The Best Solo Travel Destinations in Europe in 2022

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Oct 22, 2021

Travelling alone is one of my favourite ways to explore the world. Today, I’m sharing with you the best solo travel destinations to visit in Europe in 2022, whether this is your first time travelling solo or you’re a seasoned pro looking to expand your European horizons.

Note: I’m also listing two cities in the United Kingdom as ‘solo travel destinations in Europe’, even though I know they officially left the European Union in 2020. Sue me.

Overview

The best solo travel destinations in Europe for city breaks

Europe is home to many of the world’s most historically and culturally relevant cities. For people like you and me, that means it’s got plenty of solo travel destinations to discover. In other words: you could spend days — or even weeks — in every major European city without getting bored.

These are my favourite solo destinations in Europe for a quick city getaway.

Dublin (Ireland)

Dublin was my very first solo travel destination in Europe.

Ahh, the city that started it all. I went to Dublin on my very first solo trip, and that’s an experience I’ll always cherish. The Irish capital is a city with plenty of things to keep a solo traveller entertained for a few days. If you’re worried about solo travel safety: Ireland is consistently listed among the safest countries in the world to travel by yourself.

Read more: Budget Solo Travel in Dublin: Travel Tips and Tricks

Rotterdam (Netherlands)

Rotterdam — the less-known alternative to the Dutch capital Amsterdam — is the perfect place for solo travellers.

Everything Amsterdam does, Rotterdam does better. At least for solo travellers. The city has the same culture, the same people and the same food, but better and cheaper. Especially if you’re not a fan of crowded cities with many attractions aimed at tourists, you’re better off in Rotterdam.

Read more: Where To Eat In Rotterdam: The Ultimate Foodie Guide

London (England, UK)

London, the European city that never sleeps, has plenty of things to do for solo travellers.

Then again, if you do happen to be a fan of crowded cities, London is the place to be if you’re travelling solo. Other travellers tend to agree: it’s the third-most visited city in the world, and for good reason. You could easily spend a week (or more) in each of the city’s 12 boroughs. London is home to world-class restaurants and museums, not to forget its historical districts and splashes of innovation, such as the Shard, Tate Modern, and the Sky Garden.


Solo travel destinations in Europe for eternal doubters

Are you looking for a bit of everything when you travel? Luckily for you, Europe is rich in cities that offer something for everyone. Culture, nature, adventure and gastronomy go hand in hand in these solo travel destinations.

Valletta (Malta)

Malta is one of my favourite solo travel destinations in Europe, and Valletta is the perfect base to discover the islands.

The Maltese capital is not only a sight to behold — it’s also the perfect base for solo travellers to explore the three islands of Malta. Some highlights around the country are Rabat, Mdina, the Azure Window remains on Gozo, the Blue Lagoon in Camino, the Three Cities, and Marsaxlokk. English is one of the official languages in the country, so if you can read this, you’ll have no trouble getting around.

Read more: Solo Travel in Malta: A Conclusive Guide

Berlin (Germany)

The German capital is an easy-going city — in other words, one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe.

With its impressive cultural neighbourhoods, modern art and electronic music scene, Berlin is the city that truly made me love travelling solo. Whether you just want to visit the essentials — Brandenburger Tor, Reichstag Building, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall, for starters — or you’re looking to go off the beaten path: Berlin has something for everybody.

Read more:

Edinburgh (Scotland, UK)

Edinburgh is easy to explore, both as a solo traveller and with friends or family.

A stunning historic city centre, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, and the Scott Monument walk into a bar… No idea what the punchline to that joke is, but the city is there to please every solo traveller. The cultural sights (you know, the ones from the joke in the first line), a breathtaking hike (Arthur’s Seat), plenty of shopping opportunities and the Royal Botanical Gardens make Edinburgh the amazing city it is today.

Read more: Edinburgh Solo Travel Guide — Things To Do In Edinburgh


Offbeat solo travel destinations in Europe

Are you a seasoned solo traveller looking for a new thrill? Or just a first-timer who wants to do something just a little bit different?

Take a look at some of my favourite offbeat solo travel destinations in Europe.

Antwerp (Belgium)

Antwerp (Belgium) might not be the first solo travel destination in Europe you think of, but it's definitely worth your time.

The second-largest metropolitan region in Belgium and host of the 1920 Summer Olympics, Antwerp is a great, albeit slightly unusual, solo travel destination in Europe. (And, coincidentally, it’s also the city I call home at the time of writing this. Come say hi!)

