Another microstate on my quest to visit every country in Europe, Monaco is known for its casinos and glamor in the south of France!
I actually took trains from Bologna after visiting the microstate of San Marino, which was a pain, but an easy way if you don’t have your own car or don’t want to spend the money on flights. The train stops at Monaco and you can hop off, no problem! The other way would be to fly into Nice, France and take the train over one stop.
During my second visit to Budapest, I used the time to relax a bit from the craziness of my Europe adventure. One of my favorite things to do is visit hot springs or thermal baths anywhere I go! Here are some of the best thermal baths in Budapest:
The classic and most well-known, it’s the largest park and hosts “sparties” (spa parties).
The majority of the pools are indoors but the mosaics and art deco adorning the entire facility make it one of the most beautiful!
If you’re looking for a sunset spot while soaking in a thermal bath, this is it!
San Marino is a microstate located within the country of Italy, but it’s actually it’s own country! I never knew much about these micro-countries before my quest to visit every country so trying to figure out the logistics to get to all of them can be a hassle.
If you’re flying into solely see San Marino, the best option would be to fly into Bologna, Italy and rent a car. If you can’t rent a car, you can take a train to Rimini and catch a bus to San Marino. It’s only a two hour drive, so you can easily do it as a day trip.
Personally my favorite thing to do was the Guaita Tower, and it’s best to photograph it at sunset. You get a stunning view of Italy from the top as well! Unfortunately it was raining when I went, but hopefully one day I’ll be back on a nice day.
From Belgrade my plan was to fly to Budapest, and I happened to see a full-day stopover in Malta. I wish I had more time to visit friends there, but as I was on a mission to visit every country in Europe, I had to make cuts in my itinerary. One day was actually a good amount of time to explore the capital and catch up with my friends!
The area of Valletta is very walkable and quite beautiful to explore. My favorite things to do in a new place is to just wander and take photos; check out Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, Republic Street and Merchant Street. I also highly recommend taking the water taxis on a nice day!
Does anyone remember the Tumblr days? I think that’s what inspired a lot of my travels for off-the-beaten-path adventurous places. One photo that stood out to me that put Ukraine on my radar was the “Tunnel of Love,” located in the western part of the country. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to venture all the way to that part of the country, but I stumbled upon a photo that looked similar to it, except right in Kyiv!
It’s a beautiful tram ride at any point in the year, but the fall colors really make this adventure really special.
I got two fines trying to make it there and back so you don’t have to! First of all, before even attempting to make this journey, pick up a Kyiv Metro Pass from an underground subway station office. I tried purchasing from booths near tram stations along with electronic stations but didn’t have any luck; people told me I had to buy from the metro station offices underground. Also, make sure it has a few trips left in it since you’ll be doing a bit of transferring to get to the correct line!
You’re basically navigating to the Pushcha-Voditsa Park, and yes there’s a lot of ways to get there. The trick is to get the classic red tram is you have to find the special line that departs from a certain square in Kyiv, called Kontractova-Ploscha. Once you find yourself at Kontractova-Ploscha, you’ll see all the classic red trams coming and going but there’s only one that will take you to where you want to go: Tram 12. Once you’re on, sit back and enjoy the ride because it’s an hour to the forest.
Take Tram 12 all the way to the first stop of the town Pushcha-Voditsa, right where the tram comes out of the forest. That way you’re only back-tracking a little bit into the forest, but you still have the luxury of catching several different tram lines back to Kyiv. I also read that there’s a really nice spa and resort nearby, and the actual park is beautiful to explore!
I was stressed out about the whole journey because of the fines, not really knowing what I was doing or where I was going while being solo, and the locals were quite unfriendly and didn’t want to speak to you if you didn’t speak Ukrainian. I even got approached a third time about getting fined because the police was claiming that my two other tickets were “fake” and I had to Google translate that I haven’t had the chance to go to the metro office to get the proper pass since I was out in the middle of nowhere. Anyways, I put a lot of work trying to find this spot so I hope it saves you the mistakes that I did and you have somewhere new to explore!
Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, is a vibrant and captivating destination. Situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Belgrade is a city that effortlessly blends its rich history with a modern cosmopolitan vibe. Visitors are greeted by a skyline dotted with ancient fortresses, grand palaces, and exquisite churches. As you explore the cobbled streets of the city, you'll encounter a lively café culture, charming markets, and a burgeoning arts scene. The city's nightlife is renowned, with an array of bars, clubs, and live music venues that keep the city buzzing until the early hours. Belgrade's unique blend of history, culture, and vibrant energy make it a must-visit destination for any traveler looking for an authentic European experience.
