Europe
SWEDEN
Sweden contains some of the most well known hotels in the whole world. If you're visiting during the winter, the Ice Hotel is a must see attraction. This hotel holds beds, tables, chairs, glasses, and more, all built of ice. The hotel is in the far northern part of Sweden, where the temperature drops to the negatives during winter. Each year the Swedish rebuild the Ice Hotel on 64,600 sq. ft. of land. A room in this hotel can cost from $200 a night and up, but keep in mind you're not just paying for a room, but for a lifetime experience.
Traveling in Sweden can be very simple as the Swedes are well known for valuing their public transportation. The length of your visit and locations you plan to travel to, should determine the means of transportation you should rely on. A popular means of transportation within Sweden are the public train and bus systems. You can easily check their transportation schedules on websites such as sj.se.
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ICELAND
With glaciers above and volcanic activity below, the island of Iceland has been dubbed “fire and ice.” The country has been an up-and-coming tourist destination. But when to go depends on what you want to do.
I went in December, during the Winter Solstice so there was very limited daylight, about 3-4 hours a day. The sun would “rise” around 11am and set at about 3pm. I say “rise” because we couldn’t really see the sun; the sky just got slightly brighter during this period.
I booked the trip as a package through Fleetway, a UK based company, that took care of lodging and a couple excursions. We flew WOW Air, which is a European budget airline. Because it’s a budget airline they cut down all the amenities, charging you for overhead carry-on, snacks, and even water. It was a bit of a shock, but if you’re prepared for it and you know what type of service you’ll receive, then all is well.
The Icelandic currency, called the Icelandic kroná (ISK), has an exchange rate of 1 kroná to 0.0099 US dollars. You can choose to exchange your money if you wish, but I honestly never saw cash exchange hands because almost everyone uses credit or debit cards. Keep in mind that because Iceland is an island, they must import a majority of their food and supplies. This makes everything in Iceland quite expensive so I didn’t eat that many special things. However, I do recommend trying skyr, the Icelandic yogurt as well as their national licorice flavored liquor, brennivin.
Iceland actually has some of the cleanest natural water in the whole world, which means you can fill up your water bottle literally anywhere -- from the sink tap to shower water to even a river in the wild. So bring an empty reusable bottle and fill it up in Iceland. Just make sure you’re filling up your bottle with cold water because the hot water will smell and taste like sulphur (which you’ll notice when taking showers).
The public transportation is fairly easy to use. Download the app called “Strætó” in which you can check bus schedules, purchase bus tickets, and check real time bus locations. One adult bus ticket is ISK 460, one way. Most Icelanders speak English too, so if you get lost don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Excursions The excursions we added to our package were all led by Grey Line tour company.
What to Pack I did so much research about what to pack because I’m from California and I get cold if the temperature dips below 60F. During our trip, Iceland’s temperature was about 20-30F. I got most of my items from REI and Amazon. Just remember to pack layers because honestly it’s pretty cold and no one’s got time to look styling; we’re all just trying to keep warm. For my upper body I wore a tank top + silk thermal top + sweater + bubble down jacket + outer coat. For my lower body I wore tights + silk thermal leggings + jeans + wool socks.
I changed up my outfits (to show different days) by alternating scarves, beanies, socks, and gloves:
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BERLIN
In addition, when arriving in Berlin via train at the central station it was simple to go to the tourist and transportation shop (which was located in the station itself) and purchase a bus pass that would meet our needs for the weekend. The pass that we chose was the unlimited bus and train throughout Berlin for the 3 day time period we were visiting. This was a great option because the city is quite large and when going from place to place it could get exhausting to walk everywhere. Although we did spend most of our time on foot, it was cool to be able to ride throughout the city and see a little more of Berlin and it really came in handy for long distances with hurting feet!
The Holocaust Memorial (The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) is a memorial in Berlin that is dedicated to the Jewish victims that were a part of the Holocaust. This memorial consists of many concrete slabs of different sizes that are arranged in a particular pattern. Berlin was one of the cities with the greatest Jewish populations in Europe, which is why it is a great location for this memorial. The architecture of the memorial was beautiful to see in person, and it was definitely a great place to reflect on all the history this city contains. This location of this spot is also in the center of many other sites in Berlin so it was one of the first places I visited when I was there.
