city break

A SUNNY WEEKEND IN SCANDINAVIA: Two days in Helsinki

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We decided to take advantage of the bank holiday and go to Helsinki. We arrived quite late on the Friday, so we decided to stay at Glo, a hotel conveniently located inside the airport terminal.

In the morning we headed to the city centre. We visited the popular Market Square across the harbour. Nearby is the Design District, full of cool (but expensive) shops. There are a few Marimekko shops too, with its amazing prints and all sorts of objects (again too expensive).

We stopped at Pizzarium, a great place for a quick lunch – they had many options of veggie and vegan pizzas (lunch for two for 15€).

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After stopping at our flat for a bit, we decided to go to Kallio for the evening as we had heard good things about it. We had a drink at Oiva, a karaoke bar; then we headed to Siltanen, a great place where all the cool kids hang out listening to DJs, drinking and eating Asian food.

Our final stop for the night was Pub 3 Linja, a local pub that was probably not used to receiving many tourists as we got a lot of local attention. This was by far the cheapest place we found, with beer for 4€.

On our second day in Helsinki we left our flat and walked south to Kaivopuisto park. It was a hot sunny day, so it was perfect for lounging about in the sunshine before heading to the airport.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: We flew with Norwegian from Gatwick on a Friday after work. The trip takes 2h30 and tickets cost around £90 return.
  • Stay: We arrived quite late, so we decided to stay at airport hotel Glo. This was a great decision as the place is located within the airport terminal and it is very good. We paid £93 for two including breakfast. In Helsinki we stayed at an Airbnb flat which I definitely wouldn’t recommend. But there are lots of other Airbnb options for around £50 per night.
  • Food: Finnish food isn’t particularly veggie but most places had some options clearly labelled. Helsinki has lots of international restaurants, so it’s very easy to find good alternatives.
  • Drink: We found lots of places offering a wide range of local and craft beers. These were generally very nice, but prices can be a bit steep, with bottles costing around 6€.
  • Money: Helsinki is not as expensive as some other Scandinavian capitals, but it’s still more expensive than most European cities.
  • Transportation: Most places in Helsinki are within walking distance from the city centre. Alternatively, the metro is easy to navigate (tickets cost 2.70€) and there are also lots of trams available. The fast train from the airport to the Central Station takes 30 minutes and runs every 10 minutes throughout the day. Tickets cost 5.50€ and can be bought in ticket machines or aboard the train.

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SIPPING APEROL SPRITZ IN THE SUN: A chilled weekend in Milan

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In my first time in Milan it rained the whole time, so it was great to be back when the weather was nice.

As I expect everyone does, our first stop was the Duomo and surrounding areas. The Duomo is very impressive, and on a sunny day it made for great photos. There are many options for tickets, but we chose the one which only gave access to the cathedral itself as it only cost 2€.

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We then visited the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, reaching the Teatro alla Scala right behind it. We had a quick gelato stop at Cioccolati Italiani, where service was confusing but the gelato was delicious.

Our next stop was the unique Sforzesco Castle and the beautiful Sempione Park behind it, where we sat in the sun watching buskers entertain the crowd.

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We got on the metro to Navigli (Porta Genova metro stop), a nice area absolutely packed with cool bars and restaurants. All the bars offered aperitivi, a great deal in which you buy a drink (about 10€) a get lots of nibbles alongside it. We had Aperol Spritz (my favourite!) and many other delicious cocktails, then headed back to the hotel at midnight, when the area was still buzzing.

In the morning we headed to Brera, a bohemian neighbourhood not far from the city centre. Brera Palace hosts the famous Pinacoteca and it’s also a great place for a drink in the sun at one of the many cute cafes in the area. We had an Aperol Spritz or two before heading back to the airport.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Flights from London take about 2h, so you can easily go after work on a Friday.
  • Stay: We Stayed at Zambala, a place with serviced apartments which was a good option. We paid 158€ for two people for two nights.
  • Transportation: Milan has a good network of metro and trams. You can buy a 48h travelcard for 8.25€. Taxis from the airport are expensive, but frequent buses to and from the Central station cost only 8€.
  • Do: Leonardo’s Last Supper is a big draw, so it’s imperative to book in advance as tickets sell out weeks before your visit.