Read more: Best Restaurants in Antwerp: The Ultimate Foodie Guide

Strasbourg (France)

Strasbourg won't be on many people's list of top solo travel destinations in Europe, but it should be on yours.

If you’re a solo traveller with an interest in international politics, there’s really no competition for Strasbourg. The city is home to several European institutions and non-European international institutions. Its historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, although the city has been at the centre of violent disputes throughout history, it now serves as a cultural bridge between French and German culture.

Read more: 10 best day trips from Strasbourg for slow travellers

Bologna (Italy)

The Fat, Red, and the Learn'd City — Bologna — has plenty of things to do for solo travellers.

Bologna is known as the Fat, Red, and the Learn’d City — respectively due to its rich cuisine, the red Spanish tiled rooftops, and being home to the oldest university in the western world. Oh, and one of the best pasta sauces of all time — Bolognese sauce — is literally named after the city. But if that won’t convince you to travel to Bologna, I’m not sure what will.

Zagreb (Croatia)

The Croatian capital, Zagreb, is easy-going and a fun place to travel to if you're travelling alone.

Whether you’re looking for a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park or you simply want to absorb the atmosphere of the Central European lifestyle, Zagreb is where you want to be.

Read more: Zagreb (Croatia): Is It Worth a Visit or Not?


Solo travel destinations in Europe for nature lovers

Just because you’re travelling alone, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy nature. Whether it’s snowboarding down a mountain slope, going for a hike in the mystical forest or catching waves with your surfboard that gets your adrenaline going, there are plenty of solo travel destinations in Europe for nature lovers.

Braga (Portugal)

Braga is an enchanting town in Portugal — the place to be for solo travellers in Europe looking to explore nature.

The enchanting town of Braga is a budget-friendly alternative to bigger Portuguese cities, like Porto and Lisbon. The town is located in northern Portugal, between rugged mountains, mystical forests, grand valleys, and soothing plains. Additionally, Braga enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with mild winters.

Interlaken (Switzerland)

Switzerland is known for its high cost of living, but solo travellers can explore the country's rich natural resources on a budget.

Many solo travellers avoid travelling to Switzerland because of its high cost of living. But what if I told you that you can also do it on a budget? Sivan from The Blonde Abroad gives plenty of tips on travelling to Interlaken on a budget in this blog post.

Iceland

Iceland is known worldwide for its stunning natural views, making it one of the best solo travel destinations in Europe for nature lovers.

If you don’t know why Iceland is the perfect solo travel destination for nature lovers by now, I don’t know what to tell you. For example, you can bathe in the Blue Lagoon, chase the Northern Lights, explore an ice cave or discover the black sand beach with the unpronounceable name — Reynisfjara.


Solo travel destinations in Europe for culture vultures

Looking for a big-hitter city with a lavish history where you’ll never run out of things to do? Consider the following solo travel destinations for culture lovers.

Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Dubrovnik is rich in cultural history, making it the perfect solo travel destination for history buffs.

When you know that Dubrovnik was a filming location for Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Robin Hood, you’ll realise why it’s worth your precious travel time. The city on the Adriatic Sea is mostly known for its characteristic Old Town and ancient city walls, and many places of interest in Dubrovnik rely on its rich cultural heritage to attract travellers.

Rome (Italy)

The Italian capital is one of the most romantic cities on earth, but it's also easy to explore as a solo traveller.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, they say. The Italian capital might be one of the most romantic and charismatic cities on earth, but that doesn’t mean solo travellers will get bored in Rome. The city has been a major human settlement for almost three millennia, leading to a cultural history Romans are rightfully proud of.

Athens (Greece)

Athens is the cradle of Western Civilisation and the birthplace of democracy — reason enough to visit it as a solo traveller.

Athens is the cradle of Western Civilisation and the birthplace of democracy. That’s why it’s the place to be for solo travellers looking to get all cultured up. For example: you can walk in Plato and Aristotle’s footsteps on the Acropolis, learn about the city’s culture in the Benaki Museum, and stroll through the labyrinth of streets in the oldest neighbourhood of Athens — Plaka.


Finding your favourite solo travel destinations in Europe

As you can see, it’s not difficult to find the best places for solo travellers in Europe. It’s a continent so rich in cultural, natural and gastronomic history that you can spend years here and still not see everything there is to see.