Berlin Wall is definitely a must. Many know of the Berlin Wall, but for those who don’t know much, it was a concrete wall that went throughout the city of Berlin to separate the east and west of Berlin. This wall divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989 and was constructed by the German Democratic Republic. Today majority of the wall has been demolished; however, there are parts that remain in various places throughout Berlin. I suggest doing some research on where the best places are to visit the wall, because when I was visiting Berlin we had some difficulty knowing where to go to see the best views of the wall.
Checkpoint Charlie is the crossing point that was between East and West Berlin during the Cold War time period. This was a cool spot to visit because there was remaining signs from this time that had to do with passing the border and emigration restrictions. Here there were also many souvenir shops too if you’re looking to keep something from the Berlin Wall. Keep in mind this is a place where a lot of tourists visit so it will most likely be busy while you are here. It is definitely a place I recommend seeing, but don’t think it’s somewhere i’d spend much of my time in Berlin at.
Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) is a church that has history starting back in the 15th century as a Roman Catholic place of worship. The Cathedral is located on the Museum Island in the Mitte borough. Surrounding is a peaceful fountain and lawn where people can sit and enjoy the views with friends. When I visited there were also performers around playing music and doing magic tricks. This is a great place to relax in the city of Berlin and take a break from the great amount of walking you’ll be doing. You may even want to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks while hanging around this beautiful sight!
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LONDON
One place I never get tired of going is London. Now I know there’s so much more to the UK than just London, but I feel like you never run out of things to do in this city. My most recent visit was in December 2016. It had been a while since I’d last visited so of course I had to do all of the tourist things. Even with 5 days in the city, I still didn’t get to do everything I wanted to.
Transportation was pretty straightforward. After flying in, my mom and I took the tube straight from the airport to our AirBNB. We stayed at an apartment that was about 5 minute walk from the Victoria stop.
I highly recommend downloading the “Tube Map” app onto your phone to help with navigating the tube system. Although compared to the New York subway system, London’s tube is easy-peasy.
However, if you’re running late or on a time crunch to get to the airport, there are Ubers EVERYWHERE that can pick you up. I’m pretty sure most of the cars driving in London are actually Uber drivers. Another option if you’re just leisurely exploring the city is to invest in a Hop-on Hop-off (HOHO) bus pass. There are different rates for different types of passes. These buses follow specific routes around the city and stop at your typical tourist attractions where you can hop off. Then once you’re done visiting the area, or even if you’ve wandered over to another part of town, just find the nearest HOHO stop and get right back on to continue your tour.
Speaking of exploring the city, here are the typical top 5 must-see tourist attractions -- like everyone should visit these places at least once if they’re in London:
There are a number of other notable attractions in and around London. If you’re a Harry Potter fan (like me!) definitely go to King’s Cross station and get your picture at Platform 9 ¾. It’s located just outside of the area where you actually go to in to take the trains. There’s a gift shop too where I spent at least an hour just looking at everything. Another attraction for Harry Potter lovers is the Warner Bros. Harry Potter studio tour. Now this is definitely outside of London (a total of 6 hours including travel time and tour), but it’s so worth it. If you’re heading from St. Paul’s, take a walk on the Millennium Bridge and visit Shakespeare’s Globe or Tate Modern. This bridge is also where the Death Eaters attacked in Half Blood Prince.
Are you looking for beautiful nature, award winning hotels and spectacular traditional cities? Then Sweden is the place to go. With bordering countries such as Norway to the west, Denmark to the southwest, and Finland to the east, Sweden is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and has a population of 10 million people. The official language is Swedish; however, most Swedes know English as their second language. This enables convenient and efficient traveling throughout the country for people from all around the world!
Money and Budgeting
When traveling in Sweden it's extremely important to keep a budget as it can get expensive at times. It's also easy to fall into tourist traps; however, you can easily see cool places without spending the additional cash. The Swedish use the Swedish Krona as their currency, which has a current exchange rate of 7.88 krona to 1 dollar. Before visiting Sweden it would be helpful to plan out the places you'd like to visit and budget what you are planning to do and what you plan to spend money on.
Food
Sweden has a large variety of food. The Swedes are most well known for their love of Swedish Meatballs with potatoes and lingonberries. Another well known Swedish dish is pickled herring which is also the center of the smorgasbord, a word that the English have adapted from the Swedish Dictionary.
For some real local Swedish taste, you must experience a real Swedish “fika," which translates to "coffee break with a friend." A Swedish fika can consist of coffee, tea, pastries, and desserts. It's also most well known for the Swedish “kanelbulle," also known as the cinnamon roll.
