Welcome to Around Europe!
Hi, we’re Nik and Neva—travelers at heart and now on a mission to visit every single country in Europe… with a toddler in tow!
We’ve been exploring this beautiful continent for as long as we can remember. We love nature, good coffee, discovering local cuisine, and helping others plan unforgettable European adventures.
Our Story
We both grew up in Bulgaria, right on the Black Sea Coast, and were lucky to travel extensively with our parents. From mountains and ruins to charming old towns, we’ve visited every corner of Bulgaria more than once. That early exposure sparked our lifelong passion for travel.
We later moved to Bavaria in Germany for university and spent weekends exploring Bavaria—beautiful towns, alpine lakes, and hidden gems. Even with a student budget, we found ways to travel often: to Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Along the way, we became well-versed in both iconic cities like Florence, London, and Vienna, as well as off-the-beaten-path favorites like Modena and Merano in Italy.
Since starting our full-time jobs in 2019, we’ve expanded our travels even further to include Portugal, Spain, Finland, and Denmark. We’ve journeyed from Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden) to the southern coast (Spain, Italy, Greece), and from the east (Bulgaria) to the west (Portugal).
Since 2024, we’ve been a family of three—and we haven’t stopped exploring! Our toddler has already been to six countries in his first year. While traveling with a child can be a challenge, it’s also incredibly rewarding.
We’ve discovered ways to make it easier and more fun, and we’re excited to share our tips for family travel across Europe.
Our Areas of Expertise
We don’t just visit places—we get to know them deeply. Here are the countries we know best:
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
This is home. We both grew up on the Black Sea coast and have explored every corner—from mountains and monasteries to ancient ruins and charming towns.
🇫🇮 Finland
One of our favorite places in Europe. We’ve visited multiple times and keep going back—drawn by the Arctic nature, peaceful atmosphere, and family-friendly adventures.
🇩🇪 Germany
We’ve been based in Bavaria since 2011. Southern Germany is our backyard, and we’ve spent years discovering its castles, lakes, villages, and cities.
🇮🇹 Italy
Practically a second home. We’ve returned every year for the past decade (often up to 4 times a year), visiting both famous cities and hidden gems off the beaten path.
Where We’ve Been in Europe
Here are all the countries we’ve explored:
📍 Austria – Vienna, Krems, Salzburg, Innsbruck
📍 Belgium — Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven
📍 Bulgaria — Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Rila, Pirin and many many more
📍 Czech Republic — Prague
📍 Denmark — Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus
📍 Finland — Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Ranua, Luosto
📍 France — Paris, Lyon
📍 Germany — Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Nuremberg and many many more
📍 Greece — Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete, Thassos
📍 Ireland and Northern Ireland — Dublin, Belfast
📍 Italy — Rome, Milan, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Verona, Lake Garda, Venice, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Parma, Bologna, Modena, Merano
📍 Netherlands — Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Maastricht
📍 Portugal — Lisbon, Sintra, Colares
📍 Romania — Sibiu, Timişoara, Oradea
📍 Spain — Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Seville, Cadiz, Córdoba, Ronda
📍 Sweden — Stockholm, Malmö
📍 Switzerland — Geneva
📍 United Kingdom — London (9 times), Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh
Our Goal
A few years ago, we made it our mission to visit every country in Europe.
Instead of traveling to far-flung tropical islands, we’re focused on discovering the diversity of our own continent—from Iceland’s geysers to Spain’s deserts, the Arctic wilderness of Lapland, the golden beaches of Bulgaria to many ancient towns steeped in thousands of years of history.
Europe truly has it all. And even though many places are popular with tourists, there are still countless hidden corners where you can enjoy peace, nature, and culture.
Countries still on our list to visit:
Balkans
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Croatia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Montenegro
- Albania
- North Macedonia
Baltic States
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
Northern Europe
- Iceland
- Norway
Central Europe
- Hungary
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Andorra
Why We Started Blogging
Travel has been part of our lives since childhood, and over time it turned into a real passion. We love discovering new places and sharing our experiences and tips with friends and family. That’s how the idea for this blog was born.
We created Around Europe as a space to share everything we know with travelers from around the world who want to explore Europe.
While we don’t skip the famous sights, we also focus on insider info, lesser-known spots, and practical advice drawn from real experiences.
Whether it’s the perfect cup of coffee or a scenic family-friendly hike, everything we recommend is something we’ve personally tried—so you can count on our advice being honest and reliable.
We hope to make your trip planning easier, your experiences more authentic, and your love for Europe even deeper. Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve seen it all, we’re here to help you dive into the flavors, sights, and culture that make each destination unique.
Thanks for joining us on this journey! We hope you enjoy reading our blog as much as we enjoy creating it.
Nik & Neva