10 European Experiences To Have In Your 20s

10 European Experiences To Have In Your 20s

There is no doubt that Europe provides plenty of amazing things to do. With about 50 countries on the continent alone, there are endless experiences to have. Here are 10 things we suggest to do in Europe while you're in your 20s.

Positano, Italy

1. Go Solo

One of the most enriching travel experiences is to…go by yourself.

Without the influence of being with other people, you get to do exactly what YOU want to do, when you want to do it!

You learn more about yourself when you’re completely immersed in another country, with just yourself to rely on.

Personally, whenever I’ve traveled solo, I’ve never been alone for too long. I’ll walk around and explore the city. but somehow always happen to meet locals or other travelers and end up having a fun time hanging out with them!

Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

2. ...Or Go With Friends

Traveling solo isn't for everyone. Even if you do enjoy solo traveling, taking a trip with friends is an entirely different experience. You'll make memories with your friends for years to come.

Want to travel with other people but can’t rally your group to all travel at the same time? Consider joining a group tour! There are a number of group tour companies around the world, some of which cater to a younger demographic. Contiki is one of them (and you can use my referral code ALLY28 to get $50 off a booking)!

3. Go to a Music Festival

Europeans know how to party, and if you're looking to do that and listen to some live music, going to a music festival is bound to be an experience you'll never forget.

Check this website for tons of info on music festivals around Europe.

Oktoberfest Festival in Munich, Germany

4. Go to Oktoberfest

If you've been coming by this site for a while, you'll know I love Oktoberfest.

While Oktoberfest can be fun at any age, going while you're young, able to hold down a few steins of beer, and can stay up late makes for a smoother - and totally fun - time. Prost!

Interlaken, Switzerland

5. Hiking, Snowboarding, or Skiing on The Alps

Whether they're Swiss, French, Austrian, or German, the views will be amazing and the trails just as great.

To go off the tourist track (and save a few bucks), head to the Slovenian Alps, which are just as beautiful at a fraction of the cost.

Outdoor activities are aplenty any time of year, whether you prefer hiking in the warmer weather or enjoying winter spots in the colder months.

6. Take a Cooking Class in Italy

Because now's as good a time as any to lay down a foundation of cooking skills, and where better than in Italy?

In my opinion (and I know many people agree with me!) Italy rivals France as the food capital of Europe.

7. Party Sailing

Renting a yacht for a week and cruising around the Mediterranean would be an awesome way to spend summertime in Europe.

You get to travel by boat to different destinations, drink and go swimming with your boat mates, and wander around whichever city you dock at for the day.

8. Stay at The Pink Palace on Corfu Island, Greece

The Pink Palace is the #1 party hostel in the world. Plus, it's surrounded by spectacular beaches with spectacular views.

If you're headed to Europe to party and meet others with that same mindset, then you won't regret staying there (and going to the infamous pink toga parties).

The Louvre, Paris, France

9. Go to Art Galleries and Museums

If you studied history, art, art history, or anything of the like in school, then you'll have a better appreciation of seeing what you learned about in person - because not only does Europe house some of the best museums in the world, but the random notes you remember about ancient emperors will only last so long.

It's cool to know facts about what you're looking at without needing to consult a guidebook.

Even if you don’t consider yourself an art or history buff, you may be surprised by how interesting you might find European art galleries and museums.

Blarney Castle, Cork, Ireland

10. Take a Cross-Country Road Trip

Whether you rent a car or take a bus or train, crossing countries by land can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Let your mind wander as you look out the window at the passing scenery and countryside on your way into the big cities.

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Book a Place to Stay in Europe

My all-time favorite booking website is the well-known Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

The Best Places In Italy To Eat Traditional Italian Foods

Italy has arguably the best cuisine in all of Europe, and you'll find the Italian staples all throughout. While you can find delicious pizza and pasta anywhere in Italy, exactly where in Italy can you find the best? Italians truly believe that food from their home town is the greatest in all the world, so it's best to try the region specialties in the areas where they came from. If you're heading to the boot-shaped country to "eat your way through Italy," consider this your personal road map.

Pesto - Liguria

While the five towns of Cinque Terre (that lie in the Liguria area) are mostly known for their picturesque olive groves and homes along the beaches, the pesto from this area is hard to beat.

Pasta - Everywhere

Okay, being totally honest, pasta anywhere in Italy is simply amazing. Even the 3 euro plastic bags of pasta from the grocery store  are good!  Everything from typical noodles like penne and spaghetti or stuffed pastas like ravioli are bound to be of the best quality. Top it off with sauce, of course!

Limoncello - Amalfi Coast

Lemon Groves in Positano

Limoncello is an Italian malt liqueur made from lemons that comes from the Amalfi Coast of Italy. It's mainly used as a sweet finish to the end of a meal. You can find the lemon groves around the Amalfi Coast, which also make for great photos if you're in the region.

