Europe

Europe Travel Blogs

These are all of my Europe travel blogs!

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.

Happy exploring!

A Day Trip From Split To Krka National Park, Croatia

Day trip from Split to Krka National Park

Natural beauty, stunning waterfalls, and you can swim there too – Find out all you need to know about travelling from Split to Krka National Park in Croatia.

Here I was with a BIG dilemma. I only had one day free in Croatia, and couldn’t decide whether to book a tour from Split to Krka National Park or Plitvice Lakes? They both looked like incredible places – but I only had time for one…

In the end, I went for the Split to Krka tour. I’ll admit it was partly because the journey time was shorter! The tour would take me to see the famous waterfalls, the amazing panoramic view of Visovac Monastery, and then stop in the city of Šibenik to see the UNESCO Cathedral. Plus, it included a lunch of some delicious, local Dalmatian food.

Day Trip From Split To Krka National Park 

Leaving Split at around 8am, it takes a few hours to drive to the entrance to Krka National Park. However, with a chatty tour guide outlining the history of Croatia, and telling anecdotes about everything from wine production to his wife being a beautician, the time flew by!

The views from the window of the coach were mind-blowing. Towns of red-roofed houses perched above the Adriatic Sea. Early morning swimmers taking a refreshing dip, while luxury yachts manoeuvred the coastline.

 

Journey from Split to Krka National Park
Journey from Split to Krka National Park

As we reached the national park we saw huge sweeping canyons, topped with thick green forests. At the bottom was mysteriously calm water. As we followed the River Krka, the water changed from a dark shade of blue to a vivid green. I’d never seen anything like it.

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REVIEW: Divota Apartment Hotel, Split, Croatia

Divota Apartment Hotel Split

Time to check out Divota Apartment Hotel in Split.

As I got off the bus in Split, I was met by a handful of people flashing signs and pictures, trying to entice new tourists to their budget accommodations. There was something charming about seeing this old fashioned marketing technique still working. I, however, had somewhere to be…

On my first night in the city, I checked into Divota Apartment Hotel. I wandered through the characterful Veli Varoš neighbourhood – a labyrinth of tiny cobble stone streets once home to farm labourers. Just 5 minutes from Diocletian’s Palace and the promenade, but out of the tourist hustle and bustle, it seemed like the perfect location.

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After checking in, I was shown to my apartment. The area felt very ‘local’ – people were going about their daily business walking dogs, going to and from work, carrying shopping and hanging out their washing. Traditional green wooden shutters hung off the old stone houses. I couldn’t stop taking photos!

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Thessaloniki… An Unexpected Foodie Playground

Ouzo Thessaloniki Food Tour

Time to check out the food scene in Thessaloniki, Greece.

A few weeks ago I posted this blog, all about my first impressions of Thessaloniki in Greece. I described it as an ‘ancient hipster city’ – struck by how vibrant, creative and diverse it was.
Thessaloniki UmbrellaOver a few days I saw many sides to the city, which isn’t considered an obvious tourist destination for Brits. It may be on the coast, but this isn’t somewhere you’d jet off to on a summer beach holiday… Luckily, there was plenty more to occupy me!

Holidays Sunshine Thessaloniki Greece 08
Holidays Sunshine Thessaloniki Greece 13 For a foodie like me, I was in my element. While I think souvlaki, Greek salads and mezes are delicious, Greek cuisine isn’t known for being particularly refined. With influences from the Med, Cyprus and Turkey, there’s an abundance of grilled meats, breads, olives and cheeses. It was part of the Ottoman Empire for 500 years, and also had an influx of Jews from Spain. Thessaloniki became a cultural melting pot, with everyone sharing the same markets and restaurants – resulting in a cuisine with more depth than you might expect.

While travelling around Barcelona and Istanbul, I discovered my favourite way to get to know a city and its culture is by heading off on a food tour. Thessaloniki Walking Tours offer just that – with a chance to see both old and new, budget and luxury, and sample a few weird and wonderful delicacies along the way! Leading the way was local journalist and self-confessed foodie Kostis Zafeiraki – who seemed to be quite a celebrity in the city, with his trademark red specs and extrovert dress sense.

Holidays Sunshine Thessaloniki Food Tour15

Thessaloniki is a city with a long gastronomic tradition. Kapani (from the Turkish word for flour) is the city’s oldest market, dating back to the 18th century. It’s not just food on offer – you’ll find everything from clothes to cutlery. Yes, one of those dangerous markets that you pop to for a few tomatoes and a loaf of bread, and return with some ornamental plates and a new hoover!

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REVIEW: An Unforgettable Week Sailing Around Croatia with MedSailors

MedSailors Boat Croatia

Time to reveal all about my week sailing around Croatia with MedSailors.

“This is Davide, your skipper for the week…” I was greeted by a tanned, smiley Italian, kitted out in a blue and yellow MedSailors uniform. 

*Update* I’ve just returned from an amazing week on MedSailors’ brand new route in Sicily. You can check out the video and blog review here!*

Just moments before, as I walked towards the Baotic Marina near Split, I was a bundle of nerves and excitement. All along the pier, groups of people were hanging around with their giant rucksacks and wheely bags. We were all playing the same game – eyeing up who we might be living in close confinement with, on a 47ft yacht for the next 7 days.

Holidays Sunshine Med Sailors Croatia Gallery 01

I would be sharing a double room in the bow of the Espanola yacht (a Premier Plus yacht).  I was travelling with one of my best friends so the week was guaranteed to be fun, but as I sized up my 4 new shipmates, I couldn’t help but get a good feeling.

Over the next 7 days we would be sailing the Discovery Route – a loop starting just outside Split, and taking us around the picturesque islands of Solta, Vis, Korcula, Hvar and Brac. Each day we would have breakfast and lunch on board our yacht, a few swimming stops, and weather permitting, some sailing. In the afternoons and evenings we would be free to explore small Croatian towns, sample the local cuisine, and get to know our new boat buddies!

Holidays Sunshine Med Sailors Me 1
Med Sailors Espanola

After a safety briefing, we set off towards our first stop – the island of Solta, where we would be mooring in Sesula Bay. Within minutes of departing, we opted to mix up some introductory cocktails rather than unpack.
As with many companies offering sailing tours in Croatia, MedSailors cater for the youth market (20-35). However, their approach is more sophisticated than most, with an emphasis on good food and company (they match people with similar interests on the boats). This is not to say there is no partying – it is still a holiday for young people… and we certainly enjoyed a few late, boozy nights!

Holidays Sunshine Med Sailors Croatia Gallery 27

As I write this, I’m back home in the UK listening to the MedSailors playlist I played on the boat, and wishing I was back on board the Espanola. I could tell you minute by minute what we did (and make you very jealous!) but instead, here are a few of my favourite moments…


THE DAYS

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