My Europe Travel Bucket List

COVID-19 has given us all plenty of time to perfect our travel bucket lists. Once my summer travel plans to Europe got cancelled due to the virus, I found myself doing more research on different travel destinations than usual. Therefore, I complied a list of places I've been dreaming of while in quarantine.

Welcome to my (first) blog! My name is Savanna Crowell and I've had major wanderlust ever since I was 2 months old (yes, you heard me right...2 months old!). If you are interested in knowing more about my background, travels, or dreams in life, check out the 'About Me' section of my website. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram @slc_travels to join me on my journeys!

Have you been dreaming of lying on a beach in Mykonos or road tripping through the Swiss Alps? Well, guess what? So have I. So much so I created a list of places in Europe we all need to travel to ASAP once COVID has taken its course.

My Quarantine Europe Travel Bucket List

Quarantine has allowed me plenty of time to perfect my Europe bucket list. Last summer I had planned to live in Florence, Italy and take trips from there to Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, France, Greece, and the Czech Republic. I really got to thinking once those plans got cancelled, and I've added even more countries to that list. Therefore, here's my updated bucket list of the top 5 countries in Europe I want to visit once everything goes back to normal.

1. Greece: In Greece I would love to start in Athens and see the many monuments and ruins (such as the Acropolis and Parthenon) that lie within the city, from there I would fly to Mykonos and spend a couple days enjoying the nightlife, beaches, and picturesque streets (such as Matogianni Street). From Mykonos I would take the 2.5 hr ferry ride to Santorini and enjoy a couple sunsets in town of Oia.

2. Switzerland: I have really put a lot of thought into this one. My dream is to take a road trip through Switzerland and the Swiss Alps. I would fly into Geneva and spend a day exploring the Old Town, from there drive 1hr 45mins to Bern and ride the Gelmer Funicular (a cable railway that travels through the jagged Swiss Alps), next stop would be a 1hr 14min drive to Lucerne to admire the town and sites such as the Chapel Bridge, and lastly, I would take the beautiful 40min drive through the mountains to the beautiful town of Zurich.

3. France: There are a few places I haven't been in France that are definitely on the bucket list. Starting with Paris, this one is a no-brainer but must be said because I still haven't been there! After Paris, I would love to go to the South of France and visit Nice, which is admired for its beaches and upscale areas.

4. Portugal: Portugal is another country that I would love to road trip through. The coast looks absolutely beautiful and I can usually find pretty cheap flights from the USA to Lisbon! For that reason, I would fly into Lisbon and rent a car (around $20/a day). From there my first stop would be the beautiful Pena Palace, next I would drive along the coast and stop at the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. Then I would continue along the coast to end up in the Faro district (and Algarve) and see the beautiful beaches and caves.

5. Croatia: Last, but not least, is Croatia. Croatia is a hidden gem. In the USA, I never really hear people talking about the country as a top tourist destination, but through my research I have fallen in love with its rigged coastlines and stunning natural wonders. On my trip to Croatia I would want to fly into Dubrovnik and spend a couple nights admiring the beautiful coastal town, next I would take the bus to Split to admire the Roman ruins and more beautiful beaches. Then lastly, from Split I would take the 3.5hr bus ride to Plitvice Lakes National Park, which is known for the out of this world hiking and waterfalls.

And those are my top 5 Europe bucket list places right now! I hope I have inspired you to start making your 2021 travel plans. Currently, Europe is still only open for intra-Europe travel, but hopefully by 2021 we will all be able to visit at least one of these incredible destinations. As for now, stay safe and keep finding places close to your home to explore!