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  • UCC Alumni Moving to Berlin: 50+ Practical Tips

    UCC Alumni Moving to Berlin: 50+ Practical Tips

    This guide was written as a compelte guide for University College Cork alumni interested in relocating to Berlin. If you have any more questions, please contact me!

    ⭐ Quick links: the 8 things you should do in your 1st week in Berlin

    Moving to a new city is a very exciting time! There’s a lot to see and do, but there’s also a lot of ‘life admin’. This guide has tons of advice on the things you’ll need to do over the first few months… 

    But here are the 8 highest-priority things you should get cracking on as soon as possible:

    1. Start looking for an apartment & get your documents ready
    2. Register your address to get your tax number
    3. Start looking for a job
    4. Set up your health insurance ASAP (mandatory!)
    5. Register with a GP
    6. Open a bank account
    7. Get a public transport pass
    8. Join the UCC Alumni Whatsapp Group to meet people and get job/apartment tips

    And then, there’s detailed advice on everything else:

    🏡 Finding an apartment 

    👀 Register your address (Anmeldung) & get your tax number

    💼 Work

    🧑‍⚕️Health & health insurance

    💲Taxes, banks & insurances 

    🇩🇪Learning German

    🚌 Public transport

    👶 Kids & families

    Finding an apartment

    Finding an apartment is one of the biggest hurdles in an international move. Coming from Ireland, we know all about difficult housing markets. The Berlin housing market is extremely competitive, and has a lot of quirks you won’t have seen before in Ireland.
    Finding an apartment in Berlin can seem like a mythical quest, but millions of people have done it! As long as you get organized and stay on top of it, you will manage.

    😎Temporary apartments for people who just arrived in Berlin

    I’ll be honest: finding an apartment when you’ve just moved to Berlin, don’t have all the documents, and don’t have a job, will be close to impossible. Landlords will only rent to you if you earn 3x the rent. Even if you have a job, most landlords will reject you straight away since you are still in the probation period. But don’t fear. There is a way around it.

    ⭐Find a temporary apartment. You can save yourself a lot of stress by booking a temporary apartment for your first 6 months in Berlin. You can find a room in a houseshare or a whole apartment available temporarily on websites like HousingAnywhere, Wunderflats, or any of the coliving spaces. New ones are popping up all the time, so do some Googling. 

    • Make sure the apartment will let you do Anmeldung/register your address, so you can get your tax number (more on doing Anmeldung in this section). 
    • Beware of sublets, many of them won’t let you do Anmeldung, and there are a lot of complicated scams going on.
    • A few months in, if everything’s going well, you can start looking for a more long-term apartment. Now that you’ve been here a few months and know your way, it will be a lot easier.

    🔍Where to find an apartment

    Immoscout24.de is the most popular apartment-hunt website. I would recommend getting a premium account. If you have a premium account, you will see ads 48 hours before unpaid users. Most landlords delete their ads after a few hours, so sadly, paying for premium is the only way to get in there. 

    Other platforms you should join include Kleinanzeigen, Immowelt  and WG-Gesucht (for houseshares).

    🗂Documents you need to have for your house hunt

    Germans love paperwork, so before you begin this quest, get all your paperwork ready. You will not be invited to view apartments if you don’t have the right documentation.

    Having all this together will save you a lot of time later. I would also suggest you combine all these documents in a PDF, which you can then send to landlords.

    Documents you will need:

    🛂Passport: as a form of ID.

    👍SCHUFA: this is like a credit rating that shows a list of any bills, fines or other payments companies reported you for not paying. Landlords won’t rent to you if they see you have skipped out on paying for stuff before. Request your SCHUFA report now to make sure you have it in time for your search. If you haven’t lived in Germany before, you’ll still need the SCHUFA report as a formality, but it will just be blank. 

    💸Proof of income: Your work contract, and/or the 3 most recent payslips, will do here. 

    🤑Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung: This is a document from your current landlord where s/he states that you do not have any rental debts or other issues. Landlords don’t usually ask for references, but they often ask for this. If you haven’t rented in Germany before, and the landlord insists on seeing something, offer them a reference from a landlord or employer in Ireland.

    💳If you are not an EU citizen: Visa documents. 

    🏠Tip for couples and groups: The person who speaks the best German should handle any phone calls. But since we know many landlords only want to rent to people with stable jobs, sign off all messages/applications as being from the person with the most ‘stable’ job.

    ✍️How to write an apartment application

    As a general rule of thumb: you need to check apartment sites as often as possible, and send your application within the first hour it’s online (many ads get taken back after that time).

    🇩🇪What language should I use? If the apartment ad is in German, write in German. You can use ChatGPT to do a rough draft, and ask someone who speaks German well to review it. If it’s in English, or the ad explicitly says that they speak English, you can write in English. 

    ✔️Save your standard message in Google Docs or email. Write a draft and save it somewhere you can easily access on your phone. Then you can copy and paste, and quickly apply while on the go. If your message is in German, and you don’t speak German well, ask a native speaker to check it before you start sending it out.

    ✨Share your story. Landlords are often very curious to ‘size you up’ before meeting you. Tell them why you came to Berlin and when, tell them about your work, your hobbies, and any other information that could set you apart. Things they like to see include: traveling a lot/rarely at home, very quiet person with quiet hobbies like reading or knitting, no pets, non-smoker, stable or traditional job. Goes without saying – don’t lie, but only mention details that make you look good. 

    ✨Phrases to use in your apartment application messages

    Here is a standard paragraph that should be in every message. 3 standard phrases everyone should include in their application:

    Sehr geehrte Herr/Frau X,

    Mein Name ist X. Ich komme aus Irland (EU-Bürger) und lebe seit (YEAR HERE) in Deutschland. Ich arbeite seit (START DATE HERE) als (JOB TITLE HERE) bei (COMPANY HERE). Mein monatliches Netto-Einkommen liegt bei etwa (SALARY HERE). Ich bin an einem Mietvertrag von mindestens 2 Jahren interessiert. 

    Translation: My name is X. I come from Ireland (EU citizen) and have been living in Germany since (YEAR HERE). I have been working as a (JOB HERE) at (COMPANY HERE) since (START DATE HERE). My monthly net income is around (SALARY HERE). I am interested in a rental contract of at least 2 years.

    Every landlord wants to know your citizenship, job, and monthly income. They can only rent to you if your monthly income is 3x the cold rent, so this is very important to mention. Some landlords prefer tenants interested in longer stays 9as finding new tenants is a hassle), so mention you are interested in 2+ years.

    ⚠️Common scams to be aware of

    Berlin is a tough housing market, so scammers really pull out all the stops to take advantage of desperate newcomers. Even when you’re under pressure to find an apartment, try to keep a cool head, and don’t believe offers that seem too good to be true.

    There are a few GENERAL scams you should be aware of, and a few BERLIN-SPECIFIC ones. Please pay extra attention to the Berlin-specific ones! Even if you’re an experienced renter, you could be caught out by them.

    General scams that are common in berlin:

    🧐Be skeptical of people who offer you good deals. If you post about your apartment search in a Facebook group, and someone immediately messages you with a too good to be true offer.. It probably IS too good to be true.

    💸Do not pay a deposit before seeing the apartment. Be suspicious if the landlord is living abroad or cannot show you the apartment, for any reason.

    🚨Even if you go to see the apartment.. Don’t hand over money! Scammers rent AirBnb flats, invite 100s of people to come view them, and then pretend to offer them contracts. Desperate people pay the deposit! The next day, the ‘landlord’ blocks their number and goes away with thousands.

    How to avoid common Berlin scams:

    ⛔No anmeldung? Don’t go there. If they say “you can’t do Anmeldung (register) here, but you can do it at my parent’s/friends place” or “Anmeldung only after 6 months”.. Don’t move in here! You need Anmeldung, so you can get your tax number and social security number, and start working. Something shady is going on! 

    ⚖️ ALWAYS hire a lawyer to review your rental contract before you sign it (check this list of English-speaking lawyers in Berlin). This is truly worth the money! I know people who didn’t do this, and were scammed in complicated ways they could never have predicted. Legally, when you receive a contract, you are allowed 4 days to review. Someone who pressures you to sign now is definitely trying to do something illegal.

    💸Ask to pay the deposit in 3 installments. Paying your deposit in 3 different installments is extremely common in Germany. Discuss this with the landlord. If they aren’t open to it, they are most likely scamming you.

    🛋️Do not sign any agreements to buy the current tenant’s furniture. Sometimes, when you go to viewings, the current tenant will tell you they will only send your application to the landlord if you sign an agreement to ‘take over’ their furniture when they move out (this could cost thousands). Do not sign anything! Their plan is to sue you for the price of the furniture even if you don’t get the apartment. If the apartment seems legit, tell them you will only sign an agreement after you have been offered the apartment and reviewed the contract with your lawyer. Scammers will immediately back down.

    ⭐⭐⭐The #1 golden rule: find out who the real owner is. The scam artist ‘landlord’ or subletter may give you ‘the property owner’s phone number’ or a ‘contract’. This is often fake. When you visit an apartment, go to the elevator or lobby and look for any sign or note from the Hausveranwaltung (house management). You can call the Hausveranwaltung (Google them if their phone number isn’t mentioned on the sign) to verify if the landlord/subletter’s story is actually true. Keep this phone number, as you will need it later.

    🏘️ Subletting: a minefield you need to know about

    Sublets, sublets, everywhere. Subletting is widespread in Germany, so if you see a nice apartment, and it’s a sublet, don’t immediately be put off.. BUT. BEWARE. There are plenty of illegal and semi-illegal subletting scams going on, so you need to be extra cautious. 

    If you’re confident the sublet is a real offer, there are still a few common problems you should be aware of:

    ⭐⭐⭐The #1 golden rule of subletting: find out who the real owner is. The scamming ‘landlord’ or subletter may give you ‘the property owner’s phone number’ or a ‘contract’. This is often fake. When you visit an apartment, go to the elevator or lobby and look for any sign or note from the Hausveranwaltung (house management). You can call the Hausveranwaltung (Google them if their phone number isn’t mentioned on the sign) to verify if the landlord/subletter’s story is actually true. Keep this phone number, as you will need it later.

    📄Make sure the landlord/subletter gives you a real Wohnunggebersbestatigung. You will need it to do Anmeldung (register your address) at the Burgeramt (local authority), get your tax number, and many other issues. 

    ⚖️Know the law about sublets. Some contracts will have ridiculously long notice periods or other conditions that make things harder for you. Read up on the law and know your rights. If the subletter tries to evict you – speak to a lawyer. 

    💸Check if their price is fair. Sublets are allowed to charge the rent they pay, plus maximum 20% for use of the furniture. Use this rent calculator to check if their price actually seems fair, or if they’re taking you for a ride. Many subletters have old rental contracts which are extremely cheap. They sublet their place at a massive profit (e.g, they pay 200, but charge you 1,200).

    💡If your subletter demands money for bills, confirm the real price with the house management first. Subletters may tell you you owe them 900 euros for a heating bill. Do not blindly pay it, this is probably a lie. Tell them you are confirming the details with the house management (Hausveranwaltung) first.

    💪Don’t be afraid to stand up to your subletter! If they demand more money or harass you, tell them you will report it to the owner. They are the one doing something illegal – you have the upper hand here. They will almost always back down.

    I’m sorry if this section scares you off subletting. There are some legitimate offers, but with so many shady ones on the market, it helps to stay on guard. The key takeaway here: always find out who the real owner is. If the sublet is legit, they won’t have a problem with this.

    🤪Weird things about renting in Germany

    There are a few things that surprise newcomers.

    🥶Cold rent vs warm rent: Cold rent is the price of the rent without heating and all utilities. If a place is advertised as ‘warm rent’, this means everything is included.

    💸You need to earn 3x the cold rent. Most landlords will only rent to you if you earn 3x the cold rent. If you don’t earn a lot, you have a few options. Finding a room in a WG (shared flat) or teaming up with a friend could work. If you happen to have a German friend or family member with a higher salary, you could ask them to be your guarantor – most landlords are very open to this.

    🤑The deposit is normally 3x the cold rent. If you’re planning to move into a new apartment, save up for that deposit! You will need to pay 3 times the rent. One positive thing, you are allowed to pay this in three installments so it doesn’t hurt your bank account as much. Tell your landlord you want to do this and they are obliged to say yes.

    🛏️ Unfurnished apartments. Many apartments will be unfurnished or only partly furnished. If you’re in Berlin short-term, getting a furnished place will save you a lot of hassle. If you need it, you can get basic furniture fairly cheaply from places like Ikea, Jysk and Otto.de. Local secondhand marketplaces like Ebay Kleinanzeigen and Facebook groups are very popular, and you can find almost anything secondhand in Berlin.

