Iceland 6 day Itinerary - The Best of the South Coast (2025)
Here’s a 6 day Iceland Itinerary for the perfect 6 days in Iceland including the South Coast. You could even pick the first few days to modify it to spend ony 4 days in Iceland. This itinerary has lots of alteranate options to suit your needs!
I peeked through the window and saw the mist rolling in. A minute later, it seemed to be forming unusual patterns. Ignoring it as something peculiar, I tried to figure out the best route to get to our lodge.
We’d landed about 2 hours ago in Keflavik and all I wanted to do was to get a meal, a hot shower and some sleep to start our 6 day itinerary around Iceland the next day.
I got out of the car and realised that the mist had now started to glow faintly.
We were in the center of Keflavik surrounded by street lights and I suddenly realised that I’d mistaken the Northern Lights for mist!
I’d seen the Northern Lights before, however, never had they been so strong that even with all the light pollution around we could still clearly seen them form shapes!
The lights continued to dance while we had dinner.
Once we were done, we threw on some extra layers and went off to the lighthouse in Keflavik.
A couple of hours later we realised we had to call it a night as we were freezing and the polar lights had no plans of fading away.
Iceland had welcomed us with a spectacular show and I couldn’t wait to see all the unreal sights for myself. Here’s what we did on our Iceland 6 day itinerary, to help you plan your visit to this unbelievable country.
ICELAND TRIP – THE ESSENTIALS
Tours you must book for Iceland trip:
- Whale Watching Tour
- Northern Lights Boat Cruise
- Golden Circle and Lava Caving Adventure From Reykjavik
Recommended hotels in Iceland:

Basic Info
WHEN | October
HOW LONG | 6 Days not including time taken for flights. If you include the days that include your flights it could work as an itinerary for 1 week in Iceland.
TRANSPORTATION | Self-drive in Iceland. Flight to Keflavik, 2 x 2 car hire from the airport
WEATHER | Intermittently sunny with mini spells of rain. Rather cold nights with temperatures between -4 degrees to 6 degrees
TOURIST CROWD | Very few at offbeat locations taken during the road trip but quite busy at touristic spots
An Iceland South Coast Itinerary
Day 1 of your 6 days in Iceland Itinerary | The Golden Circle
While there are numerous ways and routes you could take while planning your Iceland road trip itinerary, I wanted to prioritise the Golden Circle on day 1 with my trip at the last minute, as if you have only 1 day in Iceland this is what you could choose to do.
As I mentioned in my Austria itinerary, I prefer to keep the city where you’re most likely to get your flights out from, for last, so the activities suggested here for day 1, could be taken up on the last day of the trip too.
MORNING & NOON
Whale Watching
The day started misty but cleared quickly to reveal a beautiful sunny day.
The very first item on the itinerary was a whale watching tour. These gentle giants frequent places like Tromso from summer till the start of the winter season and can be easily spotted on a tour.
The cold waters around Iceland, tectonic fissures and long summer days help plankton and small fish thrive well, thus making it an easy and favourable feeding area for whales.
Minke whales can be seen most frequently but you may end up seeing humpback and blue whales and sometimes dolphins as well!
While whale watching can be done in many other parts of the world, the chances of seeing such a wide variety of these mammals are quite high in Iceland. Many tours have a full refund policy if you don’t spot them or if the weather is unfavourable, making it one of the best tours you can invest in, to start your holiday.
Tours usually start at 9 AM every day, have various times you can pick and last for about 3 hours. Once you’re done with your tour, it’s time for lunch!
Lunch can be had at any restaurant around the Old Harbor in Reykjavik, which is usually the pick-up and drop point for most tours.
I’d suggest driving to the Old Harbor and parking someplace convenient as once lunch is done, it is convenient to drive to the next stop on the itinerary from here itself.
DETAILS
You can book the whale watching tour here
Address: Most whale watching tours leave from the Old Harbor, Geirsgata 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Please check your booking details for confirmation
Timings: There are many tours held throughout the day mostly starting from 9 AM. Please check your booking details to confirm


EVENING
Thingvellir National Park (Pingvellir National Park)
Walking between two tectonic plates (Almannagja) isn’t something you can claim to do often, so Thingvellir has to be added to your Iceland itinerary.
It is one of the most historic sites in Iceland as this is where the Icelandic Alþingi (parliament) first convened after getting all the local communities together.
Walking through the park isn’t the only thing you can do here. You will find Oxararfoss waterfall here as also Thingvellir Church and the Prime Minister’s Summerhouse.
There are a couple of faults that can be found in Thingvallavatn Lake within Thingvellir National Park, with Silfra being the largest and deepest fissure.
Silfra is a major attraction for scuba divers and snorkelers as the water here is clear, it is geologically significant and it is a rare opportunity to dive between the European and American continental plates.
We particularly enjoyed the sunset here, which was stunning.
DETAILS
If you don’t plan on driving, you can book your visit to the park from Reykjavik here
Address: Thingvellir, Iceland
Timings: Open 24 hours
Tickets: Free entry however you have to pay for parking depending on the time you plan to spend here. More info can be found here


The Northern Lights
One of the best bits about sightseeing in Iceland is that the Aurora activity here is the strongest no matter where you go, which makes it easy to head out anywhere in your car, park in a dark location, and wait till they appear!
You can also choose to stay back at Thingvellir after the reception is closed and watch the Northern lights from here, as the location is dark which makes it ideal. Keep checking the official weather site for Iceland, Vedur, which tells you of the latest Aurora activity in an area.
If you rather prefer a guide taking you around to make sure you catch a glimpse, you can opt for a guaranteed sighting tour here.
Watching the Northern Lights is an activity you can do almost every evening.
As the days get smaller and darker in Iceland, attractions close down sooner, thus giving you ample time to get dinner as tours start in the evening at about 8 PM.
DETAILS
You can book your guaranteed visit to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik here
OPTION 1: You can also choose to go on a Northern Lights cruise here or you can even relax in a secret lagoon to watch the Northern Lights here
Address: Reykjavik, Iceland
Timings: Tours are held mostly after 7 PM unless dinner and a secret lagoon spa trip is included
MORE THINGS TO DO | If you’d like to check out some more attractions in the area, Bruarfoss is another waterfall in the vicinity that is worth a visit.
Watching a geyser and walking between tectonic plates was something I’d never done, which made day 1 exciting, but the beauty of Iceland is such that just driving around watching the flat layout of the land and the unnatural formations is priceless in itself.
So make sure you keep an eye out for things like lava fields and adorable fluffy animals!

Day 2 of your 6 days in Iceland Itinerary | Geysers and snowmobiles
MORNING AND NOON
Snowmobiling on a glacier
Gullfoss is the pickup point for snowmobiling tours that are carried on Langjokull glacier. You could also opt to be picked up in Reykjavik if you’re not driving, at an extra price.
At first, I thought I’d skip it, but was glad I ended up going as I’d first done snowmobiling in Tromso but driving over a glacier is exhilarating!
We were picked up in a monster truck at Gullfoss and after a 40 minute ride, reached the glacier where we were given thick winter gear.
Langjokull is Iceland and Europe’s second-largest glacier and feeds Þingvallavatn Lake, the Hvíta River and the Geysir geothermal area.
Even though glaciers are very thick, they have many cracks and are always melting, due to which ice caves form, hence it is very important to always have a guide, not just for snowmobiling but even for walking or hiking.
Once we were ready, we started slowly before increasing speed and reaching a height of about 1000 metres from where we could see a 360-degree view of the mountains around and glacial lake Hvitarvatn.
Listen carefully to your guide and you will be all set for a thrill of a lifetime!
DETAILS
You can book your amazing glacier snowmobile experience here
Address: Reykjavik, Iceland
Timings: Held throughout the day. Please check what timings suit you best

EVENING
Gullfoss Waterfalls
Located about an hour and a half away and the furthest point on the Golden route was the Gullfoss falls, the next stop for the day.
Gullfoss is the largest volume falls in Europe and is a marvellous sight that shouldn’t be missed!
The sun shining on the waterfalls gave it a golden glow which is why Gullfoss translates to ‘Golden Falls‘. The presence of the sun even made a rainbow form over the waterfall from time to time.
The waterfall was the widest I’d ever seen and fell in two stages. There is a tiny path that leads to the side of the waterfall and once we got here, we got sprayed with water but it was worth it as from here we could see the frozen section of the waterfall more closely.
There are two parking spots near Gullfoss, and we’d parked the car right next to the waterfalls, at the Offentlicher Parkplatz.
Even with all the visitors, it was still an enjoyable hour or two we spent here before moving to the next stop on our itinerary.
DETAILS
If you prefer a complete Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik and are not driving, here’s one that looks good
Address: Gullfossi Bláskógabyggð 801 Selfoss
Timings: Open 24 hours
Tickets: Entry is free. You may need to pay for parking. More details can be found here

Haukadalur geothermal area – Geysir and Strokkur
Many believe that the geyser in the Haukadalur geothermal area is Geysir but unfortunately, Geysir has been dormant for many years with its last eruption being in 2009. However, Strokkur located right next to it erupts every 5-10 minutes and is a sight to watch.
The whole area is captivating with smoke rising from all the smaller geysers and hot pools scattered across the whole expanse in hazy spirals.
If you thought all it needs is about 15 minutes here, you’re mistaken!
We spent about an hour here watching Strokkur erupt at least 8 times and trying to find Litli Geysir (‘Little Geysir’), Fata and Blesi, other geysers out of the thirty geysers in the area.


The drive back took us about 1 hour 30 minutes. However, if you skip some spots or end up having some more time on your hands and would like to do more, you could return to Reykjavik and do a short city tour.
Some things you do see in Reykjavik are the Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral and the Sun Voyager sculpture. These are located by the sea which also makes for a good refreshing walk.
DETAILS
If you prefer a complete Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik and are not driving, here’s one that looks good
Address: Strokkur, Haukadalsvegur, Iceland
Timings: Open 24 hours
Tickets: Entry is free. You may need to pay for parking.
Day 3 of your 6 days in Iceland Itinerary | Hot springs and Lava caves
Today it was about exploring more of the area around Reykjavik which is popular for its hot springs and waterfalls but the day started with taking a tour of a lava tunnel first!
Raufarholshellir, The Lava Tunnel
Raufarholshellir is the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland.
Lava tubes are naturally formed when the flow of lava beneath the surface has ceased, cooled down and left a long cave after draining the lava from a volcano during an eruption.
Lava tubes are a rare find, as sometimes people or animals find them by accident after walking on a lava field and accidentally falling in. As a reward for finding the tunnel or cave, they get to name the tunnel!
These lava tubes date back thousands of years. Raufarholshellir was formed 5600 years ago based on carbon dating, due to which natural ecological formations here are fragile and rare.
Hence, it is very important not to touch and opt for a guided tour to help scientists continue their research, and help future generations get to enjoy it too!
The best bit about the tour was our guide switching off all lights in the tunnel and helping us experience ‘pitch darkness’ for 2 minutes where even after holding our hands in front of our face we could not see the outline!
A super rare and fun activity to take up!
DETAILS
You can book your lava tunnel activity from Reykjavik here
Address: Thorlakshafnarvegur, Iceland
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM everyday
Tickets: If you plan on directly getting to the tunnel, I highly recommend getting tickets in advance here

NOON
Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River, Reykjadalur
Reykjadalur was unreal and special (just like almost everything else in Iceland) because it was a rare find and even at 11 AM which is mostly when you’ll find tourists concentrated in an area, we had Reykjadalur almost to ourselves.
We were surrounded with spirals of steam coming from thermal vents scattered everywhere. The highlight was a thermal river which was lukewarm even with the temperature being 3 degrees!
I skipped taking a dip as I wasn’t sure if I would be ok with the cold while changing clothes but during the other seasons, the location is ideal if you’re looking to bathe in authentic thermal waters.
We also spent a couple of hours here hiking too, as it wasn’t too steep.
The thermal river is located near a small town, so keep in mind to carry some snacks or have a heavy breakfast or lunch before heading here.
DETAILS
If you’re not driving you can book your tour to Reykjadalur here
Address: Reykjadalur, Iceland
Timings: Open 24 hours
Tickets: Entry is free however you may have to pay for parking


EVENING
Kerid Crater Lake
Located a short distance away is the Kerid Crater, is one of the few craters in the area with an intact caldera (formed after a volcano collapses on itself after erupting).
What makes Kerid unique is that it is still ‘young’ at 3000 years and the waters look aquamarine due to all the minerals and the moss in the area. When it isn’t too sunny, you can see a melange of colours that line the sides of the crater.
It is a quick stop on the Golden Circle and if you choose to, you can take a walk around the crater and even take the stairs to see the lake, which freezes in winter.
Once tired, it is time to return to the Stracta hotel in Hella, as this will help cut down driving time the next day.
DETAILS
A visit to Kerid crater can be booked as part of a Golden Circle tour here if you’re not driving
Address: You will need to enter the location on Google Maps for Kerid crater!
Timings: Open 24 hours
Tickets: Entry is 350 ISK/2 EUR/3 USD per person
Day 4 of your 6 days in Iceland Itinerary | Waterfalls and plane wrecks
START | Hella
END | Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur
STAY | Adventure Hotel Geirland or Fosshotel Nupar in Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Hotel Katla in Vik
MORNING AND NOON
Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss
If you have limited time in Iceland, the activities mentioned above will help in putting together an Iceland itinerary for 4 days. If you have more days to spare, the South Coast is one of the most scenic routes in Iceland and helps cover some of the most unique formations in Iceland.
‘Foss’ in Icelandic translates to waterfall in English and the next stop on our Iceland south coast itinerary was Seljalands-foss.
Getting to Seljalandsfoss takes about 2 hours from Iceland.
Depending on when you start your day, you could directly head to Seljalandsfoss, which would be the first attraction on the way to Vik.
While there are numerous other scenic locations you can stop on the way, this would consume time, hence do allocate time accordingly depending on your preferences.
Seljalandsfoss was almost frozen and quite windy when we visited so we didn’t spend long here.
If you’ve seen pictures or videos of Seljalandsfoss, chances are most of them will have been taken in summer as this is when you can fully encircle it (and see it from the back) by using the wide cavern formed behind the falls.



