Written by women on the road

NomadHer is the #1 application for female globetrotters encouraging safe solo travel. Our mission is “Empowering Women Through Travel”.

NomadHer opens an illustration competition for the official poster of the globetrotter festival 2022. This Oct, the Globetrotter festival for women travelers will be held in Seoul, Paris, San Francisco, and New York. It is the opportunity to show your illustration all over the world. Over 15,000 women travelers from 178 countries in the community are waiting to see your great work now.

🌸 Competition theme

Subject: “She can travel anywhere”

NomadHer Illustration Competition 2022 invites all female illustrators who verify as NomadHer. Draw your illustration to encourage women travelers to start their trip with confidence and give inspiration.

🌸 Competition calendar

• Call for Submissions: Tuesday, Aug 30, 2022
• Entry Deadline: Sunday, Sep 25, 2022 (Paris local time)
• Vote for winners: Monday, Sep 26 ~ Thu, Sep 29, 2022 (4 days, Paris local time)
• On the NomadHer app, the votes will proceed for 2 days for each round(First round and final)
• Announcement for winners: Friday, 30 Sep 2022
  

🌸Prizes

👑1st Prize (1) : $500

👑2nd Prize (1) : $300

👑3rd Prize (1) : $200

• The first winner’s illustration will be an official poster for NomadHer globetrotter festival 2022 in Seoul, Paris, San Francisco, and New York. and can be used as an app splash screen that all people who open the app to see in the first place(all winners one)
• To winners, the NomadHer team will contact them directly to receive the illustration file, and please keep in mind that the size and type of illustration can be requested to edit if it is needed after submitting the file. When you apply for this competition, we consider you agree with this. NomadHer team can contact and request the below 4 sizes of images later only to winners. : 375 × 812 / 750 × 1624 / 1125 × 2436 /1920 x 1080 (.png file)

🌸How to apply

✅ NomadHer Illustration Competition 2022 is open to all female illustrators who verify as a NomadHer. So if you download the NomadHer app and get verified, anyone can apply.

✅ This competition is to select an official poster for the NomadHer globetrotter festival. So feel free to use our brand colors when creating your illustration.

8 Brand colors of NomadHer

• Nomad Green : #169483

• Deep forest Green : #114440

• Sunset Red : #F97E87

• Sandstone : #FFF8F3

• Nomad Green Light : #99DED4

• Sunset Red Deep : #75394A

• Sunset Red Light : #F4BDC1

• Sunset Red Extra Light : #FAE4EB

✅ Fill out the Typeform link (https://form.typeform.com/to/mKObpmZ3) and submit your 1 illustration.

🌸 Criteria for selection

• The winners will be decided by a vote of women travelers on the NomadHer app.
• How to get more votes to win?

• After submitting your illustration through Typeform, we advise you to share your illustration with the behind story on the app like the winners of last year. It will be a good way to appeal to people.

• Get a chance to feature your illustration on NomadHer’s Instagram story. Upload your illustration on your Instagram with the mention @nomad_her and the tag #nomadher #nomadherillustrationcompetition #shecantravelanywhere.

• Show the vibe of “She can travel anywhere”  to encourage women travelers to start their trip with confidence.

🌸 About copyright

When illustrators receive a reward from NomadHer for their illustration work, it regards as NomadHer having copyright for the illustration. Therefore NomadHer use, remake the illustration as uploading its social network service, homepage, application, guidebook, press release, goods, poster, and other material related to NomadHer’s future business The illustration should be original content and the submitted one is not returned. Submitted illustrations don’t violate others’ copyright. After being rewarded, if a legal issue occurs, the illustrator is legally responsible. the person who submits their illustration is regarded as agreeing with this. According to an illustration that is not selected, we will discard it. If you have more questions, please contact to NomadHer Team, at aloha@nomadher.com‍

In June 2021, I got my driver's license, and a month after I got a car, a little Peugeot 206 all red. As soon as my new car was in my pocket, I had only one idea in my head: To go on the road with it!

So I decided to get it done! With the help of videos on Youtube and my imagination, I started a little notebook where I wrote down what I needed and wanted that would fit in the space of my vehicle. My car being small, everything had to be thought out to be optimized as much as possible.

Once the calculations were done, it was time to move on to the construction! For that, I salvaged or bought some wooden boards, and hey presto, it was on! I made a few mistakes and had to tweak my cutouts by hand but I finally got it just the way I imagined it.

✳️ To start the first van trip in earnest

Within a week it was ready to go on a van trip and I was off on an adventure, by the Atlantic Ocean! Not too far from my home, in a place where I used to go, just to test my layout and to be able to go back more easily if something went wrong. This first week allowed me to see what was and wasn't right, what I needed to revise or redo (my shutters for example), what I needed to provide more of (water supplies for wild places), or what I could get rid of (I had taken way too many clothes).

✳️ New experiences with traveling with my van

1.  I can discover new experiences every time during the van trip

Once the adjustments were made, I was off on my adventure again, in the city or in more remote places, for two days or ten, in winter or summer, with sun or rain, the main thing being to go. I discovered new places, went to places I knew by heart, and slept in forests and commercial parking lots. I went to the beach, I went hiking, I went to concerts and on top of that, I admired lots of sunsets and starry skies.

2.  Solo road trip makes me independent

I met all kinds of people along the way, especially curious people wondering how my layout was made and how this 1m72 girl could fit in such a tiny car. By the way, many people told me I should be careful, going off alone, being a woman, but I tried to listen to their words as little as possible so as not to parasitize my motivation. I once had a bad encounter (a man hovering around my car in the late afternoon but I sent him packing and that was it). And on the contrary, going alone has strengthened me and made me want to travel alone even more. There is nothing stopping me anymore!

3. I love the fact that I can travel anywhere and anytime.

What I like most of all with this kind of adventure is that I feel really free (if we put aside my addiction to gasoline and it's not a very eco-friendly aspect). I can go where I want and when I want, change places, stay there for several days or finally move 5 minutes after settling down! I'm like a turtle who moves quietly within his house. Plus, I don't have to answer to anyone since I organize myself as I wish and it's much cheaper than going to hostels or hotels. Of course, I don't have the comfort of a van or a camper, but simplicity and resourcefulness suit me just fine!

I haven't done any long road trips for various reasons, mainly financial and family, but I do plan on going on a long trip one day! Maybe with this car or maybe with another one, I'll see but going on an adventure for several months and/or in a country other than France tempts me a lot.

✳️ Tips to think about before starting your first solo van trip

▪ Water

Each time I go on a road trip, I take a 10L water reserve in order to be a minimum of autonomous if ever there is no drinking water point where I venture. I use this water for drinking but also for cooking and washing. Until now I was rather lucky because I always found water in free access! then my reserve was useful to me "in more" (for example the night when I have the laziness to go to the water point).

▪ Food

To cook, I stock up on food before leaving (not too much either because I don't have much room in the car or a fridge so I don't want it to spoil!). I also take a lot of starch (pasta or rice) because it's the easiest to store and it provides me with the most energy, perfect for hiking! For vegetables, I have fresh ones at the beginning of the road trip and then I eat canned vegetables. I have all kinds of seasoning (oils, spices, etc) so I eat with many different tastes, it avoids me to get bored even if I eat for several days a row the same vegetables.

▪ Stove

I use a stove that I bring with me with several gas bottles in reserve, it is used to make hot meals (but I make very few since I leave more often when it is hot, I feel more like a salad than soup!) or to make myself tea or hot chocolate for breakfast. And I am always careful when I light my stove to make sure that no sparks fly, especially when I am near shrubs or other trees, so as not to start a fire.

▪ Hygiene

Speaking of washing, let's talk about my hygiene!

Before my very first departure, I bought a portable shower: it's a kind of big bag that you fill with water and that has an opening tap.

The problem with the portable shower is that it has to be held up so that the water flows out. Except that all alone, it is not very practical. So I finally decided to simply take - a glove! Yes, the dish and laundry basin also serve as my sink (so three in one!). So since I can't always get water under pressure, I put water in the basin and wash with a glove, which is more than enough for a daily wash.

▪ Wash the dishes and clothes

As for the dishes, I have a basin and a Marseille soap, which I also use to wash my clothes! Yes, two in one. The advantage of leaving with few things is that the dishes and the laundry are quickly done. I always take enough clothes with me but I like to wash them as I go along so that I don't have too much dirty laundry accumulating.

▪ Wash hair

During van life, to wash my hair, I use solid shampoos without harmful products for the environment and I sprinkle my hair with water once (by tipping the basin on my head), then I lather my shampoo, and finally, I rinse using my basin again (hence my 10L water reserve).

▪ Take a shower

As a woman traveler, The most complicated issue for me is privacy during my shower. As my car is small, I can't get inside and wash away from any prying eyes. To remedy this, I always put myself close to vegetation and park precisely so that I can hide between it and the car. I usually wait until the evening or wash early in the morning, so that I don't run into anyone when I'm butt naked.

However, when I go in the summer, there is no problem washing next to my car in my bathing suit; everyone in the area is in their bathing suit! On the other hand, when the temperature is colder, not only I don't have hot water (I don't feel like heating it and I got used to cold water anyway, it dynams me!) but I don't feel like taking off my clothes to wash so I go faster than the summer to not be too cold for too long.

✳️ What else do I bring to the van trip

▪ Clothes & Books

Concerning the things to choose, I think it's very personal and very different depending on where I decide to go and for how long. In my case, I initially brought too many clothes and as I finally do my laundry as I go along, the following times I limited myself to only a few tops and bottoms. On the contrary, I decided to take more books at the following times because I don't use my phone or my computer too much during my trips and I like to read at night before going to sleep!