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A WEEKEND IN CARDIFF: Rainy days and bar hopping

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We took advantage of the bank holiday and hopped on a train from London to Cardiff. Our flat was near Cardiff Bay, so after making ourselves at home, we decided to explore the area.

We started at the impressive Millenium Centre, a landmark building perfect for taking photos. Then we headed to the bay, an area with lots of cool bars and restaurants. If the weather is nice you can also take a quick boat trip for £3.

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In the evening we decided to try and find a restaurant in the centre for dinner, but this was a mistake a that area was way too rowdy in the evening.

On our second day we explored some more, stopping at the little shops in the many arcades in the city centre.

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As the weather wasn’t great, we spent some time at Cardiff Castle (tickets for £12), a nice place to learn more about the history of the city. Bute Park is just behind the castle, and it looked quite nice too.

We had a late lunch at Bill’s, followed by a couple of nice cocktails at 10 Feet Tall, then headed back to the flat for a lazy night in.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Stay: We stayed in this nice flat, which was well located between the bay and the city centre.
  • When to go: The weather in Wales is not the best, so rain is always expected. We went in May and it was still quite cold.
  • Go: Trains from Paddington take a little over 2h. Book in advance as it can get quite expensive (we paid £74 return each).

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A COLD WEEKEND WITH A SCENIC VIEW: 2 Days in Luxembourg

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We left London on a cold winter evening after work – and reached Luxembourg only to discover it was even colder!

Despite the freezing rain, we still managed to cover a lot of ground.

Our first impression was that the city is very impressive, full of nice modern buildings and very clean. It is also a good place for shopping, and many of the main European brands have outlets there.

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We were staying close to the Central Station, so in the morning we crossed the viaduct to reach the Haute Ville.

On the way we stopped at Notre Dame Cathedral, an impressive building with lots of intricate detail. As it’s usually the case in Luxembourg, it was impeccably kept and looked brand new.

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We reached the city centre, and explored the streets around Place des Armes and Place Guillaume II.

To scape the cold, we had drink at the Tube, a London-themed pub where the only other customer was actor John Hannah.

We then decided to check out the National Museum of History and Art, which was free. The museum has a diverse collection which includes anything from ancient artifacts to modern art. The displays of Roman relics, including a massive mosaic were very impressive and definitely worth the visit.

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We ventured outside for a walk around the Lower City, but it was a bit too cold and wet to properly enjoy it.

For lunch we stopped at Beet, which has the best veggie burgers, and it was a highlight of our trip.

After a few drinks at the popular Urban (an Irish pub). We stopped for dinner at Nirvana Cafe, an Indian buffet with great food and even better service (free slices of vegan cake to take away, yum!).

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We were lucky that our second day in the city was dry, so we walked around the city walls to take some photos of the impressive views. The most famous highlight of Luxembourg is Casemates du Bock, a labirynth of tunnels which was unfortunately closed for the winter.

We decided to take a walking tour (13€ per person, from the Luxembourg Tourist Office, which also offers other tours). This was a two-hour walk around the centre which was okay, but (a) I actually thought I’d get hypothermia at one point and (b) it highlighted that you can see all the main sights by yourself without much commentary.

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We went back to Urban to warm up and get some food before it was time to head back to the airport.

I didn’t really know what to expect from Luxembourg, but it was a good place to spend a quiet and chilled weekend.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Flights from London take only 50min, so it’s a great choice for a short break.
  • Stay: We stayed at the Park Inn (£75 per night) which was right next to the Central Station. This area is very seedy at night, but it’s got great transportation links.
  • Getting around: Luxembourg has excellent public transportation – buses from the airport cost only 2€, and it’s very easy to find your way around.
  • Wi-fi: All bars and restaurants offer their own wi-fi, but there’s also a free service everywhere, which is quite handy.

