My 5 Best Destinations In Europe

Europe, my home continent, is the sixth largest. It has 44 countries, each with unique cultures and landscapes.

From Prague’s medieval streets to Edinburgh’s Victorian charm and Spain’s sunny beaches. So many places and cultures for everyone, no matter what you like.

Imagine having lunch in Paris before hopping on a train to Amsterdam for dinner- it’s possible.

The beauty of Italy’s surreal Lake Como, followed by dinner in Milan? This guide is your key to unlocking an unforgettable European adventure.

Europe is perfect for first-time travellers, solo adventurers, and groups of all sizes. My first trip was to Europe, often seen as the “beginner travel” destination. but that doesn’t mean it’s low quality by any means.

Europe is home to 5 of the top 10 countries, in my opinion. Distances are short, and transport is well-developed in tourist-friendly countries, making travel safe and easy. Hotels and hostels are plentiful and easy to book, accepting common credit/debit cards and cash.

Europe has some of the best transport systems in the world. Eurail and Interrail offer passes for all kinds of trips. These providers offer transport at a significantly lower cost than when booking individually. Also, youth passes are available for those under 27. 

Trains in inner cities and between different countries are both affordable and accessible. I recall paying €3 for a trip from the Amalfi Coast boat pickup, which took about 2 hours. I cancelled and re-did the buy because I thought I had entered my destinations wrong, but I didn’t. If you’re UK-based, you know what I’m talking about.

No matter your travel style or budget, Europe offers something for everyone—cities, countryside, stunning coastlines, and everything in between.

I Edinburgh, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I fell in love with my home city, Edinburgh, in 2021. I knew it was the place I wanted to study and live for the next chapter of my life. It blends history, culture, and stunning architecture. For those who have been here, you know what I’m talking about.

The iconic castle, medieval buildings, great food options, and summer festivals make it a city for everyone. Walking the Royal Mile, hiking Arthur’s Seat, or enjoying local culture in cafés and pubs. It’s rare to find someone who hasn’t loved their time in Edinburgh.

🎟️ 3 million visitors. 3,000+ shows. 3 unforgettable weeks. Welcome to the Fringe.

The Fringe Festival in the summertime is the world’s largest art festival. It’s a melting pot of creativity with Free and free comedy shows. Performances in pubs, alleyways and pretty much everywhere you walk in the city.

No shows need to be booked in advance unless you’re seeing someone extremely popular. It’s truly one of the best places to be in Europe in August.

Edinburgh is a very walkable city, the Newtown connects to the oldtown via North Bridge or South Bridge. The only time you need transport is if you’re heading down to Portobello Beach or heading to Murrayfield.

You’re 2 hours away from the Highlands if you’re into hiking and a 40-minute train ride from Glasgow, Scotland’s Capital. It’s a city that I’m so proud to call home.

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⭐ Overall solo travel score 4.5/5

Category	Rating
Safety	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Walkability	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Social Opportunities	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Budget-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)
Hostel Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Local Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

II Krakow, Poland 🇵🇱

Kraków, Poland, is the second largest city after Warsaw. Arguably a better destination to visit due to its rich history and abundance of activities. Especially with good weather in the summer months.

Kraków truly has something for everyone, and it’s a personal favourite of mine. It offers some of the most affordable accommodations of all the European places. Featuring vibrant party hostels and more relaxed options in the city centre with excellent restaurants and bars.

Kraków knows how to be a party place for cheap, all while keeping its classy look. If you’re looking for that type of experience, I’d strongly recommend Let’s Rock Party Hostel. It’s central and offers some great nights out over the weekend.

Kraków is an easy walk around, and you will hardly need a car or the trams. Taxi’s are way cheaper compared to the rest of Europe too.

A sensitive topic, but one that does exist. It is an absolute must-visit on this trip, is Auschwitz. There are consistent tours throughout the day, most of the year round, that will do pick-ups and drop-offs. The area in which Auschwitz is is around 1 and a half hours from Krakow.

Depending on the type of tour you buy, the experience can vary in terms of information provided. It’s worth looking into and taking into account your budget.

I won’t put pictures from my trip up on here. Information is everywhere online.

The reliance of the Polish people lives in their culture and the way they treat tourists. It’s a super friendly country, and the locals are amazing.

Krakow is definitely underrated, in my opinion, and a great alternative to pricier city’s on the continent.

