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5 Things Tourists Love & Hate about Copenhagen Tourism

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Copenhagen, Denmark! Copenhagen is one of the coolest design cities in Europe. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Copenhagen.

Hate #1: Copenhagen is Expensive

This isn’t exclusive to Copenhagen, as pretty much all of the Scandinavian destinations are expensive, but it’s definitely the #1 downside of a Copenhagen vacation. You can expect to pay around $8 for a pint of beer, so going out in Copenhagen gets expensive quickly. What the locals do is go buy a few cans of beer at 7-11 and drink outside rather than buying pricy beer at a pub. When you go out to eat in Copenhagen, expect to spend around $20 to $25 for a meal, and that’s not including drinks! Museums and attractions can be expensive as well, although some museums are free, so try to balance out your itinerary with free things to do in Copenhagen.

Read: How to Cut Costs While Traveling

Hate #2: Service in Copenhagen

The service in Copenhagen (and all of Denmark) is not great. It’s not that the people are rude, but they just aren’t super attentive like you may be used to. Tipping isn’t customary in Copenhagen, and you will see why. Since they aren’t relying on tips for their income, they aren’t going out of their way to provide stellar service.

Hate #3: Winter in Copenhagen

Most tourists visit in the lovely summer months, but if you happen to find yourself in Copenhagen in the winter, you might hate the weather. Winters in Copenhagen are cold and damp, with not much daylight coming through the clouds. Temperatures tend to hover around freezing, so it’s not super cold, but it’s not the best weather to experience. Nevertheless, Danes love to be outdoors. If you’ve ever heard the saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” that comes from Scandinavia!

Read: The Best & Worst of European Winter Travel

Hate #4: Copenhagen Bike Paths

There are supposedly more bicycles than residents in Copenhagen. Seemingly everyone is commuting on their bikes and as a tourist, the bike paths can be deadly. Traffic rules are strictly followed, so there’s no crossing when you have a red light. Pay extra attention when crossing a bike path or exiting a bus. When waiting at an intersection, the safest thing to do is to follow the lead of the locals.

Hate #5: Little Mermaid Hype

The top thing to see in Copenhagen is the Little Mermaid statue and when you go to see it, it’s kind of a let-down. The statue is kind of small and usually surrounded by people, so it feels like one of those overrated things in Europe that you have to see but isn’t all that exciting once you see it. After all, it’s on nearly every postcard and you’ve seen countless photos of it, so the real thing just doesn’t live up to the hype.

Love #1: Outdoor Life in Copenhagen

Even in the winter, Copenhagen residents love to be outdoors. You’ll see beer gardens with people enjoying a pint year-round. They are bicycling year-round and making the best of winter, but in the summer, the outdoors is fantastic. You can take public transportation to the beaches near Copenhagen or go hiking or kayaking. Or just hang out in a beer garden!

Love #2: Getting Around Copenhagen

Copenhagen is extremely easy to navigate, making it easy for tourists to get around. It’s a relatively small city, so you can access almost everything by walking around. When you do want to go farther than the city center, the buses and the metro are easy to use. Nearly all of the main sites of Copenhagen are in walking distance of each other and it’s pretty flat, so you don’t have to climb up any steep cobblestone hills. As a bonus, nearly everyone speaks perfect English, which also makes this a very easy city to travel in.

Love #3: Food in Copenhagen

There is a lot of great food in Copenhagen, but not all of it is Danish. Yes, the hot dogs are great and you’ll probably eat a few of those during your trip, but there are other great things to eat in Copenhagen. They love their open-faced sandwiches, herring and pork, and Danish pastries are amazing; nothing like the Danish you have back home! While Danish food isn’t my favorite, Copenhagen has a great international restaurant scene with some really good food. Don’t pay a lot for mediocre food, pay a bit more for really good food and splurge on a few of the top restaurants in Copenhagen.

Love #4: Things to Do in Copenhagen

There are so many cool things to do in Copenhagen; from museums, parks, gardens and outdoor activities. Tivoli Gardens is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, and the architecture in Copenhagen is amazing. There are tons of palaces and scenic views, like the one at Nyhavn.

Love #5: Safety in Copenhagen

If you’ve traveled around Europe or watched our videos about pickpockets and travel scams, you’ll understand why safety in Copenhagen is such a highlight. We have walked around late at night, early in the morning, in quiet neighborhoods or crowded tourist spots, and I’ve never felt unsafe or uneasy. You might even see baby strollers lined up outside a cafe, with babies in them! Yes, people just leave their babies to sleep in the fresh air while they nip in for a coffee. That’s how safe Copenhagen is.

Copenhagen is a great city once you get over the prices and it’s really easy for new travelers to navigate because it’s so safe and everyone speaks English. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit Copenhagen. Want to know more about traveling to Denmark? Check out these other blog posts:

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Denmark

5 Love & Hates of a Denmark Vacation

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we travel to Denmark! As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about Denmark travel.

Hate #1: Danish Ambivalence

The Danes are very content with themselves and their lives, and they’re also very private. You’ll notice they don’t make eye contact, there’s no small talk and no small pleasantries, like please and thank you. They won’t ask how your day is because they don’t want you to ask them! As a tourist, you’ll notice how quiet the streets are, and nobody talks on public transportation. Where this becomes the most obvious is in the service. You are not the priority of the server and service is really slow and ambivalent.

Look at the animals on the spire

Hate #2: Denmark is Expensive

What makes poor service even worse is the amount you are paying for it. Like the rest of Scandinavia, Denmark is very expensive. If you want to go out for a beer in Copenhagen, plan to spend around $8. Compare that to Portugal, where one beer might cost $1.50. When you go out to eat in Denmark, a meal will cost around $20-25. There are ways to save money and some of the museums and walking tours are free.  Do what the Danes do: grab a beer at 7-11 and enjoy it in a park.

Read: How to Cut Costs While Traveling

Hate #3: Danish Cuisine

The food in Denmark is not spectacular. A lot of restaurants advertise “new Scandinavian cuisine.”  That’s because “Old Scandinavian” cuisine is horrible. There are some cool restaurants in Denmark and the Danes have done a great job with international cuisine, but it’s not really a foodie destination. There are a few things you have to try, though. Hot dogs, herring and open-faced sandwiches are all typical Danish food that everyone will tell you to have.

Hate #4: Denmark Weather in Winter

It doesn’t get super cold in Denmark in winter, but it’s gray and rainy and sometimes snowy. The winter lasts a really long time in Denmark so it gets frustrating if you are traveling around. It’s also very dark in Winter so don’t expect sunny days. On the other hand, the summer in Denmark is amazing.

Read: The Best & Worst of European Winter Travel

Hate #5: Danish Shop Hours

Shops in Denmark close at 5:00 or 6:00 during the week and even earlier on Saturday. Most stores are closed on Sundays. So you really have to plan your shopping and make sure you get to the stores when they are open.

Crazy great photos here, but crazy high prices too.

Love #1: Outdoor Activities

Regardless of the weather, Denmark is made for outdoor activities. There are bike paths throughout the country, beaches, hiking, beer gardens, and outdoor Christmas markets. Even in the winter, you’ll find a lot of Danes outdoors. There’s a lot of natural beauty to appreciate in Denmark.

Love #2: Safety in Denmark

Denmark is very safe. People just hang up their coats at a bar or museum, you’ll see bikes lying around, some locked up, some not. Denmark is so safe, they leave their babies in strollers outside the restaurant while they go inside to eat! As a traveler, it’s so nice not to be on high alert all the time, checking my wallet and pockets. Of course, you should take the usual precautions you would in any city, but in general, it’s very safe in Denmark.

Love #3: Language in Denmark

It’s unlikely that you’ll know or learn much Danish before your Denmark vacation, but the Danes speak excellent English, so you don’t have to worry about any language barriers. Chances are if you hear someone speaking English with an accent, they aren’t Danish.

Love #4: Family-friendly and Bike-friendly

We already mentioned the outdoor activities, but Denmark is super bike-friendly and family-friendly. Legos are from Denmark so there is a Legoland and there are Lego stores all over. The museums are kid-friendly, as are the beaches. There are tons of bike lanes all over Denmark, but as a tourist, you really have to watch out for the bikes and follow the traffic signals.

Love #5: Architecture and Design

Sure, there are cool historic buildings and castles, but Danish modern design is really cool, too. The Copenhagen Opera House is a good example of modern design in Denmark. So just walking around and admiring the architecture is a fun, free thing to do in Denmark.

Denmark is a great country once you get over the prices and it’s really easy for new travelers to navigate because it’s so safe and everyone speaks English. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Denmark. Want to know more about traveling to Denmark? Check out some of our other blog posts:

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Scandinavia Travel

5 Love & Hates of Visiting Sweden

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we take a trip to Sweden! As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about your Sweden vacation.

Hate #1: The Line Culture

The line culture is very particular in Sweden. If you are shopping or at the bank and you see a line, look around to see if everyone is holding a ticket. Sometimes you need a ticket just to be in line and your place in line doesn’t determine your turn, the number on your ticket will. There’s also not as much respect for personal space, so if you leave a gap in the line, you can expect it to be filled and you’ve just lost your spot.

