N9 in Europe: FLORENCE – The Cradle of Renaissance | 4 Wonderful Days Around the Historic Italian City

After spending almost 2 weeks around Paris and Rome, my friend and I moved to a new Italian city where the Renaissance period started – Florence (Italian: Firenze). We explored the Tuscan capital and the nearby cities (and towns) for 4 full days and 4 nights.

Allow me to share with you what we did on these 4 full days and know why this beautiful city became our favorite of all the cities we visited in this trip.

Before exploring Florence, we’ve been to other European cities such as Paris and Rome. Check out our itineraries in these 2 beautiful cities – Paris Part 1, Paris Part 2, Versailles, Rome Part 1, Rome Part 2 & Rome Part 3!

Florence

Florence (Italian: Firenze) is a city located in the center of Italy. It is the capital of the Tuscan Region and is known for its architecture, culture and iconic monuments and buildings. The city is known as the Cradle of Renaissance. The Florentines had a strong influence in the world’s transition from the Middle Ages to the period of rebirth or renaissance. Influential people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Dante Alighieri all came from Florence.

Accommodation

Florence is a popular Italian destination to millions of people from all over the world. This popularity led to high accommodation costs – even higher than Rome’s. My friend and I were travelling on a budget and decided to book with a high-rated but affordable shared accommodation.

We booked our 4-night stay with a recently-opened, lively and social hostel named YellowSquare Florence. We got a bed each in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room and were able to rest well after long walks during the day.

I wrote about our YellowSquare Florence hostel experience and posted it in the recent Hostel of the Day Feature. I hope you can check that out.

Going Around Florence

Going around Florence is easy. Most of the spots to visit are all within the city center. The best way to explore the city center is by foot. There are no trains or trams within the center; the nearest tram stop to the city center is Unità on the Tram Line 2 Vespucci.

The city’s main train station, Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (Italian: Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Stazione di Santa Maria Novella), is 1 stop away from Unità. It is 10 minutes away by foot (850 meters) from the Duomo, 13 minutes away by foot (1.1 kilometers) from the Accademia Gallery and 15 minutes away by foot (1.3 kilometers) from the Uffizi Gallery.

La Bussola Free Walking Tours

To get to know the city and its history more, my friend and I joined 2 free (tip-based) walking tours with a local company called La Bussola. We joined the morning Medici Free Tour with Katerina; we learned about the Medici Family, how they came into power and how Florence developed under their rule. We also joined the afternoon Genius Free Tour with Giachomo; we learned about the Florence icons named Dante, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Da Vinci and Galileo and how they influenced the people and the society during their time.

We had fun in these 2 tours. We knew a lot about the city and its influences and we even got local food recommendations. We encourage you to join these free tours during your visit to Florence. Please check out their website and book your tour slots with them.

Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour

During our stay in Florence, my friend and I went on a day tour to check out a few places in the Tuscan Region. We joined Sightseeing Experience’ Tuscany Experience Classic Day Tour; we visited Pisa, the Pietraserena Wine Estate, San Gimignano and Siena. We paid €71.10 each for this 11.5-hour tour.

I wrote about this day trip in one of my recent posts. Check out the Tuscany Experience Classic Tour post here.

Places Visited in Florence

There are a lot of museums and places to visit in Florence. We spent 3 full days (not including the Tuscany Experience Day Tour) around the city and we still have not been to all. We chose the places we wanted to visit and took our time in each place.

Gallery of the Academy of Florence (Italian: Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze) – The Accademia Gallery is famous for Michelangelo’s masterpiece – the statue of David. Aside from this, the gallery also has paintings and sculptures of other great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Del Sarto. Another section that stood out to me is Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery.

David by Michelangelo

Entry tickets cost €16 (including online convenience fee) per person during our visit. These have been increased to €17 as per my recent check. Tip: Book your tickets in advance and get the earliest timeslot to have the statue of David to yourself.

Lorenzo Bartolini’s Plaster Cast Gallery

The Church of Orsanmichele – This church is one of the oldest in Florence. It was built by the guilds in the kitchen garden of Saint Michele Monastery.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian: Duomo di Firenze) – This cathedral is the city’s cathedral built in the 1200s to the 1400s and is one of the largest in the world. Designed by di Cambio, this Catholic church is known for its striking green, pink and white marble panels. A part of the cathedral is open to the public and is free to visit.

Cathedral Plaza (Italian: Piazza del Duomo) – The is a vibrant retail area outside the cathedral. Shops, restaurants and cafes mainly comprise this plaza.

The Bargello – Also known as Palazzo del Popolo, this old building was once the office of the city’s captain. It also served as barracks and a prison. The building has been converted to an art museum. Museum tickets cost €11 per person.

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence (Italian: Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze) – Dubbed as the Pantheon of Florence, this gothic minor cathedral has 16 chapels, tombs and funerary monuments of famous people such as Niccolò Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Bartolini and Vasari. Entry tickets cost €8 per person.

Piazza Santa Croce – This plaza is in front of the Basilica of the Holy Cross. During our visit last November 2022, this plaza hosted Florence’ Christmas Market.

Republic Square (Italian: Piazza della Repubblica) – Piazza della Repubblica is one of the city squares in Florence. It is believed to be the site of the city’s forum back in the days.

Palazzo Vecchio – Also known as Palazzo della Signoria, this building was and is still Florence’ town hall. A part of this medieval building was converted into a museum.

Signoria Square (Italian: Piazza della Signoria) – This square, located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, is the city’s main political square since the 14th century. The square has notable sculptures and figures that are believed to be contradictory to what has happened in the area. These include the following: a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus, Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune and Giambologna’s Statue of Cosimo I.

Loggia dei Lanzi – Found on the corner of Piazza della Signoria and beside Palazzo Vecchiio, this building is a public art gallery that houses statues such as Perseus and Medusa and The Rape of the Sabine Women.

