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In the heart of Tuscany – Best things to visit in Val d’Orcia

If someone happens to ask me: which one is your favourite region in Italy? I wouldn’t be able to give an honest answer to this question, but I can openly say that Tuscany is for sure on my top 5 list. I dare you not to fall in love with this region, particularly with this breathtaking little part.

Val d’Orcia, situated in the heart of the Tuscany region, is a beautiful valley where the landscapes are fulfilled with cypress avenues, green and light brown hills, hilltop villas and vine fields are the strongest and most striking points.

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So get ready to take notes for the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia, as there will be plenty of places to see and even more things to do and of course, let’s not forget the eating part.

You may have come across this name or maybe not, but for sure you will recognize some of its best characteristics such as the many wine villages, the small Renaissance countryside and of course the famous landscapes.

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The best things to visit in Val d’Orcia

Nestled in the stunning Tuscan hill, this little region extends from the hills South of Siena to the Monte Amiata. Its unique beauty and preciousness meant that in 2004 this province was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

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Val d’Orcia takes its name from the crossing river, Orcia, and it stands out thanks to its Medieval town, as Pienza, Montepulciano and many more you will come up against in this article. Also, let’s not forget this region is one of the most famous for its wine – Brunello di Montalcino, to name one – and the mouth-watering food, such as Pici and Pecorino di Pienza.

As much excitement as I felt, I would like to pass them on to you so you can love and appreciate everything as I did. So here are for you, the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia.

How to get to Val d’Orcia

Planning your trip, consider it a must to have your own transport, to enjoy all the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia. The distance from Rome is around 2 and a half hours, while from Florence and Siena shrink to less than 1 and a half hour.

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Unfortunately, no train reaches this area closely, the only alternatives are to get to Siena by train and from there move by local buses, but they only connect to the biggest town.

Other fun and unforgettable choices to visit this area are either by bicycle or by walking through the Via Francigena – the last is on my bucket list since I visit the Val d’Orcia and came across the walking track so many times, I loved the vibes.

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Monticchiello

Luckily enough I could get my cosy accommodation for the whole journey here in Montichiello. So from where to start my list of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia, if not from here?

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With its 202 habitants, Montichiello is famous for its Medieval and well-preserved borough over time. This town has said to be founded 1000 years ago and to prove this there is the church of Saints Leonard and Christopher and the city walls with towers, standing tall from more than 850 years.

Arrive in Monticchiello by driving through this meandering white road on the Tuscan hills and park the car close by the “door” of the village.

Here stop to enjoy from the viewpoint the spring up of Pienza town and the green and light brown landscape filled with the tall mainstream cypress trees.

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Monticchiello is a small and cute village, the houses, restaurant and church keep all the same style, bringing you back to Medieval times. Get lost through the street appreciating the flowery balcony, the little main square and, of course, the splendid church of “Santi Leonardo e Cristoforo“.

I highly recommend stopping here for your dinner or aperitivo, the 6 restaurants are there for you to discover the beautiful wine the Tuscany region has to offer and the deliciously, fresh and seasonally prepared food; keeping the traditions and the flavours as simple and amazing as they are. Some of my favourite restaurants are Taverna di Bronzone and Daria, but let me tell you all of them will please your gut.

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Last but not least, do not miss the unique and original folk tradition, the “Teatro Povero” (poor Theather of Monticchiello). Since the ’60s, this event was taking life out of an economic and social crisis, from then until today during the summer the community of actors has grown an “autodrama”.

The Teatro Povero acts in dramatic performances touching on different topics, such as historical events and wars, and the strong connection the community of people has built will let you enjoy at most this experience of the open sky theatre.

Pienza

Another listed UNESCO world heritage site of Tuscany and in Val d’Orcia is the little gem of Pienza and also a great producer of a special cheese: Pecorino di Pienza.

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Famous for being a hilltop village in the heart of Tuscany, Pienza offers years of history within its medieval walls and historical buildings, such as the Church of Saint Francis, Palazzo Piccolomini and its garden, the elegant Pienza Cathedral and the decorative Town Hall.

The small and delightful historical centre, the alleys to lose yourself within this beautiful town and discovering houses built with the typical ochre stone, will make your best visit to Pienza. Walking into the village you will spot viewpoints that deserve to be exploited for some time during your stay, sweet and tiny balconies, flowers and plants decorating the alleyway.

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Spend a full day in this area and enjoy one (or two) of the many restaurants for your meal. For lunch, dinner or even aperitif with a view definitely stop at Idyllium. The vibes in this place are just so high you will definitely love it, same for the food, drinks and service.

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If you want to enjoy your food within the city walls Sette di Vino, la Taverna di Re Artù or Baccano are some of the other very good and on-budget restaurants to fall in love with the fresh and tasty typical Tuscan food.

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Don’t forget to try Pecorino di Pienza, either in restaurants and bars; but also in the many artisan shops you will meet during your walk. The smell of this cheese will definitely capture you in a deli where you can have a taste of it and buy some of the local and usually handmade products.

Considering staying overnight? Book a room in Agriturismo Podere San Giorgio, here you will be pampered and surrounded by nature, animals, wine, food and good people.

San Quirico d’Orcia

Only 15 minutes driving from Pienza you will reach San Quirico d’Orcia, another of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia.

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Park your car and get to stay here for at least a couple of hours (close by the sunset hour if you manage) or consider staying the night, because even if is a little village, the cuteness of it will make you feel so good you will want to spend the full day and more.

San Quirico d’Orcia welcomes you through the city gate which opens onto the main square and surrounds you with the medieval walls. The village has little more than 2 thousand habitats and used to be a stop along the Via Francigena for the pilgrims on the way to Rome.

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The 3 churches in San Quirico d’Orcia are situated respectively at both the “end” and the middle of the village. Pieve dei Santi Quirico e Giulietta is the biggest one at one end, followed by the Church of Saint Francis at the centre and at the other end is to be found the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The three Churches are characterized by a wonderful Romanesque facade of this light colour stone, which during the “golden hours” turned into pinkish colour and give a wordless feeling to just enjoy.

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Not to be missed visit the Horti Leonini, a public historical garden dating back to 1581 and preserved over the year in a wonderful way, even though they have been expanded over the years, they are for sure a perfect example of a typical Italian-style Garden. Definitely spend some time here just wandering around with an empty mind and an open heart.

Chapel of Vitaleta

Drivign between Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia, spotted from the main road is the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta, one of the most photographated spot on the Val d’Orcia hills.

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If you are willing for a short walk, I highly recommend leaving your car in the small parking space you will see on the side of the road and getting to do the 40 minutes satisfy walk.

Deeply typical of this area, during your walk towards the Chapel, the green and golden hills, the poetic olives trees and the dark green cypress are gonna enhance your path; the feeling of the fresh wind and warm sun will only let you love more the journey to this pretty late 1800’s architecture which is the Chapel of Vitaleta.

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Montepulciano

The best things to visit in Val d’Orcia cannot be “the best” without walking through the street and to the vineyards of Montepulciano.

Montepulciano is another stunning hilltop and medieval location that you can’t miss to visit during your stay in Val d’Orcia. This town, like most of them in the area, is best to be visited on foot.

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Reaching the parking you will be welcomed by the ochre walls of Montepulciano, which will delight your ramble in its narrow street. Strolling through the gate of “Porta Prato” you engage the main street, walk and enjoy the many cafes, restaurants, small souvenir shops – that offer local products such as textiles, olive oil and wine – and also historical buildings craved with symbols from local families.