Pizza - Naples

Pizza is a staple throughout Italy, though it originates in Naples. While other countries have their own take and flair on pizza, you'll find the most original and authentic pizza in Naples, a city along the west coast of Southern Italy in the Campania region.

Florentine Steak - Florence

You'll typically find Bistecca alla Fiorentina on restaurant menus for at least 40 euros per plate - but its rich, tender cut makes for a flavorful meal.

Wine - Tuscany

Ciao, Chianti! The Tuscan region was made for wine. Taste some different blends while you're in this region, and I highly recommend doing wine tastings to nearby Tuscan towns and traveling by train or bus. You'll try some of the best wine in the world as well as find views of the mesmerizing countryside scenery in this region.

Cheese - Everywhere

You can find Italian formaggio anywhere in the country, and anywhere it's going taste fresh and amazing.

Tiramisu - Venice

This is one of Italy's most famous desserts, and if you're going to have tiramisu, you might as well try it in Venice, where it originates from.

Pane Toscano - Tuscany

You'll find unsalted bread served with your meals, especially in the Tuscan region. However, the bread isn't served as a bread-and-olive-oil appetizer; its intended use is to mop up the leftover sauce from your pasta.

Bruschetta - Lazio

Lazio (home to world-famous Rome) is also home to bruschetta, toasted bread that's topped with olive oil, garlic, salt, and tomatoes.

Ribollita - Tuscany

This thick vegetable and bread soup also comes from the Tuscan region. It's served warm and is comforting on a chilly day.

Seafood and other meat dishes - Sicily

This southern region of Italy is surrounded by water and takes culinary influence from many other cultures due to invasions from years past. Some typical dishes you'll find are swordfish or sardines, or a meat dish such as vitello al Marsala.

Polenta - Northern Italy

Along with risotto, rice, butter, and corn, polenta is more popular in the north than some pastas and olive oil (though you'll still find pasta and olive oil here)!

How To Find (And Ask For) Iced Coffee in Europe

Iced coffee is not very common in Europe, and as someone who loves iced coffee but not hot drinks, finding iced coffee in Europe turned out to be a little bit of a challenge. My first day in Austria I was talking to the barista at the hotel in English, and when I asked for ice for my coffee, he was beyond puzzled. He kept pointing to the Ben & Jerry's case of ice cream pints, asking if I wanted to put Ben & Jerry's into my coffee. Then I looked up how to ask for ice in German - turns out eis means ice cream in and eiswürfel means ice cubes. Knowing how to ask definitely would've helped beforehand!

Here are some tips for both finding and asking for iced coffee in Europe:

Finding Iced Coffee

- Search TripAdvisor and Yelp for cafes that serve iced coffee. For places that do, there are likely to be reviews stating so.

- Type into a search engine "where to find iced coffee in [where you're going]" and see if anything comes up.

- Check your favorite travel blogs that write about locations you're going to to see if they mention finding iced coffee.

- If you find an American cafe or restaurant, ask someone that works there - they'll probably have it.

- Last resort....McDonald's.

How To Ask For Iced Coffee in Different Languages

I love the taste of Italian or Parisian espresso, but for some reason I still just can't drink it without ice. Here is how to ask for iced coffee, cold coffee, or a cup of ice to pour into hot coffee.* Just know that you're bound to get some odd looks, as Europeans tend to think that putting ice into coffee is an odd thing to do.

Italian

Ask for Vorrei caffe freddo (I would like cold coffee)

German

Ask, Kan ichkaffee mit eiswürfel? (May I have coffee with ice cubes?)

French

I'm not sure how this translates or if I spelled it correctly, but my driver in Paris told me I should ask for an iced latte like this: une moisset avec un verre de glaçons, s'il vous plaît? (A coffee and milk with a glass of ice, please?)

Dutch

Ask for ijskoffie

Spanish

Ask, café con los cubos de hielo, por favor (coffee with ice cubes, please)

Catalan

Ask, cafè amb glaçons de gel, si us plau (coffee with ice cubes, please)

Portugese

Ask, café com cubos de gelo, por favor (coffee with ice cubes, please)

Czech

Ask, káva s ledem, prosím (coffee with ice cubes, please)

Hungarian

Ask, kávé a jeget, kérem (coffee with ice cubes, please)

Croatian

Ask, kava s kockicama leda, molimo (coffee with ice cubes, please)

Turkish

Ask, buz küpleri ile kahve, lütfen (coffee with ice cubes, please)

*Most of these phrases I got off of Google translate. Please clarify in the comments if there's a better way to ask!

