Clara in Germany!

Have you ever wanted to take a whirlwind trip alone to a beautiful European city?  Cheap airlines, reliable transport, and geography make a last-minute solo trip within Europe totally possible.  Budapest is a cost-friendly, fun, and most importantly, visually stunning option for a weekend getaway.  Before you go on a spontaneous solo trip to Hungary's capital, here are the nine things you need to know.  1. Budapest Used To Be Two Different Cities Originally founded as Celtic forts on opposite sides of the Danube river, the cities of Buda and Pest remained separated up until their unification in 1873.  Walking across the Chain Bridge looking into the Buda district   A symbol of this east and west unification is the famous Chain Bridge, which today links the hilly Budda district with its flatter Pest counterpart.  2. Hostels Are Your Saving Grace I arrived in Budapest at around 4pm on Friday and took the 100E airport shuttle straight to the  Deák Fe...

The Netherlands might be famous for its beautiful and freewheeling capital city, but there is more to the country than Amsterdam. Located around 90 miles (a 2.5-hour train ride) outside of Amsterdam is Groningen, a university city with a smalltown feel and a buzzing nightlife.  If you are in the Netherlands and want to take a day trip, weekend adventure, or path less traveled, here are five reasons why Groningen is the city for you.  1. It's Traditional  Early morning walk to the Martinikirkhof Established more than 950 years ago,  Groningen is older than Amsterdam   and a great place to admire traditional Dutch architecture.  One of the most famous architectural sights in Groningen is the Martinitoren, the tallest church steeple in the city.   If you don't feel like paying an entrance fee to go to the top of the church, you can go to the top of the Forum building and get a view from their rooftop terrace instead. After seeing a view of the whole ...

If you find yourself in Amsterdam with limited time and limited funds, you can still get a great sense of this small city (in a short amount of time). Whether you have a layover between airports or a few hours before your next train, take a look at these stops every traveler should make in the Netherlands' capital. These tilted, narrow houses on the canal can cost upwards of $1,115 per square foot (on par with rental prices in cities like New York and Paris) Hour 1: Take That Canal Tour You might be hesitant to invest in an hour-long canal tour when you have limited time, but getting a full rundown of this port city from its famous waterways is totally worth it. During my short stop in Amsterdam, I took a “luxury” canal tour that lasted around 60 minutes and cost about 20 euros. If you’re looking to stay on a budget, just don’t buy any of the gin and tonics offered onboard. Information for Flagship Canal Tours: https://flagshipamsterdam.com/ Hour 2-3: Go (window)Shopping In De Ne...

Move over Paris; voted by TimeOut as the most beautiful city in Europe , Prague has become a desirable (and affordable) destination for travelers looking to have a great time on a budget. Before you start packing your bags, take a look at these five things every traveler should know before their trip to the Czech Republic's stunning capital. 1. It's Easy To Feel Like Royalty This 17th-century palace now houses the Czech Senate Once the residence of an imperial general, the Wallenstein Palace provides a great (and free!) opportunity to feel a little more royal. Enjoy its ornamental pools, lush garden, and baroque statues. If your royal highness needs a coffee in the Malá Strana neighborhood, there’s a cafe close by hiding in the back of an old-timey magazine store.   Address for the Wallenstein Palace and Garden: Valdstejnska zahrada, 118800 Prague, Czechia  Address for Cafe Dobrá trafika na Újezdě : Újezd 37, 110 00 Malá Strana, Czechia Walk along the Charles Bridge on your...

Tinder gets a bad rap sometimes for being a heartless hookup app, but in reality, it’s an amazing tool for meeting new people during a solo trip ( I did it during a recent trip to Vienna ). Traveling solo as a female alone is completely possible (and fun!), but there are a few things to keep in mind before you start swiping in a foreign country. I ended up having a Czech tarot reading with the person I met on Tinder! 1. You're The Boss This is your travel experience and nobody else's. If you go on a date during a solo trip, make sure you are doing it for yourself and not just because you are having trouble being alone. This is just a tiny part of your trip, not the end all be all. 2. Meet in a Public Place This might seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes solo travelers get lonely and make rash decisions! If you decide to meet up with one of your Tinder matches, try choosing a place you’ve already visited or one that is close to your hostel; that way you have an easy out if t...

Vienna is thought to be one of Europe’s most romantic cities, but you don’t have to meet your lover on a train a la  Before Sunrise to have a good time. Traveling alone gives you the opportunity to get lost, meet new people, and explore your individual interests. If you are nervous about traveling alone, don’t be! Traveling solo is something everybody can do, and Vienna is a great place to start. This post will walk you through how to travel solo in Vienna (being alone in Austria’s capital might be a lot more fun than you think). 1. Meet New People At A Hostel Siebenbrunnerplatz, a short walk from Pauline's hostel where you can find bike rentals and an ATM If you are a female traveling alone, a great option is to stay in an all-female hostel room. This will help you save money, feel more secure, and still give you the option to go into common spaces and meet new people. Pauline’s contactless hostel is easy to navigate and super friendly; I recommend it for all solo travelers! (Add...