If you’re a seasoned solo traveller, what’s your favourite solo destination in Europe and why? Be sure to leave a comment down below and inspire your fellow solo travellers.

-S

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Visiting Sacro Monte di Varese — What You Need To Know

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Oct 10, 2021

Famously rich in fascinating cultural heritage, Italy is among the most popular European travel destinations. And, while you may not have heard of Varese, this city just northwest of Milan fits right in. It’s home to Sacro Monte di Varese — literally translated into English as ‘Sacred Mount of Varese’.

After reading this article, you’ll never wonder again what you need to know before visiting the Sacro Monte.

About Sacro Monte di Varese

A few kilometres outside the city of Varese, in Campo dei Fiori National Park (‘Field of Flowers’), lies Sacro Monte di Varese.

This is one of many pilgrimage sites in Northern Italy on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It forms part of a network of nine Sacri Monti in the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont, created during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Sacro Monte consists of the Holy Road and the Sanctuary, as well as the medieval village of Santa Maria del Monte. The Holy Road is a cobblestone path of about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) lined with 14 chapels, rising up the mountain to the village. It ends with the Sanctuary (15th chapel) dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

This climb is not for the faint of heart. Over the 2 kilometre path, you’ll experience an elevation gain of about 300 metres. That might not sound like much, but I can assure you — you’ll feel the climb in your calves the next day, just like we did during our week around Lake Maggiore.

How to get to Sacro Monte di Varese

Getting to Varese

If you’re interested in visiting the Sacro Monte, I assume you already know how to get to Varese. Just in case, though:

  • Get to Varese by car: Take the A8 motorway if you’re coming from Milan or the SS394 if you’re coming from the northeastern part of Lago Maggiore. Travellers from Switzerland can exit the highway in Mendrisio and cross the border through the customs of Stabio-Gaggiolo.
  • Get to Varese by plane: The closest airports that have some form of shuttle service to Varese are Milano Malpensa (MXP), Milano Linate (LIN) and Lugano (LUG).
  • Get to Varese by train: You can reach Varese by train from other major cities in Lombardy, through the Servizio Ferroviario Regionale (R lines).

Getting to Sacro Monte from downtown Varese

From downtown Varese, it’s still about 5 km (just over 3 miles) before you get to Sacro Monte di Varese. Since the climb itself is also moderately intense, I don’t recommend walking from the centre to the start of Sacro Monte as well.

Instead, I recommend either driving along Viale Padre G. B. Aguggiari or taking bus line C (Bizzozero-Sacro Monte) from a stop called ‘Varese, Moro fr. INPS’ (see this route on Google Maps)

Why is it worth visiting?

Sacro Monte di Varese is steeped in history, yet it still retains much of its historic beauty. As early as the 15th century, Santa Maria del Monte was a place of worship for the Holy Virgin Mary. From ancient documents, we know that there has been a statue of the Virgin Mary and a chapel at the top of Sacro Monte di Varese since the 4th century.

In 1604, the Via Sacra, a wide cobbled path, was built at the instigation of the monk Giovanni Battista Aguggiari. He convinced the abbess of the monastery to build fourteen chapels alongside the path, which Catholics considered sacred. These chapels were to be dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary. Especially for this ambitious project, the country’s most gifted artists and sculptors were brought in to build the chapels.

Today, the chapels blend perfectly into the beautiful mountain setting, making this one of the most picturesque Sacri Monti in Italy.

The 14 chapels

Skip the explanation of the 14 chapels and go to the next part: Santa Maria del Monte

The fourteen chapels of Sacro Monte di Varese each represent a different scene from the life of Jesus Christ. The road ends at the Sanctuary — the 15th chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Chapels dedicated to the Joyful Mysteries (1 – 5)

The first chapel on Sacro Monte di Varese
Chapel 1 on Sacro Monte di Varese (image: official website)

Chapel 1 — The annunciation

The reconstruction in the first chapel represents a typical early 17th-century house of the Lombardy region. The Virgin Mary stands next to a bed as the Archangel Gabriel shares the news that she will bear a son through a virgin birth.

Chapel 2 — The visitation

The second chapel depicts Mary visiting her cousin Elisabeth. Both are pregnant — Mary with Jesus, and Elisabeth with John the Baptist. Among the statues are also a festive dog, a donkey, and a blind violinist.

Chapel 3 — The nativity

Unsurprisingly, this chapel shows the nativity scene that is so well-known among Christians and that is all-present around Christmas. Jesus lies in the manger, surrounded by several figures and animals.

