, along with clothing, restaurants, and more!

• Take a day trip to the Danube Valley. Explore the vineyards, cruise down the Danube River, be amazed at the Melk Abbey. Highly recommend, it is stunning. 

The Classic Tourist Spots in Vienna Actually Worth Visiting: 

• St Stephen's Cathedral: Stunning church in the main square. Must see interior 

• Schonbrunn Palace: Pretty grounds (especially the gardens). 

• Burggarten: In the Museum Quarter, an awesome garden that is the perfect place to sit and relax

Danube Valley

Other Things to do in Vienna:​

• Wieden Brau Brewery: Not far from the Naschmarket, solid beers and a beer garden

• Wander the Museum Quarter and decide which one(s) suits your fancy!

• Volksgarten: Another garden that is nice to hang around in with the locals

Budapest, Hungary

Pest > Buda, plain and simple. I loveeee Budapest and its Eastern European vibes. 

Budapest Tips: 

• Budapest is bigger than a majority of European cities but it is still walkable, just pack appropriate shoes!

• The city is a little grungier than most, with a relatively large amount of homeless people and a general feel of not super clean, but don't fret, it's part of the charm!

• It's a very "hip" place, not your traditional adventure.     

• Be prepared to eat extremely well. I had some of the best meals of my life here. Spinach and cheese "crepes", goat cheese and tabouli, food trucks, gourmet breakfasts, and so much more. 

• The city is at its best at night, be sure to go down to the river to see the castle lit up

Adventures & Ales Top Budapest Recommendations: 

• Do the free walking tour. You'll see a ton of the best spots all in a few hours with all of the local history and secrets. Much better here than in most other cities!

• Check out the ruins bars, most notably Szimpla Kert, and then go to Karavan for street food next door afterwards, nomsssss. 

• Eat breakfast at New York Cafe. My goodness I cannot recommend it enough. I ate all of the food pictured above in this gorgeous setting 

• Climb Gellert Hill to the Freedom Statue for the best views possible of Buda + Pest + the river

• House of Terror and Berlin Wall Memorial: On Andrassy Avenue, the museum is informative but engaging and the memorial outside is very cool to see. 

Breakfast at New York Cafe

The Classic Tourist Spots in Budapest Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Walk the Chain Bridge! It is one of a few bridges that connect Buda and Pest and is gorgeous, the lions are pretty sweet.

• Go up to the Buda Castle for great views of Pest and the river

• Matthias Church and Fischerman's Wharf near the Buda Castle are both gorgeous, definitely check them out while you're up on the hill. 

• Go to Danube Promenade to see the shoes memorial then keep walking to the Parliament Building, an incredible architectural feat

Budapest Parliament Building

Other Things to do in Budapest:​

• Wander the Jewish Quarter: The Great Synagogue, the Holocaust Memorial Tree, Gozsdu udvar, and the Orthodox Synagogue are worth checking out

• Spiler Bar in the Jewish Quarter

• Akvarium Klub: Hang out outside on the water with the locals, it's the perfect place to just chill during sunset, pictured above (the inside is lame)

• District VIII: Wander the streets, end up at The Tasting Table for cheese and wine! 

• Heroes Square and the City Park--home to one of the most famous baths of the city

• The Central Market: Tons of pop-ups: clothing, souvenirs, fruit, veggies, meat, all sorts of things

Czech Republic

We've all dreamt of the fairytale city of Prague, but have you heard of the statue in Brno? The castle in Cesky Krumlov? The beautiful national park? The Czech Republic is more than just Prague, don't miss out! 

Czech Republic Tips:

• The Czech Republic is dirt cheap. Half liter of beer? 1 euro. Room at a super nice hostel during peak season? 15 euro. Do not overpay at toursity places (I'm looking at you, Prague 1 neighborhood).

• RUN across the crosswalks. They change SO FAST.