    🍳Apartments that don’t have kitchens. Some apartments don’t even have a kitchen! This means you will need to install everything, a sink, cupboards, oven, fridge, maybe even floorboards. These apartments are usually cheaper, but it can be quite expensive and a lot of hassle. I would recommend only searching for apartments marked ‘mit EBK’ (‘mit Einbaukuche’, meaning ‘with in-built kitchen’).

    🔑WBS apartments: This means that only people who qualify for Wohnberechtigungsschein, a kind of social welfare support, can rent the apartment. If you don’t have WBS, you shouldn’t apply. If you’re new in Berlin and/or work full-time, you probably don’t qualify for WBS. Find out more about WBS and if you qualify here.

    🔐Insurances you need to take out for renting

    Germany is the land of insurance! You can get insurance for almost anything. But these 2 are by far the most common, and the most important:

    💥Personal liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung). Many landlords want to see proof that you have this insurance before you move in. It covers you if you unintentionally damage someone’s property, for example it pays out if you break something in the apartment, or if you lose your keys (it can cost thousands to replace these in Germany!). The good news is this costs just a few euros a month, and insurers like GetSafe and Feather offer this service in English.

    ⚖️Legal insurance (Rechtschutzversicherung). Germany is a very litigious country, and most people have legal insurance! Dishonest people assume internationals don’t have legal insurance and will try the wildest scams ever with us (for example, saying you haven’t paid rent when you have, refusing to return your 3,000 euro deposit, demanding you pay them to repaint the apartment, evicting you without cause, and other crazy schemes). Legal insurance also covers you for disputes with your employer (employers not paying foreigners, and hoping they don’t have legal insurance/can’t afford to sue them is worryingly common!), the tax offices, and more. Save yourself a lot of trouble and get legal insurance from Feather or GetSafe.

    ⭐My number one tip: get legal insurance early on. It takes 3-6 months to come into effect, so get it far before you need it. Almost everyone I know has had a situation where they were taken advantage of, because they couldn’t afford to sue the company/landlord/someone else.

    ✉️ Getting mail at your new address

    When you move in, ask the Hausveranwaltung (house management) about putting your name on the mailbox, and on the front door/doorbells. You need to do this so you can receive mail at that address. If your your name isn’t on a mailbox, it will just get returned to the sender.

    💰Reducing your rent

    If your rent is too high, you might be entitled to a reduction under the law.

    🧮Berlin’s rent cap calculator: use this rent calculator to check if your rent actually seems fair.

    💪Hire conny.de to fight for your rent reduction: Conny.de will pursue your rent reduction case for free, you will only pay them after your case is successful. The good thing is Conny will handle most of the paperwork for you, the bad thing is this process can take a very long time (up to a year) and could create animosity with your landlord. 

    🚿Rent reductions for temporary situations: If the quality of living in your apartment goes down, for example, there are problems with hot water, electricity or noise levels, you are entitled to a rent reduction. The reduction depends how many days you had the issue for, and how severe it was. Your landlord will not automatically give you the reduction, you need to tell them in writing that you think X% is fair. Jur-law has more info.

    😕 Should I find an apartment first, or find a job first?

    This is a famous chicken/egg question! I’ll be honest: finding an apartment when you’ve just moved to Berlin, don’t have all the documents, and don’t have a job, will be close to impossible. 

    The easiest thing to do is to book into a temporary apartment (more info here).

    However – I also recommend you at least start your job search before heading over. Apply for jobs online (more on how to apply for jobs in this section), and see how it’s going. This will help you get familiar with the hiring process in Germany, and figure out how your job prospects are. You don’t want to be here for months, bouncing from sublet to sublet, and still struggling to get hired. Do some research in advance and you’ll save yourself a lot of stress.

    👀 Anmeldung & getting your tax & social security numbers

    This one is very important! If you plan to stay in Germany longer than 3 months, you must go to the local Bürgeramt authority and register your address. Every time you move, you need to do this process again. This is the same for everyone, Germans and internationals alike.

    ❗Why is it important to do your Anmeldung ASAP?

    🏦Firstly, you will need to do Anmeldung to get your social security numbers. You can technically start working without it, but you will go on emergency tax, and reclaiming it is a much more complicated process than it is in Ireland.

    📄You’ll need the proof of registration form, called a Meldebestätigung, later on. Keep it in a safe place. Scan it or take a photo in case you lose it. You will need this document to do things like open a bank account, get a SIM card, enroll your child in daycare, etc.

    ⏰You are legally required to do it within 2 weeks of moving. If you can’t find an appointment that soon, don’t worry. The authorities know it’s hard to find an appointment, so they don’t really enforce fines, especially if you are only a little bit late.

    ❓I don’t have an address yet, but I need to start work. How can I get my tax number?

    You can technically still get your tax ID without doing Anmeldung – but it doesn’t always work out. I haven’t personally tried it. Allaboutberlin.com has more advice for you here.

    🔍How do I get an Anmeldung appointment?

    The website interface is very out-of-date and buggy, so have patience, this may take a while. Here’s a guide explaining how to look for an appointment, plus other options, like paying someone to do it for you.

    My tips:

    ⏰Try to do your Anmeldung before you start working. This way you avoid emergency tax, and don’t need to take time off work to do it.

    🇩🇪The appointment will most likely be in German. You will need to do the paperwork at home in advance anyway, so if you understand everything you’ve written, you will be ok! Most employees won’t speak English, so if you’re nervous, ask someone who speaks German to come with you.

    💍If you are an unmarried couple or roommates, you need two separate appointments. If you’re married, you can register at the same appointment.

    📄What documents do I need to bring to my Anmeldung appointment?

    ⭐Anmeldung form: You need to print this out and fill it out at home. Then, bring it to the Burgeramt. Get the form here.

    🖊The rental contact: so they can confirm any details.

    ✔️Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – this is a document from your landlord (or person you’re subletting from) confirming that they agreed to rent you the apartment.

    🌎Your passport/ID: if you aren’t an EU citizen, you should also bring your Visa documentation.

    💍Marriage certificate: if you are married.

    👶‍Birth certificates of your children: if you have children.

    🌐 Can I do Anmeldung online? 

    Sadly.. The answer is “usually no”. You must do the traditional trek to a Burgeramt to wage war with a cranky employee who really doesn’t want to help you, as millions have done before you. If you are moving from somewhere else in Germany, and you already have a BundID, you may be able to do the appointment online starting in 2024. More info here.

    ⛪ Church taxes & Anmeldung

    When you do Anmeldung, you will have to state if you have any religion. If you say you are part of a church, the state will deduct 1% from your salary and give it to that church as your membership fee. If you don’t want to donate to a church, say ‘no religion’. 

    Beware the Catholic church does exchange data internationally, and they can find out if you’re a member! They can technically demand you back pay unpaid taxes. If you don’t want to be part of the church any more, contact your bishop in Ireland to discuss leaving.

    💼 WORK

    ❓How do I find a job in Berlin?

    Finding a job in a new country is exciting, but it has its challenges! While it’s true that speaking German helps a lot, there are still plenty of job opportunities for people who don’t speak the language fluently. Berlin is a hotspot for startups, tech, and international businesses, but there are also many English-speaking jobs in areas like childcare, hospitality and customer service.

    Here are the most popular job websites. You should check these often and set up alerts for jobs in your field.

    Tips to find a job in Berlin:

     😀 Use LinkedIn. Love it or hate it, using LinkedIn can help you land a job in a new place. Set your location to Berlin, and try to connect with anyone who could help you – search for other UCC alums, or ‘2nd connections (people who know someone you know) who are based in Berlin. 

    🙌Take advantage of referral programs. Ask your new linkedin connections, friends of friends, or anyone else, if they’d be willing to refer you to their company. Many people will do this, as they get a cash reward if you are hired. 

    💬Use Facebook and Whatsapp groups. Join Facebook or WhatsApp groups related to your interests (there are ones for Irish in Berlin, GAA, dance classes, art, international women, new parents, etc,), as people often share open jobs at their companies there. If you see an interesting job at a big company, ask in your group chat if anyone works there and could refer you.

    🤝Go to meetups or networking events. Look for networking events or socials for people working in your field. Events exist for things like tech, marketing, or healthcare.

    👔Work on your CV and interview skills. This advice is good in every country! Having an easy-to-read, optimized CV and building confidence in interviews will help you a lot.

    ⏰ How long will it take to get hired?

    Recruiting processes in Germany are notoriously slow. Arriving on Monday and walking into a job on Tuesday is almost impossible.

    💬Expect several rounds of interviews: even for junior or entry level positions, you could be looking at 4+ rounds of interviews, spread out over weeks or even months. Don’t be disappointed or stressed if companies take a long time to get back to you. If anything, try to see it as a positive: you have more time to get to know the company, ‘shop around’, and make sure you get a good offer.

    🔍If you can, start your job search before you arrive in Berlin. Start applying to jobs before you arrive. If anything, this will give you an idea of how the job market is, and how many interviews you can hope to get. 

    🎉Don’t celebrate a job offer until the contract is signed. Companies may make a verbal offer over the phone, and then not send you the contract. There could be administrative or funding issues stopping the final signoff from happening. It’s better to not completely celebrate until the ink is dry.

    💵 Salaries & negotiation

    So, how much should you get paid?

    💰Minimum wage: The minimum wage in Berlin will be 13.69 euros per hour, starting May 2025. This is a little higher than in Ireland, but you will pay a bit more tax. 

    👀Find out what people with similar job titles are earning: Search for the company you have in mind on Glassdoor, and see if anyone with a similar job title has posted their salary. If not, check competitors or similar companies. You can also Google the job title + ‘salaries Berlin’, and try to get a benchmark figure. This will ensure you get a fair market rate.

    📖Look for guides related to your industry. Honeypot.io published this guide to salaries for developers in 2023. Settle in Berlin published these rough estimates for salaries for juniors (which could be anywhere from a fresh grad to up to around 3 years experience).

    💪Always negotiate. Companies may offer you a lowball salary just to see if you’ll accept. Keep in mind your skills, experience and what you have to offer, and try to get yourself the best deal possible. Good luck!

    What else can you negotiate?

    🌴Vacation days. Employees in Germany are entitled to at least 20 days vacation per year, but many companies offer more than this. If you don’t think you can negotiate for more salary, try asking for more vacation days, as the company may be more flexible on this.

    🎁Perks. Many companies offer perks like a free BVG (public transport) ticket, free or discounted meals, Urban Sports or gym membership, and more. Don’t accept a too-low salary, just because these perks are offered.. But it is something to keep in mind when weighing up the job offer overall.

    🌎Working from home, or from abroad. Many companies in Berlin have flexible or hybrid policies. If working from home is important to you, or you want to be able to work from Ireland or another country now and then, try to gauge how possible this is. Some contracts will expressly state you need to be in the Berlin office, but others may be more flexible.

    ✔️Probation periods

    Most German companies have a 6-month probation period (“Probezeit”) where you and the employer are ‘trying each other out’, and seeing if it is a good fit. At the end of the probation period, you are a permanent employee and unlock all the protections associated with that.

    Here are a few things to know about the probation period:

    ⌛6 months is normal: if your contract is shorter than 12 months, the probation period will be around half the length of the contract (e.g, if you have a 6-month contract, your probation period will be 3 months).

    ⏰Notice period is quite short in this period: usually 2-4 weeks. Your notice period will probably be either 2 or 3 months, once you’re permanent. Keep that in mind if you are planning to change jobs.

    🔥Around 25% of people are fired during probation. This 6 months can feel like a testing time, as you try to learn everything and prove yourself to your colleagues. Just do your best and rest assured that if you don’t pass, something else will come your way.

    👶Discrimination laws still apply: Most protections do not apply during the probation period – but discrimination laws still apply. For example, you cannot be fired if you are pregnant.

    🔒Once you pass the probation period, it is very difficult to fire you. You are very protected by law. If your employer tries to fire you, or offer you ‘an attractive offer to leave’, do not sign it. Always check with a lawyer. Many employers will try to trick you into signing a contract that says you left voluntarily or did misconduct, which means you lose out on any severance payment.

    👩🏽‍🎓Internships & Student Jobs

    If you are a student or recent graduate, internships could be the way to go. They are less competitive than permanent jobs, and offer you a way to get a foot in the door at a company. There are a few different types of contract you should know about:

    ❓Voluntary internships: This is an internship you choose to do, because you want experience. With this contract, you will be guaranteed minimum wage (I know, it’s confusing! Voluntary is the one that’s paid). The contract is usually 3-6 months. Sometimes, it may be possible to get a permanent ‘Junior’ position if they are happy with your performance. 

    🤔Mandatory internships: This type of internship is only open to you if you are currently a student, and your university requires you to do a placement/internship. Because you’re required to do the internship, the minimum wage rule doesn’t apply. Some of these are unpaid, or just pay a stipend. 

    🎓Working Student (Werkstudent.in): This is a part-time job (max 20 hours a week) and is only available for students. It is usually an entry-level job, assisting more senior team members. They have to pay at least minimum wage, and you may be able to negotiate for more. If you’re a student, this is the easiest way to gain some work experience and get your foot in the door at a company.