Perseus and Medusa
The Rape of the Sabine Women

Via del Neri – Via del Neri is a famous small street near Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio that is full of cafes, shops, galeterias and restaurants.

Uffizi Gallery (Italian: Galleria degli Uffizi) – The Uffizi Gallery is a gallery and museum that houses artworks from the Renaissance period. It has masterpieces of artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Rafaello, Botticelli, Giotto and a lot more.

Some notable artworks include ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Annunciation’ and ‘Adoration of the Magi‘ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Medusa’ by Caravaggio, ‘Doni Tondo’ by Michelangelo, ‘Laocoön’ by Baccio Bandinelli and ‘The Venus of Urbino’ by Titian.

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci
Doni Tondo by Michelangelo
The Venus of Urbino by Titian

We bought our tickets on site and paid €12 each. Tickets are also available for purchase online.

Arno River – The Arno River divides Florence into 2 parts. The river originates from the Apennine Mountains and flows to the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the old times, the river became an important instrument for trade. It also became the transit or passageway for wood and all other materials needed during the Renaissance period.

Ponte Vecchio – This is a medieval stone bridge built over the Arno River during the 1300s. This bridge was used to be occupied by shops of farmers, butchers and businessmen. In the present time, the bridge is still occupied by shops selling artworks, jewelry and souvenirs.

Pitti Palace (Italian: Palazzo Pitti) – Previously owned by Florentine banker Lucca Pitti, the palace was bought by the Medici Family in 1549 and became the official residence of the family. This palace is located at the southern banks of the Arno River.

My friend and I only visited the palace from the outside. We did not have time to go in and explore the museum. Entry tickets cost €17 per person if purchased online.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit (Italian: Basilica di Santo Spirito) – This basilica is a Catholic church found in the Oltarno Quarter, south of the Arno River.

We missed one spot which we did not have time to visit – Michelangelo Square (Italian: Piazzale Michelangelo). It is a square that offers a beautiful and stunning panoramic view of Florence. I hope we can go back to visit this place in the future.


Have you been to Florence in Italy? If yes, which one is your favorite place to visit and why? If you have not been, which are you most looking forward to seeing in person? Feel free to share your experiences or plans in the comments section below. Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Florence easily became our favorite. The city is so beautiful and is something that should not be missed. We stayed for 4 full days and we still have not been to all places. We hope that people visit and stay in the city longer than most people usually do.

Thanks for joining me in sharing our Florence experience with you. In case you missed, we have been to Paris, Versailles and Rome before we visited Florence. You can find all itineraries and posts about these cities and this trip under the N9 in Europe category. Please look forward to the next one because I am taking you to Milan!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages – Facebook page and Instagram. These 2 accounts are the best way to stay up-to-date with the new posts in this site. Thank you; I hope to see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES Day Trip Photoblog

Previously, I shared with you what my friends and I did in Paris for 5 days. I posted 2 blogs (Days 1 and 2, Days 3-5) giving details about our trips to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Saint-Chapelle, Basilica of Sacré Coeur and all other Parisian landmarks. I also mentioned in my Days 3-5 blog that we took a day trip to Versailles to check out Château de Versailles. Allow me to share with you photos and some details about this day trip.

In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 7th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG, our hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels and our itinerary during our 5 days around Paris – Days 1-2 and Days 3-5.

Château de Versailles

Château de Versailles or The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence located about 20 kilometers away from Paris. It started out as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII and was then expanded by King Louis XIV into a grand palace and estate. With the hopes of controlling his power and reign over Paris, King Louis XIV transferred the seat of his government and court to Versailles. That time, the Palace was the capital of France. The French Revolution prompted the royal family to return to Paris in 1789 bringing the country’s capital back to Paris.

The Palace of Versailles now sits as a popular museum visited by millions of tourists per year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its contributions to French history. The 800-hectare estate is divided into sections: The Palace, The Gardens, The Estate of Trianon, The Park, The Royal Tennis Court, The Great and The Small Stables.

Transportation

Most people visit Château de Versailles on a guided tour. My friend and I decided to visit it on our own. From Anvers Station, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) to Place de Clichy Station, changed to Metro Line 13 (Light Blue Line) to Invalides Station. From there, we transferred to the RER C (Yellow) Service to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station.

The train journey including transfers took about an hour but the train ride from Invalides Station to Versailles Château Rive Gauche Station only took half an hour. From the station, we walked for less than a kilometer (about 10 minutes) to the Palace Gate. We took the same way back to Paris after the visit to the estate.

I am very sorry I don’t have the exact cost as to how much the train rides cost. The trains, including the RER C (Yellow) service is included in the Navigo Découverte Weekly Pass we availed. Please note that there are other options to the palace from the Versailles Chantiers and Versailles Rive Droite Stations.

Opening Times

The Palace opens every day except Mondays at 9:00am and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Estate of Trianon opens every day except Mondays at 12:00 pm and closes 5:30pm during low season and 6:30pm during high season. The Palace Gardens and The Park open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm except during extreme weather conditions like strong winds and snow.

Ticket PRICES

The Palace of Versailles offers a variety of tickets depending on what the visitor wants to experience. The Palace-only ticket costs €19,50 per person; it guarantees access to the Palace on a timed entry, to the temporary exhibitions, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Estate of Trianon-only ticket costs €12 per person. This ticket guarantees access to the Trianon Estate from 12:30pm, to the temporary exhibitions within the estate, the Palace Gardens, and the Park. The Palace also offers a combination ticket for both the Palace and The Trianon Estate. This combination ticket called Passport costs €21,50 per person. There are still other ticket options; feel free to check these in the Palace website.

I mentioned in the Paris Days 1-2 and 3-5 blog posts that my friend and I availed of the Paris Museum Pass. This museum pass includes Château de Versailles in the list of museums and sites that can be visited with the pass. My friend and I used our Paris Museum Pass to enter both the Palace and the Trianon Estate. We did not pay anything to enter these sites.

