When it comes to traveling, 2022 was an exceptionally good year for me. I think I visited more places this year, than in the last five years combined. But after having three trips cancelled the past years, due to Covid, it was so lovely being able to go wherever we desired. And that’s exactly what we did! We went to Spain, France, Denmark (and Sweden), the Netherlands, as well as a few German destinations. And while I am definitely not build for a nomadic lifestyle, I loved being away so much. Writing this, I can already feel the itch to go away somewhere again.. But without further ado, here are the five(ish) best travel destinations I visited in 2022!
1. Ibiza and Formentera
The very first trip we took this year was to Ibiza. It was to celebrate me passing a VERY TOUGH (haha) exam and sooo needed. We wanted to go somewhere that was already warm (we went there in May), by the sea, and nice and relaxing. Since we had wanted to go to Ibiza the year before, but ended up postponing it, the choice was easily made.
We booked a 6 nights-stay at the Torre del Mar (find it here), a lovely hotel situated in the southeast of the island. If you go to Ibiza to party, this isn’t the right side of the island for you. You would probably want to go to Sant Antoni de Portmany, located on the west coast. But for us old folk, the southeast was absolutely perfect. Our hotel was really close to the old town of Ibiza, which is absolutely worth a visit! Wear comfy shoes though, as the winding cobblestone streets are quite steep.
It is absolutely worth the effort to walk up there, as the houses and streets are beautiful and the view over the city and ocean stunning. There are also a lot of cute little restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as lovely boutiques.
Another thing worth doing is hiking along the coastline of Ibiza. We started in Es Figural, where we were supposed to go kayaking. Because of the bad weather and accordingly rough sea, that sadly wasn’t possible. Instead, we decided to go on a little walk. And since the weather kept getting better and better, we kept walking. It ended up being a 19 kilometer long “little walk”. We did not regret a single minute of it. The terrain was super easy to walk on (we both wore Birkenstock sandals, not ideal), and the view spectacular. There are a lot of Calas (beaches) along the way, where you can take a break and get some refreshments. We had lunch at Aiyanna, which is a 10/10 do recommend. It is located right by the beach, which amazing food and even more amazing views over the ocean.
If you want to do the same tour we did, you can find it here.
We also took a day trip to Formentera, another island connected to Ibiza by ferry. Formentera is also dubbed “the Caribbean of Europe” for it’s white beaches and chrystal clear blue water (see pictures below). It’s absolutely perfect for a day of relaxing on the beach, as the beaches of Ibiza aren’t always sandy and definitely not as beautiful. The city centre of Formentera is just as lovely, with little shops, restaurants and boutiques. Unfortunately, we went on a Sunday, so everything (except restaurants) was closed. Another thing to consider: many places take a siesta in the middle of the day, so make sure the place is open before you go.
Another must-do in Ibiza: the Hippie Market in Punta Arabí. It’s an enormous flea market, with everything from clothing and jewelry, art and pottery on offer. We didn’t luck out weather-wise once again: just when we got there, the heavens opened. I don’t think I have ever experienced rain like this. Unfortunately that meant no looking around the stands, we would have been soaked in seconds. We did manage to buy a painting though, which now reminds us of the beautiful old town of Ibiza, as well as the “troubles” we went through to get it.
2. Cassis & Les Calanques de Marseille
I think this was my favorite trip of all this year. For two reasons: 1) because it was a surprise, perfectly planned and executed by my boyfriend without me knowing, and 2) because of it’s magnificent beauty. We stayed at the InterContinental Hotel in Marseille (find it here), which is without a doubt the most spectacular hotel I have ever stayed at. It is this grand, 18th century, former hospital building, that has been renovated beautifully. Marseille itself is already worth a trip. The entire city has been “rebuild” a few years ago, as it was one of the cultural capitals in 2013. Even more beautiful is Cassis, which is about an hours bus ride from Marseille. If you want to take the bus, go early, as there are only two buses in the morning. And if all of the seats are taken, you’re not getting on.
