Japan is such a wonderful country! “The land of the rising sun”, of cool toilets (yes, you might have heard about those!), of awesome food and of an evident culture of respect.
With a good balance between modern technologies and traditions, Japan is mostly known for its delicious food, its advanced technology and efficiency, and the contrast between traditional buildings and futuristic architectural projects.
11 Top Tips for Traveling to Japan
How Long Should You Spend in Japan?
An ideal time to spend in Japan would be at least 2 weeks, during which you could visit the main cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. If you have limited time, such as 5 days, you might want to restrict yourself to seeing just one of these cities.
A month would mean that you have more time to spend in each destination, and also the chance to discover places out of the city, such as Tsumago and Mount Fuji. You might also like to explore the island destinations of Ōkunoshima (rabbit island!) and Hokkaido (great for skiing in the winter!).
When to Go to Japan
The good thing is that Japan is beautiful in every season, and you’ll get different experiences depending on when you decide to go.
During the spring, you’ll be able to see the wonderful cherry blossoms in bloom and participate in many festivals around the country. Keep in mind that this season, even if you get the best temperatures, prices get quite inflated.
During the summer it is quite hot and humid, but you could see fireworks shows and you might considering climb Mount Fuji (in July). In autumn you’ll have less crowds and lots of colorful leaves on the streets. In winter you might want to ski or to see the cute little towns getting covered with snow.
Language
Although many people in Tokyo and main tourist
areas may speak English, Japanese is the main language and is widely spoken.
Learning a few polite phrases will help to get you far and you will be welcomed
by the locals!
Tradition and Culture
Remember that when you travel to Japan you are arriving in a country where traditions and culture might be very different from what you are used to. But you should always mind them to show respect. For example, try to bow back when someone bows to you.
You might not want to delve so deep into Japanese culture that you know all of the different types of bows, but just try your best. Locals will understand it and really appreciate it.
I suggest you pick up a Japan travel guidebook before you go and flip through it, as you’ll learn a few of the cultural missteps to avoid.
Additionally, it is important to remember that in Japan, tipping is not common, and it might actually be considered offensive.
Budgeting Tips for Traveling to Japan
As you might already know, Japan is not the cheapest country to travel to. Yes, it might have perfectly functioning and comfortable transportation, but it comes at a cost.
If you want to save some money, you should take the 7 day JR pass (Japan Rail Pass), which allows you to access any JR line in the country. Prices start from around $275 USD (as of July 2019). This comes handy and worth it especially if you’re planning to visit Japan and visit more than one city and get to know the country a bit more.
On the other hand, if you only want to stay in Tokyo you might consider purchasing single tickets: it will probably be more convenient. But if you want them, you need to order them online at JRailPass.com, don’t forget!
Cash vs. Card in Japan
To continue with the money talk, keep in mind that Japan is still mainly a cash country.
While major credit cards will work in hotel chains, some restaurants or shops in bigger cities, if you’re willing to see more of Japan, it is recommended to take some cash. 7- Bank is the one that usually offers the best exchange rates.
(Editor’s note: I often struggled to find an ATM that accepted my American card, but usually I could find one that dispensed cash at a 7/11, which are everywhere in Japan!)
Food in Japan
We talked about Japan being expensive but it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way.
For example, there are a lot of pretty cheap ramen, yakitori, and ikazaya spots. Izakayas are a place to drink and eat: a mixture of a pub and a cheap restaurant, where you can have a nice and social night! 1000 Yen meals are possible to find if you search – this is around $8.50 USD.
Convenience Stores
Additionally, Japan and Asia in general offer real convenience at convenience stores.
They are open 24/7, and you can buy pretty much everything, even though in Japan the most interesting would be the food section!
(Editor’s Note: 7/11 and Family Mart are the most common; a few things you have to try are onigiri rice snacks, bento boxed meals, and matcha green tea KitKat bars!)
Accommodations
Accommodation is usually the most expensive part of traveling to Japan. Some actually go for the claustrophobic capsule hotels, which might turn out to be an experience on its own!
For budget travelers, the price of dorm beds often starts around $24 USD, which is more than double the price of beds in South East Asia.
You might have better luck picking an Airbnb in Tokyo or other Japanese cities as opposed to traditional hotels, which tend to be more expensive.
It’s completely normal to pay over $120 USD per night in Japan. The Ritz Carlton comes in at a whopping $850 USD per night on average!
Best Places to Visit in Japan
When traveling in Japan, the best cities to visit, which will give you a good view of the country overall are Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hakone.
Tokyo is a very interesting city, which offers some different (crazy) experiences, diverse neighborhoods and where you could try out some amazing food.
There are also lots of fun things to do in Tokyo with kids, from themed restaurants to the teamLab exhibit with lots of cool optical illusions, so this is a good place to base yourself as a family.
Kyoto is filled with culture and temples, a destination where you will see more of the traditional side to Japan. Some of the best temples in Kyoto include Kiyomizu-Dera, Tenryuji, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine.
In Hakone, you can relax in an onsen (hot tub) with the scenery of the Mount Fuji! Hakone is located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park west of Tokyo.
It’s a mountainous town and also famous for the Hakone Shrine – the Shinto temple with a ‘Torii gate’ looking over Lake Ashi.
Nature in Japan
If you want to experience the beautiful nature Japan has to offer to its visitors, you might want to go out of the cities. Waterfalls, lakes, mountains… if you are a nature lover, you’ll find loads to do.
Hiking trails, monkeys, and bears: Japan is not only about the skyscrapers and the crazy technology!
Now that you know just a little bit more about Japan and have read some of the top tips for traveling to Japan, go ahead and book your trip. It is a fascinating and charming country which you won’t get disappointed by!
Author Bio: Amy spends her time predominantly exploring Europe, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. She has an MA in South Asian studies from The University of Manchester and is now based in Liverpool, UK with her husband and Patterdale terrier, Blake. Her interest in world religion means that she is frequently temple-seeking! Always on the hunt for cathedrals, temples, mosques and historical sites, she loves to portray this in her work. For more blogs from Amy, see her travel sites: Temple Seeker, Game of Thrones Travel, and Globo Trav.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
I’ve spent the majority of the last two and a half years backpacking, living, and traveling around Europe.
I’ve visited about 80% of the countries that make up this big and diverse continent and travel around Europe since I’m based in Bulgaria and it’s quite easy to hop around for cheap from Sofia (I love you, Wizz Air).
I have a lot of opinions on what makes the best backpack for backpacking Europe: lightweight and optimized for travel rather than hiking. Unless, of course, you plan to use your backpack for multi-day treks — then by all means, you want a proper hiking backpack (and I’ve included one in this list).
My #1 Pick: Tortuga Setout Backpack
Best backpack for: long-term Europe travelers who want a hyper-organized backpack that can still fit most carry-on restrictions
I’ve had a Tortuga backpack since winter 2015, and its inaugural trip was to the far northern reaches of Swedish Lapland, chasing the Northern lights. It was my first time traveling with a proper backpack and my mind was blown.
Whereas my friend I was traveling with had a heavy, enormous nearly 50-lb. suitcase for a 1-week trip, I felt basically invincible (even when I got stuck in a massive snowbank and had to throw myself chest-first down a pile of snow like a penguin in order to not miss the only train of the day)….
Fast forward to 2018 and it’s held up remarkably well – it lost a few stitches here and there but it’s still in good shape and I’ve now gifted it to my boyfriend, who is ridiculously happy with it. Since I’ve been recommending Tortuga to travelers for the last few years, Tortuga offered to send me a complimentary version of their new backpack so I can see the improvements they’ve made. Let me tell you – as someone who loved the original Tortuga, this is a big upgrade!
Why do I love it so much? Let me count the ways!
45L capacity with three equally useful main compartments: one for a laptop and other flat objects, one giant rectangular compartment perfect for packing cubes stuffed with clothing, and one smaller compartment with pockets for passports, pens, odds and ends, etc. that I stash all my extras in – plus one small outer zipper pocket for anything you want quick access to
Water bottle holder on the outside as well as buckles so that you can strap something like a yoga mat to the outside
Comfortable to wear, with a padded hip belt and comfort-molding shoulder straps complete with a chest strap so that you can distribute weight perfectly across your body in the event that you need to wear your backpack for longer than usual. Check out more specs and details here.
Runner Up: Osprey Farpoint 40
Best backpack for: Europe travelers who want to hike with their travel backpack
Osprey is a much-loved brand by outdoorsy types, and the Farpoint 40 is also the perfect size for carry-on travel and city breakers. I especially like that it opens from the side like a suitcase like the Tortuga does, rather than packing from the top like most hiking bags do. Honestly, top-loading backpacks are the worst possible way to pack for backpackers. Yes, they fit a ton of stuff, but it also means that you’ll find yourself disemboweling your entire backpack nearly every time you’re looking for a specific shirt. Trust me, I’ve seen this happen in basically every dorm room I’ve stayed in and it’s never pretty.
The main reason that I prefer Tortuga to the Osprey is that it has more pouches and creative places for pockets. On the other hand, the Osprey is specifically designed for hiking, so it’s less about organization and more about ergonomics. It has some handy things like load lifters (the small straps at the top of your backpack straps) which help you adjust the weight distribution of your bag, great for hiking. The mesh back of the Farpoint is great for sweaty hiking days, as it lets your backpack “breathe” more against your back.
Here are the best features of the Osprey backpack:
LightWire frame suspension: This is a fancy way of saying the Osprey is really ergonomically designed, and the harness transfers the bulk of the weight to your hip belt, which is the easiest place to carry weight.
Mesh back panels: These prevent sweating on your back, but there are also mesh panels on the hip belt, which helps reduce chafing and sweating.
Stow-away straps: If you want to use your Osprey handheld like a duffel bag for transport, you can easily store all the suspension straps under a zippered panel. There are top and side panels which make it easy for you to handle.
Front compression straps: To help you squeeze in that last bit of stuff without going over your carry-on limit!
If I wanted my main Europe travel backpack to also double as a hiking backpack, it’d be a hard call between the Tortuga and the Osprey but I’d give the point to Osprey for being better suited for hiking. Otherwise, if you’re just staying in cities with maybe a few small day hikes thrown in, I’d opt for the Tortuga for its far superior organization system.
Runner Up: Pacsafe Venturesafe EXP45
Best backpack for: Europe travel if you’re more concerned about pickpockets and theft than ergonomics and weight
My travel daypack is a Pacsafe, and I use it in conjunction with my Tortuga backpack as my home-away-from-home when I’m on the road. I pile all my electronics and valuables in my Pacsafe Citysafe Backpack and wear that on my front where I can keep an eye on it, while my Tortuga backpack holds all my clothes and other random bits. I usually buy Priority boarding for a few dollars extra when flying Ryanair or Wizzair and use that bag as my personal item and my Tortuga as my carry-on.
However, if you just want one carry-on travel backpack for Europe that also has some kickass security features baked in, this is the bag for you. The Venturesafe has the following security features:
eXomesh Slashguard: A flexible steel wire mesh concealed and built into the bag to prevent slash-and-run would-be thieves
ToughZip Zipper: An endurant zipper that prevents tampering and breaking
Roobar Anti-Theft Anchor Lock: A head-scratching anchor lock that lets you lock up your zippers or even attach to cable to make your bag even harder to get into. You can even add a padlock for added security. My CItysafe backpack has something similar and I absolutely love it – it makes me feel really safe from thieves.
Interlocking Zippers: Zippers that slide in neatly to lock together, making it virtually impossible for any but the most nimble-fingered thieves to tamper with without your knowledge.
Basically, the Venturesafe backpack makes it so cumbersome to pick your pocket that no thief would bother – they’d move onto another, far easier target.
However, there is a disadvantage – all of these security features make the bag a bit heavy – about 1.8 kg or 3.9 pounds without anything inside it. Amazon reviewers have rated it not quite as comfortable as other bags due to the fact there are no load lifters and the shoulder straps aren’t the most comfortable. So this is a bag more about security than functionality or comfort.
