With that said, I bring you an awesomely planned out 4-day Ibiza itinerary that’s a mix of beautiful places, beaches, and great food. I did sprinkle a night of clubbing in there in case you’re tempted but no worries, this itinerary is not centered around partying.

Vamos a Eivissa!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post.

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Quick Logistics Of Traveling To Ibiza

Before embarking on your full Ibiza itinerary, here are some things you should know before traveling there. Knowing all the logistics and what to generally expect, will make your trip a lot less stressful on arrival.

Can you go to ibiza without partying?

Ibiza has a reputation for being a huge party destination. People go to experience the infamous club atmosphere and live the hype. Is that all Ibiza is good for then? No! It is SO much more than the handful of clubs so if that’s your concern, don’t worry, there is plenty to do outside the club scene. And you’ll have more than enough to do to explore Ibiza in 4 or even 10 days.

While I do recommend a night of dancing in a sweaty club, one is all you’ll need (unless you’re a 21-year-old stepping into one for the first time 🙂 ). And to be completely honest, if you’re past the age of 30 and have done some partying in your life, Ibiza won’t impress you as much as you think it will. The music is great that’s for sure, but 25 euro drinks, 60 euro entrance fees, and a ton of drunk teenagers won’t be the highlight of your Ibiza adventures at that age.

Curious about another party island? Check out my Mykonos post.

How to get to Ibiza?

There are a couple of ways to get to the island. In the summer, Ibiza has a good amount of direct flights from most major airports in Europe. Book as early as you can because you’ll be able to snag a $30 flight compared to $200 closer to the season.

The second way to get to Ibiza is by booking a ferry from mainland Spain in Barcelona, Valencia or Denia or connecting islands like Mallorca or Formentera. They won’t be very cheap but are a good option if you’re nearby.

And if you’re coming from Spain don’t forget to check out my Week in Spain Itinerary or if you want to explore another Spain island, consider Tenerife.

Where to stay in Ibiza?

Choose an area based on how you want to experience Ibiza

I’d recommend choosing where to stay based on what you want to prioritize on the island. The southern part of the island is close to the airport and the ferry the Formentera and in my opinion is generally nicer to stay in.

If you want to party, Sant Jordi/Playa d’en Bossa has clubs like Ushuaia or HI. I recommend staying in Ibiza Town which is close to the clubs and will also give you everything you need: great restaurants, a transport hub, and activities. I also really loved Santa Eularia, a much more quiet but cute beach town close to Ibiza town (20 mins).

In the north, you have another major city Sant Antoni. I stayed there for a night and explored some northern points but I can’t say I loved it as much as the southern end. The amount of drunk teenagers at bachelor parties didn’t appeal to me.

Here are some hotel recommendations for Ibiza Town as that would be my top area to stay in:

Should you stay at a party hotel?

Party hotels in Ibiza are another level. So if you want to party from your balcony at Ushuaia or Hard Rock you’re in for nights of no sleep. Would I stay at one of those? Probably not but if I were looking for the ultimate Ibiza party experience that’s what I would do.

Note that these Ibiza party hotels are PRICEY. Especially during high season, you will be paying a ton of money to stay there but you will get an unmatched experience when it comes to being in the heart of an Ibiza party. Another option I’d recommend if the stay seems too hardcore is to stay in a quieter hotel next door which will allow you to party on your terms.

I stayed at Fergus Style Bahamas next door to Ushuaia and enjoyed my beachfront room. When I booked it I didn’t realize it was a resort but it ended up being a very nice relaxing spot.

Navigating the Island

The best way to navigate Ibiza is to rent a car. It’s easy and gives you so much more freedom to explore the island on your own terms. I rented with Click&Rent and had an ok experience. The rental place was located a 5-minute shuttle ride to the airport and they were fairly quick on getting me the car. The only complaint is that they made me get an international driver’s license on the spot for an extra fee which is something I never had to get before in Europe. Note that you can easily get them at the local AAA office.

I personally always book through rentalcars.com because of their variety of vendors and great prices.

Best Time to Visit Ibiza

The best time to visit the island is without a doubt summer as the atmosphere picks up with the warmer weather. The island is also highly seasonal so visiting outside it, a lot of places and activities will be closed. However, as in any high season, visiting in peak July or August will come with super high temperatures and many tourists. If you don’t mind a slightly colder water, May or September will be much better for your visit.

Random Info

• Ibiza is expensive. Be prepared to spend a good chunk of money on the island.
• If you’ve seen the videos of Ibiza Airport and passed-out 20-year-olds on the floor from all the partying, I can vouch for that indeed that is a true sight 🙂
• Ibiza is so much more than drunk Europeans clubbing if you go to the right places.
• The food is amazing on the island. I don’t think I ate at one bad place.

Now Let’s Get to the Awesome 4-Day Ibiza Itinerary

As I mentioned above, I stayed in Playa d’en Bossa for the first half of my trip and then made my way over to Sant Antoni for the second part. I always build my itineraries in the best way I think you should visit a place so I won’t recommend doing exactly what I did.

I’d simply rather stay in or near Ibiza Town and use it as my base for exploring. The itinerary below will be based on staying in Ibiza Town but also having a rental car. Without a rental car, it will be difficult to see everything on the island.

Day 1: Beach, Food and Sunsets

Morning: Beach & Lunch

There is nothing better than starting your Ibiza vacation on a beach. For your first day of your 4 day Ibiza itinerary, I recommend picking a beach or two and making a drive to spend your whole day doing nothing, but lounging in the Ibiza sun and having a beachfront meal at whichever spot you chose from below. Here are some ideas for your beach day, from closest to furthest to Ibiza Town:

• Platja de Ses Figueretes: This gem of a beach is conveniently close to Ibiza Old Town, approximately a 10-minute drive. This urban beach has a mix of fine sand and rocky areas. Its main perk is its proximity to the town, making it easily accessible for a quick beach day. But note that because of its closeness to town, it will be busy and it probably won’t be the nicest beach on the island. There are beachfront bars and restaurants serving a variety of dishes, perfect for a casual meal with a sea view. While there, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the promenade and explore the nearby shops.
• Bossa Beach: Bossa Beach, located just south of Ibiza Old Town, is famous for its proximity to popular beach clubs. It takes approximately 10 minutes to reach Bossa Beach by car. Again, don’t expect breathtaking views here but it is still a very nice way to enjoy a day at the beach. I stayed near it and enjoyed it. The main attraction here is the energetic beach scene with music, water sports, and beach parties. Numerous beachfront bars and restaurants line the shore, offering a mix of cuisines but I personally loved Ammos right on the beach.
• Cala Tarida: Cala Tarida is a beach situated about 20 minutes southwest of Ibiza Old Town. Known for its soft white sand and shallow turquoise waters, it’s an ideal spot for a relaxing day by the sea. It’s known for the calm and clear Mediterranean, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There are some beachfront restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, making it convenient for a beachside lunch. I’d rent a sunbed and umbrella for added comfort, and explore the nearby coves for a more secluded experience. This spot will certainly be a lot nice compared the beaches closer to town.
• Platges de Comte: Located approximately 25 minutes southwest of Ibiza Old Town by car, this beach offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. The main attraction here is the vibrant and colorful sunset, making it a popular spot for evening gatherings. There are several beachfront bars and restaurants where you can enjoy drinks and seafood while soaking in the breathtaking scenery. Make sure to arrive early to secure a good spot for sunset viewing, and consider bringing a picnic for a cozy beach experience.

Afternoon: Sunsets & Dinner

For the evening part of the day, head over to the famous Cala D’Hort for sunset to see the stunning Es Verda Rock. Cala d’Hort, located about 35 minutes southwest of Ibiza Old Town, is celebrated for its iconic view of the mysterious Es Vedrà. This limestone outcrop stands as one of the most recognized landmarks. Beyond its picturesque beauty, Es Vedrà holds spiritual significance, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking inspiration and a connection to the island’s unique charm. Whether viewed from the shore or explored up close, the island promises a journey into the heart of Ibiza’s intriguing mystique. I’d recommend heading there for sunset to enjoy its magic.

After sunset, head to Ibiza Town for a nice meal. Some places known for its quality are:

• La Bodega: Tucked away in the charming streets of Old Town, La Bodega is a culinary gem known for its authentic Spanish tapas. This cozy restaurant offers a vibrant atmosphere and a diverse menu of small, flavorful dishes.
• Ses Taules: Nestled in the heart of Dalt Vila, Ses Taules is a charming restaurant specializing in Mediterranean and Ibizan cuisine. Known for its picturesque courtyard setting and historic surroundings, it serves up dishes inspired by the island’s rich culinary traditions.
• Callas Ibiza: Situated in the heart of Old Town, Can Terra is a beloved restaurant known for its exceptional Italian cuisine. It’s a perfect spot in the heart of Ibiza’s historic center.
• La Oliva: La Oliva is a charming restaurant located centrally in Old Town, celebrated for its Mediterranean and Ibizan-inspired dishes. This intimate eatery boasts a cozy courtyard and a menu that highlights fresh, local ingredients.
• Bar 1805: Don’t forget to grab a nightcap at this gem which also serves some delicious French bites!

Day 2: Towns, Markets & Nightlife

Ibiza Old Town: Dalt Vila

Start of your day at a cute cafe in the heart of Ibiza. Croissant Show has freshly baked pastries, hearty omelets, and Mediterranean-inspired options while enjoying the atmosphere of the old streets. Passion Café is a popular Old Town spot offering organic and plant-based breakfast choices, from smoothie bowls to avocado dishes, in a trendy setting. Lastly Cafe Sidney has a cozy ambiance for a breakfast featuring fluffy pancakes, Spanish-style tortillas, and sandwiches.

After getting a good breakfast, it’s time to explore the Old Town or Dalt Vila. There is no solid Ibiza itinerary without exploring this part of the island. Start your adventure at the grand Portal de Ses Taules – the front door to this fortified gem, holding the key to centuries of historical significance. As you stroll through the charming Dalt Vila alleys, exploring gems like Plaza de la Vila and the Santa Maria Cathedral, take note of its medieval vibe and UNESCO World Heritage status.

Next, climb up to the historic fortress for epic views that once protected the city against pirates, and then head down to Sa Penya, the artsy quarter, where every corner exudes the essence of Ibiza’s cultural tapestry. Continue your day at Plaça del Sol, surrounded by local life, all while shopping for unique finds at all the local shops.

I love to call myself a “port-gal” because there is just something about the port atmosphere that makes my heart happy. So for lunch I’d recommend having a meal right in the heart of the Ibiza Marina at Calma. It serves Mediterranean cuisine and won’t disappoint.

Afternoon visit to Santa Eularia and/Or Hippie Market

For the afternoon, head over to Santa Eularia des Riu, a cute down a short 20 min drive from Ibiza. It’s a gorgeous little down to enjoy a stroll through. While it is recommended on a lot of guides, I kind of stumbled upon it by accident while driving through it. There are many outdoor cafes and a cozy beach promenade which is great for people watching!

Another great attraction on the island is the Hippy Market. I mean did you even go to Ibiza if you didn’t visit one? Are they touristy? Yes. Are they cute? Yes. Would I recommend visiting one? Yes. There are a bunch of them throughout the island depending on the day of the week so check out this page for the schedule.

Evening: Pre-party siesta & a little bit of partying

Since you probably had a very long day, don’t forget to snatch a siesta before embarking on a night adventure. And don’t worry, Ibiza parties don’t start until 1am or so, so you’ll have plenty of time to rest.

Now party time.

Although this is not an Ibiza party guide, I would at least check out one club on your Ibiza Itinerary so you can experience what the hype is all about. Ibiza is known for its wild party scene and there is bound to be an event somewhere. The biggest DJs will come flying in for the summer with a lot of residency shows. Expect drinks to be 20 euros plus and entry tickets varying from 30ish euro to 100+ for bigger names.

Here is a quick list of all the most famous Ibiza clubs:

• Pacha: This spot does not need an introduction. It is by far one of the most known clubs in the world and it’s a total experience to party there.
• HI Ibiza: A newer kid on the block but rated ads the best club in the world. I mean …
• Ushuaia: A club and a hotel is a place located in Playa d’en Bossa. It brings pretty big names during the summer.
• San Antonio has clubs like Eden or Ibiza Rocks but having stayed in San Antonio, I wouldn’t recommend it. The sheer amount of drunk British teenagers wasn’t for me.

There are honestly at least a dozen more party spots on the island. I’d simply choose a place based on who’s playing where. As I mentioned earlier, the party starts after midnight and headliners won’t come on until 3 am or so. If you’re a retired 30+-year-old partier like myself, make sure you chug a couple of Red Bulls before your night out. Or pay 15 euros for one inside a club. Oh and don’t be that guy to buy anything tempting from people outside the club.

Day 3: Relax & Beach or Activity!

I choose relaxing

The past two days have been busy for you so I want you to take a step back and make sure to spend the day relaxing on your vacation as well. Whether that’s taking a break on your hotel lounger or taking a scenic drive across the island to another beach, don’t miss out on enjoying a true island day.

We visited Cala Saladeta close to Sant Antoni, a gorgeous beach with a small hike to get there. It was beyond stunning so I’d highly recommend taking the 30 min drive from Old Town to see it. While there you can also explore the city of Sant Antoni.

Second place we drove to was Cala de Sant Vincent which is a small beach town with amazing waterfront restaurants. While there, check out The Boat House for lunch. Honestly, that restaurant alone is worth the drive.

I Choose Activity

If your explorer brain won’t let you relax for the day (don’t worry I’m like that too 🙂 ) then I recommend choosing a fun activity on the island. Here are some cool ideas for the day:

• Snorkeling and Cave Tour – A 3-hour tour that leaves from Sant Antoni. It includes snorkeling gear and cave exploration in the nearby calas of Ibiza.
• Beach Hopping on Catamaran – I mean who doesn’t want to spend half a day hopping beautiful beaches in the Southern part of the island?
• Old Town Food Tour – If the weather is messing with your perfect Ibiza beach day, book an in-town food tour instead.
• Have a Professional Photo Shoot – No shame in wanting to get that perfect Insta shot! Better yet when a professional does it 🙂

Day 4: Boat Day to formentera

On your last day, head to Formentera, a stunning island located a short 30-min boat trip from Ibiza. I highly regret not going like I planned. Let’s just say that getting sick on vacation is never fun. However, I won’t let you miss out on this amazing destination!

There are a couple of ways to reach this small island. First you can simply take a ferry from Ibiza Town Port to La Savina Port with numerous daily departures. Second, if you’re traveling with a group of friends, it might be worth to book a private boat to get you there.

Formentera Highlights

The best way to travel around the island is by renting a scooter for the day. Or if you’re lazy simply walk from the port to a beach and enjoy spending the day in the sun. Some top highlights include:

• Playa de Ses Illetes: The poster child of Formentera beaches in the north part of the island.Make sure not to miss these crystal clear baby blue waters. It’s true Spain paradise.
• Playa de Migjorn: On the south end, you’ll find another beauty to explore.
• Various Markets: Sant Ferran, La Mola or La Savina are located throughout the island.

map for your 4-day ibiza itinerary

In this post, I’ll talk about how to increase your chances of getting Tomorrowland tickets, what to expect from the festival, what to bring with you and how to make the most out of it. I will try to cover everything that I researched prior to the event and everything I wish I had done differently as well.

While Tomorrowland isn’t coming up until July, you have to start thinking about all the logistics way ahead. Pre-sale and tickets come out for sale in the winter and you need to be ready by then. With all that said, let’s get to all the logistics necessary for your optimal Tomorrowland experience!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. 🙂

Things to know before Tomorrowland

What is Tomorrowland?

If you’re reading this, you probably already know what Tomorrowland is, but if you’re just stumbling upon this post, let me give you a brief introduction to this event.

Tomorrowland is an annual electronic music festival that takes place in Boom, Belgium. For the most part, it happens the last two weekends of July. At first, it started as a small local festival in 2005 and grew into an event that draws crowds from all over the world. In 2023, over 400,000 people attended during both weekends!

The festival has the most famous DJs performing all weekend with all types of electronic music sub-genres. There are 14 stages each uniquely decorated with the Mainstage being the biggest and most artistically involved. Tomorrowland grounds include a beautiful set-up, entertainment, food, and most importantly, an amazing vibe from the people coming together.

How to get Tomorrowland tickets?

Before we get into the guide and logistics of what Tomorrowland entails, let’s talk about the tickets. Everyone who plans on going to Tomorrowland dreads this day the most, as it determines if your dreams will be crushed or not. I’m not even going to lie, it’s hard, like REALLY hard to get Tomorrowland tickets, however, it is not impossible. There really isn’t a magic formula to get them so you have to be really prepared in to increase your chances of getting them.

First and foremost, pre-register on the Tomorrowland website so you’ll get all the major announcements regarding ticket sales. Although the timelines are very similar every year, you will need to keep track of all the dates. And yes, you’ll be buying tickets 6-7 months in advance!

Tomorrowland Ticket Sales:

No matter which ticket packages you choose, the purchasing process is the same. You will log into your account at the designated time and wait in a virtual queue until the system allows you to enter the purchasing portal. You cannot have multiple windows open as it will kick you out. I imagine this is only getting to get more competitive and complex as the festival keeps on growing each year.

In my experience during pre-sale, I did not even get into the purchasing stage as everything sold out within 20 minutes of me being online 😉

Here is what you need to know about the different types of Tomorrowland ticket sales:

• Global Journey Sale opens before any other sales. This involves purchasing a whole package including transport and accommodations along with your tickets. It will be the most expensive option but also your best chance of getting tickets.
• The Pre-Sale starts the weekend before the actual global sale so you’ll want to access that before the general worldwide dates. You will need to register for it in order to access it. In 2023, this took place the last weekend of January.
• The General Sale will happen a week after so if you don’t get tickets in pre-sale, you’ll be able to try again during this time.
• The Waitlist happens after everything sells out. This is your last chance to get tickets closer to the festival date as some extra tickets get released. It’s the most risky too as you won’t know if you can attend until pretty much last minute. If you’re traveling internationally, I don’t recommend banking on this.
• Resell Tickets are pretty available on all the major ticket platforms BUT officially Tomorrowland doesn’t allow for this. I personally wouldn’t take the risk of getting these as you’ll hear of multiple accounts of people being scammed.

Types of Tomorrowland Tickets

Generally there 4 types of Tomorrowland Tickets: Day Passes, Full Madness (Weekend Pass), Dreamville, and Global Journey. I would highly recommend getting Full Madness or Global Journey as going to the festival for 1 day is simply not enough to experience it.

Day Passes and Full Madness include just the festival tickets and cost 125 and 295 euros (2023 prices). Comfort tickets (VIP) are slightly more expensive and include access to blocked-off areas that have bars, toilets, and some other cool features like jacuzzis at the MainStage.

Dreamville Packages include tickets and stay on the Tomorrowland grounds and vary depending on what type of experience you’re looking for. The most basic package starts at around 370 euros and includes a camping spot and goes up to villas for 10s of thousands of euros for a group. There are some great packages for around ~1200 euro a person which include a ticket and locked sleeping pods with beds.

Global Journey Tickets include Full Madness passes as well as pre-arranged accommodations in surrounding towns like Brussels or Antwerp along with initial transport into the city from big global hubspots. This is what I purchased and my ticket included a train from London to Brussels, a hotel in Brussels near the main train station, and a daily shuttle to Boom. I will talk more about my Global Journey experience later on in the post.

All tickets are linked to your online account through which you will be loading up Pearls to, Tomorrowland’s payment system. Once you order your tickets, these will be shipped to your address in July. Living in the US, I had no problem receiving my shipment here.

Tomorrowland Logistics

Tomorrowland transportation

Unless you have the Global Journey package which arranges all your transport, you’ll need to plan for how to get to and from the festival. The festival grounds are in Boom which is located between Antwerp and Brussels.

From Brussels, you can take a train to Mechelen and then a bus from there to Boom. The bus stop is fairly close to the festival entrance but the whole commute takes about 1.5 hours. Otherwise, you can take a Bolt/Uber and the drive will be around 40 min. My recommendation would be to not stay in Brussels unless you have Global Journey.

From Antwerp, you can take a train but the walk from the Boom train station to the festival grounds takes 35 min and then another 30 min to get back to the city. The drive in a shared ride will take about 30 min but the pick up spot will also require some walking. Note that these shared rides will be VERY limited due to the volume of people.

Additionally, there are specific Tomorrowland shuttles in each surrounding city, but you’ll need to pre-book them and they’re usually sold out early as well.

Coming home from the festival also requires you to check whether your connections are running. The Tomorrowland page provides transport logistics closer to the festival as well so you can check if you can purchase a shuttle back if available.

Overall transport to and from Boom is not something you can save for late minute and you can’t wing it either. You need to know your options or you’ll be stuck in the middle of Boom in the middle of the night.

Tomorrowland accommodations

Dreamville is by far the best option in my opinion to experience Tomorrowland. Dreamville is located right on the festival grounds and gives you a unique experience of the festival. However, it is extremely hard to get this package so I would look into multiple options prior to attempting getting Dreamville.

Instead, start looking for Airbnbs or hotels in Boom, Antwerp or Mechelen for the easiest access to the festival way ahead of time. As mentioned above, I would not recommend staying in Brussels because public transport is not easy from there.

Antwerp will be a slightly better option and here are some choices for you:

Is the Tomorrowland Global Journey package worth it?

What does the Global Journey package include:

Global Journey was not my first choice as I really wanted to secure a Dreamville package. However, since everything sold out, I knew my only chance of getting tickets was getting a Global Journey package.

Was it worth it? Yes, I thought I was amazing but knowing what I know today, I would have done it a little differently than I did.

So if you don’t know what Global Journey is, it’s a package that includes:

• Transport on a train or plane to a nearby city like Antwerp or Brussels
• Hotel accommodations usually with breakfast
• Shuttles to and from Boom
• Full Madness Pass
• Invited Pre-Party on Thursday
• Tomorrowland Treasure Chest and Goodie Bag on arrival

Global Journey cost ranges based on when you buy it, the type of transport into Belgium, and accommodation type. We booked a 2-person package train from London-Brussels with two separate hotel rooms and paid ~1400 euros a person. While it seems like a steep price, everything the ticket includes is well-priced and we would have paid more or less the same booking it separately ourselves.

Global Journey experience

The organization and overall experience of Global Journey is excellent. We received all the instructions via email prior to the festival and at each point there were plenty of staff to help you out and assist with the next step.

Tip: If you do GJ, make sure to know the location of where to pick up your custom envelope with your shuttle passes. We missed the pick up at the London train station and had to last minute beg staff for assistance. Although we were lucky enough to get some help, this would have been a huge fuck up and a pain to get these replaced!

In Brussels we were greeted by a welcome band and where we picked up our goodie bags. Then we walked to the hotel where we had a special concierge with all the festival info who was there to answer any questions and walk us to the shuttles.

Another cool thing about Tomorrowland’s Global Journey is the Invited Experience on Thursday before the festival. This year it was at the Gare Maritime which is a stunning large industrial hall in Brussels. At Invited, there were several DJs playing, performers, food vendors along and some awesome drink bars. The best part was certainly the atmosphere and everyone getting super hyped for the upcoming weekend.

The cons of Global Journey

Although I would say that the overall Global Journey package was amazing and planned way better than what I would have planned myself, there is one major drawback of this option. This really surprised me as you’d think that something as big as Tomorrowland would have figured this out better than it did. Global Journey transportation into the festival is a major PITA.

There are only two shuttles per day included in your package: one that takes you to the festival at noon and one that returns you to Brussels after the festival. For the first day you should absolutely be there as early as you can but on day 2 and 3 you may want to sleep in a little. The journey from Brussels takes about 45 mins too so you have to account for travel time. If you miss the noon shuttle, you have to arrange your own transportation. There were some additional shuttles during the day but you needed to buy tickets for these and when we tried to, they were already sold out. So I’d say that having a couple more options of shuttles should absolutely be included in the package.

The second thing is the shuttle to get you home. It only leaves after the festival ends for the day which is 1am or midnight on the last day. I don’t think anyone leaves before that so the timing isn’t an issue, however, the bus station to get you back home is located 40 minutes away by foot from when you exit the festival. Exiting alone takes about 20 mins so you have to walk 1 hour to the bus and then take the 45 minute shuttle back. So in all, it takes about 2 hours to get back to Brussels each day.

