1. New York, USA
I visited New York nearly five years ago with my family and it has to come in high as one of my favourite places. We did the typical tourist attractions; the empire state building, Rockefeller centre (which in my opinion has a better view than the former), times square, central park, the statue of liberty...and we also tracked down the building they use as the exterior of the apartment block in Friends, which I was probably far too excited about. I'd love to go back now and explore more of the 'off the beaten track' New York, this time being of legal age to enjoy a cocktail or five.
2. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is the kind of place I could see myself living in. Kerrie and I started our interrailing trip there last year and I'm dying to go back. I know there are plenty of people who think Berlin has been ruined by hipsters and gentrification, but I really loved it there. There just seems to be so much going on and, although I've never been one to enjoy a history lesson, learning about Berlin's past was so interesting. Also, they have bars called 'weinereis' which are like sitting in somebody's living room where you drink as much wine as you want then pay what you'd like. What's not to love?
3. Budapest, Hungary
Another place that I'd consider calling home; I've been to Budapest twice now on two different interrailing trips.I'll admit the first time I went to Budapest I felt a little intimidated; it was the first place we'd been where the currency was not in euros and the language looked and sounded like nothing we'd heard before. But after settling in Budapest just feels like a fun, young place to be. Lots of the bars here are known as 'ruin pubs', which are basically old warehouses and buildings which have been turned into bars and they tend to have an abundance of unusual chairs- think bath tubs and hollowed out cars. The exchange rate is also insane- it does feel odd to press a button to get 10,000 forint out of the cash machine, but then you realise it's equivalent to £27 and it all feels okay again.
4. Lake Bled, Slovenia
Does this picture need much more explanation? This was our final stop last year and it was the perfect place to relax. This must be the most picturesque place I've ever been to (if you ignore the fact we stayed in a George Best themed hostel). You can row out to that church in the middle, which we did. Yes, we were embarrassingly slow in comparison to the other people flying across the water, but we managed it in the end. You can lounge on the board walk around the lake and have a quick dip if you get too hot. Just watch out for the swans and ducks swimming around.
I'm hoping to do a lot more travelling next year after I graduate but for now these are my top dreaming-of-going-back destinations. Where's the best place you've visited?