For me, I’m a huge fan of Pacsafe, but I’d probably get a smaller Pacsafe daypack or purse rather than have my entire backpack (which is mostly just clothes and random tidbits, none of which are that valuable) be protected.
Runner Up: Kelty Redwing 40L Backpack
Best backpack for: Europe travel if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend too much
Unfortunately, buying a backpack for Europe travel can be quite expensive, with most decent backpacks costing from $125-300 USD or more. On the other hand, the backpacks that are in the $50-ish range don’t have things that I consider absolute necessities like waist and shoulder straps.
Trust me – I tried using a Cabin Zero bag which was cute but didn’t have these, and I had so much pain in my shoulders from the poor weight distribution that I promptly ditched it the first chance I got. Especially if you’re traveling on an extended trip, you need these things for your comfort and back health.
Technically, this is a woman’s backpack – if you are after a men’s backpack or a unisex version of this backpack, check the Kelty Redwing 44 Backpack instead.
The best features are below:
The most affordable backpack suited for Europe travel I could find
Back and shoulder straps and load lifters to help with weight distribution and alignment
40L capacity makes it easy to take as a carry-on bag on budget flights
Runner Up: Osprey Volt 60L Backpack
Best backpack for: long-term European travelers who don’t mind checking their bags, who value capacity over organization
If you mostly travel overland (taking few flights) and really want a heavy-duty backpack that can fit a lot of stuff in it, an Osprey 60L backpack is what you need.
It’s not too big to be totally unwieldy, but it’s also able to fit all your creature comforts in it.
Osprey bags are also designed to distribute weight evenly for hiking, so if you have a lot of multi-day treks planned this is a fantastically ergonomic bag.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
It’s a bit weird to admit this as a travel blogger, but I have a nasty (and growing) fear of flying. And not just the flying itself, but everything associated with it: oversleeping and missing a morning flight, physically getting to the airport, the anxiety of being in the airport. Basically, any which way I can stress about a plane, I will.
Because of this anxiety, I’ve started limiting my flying as much as I can while still working in travel, opting for the overland option whenever viable. That’s led me to take the longer, more scenic route more times than I can count.
And while normally, that means holing myself up in a stuffy bus armed with podcasts and bus snacks and waiting on torturously long border crossings, this time was different. This time, it meant gliding peacefully as the midsummer light danced on the surface of the Baltic Sea, passing the Aland Islands and Turku Archipelago, on my way from Stockholm to Turku by ferry.
Definitely beats my standard Balkan bus journey, I can tell you that.
Note: For this journey, I partnered with Tallink Silja to write about my trip from Stockholm to Turku. I received a complimentary seaview cabin and meals on board the ship to test out their services.
The Stockholm to Turku Ferry: Times, Costs, and Details
The gorgeous Stockholm archipelago upon leaving!
The Stockholm to Turku ferry is operated by two companies, Tallink Silja and Viking. I took Tallink Silja when I went from Tallinn to Helsinki a few years ago and loved it, so I went with them again on this trip.
In this post, I will be writing about my experience on board the Baltic Princess, the ship Tallink uses on the morning ferry from Stockholm to Turku (as well on the night ferry from Turku back to Stockholm). However, out of transparency, I want you to know that Viking is an option as well.
If you want to do a daytime cruise from Stockholm to Turku, I strongly recommend it if you have the time. It’s an extremely beautiful and relaxing way to get from Sweden to Finland.
Not to mention, it’s extremely affordable. A simple ticket on board (no cabin) costs a mere 12 euros, which is pretty outstanding for an international journey that takes about 10 hours in the Nordics of all places.
My personal seaview cabin, which can fit two.
Upgrading to a cabin ups the price, but not significantly: 40 euros for an inside E or B class cabin (which can house up to 4 people, so just 10 euros apiece extra in addition to your 12 euro ticket). I had an A class cabin with sea view, which added on an extra 65 euros to my ticket cost, and could fit 2-4 people for that price.
If you really want to ball out, there are deluxe rooms, suites, and even executive suite, which include free goodies in the mini-fridge, more space, and some even have a balcony. You can book tickets online here.
Tallink Silja departs at 7:00 AM daily from the Värtahamnen port, sailing past the Stockholm Archipelago and Aland Islands. It arrives in Turku by 7:15 PM, about 11 hours of cruising as there is a one-hour time shift forward once you reach the Aland Islands.
Views leaving Stockholm on the morning ferry!
There is also the option with Viking to leave Stockholm at 7:45 AM and arrive in Turku at 7:50 PM, which departs from Stadsgården.
You can also take an overnight Stockholm to Turku ferry, which is a great way to save time if you are traveling as you don’t waste time going to or from airports, sleeping through your journey and maximizing the next day to come.
Tallink Silja operates their overnight ferry, the Galaxy, so that it leaves Stockholm at 7:30 PM and arrives in Turku at 7 AM. This gives you a little more than 10 hours to grab dinner on board, relax, and sleep so that you’ll be refreshed when you arrive in Turku.
Viking has an overnight ferry as well with similar departure and arrival times, leaving Stockholm at 8 PM and arriving in Turku at 7:35 AM.
Getting to the Stockholm Ferry Terminal
The terminal for all departing Tallink ferries from Stockholm
Depending on which ferry company you choose, there are two different terminals in Stockholm for the Stockholm-Turku ferry line.
I went with Tallink Silja which meant I departed via the Värtahamnen port in Östermalm. It’s extremely easy to get here via metro via the Gärdet metro stop – just follow the signs to Värtaterminalen.
Signage makes it easy to find the Stockholm to Turku ferry!
If you don’t want to deal with the metro in the morning, you can stay nearby the ferry terminal: there is a Scandic right on the water just a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, or there’s an affordable STF hostel with private rooms available about 20 minutes away.
If you go with Viking, you can leave via Stadsgården on the island of Södermalm, which is convenient if you are staying in that part of Stockholm or even in Gamla Stan which is pretty close by.
On Board the Baltic Princess
I opted for a daytime cruise because I wanted to cross from Sweden to Finland during the day so I could see the beautiful archipelagos and lush forested islands which dot the Baltic Sea between these two Nordic countries.
That meant going on board the Baltic Princess, one of the two ships that Tallink operates between Stockholm and Turku.
A row of cabins on the Baltic Princess
The Baltic Princess has a number of amenities that make the time on board the ship go by quite quickly. There’s a variety of restaurants offering buffet and á la carte options.
If you’re used to Scandinavian prices, the buffets are quite well-priced: 13 euros for breakfast and 28 euros for lunch which includes as much beer or wine as you like, which is quite good for this region!
There was a really wide selection of food for both breakfast and lunch and the quality was overall really high.
If I had to pick one, I’d pick the lunch buffet as I’m more of a lunch person than a breakfast person, plus the included beer/wine was quite a nice perk.
However, a note: be sure to watch the time change as you reach Aland, which marks the beginning of Finland’s time zone! We shifted forward one hour and I was working on my computer which doesn’t automatically change time zones. I came down to the lunch buffet an hour late and nearly missed it and had to stuff my face quickly in order to get my fill.
Breakfast on board the Baltic PrincessSome of the lunch buffet offerings
If you’re not a buffet person, there are plenty of other options for you. There’s also the Grill House, which serves burgers and steaks, Tavolàta which has Italian food, Happy Lobster which serves upscale seafood, or Fast Lane if you just want to grab something quick to eat (which could be a great option if you just want a simple breakfast0
There are also some bars and pubs on board, serving alcohol at quite reasonable prices (again, for the Nordics). There’s Sea Pub which focuses on beer and cider, Piano Bar which focuses on cocktails, and Starlight Palace and Klubi which were pretty quiet during the day ferry but likely see a lot more activity on the overnight Turku to Stockholm ferry which also transits via the Baltic Princess ship.
There’s also a duty-free where you can make like a Finn (or Swede) and stock up on tax-free alcohol. Seriously, I think the best way you can tell who’s a tourist on this boat is if you don’t leave with 4 cases of beer.
Tourist vs. local
Getting From Turku Harbor to Turku City Center
Beautiful archipelago houses as we near the city of Turku
Luckily, this part is extremely easy! Simply disembark the boat and walk towards the outdoor area of the ferry terminal. There’s a small kiosk where you can purchase a bus ticket using a credit card… however, if you’re American (or just don’t have a contactless credit card), there’s no place to swipe your card or enter your chip and these kiosks are basically worthless.
Hopefully, you have a few euro coins on you and you can simply buy a bus ticket from the driver for three euro! Board the 1 bus right outside the harbor, which will be heading in the direction of Turku Airport, and get off when you reach your destination in the city center, which should take all of 15 minutes. Keep your eyes peeled as you’ll pass the gorgeous Turku Castle along the way!
Note: Thank you to Tallink Silja for partnering with me to experience the best of this Baltic sea cruise! While my experience was complimentary, all opinions (and pounds gained at the buffet) are entirely my own.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Switzerland tops many people’s bucket lists: from its scenic trains and soaring glaciers to its pristine lakes and picturesque cities, there’s something for everyone to fall in love with.
But planning a trip to Switzerland can be complicated, especially if you’re traveling on a budget without wanting to skimp on experiences.
I’ve gone over all the steps you need to create this simple 11-step Switzerland trip planner, to hold your hand and guide you through the process.
Planning a vacation to Switzerland may seem overwhelming at first but if you break it down bit by bit, you can tackle it one piece at a time.
Travel Checklist for Planning a Trip To Switzerland
Step 1: See if you need a visa
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Zone – so you’ll need a Schengen visa!
While not part of the EU, Switzerland is part of the Schengen zone, meaning that you’ll need a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland.
Citizens of the following countries are not required to get a visa to visit the Schengen zone for less than 90 days out of the last 180 days.
Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor Leste, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, U.A.E., U.S.A., Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela
If you’re not on this list, check out this site for more information on getting a Schengen visa. Unfortunately, I’m not qualified to help on this step, so contact an embassy or a local travel agent if you have any questions about applying for a visa.
Step 2: Book your tickets!
Train is my favorite way to travel through Switzerland!
I generally use a combination of Skyscanner or Google Flights to find the best possible tickets in Europe. Skyscanner in particular is good at aggregating all the budget airlines and even combining tickets where it makes sense (such as flying into one European city and then switching airlines to a budget airline, booking two separate tickets to save money).
Depending on where you’re flying from, you could pay anywhere from $40 USD to fly roundtrip from somewhere in Europe that has a budget airline connection (I can often find really cheap flights between Switzerland and Sofia, Bulgaria, where I currently live).
If you’re traveling from Asia, the Middle East, or North America, you’re likely looking are a cost more along the lines of $400 USD roundtrip if you can get a steal, and all the way up to $1000 USD roundtrip for a more typical price (possibly higher in peak season).
Step 3: Plan your Switzerland itinerary
Make sure you spend at least some time exploring the Swiss mountains!
I’ve created a 10-day Switzerland itinerary that you can follow, which you can read here. It also includes suggestions on how to lengthen and shorten your trip.
I generally recommend flying into one airport like Zurich and another like Geneva so that you can cover more ground without having to backtrack. Of course, if you’re visiting Switzerland as part a larger Euro-trip which you are doing by train, you can do this quite easily.
If you’re a bit overwhelmed with planning your own itinerary, there are some affordable group trips that actually take the stress out for you. Whereas often, group trips will be a good deal more expensive than planning a DIY itinerary, in Switzerland you can actually often get a good deal. This is because tour operators often have exclusive discounts on tours and activities which they then pass onto you.
I recommend checking out Switzerland itineraries on TourRadar, as they break it down to a per-day cost so that you can find the best bang for your buck when it comes to planning a Switzerland trip. I saw everything from around 100 euros per person per day for hiking trips to 250 euros per person per day for guided tours, so it’s actually really quite affordable compared to planning your own trip. Check out itineraries & compare prices here.