    🌎Erasmus+ funding: Are you a UCC student who needs to do a placement? If you find a placement in Germany, you will be able to get an Erasmus+ grant every month. It is not means-tested, which means everyone gets it, even if you don’t qualify for SUSI in Ireland. Calculate how much you could get.

    🛡️Employee protections in Germany

    Germany offers many employee protections you should know about. There are far too many to mention here!

    Read expatrio’s guide to employee protections for more.

    Employers often assume internationals don’t know their rights, and will try crazy things with you. Know your rights and also speak with a lawyer if something sounds suspicious. 

    🔥Getting laid off in Germany

    After you have passed the six-month initial probation period at your job, it is very difficult to fire you. However, layoffs are sadly very common, and companies are trying to cut costs everywhere. Know the law and make sure you get what you’re entitled to.

    ⭐⭐⭐Always consult a lawyer before signing a severance agreement… even if HR tells you everything is standard! Don’t sign anything until you talk to an employment lawyer (google ‘Rechtsanwalt Berlin English’, there are 100s of them, and many of them offer a free 30-minute consultation). Companies often try to trick you into signing a contract that makes it look like you left voluntarily or did misconduct. If you sign the wrong thing, you could lose out on a severance payment, and unemployment benefits.

    💸What is the normal severance payout? Normally, if a company fires you, they need to continue paying you for the rest of your notice period (this is 2 or 3 months in most contracts). You are usually ‘on garden leave’ and not required to work during this time. After your 2-3 month paid holiday, you should receive a one-off severance payment, the amount depends on a few factors. Ask your lawyer! Beware – if you want to get a severance payment, you will need a lawyer. Companies rarely pay without being pressured. This is another reason to get legal insurance.

    😵Unemployment benefits in Germany

    If you have worked in Germany for more than 12 months, you are well protected in case of a sudden job loss. You can apply to the Agentur fur Arbeit and receive ALG1, an unemployment benefit equal to 60% of your salary. Your health insurance will also be covered for you in this time. AllaboutBerlin has a good overview of the system.

    If you don’t qualify for ALG1, you may qualify for Burgergeld (300-500 euros per month).

    While you’re unemployed you may be eligible for free courses like German language, or skills bootcamps covering topics like programming, data science and more. Ask your case worker about this when you go to ‘sign on’.

    💻Freelancing in Germany

    Freelancing is very common in Germany, especially among software developers, marketers, language teachers, creatives and other professionals. You may see many more freelance jobs advertised here than you would in Ireland.

    A few key things to know:

    ✨Freelancing on the side: If you work full-time (40 hours a week), you can freelance up to 8 hours per week in your free time. Technically, you need to inform your employer and get their permission to do it. If you work part-time, you cannot freelance more hours than you work at your main job. This is a tricky technicality. Keep it in mind when planning your freelance projects.

    ➕The upside: Freelancers generally earn (much) more per hour than ordinary employees: Freelancing on the side could significantly top up your income, be a way to explore new projects & industries, and make connections that can lead to new job opportunities in the future

    ➖The downside: High taxes and bureaucracy. If you’re an employee, your employer pays half of your costs. If you’re a freelancer, you pay the full thing. Basically, your taxes seem twice as expensive. You also might pay extra costs and insurances related to your business. 

    😊Many people consider working part-time and freelancing on the side to be ‘an ideal situation’. Your part-time job provides you a guaranteed income, and your employer covers half of your social protections and health insurance. You have the stability of a job, but enough free time for freelancing.

    👀Are you planning to freelance in Berlin? iamexpat.de has a more detailed guide which includes advice on how to register as a freelancer and handle your taxes.

    🧑‍⚕️Health & health insurance

    💪How do I get health insurance?

    Health insurance in Germany works a little differently. In Ireland, USC and taxes are directed directly from your salary to fund the public health service. In Germany, you pay into a ‘public health insurer’ of your choice’.

    ⭐I recommend Technicker Krankenkasse (TK), this is one of the most popular health insurance companies. It’s extremely easy to set up, and can all be done online. They also offer customer service in English, which is a lifesaver if you ever need it. All companies charge MUCH the same rates and there are very differences between them.

    ✔️Your health insurance contribution will be automatically deducted from your salary. Your employer pays half, and you pay half. You don’t need to worry about transferring anything.

    ⏰Do it ASAP. You are legally obliged to set up health insurance, so sort it out early on and then you don’t need to worry about it any more. 

    Public vs private health insurance 

    👍Most people choose a ‘public health insurance’ company, as they accept everyone, and follow very strict laws. Honestly, there are very few differences between them. 

    🏢Private health insurance: Private health insurance companies only accept people who earn €69,300 per year (as of 2024). Weirdly: private health insurance is usually cheaper than public insurance, but it might ‘cover’ fewer things, depending on your package. If you earn over the threshold, it may work out as good value for you. Read expatrio’s guide here.

    🦷Optional extra insurances: If you earn less than €69,300, you can still take out ‘supplementary’ private insurances for things like dental care or eye care. Check with your insurer, or with companies like Feather and Getsafe, to see what offers they have.

    👨‍⚕️How do I find a GP?

    Finding a GP (Hausarzt) in Berlin is nice and simple!

    Here is how to find a GP:

    1. Go to doctolib.de or download the Doctolib app (it’s available in English, too).
    2. Set up your account.
    3. Search for ‘Hausarzt’ (GP).
    4. You can filter the results by language the doctor speaks, neighborhood, ‘availability within the next 3 days’ or other preferences.
    5. When booking the appointment, select ‘Erstuntersuchung Neuer Patient’ (first checkup for a new patient) or ‘Allgemein’ (general). 
    6. Select your appointment date and time.
    7. Bring your health insurance card and ID to the appointment to complete the registration.
    8. In the appointment, you will get a general check up. You can also ask about any general health issues.
    9. Take a photo of the GP’s ‘Akut-Sprechzeiten’ or ‘walk in hours’ (this is usually at the front desk or on the door). If you get sick, come to the doctor during their walk-in hours and they will see you quite quickly.

    ❓Why do I need to register with a GP (even if I’m not sick)?

    Even if you don’t get sick often, registering with a Hausarzt (GP) early on is a good idea. 

    Two main reasons:

    ⚠️If you already have a GP, you can usually be seen the same day. All GPs have ‘Akutsprechzeiten’ (emergency consultation hours), usually 4-5 days a week. If you’re already registered as a patient, you can rock up to the GP during the Akutsprechzeiten and be seen that day, no appointment needed. This saves you a lot of stress.

    🤒Getting a sick note (Krankschreibung)will be a lot easier. Most employers require you to submit a doctor’s note from the 3rd day of being out sick (if you’re new to the job or some other special situations, they may demand you hand it in from the 1st day). If you don’t hand in the note, you won’t get paid while sick, and you could get in trouble for violating the rules of your work contract. Having a GP who can see you quickly will help you a lot here.

    💊Extra things to know about health in Germany

    😊Cool thing: going to the GP is totally free in Germany! Seeing other specialists is also free so take advantage of it and put your health first.

    💻Some GPs offer ‘Online Sprechzeiten’. Check in Doctolib, you will be able to see this when booking an appointment. Online appointments are handy if you want to ask about something that doesn’t necessarily need an in-person visit. Also, if you aren’t in Berlin (maybe you’re on holiday, or get sick while working remotely from Ireland or somewhere else), your GP can still give you a sick note via online appointment.

    🩺GPs only handle the most general health issues. For anything else, they will tell you to see a specialist. If you already know which specialist you need, go ahead and book that appointment in Doctolib yourself. If you aren’t sure, or if there are no appointments available today and you need an urgent referral, go to your GP first, and s/he will usually be able to get you an appointment quickly.

    🩺Why do I need to register with a gynecologist?

    It isn’t a thing in Ireland, but in Germany, you are supposed to go to the gynecologist once a year! They will give you a general checkup for free (including Pap smear, screenings, breast cancer check, routine checks). You need to find a gynecologist and book the appointment yourself – don’t wait for them to send you an invite.

    In your first appointment, they will give you a general checkup. The two most common reasons you’ll need to go a gynecologist after that are:

    • Prescriptions for any kind of birth control (the Pill, IUD, patch, anything). You usually can’t get that from a GP in Berlin. You will need to go to a gynecologist.
    • Anything to do with sexual health, pregnancy or childbirth. It is better to try to find a gynecologist you trust and get along with ahead of time, if possible.

    🦷Going to the dentist in Germany

    Getting a dentist appointment is the same as getting a doctor’s appointment. The same thing, try to register with a dentist before you have an emergency. If you’re already registered with a dentist, and you show up with an issue, they’ll see you almost straight away. If you need to find an appointment with a new dentist in an emergency, you could be waiting a long time.

    Here’s how to do it:

    1. Download the Doctolib app (it’s available in English, too).
    2. Search for ‘Zahnarzt’.
    3. You can filter the results by language the doctor speaks, neighborhood, ‘availability within the next 3 days’ or other preferences.
    4. When booking the appointment, select ‘Erstuntersuchung Neuer Patient’ (first checkup for a new patient). 
    5. Select your appointment date and time.
    6. Bring your health insurance card and ID to the appointment to complete the registration.
    7. In the appointment, you will get a general check up. You can also ask any questions.

    😄Do I need to pay for dental procedures?

    Basic dental procedures are free and covered by your public health insurance, but more complicated procedures cost a lot. 

    • Insurance: If you’re worried about expensive dental bills, you can take out a supplemental dental insurance from TK, or you can shop around and get a private one from providers like GetSafe and Feather.
    • Subsidized teeth cleaning once a year: Health insurance companies advise you get your teeth professionally cleaned at least once a year. Your public health insurance, and/or your private dental insurance, will pay around 50% of the bill. Just keep the invoice and submit it via your insurance company’s app.

    ⚕️Specialists for people with chronic/ongoing health issues

    If you have chronic or ongoing health issues, registering with a specialist should be one of your first priorities when you arrive in Berlin. 

    IMPORTANT: Don’t wait until you have an emergency or flare up. Book a first appointment/checkup with a specialist ASAP so they get to know your case.

    If you have an issue or flare up during your specialist’s working hours, call your specialist before going to the hospital. They can do many clinical tests, ultrasounds etc, in their practice. This is less stressful than going to a hospital, and if it’s urgent, they will usually see you quickly. 

    Gynecologists, cardiologists, urologists, ENTs, whatever it is, it is possible to book this appointment in Doctolib. You don’t (generally) need to go to a GP and get a referral. Just book the appointment in Doctolib yourself. 

    Registering with a good specialist who knows your situation will help a lot. Here’s how to find one:

    1. Download the Doctolib app (it’s available in English, too).
    2. Search for the specialist you need (go some Googling and find out what it’s called in Germany. The thing you need might be covered by a different type of doctor here).
    3. You can filter the results by language the doctor speaks, neighborhood, ‘availability within the next 3 days’ or other preferences.
    4. When booking the appointment, select ‘Erstuntersuchung Neuer Patient’ (first checkup for a new patient). 
    5. Select your appointment date and time.
    6. Bring your health insurance card and ID to the appointment to complete the registration.
    7. In the appointment, you will get a general check up. You can also ask any questions.

    If you aren’t diagnosed with any chronic conditions, but think you might have one – you may still be able to visit a specialist. If you’re not 100% sure which specialist you need to see, start by going to a GP. They might be able to tell you which specialist you need to see.

    🚨Accidents and emergencies

    • Sick, but not super urgent: it is usually faster to go to your GP than to go to the emergency room. If you’re already registered with a GP, you can get a same-day appointment (read more about registering with a GP here).
    • Chronic condition flareup: Call your specialist first. They may be able to treat you at their practice, which is faster and less stressful than going to the emergency room. More about chronic conditions in Germany here.

    In urgent situations.. You have 2 options: ‘kassenärztliche Bereitschaftsdienst’, (mobile emergency doctors) and the ‘Notaufnahme’ (emergency room).

    🇩🇪 Kassenärztliche Bereitschaftsdienst (mobile emergency doctors): If you speak German, call 116 117. You can speak with a medical professional. In some cases, they will tell you to wait at home, and they send a doctor to you. In others, they tell you to go to the emergency room. Note: this service is ONLY available in German. If you don’t speak German, go to the emergency room.

    🚨 Emergency Room (Notaufnahme): 

    • Search for your nearest emergency room and go there ASAP.
    • You must bring your health insurance card, and it’s a good idea to bring a form of ID, too.
    • Visiting the emergency room is free. Prescriptions may not be free. If they admit you to the hospital, you may have to pay a fee of around 10 euros per night for ‘room and board.’

    🚑 Calling an ambulance

    If you need an ambulance, call 112 (it’s like the German 999). IMPORTANT – Most 112 operators won’t speak English, and are very grumpy! Don’t panic. To get around this, don’t give details, just say ‘Krankenwagen, dringend’ and say the address clearly. Say what floor or house you (or the person who needs the ambulance) are in. If you don’t understand the operator, repeat this again. They will get the message. 