The main spots to visit in Montepulciano are the Pizza Grande, the church of Sant’ Agostino, the medieval and Reinaccece historical palaces such as Palazzo Comunale, the Nobili-Taurici Palace and not to forget, the stunning Montepulciano Cathedral from the early 17th century.

As a viewpoint and landscape lover, I suggest you to sneak from Piazza Grande through one of the small alleys and get some time for yourself just overlooking all around you. The beautiful nature view will allow the Church of the Madonna di San Biagio to flourish in a picturesque way and give you an extra emotion for your journey.

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Photo e-Borghi

Wine tasting is a must around this area if you are a wine lover. Montepulciano has an amazing reputation over red wine, in fact here is produced some of the best Italian, and so Tuscan, wines.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello and Vino Santo tasting and studying can make your days sweeter and fulfil with another beautiful experience among the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia.

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Consider attempting the wine tasting in one of the many shops, bars or Osterie; but if you get to have a full day or more to stay in this area, I suggest booking your tasting in a proper winery. Here you will be delighted with wine and food pairing (cheeses mostly) and proper enlightenment on the vineyard itself, the process of making these wines and a perfect exposition of this so-loved drink.

Spoiled for choice looking for a restaurant in town will not be a difficult challenge, so listen to the vibes of the place, look at the menu if you’re searching for something specific and love eating your fresh meal sitted maybe outdoor. Cantina Gatta Vecchia Osteria gives you this special feeling of being stuck in time while eating surrounded by big old barrels.

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Cheese and Wine Picnic at Cugisi

Indeed I am a food, wine and nature lover so as I spend my week in Val d’Orcia, my best friend came over with this name: Caseificio Cugisi and came out this fantastic place situated between Pienza and Montalcino.

Caseificio Cugisi is a cheese factory founded in 1962 by Raffaele and Maria Cugisi who moved from Sardinia to Tuscany carrying with them the cheese traditions and knowledge, building up a unique Caseificio with a lovely familiar touch.

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What is so special about Cugisi? Despite the stunning hilltop location their shop, and so “factory” is extended over 190 hectares amid olive trees, vineyards and pastures. Here is home to the thousand flocks of sheep, fed by the high-quality pasture grass which gives the milk, and so the cheese, the unmistakable, light but still uniquely tasty flavour.

Cheese tasting and picnic are the two main experiences Caseificio Cugisi has to offer. The tasting included 5 different Pecorino and one ricotta cheese, matched with jam and honey and a glass of Vino Rosso di Montalcino.

The intriguing opportunity to picnic with cheese and wine over the Val d’Orcia landscapes, surrounded by cypress, the typical green and golden hills, the peaceful sound and the view over the distant villages, was taken for granted to be one of the best experiences I could do in this area.

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Get into the shop choosing “by the nose” between over 20 different cheese of their own production, the local cured meat, jam, honey and much more; of course, do not forget your favourite matching drink choosing through the many options, from some of the best wine of Montepulciano winery and the local craft beer and non.

Take your wicker basket full of happiness and find the best spot to appreciate the unforgettable experience which is.

Bagno Vingoni

An hamlet of San Quirico d’Orcia is the tiny village of Bagno Vignoni. With only 30 inhabitants this touristic spot is famous for its only hot water pool square, the so-called “Piazza delle Sorgenti” (Square of Sources).

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No wonder why is one of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia; the rectangular tank in Bagno Vignoni Square, has sat there since the sixteen-century, containing the original source of water coming from the subterranean aquifer of volcanic origins.

This small village is exactly on the Via Francigena route and the thermal water this area offer, has been used since Roman times. Also don’t forget to go for a walk at Mill Park (Parco dei Mulini), where the thermal hot water flows between these 4 middle age mills, built to provide, in the past, water even during the dry season. The view from here is fantastic and there is also a little hike to enjoy, with the sounds of nature that accompanies you.

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Enjoy your al fresco wine with some food and experience the thermal spring water (not the one in the main square) at some Spa or Hotel.

Bagni San Filippo

Val d’Orcia isn’t for sure only hilltop Medieval villages, food and wine; natural hot spring thermal areas are also quite famous here in this area.

Definitely, the best thing to visit in Val d’Orcia during any of your days, whether you want to relax, be far from “village noises” or just have a picnic surrounded by nature sounds, is to make your way to Bagni San Filippo and please your journey in complete harmony with nature.

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Situated in the forest of the Siena region, Bagni San Filippo is far from mass tourism and a fee-free area (you only pay the parking fee) where to spend some time in complete peace and tranquillity.

The hot sulfur spring water origin in Monte Amiata and comes all the way down forming a hot river with hot water pools whose temperature reaches 25° Celcius. Let yourself immerse and take the advantage of these water healing benefits surrounded by the untouched nature and limestone deposits that created beautiful rock formations over the years.

Trust me, make your way to visit, but mostly to live, this stunning location of Val d’Orcia. Don’t be afraid to walk further down the “river”, as more pools and beautiful landscapes will take your breath away and eventually gives you more privacy or better a pool to enjoy all for yourself.

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Montalcino

Here we are to Val d’Orcia’s best wine area, Montalcino whose vineyards produce one of the most famous and delicious wines in Italy: Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino.

Are you ready to love another hilltop village and the surrounding area of Val d’Orcia? Let’s take a closer look at the most visited place in this area for the wine lover.

As you might have understood from all the previous places listed, the Val d’Orcia area gives its best if you walk through the villages, towns and main spots (of course would need a car to move from one village to the other).

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Duomo di Montalcino

So reach Montalcino by car, park it and get lost in its narrow alleys. The streets are mostly close to traffic and the tour of the city will be delightful with all the encounters you will have during your journey. From flowery balconies to al fresco restaurants, enotecas, cafes, wineries and stunning and pleasant sites such as squares and historical buildings.

At the top of the hill, the 13th-century fortress, the Rocca, dominates the scene with its tall walls and turrets. Let yourself in, exploring the fee-free internal garden, or a 4€ walk on the famous walls overlooking the Val d’Orcia hills.

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As you are getting lost through the alleys, run into the main square of Montalcino, a large space where cafes, bars and restaurants gather all the “crowd”; here during the summer, you can enjoy the open-air live Jazz music while sipping your favourite wine. Ancient churches, Reinassence buildings and the famous Montalcino’s Duomo are other of the main attraction of the lovely town.

Last but definitely not least let’s talk about Montalcino’s wine. Some of the most important wine, not only in Italy but all over the world, is produced from zero in this stunning area in the heart of Tuscany.

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If you are a wine lover, Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino are a must-try, especially in their own hometown. Bars, restaurants and wineries do offer a tasting experience, but if you are keen and you have time and interest, I suggest you book a tasting with a guided tour of the winery in a vineyard outside the town.

Cantine Mastrojanni, Terralsole, Casato Prime Donne and Corte Pavone are just some of the crazy amount of vineyards this area of Val d’Orcia has. So check it out on their website and do not hesitate to book your tasting.

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Best time to visit Val d’Orcia

Val d’Orcia offer all-year-around good weather, despite the cold and wet months between November and February, the rest of the year is most likely to enchant your stay in the heart of Tuscany.

From my point of view the best months are April, May, June and September, as the weather is not at its peak point and, eventually, you will get to enjoy the cool breeze during the whole day.

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I hope you like this overview of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia and I wish to help you even more in case you have some doubts about planning your trip over this amazing location.

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3 easy and tasty camping breakfasts – to eat healthy in the morning

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Camping is starting to finally happen in my life since I get back to Australia, the chances to camp are getting more and the places I have been camping so far are unforgettable each one for a reason.

And guess what my favourite meal is during the camping adventure? Of course the awaking, delicious and pampering morning breakfast.