Note: Château de Versailles requires timed entry bookings even for Paris Museum Pass holders. We booked our schedules through the Palace website a few weeks before our intended visit. We got the 9:00 morning schedule for the Palace and the 12:00 noon schedule for the Trianon Estate. The staff only scanned our Paris Museum Pass at the entrance.

Château de Versailles Photos

THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES
The Grand Commun
The Royal Chapel

The Hall of Mirrors

The Royal Apartments
THE GARDENS
THE ESTATE OF TRIANON
The Grand Trianon
The Petit Trianon
The French Gardens of The Petit Trianon
The English Gardens

Beautiful place, right? No wonder millions of people visit the estate yearly. Château de Versailles is a day trip worth taking outside Paris!

The Hall of Mirrors was charming without other tourists / visitors. It felt surreal seeing it in person. I also liked The Petit Trianon and The English Gardens. Which area of Château de Versailles is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about Château de Versailles? You may post them in the comments below or you may send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you enjoyed browsing through today’s photoblog. Thank you for checking up to this part. In case you missed it, my friends and I also went around Paris, France for 5 days. Feel free to check my posts about this postcard-perfect city – Days 1 and 2 + Days 3 to 5. Everything about our 3.5-week trip to Euro can be found under the N9 in Europe category. Stay tuned for more posts about this trip!

Before you go, I hope you can visit, like and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? It means a lot, cheers. Catch you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

N9 Friends in Europe: PARIS – 5 Days Around the Postcard-Perfect French Capital [Days 1 & 2]

Paris, France – a city which many people dream of visiting! I am lucky I had the chance to go around this beautiful city for a few days last November 2022. In case you missed it, my friends and I went to Europe late last year for 3.5 weeks and visited France, Italy and Spain. I have just started sharing bits and pieces about this trip. This Paris blog is the 5th after posting about my Schengen Visa application with VIA Italy, my Emirates flight from Manila to Dubai, my Emirates flight from Dubai to Paris CDG and my hostel in Paris – Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels.

I will share with you today what my friends and I did on the first 2 days of our 5-day trip around the postcard-perfect city of Paris. To be honest, 5 days were not enough to see everything the city has to offer. We did not aim to see and visit everything; instead, we had a well-planned and relaxed itinerary. I will share into details our day-to-day happenings around Paris.

Accommodation

Given the high accommodation rates around the city, my friend and I decided to stay in Le Village Montmartre by Hiphophostels. We booked 2 beds in a 4-bed mixed dormitory room for 4 nights and paid €132 each including city tax. I wrote about the hostel, its amenities and our experience in the latest hostel of the day feature. Check it out here.

Going Around Paris

We opted for the Navigo Découverte Travel Card in our 5-day trip around Paris. We bought the week-long unlimited travel ticket for around €35 (including the card itself) and we had access to all RER trains, bus lines and city metro lines (in all of Paris’ 5 fare zones) until Sunday 23:59 that week. The ticket also included train lines to Paris Disneyland, Château de Versailles and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Tip: Please take note that the train card requires a photo of the card holder. You may bring your own photo or you can use the photo booths located near the train offices in CDG Airport and major train stations.

Tip 2: The Navigo travel card is valid for 10 years. You can use it again in your next trips to Paris. Also, the weekly pass validity starts 00:01 every Monday and ends 23:59 every Sunday. It is not advisable to get the weekly pass if you are arriving Paris on a Thursday or Friday.

Paris Museum Pass

We bought the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass for €52 (now €55). This pass allowed us fast-track entry to known museums and sites within Paris and the nearby region. Some museums and sites like Musée d’Orsay and Pantheon do not require reservations. The more famous ones like Musée du Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and Château de Versailles require reservations prior entry.

Tip: Plan your itinerary well. The pass period count starts when the museum pass is scanned in the first museum or site.

Places Visited in Paris – Days 1 & 2

We went around Paris for 5 days (or 96 full hours) and went to a lot of famous spots. We did not aim to see all places and decided to take our time in every spot. The only planned itinerary we had was when we used the Paris Museum Pass for 48 hours. Allow me to share with you the first 2 days of our 5-day chill itinerary around Paris.

Day 1 – Hello Paris & Hello Eiffel Tower

After arriving at Paris CDG Airport, I met up with my friend, Leng, who arrived at the airport a few hours before. She bought our Paris Museum Pass for €52 each in one of the tourist information centers while I was waiting for my luggage. We met at Terminal 2C and headed to Billets Paris et Ile de France or the train ticket office. We purchased our Navigo Découverte Travel Cards, went to the station and waited for the next RER B service to the city.

We took the 30-minute RER B train to Gare du Nord and changed to Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) and took the 5-minute ride to Anvers Station. We checked-in at Le Village Montmartre, took a rest for a while and freshened up. After a little over an hour, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) and the Metro Line 6 (Green Line) to Trocadéro Station and went up to meet our friends at Carette. I got Quiche Lorraine, greens salad and their signature hot chocolate for dinner.

After the meal, we braved the rain and strong winds and walked to Place du Trocadéro to take photos and videos with Tour Eiffel or the Eiffel Tower. We then took the Metro Line 9 (Yellow Green Line) to Saint-Philippe-du-Roule Station. We went to our friend’s hotel and waited for the weather to improve. Unfortunately, it kept raining. We then braved the rain (again) and the strong winds and walked around Champs-Élysées then to the iconic Arc de Triomphe. We took our photos from the center islands of Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

After that, we took the Metro Line 2 (Blue Line) from Charles de Gaulle – Étoile Station back to Anvers Station and walked up to the hostel.

Note: Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night due to copyright laws.

Day 2 – Paris Walking Tour & Museum Day

Our 2nd day in Paris started with a metro trip on Line 2 (Magenta Line) from Barbès – Rochechouart Station to Saint-Michel Station. We dropped by Soc Parisienne Restauration Rapide SP2 to have some croissant breakfast before going to Saint-Chapelle.

