Cluj-Napoca is a pretty dog-friendly city in Romania. This includes many of the city’s eateries being pet-friendly. The old town area makes for a great historical dog walk too. I found that Cluj-Napoca had many dog-friendly bars and restaurants and had no problems with any of those we visited. Also, many bars have outside seating,…
If you enjoy pretty places, friendly pubs and walks, then Painswick is a great place to visit. Painswick is a picturesque town in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, and there are plenty of things to do. They sometimes call the town the “Queen of the Cotswolds”, and it is one of England’s oldest wool towns. Wealth…
Just outside Cluj-Napoca’s centre is the Ethnographic Park Romulus Vuia, a fantastic visitor attraction to visit. This is an open-air museum set in some beautiful parkland overlooking Cluj. There are many preserved historical buildings to see at the museum. This includes old houses, farmsteads, churches and artisan workshops. The site shows how people used to…
Rome has hundreds of churches, ranging from early Christian basilicas to richly decorated Baroque buildings. During my time in Rome, I visited churches throughout the historic centre, the Aventine and the area around Vatican City. Some were major attractions, while others were quiet buildings I discovered while walking. Many are free to enter, although opening…
After a fantastic time last year, our backpacking adventure in 2022 continued to see more of Europe with the dog. The plan was to see a combination of new places and revisit some old favourites on the way. 2022 is an entire year of Full Time travel for us, some of which is slow and…
Each year, Cluj-Napoca’s main square hosts the Cluj Christmas Market (Târgul de Crăciun – Planeta Crăciun). The market runs from 20th November 2026 until New Year’s Day. There are quiet times during the day to have a mooch. However, the square becomes busy on weekend evenings. Expect a big central tree, lights draped across Piața…
Visit Szigliget in Hungary for castle ruins, Lake Balaton views, village walks, vineyards, restaurants and a strand by the water. The village is a good choice for a relaxed day trip, especially if you enjoy castles, countryside walks, vineyards and lake views. Hiking opportunities in the area are fantastic and can be steep in places,…
Lake Bled is one of the most popular places to visit in Slovenia because it’s beautiful and offers plenty to do. There are lots of walks around the lake, a castle, the nearby Vintgar Gorge and other attractions. This part of Slovenia has some amazing countryside to explore, and Lake Bled is a great base…
Cres is one of many islands in Croatia and is a nice place for a self-catering holiday. It has all the ingredients for a wonderful and relaxing time. Cres offers beautiful scenery, seafood restaurants, and beaches, allowing visitors to enjoy the sea. The local food, beer and wines certainly add to the experience of holidaying…
Vintgar Gorge is one of the best places to visit near Lake Bled, with wooden walkways, white water and a scenic return hike. We visited with our dog and found it a great day out. The gorge section is the principal attraction, with many wooden walkways that enable visitors to access Vintgar Gorge. The walkways…
Pompeii is well worth visiting if you are interested in Roman history, with the enormous archaeological park being the main reason to visit. We stayed near Pompeii for several days and spent a full day exploring the ruins, as well as visiting parts of the modern town and the surrounding area. Our stay also gave…
Italy is a beautiful country to explore, but is it a good place to travel using an Interrail pass? We had quite the epic adventure visiting Italy with our dog using only trains and other public transport while in situ. This was our last chance to get some value out of a pass, as we…
Autumn is a pretty time of the year to visit many places in Europe. The changing colours and less tourism can make for a fantastic getaway. I have visited these places during the autumn months. This includes city breaks and countryside holiday destinations. I’ve visited these destinations from late September until the end of November….
While in Bologna, Italy, I enjoyed the local San Luca pilgrimage walk along the Portico di San Luca. This is the pilgrimage route to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca, which is on a hill overlooking Bologna. The route includes walking the length of the Portico di San Luca, the longest in the…
A fantastic tourist attraction to visit in Bologna is the Torre dell’Orologio, a beautiful clock tower at the Palazzo d’Accursio. The palace is home to the Municipal Art Collections, and the interior is pretty special to visit. The main reason for my visit was the views of the city, including a view of Piazza Maggiore…
St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome, is a beautiful place to visit, especially when quiet at sunrise. While budget backpacking in Rome, I fancied seeing as many free places as possible and avoiding as many queues or crowds as possible. Visiting the basilica without the add-ons is free, and it is an active church….
There are many options for camping in Rome, including Seven Hills Campsite, which we opted to stay at. Seven Hills Campsite is a cheap place to stay just outside of Rome in Italy. The campsite has options for pitches or sheds to rent. We stayed for nearly three weeks, which was interesting. Budget backpacking can…
There are many options for boat trips from Mali Losinj in Croatia, including trips to nearby islands. These tend to be day trips or shorter and include dolphin spotting, island hopping, party tours and a pirate ship. Visitors to Mali Losinj can book a variety of boat tours from vendors along Riva. We enjoyed a…