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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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…)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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’

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Travel: Private transfer and 1 hr train from Naples

    Accommodation: Free Hostels Roma

    Activities: Travel day

  • 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: $$

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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: $$$

  • 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.