What to pack for Tomorrowland

On to the next major item on your prep list. Packing for Tomorrowland is important. You’re going to a 3-day (4-day if Global Journey or Dreamville) festival so being prepared will make your experience a lot less stressful than scrambling last minute.

Here are some absolute essentials I would pack:

• Festival Outfits – More on that in the next section.
• Comfortable Day Pack – I got this one on Amazon and loved the anti-theft zipper which allowed me not to worry about being in crowds. And I personally don’t think you need a water pack as water is super affordable at the festival.
• Shoes – You will be doing a TON of walking so make sure to pack shoes you can survive in for the weekend. I am personally more comfortable in sandals than sneakers so I wore my Reef Slips all weekend without getting a single blister. Although not a conventional choice, my feet were in mint condition after 4 days of wearing these 12+ hours a day.
• Poncho – I cannot stress enough about how important this is. I personally did not pack one and on the last day when it started down pouring and the festival ran out of them, I was miserable. Belgium doesn’t have the best weather so I would not skip this at any cost.
• Evening Jacket – If the temperature is expected to drop at night, grab a jean or any other jacket to get you home. While the areas with crowds are warm, you will need to walk to your transfer home and the last thing you want to be in the middle of the night is cold!
• Recovery Items – Liquid IV, Salon Pas, Tylenol, Bandaids will be your best friends. My arm and neck muscles would be sore from dancing so much that a pain relief patch was necessary each day 🙂
• Flag – Since this is a very international festival, I would absolutely recommend bringing your country’s flag for the group shots or even some cool shots representing you!
• Power bank – You will be taking a ton of photos but you will also need to be in contact with your crew so a back up charger is a must.

What to wear to Tomorrowland

I’ve been going to festivals for a while and I watched the dress code change dramatically throughout the recent years. I personally don’t love the current trends in festival wear and I find that most of them lack creativity. Most people look very similar and nothing about these outfits stands out to me. If you go to festivals often, you know what I am talking about.

However, the good news about Tomorrowland is that you can wear whatever you soul desires! People dress from typical EDM style outfits, to creative costumes, to group themed ones to just simply wearing t-shirt/shorts. I would encourage you to get creative though rather opt-ing out for the safe option as it makes the experience a little more fun!

I was happy with my choice of outfits, a statement cat skirt, a feather top and a chill Sunday outfit but next year I know I want to get a little more creative. As mentioned before, my major regret is not taking the weather more seriously and not being prepared with a poncho. Being soaked from the rain for most of Sunday was truly a nightmare.

What will make or break your Tomorrowland experience

Another major thing to consider is who you want to go to Tomorrowland with. I was very fortunate to go with a person who was as equally excited to be there as me. We had similar expectations for how long to stay at the festival, which DJs to see and what the overall weekend would look like. Because we were on the same exact page for the festival, both of us had a wonderful time without any tension or conflict.

So when you’re planning on who to go with, make sure you have a conversation about the points I mention above. If there is a person in the group who wants to leave before the day ends or arrive only at night for the main sets, your experience might not be as smooth and you’ll spend a lot of your time irritated rather than fully immersed in the festival.

Your Guide to Tomorrowland

Now that you know everything to consider before the festival, let’s talk about what to expect when you get there. This complete Tomorrowland guide is meant to cover everything you need to know prior to attending the festival!

Tomorrowland Festival

Once you arrive via train, bus or car, you’ll have to cross three entry checkpoints. First one just checks if you have the proper bracelet, second is a bag check and third is the actual scan into the festival. Expect these take a little longer on the first day as everyone is getting acquainted to the flow. We waited about ~10-15 min at the last point to enter. Relatively speaking, that’s extremely impressive based on the amount of people there.

It’s hard describe how amazing the Tomorrowland experience actually is. If you’re into EDM, it is absolutely something you have to do at least once in your life. The production level is next level and the overall organization of the festival is by far the best I have seen anywhere.

The crowd energy is another level. Everyone is very respectful, excited to be there and just happy. The atmosphere alone should be the reason to go there.

The whole festival grounds is a one giant park with colorful installations, lights, performers and obviously stages. There are 14 stages (also one secret one), which bring different genres of EDM. They each have a unique theme and you should absolutely visit all of them. The Mainstage is the most grand and some other big ones include The Library, Freedom Stage or Rose Garden.

Pearls – Tomorrowland’s currency

If you want to buy anything at the festival, you will need to load up your bracelet prior to the festival. The conversion rate varies on the currency but to give you an idea, I loaded 100 euros and got 60 Pearls with a bonus. I ended up adding 25 euros on the last day as well but didn’t end up using it all. For my 3 days there, it was enough to feed me 2 meals a day and have ~3 beers per day.

How much you decide to load your bracelet with obviously depends on who much you’re planning to eat and drink there but remember that there are multiple top-off stations at the festival so you can always add more!

Food and drinks at Tomorrowland

There is an abundance of food choices at Tomorrowland at reasonable prices for what you get. Your choices of meals range from pizza, hot dogs, burgers, falafels to fancier meals in the Mesa Garden. A hot dog or burger is 6.75 pearls which is around 11 euro and that is filling enough for meal. A large beer is 3.75 pearls of 6 euro.

Compared to what you pay at American festivals, this was more than reasonable. The more fancy spots and beer gardens will cost ya more but it’s worth splurging for at least one of your meals.

How to plan your DJ line-up

The main reason why people love this festival is because it brings the most known DJs to one place. So imagine going to an amazing concert multiple times per day for the entire weekend! That’s how it feels to be at Tomorrowland.

Tomorrowland has an app which should be your best friend the entire weekend. Not only does it have the lineup but also a map with your current location to properly navigate yourself. You can create your own calendar of people that you want to see.

While the most known and mainstream DJs will be playing at Mainstage during evening hours, you want to make sure not to miss the day performances on the other stages but other major talent. You’ll also want to spend time at other stages as each is amazing in its own way!

When you’re planning who to see, you also need to consider the distance between the stages. For example, if you want to see a DJ at Freedom Stage at 4pm and then catch a set at the Mainstage at 5pm, consider that you’ll need a 15-20 min walk between the two. A lot of traffic at Tomorrowland goes one way only to control crowds, so you’ll need extra time to reach your stage.

Also Mainstage crowds start gathering 3-4 sets before the end of the day. So if you find yourself a spot at 9pm there, expect to stay until 1am 🙂

Random tips for Tomorrowland

• While you might be tempted to end your night everyday at the Mainstage, don’t be afraid to venture off to other stages for the last set at least one day of the festival.
• Bathrooms are abundant and actually decent throughout the festival.
• Have a meeting point for your group. There will be times where people want to go to the bathroom or see a set that no one else wants to. It’s ok to separate but make sure to have a time, and place to meet back up as well as a contingency plan if you lose each other.
• Surprisingly there is excellent cell service at the festival.
• Plan to come early (12/1pm) for at the very least one day of the weekend. Tomorrowland grounds are so cool and you don’t want to miss exploring them.
• There are random attractions like a tattoo parlor or a giant ferris wheel.
• You can nap on lawns, beer gardens or chill out areas.
• Push through! On a Sunday night you might be all out of energy but keep reminding yourself that this might be a once in a lifetime kinda deal. I almost gave up and left early Sunday but looking back I am so happy I didn’t.
• Front row or even lower level at Mainstage is not worth it. The lawn is where it’s at! You can see everything perfectly, dance without getting pushed and be able to exit comfortably for bathroom or drink!

Final Thoughts on Tomorrowland

I have only attended this festival once in 2023. I went with someone who attended before so I was lucky to have a guide and someone who knew all the tips and tricks to make our experience easier. However, if you’re a regular at this festival and you have other tips to add for all future attendees, make sure to leave a comment!

With that said, I have planned the perfect Copenhagen solo travel itinerary and I am happy to share it with you today! You’ll find an awesome weekend plan, a map, ideas for things to do in Copenhagen alone, and some food recommendations for your travels. No need to scramble a plan from different sources, I gotchu with everything you’ll need for your weekend away.

Whether this is your 1st or 50th solo trip, I know you’ll find some useful advice along with interesting places in this solo trip to Copenhagen itinerary.

Quick Logistics of Traveling to Copenhagen Alone

My Personal Copenhagen Solo Travel Experience

I traveled to Copenhagen in the summer of 2022 and loved every second of being there (well aside from the torrential half a day rain 🙂 ). I found the city to be full of activities even as a solo traveler and without only a couple of days there, I felt like it wasn’t enough time to see everything!

The beauty of solo travel is that you can do WHATEVER you want and WHENEVER you want. You can have a whole plan to follow and then decide to do completely something else because of a new idea that comes along. That happened to me. I planned my trip with the itinerary below but then on day 2 of it, I ended up tagging along for some Pride festivities with random strangers I met.

I ended up catching up on the plan the following day and felt super happy that I was able to experience something more local and totally not planned! So my advice for any solo itinerary is to always have a plan so you don’t end up sitting in a hostel/hotel googling things to do in x but be open to deviating from the plan if something exciting comes along! It’s how the best travel stories are created!

Is Copenhagen safe for female solo travelers?

Copenhagen continuously ranks as one of the safest cities in the world. Just because a place is ranked so high, that doesn’t automatically mean that you should completely let your guard down and assume you’ll be safe. I took the same exact precautions in Copenhagen as I would when traveling to Barcelona. However, when exploring the town, I felt totally fine and not threatened in any way. Based on research as well as my own experience, I can confidently say that Copenhagen is an amazing solo destination for a female traveler!

I would still advise taking the following precautions for female travelers as no city is 100% safe:

• Don’t tell anyone where you are staying and that you’re traveling alone. Simple concept but you don’t owe anyone an explanation and you don’t want some weird situation happening either.
• Keep your passport and valuables locked up in a safe/box, especially if you’re in a hostel.
• When using public transport or walking around, keep your belongings near you. If you have a purse, hold your hand over the zipper. Don’t be too flashy with your things either.
• Do not use ATMs in secluded areas or after dark. Always use an ATM within the branch or within a busier area.
• As a female solo traveler, you have to be more mindful of staying out alone. If you really want to socialize late, stay within your hotel or hostel bars or ones close by. I (try) to be back before dark when I am alone. You never want to end up walking in a dark alley even in Copenhagen.
• And this should be obvious but never ever accept drinks from people if you didn’t see it being poured at the bar yourself!

Where should you stay as a solo traveler in Copenhagen?

If you’re traveling alone in any city, not just Copenhagen, you should always stay in the city center. Why? Well because it’s easy to get to the action, there are a ton of people around and transportation is usually easy. Some will argue that the center is always the most touristy and pricey but why make your life more difficult by trying not to be a tourist as a tourist 🙂

When I traveled there, I wanted to stay somewhere social so I chose the Generator Hostel. I stayed in Generators all over the world and usually like them, but this one was just ok. It did have a great location for exploring and a social bar to make some friends. For a while now, if I stay in hostels, I choose private rooms because well, I am getting too old for shared rooms and communal snoring. However, Copenhagen is WILDLY expensive, and justifying spending $700 for a weekend stay wasn’t something I could stomach. So I ended up in a 6 people dorm for 65 euro a night … Do I regret it? Yes.

Instead, here are other cool, highly rated and centrally located options in the city that I considered:

• Motel One
• Hotel Tiffany
• 25Hours

Navigating the City

Public transport in Copenhagen is amazing! The metro will take you from the airport into the city center in about 15-20 minutes. Within the city, the metro runs 24/7, is clean, and super safe. Here is the link for specific station information.

If you’re staying in the center, you won’t need to use it much as everything is walkable. Everyone in Copenhagen also bikes since it is a perfect city for that too. Bikes are everywhere and it’s wild how many of them you see near the major transportation hubs! I was fascinated by the biking culture there! A lot of the bikes aren’t even locked up. In my town, I lock up my bike outside a coffee shop …

Best Time to Visit Copenhagen

Without a doubt, I will recommend visiting in the summer, especially as a solo traveler! There are so many outdoor activities and places to see that won’t be open in the colder seasons. Even shoulder season is great for a visit but unless you have a specific reason to visit in the winter, it might not be as exciting for solo travel during cold times!

Food in Copenhagen

There certainly isn’t a shortage of amazing food in Copenhagen. The whole city is a vibe when it comes to its food scene. Not only are there many great restaurants but you’ll also find food halls and lots of outdoor dining.

At the very minimum, you have to try some danish pastries, open-faced sandwiches, hotdogs (yes, hotdogs are a thing there), seafood, flæskesvær (pork rinds), and all the amazing goodies from the food truck scene!

Copenhagen is Expensive

Copenhagen is so so expensive, especially for a solo traveler since you’re not splitting your accommodation or meal costs. A couple of years back I had the same shock when I traveled solo to Stockholm but this was another level expensive in my opinion including the recent inflation.

The currency there is the Danish Krone (1 USD ~ 6.5 Krones). A meal at a sit-down restaurant will range from 200-500 kr for 1 person, a beer is around 40-60 kr, a coffee will be around 30 kr. Expect to spend between $80-$150 a day there on a budget.

Don’t exchange money though, maybe just withdraw a small amount from the ATM if not having cash makes you nervous. Mostly everything in Copenhagen is cashless, so instead use a good travel card!

Random Things I Noticed in Copenhagen

• Copenhagen is such a friendly city! I had conversations with shop owners and just random people and found it to be a very welcoming place.
• Speaking of people, this is a very “cultured” city in my opinion. People are very elegant and behave with that Northern Europe class that you see across that region.
• Additionally, it’s become a very inclusive city over the past couple of years. I traveled during Pride and I was (pleasantly) surprised by how the locals celebrated it. It was a whole family affair and everyone was in the streets just having fun and enjoying all the festivities.

Copenhagen Solo Weekend Itinerary

Now that you have the basics of Copenhagen, let’s get to the solo itinerary. My Copenhagen solo travel weekend itinerary is a full 2-day plan with some additional activities if you have some extra time! There are so many things to do alone in Copenhagen. Drink lots of coffee because your days will be busy.

Day 1 of Solo Things in Copenhagen:

King’s New Square

Start your explorations by navigating toward Kings New Square, a public square located in the heart of Copenhagen. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, including the old stock exchange and several former merchant houses. It is a hub for public transportation, with several major roads converging and several metro and bus lines stopping there. It’s a popular gathering place for locals and tourists, with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops located in the surrounding buildings.

Now that you arrived at a good starting point, grab breakfast at one of the bakeries nearby. You can go to a popular local chain Lagkagehuset or one that l loved called Buka.

Nyhavn

After fueling up for the day on some much-needed sugary carbs and a good coffee, head to the poster child of Copenhagen, Nyhvan.

Nyhavn is a historic harbor and canal in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its colorful row houses, lively atmosphere, and rich history. A stroll there is simply a must for anyone visiting Copenhagen, as it provides a unique insight into the city’s maritime past and its cultural heritage.

You can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the canal, taking in the colorful facades of the row houses and the boats moored in the harbor. The area is home to a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars, making it an ideal place to stop for a drink. I decided to stop there for a meal but I wouldn’t recommend one there. It was a very touristy and gross one compared to meals I ate throughout the city. During the summer months, many of the restaurants and cafes set up outdoor seating, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

In addition to its historic and cultural significance, Nyhavn is also known for its literary history. Many famous Danish writers, including Hans Christian Andersen, lived and worked in the area, and it has inspired numerous works of literature and art over the years.

Boat Tour

Nyhavn is also a popular spot for boat tours, offering visitors the chance to see Copenhagen from the water and explore its many canals and waterways. While strolling up and down the canal, I noticed one last boat leaving for the day and decided to hop on and see what it was all about. While I am the last person to take a touristy bus or boat (although I did really enjoy my cheesy boat tour in Paris), I actually really enjoyed this one.

As a solo traveler, I was really able to soak in the city from a unique perspective and get a lay of the land and some new ideas of what I wanted to see. It showed me that I did not want to take the time out of my day to see the Little Mermaid Statue 🙂 The tours leave from top of Nyhvan and there are many options for times. The providers offer very similar routes so just hop on what’s available and enjoy learning some history while seeing some amazing sights!

Amalienborg & Frederik’s Church

After a boat ride from the Nyhvan, walk all the way down toward the Playhouse. It’s an outdoor area where you can relax, people-watch, and enjoy a refreshing spritz. Then walk on the small waterfront promenade towards Amaliehaven garden. Although the area is touristy and crowded, I really enjoyed the beautiful fountains along with the whole area.

Next, Amalienborg is a famous square in Copenhagen, best known as the residence of the Danish Royal Family. A highlight for visiting the area is the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 12:00 pm. I personally had no idea that the ceremony was a thing there and ended up walking past it at that specific hour 🙂

The square also includes the Amalienborg Museum and the Marble Church, both of which offer a glimpse into Danish royalty and the city’s rich history.

Reffen

After a very busy morning, you deserve a break! And there is no better place for an afternoon meal and a cold beer than at Reffen! It’s a vibrant street food market and outdoor area located in the Copenhagen neighborhood of Refshaleøen. You can either take public transport there or take a pretty long walk.

There you can sample a wide variety of cuisines from around the world, including Thai, Mexican, Mediterranean, and Nordic. Some popular vendors include “Tacos Anonymous,” “Mama Sharpe’s,” and “Fiskebaren,” offering dishes ranging from tacos and burgers to fish and chips. Prices at Reffen are average for Copenhagen, with most dishes costing between 80-120 kr ($12-$18 USD).

In addition to food, the market also features a variety of shops and boutiques selling clothing, jewelry, and other handmade goods. During the summer months, it is typically open from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, while in the winter, it is open from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Day 2:

For your Day 2 of solo Copenhagen activities, you’ll explore more of the city, eat some awesome food, and visit the famous Tivoli Gardens! For the morning part, you can always do a Free Walking Tour or simply get the highlights yourself using my route below.

City Hall Square

Start your day at City Hall Square, a central public square that is pretty neat. It is surrounded by historic buildings, including the City Hall, which serves as the headquarters of the City of Copenhagen. You can enter the hall for free or explore city views from its tower for a small fee. The square is also home to several popular landmarks, including the Stork Fountain, the former main post office, and the Tivoli Hotel.

In the square, you can enjoy a coffee or meal at one of the many outdoor cafes and restaurants that line it or take a stroll around the nearby lakes and parks.

Stroget

Next, it’s time to shop, or just stoll along this gem. Strøget is a popular shopping street in the heart of Copenhagen. It is considered one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe and is a must-visit for anyone interested in shopping, dining, and exploring the city. Strøget is lined with a mix of high-end and budget-friendly shops, including clothing stores, souvenir shops, and specialty stores.

Don’t forget to step away from the main street and get lost in the pretty side streets too!

Rundetarn

Next, it’s time for a little exercise! Or rather not much exercise as the building you’re about to enter has a round climb that won’t make you feel like you’ve done much climbing! I really enjoyed its unique structure but my favorite part of it was the views from the top!

Rundetårn (Round Tower) is a historic tower located right near Stroget. Built-in the 17th century, it serves as both an observatory and a popular tourist attraction, offering panoramic views of the city from its observation deck. Visitors can reach the top of the tower via a ramp, which winds its way up to the top, providing a unique and leisurely way to take in the views. Admission to Rundetårn is priced at 35 kr ($5 USD) and the tower is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Torvehallerne

Now, the best part your afternoon. It’s time to eat! Let’s explore Torehallerne for that activity.

Torvehallerne is a popular indoor food market. It is the perfect destination for food lovers looking to explore the local culinary scene while enjoying a solo weekend in Copenhagen. The market features a wide range of stalls selling fresh produce, artisanal foods, and street food, making it a great place to sample local specialties and try something new.

Popular stalls at Torvehallerne include GRØD, which specializes in hearty, Danish-style porridge; The Coffee Collective, offering specialty coffee from local roasters; and Kødbyens Fiskebar, serving fresh seafood dishes. Other popular stalls include Hallernes Smørrebrød, featuring traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches, and Spiselauget, offering a range of gourmet hot dogs.

I ended up eating some tapas and sipping on a cold Spanish beer! There was a small flea market outside in which I did some damage shopping for vintage watches 🙂

Tivoli Gardens

Last but certainly not least, for the last part of your day head over to the best place in town (in my humble opinion), Tivoli Gardens!

Tivoli Gardens is an iconic amusement park founded all the way back in 1843. It is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks and a popular destination for visitors of all ages. Tivoli Gardens features a variety of amusement park attractions, beautiful gardens, live entertainment, and decent dining options.

Tivoli Gardens is open during the summer months, from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. Admission is priced at 120 kr ($18 USD). You have the option of purchasing individual rides or an all-you-can-ride pass.

I absolutely loved the gardens! I spent a good time walking around loving how magical the place felt and that’s coming from someone who isn’t a big fan of these types of places. I purchased the unlimited pass and went later in the day. However, to my surprise, the rides closed at 10 pm and I only got to ride a couple of them 🙁 While I thoroughly enjoyed the grounds and my dinner, I totally didn’t plan out my timing to enjoy the rides and kinda messed up there.

BONUS: Meatpacking District!

If you’re like me and resting when traveling is not in your vocabulary, don’t forget to visit the Meatpacking District for your nightlife adventures.

The Meatpacking District of Copenhagen is a popular destination for nightlife and entertainment, offering a range of options for those looking to experience Copenhagen’s night scene. The district is located just a short walk from the city center and is easily accessible by public transportation.

You can expect to find a mix of bars, clubs, and music venues, offering a range of experiences from casual drinks to all-night parties. Popular venues in the area include Jolene, a bar and music venue with a focus on live performances and DJs; Culture Box, a club and concert venue known for its cutting-edge sound system; and Bakken, a lively bar and dance club.

Don’t forget to be mindful of going out alone as a solo traveler though!

Map for your Copenhagen Solo Travel

Additional Places

If you happen to have an extra day in the city, here are some additional spots for you to explore.

Freetown Christiana

Probably the most interesting and fascinating place in the city is Freetown Christiana. This was on my itinerary but unfortunately, half a day of heavy rain ruined this plan for me.

Freetown Christiania is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood in Copenhagen, Denmark, known for its alternative lifestyle and vibrant community. Founded in 1971 as a response to the housing shortage and gentrification in Copenhagen, Christiania is home to around 1,000 residents who live in a unique and self-governed community.

While Freetown Christiania is not an official part of Copenhagen, it is a popular destination for visitors who are looking to experience a unique and alternative side of the city. You’ll find a unique and eclectic mix of art, music, and culture, with a range of street performers, musicians, and vendors selling handcrafted goods and street food. The neighborhood is also known for its street art, with a range of murals and graffiti adorning the walls of buildings and homes.

Freetown Christiania operates under its own set of rules and regulations, including a ban on photography (although some areas allow you to take pictures), cars, and hard drugs. If you choose to visit, you absolutely must respect these rules!

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle is a historic palace in Copenhagen, where you can explore its beautiful gardens and grand interiors. Expect to see a range of rooms and halls, each decorated in a unique and ornate style. Highlights of the castle include the Knight’s Hall, which displays a collection of weapons and armor from the 17th century, and the Crown Jewels, which include the Danish crown, scepter, and orb. Don’t forget to spend some time in the castle’s beautiful gardens, which feature a range of ornate fountains and sculptures, as well as a small pond and park area.

Statens Museum for Kunst

Statens Museum for Kunst, also known as the National Gallery of Denmark, is a leading art museum located in Copenhagen. The museum features an extensive collection of Danish and international art, including works by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Goya, and Rubens. The museum is open every day except for Monday and admission is free, making it an accessible and affordable destination for art lovers and culture enthusiasts visiting Copenhagen.

While this was on my itinerary, I ended up celebrating at pride with random strangers I met instead! Sorry, Rembrandt.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Copenhagen Solo

Copenhagen is one of my favorite places that I traveled to solo! The city felt safe, there was plenty to see and the only thing stopping me from staying longer was its prices 🙂

If you have any suggestions or comments on places to visit as a solo traveler in Copenhagen, don’t forget to add them below!!

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As I preface with any of my guides, two days anywhere isn’t enough to absorb the city. However, sometimes all we got is two days, especially if you’re city hopping throughout Europe. But with a good plan, you can totally get the gist of what Budapest is like. I made the perfect 2-day Budapest itinerary that will give you just that. You will see highlights of the city, eat some delicious food, explore a thermal bath and understand why this city is one of the best in Europe.

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

LISTEN TO DBE PODCAST ON VISITING BUDAPEST!

Steven and I chatted about all things Budapest so if you’d like some additional info on visiting this city, make sure to check out this episode on his awesome podcast!