▪ Solar battery

By the way, to charge the batteries, I have a solar battery that I use for my cell phone and I charge it up fully before I leave. If ever it is empty, I recharge it while driving (I recharge it rather than my phone because it lasts longer!).

▪ Laptop converter

For my laptop, I had bought a converter to put on the cigarette lighter but it failed me very quickly.

▪ Camera

For my camera, I didn't have a solution to recharge the battery of my reflex because I need a plug on the mains. It was the biggest black spot of my trips. But I just changed my camera for a hybrid (which can be charged directly) so I could charge it like a phone with my solar battery.

What I love most of all is the journey of the road trip with a van and not the destination, so it doesn't matter where I put my luggage (well my car) as long as I discover new things along the way. I really recommend this way of traveling if you can, it's really fantastic because you take the time to discover what's on your way, and even close to your home you rediscover new things, while simply traveling with little.

Emma Couloudou is from France. She loves to travel around the world and meet people. She likes discovering new cultures and new ways of living. Also, she loves taking photos. Her trip will continue to Alexandria soon! Do you want to follow up on her next trip? Then find her in the NomadHer community. She is waiting for women travelers to share their travel stories and inspiration right now! You can connect to her through the NomadHer community now!

Alsace is a region on the Eastern side of France, on the Rhine river, at the border with Germany and Switzerland. In fact, the Alsatian dialect is very similar to Swiss German, although most Alsatians primarily speak French.

Alsace is mostly known because of its enchanting villages and for its wine routes. Anyway, during Christmas time, the magical atmosphere of the Alsatian little towns raises thanks to the colorful lights and creative decoration (like in the pictures below) and the lovely Christmas markets. For this reason, I decided to spend there a week of my Christmas holiday.

✳️ Transportation of Alsace

I stayed in Strasbourg the capital city of Alsace and from there I took public transportation to move around and visit other places.

It is important to plan transportation in advance because the area is not very well connected (which was different from what I expected). In fact, my plan was to visit three of the small villages around Strasbourg: Riquewihr, Eguisheim, and Ribeauvillé, but there were only a few buses per day leaving from Colmar going to these places, so I had to choose only one of them.

If you feel comfortable driving, my suggestion is to rent a car, since it is the easiest and fastest way to explore the area. If renting a car for yourself is too much considering your budget, It is one of the ways to find travel companions to travel through the NomadHer community.

✳️ What to see in Alsace

▪️In Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the capital city of Alsace and it’s famous to be one of the four main capitals of the European Union (along with Brussels, Luxembourg, and Frankfurt).

Its historical center is situated on an island of the Ill river (Grand Ile) which includes the most typical headquarter of the region, the so-called “Petite France” which is part of the UNESCO world heritage site.

The main attraction of the town is the majestic gothic Notre-Dame cathedral (in the picture beside). In the square of the cathedral, there is the Maison Kammerzell. Today, this building is a beautiful restaurant, but in the past, it was the house of a rich merchant. Its amazing façade dates back to the 14th century.

There are many interesting museums to visit, but the most popular is the Palais Rohan, which is a classical palace designed by Robert de Cotte in 1730 for the price-bishops of the town. The other three museums you could visit are The Museum of Fine Arts, The Archaeological Museum and The Museum of Decorative Arts.

I suggest taking a tour of the town by boat. It is very interesting and you will discover more about Strasbourg, thanks to the audio guides (in many languages). There are various tours by boat, so you may choose which one you prefer. To avoid long lines, it’s suggested to buy tickets online on the Batorama website, where you will also find more information. There is always a way to enjoy a new city like Explore Paris in an Outstanding Way.

At the end of the “Petite France” quarter, there are the Covered Bridges. Beyond its towers, there is the Vauban Dam which has a terrace where you can enjoy a nice view over the town. If you go during Christmas time, it is nice to walk around the streets in the evening and enjoy the special holiday atmosphere created by the markets and the Christmas lights.

▪️In Colmar

Colmar is one of the jewels of Alsace and one of the most beautiful towns in France. It is located less than 70 km south-southwest of Strasbourg, you can reach it in less than an hour by train.

Its most scenic and romantic quarter is called “Petite Venice”. Because of its intersection of channels. It extends from the Koïfhus to the bridges Turenne and Saint Pierre, which are wonderful spots to take photos.

The Koïfhus is situated in the Place de l’Alsacienne and is one of the most typical buildings of Colmar. In the past, it was a customs house. In the historical center, in Place de la Cathedral, there is the St Martin’s Collegiate which dates back to the 13th century and was built on the ruins of an ancient Romanic church.

The wonderful Rue Merciére, one of the best streets in town, is worth a visit: there are typical houses and shops and bourgeois houses, such as the famous “Maison de Tetes”, which is decorated with more than 100 heads, and the “Maison Pfister”.

In addition to Strasbourg and Colmar, I visited Riquewihr(photos below), a small Medieval village, with few inhabitants but it was listed as one of the most beautiful places in France.

This small town makes you feel like in a fairy tale because of its little houses with wooden roofs and colorful walls. In fact, rumors have it that Riquewihr was the inspiration for the village of “The Beauty and the Beast”. It is also one of the villages along the Alsace Wine Route and it is located 15 km northwest of Colmar.

Just a walk in Rue Charles de Gaulle (the main street) is a special experience, thanks to its colorful architecture. This rue leads to the Dolder, a term that in the Alsatian dialect means “the highest point” and is the name of a 25-meter tower built in pink sandstone from the Vosges. Today, its first three floors host the local Museum of Art and Popular Tradition.

Another attraction is the Palais du Pain d’Épice(photos below), a museum of gingerbread in Gertwiller, a very small town. The museum is very picturesque but the village is very isolated and doesn’t have restaurants or bars. It can be reached by train. It takes around 40 minutes if you get the direct one. The museum, which has also a shop, is decorated as it were in Hansel and Gretel’s tale. In the shop, you can find souvenirs and gingerbread products.

If you like wine in France, there is wine tasting in the houses of the village, you can ring and ask how it works. You can try the Gewurztraminer wine which is typical of the area. I would suggest going there if you have rented a car because it’s easier to move around. There are not many trains and in winter, waiting outside for the train you can feel cold.  

At the border with Alsace, there is the German town Freiburg im Breisgau, which is easy to reach by Flixbus. This town is considered the door to the Black Forest, which was the landscape of many stories written by the Grimm brothers.

The main attraction of the town is the gothic Cathedral (Münster) with the high bell tower. Next to the Cathedral, there is the Kaufhaus, a red elaborated building that was the house of corporations and merchants in the 16th century.

Another impressive building is the Martinstor, Martin’s gate, the older of the two gates of the town that have been preserved since medieval times.

To add a little adventure to the visit to Freiburg, you can hike Schlossberg, a tree-covered hill of 456 meters located east of Freiburg’s Old Town which belongs to the Black Forest.

If you don’t like hiking or you have little time, there is a funicular railway(photos below) that links the city center with Schlossberg hill. Because I didn’t have much time, I hiked only halfway down the hill, anyhow the view of Freiburg was amazing also from there. If you have more time, also Eguisheim, Obernai, Ribeauvillé, and Kaysersberg are worth a visit.

✳️ What to eat in Alsace

The traditional Alsatian cuisine is a blend of French and German dishes.

The national dish of Alsace is the Choucroute garnie, a mix of regional cured meats (all the best meats of Alsace, bratwurst, boudin blanc, and smoked pork) served with choucroute (sauerkraut, which is a German cabbage) and boiled potatoes. It was delicious and very filling, so much so that I had a hard time finishing it.

Another traditional dish I tried was the Flammekueche, a thin layer of dough covered with sour cream, cheese, onions, and bacon. It’s crispy and tasty. It is considered the Alsatian equivalent of a pizza, even though it’s very different.

Then, there is the Baeckeoffe, a casserole made with layers of sliced potatoes and onions with two kinds of meats (beef, and pork). Other ingredients that are commonly added are leeks, thyme, parsley, garlic, and carrots for flavor and color. It is often eaten for a special occasion, such as Christmas.

Furthermore, in Alsace, you should try their delicious Bretzels: fresh baked and soft pretzels with a generous amount of salt. They can be found in the Christmas markets and they are of a different kind: with melted cheese on top and accompanied by smoked salmon or ham.

Also, in Riquewihr I stopped in a nice salon de to take a coffee with a Bûche de Noël: a French traditional Christmas dessert covered with chocolate or coffee cream and icing and usually filled with jam. It’s called the Yule log because of its shape.

😊Who is NomadHer writer

Sofia Antognoli is from Italy and can speak 4 languages like Italian, English, Spanish, and French. She has lots of curiosity about the world. That is why she has lots of countries that she wants to travel to in the future! also loves festivals too! Do you want to hear more stories about her perfect fairy-tale trip to Alsace, France?  You can connect to her through the NomadHer community now.

🌈Top 3 articles about France

The guide to Paris for solo female travelers

Is Paris safe for Solo Female Travellers?

How to avoid a PickPocket in Paris for a solo traveler

✈️ Are you planning to Alsace, France?

Join other solo female travelers heading to Alsace, France, and meet local women!  Meet women travelers on NomadHer App and ask questions about traveling solo to Madeira, Portugal. You can join the NomadHer community by downloading the app. Also, You can see have a quick look at what’s going on right now by following  @nomad_her

New York is an expensive city to travel to. If you are interested in musicals, you want to know all of the tips to find cheap Broadway tickets with a tight budget. Because the normal price for most musicals is over $150. When I’ve been to New York a few years ago, I found ways to see famous Broadway musicals at affordable prices. I got each ticket for around $30 for Wicked(in-person lottery ticket), The Chicago(rush ticket), and The lion king(online lottery ticket). On the first try, I got a chance to see these world-famous Broadway musicals at a special price! Here are tips to get cheap Broadway tickets for $30.