Hate #2: Sweden Weather

The weather in Sweden can be unpredictable and very cool, even in summer. The winters are downright cold and very dark, thanks to being so far north. You always want to have layers you can wear when you visit Sweden and be prepared for cold and rain any time of year. The darkness of winter means lots of daylight in the summer, and this is great, except for the effect it can have on your sleep schedule.

Hate #3: Swedish Restaurants

Sweden isn’t exactly known as a culinary destination and Swedish food isn’t always super interesting. Ever see a Swedish restaurant in your hometown? There are definitely some quintessentially Swedish foods you should try, such as meatballs and cinnamon rolls, but the best food in Sweden is the international cuisine and New Scandinavian cuisine. The Swedish restaurant experience can be frustrating, as many restaurants close early so if you’re used to eating late, you might miss dinner and end up eating street kebabs or fast food.

Hate #4: Prices in Sweden

Like most of Scandinavia, Sweden is expensive! I’d say it’s about 20% more than prices in the US. Plan to pay about $7 for a beer in Sweden. Dinner will be about $20 – $25, plus drinks. Sweden also has high taxes on alcohol, so expect to pay quite a bit to have a beer or cocktail with dinner. If you have a big meal at lunch, you can take advantage of lunch specials. Even public transportation is expensive in Sweden. On the bright side, if you’re visiting Sweden from Norway, the prices will seem cheap by comparison!

Read: How to Cut Costs While You Travel

Hate #5: Lack of Public Toilets

Some cities, like Gothenburg, are fine, but many other cities don’t have a lot of public toilets. When you do find one, you usually have to pay. What’s even worse is that the pay toilets only take coins and Sweden is pretty much a cashless society, so it’s not common to carry coins around. However, I suggest having a few on hand just in case.

Love #1: Safety & Organization in Sweden

One of the best things about Sweden is that it’s super safe and very organized. You really do not have to worry about safety at all while you’re in Sweden. If you’ve watched a lot of our videos, you know that pickpockets are usually on the top of our list of “hates” but that’s not an issue in Sweden. Furthermore, Sweden is very organized. Transportation is easy to understand and there are tourist offices set up to help you out.

Read: Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Scandinavia Travel

Love #2: Nature in Sweden

Sweden is gorgeous! If you get the chance to travel around the country, you’ll see oceans, lakes, forests, the islands, and archipelago. Whether you enjoy hiking, skiing, boating or swimming, make sure you try to see some of Sweden outside of the major cities.

Love #3: Summer Days in Sweden

Most travelers visit Sweden in the summer, and you’ll enjoy daylight all day and almost all night. This gives you so much time to explore. Even the locals get totally excited to emerge from the darkness of winter, so you’ll find tons of festivals, live music, and art shows. Swedes love their festivals, especially Midsummer Festival.

Love #4: Swedish People

At first, the Swedes seem very reserved, but once you break through that outer shell, the people of Sweden are really fantastic. They love to show off their country and culture; it just takes a bit for them to warm up.

Love #5: Language in Sweden

Nearly everyone in Sweden speaks English very well. No matter where you go in Sweden, you won’t have trouble finding someone to help you in English. You’ll be shocked at how well they speak English and will even have a hard time detecting an accent sometimes.

Sweden is a really great place to visit, and easy to get around for first-time international travelers! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Sweden. Want to know more about traveling to Sweden? Check out some of our other blog posts:

What to Know Before You Visit Sweden

Oslo: The Best & Worst of Visiting Oslo, Norway

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Oslo, Norway! Norway’s capital city is a super fun place to visit. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate when you visit Oslo.

Hate #1: Customer Service in Oslo

The Viking spirit is alive and well when it comes to customer service. You have to ask for help; nobody will go out of their way to help you. They will help if you ask, but it’s not the overly attentive service we are used to in the United States. Part of it stems from just being a more reserved culture, but it can catch you off guard at first.

Hate #2: Poverty in Oslo

You hear a lot about how Norway is one of the richest and happiest countries, and that everyone is equal, but you will see a lot of beggars in Oslo. A lot of the beggars will congregate around the popular tourist sights. You can just say “no” and move on, they generally don’t harass anyone, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.

Hate #3: Oslo Weather

It can be cold and rainy in Oslo, especially in the winter. It’s also very dark in the winter, so you won’t have a lot of daylight to explore the city. Even the summers can be chilly and rainy, so you always need to pack a lot of layers and have a waterproof jacket to wear in case of rain.

Hate #4: Oslo’s Size

Many travelers expect a huge capital city, but Oslo is quite small, with just over 600,000 people living there. After a few days, you may feel like you’ve run out of things to do. There are plenty of things to do in Oslo, but the cost is prohibitive to seeing all of the Oslo attractions.