Chapel 4 — Presentation of Jesus at the temple

In the fourth chapel, Mary presents the baby Jesus to the priest Simeon. On the left side you can also see a thief trying to steal some coins and a dog watching the scene unfold.

Chapel 5 — Religious leaders challenge Jesus at the temple

The fifth chapel — the last dedicated to the Joyful Mysteries — depicts Jesus at the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers.

Chapels dedicated to the Sorrowful Mysteries (6 – 10)

Chapel 6 on Sacro Monte di Varese, showing Jesus praying in the garden
Chapel 6 on Sacro Monte di Varese (image: official website)

Chapel 6 — Jesus praying in the garden

This chapel shows Jesus side-by-side with the angel offering him the chalice of the Passion. On the right are Peter, James and John, sleeping, and on the left is a threatening group led by Judas.

Chapel 7 — The flagellation of Christ

In this chapel, Jesus is undressed, tied to a column and dragged to flagellation. Villains with grotesque shapes attack him, as Caiaphas and Jesus Barabbas stand by.

Chapel 8 — The crowning with thorns

The eighth chapel depicts the crowning of Jesus by his captors, who use the crown of thorns to cause him pain and to mock his claim of authority.

Chapel 9 — The ascent to Calvary

This chapel shows Jesus on his way to Calvary — the site of his eventual crucifixion, just outside Jerusalem. Jesus is bearing the cross while two villains press him.

Chapel 10 — The crucifixion

Possibly the most famous scene from Christian theology, the tenth chapel shows the crucifixion of Jesus. In this artistic rendition, Jesus is about to be hoisted on a very high wooden cross.

Chapels dedicated to the Glorious Mysteries (11 – 14)

Chapel 11 on Sacro Monte di Varese, dedicated to the resurrection of Jesus
Chapel 11 on Sacro Monte di Varese (image: official website)

Chapel 11 — The resurrection

In this chapel, Jesus is standing in the centre, suspended, bearing the triumphant banner of the cross. The painted scenes behind Jesus depict Heaven and the several Apparitions of Jesus.

Chapel 12 — The ascension

In the twelfth chapel, the Virgin Mary and eleven of the Apostles watch Jesus physically ascend to Heaven, surrounded by golden rays.

Chapel 13 — The descent of the Holy Spirit

At the centre of the scene in this chapel are the Virgin Mary and the eleven Apostles, who receive the flame of the Holy Spirit alongside a white dove.

Chapel 14 — The assumption of Mary

In the last chapel, the Virgin Mary is rising to the sky at the end of her earthly life, accompanied by angels. She leaves behind an empty tomb and eleven incredulous Apostles.

The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary is dedicated to the final Mystery of the Rosary: the coronation of the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven.

After climbing Sacro Monte di Varese: Santa Maria del Monte

At the foot of the Italian Alps and at the end of the climb lies Santa Maria del Monte, an autonomous municipality that now makes up part of Varese.

Santa Maria del Monte is the perfect place for you to relax after climbing the Sacro Monte and learning about its history. For example, you can walk along the winding cobbled alleyways, sip a coffee or have something to eat in one of the neighbourly restaurants sprawled among the village.

The main sights in Santa Maria del Monte are the ancient monastery of the Romite Ambrosiane, the Baroffio Museum and the Pogliaghi House-Museum.

From here, you can also take the funicular back to the start of the Sacro Monte.


You can also find more detailed information about Sacro Monte di Varese on the official website.

Thanks for reading!

-S


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12 of the Best Things To Do in Maccagno (Lago Maggiore)

by , on
Sep 23, 2021
Discover the benefits of travelling alone in The Solo Traveller's Bible

Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca. A very impressive name for a town as small as Maccagno, Italy. Standing proud at just over 2,500 inhabitants, the comune in Italy’s lake district was formed in 2014 after three neighbouring comunes merged by referendum. Today, Maccagno is a popular travel destination for Italian families and international travellers alike. Discover the best things to do in and around Maccagno.

About Lake Maggiore

Maccagno is situated on the eastern lakefront of Lake Maggiore — or Lago Maggiore, as the locals call it.

Lago Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy, boasting a shore length of 170 km (about 106 miles).

lakeside view from Cannobio (Lago Maggiore)

What to do in and around Maccagno

Hiking and nature around Maccagno

Northern Italy is an area rich in natural beauty, so it should come as no surprise that we spent a lot of time wandering off through nearby forests, mystical plains and along untamed rivers.