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⭐ overall solo travel score 4.6/5

Category	Rating
Safety	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Walkability	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Social Opportunities	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Budget-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Hostel Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Local Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)

III All over Albania 🇦🇱

Albania. It is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, figuratively and literally. The country only opened its borders in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Albania has a personality like nowhere else on earth.

Where you could compare Spain and Italy as not too dissimilar in many ways. Albania is its own horse and cart, its own ship and its own crazy ways.

The left photo I posted to my Instagram stories to a bombardment of messages asking where in Greece I was. Himare in Albania.

The mountains in the north offer sublime hikes and tours run for 2-3 days. Those into camping can take an epic hike with a tour guide. Cities like Tirana are very unique, and hospitable.

Albania isn’t without a few issues, like anywhere, but it can be quite predominant if you trek through the country.

While the natural beauty and charm Albania does have, for a fraction of the price of elsewhere. The tourism sector is still in its infancy.

Buses do not run on time, trains are very slow and unpredictable. Usually, you have to wait in the middle of nowhere for the buses. You need to engage with the locals as they know off-hand the timetable, as you’re unable to find it online.

This can become a nuisance. Look past this and just plan accordingly, as Albania is worth your time and you won’t regret it. This country will be a real tourist spot in the coming years. Prices continue to rise and tourism increases every year.

⭐️ OVERALL solo travel score 3.7/5

Category	Rating
Safety	⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)
Walkability	⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Social Opportunities	⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Budget-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/5) !
Hostel Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Local Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

IV Prague, Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Prague is the capital city situated in the heart of the Czech Republic and central Europe. It is definitely not a secret how much charm, history and great beer this city has to offer. I’ve been here twice now, and every time it seems to get better, finding more to do.

The old town is an iconic part of Prague, as is the castle overlooking the Vltava River.

The bars/food options are in abundance. The hostels here are top tier, affordable and central. If you’re heading to and from the airport, transport is very cheap and reliable. I recommend at least 3-4 days here to truly experience all Prague has to offer.

You’ll find most of what you’re looking for in and around the old town square, home to the Astronomical Clock. The restaurants and bars around here are a little more expensive than those on the outskirts, bearing in mind.

On the other side of the Charles Bridge, you can head to the Prague Castle. 15-minute walk from the bottom. It offers great views of the city during the daytime, but it can get quite busy in peak summer. An absolute must is to go up Petřín Hill to watch the sunset at night, too.

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⭐️ OVERALL SOLO TRAVEL SCORE 4.5/5

Category	Rating
Safety	⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Walkability	⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Social Opportunities	⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Budget-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)
Hostel Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5)
Local Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

V Budapest, Hungary 🇭🇺

Budapest is the Capital city of Hungary and the cultural and economic hub of the country.

The City is full of stunning contrast. The grand architecture by day is something you’d associate with Edinburgh or Prague, but with its own charm.

The standout activity for all is the thermal baths. This is a great day trip for anybody of all ages to relax in the 30-degree Celsius pools. The pools include inside thermals and one big outside pool, including ice baths and saunas. With bars, food and deck chairs to really enjoy the day. It has everything to arrive in the morning and leave in the evening. And it’s just a few tram stops from the city centre.

At night, the nightlife is second to none. The ruined bars are a 4-story, open-plan building with bars and seating areas everywhere. It’s truly a unique place and its where to be on the weekend. If the nightclubs are your thing, they’re open until 5am and really bring the streets to life. You want party’s and people alike. You will find it in Budapest.

To continue with the nightlife theme. The Hive Hostel in Budapest is one of the best hostels in Europe. There is a bar on the ground floor as you walk in, and above are 6-7 stories of hostel rooms. It’s basically a block of flats with an open space in which you can look down onto the bar. It’s one of the liveliest and busiest I’ve been in, and the atmosphere is second to none. You’re guaranteed to meet people here.

There’s an abundance of food options too. In particular Bors Gasztro bar. it’s a small but very well-known street food place near the hive hostel. The food is out of this world and I highly recommend that you check it out for lunch.

Budapest is one of my favourite cities. So much so that we ended up extending our stay for 3 more days. The city has so much to offer no matter what you’re looking for.

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⭐️ OVERALL SOLO TRAVEL SCORE 4.6/5

Category	Rating
Safety	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Walkability	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Social Opportunities	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Budget-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Hostel Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Local Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)