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Summits & Sun 🌎 Europe Travel & Lifestyle

@summitsandsun

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📍American in Europe
✍🏼 Helping you plan your next European getaway
🌎European itineraries, stays, adventures & everyday
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📍Walhalla 🏛️ Modeled after the Parthenon, Walhalla is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular buildings I’ve seen in Germany. Perched high above the Danube, this is Germany’s Hall of Fame. ✨ European travel & lifestyle, with a little inspiration for your next escape 🏔️🌊 @summitsandsun by @summitsandsun
Can’t miss London bookstores! I have been a bibliophile as long as I can remember. I used to wake up early to read on Saturday mornings! Based on my lifelong book obsession, I am always on the hunt for the best bookstores in a new city. While I certainly have not visited every bookstore in London, I have visited a lot! Right now, these are my London bookstore awards—the London bookstores you cannot miss. 📍Best overall: Daunt Books Marylebone While there are multiple locations across the city, the Marleybone location is the one I recommend. It is stunning yet cozy, dripping with old world charm and romance. I could spend hours here. 📍 Best crime & classics collection: Foyles Five stories of books! Foyles has everything. In my opinion, they have the largest selection of crime and classic literature—my 2 favorite genres. Books are stacked charmingly throughout the store. Classic titles are available in multiple covers, which is SO FUN. My husband referred to Foyles as “the Fox books” of London, and it’s kind of true. 📍Best children’s collection: Marchpane Marchpane is small, located on Cecil Court with other independent bookstores. Although small, it is packed with childhood classics from floor to ceiling. In addition to having books you would want to buy for your kids to read on the plane ride home, they also carry first editions and rare productions of the treasured books from your childhood. 📍 Best history collection: Hatchard’s The oldest bookstore in the UK also contains the largest history collection I have ever seen. Separated into countries, wars, and periods of history, I could have spent hours and my whole life savings in this cozy spot. 📲 Follow along @summitsandsun for weekly European travel tips & inspiration from an American living in Europe, traveling every chance she gets! 🏔️🌊 by @summitsandsun
Welcome to My Life in Bavaria — Part 3. A series about, you guessed it, my life as an American figuring out life in Bavaria. Follow or save to see Part 4. One of the things I love most about living in the European countryside is how connected people and activities are to the land. There is something ridiculously romantic about bypassing supermarkets and buying raw honey, fresh farm milk, and homemade goods straight from the bakers and farmers who made them. Quality, tradition, and local ingredients are still quietly celebrated every single day in the Bavarian countryside, and I love it.🪵🐝🌾 Would you stop here on a morning walk? ☕️👇 by @summitsandsun
Tucked into the Bavarian Alps, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the perfect mix of alpine scenery, traditional Bavarian charm, & outdoor adventure. Send this to someone you want to explore Germany with! Here are 5 of my favorite things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: ✨Explore Partnachklamm — Walk through the dramatic Partnach Gorge, where clear water rushes between towering rock walls. ✨ Visit the Zugspitze — Take the cable car or cogwheel train up Germany’s highest mountain for stunning panoramic views. ✨ Wander through the historic old town — Admire traditional Bavarian buildings, colorful frescoes, and charming streets. Be sure to try some traditional Bavarian food! ✨ Hike Eibsee — Discover one of Germany’s most beautiful lakes, with vibrant turquoise water unforgettable mountain reflections, & a pretty easy stroll around the lake. The restaurant onsite has delicious schnitzel & salads. ✨ Take in the views from an alpine hut — Ride the cable car or hike up to a mountain hut for sweeping views of the Alps & a slice of kuchen. 📍 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany Save this for your next trip to the Bavarian Alps! Follow @summitsandsun for European travel inspiration, scenic hikes, and destinations worth adding to your itinerary. 🏔️🌊 by @summitsandsun
THE EDIT - NO. 7 What is it really like to live in Europe as an American? Here’s my answer from this past week. A curated list of places, locations, & activities that show what it’s really like to live as an expat in Europe. 1️⃣ Bastei Bridge. A bucket list item for me in Germany. And those fall colors?! Wow!! 2️⃣ Medieval castle. On a random Thursday afternoon stroll. 3️⃣ Kirnitzschtalbahn. A vintage tram that takes you through Switzerland Saxony National Park. With the foliage, an absolute dream. 4️⃣ My first movie in Germany. An experience for sure. Story coming soon. 5️⃣ Soljanka. Is this my new favorite soup?!? Does anyone have a good recipe? ✨Follow along @summitsandsun for Europe travel, itineraries, inspiration, & glimpses into daily life on the continent. by @summitsandsun