✳️ How to get a cheap Broadway musical ticket in New York at  $30?

1️⃣ Rush ticket

Rush ticket is usually sold on the morning of the day that the musical is performed. You have to visit the theater box office in person to purchase it. Rush tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The locations of seats are determined by the box office. Many rush tickets provide seats that have quite a clear view to enjoy musical enough.

👉 What do keep in mind about the Rush ticket?

• The range of the rush ticket price is around $30-45.
• You need to bring your ID card(Most theater box offices request to show it) and cash to pay(Some allow only in cash)
• Check the maximum number of rush tickets available to buy. Most Broadway musicals allow you to buy only 2 rush tickets per person or just 1.
• The number of rush tickets that they provide in a day is less than 20 tickets. So, if the ticket that you want to see opens at 10 am, you need to arrive box office of the musical at least an hour before just in case.

Here is the website where you can see prices, how to buy discounted tickets and how many tickets they sell for famous Broadway musicals in New York.

2️⃣ Buy a discounted ticket at the TKTS booth

TKTS booths are run by a non-profit organization called TDF (Theatre Development Fund) which has supported bringing the performing arts to everyone since 1968.  It sells tickets on the day of the performance only which is held day time and night time. There are 2 TKTS ticket stands in New York.

• TKTS Times Square: It is located "under the red stairs" in Father Duffy Square at Broadway and 47th Street. This is the most accessible booth for people because of its’ perfect location in the center of Times Square.
• TKTS Lincoln Center: It is located in the David Rubenstein Atrium at 61 West 62nd Street.

👉 What do keep in mind when buying a discounted ticket at the TKTS booth?

• The discount rate is from 20% ~ to 50%. Considering the face value for tickets is usually over $150, it can be expensive compared to rush tickets or lottery tickets.
• They don’t sell top 10 Broadway musicals. Because tickets at the TKTS are the last unsold tickets.
• You must buy tickets in person. so you can wait in line.
• They usually sell seats called Orchestra(first floor). For example, the Mezzanine means the second floor, Balcony means 3rd floor.
• You can check information about a day of the program and discounted rate through the TKTS app or below website.

3️⃣ Lottery ticket(In-person / Online)

Applying for a lottery ticket is a great way to see a famous broadway musical in New York at a special price. But not all musicals sell lottery tickets. but still, you can find many great musicals selling lottery tickets like The lion king, Wicked, Aladdin, and so on. Don’t forget this - In New York, you can get lots of chances to enjoy its various cultural event if you want! So who knows if you can have luck?

👉 What do keep in mind to get a lottery ticket?(In-person/ Online)

• The range of the lottery ticket price is around $30-45.
• Each musical has a different time to apply for a lottery ticket(In-person/ Online). So check this below website for detailed information.
• For an online lottery ticket, if you win the lottery ticket, they send you an email with a payment link. In this case, you have to pay within an hour through that link. Also, check your spam box just in case. The mail sometimes goes to the spam box.
• For an In-person lottery ticket, You have to go to each musical’s ticket box in person to apply and wait for the result. Some request to pay only in cash, not a credit card. so just in case bring some money to pay for your ticket.
• Direct page to apply for some musicals
• You can see more musical lists here to apply)

4️⃣ NYC Broadway Week

Without a doubt, New York is the city that offers the most dynamic and cultural experience in the world. Every Sep, In the city, NYC Broadway Week has been held. You can get two tickets for the price of one for famous musicals like Wicked, The lion king and so on! In 2022, NYC Broadway Week will be held from September 6-25. The list of shows will be announced on August 16, when tickets go on sale. You can see the list and make a reservation with the promotion code below the website.

PS. If you are a student, recommend bringing your student card and asking the ticket box before your purchase the ticket. The above ways to get a ticket already offer discount rates, but just in case, ask if there is a student discount rate and compare them to which one is the best choice for you!

✳️ The top 5 Broadway musicals list in New York

If you are looking for women travelers who hang out and watch musicals together, It is a good way to find your friends in NomadHer community now!

1️⃣ The Lion King

• Address of theater: Minskoff Theatre - 1515 Broadway betw. 44th and 45th Sts
• How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery
• 👉 Click here to try
• Price: $30
• Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
• Special Policy: Winners will be informed via email, and have 1 hour to pay for the ticket. You can pick up a ticket at the box office no sooner than 30 min before performance time with your ID.

2️⃣ Wicked

<Digital Lottery>

• Address of theater:  Gershwin Theatre - 222 W. 51st St. between Broadway and 8th Ave.
• How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery. For the daytime show, the lottery will open the day before at 10 am and close the day before at 4 pm. The evening shows, will open the day before at 8 pm and close the day of the performance at 11 am. Winners will be informed and have an hour to pay for the tickets. then will get an e-ticket through email.
• 👉 Click here to try
• Price: $49 - $59
• Tickets Per Person: Limit 2

<In-Person Lottery>

• Address: In the Gershwin Theatre breezeway
• Price: $30. You have to go in person. The lottery usually opens two and a half hours before the show. Winners need to pay for the ticket only in cash.
• Tickets Per Person: Limit 2

3️⃣ Aladdin

• Address of theater: New Amsterdam Theatre - 214 W. 42nd St. betw. 7th & 8th Aves.

• How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery opens at 7 pm the day prior to the performance. it closed at 8:30 am on the day of the show. Make sure to check your mailbox after closing if you make it.
• 👉 Click here to try
• Price: $30
• Tickets Per Person: Limit 2
• Special Policy
• : Guests must be 18 years of age in order to enter. Tickets must be purchased via credit card within an allotted 60-minute. Bring your ID.

4️⃣ Chicago

• Address of theater: Ambassador Theatre - 219 W. 49th St. betw. Broadway and 8th Ave.

• How to get a cheap ticket? : Rush ticket. You need to go in person when the box office opens on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Price : $49
• Tickets Per Person: Limit 2

5️⃣ The phantom of the opera

• Address of theater: Majestic Theatre - 247 W. 44th St. between 7th and 8th Aves.
• How to get a cheap ticket? : Digital Lottery. Submit the form below website. The lottery opens at 12:00 AM Eastern Time the day before the show and closes at 3:00 PM the day before the performance.
• 👉 Click here to try
• Price : : $40 (plus $4 service fee per ticket)

If you want to see more information about Broadway musicals in New York, check this website.

✳️ Free concerts in the parks of New York

If you are traveling in New York, always keep in mind that the city is full of opportunities to enjoy music. One of the famous free concerts is “Broadway in Bryant” which has been held every summer in Bryant park by 106.7 LITE FM. During summer, they bring the best Broadway musicals for free to people! So hundreds of people visit the park to enjoy their lunch with music! On 2022 summer, The Lion King, Aladdin, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, Moulin Rouge and so many musicals are waiting for you!

👉 You can see the information about the schedule 👉

💡 Related Articles on South Korea

😀 Is New York safe for solo female travelers?

❤️ New York; a local's guide for safe solo female travel!‍

How much does NomadHer recommend Madeira  for solo female travelers?

(😩 Bad, 😊 Fine, 😍 Amazing)

Our score is : 😍 Amazing
‍

✳️About Madeira

Madeira island, a Portuguese archipelago is in the middle of the Atlantic. Its beautiful blue sea, warm weather, and various activities in nature have attracted tourists all the seasons. The temperatures are overall stable and warm throughout the year. It takes more or less 3 hours from all the main countries in Europe by flight. It is also known as the birthplace of the Portuguese famous football (soccer) player Cristiano Ronaldo. These days, Madeira is getting famous for Europe’s first Nomad village in Ponta Do Sol. In this ultimate guide about Madeira, you will learn and can draw the outline of your trip to Madeira island, Portugal.

✳️ Safety

Generally, Madeira is a safe destination for female solo travelers. Most locals are friendly, and open-minded to tourists. The weather is warm all season. so you can see the sunlight until 8 pm which makes you think it is still afternoon. The capital city of Maderia, Funchal, on the southern coast, is always crowded with full of travelers and locals. All in all, Madeira is safe but still, you are in a foreign country, it will be helpful to have common sense and keep an eye on your belongings all the time.

✳️ Main areas of Madeira

Madeira is a big island. So, It is divided into several regions. If you visit Madeira island at first, those are the places that you heard about a lot during your travel.

▪ Funchal

If travelers land at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, This is the area that they go to first. Funchal is the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira. It is known for its harbor, vibrant local markets, Madeira wine cellars, peaceful gardens, and historical cathedral. That is why you can find lots of accommodations and a chance to meet locals here.

▪ Ponta do Sol

Ponta do Sol means the point of the sun in English. Like its name, you can see the beautiful sunset on Ponta do Sola’s pebble beach. It is a municipality on the southwestern coast of the island. it's a relaxing area for a short stroll and walks around the town. Ponta do Sol is famous for being Europe's first nomad village these days. Digital nomads who work remotely from all over Europe have come to this place to enjoy island life now.

▪ Porto Santo

While you look around sightseeing places in Funchal, you often see the big ferry departing from the harbor. That is the ferry to be run between Funchal and Porto Santo. Porto Santo is a small island next to Madeira and takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to go. It is known for its clean, warm waters and soft sandy beach which you can’t find on Madeira island. If you expect an action-packed adventure, this is not the one. Instead, if you want to relax and take it easy, this is the right place for you.