    💊Emergency/24 hour pharmacies

    Pharmacies are generally closed on Sundays and in the evening. But don’t worry, it is still possible to get to a pharmacy if you need something urgently! Different pharmacies take turns at being the one who stays open – check the Apotheker Kammer to find out where is open.

    💪Therapy and mental health in Berlin

    If you are looking to do therapy, the good news is, there are plenty of English-speaking therapists in Berlin. The bad news is you will most likely need to pay for this yourself.

    Your health insurance will only pay for therapy in special, emergency circumstances. Otherwise, you need to find a private therapist and pay your own way.

    🏦Bank account

    One of the first things you will need to do is set up a bank account. Some companies won’t pay you in a foreign account, so you’ll need a German IBAN.

    N26 is by far the easiest bank to sign up with. The registration can be online quickly and easily. Their basic account is free. Other easy options include Tomorrow Bank and ING.

    ⚠️Warning: don’t keep all your money in one account. Online banks like N26 are notoriously difficult to contact if you get locked out of your account. Keep money on another German account, or your Irish bank account.

    🏙️Old-school brick-and-mortar banks also exist. Deutsche Bank, Targo Bank and Sparkasse are all options. Note you will need to go in person to set up the account. Ask them what paperwork you will need to bring. You will usually need at least your ID, rental contract, Wohnungebersbestatigung, work contract and last 3 payslips.

    ☂️Insurances you need to take out 

    Germany is the land of insurances. You’re obliged to have health insurance, pension insurance and care insurance, but don’t worry too much about those – your employer takes them directly from your payslip, the same as taxes.

    Most Germans have several other ‘extra insurances’ – the average person sends around 1600 per year on them!

    It seems there is an insurance for absolutely everything, but here are the most common ones you should think of getting:

    🔑Personal Liability insurance (Pflichtversicherung): this is considered the ‘must-have’, and is usually quite cheap, starting at only a few euros a month. Some landlords will not rent to you unless you have this insurance. It covers you if someone sues you for damaging their property (your landlord or neighbor may do this), if you accidentally injure someone, or if you lose your house keys. This is an odd one! Replacing your keys in Germany can cost literally thousands, so it’s good to have this insurance for that reason alone.

    🦷Dental insurance: this is one of the most common. Dental procedures cna get quite expensive. If you’re concerned, take out a supplemental dental insurance. It’s usually only a few euros a month.

    🏠Contents insurance: This protects the contents of your apartment if they get stolen, or damaged by fire or water. It is also only a few euros a month.

    ⚖️Legal insurance. Germany is a very litigious country, and most people have legal insurance! It’s especially important for internationals. Landlords and companies often assume internationals and young people don’t have legal insurance, so they will ‘chance their arm’ and try clearly illegal things they would never try with Germans — for example, your boss might try not paying you this month, and seeing if you’ll actually be bothered to sue them. Your landlord might send you a random bill or rent increase, assuming you won’t sue. Once these people see you have legal insurance, they will usually back down immediately. 

    💲Taxes

    📝Reading your payslip

    Understanding your first German payslip and the complicated charges can be a challenge, even if you speak German. There are a lot of charges, insurances and other deductions which may not make sense at first. Firma.de has a detailed guide on how to understand your payslip and all the random abbreviations.

    💶I got emergency taxed, what should I do?

    Don’t worry, it’s possible to get it back! The process can take weeks so get on it ASAP. You must file a tax declaration. I have used the app TaxFix in the past for this. The app is in English and makes the process a lot easier for you.

    Pro tip: Even if you didn’t get emergency taxed, you should still do a tax declaration with TaxFix at the end of the year. You may have been taxed too much (especially if you didnt work the full year). You can also claim back expenses for things like heating costs from working from home, commuting costs, etc. 

    ⛪Church tax (Kirchensteuer)

    When you register for Anmeldung at the Burgeramt, you will be asked for your religion. If you say you’re part of a church, you will pay 1% of your salary in tax directly to that church.

    Warning: there are urban legends about the Catholic church finding out you were baptized in Ireland and chasing you up for unpaid taxes. The church can share its member list with all countries in the EU. In theory, the German Catholic church can identify you as a member and demand you ‘back pay’ taxes to them. If you don’t want this to happen, you can leave the church. Contact your bishop in Ireland to formally do it.

    🇩🇪Learning German

    Berlin is a very international city, you will be able to socialize and do most things through English. Many international or technology companies work through English. However, learning German will help you a lot when it comes to fully integrating. Handling bureaucracy will be much easier, and you’ll unlock a lot of new job opportunities.

    🏫Where can I learn German?

    🐝Do 1-on-1 classes online with Chatterbug. This is what I did. You buy a subscription to the platform, and choose the number of 1-on-1 classes you would like to have per month. You can choose the date and time of the classes, you aren’t tied to any schedule. What I liked about it was you get to know the instructors, and since it’s 1-on-1, they really focus on the topics you want to work on.

    💬In-person classes: there are plenty of schools around Berlin offering in-person classes. The upside is you meet people, the downside is you need to commit to going there at the same time every week, which doesn’t fit if you have a busy schedule. Speakeasy and Goethe Institut are 2 of the most popular schools.

    🪜What level class should I sign up for?

    Most schools break up their classes by ‘CEFR levels’. A1.1 is for complete beginners, then A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. If you are a beginner, you should join A1.1. If you already know some German, and aren’t sure of your level, the school will probably make you do a placement test. You can do a quick test online to get a rough idea where you’re at.

    🚌Public transport

    Public transport in Berlin is extensive! You can get almost anywhere without needing a car.

    ⭐BVG, the public transport authority, is constantly changing its ticket prices – so your best bet is to check their website. You can get a ticket in their app (download it here).

    🏙️Company tickets (Firmentickets): If you are working for a bigger company, ask HR if the company offers BVG Abos or subsidizes them. This is a perk a lot of companies offer.

    📅Monthly tickets: If you’re paying for yourself, usually, getting a Berlin monthly Abo is the best deal. There’s also a Deutschland ticket, which covers all public transport in Germany (but note: it doesn’t include the high speed intercity trains. Just local transport. This comes in handy if you’re frequently in Brandenburg or other states).

    🚗Miles cars: If you need to rent a car or van for a short time (e.g, one hour, to move some furniture), Miles cars are the cheapest way to do it. You can see which cars are available in your area and just hop in. You will need to set up your account in advance, and of course, have a valid full driving license.

    How to get from Berlin Airport to the City Centre

    ✈️Going to Berlin Airport: At the airport, go to Terminal 1 and find the train station (take the elevators to the basement, it’s down there). Find the next train going to the city center (it’s quite frequent so no need to plan ahead).

    Make sure you get a ticket that covers Zone C (the option on the ticket machine might say ABC). Your normal Berlin monthly ticket only covers zones A and B. If you need to go to the airport, buy an extension ticket for zone C (usually less than 2 euros).

    ⭐Tip: you can reserve a timeslot to go through security at the airport. This can sabea  lot of time. Do it here.

    Faredodging

    ⚫Faredodging (Schwarzfahren): There are no ticket controls on transport in Berlin, you can walk on and off freely. However, there are ticket inspectors (kontrollers) and they can be quite aggressive. Pay your fine quickly. If you don’t, it will end up on your SCHUFA, and will hurt your chances of finding an apartment.

    ⏰The 2-minute rule: some ticket inspectors say there is a ‘2 minute rule’, your ticket must be active for at least 2 minutes before you enter the train. Is this true? No one knows. But some ticket inspectors will try to catch you on it.

    🏢‘Wrongly’ given a fine: If you left your ticket at home, or the ticket inspector says it isn’t valid, when you think it is, you can contest the fine. Go to BVG’s offices in Alexanderplatz to do it.

    Travelling around Germany and Europe

    🚌Flixbus: If you’re going to Prague, Poznan or any of the other bus-able distances from Berlin, Flixbus is your most reliable (and possibly cheapest) bet.

    🚆Deutsche Bahn: find journeys between cities on DB’s website. Be warned, the stereotype of German trains always being on time is just a myth 🙂

    👶 Kids & families 

    Berlin is a family-friendly city in many ways. There are playgrounds on every corner, and childcare is free. I don’t have any kids, so I’ll hand you over to people/resources with more experience.

  • Melbourne & The Great Ocean Road: Travelling Australia solo & on a budget

    Melbourne is the city everybody wants to move to. Young Irish people are moving there in droves, and my Instagram feed is overrun with pictures of people enjoying the amazing lifestyle it has to offer. Melbourne is also known as the starting or end point for the famous 240km Great Ocean Road, one of the most scenic road trips in the world.

    Overall, I’d say visiting the Great Barrier Reef was the highlight of my 4 weeks in Australia and the best ‘activity’ I did, but Melbourne was the coolest city for sure. Getting to spend time with my old friend (who moved from Ireland to Melbourne) after 2 years of not seeing each other, and getting all his local tips made this city stand out for me.. but even if you don’t have friends there, Melbourne just has great energy!

    One pro tip: Pack layers! Melbourne winter is still a lot milder than Northern Europe, but make sure to pack some layers. Australia is massive, and the difference in climate is pretty extreme, even though it’s all one country.

    With so much to do, it can be hard to narrow it down. Here’s what I recommend:

    Where to stay

    I didn’t research this at all, luckily I have friends in Melbourne who kindly hosted me! Melbourne is the start of the East Coast backpacking route, so there are plenty of hostels, and also has such a jam-pakced event calendar, there is plenty of accommodation for different tastes and budgets. As always, book far in advance and shop around to get the best deals.

    I stayed in the very trendy South Yarra, and Southbank, Fitzroy, and St Kilda seem to be the other in-demand neighborhoods. 

    Getting around Melbourne & transport

    Honestly, I found Australia a really easy country to get around. Melbourne was no exception. Public transport is easy to navigate and very reliable.

    Getting a myki card (public transport card) is easy and saves you some money. Buy one at the train station or convenience store when you arrive, and you can start tapping on and off straight away. There’s also a free tram zone in the city center where you can travel unlimited for free.

    Eat & Drink

    If you already saw my articles on Sydney, Airlie Beach, and Brisbane & Queensland, you’ll know I’m very cheap and mainly cooked at the hostel to save money. Melbourne was the end of my Australia trip so I loosened my purse strings a little and tried out my friend’s recommendations. Here are a few of the places we recommend:

    Lune Croissanterie

    Shop 16/161 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

    This pastry shop, with two locations in Melbourne (CBD & Fitzroy), describes croissants as ‘a precise balance of science and craft’. It’s a very trendy spot and highly Instagrammable. I will admit, the pastries were DELICIOUS! The downside is the line is very long (although the Fitzroy location is usually quieter) and the price is a bit high.

    The menu changes and is different at each location, so check their website for the latest info. If you’re on a tightline and determined to get your croissant fix, you can also pre-order online.

    Hochi Mama

    35 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

    This was the food highlight of the trip! It’s a Vietnamese fusion place. You can order as a group and get several things to share, so we got a mix of vegetarian and meat options. We all LOVED the vegan duck, and thought it was actually better than regular-duck we’ve had in other places.

    Seven Seeds

    114 Berkeley St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

    This trendy brunch spot is a perfect stop on your way to the Queen Victoria Market. I had the Banoffee French Toast, which was $23 (around 14 euros). 

    Gacha Cafe

    Lower ground, Shop 14/300 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

    Sadly I only found out about this one once I’d already left Melbourne 🙁 That’s why you always need to do your research in advance, I guess! It’s an adorable Japanese dessert cafe with cherry blossom flavored mochi (so sad I missed it) and a lot of matcha.

    Source: Gacha Cafe’s Instagram

    Free sights to see in Melbourne

    Melbourne was the last city I visited on my Australia trip, and I felt I’d already seen a lot of what Australian cities have to offer. I was more laidback in Melbourne, I was mainly there to hang with friends and just walk around. We did still see a few sights:

    Shrine of Remembrance: We wandered into this very random building by accident. It’s apparently based on the Pantheon, and is a memorial to Australians who served in wars. I have to admit I’m not so interested in military history, so the exhibits didn’t capture my attention too much. However, there were nice views of the city from the top of the building, and this was all completely free.

    Victoria State Library: The state library is completely free to visit and bound to appeal to your dark academic vibes. They have many different events happening, and a lot of resources for tracing your family history, if that’s something you’re into.

    Street Art: Melbourne is the hotspot for street art in Australia. There are guided walking tours, and What’s On Melbourne also offers a self-guided walk to pass by all the most well-known works. We casually wandered around Hosier Lane and a few side streets to get a taste of it.

    Rent a boat in Central Melbourne

    If you want to see Melbourne city center from the water, On a Boat lets you ‘charter’ your own small, lurid, orange boat for 1 hour – and you can drive it yourself! It’s very easy, you won’t need a license or any training.

