Articles by Michael Rozenblit
10 Things To Do In Pecs, Hungary: A One-Day Itinerary
Though it doesn’t make it onto many itineraries through Hungary or Central Europe, there are many things to do in Pecs that make it a city worth visiting. Located in the south of Hungary, this compact and historic city is an absolute joy to visit. Combining traditional Central European charms with a lot of history and interesting sites, Pecs is one of the best places to get a bit off the beaten path while visiting Hungary.
Kotor or Budva: Where to Stay in Montenegro
When deciding where to visit in Montenegro, it can be difficult to choose between its two most popular destinations. Whether you opt for Kotor or Budva though, you really can’t go wrong! Both are unbelievably beautiful, have adorable old towns, and are set in spellbinding spots along the country’s coast. What’s more, it only takes roughly half an hour to reach one from the other so you can always visit both if you have the time.
The Perfect 5 to 7 Days in Albania Itinerary
As one of the more off-the-beaten-path destinations in Europe (and even in the Balkans) planning out the perfect Albania itinerary can seem a bit of a challenge. Figuring out where to go, what to see and how to get around when you only have 5 to 7 days in Albania can seem a bit overwhelming.
The Perfect 1, 2 or 3 Days in Tirana Itinerary
Albania’s vibrant capital of Tirana is quickly becoming one of the most up-and-coming cities in the Balkans, finding its way onto everyone’s list of must-see spots in this area of Europe. To make your travel planning as stress-free as possible, this Tirana itinerary is perfect for your visit. Depending on whether you have 1, 2, or 3 days in Tirana, you can easily alter this itinerary to suit your preferences.
The Perfect 1, 2 or 3 Days in Kotor Itinerary
Set in one of the most spectacular spots imaginable, the old Mediterranean port of Kotor is the crown jewel of Montenegro. Absolute musts for any Kotor itinerary include exploring its alluring alleys and hiking up to its amazing medieval fortress. Whether you have 1, 2, or 3 days in Kotor, you won’t tire of its stunning scenery and charming squares! Hemmed in by majestic mountains, its atmospheric old town lies at the end of the brilliantly blue Bay of Kotor.
The Perfect 1 to 2 Days in Skopje Itinerary
If you’re planning a visit to North Macedonia, then Skopje must be on your list. One of the most exciting, refined, and unique European capitals, Skopje is a gem nestled in the north of this land-locked Balkan country. You can spend 1 or 2 days in Skopje, getting lost in the streets of the ancient bazaars or among the beautiful nature. Founded in 3rd century BCE, the city of Skopje is one of the oldest in Europe.
The Perfect One Day in Poznan Itinerary
Planning a Poznan itinerary is not something that is on everyone’s radar when visiting Poland. This small city in the west of the country is an absolute gem of a place – boasting a beautiful, historic old town and a fascinating history – and, for some reason, sees just a fraction of the visitors as places like Krakow or Warsaw. If you’re looking for a wonderful little town to visit while getting off the beaten path in Poland, then consider planning out at least one day in Poznan.
10 Best Things To Do in Ohrid: A One-Day Itinerary
Straddling North Macedonia and Albania, gorgeous Lake Ohrid is one of the top destinations to visit in North Macedonia. There are a number of things to do in Ohrid beyond enjoying the tranquillity and beauty of the body of water itself and it’s so worth setting some time aside to enjoy this lovely destination. Considered to be one of the oldest lakes in the world and the deepest lake in the Balkans, Lake Ohrid is a popular holiday destination among North Macedonians and other Balkan residents.
North Macedonia Archives - The World Was Here First
Straddling North Macedonia and Albania, gorgeous Lake Ohrid is one of the top destinations to visit in North Macedonia. There are a number of things to do in Ohrid beyond enjoying the tranquillity and beauty of the body of water itself and it’s so worth setting some time aside to enjoy this lovely destination. Considered to be one of the oldest lakes in the world and the deepest lake in … Read More If you’re planning a visit to North Macedonia, then Skopje must be on your list.
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Set in one of the most spectacular spots imaginable, the old Mediterranean port of Kotor is the crown jewel of Montenegro. Absolute musts for any Kotor itinerary include exploring its alluring alleys and hiking up to its amazing medieval fortress. Whether you have 1, 2, or 3 days in Kotor, you won’t tire of its stunning scenery and charming squares! Hemmed in by majestic mountains, its atmospheric old town lies … Read More
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Planning a Poland itinerary can be a bit overwhelming when you consider both the vastness of this Central European nation and all of the incredible places to visit. From the Baltic Sea to the north to the High Tatras to the south and everything in between, Poland is filled with fascinating, beautiful and historic places to see and things to do. Spending 7 to 10 days in Poland is a … Read More Planning a Poznan itinerary is not something that is on everyone’s radar when visiting Poland.
