Let me just throw a little disclaimer out there before I receive any hate mail.
You’re never going to have a bad weekend (or weekday, for that matter) when you’re abroad in Europe. The bottom line is, some trips and locations are just a little more fun than others. Three days with your best friends in any of the places I suggest skipping is still going to be a blast, and the food is still going to beat Waltham’s, so let’s all take a deep breath here. The problem is, there’s only so many weekends in a semester and you just can’t hit everything, as much as we wish we could!
That said, here we go…
ITALY
SKIP: Napoli
GO: Amalfi Coast
BE SURE TO: Book your trip through Bus2Alps. (No, I’m not being paid to say that!) This is one of the best trips they offer, and their guides will take you to the stunning Black Sands Beach in Positano, on a boat tour around the Island of Capri and in the Blue Grotto, and you’ll spend a day in Pompeii, as well. You’re in the Campania region where pizza was invented, so eat it every single meal, no questions asked. You’ll truly want to swear off Domino’s for the rest of your life. (You won’t in reality though, let’s be honest…)
SKIP: Pisa
GO: Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano
BE SURE TO: Go wine tasting. Siena, San Gimignano and Montelpulciano (all three are usually included in one tour, and is done in a single day) are in the Tuscan region, where some of the world’s absolute best wines are made. Trust me, once you’ve visited Italy, you’ll roll your eyes at what your former self considered “fine wine”. (Cough, cough, anything that comes in a box.) Queue your mom and dad calling you a wine snob.
SKIP: Milan
GO: Florence
BE SURE TO: Go to Piazza Michelangelo just before sunset with a bottle of red (Chianti is the regional wine, FYI) for unbelievable panoramic views of the city. If you’re feeling like a true baller, head over to 4 Leoni for Steak Florentine and pear gnocchi in their house made alfredo sauce. Try not to drool when it comes out, it’s usually pretty frowned upon.
GERMANY & SWITZERLAND
SKIP: Munich (Unless it’s Oktoberfest or Spring Fest, then definitely don’t miss out!)
GO: Interlaken, Switzerland
BE SURE TO: Go through Bus2Alps again to have everything planned out for you. This is the trip to get your adrenaline rush on. Paragliding, skiing, skydiving – anything that gets your blood rushing. Interlaken is can’t miss, and it’s not just because of the cheese fondues or drive through the Austrian Alps. Beware, however, Switzerland is wildly expensive in every aspect. Auf Wiedersehen, money!
SPAIN
SKIP: Ibiza
GO: Barcelona
BE SURE TO: Prepare yourself for about a cumulative 8 hours of sleep for the entire weekend. If you’re looking for a place to crush dance floors until 6am, you can do it just as well – if not even better – in Barcelona than in Ibiza, at Opium, many abroad student’s favorite nightclub. During the daytime, be sure to check out a panoramic view of the city at Park Guell, visit Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, and indulge in tapas, patata bravas, and sangria until you hit your ultimate food coma.
GREECE
SKIP: Athens
GO: Santorini and Corfu
BE SURE TO: Rent an ATV. When in Santorini take it out to Oia to see the best views of the famous white buildings with blue roofs, and explore as long as you can. If you book through Bus2Alps, (it would be rather hard to get there without them) you’ll stay at the Pink Palace in Corfu where it’s just one big questionable toga party. (#College) Once you reach Santorini, if you’re feeling as baller-esque as you were in Florence, eat dinner at the cliff side restaurant Niki and order the baked feta appetizer. It’s so delicious, I may or may not have shed a tear. A cheesy, fattening, Greek tear.
Have any more that come to mind? Feel free to let me know in the comments section below!
Positano photo courtesy of Taylor Spang, Bentley University ’16
Siena, Florence, and Park Guell photos courtesy of Emily Springer, High Point University ’16
Wine and Montepulciano mages courtesy of Bus2Alps. Default article image courtesy of metroscenes.com