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Zsa | Solo + Mid Range Travel

@postcardsfromzsa

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🧳 Solo & mid-range travel in my 20s around my 9-5
✈️ Guides + tips for slow, intentional trips
🌵 az based
💌 [email protected]

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Allow me to re-introduce myself, my name is Zsa 💌 I’m a 9-5, type-A personality, girl who loves to travel while trying to balance that with a manageable travel budget and limited PTO. I also don’t have a car, so most of my tips/guides have car-free travel in mind utilizing public transportation 🚌

With these limitations, I’ve learnt how to make every trip count and can oftentimes be found deep diving into each destination before I go to learn all I can about the history, food, architecture, transportation systems, and hidden gems, which I now get to share with you!

Planning shouldn’t just the precursor to the adventure, it should be a part of it!

When I’m not traveling (which is most of the year), you can find me: planning my next trip, virtually exploring places, researching travel destinations, and exploring Arizona more locally from national parks to cute cafes!

Outside of travel I love:
✈️ planespotting,
💬 learning new languages (currently learning Swedish)
🛋️ interior design
🥐 baking/trying new recipes
📸 photography
☕️ iced coffee (no matter what time of year)
📚 reading
🧶 arts & crafts
🎮 video games
🍁 autumn
🧩 puzzles

What do we have in common? Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments below! 👇🏼
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#solotravel #2026travel #solotraveldiaries #travelcreator #explorepage #introducingme travel hacks, introduction post, solo female travel, travel blogger, travel creator, explore page, explore page ready, introducing me, content creator by @postcardsfromzsa

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9 months ago

I fear I’m a little behind on posting from my previous trips, I find myself with endless ideas and a Notion planner that has over a year’s worth of content planned, but never enough time to draft them all around the 9-5 😅 fellow 9-5 travelers, how do you do it?!

What trip do you want to see more of next? Let me know! (More options in the pinned comment!) by @postcardsfromzsa

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18 days ago

Every October, Gröna Lund in Stockholm transforms into one of Scandinavia’s biggest Halloween events. Having originally kicked off in 2017, the event’s grown fast, adding new haunted houses and attractions every year.

With horror parades, upgraded haunted houses, lasers and fire shows, it’s the perfect place to get into the Halloween spirit.

A few things to know before you go:

🎟️ The Ride Pass gives you access to unlimited rides

📅 The Halloween theme runs through October 9th through November 8th, 2026

🌙 Go after dark! With Stockholm’s early fall sunset (around 5pm), it makes the atmosphere feel completely different

🍁 Even non-horror fans can enjoy with plenty of cozy fall decor if haunted houses aren’t your thing

What would be the first part of Gröna Lund’s Halloween you would check out?

follow @postcardsfromzsa for more travel guides, tips + expeirences
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#amusementparks #visitstockholm #spookyseason taken in Stockholm, Sweden by @postcardsfromzsa

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25 days ago

Sitting on three small islands in a lake in Hillerød, about 40 minutes north of Copenhagen, Frederiksborg is the largest Renaissance castle in all of Scandinavia and features red brick towers, copper spires, perfectly manicured Baroque gardens on the mainland behind it.

In 1859, a fire broke out while King Frederik VII was in residence, spreading rapidly and destroying most of the interior within hours with only the Castle Chapel and the Audience Hall surviving largely untouched. Rather than let it sit as a ruin, Carlsberg founder J.C. Jacobsen led the restoration and temporarily turned it into Denmark’s Museum of Natural History, financing the rebuilding himself.

The Chapel, which the fire largely spared, contains the Compenius organ built in 1610 with 1,001 original wooden pipes and manually driven bellows, making it the oldest functioning organ in Denmark.

What you need to know before you go:

🚂 Take the S-Train Line A from Copenhagen Central or Østerport station to Hillerød Station, about 40 minutes, then walk 10-15 minutes to the castle entrance

🎟️ Children under 18 enter for free, while an adult ticket costs 125 DKK (~$19 and might honestly be one of the best priced attractions in the Copenhagen area!)

🕰️ Plan at least half a day if not a full day as the castle itself is massive and you could honestly spend just half a day exploring the surrounding gardens

📍 Frederiksborg Slot 10, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark

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#visitdenmark #frederiksborgslot #castlesofeurope #travelscandinavia taken in Frederiksberg Slot, Hillerød by @postcardsfromzsa

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3 months ago

The Black Diamond, known as Den Sorte Diamant, is the modern extension of the Royal Danish Library and is prominent on the Copenhagen harbour-front with black polished granite and glass that angles outward over the harbour, reflecting the water and sky in a way that changes depending on the time of day and the weather above it.

When you walk through the doors, the central atrium rises the full height of the building, flooded with natural light that pours in through an enormous skylight and a slanted glass facade facing the water. A footbridge crosses the atrium at upper levels, and the scale of it, the light, the geometry, and the hum of the building is something everyone, not just architects, can appreciate.

The library itself holds national treasures including rare manuscripts, maps, and the national photography collection, and rotating exhibitions that are open to the public throughout the year. There is a waterfront restaurant on the ground floor with harbour views, and a cafe if you simply want to sit, and slow down.

