Follow:
Review, Travel Tales

My 10 Favorite Holiday Destinations

holiday destinations

Since I got bitten by the travel bug a few years ago, I’ve been taking every opportunity to explore new places and experience new things. I’ve visited a few places here and there, and it’s hard for me to pick my favorites, but I’ve finally narrowed them down. So if you’re planning a holiday and looking for ideas, I’ve got a list of my top 10 holiday destinations, including what to visit and what to do. Here we go!

1. Sumbawa. Does this count as a holiday as I lived here for 5 years? Anyway, I left Sumbawa in 2005, and three years ago I went there for a holiday and it was a total bliss. It was the epitome of island life: sunshine, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, spectacular sunsets, and so on. It’s located next to Lombok Island, but while Lombok is now catching up with Bali in terms of tourism, Sumbawa stays as peaceful as it can be. It’s quite a hassle to get there (you have to fly to Lombok, then cross the Lombok Strait with a ferry to get to Sumbawa Island), but it’s definitely worth it. The highlight of my holiday was Pulau Bedil and Pulau Keramat, empty little islands on the north of Sumbawa. I spent a day on those two islands, and boy do I wish I’d spent more time there. I wrote more about it in here.

holiday destinations sumbawa

2. Bled & Ljubljana. I didn’t know much about Slovenia when I bought a ticket for the Easter break, so I didn’t have much expectation. And wow, it turned out that low expectation led to the biggest surprise, and the best holiday I’ve had. Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, and it’s super tiny compared to other capitals, but that’s what makes it so great. It’s quaint and beautiful, and everything is within walking distance. My favorite places: the Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, Vodnik Square, and Postojna Cave (it’s a bit outside Ljubljana, but definitely worth a visit. The most impressive and beautiful cave I’ve ever been to).

holiday destinations ljubljana

And Bled? Imagine a lake surrounded by the Alps, and in the middle of that lake, is a chapel on a tiny island. A walk on one side will lead you to Bled Castle, where you can see the lake from above. Bled is about 45 minutes ride from Ljubljana, and I suggest staying there for a night or two to really enjoy the scenic view.

holiday destinations bled

3. York. Ah, York. Everything about this city is charming. From the York Castle, York Minster, the Shambles, Dean’s Park, anything. The highlights of my visit were tea at a small yet homey place (too bad I can’t remember the name), a scenic walk along the River Ouse, listening to an incredible busker playing the piano just outside the Minster, and a stroll around Dean’s Park.

holiday destinations york

4. Bruges. Dubbed as the Venice of the north for its canals, Bruges is an absolute beauty. It’s a quaint little town; a paradise for food lovers or whoever wants an escape from the busy life in the city. My favorite places include Bruges Markt, Belfry Tower, Town Hall, Liberty of Bruges, Minnewater, and Béguinage. Things you can’t miss: waffles with Belgian chocolate, mussels and frites, Belgian beer, and cruising along the canals.

holiday destinations bruges

5. Bath. Another quaint little town of England. It’s impossible not to love Bath, especially around Christmas. The Roman Bath and Bath Abbey are the main tourist attractions, and if you’re a fan of Jane Austen, don’t miss the Jane Austen Centre. The best way to enjoy this town is by walking, and I promise it won’t disappoint!

holiday destinations bath

6. Füssen. Füssen made it to this list for a few reasons. First, its proximity to Neuschwanstein Castle (another favorite holiday of mine. Fairytale dreams come true!). Second, it’s beautiful in its humble way. Imagine a medieval town surrounded by the Alps, with shops that sell antiques and old restaurants that blend nicely with the aged buildings. A perfect destination for a weekend getaway.

holiday destinations fussen

7. Cornwall. I went to Cornwall on a road trip, and it was one of the best trips I’ve had. Cornwall is gorgeous; the seashore, the towns, the countryside. Everything is so laid-back here, and it’s the perfect way to unwind after a hectic week. My favorite places are St. Ives and Tintagel, without a doubt. And if you’re there, don’t forget to try the Cornish pasties!

holiday destinations cornwall

8. Edinburgh. Edinburgh is everybody’s favorite, for the right reasons. It’s incredibly stunning, with the perfect mix of old and new AND buildings and nature. Some of my favorite places are the Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh Castle, Scottish National Gallery, and Calton Hill (including the National Monument of Scotland). If you fancy some tea and scones, try Clarinda’s Tearoom near the Scottish Parliament Building. The scones are to die for.

