Study Hard Travel Smart

Where to stay: ​Strasbourg is a pretty expensive city to stay in, especially during the holiday season.  If you’re okay with a 20-30 minute public transit ride into Strasbourg (which was fairly inexpensive), I’d recommend staying in the nearby city of Kehl, Germany.  I stayed in this Airbnb listing, which is only $39 per night (only $10 a person if you fill up the room with 4 people!), and the host was super sweet- she also provided a great breakfast!  There’s one other slightly more expensive listing in Kehl, or otherwise you can try your luck finding something inexpensive in proper Strasbourg.  I’ve also been told that they’re upgrading the public transportation between Strasbourg and Kehl, so it may soon be even easier to get between the two cities.

Where to eat: If you’re in Strasbourg during the holiday season, be sure to check out all of the food offerings at the different market stalls.  I can personally attest to the fact that the waffles, beignets, crepes, and pretzels are out of this world, and these options are budget-friendly (of course, you’ll also need to try the hot mulled wine while you’re at it).  As far as restaurants go, I had the best luck in the section of the city called La Petite France.  It’s such a quintessentially Alsatian part of the city with the gorgeous architecture you probably associate with Strasbourg, and you can find a lot of restaurants with traditional fare.  I loved the restaurant called Au Pont St. Martin, which as the name suggests, is right off of a bridge along the river.  It’s such a great building, and the food was delicious without a hefty price tag.

What to do: ​I think that the best time to visit Strasbourg is around Christmas-time, because Strasbourg is considered to be Europe’s Capital of Christmas.  If you are there during Christmas, you’ll want to be sure to spend ample time wandering around and exploring the Christmas markets.  The markets take over the entire city, and each vendor sells different types of things.  You’ll be able to find all types of Christmas decorations and ornaments, crafts and gifts, teas and wines, and all those good food items.  The square in front of the cathedral has rows of market stalls, but for a truly special experience, head over to Le Carré d’Or, which is a beautiful pedestrian street that lights up gold with the holiday lights.  If you’re not in Strasbourg during the Christmas season, there are still plenty of beautiful things to see and do!  I would highly recommend walking up to the top of the cathedral, as there is a beautiful view over the whole city.  You’ll definitely want to spend some time wandering around La Petite France as well, it’s the most “classic” looking section of the city, and is a charming little gem.  There is a boat ride you can take along the river there, where you’ll get a good view of all of the gorgeous buildings- otherwise just spend some time walking around and getting lost!  I found the greatest little buildings and areas just wandering around.

Overall Opinion: I absolutely LOVED Strasbourg!  I chose to go during the Christmas holiday because I had heard how beautiful and Christmas-y Strasbourg was, and it far surpassed my expectations.  Whether or not you’re able to visit during the holidays really doesn’t matter, I would definitely recommend a weekend in Strasbourg.  I also thought that staying in nearby Kehl, Germany only enhanced my experience visiting the area.  Kehl had its own Christmas market that was perfectly charming, and our host was really incredible.  In the summer, I’m told that there are some outdoorsy activities that are easily do-able from Kehl, so that would be an even greater advantage to staying there if you’re visiting in the warmer seasons!

Where to stay: ​I’ve never personally stayed overnight in Avignon because it’s so easy to travel to for a day trip, but Hostelworld.com does show a bunch of inexpensive options in the city.  My recommendation, wherever you choose to book, would be to stay as close to the center of the city as possible, because that’s where everything is!  Avignon is a walled city, so most of what there is to see and do is contained within the city walls.

Where to eat: There are a couple really great restaurants right in the main square of Avignon.  In the warmer seasons, this is a great place to sit outside and enjoy a long meal, or just a glass of wine.  All of the restaurants in this area have extensive outdoor seating, and it’s customary in France to have outdoor heaters on in the colder months, so it’s the perfect place to see and watch Provençal life go by!