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Photo: Seattle times

Here are 3 easy and tasty camping breakfast ideas to start the day in the best way, healthy, with plenty of nutrients, vitamins and all that is needed to provide long-lasting energy and keep you full for hours.

Definitely going to camp in a relaxing, almost empty and fully immerse in nature location is the best deal for me and I guess for most of the people who love to go camping; and one of the most important things, when you do this, is to impact less on the environment that surrounds you.

This post will give you some ideas on what to eat in the morning and so, 3 easy and tasty camping breakfasts to enjoy before your hiking or exploration day. The breakfast can be vegan, vegetarian or non depending on what your diet is like at the moment, or simply what you feel like eating during the nature retreat, holiday or road trip you are experiencing.

3 easy and tasty camping breakfast

What makes camping an unforgettable experience? For sure, building your tent or setting up the caravan, lighting and chilling by the campfire, diving in the stunning location and the nature noises, the friendly neighbours and, very important, the food.

As a nature and food lover and as a chef I have learned through the years that being less impactful on nature is one of the principal facts for me.

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Photo: Country Living

So when I go camping, I try to think ahead and plan some of my meals considering the waste, the nutrients intake, my health and of course what the day is going to be like. In case I want to go for a long hike after breakfast, I will need plenty of energy to face the journey and avoid taking extra food with me (fruit and nut bars except).

Try all these 3 easy and tasty camping breakfast ideas and adapt them with your favourite fruits and protein to have even more choices during your adventure.

1 – Overnight oat

First of the 3 easy and tasty camping breakfasts comes the overnight oats, the most simple, stress-free and flavours breakfast I ate the most in the last couple of years.

All you need is:

  • Rolled Organic Oats
  • Oat milk or any other
  • Peanut butter
  • Seasonal fruit
  • Mixed seeds
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Photo: The edge combers

Since I worked in a “breakfast and brunch cafe” in Sydney back in 2019, I started to learn more about oats and so I decided to integrate them into my diet. This simple grain does provide so many benefits that can define the oat as one of the best grains to consume daily.

In fact, Oats provide antioxidants, it lower blood sugar levels, help you to feel full for longer, release skin irritations, promote healthy bacteria in your gut and more..

Simple as the name the overnight oats are prepared the night before, they keep for quite a long time if preserved at the right temperature in a sealed container; so they can be prepared at home by mixing most of the ingredients and then stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, in this case, you won’t need to take extra spare ingredients, so you will have more space for other things.

The best to use is for sure the rolled Organic Oats as the consistency and the integrity of the grain itself are kept much better in terms of nutrients and the texture just feels better while eating.

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I like to mix my overnights oats with differents ingredients to get the right amount of energy I will need for the day, so for this easy and tasty camping breakfast, I choose to soak together some chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, coconut yogurt, cinnamon and pumpkin seeds.

Once you have this mix then is just so easy to enjoy. A couple of spoons in a bowl, mixed with your favourite fruit and why not some crunchy peanut butter.

2 – Avocado toast

All the time I wake up and fell like having a savoury breakfast, automatically the simplicity of the Avocado toast come to my mind. The same can be done during your camping day.

Simple as it is the ingredients are:

  • Sourdough bread or any bread your choice
  • Fresh and soft avocado
  • Salt and pepper
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Photo: Jamie Vespa MS

My second choice for the 3 easy and tasty camping breakfasts is Avocado toast. Plain, effortless, bright light green, creamy and rich in flavour the avocado toast can be eaten in the morning as simple as the avocado comes, with some salt and pepper or fully loaded with other ingredients.

Avocados are a source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6, as well as niacin, folate, magnesium and potassium. They are full in monounsaturated fats, high in fibre and so helps to improve your digestion, prevent constipation and last but not least help feel fuller between meals. Even though the consumption shouldn’t exceed 50g daily.

If you have the chance to go to a bakery and buy some wholemeal, grains or seeded sourdough this will be the best way to enjoy your avocado toast as camping breakfast. In case you you can’t by sourdough just go for normal bread as the real flavour comes from the berry fruit its self (yes, avocado is a berry fruit).

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Photo: Little Broken

To appreciate even more this breakfast you can smash the avocado together with some chopped red onion, lime zest and juice, Himalayan salt, pepper and chilly flakes. In case you feel like upgrading this already nutritional breakfast, picking some extra ingredients is completely up to you, from a fried or scrumble eggs, to cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, smoked tofu and mostly anything which tastes good with avocado and sourdough.

3 – French toast

Sounds like something really-not-camping-breakfast but this is absolutely wrong, french toast is, of course, one of the 3 easy and tasty camping breakfast and I will tell you how to do it in the most simple way and you won’t regret it to have trusted me.

The main ingredients for this breakfast are:

  • Fruit loaf sourdough or any other thick-cut bread
  • Eggs
  • Milk of your choice
  • Cinnamon
  • Maple syrup
  • Fresh fruit
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Photo: Fresh Of The Grid

First thing first, depending on whether you are vegan or not, you need only a few ingredients.

Alternative milk is always my choice – I don’t drink milk since I was 13 years old – egg, ideally organic and pastured or free-range, sourdough is best, but also normal bread loaf or even better raisin and cinnamon loaf if you lucky to find it (or to bake it your self with this good recipe).

Starting from the bread, I recommend choosing a whole loaf to slice by yourself as thick as you wish or an already thick sliced one, thus you can soak it for longer into the liquid mixture and the cooking results will be better.

A couple (or 3 if small) of eggs – will be enough for two people or four good slices of sourdough – mix with a cup of oat milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla seeds and the liquid mixture is ready to welcome the bread for 20ish seconds before the cooking process.

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If you don’t eat eggs, just don’t use them for the mixture it won’t make a big difference and you will love the flavour anyway.

Ready to cook your french toast?

Reheat your non stick-pan, add some coconut oil or plant base butter and start caramelized your previously soaked sourdough. Make sure you get the right cooking checking the crunchiness and the colour of your french toast.

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Season them with maple syrup, fruits and icing sugar if you want an extra fancy touch and finally you are ready to eat the best simple and healthy Frech Toast.

So sit with your coffee or orange juice and love eating one of the 3 easy and tasty camping breakfasts before starting your busy day doing anything else.

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If you liked the breakfast ideas and want to have some more or if you have questions and you tried the 3 camping breakfast, I would love to read your comment.

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10 top things to visit in Adelaide

South Australia’s Capital is vibrant, full of history and culture, the city of Adelaide is a must-visit if you happen to travel to this side of the globe or if you already live in Australia.

I guess you are wondering whether to visit Adelaide or not. Well, the answer will be yes right after having read my “10 top things to visit in Adelaide”.

So far, one of the best cities I have lived in and experienced as a tourist. Adelaide has lots to offer and many good memories to be made in the fifth most populated city in Australia

When to visit Adelaide?

In this post, I want to share with you, as a small guide of the city, the 10 top things to visit in Adelaide. And of course, weather-wise, with the exact awareness I will put if I personally or my friends and family have to travel for a short time in this city.

Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate, with hot and blue summer and cool and rainy winter. Even though this might sound scary, the winter temperature doesn’t drop below 5° to 8° celsius; so if you are from a European country you might be used to this winter temperature and enjoy Adelaide during this season too.

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The summer months, half December to half March, are the warmest and the average high temperature goes from above 25° reaching the peak at 36° (rarely), while the average low temperature goes not less than 16°. Based on the tourism score these are the best months to visit Adelaide.

