Hidden Gems: European Cities to Visit from Prague
One of the reasons I was so adamant about studying abroad was the opportunity to travel. Before my semester abroad, I had never been to Europe before, and I was beyond excited to explore Prague, my home base, as well as many other unique European cities. Being centrally located in Prague has been a significant bonus, with travel options by train, bus, and plane being highly accessible.
While more well-known cities are special in their own ways, I feel like some of my favorite memories and trips have been made in smaller European cities. My friends and I spent weekends in Devín, Slovakia, Corfu, Greece, Poznań, Poland, and Český Krumlov, Czech Republic.
Devín, Slovakia
A weekend trip to Slovakia was my first trip while studying abroad. My friends and I initially spent the night in Bratislava, Slovakia, the capital, but we did a day trip to the city of Devín. Our CEA CAPA Czech Language and Culture professor was actually the one who suggested that we visit because Devín is where he is originally from.
The small town was definitely a bit quieter and perhaps more quaint, but in no way was it less beautiful because of this. Sitting along the Danube River, Devín was full of cute family-friendly houses, lined with greenery and nature all around. One of the highlights of that trip was visiting the Devín Castle. The castle overlooks the river and offers a panoramic view of the city and faraway lands. It was so magnificent to take in the views and comforting in a way to be away from the business of Bratislava.
Before we hiked up to the Devín Castle, my friends and I walked along the Danube River and took photos with it in the background.
Corfu, Greece
Since I was younger, I have always wanted to go to Greece. Fortunately, I spent a weekend in Corfu, Greece, which is an island off the mainland. It had some of the most breathtaking views with the crystal blue waters stretching for miles, the Albanian mountains in the distance, and this old fortress on a hill. I had never heard of the city before, but the old town had tons of shops and dining places that all culminated in this area right near the water.
The unreal view of the Ionian Sea with sailboats and mountains on the horizon and the Corfu Fortress in the foreground.
Not only were the views and museums amazing, but the food was so delicious. We had tons of tzatziki, hummus, and feta dishes. It will forever be such a special trip, from swimming in the Ionian Sea to sitting on the steps in old town eating gyros.
The spread of warm, seasoned pita bread and tzatziki as we waited for the rest of our food.
Poznań, Poland
After a whirlwind trip to Corfu and a lot of back-to-back weekends of traveling, the relaxed vibes of Poznań, Poland, were just what I needed. There was a lot of history in the city with museums, old churches, and an old town square of sorts, but most importantly, it felt cozy. It’s funny because the city is known for its croissants and goats. The St Martin croissant is a traditional pastry from the area, and the reference to goats goes back years. Also, we enjoyed the most amazing pierogi in Poznań.
The Old Town Hall building at noon puts on this little show where animatronic goats come out above the clock, and a trumpet player plays from the balcony.
The brief story of the origins of the city’s obsession with goats was that there was an event at the city hall, and the chief had burnt the veal or venison that he was preparing. He had to find another meat to serve, so he went to a nearby field/farm and took two goats. The goats had escaped once he brought them back and were found fighting and butting heads on some ledge of the Old Town Hall building. I love how all the shops have goat stuffies and magnets posted up everywhere.
Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov was memorable in that it was a city within my home base of the Czech Republic, but it felt so removed from Prague. I was surrounded by nature and mountains and was away from the city center. The town was so cute and had several bridges that went over the Vltava River. It was really refreshing to be outside of the city that weekend and get to experience the St Wenceslas festival that was occurring while I was there.
Some friends and I were walking up this mountain in Český Krumlov to see the view from the top.
Experiencing Study Abroad to Its Fullest
It was difficult for me to compile some of my favorite cities I’ve traveled to while abroad because they were all unique and memorable in their own ways. I love how every European city can be so different and so unforgettable. I cannot properly express how grateful I am to be studying abroad in Prague and to get these opportunities to travel and experience new places. It has been so fulfilling to see all of these different cities this past semester.