Europe travel guides for slower, more thoughtful trips.
Everything I’d tell a friend before a train trip through Europe, written down. Plan it yourself, or let me plan it for you.
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Scotland and the UK
Five years of living there, distilled to the must-knows.
City Guides
Where to stay, eat, and how to slow down.
Cruises
River and ocean, plus time in port cities.
Solo Travel
My favorite tips from 10+ years of solo trips.
Latest from the blog
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Travelpayouts Drive Review: How I Earn From My Blog Without Thinking About It (as a Busy Travel Advisor)
This TravelPayouts Drive Review is sponsored by Travelpayouts. Every number below comes from my own Travelpayouts dashboard, and the opinions are mine. Travelpayouts and Stay22 links in this post are referral links, so I may earn a bonus if you sign up and start earning. I’m a travel advisor with a full-time day job. That…
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Oberammergau Passion Play 2030: Dates, Tickets, and Tours
The Oberammergau Passion Play 2030 runs from May 18 to October 6, 2030, in a Bavarian village of about 5,000 people that has staged it every ten years since 1634. Official ticket-and-hotel packages don’t open until spring 2028, but tours and river cruises with a guaranteed seat are already on sale. If this is a…
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How to Gift a Trip (and Make Sure It Actually Happens)
To gift a trip, first decide whether it’s a full surprise or a reveal you’ll plan together. Then quietly check their dates and passport, book something with flexible cancellation, and give a small, thoughtful object they can unwrap. That’s the short answer to how to gift a trip. For the long answer, keep reading, because…
Most-Read Guides
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15 Charming Things to do in Cesis, Latvia
Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Cesis Tourism Board and Magnetic Latvia on a press trip to Cesis, Latvia. Tilting buildings and cobblestone streets. Spiritual sauna experiences and locals who still collect water from the nearby springs. The best bread you’ve ever tasted and a tiny coffee shop where the whole town gathers. This…
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Magical Things to Do in Óbidos, Portugal: A 1-2 Day Itinerary
The moment I saw a photo of Óbidos—a tiny, walled town in central Portugal—I knew I had to go. With cobblestone streets winding past whitewashed houses, flowering vines, and a castle rising above it all, it looked like something straight out of a fairytale. And it truly is. Whether you’re planning a quick day trip…
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Where to Eat in Seville: Best Tapas Bars, Local Favorites, and Sweet Treats
I love to eat when I travel. Maybe it’s just my stomach talking, but I think there’s no better way to get immersed in a culture than to induIf there’s one thing you must do in Seville, it’s eat. Whether you’re popping into a buzzing tapas bar in the Santa Cruz neighborhood, grabbing a late-night…
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2 Weeks in Europe by Train: The Perfect Eurail Itinerary for First-Time Travelers
Planning 2 weeks in Europe by train is the closest thing I know to real-life magic. One minute you’re sipping coffee beneath the Eiffel Tower; a few tracks later, you’re gliding past Swiss peaks or wandering cobblestone lanes in Prague—all without wrangling airport security or 8-hour bus rides. If that sounds like your dream Eurail…
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4 Days in Lisbon: A Laid-Back Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Planning 4 Days in Lisbon? Here’s How to Make the Most of It (Without Burning Out). I’ll be honest — when I planned my 4 days in Lisbon as part of a longer Portugal itinerary, I was already pretty wiped. I’d been bouncing between towns, climbing castle steps, and hauling my backpack onto more trains…
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Innsbruck in Winter: Cozy Things to Do Beyond Skiing & Snowboarding
I visited Innsbruck in winter for the first time in November 2023, and it didn’t take long for the city to completely charm me. Nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck is best known as a destination for skiing and snowboarding. But here’s the thing—I don’t do either of those. Instead, I came…
Want an amazing trip without the planning?
I also plan trips for people who’d rather enjoy them than research them: custom Europe-by-train itineraries, river cruises, and celebration trips, with hotels that feel like where you are. I earn commission from partners, so in many cases working with me is free; detailed itineraries come with a small planning fee.
Meet Addie
Hi, I’m Addie! I’m a travel advisor based in St. Louis, and I plan the kind of trips I write about: unhurried, mostly by train, with hotels you’ll want to tell your friends about. I grew up speaking German and lived in the UK for five years, so Europe is my happy place to plan. Tell me where you’d like to go, and I’ll handle the rest.