What to do: ​The big attraction in Avignon is the Palais de Papes, the former residence of the Pope.  At one time, the papacy was separated, one pope was in Vatican and the other was in Avignon.  Le Palais de Papes was built in Avignon, and it’s a really great thing to tour!  There is also a famous bridge in Avignon (Pont d’Avignon or Pont Saint Bénézet), which is a beautiful example of medieval architecture.  The bridge only goes halfway across the river, but you can walk across the part that’s there!  I chose not to because you need to buy a ticket to do so, but I instead bought myself some fresh fruit and a baguette (and some wine), and had a picnic lunch with my friends along the banks of the river just next to the bridge.  It was the most perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful Provençal sun, and watch all of the boaters in the river.  There are boats for hire along the river, so that would be a great option if you have a nice day!  Avignon also advertises ways to see the fields of lavender that Provence is so famous for, and I highly recommend you find a way to see them.  Standing before rolling hills of beautiful lavender is one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve been lucky enough to experience- it certainly is a highlight of Provence.

Overall Opinion: I truly enjoyed visiting Avignon, and I hope that I get the opportunity to go back and explore it some more!  Avignon is different than Aix-en-Provence in that it’s much smaller and quieter, but it still has a distinct life of its own.  Much of the architecture in Avignon is different than other architecture found in different towns in Provence, which makes it a great place to walk around and get lost.  If you’re there to see the “sights”, you probably won’t need much more than a day or two to see everything, but give Avignon the time it deserves.  Embrace the slow, Provençal pace of life, and enjoy the beautiful sunshine with a glass (or bottle!) of rosé wine- you won’t regret it!

Where to stay: Unfortunately, there aren’t really great options for cheap accommodation in Cambridge.  There are a lot of Airbnb rentals listed, but most of them are pricier than in other cities.  There are two hostels listed on Hostelworld, but neither is priced at a hostel-level.  My recommendation would be to book early and try to grab one of the cheaper Airbnb rooms (there are some good ones!), or to schedule a day-trip to Cambridge while you stay in another city in England.  If your Airbnb comes with the use of a bike, that would be a huge bonus, as Cambridge is extremely bike-able.

Where to eat: ​Cambridge is very much a student city, so I would recommend checking out the plentiful array of pubs and coffee shops.  Go local in this city!  There are some really great spots to grab some classic English fare.  While I don’t have any recommendations on specific restaurants, this is the kind of city where wandering around and stumbling upon a small pub will be the best way to go!

What to do: ​The university dominates the sites in Cambridge, and to be honest, there aren’t a ton of other “things to see”, aside from the beautiful architecture.  Wander around the different colleges of the university, and choose the ones that would be most interesting to you.  Be sure to find the Bridge of Sighs at St. John’s College (modeled after the one in Venice), as it’s in a bit of a quieter area and is also surrounded by a gorgeous green space.  If you want a true stereotypically Cambridge experience, try taking a punting tour on the River Cam!  You’ll get a great view of the university in a way that most people don’t ever get to see, and some great insights from your guide.

Overall Opinion: ​I really loved Cambridge just because of how truly beautiful it is!  The university buildings are absolutely gorgeous, and the city feels like a quaint English city that’s ripe for exploring.  Cambridge is certainly the type of city you’d be able to visit in a day trip, but that doesn’t mean it should be missed! Definitely add Cambridge to your list if you’ll be in England for a while and have the time to stop by.  If you’re choosing between Oxford and Cambridge, however, I think I’m Team Oxford- Oxford has more to see and do when compared to Cambridge (in my opinion).

Where to stay: There are some really amazing Airbnb hosts in Oxford, and I would definitely recommend checking one out.  As far as I’m aware, there’s only one hostel in the city, but it doesn’t have a very good rating on hostelworld.com, so I avoided it by going with Airbnb.  Fortunately, Oxford isn’t a huge city, and there’s a great bus system, so even if your Airbnb room isn’t in the city centre, you’ll still be able to either walk there or take the bus when it’s raining.  Some Airbnbs in Oxford even offer the use of a bicycle, so if you’re provided with that option, I’d definitely take it- Oxford is a very bike-able city!  Just watch out for cyclists if you’re walking around the city, they were described to me as “silent assassins”, and I whole-heartedly agree- they will not stop for you if you get in their way, and you probably won’t be able to hear them coming!

Where to eat: ​As with most other English cities, there are some great pubs in Oxford to check out.  If you’re looking for a famous pub, try the Turf Tavern, located down an alley just by the Bridge of Sighs.  There are a ton of rumors and historical scuttlebutt associated with this pub, and they serve great beers/ciders and pub food!  Additionally, within the university, there’s a great little café/restaurant called The Vaults and Garden which is a great place to grab lunch or tea while touring or exploring the university buildings.  There are also some great artisan cafés located around the city, especially near the college, so on a rainy day stop in one to get a cappuccino or tea!