Quick Logistics for Visiting Budapest

Things to know about Budapest

• Budapest is the capital of Hungary.
• Budapest used to be Buda and Pest which merged with Obuda becoming the city that it is today.
• Today there is a Buda side and a Pest side divided by the Danube River.
• You can’t go to Budapest and not visit a thermal bath.
• There is a very popular yearly music festival in the summer called Sziget.
• Hungarian is a very difficult language and that’s coming from someone who speaks fluent polish.
• WWII played a big (and dark) part in the city’s history.
• If you’ve been to Paris, you’ll understand why they call Budapest the Paris of the East.

Navigating Budapest

Airport to City Center

Budapest Airport is located very close to the city. There is the 100E bus connecting the airport and city center and it only costs ~$3 USD. There are a couple of stops along the way but if you’re staying centrally, you’ll get off at Deák Ferenc tér. There are private vans offering a transport service too if you’d like more of a private experience. And of course, you have Bolt as your shared ride service too.

Transport within the city

With two days in the city, you’ll likely just walk everywhere as the city is very walkable. However, they also have amazing public transportation which you can use. Here is an awesome metro map but there is also a tram or a bus. Note the metro operating times so you don’t get stuck at night.

Where to stay in Budapest

The best area to stay in Budapest is Pest, especially for a first-timer. Buda is more residential and Pest is more lively for tourist activities, restaurants, and nighttime activities. Budapest isn’t too expensive but I wouldn’t say that the accommodations reflect that.

If you’re a budget traveler, there is Wombat’s Hostel, one of these hostels that has all the hostel amenities people love: daily activities, bar crawls, common space, and an on-site bar. Then you have the crazy party hostel The Hive. I personally stayed there for the night and I feel like if I were in my early 20s again, I would have been loving it. However, 1) I’m not in my 20s anymore and 2) after a 15-hour journey and horrible jetlag, this was a huge mistake on my end as there is a literal club in the middle of the place. However, this party hostel was for sure a vibe if this is what you’re looking for.

For highly rated and centrally rated hotels, consider these options:

• Casati Hotel: adult-only hotel with a gorgeous interior.
• Hotel Oktogon: has it all, a bar and a spa, and views of the city.
• Hotel Moments, with a simple but stunning interior that you will love.
• Emerald Hotel: nice rooftop bar and a great aesthetic.
• Leo Boutique: boutique rooms that are not only beautiful but also affordable.

People & Safety

Hungarians were some of my favorite people I met while traveling. Why? Well, because they have a common personality trait of being very honest but also very loving at the same time. You don’t have to guess what they’re thinking because they will tell you to your face. But in contrast to what I am used to with the coldness of Eastern Europeans, Hungarians couldn’t be more welcoming and warm while still having the strong honesty gene in them. I wish more of the world communicated as the Hungarians do.

In terms of safety, the city has a fairly low crime index and is generally safe for a tourist. As one, you are always a target for some pickpocketers but you won’t likely experience the aggressive petty crime of Spain or Italy.

Food in Budapest

If you’re a foodie, you are in for a treat because Budapest does have a great food scene. Every place that I had a meal at was wonderful. Before my trip, I prepared this Budapest food bucket list and I am happy to share it with you:

• Goulash: Most traditional meal which consists of meat and spice stew.
• Chicken Paprikash: Chicken in sour cream sauce with paprika. A true staple.
• Lecsó: A vegetable soup that is also one of the most popular dishes.
• Langos: Street food, which is a fried bread dough with savory toppings.
• Jokai Bean Soup: Veggie and sausage soup which is actually appetizing.
• Turos Csusza: Egg noodles with cheese and bacon.
• Palascinta: Delicious thin crepes that you have to try for dessert.
• Rakott Krumpli: Local version of a casserole.
• Rantott Sajt: Cheese croquettes.
• Toltott Kaposzta: Stuffed cabbage.
• Esterhazy torta: Walnut sweet cake.
• Palinka: A must-try fruit brandy that will give you a little buzz.
• Froccs: A popular Hungarian wine spritzer.

Random Useful Advice

The best time of the year to visit Budapest would be the summer months as the weather in that part of the world can get pretty cold. However, if you don’t mind the cold, Budapest is a really cozy winter destination as well.

The currency is the Hungarian Forint or HUF which has a conversion of around 1 USD to ~400 HUF. I withdrew some local currency from the ATM to have just in case but I did not need it as 99% of transactions can be covered with a card.

Speaking of money, Budapest is cheap. A great meal or a beer at a bar won’t cost you an obscene amount of money.

Bolt is a super convenient and affordable way to get around and I would download it before arriving in the country as you will need your phone number to confirm your account.

My must-haves for any trip are my e-SIM card from Airalo and travel insurance from Allianz and that’s what I will recommend on this trip as well.

Why Visit Budapest? Because the city has an amazing vibe on top of all the beautiful architecture and history within it.

2 Days in Budapest Itinerary

There is a good amount of things to see in Budapest in 2 days. My itinerary below is quite dense for two days so I certainly hope you sleep your jet lag off before embarking on my Budapest journey. It’s a mix of the popular with the less visited spots. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

Day 1: Classic Budapest Spots & Intro to Budapest’s Nightlife

Sightseeing Gems

Budapest is a beautiful city and while you can be totally content just walking around and eating delicious food. But since we only got 2 days in Budapest so let’s make the most of it instead! My walking guide below highlights the top gems of the city, you can do it in either direction based on where you’re located.

• Széchenyi Square: Start your walking tour at this popular spot with incredible views of Budapest.
• Chain Bridge: One of the most beautiful bridges in the city connecting Buda and Pest is the Chain Bridge. However, in the summer of 2022, it was undergoing renovation and was closed.
• Shoes on the Danube: As you walk along the Danube promenade, spot this powerful memorial to those who were murdered by the horrible Nazis shooting people along the river.
• Parliament: The most recognized building of Budapest. While you should certainly see this beauty from across the river at night, what many people skip is visiting it during the day! You can take a guided tour and enjoy this masterpiece from the inside too.
• Liberty Square: After exploring the parliament, make a quick rest stop at this tranquil town square housing a fix of government buildings that are historically important symbols like the Regan statue for example. (Unless you’re interested/familiar with its importance, you can skip this stop.)
• St. Stephen’s Basilica: A remarkable catholic church that is the biggest in Budapest.
• BOATanic Terrace & Bar: Head back to the Danube to grab a well-deserved drink at this boat terrace.
• Vaci Utca: Next, head over to this shopping area. I’ll preface though, that this is a very touristy area of town. Not my cup of tea per se, but it’s one of those places you should see once.

Late Lunch Time

After a lot of exploring during the first part of the day, I recommend you head over to a super cute and somewhat of a hidden gem, the Gozsdu Passage. This street or rather a hidden passage is home to many restaurants, bars, and other attractions. Head there to grab a bite at the numerous options there!

After your meal, give yourself some time to rest before you head out for the night.

Budapest at Night

What distinguishes an average travel destination from a good one, is what the city turns to at night. Budapest is a very lively place at night and makes you want to explore, even being a grandma like myself.

Although cheesy, I would tell you to start your evening with a ride on the Budapest Eye. You’ll get good views of the city and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the area. After Budapest Eyes, walk over to a wonderful Belvarosi Lugas Restaurant for dinner. It’s a mix of foreigners and locals alike and the food is amazing!

Now, Budapest at night is perfect for those that just want a little taste of the nightlife but also those who wish to party till 5 am. I ended up having the intention of being the first one but ended up as the latter 🙂 Although pretty popular, I recommend starting your night at Szimpla Kert, one of the most known ruin bars. If you didn’t know, the ruin bars are very popular places in Budapest for your night activities. As the name suggests, they’re located in old abandoned buildings and have been decorated with the most random but fascinating decorations. You can easily spend a couple of hours walking around and soaking in this weird but awesome vibe!

Other popular places for your Budapest at night adventure include the following spots:

• Instant-Fogas Complex – A large party complex not to miss!
• Red Ruin – Another popular ruin bar.
• Pontoon Boat – I ended up at this place by accident and there happened to be a cool local band playing on it. The views of the Castle District were unmatched and I’m pretty sure I was the only tourist on the boat.

Day 2: Baths and Castles

For the first part of the day, you’ll enjoy the baths. In the chance that you had a full night of partying, the day will start with lounging at one of the popular baths for you. If you were a responsible adult, then you’ll enjoy it even more. Later on, I planned for you to explore Buda. You will wrap your day with a nice meal and a good drink.

Szechenyi Baths

As you probably know, Budapest is the city of baths. You have a couple of choices but if you only have 2 days in Budapest, then I’ll recommend the most popular one for you, the Szechenyi Baths located in Budapest City Park. It’s the most recognizable bath and for a reason! The combination of its yellow grand buildings against the blue waters is just something incredible.

Go there early in the morning as the baths get crowded throughout the day. I went close to opening and had the place to myself!

How to visit a bath in Budapest?

Visiting the bath is quite an experience and I will lay it out for you so you’re best prepared.

• Baths are open all year round! You can enjoy the warm waters during the winter too! Oh, and on Saturday nights they host parties! Something I want to do on my next visit.
• First, you need a ticket that you can pre-book online or in person. There are two types of tickets, a locker or a cabin one. The cabins are these tiny private rooms that wrap around the pools and give you some extra privacy and storage space. Either one is fine, I had the locker option and if you don’t mind changing in front of others, this will suffice.
• At the very minimum, bring a swimsuit, flip-flops, and a towel. I didn’t have a towel and had to pay the equivalent of a ticket to purchase one as they weren’t renting them at the time of my visit. Get a waterproof pouch if you want to take pictures.
• Enjoy the baths! There are pools outside but don’t forget to go inside the building to enjoy the indoor ones along with the saunas too!
• On average, people spend between 2-4 hours at the baths.
• After lounging, don’t forget to walk around the giant park that surrounds the baths. There are many attractions within it and it’s the perfect place for an afternoon stroll.

In addition to Szechenyi Baths, you also have Gellert Baths, Rudas Baths, which have an incredible night view of the city, Lukacs, or many others which get more and more local.

Lunch Time

The water does really make you hungry so after the bath experience, it’s time for a good meal before you continue on with your day. If you want something casual, there is a cute food truck area right next to Szimpla called Karavan which serves anything from Langos to burgers. If you want a traditional sit-down, head to Hungarian Bistro but note it’s open between 12-2:30 pm. You can also find a typical brunch at Kaptafa.

Castle District

For the second part of the day, you will head over to Buda, the more quiet and more sophisticated part of town. This will be the most tourist-dense part of town but you will understand why once you get there.

On the Buda side, you’ll find the Castle District, a stunning area of beautiful buildings and streets that’s certainly something you should see. The Castle District is situated on a hill so you’ll need to get there either by a ride, bus, or even funicular. I took a quick funicular ride and ended up at the top of the hill with the most stunning view of the river and the city.

Places to see there include Budapest Castle, which you can admire from the outside along its gardens. Then you have the beautiful St. Mathias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion, which offers unmatched views of the Parliament and Pest. There is an overpriced cafe right in Fisherman’s Bastion which allows you to sit and soak in the beautiful views. Although pricey, I would recommend grabbing a coffee at the very least.

Perfect ending to your 2 days in Budapest

With 2 days in Budapest coming to an end, you deserve a nice meal at the end of your trip. I couldn’t recommend Mazel Tov enough for your last dinner. The food there was out of this world and the atmosphere was unmatched! You should probably make a reservation as the spot quickly fills up. Another place I liked was Koleves, a nice kitchen-like restaurant with some delicious food.

After a nice dinner, I’d recommend Mika Tivadar Kert, a low-key spot for a beer. The summer atmosphere was really cool and there weren’t too many tourists around. For a more upscale experience, check out 360 Bar for rooftop views of the city. If the streets are calling your name, head out to enjoy the amazing nightlife of Budapest near Király Street or Kazinczy Street for some party-dense areas.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Budapest

And that’s a wrap on your 2 days in Budapest guide. I loved my time there and I will recommend this place to anyone who wants an amazing European city experience but without the France/Spain/Italy tourist crowd vibes and prices. Budapest is an amazing destination and I will certainly return in the near future to spend more time there. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Comment below for some more recommendations that you think I should include in this guide!

If you’re visiting Eastern Europe, check out my Week in Poland guide as well! Poland is another destination that’s highly underrated and should be considered among more travelers!

Tour recommendations

Tours are an awesome way to get a little more from exploring and meet some awesome people along the way. Here are some recommendations for you to consider while visiting Budapest in 2 days:

Map and iPhone Note to Save

iPhone Note

The easiest thing to do in that time frame was to see the Blue Lagoon which is conveniently located a short 20-minute ride from Keflavik Airport. It seemed like the ideal layover activity and I am here to show you what the experience entails. If you have a similar layover or are trying to decide if it’s worth it, you found the perfect guide for how to see the Blue Lagoon on your Iceland layover!

Although I did some light reading about the logistics of my Iceland layover, to be honest, I wasn’t too prepared. Luckily for you, I figured it out and I am here to give you everything you need to know before you embark on this journey on your own.

Let’s Get to the Logistics of Your Iceland Layover

Most international flights into Iceland will land at Keflavik Airport which is located just 20 min away from the Blue Lagoon. Keflavik Airport is not directly in Reykjavik, it’s about 40 minutes out. At first, I was a little confused about whether Keflavik Airport is different than Reykjavik Airport because some sources online use these terms interchangeably. Well, they’re not the same thing, there actually is another airport nearby, but Reykjavik Airport is mostly for domestic flights. It is very likely you will land in Keflavik not Reykjavik but obviously double-check your itinerary to confirm.

What is the Blue Lagoon?

You’ve seen the pictures: baby blue steaming waters, people in mineral face masks, your friend sipping a beer in the middle of Tuesday in this paradise … But what is the Blue Lagoon exactly?

The Blue Lagoon is a pool of wastewater from a geothermal plant but don’t fret, it’s not the waster water that you imagine. The plant generates electricity and hot water using an underground system of turbines near a lava flow. The water used to power comes in contact with many minerals and can’t be pumped to the homes as the particles would damage the pipers. Instead, the water is then is fed into the Lagoon for you to enjoy and soak in. The water has a high content of silica and sulfur and is said to have natural healing properties for some skin conditions. Temperatures are ideal for bathing ranging between 37-40 C or 98-104 F.

If you were visiting outside your Iceland layover, you can stay on the property in a luxury spa hotel. They also have 4 restaurants on site so you can reserve a tradtional Icelandic meal experience on your Blue Lagoon journey.

How to get to the Blue Lagoon to Keflavik Airport

Now, let’s get to the most crucial part of your layover, the transport. Since you won’t be directly in Reykjavik, your time of getting to the Blue Lagoon will be very restricted as the connections are less frequent compared to the city ones. Even though the 20-minute drive from the airport seems super close, it’s actually quite expensive to get there given the distance. There are three modes of transportation you can take:

Rent a car: In theory, you can rent a car. I certainly wouldn’t recommend that for a shorter layover but let’s say that your Iceland layover is kinda long, you can rent one near the terminal and do some quick exploring of the area. Keep in mind the time you will spend checking the vehicle in and out!

Take a taxi: There are currently no Ubers or shared ride services (as of 2022) in Iceland so taxis are your choice here. Sounds like a good idea right? A quick 20 min ride in a private car right to your destination. Well, it will cost ya between $50 to $100 for a one-way ride depending on who you end up with. Once I realized that my taxi round trip can cost me more than my entry ticket, I decided that a bus will be my mode of transport. However, if you’re traveling with more people, a taxi might be a better option for you!

Blue Lagoon Buses: There are two bus companies running on this route and it really doesn’t matter which you choose since they have similar prices. They run at slightly different times so that’s what will set them apart. You have Destination Blue Lagoon (Airport Direct) and then Reykjavik Excursions (FlyBus) on the Keflavik Airport to Blue Lagoon route going a couple of times a day back and forth for about ~$50 roundtrip. Yes, I agree, that’s a WILD price for a 20 min ride. You can buy a ticket online or in person at the corresponding stand. I bought mine in person in case I had some issue with the flight. The buses are very punctual and leave from right outside the terminal. You’ll need a Blue Lagoon ticket confirmation before they let you get on board too. At the Blue Lagoon, they get you from the parking area dedicated to buses.

Tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon

• If you want to take a lot of pictures, I highly recommend a waterproof case for your phone. I personally dropped my phone in the water and due to the color of the water, it took me some time to find it. Thankfully, the phone survived!
• Depending on what type of hair you have, put a lot of leave-in conditioner in it. The high mineral content in the water will make it very dry so you want to protect it!
• You don’t really need the premium ticket. It includes a robe and two additional face masks. If you only need the robe, you can rent it for $10 extra rather than $20 for the ticket upgrade.
• The Blue Lagoon is probably the most popular tourist attraction in the country. It will be busy so you absolutely need to book your entry in advance. It’s a timed entry and slots quickly sell out.

What do you need to bring to the Blue Lagoon?

Technically, you can shlep your luggage from the airport to the Blue Lagoon. But why would you want to? So before you get on that bus, run to the luggage storage at the Keflavik Airport, rent a cheap locker, and just take a couple of essentials for your Iceland layover.

The locker storage is located in an odd place. You’ll need to exit from the arrivals airport, walk straight through the parking lot and reach a red bin (yes bin) labeled “bike pit”. Inside you will find lockers that are reasonably priced in which you can leave your belongings from the day. Here are the essential items to take with you:

• Bathing suit & slippers
• Hair tie
• Sunnies
• Waterproof case for your electronics
• Toiletries like deodorant, make-up etc.

When you get there, depending on the time of the year, you might or might not need a robe. I didn’t rent one there in August and I was fine but I could see why you’d want it there when it gets colder outside. You can purchase a ticket with one or add it on. The same applies to slippers. Included in your basic ticket are lockers, towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and communal hairdryers.

How much time do you need at the Blue Lagoon?

I landed at 8:40 am and had a flight out around 5 pm. Since I didn’t check any bags and with fairly quick customs, I was out by 9 am in the terminal and I needed to be back by 3:30ish at the latest. In my head, that seemed like a very short amount of time and I didn’t know if it would be enough to enjoy the Blue Lagoon. Well, guess what? It was more than enough time to the point where I wanted to head out earlier than my scheduled bus. Ideally, you don’t need more than 2 to 3 hours at the Blue Lagoon.

What does the Blue Lagoon experience look like

Once you get dropped off by your bus/taxi, you will automatically get the feel for the surroundings. The lava dark stones will surround the entry passage and you will slowly start to see small streams of that baby blue water around the property. The walk into the building is a preparation for what you will see next! The Blue Lagoon is located along a fancy property so don’t expect a body of water in the middle of nowhere. The whole visiting process is very streamlined for everyone and here is what it entails:

• Your ticket will have a one-hour window which you can enter. Depending on the time of the day, that might be flexible but if they’re tight on capacity, you might be refused entry outside your times.
• When you enter, you will get a wristband that will allow you to access your locker and add additional items to purchase if you choose to do so.
• Before entry in the lagoon, you will need to take a shower.
• Then you enter the amazing water and be in awe for a while. The Lagoon is pretty big so you can slowly explore the whole property while enjoying the nice warm temperatures. Make sure to venture out from the entry point too, the further you go the smaller the crowds.
• Don’t forget to get your free beverage and facemask included in your ticket. Additional masks and beverages will be charged to your bracelet.
• Don’t forget to check out the awesome saunas and steam rooms too!
• There is a cafe and more formal restaurants on-site if you’re in a dining mood.
• The gift shop sells original Blue Lagoon products for a very hefty price if you wanted some boujee souvenirs to bring back home!

What surprised me the most is that there was no space to sit and relax by the lagoon. Your two options of being are inside the water or on a couple of uncomfortable chairs in the cafe. After an hour in the water, I wanted to lay on a lounge chair or sit somewhere to enjoy the surroundings but a place like that doesn’t exist. I guess the lounging chairs would ruin the aesthetic of the outside …

How much does a Blue Lagoon visit cost on an Iceland layover?

Blue Lagoon Ticket: $86 for Comfort or $102 for Premium.
Transportation: $50
Locker Rental: $5
Additional Costs: Extra drink $8-15,
Food: $10-50

Total: $150-220 Per Person

This short layover is not cheap! But my philosophy is this, if I’m going to spend $700 for either a direct flight home or $400 with a new experience totaling the same price, I’ll choose the latter 🙂

Is it worth it to go to the Blue Lagoon on your Iceland layover?

I’m still mixed on this. While the Blue Lagoon was an incredible place to see, the cost of the layover and the very strict schedule stressed me out. I explored the property, sweated in some saunas, took a nice shower and just wanted to GTFO of there 🙂 After sitting in the lagoon for a couple of hours, I wanted to relax, read my book and sit somewhere but it felt like I couldn’t really go anywhere.

I would certainly recommend visiting this gem outside your Iceland layover but rather on your Iceland trip. Going back to my point of spending more to sit in a place or spending less on a ticket along with the layover, choose the second option. However, if a direct ticket home costs the same as one with an Iceland layover, save your Blue Lagoon visit for a complete Iceland visit instead 🙂

After visiting the city twice, I would say that 3 or even 4 days in Lisbon is a good amount of time for an introduction to the city. If you read this blog you know us professional besties like solid but quick getaways and that’s what you will get with this Lisbon guide. We’ll go over some logistics about the city and then I will give you a plan for an awesome Lisbon itinerary for your travels. What makes my blog super awesome is that you can just download this plan and you’re all set to go. No need to plan or stress over what to do and in what order, I already planned your 3 days in Lisbon!

Let’s get to the logistics

Before we dive into what there is to do in Lisbon, let’s talk about some logistics that will make your trip there much easier.

Quick things to know about Lisbon

• Lisbon is old. It’s one of the oldest cities in Europe and it’s at least 2700 years old. It’s older than Rome, London or Paris.
• Earthquake: In 1755, the city was devasted by an earthquake that ruined a big chunk of the city. The city’s history was highly influenced by this event and you will hear about it everywhere.
• Portuguese Azulejos are probably the most recognizable architectural pieces of Lisbon. These blue ceramic tiles are everywhere. While they morphed into a part of Portuguese art, if you visited places like Morocco or Spain, you can certainly see the Moorish roots in them.
• Street art: Lisbon has one of the coolest street art I have ever seen. There are many tours that take you around the Alfama neighborhood to see it but many tourists don’t venture off to see it.
• Fado: These melancholic ballads are a huge part of Portuguese culture. Make sure to set some time aside at night to see a “show” and experience this music in person.
• Portugal’s mainland is great but this country also has some sweet islands with easy flight connections from Lisbon. If you have some time to travel, consider Azores or Madeira.

Navigating Lisbon

Lisbon airport is located a short metro ride on the red line (6:30 am to 1 am). You’ll need to purchase a metro card called Viva Viagem for 0.50 cents and then you can load it up with tickets. Other options include the Aerobus or Taxi. With the Uber prices though, my recommendation would be to simply get one. Pick-up is in the departures area upstairs and a driver can only pick you up in that one spot.

Another popular Uber version in Europe is a company called Bolt. I would recommend downloading it prior to your trip because if you don’t have a sim card, you won’t be able to confirm your phone number abroad. I found Bolt to be even more affordable compared to Uber in Lisbon!

Trams are also a very popular way to travel within the city. The touristy Tram 28 runs through the main parts of the city and is usually pretty crowded. The cost is around ~ 3 euros or you can buy an unlimited ride for the day for 6.40. Here is a map for ya.

Where to stay in Lisbon

My first time in Lisbon was in a hostel and my second was in an Airbnb. If you read my guides, you know that I was obviously happier in a hostel, but Airbnb did its job 🙂

If it’s your first time in Lisbon, the best areas to stay in Lisbon are the more centrally located Baixa or Chiado neighborhoods. They’re both relatively flat for Lisbon and will allow you to see the most if you’re there for a short amount of time. Barrio Alto is quiet during the day but comes alive at night. If you’re planning to experience some nightlife in Lisbon and don’t want to be far away from it, consider staying in this area instead. Alfama is the neighborhood on the hills with distinctive street art, azulejos, and of course Fado music. I personally love Alfama but it could be exhausting to climb these hills and it is also not a first-time visitor’s ideal location.

People & Safety

Lisbon is undoubtedly becoming more and more touristy. The more tourists the more petty crime. So when you’re walking in crowded areas or taking public transport, make sure your eyes are on your belongings. If you’re walking inebriated in the narrow streets at 3 am all by yourself, don’t be surprised if you get mugged either. Other than that, Lisbon is one of the safest cities in Europe but if you’re interested in specific statistics, here is a fun resource for you to compare it to NYC.