On the other side if you don’t want to risk the high temperature as you are not a “summer person”, April, the first half of May, October and November are the months you will choose to visit Adelaide. The high temperature is between 19°-25° while the low ones on average stay between 11°-14°, so you still will be able to enjoy the 10 top things to do in Adelaide.

10 top things to visit in Adelaide and why..

Whether you are still planning your personal itinerary to Adelaide or picking tips from my 5 days Adelaide itinerary, here’s for you the extra 10 top things to visit in Adelaide. A little encouragement to finally convince you to buy the ticket for this cute and people-oriented city.

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Adelaide is on the top ten most liveable cities, some reasons are for sure the quality of the life, the transport, the weather, the nature and the many enjoyable things and activities to find around – for families and non-.

Also known as Australia’s Festival city, Adelaide host many Festival thought the year, such as the month-long Fringe Festival – the world’s second larger annual Art Festival -.

1 – Take a walk at the green Botanical Garden

As one of my favourite “Botanical Gardens” I have visited so far, the first place in the “10 top things to visit in Adelaide” goes to the city Botanic Garden.

This 51 hectares green lung, situated in North-East of Adelaide, opened in 1857 and wanted to show the importance of all the plant and flower species to people. The Adelaide Botanic Garden was influenced by the Royal Gardens and Versailles, whether you are or aren’t a plant lover you will be amazed by other beauties.

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The three glasshouses are hosting the Australian, Madagascar and Amazonian species. National Rose Trial garden displays more than 350 species of Roses – the first to open in Australia – and is used also to breed different species of roses and see the best ones to grow in this country.

Spend a couple of hours, or the full day, immersed in this beautiful green Botanic Garden, so close to the city but so lost in his peace. Take your water, coffee and perhaps a book to read surrounded by the shade of the many trees, listening to the voice of nature.

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Picture from CityofAdelaide.com

Every day, at 10.30 am, the Botanic Garden of Adelaide offers free guided walks that last around an hour-and-a-half, there is no need to book as long as you are less than 5 people.

The Garden opens daily from 7.15 and has different closing times depending on the season, December-March 9.00 pm/ April-September 5.30 pm/ October-November 7.00 pm

2 – Brighten your day at Himeji Garden

If you like to meditate this is the place for you, to visualize yourself into another beautiful day in a likewise beautiful place. Another must-visit of Adeliade is for sure the Himeji Garden.

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Photo from Salife.com

A gift from Himeji, Adelaide’s sister city to commemorate the Japanese City. The Garden was designed by Yoshitaka Kumada who wanted to emphasize the beauty of nature and build the garden mixing the two Japanese styles – senzui and kare senzui – lake and mountain, and dry gardens.

Walking in the Garden you will be driven around some iconic features in many Japanese gardens, such as the koi fish, the Okunoin lantern, a shishi-odoshi, the lake and the peaceful zen rock garden – the perfect spot for your meditation -.

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Photo from Salife.com

Come here for a quick visit, for your meditation, with your takeaway breakfast, or just sit on a bench and listen to the bird singing to finish your day in complete relaxation.

There are no fees to pay and is open daily from 8.00 am till 5.30 pm, situated just outside the city centre, in the Southern Park Lands.

3 – See the sunset from the Jetty at Glenelg

White sand coastline, cute cafes, nice restaurants and plenty of entertainment are just a few kilometres from the city centre of Adelaide. This is definitely among the 10 top things to visit in Adelaide if you are a beach lover and need some vitamin D and relaxation.

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Glenelg is a neighbourhood of Adelaide, you can reach it via the tram and will only take you 30 minutes. This beach is one of the most famous in South Australia and so in Adelaide.

The entertainment here are many, from the panoramic Ferris wheel in the pedestrian area, the Beachouse, to the perfect sunset watching Jetty. There is definitely fun for all kinds, young people, adults and children all will love this area.

You can spend here the whole day, pop to the “Bay Discovery Centre” a social history museum interpreting the cultural heritage of South Australia. If you are keen, Glenelg, offers plenty of walking trucks, as well as walking the coastal path adjacent to the beach in any direction that will please your day. This path stretches almost the entire 70km of Adelaide’s foreshore.

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Photo from Weekendnotes

Last but not least take a walk on Jetty Road, small and independents shops here are fun just to have a look or make your day a shopping one, – if you need to – eat a Gelato or enjoy your beer or cocktail in one of the many Bars and Restaurants this place has to offer.

4 – Shop fresh goods at the Central Market

I am definitely a market and food lover so I couldn’t miss on my list Adelaide’s Central Market.

Established in 1869, the Central Market of Adelaide is one of the biggest fresh produce covered Market in the Southern hemisphere, with more than 70 traders selling all kinds.

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You can find here fresh vegetables and fruits – best quality -, cheeses, charcuterie, seafood, bakery and patisserie, handmade vendors and also a beautiful “bulk shop” called House of Health, where you can buy anything by weighing them into your Plastic-free container or jar avoiding the waste we create when we buy from the supermarket.

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If you want to know more about bulk shops or just reducing your single use of plastic, go and read my article “little steps to go plastic-free” and leave a comment on your thoughts if you are already doing something that you want to share with all of us.

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If you don’t need any of this shopping be keen to go to the Central Market for a simple walk, to watch the murals, or as well to eat in one of the many Cafes and Eateries. You won’t regret it.

The Central Market is open Tuesday to Saturday mostly from 7 am till 5.30 pm, Fridays until 9 pm and Saturday until 3 pm – the last hours on Saturdays the prices are dropped down, why don’t go.

5 – The Art Gallery

The 5th place on the “10 top things to visit in Adelaide” goes certainly to the Art Gallery of South Australia.

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Situated 5 minutes walking from the Rundle Mall – a pedestrian shopping mall – the Art Gallery is housing more than 47.000 works of Arts. Here you can learn more about Australia, from Aboriginal arts to colonial and modern painting and furniture, not only, as the gallery has introduced through the years Asians and Islamic arts and representation of Australia’s remarkable women modern artists.

Each room has a different “theme” and an interesting way of furnishing the room with the many pieces of Art. The Gallery is a must-visit if you are in Adelaide, all ages will appreciate it as there are different exhibitions and activities for everyone to enjoy.

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The entry is free, except for special art galleries and exhibitions and the opening hours are 10 am to 5 pm every day but the 25th of December.

6 – Feel in the late ‘800 at Mortlock Wing

While in the Art Gallery why not have a look at the Mortlock Wing?

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The State Library of South Australia is just two buildings left from the Art Gallery, of course, a public Library, but so historically important as, compared to other colonies, around 1834, the plan to create a library for public use started even before the Australian settlement. Officially opened in 1884, Mortlock Wing is a mid-Victorian public library interior, with a glass-domed lantern roof that allows the chamber to be lit with natural light and so to enjoy your reading or studying time at best.

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Entering the Mortlock Wing you will definitely feel back in time, to the 19th century, so go around and imagine yourself back in that years. The building is 3 levels high and each one has a different experience to offer. On the ground floor, you will find nearly 1.000 items there to show you the history and heritage of South Australia, while the first floor delights your staying at the classic wooden desk surrounded by thousands of old books full of knowledge and history and at last, the third floor will escort you through the way out, leaving you the chance for a last look at the rest of the books collection.

The State Library is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 am till 7 pm; Wednesday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm.

7 – Hike and seek Falls and koalas at Morialta Conservational park

Animal lover or animal seeker? Australia is for sure the place to be and so is Morialta Conservational Park.

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Only 10km North East of Adelaide, Morialta Park is a fantastic place to visit all year round, the reason why is among the 10 top things to visit in Adelaide are many, but trust me, this visit to the Park won’t let you regret any minute spent wandering around.