Skogafoss is just 25 minutes away from Seljalandsfoss and was quite magnificent. Thunderous water gets transformed into a smooth-flowing river.
Even with it being the start of winter, the whole area had turned into a slippery frozen wonderland.
It took me quite a while to get closer to the waterfall, which is another highlight of Skogafoss; you can walk right up to the area where the water, falls right to the ground.
As I slowly inched closer, I could feel the huge amount of water, spray dozens of meters before reaching the waterfall. Afraid the wind might get me and my camera completely wet, I spent a few minutes mid-way before slowly walking back.
We had lunch at the cafe in the Hotel Skogafoss. The traditional Icelandic lamb soup here was tasty and warmed me up instantly!
DETAILS
Address: Hvolsvollur, Iceland
Timings: Both waterfalls are open 24 hours
Tickets: Entry is free for both waterfalls
EVENING
Solheimasandur plane wreck
A United States Navy DC plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black sand beach at Solheimasandur in 1973 and all its passengers survived.
Not many were aware of this plane wreck till Justin Bieber shot one of his music videos here. What makes the wreck worth visiting is its location.
Located just a mile or so away from the sea, it looks like a picture from a science fiction movie or outer space.
Even after all these years and visitors ignoring signs to respect regulations for safety and avoid climbing on the plane, it is still in good condition and makes for stunning pictures.
Using your vehicles isn’t allowed and the wreck cannot be seen from the road. You can opt to use the pick-up and drop service at a price or walk to the plane wreck which takes about an hour each way.
It is possible to walk right up to Reynisfjara beach from here, however, it would take a while to do so.
DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU VISIT | The next stop on your itinerary could be the Reynisfjara black sand beach or the Dyrholaey Arch. Sunsets at Solheimasandur are beautiful but they are equally amazing at both these locations too.
If you choose not to walk to the Solheimasandur plane wreck and save time, you could pick any of these two locations, if the days are long as they are worth a visit.
If you prefer a fast itinerary and not driving long distances, you could choose to stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland or Fosshotel Nupar.
If you’re tired after driving from Reykjavik, Hotel Katla in Vik is an excellent choice. We stayed here and loved the rustic feel of the place.
If you’re planning to have only a 4 day trip to Iceland, you would need to return back to Reykjavik today and spend the night there.
DETAILS
The only tour that does cover the plane wreck can be booked here
Address: Solheimasandur, Iceland
Timings: While it says it is open 24 hours, the area is privately owned and its best to visit before sunset as the walk, one way, takes 45 minutes
Tickets: Entry is free but if you plan to take the shuttle it costs ISK 1800 one way and ISK 2500 return. Timings for the shuttle can be found here

Day 5 of your 6 days in Iceland Itinerary | Europe’s biggest glacier
START | Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur
END | Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur
STAY | Adventure Hotel Geirland or Fosshotel Nupar in Kirkjubæjarklaustur or Hotel Katla in Vik
MORNING AND NOON
Skaftafell National Park and hiking on Vatnajokull glacier
We stayed at Hotel Katla and didn’t mind an early morning, so the drive to Vatnajokull glacier (Skaftafell National Park) took us about 2 hours. If you stay at Fosshotel Nupar or Adventure Geirland, it takes about 45 minutes.
There are numerous things to do at this South Coast location. We opted for a glacier hike and an ice cave tour.
Existing ice caves melt and fall in, every few months, and new ones are formed. Hence, it is important to always be accompanied by licensed guides who scout for new ice caves and are aware of their current situation as well.
The hike on the glacier was unreal. We were told to carefully follow the path set by the guide to avoid formations of cracks and harming vegetation.
We visited 2 ice caves, the insides of which were azure blue before continuing to climb the glacier, till we reached a point where we could see the mountains around us and all the crevasses of the glacier.
If you’d prefer not doing this, Svartifoss waterfalls are located an hour by walk inside the National Park and are unique because beautiful hexagonal basalt columnar formations frame the waterfall, due to which it is also called Black Falls.
Svartifoss was also the inspiration for the design of the Hallgrimskirkja church, which can be found in Reykjavik city.
You could also easily spend a whole day here hiking, having a picnic or just enjoying nature.
DETAILS
We opted for this tour for our glacier hike and had a lot of fun!
Address: Vatnajokull, Iceland
Timings: Depends on what tour you opt for. Tours usually take 5 hours

EVENING
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach
If you’re keen on heading further and checking out another marvel on the Ring Road, about 45 minutes to the East is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond beach.
It was my favourite attraction in all of Iceland as the whole expanse seemed mythical.
Jokulsarlon is filled with meltwater and icebergs from Breidamerkurjokull, a tongue of Vatnajokull. Some icebergs are white however most of them are electric blue, with some black streaks, that is ash from eruptions that happened centuries ago.
These icebergs melt and slowly drift out to sea but some wash up on the nearby beach which is called ‘Diamond Beach’ due to the glistening chunks of ice found here that look like large diamonds.
Jokulsarlon is Iceland’s deepest lake and it is predicted that due to the rapid melting of the glaciers, Jokulsarlon may soon turn into a fjord.
Once we’d had our fill of watching glaciers and lagoons, it was time to call it a day and head to our hotel at Fosshotel Nupar.
DETAILS
Opt for this tour if you don’t plan on driving which covers the south coast and Jokulsarlon. More things to do on the East Coast can be found here
Address: Jokulsarlon, Iceland
Timings: Open 24 hours
Ticket: Entry is free


Day 6 of your 6 days in Iceland Itinerary | City break and Spa day
START | Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur
END | Reykjavik
STAY | Fosshotel Reykjavik, which can be booked here
Reynisfjara beach aka Vik i Myrdal beach
Day 6 involved a lot of driving and our first destination was Vik.
We started immediately after having breakfast and after just over an hour our first stop was Reynisfjara beach aka Vík i Myrdal beach.
Reynisfjara beach is one of the most popular ones as the sand here is black and columnar basalt columns can also be found here. Impressive rocks formations called Reynisdrangar can be found a little way away in the sea; remains of a sea cliff.
According to folklore these were trolls who would wait to crash ships but waited too long one day and turned to stone when the sun rose.
Reynisdrangar can be viewed from the Dyrholaey rock arch and cliffs and watching the waves breaking on the black shore is spectacular.
Once the crowds started to increase we continued on our road trip back towards Reykjavik.
DETAILS
Opt for the south coast tour mentioned above if you’d rather not drive
Address: Reynisfjara, Vik, Iceland
Timings: Open 24 hours
Ticket: Entry is free

Reykjavik city tour or The Blue Lagoon
The very last stop on our itinerary was Reykjavik and we still had about half a day left of our trip.
We had lunch on the way and decided that we’d walk around Reykjavik and park a visit to the Blue Lagoon for another trip!
Some of the things we did in Reykjavik were as follows:
Hallgrímskirkja church | Inspired by the geology in Iceland, this 244 feet tall white concrete Church reminded us of some of the columnar basalt formations we’d seen
A walk on Rainbow street and street art | Not just the Church but many buildings are made of concrete, giving artists ample space to paint, thus we found art everywhere! We also noticed that Laugavegur shopping street was good for souvenirs and boutiques!
Harpa Concert Hall | Another architectural piece that reminded us of the basalt columns but this one has three-dimensional glass panels. Concerts by the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra are held here but it is worth wandering around even if you don’t get a ticket
Sun Voyager | The Sun Voyager / Sólfar in Icelandic, a statue made from stainless steel as a tribute to the sun and light was located right next to the concert hall and was where we concluded our half day itinerary for Reykjavik before heading for dinner.
If you’d rather prefer relaxing in the lagoon, we paid it a quick visit and it is located about 30 minutes from Reykjavik.
The water here is supplied by the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power station and it isn’t a natural hot spring, so do keep that in mind.
Prices here vary by the time you plan on spending here and there’s a cafe, restaurant and bar at the Blue Lagoon.
DETAILS
The Blue Lagoon
Address: Norðurljósavegur 9, 240 Grindavík
Timings: 1 Jan – 30 May 8 AM – 9 PM, 31 May – 27 Jun 7 AM – 11 PM, 28 Jun – 18 Aug 7 AM – 12 AM, 19 Aug – 31 Dec 8 AM – 9 PM, 24 Dec 8 AM – 3 PM
Ticket: Comfort package ISk 6990, Premium Package 9900. More details can be found here


Iceland had quickly become of the top 5 countries I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to 50!) and the terrain here is such that I possibly wouldn’t see the same geological formations elsewhere!
6 days had passed by in a flash and yet I didn’t even feel I’d scratched the surface which made me smile as I knew I’d visit again, soon.
“All the fuss about visiting Iceland was justified” were my thoughts and as I sat peeking through my hotel window, keeping an eye out for the lights to maybe appear again, but even if they didn’t, I knew I know I’d gotten value for my money nevertheless.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER POSSIBLE ICELAND ITINERARY OPTIONS?
If you’re planning on
AN ICELAND 8 DAY ITINERARY | You could take a day trip to the North-West of Iceland to the Snæfellsjökull National Park and also see Kirkjufell mountain, the most photographed mountain in the country, which is also the ‘Game of Thrones’ mountain!
AN ICELAND ROAD TRIP FOR 7 DAYS | The road-trip above for 6 days in Iceland does not include the days you fly in and out of Iceland. If you do consider that, this could work well to spend 7 days in Iceland
5 DAY TRIP TO ICELAND | You could choose to spend the whole time in Reykjavik and do day trips or you could spend about 2 days in Iceland (take our pick from the above) and spend 3 days on the South Shore of Iceland. Do keep in mind that if you plan on going all the way to Jokulsarlon, it takes about 5/6 hours one way so you will be very tired at the end of your 5 days in Iceland
WHERE TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND
Everywhere!
The location of Iceland is such that it can be seen anywhere. It depends on the strength of the Aurora activity in the area and cloud cover.
You can book Northern Lights chasing tours, but if you’re driving, you can head to an area away from the lights and if there is activity you can be sure to see them.
WHERE DO THE TECTONIC PLATES MEET IN ICELAND
In Thingvellir National Park, the path you walk on is actually the rift between the American and European plates!
Entry to the park is free however you need to pay for parking.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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A day out in Sheffield (2025) - An Unconventional Spot for a Microgap
Victoria Quays in Sheffield is the perfect spot to spend a day out in Sheffield by indulging in some outdoor activities in Sheffield. If you’re looking at what to do in Sheffield in a day and having a Wild micro gap here, then this is for you!
As much as I still wasn’t too fond of the grey skies and the cold, over time I’d realized I’d cut down on the layers I piled over myself and that getting out wasn’t as bad as it was first.
It was another day in Britain, full of grey skies and the sound of leaves blowing in the wind.
Travel over the years had become more of an occupation and taking a break in a faraway sunny destination seemed more of a task than a holiday!
Today was about taking a break during Autumn, one of my favourite times of the year and I wasn’t going too far to do it.
I was heading to Sheffield, to try a microgap.

What is a Microgap?
I was oblivious to what a Gap year is, till I moved to England. India, where I grew up, concepts like a gap year are still new and many may not even bother taking one even if they do hear of it.
In India, you snooze (or take a break) and you lose. Competition is tough, especially if you’ve just graduated and it’s a rat race to the top.
While I shall always maintain that traveling isn’t expensive, it does require some savings and investing time.
Getting a much-needed refresh however doesn’t need to involve a whole year nor does it need to be expensive. Irrespective of whether you need a break from work, studies or just for fun, you can always take a microgap no matter where you live in the world.
A microgap is meant to give you everything you need in a gap year in shorter but frequent intervals within a day or a couple of days.
While it’s easier to stay connected when on the road and even pay bills thanks to your phone, a microgap does help immensely when you only need to take a few days off or maybe even utilize weekends if you can’t afford to take holidays.

Why take a Microgap
The busier we get, the more the need arises to switch off and take a break. With a microgap, your break doesn’t need to span about a year.
If you’ve never given it a thought, here’s why you need a microgap.
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It can be taken as frequently as you need
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It doesn’t need a huge investment
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It can be as short or as long as you need
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You can continue to work or invest time in other activities you’ve been already doing
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You get to explore destinations you never gave a chance at first glance
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You can have different microgap’s. It doesn’t need to fit a single theme, which makes it even more fun!
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It’s easier to return to a place if you like what you tried
I’ve always preferred shorter but more frequent breaks rather than long ones as that way you always have a few spare holidays left and there’s something exciting to look forward to!
Taking a break to get refreshed and reset doesn’t have to be expensive or conventional!
A day out in Sheffield
Growing up in a tropical country, when it got really cold, life slowed down. People went about their daily lives but most of them never dared to be adventurous. We’d go to museums or escape rooms when it was cold and raining, but the outdoor adventure had to wait for summer.
Moving to Europe meant embracing the weather and continuing to have fun irrespective of how cold or hot it got! Hiking, city breaks, food tours….everything went on irrespective of the time of year.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’d been in Britain for 5 years and still hadn’t visited Sheffield. Taking a microgap and getting to explore Sheffield for a day seemed like the best combination. Sheffield was located just 40 minutes away by train which made it perfect as I was not keen to spend a lot of time on the journey itself, this time.
Known as the ‘Outdoor City’, one-third of Sheffield is located in the Peak District National Park, making it one of the best spots for outdoor and adventure activities.
This historically industrial city still has remnants of the past due to the role it played in the Industrial Revolution but new developments added later make for a fascinating mix of the old and new.
What do you do in Sheffield though? Do you just visit it for a microgap? Far from it!
Sheffield is an unknown cultural hub with numerous theatres, museums and my favorite bits as well: street art and beer! It claims to be the ‘Ale capital of the world’ so you can be sure that there’ll be plenty on offer!
Here are a few fun things to do in Sheffield if you have more time:
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Take a walk around town to see the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield Cathedral and the Winter Garden
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Pay a visit to Chatsworth House
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If you like museums, the Kelham Island Museum is worth a visit

Activities in Sheffield, England you can do on your microgap
Our Microgap was centred around ‘Going wild’ so imagine unconventional outdoor activities in unconventional destinations.
As with any holiday or trip, it’s all about you and what you pick, so if you prefer the outdoors, getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, then this article and the activities listed are exactly what you need!
If it isn’t, then there are numerous other fun places to visit in Sheffield that cater to a diverse travel group. You can pick what to do in Sheffield here. Here’s what we did on our day out in Sheffield.
Start your day at The Dorothy Pax at Victoria Quays
Victoria Quays was earlier called the Sheffield Canal Basin. The basin was the first to allow canal boats to get to the heart of Sheffield and acted as an important transhipment point before movement by rail and road took over.
It entered a dilapidated state by the 1970s but the rise of new buildings and warehouses along the river Sheaf helped revive the environment in the area, making it a great offbeat spot to visit in Sheffield.
The Dorothy Pax is located right next to the canal and the location of the bar is just right to use as a base and spend the day here.
Named after a Sheffield Keel called The Dorothy Pax, the bar is made from the famous boat and used to be a dental practice till it was later converted to the hip bar it is now.
All their wines are vegan and it is a great place to visit in Sheffield if you have to spend only one day in Sheffield. You’ll find a wide variety of artists belting out live music here in the evenings and if you’re a cat person, the Pax Cat can also be found here!
DETAILS
Address: Arch 17, Wharf Street, Victoria Quays, Sheffield S2 5SY
Timings: Tuesday – Saturday 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Monday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The event listing can be found here

Take a canoe out on River Don near Victoria Quays
Dan and his team of DC Outdoors were ready for us once we got to The Dorothy Pax near Victoria Quays. Based in Sheffield, DC Outdoors delivers a range of outdoor activities exactly where you need them.
Our group was divided into two and I decided to start with canoeing, which was easy to do irrespective of whether you’d ever attempted any water activity before.
We were given instructions, our paddle and life-jackets and off we went down the canal. There was a lot of street art and graffiti that we saw along the way. We also saw a crane that accompanied us for a short distance.
Refurbished structures and Grade II listed buildings with unique architecture dotted both sides and a short distance down the canal was an unusual structure put together by someone who clearly wanted passersby to stop and admire it!
The ‘Welcome to Sheffield’ stop included several fake skeletons, the bust of a Buddha and a lion with potted plants strewn around it all. It was quite innovative!
While canoeing can be done by yourself, you can also do it with a friend which makes it even more fun!



Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP) near Victoria Quays
The next activity for our microgap day out in Sheffield was Stand-up paddleboarding. After having a hearty vegan lunch at The Dorothy Pax, we got ready for the second half of the day.
I’d attempted Stand-up Paddleboarding before so I knew what to expect. What I wasn’t sure was how cold the water would be if I fell over!
I had forgotten how sturdy the board was and that it took a little while to understand how to balance on it but once you did, you could pretty much even do yoga on it as long as you didn’t fumble!
You didn’t have to stand up all the while attempting it though! You could sit cross-legged on it (my preferred mode when tired) and still explore the canal. This was also a great way to ensure you didn’t topple over.
Unfortunately, a couple of others from the team ended up in the water which was fun to watch but not pleasant as one of them lost their Go-Pro!
While she did take care to strap it up properly, it came undone due to her falling over.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at trying to retrieve it, we gave up and decided it was now part of the murky clutter at the bottom of the canal.


DC outdoors delivers not only Canoeing and Stand-up Paddleboarding but a range of other outdoor activities in Sheffield too like Abseiling, Weaselling, Kayaking, Hillwalking, and Orienteering to name a few.
They do so not just in Victoria Quays but wherever you need including the Peak District which makes it ideal as this way you can carve the quintessential microgap you need!
If you’re not keen to have a microgap by yourself, activities like these are great fun when done as a group, irrespective of whether you do it with family, friends or even your colleagues!
DETAILS
Address: 62 Wheata road, Sheffield, S5 9FN
Email: [email protected]. You can also get in touch with them via their form here
Various microgaps you can take
I do like adventure so this day out in Sheffield was exciting but I’ve been quite tired lately so a ‘Switch Off’ microgap would be exactly what I need now!
These ideas for a microgap are just a starting point to help inspire your trip. You can do whatever you think will help you switch off and have a great day no matter where you choose to go.
The various options that Visit England have put together, to begin with, other than the ‘Go Wild’ microgap we experienced are as follows:
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Switch Off – Stargazing, escapes to a sub-tropical island or enjoying the benefits of a seaweed bath, the opportunities to pamper and take time out for yourself are plenty and you don’t need to pay a hefty price to run away from the grind of daily life
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Give Back – If doing good makes you feel good you can choose from being a beekeeper for a day, help clean up the beach while dancing or even have some gourmet meals while giving back!
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Learn more – If learning new skills stimulates you then why not try your hand at glassblowing, making whisky or getting your punting license?
If you search for the #myMicrogap hashtag on social media, you’ll be able to see what everybody has been up to, to help pick activities at various destinations around England.
However, let this not stop you from coming up and exploring different interests.


WHERE IS SHEFFIELD LOCATED?
Sheffield is located in South Yorkshire, England near The Peak District National Park. It is about 40 minutes away from Leeds and Manchester by train. Its name is derived from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city.
HOW FAR IS SHEFFIELD FROM LONDON?
Sheffield is located about 2 hours and 10 minutes away from London by train. The best way to get to Sheffield is by train.
HOW TO GET TO SHEFFIELD
TRAIN
The train from London Kin’g cross take about 2 hours 10 minutes. It is a direct train. There are also direct trains from Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport and Leeds.
BUS
You can use Megabus or National Express to get to Sheffield. Sheffield will be one of the stops for buses headed to Leeds or Durham. From London, buses to Sheffield take about 3.5 to 4 hours. From Manchester or Leeds it takes about an hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. A bus from Bradford to Sheffield would take about 1.15 hours.
CAR
Driving to Sheffield takes about 4 hours from London. From Leeds or Manchester, depending on traffic, the earliest it takes to get to Sheffield is an hour to 1.5 hours.
FLIGHTS
The closest airports to Sheffield are Leeds Bradford, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Manchester. Once you get to the airport, use the info above to find the best way to get to Sheffield.
All the clouds did that day was get darker and it thankfully did not rain, but even if it did, it wouldn’t have deterred any of us from having a great time that day.
As they say in Finland, no matter how cold it gets, you can go about as long as you have the right layers! With England, as long as you were prepared for the day, you could indulge in any form of adventure without fear!
The best bit I learned when I moved continents was never to let the weather or your current circumstances get in the way of what you wanted or needed to get done.
If this meant trying to get away from routine life, it was surely possible to do so in the way you wanted it to be and the concept of a microgap was just waiting around the corner to happen.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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Special thanks to Visit England and Visit Sheffield for sponsoring my Microgap experience, as always all opinions are my own.
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Austria Itinerary - 5 days for a Fab Time in Austria (2025)
If you’re a first time visitor, here’s a tried and tested Austria Itinerary if you travel fast! Even if you don’t, this trip itinerary shall help you plan 1 – 2 days in Vienna, 2 days in Innsbruck and 2 days in Graz. It should help you with your tour of Austria to see some of the best places in Austria!
We’re sat at a couple of massive tables in Glockl Brau, a restaurant in Graz. There’s approximately about 40 of us and all of us are yodeling. It’s a bittersweet feeling as it brings back memories from my childhood, as the family sat together for a meal while Bollywood songs by Kishor Kumar, played in the background.
Many Indians have known and even yodeled without their knowledge since the 1970s. When I was a child, I did too; little did I know then that about 20 years later I would be doing so with about 50 people, from at least 15 different nationalities, while enjoying traditional Austrian food.
Many travelers associate yodeling with Switzerland but yodeling, which was used by the locals to communicate with each other in the Alps, is a tradition shared by a few countries in Europe and Austria is proud of it!
Vienna, the capital is the most visited city in Austria however the more you head to the countryside, the more you get introduced to traditions like these and the way Austrians go about their daily lives.
As a fast traveler, while many may prefer to just visit a single city or two in Austria, if you can spare a few extra days, you can see the best of Austria in about 5 days. Here’s an Austria itinerary for 5 days that will show you some of the best places in Austria.
If you have even fewer days to spare, adjust accordingly to spend 4 days in Austria.
PLANNING YOUR AUSTRIA TRIP | THE ESSENTIALS
Tours in Austria worth checking out
Where to stay in Austria
- Graz: Grand Hotel Weisler
- Innsbruck :Nala Individuelhotel
- Vienna: Hotel Altstadt
IN THIS GUIDE
ToggleDay 1 of your Austria Itinerary: Graz
Things to see in Graz
While many would suggest starting your Austria trip in Vienna, I prefer to keep the city where you’re most likely to get your flights out from, for last, as it gives you time to settle down a bit.
How to get to Graz
From Vienna: Graz is about 2.5 hours away from Vienna and you can get here easily by train. Check this site for booking tickets and more info. If you’re looking to get here by flight, it takes about 35 minutes from Vienna and about an hour from Munich, Frankfurt and other connecting airports locate nearby.
If you’d rather drive, it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes by road to get to Graz.
From London: It takes about 4 – 6 hours to get to Graz from London. There are no direct flights to Graz so a connecting flight via Munich, Frankfurt or Vienna will be needed. You could also get a train from Vienna as mentioned above.
The airport is about 9 kilometers away, hence it takes about 15 minutes by cab to get to the town center. You could also take Bus 631 to get to town from the airport. If you have access to the internet, you can check updates here.
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A walk around the historic old town, The Hauptplatz and Herrengasse
Depending on when you get to Graz, the best way to see Graz is by taking a walk around the center of town, the Hauptplatz (Main Square). We were staying at the Grand Hotel Weisler which was a 5-minute walk from the main square.
The town center is an eclectic mix of the old and new. Just like the center of Marrakech was an important trade hub, so was Graz where traders converged to sell their goods. Pastel-colored buildings are located around the Townhall (Rathaus) which takes center stage.
Each building is unique and has its grandeur in late Gothic, Baroque and Biedermeier styles. The most eye-catching of these are the Luegg house in Baroque style at one end of Sporgasse which culminates in the square and the ‘Painted house’ (Gemaltes Haus) at the intersection of the Hauptplatz and Herrengasse.
A statue of Archduke Johann, an important figure in the history of Graz is situated in the middle of the square and several food stalls are located around the statue that still gives the square character as a medieval marketplace.
Right next to the Hauptplatz is Herrengasse, where the town comes together to get some shopping done!
An interesting thing to note about Herrengasse is that here you’ll find three houses squished together in the huge town hall building. This is because in 1803 when a new town hall was built to accommodate the expanding population, a few residents refused to give up their space and hence these houses continue to stay just the way they are, thus adding more personality to this city.
DETAILS
Address: Hauptpl. 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
One of the free things to do in Graz


Explore the courtyards of Graz
The Hauptplatz branches off into little courtyards scattered around the square. One of these is the Grazer Landhaus or the Landhaus courtyard.
The first Renaissance building in the city of Graz, the Landhaus has the coat of arms on one of the walls while huge round-arched windows take up most of the space. The courtyard is connected to the square on one side and Herrengasse on the other and is used for various important concerts and musicals.
While this is the easiest to find there are other countless courtyards scattered all around Graz which double up as cafes, pop-up shops, and even Christmas markets. If you have time to spare, this is a great way to get to know the city!
DETAILS
Grazer Landhaus
Address: Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria


The best views at Kastner & Öhler HOME store
About 250 meters away from the Hauptplatz is the massive department store, Kastner and Ohler. While retail therapy works well for many, it isn’t just shopping that you should visit Kastner and Ohler for.
Located on the 6th floor is the Freiblick Tagescafe, where you can have 360-degree views of the city while having a meal, but if it is just the views you’re after, you can most certainly just grab a drink and head to the sky-walk.
A platform with glass sides juts out over the roof and looks over the Hauptplatz and provides some great views of the clock tower too. If you’re not keen to hike or climb the stairs to the Schlossberg, this spot will help you get some of the best views of Graz!
DETAILS
Kastner and Ohler
Address: Sackstraße 7-13, 8010 Graz, Austria
Timings: Monday – Saturday 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM. Closed Sundays

Drinks at the Murinsel and Lunch at Hauptplatz
After taking a first look at Graz by exploring the old town why not have a few drinks at the Murinsel?
The Murinsel is an island that contains an amphitheater, shops and a cafe that floats on the river Mur and is connected to both banks of the river by footbridges. The toilets are quite a draw too as the cubicle is covered with mirrors!
The Murinsel looks like a glass conch shell which looks even cooler at night as it lights up!
It was designed by New York artist Vito Acconci to commemorate Graz being the European Capital of Culture in 2003. If you’re not too hungry you could try having a light lunch at the Island in the Mur cafe itself or head back to the square to enjoy a wide selection of meals which are budget-friendly too at one of the numerous stalls.
DETAILS
Address: Lendkai 19, 8020 Graz, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
More info can be found here on their website


Continue delving into the architecture scene at Kunsthaus Graz
The ‘friendly alien’ is an architectural icon you can’t miss in Graz. It was located right next to the Grand Hotel Weisler and it wasn’t easy to see the whole structure clearly but there was a small model right in front of it.
The Kunsthaus Graz houses the Graz Kunsthaus (Art Museum) and is called the friendly alien because it doesn’t quite fit into the surroundings but is more than welcome by the locals. It was named so by Colin Fournier, one of its two architects.
The Kunsthaus looks like a heart, a baby hippo, a sea slug, or a spaceship. It is whatever you wish it to be! It is another piece that was commissioned to commemorate the city being the European Capital of Culture in 2003.
The emergence of this building helped give rise to many unique establishments in the area. The lower floor of the museum houses a shop, an event room, and a cafe. The other levels have exhibition spaces where various exhibitions are held throughout the year.
The top-level is another spot that provides unforgettable views of Graz.
DETAILS
Address: Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz, Austria
Timings: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. ClosedMondays
Cost: Adults € 9.50, 24 hours – € 15, 48 hours – € 21. The full selection of tickets can be found here

Graz Cathedral, the mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II and the Spiral stairs
About an 8-10 minute walk away, is the Graz Cathedral and the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II. A medieval Gothic structure with refurbished baroque interiors, it is an important landmark to the city.
The Cathedral, part of the Stadtkrone (“Crown of the Town”) of Graz comprises other buildings like the Burg, the Old University and the Seminary, but many say that the blue dome of the Mausoleum does the job by itself!
The top of the tower is another spot for some amazing views of the city’s architecture up close.
Just opposite to the Cathedral is The Burg, the residence built by Emperor Frederick III, which is now the headquarters of the regional government.
While many may walk past it, if you head to the courtyard, it is here that you will find the ‘the stairs of reconciliation‘, the double spiral staircase. The two stone staircases meet at every full turn and provide great photo opp’s!
Graz Cathedral
DETAILS
Address: Burggasse, 8010 Graz, Austria
Closed for refurbishment until November 2019
Entry: Free
Stairs of Reconciliation
DETAILS
Address: Burggasse 3, 8010 Graz, Austria
Timings: Open everyday 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Entry: Free

Scout for street art and murals mostly in Lend
If you have time to spare, go on a hunt to find some great street art and murals scattered around the city. It’s a fun thing to do in Graz!
I always love coming across colorful murals, they brighten a city up and tell so much about its character and Graz has plenty!
While the one below is conveniently located right in the center of town, Lend, the adjoining hipster district, has many, especially near a street called Bürgerspitalgasse.
Lend is on the opposite side of the old town and sits on the other bank of the river Mur. It provides a modern angle to Graz with its mix of vintage and contemporary and will show you a different side of Graz.

Dinner at Glöckl Bräu
Wrap the day up with some dinner at Glockl Brau which serves some of the best traditional Austrian food you can ask for and beer in some of the largest pitchers I’ve seen! The setting is rustic and the staff friendly.
I had the Kasespatzle (tiny pasta with a local cheese that looks like macaroni and cheese with fried onion on top) here and some Backhendl (deep-fried traditional Austrian chicken), both of which are tasty.
They have an extensive menu and you can always refer to my post for suggestions on what to pick!
DETAILS
Address: Glockenspielpl. 2-3, 8010 Graz, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 10:30 AM – 12:00 AM
The website and menu can be viewed here
Day 2 of your Austria Itinerary: Graz
Some more places to visit in Graz
Visit the farmer’s markets
Visiting a local farmers market is the best way to get to know a city through its food scene. You’re sure to find the best fresh produce, fruits that you can snack on and delicacies like spreads and cold cuts exclusive to the city!
The main markets in Graz are the one on Lendplatz and Kaiser Josefplatz with Kaiser Josef Market being the biggest in Graz. They’re open only in the mornings so you need to visit before 1 PM!
Make sure to buy some local bread, pumpkin seed oil, and pesto which the region is famous for here and cheese. Have a quick snack at one of the stalls if needed!
DETAILS
Address: Lendplatz, 8020 Graz
Timings: Monday – Saturday 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Schlossberg, the Clock tower, lunch at Aiola and the Slide down!
The clock tower located at the top of Schlossberg or castle hill is visible from almost all of Graz.
There’s a couple of ways to get to Schlossberg and the clock tower.
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Climb to the top via the 260 steps set in the rocks starting from Schlossbergplatz square or using paths from Karmeliterplatz square or Wickenburggasse street
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Get a ride to the top via the Schlossberglift with its glass cabins
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Via the funicular which takes you up the castle hill of Graz
Once you’re at the top you’re sure to be rewarded with stunning 360-degree views of Graz. It is one of the best free things to do in Graz.
There’s an interesting feature about the clock tower. If you look at it closely, the long hand points to the hour and the short hand to the minutes. This is because only the hour hand was added initially and was made huge to be seen from a distance. The minute hand was added later and had to be made smaller to fit inside the clock!
Inside the mountain, there’s a network of tunnels that were used as shelters during WWII and now has many cool illuminated art installations.
The clock tower isn’t the only feature at the top. While I was taking a walk here one evening, even though the clouds were threatening to pour, someone played a beautiful melody on the piano placed here. It was the perfect romantic evening for many as you can see from the pictures!
There are multiple cafes, restaurants at the top due to which you can spend an entire morning and afternoon here without having to return to town for food.
DETAILS
Address: Am Schlossberg, 8010 Graz, Austria
Timings: Funicular – Monday – Thursday 10.00 AM – 12;00 AM, Friday – Saturday 10.00 AM – 02.00 AM, Sun 10.00 AM- 10.00 PM, Lift – Mon – Sun 08:00 – 0:30
Price: Funicular: 2.40 Euros, Lift: 1.60 Euros per person
LUNCH AT AIOLA UPSTAIRS
Having lunch at Aiola Upstairs isn’t just to skip going back to town, its because the restaurant provides some amazing views of the city while you eat. The food here is simple and delicious and uses organic produce from the region.
It will probably be one of the best meals you have during your time here from what I’ve heard from friends who’ve visited Aiola Upstairs!
DETAILS
Address: Schloßberg 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
Timings: Everyday 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM
BACK TO TOWN ON THE WORLDS TALLEST UNDERGROUND SLIDE
Once you’re done exploring the Schlossberg and its time to get back to the city, an alternate way to do so is via The Slide, the tallest underground slide in the world, located beneath the Schlossberg.
Fully enclosed it takes about 40 seconds to get to the bottom. It is one of the newest attractions in Graz opened in March 2019 and as such a must-try for people who aren’t afraid to do so!
I got here after it was closed but heard good reviews from friends who did go on it.
DETAILS
Address: Schlossberg-elevator from the bottom coming from the Schlossbergplatz or from the top right next to Cafe Aiola
Timings: Everyday 8 AM – 12.30 AM
Entry: 6.10 – 6.70 Euros for a combo ticket with a lift to the top. Single trip: 1.60 Euros




