Most of my travel experience has been in Europe (thank you British passport) and I absolutely love the continent. That is something I very feel fortunate about actually, having a powerful, second passport which has enabled me to freely travel the continent without the hassle of visas. My Russian friends are not so lucky! I find Europe very easy to travel around too. The rail networks around large parts of Europe are terrific, so many cheap flight deals all year round, and due to being such a small continent, it is so easy to go by car and constantly hop borders. Without further ado, here are my 10 favourite countries in Europe.
10. Georgia
Georgia is very unique in the sense that you cannot really compare it to any other country (maybe with the exception of Armenia) like you can with most countries in Europe.
Geographically sandwiched in between Europe and Asia in the mountainous Caucasus region, it feels like it’s not quite Europe and not quite Asia. It is just Georgia and that’s what makes it special.
Georgian culture, language and the way people look is unlike anywhere else. Tbilisi is a really quirky city with good energy and interesting architecture. You get some super odd structured buildings (in a good way) and at the same time some very old, authentic rural houses and churches. Georgia also has GREAT food and wine, and is super cheap (definitely the cheapest in Europe). Georgia in one word – unique.
9. Montenegro
The most memorable part of Montenegro for me is its amazing backdrop scenery of mountains and hills that seem to surround the whole country.
The name of the country in the local language is Crna Gora,and in Russian it is Chernogoriya (Черногория), which is basically the same and literally translates to ‘black mountain’. Given the beautiful mountainous scenery of the country, it sure is quite a fitting name!
The most well-known and famous spots are Kotor and Budva, but given how small Montenegro is, you can include a couple other places in your itinerary that you may want to visit and get to them with relative ease. Other interesting places to check out could be Perast, Sveti Stefan and Herceg Novi, which are all within an hours drive from either Kotor or Budva. In Kotor, be sure to climb up to the San Giovanni castle to check out an old medieval castle situated on a hillside, and the BEST view of Kotor bay and its backdrop of mountains. Seriously, it is amazing.
8. Croatia
The first time I visited Croatia I was kind of like – “meh, that was ok”. However, I have been back a couple of times since and I appreciate it more every time I go.
The first time I visited Croatia was in May 2019 when I went on a little solo trip around the Balkans right after my final exams as a uni student. During that trip I visited Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia, and Croatia was actually my least favourite.
My first stop was Dubrovnik which I think is the most overrated place in Europe. You can read more about why I didn’t like Dubrovnik here. After that, I moved onto Split which was much more pleasant, but that sour taste from my stay in Dubrovnik was still there.
Since that first visit, I feel like I have kind of developed some kind of loose, accidental connection to this country. I started working closely with a Croatian family for about 2 years and became quite close to them. Naturally, I became more and more interested in their country and we used to have conversations about Croatian culture and the country in general.
In 2022, I went to Hideout festival with my friends on Zrce beach in Novalja, Pag island. Honestly, I had such an unbelievable time that I can’t put into words my love for that place. Zrce beach is often nicknamed “Croatia’s Ibiza” and definitely is a fair reflection. Infact, I loved it so much I went back next summer with my girlfriend and I am considering going again next year.
Whilst I was living in Moscow, I met a British guy from work who had been an expat in Croatia for 8 years I think it was. We used to play football every week and grab a beer afterwards and talk about Croatia a lot. Oh and one of my favourite players for CSKA (the team I support) in the last few years was Croatian as well (Nikola Vlasic). So now you can probably understand my little soft spot for Croatia with all these little connections.
7. Germany
I was quite literally sent to Germany as a 16 year old to a voluntary work camp. I had basically been sacked from my first summer job working as a waiter at my local pub, so my Mum decided to send me to Germany as she wasn’t going to have me “sitting around and doing nothing all summer”. No joke. Russian parenting eh! I of course protested as much as I could, but she didn’t budge, so off I went.
I worked on a farm in Essen, Western Germany and I really enjoyed the whole experience (which I still do not admit to my Mum to this day). Essen itself is nothing too special, but we went on trips to Dusseldorf and Cologne, and saw a little bit of Gelsnkirchen and Dortmund too. I really like the gothic architecture of some of the churches, and the very European style narrow, cobble stoned streets. Plus you can drink beer in Germany from the age of 16!
I have been wanting to go back since, and I 100% will next year for the Oktoberfest in Munich as that has been on my bucket list since I was 18! I would also like to visit Berlin and Frankfurt, and of course catch a game at the world-famous Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.
6. Poland
Poland will always be a special and memorable country for me. It was my first trip abroad by myself and without adult supervision. I booked to go to Krakow for 3 nights in a flight + hotel bundle deal. I remember how meticulously I planned and checked through everything on that trip, which is funny because nowadays I book trips in 30 minutes with one eye shut. For a little city break like that in Europe then maybe even 10 minutes.
Anyway, the accommodation I paid to stay in was absolutely terrible (still to this day one of the worst places I’ve slept in) but everything else I absolutely loved. I remember being so excited driving up to the airport and then coming back safe and in one piece and thinking how much of an “independent, responsible man” I was now! You can read more about why I think Poland and in particular Krakow is so great in my article.
5. Serbia
Currently living in Serbia gives me a new chance every single day to remember why I love this country and moved here in the first place.