✳️ Best things to do in Madeira

🚶‍♀️Hiking :

1️⃣ Vereda dos Balcões

You can start the hike at the village of Ribeiro Frio. The road will lead you to another magical point of view: The Balcões Belvedere.

👣 Distance: 2.5 kilometers

💪 Level of difficulty: Easy

2️⃣ Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo

Pico do Arieiro is the third-highest peak on the island of Madeira. When the weather is clear, you can enjoy an amazing view. And if the weather is more cloudy, you will find yourself above the clouds.

Pico Ruivo is the highest peak of Madeira, reaching 1861 meters above sea level.

The two peaks are connected together through a fabulous hike, where you will have the opportunity to admire exceptional panoramas and vertiginous cliffs. For your safety, recommend finding a hiking buddy in the NomadHer community who can go climbing together.

👣 Distance: 12 kilometers

💪 Level of difficulty: Difficult

3️⃣ Levada Walks

The Levada walks are narrow water channels, built by man over the centuries, for the irrigation of some places that were hard to reach on the island. It represents now 2500 km and a lot of different routes. We highly recommend you to try one, as it is one of the main attractions of Madeira! And nature lovers even say that you didn’t truly visit Madeira if you didn’t hike along the Levadas.

👣 Distance: You can find many trails and choose one depending on your preferences.

💪 Level of difficulty: Easy to difficult

💦 Water activities :

1️⃣ Dolphin and whale-watching tour

If you walk around the Praça do Povo and the Marina in Funchal, you will come across many boat tour agencies that can take you for a dolphin and whale watching tour. The cost starts at €25.

2️⃣ Boat tour

Tour in the Funchal Bay: You can take a boat for 3 to 4 hours to enjoy the bay of Funchal. Be ready to jump into the clear blue water of the ocean while the Portuguese sun heats your skin! ☀️

Sunset cruise: Is there a better way to enjoy a beautiful sunset than being on a boat? From yellow to pink, red, or even purple, your eyes will be amazed by this spectacle of mother nature. Some boat tours also include drinks on a DJ set to party after the sun goes down! 🥳

And if you want to go back in time, you can even enjoy a ride on a pirate ship! You will embark on board the replica of the ship that Christopher Colombus used during his famous excursion across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492.

3️⃣ Snorkeling & Diving

The Garajau Nature Reserve is the #1 spot to do snorkeling. This protected area, located on the south coast of the island, counts many diving centers where you will be able to book an excursion for diving/snorkeling and the equipment. Why not try to observe and photograph some aquatic species? 🤿 The cost starts at €35.

4️⃣ Natural pools of Porto Moniz

If you heard about Porto Moniz, you must have heard about the most famous attraction of the village: The natural pools. Volcanic rocks dive into the sea to form salt water swimming pools, and the place has been set up to make the experience even more pleasant. You can find, for example, a children’s swimming pool, a play area, bathrooms with changing rooms, and even a snack bar open during summer. This is one of the places that women travelers loved in NomadHer Madeira camp last time.

✳️ Best places to visit in Madeira

🍃 The places to see nature

Must-see gardens :

1️⃣ Monte Palace Tropical Gardens : They are the most famous gardens on the island, and for a good reason! As soon as you enter, you will be amazed by the oriental atmosphere. Between Buddhist sculptures and a Japanese wooden bridge, you will find an artificial lake surrounded by waterfalls and fountains. Don’t forget to visit the art exhibition in the Monte Palace Museum.

2️⃣ Botanical Gardens of Funchal : This garden is well-known for the 2,000 species of exotic plants of which it is composed. Have you ever had the chance to admire an orchid greenhouse or a flower bed with perfect geometry?

3️⃣ Palheiro Gardens : You find here a completely different atmosphere because the garden takes on the identity of an English garden. Palheiro is famous for its collection of Camellias, some of which are 200 years old!

🏖️ The places to enjoy beach :

1️⃣ Praia do Porto do Seixal

The natural beaches in Madeira, Praia do Porto do Seixal, are made of black sand due to the marine erosion of volcanic black rock. Here, mountains and waterfalls overlook the back.

2️⃣ Praia da Calheta

This beach was created artificially with white sand imported from Morocco. It is the main attraction of Câmara de Lobos, a fishing village located on the south coast of the island. You can do windsurfing, canoeing, or take a sun bath (A rental service for deck chairs and parasols is available).

3️⃣ Ponta do Sol

Ponta do Sol is known to have the best sunset on the island. It is a small beach with clear blue water, in a small cove between the slopes of the valley.

4️⃣ Ponta de Sao Lourenco

It is the only semi-desert environment on the island. You can find different beaches made of pebbles and black sand and superb landscapes.

🏛️ The places to have a cultural time :

1️⃣ Santana houses

You should absolutely go to Santana city center to observe the traditional houses of Madeira. They are small and colorful houses that were made of straw, from the cereal plantation, and wood.

And near those houses, you can find a fruit market open on weekends.

2️⃣ Museu CR7 : Cristiano Ronaldo museum

Did you know that the city of Funchal on Madeira Island, was the hometown of the famous football player Cristiano Ronaldo? And the Museu CR7 is a museum dedicated to his trophies!

Other places of interest :

1️⃣ Mercado Dos Lavradores (Local market)

Located in the historic district of Santa Maria in Funchal, the "workers' market" is one of the most famous markets in the city. It was built in the 20th century, harmonizing Art Deco and modernism. If you decide to go there, you will find the freshest and most exotic fruits and vegetables, and exuberant flowers (but the prices can be higher).

2️⃣ Teleféricos da Madeira (Funchal Cable Car or Mountain Cable Car)

To go from Funchal to Monte, you can use the Cable car over Cabo Girão. You will fly over the city and have a 360° panorama over the city of Funchal, the mountains, and the sea. Be ready to admire the blue of the ocean, the green of the mountains, and the ocher tones of Funchal all together! The round trip costs 18.00€ for an adult.

3️⃣ Carreiros do Monte  (Toboggan ride from Monte)

Dating back to the early 19th century, the wicker sled was used as public transportation for the local residents who wanted to travel quickly from the village of Monte to the city of Funchal. Nowadays, if you like adrenaline, you can try this unforgettable experience! It costs 25.00€ for one adult, and 30.00€ for two (The ride is free for children under 5, accompanied by an adult).

✳️ Food & Restaurant

Madeira island has some great restaurants around the island. From traditional local food to fresh seafood, vegan restaurants, but also sweet ice cream that makes you happy. If you want to experience real local food, then try espetada first! Here are the best restaurants recommended in this ultimate guide.

🍽️ Best restaurants in Madeira :

1️⃣ Doca do Cavacas

If you stay in the Funchal area and fan of seafood then Doca do Cavacas is worth visiting. This is run by a local family. You can enjoy fresh and authentic seafood at a reasonable price. If the weather is good, go out to eat on its fabulous terrace to enjoy a stunning sunset on the sea. There are many options that you can choose like seafood platter, limpets, grilled squid, fish skewer and etc. The average prices are around €15.

2️⃣ Prima Caju in Funchal

Prima Caju is a heaven of vegan food with a stylish and instagrammable interior. They provide lots of selections of healthy food like smoothie bowls, super tasty bowls with vegetables, chicken, or salmon with rice. Also, there is a pancake decorated with colorful fruits. If you enjoy your brunch in a cool atmosphere, recommend visiting Prima Caju.

3️⃣ Madeirinha Cafes in Funchal

If you look around in the center of Funchal, this is the perfect cafe you can find for lunch. They provide various kinds of salad bowls, hamburgers, toast, pie and so many dishes. You can feel full happily because they serve you a really big bowl of salad at a good price. Highly recommend trying chicken salad with passion fruit juice. The average prices are around €4.5

4️⃣ Restaurante Santo António in Camara de Lobos

If someone asks to pick only one that must try while traveling in Madeira, It is Espetada! Espetada is a traditional dish in Portuguese cuisine cooked with beef on skewers. Restaurante Santo António is a specialized place for Espetada and one of the best restaurants where you can taste the great quality of Espetada. It is away from Funchal city center so recommended to take a taxi. but it is worth visiting. The price is around €15.

5️⃣ Bar Sete Mares in Camara de Lobos

This is the place you can enjoy the cool vibe of Madeiran bar. It serves delicious fish food and local food that get along with Nikita cocktail, also famous for a local beverage.

🍲 Local food of Madeira :

1️⃣ Bolo do Caco

The “Bolo do Caco” bread is a popular and traditional bread of Madeira. You can try Bolo do Caco easily in most of the restaurants you visit. Made with wheat flour, homemade yeast, water, and salt, is baked on a basalt stone heated at a high temperature. This bread is served hot with garlic butter. If you visit Madeira, this is must-eat food that you can’t miss.

2️⃣ Pastel de nata

Pastel de nata is a crispy pastry filled with egg custard. You can easily find Pastel de nata in a cafe or bakery in Madeira. It is sweet and delicious which locals love. If you try one bite, you never stop until you finish it. Enjoy the sweetness of Madeira!

3️⃣ Espetada

Espetada is a traditional and specialty dish in Portuguese cuisine. It is usually served with beef which is seasoned with salt and garlic and then hung vertically on a skewer. The skewer is placed over hot coals until the beef is cooked and then serve to you. You can feel the chewy and soft texture of beef.

4️⃣ Lapas and seafood

As an island in the middle of the ocean, Madeira is famous for various kinds of seafood. Among lots of seafood, Lapas (limpets) is the one you need to try at first. It is the must-try one. It is grilled with garlic and butter and eaten with a squeeze of lemon. When you try Lapas, recommends ordering Bolo do Caco, local bread with garlic butter.