We got inside Saint-Chapelle at 9:00am with our Paris Museum Pass and explored the royal Gothic chapel. This chapel was commissioned by King Louis IX to house important Christian relics including the Jesus Christ’s Crown of Thorns. The said relic was transferred to the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The chapel has been converted to a museum. It is honestly one of the must-see places in Paris!

Note: Saint-Chapelle requires timeslot bookings for Paris Museum Pass holders. Visitors can reserve their slots via the museum’s website. Regular tickets to Saint-Chapelle cost Є11,50 per person.

After an hour at Saint-Chapelle, my friend and I prepared for a 2.5-hour walking tour by getting a quick bite at Brasserie Les Deux Palais. We got Croque-Monsieur, frites maison, salade to share – it is toasted ham and cheese with homemade salad and French fries. We walked to Place Saint-Michel to join our walking tour group.

We joined SANDEMANs New Europe’s Free Walking Tour of Paris. We met Harry, our guide, in front of Fontaine Saint-Michel. We walked around Latin Quarter, an area that was spared from the transformation led by Baron Haussmann. We, then, crossed the River Seine and walked to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris or more known as the Notre Dame Cathedral. The cathedral is currently closed and undergoing renovations after it caught fire back in 2019. We passed by Palais de Justice de Paris, Tour de l’Horloge du Palais de la Cité (Clock Tower) and Conciergerie (14th Century Royal Palace and Prison). We walked to Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) and finished the walking tour at Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens).

We learned about the history of Paris and of France during our tour with Harry. We also knew more about the stories of King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French Revolution from our guide. I highly-recommend this tip-based tour under SANDEMANs New Europe. I took a few tours under them in the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic and Denmark and I have to say this Paris Walking Tour with Harry was one of, if not the best I have had with the company.

After the tour, we had our lunch at the nearby McDonalds store. Minutes before 3:00pm, we walked back to Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) and entered using our Paris Museum Pass. Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum) is the world’s most famous and most-visited museum. It houses hundreds of thousands of objects and tens of thousands of artworks. It houses famous works such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Alexandros of Antioch’s Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People of Eugène Delacroix, The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault and a lot more. We roamed around the museum for 2.5 hours and we still did not see everything.

The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault
Liberty Leading the People of Eugène Delacroix

Note: Musée du Louvre requires a timeslot reservation for Paris Museum Pass holders. We booked our slots 2 weeks before the intended day of visit via the museum’s website. Guests can still book slots even if you do not have your Paris Museum Pass yet – in our case, we bought it upon arrival at Paris CDG. Regular tickets to the Louvre Museum cost Є17 per person.

Note: Unfortunately, I cannot post a photo of the Louvre’s Pyramid due to copyright laws.

We walked to the other side of River Seine and entered Musée d’Orsay using our Paris Museum Pass. This museum is located in the old Gare d’Orsay train station. It houses impressionist paintings and artwork by famous artists like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Berthe Morisot.

Note: Musée d’Orsay does not require timeslot bookings for Paris Museum Pass holders. Visitors can directly go inside the museum using the special lane for pass holders. Regular tickets to the museum cost Є16 per person.

After Musée d’Orsay, we walked to Assemblée Nationale Station, took the Metro Line 12 (Dark Green Line) to Pigalle Station, then changed to the Line 2 (Blue Line) and got off at Anvers Station. We dropped by the supermarket to get food for dinner before heading back to the hostel.


This wraps up our first 2 days in Paris. We visited a lot of places but we made sure that we learned something about the city, its history and culture.

Have you been to Paris? If yes, may I know which landmark or museum mentioned above is your favorite and why? If not, which is the first place you would want to visit when you fly to Paris in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have questions about Paris or the itinerary above? Feel free to post them below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Paris itinerary. We are just starting on this 3.5-week trip around France, Italy and Spain. Make sure to check out the previous posts about this trip; it’s all compiled under the N9 in Europe category. Stay tuned for Days 3 to 5 and the other adventures we had in this memorable trip!

Before you go, can you please visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Means a lot, thank you. See you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

A Dream Come True: 19 DAYS Around NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK for Less Than ₱120,000 – Airfare, Accommodation & 12-Hour Singapore Stopover Included

Last October to November 2019, I flew to Europe all by myself for 19 days & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. I never thought this trip that took 7 years to plan would finally happen & that I would do everything alone & DIY – no help from any travel agency, consultant or whatsoever. If you’ve been following me the last few months, I’ve shared every single detail of this Euro trip from city itineraries, flight reports, to hostels & even local food. You can find all posts under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Going to Europe for a long trip like this is not a cheap trip to do. Some people spend hundreds of thousands on airfare & accommodation & add probably another hundred for food, pocket money & tours. I didn’t have that much savings for this kind of expensive trip so I did a lot of research to make it happen in a relatively affordable budget. AND I DID IT! I flew to Europe for 19 days around 4 countries including airfare, accommodation & a 12-hour Singapore stopover for less than ₱120,000 all in. Let me share with you how I made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Disclaimer: There are ways to make this trip even cheaper than what I spent – staying in cheaper hostels, taking low-cost carriers / buses with cutting trips, etc. – but I wanted to make it special (as a first time) & splurged a bit on some parts like food (& beers), high-rated hostels & better transportation options. Also, I only chose to visit 4 countries instead of hopping on from one country to the other after a day or two to have a better appreciation of every country / city. I am not a fan of rushed trips; I enjoy staying longer in one place or country.

In case you missed it last week, I posted an article on 11 Europe thrift hacks that I did on this trip. These thrift hacks helped me save on some expenses like food & tours. Check out that article here.