Goerges, creeks and three waterfalls are the main attractions of the hiking trail, perhaps at the same level as seeking animals around you. Koalas, kangaroos, parrots, honeyeaters, frogs and possums are just some of the huge wildlife this Park host; make sure you enjoy your walk and also look around you, on top of the many Gum trees that surround you, the chance you will see a Koala are quite high.

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Picture from SouthAustralia.com

Rock climbing, eating in the picnic area, mountain biking, kids playground and bushwalking are the activities you are able to do it once here. Spend a full day feeling far from the city, mingle with the stunning nature Morialta Conservational Park has to offer and still be able to have a chill dinner back in Adelaide city without rushing.

The Park is open from 6.30 am to 7 pm or 9 pm – depending on the season -.

8 – Take a walk through East End

In the North-East of the city centre, close to the Botanical Garden, you will find the East End. Adelaide’s central business district, where offices, new luxury houses are coming into life and where young people meet for happy hours, diners, cafes and more..

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This neighboured is a so-called “oasis of awesome”: street art, galleries, iconic pubs, small bars, restaurants, cafes and more gather together to fulfil your day around the city.

Although the area has not been officially demarcated, the boundaries are North and East Terrace, Flinders Street and Pulteney Street. Adelaide’s best green spaces can be founded in this area, same for the University and so restaurants, bars, Vintage shops and a crazy lots more.

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Self-walking tours are also a good idea to go around the East End and spend a couple of hours discovering this neighbourhood. Check it out during the different Festival Adelaide hosts, as some of the main attractions can be just here waiting for you.

9 – Hahndorf and Adelaide Hills

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Driving 28km South-East of Adelaide, the historic village of Hahndorf is another must-visit if you are in Adelaide for some time.

Hahndorf seems to be Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, the artisan village has this strong German flavour and you can taste it at the bakeries, pubs, restaurants and cafes.

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Easly walk the main road and you will be delighted by the many shops, from second-hand to hairdressers and barbers, boutiques, little artisan and handmade or crystal and mineral shops, even distillers and Art Gallery.

As you are in the Adelaide Hills region, so one of the world’s best wine regions, I can’t miss to tell you to visit some excellent wineries with minutes of Hahndorf including Sidewood Cellar Door and Hahndorf Hill Winery.

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Wine, craft beer and food tasting are just some of the beautiful things you can do around Adelaide Hills. So if you have time and you are good food, wine and nature lover dare to spend at least a couple of days in this Region.

10 – Spend the weekend on Kangaroo Island

Last but not least among the 10 top things to visit in Adelaide, is to spend a weekend on Kangaroo Island.

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Just a short 45-minute boat ride from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island will amaze you with tonnes of opportunity and adventure to enjoy. The best way to visit the island is, first of all, to stay at least a couple of days, as you can spread the enormous activities to do. But don’t worry, you can make the most out of a day trip too, and I am going to tell you how.

Departing daily from Cape Jervis and reaching Penneshaw (Kangaroo Island), in only 45 minutes each way, there is a Sealink Ferry which will be your “Taxi” for the day. The earliest departure time is at 7.00 am and will work if you want to do a 12 hours experience on the Island, as the last Ferry is scheduled at 7.30 pm.

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Photo from Luxury Escape

If your plan is to go with your own car, this is certainly a nice idea, the only con is the rising price of the Ferry ticket. From 55 au$ (no car) to 165 au$ (with the car) each way.

For a Day-Trip to Kangaroo Island, the best option is either to book a beautifully organized tour from Sealink – the same Ferry company – either plan ahead your moves so as to see as much as possible, or simply what you really keen to see.

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Acclaimed to be one of the world’s best nature-based destinations, this is exactly the place you don’t want to miss it once in South Australia. The main activities and must-visit of this pristine island are many and variously good.

Water activities such as diving, snorkelling, swimming with wild dolphins and kayaking can delight your morning hours; but if you feel more of a ground connection you can opt to surf the dunes or do an all-terrain quad adventure.

Discover the many wine cellar and the different restaurants you can find here and also don’t forget to go for good hiking to spot some wildlife, such as koalas, kangaroo, wallabies, echidna, goanna and more than 40 species of birds.

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Enchanted Fig Tree

As so in love with this clean and organized website, here is the official Kangaroo Island page, for you to organise your day or days in Kangaroo Island at the best. You will love this place, so start planning and you won’t get disappointed.

Here is the 10 top things to visit in Adelaide for you. I hope you can have the chance to experience some of them or better all of it, you will love every bit of this fantastic city. From nature to buildings, culture and festivals.

Let me know about your adventure in South Australia’s capital leaving a comment below and, if you need a day by day itinerary don’t miss my previous post “Adelaide 5 days itinerary”.

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Adelaide 5 day itinerary – how to enjoy a beautiful midweek!

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5 days in Adelaide itinerary

Are you planning to visit the most liveable city in Australia, or to enjoy some of the best wine in the country, or maybe to eat in some amazing restaurant? Sure, you will have to read this and make Adelaide the next city where to spend at least a week of your holiday or your road trip stop.

Here is the post for you, to read my 5 day itinerary in Adelaide and around for your perfect holiday trip in this beautiful people-oriented city.

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You will get to know my tips to plan the days of your stay, some of the restaurants I enjoyed the most, the different markets, some hiking spots and last but not least a good few of the best vineyards where to try some unforgettable wine. If you read my previous post, you could see I have lived in this city for 3 months and I get to see a lot of it. In my experience, this is a well-organized city, with everything a city needs to have to be liveable for everyone at every age

Something about Adelaide…

Adelaide, the South Australia’s capital city and the fifth’s populous city in Australia. The city is known to welcome many festivals throughout the year, here where food and wine meet and create one of the best encounters and where lots of history and nature, made their way to led this city and become one of the best Australian cities and one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Named after Queen Adelaide, the city was founded in 1836 and was the only freely-settled British province of Australia.

Adelaide’s history and form were dictated by her diversity, religious freedom and the progressive government, its free settles and wealth, contrasting the other cities of Australia. The faiths diversity made become Adelaide the “City of Churches”.

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The grid-like city centre is small and compact so you can walk easily to see most of it, either in the morning or in the evening you will always be fascinated by the store, the coffee shops, the little street food or restaurants, the markets and the nightlife bars, pubs and clubs. The city within the Park offers 7,600,000 square metres of Park Lands that circle the whole city centre, so you don’t have to go far if you need sometimes to chill and enjoy the grass for a picnic or a little nap.

But as well, surrounding Adelaide, there is plenty of nature if you need a hike in the green, a day at the beach, or just to watch some wild animals outdoors.

When to visit Adelaide

The Mediterranean climate in Adelaide is very cosy and offers hot summer, warm spring and autumn but rainy and quite cold winter – not much if you come from Europe -.

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Even though the best time for me to visit is the end of the summer you can plan your visit during the whole year, maybe just avoiding July and August as they can be the coldest and wettest months.

Day 1 in Adelaide – North Adelaide

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Staying in the CBD will give you the chance to take advantage of the free tram ride within the city centre, this can help to move around if you aren’t keen to walk the whole day. Here to read more about the free services Adelaide can offer.

If you happen to arrive in Adelaide by flight don’t worry about the distance from the airport to the city, as will only take 20 minutes by Taxi or Uber, either with public transport. The bus stop is just 3 minutes walking from the exit and will bring you to the CBD quite quickly and in a cheap way. After your check-in or just baggage drop at the accommodation reception, you can start to wander around Adelaide.

The city centre is very small, so walking around will give you the chance to see much more than with any transport, as so you can look up for the restaurant where you want to have dinner or just a drink after your meal at the hostel.