People in Lisbon are nice and friendly although if it’s your first time in the city and you’re staying in the touristy area, you probably won’t interact with too many true locals. However, if you do spark a conversation with the Uber driver or at a restaurant, you’ll immediately notice their friendly nature.

Food in Lisbon

When you’re in Lisbon, there are a couple of bucket list culinary items you just have to try.

From the drinks side, you need to have some awesome Port wine. Porto is a great dessert wine and it’s very popular in Portugal. Ginja is my personal favorite and it is a cherry liquor. It’s best tasted from a hole-in-a-wall kind of place and even better if you spit the cherry pit on the sidewalk.

Pasteis de Nata have to be one of the most iconic pastry items you’ll encounter in Lisbon and for a good reason! They are addictive and no, one is not enough. Living in New Jersey, I am happy to be surrounded by a large Portuguese community who make the real deal Natas not too far from me. Here is a great article from the Montclair Girl on one of my favorite bakeries in Newark, NJ, Teixeira.

Seafood is a no-brainer in Portugal. Make sure to have the salty Bacalhau (cod), I personally like them in the pastry form. Polvo (octopus) and Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams) are also two items you shouldn’t miss. Lapas (sea mollusks) are big in Madeira but you’ll find them all over Lisbon too. Espetada (skewers) come in all combinations and even though they’re simple, they are honestly the perfect dish. Oh, and canned fish is a huge thing in Lisbon too. There are whole stores dedicated to it.

Here are some specific restaurant recommendations by Farah Trading and Daniela’s Blog.

Useful Lisbon advice

• People speak Portuguese in Lisbon. It’s better to speak English there than pretend like Portuguese is Spanish. I imagine it’s similar when people speak Russian to me while I am Polish. While I can understand some words, Russian isn’t Polish, and Polish isn’t Russian. So when you’re in Portugal, either speak Portuguese or your own language.
• Portugal is on the cheaper side of travel. If you don’t solely eat in touristy areas you can get some pretty cheap eats and drinks.
• Speaking of cheap, Uber/Bolt is so affordable that sometimes the comfort is worth it over using public transport. When you’re at the airport, it’s so much easier to Uber into town.
• Lisbon is great to travel with friends and it’s also fun to travel with a family. My first time there was with friends and the second time with my parents. It was an amazing time both times and I was able to appreciate different parts of the city with different groups.

Lisbon in my favorite travel TV shows

If you like travel shows and watching them before heading on your own journey, two of my fave people visited Lisbon at very different times. Some places overlapped between the shows and I can’t decide whether that is a good thing or not. However, here are the show references for ya:

Anthony Bourdain – No Reservations Season 8, Episode 4

• Cervejaria Ramiro – A very famous seafood place known to tourists and locals, you pick your fish here to eat for dinner.
• Sol E Pesca – Canned foods store that’s also a fishing shop!
• Tasca do Chico – A Fado joint which I recommend later on too!
• A Ginjinha – This is my favorite spot as well and it serves some delicious cherry liquor
• Cantinho do Avillez – Jose Avillez’s restaurant, he’s a very famous chef in Portugal
• 100 Maneiras – An Eastern European’s take on Portuguese food
• Alma – A fancy Michelin star place
• O Trevo – A spot for the Bifana sandwich

Somebody Feed Phil – Season 1, Episode 4

• Manteigaria at Time Out Market– A spot for a Pastel de Nata at the best market in town
• Tricana – A canned food spot
• Belcanto – The famous chef is back, Jose Avillez’s – you see a pattern yet ? 🙂
• Ponto Final – Located across the river, this actually looks like a sweet spot and I wish I made my way to visit it!
• Pastéis de Belém – A staple, wouldn’t miss it!
• Jesus é Goês – This was an interesting take on food with a mix of cultures.
• A Ginjinha – I mean you can’t skip this place right?
• Cervejaria Ramiro – Same as Tony’s stop
• Cafe Luso – Fado spot
• Additional spots – Manteigaria Silva, Croissant Gigante, Nannarella, Wurst, Alma

Lisbon Itinerary

While Lisbon is one of these cities you should certainly slow travel through if you only got a couple of days, here’s a 3 day plan for ya. Follow it for a nice introduction to Lisbon. At the bottom of the post, you can find a 3 days in Lisbon itinerary to download along with a map for your travel. But before you get there, make sure to read the post first 🙂

Day 1: Baixa and Waterfront

Downtown Lisbon: Walking Tour

When I travel to a new city, I will 9/10 times start my itinerary with a free walking tour. My first time in Lisbon, I took a tour with a hostel and it was amazing. We saw all different parts of the city, some touristy spots, some not, and at the time, I didn’t realize how lucky I was to find a tour like that.

The second time, I took a standard Free Walking Tour, and if I have to be 100% honest, it was too history-dense and too place sparse for my personal liking. Although I enjoyed it and the tour guide was super knowledgeable, I wish the tour covered a few more stops and fewer backstories. Comparing other companies in the area, I see that their routes are similar so I’ll let you decide if that’s the option you’d like to take.

• Sandemans – this is the one I took and it was very history dense.
• Hi Lisbon – A little shorter than Sandemans but has a very similar route.
• Discover Lisbon – check for the latest schedule because currently they only have Alfama tours.

If I were to do it again, I would likely take a paid tour that showed me more interesting spots and covered different parts of the city. While digging for some cool companies, I came across this business. I vibe with their whole tour model so if I visit again, I’ll try to tour with them instead.

Or Self-Guided Exploration of Baixa Neighborhood

In the case reading my humble opinion above discouraged you from a walking tour you were debating on, here are the places you’d likely see on one. You can easily follow this path on your own:

• Praca do Comercio: The main square of the city is a very nice landmark to start exploring Lisbon. There are various cafes around and although all are overpriced, I would pause for a morning cup of coffee or a glass of wine and people-watch for a little while enjoying the views of the plaza. At the entrance to Rua Augusta, The Arco (Arc) of Rua Augusta has a nice viewpoint (2.5 euro entrance) from which you can get a panoramic view of the area as well.
• Rua Augusta: This is the main shopping/touristy street in town. It’s worth a stroll to admire some nice tile work (or azulejos), Portuguese calçada stones, and a lively atmosphere. Don’t forget that touristy = pickpockety too 🙂
• Santa Justa Lift: Once you continue up Rua Augusta, you will reach the famous elevator. I wouldn’t recommend taking a ride up per se, but it is a cool landmark to see. Why shouldn’t you take a ride? Well, with a little physical effort, you can walk up the stairs to the top and admire similar views right behind the Convent instead of Terraços do Carmo without paying.
• Convento do Carmo: This catholic convent is known for still standing after the famous earthquake of 1755. If you’d like to enter, they have a short video summarizing the history, and entry costs around 5 euros. Otherwise, you can walk around, admire its medieval architecture, and even take a break on one of its many small lawns.
• Rossio Square: Rossio is another beautiful town square. When I visited in November, they had a cute artisanal holiday market but if you’re traveling during the summer, you’ll enjoy it for the lively atmosphere. To get there you’ll walk down a steep hill from the convent area.
• A Ginjinha: And now time for a very well-deserved break at my favorite place in Lisbon, A Ginjinha. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall bar serving traditional cherry liquor. Pop in for a shot or two and enjoy the historical significance of this place too.

Evening near waterfront

After a busy morning of exploring the town, a small break at your accommodation before the evening is a must. However, don’t get too comfy as we got the whole evening ahead of us. For the second part of the day, I recommend catching the sunset on the waterfront near Cais do Sodre. You’ll find local vendors there selling snacks and cold beers. People sit on the waterfront and enjoy this beautiful sunset with sailboats and bridges.

After the sunset, for a casual dinner, make sure to pop into Time Out Market in Lisbon. It’s a spot with tons of vendors and it’s an awesome place to visit. Not only can you try cool different foods, but a lot of it is also pretty traditional.

Last but not least, Lisbon is known for its nightlife. Although a full night of partying might be too much for the first day in the city, Pink Street has a good amount of bars and most importantly a great atmosphere for a night of debauchery.

Day 2: Alfama & Nightlife

Exploring Alfama

Alfama is a very distinctive neighborhood in Lisbon filled with narrow cobblestone streets, distinctive tile buildings, street art, and of course, many many hills. I personally find Alfama stunning and full of character. For your day 2 in Lisbon itinerary, I planned a walk through the highlights of this neighborhood. Disclaimer, prepare for a lot of walking and a decent amount of walking up and down hills. You can do this walk in either direction too:

• Lisbon Cathedral or Sé Cathedral: Roman catholic 12th-century historic gem. Catch the iconic tram 28 passing right in front of the church. Entry is free.
• Miradouro Sta. Luzia: Next, will make it up the hill to see our first viewpoint for the day. This viewpoint is a popular one so you’re not likely to have it to yourself.
• Miradouro Portas do Sol: Right around the corner, you’ll find another cool viewpoint. It’s very close so make sure to make a quick stop there too.
• Castelo de St. Jorge: This very old castle that stands on the hills of Alfama is a true historical gem. While you’ll have to pay for an entry ticket to see this place, I would pay just to see the camera obscura. If you read my Havana post, you know that these types of cameras are rare despite how awesome they are.
• Miradouro da Graca: After exploring the castle grounds, head over to another viewpoint for a slightly different perspective of the city. If you’re all Miradouroed out for the day, you can skip this spot.
• Pantheon: This is a church and burial site for important Portuguese people.
• Feira da Ladra: If you’re visiting on a Tuesday or Saturday, right next to the Pantheon, you’ll find this flea market full of some interesting finds.
• Get lost in Alfama: Walk toward the direction of Museo do Fado (and visit too if you’re interested in its history) but don’t take the main street route. Try to walk through the little streets and admire just how pretty Alfama is. I don’t have an exact route because the best of Alfama is found spontaneously.

After a pretty busy morning, if you still have some energy left, I would recommend grabbing an Uber to Azulejos Museum. For 5 euros you can admire the beautiful display of Lisbon’s tiles in a former convent. The place is stunning and worth an afternoon visit. Note that it closes at 6 pm and is closed on Mondays.

Evening in Lisbon

For a cool early evening activity, check out the awesome LxFactory, an industrial complex turned into a cool space for shops, restaurants, and art. It’s open until 10:30ish so make sure to make your way earlier in the evening to see the most of it.

If you still have some energy left, head over to Barrio Alto and enjoy the lively night atmosphere in the streets there. It won’t be difficult to find, just follow the people and the music 🙂

Day 3: Belem, Beach and Fado

By Day 3 of your Lisbon itinerary, you’ll have gotten what makes Lisbon so amazing. But before you say goodbye to Lisbon, you absolutely miss visiting Belem. Belem is a relatively small area in town so it should take you only a couple of hours as your morning activity. For the second part of the day, I recommend hopping on a train from Belem to spend the rest of the day exploring a cute beach town not too far from Lisbon’s city center. Don’t forget to pack your cute bathing suit and let’s enjoy an amazing last day in Lisbon.

Belem Neighborhood

I normally don’t enjoy overly hyped places but this is a place I already visited twice in my life and most likely will return to in the future as well. Yes, I am talking about the one and only Pastesis de Belem, the “birthplace” of these delicious pastries. I have no idea whether they were invented there or not and quite frankly I don’t really care because however they make them, they got it right. The place gets packed so the earlier you get there the better. You can either grab some to go, but I would recommend eating there instead.

Next, walk the area of Jeronimos Monastery, which you can also visit and learn more about this important site and burial place. The two gardens in the front provide a nice view of the stunning monastery. A short walk along the waterfront from there will lead you to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument and then the famous Belem Tower. Right behind the tower, you’ll also find a striking memorial, the Monument to the Overseas Combatants.

Beach Excursion

After you see Belem, walk over to the Alges station and hop on the train in the Cascais direction. It’s only a 30-minute ride to this cute little beach town. Oh, and did I mention that the route there is pretty scenic? when you get to Cascais, you can first enjoy some sunbathing on the beach. Then have a nice lunch in the downtown area of this cute town. If you have time, check out Boca do Inferno, a nice impressive cliff with an opening to the ocean.

Last night in Lisbon: Fado time

What’s a night in Lisbon without listening to some Fado? If you don’t know what Fado is, it’s a style of music, melancholic ballads, which are a part of the Portuguese identity. They’re beautiful and you should spend an evening in a dark bar listening to a performance of Fado on your trip. It’s a perfect way to say goodbye to Lisbon.

A more touristy and scheduled version of one with a show and dinner can be found at Clube de Fado. Other dinner shows take place at Fado ao Carmo and O Faia. More laid-back but still very popular shows happen at Tasca do Chico or Povo.

Bonus: Day 4

If you’re in town for another day and need another activity for your 4-day Lisbon itinerary, I got you. As you have probably seen the majority of the Lisbon highlights, why not venture off not too far away from town and see the magical castle of Sintra?

How to get to Sintra you ask? The easiest and cheapest way is for you to take the train from the Rossio Station. It will be about a 45-minute ride to town. You can also arrange a tour from Lisbon so you don’t have to worry about any logistics.

What can you do in Sintra?

• Pena Palace: The most recognizable palace in the town. It’s colorful, architecturally impressive, and of course, crowded 🙂
• Quinta da Regaleira: Beautiful estate which looks like something out of the movie.
• Monserrate Palace: An architectural mesh of cultures that will leave you stunned.

But I myself did not visit Sintra, so I am not equipped with the best advice. Instead, here is an amazing Sintra Day Trip resource from an awesome travel blogger Amanda from Dangerous Business who planned a whole day trip for you.

Final Thoughts on Lisbon

I visited Lisbon 10 years apart and seeing how much it has changed in such a short amount of time is pretty impressive. I’m excited to see what the next 10 years will look like for the city, especially with the influx of digital nomads. I genuinely hope it’s a positive influence and that the local quality of life won’t suffer too much. Lisbon certainly has its character and I would certainly recommend visiting it.

Map and Itinerary to Download

Before you download the itinerary, please read the post. This is a very high-level summary that can be quickly referenced on the go. However, you will be best prepared with a quick read above 🙂

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This guide is simple, I’ll tell you what you need to know before visiting the city, then I’ll go into which places you should see on your trip, and lastly, I’ll give you a plan to download for your 4-day Paris getaway.

Let’s get to some Paris logistics

Before we get into an awesome 4-day Paris itinerary, let’s go over some logistics of visiting this city. Paris is really big and it’s divided into 20 Arrondissements or districts. Most places are not within walking distance so you’ll need to know how to navigate the metro. Although I tried to capture a lot in this plan, a Paris 4 day itinerary is merely an introduction to the city and there is absolutely no way that you will be able to see everything during that time.

Brutal truth first

Before we take a deep dive into the logistics, let’s get some things out of the way first. Paris is just like another large metropolitan city. It’s filled with tourists, it’s stinky and sometimes dirty, it has questionable characters in dark alleyways, the streets smell like cigarettes, oh, and don’t even get me started on the metro thieves. So whatever image you have of Paris, whether it’s a land of romance, beret-wearing humans, and everyone being happy in the streets because it’s Paris, get it out of your head.

Paris is indeed awesome and in no way am I trying to discourage you from going, but have a realistic expectations before you step foot in it.

Best time to visit Paris

While some will argue that Paris is great to visit all year round, I will politely disagree. Having visited during the early tourist season (June), peak tourist season (July and August), and also the fall (October), I will say that early summer is ideal. And yes, there will be tourists around but it is a good time to visit simply due to the weather. Fall in my opinion was a little too chilly and the constant rain didn’t make it too pleasant either but it was significantly less crowded.

Navigating Paris

Paris airports

Paris is served by a couple of popular airports all accessible from the city center: 

• Charles de Gaulle: if you’re flying internationally, most likely this will be your airport. It’s a large busy airport but everything is labeled very nicely so you should not have a problem finding gates, transport or information. To get to the city center you have a couple of options. Use the RER-B train for €11.40 each way to get to the city in about 30 mins. There is also a Roissy bus that runs from the city center but it’s a much longer journey. Lastly, you will always find taxis and Ubers at a rate of about €50.00 or more. This option makes the most sense to groups large enough to even out the cost of the train. 
• Orly: international and domestic, this is the second busiest airport. I’d recommend taking the Orlybus there because it is quick, cheap (under €10), and direct from the Paris Denfert-Rocheau stop. You can also take RER-B train to get there and then take a transfer shuttle called Orlyval at the Antony station. NOTE: RER-B north takes you to CDG and RER-B south takes you to Orly. Don’t mess this up. There is also RER-C that has a similar shuttle at Pont de Rugis. The cost is around €12. Taxi and Uber are easier options and run at about €35 each way. Point is, that the bus is the most straightforward option here. 
• Beauvais-Tillé Airport: for budget airlines. If you’re flying somewhere within Europe and you paid €15 for your flight, this is your hub. Take the shuttle from the city center stop Porte Maillot called the Beauvais shuttle for €15.90 (costing as much as your flight heheh). 

Metro & trains within the city

The Paris Metro is relatively cheap, at just €1.90 per trip. If you buy 10 tickets it will be even cheaper for a set. It runs very frequently between 5:30 am and 12:40 am and a little later (1:40 am) on the weekends. Note the difference between Paris Metro and Paris RER. RER is a train network connecting the suburbs but the city center is often connected to Metro stations. When traveling outside of certain zones out of the city center, you will need a separate ticket. Gare du Nord is the main metro/train station in the city and your hub for everything.

Navigating the Paris Metro

Having grown up in the NYC area with its infamous subway system, I always love navigating trains in new cities. Paris has an insane metro system that will get you literally anywhere you possibly want to go. Nonetheless, it can be overwhelming when you first look at it. The direction of the train is designated by the last stops so you will know easily know which side of the track you should be on. The transfers between the trains are included in your ticket so even if the closest line doesn’t go to your stop, there sure is a combination of them that will get you there.

What I recommend doing is studying this map for a couple of minutes before you get to Paris. Mark two spots on it and practice navigating from point A to point B.

Where to stay in Paris

You can budget, you can splurge, or something in between.

If you love hostels like I love hostels, I’d recommend St. Christopher’s Inn and Generator Hostel. St. Christopher’s has a fun bar and night parties, walking tours, sweet pod beds, and modern amenities. The Generator has an awesome set-up, good food, and comfy beds, but it doesn’t have the atmosphere that I look for when staying in a hostel.

If you want to splurge on your trip, I recommend doing so on Airbnb with a Parisian view. I stayed in one on my most recent trip. The beautiful courtyard and squeeky wooden doors were worth every penny. Additionally, good old hotels might be worth checking out too depending on your group size.

Wherever you decide to stay, just choose a place based on a location preference. Decide what you’d like to prioritize, a landmark, a metro stop, a social atmosphere, or some peace and quiet somewhere outside the city. Make sure to book in advance in high seasons because prices are not low in this city. If you’re a first-timer in Paris consider staying in the following arrondissements: 7th Eiffel Tower, 18th Montemarte, 5th Latin Quarter, and 1st Louvre as they’re pretty central to the places you want to see.

People & Safety

Before I visited Paris, I often heard of the rude Parisian stereotype encounter. Don’t get me wrong, when you’re being an ass in public or even your own culture’s stereotype, no matter where you go, people will give you looks and most likely judge the shit out of you. So be polite, learn how to say hello, please, thank you, cheers, and goodbye in French (and any other country you plan on traveling to) and you will most likely be treated like a normal human being. Note that greeting the staff in French is actually a must. It is considered very rude not to say hello when you enter a business.

Don’t start with immediately taking photos and making tiktoks either. Sit, enjoy your surroundings for a little and there will be time for a good picture. If you don’t act like a tourist stereotype, you won’t be treated as one.

I personally did not encounter any rude individuals and had a very pleasant experience during all my Paris visits. A Parisian lady even stopped a pickpocketing happening to my mom on a metro by screaming her lungs out at the thief.

Speaking of theft, pickpocketers are everywhere as in any other major tourist hub so don’t be an idiot and keep your valuables close to you. Be super vigilant about your belongings on a train as people will try to distract and pickpocket you. Overall you should be fine, don’t venture into dark corners alone, be careful when traveling at night and be smart.

Backpacking in Paris

While this guide is not necessarily about budgeting in Paris, two of my trips there were indeed backpacker-style ones. I stayed in a 4-bed hostel room, made sure to eat some meals at the less popular places, and visited a mix of paid and free attractions in the city. We didn’t splurge on a nice Airbnb and you’re damn right that we took at metro everywhere we went. All in all, while backpacking in Paris is certainly not backpacking in South America, it can be done and you won’t necessarily sacrifice things to do because of it.

Paris could be expensive or it could be cheap depending on your expectations. If you share an Airbnb and take public transport, you won’t spend as much as you think. For example, eating a Parisian breakfast by standing up in a cafe with a croissant and a coffee will cost you under 5 euros. Sitting down at an insta cafe for breakfast will cost you 20. Grabbing dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower will set you back a couple of hundred euros vs having a picnic in front of it will cost you 15 euros including alcohol.

Food in Paris

In Paris, you could either have the best or the worst food you’ve ever had in your life. Seriously, there are so many restaurants and cafes that you can easily fall victim to the tourist trap of yesterday’s-reheated-leftovers-spot. Be very careful when choosing a place. The general rule of thumb is to never ever eat near the main attraction but rather walk a couple of streets away to find a little gem. In Paris, I would always deeply investigate using multiple sources the restaurant I was about to enter. Google it, Yelp it, Facebook it, and read travel blogs to find some hidden gems. Don’t wing it in a city full of tourists when it comes to your main meals. 

One thing you have to try there is the bread. I promise that after one bite of that heavenly carb stick you will never look at bread the same again. Simply find the closest boulangerie (bakery) near your stay, venture there in the morning and get yourself a nice hot french baguette. Most bakeries make their own bread and pastries, serving you some quality products. Don’t settle on afternoon supermarket bread, find the real deal. 

If you’re looking for specifics here, I am not a great resource for spots however, there are other awesome people that did their homework on this topic:

• Paris By Mouth: They offer their restaurant recommendations along with some amazing food tours. If you read my other posts you know that it’s one of my favorite activities to do in any city.
• My Travel Buzzg: A good list of dishes you simply must try.
• Untold Morcels: Great guide for all sorts of restaurants.

Etiquette

• Tips are not necessary in Paris. If you really want you can leave a euro or two.
• Do not as for any substitutions. That’s an American thing and you will piss off your server.
• Speaking of being American, you are not right. The restaurant is, the waiter is, you are not.
• Ask for the bill when you’re ready because the waiter most likely won’t ask you.

Random Advice for Paris Travel

• Pickpocketters are real! If you’re a tourist, or especially a tourist with luggage, you’re a prime target. A real-case scenario that happened to me: you’ll get on a metro and a group of ladies will gather around you pretending to look lost and asking questions you can’t understand. As you’re being a confused deer in headlights, one of her friends will open your bag and steal your belongings. They will get off at the next stop and you won’t even know when you were robbed.
  • If you’re approached by some gypsy women that are asking you to sign their petition, hold your pockets and walk away asap.
• Carry change: When you go to the market, for a croissant or a bottle of water.
• Nannybag/Luggage Hero are genius services and I highly recommend them. It’s like a little Airbnb for your bags if you want to leave your luggage in a better location. Consider using luggage storage at the busier train/metro stations if that’s pricey.
• French wine and cheese are truly awesome. 
• Paris is a great hub to go Europe hopping. Consider visiting some of my favorite places like Santorini and Mykonos, Budapest or Lisbon!

Paris 4-day Itinerary

Let’s just say it can be extremely overwhelming to see all of Paris. There are so many things to see, so much history to learn and so many selfies to take. Be ok with not seeing everything. Seriously, it will make your trip much more memorable to quality-see a couple of important landmarks than to quantity-see everything. Below you will find a suggested guide to seeing Paris in 4 days.

Day 1

Let’s start your 4-day Paris itinerary at a Boulangerie.

If your accommodation is not ready for check-in, ask to store your luggage before going out to explore. You can also use lockers at the major metro stations.

Make sure to load up on some carbs and coffee for energy before a long day ahead. I suggest this for your first stop because the earlier you get to a boulangerie, the fresher your baguette will be! And there is no complete trip to Paris without having a truly fresh, still hot, perfect french baguette. So whichever part of the city you’re stationed in, please find an authentic french bakery (ask the hotel staff, search the internet, or simply ask a local in the street) and go for some morning goodies.

