TRAVELING WHILE LIVING IN VILLACH

One of the places I have visited the most is Tarvisio. It is a great place to go for lunch or drinks and enjoy some Italian food as it is less than a thirty minute drive. There is also a small grocery store called Maximart that I love to go to when I am there as they have great Italian wines, meats, and cheeses. I will say, I find the town itself does not have much to do. As a result, I usually like to combine a lunch with a hike at Laghi di Fusine. There are two beautiful lakes and you can hike around them while appreciating the insane views. It is also a great thing to do if you have friends or family with you, as it is impossible not to fall in love with the turquoise water and mountains in the background.

Another day trip to Italy that I have loved is going to Udine. Only an hour and thirty minute train ride and you can explore an authentic Italian city.  We left in the morning and came back at around 5:30 p.m., which was a perfect amount of time. There are also many other train times throughout the day. Wandering the cobblestone streets and visiting the little shops and art galleries are my favorite.

The last day trip I really suggest is Ljubljana, Slovenia. It is only an hour drive from Villach. This city shocked me with its beauty. There was a river that flows through the city and some beautiful architecture. In addition to this, there is some great shopping if that is something you fancy!  It also has some great restaurants!

The first place I will mention, is perhaps the most obvious; Austria’s capital Vienna. Vienna has quickly become one of my favorite cities in the world. A beautiful and direct train ride from Villach leads you to the safe, clean, and stunning Vienna in just over four hours. We bought our tickets on the ÖBB website, the national railway company, where we were able to find so-called Sparschiene tickets for cheaper prices. Since living here I have been four times and have never run out of things to see, food to eat, or streets to explore.

One of the first trips I did when I moved here was to Venice. Though I had been there when I was younger, my experience this time was much fresher in my memory and was so great.

We drove there, and in two and a half hours we were able to park our car and get downtown by a “People Mover” so easily. The People Mover is an automated elevated shuttle train that gets you from Tronchetto island (where the car parking facility is) and the Maritima station within four minutes to the city’s main transportation hub, the Piazzale Roma. From there you can walk in approximately half an hour to the famous St. Mark’s Square.

We spent two days wandering the streets, eating too much Italian food, and also visiting as many landmarks as we could. We had beautiful weather and thoroughly enjoyed our quick stay in this timeless city.

Another great trip that I did was to Rovinj, Croatia. Croatia has always been a country I have wanted to visit and it did not disappoint. We loaded the car and drove just over three hours. While driving there it was pouring rain on some windy roads, but we finally arrived eventually. We found an Airbnb in the Old Town and had an amazing couple of days. The Adriatic Sea and the seafood were definitely a highlight for me.

I also took a plane from Vienna to Malaga, Spain to enjoy some sunshine and explore Spain. It was a very cool trip to do for a couple days. The beaches, hikes, museums, and overall vibe of Malaga was so neat and was yet another opportunity I would not have had if I was not living in Austria.