terrIFIc wanders

How to spend a long weekend in Ibiza

JulyJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Weekend Getaways

If there is a place in Spain that needs absolutely no introduction, that’s Ibiza. Home to some of the world’s grandest clubs and parties, this Mediterranean island is visited by approximately 3 million tourists every year, most of which are after its crazy nightlife and sparkly drinks. However, just like many other islands known primarily for their busy clubs, bars and booze (hello Mykonos!), Ibiza is not just all-night partying. Don’t get me wrong, nothing compares to a night out there, but there is so much more that you can do when visiting the island.

And since my holiday there was the perfect combination of clubbing till dawn, lying at beautiful beaches, eating good food and taking in the island’s history…

here is my guide on how to spend a long weekend in Ibiza.

continue reading →

How to spend a long weekend in Copenhagen

OctoberJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Weekend Getaways

Long weekends are the best, and not just because you get to stay home from work an extra day. It’s because without much of a fuss – you can easily book cheap flights to various European destinations (that is, if you live in Europe. For all non-Europeans, flights will cost you more, but they’re so worth it!).

One of these lovely destinations is Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark and one of the most beautiful Scandinavian cities (not to mention one of the happiest, as the Danes proudly hold the title as some of the most content people in the world).

I had the pleasure to experience the beauty and spirit of the Danish capital twice, once in February (when I lost all my fingers to frostbite) and once in May, and have formed a solid plan of what you should do there.

So let’s break down

How to spend a long weekend in Copenhagen:

continue reading →

On the way to Oban: a weekend of Sun, Sea & Shellfish in Scotland

JuneJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Weekend Getaways

If living in Scotland has taught me one thing, besides that Scots are amongst the friendliest people one will ever meet, is that you don’t let a glorious sunny day go to waste. So on one of the sunniest Saturday mornings I have ever experienced in Scotland, with “The Rough guide to Scottish Highlands & islands” always on one hand and backpack on the other, we were off to the Highlands!

The mission? To EAT! More specifically, to feast our way through the West Highlands on some of Scotland’s best and freshest seafood, which is famous all over Europe! I‘m talking splendid Scottish salmon (whose exports this year reached a record-breaking £600 million!), succulent scallops, ginormous lobsters, amazing oysters and more. And I was about to consume all of the above – and then some – whilst making my way to the Seafood Capital of Scotland, the beautiful Oban.

continue reading →

5+1 Easter traditions in Cyprus

AprilJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Uncategorized

**Easter (known as “Pascha” in Greek) is a big deal where I’m from and a very special time to be in Cyprus. First and foremost, you get to experience the island in spring**, which is pretty wonderful (and smells divine), be present in the country’s most mystical and spiritual of days, and participate in tons of fun and interesting traditions, some of which have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Here they are:

continue reading →

5+1 Scottish weekend road trips you must do in your lifetime

MarchJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Weekend Getaways

A road trip to the Scottish Highlands should be on everyone’s bucket list, including yours (sorry to sound patronising, but trust me on this one.). Why? Because Scotland is a magical land of breathtaking natural scenery, striking man-made wonders and a fascinating history wrapped up in myths and legends, which make it the ideal place to go for a drive. Yet to be convinced? Then note that just this past year Scotland was voted as “the most beautiful country in the world” by the readers of Rough Guides, one of the most distinguished and famous travel guidebooks worldwide (cue the applause!!!) .

Of course Scotland owes part of its fame and glory to its enchanting, interesting and historic cities, such as Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow and St Andrews, but to properly experience the magnitude of the country’s beauty, you MUST drive to the Scottish Highlands.