When you find that bakery, you’ll experience something amazing: the initial overwhelming scent of freshly baked bits of heaven, locals buying their breakfast pastries, tourists being confused by all the options, and friendly staff trying to please everyone in the store. It will be an experience within itself, but it will all get even better when you take that first bite of your baguette or pastry. 

Now let’s see what the Louvre is all about.

Why not jump right into the highlights of Paris and start your 4-day itinerary by seeing the Lourve! Well kinda because we won’t go inside just yet 🙂 Take the metro from your morning stop to Musee du Louvre station. It will drop you off at the museum grounds. I personally wouldn’t go right into a tour but rather we will save this for later in your itinerary. The museum itself goes on for (literal) miles and with its overwhelming interior, it’s a lot to take in on your first day. It will also exhaust you before you see any Paris.

Here me out why you’re here though. The outside of the Louvre is a whole artwork within itself, and I strongly recommend taking some time there to soak it all in rather than rush to get inside. There is a little (overpriced) cafe with prime views of the plaza with the famous pyramid. This area is also a good start to your Paris exploration as well.

Visiting the Louvre

I’ll save the visit for the inside for either the last day or an evening tour later in the day. As mentioned, the inside is insanely big and you won’t be able to cover it all in a couple of days let alone a couple of hours. The Mona Lisa you ask? Super overrated and super tiny so the chances of you enjoying the painting are non-existent. Going in there just to say you’ve been to the Louvre is a waste of your time and money due to how large this place is. If you enjoy art, make sure to plan what you want to see rather than blindly going inside.

If you go inside during the day here is a little hack: you can buy the tickets in a gift shop downstairs in the Louvre and enter through the underground entrance. The line is usually a lot shorter than the outside, sometimes even nonexistent. Another cool option is an after-hours tour which is much much pricier yet something worth splurging on.

Small pause at Jardin Dus Tuilries

These gardens are directly across from the museum so just continue walking in a straight direction through them. The gardens have many small ponds with chairs where you can find a ton of locals catching some sun. Wander around for a bit, grab some ice cream and take a small pause. 

Next, a shopping stop at Champs Elysee.

Once you reach the end of the park, explore the famous Champs Elysees shopping street. It is a very long avenue with many stores ranging from Zara to some high-end spots. If shopping streets give you anxiety, you can skip this part by jumping onto the Franklin D. Roosevelt metro stop to continue your journey. However, if you always wanted to see what the hype is about, continue walking and admiring all the fancy shops. This is a prime spot to get pickpocketed so be cautious my fellow explorer.

Many tourists like to stop in the famous Laduree macaroon shop. While I am the biggest critic of major tourist traps, I did give this place a chance. My judgment? The store interior and the whole experience are worth a stop so when in Paris, why not get a quick sugary snack. At the end of this street, you will reach the famous Arc de Triomphe. There is a nice viewing area on top of it so head up there to admire some city views! 

Early evening picnic at Eiffel Tower. 

The must-do for every Paris trip is a sunset picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower. I would suggest first entering the area through Place du Trocadero (Trocadero Metro Stop). If you followed my route above, you can either walk ~20 min on Ave. Kleber or take a quick (3 stops) M6 ride from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile to Trocadéro.

Once you first see a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, you’ll fall into grand awe. It is truly a remarkable first sight and trust me, what you’ve seen in the movies doesn’t even begin to do its justice. Walk around a little bit, take your photo, and head towards the other side of the tower to Champ de Mars. There you’ll find a big lawn area where you can find your perfect spot for enjoying your picnic. To get your picnic supplies, venture off a little to the side streets and you should have no problem finding a small neighborhood store. Pick up some bread, cheese, fruit, and bubbly. I recommend waiting until it gets dark and you get to see the tower light up. Some find the lights cheesy and they’re probably right … I think they’re pretty badass 🙂

So there you go my fellow adventurer, your perfect first day in Paris is now done!

Day 2

Your second day in Paris should be a little easier. Hopefully, you got more comfortable with the metro, practiced your Bon Jours and Mercis and now you’re ready to explore more of this beautiful city. 

Let’s get started at a Parisian Cafe.

Yesterday you explored a nice boulangerie so today let’s try something new. Today let’s take a slow morning sitting in a typical Parisian cafe, enjoying our fresh croissants while doing some people-watching. Before I went to Paris, I always pictured wicker chairs with some color accents, small round tables, and people enjoying al fresco dining. And that is exactly what I saw the second I entered the city. Make sure to become the main character for a little and spend some time sitting in this kind of setting. 

Luxembourg Gardens

These gardens are the perfect location to start your day two in Paris. They’re not too big and will become the starting point for exploring this area of town. You can take the train to the Luxembourg stop or even Port Royal. There is a palace in the park as well which you can visit but with limited time in the city, you might want to skip it.

Next, the Latin Quarter

A short walk from the garden, you’ll find the Latin Quarter. This is a cute area of Paris because it’s not as touristy as the more popular areas. The majority of the area is academic so you’ll find a younger vibe here. Find a cute lunch spot near the Pantheon to take a small pause. Some notable landmarks here are the Pantheon, Eglise Saint-Séverin Saint-Nicolas Church, and Eglise Saint-Etienne du Mont Church. Note that the Pantheon has a nice rooftop terrace for 360 views of Paris. I also recommend grabbing lunch in this area.

If you walk down from the Pantheon via the most known street Rue St-Michel towards Rue de la Harpe, you’ll find many cute little streets with small shops here. Get lost here for a little, it’s a small area so you’ll be able to see most of it. Next, the Place Saint Michel, is a very touristy area but hey, we need a dose of that atmosphere as well. There are many shops in that area and often, you’ll find a little outdoorsy artisanal market.

Notre Dame

Following my route above, you’ll quickly notice Notre Dame if you reach the Seine River. Due to the tragic fire of April 2019, as of today, you will not be able to explore the magnificent Cathedral. However, it is still possible to see its beauty from the outside.

Your morning stops were all concentrated within short walks of one another but to this next stop, you’ll need to catch a 25-30 min train. You might want to relax a little after a busy morning but I recommend exploring the next area before sunset. Catching the sunset here is magical on a good weather day so I would make sure not to miss out on this experience.

Explore Montemarte and catch the sunset at Sacre Coeur

Ok, close your eyes and picture Paris. You probably see narrow cobblestone streets, little cafes, painters, and happy people? Well, this is actually Montemarte. Artists like Picasso, Modigliani, Miro, Renoir, and Van Gogh all made that area their home at some point and for a reason.

Take the metro to Anvers stop and make your way up the hill towards Montemarte. After a short walk, the stunning Sacre Couer church will hit you in the face like no other. It is situated on a hill which gives you amazing city views. The locals like to hang out on the stairs of this hill so be sure to give yourself a small pause there too. It offers amazing hill views of the whole city. And you know I am a sucker for a good view.  

After some time in the church area, venture off to the beautiful Montemarte neighborhood. Let yourself be lost for a little in order to soak in the beautifully intertwined narrow Paris streets. Yes I know, it will be touristy near the area but it is an awesome place to be. To catch the sunset, grab a seat on the steps of Sacre Couer. You won’t regret it. Don’t stay too long tho because the drunk locals also love this as their hang-out spot.

Day 3

Chateau du Versailles

On day 3 of the Paris 4 day itinerary, you will explore the Versailles Palace. Before you feel royal for the day you’ll need to take a not-so-royal RER C toward the Versailles Château stop. Once you’re off the train, follow the crowd for about 10 min toward the palace. The earlier you get there, the better as this location is certainly not a hidden gem. When you arrive, you’ll see a huge line of people. Don’t worry, the Iine looks intimidating but it actually passes by quickly. Tip: have some cash on you. When I visited, the card machines were not functioning and they were only accepting cash. Not having enough cash on us was quite a hassle to get back in line. 

When you finally enter the palace, you’ll be confused by the level of “boujee” that this place is. I found it rather hysterical that people associated status and their level of happiness with this structure. However, it is a true masterpiece and you should see it with your own eyes to believe it. Make sure to purchase a ticket for the gardens as well. You can simply take a stroll or better yet, have a picnic there! I’m a huge fan of picnics as they allow you to take a pause and soak in your surroundings. 

After you’re done exploring the palace and the gardens and you still have some energy left over, head over to the little charming town of Versailles. There are some more things to see there as well as some cafes to check out. 

Overall, for most explorers, this will be a full-day trip. Returning to the city center will take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half and you will probably just want to crash at that point. I hope you enjoyed your day of royalty. 

Day 4

Art in Paris

As promised, today is the day you’ll be returning to explore the Louvre or any other museum of your choice. I saved it for the last day because by now you should have seen the major landmarks of the city. Here are your art options for the morning-afternoon:

• Louvre: If you’re planning a trip to the Louvre, scroll up to day 1 plan for my tips on the visit there.
• Musée de Orsay: Mostly impressionist art and insta known for the big clock.
• Musée de l’Orangerie: More impressionist art but if you like Monet, you’ll find his famous water lily here. It’s a small museum but I really enjoyed it!
• Musée Rodin: If you’re a fan of Rodin or sculptures,  you’ll love this place. It is also an impressive building from the outside.
• Musée Picasso:  A gallery of Picasso’s various art pieces, from paintings, drawings, and sculptures to many more. As a big Picasso fan, I have to confess that I’ve seen more interesting gatherings of his works compared to this place. 
• Espace Dalí: A permanent exhibition of Dali’s works, mostly sculptures. Dali was one interesting human so if you’re a surrealist fan, make sure to stop by this place. I liked it but I also like anything that Dalí does 🙂
• The Centre Pompidou: A more modern structure that’s a library and a museum. 
• And obviously dozens more. So if you’re a fan of a particular genre of art, I’m sure Paris has a museum dedicated to it.

Shopping in Paris

Did you even go to Paris if you didn’t do some shopping damage?

• Well even if you don’t have anything specific in mind, make sure to stop by Galeries Lafayette for the magnificent building alone.
• Next, there is the Champs Elysees but it’s super packed so I wouldn’t recommend going there to shop.
• If you have the budget, for super boujee feels, right off of Champs Elysees, find Avenue Montaigne.
• Need more affordable shops? No worries, head to the Marais Area.
• Another place known for good shops is Rue De Rivoli.

If you’re traveling from abroad and want to splurge on a designer bag, know that this is the place to get one. Why? Well, one because it’s cheaper and two because you can get your tax reimbursed on your way back. Here is a step-by-step process on how to do this.

Cruise on the Seine

Although this can give a hop-on-hop-off bus vibe, I’ve done this twice. Why? Because as cheesy as it is, it’s pretty and the perfect way to end your Paris 4 day itinerary. I recommend doing this early evening so you can get a nice view of the Eiffel Tower again at night. You will probably get a guide that tells you all the history and fun facts but you’re going on this little cruise to see Paris from a different perspective. It’s cute and I strongly recommend it.

Final Thoughts on Paris

Some people find cities like Paris overrated and overdone. And yea sure, you won’t love the number of tourists there and it will be a busy city to travel through but I wouldn’t let that stop you from visiting at least once in your life. I hope that you like my plan for the 4 day Paris itinerary and that I saved you some stress associated with planning your trip.

Map and Itinerary to Download

Download the Paris 4 Day Itinerary

Remember to read the post before you download the guide. It is a very high-level summary of the plan above to grab for the road. Reading both will prepare you the best.

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This itinerary includes visiting the three cities, Gdansk, Krakow, and Zakopane. I chose them specifically because they each show a different perspective of Poland. In Gdansk, you will enjoy a port city with beautiful beaches and colorful architecture. Krakow on the other hand will give you some history and honestly the best city vibes around. Then your trip will end in the unbelievably stunning mountain town of Zakopane in the south allowing you to end on one more relaxing note.

My week in Poland guide should provide you with enough information to plan an entire trip through these cities as I personally have done this route in the summer of 2021. I know that traveling in an Eastern European city might be new to a lot of you, however, everything I outlined below will make it super easy. At the bottom of this guide, you will find a summarized downloadable pdf as well as a map.

Let’s get to the logistics

Travel Restrictions

Poland currently lifted all restrictions so you’re all good. However, I recommend checking the official sources for the most accurate date information.

Best Time to Visit Poland

If I had a penny for every time someone asked me how Poland is cold, I’d be a millionaire. Guys, Poland is not that cold and it has a nice set of four seasons. If you’re from the US, think northeast weather. July and August get pretty toasty so don’t be surprised when the heatwave comes around. I personally like visiting in late May, early June, or even early fall for the best weather and right before and after the influx of tourists.

Transportation

There are many airports in Poland but the ones that you should be aware of for this Poland itinerary are John Paul II Airport in Krakow and Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk (yes us Poles are very proud of other influential Poles so we name everything after them 🙂 ). These two airports are your entry and exit points for this itinerary however if you see a flight into Warsaw that is much cheaper, know that Warsaw to Krakow train and Warsaw to Gdansk flight are both easy and cheap connections.

For the cities you’ll be visiting, intracity public transport is decent in Poland too so I wouldn’t personally rent a car for this specific itinerary. I recommend the following route: Gdansk -> Krakow -> Zakopane. First, you’ll fly into Gdansk, then take a quick flight from Gdansk to Krakow and finally take a bus or a train from Krakow to Zakopane and back.

What to Pack

Since you’re traveling between two very different parts of Poland, it’s important to plan what to pack. Gdansk is a stylish city so don’t forget a nicer outfit. Krakow is touristy so you can get away with pretty much anything. Zakopane city gets as hot if not hotter in the summer but the higher up you go in the mountains, the more layers you will need.

Remember that people in Europe don’t believe in athleisure yet. Going to the store in leggings is not something you’d usually do although as a tourist you might get a pass for that.
Here are some essential items to consider:

• City outfits – Summer dresses, pair of pants, shorts, blouse, t-shirt.
• Bathing suit & flip flops – Whether you decide to try out the thermal baths in Zakopane or hit up the beach in Sopot, you will need a bathing suit.
• Athletic clothes – If you’re planning to hike, you will need comfortable hiking clothes.
• Hiking shoes – Obvious one but if you’re planning to hike, you will need solid support on your feet. If you’re not planning to do the more intensive routes, sneakers will do since the most touristy hikes are paved.
• Trail backpack – Seems non-essential but is absolutely essential if you’ll be hiking. I completely forgot my trial pack and needed to go into town and buy one before my hikes. The good news is that they’re widely available in town.
• Rain jacket – Poland gets a decent amount of rain so rather than getting stuck with a plastic rain poncho, pack. a thin rain jacket. You don’t want to end up like me having to hide under trees while hiking either.

People in Eastern Europe Safety

Eastern Europeans are often associated with coldness and brutal honesty. You also don’t smile or look at people, that’s considered odd. For the most part, this is true, and being raised there, it’s normal for me when I visit. However, if you live in America and smiling at strangers in the street or talking to them in grocery lines isn’t considered weird whatsoever, the Eastern European formal way of being can be kinda shocking at first. If your waitress or anyone else you deal with doesn’t greet you warmly or smile at you, don’t even think twice about it.

Poland or Ukraine and other surrounding countries have this in common. However, this past year when I visited Hungary, I encountered the perfect mix of that Eastern European personality. I noticed that while Hungarians maintain that honest and stoic character, they bring a smile with it.

Safety in Poland

Overall, Poland is a safe country with a low crime index. Being from there, I naturally feel safer than most would but I wouldn’t necessarily tell you to keep your guard down. Towns like Zakopane are more old school, most locals don’t speak English, and don’t be surprised if people are “cold” to you. It’s part of the culture.

Although Poland is catching up to the world in terms of acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, they still have some major work to do in that department. That said, the cities you’re going to are used to people from all over the world.

Zakopane could also be a little more sketchy at night and I personally witnessed a flight during breakfast at a small cafe. Gdansk and Krakow on the other hand are pretty safe and open. It is catching up faster than the more conservative towns of Poland.

Budget for Poland

Compared to many European cities, Poland is a cheap country. Although Poland is a part of the EU, instead of the Euro, it currently still uses its own currency, the Zloty. In 2022, 1 USD will get you 4-4.4 Zloty. Even traveling through the tourist destinations in this itinerary, you won’t feel like you’re spending much. The most expensive part of your Poland trip will be the flight. Hotels start as low as $30 a night and the hostels can be as cheap as $10. Meals range between $3-$20 and drinks are anywhere between $3-$6. Overall, you will find this country to be very budget-friendly.

Must-Try Food in Poland

Polish cuisine is really one of the best. And I’m not just saying that because I grew up with it 🙂

• Pierogi: A true staple known all around the world. It’s a dumpling most often stuffed with cheese and potato, however, I urge you to try the meat, cabbage, or mushroom fillings. Sometimes you can even find them with fruit inside.
• Kielbasa: You must live under a rock if you haven’t heard of polish kielbasa. And no, the grocery kind does not reflect how amazing it is.
• Golabki: Stuffed cabbage with rice and sausage. Depending on the region you will find them in different sauces.
• Zapiekanki: One of my favorite street-food in Poland. In its most basic form, it’s a baguette with mushrooms, cheese, and ketchup.
• Soups: We have awesome soups like Rosol, a chicken soup, Barszcz, beet soup, Zurek, sour soup, Ogorkowa, my favorite one which is pickle soup.
• Mizeria: So simple yet so delicious, mizeria is a side dish that’s made of cucumbers, dill and sour cream.
• Bigos: This is a cabbage sauerkraut and meat mixture. People love it, I personally don’t.
• Placki Ziemniaczane: Potato pancakes in their most delicious form 🙂
• Paczki: Our heavenly donuts.

One Week in Poland Itinerary

Ok now to the good stuff.

One week in Poland is a good introduction to the country, especially for a first-timer. Poland is an easy country to travel through and the cities in this itinerary are pretty tourist-friendly. I did this route this past summer (2021) therefore the plan below is an optimized version of my own.

Stop 1: Gdansk Itinerary

Gdansk is located in the northern part of Poland right on the Baltic Sea. It’s part of the tri-city coast towns: Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot. It also has a ton of historical significance. First, it is one of the oldest Polish cities. Second, it was mostly destroyed after WW2 and then completely reconstructed after. Lastly, it was the birthplace of the Solidarity movement getting Poland out of the communist regime. And that’s just to name the major events. Today you will find a lively European city with an amazing atmosphere.

Quick Logistics

Since this will be the start of your one week in Poland, you will fly into here to the Lech Walesa Airport. There are many international connections to this airport but you can always fly to Warsaw and take a quick connecting flight to Gdansk too. Another option is flying from a nearby city like Stockholm too.

The city center is located 20 minutes from the airport via taxi or Uber or 40 minutes on 210 bus in the direction of Goscinna. I paid about 50 zlotych (~$12) for my Uber which is actually pretty pricey when the bus route will cost you less than $1. To my excuse though, I arrived pretty late in the evening and was too tired to drag my stuff on the bus. Sometimes a little comfort costs you 12x the price 🙂 Within the city everything you want to see is walkable. The surrounding areas are connected by a regional train too.

Where to stay in Gdansk

For a short stay, I recommend staying near Sródmiasto or Wyspa Spichrzów so you’re right in the center of the action. There are plenty of Airbnbs and hotels in the city so choose one that fits your budget.

I traveled solo to Gdansk and whenever I do, I always make sure to stay at hostels for the social atmosphere. I found Elewator Hostel in the central location but it was by far one of the worst hostels I have ever stayed in. If you came across it and you’re considering it, don’t 🙂

Day 1 of Gdansk Itinerary

First Morning in Poland

Most international flights arrive early in the morning, so you’re check-in at your accommodation might not be ready in time. What I always recommend doing in this situation is reaching out prior to see if you could leave your luggage and freshen up in the lobby bathroom. 90% of the time that is an option however, sometimes with the Airbnb cleaning schedule, you might have to find local luggage storage instead. I’ve used NannyBag or LuggageHero in the past but these can be pricey. Another option is the left luggage lockers at Gdansk Train station. They cost as low as $1.5 for a small locker. More info on that here.

Quick Lunch and Old Town Walk

Once you’re situated and ready to explore start your day with the most important thing, food! I recommend diving right into the polish cuisine and finding the nearest Bar Mleczny or a polish cafeteria-style eatery. There are a ton of them in town, and most of them have delicious home-cooked meals, so just google the nearest one. See above for my recommendations of foods to try if you’re new to our dishes.

Next, it is time to start exploring the beautiful town of Gdansk! As always I start my itineraries by recommending a free walking tour for an amazing introduction to the city. I used the company Wakative which is the first Google Search result and I liked what they offered. Most tours run in the morning and then again in the afternoon. If the tour schedule doesn’t match yours or if you simply prefer your own route, walk the stops below for your Old Town route. Note that everything is walkable so you won’t need any public transport for these sites. At the bottom of this itinerary, you can also find a map to save with these places pinned.

You can start the walk from either Brama Wyzynna or Zielona Brama.

• Start your walk at Brama Wyzynna, or the main gate into the old city of Gdansk.
• Then continue to Brama Zlota or the Golden Gate which is known for the figures symbolizing peace, freedom, happiness, and glory on the west side and harmony, justice, caution, and piety on the eastern one.
• As soon as you enter you will walk the Long Market pedestrian street which is the main tourist route through the city. You’ll love it for the colorful buildings and the lively atmosphere.
• Walk towards Ratusz or Gdansk Town Hall which in the summer has a viewpoint tower from which you can admire the city.
• Right next to ratusz, you’ll see the Neptune Fountain, a beautiful sculpture converted into a fountain which is a big tourist landmark in the city.
• Speaking of towers, right next door you will find the stunning gothic St. Mary’s Basilica, which has a 400 steps tower to which you can climb for even better views from above.
• At the end of Long Market, you will see Zielona Brama, the other gate at the end of the street.
• Then you can walk along the river to get to the famous port Crane which represents the city’s role in trading. You can walk undeath it and see its size. It’s pretty impressive.
• In Old Town, there are two streets you cannot miss, Piwna (Beer Street) which is a historical spot that today you visit for amazing breweries and Mariacka, a street known for its amber shops. I would end your tour by sipping a cold beer on Piwna and people watching.

Evening in Gdansk

For the evening, I recommend strolling along the river on the town side as well as on Wyspa Spichrzow, a small island connected by multiple bridges. The walk between the two is short and the atmosphere will completely change at night. If you want a nice restaurant along the river, I personally recommend Chleb i Wino located on the island side.

Day 2:

Morning in Sopot

As I mentioned earlier, Gdansk is part of the tri-city: Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot. For your second day in Poland, I recommend taking a 20 min train towards Sopot, the cute beach resort town known for its posh vibes and the longest pier in Europe. The train from Gdansk runs every ~10 minutes from the main train station and costs about $3. Pack your beach bag and let’s go to Sopot!

Once you arrive in Sopot, you will exit the train station and walk toward the main pedestrian street in town Bohaterow Monte Cassino. On that walk, you’ll see the cozy local architecture, cute restaurants, bars, and shops. Don’t miss the famous tilted house or Krzywy Domek. As you reach the end, you’ll find the square right before the famous Sopot pier or Molo. You will have to pay a small entrance fee and then you can enter the biggest pier in Europe. It took me a while to walk all the way down the pier and I’ll say that its length is pretty impressive. After you’re done strolling, walk towards the public beach which will be right next to the pier along with a waterfront park. Sopot is a resort town so after some strolling around, and having a nice lunch followed by some beach time, you’ll be ready to go back to Gdansk. Unless of course you want to indulge in a nice spa treatment or a boat ride instead 🙂

Afternoon (or evening) in 100cznia

On your way back to the city, one of the train stops right outside of Gdansk will be 100cznia or the cool place to be in town. It’s an old shipyard converted into a hipster paradise. You’ll find art, breweries, restaurants in cargo shipping containers, music, and an awesome atmosphere that draws some interesting people to its area. I went there during the day and enjoyed a beer in an old warehouse and then a nice Israeli meal from a shipping container. It was awesome and something I would recommend doing. The train stop there seems a little sketchy, but after a short 5 min walk, you’ll be where all the action is. I knew that the place turns into a super awesome nightspot but as a solo female traveler, I usually have a rule of not going out too far during late hours. I don’t think Poland is unsafe but ya know, you never know when you travel alone.

Gdansk Itinerary Wrap-up

After two full days in the northern towns of Poland, get ready for Krakow! You have two options, jump on a late-night flight there or take an early morning one.

Stop 2: Krakow

Why Krakow over Warsaw

Now, you might be thinking, why Krakow and not Warsaw? Warsaw is the capital so why wouldn’t you include it on this itinerary? To visit Warsaw or Krakow seems to be one of the most asked questions for those traveling to Poland. I have been to both and I will tell you this. While Warsaw is a beautiful city, Krakow has more of a character. Especially if it’s your first time in Poland, I recommend Krakow over Warsaw by a long shot. In my opinion, Krakow is by far one of the best cities to visit in Poland.

Quick Logistics

So after your amazing time in the northern beauty of Poland named Gdansk, you’ll hop on a quick flight to get you to Krakow. I don’t recommend buses or trains for this route as those connections are necessarily long. In the summer, the flights run daily, and flight prices between Krakow and Gdansk range from $15 to $50 depending on the time and airline.

Once you reach Krakow Airport, there is a quick connection on the train to the main station in town. There are also Ubers or taxis in the city but Krakow does tend to have a lot of traffic. Within the city, you have trains and trams to take you anywhere you want to go.

Where to stay in Krakow

Whatever you choose, stay within walking distance of the main square. It will make your life easier as you will be close to the action. Airbnbs and hotels range from $15 to $80 a night and hostels run around $10 a night. I stayed in a hostel and love my experience of the social aspect. I also stayed in Airbnbs close to the center and enjoyed having my own space.

Day 3: Krakow Itinerary

Morning in Old Town

Whether you decided to take a late-night flight or an early morning one, the first day of your Krakow adventures will be spent exploring this amazing town. Similar to my Gdansk tip, if you’re arriving early, check with your accommodation where you can leave your bags before it’s ready for check-in. If you can’t leave them in an Airbnb, there are lockers at the main station at a very cheap cost.

One of the most popular things to do in Krakow is to see Rynek Glowny or the main town square. No matter how many times in my life I’ve seen it, I can never get enough of it. Being the largest main square in Europe, it’s honestly a true beauty. I also recommend seeing it in the morning when it’s least busy, then in the afternoon when it’s most busy and of course in the evening and at night 🙂

You will spend some time walking around but note the following landmarks:

• Sukiennice or Cloth Hall: At the very center of the square, you’ll find this historical shopping area with all artisanal products unique to the Polish culture.
• Rynek Underground: There is a cool museum under the town square for about $7.
• Town Hall Tower: You can visit the inside of this 14th-century building to learn some more history.
• St. Mary’s Basilica: This stunning church is also the place from which you will hear the famous call (Hejnal) every hour.
• Floriańska Street: One of the more famous streets branching off from the town square.

Don’t forget to grab a drink or a coffee in one of the many restaurants and cafes in the town square. Allow yourself to speak in the atmosphere before rushing off to the next spot.

Afternoon in Krakow

For your afternoon activity, I visit the famous Wawel Castle. It’s Poland’s pride and joy as it was the former residence of the royalty. Today you will find it to be a historical museum with art and other important treasures. Additionally the Wawel hill houses the Wawel Cathedral. And of course, you cannot miss the Dragon’s Den.

Depending on whether you tour it with a tour guide or just visit on your own, the time which you spend there will vary. Don’t forget to set aside some time to walk along the Vistula River located nearby.

Things to do in Krakow at night

For dinner, I recommend heading over to the Jewish Quarter. It’s not too far from the main square and today is also a lively area of town.

It’s no secret that Krakow has one of the best nightlife scenes in Poland if not in Europe 🙂 Therefore you will not have any issues with finding things to do in Krakow at night. If you’re traveling alone or even in a small group, a Pub Crawl is never a bad idea. They’re pretty cheap but more importantly, they provide you with new friends and bring you to the best bars!

If you’re planning your own night, make sure to start the night at a shot bar or Pijalnia. Shots are cheap starting at $1 and they’re pretty tasty. Then head to Old Town which has a ridiculous amount of bars. Since I always like a Latin vibe, you can find me at Teatro Cubano Club.

Some things to keep in mind are that drinking in public is not allowed (you will get fined) and security guys are assholes so don’t talk to them. Also, don’t be a hero and start drinking anything Spirytus-based. It’s never a good idea and you will regret it the next day.

Day 4: Tour in Krakow

While you can certainly spend another day in the city enjoying a different area, for your second day of the Krakow itinerary, I recommend you take one of the tours below.

Auschwitz-Birneakau

Let me just start by saying that a visit to this place will change you as a person. It’s certainly not a cheerful trip, especially after the amazing time you’ve been having, but this is just one of those places you have to see. Auschwitz-Birneakau is one of the biggest Nazi concentration camps where Jews and Poles were gassed and then burned in crematoriums. As soon as you arrive there you’ll feel the dark energy of this place.

As you take the tour and learn about the history, your understanding of this world will change. It’s awful, it’s horrendous but it’s important that every single person that has the chance to see it, sees it. Tours are organized at various hours in multiple languages. This is an all-day tour and you won’t be back until the evening. I booked my tour through a hostel but below you can find some highly-rated suggestions.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

In case you want to choose another tour or have an extra day in Krakow, the second place I recommend visiting is the Salt Mine. Wieliczka is impressive and the polish miners made it into a masterpiece. Note that you have to take many stairs to get down there but if you need assistance, simply email them ahead of time.

As the name suggests, the salt mine is made of salt 🙂 You’ll find an impressive network of rooms you can visit but what’s even more shocking is that the mine has over 170 miles of tunnels too. The tour highlights include the Chapel, ballroom, lakes, sculptures, tunnel walks, and a nice history lesson with a legend of the mine. If you really want to, you can even stay at the hotel for the night underground or get a spa treatment.

Last night in Krakow

For your last night in Krakow, treat yourself to a nice dinner. And since Krakow is a cheap destination, this won’t even strain your budget too much. For some higher-end places check out the following:

• Trzy Rybki
• Szara Ges
• Cafe Oranzeria
• Garden Restaurant
• Amarylis
• Wierzynek

I hope that at the end of your Krakow itinerary you’d fallen in love with the city. This town is simply incredible and very underrated as a travel destination for everything it has to offer. The last leg of the trip will be to another amazing Polish destination.

Stop 3: Zakopane Itinerary

Zakopane is a mountain town in the very southern part of Poland. It is one of the best cities in Poland for adventure lovers. I spent 3 days in the Tatra Mountains last summer hiking, relaxing, and simply enjoying the mountains. If you’re a hiker, you’re in for a treat with the trails. If you’re not a hiker, there are many things you can do in the area while still enjoying the incredible mountain views.

Zakopane is known for its highlander culture or Gorale. They have distinct mountain architecture, ornate clothing, and beautiful music.

Quick Transport Logistics

To get to Zakopane, you’ll have to take a bus from Krakow. There are a couple of companies running on that route so a simple Google search will return many options. Polish buses are more or less reliable so unless there is heavy traffic, you won’t have issues with them. Prices range from $5-$10 depending on the company. At the bus station, don’t always trust your ticket platform name as the source of truth. I had to find my bus by looking for the company and the bus number instead.

Remember that there is one main road that brings you into Zakopane and during the busy season (summer) it will take you 3x the time to get to the city. For that reason, during peak season, I recommend taking the train. Although the route is longer, compared to driving in or taking the bus, you will still save some time. It’s also half the price of a bus.

Transport within the city

Zakopane is the resort city of the Tatra Mountains and all the hiking trails are located within short driving distances of it. When you get there, to get to the trailheads, you can either take town buses that have more local stops or the microbuses which take you between the major hiking entry points. If you’re depending on the buses, check out the schedule that day because it changes based on the month. The microbuses are super easy to navigate and the drivers are very friendly. I had to take two taxis as I missed my bus back to my hostel. One taxi driver significantly ripped me off even though I am Polish and I speak it fluently so always ask for a price estimate before you get inside.

Where to Stay in Zakopane

Prioritize where you’ll stay based on what you want to do. If you’re planning to enjoy the town, take the cable car to the mountain range and not do much hiking, Zakopane city will be your best bet. In case you decide to go anywhere, there are buses to take you there. Since this is a resort town, your options are hotels or Airbnbs and trust me, there is not a shortage of them. I personally stayed at GoodBye Lenin Hostel because I was traveling solo. It was located about 15-20 minutes from the town but it was right next to a couple of trail entrances. I loved the atmosphere there and if you like hostels with a character, this is a place for you.

Day 5: Introduction to Zakopane

If you take the bus in the morning and drop off your luggage before check-in, you will be able to start exploring right away. For the next three days, I planned the activities and how I would personally lay them out. However, feel free to swap them in any other order that makes sense to you.

Kasprowy Wierch

Kasprowy Wierch is one of the most popular things to do in Zakopane, so prepare for it to be busy! While you can certainly climb this peak, the attraction is known for its cable car. You need to book tickets in advance on their official website and yes, they book far out. The views along the way will be unbelievable and then you will have some time to explore the peak before your return. Note that the top is pretty chilly compared to the summer heat in the city.

Krupowki Street

After your cable car adventure, head to the heart of town to enjoy the atmosphere of Zakopane. Krupowki is a long pedestrian street with bars, restaurants, and shops. I walked it twice, tried to spend some time in the shops looking at the artisanal products, and then I made sure to grab my beloved Aperol Spritz and spent some time people watching from my cozy seat.

Gubalowka Hill

There are two major tourist viewpoints of the Tatra Mountain range, one being Kasprowy Wierch in the actual range and the second being Gubalowska. If you imagine Zakopane being in the middle, Gubalowka will be to the north giving you a panoramic view of the mountains. It is honestly a breathtaking view the first time you see it.

Although Kasprowy is certainly much higher up, Gubalowka simply gives you another perspective of the Tatras. I like this for an afternoon activity as the restaurants and stands open up and become lively. To get there, take a quick funicular from the north end of Krupowki Street.

Day 6:

Hiking in the Tatras

Hiking in Zakopane is one of the best things you can do in Poland. I took two hikes, day one being a 7-hour hike through a more difficult route and day two being an easy flat 3-hour walk. Both gave me unbelievable views of the mountain range. If you’re interested in the routes I have taken, I wrote a guest post on We Are Travel Girls about the two hikes and included a detailed trail map.

One of the most popular attractions in the area is Morskie Oko or a lake situated in the middle of the mountains. The path there is one of the most popular ones in the area because it’s fairly flat and paved. I personally didn’t visit because I opted out for the Black Lake or Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy which is a much harder trek than Morskie Oko.

After your hiking routes you will be exhausted, probably wanting to rest for the night but if you still have some energy left in you, return to Krupowki Street for a nice dinner.

Day 7:

Thermal Baths

Before your Poland journey ends, I strongly recommend visiting one of the area’s incredible thermal baths. These mineral waters are not only pleasant but also amazing for your skin and well-being. Where you get to go depends on what kind of amenities you’d like. The most popular ones include:

• Bialka Tatrzanska and Bukowina Tatrzanska are both located about 30 minutes from Zakopane on the eastern side.
• Chocholow Termy are 20 mins away on the western side close to the Slovakian border. This one is the biggest thermal bath in Poland and it’s also more expensive than the two above.

Last Dinner

For the last day of your Zakopane itinerary make sure to treat yourself to a nice dinner. Here are some awesome places in town for you to consider:

• Bąkowo Zohylina Niźnio
• Góralska Tradycja
• Karczma Zapiecek
• Restauracja Po Widoki

Final Thoughts

I hope a week in the best cities in Poland will convince you to come back to more cities. I recommend this itinerary for a first-timer so you can see three very different parts of my country: the northern Baltic Sea, the vibrant and historic atmosphere of Krakow, and finally the beautiful Tatra Mountains. Our rich Polish culture is full of traditions, good food, history, and beautiful places. While most travelers will choose more known places when traveling to Europe, if you want an amazing, less crowded, and significantly cheaper destination, try Poland! I promise you won’t regret it 🙂

What is a polish destination you would like to see? What is your favorite polish food? Share in the comments below!

Map for your stay

Downloadable Itinerary for your week in Poland

I created a summarized version of the week in Poland itinerary above so you can print it for the road. However, I strongly recommend that you read the full guide above first as it contains a lot more details that you will need in order to get the most out of this.

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In this amazing, all you need to know guide, I bring you the following:

1) Essential logistics of traveling to Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona – the perfect trifecta for an awesome week in Spain which will show you 3 different sides of the country

2) A detailed guide on what to expect, what to do, where to stay and which tourist places are actually worth it, and which you should say adios baby to

3) And finally, a map and downloadable itinerary that you can blindly follow for the best time ever!

I always make my itineraries after I have visited the place so I can optimize for things I wish I did differently. When I am no expert on a particular topic, I always reference other travel bloggers that did a better job than I can at recommending an activity.

Now without further fluff, let’s get to your one-week in Spain itinerary!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through there 🙂

But first, some Spain travel logistics

Useful things to about before traveling to Spain

• The currency in Spain is the euro. Rather than exchanging dollars or any other currency at the exchange booth or at the airport, I simply withdraw some euros directly from the ATM (most banks do have a fee for this but it’s usually less than the booths) and then use my no fees travel credit card for everything else when I’m there.
• In Spain though, most places accept cards. In countries that do so, I always prefer to use a good travel cards that have no transaction fees, offer purchase protection and rack up points for my future plane tickets.
• Spain is generally not an expensive country but cities like Barcelona which have a lot of tourist attractions can get pretty pricey if you choose to visit a lot of them.
• While in some cities you will come across English speakers, knowing basic Spanish is a total must when traveling there. Barcelona technically speaks Catalan but everyone understands Spanish.
• Omg don’t get me started on petty theft there. It’s a huge issue.
• Each of Spain’s regions feels like a different country sometimes. That’s why from time to time something in the news will pop up about a region wanting independence.
  • If you ever get a chance to visit the northern Basque region you will really see that there.

Best time to go to Spain

When I studied in Spain in mid-July, I was sweaty for the entire time I was there (I did get a nice tan though). The second time was a little better, a late June trip was more tolerable in terms of the sun and heat. My most recent trip was in November and even though the weather was pleasant, I personally prefer a little bit of warmer weather there.

So I’ll say this if you like heat, May, June and September months will have great weather and fewer tourists. If you want to save on flights and accommodations and chilly weather doesn’t bother you, October, November, and then March and April will be better for you.

If you’re heading to Spain, check out my Ibiza itinerary as well!

How to get to Spain

If you’re flying from the US, most likely you will be going into Madrid’s Barajas Airport and/or Barcelona’s El Prat. Here is a little trick for you, use the multi-city feature on Google Flights and create your combinations. You’d be surprised how cheap these trips can end up being. If you have the flexibility, often (not always) booking from Wednesday to Wednesday has the best prices. Here is an example of how affordable ($332!!!) a one-week nonstop flight from NYC into Madrid and out of Barcelona could be in late May:

Transport between cities

Flights between cities are super cheap so before hopping on a train, check if you can fly there instead for $20. BUT note that cheap flights usually come with no included luggage so if you want to save some money, pack light. Trains are also always an option.

Within Madrid and Barcelona, utilize the metro. It will get you from point A to point B in no time and you will not need to spend a ton of money on taxis and uber. From the airport though, if you’re traveling with a group, you might save more on an Uber. Seville has a smaller metro but I never used it since most places are walkable.

If you were traveling to the countryside, I would recommend renting a car. I will have another post on a road trip through Spain’s north coast. But traveling through Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona, public transportation will be way more convenient than worrying about parking.

People in Spain

During my study abroad, I got to live like a local for a little bit and interact with real people who live in Spain. Let me tell you that almost every single individual I have met there was genuine, sweet, and welcoming to me. As a tourist though, the story might be a little different. When you’re traveling in very touristy places, you might not get as warm of treatment there. Spaniards are straightforward and no-nonsense when it comes to the service industry or any other interactions. Don’t be a stereotypical tourist (aka don’t be an asshole), learn basic phrases in Spanish and you will be totally fine.

Safety in Spain

In terms of safety, I couldn’t tell you how many stories I have heard and also experienced petty theft firsthand on of one my trips. When you enter the metro, and I am not exaggerating, treat your belongings as your children. Don’t get distracted for even one second. Especially in Barcelona, your hand shouldn’t leave your backpack or purse at any given time.

My best friend’s purse got robbed in a matter of a 30-second oversight inside a crowded metro. And the worst part is that we were super aware of how bad theft is and those little shits still outsmarted us. Aside from small robberies, Spain is a super safe country so don’t fear.

Must-try foods in Spain

At the very very very minimum, I list the foods that you should absolutely try when visiting Spain. There are SO many more dishes than this and the list grows even longer when you add regionality to it. However, here is a super basic list for you of foods that you should sample in your Spain itinerary:

• Paella: This classic dish originally from Valencia is a Spanish staple. Paella has a rice base with either meats or seafood additions. Since it is very popular it is easy to encounter now so great versions of it in the more touristy areas. Make sure to find local restaurants for good paella.
• Croquettas: These little fried breaded snacks are one of my favorite foods in Spain. The most famous kind is a Jamon (ham) one but they come in many variations. I love them all.
• Patatas Bravas: Another gem of your tapas selection is a good dish of patatas bravas or little potatoes with some delicious aioli or other sauce on aside. A must-try in Spain.
• Tortilla Espanola: Or Spanish omelet which is made of eggs and potatoes, and sometimes onions. It is a very traditional dish in Spain.
• Chorizo: A pork sausage that can be spicy! It’s a great appetizer dish.
• Jamon Iberico: Iberian ham is a cut of pork leg. It’s very tasty and special meat that is can be very expensive outside of Spain.
• Pulpo: Octopus dish often served on the tapas menu.
• Gambas al Ajillo: Garlic shrimp is also another seafood staple dish.
• Pan con Tomate: This is a super simple concept food, a hard bread with smashed tomatoes. It is also a perfect appetizer that goes with many meals.
• Churros: There is nothing better than a thick hot chocolate along with some hot churros! Make sure to try these for dessert.

The perfect itinerary for an amazing week in Spain

A week in Spain is barely an introduction to the country but that should in no way stop you from booking it. The most beautiful cities in Spain are the local hidden gems but before you venture off to those, you need to see the big guys first.

The Spain itinerary I planned below will show you three very different cities located in three very different regions:

1) First, 2 days in Madrid, which has a more cosmopolitan version of life in Spain
2) Then 2 days in Seville in Andalusia in which you can’t miss the Moorish influence
3) Lastly, 3 days in Barcelona in Catalonia from which you will distinctively remember Gaudi’s style

As you travel through these places, you will see how unique each region is and appreciate each of them in its own way. You can do this itinerary in the opposite direction too, as transport between these cities is super easy.

Madrid Itinerary

Transport in Madrid

Arriving at Barajas Airport in Madrid, you won’t be too far from the city center. A fixed taxi fare could work for a couple of people but my suggestion is to take line 8 metro or C1 train to Atocha Station (2.60 euro per way). When you’re in the city, the metro will take you anywhere you want to go. The whole system is honestly super impressive. The metro map looks a little intimidating at first but once you get on a couple of rides, you will master it in no time. The city created a cute metro map too for tourist attractions:

Where to stay

There is certainly no shortage of hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs in the city so book one depending on your comfort and budget level. The last time I stayed in Madrid, I really wanted to be in an apartment right in Plaza Mayor with some good balcony views. I made my dream a reality but the apartment wasn’t the nicest one I have stayed in.

Day 1:

Now let’s get to the actual Madrid itinerary for the first portion of the trip. You will likely arrive early morning from the US direction so drop your bags off at your accommodation (even if check-in isn’t ready), freshen up, and get some coffee to prep for a full day ahead.

Morning Bite and Plaza Mayor

Although it is a pretty touristy spot, I still recommend grabbing a quick bite at Mercado San Miguel. There are many stands with snacks and drinks. My favorite has to be the Aperol Spritz booth too. It’s the perfect introduction to the city from a touristy angle. As with any heavily popular place, make sure to watch your belongings here. After you grab a snack, take a 2-minute walk to Plaza Mayor, the main plaza in Madrid. Although I wouldn’t say that this is my favorite plaza I have visited, it’s still nice to see.

Royal Palace and/or Campo del Moro

The next stop for the day will be Almudena Cathedral. It’s a beautiful church right next to the Royal Palace which you’ll be visiting next. There are guide tours to go into the palace and you can see a limited amount of rooms when you get there. I remember it being very grand and I personally loved learning the history behind it.

However, if visiting palaces isn’t one of your favorite things to do, you might not enjoy this part. Instead, you can head to the beautiful Versailles-inspired gardens located in the back of the palace or Campo del Moro. The entrance is located on Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, which is a short walk away. It’s a free park perfect for some afternoon relaxation.

Afternoon Wrap

Coming back, you can walk along Calle Gran Vía, the main shopping street in Madrid. Pretty touristy and one of the more popular places in town. Next, a short detour off Gran Via will be the famous Chocolatería San Ginés. The churros there dipped in thick chocolate are out of this world. After this part, I’m sure you’ll want to rest for a little so head back to the hotel for a little siesta. Don’t worry, Spaniards eat dinner super late so you don’t need to rush to your dinner reservations.

Dinner and Flamenco maybe?

One option for dinner is booking a dinner and flamenco night in one. It is a popular activity in town but since you’re going to Seville (Flamenco originated in southern Spain), I’ll keep it as an open option for you which city you’d like to do it in. I desperately wanted to stay away from the main tourist traps and found a less-known restaurant called Cafe Ziryab which had a show on the day of my visit along with a dinner option. It was ok but certainly not the best flamenco show I have seen (the best was actually at a complete hole-in-a-wall in Granada). So I’ll say this, sometimes forcing yourself into trying not to be a tourist will leave you with a subpar experience. If you’re going to do this, do it right and book yourself a night at a place like Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco.

Day 2:

Morning at the Museum

Normally I’m a person who enjoys museums but isn’t crazy fascinated by them to the point where I have to go to one in every new city I visit. In Madrid though, I have to say that I was simply speechless when I explored not one but two of the world-famous museums. I plan to visit another time in the future because let’s just say that the artwork there is like nowhere in this world. Visiting two museums in one day may be a little much though so I’ll let you choose which one vibes more with your soul.

Museo Prado is the more classical art option with artworks by artists like Diego Velázquez, El Greco or Francisco Goya who were simply brilliant. Reina Sofia houses most of the 20-century art with artists like Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miró. My favorite painting there was the Guernica by Pablo Picasso which I wanted to see for years. Overall I’ll say that either of these museums is worth paying a visit if you’re in Madrid. They’re really impressive and magical. Entry to Prado is 15 euros and 12 euros to Reina Sofia.

Retiro Park

One of the most beautiful parks in the city is El Retiro and both of the museums mentioned above are located super close to it. It’s a pretty big park and even has a pond on which you can rent a cheesy object to paddle. This park is amazing to see in the summer. Make sure to check out Palacio de Cristal and the lake. There are so many more places located within it so you can spend the rest of the day here exploring if you really wanted to.

A little party never hurts

After a full day of exploring, head out for some tapas and then for a little party. When in Spain, you simply need to go out. Here are some party areas for your nightlife activities:

• Huertas: is an area of Madrid popular with young people
• Malasaña: a hipster, bohemian party vibe
• Chueca: a lively gay neighborhood
• Salamanca Neighborhood: a more boujee vibe for nightlife

I personally partied at El Doblón, a super cool club loved by a friend who lived in Madrid. The whole place looks like you’re inside of a ship and you probably won’t find a single tourist there.

Additional Options

If my suggestions above didn’t vibe with you, here are a couple more places to choose from:

• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium: Tour the home stadium of Real Madrid will be a treat to visit for any soccer fanatic.
• Matadero Madrid: A former slaughterhouse that is now an art space for multiple exhibitions and cool hang-out space. Check out their website for current exhibitions.
• Las Ventas Bullring: Like it or not this is still a thing in the Spanish culture, you can tour this place if you want to or even see the fight live. Personally not my thing.
• Food Tours: I love love love food tours, it’s the best way to see a city! There are many vendors to choose from in most cities and I honestly have not taken one yet that has failed me. They can be pretty pricey but you get food, drinks, and a small history tour. I always go for the mid-range prices as the cheapest ones have more people and suffer in quality. The really pricey ones are usually not that different from the midrange ones either. TripAdvisor reviews are reliable for the most part.

Here are some food picks from the locals too.

Seville Itinerary

Transportation Logistics

To get to Seville from Madrid, you can take a 1-hour flight or a 2.5-hour Renfe train from Atocha Station. Depending on the time of the year, they can have similar prices with the added flight luggage cost. I recommend arriving as early as you can in order to maximize your time in the city. Although the city is not that small 2 days in Seville is enough to see the major highlights of the city.