Step 4: Budget your trip
Luckily, delicious Swiss chocolate is just a buck apiece (and hiking is free, free, free!)
How much does a trip to Switzerland cost? Unfortunately – a lot. It’s up there with Iceland as the most expensive country I’ve ever visited.
I traveled to Switzerland on as much of a budget as I could and still spent way more than I thought I would!
On average, I paid $25-40 USD a night for a bed… in a dorm with a shared bathroom. I spent about $10 per take-away meal from a grocery store or small kiosk selling sausages and the like, and $15 for McDonalds when I wanted to “treat myself.” Regular restaurants were too expensive for my budget at around $30+ USD for a simple meal like a burger.
My train pass was covered by Swiss Travel System because I was working on a project for them, but if I had to pay for it out of pocket, I would have paid about $600 for 8 days of travel (which would have been cheaper than booking everything independently as I took advantage of all the free scenic trains and discounts that are included on the pass).
So, for a backpacking budget, I’d say you’re still looking at approximately $50-100 a day, depending on how many meals out you’re going to eat, how you’re getting around, how much you move around (visit less cities to save some serious funds as transportation is a big expense), and where you stay. If you’re planning to add on any adrenaline activities, like paragliding or canyon swinging, prepare to pay a premium!
For families and couples traveling on a budget but not necessarily staying in hostels, I’d budget around $150-200 per day per adult including transportation, and maybe an extra $50 per day per kid if applicable. Kids 15 and under are included for free on your Swiss Travel Pass when traveling with a parent or guardian, and food for kids should cost less.
Heads up if you’re traveling as a family with a youngster who needs a crib: hotels in Switzerland often charge an obscene sum — as much as $50 per hotel! — to rent a crib. My friends who traveled in Switzerland as a family recommend bringing a travel crib (they suggest the Phil & Teds travel crib) to save money. Especially if you’re visiting several different places in Switzerland, all these fees can add up, so a travel crib can be a budget-saver.
For couples and families who have a bigger budget to stretch, there’s pretty much no limit to the spending. A luxury hotel will cost around $400-500 per night, day trips like visiting Titlis or Jungfraujoch cost about $100-200 per person, and you can easily spend $50 per person on a meal, just to give you a benchmark.
Step 5: Plan your activities
This is free with the Swiss Travel Pass!
This goes hand in hand with your budget. If you are traveling on a budget, I recommend getting a Swiss Travel Pass and taking advantage of all the inclusions and discounts on that. It’s pricy, but it becomes your transportation and activities all in one!
For example, you could do the Mt. Rigi & Mt. Pilatus scenic trains, steamboats across Lake Geneva and Lake Lucerne, the Belle Epoque scenic Schynigge Platte rain, cable cars up the mountains, and visiting Chillon Castle in Montreux — a great destination in both summer and winter for its Christmas market.
If you have a little more to spend, there are some really cool extras that you could add on to your Swiss Itinerary. I’ve gone over them in detail on my best places to visit in Switzerland post, but I’ll include my recommendations for top day trips and activities for the main Swiss cities below.
This Wes Anderson-esque hotel can be found in Murren, near Lauterbrunnen
I strongly recommend booking your accommodations well in advance, especially if you are planning a trip to Switzerland on a budget, since the best and most budget-friendly places tend to sell out quite fast.
I’ve gathered my recommendations for the main cities you might visit all in one place, so check out below.
Step 7: Research vaccinations & prepare travel medicine kit
You’ll want meds on hand in case you get ill!
While Switzerland is one of the safest countries to visit, I always suggest people double-check the CDC’s travel vaccination recommendations and making sure they’re up-to-date on routine shots, particularly things like tetanus that require boosters.
I also strongly recommend prepping a mini travel medicine + first aid kit, including basic over-the-counter medicine, plus any prescription medication, and some basic first-aid like bandaids, Neosporin, and a bandage in case you hurt an ankle.
Incidentally, on my trip to Switzerland, I got super super sick with the flu (in the middle of summer, go figure) and having my travel medical kit on hand saved the day as I was in no state to head out to the pharmacy, considering that even walking up a flight of stairs nearly made me pass out. I was able to take some Pepto-Bismol to stop the vomiting and Imodium to help with the… other end, and some ibuprofen to reduce my fever. It helped, and by the next day, I was feeling semi-human again and didn’t have to go to the hospital like I once feared.
And while I’m on that note – make sure that travel insurance is part of your travel medicine kit! In case anything goes wrong, you’ll want to make sure that you can get medical care without bankrupting yourself and ruining your trip. I use World Nomads.
Step 8: Learn some basic French & Swiss-German phrases (and possibly Italian)
Reading German comes in handy in the Bernese Oberland
Generally, people in Switzerland speak some English because the country is multi-lingual and English often bridges the divide between, say, French-speaking Swiss and German-speaking Swiss. Still, it’s always polite to greet people in their native language while traveling.
Here are a few useful French phrases which you will want to use in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, which includes the following cantons: Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura.
If you’re traveling in German-speaking Switzerland, which is most of the country (the following cantons: Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Glarus, Luzern, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Uri, Zug, and Zürich)… German will be helpful!
Hello – Guten tag Thank you – Danke Please – Bitte Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen (pronounced “off vee-der-zen”)
Only about 7% of Switzerland speaks Italian, primarily in the Ticino canton, but if you plan a trip that includes Lugano or that general area, here are a few helpful Italian phrases.
Hello – Buon giorno! Thank you – Grazie Please – Per favore Goodbye – Ciao!
Step 9: Pack your bags
Luckily for you, I’ve already written a super-comprehensive guide to what to pack for Switzerland, for all seasons and genders. You can read it here.
If you just want the greatest hits of what to pack for Switzerland, here are my top 5 recommendations.
An adaptor: Annoyingly, Switzerland uses a slightly different outlet (Type J) than the rest of continental Europe. While sometimes continental Europe adaptors will work in some outlets, some are more fussy, and I ended up needing to buy a Switzerland-specific adaptor. This Type J adaptor has several outlets so you can plug in multiple devices into one adaptor, which is handy.
A guidebook: While I use travel blogs for much of my travel research (and clearly you do too!), I love a good old-fashioned guidebook as well. Lonely Planet Switzerland is recently updated and full of excellent travel inspiration and budget restaurant advice. Rick Steves’ Switzerland is also a winner. I typically download the Kindle version and bring it on my Kindle Paperwhite to minimize how much space it takes up in my bag
A rain jacket & packable down jacket: Switzerland’s weather is quite temperamental, so having a lightweight waterproof rain jacket is a must. I love my Marmot PreCip rain jacket and bring it with me everywhere – it’s lasted me years. If you plan on visiting any mountains, you’ll likely want to bring an extra layer with you – it’s cold up there even if it is sunny (and snow is possible even in the summer)! I love having this packable down jacket that I can easily roll up and place in my bag.
An anti-theft bag: While Switzerland is generally pretty safe, there is a risk of pickpockets in the major cities like Geneva, Zürich, and Lucerne. I deter thieves by carrying a stylish but practically indestructible travel backpack with security features like locking zippers, RFID blockers, and slash-proof material. PacSafe is my favorite travel security item brand (this is the exact PacSafe backpack I love and bring on every city trip).
A reusable water bottle: Water in Switzerland is safe to drink everywhere and you will find public fountains in most cities spouting out pure, glacial water that is better than anything you can buy. Save some serious money and the environment by carrying your own reusable water bottle like this Klean Kanteen.
Step 10: Prepare for your arrival
Depending on what airport you land in (or train station you arrive to) you will have to plan your route between your arrival point and your first hotel. I strongly recommend looking up public transportation ahead of time or arranging a private transfer in advance, so you’re not caught off guard on arrival.
You should also decide if you are going to use a roaming plan on your phone or if you will purchase a local SIM card or WiFi device for your trip. Doing this research in advance can save you some nasty surprises on your phone bill!
I also recommend to have a bit of cash on hand in case your debit card gets declined for fraud when trying to withdraw cash when you arrive. Euros or USD are always a good bet and easy to convert into Swiss francs. Note that the Swiss franc is basically on par with the dollar, so easy conversions there. Credit cards are widely accepted in Switzerland, but there’s always the odd place that only accepts cash, so you’ll want to be prepared with both.
I generally always recommend you withdraw money from an ATM rather than converting cash that you’ve brought into the country with you. Your bank will usually give you a better exchange rate than a money-changer will. Don’t be tricked just because the money-changing booth says 0% commission – often, they make this up by offering a bad exchange rate.
Step 11: Don’t forget travel insurance
From hiking accidents to random illnesses, you’ll want to be covered by travel insurance!
I touched on it super briefly above, but I wanted to remind you while it’s fresh on your mind — travel insurance is a good idea for Switzerland and for travel in general!
I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for years. It’s nice to have the peace of mind it gives me in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption. Don’t think that just because Switzerland is a safe country that it’s not necessary – accidents and illness can happen anywhere, and I almost needed to visit a hospital during my time in Switzerland and was so grateful I had travel insurance in case I had needed to check myself into the emergency room.
While Switzerland is super safe to travel around, there’s always some risk inherent in everyday travel, so it’s better to play it safe. The last thing you want is for an illness, crime, or accident to ruin your trip – so it’s better to be prepared!
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco, I’m sure you’ve daydreamed of its many colorful walls, ornate doors, aromatic spices, and busy markets chock-full of dreamy décor.
You probably have bookmarked a few Instagrammable spots you want to check out, and maybe you’ve gone so far as to sketch out your desired itinerary.
But there’s a lot more that goes into planning a vacation to Morocco than meets the eye at first glance, and I’m here to help you plan the trip of a lifetime with minimal effort using this simple Morocco trip planner checklist!
AKA, I’m helping you learn from my mistakes so you have a much better time than I did.
Morocco is not a country you want to show up unprepared to. It’s not a destination for travelers who still have their training wheels on.
Harassment is constant, whether it’s sexual in nature or simply vendors/guides trying to get you to make a purchase.
In the medinas, you can’t really take much at face value; directions are often wrong and signs often lie, trying to lure you into a specific shop.
Basically, you need to adjust your expectations and prepare yourself mentally that Morocco is not a relaxing destination.
But, with preparation, you can reduce a lot of stresses and end up enjoying your trip due to your advance planning.
So, without further ado, here’s how to plan a trip to Morocco without the stress or hassle.
Planning a Trip to Morocco in 11 Simple Steps
Step 1: Check visa requirements
Morocco has a pretty permissive visa policy. At present, here are the nationalities that do not require a visa for stays less than 90 days (but please confirm with your country’s embassy to Morocco before going forward as policies sometimes change).
All EU citizens, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Gabon, Hong Kong (30 days), Iceland, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore (30 days), South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, U.A.E., U.S.A.
Citizens of the Republic of Congo, Guinea, and Mali must receive an electronic travel authorization but do not need a proper visa. Citizens from all other countries not mentioned here require an official visa from a Moroccan embassy, so if you are from a country that is not visa-exempt, check your country’s Moroccan embassy website to see requirements.
Also, be 100% sure that your passport has at least 6 months validity in it. If it does not, there is a huge likelihood that your plane will refuse to allow you to board, and even if you do get to Morocco, they may refuse to let you in if your passport is due to expire within the next 6 months.
Step 2: Book your tickets!
How much is a flight to Morocco? When planning a Morocco vacation, a large part of the cost will depend on where you are coming from, obviously, as well as where you fly into.
The main airports in Morocco are Marrakech (RAK), Rabat (RBA), Casablanca (CMN), and Fes (FEZ). If you are flexible with where you arrive, you may find better deals.
I generally use Skyscanner in order to take advantage of their powerful search engine which allows you to search multiple dates as well as multiple airports.
