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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Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Guides from a lifelong German speaker.
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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Do US Citizens Need a Passport for Puerto Rico?
The short answer is no. If you’re a US citizen, you do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. You can fly there on a domestic ticket, pass through security with a driver’s license or state ID, and land without going through customs or border control. For most Americans, it feels indistinguishable from…
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The Best Things to Do in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (From Someone Who Took It Slow)
There are so many amazing things to do in Old San Juan, but I want to tell you about the cats first. Old San Juan has cats everywhere—lounging on the blue cobblestones, draped across the walls of the old city fortifications, slow blinking at tourists from the shade of a bougainvillea. Nobody seems entirely sure…
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Best Hotels in St Andrews, Scotland: A Local’s Guide to Where to Stay
If you’re trying to figure out the best hotels in St Andrews, Scotland, this guide covers all of it: splurge-worthy stays on the Old Course, boutique hotels in the town center, and apartment or house rentals for groups, based on four years of actually living there as a student. I’ll walk through what each one…
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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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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The Perfect Girls Weekend in London
Are you in need of a fun weekend away with your girls? Look no further than London for the perfect girls weekend. Afternoon tea sessions, shopping galore, and plenty of Insta-worthy spots for a photoshoot… you’re basically guaranteed to have an amazing time. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to a girls weekend in London!…
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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…
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.