Related: Sleeping under the stars after a camel safari

Komoot is an app we used a lot when trying to find the best hikes around Maccagno. In this app, you can see routes that other hikers have taken before you. These routes often have a complete route description and pictures to guide you.

That being said, these are our favourite escapes into nature:

  • Lago Delio: An intermediate hike of just under 3 hours (7 km / 4.5 miles), with a great little spot for lunch on the road;
  • Lavertezzo (Switzerland): An easy hike of an hour and a half (6.1 km / 3.8 miles), easy to combine with a visit to a famous bridge in Switzerland (Ponte dei Salti);
  • Borromean Islands: A group of three islands in the westernmost arm of the lake. Rent a boat and spend a day exploring these islands;
  • Magliosina Oase: A small waterfall in the middle of the Swiss forest, well worth a morning or afternoon hike.
view from one of our hikes to Lago Delio

Cities you should visit around Maccagno

Northern Italy and southern Switzerland have at least one thing in common: a wide range of cities and towns worth your time. Thanks to a little something called the Schengen Area, you won’t need a passport to cross the border. You can simply cross two European countries off your bucket list in one trip.

  • Ascona & Locarno (Switzerland): Two neighbouring cities at the base of the Alps, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Be sure to have a walk along the lakefront and take the funicular up to the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary.
  • Lugano (Switzerland): The main city in Switzerland’s southern, Italian-speaking canton Ticino — located at a 35 km drive from Maccagno. Lugano boasts several heritage sites worth a visit, such as the Palazzo Civico and the city’s three churches (Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Church of Santa Maria degli Angioli and the Church of San Rocco).
  • Varese: A city 80,000 Italians proudly call theirs, and home to the Sacro Monte di Varese — one of the nine sacri monti in northern Italy.
one of my favourite things to do around Maccagno: visit towns in the area

Things to do on Lago Maggiore

  • Stand up paddling: Let the clear, turquoise water of Lago Maggiore transport you into higher spheres. Stand up paddling (or supping, for short) is all the rage among travellers of all ages. As the name suggests, you simply stand up on a surfboard and paddle. You don’t need wind to go forward — just a bit of courage.
  • Rent a boat: What’s a lake holiday without renting a boat for the day and drifting off with the waves? Boat rental services are sprawled along the shore and have services ranging from luxury yachts with a captain to simple boats you can use without a license.
one of my favourite things to do in Maccagno was supping on the lake, even just for an afternoon

Other things to do in and around Maccagno

  • Have breakfast in a pasticceria: Among the Italians’ favourite breakfast options are pasticcerias — elegant pastry shops frequented by locals, where a simple cup of espresso and an eloquently baked croissant form the perfect marriage. Wake up early, find a pasticceria near you, and spend the morning people-watching.
  • Go to the market in Cannobio: Just a short ferry ride away, you’ll find Cannobio. This is a charming village, home to one of the region’s most typical markets. Freshly made pasta in all shapes, cold cuts and meats, fresh fish from the lake, … You won’t leave this market hungry.
  • Have dinner by the lakeside: If you’re travelling to one of the largest lakes in Italy and you don’t have dinner by the lakeside, were you really even there? Take one night (or several nights) to elevate your dinner experience by booking a table right along the lake.
The view when eating dinner on the lakeside in Maccagno

Where to eat in Maccagno

One of my favourite things to do in Maccagno — and any other city in southern Europe, for that matter — is eat. Letting local chefs prepare their favourite dishes with fresh ingredients is one of my main love languages.

Here is my list of tried-and-tested restaurants in Maccagno, based on recommendations from locals.