Air Tickets

I took the risk & booked a return ticket to Europe with Singapore Airlines during their January promotion with BPI Credit Cards. I got the economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam via Singapore & Copenhagen to Manila via Singapore for only 719.23 USD. The ticket includes 30-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, in-flight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens & their 5-star Singaporean hospitality. My BPI credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including foreign transaction fees. Not bad for a ticket to Europe considering it’s with Singapore Airlines, right?

Months before the trip, I figured out the route I’ll take & the countries I’ll visit. Then, I booked air tickets for my inter-European transfers. Train tickets were more expensive & would take a few changes while bus trips, even if cheap, will take ages & a few transfers before you reach the next city / country. I paid €67,40 for a plane ticket from Brussels, Belgium to Prague, Czech Republic on Brussels Airlines. I booked another ticket from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark on Czech Airlines for 1,588 Kč. Both tickets include 23-kilogram check in baggage. I got charged ₱4,000.85 & ₱3,658.88, respectively for these 2 tickets.

I booked these 3 tickets without a Schengen tourist visa. Some people don’t recommend this, but I took the risk & did it. I was confident that time that I will be granted visa for this trip & luckily, I got one.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Europe is not cheap. A dormitory bed in a hostel costs about €30 to €40 a night, depending on the room configuration & location. Hotels & private rooms are more expensive. I can’t afford them. I booked my hostels 4 months into the trip. All these hostel bookings had free cancellation options if I don’t push through. I became picky with the hostels I’ll stay with since it was my first time in Europe. I stayed in popular & high-rated hostels found in central & well-recommended locations.

I stayed with Generator Hostel in Amsterdam (₱8,885.82 for 4 nights – paid in Philippine Peso), Sleep Well Youth Hostel in Brussels (€122 for 4 nights – paid during check-in), DREAM Hostel in Prague (1,790 Kč for 4 nights – paid via credit card on check-in) & Steel House in Copenhagen (US$ 116.24 for 4 nights – paid via Agoda). I paid ₱26,117.54 for 16 nights in these 4 countries – roughly ₱1,632.25 per night in Philippine Peso or €28,49 per night in Euros. I think I still got a good deal from these hostels! It would’ve been cheaper if booked my stay at least 8-10 months before.

Travel Insurance

Schengen tourist visa applications require a travel insurance with up to €30,000 medical coverage for the duration of the trip, some even up to 15 to 30 days after the trip. I got my travel insurance coverage online from Standard Insurance; I got their Travel Protect Policy which covers up to €37,500 medical coverage for 19 days. I paid ₱1,918 for the 19-day coverage.

Tourist Visa

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa with VFS Netherlands. The visa fee cost €60 (₱3,420) + ₱901 VFS handling fee. I opted for the passport delivery service instead of picking up my passport in the VFS office. I paid a small fee for the courier service. I previously shared in this website how I got my Schengen tourist visa without the help of any tour agency. Check out that Tuesday Tip post here.

Internet Sim Card

Traveling around Europe alone isn’t easy. I made sure I was connected to the internet for the whole duration of the trip. I bought an internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. The sim card was operated by Three UK & it included 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK for 30 days. The sim card cost ₱1,600 with free shipping. The data, call & text services worked well during my stay in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark.

Travel Tax

All Philippine passport holders are required to pay a travel tax of ₱1,620 before going out the country for holiday. I paid the travel tax right before I checked in for my flight from Manila to Singapore.

Daily Budget & Unexpected Expenses

I mentioned in my Europe thrift hacks post that I set a daily budget of €40 for food, transportation & entrance fees. I spent more in some days but I was traveling on a €30-€35 per day budget. There were days where I had to buy last-minute museum tickets (Heineken Experience & Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), join guided tours (Canal Tour in Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken in Holland & Kutná Hora in Czech Republic) & go on side trips (Utrecht, Bruges, Ghent & Český Krumlov) which cost me more. I also bought last-minute train & bus tickets in Belgium & Czech Republic – the downsides of not following an itinerary.

I splurged on beers in all 4 countries; I paid more for food in Denmark (food there is expensive) but I’m happy I still had about €120 cash left at the end of the trip. I counted all my expenses from pocket money, to credit & debit card transactions & debit card withdrawals for 19 days. I spent ₱34,327.78 (around €600) for 17 full days (travel days not included) on food, transportation, walking tours, entry tickets, guided tours & beers – about €35 per day on average.

Singapore Stopover

My flight from Manila to Amsterdam had a 12-hour layover in Singapore. I took this time to meet 2 friends – one for lunch + milk tea & one for early dinner. I also used this time to walk around the beautiful city, check out a city library & walk around The Jewel at Changi Airport. I spent around S$50 (₱1,859.4 conversion that time) on this 12-hour stop – food, drinks & transportation included.

Summary of Expenses

After all the costs & numbers mentioned above, let’s see how much I actually spent for the trip.

Exchange rate at the time of trip: €1 = ₱57.3 Exchange rates of purchases & withdrawals vary. There you go! I spent ₱117,092.85 pesos for a 19-day trip around 4 European Countries – Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark – with air tickets, accommodation costs & a 12-hour Singapore stopover included. If you’ll include the transportation expenses during the visa application process, to & from the airport when I left & arrived, it’ll be somewhere around ₱118,500 – still less than ₱120,000!

Don’t get me wrong, ₱117,092.85 is a very big amount but we’re talking about a 19-day trip to Europe here flying with one of the world’s premium airlines – Singapore Airlines & visiting first world & expensive countries like Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark. I couldn’t believe this when I listed all my expenses after the trip. I wanted this trip to be fun, memorable & spontaneous & I’m happy it turned out to be a trip of a lifetime. This solo trip to Europe is so far my longest, most expensive & most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. Every single peso spent was worth it!

Blog List

In case you’re interested in the posts about this trip, check out the blog list below.