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Spending one day in Dresden is an excellent way to experience a smaller German city in a digestible amount of town. Located roughly equidistant between Berlin and Prague, it is possible to visit this beautiful city as a day trip – or as a stopping-off point between the two capitals.
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Vilnius, the charming capital of Lithuania, is often overlooked by travellers on a short Baltics itinerary who tend to favour the other Baltic capitals of Tallinn or Riga. This is undoubtedly a great shame, as Vilnius has a lot to offer travellers with several interesting neighbourhoods that are perfect for a few days of exploring. Wondering where to stay in Vilnius?
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Planning out a Budapest itinerary is one of the highlights of mapping out a trip to Central Europe. As one of the most beautiful and interesting cities on the continent, planning to spend 2, 3 or 4 days in Budapest is never a bad idea. Whether you only have a short amount of time and want to ensure you see all of the highlights on both the Buda and Pest … Read More As one of the top destinations to visit in the entirety of Europe, the Hungarian capital of Budapest has so much to offer visitors.
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Mapping out the ideal Sofia itinerary is a highlight of visiting Bulgaria and spending 1, 2 or 3 days in Sofia is an unbeatable experience. Sofia is a city that is often overlooked, too frequently shunted and added to “skip it” lists without a second thought. And, to be honest, it might be understandable at first sight of Bulgaria’s capital city.
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Are you considering visiting Serbia’s second-largest city and are wondering what to do in Novi Sad? Well, look no further. Many people who are visiting Serbia set their sites solely on lively and edgy Belgrade and fail to notice humble Novi Sad when in their trip planning. And this is a real shame.
How to Visit Graz in One Day: Austria's Charming Second City
For travellers venturing to Austria as part of a larger Central Europe itinerary, chances are that a visit to Graz doesn’t make the cut. While places like the capital of Vienna, Mozart’s birthplace of Salzburg or over-visited Hallstatt get most of the attention, most tourists don’t make the detour to visit Graz.
One Day in Sedona: A Day Trip From Phoenix
There are some destinations that just plain surprise you. Having spent some time in Phoenix prior to enjoying a day in Sedona and becoming accustomed to dry deserts and sprawling cacti, I couldn’t have imagined how much the scenery would change in just a short two-hour drive north from Arizona’s largest city. Sedona is an outdoor lover’s paradise with amazing landscapes as far as the eye can see. In fact, if you love the outdoors, then only spending one day here would seem like blasphemy.
9 Things To Do In Cartagena, Spain: A One Day Itinerary
When planning our visit to Cartagena, Spain, I was constantly directed to articles about the eponymous city in Colombia. Cartagena is one of the most popular cities to visit in Colombia, while its namesake in Spain tends to often be overlooked by foreign tourism, except for some cruise ships that stop here during the summer months.
The Ultimate Big Sur Day Trip Itinerary
One of the most iconic stops when embarking on a California road trip is a stop at Big Sur. However, even if you don’t have the luxury of a long road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway, I think it’s possible to do a day trip to Big Sur if enjoying a weekend in nearby cities. Spending a day here will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of any trip as the dramatic landscapes, beautiful coastlines and lush redwoods will surely take your breath away.
How to Plan a Granada Day Trip from Malaga or Seville
Granada is a city that deserves more than just a one-day visit.
The Ultimate 6-Day South Iceland Itinerary
Iceland has always been a dream destination of mine. Like for most people when travelling to a destination that they’ve dreamed about for years, I had grand illusions of packing as much as possible into my 6 day Iceland itinerary. I wanted to travel all around the Ring Road and see everything that Iceland had to offer. However, the more I researched, the more I realised that it simply wasn’t possible to pack everything in such a short period of time.
Seville to Cordoba Day Trip: A One Day Itinerary
We were so happy that we were able to carve out a couple of days in Córdoba when we were mapping out our very first Spain itinerary. However, if you’re pressed for time and trying to see as much of this fantastic country as possible, then it’s worth considering a day trip from Seville. Spending a day here will allow you to see the world-famous sites that the city is known for as well as giving you plenty of time to get off the beaten path and explore some of the less-visited parts of the city.
Complete Guide to Iceland's Golden Circle Stops (with Map!)
