I had never heard of Skagen in Denmark until visiting my friend who lived in Aarhus. Knowing literally nothing about it, immediately I said yes. And I was so glad I did. Even though we visited in the off season in winter, November to be precise, I felt like I was able to get a…
Belogradchik Fortress is one of those places tourists often skip when planning a Bulgaria itinerary, whether it’s because of its remote location or, more likely, because they’ve never heard of it at all. But honestly, both those reasons are exactly why it’s so magical. And in three years of living and traveling Bulgaria, the day…
From alpine lakes to museum towns, here are tons of day trip ideas from funky Sofia.
![Seven Rila Lakes Hike, Bulgaria: The Definitive Guide [2026]](https://eternalarrival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Rila-Lakes-4EDB20B6-D6C6-458A-8FDF-5E699611E7D4-768x513.jpeg)
Bulgaria is made for hiking… in fact, more than 20% of the country is covered in mountains, making a good hike rarely far away. As a big lover of the mountains, that was exactly why I chose to live in Sofia of all places: I loved the constant view of Mount Vitosha, towering 2,290 meters…
If you’ve seen even one photo of Meteora, you probably have already decided that it’s a must on any Greece mainland itinerary. Giant rock pillars rising from the landscape, with monasteries balanced on top as precarious as Jenga towers and endless valley views below… it’s one of those places that doesn’t look real, until you…
I won’t bury the lede here: I didn’t hate visiting Pompeii without a guide. How could you? It’s one of the best-preserved, vastest archaeological sites in the world. But also, I wouldn’t do it that way again. While I have to admit that Naples is probably my least favorite city in Italy, I’ll happily give…
The gateway to the spectacular Valley of the Temples, the historic city of Agrigento is one of the most popular places to visit in Sicily. Whether you only have a few days or you’re planning a longer road trip around Sicily, you should absolutely spend at least a day in Agrigento and appreciate its small-town…
Picture a gorgeous hilltop city tucked between the smaller foothills, standing out against the Sicilian landscape. A Goldilocks destination of sorts: close to busier, popular tourist spots on the island like Siracusa and Catania — and yet nice and, dare I say it, even quiet… by Sicilian standards. For those reasons (and more), I visited…
Catania is a captivating Sicilian city right at the foot of Mount Etna, deserving of more attention than it gets. While it’s best known for its gorgeous Baroque architecture and charming historical town, Catania also has stunningly gorgeous views of the spectacular (and spectacularly active) volcano. When living in Italy, I made several trips to Sicily, and…