Happy travels!

* All images courtesy of Airbnb
** All prices in $CAD

FRANCE – Eiffel Tower Airbnb

• Airbnb in Paris, France
• $150 per night

Imagine waking up to this view every morning! Of course, such a privilege comes at a premium; with rates going as high as $650 per night, not just anyone can afford to marvel at the Paris skyline while sipping on their morning café au lait. But it sure is an unforgettable experience!

Iceland – Luxury villa

• Luxury villa in Iceland
• $650 per night

Experience this ultra-modern, bold villas in the tranquil village of Akureyri in Northern Iceland, with nature at your doorstep. This is an excellent option year round, as you can both enjoy the midnight sun in the summertime as well as the aurora borealis in the wintertime – as you know, Iceland is always a good idea.

Ireland – Restored church in Galway

• Church in Ireland
• $150 per night

Experience life in a 200-year old restored church just a few minutes from lively Galway, on the scenic western coast of Ireland. Although the church is equipped with every modern amenity, it’s also kept many of its original features – definitely an unforgettable, unique adventure!

Cinque Terre, Italy

• Airbnb in Cinque Terre
• $128 per night

Quite possibly the best balcony in Italy! The apartment is small but frankly this is not the main selling point here, as the romantic terrace overlooks the village of Corniglia in Italy’s legendary Cinque Terre.

Norway – Sognefjord Airbnb

• Cabin in the Norway fjords
• $350 per night

This old thing? Just a fabulous cabin by one of Norway’s most famous fjords. Perfect for hikers and boat enthusiasts – as for me, I will just enjoy a chilled glass of white wine on that lovely waterfront terrace, thank you very much.

Scotland

• Waterside cabin on the Isle of Skye
• $118 per night

A luxury self-catering studio for two on the edge of a bird sanctuary with stunning views of Beinn na Caillich mountain, this bijou Airbnb is close to many Skye attractions as well as a number of shops. The power shower, the cosy fireplace as well as the downright idyllic setting make it a top accommodation of the Isle of Skye. I stayed there myself and had a wonderful time; Fiona is a lovely host.

Scotland – Wigtown Bookstore Airbnb

• The best Airbnb in Scotland
• $55 per night

Bookworms of the world, rejoice: this amazing Airbnb features not only a flat but most importantly the first ever bookshop holiday/residency experience at The Open Book, a charming bookshop in the heart of Scotland’s National Book Town, Wigtown. Meet fellow book lovers and learn everything there is to know about Scottish literature with the help of friendly locals.

Switzerland – Après-ski cabin

• Luxury chalet in the Alps
• $191 per night

Whether you’re in it for the ski or the après-ski, this beautiful luxury chalet in the French Alps (just a few kilometres from a ski resort) features an unusually high cathedral ceiling as well as a wood-burning fireplace – the perfect backdrop for a well-deserved cheese fondue. When in Rome, right?

• https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/49372736
• https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/283638
• https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/49374597
• https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/34444025
• https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/18132082
• https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/36105750

The post The Best Airbnbs in Every Country in Europe appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

Without missing a beat, I immediately answer that my favourite place in the world is, actually, Scandinavia. And that is in large part due to beautiful Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden and a picture-perfect archipelago dotted with coffee shops, indulgent bakeries, stylish blonde models and an insatiable appetite for life.

Not one… but two royal palaces!

Archipelago city

As it spreads over 14 different islands and islets, Stockholm is, consequently, literally surrounded by water —in fact, over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways— even more so considering that the capital city is effectively wedged between the mouth of Lake Mälaren to the west and the Baltic Sea to the east.

Why yes, that is someone fishing in downtown Stockholm, NBD. The water is *that* clean!

One of the many quaint Swedish cottages scattered along the archipelago’s waterfront

One of the many quaint waterfront towns near Stockholm

Stockholm City Hall in all its splendour

Looking onto Strömkajen, Stockholm’s main harbour

Stunning Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan is Swedish for “old town” and is, arguably, the most popular and best-looking part of Stockholm. Founded in 1252 and having changed very little since, it’s one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centres in Europe; it’s filled with narrow cobblestone streets, colourful facades and impossibly Instagrammable angles.

The longest art gallery in the world: Stockholm’s subway

Although Stockholm has no shortage of things to do on the ground level, it does have an underestimated masterpiece hidden deep beneath the 14 islands that make up the famous archipelago. Only the Swedes could make an otherwise rather dull public transit system so riveting; indeed the Stockholm metro has been deemed the world’s longest art gallery numerous times, at 100 kilometres long and stretching over 90 stations.

* Additional reading: Inside the Stockholm Metro – The Longest Art Gallery in the World

An amazing food & coffee scene

There’s a certain art to (the altogether quite popular) fika, I found out.

