Montenegro is a small, yet stunning country located in Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea. It’s known for its diverse landscapes, which include rugged mountains, deep canyons, and picturesque coastal areas. Podgorica is the capital and largest city, though many visitors are drawn to the coastal city of Kotor for its historical charm and scenic beauty. Montenegro’s compact size means that you can experience a lot in a short amount of time, making it a great destination for both relaxation and adventure.
One of the most famous, and visited landmarks in the Untied Kingdom. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument dating back to around 3000 to 2000 BC. It features a circle of tall standing stones weighing about 25 tons each. The larger Sarsen stones were brought from quarries 25 miles away, while the smaller bluestones came from 150 miles away in Wales.
Never heard of punting? Well, stop right there, and let me give you all the information you need for this wonderful experience! Punting in Cambridge has to be one of my all-time favourite things to do in England. Venice vibes… but a bit colder.
Cambridge is a city in the East of England, only 50 miles north of London. The city is famously known for it’s university, gorgeous architecture, and of course punting along the River Cam.
Iceland is a country that should be experienced at least once in a lifetime. It’s not every day you’re surrounded by raw, natural beauty and dramatic, un-touched landscapes, that Iceland has. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll need multiple trips to cover the whole country.
Iceland, Iceland, Iceland. Where do I even begin? It was an absolute thrill to experience many of the wonders that this incredible country has to offer, and an even bigger dream of mine to capture the endless beauty and dramatic landscapes, that I had thought about for so long. It’s a place where every photo taken, is worthy. In my opinion it’s pretty difficult to take a bad picture here. From the geysers to the glaciers, and from Seljalandsfoss to Skógafoss. Every corner of this magical country is picture perfect.
After what feels like a lifetime of wanting to travel to Iceland… I finally did it! And it was everything I could have imagined, AND MORE. Seriously though, there is no other place like it on the planet. Truly one of a kind. Waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, black sand beaches, volcanoes and of course cute Icelandic ponies. They don’t call it ‘the land of fire and ice’ for nothing.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Dubrovnik is one of my favourite places on the planet. The combination of the dramatic coastline, turquoise waters, orange-roofed buildings, the mountainous backdrop and the European summer feels, are the best. Dubrovnik has become quite the hotspot in recent years due to the accessibility of surrounding countries and, of course, Game of Thrones fans. Walking around the Old Town, swimming in the Adriatic sea and the view from Mount Srd are all my highlights.
Rome is one of Europe’s oldest and most popular cities. Rich in history, iconic landmarks and architecture. Not to forget that it’s THE place to immerse yourself in Italian cuisine. No guilt required when trying all of the pizzas, pastas and gelato. Washed down with glass of red wine. Honestly, no other delicacies matter here.
Venice is one of the worlds greatest cities, famous for the car-less streets, picturesque canals, gondolas, the Rialto Bridge and many historic buildings.
A romantic city, perfect for a weekend away with your loved ones. Or a solo trip that will re-ignite your soul for food, passion and love. The relaxed Italian way of life rubs off on everyone that visits.
One of my favourite countries in the world - Italy! A place that is dreamy from every aspect - the language, landscapes, culture, history and of course the cuisine. Italians are the kings at maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Which is something that the rest of the world can definitely benefit from.
On the whole, Croatia is undoubtedly the most beautiful country I’ve ever been to. The turquoise calm waters, lush greenery, dramatic landscapes, coastal roads, quaint villages and the historic city of Dubrovnik, are all you could possibly want from a European summer holiday. If I had the choice, I would move to the country in a heartbeat! I have nothing but fond memories of my 2018 trip.
Glencoe is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. With towering mountains, calm lochs, clean air, cascading waterfalls and scenic routes that take your breath away at every angle. Glencoe is just a 30-minute drive away from Ben Nevis and the town of Fort William, in the Scottish Highlands.
Prague is the capital city of Czechia or most commonly known as the Czech Republic. The city is now one of Europe’s most famous and most visited, as millions of tourists visit each year. As part of my European road trip in January 2014, I managed to squeeze in a memorable 24 hours in the city. I remember falling in love instantly with the buildings, streets and that true European feel. I also remember being completely frozen - it was so cold! Hot chocolate, crepes and cosy pubs kept us going!
After partying in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava for New Years Eve 2014. Instead of flying back to London, we decided that we would drive back through Europe, stopping off in various cities on the way.
The plan was to start off with breakfast in Bratislava, lunch in Vienna and dinner in Prague. Then spend a couple of days exploring Berlin and Bruges, and finally taking the Eurotunnel from Calais and drive up to London.
Whenever I visit a new country or city, my first port of call is always to see the view from the highest point. Majority of the time that’s from the tallest skyscraper or on top of a mountain. I love to figure out my bearings so I can navigate and plan a successful trip. I’m slightly obsessed with viewing decks and skylines - it’s always my favourite part of any new city that I visit.
I’m 31 & a British expat, currently living the dream in Dubai. I have a huge passion for travel, photography & have over 45 countries ticked off my bucket list. I used the 2020 lockdown to produce runawaysoph.com, which is now home to 50+ posts of my favourite experiences. Stay tuned to see where I travel to next…