    You can bring your own food and drinks, and the cost is 99$ per hour. This one only really makes sense if you’re in a group. We were 5 people, so it was only $16.5 (less than 10 euros), which is actually pretty cheap for a boat tour. 

    Shopping in Melbourne

    Queen Victoria Market: This is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere and offers specialty food, gifts, clothing and accessories for all budgets. It sells literally everything!

    DFO South Wharf: DFO stands for ‘Direct Factory Outlet’, there are lots of these in Australia, and they’re good spots to get good deals on anything from clothing to housewares or electronics.

    Princess Highway: this is Australia’s most popular vintage-inspired brand, and I was a big fan! I got some good deals in the June sale. We actually initially went in there so my friend could check the selection of cute scrubs (he’s a doctor), so if you’re a healthcare worker in need of some Harry Potter or koala print wear, this is the place to go.

    Spellbox: In a very random turn of events, we stumbled into a Diagon Alley-like witch store right in the middle of the CBD. It has TWO outlets in Melbourne, to satisfy all your spellcasting, fortune telling, tarot and other witchy service needs. The store employs 20+ witches/psychics. I did not know this was such an industry, but apparently it is.

    I’ve always been intrigued by psychics, even though I’m too cynical to fully believe in them. I did a session, but honestly wasn’t too impressed by it… the predictions were extremely general. Apparantly one of the psychics working here is well-known for being really accurate, but you need to book online far in advance to see her.

    Culture, music & events

    Melbourne is the hippest city in Australia, and there are non-stop cultural, music and sporting events. Of course this is different every week, so check What’s On to find out what’s happening when you’re in town. We went to see the musical Wicked in the Regent Theatre and it was a wonderful experience 🙂

    Lume Digital Art Gallery

    The Lume in Melbourne is the world’s largest digital art gallery. When I was there, they had an exhibit on the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, I absolutely recommend it if it’s still on when you visit.

    I thought I already knew a lot about Leonado Da Vinci, but seeing his inventions up close and seeing how they work was really interesting. He was the first person to discover many things that now seem like no-brainers in physics or engineering, but seeing it deconstructed makes you realize just how amazing that must have been at the time.

    The digital art show part was really interesting, and as a certified lazy gal, I will have to say I appreciated the very comfy giant pillows we could lie on while we watched it 🙂

    Puffing Billy

    Puffing Billy is a very aesthetic Victorian steam train in the Dandenong Ranges, mountains near Melbourne. It’s very popular with families, but we (3 adults) were not ashamed to say we wanted to ride that choo choo too.

    The vintage locomotive chugs through forests, hills, and farmland to bring you to a cute, Christmas-market-inspired town for a relaxed drink or two. If you go during the daytime, you’re allowed to sit on the edge and dangle your legs out the side in reckless abandon, which makes for a very vibe-sy Instagram post. 

    We went in the evening. It’s dark so the Puffing Billy projects very cool light shows and other special effects onto the forest as it moves. It was honestly kind of hypnotic. When we went past clearings, there were local kids waiting to wave at us and see the light show – it’s a really iconic Melbourne thing. We really enjoyed it and got a wholesome, whimsical ‘Christmas in July’ vibe 🙂

    A few tips:

    • Book online far in advance – it fills up quickly.
    • Double check the address. The train leaves from 1 of 2 stations, either Belgrave or Lakeside. Make sure you find out exactly which one you need to go to, since they’re quite far apart. We went to the wrong one but luckily still made it just in time.

    The Great Ocean Road

    So, anyone who’s done the Great Ocean Road will be horrified when I say this, but… I stayed in Melbourne for a week, and I did not do the Great Ocean Road. This was Week 4 of my 4-week Australia trip and I’d already done several very active and jam-packed day tours (North Stradbroke Island, the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Mountains…). 

    I felt I’d seen a lot of beautiful nature on this trip and was happy to just relax and not have a schedule, since I planned to spend a lot of time just hanging with friends and eating good food.

    I did research doing the Great Ocean Road though, so I still have some tips for you. There are a few ways to do it:

    • Driving: This is the most popular way. Most people drive the Great Ocean Road over 2 or 3 days and hit up all the stops, not just the 12 Apostles. Visit Victoria shares a great 3-day route that lets you hit all the best sights.
    • Bus tour: If you don’t have access to a car, there are a few organized bus tours in Melbourne that will bring you to the most iconic spots. Great Ocean Road Tours has a list of all the options, including a 1-day jam-packed tour for $62 and a more relaxed 2-day option.

    So, what did I do instead? My friends have a car so we did a very relaxed drive to Brighton Beach and Philip Island (that place where you can see wild penguins). Read on for more info.

    Source: Tourism Australia

    Brighton Beach

    Brighton Beach is home to 96 very Instagrammable beach boxes – probably one of the most popular attractions in Melbourne. The boxes were built in the 1860s, so wealthy Victorian people could ‘modestly’ change into their bathing suits before going swimming.

    Now, they’re privately owned and the experience feels more like visiting an art gallery. Every box is painted with a different theme, and there are plenty of nice photos ops. 

    How to get to Brighton Beach from Melbourne:

    • Drive: We drove, it was around 11km.
    • Bus: You can reach Brighton Beach from central Melbourne (Flinders Street) using the Sandringham train line. If you’re starting out in Southland or St. Kilda, take the 600, 922 or 923 bus lines.

    After getting some cute snaps at the boxes, we drove on to Phillip Island.

    Phillip Island & Wild Penguins

    Phillip Island is around a 90-minute drive from Melbourne but feels like another world. It offers otherworldly coastal views which reminded us a little of Ireland.. Until we saw the wallabies and penguins 😉 We hit two of the main landmarks, the Nobbies and Pyramid Rock, then did the ‘must do’ attraction: see the wild penguins.

    Nobbies Center 

    We wound up here by coincidence. There’s a beautiful boardwalk route near the center where you cant see antarctic fur seals and all sorts of cute wildlife, as well as some very rugged coastal scenery and caves.

    The Nobbies Center had some general free exhibits on the island, and a whole section dedicated to Antarctica, Antarctic animals and how it is to actually live there. You can go into a ‘simulated’ room that is as cold as Antarctica (basically, stepping into a giant freezer) and sit on a giant iceberg. I never imagined I’d learn so much about Antarctica while in Melbourne, so this was a pretty unique experience.

    Pyramid Rock

    This is a short distance from the Nobbies and from the Penguin Parade, so we went for a nice scenic walk to kill time. If you have more time, you should do the full Pyramid Rock to Berry’s Beach walk, which takes about 2.5 hours (return).

    We’re standing on front of the pyramid in all my photos! So enjoy a nice sunset from the area instead.

    Wild Penguins/Penguin Parade

    The Penguin Parade is the must-do thing on Philip Island. Phillipp Island is one of few places in the world (outside of Antarctica) where you can see WILD penguins waddling in from their day’s work fishing in the ocean. The penguins you’ll see on Phillipp island are ‘fairy penguins’, the tiniest penguin in the world weighing around 1kg. AND THEY ARE ADORABLE!

    Every evening around sunset, the penguins pop up on the shore, do a panicked honk and look for a group of penguins or ‘raft’ they can make their journey inland with. Once they have enough lil buddies to feel safe, they start dramatically running uphill, tiny wings flapping behind them. They stop to honk at their neighbors before jumping into their burrows.

    Source: abc.net.au


    We were naive and believed watching wild animals walk around would be free, but oh no sir, it is not! We paid $32 per person (19 euros), which seemed quite steep. But by the end we were really happy we did it, it’s a unique experience in a very beautiful place, and we were just totally in awe watching such tiny penguins waddle on their epic quest uphill 🙂

    Where to go next

    And that’s the end! I stayed in Australia for 4 weeks total, and I think I made decent use of the time. I saw a lot, but also had a lot of time to relax. If you’re looking for more tips on travelling the East Coast on a budget, check out my other articles:

  • Sydney & the Blue Mountains: Travelling Australia solo & on a budget

    Sydney is probably the most iconic and well-known city in Australia.. But despite what most people think, it’s not actually the capital! Sydney and Melbourne were arguing over who should be the capital, so to solve the dispute, the government made Canberra (a small city halfway between Sydney and Melbourne) the administrative capital. Nonetheless, it is a very happening city with tons to do.

    Here’s what I recommend:

    Transport & getting around Sydney

    ✈️Getting from the airport to the city center: Sydney is an expensive city, and the airport train station is privately owned, so they can charge whatever they want. The taxis are also exorbitantly expensive. Luckily there’s a cheaper way! Avoid the airport train station. Just get an Opal card (works on all public transport) at one of the convenience stores in the airport, then take any bus that goes to Mascot station (420 bus and N20 are examples), which has normal public transport prices. Then, use public transport to connect to your hotel/hostel from there. Shoutout and thanks to throughourlens.au for writing about this method, it helped me save around $15.

    🚌 Public transport in Sydney: Make use of that Opal card. You can buy them at the airport, inconvenience stores across Sydney, or at train stations. You can also ‘tap on and tapp off most public transport in Sydney with your debit/credit card, but the fare is a little higher than if you used an Opal card. If you’re planning to use public transport more than once or twice, it’s worth getting the card.

    Where to Stay

    I stayed in Big Backpacker Hostel. It has probably the cheapest ‘single ensuite rooms’ in Sydney, at around 70-85 euros a night (this was in winter, so maybe not peak-season. Book in advance for better prices). It’s in a great location, just 2 minutes walk from the Central station, which is perfect for getting to the airport and all the main sights. It also has good laundry facilities.

    The one downside – the hostel itself was a little dingy and dusty. The kitchen was very messy and not big enough for the number of guests staying there.. But considering I only went to the hostel to sleep, and the price was low, I would still give it a good review.

    Cheap Eats in Sydney

    Uptown Korea:  

    Shop 1/614 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

    A Korean I met in Brisbane told me all about this hidden gem! The food was cheap and very tasty. It gives real Korean convenience store vibes – they also have extreme budget options like ramen noodles. Most items are under 10 euros, including teokbokki, bibimbap, and kimbap. It’s right in the middle of the CBD so very easy to get to!

    The Walrus:  

    Shop 1/276 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

    I am a hoe for a good brunch and this place did not disappoint. I had an exquisite French toast and coffee for around 12 euros, which was surprisingly cheap for Sydney.

    The Tiny Giant

    This is an extremely cute and Instagrammable brunch spot. I had a luxurious red velvet latte, but the new travel buddy I came with had a latte with an Yves-Saint-Laurent logo printed onto the foam. You can request more or less any designer logo and they will whip it up for all your Instagram needs. The food was also pretty good, but I think the aesthetic is the main reason people check it out.

    Sightseeing

    Free walking tour – I always try to do a free walking tour on my first day in a new city, especially when it’s a big city. I think it’s a great way to see most of the sights without stress, plus you learn a lot while walking around, and usually get a few tips from other travelers.

    This time I went with im.free tours, and would really recommend them! We hit all the most popular sights, like the Harbour Bridge, the Rocks, Sydney Tower, Hyde Park, and of course the world-renowned Sydney Opera House.

    There are a few ways to visit the Opera House, the most popular being the classic guided tours. If you actually want to see a show at the Opera House, reserve this ASAP, they fill up far in advance. 

    The second iconic sight on this tour was The Harbour Bridge. Likewise, there are multiple ways to experience it:

    <$3- Walk or ferry: Being a cheapskate, I just took the stairs in Cumberland Street and then walked across the bridge (for free) and then took the ferry back for some more views (very cheap, covered by your public transport card). 

    $30 – Visit the Pylon Museum: This museum located in a tower on the bridge and has a viewpoint with great panoramic views of the city.

    $300+ – Climb up the bridge: If you’re more of a thrill seeker, there are several tour companies which organize climbs up the bridge. It takes around 3 hours and the price varies a lot depending on the time of day and how far in advance you book – if you’re determined to do it, book ASAP or you could end up paying as much as 400 dollars.

    Botanic Garden

    After the walking tour, I walked across the Harbour Bridge, took the ferry back, then checked out the Royal Botanic Garden. It is completely free to visit and very easy to get to! With 5,000 kinds of plants, it’s the oldest botanic garden in Australia.

    The garden itself has beautiful views of the Sydney Harbor and is very pleasant to hang out in. They have tons of exhibitions and events happening, so it’s definitely worth a visit.

    Free museums

    Sydney has a reputation for being an expensive city, the ‘San Francisco’ of Australia. While it’s true going out drinking and some tourist activities are quite pricey, there are some good budget options (and you can trust this determined cheapskate to find them). Sydney is home to around 30 free museums, including the famous White Rabbit Gallery.

    I always check the weather forecast and find out which day of my trip will be the rainiest or coldest. Then, I make that my ‘hit as many free indoor things’ as possible day. In Sydney, I went to the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Hyde Park Barracks.

