People are always asking me, having travelled to almost all European countries…which was your favourite and why! So here is my list…In Order Which was difficult! (Please note: This isn’t the order of Best countries, but the cities in Europe. Some may debate Russia shouldn’t be in here…but hey, it is!)
1. Madrid, Spain
It was hard to pick between Edinburgh and Madrid, but in the end Madrid won. I lived here a year, so of course that changes any opinion on a city the longer you get to stay. But Madrid here are – in brief – the reasons why you will probably be number 1 forever:
In Favour
• Food – best tapas in the world. It also changes on the different regions
• fiesta – seriously party all the time around every corner
• siesta – or drink some more, its up to you but they certainly appreciate a different pace to life
• Culture & History – Rich in all of these including incredible architecture
• The Capital – Major events happen here, such as when gay marriage and adoption was approved, 2 million people descended here for the biggest and best gay pride parade ever! It’s the epicentre for Spain politics and literally the geographical centre of Spain
• Surprisingly Cheap – seriously food and drink (outside tourist areas) is cheap
• City of a thousand smells – OK this is in both, the good, when you visit the numerous bars and none have a toilet, peeing in the street becomes kinda normal
Against
• Heat – Unbearable in August and you are quite far from any coastline
• Location – a good 7 hours from the nearest coast, makes it a little bit of a pain to get around.
• Calle Montera – one of the main streets from the centre Sol, it is lined with hookers. Some can be a bit aggressive and scary – especially if you are a guy
• “Guapa!” – the dirty and old people who yell at you from the street
• City of a thousand smells – ok well the bad it smells and most likely you are walking in pee 99.9% of the time in madrid
2. Edinburgh, Scotland
A difficult second to madrid, lived here for 18 months and well we had some good times, I think the main reason this came second was the weather…seriously when you can remember the 5 sunny days you have in a year, you forget what sunlight looks like
In Favour
• Fringe & Other Festivals – this is certainly my favourite thing about edinburgh, Summer is amazing and august is the BEST month to go visit, plus you have Hogmany at New Years
• Access to the Highlands – Easy even without a car and absolutely beautiful. Definitely recommend wild camping and finding a Bothy to crash in. Also the highlands is different to the lowlands, hitchhiking is commong for even the locals to get around. Friendliness is mandatory and the highlanders will give you the shirt off their back if you need it!
• Beautiful, cool & Creepy – Stunning city which has awesome bars, I mean going to bars that were in old dungeons….just awesome. However, is also creepy of all the stuff that happened with the ghost tours for more info! eek
• Food & Whisky (& Beer) – Some of the yummiest food (seriously you will put on weight cause its all comfort food) and whisky tastings everywhere…but also Innus & Gunn, my favourite beer…its beer brewed in whisky flavoured barrels! Yum! But there is a million microbreweries here and also millions of ales.
• Men in Kilts…come on, its just sexy!
Against
• The Never Ending Hills – Seriously, how the young chavs wear 6 inch heels, I don’t know. But be prepared, there are hills everywhere!
• The weather – on average the temperature is about 12 degrees, a nice 14 in summer (hottest temps will rise to 20) and maybe occasionally 3 or 4 in winter. But the killer is the wind and rain. Don’t be a rookie and take an umbrella, it will either try to kill you or someone near you!
• Expensive for a pint – There are places for the cheap, you have to know where to go, but it is rather expensive in Scotland for a pint of beer, the cheapest you can get is a pint of fosters for 2.70 GBP
• Where the Fuck Am I? – The old part of the city can be awesome if you don’t mind getting lost and discovering cool little stairways to get somewhere quicker, but can be a pain when you are actual trying to get somewhere. Standing on Northbridge and wondering where Cowgate is and looking down and seeing its about 50 metres down, how the fuck do you get there!? Seriously, very difficult city to navigate around in, because its basically been built upon and built upon
3. Naples, Italy
Lovely number three with a pretty poor reputation. Which I only think means that less people go which makes it even more magical for me!
In favour
• Pizza, Pizza, Pizza – The BEST pizza in the world, the reason, there is a mandated way to make a proper napolese pizza and at 3 Euros for a whole one, very cheap (and fattening) way to travel.
• Cheap – its about 2.50 Euro for 2 litres of wine, beers are about 1 Euro. Basically no one comes here for tourism so its really cheap
• Access to Other Areas – you are about 1 hour away from mount Vesuvius the famous volcano, 2 hours from sorrento and the Almalfi coast. You are also a 2 hour train journey south of Rome
• Beautiful – in its own way (and well I hate plastic places), it does have rubbish, graffiti, it has lots of people and noisy and people throwing washing water over the balcony and ladies yelling at each other in their houses on the street…but I love it. Its what I think Italy was really like before it all becomes too touristy
Against
• Weather – it is really adhoc. Its kind of in a cul de sac but also a bay and on the sea. Basically its pretty chilly and it rains quite a lot
• Nightlife? – not really sure what people do for going out here…I went with a friend to a club at about 11pm and we arrived and everyone is a bit snobby looking all just sitting but a bell rings and everyone gets up and eats from a big tapas area. I think this is like a trendy young person place cause they charge a fortune for everything and everyone looked like kinda a tool
4. Bruges, Belgium
Definitely the most beautiful city I have visited and probably the most random….but isn’t that the fun of it?
