3 MONTHS IN EUROPE
In 2019, as a 20 year old baby, I spent 3 months in Europe with my 2 best friends. We are all EXTREME planners and had been planning this trip for 1 and a half years with weekly Europe planning nights.
The motto of our trip was to do the trip we wanted with nothing spared. This meant we did extreme and extravagant experiences, stayed in nice hotels and said yes to everything. The trip below is an amazing itinerary but take my recommendations with this in mind.
We put so much work into this itinerary and I’m so excited to share it with you. It’s been tried and tested, and it’s AMAZING!
Don’t have that long in Europe? Check out my 5 week itinerary
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Travel: 22 hr 40 min flight from Sydney
Accommodation: Stayed with my Aunty (sorry)
Food: Borough Markets
Activities: Tower of London | London Bridge | Tate Museum | Notting Hill | Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Watch a show or play on the West End | Go to an EPL game
Weather: May | 4 - 10 degrees
Price: $$$$
Tips: If you’re there for a couple of days and using a lot of public transport, buy an Oyster card to save money.
Only have a day in London? Read my ‘How to see London in a day’ blog.
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Travel: 3 hr flight
Accommodation: Airbnb in Reykjavik that’s no longer available
Food: Icelandic hot dog (thank me later) | Soup in bread | Shark | Lava bread
Activities: Blue Lagoon | Golden Circle and Silfra Snorkel Tour - swim between the European and Asian tectonic plates. There are no words | Drive the Ring Road
Weather: May | Averaging 1 degree. Sunrises around 4am and sets at 11pm
Price: $$$$$ very expensive but worth it!
Tips: Hire a car and drive around. It’s the best way to see how incredible, unique and extreme Iceland is.
Read more about Iceland in my ‘Must do things in Iceland’ blog.
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Travel: 3 hr flight
Accommodation: Airbnb in Amsterdam that’s no longer available
Food: Stroopwaffles - I developed an obsessions | Pataje also known as Dutch fries | Bitterballen | Raw Herring | Space Cake
Restaurants: Foodhallen | Waterkant
Activities: Canal cruise | Anne Frank House | Cafes | Red light district | Drinks along the canal | Walk along the canal | Erotic museum | A’Dam Lookout (Over the Edge Swing and I Am Sterdamn sign) | Hire a bike
Weather: May | 12 - 16 degrees
Price: $$$
Tips: Amsterdam has so much to offer outside of the Red Light District and getting high. Make sure you explore Amsterdam during the day
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Travel: 1 hr 20 min flight
Accommodation: Studio en duplex Trocadero/Eiffel Tower
Food: Croissant | Snails
Activities: EuroDisney | Picnic in the park by the Eiffel Tower | Climb the Eiffel Tower | Moulin Rouge | Crazy Horse
Weather: May | 10 - 14 degrees
Price: $$$$ you can do Paris cheap by finding good breakfast deals and living off fresh baguettes, cheese and wine
Tips: Just walk around. The magic in Paris is being amongst the people and immersing yourself in the culture.
We walked the Eiffel Tower which I’d recommend over the lift, but you have to buy tickets on the day. If you want to book tickets before you go, it will be a lift ticket.
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Travel: 6 hr train
Accommodation: Balmers Hostel
Food: Cheese fondue
Activities: Paragliding | Picnic by Lake Brienz | Harder Klum
Weather: May | 8 - 12 degrees
Price: $$$$
Tips: Switzerland has the best water I’ve ever tasted. There are free bubblers everywhere filled with mountain fed water. Carry a drink bottle at all times and enjoy!
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Travel: 30 min train
Accommodation: Hotel Schützen Lauterbrunnen
Restaurant: Weidstuebli (amazing traditional food)
Activities: Jungraujoch | Grindelwald | Hikes
Weather: May | 8 - 12 degrees. It’s much colder when you go up into the mountains.
Price: $$$
Tips: Lauterbrunnen is a beautiful location further into the mountains. The town is one main street and it was very quiet during the shoulder season. It may be worth visiting Lauterbrunnen as a day trip and basing yourself in Interlarken, rather than moving to Lauterbrunnen. Regardless, still worth a visit.
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Travel: 4 hr 15 min total travel (2 hour 30 min train and 1 hour 45 min flight)
Accommodation: Expo Hotel Barcelona
Restaurant: Flax and Kale | Kitchens of Saint Catherine
Food: La Rambla Markets | Prawns from n°30
Activities: Walk around and explore the city; La Rambla Markets, Gaudi District, La Sagrada Familia | Park Guell
Weather: May | 16 - 18 degrees
Price: $$
Tips: Book Park Guell weeks in advance otherwise you won’t get in (speaking from experience…)
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Travel: 50 min flight
Accommodation: Inturotel Esmeralda Park (stayed in Cala d’Or)
Restaurants: Tapas Y Mas Restaurant
Food: Tapas | Sangria | Fresh Pineapple
Activities: Cala Mondrago Beach | Mondrago National Park | Cala Llombards Beach | Cala S’Almunia | Palma
Weather: May | 22 - 25 degrees
Price: $$
Tips: Hire a car and drive around the island. It’s the best way to beach hop and find secluded, beautiful spots. We hired a car from the airport and the accomodation had plenty of parking.