What to do: ​The biggest and most well-known attractions in Oxford all have to do with the university, and rightly so!  I would first recommend walking around the old part of the city in which the university is centered to just admire the beautiful architecture.  The buildings in the city are absolutely spectacular, and they’re worth some time.  If you’re a Harry Potter fan, there are a few other things that you’ll want to check out as well.  Head over to the Bodleian Library early in the morning to sign up for a tour.  There’s only a limited amount of spaces on these tours, and they regularly sell out!  This will allow you to go into the Divinity School (where the hospital wing and other Harry Potter scenes were filmed), as well as the Duke Humphrey’s Library, where the restricted section scenes from Harry Potter were filmed.  Even if you aren’t interested in the Harry Potter films, I would recommend taking this tour, as it will teach you a TON about the history and inner workings of the library system at Oxford (which is seriously impressive), and it will give you an inside look into one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve ever seen.  After you sign up for that tour, you may have some time before your tour actually starts, so check out one of the free walking tours that leave from Broad Street.  I took the Footprints 2-Hour Free Walking Tour, and thought that it was definitely worth the time.  The guide was super informative, and I was able to get a much better idea of the history of the city.  Also be sure to check out some of the other colleges in the city because they’re all super beautiful.  The cloisters in New College were also used in some of the Harry Potter films!

Overall Opinion: Oxford is one of my favorite cities in England- I absolutely love the history of the city and university, as well as the architecture of the buildings.  You can easily spend a couple of days in Oxford exploring the city and university, and enjoying the truly unique atmosphere that the city offers.  Make sure to spend some time wandering through the buildings, grabbing an afternoon tea, and having a pint in a traditional pub to thoroughly enjoy the “Oxford experience”!  Also remember, if you’re a university student in the United Kingdom, especially if your school is in the Russell Group, you’ll be able to gain access to all of the resources in the Bodleian Library.  It’s a fairly easy process, so if you think it’s something that you’ll be able to use, I highly recommend checking it out!

Where to stay: London can be quite a pricey city to stay in, especially depending on the neighborhood you choose.  There are Airbnb options, although they are actually more expensive than some of the other options that are in better locations.  I would recommend finding a hostel in London, as there are a lot of really low-priced options in really excellent areas.  Try staying in the Victoria neighborhood, because you’ll be in walking distance to the coach and train station, as well as many of the most recognizable tourist attractions in the city.  Make sure that where ever you stay is near a Tube station, and you’ll never be far from anything else you might want to see while you’re in London.

Where to eat: ​London can also be a really expensive place to eat, but particularly in the biggest tourist areas.  While you’re sightseeing, try to hop on the Tube and go a stop or two away from the attraction you were at, and find a pub to grab some food and a pint- you’ll most likely have a much better meal for much less money.  If you’re looking for a more interesting experience, head over to Camden Market (also called Camden Lock) where you’ll find a ton of food stalls with food from all over the world.  It’s all low priced, and there are tables and such to eat outside near the water, as well as some tables in the indoor bit of the market area for when it’s raining.  Even in the winter, this is a really fun thing to do- and don’t forget to check out the other vendors that are there selling everything from crafts and art to records, clothes, and jewelry.  It’s truly a one-of-a-kind place in an “off-beat” part of London.

What to do: ​There is a nearly endless list of things that can keep you occupied in London, and it’s understandably hard to choose where to start.  Below is a list of some off-the-beaten-track options, as well as some classic London spots that are not to be missed!