Living
Generally, living accommodations in Sweden can be quite expensive, which is why it's important to do your research and plan ahead before booking anything. If you plan on visiting Stockholm, you should consider booking accommodations slightly outside of the city center to save money. Hostels are also a popular lodging option where can also meet new people. However, if you'd like to get a more big city experience, you try to stay at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm.
Sweden contains some of the most well known hotels in the whole world. If you're visiting during the winter, the Ice Hotel is a must see attraction. This hotel holds beds, tables, chairs, glasses, and more, all built of ice. The hotel is in the far northern part of Sweden, where the temperature drops to the negatives during winter. Each year the Swedish rebuild the Ice Hotel on 64,600 sq. ft. of land. A room in this hotel can cost from $200 a night and up, but keep in mind you're not just paying for a room, but for a lifetime experience.
Transportation
Traveling in Sweden can be very simple as the Swedes are well known for valuing their public transportation. The length of your visit and locations you plan to travel to, should determine the means of transportation you should rely on. A popular means of transportation within Sweden are the public train and bus systems. You can easily check their transportation schedules on websites such as sj.se.
Culture
The citizens of Sweden tend to be known as introverts since they don't often talk to strangers. Because the Swedes value privacy and courtesy, there's an unwritten Swedish law to not sit next to someone on the bus because it can be seen as an invasion of space. To uphold and respect Swedish culture, always ensure that you're on time, and if possible even early. Also, when entering someone’s home it's respectful to always remove your shoes -- this way you can make sure you don't step on anyone's toes (;
Now that you're prepared on what to expect when you visit Sweden, enjoy some sights you may see throughout your journey!
-- Marisol and Carl
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| Östersund, Sweden |
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| Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Forsaleden, Jämtland, Sweden |
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| Bräcke, Sweden |
ICELAND
With glaciers above and volcanic activity below, the island of Iceland has been dubbed “fire and ice.” The country has been an up-and-coming tourist destination. But when to go depends on what you want to do.I went in December, during the Winter Solstice so there was very limited daylight, about 3-4 hours a day. The sun would “rise” around 11am and set at about 3pm. I say “rise” because we couldn’t really see the sun; the sky just got slightly brighter during this period.
I booked the trip as a package through Fleetway, a UK based company, that took care of lodging and a couple excursions. We flew WOW Air, which is a European budget airline. Because it’s a budget airline they cut down all the amenities, charging you for overhead carry-on, snacks, and even water. It was a bit of a shock, but if you’re prepared for it and you know what type of service you’ll receive, then all is well.
The Icelandic currency, called the Icelandic kroná (ISK), has an exchange rate of 1 kroná to 0.0099 US dollars. You can choose to exchange your money if you wish, but I honestly never saw cash exchange hands because almost everyone uses credit or debit cards. Keep in mind that because Iceland is an island, they must import a majority of their food and supplies. This makes everything in Iceland quite expensive so I didn’t eat that many special things. However, I do recommend trying skyr, the Icelandic yogurt as well as their national licorice flavored liquor, brennivin.
Iceland actually has some of the cleanest natural water in the whole world, which means you can fill up your water bottle literally anywhere -- from the sink tap to shower water to even a river in the wild. So bring an empty reusable bottle and fill it up in Iceland. Just make sure you’re filling up your bottle with cold water because the hot water will smell and taste like sulphur (which you’ll notice when taking showers). The public transportation is fairly easy to use. Download the app called “Strætó” in which you can check bus schedules, purchase bus tickets, and check real time bus locations. One adult bus ticket is ISK 460, one way. Most Icelanders speak English too, so if you get lost don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Excursions The excursions we added to our package were all led by Grey Line tour company.
- Blue Lagoon If you’ve seen pictures, you know this place is a must. Plan to stay 3-4 hours; some people stay an entire day because it’s just so relaxing. Just a heads up - you will need to shower naked before entering the Lagoon. This is just to keep yourself and everyone else clean because they try to use minimal chlorine to maintain the natural beauty of the Lagoon. Although the Lagoon’s natural properties are very good for the skin, they’re pretty corrosive to your hair. So try not to get your hair toooo wet. The white stuff you see on my face is a complimentary mud mask they provide. A couple pointers:
- Bring your own cheap flip-flops to walk around if you want to save money
- If you don’t have a waterproof phone, make sure you bring a waterproof phone case
- Golden Circle The biggest tourist attraction in Iceland covering the most well-known landmarks including Þingvellir National Park, Gulfoss Waterfall, and Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysir.