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Travel: 45 min flight
Accommodation: Ibiza Rocks Hotel
Cafe: Harinus Forn Artesà (first Australian coffee we found)
Activities: Watch the sunset from a restaurant and enjoy their sunset drink and dinner special.
Weather: May | 22 - 25 degrees
Price: $$$$$ Ibiza is expensive. Surprisingly, supermarkets and cafes are cheap but as soon as you go into the hotels and clubs, it’s very expensive.
Tips: Buy spirits at the supermarkets for pre drinks. €12 for a bottle of vodka.
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Travel: 9 hr total travel (1 hr flight and an 8 hr train) - Don’t do it. Get a direct flight.
Accommodation: Aparthotel Adagio Nice Promenade des Anglais
Restaurant: La Favola - best pesto pasta I’ve ever had! I can still taste it.
Food: The food in Nice is amazing! Make sure you try the gelato
Activities: Stroll through the street markets | Sunset drinks at a beach club (more expensive but a great experience) | Day trip to Monaco - visit the Palace and have a coffee at Cafe De Paris
Weather: June | 24 - 26 degrees
Price: $$$
Tips: I’d recommend staying in the Old Town, rather than where we stayed. There’s more going on and you’re in the middle of amazing restaurants and bakeries.
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Travel: 5 hr 30 min travel time (5 hr 15 min train and a 10 min train)
Accommodation: Alla Marina Affittacamere
Food: Lasagne from Il Porticciolo, Manarola | Pizza Squares from Vernazza | Seafood baskets
Restaurant: Nessun Dorma, Manarola | II Maggiore, Riomaggiore | La Taverna Di, Monterosso | Gelateria II Porticciolo, Vernazza
Activities: Hike between the towns via the path of Gods | Kayak along the coast line | Spend a day in each town
Weather: June | 26 degrees
Price: $$ Cinque Terre is relatively cheap and there’s a lot of cheaper food options. There’s also Michelin star restaurants if you care to enjoy the finer things.
Tips: The most economical way to explore all the towns is to buy a Cinque Terre pass each day. The pass includes access to the trails, unlimited train and bus access and access to the museums.
Continue reading my blog on the ‘Top 10 Things to Do in Cinque Terre, Italy’
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Travel: 3 hr 45 min train
Accommodation: Free Hostels Roma
Food: Venchi Gelato | Caffe Da Claudie outside the Pantheon
Activities: Colosseum, Palatine Hill and The Forum day tour | Spanish Steps | Trevi Fountain | Pantheon | Vatican | St. Peter’s Basilica | Sistine Chapel
Weather: June | It was 40 degrees when we were there and it was so hot and dry
Price: $$
Tips: Rome is busy, pre-book all your tours. For the Vatican and Sistine Chapel make sure you cover your knees and shoulders.
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Travel: 1 hr train to Naples and private transfer to Positano
Accommodation: Airbnb accommodation that’s no longer available.
Food: The Ferndellohe cocktail at II Fornillo Beach
Restaurants: Franco’s Bar | Faro Bar | Ristorante Saraceno D’oro
Activities: Il Fornillo Beach | Positano Spiagga Grande (main beach) | Furore Bridge Beach | Day trip to Capri with Grassi Junior | Blue Grotto, if you pay they may let you swim in it
Weather: June | 30 degrees
Price: $$$ Main attractions and spots are expensive.
Tips: Think about a lot of stairs x by 200 and that’s how many stairs there are - be prepared.
The beaches are also pebbles and get really hot - always take your shoes.
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Travel: 40 min local bus
Accommodation: Hotel Torre Saracena
Restaurants: Il Pirata Ristorante
Activities: Kayak | One Fire Beach Club (stay for the watermelon cutting ceremony)
Weather: June | 30 degrees
Price: Praiano is a lot cheaper than Positano and still so beautiful
Tips: If you’re looking for a cheaper and quieter base to explorer Positano and the Amalfi Coast, Praiano is perfect.
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Travel: Private transfer and 1 hr train from Naples
Accommodation: Free Hostels Roma
Activities: Travel day
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Travel: 1 hr 15 min flight
Accommodation: Design Hostel Goli & Bosi
Activities: This was a chill day for us. We settled into the accomodation and went for a swim.
Weather: June | 27 degrees
Price: $$
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1 night 2 days Busbaout National Park Tour
Krka National Park
Plitvus National Park
Food: Traditional Croatia BBQ (included in the tour)
Weather: June | 27 degrees
Price: $280
Tips: Would really recommend this tour. It’s a fantastic way to see the National Parks and because you spend the night there, you’ll beat the crowds.
Bring insect repellent.
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Accommodation: Design Hostel Goli & Bosi
Food: Charlie’s Bar
Activities: Party in Split
Weather: June | 27 degrees
Price: $$ - great drink deals at bars and clubs
Tips: There’s a lot going on in Split and the town is like a maze. I’d recommend staying central so you’re amongst everything.