• Go online and check out tours of the Parliament building, you’ll get a guided tour inside as well as up-close view of Big Ben without a million tourists standing in front of you.  A lot of people miss this, probably because they don’t realize that it’s even an option, but it’s a cool experience to learn about how British politics work, and to see some beautiful rooms that have strongly figured into British history.  Remember to book this in advance, as you’ll have to print and bring your tickets with you to get in.
• ​Head over to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which is just across the river from St. Paul’s Cathedral.  This theatre is located near where the original Globe Theatre was, and produces Shakespearian plays (and other period plays) as they would have been performed in Shakespeare’s time.  If you’re interested in this particular history or in theatre, you can take a guided tour of the theatre.  If you just want the experience, however, try to get tickets to one of the shows!  In the summer, you can buy “groundling” tickets, which allow you a standing-only space on the ground in front of the stage.  It isn’t very glamorous, but it is an authentic way to view these great plays.  In the winter, they produce plays in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which is a replica of an indoor playhouse from the same period.  There aren’t groundling tickets for this theatre, but you can still get fairly inexpensive seats, and it’s a truly amazing experience- there’s no electricity used!  (They light the plays with candelabras)
• If you’re looking for good views of London, head over to the London Eye.  This is probably one of the most recognized tourist attractions in the city, but it is a really amazing way to get a bird’s-eye view.  Make sure that you book online ahead of time, and you’ll be able to avoid waiting on any lines.
• Trying to get a moment out of the hustle and bustle?  Head over to Regents Park- a beautiful green space in central London!
• What would a trip to London be without a stop at Buckingham Palace?  During certain times of the year, you can purchase tickets to tour the palace and part of the grounds, but during the rest of the year you’ll have to settle for marveling at its beauty from outside the gate.  You might even be able to time your stop at Buckingham with the Changing of the Guards- it’s quite a spectacle, and if you’re looking to see some stereotypically “British” sites, it’s about as close as you’ll get!
• ​My favorite attraction in London is the Tower of London.  The history of this fortress is truly incredible, and it is presented really well for visitors today.  There are tours given by Yeoman Warders included in the admission price, and they’re absolutely fantastic.  The guides know the Tower inside and out, and they give the tours in a very fun way which makes it interesting for everyone.  I’ve gone on these tours twice, and they were both very funny!  For this attraction, think about purchasing your ticket when you arrive.  You may need to wait on a line, but the price is actually less by around a pound (£) than if you were to buy the tickets online.​

Overall Opinion: I absolutely love London, and after visiting several times I’ve found that it’s a city that I can really feel comfortable in.  Although it is a major city, and is quite fast-paced, there is also a certain elegance about it that I haven’t found in many other capital cities.  London is the type of city that you’ll want to spend quite a while in to give it its due justice.  If you’re spending only a weekend, try to pick the sites that will be most important for you to see, and plan ahead to make sure you won’t be waiting on lines of tourists the whole time.  If you are only spending a weekend here, don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the spirit of the city- it’s an amazing mix of history and modern British culture, and spending time to wander around is key to enjoying it!

Where to stay: ​I haven’t personally stayed overnight in Bath because I haven’t really needed to (one day is plenty of time to see Bath!), but it looks like there are a couple of great options on Hostelword. It would be ideal to find accommodation near the centre of the city where all of the shopping and attractions are.  When I visited Bath, I spent that entire day walking around and was able to cover a large part of the city, so you should be within walking distance of some great things no matter where you are!

Where to eat:  The Pump Room is attached, essentially, to the Roman Baths right in the middle of the city, and it looks absolutely beautiful, the perfect place to enjoy a proper Afternoon Tea!  It may be a little pricey, but I think it may also be one of those experience things if you’re willing to go for it!  There’s also some small cafés and pubs scattered around the city which are just heavenly.

What to do: ​Bath is known as one of the most famous hot spring cities in the Roman Empire.  The Roman baths are still there, and available for you to visit, and it’s not to be missed!  You do have to pay for entry, but you get to walk through the entire museum and ruins with a very informative audio guide.  At the end of the museum, you even get to try some of the water from the springs (it’s warm and tastes more like iron then water, just a forewarning…)  I would also recommend walking up to the top of the Bath Abbey- the Abbey is right next to the baths, and they offer a tour which brings you to the very top of the tower.  The view from the top is one of the most breathtaking sites you’ll be able to see in a city, and you can even see a bird’s eye view of the Roman baths because they’re right next to the cathedral!  I ended my day in Bath by having a coffee at a café on the Pulteney Bridge, which is a bridge that crosses the Avon River and has stores and such built onto it (much like a smaller version of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence!)  I would definitely recommend at least checking the bridge out, as the area is very pretty.  There are even some restaurants underneath and next to it that would give you a great little place to eat and enjoy some beautiful scenery.