Where To Find The Secret Bakeries in Florence

Where To Find The Secret Bakeries in Florence, Italy

Let me introduce to you one of the best things about Florence, Italy: the secret bakery (panetteria segreta). There are a few scattered around town, and you've probably walked by them a dozen times without even realizing it. There is no sign on the door, no open store hours. The only way to find them is through directions from word of mouth and by following your nose...at 1:30 in the morning.

The secret bakeries in Florence are where all the pastries you see in cafes during the daytime are made after they're distributed.

Once you find the secret bakery, politely knock on the door and wait for a baker to pop his head out. Be quiet while you wait. They will not open the door for you if you're loud and obnoxious. (I've seen Italians throw water balloons out their windows at loud and obnoxious people).

Order however many croissants you want (sometimes they have mini pizzas) and the items will be a euro each.

They don't take credit cards, so make sure to have your euro coins on hand.

Enjoy the warm, delicious, chocolate-y or lemon-y or whatever you got as an end-of-the-night treat.

Note: at this time of night, it is best to not go alone - there are a lot of dark alleys in Florence and you want to stay as safe as possible.

The Locations Of The Secret Bakeries in Florence

Approximate Address: Via Canto del Rivolto

This one is near Piazza Santa Croce, which is also close to many bars and nightclubs. If you see Angie's Pub or are on Via delle Brache, you're not on the exact street, but you're very close. Look for a frosted glass door.

Approximate Address: Via della Pinzochere

This one is to the left of the Santa Croce church, and is close to the gym I used to go to on Via dei Pepi. If you're facing the church, turn left onto Pinzochere and look for a small crowd of people or the scent of baked goods. If you've reached Via Ghibellina, you've gone too far.

Approximate Address: Corner of Via San Gallo and Via della Ruote

To be totally honest, I'm not 100% sure this secret bakery is still in business. This was our go-to secret bakery when I studied abroad due to its close proximity to where our pensioni were. Since this bakery has the typical brown door, follow your nose!

Have you come across any additional secret bakeries in Florence? Share where they are in the comments!

6 Simple German Phrases To Say At Oktoberfest

oktoberfest bretzel

We're right in middle of the Oktoberfest 2014 season, and whether you're celebrating in Germany or anywhere else in the world, you're bound to have a jolly ol' time. To get even more in the spirit while you're celebrating the festivities, you'll want to be in-the-know when it comes to fun German phrases (and know what they mean).

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1. Prost!

This means, "Cheers!" Always prost with eye contact while you clink each others' steins.

2. Wies'n

This is the nickname for Oktoberfest.

3. Ein, zwei, drie!

(pronounced ine, tsvy, dry)

This means, "One, two, three!" There is bound to be at least one countdown happening at some point.

4. Mehr bier!

This means, "More beer!" I mean...who goes to Oktoberfest for only one bier?

5. Brezeln

This means, "Pretzel." Those giant soft pretzels are tough to pass up. They just taste so good with a stein full o' beer.

6. Bitte? Danke!

These are "Please" and "Thank you!"

Where To Find The Best Views In Istanbul

While Istanbul is a major tourist destination, it still isn't as well-known as other major European cities like Paris or Rome. In fact, when I went to Istanbul last year, many of the reactions I got were, "Wow, that's random." In reality though, Istanbul is far from "random." Turkey is the true connector of Europe and Asia, and Istanbul is very far west Turkey, close to Bulgaria. With the Bosphorus Strait, Marmara Sea, and Black Sea surrounding the capital city, Istanbul has an extensive international history. Today, it is visited by many who enjoy the blend of Ottoman and European architecture, Mediterranean food, and attractions to go to.

Istanbul is a beautiful city. If you find yourself there, you must take advantage of many of the locations where you can find spectacular views. Here are a few:

Galata Tower View

Galata Tower

This tower stands at 205 feet tall. It was built in 528 AD and renovated in the 1300s. What was once a former watchtower is now an observation viewpoint. It is great for panoramic views as you can see across the water to the Asian side as well as the mosques in the distance. Look down for some people watching at the surrounding cafes.

Address: Bereketzade Mh., Galata Kulesi, Beyoğlu, Turkey

Price: 18.50 TL

Topkapi Palace view

Topkapi Palace

This huge palace was home to the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. Other than the gorgeous architecture, colors, and rooms, the Topkapi Palace also is home to some seriously stunning views of Istanbul. Since the palace was built atop a hill, the elevated views of the Bosphorus, the Asian side, and even the Galata Tower can be found.

Address: Babıhümayun Caddesi

Price: 30 TL

admara hotel

Adamar Hotel's Rooftop Restaurant

Right near the famed Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, this rooftop bar and restaurant atop the Adamar Hotel provide amazing views. Imagine watching the city and mosques light up at sunset while you eat!