Of course you can fly into Belgrade’s airport, but my friend and I were able to buy a bus ticket from Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina directly to Belgrade, Serbia. It was a 12 hour bus ride, so it’s not for the faint of heart, but Flixbus offers great routes and prices!
One of the most unique things about Belgrade are the pontoon hotels on the River Danube! There are so many floating hotels to choose from, and they all have their own style. Check out Arkabarka for something budget-friendly, or for something a little more upscale but still a great price check out Joy 5 Hotel & Spa!
Belgrade is a very modern city; my favorite place that I went back to over and over for the healthy yet delicious food was Bloom! Seriously it was the best, and it was such a cute layout!
Alright, so besides wandering the city for a bit, my friend and I actually did a little bit of a road trip mission to Manastir Manasija, a beautiful monastery south of Belgrade. This was my favorite part of Serbia personally!
Mostar has been on my Europe bucket list a long time, and it did not disappoint! Since Bosnia & Herzegovina is a Muslim country, I traded my summer shorts and tank for a long sleeved dress for this adventure.
You can either fly into the capital of Sarajevo, drive, or another option is the bus! Buses are great around Europe; I got a ticket at the bus station in Dubrovnik, Croatia the day beforehand and made the trek. It was quite a journey, but it was an adventure nonetheless!
I highly recommend staying at this guest house, Villa Floris! The family that owns it was beyond hospitable and it was incredibly clean. Contact them when you arrive and they can set up transport to the guesthouse. They were concerned because the taxi we took was technically an illegal driver, so the owner made sure we didn’t get ripped off when paying.
Stari Most: The Old Bridge is the most iconic site in Mostar and cannot be missed! You can even see people diving off the bridge during the summer, and it’s quite a sight to see!
Dervish House (Blagaj Tekija): This was my favorite day trip from Mostar and the water was the most insane shade of turquoise! I love learning about different religions, and the Dervish House had some great history.
Old Bazaar: You have to try Bosnian coffee, it’s a unique experience! Another one of my favorite things is to wander the alleyways and try the cuisine!
Driving back up from Albania, I decided to make my final stop on my solo Balkans road trip in Kotor, Montenegro! Kotor is another fortified medieval village on the Adriatic Coast.
A lot of cruise ships will stop in Kotor during the summer months and can become quite crowded. I highly recommend going during one of the shoulder seasons while the weather is still fantastic but there’s less people! I went in early October, and it was the perfect time.
Wander the maze of tiny passageways of this medieval city. My favorite time to explore of course is early morning after sunrise, so you can snap photos without a lot of people around! Since I travel solo and take photos with my tripod and timer, it’s much easier when there’s no one around and I don’t have to worry about someone snatching my camera.
This was my favorite view of the city! My top recommendation is to go at sunrise to avoid the crowds, and if you go before the guard gets there at around 7:30 AM you might even avoid having to pay an entry ticket :)
This is a great little boat tour you can do! Our Lady of the Rocks is a tiny islet just off the coast of Perast, but you can also drive about twenty minutes from Kotor to see it from the shore.
My one bucket list item for North Macedonia was Lake Ohrid, a stunning lake that borders Albania. The Old Town is extremely tiny and is totally doable to walk around; if you have a car, make sure it’s not much bigger than a Smart Car, Fiat, or something of the like! Otherwise it’ll get stuck!
My go-to for any European town is wandering the Old Town areas. You can check out the Old Bazaar and make your way over to the iconic Church of Saint John of Kaneo.
This was the one place that made me decide to visit Lake Ohrid! Photography tip: you can catch the most stunning sunset from this church!
Unfortunately I didn’t have to to explore both Pristina and Prizren on this trip, but I was fortunate to be able to explore Prizren on a day trip!
NOTE: Because of the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia, you either need to enter from a Serbian - Kosovo border and leave that way, or enter and exit from a non-Serbian border. If you enter from the Albania - Kosovo border and leave through a Kosovo - Serbia border for example, you may have issues.
Besides my passport, vaccination card, and car registration, the only other item needed to cross the border to Kosovo was special Kosovo car insurance. This car insurance is completely free, and you pick it up at a building directly after the passport booth.
The bridge is an iconic piece of the city, and spans the Prizren Bistrica River.
It’s an interesting vibe wandering the city; I grabbed a kebab from a local shop and explored the old town streets.
Another iconic building of Prizren, the town seemingly revolves around this mosque.
Since I entered from Albania, I also left through the North Macedonian border; note that I didn’t leave through a Serbian border! I didn’t receive a stamp from either Kosovo side, but I did receive a stamp entering North Macedonia.
