Traveling out of the country for the first time? Whether you are going it alone or with others, consider visiting these cities to help ease your way into it.
Dublin, Ireland
Fields of green and fresh beer on tap. Those are two of many great things Dublin offers.
Locals:
Overall it is a safe city with friendly locals. They speak English but with a heavy Irish accent. It’s not uncommon for a stranger to spark up a conversation with you.
Safety:
Travel Advisory rates Ireland a (1) and to exercise normal precautions. I always felt safe walking the streets day and night but stayed aware of my surroundings.
Transportation:
By bus or by foot. It’s very easy and inexpensive to get around the city.
Food:
Known for their hearty food like Fish and Chips, Shepard’s Pie and Beef Stew.
Nightlife:
Check out the Temple Bar Area! A street full of bars with live music and fresh beer. Considered Touristy, but hey, aren’t you a tourist?
Must See:
Cliffs of Moher: Located 3 hours outside of Dublin but an absolute must see. The most overwhelmingly beautiful Sea Cliffs. There’s a reason it is considered one of the top visited tourist site in Ireland.
Guinness Storehouse: Visit the Storehouse to learn all about the history of Guinness. The tour covers how Guinness is made, how to properly taste and pour a beer and advertisements through the years. Plus a rooftop bar that overlooks all of Dublin.
The Brazen Bar- The oldest bar in Dublin dating back to 1198. A great place to meet locals and tourists.
For more on Dublin, Ireland check out Visitors Guide to Dublin.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Bagpipes and Scottish Kilts, will be a common occurrence you will see and hear.
Locals:
Just as friendly and open to conversations with strangers.
Safety:
Travel Advisory rates Scotland a (1) and to exercise normal precautions. I always felt safe walking the streets day and night but was aware of my surroundings.
Transportation:
Edinburgh has windy bumpy steep hills, so although the city is walkable it can be exhausting. (Especially if your are lugging around a suitcase) Luckily, there is no shortage of train stations or buses.
Food:
Scotland is known for their hearty meat breakfasts with bacon, sausage, eggs and tomatoes. Also popular is Haggis and black and white pudding. Not to worry though, if you aren’t really into meat there are plenty of other options.
Must See:
Edinburgh Castle- Add visiting at least one castle to your must see list and make it this one…
Obscura Camera- Five floors of trippy illusions, Camera Obscura and a rooftop that overlooks the city. Depending on your curiosity you could spend 30 minutes to a few hours here.
Edinburgh Gin Distillery- If you love Gin like I do, then you will love the Edinburgh Gin Distillery and sampling all their many different flavors. (Elderberry Flower is pretty dang tasty.)
Reykjavik, Iceland
Beautiful landscaping of waterfalls, geysers, mountains and hot springs.
Safety:
Iceland has a very low crime rate. The locals are the K I N D E S T and are willing to go out of their way to help.
Transportation:
The best way to see the city is by car. Everything is pretty spread out and you’ll most likely want to visit outside of Reykjavik too.
Food:
Known for their large variety of fish and famous Icelandic Hot dogs.
Must See:
Golden Circle- A popular scenic route of Iceland. Complete with waterfalls, geysers and geothermal fields.
The Blue Lagoon– A geothermal spa made of silica and minerals. The utmost relaxing “spa” with beautiful mountain views, a swim up bar and massage treatment areas.
Waterfalls- Gullfoss and Skógafoss, just to name a couple. Iceland has some of the most breathtaking waterfalls.
Santorini, Greece
Bodies of water and a plethora of white painted houses.
Safety: A safe city to travel in and the travel advisory recommends you exercise normal precautions.
Transportation: The easiest, cheapest and coolest way to travel is by ATV or scooter. Here you can hop from city to city.
Food: If you like Gyros and Kabobs, this place is for you. They are both inexpensive and filling. They are also big on flakey pastries like Baklava. Mmm.
Must See:
The famous Oia Sunset- A view of white homes and a beautiful sunset to give it a perfectionist view.
Beaches- There are several beaches to visit. Chose from black sand beaches to pink sand beaches. Lounge out beneath a tiki umbrella and enjoy a bite to eat before you go for a swim or a jump off of a cliff into the water below.
Barcelona, Spain
A city full of life, singers, dancers and performers on the street.
Locals: The locals speak Catalan and aren’t always keen to talk to English speakers. B U T the people make the city what it is. The city is so alive with cultural and it’s mostly due to the locals dancing and singing in the street.
Safety: Travel Advisory rates it a 2 and recommends those who travel there do so with increased caution. Theft and pick pocketing is a very common issue in Barcelona. Keep a close eye on your valuables and never let them out of your sight. If you are aware of your surroundings you shouldn’t fall victim to the petty crimes.
Transportation:
Public transit such as the bus or tram are the easiest and most inexpensive way to get around the city.
Food:
Barcelona is known for their Paella, a rice dish with meat and seafood and their tapas, think “mini” appetizers. Also a nice surprisingly delicious dish is their Gazpacho, a cold creamy tomato soup.
Must See:
Sagrada Familia- A Roman Catholic Church, crafted and designed by Architect Antoni Gaudí. It that has been unfinished for hundreds of years.
La Barceloneta Beach- Along the beach are a ton of restaurants to choose from if you get hungry from your long swim.
Las Ramblas- Located in the center of Barcelona, it’s a lively street full of shops, outdoor markets, restaurants and street performers. One of the most popular tourist sites there.
For more on Barcelona check out The Ultimate Guide to Barcelona.
