a travel blog by renata green
If I can, you can do it, too
Copenhagen has many sides that can be explored even in a short city break. There are romantic castles and quirky neighborhoods, the world’s oldest amusement park, and exciting contemporary art. In this post, I’m showing you how to experience some truly unique things on a long weekend in Copenhagen. The city is known for its cool Scandinavian design and the hottest trends in the gastro scene – including a couple of Michelin star-decorated restaurants. In contrast, there are original vintage shops and fun communal eateries where you can rub shoulders with locals without breaking the bank.
The legendary Mont Saint-Michel in the tidal flats of the English Channel is one of the most mesmerizing places in Europe. Located about one kilometer off the coast of Normandy, it is surrounded by the sea and steeped in legend. For me, the greatest wonder, however, was how easy it is to visit this extraordinary place independently using public transport. With minimal planning, you can take a self-organized day trip to Mont Saint-Michel even from Paris via Rennes. In this post, I provide you with all the necessary information for optimal planning, ensuring your own trip becomes a complete success and you have an unforgettable visit.
Although I’m a self-proclaimed street art truffle hound, Boulogne-sur-Mer was the first city I’d ever visited solely for its street art. And what can I say? It was absolutely worth it. During my stay, I discovered around 100 fantastic murals by about 80 artists, some of them world-famous. I featured roughly half of them in my post Best Street Art in BOULOGNE-SUR-MER – Part 1: North of Rue Faidherbe. And here comes now the other half, namely the works located south of Rue Faidherbe.
I’ll be honest with you: as a self-proclaimed street art truffle hound, it was the overwhelming number of amazing murals that initially drew me to the city. Although, once I was there, strolling along the harbor to the endless beach framing the rugged Atlantic, admiring the historic buildings in an old town up a high ridge, visiting farmers’ markets, and enjoying breaks in charming little coffee bars, also the rest of the city had completely won me over.
Nevertheless, as expected, it was the extraordinary street art in Boulogne-sur-Mer that made my three days in the city a colourful treasure hunt.
Paris is the city of lights and love. Bordeaux is renowned for its wine. Lavender blooms in Provence, and the rich and famous flock to the Côte d’Azur. So why on earth did I make my way to Boulogne-sur-Mer? To a city many haven’t even heard of, and which, at first glance, isn’t even very alluring.
Well, typically I go to a place for its attractions, and basically as a by-catch, I sometimes also discover its urban art. In Boulogne-sur-Mer, the street art was the main attraction and actually the sole reason I even ventured to this city located way up in northwestern France.
And while the murals there are truly stunning, the rest of the city gradually won me over as well. With its relaxed, unpretentious vibe, its almost Nordic, understated ambience, its maritime aura, and its noticeable British flair.
It can be exciting when a part of France is decidedly un-French.
It can be very inspiring when a place defies expectations.
Going on day trips from Brussels to the other Flemish medieval jewels such as Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent is fun, easy, and surprisingly affordable. Just hop on the next train that will take you to each of them in less than one hour and for around 10 €uro.
I’m a busybody with a chronic case of FOMO.
But Belgium got the cure.
It is relatively small, in fact, the fifth smallest country in the European Union. It slumbers there, nestled between Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg, pretty much undisturbed in the middle of the continent, not bragging about its beauty. And beauty it has all right!
During my stay in Brussels, Belgium’s and secretly also Europe’s capital, I actually managed to visit three other beautiful cities, one more intriguing than the other, so that I list them here fair and square in alphabetical order: Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent.
This Way to the Whole Story ->Bruges is without a doubt one of Europe’s most captivating cities, and due to its central location, it is easily accessible from many spots in Belgium and the Netherlands. This makes Bruges an ideal day trip destination. With its picturesque canals and romantic bridges, idyllic alleys and squares, magnificent historic townhouses, and the impressive Grote Markt Square, you might think you have stumbled into a medieval knight’s tale.
In this post, I show you what to do on a day trip to Bruges.
Street art is an integral part of Ghent’s cityscape, even if it doesn’t necessarily compete for attention with the medieval architecture. The scene ranges from spontaneous graffiti and tags to large-scale murals by internationally renowned artists. Some works are carefully commissioned, while others emerge from the city’s independent graffiti culture. The most famous example is Werregarenstraat, better known as Graffiti Street, whose walls are constantly being repainted and therefore never look the same for long. Beyond this famous alleyway, street art can be found woven into the cityscape in various neighborhoods.
In this post, I’m taking you to the best street art spots Ghent has to offer.
Nobody told me that two days might be rather short for a visit to Ghent. In fact, few cities blend centuries of rich heritage into modern urban life as effortlessly as Ghent. Massive medieval structures, picturesque canals, and centuries-old guildhalls form one of Belgium’s most atmospheric historic centers. Yet, behind its magnificent facades, Ghent is a vibrant university city boasting a truly unique energy. Less crowded than Bruges and far more laid-back than Brussels, it strikes the perfect balance between tradition and modernity.
