Travel guides

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.

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.

‍

✳️ 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.

‍

✳️ 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

‍

✳️  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

‍

✳️ 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)

‍

✳️ 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.

‍

✳️ 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!

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

The world has been in slow motion since the Covid-19 pandemic exploded. As WHO declared a public health emergency on January 30, an increasing number of countries began to realize the extent of the problem. This realization came hand in hand with great panic, fear, grief, and stress. Summer arrived, and yet we did not welcome relaxation and lightness the way we used to when the holiday’s spirit knocked at our door. One of the things we looked forward to when we felt the first summer breeze, was a chance to travel. However, now, when we see the news, it becomes pretty clear that if there is one thing that we can erase from our calendar this year, it is travelling. And here comes the sadness and disappointment again. So it seems like during this unusual context, one of the things we look for is hope. What do you say we get some of it right now?

When this pandemic eases away (because it will, eventfully), you will finally be able to go out into the world again and you will be ready for the new adventures that waited for you for so long. After those exhausting and chaotic few months, what do you wish for? Probably some place when you can relax, enjoy some serenity, some peace.  

So, may I present to you Denmark at its  “Hygge” concept, an ideal place to enjoy your solo travel in all peacefulness.
Hygge is pronounced as hoo-gah and it can be explained as a way to look for a comfortable and happy moment to cherish in your daily routine.

After visiting Denmark, a lot of people returned home with a new sense of peacefulness. The cities of this country truly hold some magical power to make you feel welcome and comfortable. This might be due to the fact that they skillfully combine the following ingredients:

• First and foremost, you just can not ignore those colorful houses on the Copenhagen streets. Insert some image, please!  

So beautiful! Would you look at this rainbow?  The happy vibes are just reaching out to you through the screen. Imagine taking a walk and being embraced by all those lovely colors, sure it would help to ease off some stress.  

• As you take that little walk, you will probably see a lot of people on bikes, smoothly going on with their day. This is due to the fact that a lot of Danish cities are extremely bicycle-friendly. Needless to say, you will find it easy to take a ride on the bike anytime! Elaborate biking infrastructure, flat land and easy cycle renting are all here to make your journey as pleasant as possible. Thus, the relaxing atmosphere is also due to the fact that there is less noise pollution than in any other European capital city. So bye-bye traffic jams and hello serene bike riding!  

• As you ride your adorable bike through danish lands, why don’t you take a break and fully enjoy the view?  There are two well known activities that could really help you relax: photography and hiking. Denmark is known for taking great care of its numerous natural areas. Therefore, the beautiful danish windswept landscapes are the perfect spots to practice your photographic skills and let your mind freely wander towards an artistic activity or take a little walk and breathe in the pure air. Here are a few breathtaking places where you could enjoy some serenity: Møns Klint, Rold Forest, Wadden Sea, Råbjerg Mile…

• Breathe in the beautiful sight of two seas meeting in Skagen, at the Grenen Beach. The current of the Kattegat flows into the Baltic Sea while the Skagerrak flows into the North Sea. The sight of this phenomenon is so mesmerizing that you forget, for a split second, all your troubles.  

• The clean environment of this country also contributes to the whole peaceful atmosphere. For example, in Copenhagen, thanks to the Green Kayak project, you can do some free kayaking while helping collect waste in the waters. I have a friend who did it and it was one of her favorite experiences ever. Some words that could describe this activity: useful, stress-free, exceptional.  

• The amazing thing is that you can go to Denmark any time of the year and there still will be a comfortable atmosphere and lots of things to do. For example, wouldn’t it be a dream to sip some hot chocolate in a cozy café while looking at the snow falling behind the window? Or, perhaps, you would find it even more relaxing to stroll through the numerous art galleries and museums. May I suggest  the Nationalmuseet (Copenhagen) where you travel through history while discovering tales of Vikings and medieval times. Also, take a look at the famous ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum (Aarhus), one of the largest museums in northern Europe.  