🍹 Local drink of Madeira :

1️⃣ Nikita Cocktail

Nikita is a traditional drink on Madeira island made with pineapple ice cream or pineapple juice and white beer. It is originally from Câmara de Lobos, the fishing town in Madeira. There is a non-alcohol version of Nikita, which is sweet and delicious as well. Finding women travelers in the NomadHer community is one of the ways to enjoy Nikita!

2️⃣ Poncha

Poncha is the representative local dring on Madeira island basically made with brandy cane sugar, honey, and juice of lemons. The most popular flavor is “Poncha with passion fruit flavor”. You will see many locals who order Poncha in restaurants with their meals. It could be a bit strong for people who are not used to drinking.

3️⃣ Brisa Maracujá

It was the first soft drink in the world based on pure passion fruit juice made in 1970. It is made with the juice of purple passion fruit and carbonated treated water. Passion fruit is used everywhere like ice cream, drinks, and snacks broadly. It is a national popular beverage all over Madeira even than Coke. If you visit Madeira, try this. You can get to know right away why locals love Brisa Maracujá.

4️⃣ Madeira wine

If you like wine, you can explore a variety taste of wines while traveling in Madeira. Madeira is a fortified wine that hails from the island, away from the coast of Morocco. From dry to sweet, it's mainly made with a handful of grape varieties, including Tinta Negra Mole, Sercial, Verdelho, Bual (also known as Boal), and Malvasia (Malmsey). You can join some wine tours that provide programs to learn more about it and do a wine tasting.

✳️ Accommodation

Madeira island is getting popular now and the weather is usually warm, so it attracts tourists all the year. So finding accommodation at a reasonable price is competitive. The hostel in normal condition starts at least €50 in Funchal, the downtown area of the island. So it will be a good way to find a travel companion through the NomadHer community to share a room and save travel budget.

If you plan to stay more than a few weeks, then recommend joining the Madeira digital nomad community. It is a large community of over 5000 digital nomads, you can find every information that you are looking for. For example, accommodation, activity, local events, tips & advice, and more. Most of the people who visited usually stay in Funchal. Because it is the main downtown area of the island so it has everything like good transportation, restaurants, local event,s and lots of people. If you like a peaceful and calm atmosphere but sometimes enjoy local festivals and events on Friday and weekends, recommend staying at Ponta do sol where there is a digital nomad village.

✳️ Transportation

✈️ To get to the island

By plane

The island is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1000 km from mainland Portugal and 500 km from the coast of Morocco. Therefore, the best way to go to Madeira is to take a plane.

There is only one airport on the island, the Aeroporto Internacional da Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo, previously known as Aeroporto Santa-Catarina.

🏝️ On Madeira

1️⃣ Bus

If your plan is only around Funchal(the main area of the island) or nearby, the bus is popular transportation to take. The bus network is very good, fast and regular in Funchal. There are several places(Tabaco or ticket booth) where you can buy and recharge the bus card. But, If you go other regions far away from Funchal, then it will be difficult to reach your destination by bus.

2️⃣ By car

The easiest option to visit Madeira is to rent a car. Even if the public transport network is very good within the downtown area, we advise you to rent a car if you want to visit more isolated and hidden places or outside of Funchal to save your time.

3️⃣ Bolt & taxis

If you don’t want or can not rent a car, you can always use the taxis. We recommend you download Bolt (an application equivalent to Uber, broadly used in Portugal) to have cheaper taxi fares. As Madeira is a small island, there are not many Bolts. You may therefore have to wait a bit during peak hours.

First surfing at 34, starting with a hesitation

As always, a new challenge needs braveness. It is the same for surfing. Hello! I’m Soyeon from South Korea. I’m calm and closed to being an introvert. so It is not easy at all to open my mind to the thing that I’m not familiar with. The only deviation I have made in my life was to go hiking as my hobby. Whenever I said to people like “ I loved mountains” then all people replied back “Oh, I expected that you would say flower arranging like that, the things sitting on the desk”

No matter what people said to me, as a hiking lover, I went climbing every weekend and season of the year for various reasons: To see flowers in spring, feel the breeze under the trees in summer, see colorfulness covered all over the mountain, and enjoy snow wonderland in winter.

Then everything stopped of a sudden. The time came at the moment that my passion for hiking burned like a flame and only ashes were left. It was a sign to take a deep breath. Then a new deviation came to me.

Go to enroll in the Busan surfing camp on Aug

How about you try surfing this time?

While preparing for this Busan surfing camp for several weeks, I interviewed female surfers and heard a lot about how it was. so thought I had gotten used to surfing, but when I got a question to try surfing. I had to hesitate to answer for a moment.

As I studied surfing, I got to know several things about what surfing would be like :

1. You can stand on the surfing board with just the first lesson but will fall into the sea a lot until you can make it.
2. Your hair will be like seaweed sticking to your face while surfing. not that pretty.
3. A series of annoying things in the process can be followed. For example, soaking in the salty sea water and sand all the time and then you have to go wash them in the shower.

These went through my mind quickly. It's normal for all sports to sweat, but It is too much for me because It needs more than that.

If It is a deviation that can expand your world

When I say “Yes” to something I have never thought about before, It is because the influence of the people around me plays a bigger role than my will. When this happens, deliberately let the situation go, stay away from it and see how it is going on.

If there's one thing I've learned in 34 years, It's that I'm finally starting to admit that my decisions may not always be right. Sometimes, rather than arguing with people, I really listen to the opinions of others. As long as It doesn't cause irreparable harm to me, I can always come back even if I deviate for a while from the way I know.

A sea brings magic to make people turn into a child

Crossing Songjeong Beach holding a surfboard that was more than twice my height, finally met a beautiful sea of Busan. I still vividly remember the moment I entered the Songjeong sea through this surfing camp in April. The atmosphere, which had been awkward since the participants had just met before that, was quickly reversed into a fun playground for adults.

"Wow! See? I'm in the sea!"

"The water is so good than I thought!"

"Wow, Busan beach is just as good as I heard!"

Even though they just went into the sea, they all seemed to have the same mind. So, as soon as they saw each other in the water, the pretty smiles that they had hidden began to burst at the same time. Some of them were already on their surfboards and enjoying the waves of the sea.

It's natural to feel embarrassed at first. But It's a shame to stop now

If you go surfing, you can see that the surfing skills of the participants are very different from first-time surfers to those who have already mastered waves through multiple surfing experiences in famous surf destinations abroad. So, in general, surfing camps teach people at the beginner's level.

In fact, for first-time surfers like me, surfing time is a series of shame. I failed dozens of times in front of everyone. During the class, I fell off the surfboard so much that I drank too much seawater through my nose. The hair became rolled up like seaweed, stuck to the hair, and the sunscreen written to be waterproof was washed away already because I spend more time under the sea than on the surfboard.

In the meantime, people who had chatted with me a minute ago succeeded to stand up on the board. They were getting ahead of me one by one. This is the point that people start to doubt themselves thinking “It is allowed only to people who have a special talent?”

But in the sea, you can't just stand blankly like that and be envious. You can get hypothermia if you stay still. So you have to keep moving anyway. If you are weak-willed, it is a good idea to set the environment around you that makes push to move. For me, this time, that is a sea that makes me not give up. So I stood in front of the waves again. I chose to fail.

Don't take your eyes off where you are going!

I was moved by the word that my surf teacher said,  “Soyeon, Lift your head and see straightly where you are going rather than bending down to see the surfing board under your leg.

The reason I failed so far was that I paid too much attention to the anxiety in front of me that was shaking the moment. If you focus on your current anxiety like that, you will never trust yourself.

So, for the first time, I threw myself into the waves, counted 1,2,3, in my mind, and jumped off the surfboard without hesitation for a second. I focused on only one direction I had to go. Then the surfboard moved lightly like a feather and arrived at the beach smoothly.

2 things I learned from my first surfing experience at 34

What I realized while surfing at this Busan surf camp was that I looked back on my life and stopped saying "I'm not interested in those things!"

Actually, life is a series of unexpected events, and it doesn't make sense to try to find only a stable path. It is undeniable that the world I perceive has expanded thanks to trying surfing, which I was not familiar with before, now part of my world.

I learned two things from the first surfing of my life:

1. Give me a chance to try a new area even though I have never thought about it before.
2. A person's world can be expanded through experience. The world is really big, but if the world I understand is small, you will miss out on the joys of life. It's a good idea to start with questions like "Oh, Is there such a thing?" instead of "I'm not interested in it at all."
3. No matter what I do, keep my eyes in the direction of where I'm going.
4. That way, you will be able to move forward without fear when the waves come. If you look at what you are doing right now from a distant perspective, the difficulties and anxiety you are worry will seem small. Sometimes, when I have a hard time, I read books or documentaries about space. Looking at my worries reflected in the universe, I realized how small they are. If you look at it from such a distant point of view, even if you meet the big waves again, you gain the strength to move forward.

If you can't do it alone, you can do it together. There is a saying, “The world has been developed when 100 people  take one step forward together than when one person goes 100 steps ahead.” If you find it difficult to go surfing alone, why not try to go surf camp with women travelers this summer?

🏄NomadHer Surf Camp for women will be held from August 22-24 in Busan, South Korea. You will get more than I felt and learned through this camp.

Go to enroll in the Busan surfing camp on Aug

Aloha! I’m Soyeon from South Korea. I love nature and doing on a walking trips. So, Seoul is one of my favorite cities to travel to. because I can see different stunning views in each season.  As a Korean, I’m so happy when people ask me “I’m planning to travel to Seoul”, or “Could you give me some tips to travel to South Korea?” These days, I can see lots of women travelers in the NomadHer community have asked these questions about trips to South Korea more and more. I feel that interest in South Korea is growing as Korean cultural content such as BTS and Squid Game are widely known around the world.

