Exploring European cities in three days
In 2024 and 2025, instead of having longer stays, we planned a series of short trips to different European cities. In 2024, we visited Oslo and Prague and later this year we plan to visit Copenhagen. We usually fly out on a Monday and fly home on a Friday. My Mum and I both enjoy these trips as it gives us a chance to see new cities.
I really enjoyed Oslo and its vibe. The hotel we stayed in was walking distance of the city centre and most of the sights. The city is easy to get round on foot and has a good metro, so each day we explored a different area.
The waterfront has lots to see. I loved that you could walk onto the roof of the Opera House. We found lots of street sculptures as well as great restaurants and cafes in this area.
The Vigeland sculpture park is worth a visit. Here there are 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, set in wonderful parkland. It was very easy to get to and we travelled to the closest metro station and then walked.
We also took the train out to the Holmenkollen ski jump. The weather was not good but we could still see the views across the city and fjords. We then escaped the rain in the National Museum which had a mix of contemporary and old masters. I had not been to many art galleries but thought this one was okay. There was a Rothko exhibition on too which was interesting.
In Prague we again stayed within walking distance of the city centre. It was very hot whilst we were here which meant we took lots of stops to get cold drinks and cool down.
There is plenty to see in the city centre and it was interesting to explore the old streets. We walked up to the castle one day, but avoided the castle steps and walked up through the gardens instead. I enjoyed walking down to the river in the evenings and watching the sun setting and the city lighting up.
We explored the Jewish quarter and visited the old Jewish cemetery which was fascinating. We also walked around Mala Strana and saw the John Lennon wall. We visited the Museum Kampa and saw some modern art before enjoying a cold drink by the yellow penguins. In the evenings, we found some excellent restaurants, choosing not to have traditional Czech food, but instead enjoying Thai, Chinese and Indian food.
Both cities were good for a short break and the time was just right for me not to get bored. I am looking forward to visiting Copenhagen later this summer too.
One Boy and a Suitcase 