Dinner to wrap up our time in Graz
There are a few options to choose where to have dinner on your evening in Graz. There’s Aiola Im Schloss (not to be confused with Aiola at Schlossberg), there’s the Kunsthaus cafe which serves light meals or you could always head back to the Hauptplatz.
Aiola Im Schloss is a little away from the city but is a beautiful location with gardens and fountains around it. The restaurant which also has an event space is popular for its tavern and serves local specialties. The Aiola Upstairs is actually its sister restaurant!
After dinner, its time to call it a day and prepare for the next stop on our Austria trip itinerary, Innsbruck.
DETAILS
Address: Andritzer Reichsstraße 144, 8046 Graz, Austria
Timings: Wednesday, Thursday 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM, Saturday 12 PM – 2 AM, Sunday 12 PM – 10 PM, Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
HOTELS
Grand Hotel Weisler is the perfect spot and is 5 minutes away from the old town and right next to the Friendly Alien.
Or you can look for alternate options here.
AIRBNB
If you prefer to stay in a Airbnb, prices for a private room can be from about £30- £70 with an entire house. If you’re new to Airbnb, sign up using this link to get £30 off your first booking.
How to get to Innsbruck
From Graz: Innsbruck is about 5 hours away by road and 6 hours by train. If it seems too long you can take a stop at Zell-am-See or Salzburg and maybe spend a day in these cities.
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The Altstadt Von Innsbruck (Old Town)
The Altstadt aka the old town is the best place to start exploring Innsbruck, just like we did with Graz.
The old town contains The Golden Roof, a balcony on the old square that contains about 2657 gold-plated copper tiles. Built in 1946 to commemorate Emperor Maximilian’s marriage, the balcony was used as a viewing point by the Emperor and royal dignitaries to watch events in the main square.
You can also visit the Goldenes Dachl museum which contains a few of the original tiles.
Just opposite to the Golden Roof is the Helblinghaus with a baroque facade which looks like a building with icing on it.
A few steps from the Helblinghaus, is the Stadtturm, the watchtower in Innsbruck, which provides stunning views of Innsbruck and the river Inn.
DETAILS
THE GOLDEN ROOF
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Museum – Monday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The roof can be viewed from the square 24 hours
Price: Adult – 5 Euros, Child – 2.50 Euros. Free with the Innsbruck card. Get yours here
HELBLINGHAUS
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 10, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Not open to visitors however the building can be viewed from the square 24 hours
Price: Free
ALTSTADT
Address: Hofgasse 4, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Open 24 hours
Price: Free, however, if you’d like to learn more and have someone show you around, this tour is suggested. More info can be found here

Off to visit Ambras Castle
45 minutes from the Old Town is the Ambras Castle which is home to the oldest museum in the world.
Located on a hill above Innsbruck, it is surrounded by lush English gardens where a few peacocks roam freely.
The Castle is divided into the Lower Castle and the Upper Castle. The Lower Castle has the Chamber of Curiosities which is supposedly the oldest museum in the world and the Armories.
The Upper Castle has portraits from the era of the Hapsburgs, the chapel of St. Nicholas and a few Gothic sculptures.
DETAILS
Address: Schloßstraße 20, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Price: Adults – 12 Euros, Children – 8 Euros. Free with the Innsbruck card. Buy individual tickets here
Getting here by public transport: Get to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof. There are a few buses that get to Ambras Castle and take about 30-40 minutes. The official website can be found here

Lunch at Fischerhausl
Once back in town, head to Fischerhausl which serves some great Tyrolean delicacies.
There’s Kaspressknodel Suppe, the cheese dumpling soup and the popular Wiener Schnitzel, that I had for lunch. Both were flavorful and budget-friendly.
Located in the town center, it is one of the oldest restaurants in Innsbruck.
DETAILS
Address: Herrengasse 8, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Monday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM. Closed Sundays
Explore the Hofburg district in Innsbruck
In the evening, explore the Hofburg district in the city. The Hofburg district houses the Imperial Palace, the Landestheater, the Hofgarten and Saint James’s Cathedral (Dom St.Jacob).
The tomb of Archduke Maximilian II is present in the Cathedral and so is the painting of The Madonna and Child in the Alps.
The Hofburg or the Imperial Palace is one of the top things to do in Innsbruck as the Giants Hall is magnificent and awe-inspiring. It has been featured in many movies and now contains portraits of Empress Maria Theresa’s relatives. There are 5 museums located in the Imperial Palace.
The Landestheater, which is the Tyrolean Provincial Theater is located a few steps ahead, in front of the Imperial Palace and the Hofgarten is located right next to the theater.
The theater hosts operas, musicals, and other performances. The Hofgarten is a great free thing to do in Innsbruck and you can take a break here while exploring the city.
DETAILS
Imperial Palace
Address: Rennweg 1/3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Last admission 4.30 M
Price: 9.50 Euros. Free with the Innsbruck card
The official website can be found here
Landestheater
Address: Rennweg 2, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Entry: Free, however tickets for performances can be brought here
Hofgarten
Address: 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Dinner at Stiftskellar
Stiftskellar has some of the best traditional Tyrolean fare in Innsbruck. I had the Tyrolean Grostl here, which is called Kedgeree in Britain. It is a traditional Tyrolean dish with fried potatoes, bacon and onion with was simple and hearty.
Stiftskellar has a good variety of beer and there are food options for vegetarians available as well.
DETAILS
Address: Stiftgasse 1-7, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Day 4 of your Austria Itinerary: Innsbruck
Our Austrian vacation itinerary continues in Innsbruck by starting the day off with a walk down Maria Theresein Strasse.
The street is great for shopping or people-watching while having a meal or a drink and stretches from the Triumphal Ark to the Altstadt with many buildings constructed in the baroque architecture style.
Christmas markets are held here in December and the mountains look picturesque placed at one end of the street.
While I’d highly suggest spending at least 3 days in Innsbruck to fully enjoy all that the city has to offer, if you only have 2 days at hand in Innsbruck, you need to choose between spending the rest of the day at either of the Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten) or head to the mountains and visit the Karwendel Nature Park.
Both options are great and it depends on what you like to do with your time in Innsbruck.
If you have limited time to spare, for families I would highly suggest a visiting the Swarovski Crystal World, but if you love the mountains and hiking then take the Nordkette cable car to the top of the mountain range.
The Nordkette cable car has a few stops. These are Hafelekar, Seegrube and Hungerberg. All of these stops have a few things that that you can do at each of them.
The highest stop is the Hafelekar, which provides some of the best views of both Innsbruck and the mountains.
There are various restaurants that you can have lunch at, cafes and even a small cable car museum here. You should allocate at-least three quarters of your day if you opt to spend your time here.
If you need more details about what to do at each of the stations, more information can be found here.
If you choose to visit the Swarovski Crystal Worlds you will need at least half a day to visit the various Chambers.
Each chamber unique and is conceptualized and put together by famous people around the world. But it isn’t just the Chamber of Wonders that you can find here.
There’s also a Crystal cloud, a human circus and the latest find, Roman excavations that were found here that you can see. You can even spend an entire day here if you choose to!
End the evening with a meal at the Hotel Sacher and have the famous Sachertorte for dessert!
DETAILS
Swarovski Crystal World
Address: Kristallweltenstraße 1, 6112 Wattens, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Tickets: 19 Euros for adults, 7.50 for children (6-14 years). Free with the Innsbruck card. Tickets with hotel pickup can be found here
Website: The latest info and additional details can be found here
Hotel Sacher
Address: Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Timings: Monday – Sunday 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Entry: The concerts are free. Donations are encouraged. The latest calendar of events can be found here
Nordkette Cable car
Address: Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen – Kongress, Rennweg 3, A-6020 Innsbruck/Austria
Timings: Monday – Friday 07:15 AM – 07:15 PM. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 08:00 AM – 07:15 PM
Entry: Euro 36.50 for a round trip right till Hafelekar, 9.50 Euros round trip till Hungerberg. Free with the Innsbruck card. Individual tickets can be purchased here
More information about the Nordkette can be found here


HOTELS
Most of the attractions are close to the old town hence anywhere near there or in the old town would work.
I stayed at the Nala Individuelhotel, near the Triumphal Arch, about 8 minutes away from town. The rooms are clean, spacious and come with a tiny, basic kitchen. Some rooms have a terrace or a small garden and a sitting area too.
You can look for alternative hotels and prices here
AIRBNB
If you prefer to stay in a Airbnb, prices for a private room can be from about £25- £40 with an entire house starting from £40 onwards. If you’re new to Airbnb, sign up using this link to get £30 off your first booking.
Day 5 of your Austria Itinerary: Vienna
Things to do in Vienna
An Austrian itinerary isn’t complete without a visit to Vienna. Vienna is what I’d like to call posh as everything that I saw here was classy, the architecture here was diverse and there was a lot of history on offer.
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A traditional start to the day at a coffee house
Another item that you can’t miss while in Vienna is it’s coffee culture. Vienna has a couple of majestic coffee houses with the most popular being Cafe Central. If you haven’t had a chance to grab breakfast yet the best way to start your 1 day itinerary in Vienna is by having some cake, coffee and maybe breakfast at Cafe Central.
Other options to get some coffee and grab a bite are Cafe Demel or Cafe Hawelka.
Cafe Sacher is also very popular if you’d like to have the famous Sachertorte in the morning!
Most of the attractions in Vienna are encompassed by the Ringstrasse or the Ring Road. These are the Vienna State Opera, the Palace of Justice, Austrian Parliament Building, City Hall, Burgtheater, University of Vienna and the Museum Quarter to name a few.
The very center of the Ringstrasse of the First District is Saint Stephen’s cathedral or the Stephansdom in Vienna which provides some excellent views of Vienna.
So after having breakfast, it is time to head to the Cathedral.
DETAILS
Cafe Central
Address: Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien, Austria
Timings: Monday – Saturday 7.30 AM – 10 PM, Sunday 10 Am – 10 PM
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)
The Cathedral has the North and the South towers and it also has catacombs. The catacombs are where some of the Hapsburgs are laid to rest.
Catacombs can only be viewed via a guided tour. It can get quite busy at the Towers so allocate at least an hour for the same.
DETAILS
Address: Stephansplatz 3, Metro: Stephansplatz (U1 or U3 Line)
Timings: Church – Monday – Saturday, 6 AM – 10 PM and Sunday 7 AM – 10 PM,
Catacombs – Tours for the catacombs leave every 10-15 minutes. Monday – Saturday from 10 AM – 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM and Sundays from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM; South Tower Monday – Sunday 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Tickets: Catacombs – Adults, €5; Children 14 and below €2. South Tower: Adults, €4; Children €1.50

Mozart House
Once you have visited the Cathedral, located right next to it is the Mozart house. The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart moved to Vienna after giving up his teaching career in Salzburg when he was 25.
It was in Vienna that Mozart came up with his most famous compositions. The Mozart house has pictures from his life and some of his compositions.
DETAILS
Address: A-1010 Vienna, Domgasse 5
Timings: Everyday 10 AM – 7 PM last admission at 6:30 PM
Tickets: Adults €10, Children 14 and younger €3 Family Tickets available
The Hofburg Palace
The next attraction on our Vienna itinerary is paying a visit to The Hofburg Palace. A visit to the Palace is one item you should definitely include on your list of things to do in Vienna. Used as a place of residence by the Hapsburgs, it is is one of the most important landmarks in the history of Vienna.
The palace was rebuilt multiple times hence it is a mix of architectural styles.
The palace now has the Sisi Museum , the Imperial Apartments and the silver collection. Located within the Palace is also the Spanish Riding School. You can pay a visit to the stables and check one of the demonstrations by buying a combo ticket.
You would need to allocate at least 1-2 hours and an additional hour if you decide to pay a visit to the Riding School.
DETAILS
Address: Michaelerkuppel, 1010 Wien, Austria
Timings: September – June, 9 AM – 5:30 PM, July – August 9 AM to 6 PM
Tickets: Adults – €11.50 Children – €7 Students 19 25 – €10.50. Guide led tours cost 2 Euros more and start daily at 2 PM
Austrian National Library (Österreichische Staatsbibliothek)
The next stop is the Austrian National Library which is part of the Hofburg Palace however the main entrance is at Josefsplatz so you will have to walk a few steps away from the palace.
One of the biggest and oldest libraries in all of Austria, the library has on-site museums, one of which is the world’s largest papyrus collection. As a book lover, I would visit the library just to smell the books!
DETAILS
Address: Josefsplatz 1, 1015 Wien, Austria
Timings: Tuesday – Wednesday and Friday – Sunday 10 AM – 6 PM Thursday 10 AM – 9 PM, Closed Mondays
Tickets: State Hall Only Ticket – Adults €7, Combi Ticket for the Esperanto, Globe, and Papyrus Museums – Adults €4, Children under 18 go free with an adult ticket

DETAILS
Rathaus
Address: Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
Timings: Monday – Friday 7.30 AM – 6 PM, Closed Saturdays and Sundays
Museums Quarter
Address: Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien, Austria
Timings and Tickets for all museums can be accessed here
Opera house
Address: Opernring 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
Timings and Tickets for the latest shows can be viewed here
The Rathaus (Town Hall)
Zum weißen Rauchfangkehrer and Reinthaler’s Beisl are a few options to grab a meal during your day in Vienna. While I haven’t visited myself they come highly recommended.
Once you’ve enjoyed your lunch, start walking towards the Rathaus, the town hall of Vienna. Various events are held at the Rathaus throughout the year. When I visited there was an international food festival taking place so if you’re lucky you could even grab lunch here.
The Rathaus is a great spot to grab some Instagrammable pictures and once you’ve done so, the next stop while exploring the first district of Vienna is the Museums quarter. The Rathaus Tower provides great views of Vienna and is accessible by more than 300 steps. Consider if you have more than a day t spend in Vienna.
Museums Quarter
The museums quarter is home to a collection of museums and is one of the biggest cultural complexes in the world.
Some of the museums here are the Leopold Museum which has Viennese pieces of art, The mumok that has contemporary and modern art pieces, the Kunsthalle Wien is about photography, video and other forms of new media. My favorite was the ZOOM museum which is designed for kids but is equally fun for adults.
In addition to the museums, there are also a few cafes here where you can grab a traditional Austrian meal for dinner.
Opera House
The best way to end a day in Vienna is by enjoying a performance at the Vienna Opera House. If you haven’t seen an opera performance before this is one of the best ways to get acquainted with it. Sometimes the performance is preceded by an orchestra playing some of Mozart’s compositions.
During the day you can take a tour of the Opera House which lasts for about 40 minutes. The performances are held in the evenings. You have to pre-book well in advance as most of the time it is sold out. If it is sold out, there are other numerous options to enjoy a lovely evening in Vienna, one of them is Musikverein.

