If you had been following us on our social media a while back, we had been sharing our stories and pictures from Europe. It was our first time in this part of the world so we were quite excited about it after all the planning that went in. Although it was a very quick and rushed trip – 4 countries and 8 cities in just 2 weeks – we have such beautiful memories and lasting impressions from our Euro trip.

If someone were to ask, and many have, which city was our favorite, it is really quite difficult to say. Sure maybe one or two stick out more than others but I personally don’t like having favorites. Each city was unique and wonderful in their own way. Each destination had its highlights or pitfalls but we enjoyed them all equally. So in this post we’re going to share with you what we loved about every city we visited. We’ll go in order.

Here is an Infographic we made to summarize our trip as well. Mykonos and Sorrento are not indicated in the destinations because, well, we couldn’t find an icon for those cities. However, there are included in the total distance traveled (travel modes).

Mykonos

In Mykonos we stayed near Paradise beach at the Paradise View Hotel. As soon as we reached the pier, the owner of Paradise View, George came to pick us up. His welcoming charm immediately made us fall in love with the island and its people. George was just so friendly, kind and helpful, it made our stay just that much better. It also helped that the hotel itself was gorgeous and fit the city’s iconic white and blue glamour.

The famed Mykonos Town was also everything that we could imagine and more. The white and blue tones of the narrow streets, shops and cafes made us feel like we were at the gates of heaven. It was just so dreamy and picture-perfect.

Despite the hoards of crowds pouring in the city from cruise ships and day trippers, we always managed to find a street all to ourselves. The shopkeepers, restaurant owners and locals were quite friendly as well. We felt #Happiness just as the sign at this one shop read. It was never as chaotic as what we are used to back home in Bangkok.

Also see our post on 12 most Instagrammable spots in Mykonos Town.

Athens

Although we visited Athens on our first day in Europe, it was only for one night. We returned for two more nights after Mykonos, which is why it is second on the list. In Athens we mostly explored the streets of Monastiraki and Plaka. These are the two most popular neighborhoods in Athens where there is plenty of shopping, restaurants and bars. Here we simply cafe/bar hopped all day and people-watched.

At sunset we had to go check out 360 Cocktail bar, which has a great view of the Acropolis. They also serve amazing drinks – probably the best we’ve had but also quite expensive. 2 cocktails will set you back 30-40 Euros easily. However, we think it was worth it with views like this.

There is another bar just right around the corner called A for Athens but it was so crowded, we only had space and time to take a photo and leave. Again a nice view of Acropolis and Athens skyline.

Definitely come here earlier than sunset to get space. Same goes for 360 bar.

Can you believe that we actually missed out on visiting the Acropolis and other iconic landmarks of Athens? I know right, shame on us. But in our defense the day we were supposed to go, it was raining heavily. By the time it stopped, it was early evening and we had other plans.

We did get to experience a more local, quaint part of Athens as well since we stayed at an Airbnb apartment in Gazi. Since it was close to city center, we would just walk there, allowing us to explore a bit more.

Overall Athens was quite nice. A bit overwhelming, crowded and chaotic but it’s got a fun vibe. The streets are fun to explore, specifically Ermou and Adrianou.

Barcelona

Oh Barcelona. What can I say, I simply fell in love with this city. I know friends and family who have said the same while I’ve also heard some people not liking it so much. Kanika liked it but not as much as me I think.

What I loved most about Barcelona was that each neighborhood was different. The vibe would change as we would walk through La Rambla, El Raval, the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta or El Born. Of course there are many other neighborhoods but these were main ones we visited. The most touristy and chaotic were La Rambla, El Raval and Gothic Quarter but we loved admiring the architecture. Who wouldn’t? Antoni Gaudí’s work is simply brilliant.

El Born on the other hand felt a bit more local with lots of hidden gems, great restaurants and trendy bars. We didn’t really visit Barceloneta or see the beach because we saw it enough in Mykonos. We did however sit by the street at the border of Barceloneta for some Mexican food.

What, you went to Barcelona and didn’t have Tapas??? Well we did but we didn’t get to take any pictures of it and we don’t remember the name of the restaurant either. But if you are interested to know where to eat good tapas, check out this eat local guide by In Pursuit of Adventure.

Paris

At first we hated it but then we loved it and didn’t want to leave. After our little ordeal at the South of France, we were quite put off by the country. Also our AirBnb was not only far from city center, it was also one of the worst accommodations we have ever stayed at. Not to mention, there was also a heatwave, which is rare in Paris. Put those things aside, Paris turned out to be pretty amazing.

