A travel and city guide for Bordeaux, France

January 15, 2024

Bordeaux, France: A Travel Guide (+ map!)

Sara Europe, France, Travel Guides + Itineraries 0 Comments

Hello and welcome to my Bordeaux, France travel guide, carefully crafted by yours truly with the best restaurants, bars, activities, and sightseeing I did during my recent trip to this beautiful city! Planning a trip to Bordeaux this year and looking for things to do, information on when to visit or where to stay? Maybe you’ll be in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and are thinking about adding Bordeaux to your itinerary? Or maybe you want to go on a city break in France but don’t know where? Well then you’ve come to the right place!

Let me start off by saying: I CANNOT believe it’s taken me so long to visit Bordeaux. But during my recent visit it was truly love at first sight. I was blown away by what the city has to offer – there is sooo much to see and do in Bordeaux. Oh, AND it is absolutely beautiful!!! If you’re looking for immaculate, quintessential French vibes or a smaller, cleaner, quainter, safer, and less crowded alternative to Paris (I said what I said) that is just as beautiful and with just as much delicious food and wine, then Bordeaux is IT. J’adore!!! J’obsessed!!

During my visit I managed to pack in a LOT of restaurants, bars, activities, and sightseeing, which were all so perfect that I just had to make this Bordeaux travel guide to share all my recommendations! Like seriously, not one single establishment I went to was anything less than a 10/10. I’ve also included logistics like the best way to get around, where to stay, and some more travel tips! Plus, at the bottom of this post you’ll find a map with all of my recommendations mapped out and labeled!

So here it is, your travel and city guide with everything you need to know about Bordeaux, France!

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September 26, 2023

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Bars in Dublin

Sara Europe, Ireland, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries after work drinks, bar, beer garden, best, best bars in Dublin, cocktail bar, college bar, comedy club, craft beer bar, dive bar, dog friendly bar, Dublin, gastropub, gay bar, Ireland, live music venue, local bars dublin, new bars dublin, nightclub, nightlife, non-tourist, open past 3am, over 23 bars Dublin, over 25s, pizza and pints, rock bar, rooftop bar, sports bar, student bar, trad music, whiskey bar, wine bar 0 Comments

I know this is going to sound dramatic, but this guide right here is literally my life’s work. This guide to nightlife in Dublin, showcasing the best and must-visit bars and places to go out, has been a project of mine that’s been in the works for quite a while now.

Every time someone I know is coming to Dublin, I always get asked suggestions of “must visit bars” or places to go out, especially ones that aren’t “touristy.” Well, that’s a tough question, because 1. Irish people love to drink so 2. There’s SO many options of places to drink in Dublin. It’s all a matter of taste. Do you want an authentic Dublin pub? Do you prefer wine? Whiskey? Craft Beer? Cocktails? Do you want live music? Dive Bars? Bars with good food? Quirky bars? Dog-friendly bars? Seriously, when it comes to finding a place to enjoy any sort of alcoholic beverage, Dublin is your feckin’ oyster.

Then I thought, why not just make a handy guide where all my bar recommendations are in one place, conveniently sorted by genre (not sure if “genre” is the right word, but just go with me here)?

So, I set out to do the seemingly impossible – organize and rank the best bars in Dublin.

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May 11, 2023

Sitges, Spain: A Travel Guide

Sara Europe, Spain, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries Barcelona, European Travel, Sitges, Sitges travel guide, Spain, Summer in Europe, Things to do in Sitges, Weekend in Sitges 0 Comments

I PROMISE I’m going to give a life update / excuse for why I haven’t posted anything in *checks notes* OVER A YEAR! But for now, I’m going to jump right into a travel guide of what (I think) is the perfect little weekend getaway, or even day trip, from Barcelona. Drum roll please….it’s SITGES!

There are so many things to do in Sitges! It’s small and very walkable with great nightlife, stunning beaches, beautiful museums, and of course great food! And, it’s only 30-40 minutes from Barcelona, which makes it ideal for a day or weekend trip outside of the city.

So without further adieu, here is a travel guide for Sitges, Spain with my recommendations of where to stay, where to eat, where to drink, and just general things to do in Sitges!

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May 25, 2016

Bath, England: A 1-Day Itinerary

Sara England, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries, UK Bath, Bath England in 1 day, England, Things to do in Bath, weekend trips 8 Comments

Sometimes, you just need a little weekend getaway. Especially for those of us who have to be working adults, a quick little trip is a great way for us to still keep our wanderlust in check and see new places, but also not get fired from our jobs for taking too much time off. OK fine, by “we” I’m talking about me.

I for one am always browsing airline sites to see about cheap flights and deals. From Ireland the quickest and cheapest flights, and the most frequent flights, are to the UK. So, after some browsing and researching, I decided to make a little “hit it and quit it” trip to Bath, England. It seemed small enough to explore in a few days, it was cheap and easy to get to, and it looked beautiful.

Well, turns out you can see the best of Bath in just 1 day, and here’s a guide of things to do in Bath, England to help you make sure you don’t miss anything!

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April 26, 2016

5 Walks for a Sunny Day in Dublin

Sara Europe, Ireland, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries Bray to Greystones, Dublin, Howth Cliff Walk, Ireland, Sunny Day in Dublin, Walks 5 Comments

Recently, we’ve been #blessed with fantastic, sunny weather in Dublin. Although Ireland isn’t known for having a warm, pleasant climate (because let’s be honest, IT DOESN’T), that doesn’t mean that it’s raining and miserable all of the time…only most of the time.