holiday destinations edinburgh

9. Yogyakarta. While Bali is well-known for its stunning beaches, leisure, and Hindu culture, Yogyakarta (Jogja for short) is something completely different. Located in Central Java, it’s rich of Javanese classic art and culture. Jogja has a lot to offer, among those are the nature, architectures, culture, and food. Some of my favorite places: Mount Merapi, Ullen Sentalu Museum, Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, Keraton (the palace where the sultan and his family live), Alun-alun (town square), and Pasar Malioboro (Malioboro Market, for souvenirs and arts). For things to watch: wayang kulit (shadow puppet show) and the Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan Temple. Also, not to miss: traditional food. They’re absolutely divine.

holiday destinations yogyakarta

10. Regensburg. I have a thing with medieval cities, so it really is no surprise that Regensburg is one of my favorites. It’s listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval city center, and looking at the town, you’ll see it’s quite obvious. The Stone Bridge, the Regensburg Cathedral, St. Emmeram’s Abbey, and Porta Praetoria are among the most picturesque places here. Don’t forget to stroll around Kohlenmarkt and Altstadt for more experience in Regensburg. Last but not least, try the sausages with sauerkraut and mustard at Historische Wurstkuchl (Historic Sausage Kitchen). Have it with Radler, because killer sausages + Radler = heaven.

holiday destinations regensburg

If you’d like to see more inspirations for planning your holiday, click here (for UK destinations) and here (for anywhere else).

Happy holiday (planning)! 🙂

Share:
Previous Post Next Post

You may also like

12 Comments

  • Reply Cerita4Musim

    what a nice recap !
    from your list, I found out that we have a similar fave 🙂

    November 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm
  • Reply maisya

    Huaaa Slovenia… I’d love to go there as well. Pas sekolah di Belanda, kalau ada kesempatan jalan2 aku lebih milih ke Eropa Tengah dan Timur. Mungkin karena aku blm banyak tahu jadinya malah penasaran. I guess I love surprises during traveling. 😀

    November 26, 2015 at 7:55 am
    • Reply Dixiezetha

      Iyaa, aku juga lebih milih Eropa tengah dan timur. I guess the novelty is what so attractive about those 🙂

      November 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm
  • Reply adales8

    There are definitely some great destinations on here! x

    November 26, 2015 at 10:39 am
    • Reply Dixiezetha

      Thanks Amanda! Anything you’d like to try? 🙂

      November 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm
      • Reply Indonesia in my pocket

        Love the list! I don’t think I could ever choose. *sigh. Want to go to Sumba, you lived there for 5 years. Tell us more…

        November 26, 2015 at 11:04 pm
        • Reply Dixiezetha

          It’s Sumbawa instead of Sumba (it’s different, one is in NTB and the other is in NTT). It’s hot there, but so beautiful! Great for diving (the corals are beautiful) and the beaches are mostly empty. It’s not well established though in terms of tourism, but if you’re looking for an idyllic place, this is the one! 🙂

          November 27, 2015 at 4:31 pm
          • Indonesia in my pocket

            Yes, of course apologies, the wifi is going in and out here. 🙂

            November 28, 2015 at 9:40 am
  • Reply bebe'

    Iighh tempatnya cakep2 semua deeeh. Sukaaaaaaa O_O Apalagi yang deket Neuschwanstein Castle ituuuuh. Pingin banget kesana. Harus ke sana.. Aamiin.. hehe

    November 27, 2015 at 3:20 pm
    • Reply Dixiezetha

      Amiiin, semoga bisa ke sana ya Mbak someday. Apalagi kalo Jo udah ngerti princess2, mungkin dia juga bakal seneng banget ngeliat Neuschwanstein Castle 🙂

      November 27, 2015 at 4:28 pm
  • Reply Nerissa

    Suka banget sama listnya… No wonder that these places are on the list. Hopefully I get to see Sumbawa, Bled & Ljubljana asap oh my Gosh :”)

    March 19, 2016 at 2:30 am
    • Reply Dixiezetha

      Thank you! Sumbawa and Slovenia are good picks, hope you can go there soon 🙂

      March 20, 2016 at 11:13 am

    Share your thoughts

    %d bloggers like this: