A few weeks ago, I finished a 2-week trip around Europe with Education First (EF) Gap Semester. After partaking in a weekend-long orientation in New York, the 55 of us departed for Europe to travel around London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Barcelona. Although I have been to all of these cities except Barcelona, I got to see them in a completely different way! Traveling with other teenagers and 20-somethings proved to be a very different experience than doing so with my family, but not in a bad way! I not only saw these cities in a new light, but also began to develop a sense of my own travel preferences.

First, we went to London. Our first day there, we explored the Piccadilly Circus area, and I went to a casual bar with friends that night. The following days, we did a street art walking tour, saw Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theater, and took a boat down the Thames, each offering a unique view of London! Getting to grow more comfortable using the Tube was also great, as London’s public transportation system really is top notch, definitely the best way to get around the city! 

Next stop, Amsterdam! I enjoyed walking along the canals, and EF even organized a nighttime boat tour, which was perfectly complete with some delicious hors d’oeuvres. I also visited the MoCo Museum for the second time, a must-do for lovers of street art (especially Banksy), and contemporary art in general. Another day, I visited the Anne Frank House, which is always incredibly moving. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, you must try the apple pie at Winkel 43 that is near the house! It is amazing! Like in London, Amsterdam has a comprehensive public transportation system I would definitely recommend. 

After spending a few days in Amsterdam, we took the train to Paris. We arrived late in the afternoon and were dropped off by the Palais Garnier and les Galeries Lafayette. Having had a rough day, I opted for some retail and dessert therapy, which seemed to do the trick! That night, everyone met up at the bar of our hostel, the Generator, which was actually really fun! Not only did I get to spend time with the others in my group, but I met other young people from places ranging from Sydney to Johannesburg. Overall, the bar has a fun vibe and even serves some really good pizza.

The next morning, we took a bus tour of Paris. Although a bus will you get around faster, walking is definitely the way best way to see the city and allows you to take pictures. Next, I hit the Louvre! The museum is huge, so do not expect to see everything in one visit. More so, the Mona Lisa was displayed in a separate room (due to renovations in its usual hanging place) with a long queue to see it. If you are visiting Paris this fall and this painting is on your bucket list, give yourself some additional time to see it. Afterwards, I sat in the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries! This garden is definitely one of my favorites in Paris, with its beautiful flowers and fountains.

I then went to the popular boulangerie, Paul, for an afternoon chausson aux pommes before heading back to the hostel. Tonight was the group dinner. That night, I took a lift up to the Sacré Coeur to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

Finally, our last day in Paris, we went to Versailles! We took a tour of the palace before getting free time in the beautiful gardens. If you are in Paris, you cannot miss Versailles! Give yourself a lot of time to explore the gardens, as they are quite vast.

After Versailles, we headed to the Latin Quarter. I got lunch with friends at le Loulou Friendly Diner, which was delicious! Afterwards, I went to the Shakespeare and Company bookstore, once inhabited by famous authors including Ernest Hemingway! Next was a Seine boat tour, which is a must-do in Paris. After, we headed to the Eiffel Tower. Long story short, we did not get to go up inside it, but to get a great view of it at night, head to the steps of the Palais de Chaillot.

Final stop, Barcelona! Having never been to Barcelona, I was excited to see the city! My first night, I had dinner with two friends and got to try some authentic paella and sangria, delicious!

The next day, we took a bus tour of the city, where we got to stop off outside the Sagrada Familia and walk around the Park Güell. Afterwards, we were dropped off at the beach. We had a great lunch on the boardwalk, then hit the beautiful Mediterranean Sea! Even in mid-September, the weather was still lovely, and swimming (although a little cold) was still really fun! For dinner, I ate with some friends, and I got some delicious noodles.

The next day included a bike tour, which I would highly recommend! It was such a great way to see Barcelona and bask in the beautiful weather. We rode through lovely parks, and along the beach down palm tree-lined bike lanes. We even got a much-appreciated gelato break on the beach. After, I headed to the pier with some friends to hang out before our goodbye dinner.

That night, we went to the basement bar at Casa Gracia, which is really neat! We then headed to the beach, which was super lively and fun! Although you need to watch your personal belongings, Barcelona has a great energy at night that you should definitely experience.

My last night in Barcelona, I went to a carnival on the pier! Seeing an event I usually associate with America in Spain was a neat experience, and should you find yourself in Barcelona, definitely check out the events taking place in the city.

That concludes my two-week trip through Europe. Next stop: back to Paris for eight weeks (now it’s 3 because this post took a long time to write)! I am excited to go back to such a wonderful city, and will keep you posted with my whereabouts!