For most travellers on a short trip to Iceland, after spending a day or two in Reykjavik and soaking in the Blue Lagoon, their last day is spent touring the famous Golden Circle, easily accessible as a day trip from Reykjavik. While many tour operators stick to the four most popular Golden Circle stops, there are a number of spectacular additional stops possible if you self-drive the Golden Circle.
Where to Stay in Vik, Hofn, and near Jokulsarlon, Iceland
Those exploring the south coast of Iceland are likely going to be looking for an overnight base in various places such as Vik, Hofn or near the incredible Jokilsarlon Glacier Lagoon. All three of these places are located close to some of the most beautiful natural attractions in Iceland and planning to stay the night in this area is much more preferable than taking day trips from Reykjavik.
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Travellers wondering where to stay in Riga either for a weekend break as part of a longer Baltic itinerary are spoiled for choice as there are a number of great options whether you want to stay close to the tourist attractions, enjoy the nightlife or after a peaceful seaside escape. Wondering what the best hotels and hostels in Riga are?
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Tourist numbers are continuing to increase to Baku. With travellers ranging from penny-pinching backpackers to luxury tourists looking to spend a few days in the Azeri capital, more and more people are wondering where to stay in Baku, Azerbaijan.
11 Essential Iceland Car Rental Tips
Unless you want to hitchhike, you’ll most likely end up renting a car in Iceland if you plan to drive around the country. There are however several things to keep in mind when doing so, so we’ve created this list of car rental tips to consider when visiting Iceland! Table of Contents Toggle Iceland gets extremely popular during the summer months of July and August, so I would book as early as possible both to avoid missing out and also to save money.
Where to Stay in Riga, Latvia: The Best Areas & Hotels
Riga holds a special place in my heart – I’ve visited several times throughout the years and its the city my parents come from. But if you’re visiting for the first time, I know it can be tough to figure out exactly which area to stay in this beautiful city when you realise just how many options there are.
Where to Stay in Vilnius: The Best Areas and Hotels
Vilnius is often overlooked by travellers on a short Baltics itinerary who tend to favour the other Baltic capitals of Tallinn or Riga. However, through miltiple visits, I’ve found that Vilnius has a lot to offer travellers with several interesting neighbourhoods that are perfect for a few days of exploring. This article outlines all the best places to stay in Vilnius, including many great hotels and hostel options in each part of Vilnius. Want a quick answer?
13 Best Stops on an LA to San Francisco Drive
A drive from LA to San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway in California is undoubtedly one of the best road trips in the world. While you can drive between the two cities along the I-5 highway in just under 6 hours, I think taking your time and driving along the coast provides travellers with some amazing sites and stops to see.
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The Mexican port city of Ensenada, located in the heart of Baja California, has long been a popular choice for travellers who prefer to bypass Tijuana and enjoy an alternative town close to the USA border.
Omio Review: The Best Way to Book Transport in Europe
Omio is a one-stop shop for booking train travel, buses and flights in Europe. With so many different train and bus companies in Europe, booking with individual companies proves to be challenging, which is why we decided to put together this review. Not only do you have to deal with various quality of translations for each company’s website, but it can also be hard to find the right company to book with, particularly if it’s your first trip to Europe.
The Perfect Weekend in Geneva: A 2-Day Itinerary
I think spending a couple of days in Geneva is a great way to see the highlights of this beautiful Swiss city & to get to know this area of Switzerland.
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As of the beginning of 2017, 111 UN member states recognise Kosovo as an independent country. However, Serbia still sees Kosovo as part of Serbia which means there is no hard border between the two countries. This has caused a large amount of confusion for travellers who wish to enter Kosovo from Serbia or alternatively enter Serbia from Kosovo due to conflicting information available online.
Osprey Farpoint 40 vs 55 vs 70 vs 80: Which Is Right For You?
When it comes to choosing the best backpack to take on your next trip, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide. We love our Osprey Farpoints; however, it took us a while to make the decision between the various models and sizes.
Planning a Grand Canyon Day Trip from Sedona or Phoenix
Many famous sites around the world are hyped up so much that when you finally visit they fail to live up to the expectations that you have set. The Grand Canyon is not one of them. Our day at the Grand Canyon was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip to Arizona. We were absolutely mesmerised by the beauty of this natural wonder and ended up spending close to 8 hours walking and driving around looking at different and unique viewpoints.
The Perfect Seven Sisters Cliffs Walk from London
You are never too far away from a beautiful walk if you are living in or visiting London. While there are closer options such as Epping Forest or Richmond Park available, you will struggle to find a more beautiful choice than the Seven Sisters Cliffs. The majestic beauty of the white chalk cliffs makes for a wonderfully unique hiking option that you simply won’t find anything else like in the world.