From the airport, you can take a Line EA bus to Plaza de Armas for 4 euros or you can take a flat rate taxi for about 20 euros there too. Within the city, most of the places of interest to you will be within walking distance. There is one metro line and some tram services too.

Where to Stay in Seville

With limited time I recommend staying central to everything in Centro or Barrio Santa Cruz. That way you won’t have to worry about transport. Airbnb is always a good option, the one I stayed at was nice but I had issues with check-in so I won’t recommend it to you guys. You can grab a nice one between $60-$120 a night price and some even have crazy views of the points of interest.

Check out amazing hostels in Seville too!

Day 3 in Spain:

Plaza de España

Start your Seville itinerary with this super grand place, Plaza de España. Despite looking like a historical structure it was constructed only in 1928 for an Expo event. There is so much detail in this plaza and each nook has something beautiful in it. The middle of the plaza has a pond on which you can rent a small boat and spend some time enjoying the surroundings from that angle. Catch an impromptu Flamenco show too!

Parque de María Luisa

Connected to the Plaza, you will find the stunning Parque de María Luisa. I loved strolling through the little paths and admiring the flowers and trees. In the southern part of the park, you will find Plaza de América which has three important structures surrounding it: the Museum of Popular Arts, the Archaeological Museum, and the Royal Pavilion.

Walk along the river

After the park stroll, you can walk back along the water towards Torre del Oro, a former military watchtower. Some parts of the walk are really nice, others very average. We made a stop at one of the small bars mid-way to grab a quick drink.

Tapas and Flamenco

Tapas are a must in Spain and you should have them every day you’re there 🙂 After a long day, spend the early evening grabbing a couple of these heavenly bites. After, you can see another Flamenco show (if you did or didn’t in Madrid) or just head to rest if this day was already long for you. If you choose to do a show, some will only have a performance while others will include a dinner option too.

I personally didn’t see any shows in Seville since I opted to see one in Madrid. However, I do wish I saw one in Seville too as the smaller city vibes would have been perfect for one. Since I can’t recommend you one, I saw that Stefania has an awesome guide for Flamenco shows (and tapas too) on her blog.

Day 4:

Don’t lose your exploring steam because day 4 will be full of activities for you in the beautiful city of Seville!

Royal Alcázar of Seville

A stunning royal palace located in the heart of Seville is a simple must. Although my personal favorite is Alhambra in Granada, this one is pretty impressive too. Its most recognized characteristic is the Mudéjar style of architecture. CultureTrip has an awesome 1-minute summary of its history which I recommend reading if you won’t be taking a guided tour.

I visited in November so I personally had no trouble with entry queues or tickets. However, I heard that lines to get inside are horrendous in the summer, so I would recommend purchasing an entry ticket ahead of time and heading there for opening hours too.

Catedral de Sevilla

Right around the corner from the palace, you will find the largest Gothic church in the world. It’s pretty impressive and worth your visit. The cathedral houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Additionally, it has the La Giralda bell tower which you can climb for a bird’s eye view of the city. You will need to purchase tickets for them too.

A nice stop near the cathedral for the early evening is a terrace bar called La Terraza. It’s pricey but it has incredible views of the lit-up cathedral. I recommend stopping for a glass of wine to take a little breather and enjoy the views from above.

Walk toward Setas de Sevilla

After a morning full of activities, you’ll have one more cool, low-effort spot in the city. From the cathedral walk along the surrounding neighborhoods toward Setas de Seville or the mushroom structure of Seville. Santa Cruz (Jewish Quarter) and El Centro are narrow streets filled with stores, bars, and restaurants. That area isn’t really big so getting lost in the streets and exploring won’t require that much effort from your end. Your destination, the crazy wooden structure, it’s worth a stroll. There is an entry fee to access the top part but you will be rewarded 360 views of Seville. It’s also a great sunset spot!

End the evening with some tapas in the area, there is an awesome spot near the Setas plaza called La Malvaloca which you should visit. For the night, I imagine you will want to rest and relax at your midpoint week in Spain.

Additional places of interest in Seville

Here are some additional spots you can visit during your 2 days in Seville:

• Triana neighborhood: Located on the other side of Guadalquivir, what used to be a working-class neighborhood is now a more authentic area of town you can visit. Start with exploring the local market, Mercado de Triana, and get lost in the streets. Don’t forget to stroll along the river for colorful views of the buildings.
• Art in Seville: Spanish artists speak to my soul for some reason so whenever I am in Spain, I try to add some amazing art stops to my itinerary. In Seville, you have the amazing Seville Museum of Fine Arts where you will find Spain’s popular artists like Velazquez or El Greco. A visit costs only 1.5 euros too. Another stunning baroque-style building dedicated primarily to the artist Velazquez is Hospital los Venerables. Entry is a little more pricey but certainly worth it if you like art.
• A tour: There are two types of tours you should consider in any major cities that you visit 1) a free-walking tour, and 2) a food tour. In Seville, you will find both and if I were you, a tapas one would be first on my list 🙂
• Plaza de Toros: A bullfighting arena that you can tour without attending a bullfight. I know it’s tradition but I personally don’t support it.

For more on Seville food and places to eat, this blog does an awesome job with recommendations.

Barcelona Itinerary

We made it to my favorite part of the week in Spain itinerary! My normal travel philosophy is to always seek new places but Barcelona is one of those cities I don’t mind coming back to over and over again. There is so much to do in the city and the vibe is just everything! Barcelona deserved its own post probably with 5-7 days of activities but for today, let’s focus on a solid Barcelona 3-day itinerary as a good introduction to the city. Keep in mind that in 3 days, you certainly won’t see everything.

Transport to and within Barcelona

From Seville, your easiest option is to take a 1.5-hour flight. Even if you’re doing the itinerary in the opposite way, the high-speed Barcelona to Seville train takes about 5.5 hours and is pretty pricey. From the airport, you have the option of a taxi, bus, train, or metro depending on where you’re staying in the city. I’ve taken the metro each time I visited. Uber is available as of last year but with some past legal issues, you should check on that before you go.

Once inside the city, utilize the metro. It amazes me how large the system is and it will get you pretty much anywhere in the city. I always suggest purchasing an unlimited pass if you’re planning to sightsee a lot because, with each trip at 2.40 euro, the costs quickly add up.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Barcelona has the following main neighborhoods near the tourist attractions:

• Gracia: the trendy upcoming neighborhood filled with bars, restaurants, and cute streets
• Gothic Quarter: touristy city center area but nonetheless stunning area especially for first-timers in Barcelona
• El Born: another trendy neighborhood that’s close to the Gothic Quarter but isn’t as crowded
• Eixample: Gaudi’s works among other major landmarks is all close here. This is where I stayed and although I was happy with this location being central to everything, it didn’t really feel very lively.
• Barceloneta: Close to the beach, this area is for those who want to spend time lounging in the sun. If you’re planning on sightseeing in the city, I wouldn’t recommend staying here as it is not as central to many sights.

During my stays in Barcelona, I stayed at the following locations:

• Yeah Hostel: Amazing hostel for walking tours and a chill atmosphere. I did two tours with them and enjoyed the breakfast and the low-key vibes. It was super clean and the beds were super comfy.
• Kabul Party Hostel: Although this hostel is located off Las Ramblas, it is actually in a little hidden plaza. It’s certainly not for everyone as the party atmosphere can be a little loud but I absolutely loved the rooftop vibes and the organized bar crawl.
• Eric Vokel Boutique Apartments: Very pretty apartments. Great for a family trip.

Things to know about Barcelona

Language: You will quickly notice that all the familiar phrases and signs don’t sound and look like what you’ve been seeing to date. That is because Barcelona speaks Catalan, not Spanish (although most if not all people there speak Spanish so no fret).

Pickpocketing: Omg this city is absolutely notorious for pickpockets. Every single area, especially Las Ramblas and the Metro, are places where 10 seconds of your distraction will cost you your belongings. My friend had her phone stolen next to me on the metro while she moved her hand from her bag for no more than a couple of seconds. So my tip is to always have your hand on your stuff and be extremely cautious of anything you’re carrying. Every time I have been there I followed the rule of guarding my things and watching everyone around me and I am happy to say I haven’t been a target of petty theft. If you look like you’re paying attention and are aware of your surroundings, the stupid thief is less likely to target you.

Las Ramblas: This is a major major tourist trap and I personally don’t see anything cute about it. I don’t know why everyone hypes it up and I guess it is just one of those places you check off your list when visiting Barcelona. There is nothing authentic or local about it, it is rather a long street with chain shops, terrible restaurants, and pickpockets.

Restaurants and going out: As Americans, we always tend to worry about the tipping culture as it’s ingrained in our veins. Tipping in Barcelona is not necessary but if you really liked the service, you are welcome to leave a couple of euros. Dinner here doesn’t start until 9-10 pm and clubs don’t open until after midnight.

Distance: Barcelona is a pretty big city. Compared to Seville or even Madrid, a lot of the sightseeing places are spaced apart so make sure to factor in a 20-30 minute metro cushion for transport!

Antoni Gaudi: An architectural genius in my eyes who had a major influence can be seen all over the city. His work is so unique, detailed, and stunning that you can spend days looking at its complexity and beauty of it.

Day 5 in Spain:

As mentioned above, since Barcelona is a pretty big city, although your itineraries might not look as busy as previous ones, they will fill up your day faster than you think. Consider how much energy you have for the day because the next couple of days require a lot of it if you want to see a decent amount of the city. From Seville, try to arrive as early as you can, drop off your bags at the hotel and start exploring one of the coolest cities in the world!

Walking tour

For the Barcelona itinerary portion of your trip, I highly highly recommend starting it with a free walking tour. There are many companies that run it and most have a morning and an afternoon timeslot to start it. Barcelona is a huge city with a shit ton of history worth knowing so I would spend my first afternoon there with someone who could at least give you the gist of what is what.

During a standard tour, you will most likely cover sights near the Gothic Quarter like the Cathedral of Barcelona, Basilica of Santa Maria, Placa de Catalunya, Las Ramblas, Placa Reial and La Boqueria. There will be more stops along the way with small history lessons over a typical 2-3 hour tour.

Parc Guell

After an introduction to Barcelona, take it easy for the rest of the day and head over to Parc Guell. It’s such a nice park worth the effort of a 20 min metro ride from the Gothic Quarter. Note that the nearest stop is the Vallcarca Station which is an additional 20-minute walk. Instead, if you don’t want to walk, you can Uber or take bus 24 or 92 there.

The best part is that this park is even more magical during the evening so don’t worry about arriving later in the day but do keep in mind that it closes at 6 pm. Creative Adventurer has an awesome detailed guide about the whole park if you’re interested in the details.

After your park visit, wander around the Gracia neighborhood, the trendy part of Barcelona. You can stop for some tapas there and visit the cute square Placa del Sol. This blog has an awesome guide to the best bars in that area.

Day 6:

Sagrada Familia

While in Europe, it is easy to get church-ed out, meaning that you’ve seen so many beautiful churches and cathedrals that seeing another one doesn’t even impress you anymore. Well, let me tell you this, Sagrada Familia is unlike anything you have ever seen in your life. Gaudi really outdid himself here and believe it or not, it is still under construction since the late 1800s.

If you only choose to admire it from the outside, make sure to download an audio guide that at least allows you to understand the different parts of it. An entry inside is worth the hefty 26 euro fee and for an additional 4, you can do a guided tour. In high season, these sell out fast so grab them ahead of time.

A good photo spot is Plaça de Gaudí, make sure to walk behind the pond to get a super awesome view of the cathedral.

Montjuic

Montjuic is an area on the hills of Barcelona which houses multiple landmarks. Take the metro to the cable car and then make your way up (I personally climbed it in mid-July heat and I don’t recommend you do the same). There are a couple of landmarks there, see a list here, but even if you choose not to visit any, I would simply recommend starting from the top and making your way down to the very bottom of the hill for some amazing views from all angles. You can visit landmarks based on your personal interests:

• Montjuic Castle: A 5 euro entrance fee will get you inside an old military fortress with great views.
• Joan Miro Foundation: If you’re a fan of Miro like myself, don’t miss this museum of his work.
• National Museum of Catalan Art: I didn’t visit the inside of it so I can’t tell you if it’s worth the entry fee but let me tell you that this building is insanely impressive from the outside. As you start making your way down the stairs, don’t forget to turn around at various levels to get a different perspective each time.
• Plaça de Les Cascades: As you walk down, you will notice stunning man-made waterfall structures.
• Magic Fountain Shows: A pretty impressive fountain show right at the base of Montjuic. I was lucky to see it pre-rona during the day and not so lucky when I returned in the fall of 2019 because I didn’t look up the times for it. Currently, it is suspended due to rona but keep your eye on the official website for reopening times.
• Plaça d’Espanya: Your last stop after seeing Montjuic, this plaza is a very important landmark for the city.

Bonus: A less visited place in this area is the rooftop terrace of the Arenas de Barcelona shopping mall. While you can grab a drink or some overpriced apps in one of the super cute restaurants up there, you want to go up to see the panoramic views of the city.

Night-out

When in Barcelona, you need to go out. I experienced my nights out there twice through pub crawls in my hostels. Why? Because it’s nice to have a plan and new friends for the night. Don’t worry if you’re not staying in a hostel though. There are many pub crawls organized in the city and they are the perfect way for a solo traveler to feel a little safer and not worry about choosing a good place to go to.

The only thing you should know about a good night out is that bars don’t end up opening up until late and clubs only get going after midnight or so. They’re open until 6 am so don’t be surprised if you see people grabbing breakfast after a good night out.

Here is a list of places for you from Barcelona Explorers and another from Miss Tourist which also includes an amazing list of her favorite restaurants in the city.

Day 7:

For the last day of your Barcelona itinerary, I will let you choose what you want to see. It’s hard to pick what the absolute must-see places are on a 3-day stay. I was lucky to see this city multiple times and each time I find something new and fascinating to do. The only advice that I have is to not try to do everything because you will miss out on enjoying what you’re looking at. In a true Spanish fashion, take it slow and soak it in.

Here are your options for the last day of your week in Spain:

Tibidabo

If there is anything awesome that I would recommend for your last day in Barcelona, it’s this “hidden gem.” Tibidabo is a hill overlooking all of Barcelona and even though it will take some effort to get there, it’s an unforgettable view. There is a really beautiful church Sagrat Cor, which you can visit but there is also an amusement park along with some walking sites. The unlimited amusement park entrance is pricey but there are some rides that you can pay for a single ride.

To get there, you can take a direct bus from Placa de Catalunya or the L7 line to the Tibidabo to the Tramvia Blay and then the Funicular. When I visited last in 2019, the funicular was under construction so we had to take a taxi on the last leg.

Beach time

Barcelona has a nice beach scene so if you prefer to spend your last day lounging around, make sure to head in that direction. Barceloneta is the most popular one and the most crowded one. You if don’t want to be a sardine, perhaps don’t choose that one. A more quiet beach would be Platja Sant Sebastian but feel free to check out the complete list here.

Make sure to spend time in the Barceloneta neighborhood and walk along the beachfront area that has restaurants and clubs. It’s a pretty area and it’s worth visiting. If you’re planning to hit up the clubs at night, this is where you would go too.

More Gaudi

Gaudi’s style is undoubtedly super unique. I personally took a Gaudi walking tour in addition to the free walking one because I wanted to see more of his work. Whether you choose a tour or not, in addition to Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia, he is also famous for the following structures:

• Casa Mila: Known as La Pedrera or “The stone quarry” this house has a very unique appearance. There is a stunning terrace up top and tickets start at 25 euros.
• Casa Batllo: Located not too far from Casa Mila, this building is just another instance masterpiece. There is also a rooftop terrace. Tickets sell out a week in advance and even further out in the high season. They also start at 35 euros.
• Casa Vicens: Gaudi’s first major project is located in the Gracia neighborhood. It’s less popular than the two above but not any less impressive. Tickets start at 21 euros.

If the prices of the above are a little much, especially after seeing Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia don’t worry, the houses are also stunning to look at from the outside. And if you take a Gaudi tour you’ll get the history behind them too. Remember that most major cities have apps with history audioguides which you can simply download and listen to outside the building without taking any tours.

Tapas Tour

Food tours are always my favorite way to see the city. Although they tend to be pricey, I feel like I personally learn and experience the city better compared to a free walking tour. As much as I recommend and love free walking tours, sometimes they can run pretty long. With food tours, you can eat your way through the city, try foods you wouldn’t have thought to do yourself, and get a little bit of history in between.

Here are some examples of tours you can take:

Camp Nou

The last time I visited Barcelona, I went with my parents. My dad’s only request for his entire week in Spain was to see Camp Nou, the official football stadium of FC Barcelona. To be honest, I had very little interest in seeing a stadium but nonetheless, it ended up being a fun experience and something I would have never done myself. Rather than visiting the stadium though, I would consider attending the match if you happen to be there during one.

Miscellaneous Places

• If you haven’t had a chance to stroll through Ciutadella Park, which houses the beautiful Arc de Triomf, make sure to make your way there.
• Passeig de Gràcia: A long picturesque street full of high-end shopping stores.
• Picasso Museum: If you’re a fan of Picasso, don’t miss this museum as it houses some of his best work. Admission is only 12 euros too.
• Montserrat: This would be a day trip to the neighboring mountain region. There are many trips that take you on a wine tasting and exploration of this region.

Final Thoughts

A week in Spain is nowhere near enough to experience the country. I spend 2 short months there and then returned multiple times since, and I still find new things to do each time. One of my favorite things about Spain is how distinct each region is and how it almost feels like you’re visiting a different country at each stop.

I hope that my itinerary for a week in Spain gives you a solid introduction to this amazing country. Although the Spaniards might love their siestas, you will be busy exploring 7/7 days of your trip. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below.

A Map and downloadable itinerary

Don’t forget to download the week in Spain itinerary and save the map for your stay!

Remember that the itinerary is a very high-level summary of everything described above. Before you download it, make sure to read the blog post above for the best trip preparation.

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And if you liked this guide, don’t forget to check out other amazing neighboring places!

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In my itinerary below, I will talk about my experience of visiting Maderia in December and why it will not give you the full island experience that you are probably expecting. While I am not trying to discourage you 100% from visiting during that time, I hope my experience will better prepare you compared to what I was expecting. If I knew what I’d see and what I’d miss out on, I’d plan my itinerary totally differently than how I did. That’s what I hope to give you with this post, an off–season-optimized Madeira itinerary. To compare, a couple of years back, I visited Madeira’s southern neighbor Tenerife, during a similar time. My off-season vacation there was much better in terms of weather even though geographically, these two islands are pretty close.

While this itinerary tells you additional information about traveling to Madeira off-season, you can use it all year round to plan your travels too.

At the end of the post, you can download this guide as well as a map for your travels.

Traveling to Lisbon as well? Don’t forget to check out my Lisbon guide!

Madeira Logistics

Best time to visit Madeira

Let me just cut to the chase and tell you that if you want to experience all of Madeira, off-season time considered between November and April, might not be the best choice. Despite a lot of resources telling you that Madeira could be a year-round destination, I would argue otherwise. By visiting between May to late September, you’re maximizing your chances for clear skies and good temperatures.

There are some pros, however, to visiting during the off-season as I did. You will save on flights, accommodation, and car rental and you’ll avoid the crowds that come with the vacation season in Maderia. Although most attractions won’t be closed you might not be able to see everything, especially if the weather isn’t great.

Suggested length of stay

How long you will stay depends on what you’d like to do there. For example, some hikes can take an entire day, and there are multiple that people put on their Madeira itinerary. Again, when traveling off-season, you will not be able to check everything off your Madeira bucket list so 3-5 days is a decent time frame. In season, I’d say an absolute minimum of 4 days is needed to see everything, with 5-6 being more ideal for a short trip.

Traveling to Madeira

Flights to Funchal

Getting to Maderia is pretty easy with frequent flights from Lisbon and a couple of other European airports. I even saw one direct flight from NYC flying out once per week! I like breaking up my flights rather than automatically searching between origin and destination, meaning if I’m flying from NYC, I will search NYC to Lisbon and then Lisbon to Madeira. I compare my times with layovers and frequently find better deals, instead if I were to search NYC to Madeira in one shot. A round trip for the very end of November cost me under $450 for both flights. Although I’m here to argue that off-season travel isn’t ideal here, if you’re on a budget, Madeira in December might be a great money saver!

Getting around – Car rental in Maderia

Madeira is a small island and you can drive from one end to the other in a couple of hours. North to South is even faster. Seeing the whole island is indeed possible during a Madeira 5-day itinerary.

When other travelers pointed out that driving in Madeira is an adventure in itself, I didn’t quite believe it. I drove in tricky conditions and places but driving there will get its own category in my personal driving experiences. Before my trip, one of my friends said, “If it doesn’t look like a road in Madeira, it probably is” and looking back at this, that was an extremely accurate description of driving there. Most roads in Madeira are freeways and tunnels but once you venture into towns, one-way roads will magically fit two cars and 30-degree hill roads will become the norm.

I don’t want to discourage you from renting a car there but rather prepare you for what to expect. Renting a car is the absolute best way to see the island and it will save you a ton of time on sightseeing. I normally book through Rental Cars but I found a better deal on Holiday Autos. While I am a creature of habit and don’t trust new websites on deals, I had a very smooth experience will them and will rent in the future. For your reference, an automatic car rental in Maderia during the off-season cost me ~$250 for 5 days using Rodavante with car pick up and return right at the airport. A manual rental is much cheaper but unless you drive it regularly, I would not get one there.

Although driving there was certainly a challenge, I wouldn’t have done it any other way. If you’re planning to do mountain driving, watch for an automatic car’s brakes as they might start smelling, especially in wet conditions.

Where to stay in Madeira

Where you stay during your Madeira vacation depends on what you want to do. If you’re unsure, Funchal is the main city and can be a good base for taking drives throughout the island. If hiking is your main priority, consider staying in the mountains instead. Most importantly though, if you have a car, it’s fairly easy to see all nooks of the island no matter where you stay. Maderia has a ton of hotels, some hostels, and even more Airbnbs. Which you choose should depend on your personal preference. While Airbnb has its own issues, especially in bigger cities, I felt that renting one in Madeira where I was in communication with the hosts directly was the way Airbnb originally intended the platform to be.

Airbnb in Madeira

Traveling with my parents, we opted for two Airbnb in Maderia because we wanted a comfortable base for exploring. I spent a lot of time searching for the perfect combo of what we were looking for and I think I hit the jackpot with both of them. The first Airbnb located 7 min from the airport, was the entire first floor of a large house overlooking the ocean, with a beautiful pool and a walkway to the beach promenade. One of the downsides of traveling to Madeira off-season is that we didn’t get to use the pool or spend time in stunning outside space as much. As a bonus, the coolest part was watching the planes land at the nearby airport right from my bedroom.

The second Airbnb that we rented in Madeira was located near Sao Vincente. It was a huge home in the mountains with sick views and the best host I have ever experienced throughout my years of traveling. I loved having two locations, one with the ocean view and the other with the mountain one but for someone who doesn’t want to move between two locations, this might not be the best option. If you’re interested in booking either of these locations, send me an email and I’ll be happy to share the link.

What to pack for Madeira in December

Ok, I am only including this section because I packed like an idiot for this trip. Let me explain. A couple of years back, I traveled to Tenerife during a similar time of the year. I falsely assumed that the two destinations would have similar weather and that packing 5 dresses for each day would be the way to go. My outfits consisted of light athleisure, dresses, and a couple of cute outfits for the barn (shoutout to those who get the reference). I ended up wearing two heavier sweaters and the jacket that I packed for the plane for pretty much the entire time I was there. These are the items not to forget when you travel to Madeira during the off-season:

• A rainproof jacket and/or umbrella – The rain won’t last long but when it comes around, you want to have a raincoat on hand instead of looking for a place to hide.
• Light coat or cardigan – During the day, while you won’t need a heavy coat, it will get chilly when the sun is not out.
• Waterproof shoes – If hiking is on your list to do or if you want to check out the Fanal Pond, then sneakers won’t be sufficient. The ground is wet and puddly so good outdoor shoes that won’t soak are a must.
• (Bathing suit) – I saw a couple of brave souls swimming in the chilly waters of Porto Moniz pools, if you like cold swims, don’t forget to pack a suit.