Overall Opinion: I truly enjoyed my trip to Bath, and I’m very excited that I’ll be getting to visit it again in July!  I really love Roman history, so Bath is a really cool place to visit from that respect.  I also really love that it’s a pretty laid back city that is still really gorgeous and has enough to see and do to keep you occupied, even if that means just walking the streets an admiring the architecture or sitting at a café and people watching.  When we first drove into the city, my first thought was “this looks like the English version of the South of France!”, and I really think it is- it has just the right amount of charm and quirkiness mixed in with a subtle beauty, great sites, and a great atmosphere.  Definitely a to-see city!

Where to stay: Copenhagen is a great city with many different accommodation options.  I did not personally stay in the city, but I do know that there are plenty of hostels available, as well as Airbnb options.  Staying near the old part of the city will be your best bet (as usual), because there’s a lot to see and do within walking distance!

Where to eat: If you’re in Copenhagen when the weather is nice, try finding a spot at one of the outdoor cafés at the old harbor.  The scenery at the harbor is colorful and gorgeous, and there’s plenty of places to eat or grab a pint.  If you’re looking for something really affordable and different, try out Copenhagen Street Food.  Copenhagen is in the process of renovating the waterfront area to make it very affordable and pedestrian friendly.  Part of this project has been to turn two warehouses into a space where local vendors have come to bring all sorts of different food at extremely low prices.  I’m pretty sure I even heard someone say that the food is price-controlled here, so they can’t charge over a certain amount!  There’s a whole outdoor eating area, as well as places inside, so you’re sure to find a place to sit, relax, and enjoy the beautiful new harbor space!

What to do: Copenhagen is the type of city where you can just walk forever and continue to find new and interesting things to see.  I would recommend starting your day by taking a free walking tour of the city.  The one that I took started at the beginning of the large pedestrian street, and was really amazing.  This will give you a really great intro to the city, and help you to decide what else you might want to see or do!  They also offer a night-time pub crawl if you’re interested in checking something like that out.  There’s a ton of museums in the city, many of which have free entry, so if you’re on a budget, that would be another great thing to check out.  You should also be sure to spend an afternoon down at the old harbor wandering around.  There are boat tours available (your tour guide will give you some advice about these) which take you on a nice boat ride through the waterways of the city, giving you a much different perspective of Copenhagen.  There’s also a theatre at the waterfront, as well as tons of cafés, restaurants, and bars, all of which have a great atmosphere.

Overall Opinion: I absolutely loved Copenhagen- it was one of those cities that I walked through thinking that I could definitely live there.  It’s a very “homey” city, meaning that it’s very comfortable to walk around, and the locals are extremely friendly and welcoming.  I also thought that the city was just really beautiful, the architecture is gorgeous.  There are a ton of great cafés to explore, beautiful sail boats at the harbor, and it is extremely pedestrian friendly.  Just as an example, Copenhagen is home to the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe at just over a kilometer (trust me, it’s quite long, I walked it…). I would definitely recommend visiting Copenhagen and enjoying all that this amazing Scandinavian city has to offer. As an added bonus, Copenhagen is located very close to some great spots in Sweden, so there are plenty of opportunities for day trips!

Where to stay: ​I stayed in a really great Airbnb while staying in Brno.  I found that the hostel options weren’t as great as I’d like, and thought it’d be good to be staying with a local in such a small and non-touristy city.  Our flat was on the street that’s apparently becoming known as the “bar area”, although it wasn’t loud at night, that only meant that there were great bars and restaurants around!  My recommendation is to stay somewhere in the historic part of the city/near the center.  Everything from there will be within walking distance, and we felt super safe, even at night.

Where to eat: One of the best things about Brno was how cheap it was to eat!  Like, seriously cheap to eat. One dollar is worth around 25 Czech Korunas, so the exchange rate is definitely in your favor!  We wanted to eat out at a nicer restaurant while we were in Brno to take advantage of this, and we found a great little place called Tulip.  It was really great food, great service, and a low price, what more could you ask!  If you’re looking for some really great Czech food, try Restaurace Spalicek.  It has a great area outside to sit and eat, and the menu is fantastic.  On the street where we were staying, there is a bar which translates to “The Bar that Doesn’t Exist”, and it was seriously cool, I would definitely recommend checking it out.  It doesn’t have much in the way of food (although it does serve awesome sliders), but the cocktail and liquor choices are great!