What you need to know before you go:

🆓 Entry to the atrium, cafe, and many of the permanent spaces is completely free

🕰️ The library is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm

🗺️ It sits directly on Søren Kirkegaards Plads along the harbour, a short walk from Christiansborg Palace and easily combined with an afternoon along the waterfront, or the perfect rainy day activity

📍 Søren Kirkegaards Plads 1, 1221 København, Denmark

follow @postcardsfromzsa for more travel guides, tips + experiences
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#visitcopenhagen #blackdiamond #publiclibrary taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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2 months ago

Right next to Copenhagen’s Central Station sits one of the oldest amuseumt parks in the world. Tivoli, the vision of a Danish army officer, Georg Carstensen, opened its gates in August 1843, after King Christian VIII granted him the land.

Hans Christian Andersen was a regular visitor and was even said to have been inspired by the amusement park to write his fairy tale “The Nightingale” Walt Disney also visited in 1951 and left with the ideas of themed zones, illuminated pathways and live entertainment that would later shape Disneyland.

Today, Tivoli’s wooden roller coaster from 1914 is still running, making it one of the oldest wooden coasters in operation anywhere in the world.

A few things to know before you go:

🎟️ Entry and rides are ticket separately. While the Copenhagen Card covers entry, if you want to go on the rides you can either pay per ride, or purchase a Ride Pass which covers unlimited rides.

🎄Tivoli transforms seasonally with Halloween in the autumn, Christmas in the winter, and Easter in the spring

🎶Look out for the free concerts in the summer along with a free fireworks show every Saturday night!

📍 Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V, Denmark

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#visitcopenhagen #tivoli #tivoligardens taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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2 months ago

On the islet of Slotsholmen sits a building with over 800 years of history behind it, and a claim no other building in the world can make. Christiansborg is the only palace on Earth that houses all three branches of a country’s government: the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Supreme Court, all under one roof.

The site dates back to 1167, when Bishop Absalon built the very first fortress here, which also was considered the founding stone of Copenhagen itself. Since then, the palace has burned down twice, in 1794 and 1884, and been rebuilt three times, with the current version finished in 1928.

A few things to know before you go:

🎟️ A combined ticket covers the Royal Reception Rooms, Royal Ruins, and Royal Stables and is 215 DKK for adults (~$31) and 140 DKK (~$21) for students. Children under 18 and those with the Copenhagen Card get in for free.

🕰️ The palace is open daily from 10am to 5pm between May and September, with reduced hours and Monday closures from October through April. Plan for 2-3 hours minimum.

🆓 The 106-meter tower (the tallest in Copenhagen) is completely free to ascend

🕳️ Underground, you can walk through the medieval ruins of Absalon’s original castle

🧵 Don’t miss the Great Hall’s tapestries, depicting 1,000 years of Danish history in vivid color

🐎 The Royal Stables houses the royal horses and still keep historic carriages on display

📍Prins Jørgens Gård 5, 1218 København, Denmark

Free tower views or the underground ruins, which one would you start with? 👇

follow @postcardsfromzsa for more travel guides, tips + experiences
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#visitcopenhagen #castlesofeurope #scandinaviatravel taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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2 months ago

The best way to understand Copenhagen by neighborhoods is to eat your way though it one bakery at a time 🥐

Buka is one of Copenhagen’s most famous bakeries and for good reason. The pastries are next level and a rotating seasonal menu means you can always find something new depending on when you visit.

My order: Raspberry Marscapone Spandeaur + an iced latte

Atelier September in Indre By is the most central, and a widely photographed cafe, with high-ceilinged white walls that create a calming atmosphere to start your day. You should definitely try the morning plate, but make sure to get there early/not long after they open at 7:30am since seating is limited and it’s a popular spot in Copenhagen.

My order: “morning plate” (comté, sourdough, egg, butter & jam) + an iced latte

Hart Bageri is oftentimes mentioned along with Noma because the founder ran the bread program there before opening this bakery. You can’t go wrong with anything you order, and if you visit the Holmen location, make sure to pair it with a visit to the Operaparken.

My order: elderflower + chocolate strawberry tart, tebirkes + an iced latte

Lille Bakery sits near Reffen, which means a pastry here followed by a stroll along Chrsitianshavns Vold (the former ramparts) can be one of the best ways to start your day in Copenhagen. Their menu changes everyday, making it the perfect excuse to make multiple visits!

My order: rhubarb cake + an iced latte

Sankt Peders Bageri is tucked away in the Latin Quarter, a short walk away from Nørreport Station, and is known as the oldest bakery in Copenhagen. You have to go on a Wednseday to get one of their famous kanelsnegle, large cinnamon rolls that regularly sell out by mid-morning (even when I got there when they opened at 7:30am there was already a line!) Pair it with a walk in Ørstedparken to complete your morning!

