5 Under-The-Radar European Cities to Add to Your Bucket List

What do you think of when you hear “Europe”? London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona….

There are so many incredible places to visit in Europe - it could take a lifetime to truly see and experience them all. For me, the most memorable European trips have been to the lesser-known corners of the continent. After all, the most memorable travel experiences are the ones that are the little moments that occur when you are truly outside of your comfort zone. They are the conversations in a smokey bar about “what is freedom?”. They are the funny “charade” like interactions when there is a language barrier. They are the first bites of a new favorite dish that you never knew existed.  

So without further ado here are some of my favorite hidden gem cities within Europe. 

Kraków

My sister and I call Kraków the city of music because everywhere we went we heard people playing music. Kraków often gets overshadowed by neighboring Prague, but trust me when I say this is not a city you will want to miss. I love Kraków for it’s well preserved (and very Instagram-worthy) old town, restaurants, and fun bar/jazz scene. Kraków is easy to reach from most major European cities, and there are also nonstop flights from the US, making it a perfect place to kick off a Euro trip from.  

Tallinn

Tallinn is a real-life fairy tale, but there is much more to this city than colorful buildings and cobblestone streets. Tallinn has no shortage of amazing breweries, local designers, and great restaurants. One of the things that really stands out about this vibrant city is the amount of young and innovative restaurants - from the food halls to fine restaurants, it’s hard to find a bad meal in Tallinn.  

Tbilisi 

Tbilisi is one of those cities that I cannot stop talking about. Before visiting Tbilisi, I had no knowledge of Georgia (the country) and no expectations. Tbilisi has had a turbulent history marked by periods of Russian and Persian rule which has resulted in an eclectic mix of architecture throughout the city. Modern-day Tbilisi has a vibrant bar and restaurant scene and entrepreneurial culture. 

Tórshavn

Looking to go off the grid and unplug? Tórshavn is the place for you. The colorful capital of the Faroe Islands is quaint, unpretentious, and one of the most pleasant places that I’ve ever visited. The people of Tórshavn are incredibly welcoming, the town is picturesque, and best of all there are no tourist traps. I recommend spending a few days in Tórshavn and using it as your base to explore the rest of the Faroe Islands. 

Vilnius 

You’re going where? That is the reaction you should expect when you tell your friends and family that you are going to Vilnius, Lithuania. Trust me when I say that I have this feeling that Vilnius is about to be the next IT destination. The feel of Vilnius is vibrant and young. There are trendy boutiques, creative restaurants, and no shortage of cute cafes and bars. Despite the “young feel” the city of Vilnius was founded in the 14th century and looks straight out of a Disney movie. 

What are your favorite “hidden gem” cities in Europe?

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How to get a new passport in under 24 hours

So your dog ate your passport?  This may be the oldest excuse in the book, but getting a new passport quick can be stressful.  A week before my trip to Europe in May I realized that I was out of blank pages. After some quick Googling, I realized that for most of the countries that I was traveling to required at least two blank passport pages to enter. Even though the blank pages rule is not always strictly enforced, I didn’t want to risk it.  

The quickest way to get a new passport is to go to one of the twenty-six regional Passport Agencies.  To go to the agency I highly recommend booking an appointment in advance.  From my experience in Chicago, the agency prioritized appointment holders even if when they arrived extra early.  To be eligible to get your passport from a Passport Agency you need to be traveling internationally within two weeks or need a foreign visa within four weeks.  

So now that you have your appointment booked get your paperwork together.  First, you will need new passport photos and proof of travel (I printed my hotel and flight confirmations).  To avoid paying $14.99 at Walgreens for a less than stellar photo I recommend having a friend take your picture against a white wall. Make sure you follow the US Government’s passport photo criteria. You can print the photos out on wallet-size prints at Walgreens for a couple of dollars and cut out the photo down to the appropriate size. 

Next, fill out the appropriate passport paperwork and make sure you sign it.  If you need help determining what paperwork you need, check the Travel.State.Gov website.  Finally, check the Passport Agency website to make sure that you have the correct identification sources. The identification you will need depends on if your passport is a renewal or replacing a lost/damaged/expired passport.

After your appointment is booked & forms are filled out the hard part is over.  I arrived about thirty minutes early to my appointment and the agency got me in right away.  The agents asked me for proof of travel and determined how quickly I would get my passport based off of how soon I was traveling.  Overall I spent about 20 minutes in the Passport Agency in the morning and by 4 PM that same day, my new passport was ready to be picked up.  

Getting a new passport can be stressful, but luckily the process at the Passport Agency is easy.

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How to have a conflict free vacation

Travel is such an incredible experience, and nothing is better than sharing that experience with other people. I've traveled in all sorts of group formats - with my sister, my mom, groups of friends, friends of friends, and roommates. Each trip had its own unique set of challenges. For example, my mom LOVES to talk about feelings, me not so much. I walk everywhere, and she gets tired easier and has back issues. I've had both good & bad trips with my mom and what we've learned works for us is to leave the feelings talks back in Wisconsin and take transit or Uber if one of us is getting tired of walking.

I've written previously about how to plan a group trip and pick travel companions, but what happens when you’re traveling, and things start to go wrong? You can't just leave your mom at the airport and continue without her. Travel is difficult, it's not always perfect, and everyone handles that stress differently. Understanding this is key to coping with whatever gets thrown at you.

My biggest piece of advice is to level set before you start traveling. Do you have something that is guaranteed to upset you? I know for me I am always hangry after a long flight. On my end, I pack snacks, but I also level set with my travel companions that I need to know where that first meal will be. Another challenging but critical topic to discuss is how much money you are willing to spend. Misaligned expectations on finances can lead to some tense moments on a trip. Be upfront on what you want to pay for accommodations, transportation, meals, and if there is anything that you feel is splurge-worthy.

So you're on the trip, and things start to go wrong. Someone feels sick. Someone said something hurtful. Someone wants to spend an uncomfortable amount of money on an expensive meal. The list goes on and on, but no matter what it is the only way to resolve things is to talk about it. I was recently traveling with my sister Emily. When we were in Riga, Emily started to feel ill and did not say something about it to me right away. Long story short, she got irritated with me, but once we talked through how she was feeling the day went much smoother.

Although most tricky travel situations can be resolved through good old fashioned honesty, there are always going to be those cases where you can do nothing. I think the hardest trips to take are with friends and their friends. You never know what the group demographic is going to be like. When I'm on a vacation that isn't going steller with people that I don't know well I find the best way to make the best out of a bad situation is to find me time. Wake up early & take a walk. Temporarily break off from the group if there is something that you really want to do. Do what you need to do to maintain your sanity & and do your best to enjoy the trip.

The person (or people) that you choose to travel with can make or break your vacation and how you handle situations when they aren't going perfect determines if you have a great or terrible time. It's easy to get caught up in the moment when you're traveling, but you can mitigate the chaotic unknowns of travel by being upfront, honest, and understanding your limitations.

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