What to do: If you’re looking for some great views over the city, I would definitely recommend hiking up to the castle which is at the top of the hill overlooking the city.  We sat and had a glass of wine at the café, but didn’t go inside of the museum- the outside of the building was pretty all on its own! The other place you should definitely go is to the top of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul- you can climb up to the top of the towers, but the whole area is full of really beautiful architecture, a great place to go exploring!  I also went on a field trip from Brno to the Punkva Caves- they’re a series of caves in a mountain about a half hour outside of the city.  The cool thing about these particular caves is that there is also a subterranean river inside, so the tour includes a walking tour of the dry bit and a boat ride in the river.  The tour is in Czech, but you can ask for a pamphlet in English that describe what the tour guide says.  You can also take a cable car ride to the top of the mountain where there is a great overlook and a restaurant- we had lunch after our tour and it was such a perfect way to spend the afternoon!

Overall Opinion: Brno was such a great city to spend a few days in, and I’m so glad that we went.  It is nearly untouched by tourism, which is super refreshing, and so many of the locals are very friendly and willing to help foreigners, even if they don’t speak English.  It also doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the cheapest cities I’ve ever been to.  If you’re looking to have an authentic Czech experience with meeting some Czech people and experiencing the culture, I would definitely recommend Brno over Prague.  It doesn’t have as many “sites”, but as the second biggest city in the country, it still has all of the architecture and things to do to keep you busy!

Where to stay: I have never stayed in Bruges overnight because there really isn’t a need to unless you want a nice relaxing weekend of wandering around.  If you do want to stay overnight, though, I would go with an Airbnb rental, as most of the hostels are close in price to Airbnb anyway, and their ratings aren’t that great.  Bruges has a lovely old center, and you’ll definitely want to be staying in that part of the city.  The streets are cobblestones, and there are tons of chocolate shops, restaurants, and cafes to give you plenty to do when you’re staying in the middle of it all.

Where to eat: If you’re in Bruges in the summer (July-September ish), and you like seafood, you really need to try Moules Frites.  This dish is fairly common all along the coast in Normandy and Belgium, and it’s certainly a specialty of that region of the world.  The dish consists of a bucket of mussels in some sort of sauce (white wine, garlic, etc.) and a basket of french fries.  It seems basic enough, but you can’t walk the streets of Bruges without seeing the outdoor cafés full of orders of these!  As far as snack foods go, you’ll definitely want to try some chocolate.  Bruges chocolate is unlike any other I’ve ever had (and that’s a pretty significant statement!), so you should absolutely head into a chocolatier shop to pick some up.  Godiva is actually a Belgian chocolate brand, but try going to a more local shop- this way you’re trying something that you can only really get there.  I personally liked the chocolate shop Dumon.  It’s in a big square, and has a ton of different options in terms of flavors and combinations, and the prices aren’t too bad!  The other snack specialty is the Belgian waffle, so make sure to hit up a snack stand for one of those tasty treats!

What to do: ​One of the best things about Bruges is that there aren’t a thousand and one places that you might feel “required” to see while you’re there.  The biggest claim to fame for this town is the Bruges Madonna, a statue carved by Michelangelo in the cathedral, which has been recently featured in The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel.  Aside from this one attraction, there are several museums in Bruges, but the real attraction is the beauty of the city.  There are many canals running through the city center which serve no purpose in modern times other than to escort tourists around on boats.  Although this does sound like a fairly tourist-y thing to do, it’s certainly worth doing on a beautiful day because you’re able to get some amazing views of the city’s architecture from a unique perspective on the water.  There is also the Bruges Belfry, which is a tall tower right in the main square of the town.  You’re able to climb this tower, and it will provide you with spectacular views of the city.  Just choose when you decide to go carefully, as the lines can get pretty long and there is only room for a fairly small number of people at the top of the tower.

Overall Opinion: Bruges is a really gorgeous city, and it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re headed through or near Belgium.  It has fairly easy access from both France and Holland, so it could make a good day trip from many places.  Although the city itself is a bit touristy, if you’re looking for a completely picturesque small village to explore, this one will more than likely fit the bill!