- Northern Lights Unfortunately, the week we were there, the Northern Lights decided not to show. To see the Lights it requires clear skies in addition to solar activity. To check for solar activity, visit http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/. Compensating for the lack of Lights, we went to the Aurora ReykjavÃk Museum, which has a 7-foot screen showing time lapses of Northern Lights captured throughout Iceland. The room has chairs, bean bags, and mats so you can enjoy the lights for as long as you want.
ReykjavÃk City Attractions
- Walk along SkólavörðustÃgur Street and window shop your way up to Hallgrimskirkja Church
- Hallgrimskirkja Church is the tallest structure in the ReykjavÃk city center. About ISK 1000 will get you a panoramic view of town from the clock tower observation deck. Plus the structure looks like the Asgard palace from the Thor movies.
- Admire the unique architecture of the Harpa concert hall. It’s free and is a sight to see.
- After you’ve visited Harpa, walk along the Old Harbour where there are several museums to keep you busy.
- Located on a hill south of the city center is Perlan Museum. There’s a free shuttle that will take visitors to and from Perlan from Harpa. The museum houses an indoor ice cave which is a great alternative to driving 5+ hours south of the island for a real ice cave.
- For some more shopping and city life, walk along Laugavegur Street.
What to Pack I did so much research about what to pack because I’m from California and I get cold if the temperature dips below 60F. During our trip, Iceland’s temperature was about 20-30F. I got most of my items from REI and Amazon. Just remember to pack layers because honestly it’s pretty cold and no one’s got time to look styling; we’re all just trying to keep warm. For my upper body I wore a tank top + silk thermal top + sweater + bubble down jacket + outer coat. For my lower body I wore tights + silk thermal leggings + jeans + wool socks.
I changed up my outfits (to show different days) by alternating scarves, beanies, socks, and gloves:
- Gloves with touch screen capability to take all the beautiful photos
- Blanket scarf
- Wool socks
- Fleece lined knit beanie
-- Emily
BERLIN
Living and Transportation:
When visiting Berlin, Germany, my trip was only a few days long and I was trying to live most cost effectively. Because of this my friends and I chose to go the cheaper route and stay at a hostel rather than a hotel or an AirBNB. We chose to stay at the hostel called, The Generator, which was one of the more pricey ones, but had the best reviews and location. However, there were other hostels nearby that were even less than what we paid.
In addition, when arriving in Berlin via train at the central station it was simple to go to the tourist and transportation shop (which was located in the station itself) and purchase a bus pass that would meet our needs for the weekend. The pass that we chose was the unlimited bus and train throughout Berlin for the 3 day time period we were visiting. This was a great option because the city is quite large and when going from place to place it could get exhausting to walk everywhere. Although we did spend most of our time on foot, it was cool to be able to ride throughout the city and see a little more of Berlin and it really came in handy for long distances with hurting feet!
Now here are some places to visit once you have your living arrangements and transportation figured out!
Places to Visit:
Fernsehturm Berlin is the tallest building in Berlin located in central Berlin. Interestingly, the tower also contains a large antenna above that is used as a Radio and TV Tower as well.This building was walking distance to the hostel we stayed at, The Generator. It was also near many shops and cool sights in the middle of Berlin. If you’d like, you can also pay to go to the top of the tower and see views of all of Berlin from a 360 degree view. However, if you plan on doing so arrive somewhat early and expect to be waiting in some lines before you are able to reach the top. I recommend doing this as you can put into perspective how large this city truly is.
The Holocaust Memorial (The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) is a memorial in Berlin that is dedicated to the Jewish victims that were a part of the Holocaust. This memorial consists of many concrete slabs of different sizes that are arranged in a particular pattern. Berlin was one of the cities with the greatest Jewish populations in Europe, which is why it is a great location for this memorial. The architecture of the memorial was beautiful to see in person, and it was definitely a great place to reflect on all the history this city contains. This location of this spot is also in the center of many other sites in Berlin so it was one of the first places I visited when I was there.
Berlin Wall is definitely a must. Many know of the Berlin Wall, but for those who don’t know much, it was a concrete wall that went throughout the city of Berlin to separate the east and west of Berlin. This wall divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989 and was constructed by the German Democratic Republic. Today majority of the wall has been demolished; however, there are parts that remain in various places throughout Berlin. I suggest doing some research on where the best places are to visit the wall, because when I was visiting Berlin we had some difficulty knowing where to go to see the best views of the wall.
