Top 3 European Travel Destinations

Best European Cities for Tourists

I will start this post with a disclaimer, I have not actually travelled to any of these places. Yet. I am still in college and right now there is no way that I would be able to afford to travel as much as I would like! I'm sure that when I am older and actually can afford plane tickets to travel, my perception of my favorite places will change, but based on my own research and desires, here are a list of the 3 European destinations I would recommend visiting.

1. Monaco

I wanted to start with Monaco because it may be a destination that some may feel is a bit obscure. And it is. This picture actually captures the entire country, which is less than 500 acres. Monaco is a resort paradise located near the French city of Nice on the French Riviera. It has a mild climate year round and a unique mix of local, French and Italian cultures. Monaco is known for having great casinos and nightlife.

2. Copenhagen 

Copenhagen is a medium-sized city located along the Baltic sea. It is the capital of Denmark and known as being one of the happiest and most liberal cities in the world. Copenhagen is a city of bikes and friendly people. The city is also known for being environmentally friendly city. Despite all of these good things, I would recommend only visiting in the summer months as winters can be quite cold this far north. 

3. Prague

Until recently I never would have thought much of Prague, I simply lumped the Czech Republic in with Germany and Austria. However, one of my best friends is about to move there to teach English as a second language and so I took another look at the city. It is absolutely beautiful. Looking at photos, I cannot think of a more picturesque city. Prague is filled with medieval elements, stone bridges, castles and cobblestones. It also may be the first European city that I have the chance to visit this winter! 

Check Out my Other Travel Posts Here!
Planning a Cape Cod Vacation?
My Five Favorite New England Beaches
Cheapest Ways to Fly

Reasons to Travel to Europe

For most of my life I have wanted to travel to Europe. My desire stems from studying maps and learning about history as a kid. I remember being fascinated by Greek and Roman history and learning about many various european cultures. For most of my life this remained a dream, but this winter I may finally have a chance to spend a few weeks abroad. Here are some reasons you (and I) should spend some time exploring Europe.

It's Cheaper than you Think: Round trip flights to Europe from the United States can be found for less than $800 if you plan far enough in advance. I am looking for tickets from Boston to London for December, during the holidays, and tickets are still less than $900, (about the cost of 9 nice sweaters). Once you arrive in Europe, it becomes extremely cheap to stay. According to Hostels.com/europe, many cities have hostels with great reviews for $5 - $10 per night! If you can stay for more than a week, the expensive flight can quickly be offset by room expenses.

Gain a New Perspective: Often people spend most of their lives in one country or even one small region of a country, New England in my case. While the area you live in my be comfortable and pleasant, other areas can offer extremely different experiences. Most people become accustomed to their own culture and way of life and can gain so much from learning the customs of people who live differently. This sense of discovery can foster an appreciation for diversity as well as of one's own cultural identity.

Travelling in a foreign country is a way to challenge your own perspective on life and gain new ideas. If you stay in one place for your whole life, you may not develop a full sense of happiness because you have nothing to compare it to. While travelling you may discover that you want to relocate to a new place or you may develop a newfound love for your home country or city.

Gain a Sense of Independence: Having the opportunity to travel, especially to a country where you are unfamiliar with the language, provides a pathway to becoming more independent. Being somewhere totally new will force you to think in ways you may never have thought and use skills that you may not have used before. Interacting with locals and making your way through a foreign land without help can make you proud and feel capable of accomplishing more than you thought possible of yourself.

Carpe Diem: If you are thinking about travelling, whether it be to Europe or elsewhere in the world, my advice is just to do it. Life only comes once and if you have an opportunity to go somewhere you have always wanted to go, just do it. I realized recently that when I am much older and look back on my life, I want to know that I did all of the things that I always wanted to do and so I am trying to live by my own advice. Sure, it may be expensive, but there are ways to save money. People tend to enjoy experiences more than their material belongings. Besides, who needs all of those sweaters anyways?