  • Ristorante Italia: Don’t let the cliché name of the restaurant fool you — this is a great place to sample local Italian cuisine.
    • I recommend: A Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Fiorentina steak). Call the restaurant or drop by the restaurant beforehand to reserve your steak.
  • Ristorante Pizzeria Lido di Maccagno: This restaurant is what I was talking about earlier. On our last night, we had dinner by the lakeside in this restaurant and everything about that meal was amazing. (Well, except the migraine attack I had about an hour before coming here).
    • I recommend: Any pasta dish.
  • La Gabella: An serene restaurant with an exceptional porch, right on the waterfront. Perfect for easing your way into the wide range of fantastic places to eat Italian food around Lago Maggiore.
  • Ristorante Maccagno: A few streets removed from the lakefront, Ristorante Maccagno is a quiet place that gets all its charm from simple dishes and friendly staff that knows more English than the general population of restaurant staff in Italy.
    • I recommend: Any dish with a Milanese-style cutlet (schnitzel).
  • Pasticceria Gelateria Cerinotti: An unassuming bakery across from Maggacno’s town hall with a wide range of delicious breakfast foods.
    • I recommend: A simple breakfast of coffee and a croissant.
  • Home cooking: Maybe not something you expected, let alone hoped, to see on a list of restaurants to try in a picturesque Italian lake town, but trust me. Go to the market in Cannobio, buy some fresh pasta and sauce at one of the stalls and fire up your culinary skills.
unsurprisingly, even takeaway pizza tastes spectacular in Italy

Lago Maggiore 7-day itinerary

Now that you know about the best things to do in Maccagno and I’ve told you about my favourite restaurants in the neighbourhood, it’s time to put everything together. Here’s my suggested 7-day itinerary around Lago Maggiore, if you’re based in Maccagno.

Day 1: Hike to Lago Delio

I mentioned earlier that one of my favourite things to do in and around Maccagno is going for hikes. That’s why your first full day in Maccagno will be based around a hike to Lago Delio.

It’s completely up to you to decide the length and intensity of your hike. By taking a quick look around Komoot, you can find several hikes in the area of different levels.

Day 2: Visit Ponte dei Salti, Ascona & Locarno

Start the day with a scenic drive along the lakeside, up to Ponte dei Salti (Switzerland).

Don’t forget to bring change with you if you’re coming by car — you can usually only pay for parking with Swiss coins.

When you get there, take some time to take pictures, then cross the double-arched medieval bridge and follow the path into nature on the other side of the river. After about 15 – 20 minutes, you should reach a lovely spot to admire the flowing water of the river and the serenity of the forest around you.

When you’ve done enough admiring, turn back and have a drink or lunch at one of the restaurants around the bridge.

Next, continue your way to the neighbouring cities of Ascona & Locarno. Walk along the lakefront in Ascona and get lost in the streets of Locarno. Walk around without having a real plan.

Day 3: Explore Varese & Sacro Monte di Varese

After a one-hour drive in the morning, you’ll arrive in Varese. To avoid the blistering heat of the afternoon Italian sun, start your day by climbing the Sacro Monte di Varese in the morning.

The Holy Road on this sacred mount will take you along 14 chapels, depicting the life of Jesus Christ. When you reach the top, you will find the 15th chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Depending on how adventurous you are, you can either walk back down or take the funicular down.

Next, find a place to have lunch downtown and, again, spend the afternoon strolling along the city’s medieval streets and having coffee with the locals in a dusty cafe.

Day 4: Cross Lake Maggiore to visit Cannobio

Wake up early and take the ferry from Maccagno to Cannobio. Keep in mind: this ferry only crosses the lake a few times a day, so look up the schedule ahead of time and plan your day accordingly.

Upon arriving in Cannobio, you’ll be right in the middle of the market when you leave the docks. Walk around, try some food, buy some food, and have a drink in one of the cafes overlooking the market.

When you’re ready to have lunch, head away from the tourist-focused lakeside and head into the smaller streets up the mountain. Here, you’ll find a wide range of Italian restaurants happy to welcome you and treat you to their expertly-prepared food.

After taking the ferry back to Maccagno, spend the afternoon by your hotel pool, at the beach, or curled up on the couch reading a good book.

Day 5: Hike in Switzerland & visit Lugano

On our fifth day, we went for another hike in Switzerland. The highlight of this hike was Magliasina Oase. The hike we did was not on Komoot, but you can easily make your own hike around here.

In the afternoon, visit Lugano’s many cultural heritage sites.

Day 6: Go supping on the lake

After five days of exploring nature and cities around Maccagno, it’s time to relax. Sleep in late, rent a sup and spend the afternoon trying not to fall down into the lake.

There are plenty of places in and around Maccagno that rent equipment for water sports, so take some time to find the one that is closest to where you are staying.

Day 7: Rent a boat

More chilling! To finish your seven-day getaway at Lago Maggiore, I suggest renting a boat and getting a tan before going back home. Again, you can head to one of the many places around the city that rent equipment.

Be sure to ask for a boat that doesn’t require a license to be used.