Note: once the countries open their boarders and welcome tourists, it will be important to look at the newly established rules (masks, social distancing…) and respect them.  ‍

We had the pleasure to interview Dina, who lives in Cajamarca, Peru. She travels to challenge herself and to get out of her comfort zone!

She shared her thoughts about safety in Peru for a solo female traveler.

If you want to learn more about women-friendly destinations, join the NomadHer community and connect with over 10,000 women travelers all around the world ! You can join by downloading the app on the Google Play Store or on the Apple store !

‍

🌸 About Dina

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, when did you start travelling alone? Why? What is your current situation?

Hello to all the traveling girls of NomadHer, I'm Dina, I'm 23, and I live in Cajamarca, a quiet city in the north of Peru. The first time I left my country alone was to Santiago de Chile, for a volunteer I did in a scientific event. There I discovered how much it helps me to grow and get to know myself traveling alone, and I did not stop doing it, with every opportunity I had.

Which countries did you visit? Which is/are your favorite and why?

Well, although I have visited airports in several countries, I consider that I have visited Athens (Greece), Santiago de Chile, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu (Nepal), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Zug (Switzerland). I couldn't compare them, because each site is different and beautiful in its own way. However, I have to say that those places extremely different from my country, such as Nepal or Southeast Asia, call my attention more.

I was very surprised by Pashupatinah, a sacred precinct located in the Kathmandu valley, where Hindus cremate their relatives in the open air, perform ceremonies, and throw the ashes into the Bagmati river that crosses the precinct. A place difficult to describe with words.

What does traveling alone bring to you? Has it changed anything in your life?

Above all, travelling alone teaches me to measure my fears, learn to take risks, get out of my comfort zone, but always know where to stop, since I am all I have, so I have to take care of myself in a particular way.

What is your worst experience? How did you handle it? Did it have an impact on you, your behavior or your life?

I think my worst experiences are always at airports. Once in Switzerland, I misread the boarding time of my flight to Madrid and my friend had to pay a speeding ticket for running to get to the flight on time. In bad weather, good face, I arrived at the jousting and I had to take my hold bag as hand luggage and throw away many souvenirs.

What were the difficulties you had to overcome while travelling?

The difficulties for someone shy like me, is that first approach with people with another culture, with other values, with other traditions.

Best souvenir while travelling?

They will always be the photos I take with me. And I collect coins, so also coins.

You can meet other female travelers in Peru by joining the NomadHer community on the app ! You can download it on the Google Play Store or on the Apple store !

‍

‍

‍

🌸 Being a solo female traveler in Peru

Peru is an extremely diverse country, with incredible landscapes, many flavors, and friendly people everywhere !

Do you feel safe in Peru ? Is it easy to travel alone in Peru?

This will depend considerably on the place. My city, in particular, is not dangerous. In fact, in 2018 it reported the lowest rate of victimization, considering itself the safest city in the country. However, that is not the reality of all regions, Lima, being the capital, is the most populated region of Peru and also the most dangerous. Obviously, not all its districts are like that. Districts like San Miguel, Madgalena del Mar, Jesus Maria, Lince are relatively safe. However, the surroundings or the districts near the center can be dangerous. Personally, I don't feel safe in those districts.

Would you recommend Peru for a solo female traveler ?

In a very personal way, I think that if your plan is to travel as a backpacker, I would recommend doing it in a group and never alone. Unfortunately, the roads of Peru are not safe for a girl alone. However, traveling between cities, whether by plane or by bus, is safe. But like everywhere, there are places to avoid in each city. If you need more info, you can send me a DM and I can help you based on what I know.

How do you think travelling in Peru can empower women?

I think that women should get out of their comfort zones, obviously we have to understand that the world is a little more insecure for women, and it will continue to be for a while. So taking extra care measures is ideal.

What advice and tips would you give women who hesitate to travel alone in Peru ?