I only visited Serbia (Belgrade) for the first time in July 2022 and I was instantly drawn in. I had wanted to visit for a while, and it sounds silly, but it all started from watching a Russian film called Hotel Belgrade. I just loved the way it looked in the film (impressionable I know!) and I said to my friend who I was watching it with at the time that I must visit Belgrade at least.
Living here though has given me a chance to explore more than just Belgrade. It has given me a chance to understand the people, discover new places, discover the best Serbian delicacies and so on. My upcoming travels in Serbia include: Nis, the Rostiljada (Serbian grilled meats festival) in Leskovac, Kopaonik mountain region in the south for snowboarding, Subotica in the north and the Uvac canyon.
4. Czech Republic
Czech Republic is what I like to call a “one trick pony”: a country that just has one place or thing on offer that draws all the tourists. No prizes for guessing Czech Republic’s pony…it’s obviously Prague. I feel the same way about the UK with London or Seychelles and its beaches. My word though, what a one trick pony Prague is.
There is no secret about how amazing Prague is by now, and it is popular for good reason too. I have genuinely never heard of anyone ever going anywhere else in the Czech Republic. Prague is the place to go in the Czech Republic. Like I said, Prague stopped being a secret a long time ago, so I won’t waste time telling you what to do and where to go. Everybody already knows.
My story with Prague is a little bit different though. I have been 4 times (I think) and they have all been when I was a kid. 16 years old is the last time I was there, and I am 26 now, yet I still remember it so vividly. I used to go there because my mum’s friend lived there for many years now with her husband. So we used to visit. My mum’s friend lived about 100 metres from the dancing house building (that famous twisty building you’ve all seen photos of) literally the next street up. I remember having dinner there and enjoying the view from the top. I also remember cycling with my mum on a double bicycle around the city centre and being frightened to death! I was then treated with ice-cream at the old town waiting for the astronomical clock to chime.
I also remember the big water park just outside the city that I absolutely LOVED! My mum promised we could do an afternoon there every time we came to Prague if I didn’t whinge about having to do lots of walking in the city. Fair deal to be honest. I have lots of other memories of Prague that I still remember all this time, which just shows how much I love it and need to go back to soon.
3. Spain
In a loose kind of way, Spain reminds me of South Korea. Now, hear me out, I know what you’re thinking. “How on earth does Spain remind you of South Korea?!” Well, in short, I find both countries to be very pleasant just being in but I would actually say neither have anything out of this world, breathtaking on show.
What is actually breathtaking or absolutely amazing to see in Spain? Nothing, but whenever I’ve been to Spain I’ve had just such a great all round time and have just been so happy being there. I think a big part of that is down to the relaxed atmosphere and general vibes of the Spanish people – so laid back, happy and at peace – which rubs off on tourists when they visit.
Everybody knows Spain enjoys an x amount of sunny days (probably more than wherever we are from) which must surely have a positive impact on their mood and well being. I would like to see more of Spain in the future and do an approximately 1 month road trip around the country.
Spain has beaches, good food, great nightlife, a rich culture and a great atmosphere. What more does a person need to be happy? So whilst I don’t think it has any jaw dropping scenery, stunning architecture or incredible landmarks, the simple things can be the most important sometimes and that is why Spain is my 3rd favourite country in Europe.
2. Russia
Aah yes my home country of Russia. Now this may look like some serious bias towards my home country, but it’s absolutely not.
Russia is not a popular tourist destination, it has a bad rep, it’s hard to get to blah blah blah. I get all of that. I really do, but let me explain why I’m not being biassed.
You see, being the biggest country in the world has its perks: you really think there’s nothing interesting in such a huge country? Come on, you can’t be that narrow minded. The best thing about Russia is that you can pretty much do any type of tourism you can think of. The only other country that I can think of that offers that, is the US.
Russia has everything: city breaks in the world class cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, untouched wilderness and nature in Siberia, skiing in the Caucasus mountains in the south. For unique culture and to experience different ethnicities visit any of the 22 semi autonomous republics, performing arts and theatre again in Moscow etc. I could go on but you get the idea.
So why don’t many people know about what Russia has to offer and consider going there? 2 reasons: visas and lack of exposure. Getting a tourist visa to Russia can be costly and a pain in the ass, so some people already give up at that point. As for the Russian tourism board – I think whoever works there is stealing a living. When do you ever see any holiday adverts to Russia anywhere? EVER?! Damn even we Russians ourselves don’t know about half of the places because the advertisement is non-existent! I could go on forever about the Russian tourism sector, but I won’t. Just believe me when I say – Russia is amazing.
1. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Not many of you I bet expected this country to be my top pick huh? Or have many of you even been or considered going to Bosnia? If you have been lucky enough to visit, then I am certain you will understand how magical this country is and it will be amongst your top picks too.
Bosnia just has such a unique and magical charm to it that I cannot really explain. Its turbulent past mixed with its multi-ethnic society really makes this country so different. It really makes it a melting pot of different cultures and religions which is straight away evident in the architecture for example. I have just recently come back from a road trip from there, and it was just as amazing as the first time I went there in 2019. I actually got engaged there in front of the famous Mostar bridge. What a special moment that was.
If you haven’t already been able to tell, then I will tell you that the Balkans are by far my favourite region of Europe (although I am sure this list gives it away). And for me Bosnia and Herzegovina is the crowning jewel.