If you’re coming from the U.S. or Asia, expect to pay at least $500 USD roundtrip unless you get a major deal. If you are flying from Europe, though, you are in luck — flights to Morocco can often be less than $10 USD each way when you encounter a promotion!
If you are trying to save money on a flight, you may want to compare what it would cost to fly into Europe to a country that has cheap flights to Morocco and see if then taking a budget airline flight from there is cheaper. There are typically good deals to Morocco from major French, German, and British cities.
Step 3: Plan your Morocco itinerary
I’m in the process of creating a Morocco itinerary you can easily replicate, but you can start with my 3 day Marrakech itinerary.
If you have a short trip to Morocco, I’d recommend spending it in Marrakech as it has the most things that are of interest to tourists and generally is one of the cheaper airports to fly into, especially from Europe.
If you have more time, I’d recommend adding on a trip to the desert (read my guide here).
That adds another 3 days to your itinerary. So if you only have one week in Morocco, I’d just do 4 days in Marrakech (allowing one day for a day trip) plus 3 days on a desert tour which includes return transfers from Marrakech.
If you have more time, I’d opt for a desert tour that ends in Fes (like this one) so you can spend about 2 days in Fes (optional), then another 2-3 days in Chefchaeouen, my personal favorite place in Morocco. You can spend a few days exploring the photogenic blue medina and spend a day hiking in Akchour.
From there, it’s easiest to depart via Tangier as it’s only a 2.5 hour bus ride, or you could also go back to Rabat (the capital) or Casablanca (one of Morocco’s most beloved cities). That’s enough to easily fill in another week or so.
If you had more time still, you could continue down the coastline to Essaouira and Taghazout before circling back to Marrakech and flying out. For that itinerary, I’d recommend about 3 weeks.
There are also multi-day tours you can take if you’d like to take some of the stress out of planning a vacation to Morocco.
This 7-day whirlwind tour incorporates Marrakech, Ait Ben-Haddou, Ourzazete, the Sahara, Fes, Meknes, Casablanca, and Rabat, before returning to Marrakech. If you have limited time and you really want to see all of Morocco, this is the best tour, but it’s very fast-paced.
A shorter but slower-paced trip would be this 4-day tour which encompasses Fes, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech, but skips the desert.
Step 4: Budget your trip
Before you can get booking tours/activities and accommodations, I think it’s helpful to have your budget in mind for your trip so you can create an appropriate Morocco travel plan.
So, how much does a trip to Morocco cost? Really, almost whatever you want it to.
You can really spend a wide range in Morocco. If you are planning a trip to Morocco on a budget, it’s quite possible to see the country for about $30 a day, but this means you will be limited in terms of shopping, activities, and accommodation options.
Honestly, after having done it, I don’t recommend visiting Morocco as a backpacker as I think it’s much better experienced as a mid-range traveler.
There are so many great activities and day trips that will not quite do the trick on a backpacker budget.
For example, transportation between cities can be quite pricy, and the experience of staying in a riad is simply a Morocco must-do (I wouldn’t want to go to Morocco and stay in a hostel, not when there are beautiful riads to stay in all over the country!).
Mid-range travelers, family travelers in Morocco, and luxury travelers will have a much better time in Morocco.
A beautiful riad can be had for about $50-70 USD per night for a couple or family traveling Morocco with kids, which gives you plenty of wiggle room to spend on shopping, activities, and meals.
A budget of $100 per day per person in Morocco will give you a pretty luxurious experience, staying in gorgeous riads, eating as much as you want, enjoying massages at hammams, going on day trips and activities, etc.
Meanwhile, if you really want to spend, the sky is your limit as there are lots of gorgeous luxury properties like La Mamounia and Riad Yasmin which can easily go for upwards of $500 per night.
I recommend deciding in advance what you want to spend in total, breaking that into a per-day, per-person cost.
Allocate about 1/3 of that for accommodations, 1/3 for activities, and 1/3 for incidentals and extras like shopping, transportation between cities, and meals.
That should give you a good benchmark for how to budget for Morocco.
Step 5: Plan Your Activities
This advice may be a bit controversial as some people say you should wait until you get to Morocco to book activities as you can often haggle a better price in person.
I’m talking no A/C on the bus on 115 F degree days, assuring me the transfer onwards to Fes was included when in fact it wasn’t, taking me to a scammy rug shop where they replaced the rug I purchased with something that was falling apart at the seams…
Oh, and I woke up with my desert guide in my face presumably moments away from groping me in my sleep.
So, after that, I highly recommend booking all your Morocco activities in advance so that you can be sure of their safety and reputation, as there’s not exactly much transparency when it comes to dealing with tour vendors in the souks, who will tend to promise you the world and wait until you are far, far away before you realize they weren’t exactly truthful.
While Morocco is safe, scams involving tourists abound, so do your research ahead of time to avoid being disappointed.
You may pay a little more, but you are much less likely to be disappointed or tricked, and honestly, that’s worth paying for to me.
If you’re comfortable taking a gamble in pursuit of a bargain, you can wait to book until you’re in Marrakech, but as someone who did just that – I don’t recommend it.
For me, I enjoy a blend of independent travel and structured activities. I recommend touring Morocco on your own, and combining it with classes, activities, and day trips with locals to enrich your experience.
I’ll briefly list a few of the activities I think would be crucial to enjoying a Morocco trip and you can piece it together to create the perfect trip for yourself – just click the link to read more about each activity.
Of course, you can’t go to Morocco and not stay in a riad! So, what exactly is a riad?
Basically, a riad is a Moroccan traditional home that has been converted into guesthouse, with a gorgeous inner courtyard that is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of hectic Moroccan cities.
Budget: Nondescript on the outside, Riad Dar Maria is gorgeous and cozy on the inside. Its updated design makes the indoor courtyard a lovely place to relax, and comfortable private rooms with A/C offer excellent value for the price. The riad is family-run and they treat you like one of their own. Highly recommended by fellow travelers with a 9.5 average rating on Booking.com. Click here to see lowest prices and current availability.
Mid-range: The lovely Riad Enchanté lives up to its name – it will truly delight and enchant you. With stunning tilework, a rooftop terrace (with jacuzzi!), large rooms with A/C, and amazing attention to detail (check out those lovely wooden doors), you’ll probably never want to leave this homey, delightful riad. Click here to see lowest prices and current availability.
Luxury: For five-star comfort at not insanely outrageous prices you can’t do much better than Villa Lavande, a traditional riad with a comfortable in-house hammam, a gorgeous pool, air conditioning (a must if you travel in summer), and helpful staff. Cooking lessons are available on-site in case you fancy learning how to make your own tajine… or you can simply eat at the in-house restaurant beloved by guests. It’s located in the medina but away from the hustle and bustle, the best of both worlds. Click here to see lowest prices and current availability.
Also, if you’re planning to spend time glamping in the Sahara desert, read my guide to the best luxury campsites in the Sahara Desert here — it’ll help you narrow down your choices from the huge field of options!
Step 7: Research any vaccinations you may need & prepare a travel medicine kit
The CDC is my guideline when checking travel vaccinations for different countries. They recommend checking that you’re up-to-date in terms of boosters for the following common vaccinations: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, chickenpox, and polio. They also strongly recommend Hepatitis A and typhoid, both of which can be gotten from contaminated food or water.
Other potential vaccines you may want to consider are Hepatitis B and rabies. Rabies is possible in Morocco, and a tourist recently died of rabies after being bitten by a cat. Keep in mind that even if you get the rabies vaccine, you still need to get post-exposure shots after a potential encounter with a rabid animal.
If you get bitten or scratched by an animal while in Morocco, whether you’ve been previously vaccinated or not, you need to seek immediate medical attention and doctors can assess whether or not to give the post-exposure series of shots. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal, but the vaccine is 100% effective if given in time after exposure, so please don’t take any chances.
I had to do a series of rabies post-exposure shots after a cat bite in Ukraine and while it was annoying, especially since I had to coordinate the shots over 3 different countries, I am glad I took the precaution.
In terms of travel medicine kit, I always recommend having the following items in your mini first-aid kit: stomach tablets like Pepto Bismol, anti-diarrheal like Imodium, motion sickness pills like Dramamine, and painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin. Be sure to also bring sunscreen and a strong mosquito repellent, preferably with DEET, as well as some after-care for the inevitable bites. A topical antibiotic and bandaids are also great for any bumps or scrapes. More on this in my Morocco packing list section!
Step 8: Learn a few common Arabic words and phrases
While French is widely spoken in Morocco, and it can come in handy if you already speak French, if you are going to learn a few phrases I recommend learning the Moroccan Arabic (Darija) phrases which tend to be more widely understood. In the North, Spanish is widely spoken – I found it useful in both Chefchaouen and Tangier.
Moroccans are quite talented linguists, and on one occasion I had a conversation with a taxi driver in no less than 4 languages (Arabic, Spanish, French, and English!). It’s not uncommon to meet Moroccans who speak 4+ languages – especially shopkeepers, who love to impress you with a litany of greetings in a variety of languages hoping they’ll land on your language!
Generally, most people who work in service or tourism will have at least a functional understanding of English, and younger people in cities tend to have a fairly high level of English. However, you may not get very detailed answers to your questions unless you hire a qualified English-language tour guide.
Regardless of the language abilities, I still recommend you learn a few Darija phrases to show respect to the country you’re visiting!
Hello – As-salaam alaykum Thank you – Shukrun Please – Afak Excuse me – Smahli (add -ya if speaking to a woman) Yes – Iyah No – La No, thanks – La, shukrun (trust me, you’ll want this one)
It’s a small gesture, but it shows respect to the country you are visiting, so I highly recommend learning at least a few words: at minimum, hello and thank you.
Step 9: Pack your bags!
If you’re not sure what to pack for Morocco, I’ve got your back – I’ve written a Morocco packing list here. It’s geared towards female travelers, as that’s my experience, but men may find some of the recommendations useful as well and can just substitute out their own clothing and toiletry recommendations. I include all the recommended dress for women there so please refer to it as this article is already quite long already!
I recommend bringing a backpack and not a suitcase to Morocco if you can. The medinas are quite annoying to roll a suitcase through and you have a lot more agility with a backpack. I use and love this Tortuga backpack for travel as it’s carry-on friendly yet can fit all I need for 3+ weeks of travel.
Keep in mind that pickpocketing is pretty common in crowded areas of Morocco, especially the Marrakech souks. I recommend this backpack with locking zippers which is made by PacSafe. It has a ton of security features – metal mesh that makes it slash-proof, locking zippers that can then be threaded into a hard-to-open clasp, and RFID blockers. It’s also very subtle and doesn’t look like a tempting, expensive bag. But just as importantly, it actually is quite cute and you won’t mind being seen or photographed with it!
Step 10: Prepare for your arrival
There are a few things you should do prior to arriving to make your life easier.
1) Download Google Maps for the city you’re arriving in. It’s not always the most helpful for the Moroccan medinas, which have too many alleyways that aren’t represented on the maps, but it’s a good start for getting oriented, so have it anyway.
2) Book a shuttle to get you to your hotel. Your hotel may offer you this service, or you can book a transfer online from a reputable company here for about $15 USD. Don’t get a taxi at the airport or you’ll likely get ripped off.
3) Figure out either if you’re going to use a roaming plan on your phone or if you can purchase a local SIM card or WiFi device. Doing this research in advance can save you a fortune!
4) Have some cash in USD or euros on hand in case you have any issues with withdrawing money from the ATM. You get a better rate withdrawing from the ATM than exchanging money, so I recommend using an ATM as much as possible and only exchanging your cash in an emergency.
Step 11: Don’t forget travel insurance!
I put this last so it’s fresh on your mind: travel insurance is a good idea for Morocco and for travel in general! I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for years. It’s nice to have the peace of mind it gives me in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption.
