The Best Study Abroad Travel Destinations

My top travel destinations from Vienna

I hope you guys have been enjoying my blogs so far! This time, I’m going to go over some of my favorite destinations that I’ve had the pleasure and opportunity to travel to from Vienna. I hope this can serve as some inspiration for you if you’re looking to plan some travel once you arrive!

However, I have some tips to start off.

First, take advantage of the wonderful train network in Europe! Trust me, you’ll never get a chance to hop on a train to Budapest or Prague and be there in a couple of hours. Plus, it’s typically the fastest, most comfortable, and importantly, the cheapest way to travel to most of the major cities. If you’re adventurous, you can even take a Night Jet train, which is an overnight sleeper. Although it might be a bit more expensive, you get to experience true Austrian train travel, and some of their newer trainsets are really impressive and modern. Nightjets can take you all the way to Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, etc. So keep your mindset open, don’t be too car-focused (you’re not allowed to drive anyways). 

Second, consider the time between connections, and critically, how many people you’re traveling with. There have been several times where as a solo traveler, I was able to make a bus or train connection, but just an extra person would’ve meant that I would have missed it. So be smart about scheduling and give yourself buffer time. Trust me, I am someone who lives on the edge and leaves no time, but it adds a lot of unnecessary stress. So don’t do what I do and keep your life relaxed!

Lastly, and I just touched on this, figure out if you enjoy solo traveling or if you are someone who feels more comfortable with others. I’m someone who enjoys both. On one hand, getting to share moments with others, catch up with friends, and have those exciting moments can be really fun, but I am also a big proponent of solo traveling. For one, you can set your own schedule, your own budget, and you control your destiny. Want to climb up a cliff and see the sunset? Do it. Wanna sleep in? Do it. Wanna eat at the cheapest hole in the wall and meet locals? Do it. You get to be your own boss, which is incredibly freeing. And, along the way, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to learn more about yourself. I’ve had my share of incredible sunsets that I’m glad I was able to enjoy, even if nobody was there with me.

Ok, so now to the more fun stuff! My top three destinations are as follows:

1. Zurich (and the surrounding areas)

Yes, it’s incredibly expensive. Like seriously expensive. But Zurich and surrounding regions are by far my favorite place I’ve been so far. The train network in Swiss is so impressive (to be honest, it’s even better than the Austrian system). You can go to any part of the country quickly and see amazing scenery along the way. Zurich has the classic shopping street, and just a train ride away is the Stoos Ridge and Arth-Goldau Cog Railway, where you can get to the top of a mountain and see panoramic views. Zurich just has that aura that a classic Swiss city demands, and the feel of the city is indescribable. 

Pro tip: Eat at Coop or Migros for cheaper meals, and download the SBB app for train information!

2. Mallorca

Honestly, it’s a bit unfair to put Mallorca up here, because I went during an ideal time. I went in November, when the crowds are smaller, and when the Christmas markets are just getting started. But the island as a whole was beautiful. Valldemossa, Sa Calobra, Deia, and the small towns along the coast are beautiful. Of course, Palma is Palma, but I highly recommend exploring the rest of the island, whether by the public transit buses, or by the traditional railway that goes along the coast. It is really a beautiful area, and the weather is better than Vienna’s year-round, guaranteed!

Pro tip: Make sure you flag down the buses if you want to get on them! I missed a bus by accident because I didn’t flag it down.

3. Athens

Athens is one of those magical places where everything seems to be perfect. You have the gorgeous weather, and by gorgeous, I mean perfect. High 60s, low 70s, sunny, with a light breeze. Athens is also a very diverse city. You have the beach quite close by via tram, along with the well-known ancient ruins. There are bars, souvlaki shops, and lots of choices for what you want to do, even if Ancient Greece isn’t your thing. The two big hostels there, Athens Backpackers Hostel and Athens Hawks Hostel, are super good for meeting people. In fact, I met a couple friends who I’ll be visiting later in the year. Just be friendly, and you’ll have success!

Pro tip: Head to Lycabettus Hill for a sunset, but head there early. By 30 minutes before sunset, the hill was already packed at the top. You can get a great view from a couple levels down, still.

So those are my three recommendations. You have the quintessential Swiss city, full of culture, with an excellent train network for traveling the country. You have a beautiful Mediterranean island, with gorgeous villages dotted along the coast. And you have a warm Ancient Greek paradise. Too many good options!

Anyways, that’s my article for today. I hope you enjoyed it and you were able to take something away from it! Until next time.