• Chimney cakes are everywhere. Not just Prague. Not just Brno. Not just Cesky Krumlov. Heck, not just Slovakia. Don't listen to people. It is a pretty tasty dessert overall that is a combination of cinnamon/sugar/dough/ice cream

Prague Tips:

• You can essentially walk the entirety of Prague, so don't waste money on tram passes

• A lot of people really love Prague. I do not fall in that category. Sure, it's beautiful. But there are a lot of other places in the world that are beautiful that are not overrun with tourists and quite simply, boring [yikes]. I would recommend 2-3 days in Prague if you decide to go, and then roll out. 

Adventures & Ales Top Prague Recommendations: 

• Beer garden in Lentenske Sady, the park on the top of the hill. There is a bar near the metronome and there is a beer garden further along in the park. Highly recommend the beer garden. Fantastic views and not yet discovered by tourists!

• Take a day trip to the Bohemian and Saxon National Park! The gorgeous sandstone area on the German side, the famous gate and bridge on the Czech side (+ a victory beer after hiking up to it!)

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Prague:

• The Charles Bridge: Go either very early or at night to avoid the crowds and marvel at the beauty that is the bridge and the view from the bridge in every direction

• The Astronomical Clock: Shockingly cool to see and understand. The 'shows' are not worth your while to wait for

• The Prague Castle: Absolutely gorgeous. You have to go. That is all. 

Other Things to do in Prague:​

• The Dancing House: A house that is curving, right near the river

• Pivar Narodni: Beers and food, nice outside patio

• Pivovarsky Dum: Good mixed beer and classic Czech food

• Lennon Wall: Graffitied wall, nothing too special

• Cafe Savoy: Classy brunch spot

• Old Town Square: The center of the buzz, home to the Astronomical Clock and other historical buildings

• Old Jewish Cemetery: Located in the Jewish Quarter, it’s super old (no way right?) and pretty cool to see

• Memorial to the Victims of Communism: an interesting memorial to check out

  • Get gelato at the place across the street!! I went 3 times while in Prague​ (shh…)

• Check out Bakeshop for a quick breakfast​

• The Petrin Hill Rose Garden: Relax and sip on a delicious lemonade while taking in the beautiful scenery 

  • Petrin Tower: At the top of the hill you can go up for views of the city

• River Cruise: Probably the most touristy thing you can do in Prague. Overpriced and nothing that you can't see from the land. But, it's still always nice to be on a boat and see things!​

Eggenberg Brewery

Cesky Krumlov Tips: 

• Cesky Krumlov is pretty touristy, but it's a cool spot to explore. It's essentially adorable + old!

• Do it as a day trip from Prague or spend a night!

Adventures & Ales Top Cesky Krumlov Recommendations: 

• Eggenberg Brewery: Pictured below, need I say more? 

• Honestly just wander the streets. It's a beautiful town with historical, winding streets

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Cesky Krumlov:

• Cesky Krumlov Castle: Fantastic views of town + mini astronomical clock!

• Check out the churches, there are a ton and they're all old and gorgeous 

• Wander the market in the main square for lots of art, clothing, and more

Other Things to do in Cesky Krumlov:

• ​Plague Monument: Pretty basic, most European cities have one

• Sip something on the river :) 

Brno Tips: 

• Brno is quite small and incredibly walkable

• There are very few/essentially NO tourists!! [Cue the salsa dancing lady emoji]

• People pee in public. A lot. It's shocking. You've been warned. 

• It's totally acceptable to take lots of pictures, even inappropriate ones, of the statue. The locals make fun of it constantly too. It's nickname is the cock clock...

Adventures & Ales Top Brno Recommendations: 

• Starobrno Brewery: Brno's main brewery, yummy beers, awesome patio

• Brno Lake: You can take the train to the Lake and then walk around it, there is a bar, about a mile after the Carnival/Circus near the train stop. Very beautiful and relaxing. 

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Brno:

• The Main Square: Home to the cock clock and the main hub of the city

• The Town Hall and Cabbage Market Square: there was a beer festival AND a wine festival housed here when I was in town!