Read more: How to pack light — The ultimate guide

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I Went Camping in Sweden – Here’s What I Learned

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Aug 30, 2021
View during a camping trip in Sweden

After a year of being unable to travel far and wide, European borders started opening up again this summer. Me and a friend I met in India two years ago had booked a camping trip in Sweden last summer, which was cancelled (and I don’t think I need to tell you why). Luckily, our adventure was simply postponed 12 months, and we happily boarded the sleeper bus bound for Sweden just over a month ago.

How we booked our camping trip to Sweden

As I mentioned above, our story starts — quite literally — at the other side of the world. Laura and I had both individually booked tickets for a group tour in India. It immediately became clear that we got along great, and we spent a lot of time together in India.

Related: Sleeping Under The Stars After A Camel Safari

After that trip ended, things quieted down for a while, until I saw an Instagram ad for another trip: seven days of canoeing and camping in the Swedish wilderness. I asked Laura if she would be interested in going on this trip with me, and she enthusiastically agreed to come along for the ride.

And so, we both opened the K-Jak website and booked our tickets for the bus trip to Blöm-Fox. The pandemic postponed our trip, but that just meant that we were able to look forward to our big adventure for more than a year. It also meant that we were ready for anything Sweden was going to throw our way. And that brings me to …

View over Swedish forests after a two-hour hike from our base camp

Why we went camping in Sweden

Why wouldn’t we?

We knew this trip would take place in Dalsland — also known as the Swedish Lake District. Dalsland didn’t get its name randomly. The region boasts more lakes than almost any other province in Sweden. In other words: it’s the perfect place to go camping for two adventurous souls from Belgium.

Sweden is generally an expensive country to travel to, mostly due to high costs for local transport, accommodation and activities. However, since we spent all of our time in the wild, our wallets didn’t suffer too much from the strong Swedish economy.

Related: Budgeting for Solo Travel — Tips & Tricks to Save Money

After a while, the question was no longer ‘Should we go camping in Sweden?’, but ‘When can we leave?’.

Camping in Sweden — Travel video

Before I get to the lessons I learned in Sweden, let me show you what it was like in a short, vertical travel video. (Best watched on mobile screens!)

Lessons I learned in the Swedish lake district

Lesson 1 – You need to be prepared for everything

As anyone who has gone camping will tell you, you need to be ready for anything to happen. Extreme weather circumstances, broken or malfunctioning material, food that has gone bad, … You name it, campers have survived it.

We were not afraid to set up camp in a forest during a thunderstorm, because we knew we had a solid tent that would keep us dry and warm. We took a little too much food with us, just in case something happened and we would need more than we had calculated.

Lesson 2 – Set aside your principles

A campsite off a Swedish lake is not the place for strong principles.

You need to live with the fact that your food won’t taste as good as when you’re cooking your favourite dish at home with fresh vegetables and herbs. Sometimes, you just need to live with edible, or ‘yeah, it’s alright’.

You might be used to sleeping with your significant other or a friend next to you, but you’ll need to be okay with sharing a tent with bugs when you go camping.

On the bright side: when there are no principles holding you back, your problem-solving skills drastically improve. You get more creative when looking for solutions to the everyday issues you face, and that’s ultimately a good thing.

photo of an empty canoe on the shore, with the sun setting over the lake in the background

Lesson 3 – Proper material is worth the money

In situations like ‘camping in Sweden’ — as well as in many other travel-related scenarios — proper material tends to be on the more expensive side of things.

In these cases, it is absolutely worth it to spend a few more euros, dollars, pounds or [insert your currency here] for that extra quality.

Tents, knives, backpacks, cooking material and hiking shoes are just a few of the things that you don’t want to skimp on. These things will ultimately save you money because they last years if you treat them properly — which you automatically will, knowing how much money they cost you in the first place.

Lesson 4 – You can’t control nature

In our case, specifically, we especially had to be prepared for weather-related issues. Overall, we were very lucky to have had good weather on six of our days in Sweden.

But we spent seven days in the canoe.

There was one day where the rain started pouring down from the sky at around 3 PM, while we were still a few kilometres from our destination for the day. We had to disembark and watch from the shore as the rain slowly accumulated in the canoe.

After about half an hour, the rainfall decreased and we headed towards our campsite again — desperately using our baggage’s rain cover to avoid our clothes getting wet.

Standing in the forest and helplessly watching the boat get wet was not the best experience at the time, but it ended up being a great story to tell at parties.

Lesson 5 – Perseverance is key

Standing still is going backwards.