While Morocco is safe to travel around, there’s always risk inherent in everyday travel, so it’s better to play it safe. The last thing you want is for an illness, crime, or accident to ruin your trip – so it’s better to be prepared.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Planning a trip to Morocco can present some challenges, and the most pressing question for many travelers, especially women, is the matter of what to pack for Morocco.
The country’s reputation for conservatism is well-deserved, and street harassment in Morocco is an ever-present issue that women must contend with.
While men have less at stake when it comes to deciding how to dress in Morocco, the conservative culture means that even men aren’t immune to following a different dress code.
However, this guide is focusing on a woman’s packing list for Morocco, as it’s what I have personal experience in.
Morocco Packing List
What to Pack Everything In
For Morocco, I really don’t recommend bringing a suitcase. The medinas are full of tiny alleyways that are easy to lose yourself in, with plenty of obstacles in your footpath. You’ll often have to traverse not well-paved roads, and doing that all with a 40-something pound rolling luggage is the recipe for a nightmare.
Instead, I recommend traveling with a backpack (here’s the carry on size bag I bring everywhere, or another style that’s check-in sized). The carry-on size backpack I swear by is my Tortuga Backpack, which I love because it means that I can avoid checking in my luggage – saving time and money.
Why do I recommend Tortuga so much?Here’s why: this bag is 45L and has got three main compartments: one for a laptop and other flat objects, one giant rectangular compartment perfect for packing cubes stuffed with clothing, and one smaller compartment with pockets for passports, pens, odds and ends, etc. that I stash all my extras in – plus one small outer zipper pocket for anything you want quick access to. It also has a water bottle holder on the outside as well as buckles so that you can strap something like a yoga mat to the outside. Plus, it’s quite comfortable to wear, with a padded hip belt and comfort-molding shoulder straps complete with a chest strap so that you can distribute weight perfectly across your body in the event that you need to wear your backpack for longer than usual. Check out more specs and details here.
However, if you’re doing a lot of shopping in Morocco, you may want to bring a larger suitcase and leave a lot of room in it. My friend who I traveled with for much of my Morocco trip always had a hassle with her luggage, but ultimately she bought so much that she was glad she had it.
Another idea is to bring a backpack for your trip and to purchase an inexpensive duffel bag or suitcase to bring back all your Moroccan souvenirs in!
Whatever you bring, I also recommend packing cubes to organize your clothing and make opening your luggage more easily. I personally use these packing cubes and love them.
I also like having a separate laundry bag which I can give to my riad or a local laundromat if I need to on my travels. Like packing cubes, you don’t need anything fancy at all – it is just a receptacle for your dirty clothes, after all. I do like having a cute one like this one from Kikkerland though, because I’m impractical.
What to Wear in Morocco for Women (Summer)
The standard for how to dress in Morocco for women is to cover your shoulders and knees. This is more of a sign of respect for the culture and not because it will protect you from harassment.
Non-Muslims are not allowed in mosques in Morocco, so you don’t have to be concerned with dress code regarding religious sights. The closest thing to a mosque a non-Muslim can enter is a madrassa, a religious school, and I’d recommend to dress on the conservative side when entering these.
My general outfit was a thin linen-blend T-shirt that covered my shoulders paired with a midi-length skirt and sandals. Other options include a maxi dress with sleeves or a shawl to cover the shoulders or a T-shirt or blouse tucked into a pair of loose pants. Don’t overthink it and pick loose, breathable materials preferably made out of natural fibers.
3-5 long dresses, preferably with sleeves: Or as many as you can fit without overpacking, really.
5+ tees that cover your shoulders: The more neutral, the better. You will sweat a lot, so minimize your white. I suggest black, gray, and a few bright colors. Resist the urge to wear tank tops.
2-3 below-the-knee skirts: I like a midi length that hits below the knee but above the ankle, because it is A) cuter and B) less likely to get dirty from dragging on the ground. However, some maxi skirts thrown into the mix wouldn’t hurt either! If you’re wary to wear a long skirt in the heat, don’t be! The extra fabric around your legs traps some cool air, making you feel less hot.
2-3 pairs loose, airy pants: Think loose materials, especially natural fibers like linens. Thin, cotton pants will do to keep you covered without adding too much heat, but they’ll trap sweat and moisture and are not ideal. Don’t even think about jeans.
2-3 thin scarves/shawls in different colors: Think thin, light materials that you can easily gather to cover your shoulders if you need to chasten up a sleeveless top. There’s no need to wear hijab or cover your hair in Morocco unless your faith requires it. Also, it prevents your guides from bullying you into buying an overpriced scarf to wear on your face if you ride camels in the Sahara Desert. I was petty and just wore a shirt on my face. It wasn’t cute.
Sunglasses: Good for the sun, but also for avoiding eye contact with would-be suitors and street vendors
1 pair sneakers: The streets of Moroccan cities are usually quite dusty and are not the cleanest. I like having a pair of closed-toe sneakers that are breathable. I usually wear a pair of black Nikes as I find they look cute even with my dresses and I’m all about options.
1-2 pairs sandals: Sometimes, though, it’s simply too hot to deal with anything but sandals.
1 bathing suit: If your riad or hotel has a pool, you’ll definitely want this! Inside your riad/hotel, normal rules regarding dress code and conservatism don’t really apply, so feel free to wear whatever bathing suit you are most comfortable in.
1 cardigan or sweater: It gets super cold at night in the Sahara, so if you are planning to go there, even if it’s the summer, be sure to bring some layers.
Backpack with locking zippers : While Morocco is safe enough for tourists, it’s not completely free from petty crime – especially in the souks, which can get crowded. While wearing a shoulder bag with security features is probably the most secure option, it’s just not comfortable if you carry a lot of stuff with you during the day like I do. I swear by PacSafe and love their PacSafe Citysafe backpack. It’s actually super cute, PLUS it has locking zippers, slash-proof construction thanks to a wire mesh interior, and RFID blockers. It helped me not be so on edge in souks and busy medina streets.
Wide-brimmed hat: If not for Instagram, then to protect your face from harmful and punishing UV rays
A Note for Women Regarding Dress & Sexual Harassment
Let me get on my feminist soapbox for a moment here: street harassment is fundamentally about power, not desire. No matter how you dress in Morocco, if you’re a woman and you’re not in the presence of a man, you will almost undoubtedly experience sexual harassment, verbal comments, proposals, and potentially even unwanted physical contact or assault.
I visited in July, the hottest month of the year, and dressed according to basically all the norms, and I was still harassed at least 20 times a day and possibly much more. Dressing properly in Morocco will not render you immune to harassment, but it is a sign of respect. Even if a large percentage of the men will not show you respect, choosing instead to harass you based on your gender, I still think it’s imperative for us as travelers to show good faith and try to adhere to their customs.
That said, women in Morocco will have a far easier time if they are with a man. My friend who traveled to Morocco with her husband experienced almost no overt sexual harassment.
What to Bring to Morocco: General Odds & Ends
For random things I think you might want to bring, here’s my odds & ends packing list for Morocco. Use your judgment as to whether or not it’s essential given your travel style and personal needs.
Hanging Toiletry Bag: Trust me – nothing will piss you off faster than searching for your toiletries in a never-ending pile of junk. Using a simple hanging toiletry bag is life-changing. It has the perfect number of separators, organizers, and pockets without taking up any excess space. It’s kind of like those tents at the Quidditch World Cup in Harry Potter — you’d be amazed how much fits in one little pack.
1 pair flip flops: Whether you visit a hammam, are walking around your hotel, or taking a shower at a hostel, bring these. PEOPLE. Athlete’s foot is no joke. I’ve dealt with ringworm before (which is basically athlete’s foot on any part of your body that’s not your foot) and it is miserable to get rid of. Save yourself the trouble. Buy a pair of cheap rubber flipflops and be happy.
1 travel towel: In case you visit a hammam or place which does not provide towels, a small microfiber towel can be really handy to have. I was also happy I had it in the Sahara desert, so I could give my face a quick wash and dry.
1 eye mask: I swear by this contoured eye mask as it doesn’t put uncomfortable pressure on your eyes but completely blacks out any light. Great for if your hotel room doesn’t block out a lot of light, if you’re trying to sleep on a bus ride, or for the plane ride over.
Some earplugs or good noise-canceling headphones: If you’ve never visited a Muslim country before, you’re in for a treat the first time you hear your pre-dawn call to prayer! I love Hearos — they’re the best ear plugs I’ve used. I’ve also been eyeing these noise-canceling headphones, which could be handy if you have a lot of bus or plane travel planned.
Hand sanitizer: Many public restrooms don’t have soap, so having some hand sanitizer is always good.
Kleenex packets: Like above — public restrooms may be lacking in the toilet paper department, so having some Kleenex in a portable sleeve is a nice choice.
Sunscreen: Morocco is sunny as hell. For people with sensitive skin who want to be a bit extra, I recommend this fancy Japanese facial sunscreen to prevent acne, and then I use a general sunscreen on the rest of my body.
Travel medications: I carry Pepto-Bismol for standard stomach troubles, Imodium as a nuclear option for diarrhea (i.e. you have to ride a bus for several hours), some sort of painkiller like ibuprofen for headaches and minor pains, and some sort of motion sickness tablets (ESSENTIAL if visiting the Sahara Desert due to the windy roads). That usually covers the bases for me — anything else I may need, I grab on the road.
Electrolyte packs: I love these in case I get sick on the road or just do a bad job at hydrating for some reason. I use Pedialyte.
Any prescription medication you may need
Mosquito repellent: Despite the fact that Morocco is a very dry country, mosquitos are prevalent and they are vicious. However, there’s not really any risk of malaria, and the CDC doesn’t recommend any sort of prophylaxis measures, so leave the anti-malarials at home.
Adaptor: Morocco uses C and E plugs, the same as most of Europe (save the UK and Malta). Pack an adaptor if you need it!
Toiletries For Women
There aren’t a lot of big box shops in Morocco outside of the malls on the outskirts of the cities, as commerce in the medinas is generally more about smaller stores. If you’re particular about the kind of toiletries and brands that you’re partial to, I recommend bringing plenty from home.
LUSH solid shampoo: Life-changing. Just trust me. Pro tip, buy online or in store from LUSH and you’ll save serious money over Amazon, but it’s also available on Amazon if you’re doing a big Amazon shop.
Toothbrush, toothpaste & floss
Brush or comb
Hair ties if you have long hair
ALL THE DEODORANT
Moisturizer with SPF for day and SPF-free cream at night: Morocco is super drying, and you’ll want to replenish all that moisture that’s being lost.
Make-up remover wipes — trust.
OIL BLOTTING SHEETS!
Lip balm with SPF
Any make-up that you want
Feminine hygiene products. Definitely bring tampons if you use those as these would be hard to find in Morocco. I use a Diva Cup personally and love it.
Glasses, contacts & solution: whatever you need to see
Razor
More Morocco Travel Resources
I’ve written quite a bit to help you plan the perfect trip to Morocco! First, start with my Morocco travel planning checklist – it walks you through every step of the planning process.
If you are starting your trip in Marrakech, like most people do, I have a guide to the best riads in Marrakech on any budget, as well as a guide to spending 3 days in Marrakech with recommended tours and outings.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, beyond figuring your itinerary and what the best places to visit are, you’re probably wondering what to wear in Switzerland.
This Switzerland packing list is designed for all seasons, with sections for men’s and women’s clothing.
It’s designed to help you decide what to bring to Switzerland on your trip with a focus on packing light, multipurpose items and leaving unnecessary weight behind.
Switzerland Packing List: What to Pack Everything In
Traveling light in Switzerland!
Personally, I prefer to carry a backpack for travel.
Having seen too many of my friends struggle with enormous, unwieldy rolling suitcases, I personally recommend that you bring a well-designed travel backpack if it’s comfortable for you.
This is especially true if you travel in winter to places like Montreux, Geneva, Zurich, Zermatt, etc.