It’s not simply about engulfing as much cake as possible within a 15-minute timeframe; it’s about finding a cosy space, perhaps even with a friend or a coworker, where you will indulge in Sweden’s love for everything sweet, take the time to appreciate the good things in life, laugh a little, and wash it all down with a cup of coffee that’ll keep you going for the remainder of the workday. That, ladies and gentlemen, is fika. One of the most cherished customs in Sweden. One that tourists are quite fond of, and, understandably, are quite quick to adopt.

Who in their right mind would willfully argue against having baked goods every day?

* Additional reading: Treat Yo’Self to Fika in Stockholm

Fresh shrimp smørrebrød at Fotografiska

My favourite café, Snickarbacken

The post 30+ photos of Stockholm that will make you want to move there immediately appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

The artist who designed T-Centralen wanted to honour the workers who built the station; instead of simply engraving their names on a plaque that no one would notice, he opted to paint each profession on the ceilings. If you look closely, you can see carpenters, miners, welders, and even the painter himself.

Where does all this art come from?

The presence of art inside something as ordinary as a metro network goes to show just how equalitarian Swedes fundamentally are. Stations were enhanced as part of an animated social debate back in the 1950s about how art should be accessible to everyone, not just the arguably scarce elite who could afford steep admission fee of Stockholm’s galleries and museums.

It was, at the time, quite unusual to launch such extensive and frivolous works in Europe in the aftermath of World War II, after which most construction works were only completed out of sheer necessity; but if you paid attention in history class, you’ll remember that Sweden was neutral in the conflict and didn’t suffer from a major economic crisis, leaving the country with plenty of money.

Although most Stockholmers have become oblivious to the art they walk past on their daily commute, they are definitely part of the fun for out-of-towners. Sculptures, paintings, engravings, mosaics; creativity knows no bounds in this vast underground gallery. 150 artists were selected to bring 90 of the 100 Stockholm metro stations to life through various mediums, topics, and tones – every station is different and sends a different message.

Touring the Stockholm Metro – the best stations to visit

Visit Stockholm has a pretty complete list of stations that should definitely be on your subterranean itinerary. I didn’t have enough time to do ALL of them, but my favourites were:

• Kungsträdgården (blue line)
• T-centralen (blue line)
• Rådhuset (blue line)
• Solna Centrum (blue line)
• Stadion (red line)

Stockholm: know before you go

• If you plan on taking pictures, I recommend doing a self-guided tour in the evenings when there are much fewer commuters. I did my tour on a Saturday night (how mundane of me, I know) and I had most platforms to myself once trains left the station.
• You can stay in the Stockholm metro as long as you want after you’ve purchased your ticket. In other words, this tour won’t cost you more than a few kronas.
• If you’d rather go on a guided tour, there are free English-speaking tours of the metro led by certified guides in the summer.
• For even more pictures of the Stockholm metro, my pal Lola over at Slow Travel Stockholm photographed many stations in the city. The Guardian also has a nice gallery.
• Try to keep this activity for a rainy or chilly day (trust me, it will come faster than you think in this Nordic city). You wouldn’t want to waste a blissfully sunny day by staying indoors several metres below ground!

The post Inside the Stockholm Metro – the longest art gallery in the world appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

It’s not simply about engulfing as much cake as possible within a 15-minute timeframe; it’s about finding a cosy space, perhaps even with a friend or a coworker, where you will indulge in Sweden’s love for everything sweet, take the time to appreciate the good things in life, laugh a little, and wash it all down with a cup of coffee that’ll keep you going for the remainder of the workday. That, ladies and gentlemen, is fika. One of the most cherished customs in Sweden. One that tourists are quite fond of, and, understandably, are quite quick to adopt.

Who in their right mind would willfully argue against having baked goods every day?

What’s The Deal With Fika?

Fika is technically a play on the Swedish word for coffee that emerged back when back slang was a thing (kaffi is Swedish for coffee) in the 19th century. The word even went on to become both a verb and a noun, which probably explains its omnipresence in contemporary Swedish society.

The setting is of little importance. You don’t have to be in the best bakery in town, or the hippest café – so long as you take some time to change gears, slow down, and take some time minutes to yourself. And because fika is normally experienced in a very informal setting, it’s a great excuse to break the notorious and proverbial Nordic ice with a Swede and get to know him or her a little better. Fika comes with no strings attached, and no expectations. According to Try Swedish:

Most Swedes would agree that the recipe for the perfect fika includes coffee, a cinnamon bun and a best friend.

For the Swedes, there’s nothing extraordinary about fika. It’s just coffee and cake, yo. It’s part of their daily routine, sometimes even part of their employee contracts. These mo’fos have no idea how lucky they are to 1, have coffee breaks (as a freelancer I am completely estranged to the concept) and 2, live in a country where it’s not only socially acceptable but encouraged to eat cookies on a daily basis.