FLIGHT REPORTS ✈️

SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – 5-Star Economy Class Experience In A New Generation Boeing Dreamliner
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn’t Feel Like One
BRUSSELS AIRLINES SN 2811 – Brussels to Prague – Belgium’s Flag Carrier & My First Ever European Airline Experience
CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 912 – Singapore to Manila – 3-Hour Remarkable Economy Class Experience Aboard A 15-Year Old Aircraft

HOSTEL FEATURES 🏨

GENERATOR AMSTERDAM – An Old University Building Turned Award-Winning Economy Accommodation
SLEEP WELL YOUTH HOSTEL BRUSSELS – Eco-Friendly City Center Hostel with Excellent Free Buffet Breakfast
DREAM HOSTEL PRAGUE – Stylish & Budget-Friendly Backpacker Hostel in New Town
STEEL HOUSE COPENHAGEN – 4 Nights in Danish Capital’s New York-Inspired Industrial Style Luxury Accommodation

VISA APPLICATION & TIPS ✍️

Do-It-Yourself SCHENGEN TOURIST VISA Application With VFS NETHERLANDS
11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know
10 THINGS TO KNOW Before Traveling To Europe

NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱

AMSTERDAM – Beautiful Canals, Colorful Houses & Interesting Museums In A Bustling City
UTRECHT- Unplanned Afternoon Visit To Netherlands’ Underrated Canal City
NORTH HOLLAND COUNTRYSIDE – A Day Trip To The Cheese Farm & Clogs Factory, Windmills & Waterlands
6 Dutch Delis I Enjoyed

BELGIUM 🇧🇪

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Center, Europe’s Capital & Most Boring City?
BRUGES – Cobbled Alleys, Gingerbread Houses & Pretty Canals in Belgium’s Picture-Perfect City
GHENT – Belgium’s Underrated Port City
5 Must Try Belgian Treats

CZECH REPUBLIC 🇨🇿

PRAGUE – Europe’s Most Beautiful Capital City
KUTNÁ HORA – Day Trip To Central Bohemia’s Medieval Silver Mining Town
ČESKÝ KRUMLOV – Czechia’s Quaint Fairy Tale Town
4 Czech Eats To Savor

DENMARK 🇩🇰

COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City
7 Danish Delicacies Not To Miss
7 Interesting Observations About Denmark


Thank you for joining me in today’s Euro trip summary. I’ve made use of the pandemic to finish all the posts about this trip. It’s a shame that my next planned trip to Europe this October won’t push through, but it won’t stop me from planning my next trip to this beautiful continent. We may all be stuck in our own homes but we’ll surely go back to the time when travelling is safe & sound. It’s never too late to give up on your dream trips to Europe! Make use of this downtime to research about the cities & countries you want to visit & plan out the route you’ll take.

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Is there anything you want to ask how I planned the trip in general? Or maybe how I did it? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send it via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Feel free to follow me on my social media channels for more information on cheap fares, thrift hacks & fun itineraries – Facebook & Instagram. I’ll finish the post with this.. I DID IT – 19 DAYS AROUND NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC & DENMARK FOR LESS THAN ₱120,000 ALL IN & I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Going Solo In Europe: COPENHAGEN – Walking Around Denmark’s Wonderful Capital City

Day 14 of 19 – I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark from Czech Republic. After spending days around Amsterdam, Brussels & Prague, I am in Copenhagen – the last stop of this memorable 19-day solo trip around Europe. I had bittersweet feelings landing in this beautiful Scandinavian capital. It’s another country to add to my list; the first Scandinavian country I’ve been to. It’s one of the happiest countries in the world with one of the happiest citizens. I’ve heard great things about this city & country. It is also the last of 4 countries in this Europe trip of a lifetime.

Hello from Rosenborg Castle Grounds!! One of the very few photos of me (in it) in Copenhagen.. 🇩🇰

You might ask why am I chose Copenhagen of all places to be the last stop of this trip. First, it was the cheapest way out of Europe when I booked my ticket with Singapore Airlines. Second, I took this chance to personally meet Mads, a Danish good friend of mine I virtually met during my HTC fanboy days with Elevate. Mads is based in Aalborg, Denmark’s fourth biggest city, but flew in to Copenhagen to meet & take me around Copenhagen. We had nothing but great times walking around the city & me being like a local for 2 full days. To Mads, thank you!

This is Nyhavn with its iconic colorful buildings – defo my favorite place in Copenhagen, Denmark.

My stay in Denmark was not as busy & eventful as my stays in the Netherlands, Belgium & Czech Republic. I didn’t go outside of Copenhagen & decided to just relax & walk around the city. It was the last few days of my trip so it was the perfect time to slow down, live like a local & enjoy the remaining time in Europe. Join me as I share with you below details about my last few days in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital of Scandinavian country Denmark. It is the country’s biggest & most populous city; it is also the country’s center of government, business, trade, finance & economy. The city started as a Viking fishing village in the early centuries & has evolved into a religious & trading town under the influence of Bishop Absalon. In the 1400s, the city became the official capital of Denmark & home of the royal family. Denmark, with Copenhagen as capital, flourished during the time of Christian IV. He created new cities, opened up trade & started companies that can trade to foreign entities. Copenhagen survived natural & man-made disasters & territorial battles throughout the years & emerged now as Scandinavia’s most important city.

Sunset view from the Round Tower observation deck. Beautiful place to see the the majestic sunset.

Denmark is one of the Schengen states & is also a member of the European Union. The country’s official currency is Danish Krone with kr. (with period) as sign & DKK as code. The same currency is being used by the Faroe Islands & Greenland. Conversation rate is 1 euro is to roughly 7.5 kr. For a budget traveler like me, Denmark is an expensive city to visit. The country has a different vibe compared to the others I’ve been to but is surely worth a visit. I felt super safe & secured when I was in this country compared to the other ones I’ve been to. People are very friendly, accommodating & happy in general. No wonder they’re consistently in the happiest countries in the world list.