Other Things to do in Brno:​

• Breakfast at Kafec: Near the universities, quite tasty

• The 10-Z Bunker: Honestly I found this to be incredibly creepy. This bunker was built to protect officials during the Cold War. You can walk through it and there are some very informative videos

• Spilberk Castle + Church: The Church is gorgeous, the castle is average 

• Check out the pink tank

• Zemecky Pivovar: Near the Town Hall and Cabbage Market Square, restaurant and brewery with classic Czech food and good beers

Munich, Germany

The land of Oktoberfest and the heart of Bavaria 

Munich Tips: 

• Drink all the beer. Duh. 

• Munich is super diverse, far more than most European cities. Take it in, talk to the locals, get to know different cultures. 

Adventures & Ales Top Munich Recommendations: 

• Head to the English Gardens to see people surfing the river, locals soaking in the sun in the summer (some naked, heads up!), and the beer garden in the center

• Augustiner Keller: Hugeeee beer garden, really delicious beer, and an isolated atmosphere away from the crowds and heat of summer. Probably my favorite! 

• Go to Dachau. The concentration camp is jarring but it's a must. It's an easy train and bus ride combo from Munich, plan to spend at least half a day. 

• Lowenbrau Brewery: Another great brewery, slightly off the beaten path which is a nice reprieve 

• Spend a day at Lake Starnberg. A quick train ride takes you to the lake, then jump on the boat where you can get on and off at the different little lakeside villages. My favorite was Seeshaupt, don't miss the tiny little beer garden on the lake! 

Marienplatz

The Classic Tourist Spots in Munich Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Hofbrauhaus Brewery: Touristy but a must! 

• Marienplatz: The main square of the city, home to the gorgeous New Town Hall, Old Town Hall, and the Column of St. Mary

• Karlspatz: The old city gate and fountain are a nice place to sit in the evenings and relax. Pro Tip: the gelato place to left of the gate has delicious gelato that makes your time sitting by the fountain fantastic 

• Schlobpark Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens: Classic European Palace!

Dachau

Other Munich Things To Do:​

• Stroll along the river, but beware of the naked sunbathers! 

• Explore the Glockenbachviertel Neighborhood. A more local area, home to lots of restaurants and a cozier vibe

• Vitalmarkt: A pretty large market filled with all kinds of food!

• The Beer and Oktoberfest Museum: Don't get your hopes up, this is super cheesy and ridiculous, BUT I still recommend it. I learned a lot about Oktoberfest and the beer culture in Bavaria. It is extremely small so don't plan on it taking too long. No worries, that means more time for drinking the beer instead of learning about it!

• Paulaner Brewery: One of the Munich locations for Paulaner is right around the corner from the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. There are several throughout the city so take a seat and drink up

• Der Pschorta Brewery: Right off the Vitalkmarkt, another traditional German beer garden

Berlin, Germany

You know that emoji with the heart eyes? That's how I feel about Berlin. GO.​

Berlin Tips: 

• The city is quite large so be prepared for lots of trips on the various Bahns

• Berlin is very upfront with it's negative history, so be prepared to see memorials and museums telling it exactly how it was everywhere you turn

• My best advice is go see history, go to a beer garden, go see history, go to a beer garden. Repeat until bedtime. 

• This is weird but don't go to a neighborhood called Wedding. I had heard it was up and coming and trendy. It is not. 100% not worth your time. 

Adventures & Ales Top Berlin Recommendations: 

• Cafe Neur See Beer Garden in the Tiergarten Park: Wander through the Tiergarten then find yourself at a beer garden on the water in the middle of nature

• The East Side Gallery: Check out the Berlin Wall and the art that is has become

• Jockel Beer Garden: One of the best beer gardens in the city! Cash only.

  • Walk along the river after! There are lots of locals just hanging out enjoying the evening, creating a very cool atmosphere​

• Jewish History Museum: ​An incredibly interesting museum spanning multiple centuries

• Brunch at Allan's Breakfast and Wine Club: So. Delicious. 

• Prater Beer Garden: Classic beer garden

• Schleusenkrug Beer Garden: A community oriented and family friendly beer garden!

