A few months ago, a friend and I sat down to finally plan our interrailing trip across Europe. It's something that we had both wanted to do for a long time and this year, finally had the time and money to do it. We set about creating a route, knowing that we wanted to start in Eastern Europe. So after much to-ing and fro-ing we finally decided on a route that would take us on a path starting in Bucharest, Budapest, Krakow, Prague, Vienna, Venice, Verona and finally Nice. Because we were going to be making some long journeys, we aimed to primarily use night trains so as to not lose any days.
1. Bucharest, Romania (6th-7th)
I had little knowledge of this city, and so when we arrived at 12pm on 6th July, it was with few expectations and an open mind. We were pleasantly surpassed to find Bucharest is a beautiful city, with heaps of character and a great atmosphere. The bustling old town was where we spent most of our time. There are rows and rows of streets filled with restaurants and bars and nestled between all the hustle and bustle lie lots of old, ornate churches.
2. Budapest, Hungary (8th-11th)
Right from the start, my friend and I had both agreed that Budapest was the city we wanted to see the most, and decided to stay the longest there - and we were not disappointed. What a beautiful city! There is so much to do and countless sites to see. The highlight was the castle district where you can visit Buda Palace, Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion. From there you can also see amazing views of the city, where the stand out structure is the parliament building on the river bank. The city also has a great nightlife with countless restaurants, bars and clubs to choose from.
3. Krakow, Poland (12th-13th)
This was originally intended to be a stop over for us, but we eventually decided to stay the night, and we were so glad to have made that decision. Krakow was my favourite city that we visited. The city is filled with incredible architecture, fascinating history and a bustling, but very welcoming atmosphere. The Old Town is the heart of the city, with the centre being the Main Square which is surrounded by hundreds of restaurants and shops. As you enter the Jewish Quarter the buildings become more rustic and the streets more winding, all adding to the unique character of the area. The Jewish Quarter offers a more laid-back equivalent to the hustle and bustle of the Old Town.
4. Prague, Czech Republic (14th-15th)
Before we got to Prague, everybody we met who had already been there had raved out the so-called City of Spires. Prague is no doubt a beautiful city, with an incredible history and beautiful architecture, but for me, the atmosphere lacked. Perhaps this is because the was the most touristy and busiest city we had encountered, and at times it just felt as though we were being pulled through the narrow streets by the large crowds.
5. Vienna, Prague (16th-17th)
Vienna had originally been another stopover city for us, but last minute we decided to stay the night. The grandeur of the city is incredible. The streets are lined with beautiful Baroque palaces and gardens and the houses of parliament, designed to look like an ancient Greek temple, are astounding. Although being constantly reminded that the Vienna was home to Sigmund Freud - the worlds first psycho-analyst - did become annoying, there is no denying the fascinating history surrounding the countless grand monuments all over the city.
6. Venice, Italy (18th-19th)
As a small city, there is not heaps of attractions in Venice, but that does not mean that there is nothing to do. We found ourselves wondering the cobbled streets and browsing quaint stores for hours on end, whilst occasionally stopping for a 'gelato' (Italian ice cream is like no other you've had!). And when in Venice, of course you have to take a gondola ride, which allows you to view the cities rustic and run-down buildings from it's many canals.
7. Verona, Italy (20th)
We only spent a few hours in Verona on route to our next destination, and that was more than enough. Like Venice, Verona is a small city and thanks to pedestrianised streets, its easy to get around the city quickly. One of the main attractions is the ancient Roman amphitheatre, from which you can also see lovely views of the city. We also visited the home of Juliet (from Shakespeare's tragedy
Romeo and Juliet) where you can look down over her famous balcony at the hoardes of people scrawling love notes on the walls or stroking the breast of Juliet's statue, which is apparently good luck. My favourite part of the city was the vast market stalls, selling trinkets, souvenirs and fresh fruit.
8. Nice, France (21st-25th)
Finally we arrived in Nice and we were so excited to have a few days to lounge by the beach after 2 weeks of walking around cities. The Old Town was the heart of the city, with most people gravitating towards the Cours Saleya - the main square where you will find most of the restaurants and bars. We also visited Castle Hill, and although there is no longer a castle there, you are able to see incredible views of Nice and the coast.
