An EPIC Graduation Trip 🌸✈️
To celebrate graduating college a year early, I hopped on a plane and spent a month adventuring Europe. We had amazing food, culture, views, and HISTORY. I didn’t want to leave.
Stop 1: Prague —my family lives here so free housing and tours
Stop 2: Vienna —an amazing city, super inclusive and one of my favorites in this trip, the architecture was incredible and the Natural History Museum was to die for.
Stop 3: Napoli —my FAVORITE place we went, we had the best pizza I’ve ever had and even got to day trip in Pompeii. The people were amazing and everything was so lively.
Stop 4: Rome —I got to live out my Lizzy McGuire fantasy and go adventure around Rome seeing all the history and iconic sites
Stop 5: Athens (& Aegina) —Athens was perfectly fine and Acropolis was so fun to see, but we impusivrly decided to hop on a ferry and go to the tiny island of Aegina about 40 min away. We rented ATVs and went to the beach every day having amazing seafood and bonding with the locals about the pistachios the island is known for.
Stop 6: Berlin —I had a great time finding the bear sculptures all over the city as we wandered through flea markets and museums
Stop 7: back to Prague —apparently we didn’t get enough of the city the first time so we went back for seconds. Prague is always one of my favorite cities to travel to because I get to spend time with family and eat some of my favorite foods of all time. Czech cuisine is top tier imo.
Stop 8: Paris —this was our final stop and because of the upcoming summer Olympics our experience was slightly tainted. Everything was under construction and closed down for renovation or to set up the stands. We still got to see the Eiffel Tower and all the iconic sites, just from a distance. I did get to see all the amazing art in the Louvre, I’Orangerie, and D’Orsay, which made up for all the bad. Spending my 21st staring at Monet and Renoir was the best present I could ask for.
So, you're dreaming of your own incredible post-graduation Europe trip? Trust me, it's the best way to celebrate all that hard work! Planning can feel overwhelming, but here are some tips from my own month-long adventure to help you make it just as epic. First off, embrace flexibility! While it’s great to have a general itinerary, some of my favorite memories came from spontaneous decisions, like hopping on a ferry to Aegina. Don't overschedule every single day. Give yourself room to explore and get lost in a new city. For budgeting, consider mixing up your accommodations. I was lucky enough to have family in Prague, which saved a ton on lodging – look into hostels, Airbnbs, or even house-sitting opportunities! Eating like a local is another huge money-saver and a fantastic way to experience the culture. Forget fancy restaurants every night; street food, local markets, and picnic lunches near iconic landmarks (like the Colosseum or Eiffel Tower from my trip!) are not only cheaper but often more memorable. Now, let's talk about Greece, especially since it was a definite highlight of my post-grad journey. Athens, with its ancient Greek ruins and the majestic Acropolis, is an absolute must-see. Standing there, surrounded by so much history, really puts things into perspective. We spent hours exploring, imagining what life was like millennia ago. But the real magic happened when we took that spontaneous ferry to Aegina. Just a short ride from Athens, this tiny island was a breath of fresh air. Renting ATVs was the perfect way to zip around, find secluded beaches, and soak up the sun. The seafood there was out of this world – unbelievably fresh and delicious. And trust me, you have to try the pistachios; the island is famous for them, and they live up to the hype! Bonding with the locals, learning about their island life, and just relaxing by the sea made Aegina feel like a hidden gem. It truly showed me that sometimes, the best parts of your trip are the ones you didn't even plan. So, if you're planning your own graduation trip in Greece, don't just stick to the mainland; let curiosity guide you to an island escape like Aegina. You might just find your own unforgettable memory amongst the colorful umbrellas and charming streets. It's these kinds of authentic experiences that truly make a post-graduation Europe trip so special and rewarding, giving you incredible stories to share for years to come.
I love Rome it is so beautiful