Hate #5: Oslo Prices

Scandinavia and Norway are expensive, but Oslo is even more expensive. A single beer can cost anywhere from $10 to $20. Oslo hotels, Oslo restaurants, public transportation, and Oslo museums are all very expensive. Oslo is by far the most expensive place I’ve ever visited. Even way back in 1995 on my first trip to Oslo, I realized how expensive it was. It’s only gotten worse since then. Take advantage of the hotel breakfast and eat your main meal at lunch when you can get a lunch special. Hot dogs are a local specialty so you can eat on the cheap.

Read: How to Save Real Money When You Travel

Love #1: Nordic History

Oslo has some great museums and Nordic history is fascinating. The Viking Ship Museum is so awesome and the Norwegian Folk Museum is also super interesting. Norwegians have a lot of pride in their history and it shows in the museums. There are castles, fortresses and many museums to see during your visit to Oslo.

Love #2: The Oslo Pass

Yes, it’s expensive, but so is everything in Oslo. Purchasing the Oslo Pass combines your public transportation and museum entry, so if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing in Oslo, you can get your money’s worth very easily.

Love #3: Ease of Travel

Oslo is an “easy” place to visit. There’s a reason I often recommend Scandinavia as a good first-time overseas trip. It’s very safe, everyone speaks excellent English and it’s easy to get around. Since Oslo is relatively small, you can walk to a lot of places and anything that is not walkable, you can take a bus or a ferry. Additionally, it’s well built to accommodate wheelchairs or strollers, unlike a lot of European cities.

Read: What to Know Before Your First Trip to Europe

Love #4: Oslo Day Trips

While Oslo is a great city, there’s also a lot of fun things to explore outside of Oslo. You can be out of the city and in nature in just 20 minutes. Norwegians are very much outdoorsy people, so there are tons of outdoor activities in and around Oslo.

Love #5: Oslo Sightseeing

One of the best things about Oslo is just walking around downtown. Whether you are shopping along Karl Johans gate or seeing the work of Edvard Munch, including The Scream, at the National Gallery or the Munch Museum, there are some really interesting attractions in Oslo.

Oslo is a great city, especially for first-time international travelers! Most of the “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Oslo. Want to know more about traveling to Norway? Check out some of our other blog posts:

5 Things Tourists Love & Hate about Stockholm

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Stockholm, Sweden! Sweden’s capital city is one of the coolest design cities and nightlife destinations in Europe. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, when you visit Stockholm.

Hate #1: Prices in Stockholm

Stockholm, like pretty much all of Scandinavia, is expensive. A meal, not including drinks, will cost around $25 to $30. Hotels, restaurants, shopping, and even taxis are very expensive. It’s about 20-30% more expensive than traveling in the United States. On the bright side, it is cheaper than Oslo. There are a few ways to save money, including taking advantage of lunch specials or buying groceries instead of eating out. Fortunately, a lot of the things to do in Stockholm are free, so that helps a bit, too.

Read: How to Cut Costs While You Travel

Hate #2: Stockholm Bus Tickets

Taking public transportation is a great way to save money while traveling, but getting a bus ticket in Stockholm is surprisingly complicated. You cannot buy a bus ticket on the bus or at the bus stop. First, you have to buy a card and then load it up with how much money you think you will need to have on the card. You can buy these at convenience stores and kiosks, but they’re not on every street corner. What is nice, though, is that the card works for buses, trains and some ferries.

Hate #3: Stockholm “Face Control”

Stockholm has a lively nightlife scene, and some pretty cool bars and restaurants. A lot of them have bouncers, and the bouncers have a lot of discretion as to who is let into the establishment. It seems to vary from day to day, even at the same club. So, to improve your chances, you really have to step up and dress the part. Swedes in Stockholm really get dressed up to go out, and you should too if you want to get into some of the hottest clubs.

Hate #4: Service in Stockholm

Service levels in Stockholm are all over the place. It can vary from good to totally indifferent. It’s not that the Swedes aren’t nice people, they just aren’t overly attentive. If you want good service and attention from your server, you have to ask for it. It might feel like you are being rude, but you really just need to be assertive and be direct in your requests.

Hate #5: Stockholm Weather

If you visit Stockholm in the winter, be prepared for cold weather and very dark days. Stockholm summers are amazing with tons of daylight, but winters are unpredictable. You can have cold, rain and wind, so you need warm clothes and lots of layers.

Love #1: Stockholm Sightseeing

The city of Stockholm is fantastic and you can’t help but fall in love with the Old Town and the Royal Palace and the Cathedrals and shops. The design and architecture in the city are amazing. And then there are the day trips from Stockholm. You can hop a ferry to other islands or just ride around on the water. Skansen is a really cool open-air museum, and there are tons of cool museums. There’s even an ABBA museum!