The Classic Tourist Spots in Berlin Actually Worth Visiting: 

• Topography of Terror: A really well done memorial with pieces of the Berlin Wall and stories of survivors and victims

• New Europe Walking Tour: I did a free walking tour here and it was quite informative. We started at the Bradenberg Gate and stopped at places such as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site of Hitler's bunker, and more. There is no cost to join but they only operate on tips, so be sure to bring some cash to pay for your experience!

• Reichstag Building: Take a tour of the Dom. The security is very intense so be sure to bring your passport. The audio guide is really awesome as you walk up and back down the curving dome giving you history specific to the building but also on Berlin in totality 

Part of the Berlin Wall

Other Berlin things to do:​

• Mauerpark on a Sunday: Absolutely one of the wildest things I've seen. The park was packed to the brim, there is karaoke happening between hundreds of people (pictured below), and pop up artist shops with awesome pieces

• Checkpoint Charlie: The tourist haven. See the point where East and West Berlin were divided then roll out before you get taken over by the herds of Americans snapping selfies

• Museum Island: Hang out in the lustgarten, gaze at the Berlin Cathedral, and venture into the museums if they spark your interest! They have free museum nights so be sure to look into that before paying for admission

• Hackescher Market: A market with restaurants and vendors, pretty touristy but still decent. 

  • Weinhenstephan Beer Garden is located here and had good beer!​

• Palace of Tears: ​Where families were split during the Cold War 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is an adorable city exactly how you are currently picturing it: canals, tulips, bikes, and all things promiscuous (don't fret, it's still family friendly and extremely safe). 

Amsterdam Tips: 

• You can walk everywhere which is really nice to save on transportation costs!

  • You could also rent a bike to be like super iconic Amsterdam, but see below--biking is very intense ​

• BEWARE OF THE BIKES! There are 3 bikes for every one resident of the city. They do not mess around. Look 6 times before crossing the street to avoid being run down. Also, please stop looking at your phone while trying to cross the street. If you haven't learned that yet in life, you will when you end up eating pavement in Amsterdam. 

• The weather is actually crazy. I grew up in Michigan where one day it's 32 and snowing and the next it's 65 and sunny, but this Amsterdam stuff was whack. Dress in layers, bring a rain coat, and be prepared for anything to occur within one singular hour. 

• Bring yo cash money. Amsterdam is surprisingly expensive. 

• Coffeeshops = weed shops. Totally casual and legal, but just a heads up there is not a latte in there

• If you want to go crazy and do all things that are illegal most places but legal in Amsterdam, you can. And you can do so very safely. There is very little crime and a very high level of acceptance in the country. 

• If you DON'T want to go crazy and do all the illegal things, you should still definitely go to Amsterdam. It is far more than just the Red Light District.   

Adventures & Ales Top Amsterdam Recommendations: 

• The Jordaan Neighborhood: trendy neighborhood with tons of delicious restaurants and bars 

• De Pijp Neighborhood: another cute neighborhood to wander around, it was quite packed around happy hour time!

  • Brouwery Troost​ is located in this neighborhood and has delicious beers! You can sit outside overlooking the square 

• Bagels and Beans: ​I don't know about you, but I LOVE bagels. Europeans do not love bagels. But, don't fret, Bagels and Beans has delicious bagels and coffee to satisfy your cravings.

• Museum of Dutch Resistance: a fantastic museum detailing the role of the Netherlands in the Holocaust

• Brouwerij't IJ at the Ooj Windmill: 1) brewery 2) Dutch windmill. Hello, winning! 

• Day trip to the Northern Sea! Zandvoort aan see is a quick train ride from Amsterdam. It's a classic beach town. You can hang out at the sea if the weather is nice, or just dip your toes and hop back on the train! 

  • I combined this with a day trip to Haarlem very easily!

• Day trip to Haarlem: a small town outside of Amsterdam that is a perfect escape from the tourists of the big city. 

