Spring Break

Spring break back home for me usually takes place in early April, around two weeks before finals. I often spend that week working on final projects, essays, or studying for those exams. That way, when I get back, the end of the semester is not as stressful. And while this spring break was similar (I needed a break from academics), it was unlike any spring break I’ve had before. Naturally, this makes sense as I’m in Europe for the semester. For this blog, I’m going to take you through my spring break travels and try to give some helpful tips on how to have the best time possible. 

Since we had the entire week off, my friends and I decided to travel a little further than usual. That way, we don’t have to spend any weekends traveling for longer periods of time. We can go to Eastern Europe, see several different cities, and then head back. This will help you save money as travel costs to go across the continent are more expensive. So, for the week, we decided on Croatia, Vienna, and Prague. 

We flew to Zadar, Croatia, for a small beach vacation, and it was absolutely gorgeous. There are buses from Amsterdam to Zadar, but they were around the same price, and flying would get us there faster. Some websites we used to find cheap flights were Skyscanner, Omio, CheapTickets, EasyJet, and RyanAir. HostelWorld is also a great resource to find places to stay as it’ll give an overall rating, prices per night, location scores, cleanliness ratings, and reviews from other travelers. 

Zadar was a great place to start spring break since it’s not a large city, they have beautiful views of the Mediterranean, and great beaches. It was super relaxing and exactly what we needed at this point in the semester. Walking the sunset at the Sea Organ is a must. We spent one day at the beach and the next on a walking tour of the city. I found this app called GPSmyCity, which has free walking tours for several cities. They have example tours and you can make your own based on what you and your friends want to see. It maps out the tour for you and provides facts about each of the sights. And you can download the tour so you don’t need Wifi or cellular data. You can also get a subscription to get more information and use their GPS software. We used the free version and were able to get around perfectly fine. It was great in every city, and I highly recommend it. It’s a great way to see the city and do it at your own pace.

Vienna was also stunning with great architecture. A lot of places (palaces, museums, etc.) you have to pay to get into, so definitely do your research beforehand. However, it’s a great city with a lot of history. Volksgarten was one of our favorite places to go. It’s a large park with a statue of Mozart and the Empress Elizabeth. My friends and I picnicked there, which is another great way to save money. We went to the local grocery store and bought cheese, crackers, bread, and fruit, all for about 15 euros. Split that four ways, and you have a great, cheap meal in a beautiful park. 

Our final stop was Prague. It was definitely my favorite city of the trip, but before I get into the highlights, I have to give a PSA: always buy a ticket when using public transportation. The fine for not doing so is 1000 CZK, or $45. The price for a thirty minute tram is 15 CZK/less than a dollar. Now, before you go thinking, I’ll just not buy a ticket and it’ll be fine (like we did), there are public transportation officers on the trams, dressed in normal clothes, who will ask for your ticket. And if you don’t have one, they will fine you. No, it is not a scam; it’s a real policy, and yes, this happened to us multiple times, though we learned our lesson after the first one. So, always buy a public transportation ticket in Prague. 

After that little hiccup, everything else was great. Old Town Prague is an amazing place to walk around and explore. You can walk around several palace grounds for free, but you often have to pay to go inside. The Astronomical Clock is beautiful, and there’s a lot of historical information online about alchemy. Alchemy was popular in Prague under the reign of Emperor Rudolf II. The Speculum Alchemiae Museum takes you through an underground alchemy lab because, apparently, there are underground tunnels connecting laboratories around the city. Some of the carvings on buildings have alchemical meanings, and it’s really fun to decode them. Prague Castle and the Cathedral are stunning places to visit, and there isn’t any place in Prague where you can’t find history.

Spring break is a great experience to travel and explore, but my friends and I struggled to pack. We only had our backpacks, which quickly ran out of space and got heavy. Something we recommend is to pack the bare minimum. I guarantee you that you do not need every skin and hair product you own, and you’re going to use less makeup than you think. It’s okay to rewear shirts, pants, shorts, or skirts, but bring plenty of socks. You’re going to be walking around a lot and those get gross real quick. It’s an academic free week, so do not bring your laptop or school notebooks. Give yourself a real break from school stress by not being able to access your computer. Leave room for snacks to bring on the start of your trip, and that way, once you eat them, there’s space for souvenirs. 

I hoped this helped you imagine the possibilities for spring break! I know for most the academic year is over, so enjoy your summer (which is conveniently also a great time to think about studying abroad :) )!