Marguerite

The second city of Greece, which I would describe as bustling! Thessaloniki is worth the trip, and it is very pleasant to walk around there, whether near the sea or in the old town, which is on a hill (and offers a pretty view after a nice climb!). There are plenty of shops and stalls at the base of the buildings and a few ruins. It is a different vibe than Athens, more relaxed and less touristy!

Medieval capital of Bulgaria. I preferred Tarnovo over Sofia. A very cute town on a mountainside, with streets that go in every direction. Not much to do aside from wandering the streets where you sometimes get a very pretty view of the rest of the city. There is also a church on a hill that is worth it, with a nice view and religious but modern paintings inside the church. Check the calendar because there is a magnificent sound and light show on certain evenings! Honestly, only the Old Town and Tzarevetz areas are worth it if you are not staying long.

I personally hated Sofia. I found the city very ugly, run-down, and sad, and it didn't really offer any traditional restaurants. There are a few ruins dating back to the Roman era that are well preserved and displayed. The largest church in Europe is quite pretty, and there is a "tolerance square" that brings together a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, a synagogue, and a mosque all in the same area. Finally, the park near the theater is nice and a lot of people gather there in the evening to grab a drink!

Not a particularly pretty city, but it is packed with ruins and ancient history. Walking around is pleasant. The Acropolis is crowded (go early to avoid the line) but it is worth it. The Acropolis Museum is well done, and the neighborhood around it is pretty but quite touristy. Most of the time you have to pay to walk around the ruins (the Agora, the Temple of Zeus), but you can see them just fine from a distance too.

Meteora is very impressive. It consists of 7 monasteries perched on rocks/meteors that rise out of the ground. The view is magical, and the whole walk takes about 3 to 4 hours if you go on foot. There is a bus that leaves from Kalambaka (where you should stay for the night), or renting a car can be useful if you do not feel like walking between each monastery, but it is not really a bother since the view is sublime everywhere.

People told me not to go, but I really liked it. The areas around the city center are a bit run-down, but not dangerous at all, and the center itself has plenty of nice restaurants, bars, and landmarks to see. Some streets remind you of Paris and it is pleasant to walk around there. You can also find the second largest building in the world! Built under Ceausescu, it houses the Romanian Parliament among other things. I recommend the tour, which is very impressive!

Sighi is the city where Vlad Dracul was born (who inspired the Dracula character). It is very cute, but you can get through it very quickly (one day is enough to walk around the entire center), and I would say there are almost more pizzerias than typical restaurants!

Cluj is the most educated city in Romania (and you find a lot of French medical students here). Not much to see besides a church, a theater, and a square, but the atmosphere is really nice, Central Park is pleasant, and the restaurants are good! Plus, a beautiful panorama from a hill on the other side of the river near the Hotel Belvedere! So, nice atmosphere, but no need to hang around too long either.

Budapest is one of my favorite cities in Europe! A ton of things to do and see: try the thermal baths, climb the hill on the Pest side of the river and go see the view from the Statue of Liberty, and the castle with Matthias Church. On the Buda side, the Jewish Quarter near the synagogue is the place for nightlife: full of ruin bars and cool spots to grab a bite. St. Stephen's Basilica is very pretty and offers a nice view of the city. The quays are a must, from the Chain Bridge all the way to the Parliament! Finally, Elizabeth Square is the central hub with a pool and tons of bars and cafes!

Small city with a cute Old Town. There are basically two or three things to see: a church, a castle on a hill, and a panoramic spot that is a cemetery/memorial for Soviet soldiers. Nice view of the city from the hill. Also a nice view from the bridges that cross the river, plus very cool bars and beaches on the other side of the river!

Very pretty city filled with castles, palaces, and museums. Very beautiful collections, whether at the Belvedere or in the MuseumQuartier (the Leopold Museum is my favorite!!!). There is a lovely cathedral in the city center and it is pleasant to walk around. The State Hall (library) is very impressive and offers an exhibition on Emperor Franz Joseph. A very cultural and interesting city.

I liked Krakow less than Warsaw, but you cannot deny that the market square (old town) is magnificent with the St. Mary's Basilica (sumptuous interior) and the pretty facades. There is a green belt all around the old town that is shaded and very pleasant. The hill with the cathedral is also pretty and worth visiting. The Jewish quarter is very nice, do not forget it! You can visit the Schindler factory there, which has been converted into a museum. It is also possible to visit the Auschwitz camps, which are about a 1-hour bus ride away. And finally, go inside the churches, they are absolutely magnificent!

Awesome city and less touristy than Krakow. The National Museum is magnificent and a must-do for anyone who loves art. The riverbanks have beaches in the summer and open-air nightclubs. The Old Town is very pretty and in great shape. Nowy Swiat street is home to tons of bars and restaurants. And there is also a huge communist building that the locals call "Stalin's penis." It is a lively city and pleasant to visit!

Incredible! So many things to visit: the Holocaust memorial, East Side Gallery (the painted part of the Berlin Wall), you can visit the Reichstag Dome (parliament) for free but you have to book your spot in advance, the Brandenburg Gate (near the gate look at the ground: an old brick line marks the border between East and West), Checkpoint Charlie, etc. The Topography of Terror is free and very well done. Also, walk around Kreuzberg (a more alternative neighborhood) and don't miss Tempelhof: an abandoned airport where lots of young people go to hang out, have a drink, and ride bikes, skateboards, or rollerblades on the huge landing strips. The Tiergarten (park) is also very beautiful. Plus,…

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Small city that is very pleasant to visit! Between the castle area (cathedral and a very beautiful view of the other side of the river) and the Old Town area (market square with the church, very pretty facades, and lots of shops), there are many things to see and it is enjoyable to walk around. Do not miss the river quays. There are plenty of boat bars and places to grab a drink, sometimes with music and concerts! Also, beer and alcohol in general are much cheaper than in France. Absinthe is legal, and there is the biggest club in Europe, the Karlovy Lazne (7 floors, with an ice bar in the basement).

Pretty big city and really nice, not especially beautiful but a great vibe. Everyone speaks Canadian French, and the people are very friendly. Careful not to cross on a red light or you will get a fine!! And you absolutely have to try the local specialty: poutine!

There is so much to do: Central Park, Ground Zero (the former Twin Towers), Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge (once you are on the other side on the promenade, there is a very beautiful view of Manhattan), walking along 5th Avenue, in Chelsea, the High Line (a walk on an old elevated subway platform), Little Italy and Chinatown (markets), the Empire State Building (nice view, also check out the Rockefeller Center which has a panoramic roof as well), the very touristy Times Square, Wall Street (the bull statue), ... For museums, there is the MoMA and the Guggenheim (near Central Park) as well as many art galleries. Finally, to get a beautiful view of the south of the island (including the new…

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