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Things to do in the CDB:

  • The Botanic Garden is a free attraction on the north-east side of the city which extends for 51 hectares, its open every day mostly from 7.15 am till 5 pm (Saturday and Sunday from 9 am till 5 pm). Opened in 1857 the Garden want to show the importance of the different plants in the world. The Botanic Garden in Adelaide is probably the best one in Australia. Spending a couple of hours just walking in this Garden you will meet some rare and endangered plants and several different areas; such as the three glasshouses housing Madagasgar plants, the Australian rainforest and Amazon water lilies, the Rose Garden and the “Santos Museum of Economic Botany”. The Botanic Garden has also coffee and a restaurant if you fancy some refresh for your morning.
  • The Rundle mall is this long pedestrian mall, the first in Australia where you can get lost to do some shopping, eat your lunch or drink your coffee before your next visit of the day. During the walk keep an eye on the several modern sculptures you will meet.
  • Just a few minutes walking from the pedestrian mall there is the Art Gallery of South Australia, open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. The entrance is free, except for special art galleries and exhibitions. The Gallery is home to more than 38.000 artworks, every room has a different theme and it will keep your attention to the pieces of art, so you won’t get bored at all. Australia’s largest collection of Aboriginal art is in this museum. The Gallery is a must-visit if you are in Adelaide, as it attracts many tourists of all ages. Plan to spend around a couple of hours here.
  • As your day might have run quick and the sunset time is coming closer, you can make your way to the accommodation by walking along the river Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens) which cuts North Adelaide. Here you will have a relaxing and chill walk enjoying the lights in the sky changing and getting every minute different and beautiful.
  • Dinner is just to pick your favourite cuisine and choose between the many, many restaurants Adelaide has. From Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek, Indian, Korean, Malaysian and German.. you will first get crazy and then, for sure, you will love the restaurant you choose for the night.
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Day 2 in Adelaide – Southside and East End

After your first full day in Adelaide, you can slowly start your second day here in the southern Park of the city. Did you know that Adelaide is enclosed by 7,600,000 square metres of Parklands? Well, I didn’t too before visiting the city.

Today you can relax more around the city and see what was left behind from yesterday, you can start your day slowly and chill out for a while in one of my favourite places in Adelaide, the little Himeji Garden.

Things to see in Adelaide:

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  • Relax or even meditate at the Himeji Garden. The Garden is situated South of the city, in one of the Parkland (park number 18, to be precise). Built in 1982, the Japanese-style garden, is to celebrate Adelaide’s sister city, Himeji. My favourite thing to do is to spend at least 5 minutes, sitting in front of the “Zen Garden” and just doing nothing, only enjoying the birds singing, the water falling and the other sweet noises around you, even though you are in the city over here that noises are mostly nature. There are no fees and it’s open from 8 am – 5 pm.
  • Have a walk in Victoria Square to reach the Central Market where you can grab a coffee, some fresh food or just have a walk. The Market is open from 9 am – 5 pm/ Saturday closes at 3 pm and its closed Sundays and Monday. Over 150 years of history, the Market is the first one to open in Australia and the largest covered market in the southern hemisphere. With over 70 vendors selling fresh seafood, healthy food, fresh produce, cheese, meat and handmade items, the Adelaide Central Market deserves a visit even if you are not going to buy anything.
  • On the opposite side of the road from Victoria Square, you will see a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral, “St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral”. The first foundation stone was laid in 1856, however, the building was not completed until 1996. Definitely worth a visit from the outside and the inside. The cathedral is open every day 7 am – 7 pm.
  • Full of vibes, colours, culture, entertainment and happy people, the East End neighbourhood in Adelaide is what you need to end your day and cheer up with an Aperitivo. Street arts, iconic pubs, restaurants, boutiques and small and pleasant bars; will sparkle your eyes. Here you will find for sure the right place for you to have a drink or two, on your own or with the person you are, doesn’t matter as you will not feel alone.
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Day 3 around Adelaide – Barossa Valley

Are you ready for the 3rd day in Adelaide, or should I say around Adelaide?

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I bet you were waiting for this chill, tasty and different day. Let’s talk about how to reach Barossa Valley, you have a couple of options: if you have your own car is just so simple to reach the valley, as the driving distance from Adelaide is only around 70km, so an hour driving. In case you are moving around by public transport this shouldn’t be difficult as well; just reach the local Adelaide Metro train from Adelaide Railway Station to Gawler Central, once there you can transfer to Barossa via a local bus – make sure you plan the trip ahead -.

Once there you will realize the best way to go around in Barossa Valley is definitely by bike. So what are you waiting for? Go and rent that bike. The Barossa Bike company not only offers a rental service but beautiful tours, such as “wine and cheese” and the “Barista, brewer and Wine” are organized.

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Barossa Valley by bike:

  • The Barossa Trail is a 40 km traffic-free cycling and walking linking Angaston to Gawler via the towns of Nuriootpa, Tanunda and Lyndoch. During the trail, you will enjoy the landscapes and the actual ride, which doesn’t get crazy difficult and indeed caters for all levels of fitness and experience.
  • If you decide to bike the Barossa Valley, the chance of finding your special cellar will be many. The trail cross many different cellar and winery, so your “wine tasting journey” can begin- just don’t drink and drive -. Not keen on a wine tasting yet? Don’t worry, on the route, there are many beautiful cafes, restaurants, bakeries and food shops to pamper your morning ride.
  • Lunchtime right? Got you covered tho. Some of my favourites are Seppeltsfield, Calabria Family Wines, Kalleske and Whistler Wines. Most of these wineries offer wine tasting and wine tours through the cellar, make sure to make a reservation, especially during the weekend and public holidays. Don’t hesitate to stop in more than one place both for food and wine.
  • Are you a cheese lover? You can’t miss Barossa Valley Cheese Company
  • Even though Barossa Valley is most famous for wine, there are alternatives such as beer tasting at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop, Rehn Bier and others.
  • Your day might be over, but you cannot make your way back to Adelaide city without having seen the best Barossa Valley sunset, the Mengler hill is your place to chill and enjoy the beautiful view.
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Day 4 in Adelaide – Relax at Glenelg

I usually keep it slow on my fourth day of the holiday, especially after three delightful days whirligig around. The plan for your fourth on 5 days in Adelaide, will be mostly to chill and wondering around, at one of the most popular destinations in South Australia and so in Adelaide.

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Just 35 minutes away from Adelaide CBD, Glenelg is one of the best suburbs of the city. Vibes, wide beaches, cafes, restaurants and unforgettable sunsets are all gathered here to treat your needs and feelings. The tram ride with the return will cost you around 8$ but, if you are a bike lover, the bicycle lane will take you straight to Glenelg Beach too.

Things to do in Glenelg:

  • As soon as you get off the last stop of the tram, exclusively enjoy the pedestrian path, the cute Ferris wheel facing the seafront and the Jetty.
  • If you haven’t had breakfast yet, consider going for a pastry and coffee at Superette, just a few minutes from the pedestrian walk. The place is super cute, the service is amazing and their croissant with cappuccino even better.
  • The best thing to do at Glenelg is to have a little walk on the white sandy beach and look for your beach towel’s best spot. As usual in Australia, the beach does not get crazy busy, so anywhere you will feel perfectly at peace.
  • The main road offers a vast option of restaurants, fast food and others in case your plan is to eat out, otherwise, you can grab a ready-to-eat meal or sandwich at Woolworths and keep chilling at the beach.
  • Good Italian as I am, I can’t miss my advice for a special Gelato. Here in Glenelg, you have the chance to try one of the best gelatos, in the “Bottega Gelateria” the handcrafted gelato will leave you, of course, cooler in the hottest days but mostly with no words.
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Photography: Josie Withers

Get back to your accommodation and get ready for your last dinner in Adelaide. Tonight’s experience is up to you, but I can’t withstand giving you tips about the restaurant choices I experienced.
As a chef, but first food lover, my passion for trying different cuisine are endless, happily, Adelaide is the place to be. Apoteca, Osteria Oggi, Est West, Soi38 Regional Thai, Africola, Sohoboso, 18th street Hot Pot and I can go on forever, but there will be a post about these restaurants for you soon.