You may end up trying to roll your suitcase through the freshly laid snow, which is never fun (take it from an idiot who brought a rolling suitcase to Helsinki in winter!).
This bag is 45L and has three main compartments: one for a laptop and other flat objects, one giant rectangular compartment perfect for packing cubes stuffed with clothing, and one smaller compartment with pockets for passports, pens, odds and ends, etc. that I stash all my extras in.
It also has one small outer zipper pocket for anything you want quick access to.
It’s quite comfortable to wear, with a padded hip belt and comfort-molding shoulder straps complete with a chest strap so that you can distribute weight perfectly across your body in the event that you need to wear your backpack for longer than usual.
While rolling suitcases are a no-no for most of Europe due to narrow cobblestoned streets, Switzerland is way more accessible than many other European cities.
Therefore, if you’re traveling Switzerland in late spring, summer, or early fall, a rolling suitcase may be a good idea.
I prefer rolling suitcases with four wheels, like this Samsonite spinner, as you don’t have to drag them behind you as you do with a two-wheeler, but it can glide with you at the airport or train station.
I also swear by packing cubes. If you haven’t used packing cubes before, get ready for a packing revolution.
These helpful zippered bags are a miracle when it comes to organizing your clothing, keeping everything from bursting out every time you dare open your backpack or suitcase.
I personally use these packing cubes and love them to the ends of the earth.
What to Wear in Switzerland for Women
Summer outfit of black tank, light-wash jeans, and ankle boots
The clothes that I recommend be on a women’s Switzerland packing list change a bit based on season, so check my recommendations below.
Because travel to Switzerland often involves high mountain trains (I was as high as 3,150 meters during my trip, and the temperature was just above freezing) and glaciers, even in the summer, you actually will want to bring much of the same things for summer as you would for spring or fall.
Meanwhile, winter is just straight-up cold no matter where you go, so you’ll want to pack really warm for that.
Summer/Fall/Spring
1 rain and windproof jacket: Especially if you’re visiting mountains in Switzerland, the weather can be quite unpredictable, whether you visit in summer, spring, or fall (spring being the rainiest, generally).
I recommend bringing a durable jacket that will keep you warm against wind and dry against rain. I love my Marmot PreCip rain jacket and wear it all the time – here I am with it in Nendaz, Switzerland, in July, where it came in handy on a rainy day as we mountain biked around its trails.
3-5 tees: In the summer and on warmer days in fall and spring, you’ll be grateful that you have some lighter layers. I generally go for dark colors to disguise sweating.
3-5 sweaters and long sleeve tees: Thin but warm is your best bet – as Switzerland travel involves lots of mountains where the weather can be a lot cooler than down in the cities, you’ll get use out of these even in the summer! I’d bring 3 in summer and 5 in fall/spring.
2-3 pair jeans: I was grateful I had jeans and black ponte pants even in the summer in Switzerland
2 pairs shorts: That said, I also did get some use out of my shorts on lower-altitude hikes and sunny city days in Switzerland!
1-3 pairs leggings: For cool weather days, travel days, and mountain days. I’d bring 1 pair in summer and 3 in fall or spring.
3+ comfortable summer dresses: For cute photos and comfortable city days. You can wear with leggings in spring/fall or without in summer.
1 pair flip flops or sandals: If you are staying in a hostel or hotel and just want something quick to put on your feet, I find it helpful to have slip-on sandals, even on days where the weather is slightly cold in spring/fall (though you’ll get good use out of them in summer).
I’m obsessed with my Birkenstocksbut rubber flip flops will do, especially if you are staying in a hostel and need to use communal showers.
1 pair hiking boots: Hiking boots will serve you well in Switzerland, and honestly, the right pair can look quite cute.
I love my Ahnu bootsbut if you have a pair at home already bring those so you don’t have to break them in. Sneakers could work in a pinch, but I much prefer boots for the ankle stability.
Trust me – I fell on my ass wearing sneakers on Gornergrat about 10 seconds after this photo was taken because my dumb self didn’t bring hiking boots and broke my camera.
Gornergrat – 1, Shoes – 0
1 thin down jacket: Nights and even days on the mountaintops can get really cold, so a small packable down like the UNIQLO ultra-light down (cheaper knockoff available here) would be a great but tiny addition to your Switzerland packing list.
I got use out of mine even in July when I went up to the Gornergrat as it’s 3,000 meters above sea level.
Cute travel daypack : I prefer using a daypack to a purse when I travel and I always bring the same backpack with me on literally every single trip. I am completely obsessed with the PacSafe Citysafe backpack.
It’s cute, functional, slash-proof, and with locking zippers that make it virtually impossible for a pickpocket to get into your bag without you noticing.
Switzerland is super safe so this isn’t really a major concern, but I still love having that extra peace of mind.
Winter
2-3 thermal tops: I swear by these 32 Degrees thermal layers and recommend getting 2 or 3, as they’re so warm they can get kind of sweaty.
3 warm sweaters to layer on top: Wool blends work great, and thermal layers make a nice barrier if you find wool itchy like I do. However, I’m too sensitive to wool to even wear it over a layer, so I love H&M for warm, acrylic winter sweaters.
2 pairs fleece lined leggings: These are my favorite fleece leggings – so so so warm!
2 pairs jeans: Wear these over your leggings for extra warmth! This won’t work if your jeans are super tight, so I’d bring jeans with a bit of give.
1 heavy jacket: I recommend my beloved North Face parka, but any warm jacket will work. Look for something that is lined with down, has a hood, and is waterproof and windproof.
Me and my beloved North face on a winter trip to Istanbul
2 bras: Regular or sports bra – it doesn’t matter under all the layers.
7+ pairs of underwear: However much you think you’ll need for your trip, so you don’t have to do laundry at your hotel, which would inevitably be INSANELY expensive in Switzerland.
Bathing suit: Many hotels in the mountains of Switzerland have saunas and steam rooms. Don’t forget your bathing suit or you’ll feel left out!
Sandals/flip flops: For the sauna or walking around in your hotel if you don’t want to put on your proper boots
2 pairs gloves: I recommend having two pairs, one lightweight pair of touchscreen-friendly gloves and one more heavy pair of waterproof gloves for things like playing in the snow.
1 super-warm infinity scarf: I love the scarves that you can wrap super close to your face, like this one. Never underestimate the power of a scarf for keeping you warm!
Waterproof boots: Unless you’re doing heavy-duty snow trekking and snow-shoeing, you don’t necessarily need proper snow boots: just something waterproof and with good traction.
I first bought a pair of Blondo waterproof leather boots in 2008… which means I celebrated my 10-year anniversary with them last year. However, if you plan on doing a lot of hiking in the snow, you may want a proper snow boot. The Elsa snow boot by KEEN is waterproof, insulated, and looks super cozy.
Warm socks: no matter how insulated your shoe is, it won’t do much good if you are wearing thin, crappy cotton socks. I invested in these Smartwool socks after much hemming and hawing about the price and I’m so glad I did.
You don’t need that many pairs because you can actually re-wear them a few times before they get smelly because wool is so odor-absorbent and magical. And even though I generally can’t tolerate wool because of itchiness, I don’t mind them on my feet.
My favorite bag!
Cute travel daypack: While traveling in Switzerland is generally safe, you won’t be immune from opportunity theft which can occur anywhere, anytime – especially in busy or crowded places.
Especially if you’re checking out the busy Christmas markets, I recommend having a secure backpack.
I use this PacSafe Citysafe backpack, which is a security bag that is actually aesthetically pleasing and not horrendous to look at.
What to Wear in Switzerland for Men
Granted, I’m not a man, but here’s what I’d recommend based off what I *think* men would need on a trip to Switzerland.
Summer/Fall/Spring
5 short sleeve Ts
3-5 long sleeve Ts or light sweaters (more in fall/spring)
2-3 pair jeans and pants
2 pairs shorts (summer only)
7+ pairs underwear, 1 for each day of your trip
flip flops or comfortable walking sandals
sneakers
hiking boots
waterproof rain jacket
swim trunks
2 thicker-weight sweaters
ultra-light down jacket
5+ pairs of socks
hat, gloves, scarves if you think you’ll need them for mountain/glacier visits
Winter
5 thick-weight sweaters, wool or similar fabric
3 thermal long-sleeve shirts for an underlayer
3 pairs thermal underwear
2-3 pairs jeans or other similar heavy-weight pants
snow or hiking boots
flip-flops for hotel/hostel use only
waterproof, windproof parka
5+ pairs of warm wool socks
swim trunks
scarf
hat
gloves
What to Pack for Switzerland (Toiletries)
Women
Hanging Toiletry Bag: After struggling to find a good way to organize my toiletries, I stumbled across this hanging toiletry bag and purchased it on a whim to give it a try… and I promptly became a product evangelist.
It’s perfect for organizing your travel toiletries like shampoo, moisturizer, make-up, hairbrushes, tweezers, etc. It has a lot of organizers and separators so you can really maximize your organization without taking up much excess space.
It fits quite a bit – it’s like the Mary Poppins bag you always needed but never knew existed. It’s wonderful for girly girl travelers like myself who have a hard time leaving make-up behind when they travel.
Sunscreen: My skin is really sensitive on my face, so I use this fancy Japanese sunscreen to prevent acne on my face. Don’t forget this – I actually got a really bad sunburn in Switzerland one day because of the altitude.
Moisturizer: The wind and the sun did a number on my skin in Switzerland and I felt like my skin got quite dry due to the sun exposure in the mountains.
I love a moisturizer with SPF for day like this one from Aveeno and then I use a thicker moisturizer like this Olay night cream for replenishing moisture over night.
Hand sanitizer: In case of a lack of soap in train stations or restaurant bathrooms, I like having hand sanitizer just in case.
LUSH solid shampoo: It’s life-changing. Just trust me. Buy online or in store from LUSH and you’ll save serious money over Amazon, but you can also source it on Amazon for convenience.
My favorite is the Seanik seaweed shampoo – it makes my hair gorgeous and it also doesn’t take up any space in my liquid toiletry allowance.
Face wipes: Great for nights when you’re too exhausted to take your make-up off properly or for a quick face clean up after a dusty hike.
Menstrual cup or your favorite tampon/pad brand (if applicable): If you have a specific brand allegiance, you may not find it in Switzerland. I switched to a Diva Cup for travel and love it!
Deodorant: I can’t rant enough about how much European deodorant sucks, plus I absolutely hate the smell of the aerosol deodorants that are so popular in Europe.
Do yourself, everyone around you, and the planet a favor and buy some decent deodorant from home. I love Secret Clinical Strength and stash up on it every time I’m home in the US, but then again, I am sweatier than most people are.
Travel-sized liquid toiletries: If you want to bring your favorite toiletries from home, I recommend these awesome reusable silicone GoToobs.
Razor + shaving cream if necessary
Lip balm with SPF: Don’t skip this as your lips can easily burn in the snowy mountain tops!
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Body wash, conditioner, lotion – anything else you usually bring!
Hair brush
Makeup, if you want
Men
shampoo (and conditioner if you use it!)
body wash
deodorant (please)
razor and shaving cream, if applicable
toothbrush & toothpaste
sunscreen & lip balm with SPF
hand sanitizer & Kleenex
What to Pack for Switzerland (Electronics & Random)
Laptop, if necessary: I bring my 13″ MacBook Air everywhere but other people may prefer a tablet or an inexpensive netbook. I work on the road so a user-friendly, lightweight laptop is a must for me.
Kindle Paperwhite: I love having a Kindle for travel but if you don’t think you’ll be doing much reading on your Switzerland trip or your flight over than you can give this a skip
Travel camera: I use a Sony A6000 because it’s lightweight for a professional caliber camera, inexpensive, and a HUGE step up from a smartphone.
Extra camera batteries: Trust me, you’ll use plenty of battery taking photos in Switzerland (and your batteries will get sapped in the cold up on the mountains as well)!