    Australian Museum – this is the oldest museum in Australia and covers a broad range of natural history topics. It has tons of interesting exhibits and events, they were exhibiting the winners of the Australian National Geographic Photography contest when I was there.

    Art Gallery of New South Wales – This very colorful modern art gallery is definitely worth a visit, it has a mix of Aboriginal and international art work. 

    Hyde Park Barracks – This was a very interesting experience! It has a free audio tour which is actually very well-designed and worth doing, it really gives you some insight into the lives of the people who lived here over the years, from convicts who were given a life sentence of hard labour for petty crimes, to refugees during the Irish Famine, and Aboriginal people who were hunted off the land during Colonial times.

    The Rocks Walking Tour

    The Rocks was the first part of Australia to be settled by Europeans, and the most historic quarter in what’s otherwise a very modern city. Imfree.tours offers a free 90-minute guided The Rocks tour every evening, and while it isn’t a ‘haunted’ tour, it does have a lot of murders and intrigue.

    Our guide led us down winding laneways told us wild stories about the lives of people who settled here 200 years ago. Most of the residents were sailors or convicts who had been sent to Australia to do forced labor. After serving their full sentence, they were released into the Rocks where they struggled to make a (usually dishonest) living. There was a high risk of being murdered, robbed, kidnapped and forced into prostitution, shanghaied, or otherwise scammed beyond belief. 

    There are several historic and themed pubs, and the Australian Heritage Hotel offers a weirdly popular ‘coat of arms’ pizza featuring the meat of the two animals on Australia’s coat of arms, the kangaroo and the emu. I did not try this.

    One of our last stops was Observatory Hill, where we took in some inspiring views of the city lights by night 🙂

    Bondi to Congee walk

    Bondi Beach is one of those iconic, must-see spots in Australia. I’ve been hearing about it all my life, so it was very surreal to actually go there and experience the real place. I did the classic Bondi to Congee walk, a very scenic 6km route along the coast. It passes lots of landmarks but the main appeal is the blue of the waves and seeing the expanse of the Pacific stretch out in front of you. 

    There are plenty of cafes and rest stops along the way, so you can easily spend a whole morning or afternoon here. I started at Bondi and walked south to Congee, but you could technically do it either way. Buses 333, 380 and 389 go from Circular Quay very regularly.

    Blue Mountains

    Doing a day trip to the Blue Mountains is a MUST while you are in Sydney. I am not a hiker at all (I don’t even like climbing stairs) but even I agree it’s absolutely the highlight of the trip. 

    The Blue Mountains look blue because there are so many eucalyptus forests there – the eucalyptus oil droplets, dust, and water vapor infuse together to create a trippy blue haze. There are about 250 kilometers worth of walking tracks in the Mountains, and 900 canyons, but most guided tours just bring you to a few points-of-note – my tour only hiked about 2 hours.

    You can also camp overnight, but be warned: there are lots of stories of unusual and unexplained phenomena in the mountains, dating back thousands of years 😉

    How to get from Sydney to the Blue Mountains

    You have plenty of options to get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney:

    Drive: The Blue Mountains are around a 2 to 2-and-a-half hour drive from central Sydney.

    Guided tour: I’m a passenger princess – I do love a good guided tour, so I can relax and enjoy the scenery while someone else drives and worries about the itinerary. I did Coast Warrior’s full day Blue Mountains tour, which was around 10.5 hours and cost about 65 euros. Other companies offer overnight and camping tours too, make sure to shop around to get the best price.

    Train: You can also go solo on the train for around $5. NSW TrainLink Intercity trains can get you from central Sydney to the Blue Mountains in around 2 hours. 

    Scenic World: This theme park located in the town of Katoomba gives you the chance to ride the steepest railway in the world or one of the cable cars for some very scenic views of the mountains. 

    Blue Mountains villages, Katoomba & Glenbrook

    Chances are, if you take a guided bus tour or take the train, you will start or end your Blue Mountains experience in Katoomba or Glenbrook. Our tour did a pitstop at Glenbrook, and it gave me real Twin Peaks vibes, but in a cozy way. The town itself is very small but well stocked with everything you may need to visit the Blue Mountains (supermarket, cafes, outdoor sport supply store, etc).

    Our guide recommended Dolly’s Donuts & Gelato, which has won some prestigious donut award. The donuts were $5-$10 and extremely filling, so I recommend grabbing one to give you some sugar for the hike 🙂

    Wentworth Falls

    Our first stop on the mountains was Wentworth Falls. We had some truly EPIC views of the mountains, and then walked the Wentworth Falls track. Coast Warriors tour is the only one that actually brings you down the very steepest track, to the bottom of the waterfall – but that part is optional, and not advised if you have any injuries.

    I lost track of which spots exactly we visited, but as usual, I was happy to follow the guide and just enjoy the Middle Earth-like scenery.

    Three Sisters

    The most photographed lookout in the Blue Mountains is the Three Sisters! It’s a really unusual rock formation. The aboriginal legend says that the local tribe was about to be invaded by their enemies, who planned to kidnap the women. A powerful elder transformed his three daughters into stone so the invaders couldn’t find them – but he actually ended up being killed, and so never returned to turn his daughters back into humans. Local folk tales always have such bizarre and depressing endings 🙁

    Whale watching

    From mid-May to early November every year, 45,000 humpback whales swim past Sydney on their annual winter migration from Antarctica to the warm, sub-tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s crazy to think the whales travel up to 10,000km!

    I booked a 2-hour budget cruise with Fantasea Cruises Sydney, which cost around 40 euros. If that doesn’t float your boat, other operators longer or more ‘luxurious’ cruises. Most tours have a pretty high success rate and manage to see whales almost every day, but if you don’t see whales, most companies will offer you a free ticket to try it again another day.

    We did see a pod of whales, including a lil baby one! We also saw some dolphins as a bonus. Pro-tip, take seasickness medication before boarding. A few people on our boat were stuck in the bathroom throwing up while everyone else stood on the deck marveling at the glory and majesty of the whales.

    Shopping in Sydney

    As I mentioned in my Brisbane article, June is the end of the Financial Year in Australia, and there are some amazing sales happening in stores in June. I usually don’t like to shop when traveling. I feel I could shop online at home any time, but this si my only chance to go out and explore Sydney.. but I have to admit I spent a full day trekking around malls in Sydney and the deals were great!

    The Queen Victoria Building is the most iconic mall, it was built in the late 19th century and has real Grand Budapest vibes, with plenty of shops for different budgets. Pitt Street Mall and Westfield are also worth checking out, especially if you’re there during sale season like I was. 

    Source: sydney.com

    Where to go after Sydney

    I basically did the classic East Coast backping route backwards, so Sydney was my 2nd-last stop, and Melbourne/The Great Ocean Road was my last. If you’re doing the same thing, here’s how to go from Sydney to Melbourne:

    • Driving: NRMA shares a 2-day road trip with all the best stops between Sydney and Melbourne.
    • Train: I took the train to Melbourne, which cost around 48 euros ($80AUD) and took around 11 hours. Sometimes I forget just how massive a country Australia is! I got some nice scenic views and they serve decent-quality hot lunch and dinner onboard for about $10AUD (6 euros), but be warned, the trains are quite old, they don’t have Wifi or sockets to charge your phone, and your phone signal will be patchy! 

    Flying is the fastest option, but also the most expensive. As usual, I recommend looking far in advance and being flexible on dates if you want to get a good deal.

    Looking for more tips for traveling Australia on a budget? Read my other articles:

  • Airlie Beach, Whitsundays & the Great Barrier Reef: Travelling Australia aolo & on a budget

    I began my Australian month in Brisbane, stayed there for a week, then flew to Proserpine (Airlie Beach). Taking the bus is another option. If I was doing it again, I think I would have gone by bus, and stopped off in Noosa or the Sunshine coast for a few days, since I met so many people who raved about those places.

    So, why Airlie Beach? Airlie Beach is a real laidback backpacker spot and the gateway to the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. It’s famous as the place to go to see the Great Barrier Reef (Cairns is the other famous place for this). Several people told me if I’m short on time, Airlie Beach has more to see than Cairns.. So that’s where I went!

    In this guide, I cover:

    Where to stay

    If you want to stay in Airlie Beach, book your stay far in advance! I procrastinated and didn’t book my accommodation until around two weeks before. A friend recommended Nomads Hostel and Magnums resort, but they were full.

    I checked out Airbnb and decided to stay with some locals instead. I was a bit aprehensive about staying with strangers, but the hosts Annie and Kenny (and their adorable pets!) were wonderful and made it feel like visiting family! They cooked me a delicious roast on my last night, gave me all the best tips and offered to drive me around. The room was super comfortable and quiet, as it’s more in ‘the countryside’ – but you’re only 1 minute from a bus stop which brings you everywhere you need to go. Airlie is tiny so you’re never far from the action, even if you don’t stay directly in town. I was so happy I decided to stay with them and would gladly do it again 🙂 

    The Great Barrier Reef & Whitsundays

    Airlie Beach is one of the 2 main towns people visit to see the Great Barrier Reef.

    Seeing the Great Barrier Reef is on almost everyone’s bucket list, and for good reason. The reef is one of UNESCO’S seven natural wonders of the world and is actually the world’s largest reef system – it’s around the size of Italy, and can even be seen from space. Sadly the Great Barrier Reef is under threat from climate change and rising sea temperatures. It’s estimated it could completely disappear by 2050. 

    Tour operators make it sound like you help the reef by going there, since some of their profits go towards conservation efforts. The general advice is to book an eco-friendly tour, not leave any litter, (come on, this one was a no brainer!), use reef-safe zinc sunscreen when swimming there, and take care not to step on or damage the corals. Really take care not to do that. The corals are surprisingly brittle and sharp and will tear through your skin! They’re full of microbes that will give you nasty infections. So be careful out there.)

    Great Barrier Reef/Whitsundays 1 day tour

    I was on a budget, so I went on a one-day tour with Whitsunday Bullet for €120.96 all-in, including snorkeling gear and a wetsuit, lunch and snacks, plus a courtesy bus to and from your accommodation. The crowd was pretty young, lots of solo travelers, couples, and some families. I was really happy with it! Some other options include:

    Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 

    Sadly I don’t have pictures, but needless to say it was an incredible experience! I saw the reefs and so many different colorful fish. The boat supplies all snorkeling gear and wetsuits. I am a bad swimmer but no need to worry, they offer free life jackets and even pool noodles to help you stay afloat. You can technically still snorkel, even if you can’t swim at all. The tour makes it very easy for you. 

    Source: Palm Bay Resort

    Whitehaven beach

    This glorious white sand beach was amazing, and we had perfect weather. I visited in June, which is winter in Australia, but it was around 27 degrees Celsius and sunny all day. Our tour operator provided free lunch here and also some stand-up paddle boards.

    Hill Inlet Lookout

    The last stop on our tour was a short hike (legit 10 minutes) up to this lookout – and the views were incredible.

    Stuff to do in Airlie Beach 

    Airlie Beach is a small town, and seems to be mostly populated by tourists and carefree, dreadlocked, nomadic backpackers strumming guitars on the beach on their greater quest for meaning. 

    Most people use Airlie as a ‘base’ for visiting the Whitsundays, so it really has a ‘just passing through’ vibe. I think arriving in town 1 or 2 days before your Whitsundays tour is enough. All the activities you’d expect to see at a beach town (surfing, stand up paddle boarding, segway tour) are on offer here. Here are the ones I looked into:

    Beach & lagoon – If you’re visiting other beaches in Australia (like Gold Coast, Bondi Beach, etc), the beach at Airlie is very small and underwhelming. There isn’t a LOT to do in this town aside from relax – which is just what I needed after a stressful few months at work. I spent 2 whole days migrating between ‘Airlie Beach’ and ‘the Lagoon’ reading books and snacking. It was a good time.

    Nightlife – Airlie is hopping with backpackers and other revelers. Magnums is the most well-known resort/bar, and the main street (there’s really one street, you can’t miss it ) has plenty of bars you can check out.

    Jet skiing – Jet skiing was on my bucket list since I was a child so I thought this was the perfect time to try it out! Jet skiing is a very fun and easy activity, you can learn the controls to operate one in 2 minutes. It’s almost impossible to fall off. There are several companies offering jet ski tours so it’s worth Googling and checking different providers. I did the ‘Jet Ski Safari’ (90 euros) and was pretty satisfied.

    Skydiving – Several people told me Airlie is THE place to go skydiving, since you get epic views of the Reef and islands. In a tandem skydive, you fly up with a group, and you get strapped to an experienced skydiver who jumps out of the plane with you and releases the parachute. So if you’re paralyzed with terror, you can trust them to do it. This does sound incredibly cool and I ALMOST booked it multiple times.. But in the end, I was too chicken. 

    This tour for 170 euros seems to be the most popular, but it’s worth shopping around. There are multiple tour companies on the main street in Airlie who will give you an overview of tours that still have space and possibly be able to get you a discount. As with most stuff in Airlie, book early as spots fill up fast.

