Random Post #1 - Mini Europe Travel Guide

Thinking of taking a trip to Europe for winter or summer break but not sure where to go?

You’re just in luck! As someone who studied abroad last semester in Brussels, Belgium, and lived in Europe for four months, I can tell you which places I visited were worth it– and which weren’t. But, warning, take them with a grain of salt. These are just based on my personal experiences, so to each their own! :)

Athens, Greece

Ah, my personal favorite. It had everything I wanted in a European city. I like visiting cities rich in culture and history, have great food and weather, and are fairly inexpensive. Athens checked all of these boxes for me. We spent the days exploring archaeological sites, such as the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis. I remember thinking to myself: wow, I can’t believe I’m here right now. I’ve seen pictures of them online before, but I never thought there would once be a day I would see them in person. I loved going around the ruins and reading the signs to learn more about them. The food was also amazing! 3 euros for a delicious, authentic gyro? It just couldn’t get any better than that.

I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, but looking back now, I wish I spent more time in Athens. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam was a quick 2-hour direct train ride from Brussels, so I would go visit pretty often with my roommates or friends. Amsterdam is one of those cities where you just wonder how everything is so efficient. The public transport system was quick, fast, and easy. The streets and rivers were clean. Everyone was biking and there were barely any cars. Thinking about it now, there were probably more bikes than cars on the streets. Isn’t that hard to believe? Here in LA, cars are the main form of transportation. Additionally, it was such a beautiful city. The narrow houses were aesthetically pleasing in looks with their muted colors and gabled facades. It almost felt like I was in a different world. 

However, beware that Amsterdam does not have the best weather. More often than not, the weather will be cloudy and/or rainy. It doesn’t really warm up until later in the summer. It also can be more expensive than other European cities. That said, I would still recommend visiting Amsterdam at least once. It is a quaint city that is full of charm!

Vienna, Austria

Vienna was one of the last cities I visited while living in Europe. I would always hear my roommates rave about their experiences and say how nice it was. However, I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. It was a pretty city with good public transportation, but there wasn’t much to do besides visit the museums and famous infrastructures. I also thought it was pretty expensive. 

Did I like Vienna? Yes. Would I go there again? Probably not.