Portable hard drive: You’ll want to back up your photos to keep your memory cards uncluttered and protect your precious photos.
After my previous hard drive failed even though I never damaged it (never rely on WD My Passport) I am extra paranoid with my hard drives. I recommend Transcend hard drives instead – they are drop resistant and super sturdy.
Travel tripod: If you are serious about your photography you should invest in a sturdier tripod as wind on the mountains in Switzerland can be strong. There were some days I didn’t use my tripod because it didn’t feel steady enough in the gusts.
I have a cheap tripod from Amazon but a sturdy tripod with a hook so that you can use that to hang your camera bag on and balance the camera would be your friend on windy days.
ND filters: The size of ND filter you will need depends on the size of the lens you’ll be using so check it before buying. I use these ND filters. These are useful combined with a tripod for daytime long exposure shots, getting smooth water effects.
GoPro or similar camera for video: If you plan on doing anything adventurous like paragliding, canyon swinging, or rafting — or if you just want some easy-to-take video of your trip — then I recommend bringing something like a GoPro
Portable charger: You’ll use your phone battery more than you thought in Switzerland – whether it’s using it to take photos or videos, or to check train schedules, hotel bookings, etc.
Bring a portable charger to save yourself many headaches! Anker is a reliable brand and what I personally use – make sure you get one that can hold several charges at once so you don’t have to charge it every single night.
Adaptor: Switzerland uses a slightly different adaptor, type J (sometimes C will work, but not always). I had trouble in some of my accommodations with my standard EU plug. This is the one you want.
Headphones: I use simple iPhone headphones typically but you may want noise-canceling headphones if you are noise-sensitive.
Medicine: I actually got insanely sick in Switzerland and nearly needed to be hospitalized. I was so thankful I had my usual travel medicine kit, as I was too ill to drag myself to a pharmacy.
I always bring the following items: Pepto-Bismol tablets for standard stomach troubles, a painkiller like ibuprofen for headaches and minor pains, some sort of motion sickness tablets for boat or long car rides, and some sort of cold medicine as many countries in Europe actually don’t sell this (not sure about Switzerland but it’s nearly impossible to find in Germany and the Nordics).
Reusable water bottle: The tap water in Switzerland is drinkable everywhere and of the highest quality. If you don’t carry a reusable bottle, you will spend a ton of unnecessary money on bottled water, and you’ll waste a lot of plastic in the process as well.
I like a simple streamlined metal bottle, like this one from Klean Kanteen. If you want to further reduce your footprint, I recommend bringing along reusable tote bagsas well if you plan on doing any grocery shopping during your Iceland trip.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Faroe Islands are the most spectacular place I’ve ever been. The landscape looks impossibly rugged, going from jagged mountains to churning sea in what seems like an impossibly short distance. The only sign that these islands are habitable are the winding roads and the small, colorful houses that seem to cling onto this craggy landscape for dear life.
In this guide to where to stay in the Faroe Islands, I’ve worked my way from the nearest island to where you’ll land (Vágar) to the further reaches of the Faroes, culminating with the southernmost island (and one of my favorites), Suduroy. Far and away the island of Streymoy has the largest number of options, particularly in and around its capital city, Tórshavn.
In fact, if you only want to base yourself in one place in the Faroes, Tórshavn would be my pick. It’s relatively central – though to be fair, the Faroe Islands are so well-connected by road, tunnel, and ferry that no place is truly that far. Tórshavn is easily connected by ferry to other lesser-visited islands like Nolsoy, Suduroy, and Sandoy, making it possible to get off the beaten path on day trips while staying in the capital.
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Suduroy, Nolsoy, and Sandoy are all easy day trips from Torshavn!
Plus, if you’re planning on staying in hotels, Tórshavn is the place with the greatest variety of restaurants and nightlife (though to be fair, nightlife never gets that wild in Tórshavn).
However, what I personally did on my Faroes itinerary was stay in a variety of places on three different islands, making it so that I had to backtrack less and got to spend more time off the beaten path in places like Bordoy and the northern islands and Suduroy, the furthest south of the Faroes. Depending on your travel style, you’ll want to either shack up in one spot or bounce around the islands, so I’ve included stops all around the Faroes to help you pick.
Of all the places to stay in the Faroe Islands, Torshavn is the most convenient!
I’ve organized this post by island, but I’ve included the rough budget category so you can refer to that at a glance. Here is generally how I define my price categories:
$ – Budget: Has a hostel option. Each bunk should be less than $50 per person, or $100 for a private double room.
$$ – Mid-Range: No hostel option, and rooms cost between $100-200 per night for a double.
$$$ – Luxury: Private rooms from $200 per night and up.
Where to Stay in Faroes Islands: Vágar
If you’re arriving by plane, Vágar will be your first port of call in the Faroe Islands. It is not a large island, but it does have a handful of the Faroes’ most famous and photogenic spots. Namely, you won’t want to miss Gásaladur and its famous Múlafossur waterfall which flows endlessly into the Atlantic Ocean from a height of 30 meters (nearly 100 feet). This was my first stop on my Faroes trip and as it’s only about a 10-minute drive from the airport, it’d be silly to skip it!
Vágar is a great island for hikers, with two of the Islands’ best-known hikes both easily accessible. The Postman’s Hike from Bøur to Gásaladur is one of the most beautiful in the whole cluster of islands. The hike to Traelnipa, a.k.a. the “optical illusion” hike at Lake Sorvagsvatn, is one of the most spectacular hikes in the world.
Close to the only airport in the Faroe Islands – not to mention the beautiful Mulafossur Waterfall and famous Traelnipa hike as well – this is one of the few Faroes accommodation options on the island of Vágar. With a view of the most famous sea stack in the Faroes, Drangarnir, literally right outside your window, The View more than deserves its name.
Hosted by Tróndur and Anita, this is a relatively new holiday home option which they built from the ground up in 2017. However, they took pains to ensure their new cabins matched the beautiful landscape. That’s why they adhered to the old Faroese standard – a partial stone foundation, black painted walls, white window shutters, and of course, the turf roof.
While the cabins look old-fashioned and traditional from the outside, on the inside they are delightfully spacious and modern. Each cabin has a large living room (36 square meters), a well-equipped kitchen so you can cook your own meals (and a dishwasher!), a bathroom, a washer-dryer, and two bedrooms for sleeping in a cozy second-floor attic nook. Each of the four cabins can sleep four people comfortably.
There aren’t a ton of hostel options in the Faroe Islands, but Giljanes Hostel is one of the few and it’s located in beautiful Vágur as well. Most of the hostel options are on Streymoy, so if you want to stay in Vágur on a budget – whether it’s to take advantage of the beautiful hikes, catch an early ferry to Mykines, or be close to the airport – this is a great choice.
This hostel has a shared kitchen area and a cozy lounge room as well, all of which are designed with a spacious, airy Nordic design in mind. You’ll find the kitchen to be well-stocked and spacious, great for reducing costs while traveling in the Faroes as food costs can really add up here! It’s also near a bus stop on the line that goes from the airport to Tórshavn, so if you are trying to visit the Faroes without a car (difficult but possible!) it’s a great option as well.
Some rooms even have a stunning ocean view, so try to find a room with that if you at all can! There are a few single and double rooms but this is mostly a hostel. A variety of dorm configurations, co-ed and gender-segregated, are available, but so are tents if you are really on a budget during your time in the Faroe Islands! Wild camping is not permitted in the islands so this is a great and legal alternative, especially if you don’t have your own tent with you but feel like camping could be fun.
Previous guests have raved about the friendly host, the convenient location close to some of the Faroes’ best hikes, and how well-equipped the hostel is for the price.
Literally a five-minute walk from the airport, Hotel Vágar is the place to stay if you want to be close to the airport for your flight early in the morning or if you have a late arrival and just want to crash when you get to the Faroes.
There are only a few flights a day in and out of the airport, so guests have reported that they didn’t have a problem with the noise. Honestly, it’s not the most exciting place to stay in the Faroe Islands, but for certain cases it is definitely the most convenient.
The rooms are bright, clean, and spacious, with wooden floors and TVs in every room. All rooms come with their own private bathroom, and some are ‘suite’-syle with a separate area for sitting and spreading out.
Conveniently, there is also a restaurant at the hotel, which serves both international and traditional Faroese dishes on an à la carte basis. Free breakfast is included. Double rooms and family rooms (sleeping 4) are available.
Streymoy is the largest of all the 18 Faroe Islands and home to the capital city, Tórshavn. Like I said before, if you want to only pick only one place to stay in the Faroe Islands, I recommend Tórshavn.
It not only has the most Faroes accommodations options, it’s one of the places you can really get to meet local people and see what the average life of a Faroese person is like… after all, nearly half of all Faroese live in the capital. However, that’s not to say Tórshavn is built up or crowded at all.
It’s funny that the capital city of this country is literally a third of the size of the California suburb that I grew up in – one that I always thought of as “tiny.” But when you compare Tórshavn to the rest of the Faroe Islands, full of sleepy seaside villages, you’ll see what I mean when I say that it is a completely different experience than the rest of the Faroes.
One of the best-loved accommodations in the Faroe Islands, Hotel Føroyar has a fantastic location. It’s not that far from the center of Tórshavn but it offers solitude away from the bustle of downtown, with panoramic views of the Nólsoy fjord, city, and gorgeous mountains.
Meanwhile, amidst all the natural beauty, the hotel’s aesthetic is ultra-modern yet comfortable, with spacious rooms and interesting lounge areas. Every square inch of this design hotel is planned to please the senses. It was designed by the famous Danish architects, Friis & Moltke and the interior was designed by famed designers Philippe Starck and Montana. I especially love the traditional grass roof, which is just so quintessentially Faroese.
Keep in mind that this location isn’t close to the center of Tórshavn, so if you are reliant on public transportation during your stay in the Faroes it may not be the best option. You can walk to and from town but it’ll take about 30 minutes each way, with the way back from town being uphill and very steep.
However, I think it’s a great place to stay if you are renting a car and don’t want to deal with the hassles of parking in Tórshavn but want to be close to the action of the city. I stayed in the city center of Tórshavn last time and got really lucky to snag the last parking space at my hotel, but if I had to find city parking I would have been screwed.
There is no kitchen access, but you can eat delicious traditional Faroese food at their well-known restaurant, Gras, if you don’t feel like going downtown to eat at one of the restaurants in Tórshavn. It also serves international food if you’re in the mood for something more familiar.
There are a variety of rooms ranging from your standard double room to a business suite to a family room, making it one of the more versatile Faroes accommodations options. All are spacious and designed with aesthetics in mind, with luxe bathrooms that include a bathtub – perfect for soothing sore muscles after a long hike.
If you want a modern and stylish place to stay in Tórshavn just an easy walk from the center of town, visitHOMES Torshavn rooms is a good option. It’s full of stylish and new appliances and furniture; however, you sacrifice a bit of space and privacy, as it’s more like a bedroom in a house rather than a true hotel. If you enjoy meeting other travelers, however, this is more a blessing than a curse.
There is a shared kitchen and dining room that you can use, which is great for reducing your costs in the pricy Faroe Islands – though that said, these rooms aren’t exactly cheap.
However, there are a few quirks worth mentioning so you won’t be disappointed. For one, the bathroom is located separately from the room and down the hall in many instances. While there are convenient sockets located near the bed, there are no side or end tables, which would be helpful for organizing your stuff, as the rooms are on the smaller side.
There is a continental breakfast available, but it does not come included in the room price, so keep that in mind.
This cozy guesthouse, Faroe City View B&B, has a shared lounge and fully-equipped kitchen area that guests can use, which can be very useful for reducing dining costs in the Faroe Islands. The décor is not super modern, but it’s functional, spacious, and on the affordable side of the mid-range budget spectrum with most rooms hovering just over 100 euros per night.