So pick the route, buckle up, turn up the music and enjoy the ride!

continue reading →

a beginner’s guide to doing Dublin in 48 hours

MarchJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Weekend Getaways

Dublin is cool. It has a Viking past (which earns the city major cool points), captivating combination of elegant Georgian architecture, medieval and Gothic structures and modern design, rich literary history (the Irish capital earned its UNESCO City of Literature accolade in 2010 – shared only by 27 other cities worldwide) and, for all you foodies, an up-and-coming culinary scene. Not to mention Dublin’s epic, one-of-a-kind, world-class pub culture, which guarantees an excellent night out. So if you are heading there soon (I mean, Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner!), or planning to travel there in the future for the first time…

here is how you spend your first weekend in Dublin:

continue reading →

5+1 of Europe’s most romantic destinations

FebruaryJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Uncategorized

Let’s face it, Europe is jam-packed with romantic spots. Whether it’s a mesmerising castle, a medieval town square, a beautiful park or a cosy art-deco café in a charming neighbourhood, I believe there’s something for anyone who enjoys a bit of romance. And since I am one of those people…

…here are 5+1 of the most r♥mantic European destinations:

continue reading →

5+1 ways to enjoy Cyprus in the winter – a local’s guide

FebruaryJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Uncategorized

And I use the term “winter” loosely, especially when comparing it to the winters of most other European countries. In fact, before I continue any further let me drop some numbers regarding February’s weather in my home country:

Average number of sunshine hours in Larnaca: 209h (compared to 67h in Copenhagen, 74h in Berlin, 78h in London, 168h in Athens and 186h in Santa Cruz-Tenerife).
Average number of rainy days in Larnaca: 6 (compared to 7 in Santa Cruz-Tenerife, 8 in Athens, 9 in Berlin, 10 in London and 11 in Copenhagen).
Average daytime temperature in Larnaca: 17°C (compared to 3°C in Copenhagen, 5°C in Berlin, 9°C in London, 14°C in Athens and 21°C in Santa Cruz-Tenerife. Ok, Tenerife, you won here).

Need I write more?

Now, if you are heading over to Cyprus for a wee winter getaway (omg how Scottish am I?! → clarification: “wee” in Scottish slang means “small”, not to be confused with the synonym for “pee”) and to escape the frozen horror that was winter 2017/2018, then..

here are 5+1 ways to enjoy the island, even in its “coldest” of days:

continue reading →

5+1 things not to miss in Prague

JanuaryJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Uncategorized

Ask anyone to name the 5 most beautiful cities in Europe and rest assured that they will include Prague in that list. The capital and largest city of the Czech Republic is a true gem of culture, history and architecture, so much so that in 1992 the Old Town’s Historic (and gorgeous) Centre Square has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Being literally in the city centre of Europe makes Prague a super accessible destination. In fact, Prague (along with London and Athens) is my most visited holiday city destination – besides the cities / countries I have lived in; I traveled there for a long weekend in the spring of 2011, a week in the summer of 2015, and another long weekend in the winter of 2017, and loved every bit of it.

So without further ado,

here are the 5 things not to miss when visiting Prague:

continue reading →

5+1 festive things to do in Edinburgh during the holidays

DecemberJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Uncategorized

If you have ever visited visited Edinburgh or even just looked at a single picture of it, you will understand why it is hands down the prettiest city in the whole of the UK (voted Britain’s best city for the past 4 years according to The Telegraph). So imagine how drop dead gorgeous the Scottish capital is when it undergoes a Christmas makeover every winter, which gives its Gothic character a cheerful and sparkly twist.

If you are (lucky enough to be) visiting Edinburgh during these holidays, here are the top 5+1 festive things that you should do to make your trip unforgettable:

continue reading →

edinburgh’s magical christmas markets // in pictures

DecemberJanuary by Ifigeneia, posted in In Pictures

continue reading →

how to spend a weekend in Krakow

NovemberJuly by Ifigeneia, posted in Weekend Getaways

Once the capital of Poland and currently the cultural hub of the country, **Kraków is the perfect destination for a weekend’s (or even a week’s) getaway.** Why? Well, let’s see…

For starters, the city is beautiful; featuring, amongst others, a 13^th-century castle, narrow cobblestone streets (major beauty points for any place) and a grand medieval market square (which is the largest square in Europe) in the heart of the Old Town.
Second, there’s loads to do; from sightseeing to learning more about Poland’s historic past to drinking and dancing your way through its many, many bars, pubs and clubs.
And to top it all off, your visit there won’t cost a fortune; although prices are on the rise during the past years, Kraków is still cheaper than other popular European destinations.