In favour
• Beer, Chocolate & Chips – Ok seriously list those 3 things and you cannot go wrong. Belgium brews 1,100-ish beers! There is a bar in Brugges you can go and see every single one and it is also very entertaining to see how many you can do in one night (mine 8). Chocolate. Well my favourite generally is Guylain chocolate seashells, and everywhere does them plus more. Chips. Yum! But your mayonnaisse is the same amount as the chips, heart attack much?
• Beauty – take a boat cruise along the river, just wonder around and get lost. This is beautiful city. And there is actually a law that people cannot make it ugly, such as putting satellite dishes on buildings. Enjoy…but I think this is definitely the best place for couples.
Against
• What the fuck am I eating? – okk chips and chocolate good…other belgian food..no idea wtf it is. I decided to venture away from chips and waffles for the day and eat a plate of the day. It was some unknown meet in a shape I had never seen, with chips and Beetroot (I hope it was)
• Is this really a language..from Earth? – Ok flemish is supposed to be like Dutch, I don’t understand dutch either…seriously too difficult a language
5. Marseille, France
Another underrated Gem like Naples that makes me think France can be cool without being pretentious
In favour
• Bar scene – Its just really cool and laid back and so much variety. I mean a zumba class decided to do it in the alley way of the bar I was sitting, spent all night dancing in a salsa club and generally everyone is outside having a good time
• People – extremely friendly, if you go along, you wont wait long for someone to come and talk with you.
• Beautiful – in its own way its beautiful and strange
• Access – you can use the bikes for free for first half hour and easily get you to the beaches. Swimming in the sea at midnight is not a problem and kinda fun!
Against
• I really hate hills – ok I am really lazy and especially when I have to lug my backpack around, so I just do not enjoy hills
6. Prague, Czech Republic
Probably in most peoples top 10 cities and for good reasons
In favour
• Beer – Its just amazing and lots of variety
• Cheap – So cheap, but wont b forever at the rate of tourist flocking here
• Beautiful – because this was a nazi base cap in WWW3 it didn’t get destroyed, which left its amazingly rich and old and mixture of history everywhere
• Rich History & Culture – Coming from Australia you wonder how such a small place can have such an incredible history!
Against
• Language & Currency – ok it must be great if this is the only thing I could think of as a pain. But again, it goes to show the Czechs history of not wanting to join the Euro cause they have had about 50 different currencies in the last few hundred years.
7. St. Petersburg, Russia
Maybe its just russia in general, I mean you need a visa to go and all the stories are about a bagillion pages long about long and tragic romance with a long and tragic country history….its so appealing!
In favour
• Beauty – Extremely beautiful city during the day or night, with world famous monuments, but just walking around for hours, you wouldn’t get bored
• History & Culture – Such an incredible history and you can see it in the architecture. But the culture is unique also, as its so close to Europe
• Bar scene – Be prepared, your liver will suffer. If you go out and you are a girl you will be bought drinks, mostly shots containing brain-damaging vodka
• People – Super friendly and surprising the number of people who speak English. But be prepared knowing the Cyrillic alphabet is essential in any russian-based language country
Against
• Public Transport – not really helpful, I’m pretty sure a lot I took illegally, which is not good in a country like this if you get caught. Plus getting about by bus to other areas, not the easiest. I also don’t like the coin thing for their metro. Plus you need a coin token for your bag! Seriously.
• I’m seriously unfashionable – Ok I know I’m a backpacker, so generally being a girl backpacker sucks, yo don’t get to grow a beard that covers half your face. But st petersburg EVERYONE including other hostel people look amazing. It really is depressing
• Visas & Stuff – Just the whole hassle of it…But you can enter from an overnight ferry from Helsinki visa free for 72 hours!
8. Berlin, Germany
Amazing little town
In favour
• History an epic history which is conserved quite well. There is a great free walking tour – do it!
• Bar scene – incredible bar scene
• people – super friendly and interesting. Perfect English of course and always willing to meet new people
• public transportation – love the 24 hour service on the weekend, very helpful if you need to get home after a night out
Against
• can’t actually think of any!
9. Krakow, Poland
An incredible place but pretty sad history and lots of reminders
In favour
• History & Culture – A really important history, again like Prague was saved being a nazi headquarters in WWW3 and kept intact. However, the worst Jewish history with reminders everywhere in the city and taking a walking tour will bring a tear to your eye. But the most amazing museum in the world (well that I have seen) is the Schindler factory. Go! Its in the middle of nowhere and there is no sign but go, it is incredible.
• Food & Drink – Super duper cheap and amazing food, lots of polish mix with Jewish foods. Zapikanka in the jewish centre is amazing! Plus drinking is generally encouraged all day and night and super cheap
• Going out – great clubs and super friendly people
Against
• Pretty Small – it is quite a small town
• Impossible Language & Currency – polish, no chance. Currency, just a pain
10. Ohrid, Macedonia
Little -known beauty
In favour
• Beauty – Based on Lake Ohrid, which Ohrid is in Macedonia and opposite is the mountainous Albania, it is spectacularly beautiful. If you go for a walk you can watch the sunset with some cheap beers from one of the cliffs.
• Location – Close to lots of other countries and cities to visit elsewhere
• Food & Drink – Very tasty and cheap. Plus if you are by yourself (maybe just being a girl) people buy you lots of drinks
Against
• Too May Tourists? – I visited in October and was pretty empty, but lots of things in English, which means that it is probably full of English tourists in Summer. If you like that, cool. But if you want to experience the culture and serenity go outside this time