Rooms are cozy, spacious, and well-decorated yet streamlined, with space for your luggage so you can spread out a bit. Guests have raved about the cleanliness of the rooms, the delicious free breakfast (not always a given in the Faroes!) and the relatively cheap price for Tórshavn. Keep in mind that this is a B&B, and all the rooms have a shared bathroom. This is one of the reasons why the price is low so if you can accept this quirk it’s a great choice.
When it comes to Tórshavn, the location is hard to beat: walking distance to the center, though with a bus stop right near the apartment so that you can take the (free!) city bus whenever you please. Supermarkets and restaurants are 700 meters away. This is a great choice for people looking for a budget-friendly place to stay, but not necessarily wanting to stay in a hostel or to camp.
Offering both double rooms and single rooms for a relatively affordable price, 62N Hotel is one of the most popular choices for where to stay in the Faroe Islands and is often sold out months in advance. It’s mostly because of its excellent location, close to Tórshavn’s restaurants, bars, and shops yet with plenty of parking nearby. It’s a short walk to the harbor and Tinganes, one of the most scenic areas in all of Tórshavn (a high distinction).
Guests have access to a shared kitchen, which is great for a hotel-style accommodation in Torshavn like this one as most hotels don’t have this choice and this can lower the daily cost of visiting the Faroe Islands by quite a bit. Rooms are modern and stylish, slightly on the small side but well-equipped with a working desk as well as a private bathroom in each room. Some of the rooms even have a private balcony with a sea view!
Guests rave about its speedy WiFi, its excellent location, and plentiful breakfast; the attached restaurant gets lesser reviews, so skip it and opt to cook in or eat out at one of the delicious restaurants in downtown Tórshavn (we loved Circus and Paname Café).
One of the most unique places to stay in Tórshavn, Havgrim Seaside Hotel 1948 is absolutely stunning. It’s quite close to the city yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle to provide free parking for its guests, perched high enough up to offer incredible views over Tórshavn’s harbor and the nearby island of Nolsoy.
Guests rave about the kindness of the staff and the deliciousness of breakfast, which is included in the room price. The breakfast room is lovely, with plenty of plants and cute furniture to give you the feeling that you’re eating in a dear friend’s kitchen, rather than a big hotel’s faceless dining room. The whole hotel has that same vibe to it, a place with true personality, unique down to every last detail. It’s on the less expensive side of the luxury tier as well, so it’s a rather good deal for the Faroe Islands.
The rooms are very luxurious and beautifully designed, with fluffy white linens, brightly-lit with large windows (with heavy curtains to block out the sun in the summer), and thoughtful details like reading lights, coffee & tea making facilities in the room, and L’Occitane toiletries. It’s inclusive as well: some of the rooms are specifically designated as accessible, great for travelers who have limited mobility or use a wheelchair.
There aren’t many places to stay in Gjogv – in fact, this is the only one I can find! But this is one of my favorite places on Streymoy, and in fact the whole country, that I couldn’t leave this village off my list of where to stay in Faroe Islands
If you want to stay in a traditional house with a turf roof, surrounded by one of the most beautiful environments in a quaint seaside village in the Faroes – this is your pick! There’s no kitchen access, but breakfast is included and the guesthouse also provides lunch and dinner for an additional charge in the on-site restaurant, which serves up typical Faroese cuisine.
Each room has a private bathroom with a shower, with clean and crisp linens, closet space, a desk area to work at if needed, and daily maid service. Some rooms are located in the annex not a far walk from the main guesthouse building. Previous guests raved about the kindness of the staff, who were very helpful in discovering the nearby area, and the unparalleled quiet and beautiful scenery.
One of my favorite islands in the Faroes, I don’t know why more travelers don’t visit Suðuroy! I suppose the two-hour long ferry scares them off, when all the other islands are more easily accessible, but still: I’ll argue over and over again that Suduroy is well worth a visit when you come to the Faroe Islands.
There are a few main towns on Suduroy: Tvøroyri, where the ferries let you off, Hvalba, my personal favorite town, and Vágur, the largest town on the island. I’ve only found Suduroy accommodations in Tvøroyri listed, so you’ll find my top pick below.
Where I stayed in Tvøroyri, I loved my stay at B&B Suduroy hosted by Bindi! This small B&B is incredibly cozy and we could have easily stayed here for days enjoying Suduroy. It has two bedrooms, each with two beds, so it’s great for a larger group of travelers, or you can rent out just one of the rooms and be willing to share the bathroom and kitchen with other travelers.
There’s a kitchen in the guesthouse with a gorgeous view of the fjord, and you’re brought a basket full of local goodies to make yourself breakfast each morning: a great idea that I wish more guesthouses did!
The whole place is very new and modern, and I really loved the décor – it had that cozy feel that made you feel instantly at home, with plenty of cozy textiles and comfortable sitting areas. I especially loved the ultra-modern bathroom and kitchen, both of which made me feel like it was a shame we only stayed the one night!
The (shared) living area in B&B Suduroy The modern kitchen in B&B Suduroy
Have you stayed anywhere in the Faroe Islands? Where do you recommend?
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
It’s no secret if you look at my recent post history that I’ve had a bit of writer’s block lately.
My constant movement has become exhausting, inhibiting my ability to work on my business and myself in the ways I’d like to. Nearly three years of nonstop travel later, I think it’s safe to say I’m tired. The routines I once ran from I now crave. Simple things — doing a load of laundry in a familiar washing machine, having my my own pantry and kitchen knives — all carry just as much, if not more allure to me as ticking another place off my bucket list.
In the wake of my year-long standoff with Bulgaria’s bureaucratic immigration requirements, travel has become more burden than blessing: something I must do every few weeks rather than something I get to do.
I felt detached from most of the trips I did this year, like I was floating through a city, avoiding as much interaction and stimulation as possible so as not to get overwhelmed – my default setting over the past twelve months. But in all my travels last year, there is one place that bucks the trend.
The beautiful Faroe Islands.
Leave it to this cluster of islands to do the impossible and wake me from my sleeping inner self and shock me out of my blasé and hyper-privileged attitude towards travel.
Leave it to these islands to come back to a more raw, pre-burnout version of myself: capable of awe, brimming with curiosity, and awake to small and beautiful details.
Like these adorable Faroese sheep.
If you feel as if that was a strange segue…. you’re 100% correct. The thing with writer’s block is that it is like a vice grip on your brain, and every day that passes without writing is confirmation that you, indeed, should not be writing.
Between my perfectionist tendencies, my general feeling of malaise towards travel, and working on my second site which is admittedly grabbing more of my attention now, I’ve logged into Eternal Arrival planning to write several times over the past few weeks… and never published a word. Everything seemed trite, pointless… until I stumbled across this folder of photos of sheep from the Faroe Islands I’ve been saving for some iteration of this exact post.
You see, if perfect is the enemy of good, then Faroese sheep are the enemy of malaise.
They are so un-self-consciously silly that it’ll break through even the most rock-hard ennui. They are aloof to your existence yet not afraid. They are simple, and yet they have an innate intelligence that allows them to live in complete harmony with the land.
They give zero f(@*s about your presence – especially when there is an especially delicious ray of sun hitting them while they bask in the sun.
The Faroe Islands are not an easy place to eke out a living – approximately 2 percent of the land is arable, leaving Faroese people to turn to the sea. That’s why fishing and whaling are such big industries here – when you have 2% of 1,399 km² to feed 50,000 people, you’re going to have to get creative.
Sheep, meanwhile, have zero problems making it on the Faroes. These crafty little creatures are basically one step away from photosynthesis. Sun hits grass, sun feeds grass, grass feeds sheep. Simple.
Of course, sheep and humans live together on these islands in a kind of partnership. The sheep provide wool and meat; the humans provide shelter from the harsher elements.
In fact, the name Faroe Islands comes from old Norse old Norse Færeyjar, which literally means “Sheep Islands” – that’s how essential these animals are to the islands. And with sheep outnumbering people by about 50% on these islands, you’ll see why.
Sheep were not born on these islands, but they were seemingly made for life on it. Norse settlers brought sheep to the Faroes during the Viking era, where they thrived in this grassy, mountainous landscape. Their wool coats kept them protected from the icy Atlantic winds and their light, strong skeletal structures allow them to easily traverse the mountainous terrain with an ease that makes humans look quite clumsy in comparison.
Faroese sheep are now a unique breed of sheep all their own. Their unique breed has been mixed with sheep imported from Iceland and the Scottish isles to boost their numbers during valleys of low numbers in the 17th century and later again in the 19th century, to engineer a sheep with more meat and better wool.
When exactly sheep came to call the Faroe Islands home is not exactly known.
Historical records show that the islands were full of sheep as far back as 825 CE, but the islands have been inhabited by people on and off since the 300s CE – so the sheep must have arrived sometime in between and immediately started thriving in these wild, grassy lands.
The relationship between man and domesticated animal is for one of two purposes: companionship or food.
Sheep, while adorable, don’t make the best companions (I find them a bit snobby, the cool kids of the animal kingdom you can’t quite make an in with) – and therefore, they have become food.
Lamb has been a crucial part of the Faroese diet for centuries. As the slaughter occurs only once a year in the fall, the Faroese developed a variety of ways to eat the meat for the entire year to come: cooked, dried, and fermented.
The latter two methods were especially essential in the years before electricity and therefore freezers were invented, and they are still part of a traditional Faroese diet.
Even though Faroese people now have basically all of the conveniences of modern-day life – great roads, electricity in all villages, surprisingly fast WiFi – they still maintain the traditions they gained from leaner, harder times, those little ways of doing life that make up the distinctly Faroese identity.
To preserve the lamb meat for the year to come, the Faroese would build dry, airy structures and hang up the meat. This semi-sheltered preservation system provided a safe way for the meat to ferment (ræst). This meat has a unique flavor and texture that the Faroese still incorporate into their modern cuisine
As Faroese people have gained an easier, more modernized way of life, they have more room to explore and get creative with their cuisine. Young chefs in the Faroes have begun to play with their country’s national dishes, putting new spins on traditional classics.
While you’ll find a lot more vegetables and tastes from abroad on your typical Faroese plate – I had a quinoa salad in Tórshavn, hardly native to these islands – you’ll also find plenty of nods to the importance of sheep meat in the country’s cuisine in the restaurants of these islands. Lamb – fermented and cooked – is inextricably tied with Faroese gastronomy.
Of course, meat is just one aspect of the importance of sheep to the Faroe Islands. Another reason why sheep were brought to the Faroes and tended to for centuries was their wool – semi-seriously called ‘Faroese gold’ in a common Faroese adage.
The spring shearing of thousands of Faroese sheep each year meant that almost-magically warm wool was never in short supply. While traditionally designs were more utilitarian, newer designers have focused on bringing a more fashion-forward touch to their creations. In particular, the Faroese designers Guðrun&Guðrun have received a lot of buzz abroad for their creative, sustainable designs made with Faroese wool.
Today, sheep serve a new purpose – tourism – as one of the most unique and distinct reasons to visit the Faroe Islands. In the world of European travel – where cookie-cutter Old Towns with escape rooms and hipster bars all start to make every place feel the same – this is a unique asset.
Sheep have been at the heart of a lot of the Faroes’ most viral marketing campaigns, like Sheep View – which eventually finally got these islands on Google Street View. (They are currently trying to get Faroese added to Google Translate with the hilariously awesome Faroe Islands Translate project)
Squee-inducing sheep photos are just one reason of literally hundreds to visit the Faroe Islands. Stunning sea cliffs, abundant bird life, a thriving capital, gorgeous harbors, unparalleled hiking – the Faroe Islands have a little bit of it all.
But more than just being a cute quirk of Faroese life, the country’s ovine residents are a window into understanding the Faroe Islands and Faroese people, their past and how these islands and the people who call them home came to be who be who they are today. They’re also clinically proven to leave a smile on your face.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