Address: Yerebatan Cad. No. 37 34110 Sultanahmet - Istanbul

Oktoberfest: 8 Tips For First-Timers

Oktoberfest: 8 Tips For First-Timers

With the start of Oktoberfest coming up soon, millions of people all over the world are gearing up to celebrate the world's largest beer festival in Munich, Germany.

I went for the first time for my old job as a tour guide in 2013 and it was beyond amazing. So much fun. And I'm just a little jealous of the millions of people going this year...!

Even if you don't like beer, you should at least consider giving Oktoberfest a try. Truth be told, I rarely drank beer until I tried the deliciousness that is authentic, German beer. 

Chances are you might really enjoy the specially-brewed beer (especially after a couple of steins) as well as the lively atmosphere, carnival rides, and delicious German food.

Outside the Oktoberfest grounds is the city of Munich, an incredible area full of places to explore, in addition to the whole Bavaria region of Germany (Neuschwantstein Castle is a day trip from Munich)!

Oktoberfest at a Glance

Some quick facts about Oktoberfest:

• Oktoberfest occurs annually from the end of September to the beginning of October.

• When is Oktoberfest 2018? The date for this year's festival begins on Saturday, September 22nd and ends Sunday, October 7th.

• Six million people from all around the world attend Oktoberfest every year.

• Oktoberfest dates back to the early 19th century. It was cancelled during the years of WWI and WWII.

• There are six tents from six Munich breweries at Oktoberfest: Hofbräuhaus München, Hacker-Pschorr Bräu, Augustiner Bräu, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Palaner Bräu, and Löwenbräu. Each brewery serves a special Oktoberfest beer and only their beer is served inside their tents.

• Each tent serves just their one type of beer, and in one size. The stein that the beer is served in is huge and holds one liter of beer.

• Outside the tents you will find carnival rides and games.

The tent for Hofbrauhaus, one of the most famous breweries in Munich.

Carnival rides, games, and food and drink outside the tents!

8 Tips For First-Timers At Oktoberfest

1. Wear traditional German costumes to blend in

Men wear lederhosen and women wear dirndls.

Wearing normal clothes to Oktoberfest was my mistake. I didn't splurge on an authentic dirndl (about $100-200). Almost everyone (including all the Germans) will dress up in authentic costume. You will never find a German not in lederhosen or a dirndl.

It's fun to get into the spirit of the festival, and one way to do so is the traditional dress!

2. Get to the tents in the morning (and get there early)

There will be huge crowds outside the tent entrances before they open at 9 or 10 am.

Be prepared to get your foot stepped on, elbowed in the side, or pushed around a little.

Don't worry - once you get in and find a table you won't have to deal with this crowd again! (That is, unless you leave the tent and try to re-enter...and try waiting for people to leave the tents at maximum capacity to be let back in).

3. Sprint to find a table

Once the doors open, everyone literally sprints to get a table. Tables fill up very quickly so just take whatever you can get.

Have your friends' phone numbers on hand in case you get separated so you can find them - the tents are quite large with thousands of people inside.

While a table reservation isn't required, you may do so beforehand by contacting the brewery.

4. Tip the ladies that serve you beer and food

They deserve it! Tip at least a euro per stein. They carry 10-12 steins full of beer at a time, all day long, for days on end. Also, if you don't tip them, they won't come back. And you definitely want them to come back, because it can get tough to find a new server during the chaos.

5. Pace yourself

You don't want to be that guy or girl that couldn't handle it and vomited/passed out at the table, with photo evidence on Facebook for years to come.

Note that the alcohol percentage in Oktoberfest beer is 6%, higher than regular beer.

6. Write down the address and phone number of where you're staying

Having the address uploaded to your phone is great, but in case you lose your phone, you want to keep a hard copy of this info with you.

If you need directions walking back or are giving your address to a taxi driver it can be much easier to show people an address they can read - pronouncing German words when you've been drinking beer all day probably won't get you very far (or to the right location).

7. Mingle with other Oktoberfest go-ers

Join others at their table if they have extra room and strike up a conversation. You're bound to make new German friends (or friends from all over the world)!

8. Take the chugging challenge

....only if you dare. If you chug your whole stein while standing on a table, you will be applauded by everyone. If you try but fail to finish, you will be booed!

Before you take the challenge, remember that a stein is a whole liter. This means chugging a whole liter of 6% beer at once!

Enjoy yourself at Oktoberfest this year, and as they say, "PROST!"

Headed to Oktoberfest?

Book a place to stay, ASAP! Oktoberfest season in Munich sees a heavy amount of visitors from all over Germany and the rest of the world. The earlier you book your place to stay, the better - as availability for hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs go VERY fast.

I recommend using my all-time favorite booking website, Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!