As someone who loves to travel, it has always been a goal of mine to experience Europe as a solo traveler. This summer, I achieved that goal by spending a month in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal. I have dreamed about visiting these places for as long as I can remember, and it was surreal to see the places go from the top spot on my bucket list to the destination on my flight ticket. I packed my bags, my favorite snacks, and set off. When I travel, I like to immerse myself in the culture, so I chose to stay at hotels that were unique to each city.

 

I began my one-month European adventure in Stockholm, Sweden, a city full of pristine beauty. Beauty in the way people dress, in the gorgeous nature, and of course - let’s not forget the decadent pastries and bread! While I stayed in the city, I wanted to immerse myself in the local nature. I spent the day at the Artipelag Museum walking around the stunning property, even taking a dip in the sea which is at the front of the museum. It is an absolute must-see. Everything about this city made me fall in love with this country. There was such a sense of community and tradition there. I happened to arrive when all the kids were graduating from High School and the way they celebrate is a little bit different than Americans. I sat in a little greenhouse cafe watching as the kids rode dump trucks, while dressed in all white and spraying champagne all over the streets, as the parents and store owners cheered them on. 

 

While it was hard to leave a place that felt so comforting, I was onto my next city, Copenhagen, Denmark. Something about the Scandinavian lifestyle is so fascinating to me, and I really wanted to feel as if I was part of it. I checked into Rye 115, the cutest best and breakfast and a stunning walk-up, original Danish apartment. The smell of freshly baked bread woke me up every morning before I went to head out and explore. This city is everything you could imagine - a bustling city filled with people from everywhere. You can’t go down one street without seeing loads of bikes with people commuting and tourists enjoying the beauty Copenhagen has to offer. I got to try some of my favorite restaurants that had been on my list, my favorite being Apollo, owned by chef Frederik Billie Brahe. My days were spent walking the city streets, eating the most delicious food and taking a dip and sauna at La Banchina.  

 

While on my train to Berlin, Germany, I passed through the German countryside. I saw long green fields with cows grazing and horses running which was a breathtaking sight. While I was only in Germany for 24 hours, it was an amazing place to see. Berlin is filled with many cool quirky neighborhoods. I stayed at the Wilmina Hotel which was an old women's prison that had been renovated into a stunning hotel keeping the original shape of the hotel and so many other features making it so special. 

 

Sicily, Italy was my next destination and the end of my solo travels, before meeting up with my friend. I landed in Palermo, Sicily; a very loud, vibrant and hectic town filled with delicious pizza and pasta that we couldn't get enough of. After our short stay, we took a ferry to Salina, an island about 3 hours from Palermo. Filled with vineyards and mountains our little house was situated between it all. The water was crystal clear and only a short distance from our stay. We blew up our air mattresses on the rocky beach and lay in the sun all day - it was surprisingly comfortable! Our days were finished with warm showers, fresh pizza and local wine from Capofaro Winery. We ferried back to Palermo driving up the coast to the charming town of Scopello, a tiny village situated along the coast. It was one of my favorite towns, as the beaches were filled with colorful umbrellas and chairs to lounge. The restaurants were perched on the hilltops with kittens roaming while we enjoyed our seafood and pasta. We took swims at Tonnara di Scopello, a pretty fishing village turned into a glamorous hotel with blue crystal waters to swim in.

 

Sadly, our Italian dream was over. Next, we were excited to indulge in all the beauty Switzerland has to offer and a place that I can't stop traveling to. We began in Zurich, Switzerland, exploring the charm of this city, munching on swiss chocolate and perching ourselves by the glassy water. We then turned the city in for some mountain time. We trained down to Vals, Switzerland, a tiny town two hours from Zurich tucked away in the mountainside. There you will find mom-and-pop restaurants, thermal baths and no tourists. We stayed at Brucke 49, and if you plan on going, this is a must-stay place! The owner, Ruth, has created the most magical stay. I truly felt right at home. I woke up to a freshly made breakfast every morning, and then spent the days reading on the couch, taking an ice plunge, walking the dog or going to the Peter Zumthor thermal baths. It is truly an experience you can't get anywhere else.

 

To end our European adventure we finished in Portugal. Starting in Porto, Portugal, a city filled with history and tiny streets. We loved every bit of food we had and the small local shops that had lined the streets. We took the train to Lisbon, which really felt like home because of the way people dressed. The streets were tiny and colorful and full of hills impossible to walk up. We wanted to really experience all of Portugal, so we decided to immerse ourselves in an old fishing village, Ericeira. It is now a surf town where surfers from all over the world come to enjoy the amazing waves. Every day we walked the cobblestone streets admiring the blue and white houses that brought so much color to the town. 

 

As our journey came to an end it was bittersweet. I was sad to leave such beautiful countries but excited to come home to my life in LA and reunite with my furry friends. Till next time.