Love #2: Stockholm Outdoors

When the weather is nice, everyone in Stockholm heads outside. You can hit up sidewalk cafes and outdoor bars, or you can head to one of many parks in the city. The Royal Palace has beautiful gardens you can stroll through. There are tons of opportunities for swimming, kayaking, cycling, and hiking.

Love #3: Safety in Stockholm

Stockholm is extremely safe, even late at night. Sure, you may run into a few drunks on the weekends, but it’s nothing you should worry about. There may be a few areas to avoid, but they aren’t someplace you would find yourself, and most importantly, you won’t see the typical tourist scams you would see in places like Paris, Barcelona or Rome.

Love #4: Ease of Travel

Stockholm is just an easy city to visit. Nearly everyone here speaks perfect English so you don’t have to worry about interpreting a foreign language. Between being extremely safe and not worrying about speaking a foreign language, it’s just easy to be a traveler in Stockholm. It’s also very kid-friendly and has good accessibility for disabled travelers.

Read: Disabled Travel in Europe

Love #5: Going Out in Stockholm

Between cafes and bars and nightclubs, there are a lot of fun options for going out in Stockholm. The restaurants in Stockholm are fantastic; not necessarily Swedish food, but there’s a great international food scene here if you’re willing to pay for it. Whether you prefer clubs or pubs, the nightlife scene in Stockholm is something to experience.

Obviously, we love Stockholm and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Stockholm. Want to know more about traveling to Sweden? Check out some of our other blog posts:

5 Things You Will Love & Hate about Sevilla, Spain

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Seville, Spain! This is one of the coolest cities in Spain and it’s definitely worth traveling all the way to the south of Spain. Here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new country. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about Seville travel.

Hate #1: Seville Weather

Spain is known for having amazing weather, but Seville weather can be too hot. It gets super hot in the summer and even the locals clear out in August to find cooler destinations. If you decide to visit Seville in the summer be prepared. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and bring a hat or umbrella.

Hate #2: Seville Pickpockets

Spain seems to have more than it’s fair share of pickpockets and Seville is no exception. My Spanish friends all warned me, and even the hotels will warn you; keep your valuables locked up (or leave them at home) and wear a money belt to keep pickpockets from getting to your wallet.

Read: How to Avoid Travel Scams & Rip-Offs

Hate #3: Driving in Seville

Driving in Seville is insane. There are so many one-way streets and crazy roads, that only a native to Seville can really know their way around. Expect to get lost while driving. Have a map and GPS, you’ll still get lost, but at least you can find your way back. There’s also a serious lack of parking in Seville. If your hotel or rental apartment tells you there is on-street parking, plan to spend a lot of time looking for it.

Hate #4: Seville Tourists

Word has gotten out on how awesome Seville is, so loads of tourists want to come to see for themselves. It can get pretty crowded, and with tourists come the long lines and higher prices and noise, so be prepared and know you aren’t going to have a quiet Spanish holiday to yourselves.

Hate #5: Seville Prices

Seville is a bit more expensive than some of the other cities in Spain. In some areas, Spain is still a good value destination compared to the rest of Europe, but you’ll find higher prices in Seville. Tapas, beer, and accommodation are all higher than elsewhere in Spain. If you visit during Holy Week in April, the prices are extra high.

Love #1: Things to Do in Seville

There are so many things to do in Seville. There’s the Plaza de Espana, cathedrals, the tomb of Columbus, Old Town and so much more. You will not run out of things to do in Seville because it’s such an interesting city and there’s always something going on. You will love it, but you might also hate it because you will want to stay forever to see all the sights.

Love #2: Seville Accommodation

Finding a place to stay in Seville is not a problem at all. They hosted the World Expo in 1992, so there are tons of hotels plus apartment rentals and hostels. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive than other areas of Spain, but finding a place to stay in Seville, for any budget or travel style, will be relatively easy.

Love #3: Seville Nightlife

Whether you want to relax at a bar and enjoy tapas, hit up the nightclubs, or check out the theater, there are tons of nightlife options in Seville. Everything in Spain operates on a later timeline, so dinner is later and the nightlife definitely goes into the wee hours, if you can handle it.

Love #4: Day Trips from Seville

While Seville is fantastic, it’s also in a prime location in Andalusia, one of Spain’s best regions. Seville is just 45 minutes from Cordoba, less than two hours from Cadiz, two hours to the beaches of Malaga and less than two hours from Ronda. Even Granada is doable as a day trip from Seville. If you like to stay in one place and not move hotels all the time, Seville is a great home base for exploring Andalusia.

