Destinations

The Journey Begins in Europe …

We originally planned to spend our first few years focused on destinations in Southern Europe, with occasional trips to Eastern and Western Europe. Because we were traveling visa-free, we moved in and out of the Schengen Area every 90 days or so.

Our general plan was to visit Italy in the spring and fall, and split the summer and winter months between Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Romania, and Bulgaria. In 2022, we followed this plan closely—spending spring and fall in Italy, and summer and winter in Bosnia, Croatia, and Montenegro. When Croatia joined the Schengen Area in January 2023, our non-Schengen options became slightly more limited.

Our 2023 itinerary stayed mostly on track. We spent spring in Italy, summer in Romania and Bulgaria, and fall in Slovakia, Austria, and Croatia, followed by winter along the Dalmatian Coast in Montenegro and Albania. We had planned to return to Romania and Bulgaria for the summer of 2024, but both countries joined the Schengen Area on March 31, prompting a change in plans. Instead, we’re spending this summer in Bosnia and Serbia.

In early 2025, Jen received citizenship in Czechia, so we no longer have to leave the Schengen Area every 90 days. With that new flexibility, we’re planning to visit Germany, France, and Spain in fall and winter.

We’ve documented each destination during or shortly after our stay, aiming to highlight historic centers, local cuisine, regional wine, and everyday life along the way.

Albania

Albania (Republika e Shqipërisë)is a small country on the Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece, with a coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.

It is home to ancient ruins, Ottoman towns, and rugged mountain villages, with historic centers like Gjirokastër and Berat recognized for their stone architecture and hilltop castles.

Albania

Austria

Austria (Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Known for its imperial heritage, Austria is home to elegant Habsburg-era cities like Vienna and Salzburg, where Baroque architecture, palaces, and ornate public spaces define the urban landscape.

Austria

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina), often referred to as Bosnia, lies in the western Balkans, bordered by Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, with a short stretch of Adriatic coastline.

The country is known for its layered cultural history, Ottoman-era old towns, stone bridges, and a blend of Eastern and Western architectural influences.

Bosnia Flag in front of building in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Bulgaria (Republika Bŭlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria, lies in Southeast Europe, bordered by Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, and the Black Sea.

The country features a mix of Thracian, Byzantine, and Ottoman heritage, reflected in its fortress towns, Orthodox monasteries, and Roman ruins, especially in cities like Plovdiv, Sofia, and Veliko Tarnovo.

Flag in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Croatia

Croatia (Republika Hrvatska) is located in Southeast Europe along the Adriatic Sea, bordered by Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

The country is renowned for its medieval coastal towns, Roman ruins, and Venetian-influenced architecture—especially in cities like Dubrovnik, Split, and Rovinj. Inland regions feature hilltop villages, baroque town squares, and Austro-Hungarian heritage.

Croatia flag in front of building in Croatia

Czechia

Czechia (Czech Republic, Česká Republika) is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east, and Poland to the north.

Known for its fairy-tale towns, medieval castles, and Gothic and Baroque architecture, Czechia offers one of the best-preserved historic urban landscapes in Europe.

Czech Flag in Prague

France

France is a large country in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra, with coastlines along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The country is renowned for its culinary heritage, from Parisian patisseries to regional dishes in Lyon and Provence, as well as its vineyards in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Alsace. Travelers also encounter a remarkable architectural legacy—Roman aqueducts, Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance châteaux, Baroque palaces, and modern landmarks—that reflects centuries of cultural influence and innovation.

Germany

Germany (Deutschland) is a large country in Central Europe, bordered by Denmark, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The country is known for its diverse regional cities—from Berlin’s modern history and street art to Munich’s beer halls and Bavarian traditions—as well as its Roman ruins, medieval towns, Baroque palaces, and centuries of architectural innovation.

Germany

Hungary

Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria.

The country is known for its grand capital Budapest, with historic thermal baths, 19th-century boulevards, and dramatic architecture along the Danube River, as well as its legacy of Roman, Ottoman, and Habsburg influence.

Budapest, Hungary

Italy

Italy (Repubblica Italiana) stretches along the Mediterranean in Southern Europe, bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, and includes the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

With its layered history and diverse regions, Italy offers ancient Roman ruins, medieval hill towns, Renaissance cities, and UNESCO-listed old centers—from Rome and Florence to Venice and Naples.

Italy flag in front of building in Italy

Montenegro

Montenegro (Crna Gora) sits along the Adriatic coast in the southwest Balkans, bordered by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania.

Despite its small size, the country boasts stunning natural and historical contrasts—from fortified coastal towns like Kotor to mountainous interiors dotted with medieval monasteries and Venetian-era architecture.

Flag in Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Poland

Poland (Polaska) is located in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea.

Its cities showcase a rich mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, with historic old towns like Kraków and Gdańsk and the rebuilt heart of Warsaw—now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Destinations

Romania

Located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, Romania (România) borders Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and the Black Sea.

The country is celebrated for its medieval towns, fortified churches, and castles—especially those nestled within the forested peaks of Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains.

Sighisoara, Romania

Serbia

Serbia (Republika Srbija) is a landlocked country in the Balkans, bordered by Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Its historic towns and riverfront cities like Belgrade and Novi Sad highlight a blend of Ottoman, Habsburg, and Slavic architectural traditions, along with lively market culture and fortress views.

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovakia (Slovenská Republika) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, and Czechia.

It features a wealth of medieval towns, Gothic churches, and hilltop castles, with well-preserved old towns in cities like Bratislava and Košice that reflect its Austro-Hungarian and Slavic heritage.

Slovakia Flag

Slovenia

Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Central European country bordered by Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, with a small Adriatic coastline.

It’s known for its alpine scenery and historic towns, especially Ljubljana with its Habsburg-era architecture, and the picturesque lakeside village of Bled with its cliffside castle and island church.

Slovenia

Future Destinations

In addition to Southern and Eastern Europe, the fourth year of our travels will take us to several new destinations in Western Europe.

Spain

Winter 2025