Hidden Gems

Sveta Marina Church courtyard in Plovdiv's UNESCO-listed Old Town, a 2.5-hour bus ride from Sofia, Bulgaria

What’s It Like to Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv for a Weekend Break?

We flew into Sofia, Bulgaria for a weekend to reach our travel goal of visiting every country in the European Union. Sofia to Plovdiv is…

Fishing nets with colorful buoys and a harbor crane at the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, with the traditional Basque houses of Ciboure across the water at sunset.

11 of the Best Things to Do in St. Jean de Luz on a Quick Trip

You may be wondering: where is St. Jean de Luz? This small fishing village is in Basque Country in southwest France not far from Biarritz…

Steep stone stairs leading up the ancient Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, Peru, showing traditional dry-stone masonry and agricultural terraces under a blue sky.

12 of the Best Reasons to Visit Ollantaytambo Peru (Things to Do and Eat)

Ollantaytambo is the gateway to Machu Picchu for many visitors to the Sacred Valley of Peru. Why should you stay in Ollantaytambo instead of other…

The ornate Baroque boxwood hedges and stone statues of the Jardim do Paço Episcopal (Bishop's Palace Garden) in Castelo Branco, Portugal, with fountains and the city in the background.

12 Fun Things to do in Castelo Branco for a Weekend (& Day Trip Ideas)

The Centro Region is one of seven tourism districts of Portugal. Centro do Portugal covers some of the more popular destinations in Portugal for visitors like…

Boxes of ripe, glossy cherries for sale at a local market in Alcongosta, Fundão, famous for the annual cherry festival in the Beira Baixa region of Portugal.

Is the Festa da Cereja in Alcongosta Portugal Worth the Trip?

I absolutely adore cherries and so I was excited to learn when we moved to Lisbon that Central Portugal, and more specifically the region around…

Colorful traditional storefronts and outdoor terrace of The Local pub in Grattan Square, Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland, under a bright blue sky.

16 Cool Things to Do in Dungarvan and Nearby (Including the Iconic Waterford Greenway)

Dungarvan is a town in County Waterford, Ireland with a population of approximately 10,000 people. Nestled along a picturesque harbour, we found during the 12…

A close-up view of the famous "Hungry Tree" in King's Inns, Dublin, Ireland. The ancient London plane tree is shown partially "eating" an old cast-iron park bench, with its thick bark growing over and around the back of the seat. The tree stands on a green lawn with a historic building and autumn trees visible in the soft-focus background.

A Local’s Guide to 20 of the Best Hidden Gems in Dublin Ireland

I had the good fortune to live in Dublin for more than 12 years. During my time in Ireland, I had the pleasure of discovering…

An outdoor scene features an ancient, tall stone round tower with a conical cap standing prominently in the center of the frame. The tower is situated within a historic graveyard filled with various stone headstones and monuments, some featuring Celtic crosses. A low, weathered dry-stone wall runs across the foreground, separating the graveyard from a paved road. In the background, a calm blue sea and a distant coastline are visible under a clear, bright blue sky with thin, wispy clouds. Lush green foliage and a few small trees are scattered around the tower and graveyard, completing the peaceful landscape.

25 Ireland Hidden Gems You’ll Want To Make Time For

Ireland is extremely popular with tourists. With each passing year, the Emerald Isle’s most famous sites get more and more crowded. As visitor numbers rise,…

The historic stone walls of the Archbishop's Palace stand tall behind a green garden with ancient stone archways, a landmark in Braga, Portugal.

20 Hidden Gems in Portugal You Won’t Want to Miss (Expat Discoveries)

Each year, Portugal becomes more and more popular with tourists. As visitor numbers rise, many are looking for Portuguese hidden gems to add to their…

A view of the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge and the Tagus River through an ornate iron gate in Lisbon, Portugal.

13 Lisbon Hidden Gems: An Expat’s Guide to Lesser Known Spots

We’ve lived in Portugal for a few years now and during our time here we’ve made a point to seek out Lisbon’s hidden gems. Our…