And since my holiday there was the perfect combination of clubbing till dawn, lying at beautiful beaches, eating good food and taking in the island’s history…

here is my guide on how to spend a long weekend in Ibiza.

One of these lovely destinations is Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark and one of the most beautiful Scandinavian cities (not to mention one of the happiest, as the Danes proudly hold the title as some of the most content people in the world).

I had the pleasure to experience the beauty and spirit of the Danish capital twice, once in February (when I lost all my fingers to frostbite) and once in May, and have formed a solid plan of what you should do there.

So let’s break down

How to spend a long weekend in Copenhagen:

Here they are:

Of course Scotland owes part of its fame and glory to its enchanting, interesting and historic cities, such as Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow and St Andrews, but to properly experience the magnitude of the country’s beauty, you MUST drive to the Scottish Highlands.

So pick the route, buckle up, turn up the music and enjoy the ride!

here is how you spend your first weekend in Dublin:

Let’s face it, Europe is jam-packed with romantic spots. Whether it’s a mesmerising castle, a medieval town square, a beautiful park or a cosy art-deco café in a charming neighbourhood, I believe there’s something for anyone who enjoys a bit of romance. And since I am one of those people…

…here are 5+1 of the most r♥mantic European destinations:

And I use the term “winter” loosely, especially when comparing it to the winters of most other European countries. In fact, before I continue any further let me drop some numbers regarding February’s weather in my home country:

Average number of sunshine hours in Larnaca: 209h (compared to 67h in Copenhagen, 74h in Berlin, 78h in London, 168h in Athens and 186h in Santa Cruz-Tenerife).

Average number of rainy days in Larnaca: 6 (compared to 7 in Santa Cruz-Tenerife, 8 in Athens, 9 in Berlin, 10 in London and 11 in Copenhagen).

Average daytime temperature in Larnaca: 17°C (compared to 3°C in Copenhagen, 5°C in Berlin, 9°C in London, 14°C in Athens and 21°C in Santa Cruz-Tenerife. Ok, Tenerife, you won here).

Need I write more?

Now, if you are heading over to Cyprus for a wee winter getaway (omg how Scottish am I?! → clarification: “wee” in Scottish slang means “small”, not to be confused with the synonym for “pee”) and to escape the frozen horror that was winter 2017/2018, then..

here are 5+1 ways to enjoy the island, even in its “coldest” of days:

So without further ado,

here are the 5 things not to miss when visiting Prague:

If you are (lucky enough to be) visiting Edinburgh during these holidays, here are the top 5+1 festive things that you should do to make your trip unforgettable:

Once the capital of Poland and currently the cultural hub of the country, Kraków is the perfect destination for a weekend’s (or even a week’s) getaway. Why? Well, let’s see…

For starters, the city is beautiful; featuring, amongst others, a 13th-century castle, narrow cobblestone streets (major beauty points for any place) and a grand medieval market square (which is the largest square in Europe) in the heart of the Old Town.

Second, there’s loads to do; from sightseeing to learning more about Poland’s historic past to drinking and dancing your way through its many, many bars, pubs and clubs.

And to top it all off, your visit there won’t cost a fortune; although prices are on the rise during the past years, Kraków is still cheaper than other popular European destinations.

So, have I convinced you to visit Krakow? Good!

Here’s how you spend your weekend there:

Once the capital of Poland and currently the cultural hub of the country, **Kraków is the perfect destination for a weekend’s (or even a week’s) getaway.** Why? Well, let’s see…

For starters, the city is beautiful; featuring, amongst others, a 13^th-century castle, narrow cobblestone streets (major beauty points for any place) and a grand medieval market square (which is the largest square in Europe) in the heart of the Old Town.