Enjoy your dinner and see you tomorrow.

Day 5 in Adelaide – Morialta Park and Koalas

Finally, we get to the walking part of the trip, yes the last bit, not that we haven’t walked enough in these 5 days in Adelaide itinerary, but this time the hiking will be immersed into nature. Surrounded by trees, hills, an enormous amount of Eucalyptus trees, sleepy Koalas and three waterfalls.

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So put on your comfy hiking shoes, carry some insulated reusable water bottles, some snacks and a camera. Be delighted by the walk

Mori­al­ta Con­ser­va­tion Park is only less than 13km from Adelaide and under an hour by public transport the entry is free and the best time to visit the waterfalls is during spring or winter, even though the Park is open all year from 6.30 am till 7 pm (closed on Christmas day).

If you are a morning person and you are going to leave Adelaide in the morning, going for an early hike will allow you to enjoy the walk and the actual natural beauty around you. The singing birds, the fresh breeze, the flowing water stream and if you are lucky with the times even beautiful dawn.

The Park offers a Rock-climbing Zone, if you are an experienced rock climber, this area is the most famous to be natural climbing area in South Australia.

As simple as the hike can be if your plan is to visit the three waterfalls, be ready to face the 7.3 km trail which can take from 3 and a half hours to 4 hours. The three falls hike offers, in addition to the actual falls, terrific cliff views and two different lookouts, the Morialta Gorge and Kookaburra Rock Lookout. The rocks can be slippery when wet and the surface can be uneven, so put extra care when hiking.

Look out for Koalas and Kookaburra.

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After this intense still wonderful hiking day, the time to leave Adelaide is coming closer. The airport is still very close to the city and the way towards it is either by uber or by bus. In case you will need to catch the train, the main train station is at 125 North Terrace,10 minutes walking from the Rundle Mall, so you can walk or as well use the free tram service. If your next stop is connected by “Greyhound” or another bus company, walking 5 minutes west from Victoria Square, you will find in Franklin St the Adelaide Central Bus Station, where coaches depart daily to different directions of the country.

The Adelaide 5 day itinerary is coming to an end, but I am not going to leave you without extra tips on your accommodation and restaurant choices based on budget, mid-range and high-range basis; above all you will find a list of some extra attractions in case you are planning for a longer stay, or if you will consider a different option during your 5 day itinerary of Adelaide.

Where to stay in Adelaide

Australia isn’t a cheap country to visit, not like third-world places but more similar to Europe’s big cities standard.

Luckily Adelaide, as most of the cities here in Australia, is backpackers friendly, so accommodation, for backpackers like me, or people who wants to travel on a low budget, are many. If by chance you are looking for a hostel, a mid-range hotel or you are visiting for a special occasion, so you rather spend the days in a fancy accommodation, don’t worry because you will find the whole range of options.

Budget

The two best-rated hostels in Adelaide are surley the Tequila Sunrise and the Adelaide Central YHA, both on Waymouth Street and on a budget; the hostels have friendly staff, they offer Wi-Fi, and AC and a happy breakfast is included in the price. The fully equipped kitchen and the shared living room will make your stay more fulfilling, and so does the other services such as the laundry and the perfect central location.

  • Tequila Sunrise offers many dormitory options, from 16 to 4 beds of mixed and female dorms. The price range goes from 28 to 41 $ per bed. The “socializing dinners” delight you with 4 night a week free dinners.
  • Adelaide Central YHA provides dormitories from 4 to 8 person of mixed, female and male dorm from 30 to 35$ per bed and also a private double bedroom from 85 to 97 $. Another extra point to this hostel goes for the sustainability program they put in place, saving on water, energy and waste; not to forget the support they give trought Hutt St. Centre to help the homeless.

Mid-Range

Colourful and original in North Adelaide, Majestic Minima Hotel offer 46 unique rooms, each of them painted by local South Australian artists. The many facilities make this building my favourite mid-range hotel in Adelaide. The room’s price varies depending on the high season, the sizes of the room and the piece of art you will have all for you. It is on average per night, per room from 90$ to 120$.

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High Range

Fancy an unforgettable, with all the comforts accommodation for your 5 day in Adelaide? Maybe a special occasion to share with someone, or maybe just want to spend some time on your own to be waited on hand and foot.

EOS by Skycity is your place, this glamourous boutique hotel is situated a few minutes away from Adelaide train station and next to the river that crosses the city.

Every day in this beautiful hotel you will be cuddling with events, entrainment and the many different restaurants to choose from, beginning with Vietnamese-french cuisine, Italian and of course a South Australia cuisine fine dining.

Even though you are visiting Adelaide, this place will make you so comfortable to chill with no regrets for the time you want, the wavy white terrace overlooking the city is the place to be to get some Vitamine D or to cool down inside the swimming pool. The modern suites are different in size and shape, some of them with large and clear windows, plus you won’t miss a couple of hours at the spa and the 900 original artworks you will find in the Skycity building.

Where to eat in Adelaide

My best part is the eating one. As you might know, I am a chef and trying new food, or finding the best restaurant, is one of my favourite hobbies if we can call it so.

The restaurant I will list are just some of the best ones for me, but the good thing about Adelaide is that you hardly go wrong, if you are going out for food and drinks.

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Not only South Australia is the best wine region in Australia, also Adelaide is the perfect destination for the food lover who does not eat only for needs, but for the love of the ingredients, the taste, the sensations, the experience and why not to share a meal with someone or even with your own too.

After Canberra, Adelaide is the city with more restaurants per capita than other cities in the country. So you will love the experience. Choose your cuisine for the next meal and get ready to immerse in the enormous amount of restaurants Adelaide has to offer, European, Asian, Australian, African food and more..

Budget / Mid-Range

For you, my reader, the budget and mid-range section will be sharing the same position, as I believe if you are looking for Fast-Food you will know where to go.

The best Pizza in Adelaide is Etica Pizzeria. This little place will embrace you in the best vibes a pizzeria needs to have. Warm light and wall filled with photos of famous Italian places, vintage Italian advertising and a fascinating wood oven by the entrance door.

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Best pizza: Burrata and Vegana.

Do you rather eat some Asian food? Simply start to get lost in China Town and follow your senses, smell and look around you, for sure you will find your place.

My favourite choices are the Hot Pot restaurant, where you can make your own dry noodle or soup noodles, Chinese style by picking the vegs, protein, the kind of noodles you want and the sauce or broth. Some of them are 18th Hot Pot, Dragon Hot Pot and Chao Chow.

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High Range

APOTECA is definitely the restaurant to go once in Adelaide. The “Prescrition-style” menu offers the right balance between vegan, vegetarian and non-veg food for your meal in a well-furnished ambience. The tasting menu is also available and the iconic cellar restaurant (Friday and Saturdays only) gives you the chance to have a cosy dinner surrounded by wine bottles.

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This was your Adelaide 5 day itinerary to enjoy and use as you please. I believe you will love the city, the food, the wine and the nature around. Leave a comment if you need some more tips or only to share your Adelaide experience with me and the other readers. 