My order: raspberry spandeaur, kanelsnegle + an iced latte

Juno the Bakery in Østerbro is widely known for the kardemommesnurr, a tightly wound cardamom bun that’s built its own following and for good reason. It’s an easy bike ride northeast from the city center through a residential neighborhood that makes you forget about the hustle taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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2 months ago

The first Gasoline Grill opened in April 2016 inside the former shop of a working gas station near Kongens Nytorv in central Copenhagen, and just this year it’s been ranked among the Top 5 best burger restaurants in the world.

The original location has outdoor seating and does take pre-orders through their app, which is worth downloading if you want to skip the line. They open daily at 11am and serve until they’re sold out, so arriving early is sometimes the right move.

Pro tip: If seating is limited, take your burger over to Kongens Have, a short walk down the street so you can have a picnic in the gardens with Rosenborg Castle as your backdrop.

📍 Landgreven 10, 1301 København K, København, Denmark

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#visitcopenhagen #copenhagenfood #gasolinegrill taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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3 months ago

Stepping into the church from the Shrek movie wasn’t initially on my list, but I’m so glad I went. Tucked into the quiet residential neighborhood of Bispebjerg, about 20 minutes from the city center sits Grundtvig’s Church.

In 1913, architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint won a public competition to build a church honoring N.R.S. Grundtvig, a well known Danish philosopher, poet, and hymn writer. The winning design fused traditional Danish village church motifs with Brick Expressionism and elements of Scandinavian Gothic. More than 6 million yellow bricks were used to create the building’s minimalist look, paired with a soaring facade that resembles the shape of a church organ. The church was finally completed on September 8, 1940, coincidentally Grundtvig’s birthday.

A few things to know before you go:

🧱Entry is completely free and open to visitors year round. The church is mostly open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 3:45pm, with reduced hours Sunday from 12:30-3:45pm.

🚌 Bus lines 6A and 4A stop nearby, but it’s also quite easy to bike from center city

📸 For optimal photos, visit first thing to minimize the crowds and catch the sunlight streaming though the high windows and illuminating the yellow brick vaulted ceilings

Save this for your Copenhagen trip, it’s worth the detour.

📍 På Bjerget 14B, 2400 København, Denmark

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#visitcopenhagen #hiddengems #grundtvigskirke #grundtvigschurch taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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3 months ago

Right next to the Royal Danish Opera sits one of Copenhagen’s newest green spaces. The site on Dokøen (Dock Island) was an active 18th-century trade hub where ships from around the world delivered cargo to Europe, making it one of the most international spots in the region. For nearly 20 years after the Opera House opened, the site sat untouched as a plain grassy lawn until the Danish studio Cobe was commissioned to redesign the space in 2019, with the park opening to the public in late 2023.

The park itself is divided into 6 gardens representing different regions of the world, from oak forest to a subtropical greenhouse, paying homage to the international ships that once docked here. The whole thing sits atop an underground parking garage for up to 300 cars, connected to the Opera via a covered walkway.

A few things to know before you go:

🆓 Free to enter, open year-round

⛴️ To get there, you can ride a bike or walk from Nyhavn, or catch the harbor bus, which is an approach all of its own

☕ Grab a coffee at the greenhouse café

🌸 Each season looks completely different, so it’s worth a repeat visit

🚶 Easy add-on if you’re already heading to the Opera House or Papirøen

follow @postcardsfromzsa for more travel guides, tips + experiences
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#visitcopenhagen #copenhagenoperahouse #operaparken taken in København, Danmark by @postcardsfromzsa

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3 months ago

A mini-guide on an excursion out of Copenhagen 🇩🇰➡️

I started my day at Juno the Bakery in Østerbro without too much of an agenda for the day other than following the coastline north out of the city and had one of the best cardamom buns (I’d strongly recommend getting there early!!) 🦚

The first real stop along my route was Charlottenlund Castle, which sits just off the coastal path and offers free grounds to walk around while the building itself is a royal residence that dates back ot the early 1700s. I arrived just before noon, locked my bike since there’s no cycling on the grounds and wandered around the gardens for a bit before continuing north.

The ride from Juno to Klampenborg takes roughly 30 minutes by bike and runs almost entirely along the water. Without any major hills, protected bike lanes and few intersections, it was one of the easiest rides I went on and was completely taken aback when the open stretch of coast appeared and ended up stopping more than once to take in the water 🌊

I ended up finding possibly my new favorite brunch spot when I stopped at Wulff & Konstali at the Bellevue location, where you can pick 5-7 items off the menu to build-your-own-brunch. The restaurant also sits close enough to the beach that you can take in the water while eating 🥐

Dyrehavn was the last stop, reached by mid-afternoon, which turned out to be a perfect time to find the deer moving through the open fields near Eremitage Slot 🦌

Dyrehavn is a UNESCO-listed royal hunting ground covering over 2,500 acres of ancient woodland and open meadow, and it’s completely free to enter. The deer aren’t guaranteed but they also aren’t rare, and cycling through the trees rather than arriving by train gives you flexibility to explore as you wish.

The ride back to the city follows the same coastal path south and takes about 35 minutes depending on how many times you stop.

follow @postcardsfromzsa for more travel guides, tips + experiences
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#copenhagen #klampenborg #visitcopenhagen #slowtravel taken in Klampenborg by @postcardsfromzsa

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2 months ago