The most frequent question is about the Seoul travel budget. So I prepare useful tips about the cost of travel in Seoul. The information that I provide will help you enable to have a better understanding of where you start to prepare for the trip and search for information. Then it will be much easier for you to find more specific tips for the next stage to prepare for your trip to Korea. The budget in this guide is listed in Euro and South Korean Won(KRW) both.

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✳️ Weather in Seoul

South Korea has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Therefore, if you are traveling to Seoul, it is recommended to come in spring or autumn. When you come to South   Korea in the summer, you will experience two different kinds of weather: extremely hot and rainy season. Summer in South Korea is humid with no wind and scorching hot or it's been raining all day.

Winter in Korea is very cold with strong winds blowing. Koreans wear long underwear under shirts and pants to keep warm during the winter season. If you are planning a trip to Korea, we recommend visiting in from March to May, and from September to November.

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✳️ Cost of accommodation in Seoul

Accommodation in Seoul is more expensive than in Southeast Asia but cheaper than in Europe. Guesthouses and hostels usually start from €20 (25,000 KRW) per night, and business hotels or residences start from €55 (70,000 KRW). In South Korea, it can be more expensive during the summer vacation season (July to August) and weekends, so it is recommended to make a reservation in advance. As Seoul is a city that represents South Korea, there are many female hostels run by female hosts too.

By the way, there is a special type of accommodation in South Korea. It is called Hanok. Hanok is a traditional Korean house first built during the Joseon Dynasty in the 14th century. Hanok was built in consideration of the Korean lifestyle and the surrounding natural environment. It is mainly made of wood, soil, stone straw, etc.

Also, you can send a direct message to locals to ask for more information in the NomadHer community!

If there is one thing that makes this Hanok even more special, it is the Ondol. Ondol heats the floor, not the air that heats the room.

When you come to Korea, it will be a good experience to experience a Hanok that warms the floor. In Seoul, there is a place called Bukchon Hanok Village where Korean traditional houses, Hanoks are gathered. The prices for this Hanok accommodation start from €100 per night (140,000 KRW). This depends on the size of the accommodation.

▪️ Guesthouse or Hostel: Starts at around €20 (25,000 KRW) a night

▪️ Business Hotel or Residence: Starts at around €55(70,000 KRW) a night

▪️ Bukchon Hanok Village Hanok Accommodation: Starts at around €100 (140,000 KRW) a night

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✳️  Cost of transportation in Seoul

Seoul, the representative city of South Korea, is closely connected by public transportation. It is well connected to every corner of Seoul. Koreans often use public transportation such as buses and subways for commuting to work or meeting with friends because it is usually run on time. I will tell you how Koreans use public transportation and how much it costs!

☑️ Korean transportation app in Korea (Kakao Map): This is the app that Koreans use the most when they move. It provides real-time directions like the fastest way by walk, bus, or subway based on your current location and means of transportation. Kakao Map makes it easy to find a way when traveling in South Korea. This app is useful not only in Seoul but also in other cities.

☑️ Subway: There are a total of 9 main lines in Seoul. This line connects not only Seoul but also neighboring cities to the east, west, south, and north of Seoul. The metro connects the entire city so tightly that it takes about 3 minutes between each station. If you want to see a lot in a short itinerary, the fastest way is to take the subway.

☑️ Bus: There are many buses in Seoul. Green/blue buses mainly run downtown Seoul, red buses or bus numbers starting with M are intercity buses connecting Seoul with other cities.

Sometimes you feel that you want to look at the scenery outside the window. In that case, turn on the Kakao Map app and search for your location and the place you want to go then you can easily check the bus stop around you. If you are traveling alone, Taking the bus will make your trip more colorful.

☑️ Subway and bus fares  :

I recommended purchasing a T-money transportation card when using the subway or bus. You can purchase and recharge easily this transportation card at a convenience store(GS 25, CU, 7-Eleven). The fee for purchase  is  €3 (4000 KRW)

▪️One-way subway fare (For adults): Basic fare is 1 euro (1250 KRW) / based on the transportation card

▪️One-way bus fare (For adults): Basic fare is 1 euro (1200 KRW)/ based on the transportation card

☑️  Things good to know:

▪️ €0.07 (100 KRW) will be added for every 5 km within 10 to 50 km if it is over the basic distance (10 km)

▪️ Apply discount when transferring buses with a different number(In case of that you take the bus within 30 minutes).

▪️ Discounts on bus-subway transfers also are applied.

▪️ When getting off the bus or subway, be sure to tag the transportation card to charge it up to the distance

.

☑️ Related websites:

T-Money Card

Seoul Metro

Kakao Map

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✳️ Cost of food in Seoul

South Korea is famous for making a variety of dishes depending on the seasonings and recipes. So, It is also a place where you can find its food industry is competitive to reach out to people. For example, in the case of Chimaek(a pairing of fried chicken and beer), which Koreans love a lot, There are lots of different tastes of chicken depending on the seasoning and brand. Fried chicken, a global food, is reborn in a Korean style.

The price of food at a Korean restaurant is €6 to €9 (8,000 to 12,000 KRW) as of 2022. A simple meal at a Gimbap restaurant or snack bar costs €2.5 to €4.5 (3,000 to 6,000 KRW). If you want to eat western food such as pasta at an Italian restaurant in Seoul, it costs around €14 (18,000 KRW)

If you walk the streets of South Korea, you can often see street food. They mainly sell gimbap, toast, tteok-bokki, fish cake, and various kinds of tempura, so I recommend trying it at least once. The price is around €2.25 (3,000 KRW). I recommend you to bring cash when eating street food.

The following are representative dishes popular in South Korea!

☑️ Chimaek : Chimaek is a pairing of fried chicken and beer. Koreans think that chicken with beer is a perfect combination that goes well together. Since the domestic fried chicken market is highly competitive, each brand competes with a variety of flavors with different seasonings. The cost is around €19 (25,000 KRW).

☑️ Korean BBQ(Samgyeopsal) : Korean BBQ is grilling pork right in front of the grill without removing the grease. It comes with a variety of vegetables and a seasoning called ssamjang. The cost is around €11 (15,000 KRW).

In most Korean BBQ restaurants, you may have to order at least 2 servings of meat. So it is a good way to find friends through the NomadHer community!

☑️ Bulgogi  :  Bulgogi is made of thin, marinated slices of beef. It is marinated in sweet and sour seasoning and on a stove-top griddle plate.  The cost is around € 12 (16,000 KRW)

☑️ Bibimbap: Mix rice with a seasoning called gochujang and put various vegetables, and bulgogi. It is a representative Korean food that vegetarians also like as a healthy food containing a variety of vegetables. The cost is around € 8 (10,000 KRW)

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✳️ Main areas & cost of activities in Seoul

Seoul is a very big city. but it is closely well connected with subway stations. Even first-time visitors to Seoul will be able to understand the city much more easily if they know the characteristics of each area based on subway stations. Here are the main areas to go together based on the metro station.

☑️ The area where you can feel the heat of youth day and night in Seoul :

Hongik University Station / Itaewon Station (Distance between two stations: 20 minutes by subway)

If you want to meet local hipsters in Seoul, this is the place for you. Especially if you go to Hongdae Station and Itaewon Station on a Friday or Saturday night, you will be surprised at how crowded and bright with lots of young people. With so many clubs, bars and pubs, many foreigners come here to enjoy the young culture of Korea. The entrance fee to the club is around €15 (20,000 KRW).

Especially in the case of Hongik University Station, there are many universities nearby, so there are many things to enjoy and the price is reasonable. You can find various restaurants and dessert shops that fill the street, a shopping street full of clothes and accessories, karaoke rooms, and busking. If you love music and shopping then this is the place for you.

▪️ The club entrance fee is around €15 (20,000 KRW)

▪️ The cost of Bars and restaurants is different from a restaurant. See the food section above.

▪️ Clothes and accessories in Hongik University Station are cheaper than in Europe. My friend from France bought sneakers, accessories, and clothing at an affordable price here.

☑️ The area where you can experience Korean traditional culture in the center of Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Station / Gwanghwamun Station / Jongno 5-ga Station (Distance between stations: about 10 minutes by subway)

South Korea has a long history of 5000 years, and there are many palaces and museums scattered throughout the city. If you are interested in Korean culture and history, I recommend getting off at these subway stations and looking around.

Seoul was the capital of the Joseon Dynasty for 500 years. In the center of Seoul, there are several palaces centered on Gyeongbokgung, where the kings of the Joseon Dynasty lived. The traditional cultural streets have developed around this area. It is an area where the present and the past coexist.

▪️ Gyeongbokgung: A representative palace of the Joseon where the kings of the Joseon Dynasty lived. Foreign language commentary programs are also in operation. The entrance fee is €2.3 (3,000 KRW) for adults.

▪️ Deoksugung: As one of the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty, it features traditional wooden architecture and Western-style architecture together. The entrance fee is  €0.8 (1,000 KRW) for adults

▪️ Insadong Street: A street where you can find traditional souvenirs, traditional sweets, tea houses, ceramics, and art. The price of the souvenir magnet is about €1.9 (2,500 KRW).

▪️ Gwangjang Market: As the largest traditional market representing Seoul, you can enjoy a variety of traditional foods at affordable prices. Bindae-tteok, noodles, tteok-bokki, etc. You can enjoy food for around €2-5 (3,000-6,000 KRW). You can go on the Gwangjang Market tour now with locals and women travelers here!