    Scenic flight – If you want to get much the same views you would get skydiving, without actually jumping out of the plane, most of those tour companies offer a more relaxed scenic flight option too. I didn’t do this as the scenic flights were actually more expensive than the flight I’d taken from Brisbane to Airlie, where I actually got some reef views anyway. But if you’re not flying in, this could be worth it.

    Cheap Eats in Airlie Beach

    I was on a budget, so I tried to cook at my Airbnb and avoid going out for food. Airlie is a really touristic town, so the main street is lined with eateries, open at all times of day.

    Ramen in May – this one is not on the main street, so it’s a little tucked away. The ramen was tasty and cost less than 10 euros, so pretty affordable by tourist town standards.

    Whitsunday Fish Bar – I treated myself to some fish and chips on the beach, and found out this was the cheapest spot. 

    Mika Mexican Restaurant & Bar – I went for dinner and drinks with some people from my boat tour here. The food quality and prices were pretty standard, so I’d give it an okay review.

    Transport in Airlie Beach

    ✈️Getting from Proserpine Airport to Airlie Beach: This was one of the easiest airport connections I’ve ever done! Proserpine is a tiny and very relaxed airport. The first thing I saw when I landed was the information desk for ‘Heart of the Reef’ shuttle buses. The shuttles don’t have a set schedule and just work around the flights, so you won’t be left stranded. 

    Just tell the driver where you’re staying, and they literally plan the route so they can drop everyone off at their door. They also schedule a time to pick you up for your flight out of Airlie. It was around 25 euros return but honestly for a door-to-door service, this is really good value.


    🚌Buses within Airlie: You might not need to take public transporation while in Airlie. The town is very small, and most Reef tour companies offer complimentary bus services (they come and pick you up right outside your accommodation). I had absolutely 0 stress getting around Airlie. There are also public buses which connect most accommodations with the town. Just make sure you have cash, as the buses don’t take cards.

    Where to go next?

    After Airlie, I flew on to Sydney. Other people head elsewhere in Queensland (the Sunshine Coast, Magnetic Island, or Cairns are all good options).

    Get some more tips from the rest of the trip:

  • Brisbane & Queensland: Travelling Australia Solo & on a budget

    Brisbane was my first stop on my 4-week East Coast of Australia solo adventure. It’s a cool city and the perfect base for exploring sunny Queensland. ☀️

    Here’s what I recommend in Brisbane:

    Where to stay in Brisbane

    Selina Brisbane

    For my first 4 nights, I booked a private ensuite room in Selina Brisbane, so I could sleep off my jet lag in comfort. My room was €85.98 per night – booking far ahead is usually the best way to get a good deal.

    I was really happy with Selina! It’s perfectly located, the airport train stops just 2 minutes away at the Roma Street station and it is also close to the CBD and many attractions. Australian-style brunch is available every morning for A$15 (€9.18) and there are family dinners twice a week for A$10 (€6.12).

    The kitchen is pretty decent and has an oven, which is rare in hostels. I was able to cook here without any issues. There’s also a coworking space if you need to do some work during your stay.

    There was a social hour in the hostel bar every evening with free cocktails for guests which was an amazing perk. As you would expect in a busy backpacker spot, people pass through, and the crowd can vary a lot from day to day. 

    One day I was the youngest person there (at 27). The next day I was the oldest and surrounded by young, wild and free backpackers who regaled me with tales of running away from drunk farmers on fruit picking farms in the outback. So many people there came to Australia on a working holiday visa for a year, and they are required to complete 88 days of regional work (often farm work) to be allowed to stay in the country. The hostel bar is definitely the place to go if you want to meet people from all walks of life and hear a few crazy stories!

    Bunk Brisbane

    For the rest of my stay, I moved to a cheaper option, Bunk Brisbane. I stayed in a 4-bed female ensuit dorm for €40 a night.

    The best thing about this hostel is that it is very well-equipped for large numbers of backpackers. The kitchen is industrial size with literally hundreds of pots, pans, cutlery, and everything else – meaning you never have to wait for someone else to finish with something, as you do in other hostels. There are plenty of washing machines available to do your laundry.

    The rooms are less fancy and it’s overall a good lower-budget option. I didn’t socialize much here, because I felt a bit old (I’m 27, most guests were 18-21), but I guess the crowd could vary a lot from time to time.

    The one thing to note – Bunk is located in the Fortitude Valley area, which is notably scuzzier than the other neighborhoods. The positive things first – it’s right next to Chinatown which means there are good and cheap eats nearby, and it doesn’t take long to walk to the river or the CBD. It’s also well connected to other neighborhoods thanks to the Fortitude Valley train station.

    However! It’s a rowdy area. It has a higher crime rate than other neighborhoods in Brisbane. Strip clubs, headshops, casinos, sleazy saloons and other dens of vice and sin abound here. The African preacher standing at the corner in a striking outfit screaming into a microphone about how the Lord will not forsake the sinner who turns to him only added to the vibe. This tireless preacher didn’t seem to get through to any of the laaads on tour, they kept on catcalling and gyrating like there was no tomorrow.

    I don’t want to scare you off the neighborhood, it does have its charms! But I thought it’s good to share my experience so you know what to expect.

    Transport & getting around Brisbane

    🚂 Public transport in Brisbane – public transport in Australia was great! Go to any train station and ask the information desk people about getting a Go Card. The fares are cheaper when you use a Go Card, but it’s also possible to just tap your debit/credit card on most public transport. When you leave Brisbane, remember to return your Go Card to the train station, and they will return whatever money you have on the card, plus your 10$ deposit. I took the Airtrain to the airport then handed the card back there, to get maximum value out of it.

    ✈️Getting from Brisbane Airport to the city center is pretty straight forward. The Airtrain runs every 15 minutes (30 minutes in off-peak times). It’s best to pre-book your ticket, but I bought mine when I got there and had no issues. You can also pay with your GoCard, if you have one. The price was around 13 euros one-way.

    Cheap Eats in Brisbane

    I was on a budget on this trip, so I tried to cook at the hostel and grab cheap eats as much as possible. Australian malls are amazing and often have pretty cheap food options. However I did check out a few places:

    Felons – Felons seems to be the most well-known bar in Brisbane. I went to check it out with some other solo girls from the hostel. It’s right on the waterfront at Howard’s Wharves, directly underneath the Story Bridge, so it offers great views of the bay and the CBD skyscrapers. It’s a bustling spot with plenty of locals and tourists there at any time of day. I tried a SMALL glass of mandarin peel fruity Australian wine for A$17 (€10.40). That price seemed steep, but going out drinking in Australia is pretty pricey. Either have a dry month or prepare to spend 🙁

    State Library cafe – I visited the State Library, queensland Museum and ACOMA Modern Art museum on the same day. They’re located right next to each other on the South Bank. I had lunch in the State Library cafe as it was the cheapest option and I was pretty happy with my quiche for €5.53.

    Miso Hungry – I tried out this chain and it was pretty tasty. The regular chili chicken meal was only around €7 which I thought was decent value. 🙂

    Peach Cafe – this very cute spot is a little out of the center but worth the visit. I had the Mr Potatohead Breakfast Burger and it did not disappoint this little potato head. I also tried their famous peach-matcha milk for A$6 (€3.70) and it was delicious! The desserts looked great and were about 3x bigger than expected.

    Supermarkets – I just searched for supermarkets near the hostel and grabbed supplies on my way home. Aldi, Coles and Woolworths seem to be the cheapest options. There are convenience stores like 7/11 scattered around which of course cost a little more. Also random fun fact, but Coles supermarkets have pick’n’mix MOCHI? Don’t miss it if you’re a mochi hoe like me.

    Kangaroo Cliffs Walk

    The hostel I was staying in, Selina Brisbane, was ideally located for doing the Kangaroo Cliffs walk I’d heard about. If you only have one day to see the sights in Brisbane, this is the thing to do. Mustdobrisbane.com explains how you can do the full walk and see as many sights as possible.

    I wasn’t following the route exactly and was just ambling along. I walked for a few hours (stopping lots of times) and managed to see the following:

    • William Jolly Bridge
    • South Bank area, parklands with some lush tropical plants, lots of museums and events happening here
    • Kangaroo cliffs – I went up to the little gazebo about halfway around the cliffs and had a great view over the bay! You can also do rock climbing on the cliffs if you are so inclined (sorry for the cliff pun).
    • Good views of the Central Business District and those very slick skyscrapers
    • Story Bridge – I crossed the iconic bridge and had some great views. Make sure you get on the side with better views, there’s traffic on this bridge so you can’t easily cross once you’re on it.

    Botanic Gardens

    You can easily head on to the City Botanic Gardens if you’re following the Kangaroo Cliffs Walk!

    Note there are 2 botanic gardens in Brisbane, the City Botanic Gardens, which is really central and easy to get to, and the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens ones which are a little further out and accessible by train from the center. If you go there, make sure you hike Mount Coot-tha too as it offers great views of the city.

    I only had time to visit the city gardens, and I’d definitely recommend lazing around there for an afternoon. Local volunteers offer free guided walks of the gardens every day at 11am and 1pm (more information here). In typical laidback Australian fashion, you don’t need to prebook the tour at all, it’s fine to just rock up. There’s no set tour, each guide just shows you their favorite places. So if you’re really into botanic gardens, it’s probably worth visiting more than once, so you learn new stuff from another guide.

    Our guide showed us the bayhan tree which reinforces itself by growing extended roots all the time, the ‘drunk Parrot’ tree (so-called because parrots like snacking on its very alcoholic fruit, then they pass out drunk on the lawn), the pride of Bolivia (my favorite – it looks like something from a fantasy novel), some tall ass trees Aboriginal men were expected to climb as part of a ritual to prove they have become a man, and many more.

    If you want to see the colorful water lilies in bloom, come before midday as they close up for the day then.

    South Bank & Museums

    South Bank seems to be the most happening area in Brisbane. It’s home to some beautiful parklands and a great place for a walk at any time of day. Here you can also find the city’s only manmade beach ‘Streets Beach’ and plenty of eateries.

    The South Bank’s Cultural Precinct boasts several free museums and is definitely worth visiting. The Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), the State Library of Queensland, the Queensland Museum, and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre are all located right next to each other so you can easily visit them all in one day!

    • The Queensland museum (general natural history). This is free to visit, but the Queensland Museum has several paid add-on exhibits, which seem very child-friendly and aimed at families. The free part of the museum has a good overview of the fossils, flora and fauna you can find in that part of Australia, and it has an amazing gift shop. I never saw so many koala, bee or wombat related gift ideas in my life 🙂
    • QAGOMA is an interesting spot with a lot of art from Australian, including Aboriginal artists. I don’t know much about Australian art and the manageable size of the museum made for a good intro. 

    Overall I would say the museums are very modern, family-friendly and well laid-out. There isn’t a TON of stuff in any of them, they’re a lot more manageable than oldschool museums I’ve been to. They’re totally free, so I highly recommend making the rainiest/coldest day of your trip a ‘museum day’ 🙂

    Shopping & other nice spots in Brisbane City

    Vintage shopping in the West End – I visited a few cool secondhand shops in this neighborhood and got some new-to-me clothes at great prices. Mustdobrisbane.com has a good overview of a ‘crawl’ you can do to hit as many of them as possible. My favorites were Lifeline Vintage Revival (108 Boundary Street) and Serendipity Op Shop (Russell Street) – the owners are really friendly and you’ll also meet their cute dogs 🙂

    West End Markets – sadly I missed these as they’re only on Saturday mornings, and I was in Stradbroke Island at that time. Everyone recommends them, so try to check them out if you can. More info here.

    Source – TripAdvisor

    Queen Street Mall – this well-known mall has tons of interesting shops. Australian malls have massive sales in June because that’s the end of their financial year.. I was really pleasantly surprised by the deals I found!

    North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)

    North Stradbroke Island is stunningly beautiful and you should absolutely visit it if you are in Brisbane. Fun fact, it’s the 2nd largest sand island in the world (its neighbor Fraser Island is the largest – fun fact: the top 5 are all in Australia). It’s also a significant place for indigenous people for various reasons.

    The island is very serene with a population of just over 2,000 people. Cutest fact – there are twice as many koalas on this island as people!

    How to get there

    Option #1: Guided Tour

    I took a small-group guided tour with Hit the Road tours, which I booked on the GetYourGuide platform. The trip left central Brisbane at 08:30am and brought us back by 6:30pm. Bus, ferry, a guide to show you around, and some snacks are included. It was around 80e which I thought was totally worth the money as I didn’t want to stress about catching buses and ferries. Most people on this tour were solo or young couples and very friendly. I had great chats all day and enjoyed the day a lot more than I would have alone.

    Option #2: Bus/Train and ferry

    If you do want to go solo, the easiest option is to rent a car. If that isn’t an option, you can catch the bus or train from central Brisbane to Cleveland, a nearby port town. You can see the full ferry schedule here. There is a public bus on the island which hits some of the tourist spots. Tickets are A$5 per adult, or A$10 for a day pass (more information here). GoCards (the public transport card you use everywhere else in Brisbane) aren’t accepted so remember to bring cash.

    Take note that the last ferry is at 6:25pm, so you should aim to be back at the ferry well before that unless you want to get stranded on the island overnight 🙂

    The Brown Lake (Bummiera)

    Our first stop was The Brown Lake (Bummiera). The lake is surrounded by tea trees, their leaves and oil soak into the water which gives it its distinctive brown hue.. and also makes it antiseptic. Indigineous people used to belive this lake was sacred and could heal illnesses.. and it sometimes actually could do that, the tea tree oil is antiseptic and helps disinfect any wounds or scars!

    I hate to sound like a white woman who buys healing crystals from Amazon, but I could see why the Aboriginal people considered this place holy. It was so peaceful, and tranquil.

    And as an added bonus… I spotted my first wild koala in the forest near the lake! These are a bit hard to find as they’re gray and fuzzy, so they’re well camouflaged high up in trees. These layabouts live the lazy girl’s ideal life and sleep around 20 hours a day, meaning you’ll have to look up high and really peel your eyes to see one.

    Point Lookout (Moolomba)

    Our next stop was Point Lookout, where we followed the walkway. I’m not a hiker at all (I don’t even like climbing stairs) but even I found it an easy walk, so don’t be put off by this even if you’re not very active. It took around one hour walking at a leisurely pace and stopping multiple times, so extremely easy as far as scenic walks go.

    We had amazing views of the Coral Sea. Even from the cliffs, we could clearly see turtles, dolphins and even whales! We also saw a lot of indigenous plants that I had never seen in my life, and some wild kangaroos. These ones see tourists all the time and didn’t seem to mind people stopping to awe and squeal at them, but apparently outback kangaroos have significantly more attitude and will attack you if you come onto their territory. They’re over 2 metres tall and jacked, so maybe don’t go on to their territory!?

    Cylinder Beach, Amity Point & Capembah Creek

    Our third stop was Cylinder Beach. We grabbed some tasty prawn and avocado wraps from The Prawn Shack for A$15 (9e) and ate them on the beach. Cylinder Beach is one of the island’s most iconic surf beaches and is very protected from prevailing winds, meaning you can surf even on colder, windier days. We saw around 20 dolphins in the distance, which was amazing!

    Capembah Creek is a quick stop on your tour, the area is quite small and can be covered quickly. It’s still worth a walk around as the views are stunning!

    At Amity Point we saw a very regal cluster of pelicans and watched the sunset over Moreton Bay. The wide open sky was so beautiful and the clouds tinged violet. It was so calming and the perfect place to end the day as it’s a short distance from the ferry.

    I had a wonderful time on the island and highly recommend it! As you can tell by my meager follower count, I am no influencer and definitely not being paid by GetYourGuide, but I do recommend doing a guided tour as it lets you hit a lot of places in a relatively short time. They also have tours to Moreton Island which I heard pretty mixed reviews about. But if I had more time to kill in Brisbane, I would for sure have checked them out.

    Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary & Australia Zoo

    When I told people I was going to Brisbane, several people recommended I go to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Australia Zoo (yes, the one from the Crocodile Hunter TV show, it’s a real place!).

    I wasn’t that interested in going because I’m not usually a fan of zoos. I know they’re important for conservation and all, but they just never interested me that much. I only went to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary because patting a koala was the main attraction for me, and it has the added benefit of being easy to reach from Brisbane (just get a Go-Card at any station and take the 430 or 445 bus).

    Koalas only live on the east coast of Australia, so this is the only place in the world you can see them in the wild. Conservationists estimate there are only between 95,000 and 238,000 of them left 🙁 Their habitat is being destroyed, they have high rates of chlamydia and sickness, and they’re just little guys in a big scary world (they get killed by other animals, hit by cars, etc).

    I did the ‘koala encounter’, which is where you meet a koala chilling on its tree and are allowed to pat it and take photos. You need to pre-book your koala encounter a few days in advance.This encounter costs $35 (21.45e) but the koala handlers kindly offer to take pictures for free, using your phone. If you want a professional photo, you would need to prebook that. 

    I can confirm, they are as FUZZY as they look.

    Koalas are precious divas who sleep 20 hours a day and animal protection laws say they can only legally ‘work’ 30 minutes a day (their work here is being patted). A bell rings every 30 minutes telling the koalas to go off-shift, and if the next koala is NOT feeling like dealing with people today, another one comes out. It’s an ideal job in most respects.

    The other option is to book a ‘koala hold’, where they let you hold the koala. This costs slightly more.. If you really want to hold one, be warned, they’re heavier than I thought at around 15kg (33 pounds) but they are very DENSE and bottom heavy. You interlock your fingers and the koala sits on your hands. One girl I met in the hostel said it was doable but it did strain her wrists to support such a “thicc booty”, so something to note.

    The second biggest attraction for me was being able to handfeed kangaroos and wallabies. You can buy a baggie of kangaroo food for $2 (1.23 euros) and then stroll around the plain rustling it until your kangaroo food baggy brings those pouchy boys to the yard. Wait for them to approach you and do not go in for a pat unless you buy them dinner first.

    They vary massively in size, the pretty-faced wallaby is ADORABLE and onyl around a meter tall (3.3 feet), but the Red Kangaroos are a lot more intimidating at over 2 meters tall (6’6 feet), and they are jacked like thugs who got into bodybuilding to seek vengeance once they get out of prison. No lie, they are very beefy animals. Luckily I managed to attract only the cutest, goofiest looking ones 🙂

    You can see a wide range of Australian and international wildlife at this park, including dingoes, wombats, Tasmanian Devils and more.

    So is it worth the visit? It seems a little pricey, but I think the experience is fairly unique. Since it’s at least an hour from the city center, it’s worth going for a few hours and booking an animal encounter. There are cafes with nice views and a ‘blogger’ area at the park where you can chill out and make a day of it 🙂

    Gold Coast

    Gold Coast is a smaller city down the road from Brisbane, famous for its beautiful beaches and ‘Miami’ vibe. It’s a popular day trip option and very easy to get to.

    Getting there – regular buses and trains run from Central Brisbane to Gold Coast. I opted for the train (schedule here), because it goes every 30 minutes, and that meant I didn’t need to commit to a time in advance. The round trip cost was around 20 euros. You can pay using your normal Brisbane public transport card. If you book in advance, Greyhound buses will be the cheapest option.

    What to do in Gold Coast – Many other backpackers warned me there isn’t much to do in Gold Coast, so I did this on my last day, when I was anyway kind of tired and lazy. It became well-known in the 1960s when ‘surfer culture’ took off, and it’s become kind of a trashy, plastic tourist spot since then.

    So I just visited the famous Surfer’s beach and walked about 8km along the beaches, which was beautiful. I spent most of the day reading on the beach, then checked out the local thrift stores before heading back to Brisbane. Not a bad day at all! But if you’re short on time in Brisbane, and planning to visit other beaches in Australia, you can probably give this a miss.

    Where to go next

    I was flying on to Airlie Beach for the next part of my adventure.. but if I was doing it again, I would have done a night or two in Sunshine Coast, then got the bus up to Airlie.

  • Thoughts on Cork, Ireland

    Thoughts on Cork, Ireland

    Dubbed “the real capital”, Cork is a small city full of character. Historically known as “The Rebel City”, Cork’s reputation for defiance and individuality blossomed in the time of clans and chieftains, but lives on today in the form of its lively arts scene, quirky local businesses, and burgeoning startup district. Also home to the world’s second-largest natural harbour, this city traditionally provided a safe haven for sailors, providing a place of welcome and acceptance for the weary traveler.

    The hospitable, open-minded nature of the locals lends itself to merrymaking. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing on the tables ‘till dawn at one of the city’s many traditional “séisiún” (session) hideaways. Buskers are a dime-a-dozen, with one band providing a unique opportunity to hear contemporary hits played with Irish traditional instruments. Fresh energy flows anew every October, when the city hosts Ireland’s only Jazz Festival. With such high spirits abound it is no surprise that Cork is home to over 600 bars. Every nook or cranny sports a classic, snug “old man” pub, with the city’s 12 microbreweries providing a whopping 200 native varieties of craft beer. Stout is alive and well – but locals strongly prefer locally-brewed Beamish rather than Guinness.

    Wetting your whistle is one thing, but Cork’s foodie scene is heralded as the best in Ireland. There is a certain charm in wandering these winding streets, stumbling upon an undiscovered gastronomic gem. The stomping ground of chefs too obscure for Dublin’s more classical scene, Cork boasts a crop of vegetarian, traditional fusion, and ethnic restaurants. If it’s a bazaar you seek, look no further than The English Market – a traditional trading point for local food, fish, and crafts. Call in to the nearby Butter Museum to hear the history, and bountiful folklore, associated with agriculture in the region.

    Indeed, lovers of the old world will revel in a visit to Shandon Town and its bustling alehouses.  University College Cork has an impressive collection of Victorian buildings, as well as a unique collection of Ogham stones; runes etched with poetry written in the old Irish, pre-Latin script. The surrounding green grounds feature a medley of statues; pagan, classical and avant-garde. Be warned: legend has it that ghosts lurk abound – and for more spooks, visit the City Gaol, a colonial penitentiary turned civil war political prison, where countless peasants and indeed historical figures met untimely ends. If something jolly and vintage is more your style, drop by Mother Jones Flea Market ro Vintage Hall, both treasure troves for antiques, statement fashion pieces, and one-of-a-kind decor.

    As you leave the city, make sure to see the world-famous “Blarney Castle”. According to local lore, anyone who kisses its ancient, magical stone will be bestowed with “The Gift of the Gab” – the ability to spin stories which charm and delight all those around you. No doubt, this quirky humour and free spirited outlook makes Cork a must-see destination on any Ireland Itinerary.

  • 10 Things to do in Debrecen, Hungary

    10 Things to do in Debrecen, Hungary

    Steeped in history, Hungary’s second-largest city Debrecen oozes with culture. Christened “Calvinist Rome”, Debrecen is an extremely important city in the region’s history, having served as the Hungarian capital not once but twice – during the Hungarian Revolution (1848-1849) and again at the end of World War Two (1944-45). 

    Today, Debrecen’s unique energy and youthful vibe make it a must-see destination. Step off the beaten path and explore our top picks in this often-overlooked city – 

    Visit

    1. Kossuth Square – Do not miss the magnificently colourful Kossuth Square, right in the heart of Debrecen. Home to a range of historic buildings, from old merchant’s houses to art nouveau galleries, the square is also the centre of all festivals happening in Debrecen – whether it’s the August flower festival, a traditional Hungarian Christmas, or unique artisan events such as “Chocolate day” and “Turkey day”.
    1. Debrecen market – if it’s a bazaar you seek, look no further than Debrecen market’s impressive collection of local foods and crafts – including glass jewellery, porcelain, crystal, antiques, and delicious traditional snacks at sweet prices.
    1. Debrecen plaza – Treat yourself to some well-deserved luxury at a reasonable price in Debrecen plaza – this historic building is bursting with great deals on designer clothing, accessories, and perfume, with prices often 50% lower than at home.
    1. GoLocal’s “Behind The Iron Curtain” Walking Tour – Have you ever wondered what it was like living behind the iron curtain? Let an insider fill you in on what life was really like in key parts of this city in times gone by.
    1. Aquaticum – Enjoy a quintessentially Hungarian experience at Aquaticum’s wellness spa and baths. Volcanic soils in the region infuse the water with healing properties to help you rejuvenate after a late night on the town.
    1. Hortobagy National Park – This nostalgic open air museum celebrates the horsemen who once roamed the beautiful “puszta” of Hungary’s wild east. Travel in a horse-drawn carriage (or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a hot air balloon!) and marvel  the park’s rustic charm – expect equestrian performances, and a few free-roaming buffalo!

    Eat & Drink

    1. Vinyl Cafe Hanglemezbolt – It’s vintage vibes galore at Vinyl Cafe Hanglemezbolt. The cafe-shop boasts over 6500 vinyl records, and offers a hearty lunch menu.
    1. Butiq – The only music bistro in Debrecen, Butiq combines youthful energy with a gorgeous, rustic interior. Enjoy high-quality food, whiskey, and wine, as well as experiencing live music and local cultural events.  
    1. The Ruin bar – Hipster chic reigns in this uber cool ruin bar. Located in a formerly abandoned historic building, this venue is a chill cafe by day and a quirky, festival-esque spot for alfresco dining and live music by night.
    1. Vino Market Bar Szakuzlet – This bar is a one-stop shop for both wine enthusiasts and craft beer aficionados. Local wine tastings can be organised for groups of 6-15 people.