But really, although the cold and rain are not ideal and definitely gets old after a while, what I love about Dublin is how alive the city becomes on a beautiful, warm day. Especially on the weekends. Nothing is more miserable than being stuck inside at work on a gorgeous day, only for it to be raining all weekend. So if it’s a sunny Saturday or Sunday, you’re guaranteed to see the city buzzing. People flood to the parks, the canals, the zoo, and of course the pubs with outside seating (it is Ireland, after all).

But you’ll also find that people will make the most of the sun by enjoying one of Dublin’s many walking routes. There are some amazing landscapes just outside of Dublin’s city limits that provide great views on sunny days. But, there are also some amazing views to be seen right in the heart of the city itself!

From a light hike on a rugged coastal landscape, to a sunset walk along the canal, to a light morning stroll admiring 4-story Georgian houses….Dublin has amazing walks and walking paths to choose from. The walks vary in difficulty, length, type of views, etc. But one thing they have in common is that they are all PERFECT for a sunny, pleasant day!

Here are 5 walks for a sunny day in Dublin!

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December 23, 2015

Hiking the Wicklow Way: Glenmalure to Glendalough

Sara Europe, Ireland, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries Dublin Day Trips, Expat, Expat in Ireland, Glendalough, Things to do in Dublin, Wicklow Way 9 Comments

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ireland has some of the most amazing natural landscape I’ve ever seen. Ireland is famous for its rolling green hills, beautiful coastlines, and breathtaking cliffs. With that comes MANY amazing walking/hiking trails that offer people a taste of the natural beauty.

I’m trying to take advantage of the landscape here since where I’m from (South Louisiana) is totally and completely FLAT. Couldn’t be flatter. I already shared all about cliff walking in Howth (which was AMAZING). But during my time here in Ireland I’ve gotten a chance to do a few different hikes. It’s great for getting some fresh air, clearing your mind, and seeing some unbelievable sights.

…Weather permitting of course.

Well, one amazing hiking trail in Ireland (that’s also easy to get to from Dublin city centre) is the Wicklow Way, in County Wicklow.

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October 23, 2015

The Ultimate Guide to Irish Slang + Irish vs. American English

Sara Europe, Expat, Ireland, Moving to Ireland, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries Irish English, Irish phrases, Irish slang, Irish vs. American, Irish work visa, vs 11 Comments

So one of the great things about moving to Ireland was that I didn’t have to worry about a language barrier. Sure, I was moving to a different country with no job lined up and no living arrangements made, but hey! At least I wouldn’t have to worry about everyone speaking in a different LANGUAGE too, right?!

WRONG. Irish and American English sometimes feel like they’re 2 different languages.

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October 15, 2015

Copenhagen: A 2-Day Itinerary

Sara Denmark, Europe, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries cheap things, Copenhagen, Copenhagen on a budget, things to do in, weekend in 18 Comments

I recently got to visit Copenhagen, Denmark, for the first time. It’s a city that’s been on my bucket list for quite a while. And yet, when I arrived I literally had no idea what to expect or what to do.

Not only that, but Copenhagen is pretty expensive, with a 25% sales tax already included in everything you buy. So, I arrived wanting to make the most of my weekend there, but also not spend ALL of my money (which is something I tend to do…).

If only I had had access to a super awesome travel blog that had mapped out the perfect weekend in Copenhagen for people on a budget, like me, suggesting things to do, places to eat, and must-see spots! Ah, well now I plan to do just that for if when any of you finally make it to this amazing city!

Although Copenhagen, and all of Denmark and Scandinavia for that matter, is known to be expensive, you can have an amazing time there by benefitting from free/cheap attractions!

So here it is, my 2-day itinerary for anyone visiting Copenhagen for the first time on a budget. OR, someone who doesn’t have much time there and wants to make the most of it!

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June 16, 2015

Top 5 Things to do in Edinburgh (if you’ve never been)

Sara Scotland, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries, UK free things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland travel, Things to do in Edinburgh, weekend in Edinburgh 33 Comments

The first time I did a post like this, it was about my now-home, Dublin. This time, I wanted to highlight what is one of my favorite cities I visited last summer – Edinburgh, Scotland.

I was only there for a little over 72 hours, but Edinburgh blew me away. I was so pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it was, how much you can do in a short amount of time, AND how many of the awesome things we did were FREE! Plus, we got super lucky with the weather — it was warm and sunny and beautiful!

You can definitely see the best of what Edinburgh has to offer in just a few days. Obviously, I would’ve loved more time there, but I was able to squeeze in tons of beautiful views, history, and bar hopping in my busy weekend.

So if you ever want to pop on over to Edinburgh for the weekend, or even just want to get a taste of the city, these are my top 5 recommendations!

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April 7, 2015

Florence and Venice in 72 Hours

Sara Europe, Italy, Travel, Travel Guides + Itineraries Florence, things to do in Florence, things to do in Venice, Venice, weekend in Italy 15 Comments

My first time visiting Europe was when I studied abroad after freshman year of college in Innsbruck, Austria. It was the most amazing 6 weeks of my entire life. It was what really started my obsession with traveling. During my time in Innsbruck, we only had classes Monday-Thursday mornings. So, as soon as the final bell rang (OK, there was no actual bell, this is just figurative) we would head to the Innsbruck train station to hop on a train to other countries for the weekend. Most weekends, we would focus on one place – some of my weekends were spent in Prague, Amsterdam, London, etc. Well, one weekend we decided to take on the heaping task of seeing TWO fantastic cities in a little over 3 days – Florence AND Venice.

How could we cram in two beautiful Italian cities in just 72 hours? Here’s how it went down.

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