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European Destinations

Tulips at Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands

Visiting Keukenhof: the world’s largest tulip garden

European Destinations, Travel Gratsiela

The arrival of spring in the Netherlands is made official by the bloom of hyacinths, daffodils and of course, the world-famous Dutch tulips. There’s something very charming and quaint about these vibrant flowers. And the pride the Dutch feel about them is hard to miss, especially in this time of the year. From wooden versions in souvenir shops and cellophane wrapped bouquets in supermarkets to postcards and their depiction on a multitude of renaissance paintings, it’s safe to say the once known as “tulip mania” is now a deeply rooted Dutch tradition.

My second visit to the Netherlands had a quick day trip to the tulip countryside in store for us. Venturing a little further out of the city of Amsterdam, we finally made our way to Lisse to explore the most beautiful tulip garden in the world – Keukenhof! And honestly? I can’t believe it took us this long to get us out there.

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Monaco Port Hercules

Things to do in Monaco on a budget | TRAVEL GUIDE

European Destinations, Travel Gratsiela

Monaco is one of the most exclusive and popular destinations in Côte d’Azur. Nestled on the Mediterranean coastline, halfway between Nice and the Italian border, Monaco has traditionally been compared to the likes of Las Vegas and Dubai – on a much smaller scale, however! Despite having a total area of barely a square mile, the second smallest country in the world after the Vatican comes with its very own tax-free status and has been a worldwide reference for luxury and gambling for more than a century. The glitz and eternal glamour have survived throughout the years thanks to Grace Kelly, various James Bond movies, the Monaco Grand Prix, lavish five star hotels and casinos and countless luxury yachts and cars.

Its strategic location (just a 30min train ride from Nice!) and rather smaller size than its neighbouring French resorts make it the perfect place for a quick day trip. Exploring Monaco in a day is actually possible and the micro-state is full of lesser known hidden gems for those looking to be money savvy. Here are our top tips on things to do in Monaco on a budget.

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Cannes beach

Affordable things to do in Cannes, Côte d’Azur | TRAVEL GUIDE

Around the World, European Destinations, Food and Drink, Travel Gratsiela

Cannes – the city of stars, glamour and luxury tourism. Along with the likes of Saint-Tropez, Nice and Monaco, Cannes is a favourite jet set for those looking for a holiday à la mode. Yachts, luxury cars, haute couture shops and private white-sand beaches contribute to the savoir-faire that is so characteristic of the elegant resorts of the South of France.

But there’s so much more behind the yachts and celebrity spotting. Cannes has that je ne sais quoi of a Mediterranean fishing village past that can still be felt in the historic streets. I thought I’d include a list of my favourite places in Cannes that don’t necessarily have to do with the luxurious and often out-of-budget character of the area. Let’s get ready and explore this charming French city, shall we?

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Wine boats on the River Douro, Porto

The 10 best things to do in Porto | TRAVEL GUIDE

European Destinations, Travel Gratsiela

Porto was the last stop on our 10 day trip around Portugal. After a quick 24h stopover exploring the medieval streets of beautiful Coimbra, we quickly hopped on the next train to Porto and arrived in Estação de São Bento in just over an hour. The second biggest city in Portugal welcomed us with one of the prettiest railway stations in the world. An incredible hand painted tilework by Jorge Colaço featuring more than 20,000 tiles covers the main hall’s interior. These portray scenes of some of the most important moments of Portugal’s history. I couldn’t help but admire the meticulous 20th century artwork that was in front of me.

Was Porto going to be this beautiful everywhere? Uhm, YES! Porto is vibrant, colourful and full of history waiting for everyone to explore it. Here are our top 10 things to do in Porto.

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Looking at Coimbra over the Mondego River

24 Hours in Coimbra, Portugal | TRAVEL GUIDE

European Destinations, Travel Gratsiela

After some incredible days exploring Lisbon and Cascais, the beautiful city of Coimbra was the next big stop on our trip around Portugal. Located halfway between the Portuguese capital and Porto, our final destination, Coimbra seemed like the perfect location for the quick stopover we were looking for.

With backpacks full of pasteis de nata, we hopped on the first train from Lisbon to Coimbra. The former capital of Portugal from 1139 to 1250 is famous for its notable University and historical library. It was now ours for just over 24h. Here’s what to see in Coimbra in a day.

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Rossio Square from Elevador de Santa Justa, Lisbon

The 10 best things to do in Lisbon, Portugal | TRAVEL GUIDE

Around the World, European Destinations, Food and Drink, Travel Gratsiela

Welcome to Lisbon, the gorgeous city built on seven hills! There are many ways I could describe Lisbon. It’s bohemian, yet it screams romanticism all over. Lively and spirited in nature, yet life seems to go calm and undisturbed. It’s Baroque, Gothic, Romanesque…all at once! There’s always something spectacular to marvel at in Lisbon and its magic and charm seem to have persisted throughout the years. Every corner, colourful building and cobbled street hide unpredictable surprises. I’d be lying if I said that Lisbon isn’t one of my favourite dots on the map.

As you can see, Lisboa is a very special place. Of course, I couldn’t resist encapsulating everything we love about the city of Fado in a travel guide. Grab a cuppa, sit down and get comfy, this is going to be a lovely long one…

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Hiking Down Pico Ruivo, Madeira

Things to do in Madeira, Portugal | TRAVEL GUIDE

Around the World, European Destinations, Food and Drink, Travel Gratsiela

Madeira has to be one of Portugal’s best kept secrets. I honestly can’t begin to describe how beautiful this small volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is. Stupendous green landscapes cover the entirety of Madeira, turning it, somehow, into a floating garden. On one hand, the rocky mountains, moist laurisilva forests and vineyards cover the higher peaks and valleys. On the other, the subtropical palm trees and rough cliffs crown the coast. And overall, the sense of relaxing atmosphere will hit you as soon as you step on the island. Like me, you probably won’t help but think if you should just ignore your return flight and settle in a beach house in Funchal instead. Oh well.

But there is more. Madeira is full of incredible places to explore. Not to mention the exquisite gastronomy and a singular history that still lives up to this day. So where do you start? Check our list on things you must do in Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthplace.

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