If you manage to get to Cassis, you’ll find the cutest little fisherman’s town. All around the harbor, there are cafés and restaurants, as well as a public beach. And once again: the city centre offers a lot of independent shops and boutiques.
From Cassis Harbor, we started our hike west-bound, to the Parc national des Calanques. There are a lot of different routes you can take, and not all of them are easy access. Make sure you know roughly where you want to go, wear hiking shoes (or trainers like us), and bring at least 2 liters of water per person. Because the beaches can only be accessed by foot, there is literally nowhere to buy food or drinks. Your efforts will be rewarded: with beautiful nature and breathtaking views. I’m not exaggerating if I say I stopped every 20 meters to take pictures or marvel at this earths beauty. Be warned however: if you are afraid of heights or steep cliffs, this might not be the best hike for you. There are a lot of options though, you are likely going to find a route that suits you.
3. Copenhagen
Number 3 out of the 5 best travel destinations I went to this year can only be described in one word: hygge. If you have been to Denmark, you will probably know what it means. The feeling of “hygge” is easily experienced, but hard to explain. Hygge is when you’re bundled up on the sofa with your spouse, candles lit, hot beverage, favorite movie playing, and a storm roaring outside. It is a way of life. And, according to Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, it is the reason Danes are the happiest people on the planet.
Copenhagen itself is a beautiful city, especially Nyhavn (see pictures below). It’s a nice place to sit and eat Smørrebrød, a very typical danish lunch. Nyhavn is also famous for it’s colorful houses (very instagram-able). My favorite thing about Copenhagen however wasn’t the architecture, but rather the bakeries. Another reason why Danes are the happiest people: they eat a lot more sweets per capita than any other nation. And they know what they’re doing. So whatever you do, find yourself a bakery first. And don’t even try to limit yourself to just one baked good. It won’t work anyway.
When in Copenhagen, a trip to the Tivoli (click here) is a must. The Tivoli is an amusement park – right in the centre of Copenhagen. And it is such a whimsical place: lovely buildings, lots of flowers, and fun rides. There are a few different ticket options to choose from: access only, or entrance + (unlimited) rides. Even if you’re not into rollercoasters, just walking through the park is worth the entrance fee (145 DKK/20 €). There’s different themes every season. When we where there, it was a flower show, right now, there’s a Christmas theme (duh).
4. Münchner Oktoberfest
For the first time in my life, I went to the Oktoberfest in Munich this year. I have lived in Germany (almost) all my life, and have been to Munich a number of times, but have never made it to the Oktoberfest. And oh my goodness, what a wonderful time I have had! To make the most of your trip to Germany’s most famous fair, be sure to book yourself a table in one of the marquees. We went the weekend before it closed, and it was absolutely packed. And since it was raining pretty badly (I don’t appear to have been particularly lucky with the weather), everybody wanted to get into one of the marquees.
Not quite as famous, but highly recommendable is the Viktualienmarkt in the old town. The market offers everything from fresh produce, to fish from the northern sea, and even little bits of art. And of course, there are a lot of places to eat or drink.
The place I love most in Munich however is Dallmayr, where you can buy all sorts of delicatessen, chocolates and alcohols. The best thing, however, is the service/customer experience. It is the only place I have ever been to, where the staff actually help you find what you are looking for. And you get to try so many things beforehand, without any of the pressure to buy it after. What a glorious time it must have been, when this was the norm…
5. Paris
The last thing on my favorites list of this year is my most recent trip to Paris. I have dedicated a whole blogpost to it already, you can read it here. However, because it was such a lovely experience, I have to mention it again. The city has stolen my heart. I want to go back there for every season and see how the city changes. Also, two trips to France in one year has inspired me to learn a bit more French again. Don’t ask me how it’s going though (not great).
There you have it, my top five travel destinations of 2022. I hope this might inspire a future trip or two for any of you reading this. Also, please let me know any places you would recommend traveling to, as I am already thinking of my travel bucket list of 2023. There might be a blogpost coming about that as well…
For now, thank you so much for reading this rather long post!
Lots of Love,
Lena
Disclaimer: this blogpost is not sponsored.
Tolle Fotos 🥰🛶✈️ 🧳