☑️ The area where the heart of shopping in Seoul:

Myeongdong Station / Dongdaemun Station (Distance between two stations: 10 minutes by subway)

You may have seen Seoulites in Korean dramas or movies getting dressed well to show their individuality. The fashion culture of South Korea is dynamic and rapidly changing. Also, Koreans prefer natural makeup that shows the beauty of my face rather than heavy makeup. It leads the development of the cosmetics industry to produce high-quality cosmetic products at reasonable prices.

If you go to Myeongdong Station, you can see many Korean cosmetic brands in one place. If you are interested in clothes, we recommend Dongdaemun Station. This is a place where you can see Korean street fashion trends at a glance.

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✳️ How to meet locals in Seoul

Traveling as a solo traveler gives lots of freedom. But sometimes, it would be more fun if you can hang out with local friends. One of the most difficult things about traveling abroad for yourself could be making local friends. Then, Is there any way to meet local friends easily?

Now in the NomadHer community, various meetups and camps are being held where local friends and female travelers can hang out together. There are so many meetups waiting for you, such as a night tour of Gwangjang Market, going to see a Korean baseball game and a surfing camp in Busan. You can also create your own meetup if you want, and find a companion to travel with you! You can check out what kind of place the community is by looking through NomadHer's Instagram: @nomad_her!

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Aloha!🌸 I’m Annisa Syakina and lived in Jakarta (Indonesia). I love solo backpacking since I was 15😄 I’ve been to Bali 4 times my last visit was in December 2021. Hopefully, this helps anyone who wants to visit Bali!🌴 Bali, also known as The Island of Gods is a province in Indonesia. This city is now open for foreign tourists after two years of Covid-19 restriction.  So, I would like to share some tips for traveling to Bali. If you want to ask more about Bali, then feel free to talk to me through the NomadHer now!

✳️Safety

Bali is considered one of the safest places in the world with beautiful nature and cheap living costs. So these make Bali attracts digital nomads all around the world. If you are abroad, it will be always good to keep in mind to be more cautious considering such as theft of belongings or scams, watch out for motorcycles on the road for your travel and it is the same in Bali. If it is your first trip to a foreign country, you can get some tips on How to avoid a PickPocket for a solo traveler.

✳️Transport

The easiest way to reach Bali is to take a direct flight to Bali. But, if there is no direct flight from your country, the alternative is to transit first in Jakarta. There are a lot of flight choices from Jakarta to Bali. Usually, the price starts from 35 USD.

Local transportation in Bali usually becomes a challenge due to the lack of public transportation🚌. If you’re a solo traveler and are capable of riding a motorcycle🛵. I highly recommend you rent a motorcycle. The motorcycle will also help you a lot to reach a more secluded area in Bali.

The alternative is to use online transportation (car or motorcycle). I suggest you take your time to explore the online transportation application (they will not only able to help you transport, but they also provide food and groceries delivery which is super handy!)

✳️ Places to visit

There are several areas that I recommend. Please also notes that since Bali’s tourism has just started to revive, there are a lot of hotel discounts (in December 2021, I managed to get a room in a 5-star resort for only 30 USD. So, don’t forget to explore your options!😄). You can find other solo female travelers heading to go these beautiful places in Bali and meet local women by checking inside of NomadHer and starting your travel to Bali!  

☑️ Kuta/Legian/Seminyak Beach Area

If you’re looking to enjoy your time on the beach🏖️, then this area is recommended for you. These 3 beaches are located next to each other. Usually, first-time visitors will stay in this area. There are a lot of bars and shops in this area (though it will also depend on the Covid-19 situation).

☑️Ubud

Ubud is the place for you who are looking for a place to slow down, refresh, and calm your mind🧘‍♂️. Try to stay in a hotel that blends in with nature (you can find a hotel with rice fields, cliffs, and forest views). Try to explore Monkey Forest🌿, Tegallalang Rice Terraces🌴, and Ubud Market🍚, and don’t forget to try Yoga and Bali’s massage and spa in Ubud. Ubud is also where artists are located👩‍🎨. You can find interesting classes (my favorite is pottery). You can easily check the available workshops on Indonesian travel websites such as Traveloka or Tiket.com.

Ps. make sure to eat some ducks in “Bebek Tepi Sawah” in Ubud.

☑️Kintamani (Bangli Area)

Lesser-known area in Bali but you won’t regret it. Probably 🌅the best sunrise I’ve ever witnessed. Try to check “Black Lava Camp Kintamani” and you will understand why I recommended this place. If you’re in this area, you can also check Batur Lake🌊 and Penglipuran (known as the cleanest traditional village).

☑️South Kuta Area

The hotel price in this area is relatively higher than the others since most of them are resorts. There are a lot of beautiful beaches in this area with clear blue water🌊 (they have Pandawa Beach, Dreamland Beach, Nyang Nyang Beach, Melasti Beach, and many more!).

The most memorable activity that I’ve ever done in this area was to watch Kecak Dance during sunset in Uluwatu 💃Temples ⛩️ and paraglide 🪂 above Pandawa beach. Highly recommended and it is not that scary for first-timer. Try to check “Timbis Paragliding” for more! If you’re interested, try to contact the paragliding facilitator whether the weather and the wind are good for the flight or not.

☑️Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida island is a really beautiful island🌴. You can take a boat from Sanur (40 minutes). Only for this area, I recommend you to just take a 1 or 2 days tour package since this area is still relatively untouched and undeveloped. But the view is breathtaking.

Usually, there is 2 kind of tours. The first one road/land tour 👣(it requires more hiking for you to reach the bottom of the beach) and the other one is a boat tour 🛶(so you will explore the beach by boat). Don’t forget to bring cash to this island along with your swimming suits. The most popular place on this island is “Kelingking Beach”

✳️ How to dress

Bali is located in a tropical country. So, bring your swimming suits and dress comfortably. Please be aware if you’re visiting a sacred place (forest, temple, etc.), try to check what is allowed and not allowed.

You just get a flight ticket to Lisbon✈️ but you are stuck in a deep hole about how to make your plan efficiently to explore the city considering the distance among so many places to go and your taste?

Then follow this suggestion that our NomadHer Margarida Rodrigues prepares for you! She will organize your days in Lisbon in this article. You can feel like you are traveling with her while reading this!😊

Lisbon is generally described as the city of the seven hills (I´m guessing you’ll discover why) and has a lot to see. From historical and traditional places and buildings to modern areas, gardens, the riverside, culture, good food🍝, good music📯, and nightlife🎶, you will surely find magic in this city.😄 Moreover, you can easily find yourself at the beach just to relax or to catch some waves.

Concerning security, ✨I never had any bad experience in the city. However, it may happen anywhere, and you should take the basic security measures: not walking alone at night in unpopulated or dark parts areas (avoid Cais do Sodré and Ribeira das Naus if too late at night), paying attention to your belongings in public transports, keeping your documents in a safe place, saving the contact of local authorities. If you go to a bar or disco at night, avoid big gatherings as well once sometimes, usually by the end of the night, there are some quarrels.

If you are short on time, you will be able to see the essentials in three full days, for which I built an itinerary so that you can make the most out of your stay! However, if possible, I would recommend you extend the stay, so I will also leave some extra tips beyond the three days itinerary.

The itinerary is divided into three main areas of the city, but first, I recommend you start your trip by doing a free walking tour😄 In case you are not familiar with the concept, this kind of tour exists in a really large number of cities all over Europe and is a great way to know more about the city than you would do on your own, pass through the main points of the city and 😎 identify the ones you wish to visit at your own pace later! I use this strategy in every city I visit. Just type 🙋‍♀️ “free walking tour Lisbon” on google and find the one (or multiple) that fits you better. Although they are called free, generally everyone gives a tip to the guide by the end.

Day 1 in Lisbon :

Start in Terreiro do Paço (also known as Praça do Comércio). Looking towards the river, you see two columns side by side: this is called Cais das Colunas, or Column Pier, the place where many years ago boats transporting important people arrived⛴️ On the other side of the river, there is a city called Almada (my actual birthplace). If you turn, in the center of the square you have a statue of D. José I, who was the king 👑when the place was rebuilt after the big earthquake of 1755.

Behind the statue, you see the Arco da Rua Augusta (Arch of Augusta Street). You can go up to see the view: cross the arch and you should see the entrance on the right. Follow Augusta Street and 🏰enjoy the historical buildings, ☕cafes, 🍝restaurants, and stores. There are always men inviting you to have lunch/dinner at their restaurant. Avoid the restaurants on this street because they are generally too touristy, so not so good food and too expensive for the quality.

When you see Kiko Milano store, turn left to Santa Justa Street. You will see the 😀Santa Justa Elevator, a landmark of the city center(Photo above📸). Walk towards it and take your time to appreciate it (you can go up if you wish, but this itinerary will also take you to the upper level later). In front of the elevator, walk to your right following Áurea Street.

You will get to Rossio Square, also known as D. Pedro IV Square because of the statue of the king. Notice the nice 🍿Nacional Theatre (D. Maria II), with Greek inspiration. On the left of the square, there is this: the funny store that everyone likes to take a look😄 : O Mundo Fantástico da Sardinha Portuguesa. Pass on the left of the theatre and notice the beautiful façade of Rossio Station, an old train station still in activity🚋. You may take a look inside if you wish.

Proceed to Restauradores Square, another important square in the city center. Notice the building of ☕Hard Rock Caffe, which was converted from an ancient theatre and cinema. If you follow the same direction you will go up Liberty Avenue, well known for its luxurious stores✨, such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Michael Kors, Versace, Dior, and Bulgari.