People & Safety

Overall, I’d say that most locals in Madeira were really nice. My Portuguese is non-existent but I tried to use my hello/please and thank yous whenever I could. Side note, do not use Spanish in Madeira or in any of Portugal, it is not Portuguese and it’s a faux-pas there. For the most part, the experience was very positive. In terms of safety, Madeira is a very safe destination. Some common travel scams to watch out for include the following:

• Taxi scam – This isn’t so much a Madeira scam but rather a worldwide one where dishonest taxi drivers charge you ridiculous amounts for short rides. Always demand the meter to be turned on to avoid this. It has been reported to happen in Funchal on some travel forums.
• Market fruit sample – When you go to Funchal, one of the main attractions in town is Mercado dos Lavradores. It’s a cute and colorful market filled with merchants offering you fruit samples. However, a lot of the fruit is enhanced with syrup and when you taste it, you’ll naturally want to purchase some for later. The fruit will cost you an insane amount and when you get home, it will not have the same taste as that first bite you had at the market. We bought fruit in Funchal, a couple of streets away from the market but I still got ripped off. While not a true scam, just be aware of this little selling trick.

WARNING! TRAVEL SCAM IN MADEIRA

Restaurant bill additions – As a former waitress/bartender, I’d like to think that my bullshit meter is pretty good when it comes to other waiters. I could easily tell when you’re actually in the weeds or if you’re just being lazy, because hey, I’ve done the same shit 🙂

What I always make sure to do though is check the itemized bill no matter where I’m dining. During busy moments, it is genuinely possible to make a mistake and charge extra or add a wrong item. However, when your bill magically increases by 100 euros, you know something is up. This was the case at Taberna, a small highly rated restaurant in Santa Cruz. While the nice waiter chatted with my family all dinner, when the bill came, suddenly he started rushing us with the credit card machine. That triggered a red light in my head and I asked to see the itemized bill before blindly swiping my card. Our small appetizers and a couple of drinks added to over 130 euros. I noticed that one 10 euro app was charged 10 times on the bill, a small trick that made the bill look legitimate.

Now, if I wasn’t a waitress in my past life, I would buy the story that this was an honest mistake. However, when I brought up the price discrepancy to the waiter, he quickly looked at it and said, “Oops, silly me” and didn’t apologize or display any sort of remorse for what had happened. The fact that he was quick to run to us with the credit card machine was also sus. I heard about this scam in cities like Rome or even in Lisbon but I never assumed it would happen in Maderia. So despite the food being tasty and the restaurant being super cozy, don’t assume it won’t happen even in less touristy parts of any town.

Food and Drinks to try in Madeira

Out of the entire time I spent on the island and the numerous meals I ate, I only had one mediocre meal and tbh at my own fault. The lesson I fail to learn over and over is never to order pizza outside New York or New Jersey or Italy of course. Back to Madeira food though, it is so so tasty and actually extremely affordable. Here are my top picks for food to try in Madeira:

• Prego sandwich: This is the most amazing sandwich I had in my entire life. I’m serious, nothing compares. You can get it almost anywhere. It’s a steak sandwich on buttery and garlicky bread that comes in a couple of variations.
• Espetada: A long skewer of hanging meat. Its simplicity makes it super tasty.
• Espada or black scabbard fish: This was my mom’s favorite, it is usually served with bananas. This is one weird looking creature but it tastes delicious!
• Bolo de molo de mel: This traditional honey cake is pretty tasty!
• Madeira Wine: It’s heavy and has a very distinct taste and you’ll certainly feel it going down your throat! Blandy’s Madeira is a very popular spot to consume this beverage.
• Poncha: Poncha is the most delicious alcoholic drink. It’s made of cane rum and had different fruit flavor options. Get the traditional kind and enjoy the happiness that comes after drinking this 🙂

For more interesting food finds, I used Brogan Abroad’s guide before traveling to Madeira for the tastiest food finds!

Random Useful Tips for Madeira Travel

• If the weather is acting up during your visit, check the live cams! I used these to see whether mountain peaks were clear from clouds or where I could find the sun on the island.
• Miradouros are viewpoint spots all throughout the island. Some are simple pull-over style along the highway, others require short walks to reach the spot. My advice is to stop at all of them 🙂
• When visiting Tenerife which has similar viewpoint parking areas as Madeira, my car window got smashed and all my belongings got stolen during that trip a couple of years back. When you leave your car anywhere, take everything with you. Even small stops that seem safe can be targets for petty theft.

Things to do in Madeira

In terms of the number of things to see in Madeira, I’d say you can stay pretty busy during your trip. The majority of the attractions throughout the island include outdoor activities. One of the most important things to consider when traveling off-season is how important certain attractions are to you. If you need a dense itinerary with lots of outdoor attractions, consider in-season travel. Instead, if you need a simple getaway with a couple of things to do here and there, the off-season is probably a better choice.

Below, I bring you a 5-day Madeira itinerary that also gives you an off-season expectation. However, you can use my travel plan for any time of the year. Since Madeira is a small island, for the most part, it doesn’t matter which order you do the days in. However, note that the first two days are optimized for the Funchal area and the remaining for the other parts of the island.

5-day Madeira Itinerary

At the bottom of this post, you can download this travel guide to Madeira to bring along on your trip. Additionally, you will find a map of all the attractions so you don’t have to worry about saving them yourself.

Day 0

We’ll call your arrival day, Day 0. Arriving at Madeira airport (Ronaldo Cristiano Airport 🙂 ) can be quite the experience on a windy day. If you’re a nervous flyer, I wouldn’t YouTube any videos of landings there. However, despite its windy challenges, there only has been one accident in the late 1970s. Since then, the runway has been extended and only experienced pilots are allowed to approach a landing there.

The airport is on the east side of the island and is located a short ~25 min drive from Funchal. When you get off the plane, have all your paperwork ready as you’ll be asked for your Madeira Safe bar code. If you’re renting a car (which I highly recommend), the pick-up process once you land is super easy, my checkout took under 10 mins. The rental car lot is located across the street and you should be on your way within a short time of arrival. If you require public transportation, here is a helpful official link.

Flights arrive all day long so the timing of your Day 0 will depend on where you’re coming from. I personally arrived around 8 pm but my Airbnb was located 7 mins away from the airport so I was “home” very quickly. Note that restaurants and stores aren’t open too late so if you are planning a later arrival, make sure to eat before your flight.

Day 1 – Southern Part of Madeira

Valley of the Nuns

Now that you settled in, there is no better place to start your vacation than by seeing Curral das Freiras or Valley of Nuns in Madeira. It’s located a short drive from Funchal and it’s an in/out kinda trip. This small town has a couple of restaurants and tourist shops but aside from the views, there isn’t much to do there. However, these viewpoints are crazy beautiful and you shouldn’t skip this area on your Madeira adventure.

There are two major viewpoints, the first being Eira do Serrado, a very popular spot on the island. Once you arrive at the spot, there is a small parking spot with a café. In order to get to the viewpoint, you’ll have to take a short 5 min walk. I recommend grabbing a coffee and a pastel de nata at the cafe for a little longer appreciation of the area. The second point, Paredão Viewpoint, is located above the clouds and it’s not too far from the first one. It’s also a short walk from the parking area.

After admiring the views from the top, I recommend grabbing lunch in the little town which will give you a slightly different perspective of the area. Everyone recommends a restaurant called Sabores de Curral but I opted for La Perla instead. I was extremely impressed with the food but the views along with a cold beer made it even more delicious.

Off-season struggles: The area gets mixed weather during the off-season but the good news is that if it starts raining, the clouds will most likely pass. Pack an umbrella or a rain jacket. We waited out the rain having a coffee and then got rewarded with a beautiful rainbow!

Funchal

For the second part of the day, visiting Funchal will give you the exact opposite vibes from your nature-filled morning. Funchal is the capital of Madeira and is certainly worth spending some time in. If you’re driving in, the streets can get really narrow so rather than looking for street parking, I recommend finding a parking garage near the center. Garage prices are very cheap and it will save you time and a headache.

I would simply recommend walking around Zona Velha, seeing the market, and most important feeling the liveliness of the town by spending some time by the waterfront. Don’t forget a mandatory stop for some good poncha either. Note that I am not including the botanical gardens just yet. Funchal is safe but make sure to watch your belongings for pickpockets. Here are some known attractions in the city for you to check out:

• Mercado Lavaradores: Yes it is a tourist trap but hear me out for a second. The market has really pretty colors and cute souvenirs to look at. I certainly wouldn’t buy fruit here (read my scam warning above) but I do like browsing through places like these.
• Avenida Arriaga: Right next to the market, you will find this shopping street with a lot of tourists. It’s a good spot to take a stroll and window shop for a bit.
• Zona Velha: This is the Old Town part of town which includes cobblestone streets, restaurants, bars and lively nightlife.
• Cathedral of Funchal: A pretty local catholic church right in the heart of town.
• Praça do Povo & Funchal Marina: Walk along the waterfront to catch the nice atmosphere of locals and tourists. When I visited in late 2021, that area had a cute little town fair with rides.
• Parque de Santa Catarina: Cute little park with views of the town and the incoming ships.
• Cristiano Ronaldo Statue: If you make your way by the park, grab a photo with the icon of Madeira, the one and only Cristiano Ronaldo. Since he was born on the island, you will see a lot of references to him. There is even a museum 🙂

Make sure to stop at Rei da Poncha, a very popular hole in the wall with some great tasting poncha and some great snacks too. The outdoor tables might be full but just linger around for a couple of minutes and a table will free up in no time.

Off-season struggles: Day one of your Maderia travel will actually work in your favor if you’re traveling off-season. Funchal won’t be too crowded with people and if you’re visiting in late November or December you will get to see fun holiday decor. The southern part of the island is usually sunny and even if it rains, the rain should pass by quickly. Places like Rei da Poncha won’t have a line and you won’t be annoyed with the crowds.

Day 2

(Pico do Arieiro)

Pico do Arierio was one of the most anticipated spots I wanted to see in Madeira. A simple google search will show you why. It’s the third-highest peak and one of the only that you don’t actually have to hike. Yes, you can simply drive there and see the most amazing views without any pain 🙂

I wanted to see the incredible sunrise overlooking Madeira under the clouds. However, we attempted this sunrise once in person and then checked the webcams for both, sunrise and sunset for the entire time we were there and were not able to successfully see this spot. One of the biggest risks you take with traveling off-season is missing amazing spots like this one. I’m including this on Day 2 because you might have to attempt to see it multiple times during your trip.

However, if you’re traveling in season, you have to check this couple’s guide to visit Pico Arieiro and actually all their Maderia guides which are extremely detailed and resourceful. There is a very popular day hike from Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruvio and I recommend that blog to give you the best details on it.

Back to Funchal

While the first day in Funchal consisted of exploring the basics of the city, I did don’t want to include the botanical gardens then, as the whole experience would have been very rushed. So for day two, you can explore either Monte Palace or Madeira Botanical Gardens (or maybe even both if you love gardens). I personally only visited Monte Palace and it was a super beautiful place that I’ll recommend to you.

Here is some info on them:

• Monte Palace – An additional attraction to this place is the fact that you can take a cable car from Funchal on the Funchal – Monte line to get here scoring some awesome views from above of the city. A one-way ticket is 11 euros and a roundtrip is 16. Their Japanese-style gardens were stunning and I had a great time taking random turns and not following the map per se. We spend about 3 hours exploring which included a stop at the gift shop for some complimentary Madeira wine tasting. To get back to Funchal you can simply take a cable car back or take a ride in the famous Toboggan cart ride. It was a little too touristy for me but people swear this is a fun activity.
• Botanical Gardens – The second gardens are located not too far from Monte Palace and are connected by the Botanical – Monte line in case you wanted to take the cable car again. I haven’t visited these gardens but people often prefer Monte over this location.

Cabo Girão Skywalk

After exploring the gardens, take a short ride to the famous glass skywalk with great ocean and Funchal views. To be honest I expected a much bigger platform however it was still pretty impressive. There is no entrance fee and the spot gets pretty crowded. One thing that I loved more than the views was the strong eucalyptus scent from all the trees as you walk around. There is a small cafe with overpriced food and drinks on site but I recommend stopping there for a little break to enjoy the view even more.

Options for the afternoon

Personally, this is where I would take a little break and head back to my hotel and Airbnb to relax. Sometimes I tend to overlook how important relaxing is during vacation 🙂 However, if you’d like to continue with your day two activities, here are some ideas for the afternoon:

• Vinhos Barbeito: I found a nice family-owned winery near Funchal. It has great reviews and I imagine the wine tastes really good! Madeira wine is special within itself so why not drink it from someone that knows what they’re doing.
• Ribeira Brava: Explore this cute little town with shops, restaurants and nice mountain and ocean views. Beaches in Madeira are located all over the island but I actually found people swimming in this one off-season as the sun likes this place no matter what the month.
• Funchal at night: Local cuisine is bomb. So make sure to take yourself to a nice place, have some good traditional food and then walk around the town at night. Most towns should always be seen during the day and night. There is a whole new vibe that emerges when the lights dim!

Day 3 – Sao Lourenco toward Sao Vincente

For Day 3 of your awesome Madeira adventure, I recommend heading to the northern part of the island. Now that you got to see most of the Funchal area and its surrounding gems, it’s time to head to the super green part of the island. The one thing to note when you’re traveling to Madeira off-season is that the weather in the northern part is almost always more cloudy and wet compared to the southern part. This is what will make the biggest distinction between traveling in the off-months compared to peak season.

Ponta de São Lourenço

This awesome hike is certainly not a hidden gem of the island. If possible try to arrive before 10 am as the spot gets pretty crowded. Even better if you can make a sunrise hike! If you’re worried about weather conditions, don’t forget to check out the webcams.

This hike starts at the parking trail and goes all the way to the tippy top of Madeira. You won’t be able to reach the very end of these crazy rock formations because the very last part is separated by the ocean. The hike should take you between 1.5 to 2.5 hours each way depending on how many times you take picture stops. Towards the end, you will find a small cafe where you can use the bathroom or grab a coffee. This is a very popular part of the island so expect some crowds.

For a very detailed plan for this hike, I found this blog which does an excellent job of preparing you for it.

Off-season struggles: The weather is not going to be your best friend here. It might get more chilly and windy in the months of November and December. However, since peaks might not even be doable during that time, this is one of the few chances you have to experience Madeira’s nature.

Northern Drive Toward Sao Vincente

After the hike, you won’t probably want to do any more walking so I recommend a scenic drive along the northeastern part of the island. Here are a couple of stops to consider. Depending on the timing of your morning, you will not be able to do all of them so check out my photos below to see which ones you think you’d like best:

• Coastal Viewpoints – choose one:
  • Faial Beach: This little beach is located about 25 minutes from Sao Lourenco parking lot. I found it on accident while driving in that area. I wouldn’t swim there per say but the landscape is really nice! Off-season you probably won’t see another soul there!
  • Miradouro do Guindaste: Right above Faial Beach, there is a nice coastal viewpoint offering the awesome view the beach does but from slightly above. I’d say do one or the other since the views will be very similar.
  • Miradouro do Curtado: This one is located a short 10 min drive from the point mentioned before. It offers a nice view of local town as well as the northern coast nearby.
• Santana Houses: This was the most crowded place I encountered on my off-season trip to Madeira. Why you ask? I have no clue because as cute as the Santana Houses are unless you have some sort of historical curiosity about them, there really isn’t that much to see there. I don’t know what I expected but certainly not what I saw. I’d say you can pass this location if touristy places bother you.
• Hotel & Restaurante Quinta do Furão: This is a good place for an early dinner but before you head to the restaurant, go on a little walk around the property. There is a vineyard in the back and a garden in that is accessible to walk around patrons and it was a (hidden) place during out little drive. It’s super pretty and you can even catch a view of a waterfall from there.
• Miradouro da Beira da Quinta: Super quick stop but nonetheless a nice viewpoint of the local area.
• Sao Vincente: This is a small town that’s the base of a lot of northern hikes for people. We stayed at an Airbnb for the second part of our trip here and loved the quiet atmosphere and more local vibe compared to Funchal. The small town has a couple of restaurants and bars by the water. If you’re not staying in the area, I’d recommend grabbing some food before heading back home. I ate at Restaurante Calamar which had delicious food for amazing prices and Poncha de Sao Vincente, a local bar with awesome apps.

Off-season struggles: The northern part of the island is the rainiest and most cloudy off-season. Consider that when packing clothes for your exploration there. All the spots I mentioned above were cloudy and chilly when I visited. Comparing photos of them in the sun from other travel blogs, I certainly feel like I didn’t get the proper experience of them.

Day 4

Drive toward Porto Moniz

Before you head to see the famous swimming pools of Porto Moniz, there is a couple of quick stops you can make before heading over.

• Miradouro do Véu da Noiva: This is a very popular viewpoint on the island and while I think it was cute, I didn’t find it as fascinating as others have described. The main highlight of this stop is a waterfall that drops into the ocean but since it is pretty far and the road to access it is closed, it’s just a small stop. There is a gift shop there but it was very pricey compared to others I’ve seen.
• Seixal: What many describe as the best beach in Madeira is located in Seixal, a small town on the northern coast. It’s all black sand contrasting with vibrant green nature and surrounded by mountains. There are also small natural swimming pools located in town. While during off-season travel you won’t be able to swim, it’s worth visiting for the picturesque views.

Porto Moniz

The Porto Moniz natural swimming pools are swimming areas formed by lava and filled with fresh seawater on the northwestern side of the island. They are one of the coolest outdoor swimming pools I have seen. I hate to break it to you this early in the description but unless you like cold swimming, traveling during the off-season will unfortunately not allow you to fully enjoy them. I was super upset that I wasn’t able to swim in them, after naively reading some online comments claiming that late November is sometimes ok for swimming.

There are two pool areas in town. One with an entrance fee but only 1.5 euros, there you will find lockers and snack bars the other is free but more rocky and natural. The actual town is super small, you can walk from one pool area to the other in under 10 mins. However, my friends, I do not think you should skip visiting the town even without swimming. It is indeed impressive to see them and take some pictures in the area. I recommend making a stop in Porto Moniz for lunch or a drink.

Fanal Forest

Quick Tip: If you’re heading to Fanal Forest or Fanal Pond from Porto Moniz, make an easy and quick stop at Miradouro da Eira da Achada for more island views from above.

Fanal Forest is the one place that should work in your favor during off-season travel. Why? Because people love this place for a mystical experience of the fog and creepy vibes. If you visit during the summer peak months, the chances of the fog are said to be greatest in the morning. However, in the “winter” months, you can catch it at pretty much any time. Simply put Fanal Pond in your GPS and you will arrive in a small parking lot, then walk towards the forest. I recommend packing waterproof shoes and a waterproof jacket if you’re planning to walk around. I got soaked and cold while exploring and it wasn’t too pleasant. Overall it’s a cool place to visit for some awesome pictures. Put a pin in your map as the further you walk in the fog, the more likely you are to get lost.

There are many cows in that forest so be careful not to step in some cow poo as you’re taking your picture 🙂

Day 5

If you followed my itinerary, by day 5 you’ve seen top places that Madeira is known for. For this last day, I will give you options of things to do that are worth seeing on this stunning island depending on what you like to do.

Hikes & Levada Walks

Madeira is known for many hiking trails and Levada walks. I’m more of a drive-to-a-peak kinda gal unless I’m feeling inspired to hike as I did in Poland this summer (You can read my guest post on We Are Travel Girls about my super awesome hike in the Tatra Mountains). I did not hike in Madeira therefore I cannot give you solid advice on it. However, I found this amazing and super informative post from Claire on her blog and I recommend you follow her for the best hiking advice.

Small things to do in Madeira on the western side of the island

The western side is not as touristy as the other side of the island but that doesn’t mean if you should skip it. Although there aren’t as many attractions, here are a couple of spots to visit there:

• Garganta Funda Viewpoint: Although you will need to walk about 15 minutes to reach this viewpoint, the awesome waterfall that you will see at the end will make it worth it. The nice thing about traveling off-season is that you’re likely to see it in full action compared to the summer when it dries up. I regret not seeing this place during my visit.
• Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse: A small picturesque lighthouse on the far end of the island. It might not be a super exciting spot, but you can take a small walk in the area and admire the calm atmosphere.
• Cascata dos Anjos: The famous waterfall that falls on your car as your drive on ER101 is certainly a cool experience. If you’re driving toward the west side, you can even pull over and see it up close.

Speaking of the western side …

There is a less-known thing you do on the western side which is Achadas da Cruz cable car bringing you in the (almost) empty small local village. It’s an area only accessible by cable car (between 8 am to 6 pm) or a super steep trail. Not many (if any) locals stay there full time, it’s more of a nature getaway for them. For you, it means exploring two remote villages with stunning surrounding nature. I found a very detailed and informative guide on this hidden Madeiran location. Journey Era gives you more than enough detail about this place, he even takes the hike back up the hill in the evening.

Madeira Beaches

Although you won’t be able to comfortably swim in the ocean if you’re traveling off-season, or if you like cold water, spending some time near the beach even at a local cafe or bar is really nice.

• Calheta Beach has white imported sand and gives some nice tropical vibes. There are some all-inclusive hotels in the area too.
• Seixal Black Sand Beach: I mentioned this beach earlier but if you like black sand vibes, you should spend some time enjoying the beauty of Seixal.
• Ponta do Sol Beach: In the (almost always) sunny part of Madeira, you can find a nice small beach to enjoy without the crowds.

Porto Santo

If you’d like to do something more unique, take a day trip to Porto Santo, a small island located a 2-hour ferry ride away or even a short plane ride. There are daily morning departures with evening returns. Some people recommend spending more than a day there, while others do a day trip and are content. Here are two contrasting opinions, a day trip one, and a longer excursion. Hopefully, this lets you decide whether a day trip is worth it for you. Nonetheless, Porto Santo is a stunning destination that could be added as a bonus if you’re already in the area 🙂

Madeira Tours

If organized tours are something you enjoy, consider booking one in Madeira. Some of the more popular choices include dolphin/whale watching boat trips, jeep tours through the island, or even organized hikes. While these are not something I would opt-in to do in Madeira, as the majority of the things can be done solo, a lot of people enjoy having a pre-planned day.

While short excursions are not my thing, I personally always recommend food tours through which not only can you learn about the local cuisine, but see the area, learn history and interact with other like-minded people. I found a highly-rated tour, Madeira Food on Foot which offers different tours and even pre-made picnic baskets. I’d say that’s the best Madeira tour there is 🙂

Download this Madeira guide

Here is a free downloadable guide for you of all the places I talked about above. It’s a pocket version so I recommend reading everything above before downloading the guide for your travels 🙂

Download It HERE

Map of Madeira

Final thoughts on things to do in Madeira in December or any other off-season month

As promised at the start of the post, I tried to give you a realistic expectation of Madeira off-season. I’d say that I romanticized it too much and imagined that I could do more than I did even in the “winter” months.

To recap, here are the cons of things to do in Madeira during off-season times:

• Higher chance of poor weather: The rain and clouds will limit what you can see and do. What you imagine to be a sunny afternoon hike or a beach day will turn into hiding in cafes until the rain passes.
• Not seeing the best sunrise and sunset spots: The chances of having a clear sky up in the mountains which would normally give you out-of-this-world sunrises and sunsets are very slim. For 5/5 days of travel, there wasn’t a single day that we were able to see any peaks. I anxiously kept checking weather cams and even drove to two spots to check myself and I was not successful of seeing either of them.
• Natural Lava Pools: Despite having lava in its name, the swimming pools of Porto Moniz or Seixal will be chilly to comfortably enjoy in the colder months. They’re a really awesome way to spend a day in Madeira so the fact that I missed out makes me irked.
• Hikes: Again, this being related to the weather, everything will be wet. Walking in chilly and wet conditions is not a pleasant experience to me.

BUT, here are some pros:

• There will be very few tourists.
• Prices are usually better for hotels and flights.
• You will have a lot of places to yourself.

Sometimes off-season travel is the only time you have to take from work so you make it work. I wish I instead visited Madeira during shoulder season for example. Visiting in the months of May or September would give me the off-season vibes I love but not have limited me in the number of things I wanted to do. Knowing what I know now I would not have traveled to Madeira in December but I hope I gave you enough realistic expectations to make the decision for yourself.

Gladly, this itinerary is informative enough for any season so feel free to download it when you travel to Madeira. If you do, share a photo! Don’t forget to comment down below on whether you think Madeira is worth traveling off-season and what experiences you might have had there!

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