HOTELS
I stayed at Hotel Altstadt and Hotel Ruby Marie and can say more of them were very unique and definitely worth a stay. The interiors and the attention to detail in addition to the service is highly recommendable.
Or you could check alternate options here.
AIRBNB
If you prefer to stay in an Airbnb, prices for a private room can be from about £31 – 79. If you’re new to Airbnb, sign up using this link to get £30 off your first booking.
There are various other alternatives to spend 1 day in Vienna. If you’re planning on visiting the Belvedere Palace or the Schonbrunn Palace, I highly recommend spending an additional day or two in Vienna. If you’re pressed on time, another option to enjoy the sights on the Ringstrasse, is to take a tram ride.
If you still have some more time to spend in Vienna or would like to end the day by partying, why not visit Vienna’s Party district Schwedenplatz!
Austria will certainly give you your money’s (and time’s worth) if you decide to spend time here. No matter where I’ve visited, I have received exceptional service and never been disappointed.
The diversity in the natural landscapes has something for everyone and I hope this itinerary helps you plan your visit to this country soon!
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT AUSTRIA
No matter when you visit Austria for a vacation, it will be a fantastic experience!
The cities will have plenty to offer no matter when you arrive. While I prefer summer, Innsbruck is ideal for winter visitors because there are so many activities to do and see the snow-capped mountains up close.
From October to May, temperatures range from below zero to around ten degrees, and from June to September, they rise to about fifteen. The two times I went, in May and July, the weather was beautiful with brief downpours.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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Traditional Austrian Food and Unique Products in 2025 - A Helping of Hearty
I’ve been to Austria four times, and I’ve eaten my weight in traditional Austrian food, so I had to share typical Austrian food, dishes and desserts that you can indulge in, when you visit! Here’s what to eat in Austria! Products local to Styria are highlighted.
It seemed like a year of surprises when it came to traveling for food this year when I was served both pumpkin oil with ice-cream in Styria and olive oil with ice-cream in Siena this year.
Rob, from Vulkanland Steiermark, who’d had it before, laughed at the astonished expressions on our faces as we devoured our ice-creams with generous toppings of juniper green pumpkin oil. Food seemed to be the common factor driving conversations and helping people mingle during my travels and rightfully so as no matter how much of the earth I cover, I’m sure there will be some ingredient or some manner of eating that will never fail to surprise me.
I was thankful to have gotten a chance to explore more of Austria, beyond Vienna, this year. Innsbruck and Styria showed me a side of Austria that had an additional heaping of culture, gastronomy and traditional Austrian food that I hadn’t come across before.
It’s difficult for visitors to figure what Austrian delicacies to try on their first visit, and for some, a tasty Schnitzel rules their taste-buds for the limited time they’re visiting! Here’s a handy guide for all fast travelers, who want to explore dishes beyond a juicy steak but aren’t sure what to experiment with.
I’ve also included Austrian products and food in Austria that you might probably find only in Styria as its a must-visit destination especially if you’re looking to have the perfect combination of a spa and foodie getaway!
Your guide to traditional Austrian food, products and typical dishes
AUSTRIAN APPETIZERS, SOUPS AND MAIN DISHES
Schnitzel
It wouldn’t be right to start a guide of traditional Austrian food without Schnitzel! Numerous websites may describe and have recipes for the Schnitzel but unless you have this crispy and juicy national dish of Austria, it doesn’t do it justice!
Called Vienna Schnitzel or Wienerschnitzel in Vienna (‘Wien’ is nothing but Vienna in German), this is one famous food item that you’ll be able to find almost everywhere, throughout the country. Schnitzel can be made from beef, pork, veal, turkey, and chicken although, by default, a traditional schnitzel is made from veal and is the most popular.
A cutlet of meat is thinned by pounding and is then coated with a mixture of flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs and then deep-fried to perfection.
It is served with a slice of lemon, fresh parsley, Austrian potato salad (Erdapfelsalat) and sometimes even redcurrant jelly. Squeezing lemon over it makes it tangy and fresher and beer is one of the best accompaniments.
Make sure you’re hungry when ordering Schnitzel as most of the times the helping is huge! It is also the easiest option to pick when getting something for kids and is the answer when you’re confused about what to eat in Vienna!

Tiroler Grostl
Typical to Tirol, the Gröstl is Austria’s version of the English Kedgeree while Kedgeree is the English version of the humble Indian ‘Khichdi’!
Quite hearty, this traditional dish consisting of bacon, potato, and onions fried together comes with a fried egg on top. Well-liked by mountaineers, just like Khichdi, it is the traditional way of making use of leftovers in a satisfying way.
It is traditional comfort food for people living near the Austrian Alps and typical to Tirol and quick to put together.
Onions are first fried with bacon for about 10 minutes till golden before the potatoes are added to the mix. After frying for another 10 minutes, paprika and caraway seeds are added and once the spices start to release their fragrance, the dish is topped with parsley before serving.
I had my first Tiroler Grostl in Innsbruck, at the famous Stiftskellar where it was served to me in a petite pan, perfect for sharing.

Austrian Goulash / Gulasch / Gulash
The Hungarian version of the goulash is a hot soupy stew made with beef however the traditional Austrian version is the potato goulash. Another typical hearty dish the potato gulash has vegetables like potatoes, beans, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and sausages added to it. As with stews, each region in Austria might have its version of the stew.
Seasoned with paprika and caraway seeds, what makes the Austrian Goulash stand out is the addition of Semmelknödel or just Knodel (bread dumplings) which is also called Bauerngulasch or the farmers Goulash.
Gulyás is a word for a Hungarian cattle-herder and Goulash was named after them as these herders could identify the weak cattle that were no longer fit and use them to make the stew.
During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Goulash found its way to Vienna and then to the other parts of the country, where it was adopted and variations created.
Some of them based on the sides they are served with are:
Wiener Saftgulasch (Viennese Goulash) served with bread rolls
Karlsbader Gulasch with flour and egg balls (Eiernockerl)
Eszterhazygulasch with root vegetables, capers and potatoes
Fiakergulasch / Herrengulasch or the Coachman’s Goulash is served with Viennese sausages, a fried egg, and pickled gherkins
Erdäpfelgulasch with sliced frankfurters or Braunschweiger sausages added to the finished goulash.
The vegetarian version contains potatoes, beans, chanterelles and the method of preparation and spices remain the same.

Knodel
Since Goulash was the previous item on the guide, it was obligatory to mention Knödel. Popular all across East Europe, these bread dumplings share their origins with countries like Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic (Bohemia and Moravia), to name a few.
There’s potato Knodel served with pork roast but the most famous are Semmelknödel, bread dumplings. This traditional side dish can be served as a snack and can be both, sweet and savory.
Hard bread is softened with hot milk or water and parsley, egg and salt are then added to it. Breadcrumbs are added to make the mixture firm. Once done, parsley is sprinkled on the top while serving. The savoury Knodel are sometimes served in soups and may have other ingredients added to them too.
‘Serviettenknödel’ is the name given to Knodel that are not tennis-ball shaped but are shaped into a long roll and boiled by using a ‘serviette’ or a napkin. This is then cut into slices and traditionally served with beef stews.
The Tiroler Speckknödel from Tyrol is another meaty version of the dumpling. Finely chopped smoked bacon, onions and parsley are added to the bread which creates a fantastic flavour. Had as a stand-alone dish they can also be sliced, shallow fried and had with a salad and lentils.
In some regions, you will also find Germknödel and Fleischknödel (meat dumplings).
Germknödel are sweet fluffy yeast Knodel stuffed with spiced apricot or plum jam and poppy seeds on top.

Käsespätzle and Nockerl
Another one to add to the list of hearty traditional Austrian food items is Kasespatzle. Tiny pasta that may remind some of the Hungarian Nokedli (Spaetzle), Kasespatzle is Austria’s version of macaroni and cheese although it wouldn’t be right to call it so.
While it is a well-loved Swabian dish and many may claim the origins to be German, it is also a part of Austrian cuisine and is prepared all across the country.
Usually homemade, it is pasta made with eggs and stuffed with cheese and onions. The cheese used has to be just right, should be melted on the pasta and when eaten should be very stringy!
Emmenthal or Gruyere is mostly used, and the dish is topped with crispy onions and chives. Kasespatzle comes in different shapes and sizes but is usually small.
Another comfort dish served in Alpine huts it is a favorite among skiers and hikers.
Spatzle or Nockerl by itself is similar to gnocchi and may or may not have cheese. ‘Eiernockerl‘ are little dough balls fried with eggs and topped off with fresh chives. It is a common vegetarian dish when it isn’t Chanterelle or asparagus season whereas Spätzle will most likely be fried with bacon, onion and loads of cheese.

Brettljause
Buschenschank’s (traditional Austrian wine taverns) are common in Styria and Brettljause is a traditional Austrian cold platter usually served here for all who just can’t decide what they’d like to try first and want to have it all!
Also called the farmer’s plate, the ‘Brettl’ is derived from the German word ‘Brett’ which means a wooden board and ‘jause’, a snack between meals.
Brettljause is commonly found in the countryside and around the Austrian Alps. The Austrian dish contains cold cuts, cheeses, pickled vegetables, spreads, and a bread basket. It is a great collection of food items that can be shared among friends!
Various regions in Austria serve different meats and food items on the platter which keeps this dish interesting. Hence the Brettljause is also known as Tiroler Marend in the region of Tirol.
Vegetarians can opt to skip the meat and have it replaced with eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Soups with Kaspressknödel or Grießnockerl
Most soups in Austria are made from a clear meat broth with a substantial topping.
Kaspressknodel are fried dumplings made from bread and cheese and a single large dumpling is served in a hot bowl of soup. If a huge dumpling isn’t appealing, you could always try Grießnockerl, small semolina dumplings that are also added to a soup.
Typically found in the Alpine region of Austria, these Austrian dishes are simple to make however they taste best when Graukäse cheese from Tyrol is used. Any other hard cheese can also be used in its place.
Knödelbrot or dried hard bread is used to make Knodel with onions, milk, parsley, and cheese and then shaped and fried into dumplings before it is added to the soup.
Another classic traditional Austrian comfort dish perfect for a ski-day, that can even turn into a meal as it is quite heavy! Kaspressknodel can also be had with a salad.

Tafelspitz
Tafelspitz which translates to ‘tip’ is the name of the cut of the meat that is used to make this Austrian dish. The fine pointed piece of meat where the tail starts from a cow’s back is mostly used.
This fillet of veal or beef is then boiled in a broth with spices and root vegetables and served with a side of potatoes and sour cream with chives or applesauce and horseradish.
Once the meat is cooked and ready to serve, it is taken out with the vegetables and the broth can then be served with Kaspressknodel.
However, traditional Austrian households tend to serve the Tafelspitz with the meat and vegetables in the broth, sometimes with a slice of bone marrow.
If you think Tafelspitz is just boiled meat, this traditional savory dish will surprise you even if it is simple to prepare!
Schlutzkrapfen
The name Krapfen (‘doughnut’) can be confusing as the Schlutzkrapfen isn’t a doughnut but a type of pasta. Schlutzkrapfen or half-moon dumplings are South Tyrolean Ravioli.
The Ravioli is made from semolina or durum wheat mixed with eggs and olive oil.
Traditional stuffings include spinach and ricotta cheese, however, in Tirol, Graukäse is used often. Other stuffings could be mushrooms, potatoes and meat.
Once boiled, they can also be lightly browned in butter and the remaining butter can then be dripped on top with Parmesan cheese and vegetables on the side.

Wiener Wurstel (Viennese Sausages)
It wouldn’t be right to wrap up the main traditional dishes without a mention of the Viennese sausage. These sausages are first parboiled and then smoked to produce a distinct flavour.
A simple yet staple dish, Vienesse sausages are made both from beef and pork and are a favourite street food in Austria irrespective of the time of year.
Budget-friendly and flavorful, they are served with mustard in a hot-dog-style bun käsekrainer, when had as a snack or accompanied with potatoes, salad, asparagus and radish when had as a meal.
Traditional Austrian food and products from Styria (Steiermark)
Chocolate from Zotter
This was my first visit to a chocolate factory and I must say it’s going to be hard to top this!
I had visited Austria before and I probably had a bar of chocolate from Zotter, but what I didn’t know was that they were the biggest manufacturers of chocolate in Austria.
A well-loved ‘Willy Wonka’ of Austria, he isn’t a household name just because of the weird and wonderful chocolates they produce but also because of their fair-trade and ethical practices.
Not only is the packaging eccentric and quirky but sometimes the contents are too! Think flavors like fish with lemongrass and coconut, cheese, seaweed with caramel and pineapple as also the usual amaretto cherry and beer!
A visit to the factory starts with the viewing of a short video which explains their practices and I must say the video was very well made. The next part of the tour takes you to a choco-tasting. With more than 100 varieties of chocolates to try on offer served in very unique ways, this was one of the best experiences for me till date.
There’s something for everyone, including vegan, melted and sugar-free varieties. You can buy the full range only in Styria!
It isn’t just chocolate you get when you visit the Zotter factory though. There’s also an ‘Edible Zoo’ where you can watch animals being raised in a transparent and sustainable environment and enjoy delicious traditional Austrian delicacies at the Organic restaurant Oko-Essbar.
It is a great location to spend an entire day, especially with kids.
DETAILS
Address: Bergl 56, 8333 Riegersburg, Austria
Timings: May – October: Mon to Sat from 9 am to 8 pm. November – April: Mon to Sat from 9 am to 7 pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Price: Adults € 16.90, Teenagers € 13.90, Children € 10.90, Children € 5.90, Children (0-3 years) free
Updates to prices and timings can be checked here