2 to 3 Days in Riga Itinerary: Things to Do in Latvia’s Capital
It always shocks me that Riga doesn’t usually top lists of Europe’s most beautiful cities, as Latvia’s capital is one of the most striking metropolises on the continent. This, on its own, makes it worth planning a detailed itinerary for Riga in order to see it for yourself. What’s more, however, is that there is a lot of history to learn and interesting things to do in the Latvian capital that it’s worth planning 2 or 3 days exploring Riga and its surrounding area.
A Guide to Marsaxlokk and St Peter’s Pool, Malta
The charming fishing village of Marsaxlokk and the natural swimming spot of St Peter’s Pool ae some of my favourite places on the island.
How To Plan a Split to Mostar Day Trip
If you’re on a short trip through the Balkans, you might not have enough time to explore Bosnia thoroughly. And while we wholeheartedly recommend travellers see more of a country than just one city, spending just a day in Mostar from a city like Split gives you an opportunity to get a small taste of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Mostar is a relatively small city meaning that travellers can see most of the highlights within one day.
12 Best Things To Do In Perugia, Italy
Perugia is a beautiful city in Italy’s gorgeous Umbria region that is almost equidistant between Florence & Rome. But, unfortunately, it has surprisingly been mostly overlooked by foreign tourists who instead choose to zoom through Central Italy on the Intercity trains despite there being so many great things to do The capital of of Umbria, a small area of Italy with arguably the same beauty of northern Tuscany and filled with a number of interesting small towns to visit.
18 Must-Have Backpacking Europe Essentials
So it’s only a few weeks until you get on a plane and fly off to Europe. You’ve spent months planning your perfect backpacking Europe route. You’ve saved for your trip and know your daily budget back to front. Yet as your trip gets closer and closer, have you wondered what you may have forgotten to pack? Don’t fear! We’ve compiled our list of essentials for backpacking Europe that we never fail to bring on any trip.
Eight Cool Things To Do In Wroclaw
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, see our privacy policy. Wroclaw is undoubtedly my favourite city in Poland. It was voted the European Capital of Culture in 2016 and is slowly starting to gain popularity on the backpacking circuit.
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Albania doesn’t have a good reputation amongst Europeans. On my bus to Tirana, I was warned by an elderly man with Italian heritage to be extremely careful in Albania. Albanians were ‘uncivilised people’ compared to other Europeans he claimed. A lot of this unfortunate stereotype stems from the waves of Albanians who immigrated to other parts of Europe in the 1990s, some of whom became notoriously known for being involved … Read More I was pretty happy when I got off the bus in Tirana.
Armenia to Georgia: Gyumri to Tbilisi & Dilijan to Tbilisi
If you’re travelling overland through the Caucasus and plan to spend a few days in Armenia, chances are at some point you will make your way from Georgia to Armenia and then complete the route in reverse from Armenia to Georgia. As Armenia’s land borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed, this is your only option if travelling overland unless you head to Iran.
Yerevan to Dilijan: How to Get There & Things To Do
Armenia might be a small country but we found that there was a lot to see, even if you only have time for a short trip. For visitors looking to add a destination aside from Yerevan onto their Armenia itinerary, the small town of Dilijan is a great option. Claiming to be the “Switzerland of Armenia”, it is incredibly easy to travel from Yerevan to Dilijan as it is located just over a hundred kilometres away and can also be visited as a stop if travelling to or from Tbilisi.
Baku to Sheki: How to Get There & Things To Do
While most people travelling through Azerbaijan might just spend a few days in Baku and fly home, it’s worth taking the time to explore other areas of Azerbaijan. A popular option is to travel from Baku to Sheki and then cross the border overland to Georgia. While there aren’t many things to do in Sheki, we found it a pleasant town to spend a day or two exploring. Table of Contents Toggle There are four possible options for travellers: bus, train, taxi or car.
The Two Sides of Visiting Dresden
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Dresden wasn’t a city I had ever intended to spend much time in. However, after my initial plan of spending a couple of weeks in Berlin in summer went by the wayside due to accommodation shortages in the German capital, I found myself visiting Dresden.
Olomouc Travel Guide: Why You Should Visit Now
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Update: This article has been updated with the latest travel information after visiting Olomouc again in 2018. It was originally published after my visit in 2016. I first visited Olomouc in May 2010. I had never heard of this city before but I met a traveller in Slovakia who spoke very fondly of it.
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