I would tell them to send me a DM, so I can tell them which sites to avoid and which sites to enjoy freely. My city is a great option ;)

A message you want to give to the women who will read you ?

Those memories that you carry inside after each trip, nobody will take them away from you. The future is illusory. The important thing is today. Do not delay that trip any longer, try everything that they invite you, disconnect the phone and be more present. Taste, smell, dance and repeat it.

‍

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, what is your current situation ?

My name is Magreth, I’m from Tanzania, I’m the owner of Juntos adventures and Safari here in Tanzania. “Juntos” means together, I came up with this idea to have my own tour company to encourage women to travel all around the world.

And I also have school to support families that don’t have money, orphanages, so they get education for free for kids which are 2-6 year old. You are all welcome to support us and donate some books, clothes, food. Kids are our next generation, so let’s put smiles on their faces 😊 And God will bless you !

You can meet other female travelers around the world by joining the NomadHer community on the app ! You can download it on the Google Play Store or on the Apple store !

Did you visit other countries?

Unfortunately, I have never been out of Tanzania, but I hope one day I will, and my dream destinations are Paris in France and Rome in Italy !

What does travelling alone bring you ?

Travel alone brings :

• Energy booster

• Connection with new people

• Learn new things and room for exposure

• Stress-free shutter and Rejuvenation

• Room for meditation

Where do you recommend to travel to visit in Tanzania?

I love to go hiking, I wish one day I will climb the Kilimanjaro mountain, the highest mountain in Africa, visit all our national parks especially Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro crater, Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and the beautiful island of Zanzibar. We call it paradise, I can’t get enough of it 🥰

What would you say to people who say that travelling alone as a woman is dangerous ?

First I want to tell people that Women are not weak, they are strong, and they can protect themselves from anything bad. Second, traveling alone as a woman is not dangerous since my country has a good security to protect people and also people in Tanzania, local people are so kind, so people should stop discourage women to travel alone especially when it’s comes to Tanzania. Our country is so peaceful with good people.

If you want to learn more about women-friendly destinations, join the NomadHer community and connect with over 10,000 women travelers all around the world ! You can join by downloading the app on the Google Play Store or on the Apple store !

‍

How could we change this idea that women shouldn’t travel alone, and should go with someone ?

I can change the idea that women shouldn’t travel alone by showing the experiences I had as a female traveler and showing that nothing happened, I only enjoyed the discovery of the nature ! And I think the idea can be changed if women dare to travel alone and experience that it is not dangerous, I also think that women who are travelling should focus on their experience and not give attention to things that they don’t know about. That’s why tour guides exist, they will be there to ensure that you are safe !

What is your worst experience ? How did you handle it ? Did it have an impact on you, your behavior or your life ?

The worst experience is when I plan a trip and I arrange everything so that my clients can have a great enjoyment but at the end, they postpone the trip so I have to communicate with the park and hotel people to cancel all the bookings and payments I did.

It has an impact especially in my business since I get a loss, and it changes my life because I have to live out of the budget, I have to recover from the loss I get.

What were the difficulties you had to overcome while travelling ?

Things to overcome while traveling are being sick, not understanding the language, running out of cash or getting lost by not knowing the place well

Best souvenir while travelling ?

The best souvenir I had while travelling was the way I was able to meet my customer’s satisfaction by getting them to the right place they wanted to visit.

How do you think travelling can empower women ?

Traveling can empower women because they can generate their income through traveling, and they can connect with strategic people from different countries in the world

Did you meet other NomadHers ?

No I didn’t get a chance to meet any member of NomadHer, but I wish, and I hope one day I will meet amazing women in different countries !

A message you want to give to the women who will read you ?

A message to someone who will read this is that they should believe in themselves, that they can do better ! Also in any journey to success there are a lot of difficulties, but they will keep you strong because there is no success without passing through ups and downs Difficulty should not be your downfall, instead you’re growing up.