📍Partnachklamm, Bavarian Alps, Garmisch-Partenkirchen. One of the best hikes, and one of my personal favorites, in Bavaria 🇩🇪⛰️ If you’re up for a bit more, the hike from Partnachklamm to Eckbauer in Garmisch-Partenkirchen combines gorge (klamm) views, alpine trails, and sweeping views of the Bavarian Alps. 📍 Save this hike for your next trip to Bavaria & follow @summitsandsun for European hikes, itineraries, & local finds. by @summitsandsun
6 things I would absolutely do again if I was planning my Florence itinerary. 🇮🇹 Wait for the end for the best gelato I’ve had in Italy. • Piazzale Michelangelo — go an hour before the sun sets for a good spot and watch the most beautiful city sunset I’ve seen in Europe. • Uffizi Gallery — wander through centuries of Renaissance masterpieces. • Duomo — iconic & show-stopping. Don’t skip this. • Guided Walking tour — Florence is a great place to do a structured walking tour because it is truly a living museum. Use @ricksteveseurope free app or pay a local guide. 
• Galleria dell’Accademia — stand before Michelangelo’s David. It is actually overwhelming. 
• Gelateria dei Neri — the best gelato I’ve had in Italy. Seriously. Save this for your next Florentine escape. 🤍 Follow along for the places worth lingering over, the experiences worth seeking out, and the European itineraries worth saving. @summitsandsun 🏔️🌊 by @summitsandsun
A side of Switzerland I didn’t know existed.🇨🇭 The Verzasca River in Ticino is known for its clear, emerald-green water. Surrounded by sculpted granite rocks and dramatic Alpine scenery, it winds through the Verzasca Valley, passing traditional stone villages and the iconic Ponte dei Salti bridge in Lavertezzo. Beautiful to look at, deceivingly cold, and potentially dangerous due to strong currents. If you fancy a swim, make sure to check the water conditions. Save this corner of Switzerland for your next trip. 📍 Verzasca River, Ticino, Switzerland by @summitsandsun
The hidden side of Switzerland you didn’t know you needed on your itinerary. 🇨🇭 📍Ticino, Switzerland Characterized by turquoise rivers, cascading waterfalls, centuries-old stone villages, and Italian-inspired charm. This corner of the Swiss Alps feels like another world. If you’re planning a trip to the Ticino Canton, here are the places and experiences we prioritized and would gladly recommend: 📍 Cascata La Froda — a spectacular waterfall tucked into the mountains near Sonogno. A great place to see traditional architecture, farm life, & read a good book. 📍 Ponte dei Salti, Lavertezzo — the iconic double-arched stone bridge spanning the crystal-clear Verzasca River. There’s a cafe nearby if you’d like to sip a cappuccino and sit on a rock. This is a wonderful spot to gaze into the most crystal clear water I’ve ever seen in the mountains. 📍 BoBosco Trail — a unique woodland adventure along the Verzasca Valley, featuring wooden marble-run installations along the trail. Buy a wooden marble at Coop, cafes, or vending machines throughout town. 📍 Explore Sonogno — wander the cobblestone streets of this traditional Swiss village, surrounded by dramatic alpine scenery. It’s so charming that I convinced myself it was a tourist trap. It’s not. 📍 Antique stores & secondhand shops — spend an afternoon treasure hunting for vintage finds and unique pieces. Most stores accept both euros & francs. I would recommend carrying cash. 📍 Sunday markets — browse local stalls, discover regional specialties, and experience the slower pace of village life. Ticino is proof that there’s so much more to Switzerland than the destinations everyone already knows. Save this for your next Switzerland trip, and follow @summitsandsun for more hidden gems, scenic hikes, and European travel itineraries. 🏔️🌊 Which of these would you visit first? #Ticino #VerzascaValley #SwitzerlandHiddenGems #SwitzerlandTravel #SwissAlps by @summitsandsun
📍Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Italy. Winter on the Italian coast. by @summitsandsun
If you’re planning an Italy trip outside peak season, Puglia deserves a spot on your itinerary. My husband and I visited for 10 days this past January, and while the weather wasn’t ideal, it was still an incredible trip! ✨ Why visit in winter? Fewer crowds, a more relaxed atmosphere, and the chance to experience southern Italy at a slower pace. Just keep in mind that some seasonal businesses may have reduced hours. Save this for your next winter trip to Italy! Follow @summitsandsun for more European travel inspiration, itineraries, and local finds. 🏔️🌊 by @summitsandsun
Steal my 1 day itinerary for Polignano a Mare, Puglia, Italy. ✨Morning: Explore old town. Look for poetry hidden throughout town & get lost in whitewashed mazes & panoramic views of the sea. ✨Late morning: Take a boat tour of the sea caves. ✨Lunch: Frumè Focacceria. ✨Afternoon: Visit Lama Monachile. After spending some time near the water, cross the Ponte Borbonico above Lama Monachile, and walk along the seafront to the Domenico Modugno statue. Be sure to climb down the “Volare” stairs for my favorite view of Polignano. ✨Evening: Have a caffè speciale or aperitivo while watching the sunset. Eat at Ristorante Antiche Mura. 📲 For weekly European travel tips and inspiration, follow @summitsandsun. Let’s explore Europe, one trip at a time. 🏔️🌊 ✍🏼 THE EDIT: If you’re up for more walking, stroll the length of the Lungomare Domenico Modugno. While not necessary because you’ll already be awash with beautiful views, walking the Lungomare Domenico Modugno at sunset was one of my favorite activities in all of Puglia. by @summitsandsun

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