If you are not interested in shopping, I would recommend you turn left and go up Glória Elevator. It is a bit steep, but not impossible to go by foot using the stairs. However, you may take the elevator as well. You will arrive at São Pedro de Alcântara Garden/Viewpoint. Enjoy the view and take a rest😉. Notice one of the hills of Lisbon in front of you (with the Castle of São Jorge on top). The neighborhood on your back is Bairro Alto, known for all the bars and nightlife🍻

If you’re not out of breath yet, 🚶‍♀️go up the D. Pedro V Street. You will find a very nice neighborhood, Príncipe Real, with a cute garden🌿. Get inside Embaixada, an unconventional shopping center(Photo above) inside an ancient palace. Notice the nice architecture inside. The shops are mainly from Portuguese brands/designers, and you may find unusual pieces✨ There are some nice concept stores next to it as well.

Go down D. Pedro V Street once again, until you find Luís de Camões Square. He was one of the most famous Portuguese poets of all time and wrote 📘“Os Lusíadas”, the epic book about the Portuguese discoveries of the XV century. Buy some pastéis de nata at Manteigaria, one of my favourites in town. Follow Loreto Street towards Santa Catarina Viewpoint. On your way, you will find another of those yellow elevators, the Bica Elevator, on your left.☺️ Afterward, turn left to Marechal Saldanha Street, to get to the viewpoint. The statue in the center is Adamastor, the mythological creature who, according to “Os Lusíadas” book, tormented the Portuguese sailors. Enjoy the view!

Go back, pass through Luís de Camões Square, and go down Garrett Street. You will see a legendary cafe called Brasileira on the left☕, as well as a statue of a man sitting at a table. He was Fernando Pessoa, another of the greatest Portuguese poets😃. A bit down, turn left to Calçada do Sacramento Street. On the top of the street, here you are in Carmo Square. This is a historical place: the most important part of the 25th of April Revolution occurred here🧐. In 1974, the military forced the dictatorial government to surrender in this square. It was a peaceful revolution, no one died, and the military put carnations (the flowers) on the guns. Therefore, this day is also known as the Carnation Revolution.

Here you can also find the ruins of the Carmo Convent (which you can visit), as well as the top of Santa Justa Elevator. Next to the elevator, there is this cool bar/restaurant🍹, Topo Chiado, which I really enjoy. Regarding food around here, I can also recommend Casa dos Ovos Moles em Lisboa,🥐 which has very good traditional pastries from different regions of the country, Di Marzano, with brunch🥗 and also really good Italian dishes🍕 and atmosphere, and Boa-Bao is a very trendy place with really nice Asian cuisine🍣

By now, I would recommend taking the elevator down or going back to Garrett, turning right to Rua Nova do Almada, and turning right to Largo de São Julião. A few steps further, you are in Município Square, where the town hall is located. Go back to Terreiro do Paço, go towards the river, and turn right. Follow the riverfront and take a rest in Ribeira das Naus(Photos above📸). This is a nice place to have a drink in the kiosk while enjoying the view🍺.

Five minutes away from the kiosk, after passing the Cais do Sodré station, there is Mercado da Ribeira or Time Out Market. Here you have considerable food options,🍝 and the atmosphere is really nice as well👭. After the market, following 24 July Avenue, there is a neighborhood called Santos. It is also very famous for its multiple bars and nightlife💃. so it’s another night option if you’re interested.

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Day 2 in Lisbon :

This area corresponds to the old neighborhoods of the city,😄 where Fado was born - we will be walking across the typical Alfama and Graça. Start in the Sé Cathedral ⛪(you can get there by tram 28E from Chiado, for example, but also walk depending on the starting point). You can visit the interior. Follow Augusto Rosa Steet and go up to Santa Luzia Viewpoint🌅. Check the amazing views! Continue going up until you find Portas do Sol Viewpoint, for another fantastic view! A few steps away, following São Tomé Street, you will find an homage to Amália

Rodrigues are on the floor on your left. She was the greatest Fado singer of all time. Then go visit the São Jorge Castle🏰 After the visit, continue the viewpoints path and visit Graça Viewpoint and Senhora do Monte Viewpoint🌅 Close by there is a cute cafe that I really like: Maria Limão☕. You can after visiting the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora🏰 and the National Pantheon. Nearby there is this place called Feira da Ladra (Ladra Market)👜, where there are people selling all kinds of things, usually on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9h to 18h. For traditional food in the area, I can recommend Pitéu da Graça and Mesa de Frades🥘. The latest is actually a well-known Fado House🍷 (a restaurant where there are Fado singers, usually at dinner time)👩‍🎤

Day 3 in Lisbon :

From Cais do Sodré, catch the train to Belém (direction Cascais). Here you can visit all the gardens🪴 (try to find the Pavilhão Sala Thai), the Império Square, the incredible Jerónimos Monastery🏰, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the Tower of Belém🗼 and the surrounding gardens🌿

You can get inside all of them. This area is all related to the Portuguese discoveries of the XV/ XVI century😆. 🏰The monastery and the tower have a unique architectural style, called Manuelino, once they were ordered by King Manuel I during the discoveries (and using the money obtained from that, of course).

Here you also have to try a Pastel de Belém! It is a pastel de nata🥟 as well, but the recipe is a secret from the “Pastéis de Belém” Caffe☕. The line to take out may look long, but usually, it moves fast. You can also go inside the cafe to have one, the place looks very nice. If you place yourself in Império Square⛲ looking at the Jerónimos Monastery🏰, you have a modern building on your left. It is Cultural Centre of Belém🏢 (Centro Cultural de Belém – CCB). Inside there are exhibitions😘 and an auditorium. In case you are an exhibition person, check which are on right now.

Go back to the train station and cross to the other side of the line. You will find a nice brick building, which used to be for electricity production and is now converted into the electricity museum. Next to it, there is MAAT👩‍🎨, which is the museum of art, architecture, and technology. It is quite recent so I have never visited any exhibition there, but the building itself is really cool and you can climb to the top. There is also the museum cafe☕. It is new, looks really cool, and has nice reviews, but I haven’t had the chance to try it yet. You also have some cafes next to it. I’ve only tried SUD, which has a cool atmosphere and rooftop but may be a bit expensive.

Extra Tips or Day Trips:

The Parque Eduardo VII, the gardens of Gulbenkian, and the Campo Pequeno bullring are nice spots out of the typical tourist route. If you have spare time, you could go to Parque das Nações 🏢(metro red line to Airport, exit in Oriente). I really like this part of the city. It is really modern as it was all built from 1998 onwards because of EXPO 98, which took place here (like the one now in Dubai). Take a walk along the coastline until the Garden of Passeio dos Heróis do Mar🌷 It has a nice view over the bridge and even a small viewpoint to it (Miradouro da Ponte Vasco da Gama). You may take the cable car to see the views.

Here you can also visit the Oceanário de Lisboa 🐬(a fantastic aquarium with all kinds of fish and also sharks!). I love this place. Nearby, I recommend the Zero Zero Italian restaurant and Honest Greens🥗 for vegan/ healthy food.

A well-worth day trip from Lisboa is the village of Sintra. There you can visit the Sintra National Palace🏰, the Quinta da Regaleira, the garden and viewpoint of Seteais (it’s an old palace used as a hotel today, but it is possible to enter the garden), the Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace and the gardens and palace of Monserrate. Additionally, take a stroll around the village and try the regional pastries queijada and travesseiro of Sintra from Piriquita. You can get there by train from Rossio or Oriente Stations (the first is probably more convenient as it is in the city center).

As promised, I also have to talk about the beaches🌊around the city. Next to Lisboa you have all the lines of beaches that extend from Caxias to Cascais, all reachable by the train that goes between Cais do Sodré Station and Cascais. For a different experience, I can suggest Praia das Avencas (leave the train in Parede), once it has varied marine life on the rocks if the tide is low. The village of Cascais is also a cute place to visit beyond the beach itself. On the other side of the river, you also have Costa de Caparica (train from Entrecampos or Sete Rios direction Coina or Setúbal and leaving in Pragal, then bus to Costa de Caparica). If you wish to surf/ have surf lessons, you can go to Carcavelos beach🌊 or basically any beach in Costa de Caparica. For a more exotic experience, you have the region of Arrábida. The beaches are absolutely beautiful, some even won international prizes! You have Portinho da Arrábida, Galápos, Galapinhos, to name a few. However, access from Lisbon is not easy if not by car. If you wish to visit without renting a car, I suggest booking a day trip from Lisbon with a travel agency (look in Get Your Guide, for example).

List of Restaurants/Cafes in Lisbon:

• Pastéis de Nata : Manteigaria and Pastéis de Belém 🥞
• Traditional/regional pastries: Casa dos Ovos Moles em Lisboa and Alcoa 🥐
• Topo Chiado (bar, restaurant, caffe, brunch) 🍹🥗
• Padaria Portuguesa: This is located all over the city and has regular pastries and light meal menus 🥯
• Di Marzano (Italian and brunch) 🥗🥪
• Boa-Bao (Asian) 🍱
• Cotidiano, Nicolau Lisboa, Maria Limão, Fauna & Flora (brunch and healthy) 🥑
• Pitéu da Graça, Mesa de Frades, Taberna Anti-Dantas (traditional) 🇵🇹
• Time Out Market (multiple options) 😄
• Os Tibetanos (Tibet food) 🫕
• SUD (varied food, Caffe, rooftop) ☕
• Guacamole (Mexican)
• Zero Zero (Italian)
• Honest Greens, The Green Affair, Naked (vegan/ healthy) 🥗

I wish you enjoy your stay as much as I enjoy Lisbon! Feel free to right for extra tips or to meet up.

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