Did you know that I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa? Yes! I did it all by myself & I got a multiple entry visa valid for 45 days. Check out this Tuesday Tip post to know how I did it.

Prague to Copenhagen

Prague, Czech Republic & Copenhagen, Denmark are not connected by direct trains. The fastest & most comfortable way to travel from one city to the other is via airplane. I took the sole Czech Airlines flight to Copenhagen from Prague last 5 November 2019. Check out the details of this flight in this Czech Airlines OK 508 Flight Report.

Steel House Copenhagen

All my 4 nights in Copenhagen were spent in Steel House Copenhagen. This New York-inspired luxury hostel in Vesterbo is owned & managed by ARP-Hansen Hotel Group – Copenhagen’s biggest hotel group. I wrote about my experience in Steel House Copenhagen in my latest hostel of the day feature. Check out my feature & review about the hostel here.

Going Around Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a tourist-friendly city. Majority of the places to visit can be reached by walking. The city also has a very efficient & modern subway system that goes to almost all areas of the city. Another way to go around the city is by cycling. Danish people, like Dutch people, use bicycles in their daily lives. Tourists can rent bicycles from hostels & shops.

Random but very clean street & canal in Copenhagen. Their canals have crystal-clear waters! 😍

I was travelling on budget & was not in a hurry so I walked a lot during my time in Copenhagen. Every day, I walk out of the hostel, go to different places, explore tourist destinations & walk back to the hostel at night. I remember one time when Mads & I took the automated subway from Nørreport Station to Christianshavn Station on our way to Christiania. Believe it or not, that 3-minute subway ride cost me 21 DKK (₱160-ish). Expensive, right? Yes – but we took it because we were running out of time. It’ll take us 35 minutes to walk to Christiania. It was a good experience, though!

Copenhagen Walking Tours

Just like what I did in Amsterdam, Brussels & Prague, I joined SANDEMANs New Europe’s walking tours around Copenhagen. SANDEMANs New Europe offers 5 group tours & 3 private tours around Copenhagen. I joined the free (well you know it’s tip-based) tour in the morning with our guide Bryony. We started the tour in Rådhuspladsen, then walked through the old streets of Copenhagen, to Christianborg, then Nyhavn & finish off at Amalienborg. Bryony shared to us the history of the city – how it started before & how it evolved into what it is now. These free walking tours run daily at 11:00 am (English & Spanish) & 2:00 pm (English only) & takes about 2 – 2.5 hours. This walking tour has a 15-minute coffee & toilet break in Espresso House near King’s New Square. Again, this walking tour is only tip-based & there’s no required amount from the joiners.

After the free walking tour, I joined the Must-See Copenhagen Tour: The Untold Stories also with Bryony. She took us around the Copenhagen landmarks that were not visited by the previous tour – The Little Mermaid, Rosenberg Castle, Kastellet, Gefion Fountain, Nyboder & finished in front of Copenhagen Cathedral. She also told us stories about battles between the Danes & Swedes, about the Norse gods & goddesses & some notable figures in Danish history. This tour costs €16 & starts at Espresso House – Østerport Station. It runs every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday & lasts for 2 to 2.5 hours. You may get your tickets from SANDEMANs website or during the free walking tour break.

This is the afternoon view from the helix viewpoint of Church of our Savior in Christianshavn, DK.

For me, these walking tours are the best way to know a cities & places you visit. These experienced tour guides share everything they know about a place’s history, culture, politics & even arts. Most free walking tours are tip-based; there are also some who ask for a small tour fee. These tours also help freelance professional tour guides earn for a living.

Places To See Around Copenhagen

Copenhagen has a long list of places to visit. Believe it or not, I didn’t get to see all sights in my 3 full days of walking around the city. These are the ones I’ve been to:

Copenhagen Central Station

Copenhagen Central Station, Københavns Hovedbanegård or København H in local language, is the city’s main train station & is also the largest train station in Denmark. It is the city’s gateway to domestic & international rail routes. It is the main hub of DSB, Danske Statsbaner, Denmark’s largest railway company.


City Hall Square

City Hall Square, Rådhuspladsen as locals call it, is a public square in the center of Copenhagen. It is in front of the Copenhagen City Hall & is an important venue for local celebrations & events. SANDEMANs New Europe’s free walking tour meets & starts in this square.

Copenhagen City Hall

Copenhagen City Hall, Københavns Rådhus in Danish language, is the city’s seat of government. This old building that I initially thought of a as a church is found in the City Hall Square, in the middle of Copenhagen.

Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens is a famous amusement & theme park in the center of Copenhagen. This is the second-oldest operating theme park in the world. It only opens during tourist-heavy seasons such as summer & winter. Unfortunately, the theme park was closed during my visit. It was due to open a day after my flight out of Copenhagen. Locals say Walt Disney got his Disneyland idea from this theme park – unsure how true this claim is. I’d love to visit Copenhagen again in the future just to go inside & try the rides of Tivoli Gardens.

Magstræde

Magstræde is one of the oldest streets of Old Town Copenhagen. This beautiful street has colorful old & preserved houses which existed way back in the early days. It is only one of the remaining streets which have the original cobblestones.

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace is the Royal Family’s winter residence. The castle has 4 identical palace buildings in an octagonal courtyard with the iconic King Frederick V statue in between. You will know if the members of the royal family are in if the Danish flag is up. Luckily, it was up during our walking tour. Bryony, our tour guide, told us that The Crown Prince sometimes waves to the people from his window.

Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Supreme Court of Denmark. This palace also has the Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Stables & even the Royal Chapel used by the Royal Family. Our free walking tour group saw 2 royal horses being trained & fed during our visit to the palace grounds.

Christiansborg’s Tower offers a beautiful view of Copenhagen skyline. Access to the view deck is free of charge. Too bad I didn’t have time to visit this observation deck. I heard queues can be long at times.