At night when the Eiffel Tower lit up, it was just so magical. We sat on the grass with our hands intertwined and wine in the other as we watched the lights flicker. Other than the Eiffel Tower, we also visited the Louvre (both from the outside). We went there day and night to compare the experience. Of course nighttime has its own charm.

We also met a couple of our friends (after a long time) and sat by the river Seine with a bottle of Rose. It was the perfect 2 days. The weather even turned for the better which made exploring the streets easier. Just like Barcelona, we walked quite a lot in Paris and it gave us a chance to admire the architecture.

Milan

We’re skipping going too much into Milan because to be quite honest, we weren’t impressed. It was also a breather destination where we simply did nothing but visit the Galleria and Cathedral. Although just as beautiful as the pictures, it was too chaotic and we were just too tired to deal with it. The hawkers and scammers, especially after Paris just got a bit too much. Other than shopping, Milan didn’t really have much to offer.

Later, we had dinner and drinks at the 10 Corso Como and then called it an early night. The next day we were set to go to the Amalfi Coast.

Sorrento

When we think back to Sorrento, our lasting memories and impressions is definitely the people. They were extremely friendly and kind. It was so much different than all the other cities we went. Although packed with tourists, it was not overly chaotic. It was just a very happening place, especially at the city center. It was a great place to have food and drinks while watching people go by.

😍 And here we have Sorrento, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast! 🇮🇹 The warm, turquoise water that meets the city at a cliff face looks just like this in person, absolutely stunning! 😊

A post shared by Juzzy M | Live life your way 👊 (@justin_morellini) on Aug 24, 2017 at 3:29pm PDT

We found Sorrento to be very cute and charming. You could get lost in the alleys but never feel completely lost because there was always something exciting around the corner. Everything was so vibrant and exciting. Every buildings sparkled a golden hue under the sun and contrasted beautifully against the clear blue sky. We couldn’t help but appreciate it.

Another amazing memory of Sorrento is our visit to a secluded hot-spot for swimming and cliff-diving. It’s called Bagni della Regina Giovanna, which is a kind of lagoon or cove. I’m not sure but I found it while going through Sorrento hashtags (great way to find places/things). Luckily it was only a 10 minute walk away from our hotel. We had to hike down a narrow, steep and twisting road to get there but it was worth it. At least for me. See for yourself.

There are several ways to get into this cove. First is a trail behind the trees that comes down to it. Another is a free-fall dive from the far-left corner. You can also kayak or swim from the open sea. Which do you think I did?

You also get a gorgeous panoramic view of Sorrento coast from here. By far my favorite experience from this trip. I just love extreme adventure.

Rome

There is just one word to define Rome – transcendent. It was one of the two cities that I was very excited to see on this trip – other being Athens – and it had a lot to do with my fascination with its history. Part of that history I learned in school but the true appeal came through television shows and video games. Think God of War, Assassins Creed, Spartacus and Gladiator.

To see these cities comes to life was astonishing. Rome in particular really surpassed my expectations. It is such a rich amalgamation of art, culture and architecture. We were most intrigued with how modern life blended so well with ancient traditions. The architecture and ruins from ancient Rome in particular were remarkable. You can’t help but admire some of Rome’s many iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica and Trevi Fountain. They are magnificent in both detail and grandeur.

Yet at the same time Rome is also home to some of the best shopping, trendy nightlife and bustling streets. Sadly we were only there for two days and I would go back in a heartbeat to experience it some more. I usually never want to visit the same city again because there is so much to see in this world but Rome is an exception. Paris too.

Final Thoughts & Impressions

I think we decided before we came to Europe that we weren’t going to do really touristy stuff but rather try the food and drinks while enjoying being among the crowds – whether they were locals or tourists. We didn’t even visit many museums or landmarks that are usually on every bucket list. Most of the ones we did see were from outside as long queues usually deterred us from going in. We have a few regrets from our trip but that is mainly because we had such a short time in each city. We couldn’t see everything we wanted to.

Of course we were told by many seasoned travelers to spend more time in each city. But understand, it was our first trip. Who knows when we will be back. We wanted to see and experience as many cities as we could. We wish we had a month or two to spend in Europe and even then it wouldn’t be enough.

Till next time Europe. You were great and we miss you!