Read: Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Spain

Love #5: Seville Historic District

You will fall in love with the Santa Cruz neighborhood. The atmosphere is so much fun, it makes you feel like you are Spanish, and you’ll want to just sit and soak it all in for a while. Everywhere you go in Seville, just walking around is a fun experience. Make sure you leave some slack in your schedule to just slow down and enjoy life in Seville.

Obviously, we love Seville and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Seville. Want to know more about travel in Spain? Check out some of our other blog posts!

The Best (and worst) of Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Reykjavik, Iceland! We spent some time in Reykjavik before setting off on a road trip around Iceland. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about Reykjavik travel.

Hate #1: Blue Lagoon Advance Booking

One of the main reasons people visit Reykjavik is to see the Blue Lagoon. These thermal spas outside Reykjavik are very popular and most people don’t realize that it sells out in advance. So you can’t just roll up and hit the pools, you have to book your tickets ahead of time, sometimes months in advance. We booked our spots just a few days in advance and there were already some time slots that were full.

Hate #2: Sulfur Water

You may notice the tap water that you have in your hotel sink and shower smells like sulfur. You might think something is wrong with the pipes or your hotel, but that’s just how the water in Iceland is. It’s all part of the same geothermal effect that makes the spas here so great. Don’t worry about drinking water, though. The restaurants will serve you tap water and it’s fine; no sulfur smell!

Hate #3: Reykjavik Weather

The wind and weather in Reyjavik can be unpredictable. It can easily drop 20 degrees during the day, so you really have to pack some layers when you visit Reykjavik. Even in the height of summer, it can get cold. Having a waterproof layer is also a good idea as it rains often in Iceland. The wind can also catch you off guard, especially if you are driving in Iceland.

Hate #4: Finding Reykjavik Accommodation

Finding a place to stay in Reykjavik in high season can be a challenge. Tourism in Iceland has exploded in recent years. They’re doing a good job keeping up with it, with lots of tours and English speakers, but accommodation still fills up in the high season of July and August. If you want to have a good selection of Reykjavik accommodation to choose from, you want to book ahead as far as you can. Keep in mind, the town itself is pretty small so even if you’re not staying in the heart of downtown, it’s still pretty easy to get around.

Hate #5: Prices in Reykjavik

While it’s pretty cheap to get to Iceland, it’s very expensive once you arrive. Reykjavik hotels, restaurants, tours, and rental cars are all expensive. Going out for dinner can easily cost $20-$30 per plate, and alcohol drinks are also very expensive. So, when you see that cheap flight to Reykjavik, you have to factor in the total cost of your trip when setting your vacation budget.

Read: How to Cut Costs While You Travel

Love #1: The Blue Lagoon

Relaxing in the thermal hot spas of the Blue Lagoon is one of the best things about visiting Reykjavik. You’re soaking in relaxing turquoise blue waters, surrounded by lava fields, and smearing volcanic mud on your faces. It’s such a relaxing, fun experience. You can even get a massage in the water. They make it so easy to visit, too. You can book your Blue Lagoon admission and a bus to pick you up from the airport all on the same ticket. After your soak, you then hop on a bus that will take you into Reykjavik. It couldn’t be easier; they’ll even store your luggage for you while you soak.

Love #2: Natural Beauty Around Reykjavik

While a road trip around Iceland is great, you don’t have to travel far from Reykjavik to see some of the natural beauty of Iceland. There are waterfalls, geysers, and icebergs all in a days’ reach of Reykjavik. A popular tour from Reykjavik is the Golden Circle, which passes by Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir. You can also book a whale-watching cruise, go horseback riding or hiking.

Love #3: Icelandic People

The people in Iceland are so friendly and happy. They speak English extremely well and are so proud to share their homeland with you. The people of Iceland are some of the friendliest people that we’ve met anywhere in the world. This also translates to a very safe environment. Crime in Iceland is almost non-existent.

Love #4: Getting Around Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a very compact city, so it’s really easy to get around. You can pretty much walk everywhere in Reyjkavik. If you aren’t able to get a hotel right in the center of town, you can find a guest house on the outskirts, take the bus in and still walk around. It’s a very walkable city, which is great when you’re traveling. You’ll be surprised by how much you can see on a stroll around town.

Love #5 Reykjavik Museums

Although Reykjavik is relatively small for a capital city, it has a surprising number of quality museums. There’s the Saga Museum, several art and photography museums, the Settlement Center, Maritime Museum and even a phallic museum, which makes for some interesting family conversations!

Obviously, we loved Reykjavik and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Reykjavik. Want to know more about traveling to Iceland? Check out some of our other blog posts:

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate on a Barcelona Vacation

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Barcelona, one of my favorite cities to visit in Europe.