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ALL IS QUIET IN OXFORD CIRCUS: Breakfast in Central London

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I’ve lived in London for long enough to know that the area around Oxford Street-Piccadilly Circus-Trafalgar Square is best avoided if you’re not a tourist. But I was wrong!

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I found myself at 9am on Oxford Street on a Wednesday – and it was great! It was a cold January morning, and the crowds were nowhere to be seen: so I wandered around for a while just taking it all in.

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I noticed the impressive architecture around Piccadilly Circus; took photos of the statues in Trafalgar Square; looked at the cool store fronts in Carnaby Street. Then I hopped on the tube to get to the Tate Modern just as it was opening, when art students sit on the floor with their sketchbooks.

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Having my breakfast and looking at St Paul’s across the river, I felt so lucky to have had a moment of peace in this amazing city.

2015 TRAVELLING: The year in review

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Another year, another fourteen trips!

  • In January we were pleasantly surprised by sunny days in Lisbon – perfect for sipping green wine.
  • In February we spent Valentine’s Day in beautiful Paris.
  • In March I took the most amazing photos in Rome – I can’t believe it took me over 10 years to go back!
  • In April we spent a few days in a lovely flat at the heart of Vienna – and had a quick stop in Bratislava.
  • I also visited my friend in Edinburgh and discovered a few new great places for a pint.
  • In May I battled the crowds to visit the amazing ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
  • Later in the month we went back to Venice for another amazing Biennale – and stayed in the best Airbnb ever!

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  • In June we discovered Lithuania is great for craft beers.
  • In July my friend got married in Toronto – and off we went for our Transatlantic adventure of the year!
  • Also in July we visited Warsaw and Krakow – Poland is so nice and so cool!
  • In August I went back to Berlin to get my annual fix of their amazing brunches.
  • In September we crossed Transylvania by train – from Romania to Hungary with many stops along the way!
  • In November we were greeted like kings in Turkey – from Pamukkale to Ephesus and Istanbul.
  • In December we had cheap tapas and wine with friends in Madrid.

What a wonderful year – I can’t wait to see what 2016 has to offer!

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RED WINE AND CHEAP TAPAS: A weekend in Madrid

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We went to Madrid to meet up with a couple of friends who were travelling around Spain. We arrived on a Friday right after lunch and, after taking the metro to the city centre, we set off exploring.

Our first stop was 100 Montaditos, a tapas chain where each of the 100 varieties of little sandwiches costs just 1€.

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We then made our way to Retiro, a beautiful park where crowds gather to watch the sunset over the lake. It is a massive place where you can spend a few hours wandering around and taking nice photos.

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For dinner we went to trendy vegan place Vega, where the food was just amazing. You really need to book in advance though, because the place is small and gets quite busy. Dinner for two including drinks and tip cost 50€.

We ended our night at San Gines, a popular churros place where all you order is some hot chocolate and a massive plate of churros to dunk (6€). It was really nice, but portions are huge so it’s best to share.

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We started our second day in the city by walking to Museo del Prado. They have an amazing collection, including Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights which was great. Tickets cost 14€.

After exploring the museum for a couple of hours we stopped for lunch at Piccolino della Farfalla which served nice homemade Italian food.

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We then headed to the Royal Palace, wandering around the streets of the city centre along the way. Everywhere you go there are lots of nice cafes, bars and restaurants serving cheap tapas and good wine, and in the evenings they all get really lively and busy.

Near the Royal Palace is the Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple which was rescued from flooding and rebuilt in Madrid. Admission is free.

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After resting at the hotel for a bit, we had dinner at Taberna de Lucio, which is famous for its fried eggs with chips. It was nice, if not particularly veggie-friendly.

We finally stopped at Naturbier brewery for a nightcap before heading back to the hotel.

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We started our last day in Madrid visiting Picasso’s Guernica at Reina Sofia museum. It’s a great place for seeing masterpieces by Dali, Miro and Picasso. Tickets cost 8€, but we got in free as there were national elections on.