Can someone sort out my Swedish visa already? #kthnx

Fika And Seven Cookies at Gubbhyllan

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This place deserves a proper shout out. Located inside the famous Skansen open-air museum on Djurgarden, Gubbhyllan serves one of the last remaining “seven cookies fika” in the country. While not meant to be celebrated every day, this cookie ceremony of sorts is mostly used to highlight special occasions like christenings or house parties.

Why seven cookies, specifically?

It all goes back to the 19th century, right after coffee was once more legalised in Sweden. People were excited that they could enjoy their favourite beverage freely again (the fact that coffee was outlawed didn’t stop the Swedes from drinking the stuff quite profusely), and were eager to try new things to go along with it… like cookies. Rumour has it that the number seven comes from the fact that back in the 19th century, women and their small group of baes used to meet up in the afternoon for coffee and funsies (wait, this sounds familiar…), each guest bringing a homemade treat, more often that not cookies. For some reason, they often ended up being seven people for fika, for a grand total of… seven cookies. There you go! Mystery solved.

History aside, I will not be asked twice to eat seven different types of dessert in one sitting. And the ones I had at Gubbhyllan were delicious: potato cake, gluten-free brownies, hallongrottor or raspberry thumb print cookies, kolasnittar and their delicious caramel flavour, kanelbullar because obviously, oatmeal cookies called drömmar as well as deliciously good-looking checkerboard cookies.

Also, the dining room at Gubbhyllan is totes adorable, with fresh flowers on each table and wood everywhere. Definitely book fika there if you have entry tickets to Skansen or if you have a Stockholm Card.

Where To Have Fika In Stockholm

Like I said, the place where you choose to take part in fika matters very little. Hell, you could have it on the train, for all intents and purposes. But if you’re on holiday in Stockholm it might be nice to experience the custom in one of the city’s many beautiful cafés. Visit Stockholm has plenty of suggestions – and here are a few of my favourites.

• Snickarbacken – Snickarbacken 7 in Östermalm
• Fabrique – Lilla Nygatan 12 Gamla Stan
• Drop Coffee – Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 10 in Södermalm
• Gildas Rum – Skånegatan 79 in Södermalm
• Foam – Karlavägen 75 in Östermalm
• Cafe Pascal – Norrtullsgatan 4 in Vasastan

The post Treat Yo’Self To Fika In Stockholm, Or How To Eat Your Weight In Cake appeared first on To Europe And Beyond.

Welcome to the oldest part of Stockholm. Yes, it’s touristy, and yes, it’s overpriced — but as I always say, it’s popular with tourists for a reason. It’s gorgeous! The buildings are ancient and colourful, the streets are winding and beautifully uneven and the Swedish flag is omnipresent. Gamla Stan is also home to the loveliest square in the city as well as the Nobel Museum.

Royal Palace

Take an art tour of the metro

Vasa Museum

The warship sank on its maiden voyage in the early 1600s and wasn’t salvaged until the 1960s, a mere 300 years later — in an almost intact state. The vessel was supposedly one of the largest, luxurious (have a look at those carvings!) and heavily-equipped warships of the time – too bad it was short-lived! The museum as such explains a lot about the “Swedish Golden Age” and the importance of the Kingdom in the 17th century. Quite fascinating to say the least!

Day trip to Drottningham

Take the ferry to Djurgarden

The ferry service is part of the Stockholm Transportation office, and valid with your transportation title. There are several boarding spots spread around the city, making it very easy to hop on and hop off as you wish. It’s a really fun thing to do on a sunny day, and gives a whole new perspective on the city.

Stockholm City Hall

The Nobel banquet is perhaps the biggest selling point of this attraction, with reason – every single one of the 18 million pieces mosaic-like wall was assembled by hand, and while it looks perfect, there’s a slight flaw that only the most attentive visitors will notice. I won’t spill all the secrets just yet but know this — nothing is quite what it seems at the City Hall.

Fika in Stockholm

Day trip to Vaxholm

Archipelago boat tour

Admire the view from Ivor Los Park

Other things to do in Stockholm:

• Explore the famous Modernamuseet
• Shop the best Swedish brands at Nordiska Kompaniet
• Visit the ABBA Museum & Swedish Music Hall of Fame
• Bathe and relax at the Centralbadet
• Hike on Stockholm’s rooftops 
• Tour the Royal Opera House
• Visit the Stockholm City Library
• Explore Fotografiska

Ostermalm’s Saluhall

Bakfickan

Snickarbacken

Fabrique

Fotografiska

Other places to eat and drink in Stockholm:

• Marie Laveau
• Nytorget 6
• Meatballs for the People
• Magnolia
• Morfar Ginko
• Urban Deli
• Taverna Brillo
• Hornstull Bodega

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