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle is a castle built by Christian IV in the 1600s. It is found within the King’s Garden in the center of Copenhagen. This castle now functions as a museum housing royal artefacts & historical collection.

Frederik’s Church

Locally known as Frederiks Kirke, Frederik’s Church is a Lutheran church in Copenhagen. It is also known as the Marble Church (Marmorkirken) & is found near the Amalienborg Palace. It has one of the largest church domes in Denmark & in Scandinavia.


Round Tower

The Round Tower, Rundetårn as locals call it, is Europe’s oldest functioning observatory. It was built by Christian IV in the 17th century to continue the astronomical studies started by Tycho Brahe. The tower has a spiral way up (no stairs) – used before to bring heavy materials up to the observatory through horses & carriages. The tower has an open-air observation deck which tourists can access for 25 DKK.

View from the Round Tower open-air observation deck. You’ll also see Strøget on the botton left.

Strøget

Strøget is Copenhagen’s longest & most famous shopping street. This street has almost all kinds of shops, cafes & restaurants the locals & tourists need or want. It’s a nice place to observe Danish locals & their everyday lives.

The Citadel

The Citadel, Kastellet in local language, is Copenhagen’s fortress constructed in pentagon-shape. It used to protect the city from Swedes & international invaders. The citadel still functions as a military area at the same time a public park where locals & visitors can have a walk.

The Little Mermaid

If Brussels has Manneken Pis & Singapore has Merlion, Copenhagen has the famous Little Mermaid statue. Known as Den lille Havfrue in Danish, this bronze statue was made after Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. This iconic statue is found on a rock by the Langelinie promenade.

Gefion Fountain

Gefion Fountain, Gefionspringvandet in local language, is a fountain structure that depicts Norse goddess Gefjon with large animals. The statue was donated by Carlsberg Foundation to the Copenhagen city government on the brewery’s 50th anniversary. The fountain is located near The Little Mermaid & beside St Alban’s Church.

St Alban’s Church

St Alban’s Church is an Anglican church in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is found near the Kastellet, the Little Mermaid & beside the Gefion Fountain.

Nyboder

Nyboder is a row of heritage yellow houses built by Christian IV in the former Naval barracks of Copenhagen. These houses were built to accommodate the increasing Royal Danish Navy & their families.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn is is one of Copenhagen’s popular tourist destinations. The row of colorful heritage buildings by the harbor makes this place unique. The harbor was built during the time of Christian V & it served as the docking place for market goods & seafood. Nowadays, the colorful builders are all cafes, pubs & restaurants. It still functions as a harbor for selected canal tours. This is one of my favorite places in Copenhagen. I can literally sit on one side & look at the colorful houses / buildings all day.

King’s New Square

The King’s New Square, locally known as Kongens Nytorv, is a public square constructed during the time of Christian V. On one side, the square is in the end of Strøget, Copenhagen’s famous shopping street. The other side of the square is also the end of Nyhavn; one side also has the Royal Danish Theatre.

Royal Danish Theatre

The Royal Danish Theatre, Det Kongelige Teater in local language, is Denmark’s most famous performing arts institution. Located at the King’s New Square, this theatre hosts operas, ballet performances, concerts & even plays.

Freetown Christiania

Freetown Chrstiania, known locally as Fristaden Christiania, is a self-governing community which considers themselves independent of Copenhagen, of Denmark & of European Union. It is a place in Copenhagen where illegal things are legal, if you know what I mean. It’s a cool & hippie place to visit – just to visit. Mads & I went to this place just to see it. People were harmless but they offered weed to all passersby, including us. We said no, of course.

Church of Our Savior

Just a few meters from Freetown Christiania is Church of Our Savior. Locally known as Vor Frelsers Kirke, this baroque church is famous for its helix tower accessed through an open-air staircase. Mads & I went up this viewing point & saw stunning views of Copenhagen.

Warning! The helix structure & external staircase becomes smaller as you go up. In the end, only 1 person can stay & at some point, you need to give way to those people going up or going down. Entrance fee to the viewpoint range from 35 DKK to 50 DKK, depending on season.

Gråbrødretorv

Gråbrødretorv is a small & quiet public area just off Strøget. The square has restaurants, shops & offices around & has a tree in between with seating spaces.

Torvehallerne

Torvehallerne is an urban fresh food market near Nørreport Station in Copenhagen. This market is the place to have local snacks including Danish pastries & the famous open-face treat smørrebrød.

Copenhagen Christmas Market

Copenhagen’s Christmas Market in Nyhavn – those small white huts sell food & Christmas goods.

Copenhagen’s Christmas Market opened on my second to the last day in the city. The market was in Nyhavn & sold everything from socks, to beanies, Danish food & drinks & a lot more. We went around every shop & tried all possible food we can try. The booth owners offered free taste of the treats they’re selling. It was a fun experiencing a Christmas market – definitely a memorable in this first solo trip to Europe.


Copenhagen has its own beauty, isn’t it? The city has a different vibe compared to the other ones I’ve been to in this trip. Have you been to Copenhagen or other cities in Denmark? What do you think of the city? How was your trip around the city? Share your experiences in the comments section below. You may send your questions, if any, to contact@thewkndtravel.com. To be honest, I feel like I want to move Copenhagen after visiting the place. I know it is expensive but it is a great city to live in.

One last look at Nyhavn. This is the other side of the famous harbor – still beautiful & colorful. 🇩🇰

And just like that, my journey around Europe is over. This Copenhagen post will be the last post about cities on the Going Solo in Europe series. I still have P’s Lists & Flight Reports coming up related to this trip so please stay tuned. Thank you very much for joining me in this trip of a lifetime. I am already excited to go back there & to explore new countries.

Before you go, can I ask you to please follow me on my social media pages? Here are my Facebook & Instagram accounts. I hope you can also share these pages to your family & friends. Thank you!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.