Before heading to the airport we stopped at San Miguel market for lunch. This is a great and popular place for trying lots of local dishes. We had veggie paella (7€), a generous portion of mixed olives (3.5€) and wine (3€ for a glass) and then it was time to head back.

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Madrid is the perfect place for a chilled city break!

HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: We flew with Norwegian as they had the cheapest options, but there are plenty of other alternatives. Flights from London take about 2h.
  • Stay: We stayed at Room Mate Alicia because my friends were staying there. It was good and centrally located. A room cost £76 per night for two.
  • Transportation: Madrid has a good metro network. Tickets start from 1.5€, but you can also buy different types of passes. There is a 3€ surcharge to go to the airport (the journey there takes about 40 minutes from the city centre). Around the centre most places can be reached on foot.

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GRAND MOSQUES AND ANCIENT PALACES: One day in Istanbul

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We knew one day wouldn’t be enough to see Istanbul properly, so we got up early to cover as much ground as possible.

Our first stop was Topikapi Palace (tickets cost 30TL per person). This is an impressive palace where you get a good understanding of the life of sultans. The Harem is amazing (tickets cost an extra 15TL), with room after room decorated with intricate patterns from floor to ceiling. You need a few hours to go through everything.

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This is also a great place to get views over the Bosphorus.

We then walked to Hagia Sophia, a monumental display of both Christian and Muslim faith. Tickets cost 30TL. Right across is the famous Blue Mosque. There are set times for tourists to visit, so we only managed to see it from the outside.

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In the afternoon we visited the Grand Bazaar. This is a great place to buy presents: there are lots of options for ceramic tiles, lamps, jewellery and much more.

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Prices were really cheap, and you can get discounts by bargaining a bit. This was a much more manageable experience than the souks in Marrakesh – most things had prices on them and shopkeepers were friendly but not pushy.

This was all we had time for in one day – I will definitely come back for more!

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Food:

Turkish food is great for vegetarians. There are lots of meze options (stuffed vine leaves, hummus, salads, etc) and many places offered some kind of vegetable stew as a main dish. The local pizza (pide) was really yummy.

In Istanbul there are lots of little cafes where you can choose a selection of small dishes from a buffet. These are a good and cheap alternative for lunch. Baklavas, ice cream and Turkish delights shops are everywhere, with impressive displays of delicious sweets.

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HOW TO DO IT:

  • Go: Turkish Airlines have the cheapest flights from London. The flight takes a little under 4h. There are two airports in Istanbul – we used Sabiha Gokcen which was on the Asian side of the city and a bit tricky to get to, so Ataturk airport would be a better alternative.
  • Stay: We stayed at Basileus Hotel in Sultanahmet. This was a good hotel but there are plenty of options around. Sultanahmet is definitely the best area to stay, as you are within walking distance from many local highlights. It’s also near tram and metro stops.

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INSIDER TIPS: 4 ideas for exploring London off the beaten track

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London is an incredible city, you can easily spend a month here exploring all the sights, museums, parks and more. But there’s also lots to do off the beaten track. Here are some of my tips:

Look over the city from the Walkie Talkie:

This may be one of the ugliest buildings in London, but it’s a good place to go to get great views over the city. What’s more, tickets are free, you just need to book in advance.

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Sample the local brew at We Brought Beer:

With locations in Clapham and Balham, this is a great place to sample a wide range of local beers. The staff can help you find the perfect ale, which you can drink on the spot or take home with you.

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Take a leisurely walk in Richmond:

Richmond is the perfect place for a quiet break. You can walk by the river, spot deer at Richmond Park, or spend a whole day wandering around Kew Gardens. It’s easily accessible through the District Line, but it feels so different from London!

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See great art at the Dulwich Picture Gallery:

Most tourists will visit the National Gallery and the British Museum, but further afield there are lots of less popular (and less crowded) galleries and museums. The Dulwich Picture Gallery is a short train ride from London Bridge, and always has something amazing on.

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What are your favourite things to do in London?