DECEMBER 2023
I usually do a travel highlights post, but I am a bit behind on posting as we traveled so much in the second half of the year. This means I will include some trips in my highlights list, which I have not yet posted about. You can look at it as a little teaser for what’s to come on the blog in 2024. This year we were able to fit in so many destinations, and I actually still have one big upcoming trip as we are going to spend the Christmas week in Gdansk, Poland. I hope you all have the best Christmas and a Happy New Year!
10) Bohemian Switzerland, Czech Republic
Technically this was the last destination of 2022 and where we spent New Year’s Eve, so I figured I would include Bohemian Switzerland in my 2023 list. We found Bohemian Switzerland such a hidden gem during wintertime, apparently it can get busy in the summer season, but we did not experience crowds at all. Unexpectedly we had 15 degrees kind of weather, so we were able to fit in lots of hikes and had beautiful places such as Pravcicka Brana and Tiske Steny all to ourselves!
9) Hydra, Greece
During my Greek road trip I was able to fit in one island, which was Hydra. We came just before the tourist season was about to start, in the beginning of May, and were impressed by all the bougainvillea already hitting peak bloom. I absolutely loved all the donkeys roaming the cobblestone streets, as they still are used for transport. Hydra definitely was a nice surprise and was able to give us all the island feels, even though we were just visitors for a day.
8) Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Of all the places I visited in 2023, Mostar definitely is a good one if you love history. I am very interested in the Balkan-conflict and geopolitics in general and was impressed with what I witnessed in Mostar. The old bridge that was tore down during the Balkan-war, was beautifully rebuilt. I am very happy to see Bosnia rising in tourism and recovering from a devastating history. You can still feel the Ottoman influences in Mostar, creating a very interesting mix of architecture and culture.
7) Sicily, Italy
I haven’t posted about this trip yet, but in September I spent a week on Sicily and fell in love with this island. Sicily is really gaining in popularity and the locals seemed very happy to welcome tourists, which is not the case everywhere in Italy. I found Sicily to have a very good mix between touristy and authentic, parts of it are a bit run-down but this is also part of the charm. We loved taking a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea after a full day of exploring!
6) Paris in Spring, France
Paris never is a bad idea, but it certainly is extra special if you visit during springtime. We visited at the end of April and were just able to catch the peak cherry blossoms at the Eiffel tower, Parc de Sceaux and Jardin des Plants. The wisteria was just about to bloom, adding an even better layer to our trip. It can be difficult to get the timing right for the blossoms and it definitely added some stress to planning, but it was worth it in the end.
5) Chiapas, Mexico
In November we were reunited with our Mexican friends who live in Chiapas. We spent four days exploring this area of Mexico with them and visiting all their favorite spots, which made for a real authentic experience. Chiapas is still relatively undiscovered, compared to other parts of Mexico and we loved being able to explore in a relaxed way, instead of getting up super early to take photos.
4) Meteora, Greece
The absolute highlight of our Greek road trip were the monasteries on top of gigantic rocks in Meteora. Meteora had been on my bucket list for quite some years and it certainly did not disappoint. Again, we visited in the shoulder season which made this visit so relaxed. We were able to park at each monastery that we wanted to visit and didn’t need any reservations at restaurants.
3) Hvar, Croatia
Hvar is usually skipped by families, as it is known as a party hotspot. It probably is really good for partying, but I wouldn’t skip it as a family destination. Hvar is in an incredible state and super picturesque. During summer it gets way too hot, but you can continuously dip into the Adriatic Sea with the old town of Hvar as your backdrop. All in all I still felt like we didn’t have enough time even though we were able to spend three days exploring and swimming.
2) Valladolid, Mexico
I was doubting where to put this one on top of my list, but ended up putting it in second place after all. Safe to say, we loved Valladolid and its surroundings. We love exploring cenotes and this is the area in Mexico where you will find the most, so you can take a dip in a different one every few hours 😉 In the area you will also find impressive Maya ruins and the city center is really cute and colorful. Valladolid is a must on a Mexican road trip.
1) Jungfrau region, Switzerland
The weather predictions for our Jungfrau trip were awful and the weather turned out to be amazing for a full week. This probably added a lot of happiness to this trip; because of the great weather we were able to do all the hikes that we wanted to do in the region. The Jungfrau region is simply stunning and even if you don’t want to hike, there still is so much to do as you can access every point of interest by gondola or train. The landscapes are incredible diverse, going from snow, to wildflowers in only a few hundred meters. An absolute must for nature lovers!