Even though Barcelona is a great city, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new place. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about Barcelona travel.

Hate #1: Barcelona Pickpockets

There are a lot of pickpockets and bag snatchers in Barcelona, especially in the touristy areas, so you really have to pay attention at all times. Hide your wallet and leave your passport at the hotel in the safe so you lessen your chances of being robbed.

Read: How to Avoid Travel Scams & Rip-Offs

Hate #2: Barcelona Tourists

Yes, you will hate yourself a bit when you see all the hordes of tourists in Barcelona, especially in the summer. Over one million tourists visit Barcelona each year and you will feel overwhelmed by tourists at popular sites like Sagrada Familia. Just be prepared: book attractions online, arrive early, book your hotels in advance and go with the flow. You can also visit in the off-season and avoid a lot of the crowds.

Hate #3: Barcelona Sites are Spread Out

There are so many things to see in Barcelona, but the sites are spread pretty far apart from each other. The Metro is great, though. Make sure you have a strategic plan for visiting the Barcelona sites so you can be efficient with your time, and get to know the subway system.

Hate #4: Language in Barcelona

If you speak Spanish and are excited to use it, you will be disappointed to learn that they speak Catalan in Barcelona, not Spanish. The language of Catalunya is a mix between French and Spanish, so you can probably get by. Most people will also speak Spanish, but if you hear a language you don’t understand, it’s Catalan.

Read: How to Piss off a Catalan

Hate #5: Barcelona Traffic

Traffic in Barcelona is crazy; there’s an accident every 19 seconds here! Even if you aren’t driving but just walking around, be really careful around traffic, especially when crossing the street.

Love #1: Barcelona Sites

Strolling along La Rambla and through the Gothic Quarter is one of the best things to do in Barcelona. From the cathedral to the Picasso Museum, you really feel like you’re in Europe when you hang out just wander the streets, people watch and visit the attractions.

Love #2: Barcelona Architecture

Most people know about Gaudi and some of his crazy designs and buildings, but there’s much more to Barcelona architecture. The historic churches and palaces are amazing and if you can arrange an architecture tour, I highly recommend it.

Love #3:  Barcelona Culture

Barcelona is a melting pot of culture. With Catalan, Spanish and international cultures blended together, Barcelona is a very worldly city.  There is fantastic art, including Picasso, opera, festivals, and live music.

Love #4: Barcelona Beaches

Barcelona is one of the best beach cities in the world. What’s crazy is that the beaches of Barcelona were all developed after 1992, and it’s brought a whole new culture to Barcelona. Now there are promenades and beach-side restaurants where you can sip cava on the beach. Beyond the beaches, there are tons of parks and green spaces in Barcelona so you can really enjoy time spent outdoors.

Love #5: The Nightlife

Barcelona has the best nightlife in Europe. They have some of the best nightclubs in the world, but it’s also other aspects of nightlife. Going out to eat, going to shows or the opera. There are evening activities for kids, young adults, and seniors so everyone can enjoy the nightlife of Barcelona.

Obviously, I love Barcelona and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit Barcelona. Want to know more about travel in Spain? Check out some of our other blog posts!

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Scandinavia Travel

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Helsinki Finland. For our purposes today, I’m considering Scandinavia to include Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. I know some people don’t consider Finland to be part of Scandinavia, but we’re counting it today! (You could even include Iceland in this list of loves and hates!) Here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new country. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, on your Scandinavia trip.

Hate #1: Prices in Scandinavia

Yes, everything is expensive in Scandinavia. Norway is the most expensive, but you’ll find much higher prices than other countries in Europe, like Germany. The biggest drawback to visiting Scandinavia is knowing how much money you are going to spend. (This is the only true “hate”; everything else on this list is more of mild irritation.)

Read: How to Cut Costs While You Travel

Hate #2: Weather and Darkness

From October through April, the weather in Scandinavia is not great. It’s cold, rainy and very dark. If you go as far north as Lapland, you’ll have almost 24 hours of darkness in the winter. The people have a more subdued, depressed state in the winters vs the smiling faces you will see in the summer when the weather is great.

Read: Rainy Day Travel Advice

Hate #3: Scandinavian Food

I love food, but there aren’t that many dishes that I love in Scandinavia. The salmon is good, anything with mushrooms or a mushroom sauce and the reindeer is unique. The cuisine just isn’t too exciting, but they do a good job of adapting other cuisines, so don’t be afraid to try Spanish or Italian restaurants as they’re not bad!