  • Brewery Jopen: inside an old church, highly recommend ​

Top Touristy Spots in Amsterdam Actually Worth Visiting: 

• The New Europe Walking Tour was informative and worthwhile! They operate on tips only

• Red Light District: you've gotta at least see it during the day time! 

• Dam Square: the city’s classic main square

Other Things to do in Amsterdam:​

• The Cheese Museum: calling this a museum is extremely generous. It is free cheese samples and a silly "exhibit" downstairs. But as I said, FREE CHEESE SAMPLES!

• Anne Frank House: extremely historical. extremely touristy. The line can be multiple hours. You can buy tickets ahead of time online to shorten the wait but still expect to wait at least an hour outside 

• Heineken Experience: very touristy, but very informative. I don't actually like Heineken but I still enjoyed this. You essentially get the history of the company and get some beers to go with it. The rooftop bar at the end is cool to overlook the city

• Canal Tour: classic thing to do. If I had better weather it might be under a top recommendation, but I had a less than enjoyable time in the rain, cold, and wind on a boat. Keep in mind this was June when I was there, so again, prepare for anything. 

• Vondelpark: beautiful, large park filled with locals. I spent two evenings drinking wine next to the pond. Beware! The ducks are very used to people and get extremely close to you

Belgium

Belgium is a small country sometimes overlooked when planning a European adventure, but if you are a beer lover you absolutely cannot miss it!

I recommend staying in Brussels and taking day trips to Ghent and Bruges. Eat a Belgian waffle with chocolate. Or 8. We're not here to judge. 

Brussels:

The capital city of Belgium, Brussels is surprisingly tiny. You can walk the entire city center in probably 30 minutes. The gold shrine buildings make your adventures very pleasing to the eye. The city is very difficult to navigate with curving streets that go every which way, so be warned! I walked in approximately 15 circles. 

Adventures & Ales Top Brussels Recommendations: 

• Cantillon Brewery Tour: historic brewery making traditional lambic beers. A tour comes with tastings and a semi-guided tour of the facilities. 

• Moeder Lambic Brewery: just outside the main center of the city, Moeder has a huge patio, delicious food and incredible beer. 

• Palace Square: incredibly beautiful and the center of the city, this square is filled with gold encrusted buildings and historic architecture. 

• Delirium Campus: so. many. beers. The Delirium Campus is famous for it's vast array of beers from across the world. It is 8 beer bars all in one area where you can get a sample or the largest beer I've ever seen.

Other Things to do in Brussels:​

• Beer Museum: conveniently located right inside the Palace Square, the Beer Museum is popular with tourists. You can check out the "museum" which is really just a video and a couple posters and the drink a beer. 

• Mannekin Pis: the famous statue of the little boy peeing. He gets his costume changed frequently. Very strange little thing to be so famous.

Mannekin Pis

Ghent:

A cute little Gothic-style town outside of Brussels filled with cafes and historic buildings.

Adventures & Ales Top Ghent Recommendations: 

• Graffiti Street: exactly as it sounds--a street covered in graffiti. Very cool looking

• Meander the streets: the Gothic architecture and canal make for a beautiful city to just wander around by foot

• Check out the castle, the churches, and the Town Hall

Ghent’s Graffiti Street

Bruges:

Also a cute small town outside of Brussels, Bruges is definitely the more common destination for tourists. Overall it was too touristy for me, but still cute and they have some good beer! 

Adventures & Ales Top Bruges Recommendations: 

• De Halve Maan Brewery: solid beer, cool courtyard

• Bourgogne de Flandres Brewery: right on the canal, solid beers here as well (better than De Halve Maan in my opinion)

• Minnewater lake and park: a beautiful area to soak in some nature after a couple beers!

Other Things to do in Bruges:​

• Belfry Tower: the icon of Bruges, you gotta see it if you are in Bruges!

• The Markt: the center of the city, not actually a market as the title would seem. Belfry Tower is on one edge of the square

• Wall of Beers: literally a wall of beers. Near Bourgogne de Flandres so it is a quick stop if you visit the brewery.