Pretty isn’t a word you can use to describe every city, but it fits perfectly with Prague. It’s one of the prettiest cities we’ve ever seen. Prague is so pretty in fact, that it almost doesn’t seem real. It looks and feels like a fairy tale.
Budapest surprised us. I knew it was a treasure trove of Gothic architecture. I knew the Danube River divided Buda from Pest but what I didn’t expect, was to find a cool and trendy city with an edginess that belied its classical feel and recent socialist past.
There’s a lot to love about Lisbon. It’s a beautiful city with a passion for the arts and terrific food. In fact, so good is the food in Lisbon that National Geographic readers declared it the world’s top foodie hotspot in 2019.
Lisbon has an artistic vibe that appeals to creatives of every type. This was most apparent at Lx Factory and Embaixada, two creative hubs that cater to people with an interest in contemporary art, design, fashion, and food.
In spite of its overwhelmingly gothic and neoclassical architecture, Budapest is an incredibly hip and trendy city. It’s forward thinking in its approach to art and design and much of that creativity seems to have carried over into its food.
I don’t have much experience with Czech food but one thing seems clear, roasted meat dishes heavy on gravies, starches, and root vegetables figure prominently in Czech cuisine. It’s the type of food you’d expect from countries that experience harsh winters.
Located along the Douro River, Porto’s historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is characterized by hilly cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches, and beautiful azulejo tiles.
If you drink wine, then port tasting is one of the best things you can do in Porto. After all, port wine is one of Portugal’s most famous exports and was named after the city of Porto.
Before arriving in Porto, we had little experience with Portuguese food except for what we’d seen in travel food shows. I knew the Portuguese ate a lot of seafood, especially bacalhau or salted cod, and were the inventors of those delicious eggy custard tarts known as pastel de nata.
Aside from being delicious, there’s really nothing special or unique about the tapas in Granada. What makes it different, is the culture. Unless you want to, you never have to order a la carte from a bar because a small plate of tapas comes free with every drink order. Order a small glass of beer, and you’ll get a small plate of tapas. Every time.