A College Student's Guide to European Travel (Or: how I became insufferable for 90 days)
I want to preface by saying that this title may be misleading. Traveling across Europe for 4 months is not casual, cheap, nor a spontaneous activity that everyone can just decide they want to do. However, if you do find yourself wanting to get away from the American routine or studying abroad at any point, this guide may be helpful.
Spain: Madrid and Barcelona
Madrid was my starting point, and it was definitely the easiest transition for me coming from New York City. If you're someone who is weirdly attached to the Big Apple, Madrid feels familiar in an unexpected way. There's the same sense of bustling movement, and a similar expectation that people know what they're doing. It has the Manhattan energy without its compression geography. People still care about working and getting to places with purpose, but don't seem to be hunted by their own schedules and lives. Of course, it's imperative you visit the obvious spots, like the Royal Palace. The palace’s scale is insane, and El Retiro is a breath of fresh air dropped mid-city. The food is fantastic (the BEST paella of my life) and reminded me of food back home. But what I remember most is just meandering without needing a reason. At night, the city opens up in a way that welcomes individuals from all communities. Latin clubs, dance clubs, queer spaces, and everything in between blend into one long, loud, and warm night. It was effortlessly reminiscent of New York.
Next was Barcelona. This city is humbling and teaches you that you are not as spontaneous as you think you are. If you try to show up to Park Güell or the Sagrada Familia without tickets, you will get humbled. Nothing screams loud-American more than confidently assuming you can just walk into somewhere and figure it out. Buy your tickets in advance and save yourself the unnecessary steps uphill and the embarrassment. If you are smart enough to prepare your itinerary, once you're in, it makes sense. Gaudí’s work feels like a surrealist painting brought to life. It felt that Gaudí’s imagination had sprung right out of his brain and spilled onto the hillside of Barcelona. At night, I recommend skipping the obvious places like Opium and Shôko, as they seem to be a trap for those who simply Googled “Barcelona nightlife.” Instead, I suggest going to Monk, a speakeasy in the form of a convenience store. It's adorned with stained glass and music that makes you want to try every drink on their menu. The crowd feels younger and more fun.
Switzerland: Interlaken
Interlaken was definitely the most underrated palace I traveled to…seeing that I had never heard of it before setting foot in Europe this semester. It was simultaneously the palace that made the hole in my wallet gape. Interlaken was basically a playground for thrill seekers. Everywhere around you were skiiers returning from the mountain (also the highest point in Europe), paragliders, skydivers, and boat-goers who were returning from all-you-can-eat chocolate and fondue tours. The landscape looks fake in the best way, and I felt like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. But the best part of Interlaken is that you don't need to stay there for a long time to get the full experience. My two days were perfect. After that, the adrenaline starts to wear off, and you realize you just spent 30 Francs on a sandwich.
Italy: San Giovanni, Milan, and Sienna
This may be a hot take, but Tuscany started to blur together for me. There are only so many churches your brain can process before they start to feel interchangeable. Are they beautiful and historic? Yes. But after a while, you're nodding politely at another cathedral, thinking about food and wine. Sienna was my favorite. Its cathedral, Duomo di Sienna, was unreal, and was so impressive given the fact that the city is on the side of a hill. Milan, in my opinion, is entirely skippable. Perhaps it was the poor weather, but it felt way too spread out and dependent on transportation, not built for wandering. The highlight of the trip was, embarrassingly, the vintage luxury market, where I spent several hours. San Giovanni was similar to Sienna. It was rich in history. The medieval skyscrapers were impressive, and the city allegedly has the world's best gelato, though I'm not fully convinced, as I may have had frozen yogurt in New York that rivals it.
Portugal: Lisbon
Lisbon was my most recent pleasant surprise. It's a much smaller city than I expected, much more walkable, a little calmer than Spain, but still vibrant and buzzing with energy. You can actually explore it on foot, which immediately makes everything more personal. The hills are an endurance test, but the views make up for it. You can easily take a taxi to the Sanctuary of Christ and look out over the city. After you go back down, wander throughout the Barrio Alto neighborhood and bar hop with people you met at your hostel an hour ago. Cascai is a short escape from the city, though it feels like a beach you would find in the Maldives. The food here is equally transportive. Pastel de nata is one of my new favorite desserts…and breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also, unexpectedly, the Unduan food in Lisbon is incredible. Finally, the best club in Europe…is K Urban Beach. You're dancing for hours, the music is a rushing combination of 2000s music, and there's a patio that hovers over the water. The architecture feels like someone took a mid-century modern California house and turned it into a massive party.
Traveling around Europe made my life and my perspective a whole lot bigger and interesting. I initially felt sad when leaving New York, but found contentment in a more interesting version of the life I had left temporarily. And if nothing else, I've found better taste, formed stronger opinions, and enough perspective to take on New York in a new way.