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Accommodation: Sail Croatia Navigator Boat
Food: Hvar Gelato | Capriosca Cocktail from Pjaca bar, Hvar
Activities: Activities are organised through the boat including: Pirate party at Makarska | Wine tasting at Stari Grad Hvar | Hire bikes and ride around Mljet National Park
Weather: July | 30 degrees
Price: $$$$ Sail Croatia is expensive but it is a once in a lifetime experience
Tips: Try and book an above deck room as the natural air is a godsend.
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Accommodation: Hostel EuroAdria
Activities: Walk the walls | Buza Bar | Cable car
Weather: July | 30 degrees
Price: $$$
Tips: Sail Croatia really kills you so plan some down time after.
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Travel: 4 hr 35 min total travel time (2 hr flight to Prague and 2 hr 35 min flight to Zakynthos)
Accommodation: Phoenix Hotel
Food: Moussaka
Restaurants: Cocktails at Base Roof Garden | Taverna Tsikoudia
Activities: Navajo Shipwreck Beach & Blue Caves Tour | Kalamaki beach | Get a day bed at Banana Beach Casa Playa
Weather: July | 32 - 35 degrees
Price: $$
Tips: Utilise the public buses as they make it really easy to get around the island and they’re cheap.
Croatia and Greece don’t like each other, so there are no direct flights. We had to go through Prague with a 1 hr layover. This was super stressful and we also lost our bags. Take this into consideration when looking at flights and try and have a longer layover.
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Travel: 6 hr 5 min total travel time (1 hr flight to Athens and 45 min flight to Mykonos)
Accommodation: Super Paradise Suites and Rooms
Food: Gyros
Activities: Sunset in old town | Visit the windmills | Explore Little Venice | Scorpios Mykonos (go to Scorpios for a drink and the experience and then chill at the beach next to Scorpios) | Super Paradise
Weather: July | 28 - 30 degrees
Price: $$$$$ very expensive
Tips: If you want to party, stay at one of the beach clubs so entry is included in accomodation and you don’t have to travel. There are public buses but they don’t also stick to the timetable.
Ferries are chaos! There’s no announcements, they just pull in and thousands of people are trying to get on and off, not to mention the cars. Make sure you’re there with plenty of time and stay alert.
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Travel: 55 min ferry
Accommodation: Hotel Oasis
Food: Feta me Meli or Feta with Honey | All Greek entrees | Ice cream from 32 Agosto
Activities: Take a boat to Kolymbithres beach | Take a boat to Martselo beach | Walk through the town | Booze’n’Tales bar
Weather: July | 31 degrees
Price: $$ a cheaper Greek Island option that is beautiful
Tips: Paros is the perfect Greek island to include as a relaxation/chill stop.
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Travel: 3 hr 5 min ferry
Accommodation: Andromeda Villas & Spa Resort
Restaurant: 218 Degrees Cafe (amazing view) | Vigla Restaurant and Cafe
Activities: Imerovigli to Oia hike | Red beach | Hire quad bikes and explore the island | Buy drinks and watch the sunset from the streets of Oia | Sunset cruise | Amoudi Bay
Weather: July | 32 - 35 degrees
Price: $$$$ not as expensive as Mykonos but it’s up there
Tips: There isn’t heaps to do in Santorini so I’d recommend splurging and staying in a nice villa. You can spend your days enjoying vila life and taking in the incredible view
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Travel: 40 min ferry
Accommodation: Hotel Aegeon
Restaurant: Bamboo Bar Restaurant
Activities: Pathos Sunset Lounge for sunset | Slammer shot at Slammer Bar (you get smacked in the head with a fire hydrant) | Traffic Bar | Get slapped at Flames Bar | Play beer bong at Lost Boys | Silent Disco at Shush Bar | Far Out Beach Club | Tubbing at Mylopotas beach
Weather: July | 30 degrees
Price: $$ very responsibly priced
Tips: There’s a public bus that takes you between all the main areas and is pretty regular. Speak to your accomodation for the latest bus schedule.
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Travel: 3 hr 40 min ferry
Accommodation: Athenaeum Grand Hotel
Activities: Truthfully, we stayed in our hotel and ate room service as we were exhausted from 3 months of travelling and was told Athens is a dodgy place.
Weather: July | 32 - 35 degrees
Price: $$$
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Travel: 4 hr 30 min flight
Accommodation: The Hilton, Jumeirah
Food: Have a traditional meal
Activities: Sheikh Zayed Mosque Guided TourGuided Tour | Atlantis water park and aquarium | Burj Khalifa | Dubai Mall | Dubai Desert Experience (4WD, sand boarding, camel riding followed by a traditional evening in the dessert with food and entertainment.
Weather: August | 40 degrees (the water was about 30 degrees)
Price: $$$$ expensive - pre-book everything to save some money
Tips: Dubai is a conservative country. When you’re outside the hotel it’s important you respect this and cover your shoulders and chest when possible.
I’d also recommend staying in another area. The hotel was great, but when you left it there wasn’t much going on and the streets were empty.