Checkpoint Charlie is the crossing point that was between East and West Berlin during the Cold War time period. This was a cool spot to visit because there was remaining signs from this time that had to do with passing the border and emigration restrictions. Here there were also many souvenir shops too if you’re looking to keep something from the Berlin Wall. Keep in mind this is a place where a lot of tourists visit so it will most likely be busy while you are here. It is definitely a place I recommend seeing, but don’t think it’s somewhere i’d spend much of my time in Berlin at. Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) is a church that has history starting back in the 15th century as a Roman Catholic place of worship. The Cathedral is located on the Museum Island in the Mitte borough. Surrounding is a peaceful fountain and lawn where people can sit and enjoy the views with friends. When I visited there were also performers around playing music and doing magic tricks. This is a great place to relax in the city of Berlin and take a break from the great amount of walking you’ll be doing. You may even want to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks while hanging around this beautiful sight!
Now that you have the essential information for traveling to Berlin, don’t forget to have fun and let me know how you enjoy your trip!
-- Marisol
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LONDON
One place I never get tired of going is London. Now I know there’s so much more to the UK than just London, but I feel like you never run out of things to do in this city. My most recent visit was in December 2016. It had been a while since I’d last visited so of course I had to do all of the tourist things. Even with 5 days in the city, I still didn’t get to do everything I wanted to.
Transportation was pretty straightforward. After flying in, my mom and I took the tube straight from the airport to our AirBNB. We stayed at an apartment that was about 5 minute walk from the Victoria stop.
I highly recommend downloading the “Tube Map” app onto your phone to help with navigating the tube system. Although compared to the New York subway system, London’s tube is easy-peasy.  |
| Riding the HOHO Bus |
Speaking of exploring the city, here are the typical top 5 must-see tourist attractions -- like everyone should visit these places at least once if they’re in London:
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| In front of Buckingham Palace |
- Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye: They’re all within walking distance of each other so take a morning and roam around
- St. Paul’s Cathedral: 3 different observation levels so there’s lots of stairs going to the top-most deck, but it’s so worth it - get your steps in!
- Buckingham Palace: Check dates and times so you can catch the changing of the guard
- Tower of London: You can see all the royal crowns and tiaras through the years
- Tower Bridge: Get tickets to walk across the glass walkway!!
If you’re craving some art and history, most museums in the city are free or at least have a student discount (so remember to bring your student ID if you have one). I recommend visiting:
- British Museum (also borders Trafalgar Square so spend an afternoon appreciating the art, history, and culture inside and people watch outside)
- V&A Museum (in addition to the great pieces within the museum, their cafe is the world’s oldest museum restaurant and serves a delicious afternoon tea)
- Tate Modern (modern contemporary art for all your Instagram pictures)
There are a number of other notable attractions in and around London. If you’re a Harry Potter fan (like me!) definitely go to King’s Cross station and get your picture at Platform 9 ¾. It’s located just outside of the area where you actually go to in to take the trains. There’s a gift shop too where I spent at least an hour just looking at everything. Another attraction for Harry Potter lovers is the Warner Bros. Harry Potter studio tour. Now this is definitely outside of London (a total of 6 hours including travel time and tour), but it’s so worth it. If you’re heading from St. Paul’s, take a walk on the Millennium Bridge and visit Shakespeare’s Globe or Tate Modern. This bridge is also where the Death Eaters attacked in Half Blood Prince. |
| Shakespeare's Globe |
Anyway, Shakespeare’s Globe is a fascinating piece of history. Although it’s the third Globe, it’s still a working theater and performs with an open sky ceiling just like the original did. If you’re visiting during the winter like I did, visit Hyde Park for their Winter Wonderland carnival! I also recommend visiting Kensington Palace and the Kensington Garden if you have a chance. Kensington is where the royal family resides and you can spend an afternoon marveling at the history and beauty of the grounds.
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| Neal's Garden in Covent Garden |
If you’re looking to do some shopping head to Carnaby St., Oxford St., and Piccadilly Circus. For more of a low-key local vibe, get some shopping or munching done Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden or Camden Market. Speaking of munching there’s a couple eateries I recommend:
- High tea at Sketch
- Costa Coffee (my favorite is the honeycomb latte)
- Detox Kitchen
- The Flour Pot
- Nandos
By no means does this post include all the amazing places that London has to offer. It’s just a quick snapshot of what I enjoyed during my last visit. I hope I can visit again sometime soon!
-- Emily
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