At least, that’s what we say in Dutch. It might not make a lot of sense in English, but it essentially comes down to this: if you don’t keep going, you may as well turn back.

You’d be surprised how many situations this expression applies to.

One of those situations is camping and canoeing in Sweden. Laura and I were the only group out of 10-ish who chose the long route, so we constantly had to force ourselves to just go a few more kilometres before setting up camp.

At the time, it was exhausting to know that we were the only ones in our group who were forced to push ourselves like this. But looking back on it now, we can both confidently say it was worth it.

sunset view after a day of canoeing in Sweden

Lesson 6 – Teamwork makes the dream work

In a two-person canoe, you quite literally cannot do it on your own. You need one another to keep the boat balanced and to make moving forward easier.

Off the water, teamwork makes all aspects of camping easier.

Cooking food? One person washes and cuts the vegetables while the other starts the fire and fills a pot with water to cook rice or pasta in.

Setting up the tent? One person unrolls the tent and stakes down the corners while the other finds — or makes — a flat area with no sharp objects.

You may get into an argument with your travel buddy at times (which we miraculously didn’t), but in the end, you need them and they need you.

Lesson 7 – I’m not made for sleeper buses

If you know me at all, you’ll know that this is not a new development. I also didn’t particularly enjoy my experience with sleeper trains in India.

The concept was cool — I’m on the other side of the world and I’m using a means of transport I’m not used to. But my quality of sleep suffered greatly then, and it suffered again on the way to Sweden.

Seats that can’t fully recline, 50 travellers ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, and roads that could use some maintenance. Truly a recipe for disaster if you’re trying to get a few hours of sleep.

I tell myself it was part of the experience to make the memory of the sleeper bus bearable. But the truth is: I’m simply not made for sleeper buses.

Conclusion: Should you go camping in Sweden?

The short answer: yes. I would recommend a trip like this to anyone who even remotely likes adventure and exploration.

If you’re still reading this blog post, I can guarantee you’ll like this trip. That, or you’re my very supportive grandpa who reads everything I write. (Love you, grandpa!)

Take a chance on yourself and book the camping trip. You won’t regret it.

It’s Been A While…

by , on
Aug 15, 2021

I’m back!

Yeah.

If you’re reading this, you might have forgotten that I was uploading content to this blog regularly back before the world became a shit show and we were confined to the four walls of our living rooms for the majority of the day. You might not even know who I am or what this blog is.

If that is the case, head over to my ‘About me‘ page.

Done reading?

Good.

Now, the last blog post I uploaded was my Rotterdam city guide for foodies.

That was 10 months ago.

Surely, you can understand that running a travel blog is not easy when travel restrictions are in place and you can’t travel internationally. I hadn’t really been travelling since that family trip to Amsterdam and Rotterdam last summer, so I hardly had any experiences worthy of a write-up on my blog.

That’s not to say that my mental state fell into a deep dark pit and had the worst year of my life. On the contrary.

Despite the circumstances preventing me from doing what I love the most, I spent a lot of quality time with my family and some of my closest friends. I got my nose pierced and I got a new tattoo.

And even outside of my personal life, I had a blast. I did a marketing internship at a Fortune 500 professional services company, where I joined the copywriting team and worked on projects for one of the largest global hotel & leisure companies. I graduated cum laude from my second Bachelor’s degree. After writing dozens of cover letters, online assessments and video interviews, I found my first job.

I’m currently writing this in my new bedroom on a Sunday afternoon. I moved into a co-housing space in the big city and I officially start working as a copywriter at a communication agency tomorrow.

So I guess you could say life is going great.

Now. The next chapter of my life is starting tomorrow, and, to be honest, I’m not sure what to expect.

Even though I’ve started travelling again, I’m not going to promise that this blog will again be as active as it once was. I have a few posts thought out and ready to be written, but everything depends on how much free time I’ll have. I’m living in a new city, starting a new job and trying my best to balance work, friends, working out and free time.

I’m back. You can expect to read more about my adventures of the past 10 months soon. And I have a few travel videos coming out very soon.

(Keep an eye on my travel video playlist on YouTube if you want to be the first to see my new videos!)

Oh, and I also rewrote my solo travel ebook. I’m still figuring out what exactly I want to do with it, but that’s also coming. It’s almost 3 times more detailed than the first version, the information is more structured and everything is up-to-date.

For now, that’s all I can leave you with.

Thank you for sticking around.

-S