‍

Estonia is considered as “The Finland of Eastern countries”. But it’s too reductive to resume how much this country has to offer to those who want to discover it. Estonia is not only a Nordic or an Eastern country, but also between everything, and this is unique! Estonia is independent for 30 years only, and inhabitants are deeply involved in the construction of their own culture❤️

I remember a guy I met on the ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn who asked me : “what are you gonna do during one whole week in Estonia, is there enough things to do and see?”

And after my travel, I can answer this question: one week was obviously not enough!

In Tallinn, enjoy the slow life between history and ultra-modernity, but always surrounded by nature! If you visit Tartu, take the time to visit museums and drink a local beer in a pub! Then, If you decide to visit Narva, don’t miss the medieval castle and a walk around the soviet suburbs, it is real time-travel!

✳️Transport

During my travel, I take a boat, plane, tramway, bus, and trains, and the country is very well-connected.

I advise renting a car only if you want to visit the countryside and natural parks (as I don’t have my driver’s license, I didn’t rent a car and that is my regret because the countryside looks interesting and surprising!). If you want to visit only cities, this is a waste of money to rent a car! It is easier to use a train or a bus between cities, these transports are very reliable and comfy in Estonia. To visit cities, you can do everything on your feet or bicycle, even in Tallinn!

‍

✳️Food

Food is probably my favorite part of every travel! Estonian food is very similar to Russian food, and I ate a lot of Russian dishes (such as a Seljanka soup, or Pelmeni…delicious!)

In Tallinn, enjoy your morning visiting Telliskivi creative city and Jaama Turg (market), and then, try food from all over the world in one of these food trucks with a cosmopolitan atmosphere!

• Maiasmokk Tallinn: The oldest coffee in town! Don’t miss the cozy atmosphere and tasty latte!
• Swissotel Tallinn: A French man, established in Estonia for 10 years, advised me to go to the Swissotel bar/restaurant. And the place was amazing! On the 30th floor (one of the highest buildings in Tallinn), surrounded by large windows, you can admire at the bar side a beautiful sunset over the Baltic Sea and the modern Tallinn whereas after, for your dinner, at the other side of the room, you have an incredible view over the old Tallinn! This place is a bit expensive and fancy, so if you want to save your money and enjoy the same view, another building not so far has the same view: Sokos Hotel Viru. The last floor is a KGB museum that everyone can access.
• Olde Hansa Tallinn: One of the most epic restaurants of my life! A local advised me to try this restaurant. It is very famous in the city and at first sight, it can appear like a tourist trap. But no! Everything in this big restaurant is about the medieval era. Atmosphere, dark lights, decorations, costumes, music, and even food! But it doesn’t look cheap or fake, it is very realistic, and you immediately feel the vibe! The waiter was kind and cheerful and all the musicians talented! The food was tasty and the price was not too expensive. I recommend 100% this address, you will not regret it!
• Werner Cafe Tartu: if you like pastries, cake, and tea it is the place to be! You can choose between a lot of different delicious and generous cakes with a cup of tea or coffee!

Also, Tallinn is full of bars and pubs which are safe for women! (And finally, less for tourist men because of scams)

‍

‍

✳️Safety

I walked a lot in the evening in Tartu or Tallinn and I felt safe (honestly, more than in French big cities). The criminal rate in Estonia is one of the lower in Europe and walking in the street as a lonely woman is not a problem (even if you can hear some unpleasant comments from men, unfortunately, it’s everywhere like this.)

On another hand, you must be careful in some places:

• Railway stations, as everywhere in the world, it’s a hub where people come and leave, and you must be careful with your personal stuff. Normal attention is required and everything is gonna be okay!

• Former industrial cities as Narva. I had no problem when I visited this city and the crime rate is also low, but this city is at the border with Russia, and they are some drug traffics. (as every border town, there are traffics, and we must be careful!)

To put it in a nutshell, Estonia was an amazing discovery for my first travel alone and now, I just need to come back to this country to visit more!

From Judith Grg, France❤️

‍