What better way to review the year than to go down the best travel memories lane?
Last updated: August 29, 2023
The 19 Most Unforgettable Travel Memories and Moments of the Year
Ending can be sweet and uplifting. It gives you an opportunity to remember the beginning, assess your progress, and remind you that it wasn’t that bad. 2019 was quite the year. Nothing like I had expected. It brought some surprises and lots of new discoveries. And even though there were more unforgettable places and experiences, I’d like to share the 19 best travel memories of the year here and now.
HERE ARE MY 19 BEST TRAVEL MEMORIES OF THE YEAR
1. Barcelona, Spain
Best travel memories: Diving into vibrant colors and playful architecture of Barcelona. For someone who didn’t expect a lot from the capital of Catalonia, the city has forever reshaped my views and ideas about Spain.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Barcelona Travel Guide & 6 Things to Learn in Barcelona
2. Vienna, Austria
Best travel memories: Falling in love with Vienna. I have a long history with German-speaking countries. First, German was my first foreign language in middle and high school. Second, I chose German language and culture as my major at university.
So by the time of our trip, my brain had collected a decent amount of information about the German-speaking countries, including Austria. Thus, I owned it to myself to finally give all that knowledge a hard dive into the real world.
Vienna seemed like a perfect destination for such a travel mission. Needless to say, it exceeded all my expectations and became one of the best travel memories of the year.
READ MORE: The Best Street Food in Vienna & 5 Must-Do Things in Vienna beyond Attractions
3. Bratislava, Slovakia
Best travel memories: Wandering the streets of Old Town Bratislava. Despite freezing weather, the capital of Slovakia didn’t cease to impress and amuse us in more ways than we could ever imagine.
READ MORE: A Quick Guide to Bratislava: All You Need to Know for a Short Trip
4. Rome, Italy
Best travel memories: Rome! From the Coliseum to Roman Forum and the yummiest carbs ever (I still dream of its eggplant-sun-dried tomato sandwiches and vegan pizzas), Rome is truly one of the most remarkable cities in the world.
READ MORE: The Top 9 Historical Sites in Rome & 10 Things not to Miss in Rome
5. Vatican City
Best travel memories: Exploring unfading treasures of the State of the Vatican City.
READ MORE: How to Visit the Vatican for the First Time & Cultural Heritage of the Vatican Photo Diary
6. Florence, Italy
Best travel memories: Attending a permanent surprise party in Florence. The city is all you can dream of: stunning architecture, narrow streets, views you can die for. Florence is a place where the reality marries art.
READ MORE: Picturesque Florence Photo Diary
7. Arizona, USA
Best travel memories: Going on a road trip in Arizona and ticking off such bucket list destinations as Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, the Devil’s Bridge, and Lake Powell.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Itinerary for One Day in Page & How to Visit Montezuma Castle
8. California, USA
Best travel memories: Getting to know my home state better. We went on a road trip through Southern and Central California. It was one of the busiest travel experiences of the year. Within a few days, we visited Mammoth Lakes, enjoyed snow at Mammoth Mountain, and saw a sunset at Mono Lake.
Furthermore, soaking in hot springs near Bridgeport convinced us that there is no bad weather for natural miracles. The highlight of the road trip, though, was finally traveling to Lake Tahoe. On our way back, we made a quick stop in Sacramento. Isn’t it an unofficial obligation of every Californian to visit its state capital at least once?
READ MORE: Our Epic Three-Day California Road Trip: Day 2 and 3
9. Emerald Bay, California, USA
Best travel memories: Visiting Emerald Bay State Park, also known as Lake Bled of California.
10. Central California, USA
Best travel memories: Celebrating my birthday in a California winter wonderland. It’s big considering that I’m a summer girl. The snow in summer?.. Apparently, it’s not impossible in California.
11. Prague, Czech Republic
Best travel memories: Admiring stunning architecture of Prague. This trip cetainly dismissed any concerns we had with Prague’s nickname “The City of a Hundred Spires”.
READ MORE: Prague from Charles Bridge to Dancing House & Free Spots with the Best Views of Prague
12. Munich, Germany
Best travel memories: Exploring more German-speaking destinations. This time it was Munich.
READ MORE: A Quick Guide to Munich for First-Time Visitors
13. Zurich, Switzerland
Best travel memories: Falling for a medieval charm of Zurich. If I ever consider moving back to Europe, it’s one of a few places I’d love to call home.
READ MORE: The 6 Best Places with Panoramic Views of Zurich & 10 Best Places in Old Town Zurich
14. Riga, Latvia
Best travel memories: Exploring Old Town Riga. Riga once and forever convinced us that historic centers are some of the best places in almost any city.
READ MORE: How to Do a Six-Hour Layover in Riga
15. Kiev, Ukraine
Best travel memories: Attempting my first ever trip with a baby (just two of us) to Kiev. The experience was beautiful, unpredictable, and definitely rewarding. We even managed to see some of the landmarks of the city while taking it easy and traveling slowly this time.
READ MORE: A Visit to St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev: Things to Know
16. Ireland
Best travel memories: Advancing in solo travel in Ireland. In zillion years, I couldn’t imaging doing it, but it happened. I’m glad I pushed myself to take advantage of every opportunity and explore this beautiful country far beyond Dublin.
17. Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Best travel memories: Experiencing the strongest wind in my life at the Cliffs of Moher. Not the highest point in Ireland, the place is one of the most beautiful and visited destinations in the county. Maybe its strong winds play not the last role in it. I can’t argue about it, but I must confess, I’ve never felt the power of nature as strongly as at the Cliffs of Moher.
18. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Best travel memories: Being forever charmed by picturesque buildings and stunning canals of Amsterdam.
READ MORE: 6 Reasons to Visit Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam & 10 Tips for Your First Trip to Amsterdam
19. Antwerp, Belgium
Best travel memories: Having that “Wow” moment in Antwerp. From the moment I got off a bus, I knew I made a right decision to visit this city. Do you know that feeling when even one glance is enough to make you admire something? So, this exactly what happened to me in Antwerp. If just one city had such an effect on me, I wonder what the rest of the country would do to me.
READ MORE: Things to Know before you Visit Antwerp & 10 Incredible Things to Do in Antwerp