Vinegar and Schnapps from Gölles
If you thought vinegar is just a sour, tangy condiment you add to curries and salads, Golles will definitely change your perception of it!
For more than 30 years, the Golles family has been tending to orchards at the foot of the historic Riegersburg Castle in Styria. About 20 different fruits are grown in the orchard at different times throughout the year with the year starting with cherries and ending with grapes, with plums, pears, apples and rowan berries being the most important.
Practices are kept as sustainable as possible with a minimum waste policy in place and for the same, the fruit pits are used to heat the building, and the leftover mash of the fruits, once the juice is extracted is used as fertilizer.
Alcohol is then made from the juice after which the mother of vinegar (a bacteria used to make vinegar) is added to it. This is then placed in casks with a cloth over it to help with fermentation and aeration to transform alcohol into acetic acid aka vinegar.
Golles produces about 150 thousand liters of vinegar each year and about 50-70 thousand liters of schnapps each year!
While beer is popular in Austria, Austrians equally love their Schnapps, particularly ones made from plum and apricot. Jägermeister, a schnapps distilled from herbs, while not from Austria, is a favorite and quite famous around the world!
You can take a self-explanatory tour through the factory, which has the largest cellar of vinegar barrels in Austria and even have a vinegar, Schnapps tasting!
It was another unique experience which I had the fortune of experiencing this year. My favorite was the 20-year-old Apple Balsamic vinegar and the pear Schnapps!
DETAILS
Address: Stang 52, 8333 Riegersburg, Austria
Timings: April – October: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM, November – March: Monday – Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Price: Adults € 9.50, Teenagers € 6.50, Children € 3.50, Children under 10 – free
Updates to prices and timings can be checked here


Sau Beer and Ham from Vulcano
Organisations in Styria were some of the best organic producers implementing ethical and sustainable practices and the Vulcano factory where the perfect Styrian ham is produced, was no different!
Pigs here were raised in an area that was 3 times bigger than the stated EU requirements and were playing and having fun while we watched them!
Special air-dried and smoked ham is produced here with delicate natural flavors, seasoned only with salt and herbs and no food coloring and flavor enhancers are used.
The name Vulcano comes from the imaginary piglet that Franz believed always stayed with him while he was daydreaming in the stables. Franz the owner, wanted ham to taste different than what he’d ever tasted before. He wanted it to incorporate all the tastes and senses a pig had gone through in their lifetime.
He wanted to make sure all pigs had the best time when they were being raised here! So they are fed the best crops for about a year, which is twice the amount taken for pigs at other farms, to help them grow slowly so that fat permeates inside the muscle which makes the ham tastier.
Ham produced here is salted, cured for about 15-27 months and then rested for about 2 months. The longer it is cured for, the tastier and expensive the ham is!
If you opt for a tour around Vulcano, you’re taken through the process which ends with a tasting of some of their best products! Do try the Sau beer made to commemorate one of the pet pigs, Brandy. It is an Austrian drink that you will find only here!
DETAILS
Address: Eggreith Weg 26, 8330 Auersbach, Austria
Timings: Monday – Saturday 9 AM – 6 PM, Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Price: Prices for a guided tour start from 11 euros. Updates to timings, prices and bookings can be checked here


Sparkling wine from Das Kulinariam Riegersburg
I’ve tried numerous varieties of sparkling wine before but never any with gold leaf in it!
That’s one of the specialties of the Vulkanlandsekt Culinary Riegersburg. There’s a cellar at the culinary shop which stores some of the best Styrian produce in the region.
Located right next to the Zotter chocolate factory, there are guided tours here that take you through the process of making sparkling wine and then tasting it later!
The sparkling wine here is made in the traditional champagne method, and we were taken through each of the steps, from how the yeast mixture is added to the bottles to let the alcohol ferment naturally to how all the bottles need to be rotated at a certain degree every day!
Fermentation usually takes a minimum of 2 months however the longer it is let to remain, the smaller the bubbles are formed. Trivia such as this was shared with us and it was a quick but interesting afternoon activity.
The sparkling wine was crisp and refreshing after the meal we had at the Zotter factory and the panoramic terrace available was the perfect stop to have some tea or wine with some local Styrian products on offer.
DETAILS
Address: Schützing 147 8333 Riegersburg, Steiermark, 8333 Riegersburg, Austria
Timings: Monday – Saturday 10.30 AM – 7 PM (closes at 6 PM in winter), Sundays 10.30 AM – 1 PM.
Price: € 5 per person

Traditional Pumpkin seed Oil
While it shouldn’t be surprising to come across pumpkin seed oil, it was still surprising to see how versatile it is!
Always had cold, it tastes excellent with salads, soups, as a dip and even drizzled over ice-cream. Pumpkin seed oil as an intense nutty taste, like having buttery, lightly toasted pumpkin seeds.
It is juniper green in color and is extremely healthy, but appears black, hence it is called the ‘black gold of Styria‘. Pumpkin seed oil isn’t used for cooking.
A Styrian delicacy that many aren’t aware of, if there is one thing that you should take back with you or try, this should be it!
When used as a dressing in conjunction with Balsamic vinegar it tastes the best!

Traditional Austrian desserts
Sachertorte
Sachertorte is synonymous with Austria and is equally loved as Apple Strudel.
While it is more popular in Vienna, the same dark, rich and dense chocolate cake can be found in other parts of the country too.
The cake has thin layers of apricot jam, is covered with dark chocolate icing and has a mirror shine to it! It is always served with a big dollop of freshly whipped cream.
The Sachertorte was invented in Vienna in the 1800s and the recipe has been kept secret all these years. The Cafe Sacher is where you will find it irrespective of the city you choose to have it in.

Wiener Apfelstrudel
The Apfelstrudel or the apple strudel is another delicious dessert from Austria that is the default option when you’re not sure what to get.
While various regions have their version, the apfelstrudel is mostly lighter than the common apple pie made with layers of flaky phyllo pastry. Traditionally, strudel dough is used, after skillfully pulling and extending the dough until it is thin like parchment and then layered. While it can be made in any shape, the name comes from a ‘whirlpool’ due to the swirls that you can see when it is freshly made.
While the traditional version has a filling of apples, sugar, raisins spiced with cinnamon, lemon, rum and cloves it can also have other fruits in place of the apples.
It is one of the national dishes of Austria and suitable for vegetarians too hence should not be missed when visiting Austria. It is also commonly found as street food and hence will be easily available anywhere!
Some may serve it with hot vanilla custard sauce but it tastes good just by itself too.
Manner Wafers
Manner wafers are a household name in Austria and are perfect if you don’t have a sweet tooth yet are keen to try something sweet. They cost about 2 Euros,
While they have a couple of flavors, its the original one that tastes best.
There are 4 wafers in each pack and I’m sure you will finish the whole pack once you open it!

There are also other desserts that are quite scrumptious like Kaiserschmarrn – the ‘Emperor’s Mess’. Fluffy chopped up pancakes mixed with fruits, fruit compotes, jams, raisins and nuts, mixed and topped with icing sugar.
There’s also Palatschinken, rolled apricot jam or ice-cream applied pancakes or crepes. The leftovers are sometimes added to soups.
Buchteln may remind the Indians of ‘pav’. A Bohemian-inspired dish, these yeasted, fluffy and airy buns are filled with jam, poppy seeds or sweet curds and are served with a plum jam called Powidl, powdered sugar on top or vanilla sauce. These should be included in your list of what food to eat in Austria if you’re spending more time here.
I tried these traditional Austrian dishes on a quick visit to Graz before heading to Thermen Vulkanland to experience some authentic Austrian spa culture while ensuring I kept trying all the delicacies the region could offer.
Mist wafted dreamily around me as I sat in one of the thermal pools at Hotel Rogner Bad Blumau while the taste of ham, vinegar and various other goodies lingered on my tongue. It was Austria as I’d never seen it before, away from the crowds in the city, in the country-side, enjoying organic produce and the most unique Austrian products the region had to offer.
For a traveler who is easily delighted by food, it was a destination not known to many and one which would surprise most, be it their first visit to Austria or one of many and one which certainly deserved to move to the top spots on your Austrian itinerary.
WHERE IS AUSTRIA
Austria or the Republic of Austria is located in Central Europe and is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south.
Its a great country to include on your visit to Europe and while the capital Vienna is a favorite, many fabulous regions are located just about an hour away and give an insight into the lives of the locals and traditions.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT AUSTRIA
Austria is lovely to visit at any time of year as the landscape changes during each season. While its a great spot for winter sports, for visitors not fond of the cold, summertime from June to August is the preferred time to visit. To keep costs low, try visiting during Autumn and Spring which are the shoulder seasons, yet aren’t too cold or wet.
HOW TO GET AROUND AUSTRIA
Austria has great connectivity via public transport and you can fly to Vienna to even any of the neighboring major cities like Munich, Prague, Bratislava and get to Vienna or Styria by train.
You can also get to any of these cities by bus.
WHERE TO STAY IN AUSTRIA
HOTELS
While in Vienna, I’ve stayed at Hotel Ruby Marie and Hotel Altstadt both of which I would personally recommend.
In Innsbruck, I stayed at the Nala Individuelhotel which was about a 8 minute walk from the center of town, close to the Triumphal Arch. Some rooms face a beautiful garden.
You can look for alternative hotels and prices here
AIRBNB
If you prefer to stay in a Airbnb, prices for a private room can be from about £25- £40 with an entire house starting from £40 onward. If you’re new to Airbnb, sign up using this link to get £30 off your first booking.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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Agritourism in Siena - Eating our Way Through Siena (2025)
Agritourism or agriturismo in Siena (Tuscany or Toscana) is quite popular in Italy. If this is something you’re visiting the region for, here’s a two day itinerary for Siena which contains the foods and products in Seina to try and things to do in Siena in a day too.
They say some of the most memorable trips you’ll have will be the ones you didn’t plan for. I agree and also believe that the company you have on your trip matters a lot too.
As a content creator, my work sometimes involves joining a group of other creators to promote destinations. However, this time when I went on an agritourism tour to Siena in Tuscany, Italy, I was surprised to be the only content creator in a small group of award-winning journalists, one who had also been a presenter on BBC.
Located in the center of Tuscany, the historic center of Siena is a UNESCO world heritage site in the Chianti region.
In Siena or most of Italy, where agritourism is very popular, it is about farm stays, regional dishes, and seasonal food in a rural setting. However, it also does involve buying products directly from farms or places where it’s produced, picking fruit and feeding animals.
The next couple of days were some of the best times I spent in the rolling hills of Tuscany with Linda, Anna and Rupert, experiencing how some local products in Siena and Tuscany are made and trying some of the best foods on offer.
I’d tried agritourism before in Fife, Scotland and Graz but never on this scale. Here’s a quick guide for first-timers who’d like to taste a small bit of Siena!
PLANNING YOUR SEINA TRIP | THE ESSENTIALS
Tours in Seina worth checking out
Where to stay in Seina
IN THIS GUIDE
ToggleExperiencing agritourism in Siena via the products and activities
A two day itinerary for Siena
Renowned all over the world for its wine production, Chianti isn’t a geographic location hence it is difficult to pinpoint the exact location. Chianti is an area between Florence and Siena where Chianti wine is produced. However, wine isn’t the only product that Chianti is famous for. This agritourism itinerary lists some tasty products to try when you’re visiting Siena and where to get them too. There are also some factory visits involved where you can see products being made and have the first taste!
Day 1
A PANINO AT THE CAFES IN TOWN
Start the day off by enjoying some amazing views of Siena if you’re staying at an elevation. I was staying in a charming B&B in the old town called I Terzi Di Siena and it had the best views of the city.
Then if you like a heavy breakfast before starting the day, head to the old town to try a delicious Panino, at one of the many lovely cafes, made from Prosciutto Toscano PDO or Tuscan ham. Salumeria Il Cencio serves some of the best Panini in town and if you’ve already had breakfast, then it’s a good stop to have a mid-morning snack while exploring the city.
Prosciutto Toscano DOP is made in a highly controlled environment and starts with humanely raising the pigs in the surrounding Tuscan hills. We were taken through the process at the Salumificio Viani where the meat is seasoned by hand. The seasoning contains not just salt but also local spices like pepper, juniper and garlic.
They are then placed in cold storage for curing. Once this step is complete, the meat is then taken out for the ‘hot phase’ which involves smearing it with pork fat, salt, pepper and rice paste (which is gluten free) to protect it from drying too much.
The Viani ham is then cured again in special rooms with controlled temperature and humidity for at least 12 months. The ham has an earthy aroma due to the spices and tastes intense. Once stamped with the official seal, it is ready to be sold.
Once you’re finished with coffee, it’s time to see what Siena has on offer.
P.S. If you’d like to purchase or try some more varieties from the Viani brand, I’d suggest trying their boar Mortadella, Finocchiona (typical of Tuscany, characterized by the use of fennel) and Soppressata.
DETAILS
Salumeria Il Cencio
Address: Piazza del Campo Presso Parri 70/71, 53100, Siena, Italy
Timings: 10.00 AM to 1.00 AM

If you’re looking for the full agritourism package, situated a little away from the city is Agriturismo Manciano where you can stay on a farm, where some of the rooms were used to dry grapes for making Vinsanto. Almost all of them have views of the surrounding hills and the breakfasts here are legendary and have home-made cakes, bread, tomatoes, cucumber from the garden, and fruit salad too!
Grapes, vegetables and olives are grown on the farms here and wine is made in-house which is served to the guests on arrival. While I did not get a chance to visit on this trip, I do highly recommend it!
Here are some more great cafes in town
— Torrefazione Fiorella is stated to be the best cafes in town. They also serve Italian croissants, Panini (some with prosciutto), sweet treats and cold coffee when it is hot outside.
Address: Via di Città, 13, 53100 Siena SI, Italy. Open every day 7 AM – 7 PM
— Bar Pasticceria Nannini is a tradition for the locals as the cafe is owned by one of the oldest families in Siena and they serve not just the best coffee but also traditional sweets from Siena like panforte, panpepato and ricciarelli.
Address: Via Banchi di Sopra, 24, 53100 Siena SI, Italy. Open every day 7:30 AM – 10 PM


9:30 AM – Explore Siena
You can probably walk from one end of Siena to another in a couple of hours. This compact city has many students and not a horde of visitors unless you count the ones passing through on/from their way to Florence/Firenze.
This makes it a nice little surprise for people who never thought of visiting it. Even if you have just a couple of hours here, you can see quite a fair bit of the city.
Since our focus is on agritourism, I’m going to list a few attractions you can visit/see if you’d like to do something different. If you’d prefer a guided walking tour I would recommend this one.
PIAZZA DEL CAMPO
Fish-bone-patterned red bricks make Piazza Del Campo, that sits at the heart of Siena. Shell-shaped and unmissable, it is one of the biggest medieval squares in the world. It’s a place where locals and visitors gather for festivities, political events and for relaxing and where cars aren’t permitted.
The square used to be used as a marketplace and is divided into ten sections by 9 lines that represent the rule of the Nine who ruled Siena.
The Palio horse race takes place every year here on July 2 and August 16.
A copy of the beautiful Fonte Gaia sits opposite to the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall). The original is located in the Museum complex of Santa Maria Della Scala. The Palazzo Pubblico also houses the Civic museum.
The Civic Museum contains some interesting ‘good and bad government’ frescoes used often in political textbooks.
—— DETAILS: Piazza Del Campo: Il Campo, 53100 Siena SI, Italy. Open 24 hours. Civic Museum & Palazzo Pubblico: Open 10 AM – 6.15 PM. Tickets cost €7.50 ——


CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE TORRE DEL MANGIA
The ‘tower of the eater’ located next to the Palazzo Pubblico, gets its name from its first bell-ringer who was nicknamed “Mangiaguadagni“ aka ‘earning-eater’ as he spent all his money eating in the taverns in Siena.
400 steps take you to the top of the huge tower which is the same height as the Siena Cathedral to signify that religion and state hold equal power. The tower provides amazing 360 degree views of the city, if you’re not staying at a height as I did. You can see almost the whole city and even some of the hills in Tuscany.
—— DETAILS: Il Campo, 53100 Siena SI, Italy. Open 10 AM-7 PM. Ticket price €8, combined with the Civic museum, €13 ——
PIAZZA DEL DUOMO : SIENA CATHEDRAL AND BIBLIOTECA PICCOLOMINI
The piazza is where you’ll find the Siena Cathedral and the Biblioteca Piccolomini.
With a black and white facade, the Siena Cathedral also called Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption or the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta is built in the Romanesque-Gothic style. The Church dedicated to the Assumption houses signed works by Donatello, Pinturicchio and Michelangelo.
The Piccolomini Library, dedicated to Pope Pius II, is located inside the Church. The library too contains frescoes, mostly in gold, painted by Pinturicchio and his apprentices. The best ones are on the ceiling! Only choral books are contained in the library.
—— DETAILS: Piazza del Duomo, 8, 53100 Siena SI, Italy Open 10.30 AM-5 PM. Sundays 1 PM-5 PM ——

THE MUSEUM COMPLEX OF SANTA MARIA DELLA SCALA
Located opposite the Siena cathedral, this former hospital now houses a museum spread over 4 floors and is massive. Parts of it are still undergoing restoration.
If you love culture and history and are a fan of museums, I’d suggest dedicating a good chunk of your time and possibly skip other attractions, if you only have only a day or a half to spend in Siena.
—— DETAILS: Piazza Duomo 1, Siena, Italy. Ticket price: €9, concessions €7. Timings can be found here ——
In addition to the attractions and activities mentioned above you can also visit the Baptistery (behind the Cathedral), the public palace of Siena, The Church of San Domenico, Battistero di San Giovanni and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
If it’s overwhelming, its exciting just to get lost in the many alleys in Siena and take a tour through the historic center of Siena and enjoy the numerous shops and restaurants. The city is divided into contradas aka districts, with each having its own history and legend. You can spot the symbol of each contrade (caterpillar on a rose, owl, etc.) by checking the sides of buildings.
If you’re looking to see more of Tuscany, a guided day trip that covers Pisa as well can be found here.
2:00 PM – Lunch at Bar dell’Orso in Monteriggioni
There’s an amazing variety of cafes and restaurants in Siena that you can have lunch at, that should keep you busy for a couple of days. However, if you’re looking to see what’s on offer outside Siena, the Monteriggioni Castle is an excellent option.
Located about 30 minutes from town, it can be a pleasing half a day trip away from the city.
Before proceeding to the castle, if you haven’t eaten in Siena, I’d suggest getting lunch at Bar dell’Orso, sat opposite to the castle parking area. The tiramisu here is the best I’ve ever had and the variety of home-made pasta and pici’s will leave you full, yet hungry for more!
DETAILS
Address: Via Cassia Nord, 23, 53035 Località La Colonna, Monteriggioni SI, Italy
Timings: Monday – Sunday, 5 AM – 12 AM. Additional details can be found here
IF YOU TRAVEL FOR FOOD, HERE’S A POST ON TAPAS IN SANTANDER THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE!


3:30 PM – A visit to the main sights in Monteriggioni square
If you’ve had lunch at Bar dell’Orso, once done, take the road behind the parking area and follow it to enter the small village via the Franca (Romea) Gate that apparently faces Rome.
Monteriggioni Castle (Castello di Monteriggioni) sits in the Monteriggioni comune in Siena in the center of the main Piazza Di Roma. One of the most important walled castles in the area, avid readers of classic books will have heard of Monteriggioni in Dante Alighieri’s most famous work, The Divine Comedy or ‘Commedia’.
In the old times, the piazza was used to grow essential vegetables and store water, that would come in handy during a siege.
The walls are partially walk-able and provide stunning views of the Tuscan countryside with its rolling hills. There are a total of 14 towers and 2 gates, the other gate being the Florentine gate that faces Florence. Part of the wall faces the tourist park of the Via Francigena, the pilgrims’ road that connects Camino to Rome.
Just next to the castle is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The Roman-Gothic style Church was built at the same time as the Castle and is very compact and has a lovely ‘woody’ old smell.
There’s also a small museum called ‘Monteriggioni in Arme’, which provides a brief history of the area and where children can dress up in costumes.
In July, the small region celebrates the festival of Medieval Monteriggioni, with locals dressed in period costumes and storytellers, acrobats etc. filling the square trying to recreate a day in the life of the castle. A fun thing to do is exchange your Euros for some medieval coins to buy traditional food and drinks inside the castle.
If you’re dependent on public transport and would rather like a guided tour, here’s one that covers Monteriggioni.
DETAILS
Address: Via I° Maggio, 8-10, 53035 Monteriggioni SI, Italy
Timings: Monday – Sunday, 5 AM – 12 AM. Additional details can be found here



5:00 PM – Dievole Winery
An agritourism itinerary can’t be complete without a visit to a vineyard in Tuscany. About 20 minutes away from Monteriggioni, is Dievole, a winery with sustainable wine production.
Boating of a 1000 year-old history, it also has a resort and wine tours. 158 hectares of vast green vineyards, with fossils present in the soil, are based right next to the winery.
Dievole (‘Dio vuole’) which means ‘God wants’ is part of the Chianti Classico DOCG wine region and runs on the DOP principle of respecting the land, its history and that natural life-cycle not just of the vines but also the soil.
Unrefined concrete vats that use organic yeast are used for the vinification process and the wine is then matured in untoasted French oak barrels. What thus gets created is the Chianti Classico 2013, one of the many wines produced here that is ruby-red, fresh and complex with beautiful aromas, aromas that are integral to almost all of the products in Tuscany.
It’s a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% of other grapes, including natives such as Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo, as well as international varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The wine is aged for at least 12 months.
While white wine is what I like best, what did excite me is the olive oil tasting on offer, something I’d never heard of or tried before.
One of the oils was naturally spicy as the olives attain this flavor by trying to protect themselves against the sun and weather. 4 local olive cultivars: Frantoio, Leccino, Moraiolo and Correggiolo with a maximum of the 20% of other varieties are what make the extra virgin olive oil, Chianti DOP.
The Frantoio is the slightly spicy and fruity oil. The others were bitter, delicate with fruity notes.
The tasting took about an hour and had 4 oils on offer. For me, it was the best bit of the tour!
If you’re looking for a pleasant surprise, try the Chianti olive oil with some ice-cream, it goes really well together!
If you’d rather visit a winery and head to the outskirts of Siena to make it a day-trip, the wineries in Montepulciano are worth a visit!
DETAILS
Address: Località Dievole, 6 Cantina, 53019 Castelnuovo Berardenga SI, Italy
Timings: Monday – Sunday, 10 AM – 7 PM. Additional details can be found here



7:00 PM – Back to Siena and dinner at Osteria Babazuf
A Michelin guide restaurant, the Babazuf is a simple Italian Osteria with emphasis on the local dishes and wine. One can easily notice the locals queuing up for a meal which goes to prove that you can expect nothing but a traditional meal here.
The Babazuf has excellent ingredients and some great local dishes on the menu such as a rabbit, sausage and pistachio terrine, butter pasta with truffles, octopus with mashed potatoes and green sauce and the humble pici to name a few. I had buttery pappardelle, cooked al dente and topped with a generous helping of locally sourced truffle.
The servers have good knowledge about pairing the meal with the right wine and the atmosphere is lively. Budget friendly and located in the heart of Siena, it is a must visit.
Take a walk around town after dinner is over as Siena is beautiful at night and very romantic too!
Another option for dinner is the La Compagnia dei Vinattieri where the highlight is its huge wine list with a focus on wines produced in the Chianti region.
DETAILS
Address: Via Pantaneto, 85/87, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Timings: Tuesday – Sunday, 12.30 PM – 3 PM and 7 PM – 12 AM. Closed Mondays. The menu can be found here
Day 2
More Siena agritourism options
10:00 AM – A visit to Caseificio Sociale Manciano for their Pecorino Toscano cheese
A little further away from Siena, in the region of Manciano is the Caseificio Sociale Manciano where the famous Pecorino sheep cheese is made. (Which is different to Parma cheese). About 200 farmers from 17 dairies from the Maremma area supply milk to the factory which is of very high quality as initiatives are taken periodically for the welfare of the sheep.
Milk is pasteurized at the diaries itself and once it is brought in, the fat content, acidity and various other quality checks are carried out before the process can begin.
Rennet is added to the milk for coagulation and care needs to be taken not to add too much as it can make the cheese bitter. The curds are then cut to a uniform tiny size, ranging from a hazelnut to a grain of corn, excess whey is expelled, then put into shapes before being brined.
Ricotta cheese is produced with the residual whey. The cheese is then stored to ripen.
The aging can range from 20 days for the soft version or 4-12 months for the semi-hard version. For the ones that are left longer, workers periodically wash or brush the mold before coating it with natural substances like oil, ash or tomato sauce to protect them from contamination and further dehydration.
Once you’ve seen the process head for a cheese tasting. The younger cheese is delicate and creamier and the older ones nutty and crumbly. From the ones I tasted, my favorite was the one aged for 4 months.
If you get some Pecorino Toscano DOP cheese back, why not try this recipe for an asparagus and Pecorino tart?
DETAILS
Address: Località Piano di Cirignano, 58014 Manciano GR, Italy
Timings: Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 7 PM. Saturdays 7 AM – 1 PM Closed Sundays.
To book a visit, please use this link


1 PM – Lunch at Locanda La Vallerana
Just a 5 minute drive away is the Locanda La Vallerana, a friendly, classic Tuscan trattoria, where the food is honest in a simple setting. An authentic family-run restaurant, it serves great ham and cheese platters and an extensive range of pasta.
Some dishes on offer are the wild boar spaghetti and pigeons in casserole. The steaks are quite popular and worth a try!
DETAILS
Address: Str. Monte Forcato, 1, 58011 Capalbio GR, Italy
Timings: Wednesday – Monday 12 – 2.30 PM and 7 – 10.30 PM. Tuesdays 7 PM – 10 PM
4 PM – A cooking class at Siena’s first school of international cuisine
A fabulous way to end your day and maybe your time in Siena is with a customary cooking class. While some may call it a run of the mill activity, I had never attended one and enjoyed it very much!
On the menu for the evening was Pappa al Pomodoro, Pici and Cantuccini.
We started by making the dough for the pici and setting it aside then starting on the soup. We had some freshly made Bruschetta as nibbles. Bruschetta is a tiny round of bread sliced about a centimeter thick, is then grilled on both sides. It was then rubbed with garlic and drizzled with extra-virgin Chianti DOP olive oil.
Lella was our chef and she took us through the steps of making Pappa al Pomodoro, a thick soup made from stale bread (about 3/4 days old).
Garlic is first fried in extra-virgin olive oil with some chilies before adding the bread. Once the oil is absorbed by the bread the tomatoes, beef stock and basil leaves are added and simmered for an hour or so.
The thick soup is filling and hearty.
The dough that was put aside is now ready to be made into Pici, a local thin spaghetti-like pasta, apparently from which spaghetti originated. Tiny pieces of the dough are rolled into long thin uniform stands and then put into a pot of boiling water for not more than 3 minutes, then drained.
The pici is then mixed with the sauce, a sugo Toscano (slow-cooked beef and pork mince with vegetables and red wine), which Lella has prepared in advance as it takes about 4 hours to make.
Once the crunchy Cantuccini biscuits are ready, (which take only about 30 minutes to make), we start off with dinner and finish by having the biscuits after dipping them in a dessert wine, Vinsanto. Very unique and mouth-watering! If you’re a connoisseur of food or cooking, this is certainly a good way to end the day with your tummy full of Tuscan delights!
Address: Via Fontebranda 69 – 53100 Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Timings for the class and booking details can be found here
The more I travel, the more I realize that while popular destinations bring me a sense of achievement and joy, I’m most excited about places I’ve never heard of before and practices that I know do their bit to help the locals and nature around.
Agritourism is still in catching up and there is a something for everybody to indulge in. Siena with its history and food scene was perfect and if nature and cities are your cup of tea, have it with some cheese and prosciutto from Tuscany!


Some additional products/foods from Siena you can try
——
In addition to the extra-virgin olive oils, wines, prosciutto and cheeses mentioned above, here are some more products you can try, which are unique to Tuscany.
Cheeses other than the Pecorino Toscano DOP that are from this region are the Pecorino delle Balze Volterrane cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese DOP.
Cold cuts other than Prosciutto Toscano DOP are the Finocchiona IGP, Mortadella Bologna IGP, Colonnata lard, and Salamini italiani alla cacciatora DOP which are small Italian salamis.
CHESTNUTS AND CHESTNUT FLOUR
Mugello, Caprese Michelangelo, and Monte Amiata are some unique varieties you will find in Tuscany. You’ll also find Garfagnana and Lunigiana chestnut flours. Each variety of chestnut has a distinct flavor, aroma and shape. They are all DOP or IGP certified.
SAFFRON
Saffron from San Gimignano is pure and organic and grown in a sustainable environment.
DESSERTS
CANTUCCI – One of the items we made in our cooking class, cantucci are crispy biscuits which usually contain almonds and are had by dipping them in Vinsanto dessert wine
PANFORTE – A traditional Christmas bread made with nuts, spices, candied fruit and topped with icing sugar
RICCIARELLI – Sweet, boat-shaped pastries, crisp on the outside and moist inside, dusted with icing sugar. Ingredients include orange peel and candied citron
CAVALLUCCI – ‘Little horses’ are cookies made with flour, honey and sugar, and shaped into a round, flat biscuit
MUSHROOMS
Borgotaro mushrooms, a type of Italian porcini mushroom and one of the most valuable due to its intense subtle aroma.
HONEY
Miele (honey) della Lunigiana DOP is acacia and chestnut honey and one of the first to attain a DOP status in Italy
BEANS
Sorana beans (Fagiolo di Sorana), a type of Cannellini bean grown in the Tuscan area is grown in the province of Pistoia and taste best when boiled with garlic and some sage leaves.

