This study abroad semester, I visited fifteen countries, including my home base. Studying abroad in London made the United Kingdom and continental Europe incredibly easy to explore. I took trains across the U.K., hopped on the Eurostar to continental Europe, and caught flights from London’s many airports to new destinations. Each trip broadened my horizons and introduced me to cultures I never imagined I would get to experience. Out of all the places I visited, these five stood out the most.
Marburg, Germany
If you love fairy tales and old town Europe, Marburg feels like stepping straight into a storybook. I visited a friend doing a Fulbright there, and he showed me around the cobbled streets, steep hills, and half-timbered houses. He told me that the Brothers Grimm once lived in Marburg, and it makes perfect sense because the whole town feels like the setting of one of their stories.
As part of the German Fairy Tale Route, Marburg has a sixteen-stop fairy tale path scattered throughout the town. I did not make it to all of them, but I still remember the Frog Prince sculpture, the Little Red Riding Hood figure, and the giant Cinderella shoe in front of Landgrave’s Castle. Walking through the town felt like being transported into a childhood story.
- Athens, Greece
Calling all Percy Jackson fans and Ancient Greek scholars! Athens was an absolute dream. Everywhere I walked, I came across pieces of ancient history. Even the metro stations had statues! Standing at the Acropolis and looking out over the city felt surreal, almost like the past and present were stacked on top of each other. The weather was another surprise. I visited in the second week of November and ended up wearing shorts in sixty-degree sunshine. Prague, Czechia
I had heard great things about Prague, but the city still managed to surprise me. The architecture alone was breathtaking. Gothic spires, pastel buildings, and the Charles Bridge stretching across the Vltava River. Even on a cloudy day, the city felt full of life, from the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square to Prague Castle towering above everything.
My friend studying abroad there became my tour guide for the day. We met in Vyšehrad, where I saw the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul and the Vyšehrad Cemetery, which I highly recommend visiting. As we wandered through a Christmas market, she told me stories about Prague’s history, and it made the city feel even more magical.
- Vienna, Austria
Vienna felt elegant in a way few cities do. Grand cafés, classical music drifting through the streets, and palaces that make you feel tiny in the best possible way. I visited a friend studying abroad there, and even though I only had two full days, she made it her mission to show me everything. We explored the busy streets of Stephansplatz, admired the architecture, and visited the Christmas market at Rathaus. Vienna balances beauty and calm so effortlessly, and I left wanting to return for a much longer stay. - Bruges, Belgium
I first saw Bruges on Instagram and immediately knew I had to visit. I did a day trip from Brussels and quickly realized that Bruges is the kind of place that makes you slow down. Cobblestone streets, picturesque canals, and Belgian chocolate shops on every corner. It is small enough to wander without a plan, which is exactly how I fell in love with it. Bruges is a beautifully preserved medieval city, and with its canals and boats, it even reminded me a little of Venice.
Studying abroad gave me the chance to see places I had only ever imagined, but it also taught me how beautiful the world can be. Each city had its own personality. These five places were my favorites, but every destination left something with me. I ended this semester with a passport full of stamps and a deeper appreciation for the joy of exploring somewhere new.
