From luxurious road trips in Italy, to the freshest food in Spain and exciting travel adventures in Scandinavia and The Baltics, find out the best places to travel to in Europe here, in my Europe travel blogs.
From unique local delicacies, to hipster bars, quirky art and historic architecture, these are the top things to do in Dresden in Germany.
Dresden was our starting point for four days in Saxony, Germany. So far on my travels through Germany I’ve visited Berlin, the Black Forest, Nuremberg, Munich and Hannover. This was a whole new area for me, and I was excited to explore two very different places in the region – the historic city of Dresden and the stunning Saxon Switzerland National Park.
For a flavour of Saxony, check out the video of our time in Dresden and Saxon Switzerland…
Enjoying the view from Königstein Fortress, Saxon SwitzerlandBeautiful coloured buildings in Dresden, GermanyPart of the Palace in Dresden
It’s impossible to speak about Dresden without mentioning the atrocities that occurred in the 2nd World War. Much of the city was demolished in one day of air raids. Sadly one of Germany’s most cultural, fairy-tale cities was reduced to rubble.
Beautiful beaches, buzzy restaurants, beach clubs, boutiques, hipster coffee houses, quirky exhibitions, photogenic streets and historic palaces… move over Barcelona, The Hague is your new city/beach break. Find out the best things to do in The Hague in my informative travel guide.
It’s quite rare a destination takes me totally by surprise. I’m a girl who loves researching minute details. I know the amenities of my hotel rooms before check in. I know where to go for the best views, before getting on the plane. I have a pretty well rounded view of what to expect from a destination before arriving.
Although we were only spending three days in The Hague in The Netherlands, our itinerary was designed to show us a bit of everything. The beaches, the history, the art scene, the food scene. I expected it to be a city break similar to other city breaks… but here I am back in London, and I feel genuinely surprised by my experience.
You see, I don’t know anyone who ‘holidays in The Hague’, but I would genuinely recommend it to those looking for an alternative to the likes of Barcelona and Lisbon. At times it reminded me of a Dutch version of Brighton. It’s got wide, pristine beaches with super-soft sand. It’s got a city buzz with streets filled with independent restaurants and squares for al fresco dining. It’s also incredibly photogenic. It’s perfect for couples, with cosy beach huts to snuggle up in and romantic dining spots. It’s great for families, with a fun-filled pier with a ferris wheel, plus Madurodam (miniature world) close by.
So here I am, flying the flag for The Hague. And if you still don’t know why to visit, here are a few of my top reasons.
Visit The Hague For… Two Breaks In One
My big reason for recommending The Hague is that it fulfils two sets of criteria. Hop on a bus or a tram in the centre of The Hague and in under thirty minutes you can be on Scheveningen or Kijkduin Beach. Both are wide with soft sand and plenty of cool beach clubs, surf schools, and places to hire sun loungers. Scheveningen is more of a ‘resort’ with its pier complete with ferris wheel, bungy jump and famous grand hotel ‘Kurhaus’. Meanwhile, back in the city centre you’ll find streets lined with boutiques and hipster cafes, historic palaces, parliament and galleries. If you want a bit of everything, it’s a great destination.
From beautiful places to visit and top things to do, to some cute places to stay, it’s time for my Northumberland travel guide.
One of my fave places for a break is still… England! Even before my time as a Visit England ambassador I absolutely loved exploring places on my doorstep. From Cornwall’s incredible beaches, to the restaurant scene in the Lake District and Brighton’s alternative vibe, I could spend all day nattering about places to visit, scenery I loved and more!
Incredible view from Cat Bells in the Lake District
So today I’m turning my attention to beautiful Northumberland. With cute market towns, plenty of castles, and stunning but vastly underrated beaches, it’s a great place for an English staycation. So, it’s time to answer a few popular questions, and reveal a few gorgeous spots you just can’t miss!
From wandering across the Bastei Bridge, to exploring Königstein Fortress and hiking along the Elbe River, it’s time to get to know Saxon Switzerland in Germany.
First things first, until a few months ago I didn’t know anything about Sächsische Schweiz a.k.a. Saxon Switzerland. After a quick Google I muttered, ‘that doesn’t look like Germany!’ It didn’t. In my naïve little head, Germany was all about beautiful castles, pretty cities, forests and mountains. It wasn’t this…
I could see a few similarities between the region and Cappadocia in Turkey and El Valle De La Luna (the valley of the moon) in Chile, but compared to my five previous trips to Germany, this region offered something completely new.
The photos are special, but being right there and taking in the size and scale of the rocks is absolutely incredible! If you love the outdoors, this is a great region to visit – even better if you’re into hiking or climbing. In fact, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains have several hundred scalable peaks.
It’s fair to say the name is a little confusing. It actually got its name in the 18th Century when two Swiss artists visited, and thought the area was reminiscent of their home nation. Needless to say, the name stuck…!
Check out our video, then scroll down to find out all you need to know to plan your visit to the Bastei Bridge and Saxon Switzerland in Germany.
Time to tell you about some of my favourite spots, and give you a few tips on how to make the most of your time in Saxon Switzerland, Germany.
From the grandeur of the King’s State Rooms, to learning all about Queen Victoria’s time on the throne, and seeing Princess Diana’s stunning dresses, it’s time to visit Kensington Palace in London.
