Our free day in Dubrovnik in 2017 had everything: the city walls in the heat, lemon sorbet breaks, Mount Srđ views, fig pizza in a quiet alley, and a sunset walk along Lapad’s rocky coastline near our hotel.

Dubrovnik was our next stop after Split in 2017. Over two days, we explored the UNESCO-listed Old Town, walked the Stradun, and found the famous staircase that made it feel instantly familiar. I loved the quieter little streets most, and I still remember the lemon sorbet being the best of the trip.

A sunny early-morning day trip to Split in 2017: Diocletian’s Palace (UNESCO), harbour views, and coffee in a quiet old square.

Gloomy skies, slippery boardwalks, and crowds you couldn’t linger behind, but Plitvice Lakes was still stunning. Shuttle at the start, ferry at the end, and views worth it.

A rainy one-day stop at Lake Bled, with moody skies, and postcard views

We only had one day in Salzburg, but it was enough for a walking tour, a cathedral stop (obviously), and a slice of history at Café Sacher.

Two sunny days in Munich in 2017: palaces, parks, BMW Welt, the Altstadt, and an unforgettable Oktoberfest birthday night.

A reflective Journal Notes post on my 2017 European café trail, from Angelina in Paris to Gerbeaud in Budapest, and why I planned each stop in advance.

A quiet, historic café stop at Kavárna Slavia Prague with coffee, classic interiors, and views of the Vltava and the National Theatre.

A grand, historic stop at Café Gerbeaud Budapest for Dobos torte and coffee, chosen over the New York Café for its real old-world roots.

A Memory Lane stop at Café Sacher in Salzburg after a walking tour. Quiet, grand, red-themed, and the perfect place for Sachertorte and Viennese coffee.