Hate #4: Alcohol

There are a few issues with respect to alcohol. There’s actually a lot of alcoholism in Scandinavia, and it’s not really a problem for tourists, but you might run into some drunken crowds late at night. This really just affects tourists when you want to buy alcohol, perhaps to have a drink at your hotel before going out. You can only buy alcohol at state-run liquor stores. They have weird hours and are very expensive.

Hate #5: Not Enough Bang for Your Buck

Scandinavia is gorgeous, but it can feel like you’re not quite getting enough for the money you’re spending. There are good museums, but they’re not the Louvre, yet they cost just as much. Once you resign yourself to just spending a lot of money and not worrying about the prices, you’re going to LOVE Scandinavia!

Love #1: Natural Beauty

You can’t even imagine how much natural beauty there is in Scandinavia. Seeing the fjords for the first time from Bergen, or the Northern Lights of Lapland are practically a religious experience. There are lakes, forests, islands and so much to explore; a visit to Scandinavia is really a nature vacation.

Love #2: National Pride

People in Scandinavia are really proud of their countries. They love to celebrate their history and share their culture with travelers. The festivals are a great way to experience Scandinavian culture, but you can really learn a lot from the locals about their country.

Love #3: Safety & Cleanliness

Maybe it’s due to that national pride, but the countries of Scandinavia are some of the safest countries in the world to visit. A lot of our travel guides talk about pickpockets in various parts of Europe and South America, but it’s not really an issue when you visit Scandinavia. The air is fresh and the streets are kept very clean. Because it’s so safe, Scandinavia is a great destination for newer travelers who want an overseas experience without some of the risks of larger European cities.

Love #4: Cities & Towns of Scandinavia

Stockholm and Oslo are both super cool; I change my mind often which one I like better. Copenhagen, Bergen, and Helsinki are all really fun to visit. The cities all have great museums, lots of culture and some nightlife. They are really perfectly sized cities for visitors; not too big to be overwhelming, but big enough to occupy several days of your trip.

Love #5; No Language Barrier

So many speak multiple languages in Scandinavia, and some of them speak better English than we do! You get all the benefits of experiencing a foreign culture, without having to mime things in the street to communicate with the locals. Best of all, they don’t get insulted at “having to” speak English. They do love it if you throw out a few local words, but there’s no attitude about using English. This is another reason Scandinavia is a great first-time overseas destination.

As you can see, I really love the countries of Scandinavia! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take Scandinavian vacation. Want to know more about Scandinavia travel? Check out some of our other blog posts!

How to Piss Off Catalans

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Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Barcelona, Spain or Barcelona Catalonia. In case you aren’t aware, Catalonia is a separate region in Spain and although it’s been a part of Spain for centuries. However, a separate culture and language remains in this area which includes Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Since we’re here, I thought it would be a good time to talk about the five ways you can piss off a Catalan. Of course, this is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but hopefully it will help you see a few of the differences from Spanish to Catalan culture.

#1 Call a Catalan Spanish

If you really want to insult Catalan culture, call a Catalan Spanish. Despite all being part of the same country technically, the Catalan people are proud of their heritage and embrace the differences from Catalan to Spanish culture.

#2 Tell them Moritz Beer is German

To assum Moritz Beer is German is an honest mistake, as a lot of Europe beer comes from Germany and Spain isn’t generally known for beer. However, the Moritz beer you’ll see all over Barcelona and elsewhere is not from Germany, it’s from Molins de Rei, just outside Barcelona. This Catalan beer is supposedly the only beer in the world with labels written entirely in the Catalan language.

#3 Imply that Madrid Nightlife is Better than Barcelona

Nightlife in Spain is practically a religion, so naturally there is a strong rivalry between Spanish cities for the best nightlife. Spaniards, and Catalans, have the uncanny ability to stay out well past sunrise at nightclubs and beach parties, but if you prefer Madrid nightlife over Barcelona nightlife, you might want to keep that opinion to yourself. At least until you are safely out of Catalonia!

Watch: The Don’ts of Visiting Barcelona

#4 Comment on their Spanish Skills

You may hear a Catalan speaking a poor version of Spanish and make a comment, not realizing that they are actually speaking Catalan, not Spanish! It’s similar, but Catalan is actually closer to French and Italian than Spanish.

Read: Seven Tips for Learning a Foreign Language

#5 Predict that Real Will Win the Clásico

While nightlife is almost a religion in Spain, football is a religion in Spain and Catalonia. The majority of Catalans root for FC Barcelona. El Clásico refers to any football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. So, to suggest to a Catalan that Real is going to win El Clásico will not be received kindly.

Hopefully you don’t take this post too seriously, but if you do find yourself in Barcelona or Catalonia, maybe you’ll understand Catalan culture a bit better. For more travel tips and destinations, check out these blog posts and videos: