Contiki Review: Getting swept up in my European Whirl

I took the phrase ‘Go big or go home’ very literally when booking my Contiki trips. 

On the back of booking my very first overseas trip, the Great Britain and Ireland Contiki, I decided I might as well make the absolute most of my time overseas (after all, the 28 hours worth of travel should be maximised). So, I snagged myself another fantastic deal from the last minute Contiki deals and ended up with the pocket rocket of authenticity Sinead, who was also my trip manager for the GB and Ireland Contiki. 

Thus, off we embarked with my second Contiki family across Europe for 19 days!

Bustling Berlin

Every single place we stopped in Germany holds a very special place in my heart. From the gigantic pretzels in Munich we devoured to the gorgeous medieval history in Ragensberg to the picture-perfect square in Dresden, I adored each stop and became the most confident with basic German phrases, danke schön! But, Berlin was by far the standout! There is just an indescribable energy in Berlin, a buzz of rich culture, history and authenticity in the people living there. 

We were lucky enough to have two fantastic free time add-ons in Berlin, the first of which being a Historical Walking Tour. Chris, our hilarious (and gorgeous) guide, took us through some of the major locations of Berlin, including the Bebelplatz, Brandenburger Gate and the notorious Checkpoint Charlie. The history, culture and tidbits he told us all about were enthralling, entertaining and educational. We were all ecstatic when Chris told us he would also be running our second add-on, the Alternative Walking Tour, later that night.

Dressed to impress in our best clubbing outfits, Chris shared stories about squatters, the effervescent nightlife (and many exclusive clubs) and the quirks of Berlin dwellers. He shouted us a German drink to indulge in as we wandered through the streets (I opted for a Krombacher Radler) and took us to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant for the best schnitzel I’ve ever had. Bidding Chris and his great vibes goodbye, Sinead (known lovingly as ‘Sin’) led us down to the river and produced a light-up microphone for us to sing karaoke on. It’s one of those hilarious memories I recall, thinking about the incredible (and awful) renditions we performed into the night. 

Picturesque Prague

Prague has personality in spades. From the quirky museum topics (including torture and sex) to the often magical and mysterious history lurking in every street and building, to the gobsmackingly gorgeous Romanesque and Gothic architecture, the city just exudes intrigue! I was genuinely awestruck by the sight of the Prague Castle, enchanted by the Astronomical Clock and enthralled by the red-roofed horizon as far as the eye could see. 

Still early into the trip, the Traditional Czech Evening served as a wonderful bonding night for the group! The night itself was filled with fantastic Czech entertainment, delicious food and wine and hilarious games that brought out our competitive sides. The energy in the room was electric as we cheered on one of our own in a traditional hat-passing game, only amplified when we won! It was an overwhelmingly lovely and uniting night for the group, though it holds a special place in my heart for a different reason. 

I remember this night most fondly, for it was the beginning of my friendship with Liam. We Irish Goodbyed from the group as they headed to a club and meandered back to our hotel through the streets of Prague. We chatted about life, love, creativity, and so much more and were basically inseparable for the remainder of the trip as a result. There is so much beauty in getting to know someone so intimately, all the way across the world, where you’re free to authentically be yourself. 

Homey Hopfgarten

Haus Schöneck, the love of my life. Words cannot describe the absolutely incredible experience of staying at this Contiki special stay – a ski chalet run by fabulous Contiki staff in the cutest Austrian town surrounded by gorgeous alpine views. Haus Schöneck was a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively. 

It felt like a slice of home – a moment of genuine reprieve after bouncing around so many different European destinations. Indulging in the delicious, home-cooked meals from the kitchen staff to just sitting outside at the picnic tables to bask in the sun to hanging with the manager’s dog while she worked, and finally being able to easily do washing – it brought all the amenities you dream of whilst travelling directly to us. 

That isn’t to say this stay was boring – far from it! The gorgeous bike ride and thrilling paragliding activities prove the opposite, not to mention the impeccable vibes at what felt like one big house party during our stay. We mingled, bantered with the workers, and competed in party games (please never make me play the nail game again, I am genuinely hopeless). The ‘Helikopter 117’ performance Sin and the staff gave on top of the bar, left us in hysterics while the group ‘Mum and Dad’ – Laura and Sam – serenading each other with ‘Break Free’ warmed our hearts (and caused some tears to be shed over how precious they are together). 

Arguably, the best feeling was being a mere few steps away from our beds after partying the night away, making the best memories together. It was easily the highlight of the entire trip for me, I would go back in a heartbeat. 

Irresistible Italy

Hey Siri, play ‘What Dreams Are Made Of’. 

It’s difficult to narrow down the highlights from my time in Italy because there were just so many life changing moments – from living my Lizzie McGuire dreams and tossing three coins over my shoulder at the Trevi Fountain, indulging in delicious gelato from Suso in Venice (and avoiding the ‘tourist trap’ inauthentic gelato), practically inhaling Ragu and Sorrento Gnocchi from ‘Osteria da Fortnata’ in less than 9 minutes and battling torrential rain when visiting the Colosseum (which is exactly as incredible as you think it is).

Florence was my favourite Italian city by far – the rich art history alone drew me in (seeing ‘The Birth of Venus’ in real life was incredible) but the gorgeous architecture and shops like Giunti Odeon (an old cinema that doubles as a bookshop) and incredible food like ‘Vivoli Gelateria’s’ life changing Affogato (I’m salivating just thinking about it) made me fall in love. Here I acquired my favourite piece of jewellery ever – a Florence Puzzle Ring and demolished a rendition of ‘Hey Ya’ with Liam at the ‘Red Garter’ (after which he fumbled the love of his life, please boo him). 

One of the most special parts of travelling with Contiki is the spontaneous side quests that often end up happening after group activities. I was lucky to be part of just a handful of people who ended up on an ‘after-hours tour’ of Rome with our Food Tour guide Giuseppe. He took us around the city into the early hours of the night, telling us stories about his life and Italy whilst exploring gorgeous churches, cathedrals, wine cellars, and so many other unique places. It was so uniquely special, and even though I was beyond exhausted by the end of it, I cannot articulate how grateful I am to have experienced it. 

Luxurious Lucerne

Oh Lucerne, how gorgeous (and expensive) you were. From every angle, the scenery was beyond gorgeous – with the Lake Cruise providing the perfect way to bask in the incredible sites. Whilst the Fondue Meal we indulged in was unequivocally delicious, my highlight was seeing snow for the first time at the top of Mount Pilatus. 

Sporting our personalised European Whirl Contiki merch, we set off to the top (where I was soon to ingest the most delicious hot chocolate ever) – which, between the gondolas and cableway, was quite the adventure. Finally, we stepped out into the foggy mountain top, and I was inches away from snow! It was a lot denser than I had anticipated, with a consistency similar to a snow cone, and I was fascinated by it. Of course, as I was distracted heading to the viewpoint, Sin took this opportunity to instigate a snowball fight. We went back and forth trying to get one another, and the rest of the group followed suit – soon enough, we were all in hysterics, dodging and pelting snowballs. 

I took a moment of quiet before we headed back down, looking out across the sweeping mountains and thinking about life. You’ll never believe it, but it actually started snowing! An already sentimental moment made into a scene out of a movie – I couldn’t believe it. I felt a little like Lorelai Gilmore in that moment, overwhelmed by the innate beauty of snow and the world at large, which makes me giddy remembering. 

Passionate Paris

There is, of course, oh so much to love about the city of love, Paris! 

Witnessing the Eiffel Tower with the setting sun behind it, and waiting long enough for it to (finally) twinkle in the darkness, was magical. I snagged myself tickets to the Louvre and meandered around for as long as I could – seeing such incredible works was astonishing, I could hardly believe I was seeing the Mona Lisa in real life! A literal dream come true, pinch me moment! 

The very last night of the trip was what we had all been waiting for: dinner and a show at the ‘Moulin Rouge’! It was easily the most anticipated activity of the trip, and it did not disappoint. The food and wine were delicious, naturally, but the performance itself was beyond incredible. Breathtaking costumes, fascinating choreography and mind-boggling tricks and acrobatics that you just have to see to believe. I was in absolute awe of the show and emotional over the fact that our Contiki was a mere day from ending. Wouldn’t have wanted to end it any other way! 

This trip had big shoes to fill after the life-changing experience I had on my GB + Ireland trip, and in some ways, I think I struggled initially because of that. I hadn’t anticipated the adjustment I was heading for with new dynamics, personalities and entirely new countries and languages all being thrown at me at once. 

But that’s all part of the experience of solo travelling, and the beauty of doing it with Contiki. Where I was always able to come back to my new Contiki family and build new strong connections throughout the trip, it also served as a way for me to build confidence in experiencing the world solo and for that, I am so grateful. 

Each Contiki group is its own special time capsule of moments, characters and stories, and that’s what makes it so incredible.