Top Things to do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

CROATIA

After visiting Lake Bled, Slovenia, my goal was to get to Dubrovnik, Croatia. I took a bus from Lake Bled to the train station in Lesce Bled, a train to the capital city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, then a bus to Zagreb, Croatia. Buses are a great way to get around Europe, check out Flixbus! I was planning on taking buses all the way down to Dubrovnik, but it was about a 24-hour trip, whereas I could take 1-hour flight for $100. Long-story short, I made it to Dubrovnik before embarking on my Balkans Road Trip! Here are my top things to do in Dubrovnik Croatia!

DUBROVNIK’S CITY WALLS

This is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Dubrovnik, but personally I couldn’t bring myself to pay 30 Euros to do it. If you do decide to go, check it out early in the morning right when it opens to avoid the crowds.

STARI GRAD

Check out the unique Old Town area for some historical context of Dubrovnik!

MOUNT SRD

You can either hike to the top or take a cable car ride up! Highly recommended for a gorgeous sunset view.

TAKE A DIP IN HIDDEN POOLS ALONG THE COAST

One of my favorite pools is located at Hotel Excelsior! It’s open to the public and free of charge.

Must-See Things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia

I’m going to be honest, Bratislava wasn’t that exciting of a city for me but I definitely think it’s beautiful! If you’ve seen the movie EuroTrip, Bratislava is nothing like it. Here are the must-see things to do in Bratislava, Slovakia!

OLD TOWN

This was personally my favorite part of Bratislava; the alleyways are all so picturesque, fun to wander, and have that typical European city feel.

BRATISLAVA CASTLE

The castle is probably the #1 thing to do in Bratislava! There’s also a nice view of the city from here.

BLUE CHURCH

St. Elizabeth’s church was built in an art nouveau style and is very distinct! It’s a little difficult to get a photo of it since it sits in a random part of Bratislava, but still beautiful to check out.

The Best Viewpoints in Gdansk, Poland

After visiting Portugal, I wanted to check out some new countries in Europe that I haven’t been to yet! One of which was POLAND; Poland is a huge country, and I had plans to visit Krakow and Warsaw but my flight was cancelled. Luckily I found a $20 flight via Wizz Air to Gdansk and decided to go for it!

Gdansk is such a cute little city and is easily doable for a weekend trip. It’s known for its tall and narrow colorful Old Town, which has a similar style to what you’d see in Amsterdam. That’s because of its historical ties to the Netherlands and Belgium. Anyways, here’s a guide to the best viewpoints, photo spots, and things to do in Gdansk, Poland!

MAIN TOWN HALL

The second tallest building in Gdansk, if you climb up to the tower you can find a great view of the Royal Route and historic part of the city!

ST. MARY’S CHURCH TOWER

The lookout is right above the bell tower, another impressive view of the Royal Route, but also the Town Hall and the iconic houses!

ST. CATHERINE’S CHURCH BELL TOWER

Check out for a great panoramic view of both the Old Town and Main Town!

Favorite Things to do in the Pacific Northwest in Spring

The Best Things to do in the Pacific Northwest in Spring

1. Check out the hot springs: Scenic Hot Spring

2. Visit the tulip farms in the spring: Skagit Tulip Festival

3. Admire the wildflowers in bloom at Sunrise Visitor Center in Mt. Rainier National Park

4. Pick your own lavender at Lavender Valley Farms

Top Things to do in Iraqi Kurdistan

In January I had the opportunity to visit Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq. Because it’s an autonomous region, Americans don’t need a visa to explore this area unlike Iraq proper. Here are my top things to see!

1. Lalish: Lalish is considered a sacred area to the Yazidi people and dates back thousands of years. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to Lalish at least once in their lifetime.

2. Amedi: “The City in the Sky” is believed to be the home of the Three Kings that visited Jesus Christ when he was born.

3. Akre: A town built on the side of a mountain range in the year 580 BC by the Kurdish Prince Zand and a beautiful lookout to watch the sunset.

4. Rawanduz Canyon: Close to the borders of Iran and Turkey, this area dates back to the Neo Assyrian Empire as a major trade route.

5. Amna Suraka: Also known as the “Red Prison” in Sulaymaniyah, it’s been turned into a museum to educate how many lives were lost in the Anfal genocide.

6. Erbil: The capital of Kurdistan, this city is a must-see to explore and experience the culture of this region.