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)!

Cool App Translates Languages in Real-Time

Some of the greatest/most frustrating moments you'll come across while traveling are when you're trying to get past the language barrier. It's always helpful to learn key words and phrases before you go, though if you're traveling to multiple countries, it's just not practical to become fluent in each and every language.

Signs, instructions, and menus are all important things to be able to read when you're traveling. You don't want to be stuck in a situation where you're unknowingly disobeying certain signs (let's not get arrested in a foreign country, please) or you order the completely wrong item on the menu.

Enter: World Lens, a cool (and free!) app that translates languages in real-time.

You hold the phone up to text and the camera shows a translated version in your desired language.

Languages: English <---> Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese

Before I had an iPhone, I was using the Bing Translator app on my Windows Phone. That app worked well, especially when a friend and I were trying to figure out what to order on a menu written completely in Turkish while in Istanbul. Luckily the restaurant had wifi so we were able to use the app and figure out the menu without having to ask the server in attempted, choppy Turkish. There are some aspects of World Lens that I find better than Bing Translator, though.

What I like about World Lens compared to Bing Translator

-No need to be connected to a network: Anyone who travels internationally and doesn't buy SIM cards in every country knows the importance of being able to access an app like this without wifi.

-Pause feature: Once you get your words translated, you can pause the camera so you don't have to continue hovering in the same spot. You can take the phone away from the text without losing your translation.

-Speed: The Bing app is fast, but when comparing the two, World Lens is faster. The faster the speed, the quicker you understand what the words mean.

-Other features such as a translate dictionary and an off/on light switch. It's the little things like this that make things so much easier.

However, Bing Translator has more language options.

I couldn't use World Lens to translate Turkish, because as of now, that's not one of the language options. Hopefully they update the app with additional languages in the future, especially because Bing Translator isn't available for download on iOS.

Have you used this app? What are your thoughts? Please suggest any other helpful travel apps!

This is not a sponsored post. Just wanted to share this cool app with all of you!

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!

6 Must-Have Travel Accessories

1. Physical Camera

Today's smartphones come with great built-in cameras, which is great for traveling light. But if I had nickel for every time I knew someone whose phone got lost or stolen while traveling and all those photos were lost... that's why I recommend having a physical camera and/or GoPro in addition to a phone. You have an additional place to store your photos until you upload them.

2. Portable Phone Charger

A portable battery pack is lightweight and can be a life-saver for when you really need your phone. Make sure it's charged beforehand and that you bring the cord! The phone cases that have the extra battery in them work as well.

3. Something to Keep your Chargers Together

I use a small makeup bag to store all my chargers, adapters, etc. when traveling. It's easy to find when you're going through your luggage and you know it's all in the same place. Even a regular ziploc bag works.

4. Portable Luggage Scale

One of the most frustrating things about flying are the luggage weight limits. Weigh all your luggage (some airlines have limits for carry-ons) with a portable luggage scale to ensure you don't go over. You can get one at Target for $20 which converts the numbers into both pounds and kilos.

5. Headphones/Ear Buds

Any flight, train, or bus ride can be a bore without music. These are also nice to have if you have a chatty seatmate and aren't interested in talking. If you have roommates or are at a hostel, you also won't bug your neighbors with your music or TV show.

6. Passport Case

This will help protect your passport from getting bent, spilled on, or ruined in some way. It's also way easier to find your passport in your bag when it's in a case.

This Video Will Make You Want To Travel Right Now

While scrolling through Facebook the other day, I came across this video that Kelsey posted by a group of guys that compiled three years of travel into one inspirational video. They're awesome! Now I'm just itching to do a round-the-world trip... Watch and you won't be disappointed.

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!