WHERE IS SIENA
The medieval city of Siena is located in Tuscany, about 75 kilometers (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes) away from Florence. A UNESCO world heritage site in the middle of a vast hilly landscape between the Arbia river valley (south), the Elsa valley (north) and the Chianti hills (north-east).
HOW TO GET TO SIENA
If you’re coming from Florence, you can get here via bus or rail. Check this page for the bus details however, it’s usually the No.131 that runs between the cities and takes 1 hour 35 minutes. Catch the ‘Rapida’ bus from the Santa Maria Novella bus station in Florence.
The train between the 2 cities takes about the same time and costs about £9. Visit this website for train info and tickets
The city is surrounded by walls and Porte (portals) aka gates through which you can enter. The best way to get to Siena is by driving. However, if you’re flying, you can fly to Pisa airport and then drive to Siena, which should take about an hour and a half.
Check this page to find a parking spot and tariffs.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SIENA
As with most Mediterranean countries, I’d suggest visiting before July and after September. Summers, especially in Italy can get hot in the afternoons. I visited in June and the days were pleasantly warm with a slight chill in the evenings. However, October tends to be the best to visit Siena and almost the whole of Tuscany.
HOW TO GET AROUND SIENA
It is easy to get around Siena by walking but it’s good to hire a car if you want to drive around the Tuscan countryside and stop wherever you please.
A NOTE ABOUT PDO/DOP (PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN)
The PDO is an elite certification that upholds the commitment and respect of the producers for the Tuscan food tradition.
The farmers and producers who adhere to this, believe that the location of Tuscany and the natural elements, vegetation and ‘peasant’ processes passed over the generations ensure the products have a distinct taste that reminds customers of Tuscany.
When it comes to the production of ham, only if the pig is born and bred in the region of Tuscany and is certified by the farmer to be older than 9 months and having a certain weight can it be used for its meat. Different rules apply to various animals and utmost care is taken to ensure they’re healthy and sustainable practices are used.
WHERE TO FIND THE PRODUCTS
The local farmers market is held every Friday morning in the Fortezza area. Here you can find products like local wine, olive oil, honey, vegetables, Sienese cookies, herbs and cheese.
Consorzio Agrario Di Siena, in Via Giuseppe Pianigiani 9 is a local farmers co-op frequented by the locals which also stocks some of the best local products.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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Santander Spain Travel Guide (2025) - The Best Things to do in a Weekend
If you’re visiting Santander for a weekend, you need this travel guide to Santander, Spain with the best things to do! Santander has beaches, tapas and a lot of history and culture and this guide will help you get the most from your quick getaway!
I wake up, half groggy, wondering if I forgot to switch the lights off only to realize there was bright orange light streaming in, through a gap in the curtains. I got up and pulled the curtains aside to be greeted with one of the best sunrises I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this year. It was picture perfect, with a ship and a few seagulls completing the image.
Unsure how long the setting would last, I took a quick shower and decided to jump-start my weekend in Santander by taking a walk down Playa Sardinero which I could see through the window of my hotel.
I wanted to experience the best things to do in Santander, but it was quite tricky as Santander had plenty to offer for all types of visitors. My visit was centered around food and I planned on having some of the best tapas in Santander, Spain.
However, the mountains were calling too, providing an excellent opportunity for hiking, but there were also beaches, museums and pre-historic cultural sites! Travel in Santander could be as packed as I wanted it to be, or very relaxing!
I opted for a mix of activities and in this Santander travel guide, I list all the unique things to see in Santander that I visited, so that you can pick what you feel best for yourself!

Some of the best things to do in and around Santander, Spain
Your Santander, Spain travel guide
FLIGHTS
There are direct flights to Santander from London, by Ryanair and Iberia, but these could be seasonal. The flight takes 2 hours from London. There are direct flights throughout the year from Barcelona and Madrid.
FERRY
Brittany Ferries operate a Portsmouth to Santander and a Plymouth to Santander route. You can even choose to make it a holiday with them if you wish so! They do not run daily and you may need to check the website to inquire about prices and availability.
DAY 1
8 AM
Start off by taking a walk on the beach or one of the promenades in Santander, Spain
Santander won’t charm you instantly. This city which caught fire and burned for two days in 1941, underwent a dramatic change from stone and wood structures to concrete buildings, hence you won’t find it similar to most other Spanish cities, but a stroll around the city will certainly make you grow fond of it!
It is abundant in natural beauty which you will instantly notice if you take a walk down any of the promenades or spend some time on any of the delightful beaches.
If you’re living in the city, the Paseo de Pereda or the Paseo Marítimo de Santander are quite popular. If you plan to stay somewhere close to Hotel Chiqui, where I stayed, the El Sardinero beach and Playa de Mataleñas are the beaches which you should head to.
El Sardinero is very popular for surfing too and good for beginners to learn surfing too.
OR
Stay in and enjoy a relaxing continental breakfast. Many hotels in Santander have breakfast included, so make the most of it!

9 AM
Head to Picos De Europa to get a taste of Green Spain. Stop for a festival on the way!
If you’re looking to have an active holiday, then make your way to Liébana.
The drive takes about 3 hours and is quite picturesque. As a 3-hour drive can get tiring, taking pit-stops at the historic towns of Santillana del Mare and Potes is refreshing. Both towns will transport you to medieval times and have cute little cafes and markets where you can buy local products.
The markets in Potes sell colourful earthenware and a herb, that’s used in making tea, ‘Té Del puerto‘ which helps in digestion, something I’d never come across before, so I purchased a few sprigs before continuing on our way to Liébana. If you plan on spending the entire day walking or hiking in the mountains, Potes is a good spot to collect some fruits and pack a light lunch that you can then enjoy at the top.
If you’re visiting in the month of October, the Feria Agroalimentaria “Hechu en Liébana” en Camaleño is held near Potes too, where Cocido is prepared for the community in bulk and there are many handmade and organic products for sale.
To get to Liébana, take the route via N-621 and A-8 till you get to Fuente Dé, which is where you can park cars and take the Fuente Dé Cable Car to the top.Keep an eye out for public holidays, as during these days it can get quite busy and the queues can be long to get the cable car.





1 PM
Time to try some authentic Cocido Montañés
The Picos De Europa or The ‘Picos‘ form part of the Cantabrian mountain range and are bound to impress you. The short ride in the cable car takes about 3 minutes but gets you to an altitude of 1823 metres, where the air is crisp and the landscapes breath-taking.
You can spend an entire day here, picking from one of the numerous trails or directly head to Hotel Áliva, to have some Cocido Montañés, a stew that was made in the olden days with leftover meat. Cocido Montañés is now treated as a ritual and is had in a 2 stage process where the soup with noodles is served first, followed by the stewed meat and chickpeas.
The olives, local Cantabrian cheese platter and the chorizo are other delicacies you can try and I can confidently say are very tasty.
Once you’ve had your full, you can then opt either to walk back or take a 4×4 to the bottom.The walk back is quite tedious, hence if you do not catch a ride back from the restaurant, it is near to impossible to get one later.
DETAILS
Address: Puerto de Áliva s/n, 39588 Puerto de Aliva, Spain
Opening Hours: Open by season. Usual timings 8 AM – 12 AM
Reviews: You can check reviews here

4 PM
Time to drive back to Santander and get some rest
If you’re not keen to spend an entire day, head back to Santander via the same route. Stop at Potes again if required and try some Orujo, a pomace brandy from Northen Spain. Once back in Santander, have a short siesta before heading to Canadio street to try some authentic tapas or pinchos as it’s called in Cantabria.
OR
Spend an additional couple of hours exploring more of The Picos. Start your journey back to Santander when it starts getting dark and enjoy dinner once back by sharing some tapas!



8.30 PM
Indulge in some of the best tapas in Santander
Santander’s location makes it one of the best in the country to try fresh seafood. It’s also renowned for its pinchos, which are very affordable and tasty. There’s no shortage of great restaurants in Santander serving delectable Cantabrian cuisine with some popular Spanish dishes like croquettes, fried squid and patatas bravas to name a few.
Plaza de Cañadίo is also the most favoured amongst locals to spend the evening and many tapas bars are located in the vicinity where locals are packed to the brim as it starts getting darker.
Start off your tour of the tapas bars in Santander from Plaza de Cañadίo, which is also the location for the pinchos bar of the same name. Then make your way to El Sol to have the best patatas bravas of your life!
El Sol also has outside seating, perfect for summery days. Bodega Fuente De has some of the best croquettes and jamon.
If you’re vegetarian, do not miss out on the ‘tomate’, tapas from tonin y bruma, which will be the biggest tomato you’ve ever had and probably one of the tastiest! Lovers of oysters have El Mar to be thankful for, an oyster bar that exclusively serves only oyster and little bites.
You can either then dance the night away at any of the bars or clubs at Plaza de Cañadío, Calle de Santa Lucίa or Calle Río de la Pila. Expect crowds to turn up only after 12 though. If you’ve had a long day, then time to call it a night to get some well-earned rest.

Day 2
9 AM
Take a bike ride from El Sardinero to Palacio to Peninsula de la Magdalena
Bikes are available for hire at various points around Santander. You just need your credit card to use one and then need to return it back to a bike station once done. If you would prefer talking a walk, then it’s a 30-minute walk to the Royal Palace of La Magdalena. Beautiful views guaranteed irrespective of the medium you choose.
On a clear day, you can expect to see views of Faro de Muoro and Isla de la Torre from the península. The palace now hosts various events throughout the year however you can take a tour inside and admire the paintings and architecture. You’ll be shown quirky details like a oratory that is made entirely of copper and furniture restored with Vaseline!
DETAILS
Address: Av. de la Reina Victoria, s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Tours: 1st June – 30th September, only weekends at 10 AM, 11 AM and 12 PM. The rest of the year, weekdays 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 4 PM, 5 Pm and 6 PM. Weekends, 10 AM, 11 AM and 12 PM.
Cost: 3 Euros per person
11 AM
If you’re a history buff, head to the Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueologίa de Cantabria
There are many prehistoric sites located in Santander and in the vicinity. The Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueologίa de Cantabria aka The Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology contains many relics and bones from the Paleolithic and European prehistory times. You can walk through a replica of the cave system of La Garma, and admire artefacts and ornaments created during those times.
OR
If it’s a sunny day, head to the beach! Since it was just about taking a walk the previous day, if you love the beach, spend time on the vast beaches Santander has to offer with golden sands and calm waters.
DETAILS
Address: Calle Bailén, s/n, 39004 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Tours: Tuesday to Sunday, October 1 to April 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM and from 5 to 7.30 PM
May 1 to September 30 from 10 to 2 PM and from 5 to 8 PM
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 to 2 PM and from 5 to 8 PM
Closed every Monday of the year, January 1 and 6, December 24, 25, and December 31.
Free entry after 5 pm on Sundays
Cost: 5 Euros per person, children 2 Euros

1 PM
Admire installations at Centro Botin and have lunch
Centro Botin is a massive structure that one will easily notice if they pass Paseo de Pereda. As with any city that undergoes massive architectural change, Santanderinos were sceptical when a gigantic structure was to be built right in front of some of the buildings that had survived the fire and would obstruct their views from city to the sea.
Keeping this in mind, Renzo Piano, the celebrated Italian architect, envisioned and designed Centro Botin, that gave me the impression of a spaceship when I first laid eyes on it, however some believe it looks more like a pinball machine.
While the structure is modern, it still evokes mixed feelings from locals and visitors, however, when one steps in, one can be sure that they’ll definitely be in awe.
When I visited, an exhibition by Christina Iglesias was on display, titled ‘Interspaces’ and had structures involving latticework, corridors and labyrinths that made one take notice of their surroundings in detail.
Many distinguished artists have periodic installations on display at Centro Botin, and if you’re unsure if this is for you, the views from the rooftop terrace and the tapas with a distinct Cantabrian touch at El Muelle del Centro Botín will definitely make you spend a few hours here!
Centro Botin is something you can keep returning to, as both the installations and the menu at the cafe keep changing!
DETAILS
Address: Calle Muelle de Calderón, 39002 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Tours: October to May, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM – 8 PM. June to September, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM – 9 PM, closed every Monday, 1st of January and 25th December
Cost: 8 Euros per person, seniors and students 4 Euros. More pricing details here


4 PM
Head to the Monte Castillo caves to see some Paleolithic art
Located on the banks of the Pas river, about 30 minutes from Santander is where the labyrinth of El Castillo caves are located in the heart of the Monte El Castillo.
The caves at El Castillo saw many civilizations come and go over the past few centuries, however as the caves were discovered only about a hundred years ago, many prehistoric paintings are still preserved in their entirety.
Our guide clearly explained what inferences were drawn about the people who may have drawn it, based on the type of limestone the figures were drawn on. The bones of birds were used for blow painting in addition to painting by hand. There were many figures of bison, goats, deer and hand impressions that we saw in addition to an eerie and stunning formation of stalactites or stalagmites in various forms.
Iron and charcoal were the substances used to draw and the calcium deposits wee used to figure out how old each painting could be. The whole experience was fascinating.
Visitors can only enter the caves with a guided tour and the tour lasts for about 45 minutes and should be on your to-do list!
DETAILS
Address: SP-6022, s/n, Puente Viesgo, Cantabria, Spain
Tours: Timings are different per season and are sparse. For the most up to date timetable please visit the website here
Cost: 3 Euros per person, children 1.5 Euros

8.30 PM
Time for some tapas again before wrapping up
After returning back to Santander take a nap if you please! Tapas time starts around 8, so once you’re hungry make your way to Casa Lita. Serving more than 300 varieties of tapas aka pinchos which are prepared fresh, daily, have your fill or head off to another tapas bar for more.
El Diluvio is located just around the corner and serves some of the best tortillas in Santander. If tortillas don’t excite you but seafood does, try the tapas with some imitation Gulas on it. Angulas, the ‘caviar of Spain’ is nothing but baby eels, but as they can sometimes be even more expensive than caviar, mock Angulas are used.
If you still have the energy to spare, continue pub hopping as Santander is a city that stays awake through the night. If you’d rather spend some time away from the crowds, you can always pick a spot on the promenade and enjoy the sounds of the sea.
Santander will surprise you in more ways than one. It is one of the most versatile, under-the-radar cities and one you should pay a visit to before the crowds do!
The capital of region of Cantabria is Santander, situated between the Basque Country to the east and Asturias to the west. It is one of the regions of Green Spain, which also includes the Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria, and Galicia, and is rich in both history and culture.
The Cantabrian Mountains and the Bay of Biscay keep the temperatures mild and pleasant.
With average temperatures about 25 degrees being the highest and being the hottest, June to September is still the hottest and the best time to visit Santander. However, the climate is humid, and the area can expect light, sporadic rainfall, which usually subside quickly and are moderate.
The pleasant weather tends to draw crowds, making Santander busier than usual. When I went in October, Santander had a high of about 28 degrees on the first day, but thundershowers were predicted for the second day, and it rained all day, which was a little off-putting.
It was pleasant, though, and there were times during the day when it didn’t rain.The coldest months are December through February, and it may be below zero in the mountainous areas close to Liebana.
If you’re looking to get around in Northern Spain and not just Santander, this post for trains in Northern Spain might help.
While in Santander:
FROM THE AIRPORT
Finding an Uber in Santander is difficult but you can easily get a cab or taxi to reach the city center, around 6 kilometers from the airport.
The ride is pretty cheap and will cost around 10 Euros. You also have the option of taking public transport buses which leave from Santandar Airport every 30 minutes and take around 15 minutes to get to the city.
It will similarly take around 15 minutes to reach Santander’s Seve Ballesteros airport from the bus station and the buses leave 30 minutes apart. The ticket price for a single trip is 2.90 Euros. You can refer to the link here for more information about the airport.
TAXI
By taking a taxi from any of the city’s taxi stands, you can get around Santander with ease. The closest taxi stand to you will be shown if you use Google Maps and choose the taxi option.If you’re at a restaurant or at your hotel/lodging in Santander, you can also ask to pre-book cabs.
BUSES
Each bus trip in Santander costs 1.30 Euros, and the city has a good bus network. To check the many routes available, you can refer to the link here. Many bus stops feature maps that also show the route map, and some even have boards that offer information about bus arrivals.

Award-winning Analyst, multi-nominated digital content creator and photographer Lavina Dsouza's words capture stories about culture and tradition mainly through its food and people. She has written and contributed to publications such as The Washington Post, Lonely Planet and Matador Network, to name a few. She is the editor of UntraditionalHumans.com, a non-profit created to share inspiring stories from women of colour who break free from traditions and choose happiness.
She's also a speaker passionate about DEI and champions solo travel. She has collaborated with numerous renowned brands such as Intrepid Travel, TripAdvisor, Travel and Leisure and Adobe, to name a few.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
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Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. These do not cost you extra to use, but will help provide Continent Hop with a small commission if/when you purchase through them, to recover some of the costs of running this website and providing free content to help you plan your travel. I appreciate your support!