			

		
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Finally back to Australia… 2 years later!
		

			
		

					

				

Well yes, of course, the pandemic, this historic period that for sure moved the whole world somehow. But here I am now two years later, writing this post in the exact place I wanted to be: Australia. To be precise I am writing from Adelaide, the capital city of Southern Australia, one of the world’s most liveable cities.







Back to Australia





The country of the kangaroos, the wide-open spaces, the desert, the natural wonder in the middle of nowhere, the many deadly animals, the country with one of the world’s longest roads, the beaches and the great barrier reef… We can keep going forever listing all of the particularity of this amazing country, the beauties Australia has to offer are endless and definitely “to be seen”.





Funniest Australian road signs
Some funny road signals





Students, backpackers and tourists each year are attracted by this country. Some backpackers move here with the interest of living far from home and pushing themselves to get a life experience, so as to get out of their comfort zone. Others do it as a reward to themselves after the school degree and someone does it as well to start a new chapter, find their own luck with a career and settle their life in a place they always dreamt about. 





Each person I meet during my life as a traveller has taught me different ways of seeing life. For sure most of them try to do it as much as they can to really enjoy every little step they take. So am I, indeed.





Why did I come back to Australia after two years? 





We all know the pandemic had brought different rules in all the countries, Australia kept their border close –  to most of the world – for almost two years. So the answer is simple, I didn’t have any other choices apart then wait. But why I have decided to make my way back here it is a different story.





Experiencing this country on my first working holiday visa, I had more of a normal approach – the same when you are moving to a new “home”, or to a city you are going to live there for years. So at the end of January 2019, I arrived after an endless flight in Sydney and there I stayed for 6 months. 





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Sydney Harbour Bridge – New South Wales





I was working in a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House – the most iconic sights of Australia- and living in a 19th-floor apartment with a view. When my visa was half the way to the end, I finally decided to start looking for a farm job, which would have allowed me to renew the same visa for an extra year. So in August, I reached this small village 140km south of Cairns, Tully. 





What an experience was for me…





Yes, this was one of the reasons I did come back to this country, not only the little village with one main road, one big supermarket and just over two thousand people who live there. The VIBES.





The vibes that this place had were amazing, the feeling I had were most of the time positive, and the friends I met there made up one of the best groups of people I’ve ever met. 





Once in Queensland, I could see what I was missing the most by living in a big city like Sydney and working many hours in the kitchen. I was missing my feeling, the nature’s sounds, the fact I could be happy only to have seen a beautiful butterfly during my day, the chat I could do with my Australian colleagues and the “to be seen” talk done with a Wales’s woman who lives in Australia most of her life.





Just the fact of sharing the happiness – in any form – with someone else for me was gold and still, it is now. So the answer at “why have I made all my way back to Australia after two years?” can be easily explained:





 To continue my life experience here and travel as much as I can this stunning and huge country.





Two years between Australia





Let’s go back to the end of January 2020 and quickly do a summary of what happened.





Just after my first year of working holiday visa “down under”, the plan to get back in Italy for the summertime was strong and solid: travel throughout Asia for three months, enjoy my seasonal job as a chef in one of the best resort of Sardinia, and after that spend some months with my family, then leave Italy after Christmas to go back to Australia. Things haven’t really gone that way though, my plan to go to Hong Kong had to be cancelled so I stayed instead in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for the first two weeks and my trip follow through Thailand and Vietnam almost without any problem. 





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Crazy House Dalat – Vietnam





Almost because the last week in Vietnam was a bit of a nightmare, the cities and villages started to have fewer tourists and the fear of this virus was becoming bigger. Many accommodations during my trip weren’t accepting people with Italian passports as at the beginning of March 2020 my country was having lots of cases.





So when in Hanoi I had been refused to book a room in three different accommodations, I started to question myself: should I keep going with my plan and fly to the Philippines on the 15th of March or should I go back home, where I could at least be sure to have a place to stay? 





My answer got built by other updates, mostly from the Philippines government which, on the 13th of March, announced a lock-down in Manila for the day my ticket to enter the country was booked. Meanwhile, Europe had already too many cases to keep the borders open and the many restrictions made most the airline companies take the decision to delete most of the scheduled flights.





Half march I was finally home, in self-isolation, after more than one year away from my family I wasn’t even allowed to see most of them as of the restriction. Looking forward to starting with the plans I had once I left Australia, I had to change most of them. 





Nonetheless, my two years were luckily filled with job experience and holidays. I could work for the winter season in a stunning snowing destination as it’s Sankt Moritz in Switzerland and I had the chance to work as a Sous chef in one of the most famous restaurants in London.





… these two years of waiting for Australia to open their border wrote a big chapter of my life, I could get to know more about myself and my interest, I visited some beautiful places in Europe and still, I could spend unforgettable time with my family and friends as I used to do when I was living in Rome. 





Looking back now this time was gold for me, as I could plan my way back to Australia in a deeper and more conscious way.





Australia’s plan, two years late…





Travelling through Australia ain’t always been in my dream, or at least not one of the first ones. As a dreamer, my mind goes anywhere around the globe, since a young age I wanted to visit every corner of the world, or so far as possible.





London experience gave me the opportunity to meet many people while working, I could work with Australian people who made me interested in living and travelling to their country. This is how I got to know the chance to obtain a working holiday visa and do it so. After my summer season in Palma de Mallorca, back in January 2019 I bought my one-way ticket to Australia and did my “Aussie experience”. Having worked most of the time I didn’t get the chance to travel all over, so here I am now, doing my second year of visa with a different mindset: to travel as much as I can.





June is known as the winter season’s begging here in Australia, and here in the South of Australia, the climate gets colder than in the north of the country. This is why I decided to start my road trip as soon as possible, in a week’s time I will leave Adelaide and make my way to far north Queensland. 





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Dunk island – Queensland





The road trip plan is to drive the outback of Australia, reach first Airlie Beach and Whitsundays and then go up within the Daintree Rainforest. This will be spread over 18 days, more or less. The actual drive inland won’t meet special touristic sites as someone might expect, but I am pretty sure I will be able to make an amazing experience and why not, see some good things as in landscapes, village and others. 





How will I travel?





Entering again this country I realized the first thing I had to do was buy a car, not an everyday car, no. Since I was a teenager I always loved big cars, not that I know much about cars, but of course, I have my tastes.





As I have never owned a car in my 28 years, I decided to finally buy something I dreamt about for a long time: a second hand 4 wheel drive car. A 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero. It was challenging to find the one for me, but after 20 days of going around the Adelaide suburbs for the different inspections, suddenly a french couple who just ended their 2 years road trip ended up in this “little city” in South Australia. 





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My lovely Pajero





The car they were selling was just what I was dreaming of for the last few years, set up already for the trips and camping and in fair conditions in terms of kilometres, engine and other important components of the actual car.





If your plan is to come to Australia with a working holiday visa and do a road trip, my advice to you is to check well what you are buying. Give yourself some time before you make your final decision, as you can be lucky and get a very good deal from someone who’s leaving the country. At the same time, do not stress too much to find the perfect car. Australia’s secondhand car market is a big deal so buying a car won’t stop you to own it only for a few months and changing it for a better one.





Why am I here?





But now let me tell you briefly what the actual plan for the following years in this country is.





Having lost myself a bit in the last year, I have made it all the way here to get all the pieces of me together again. To bloom once more and to do that so I will need to do things I always loved: travel, eat, practice mindfulness and live to protect our earth. I am here to experience all these things and I want to share everything with you, so this will be the space where I can write to you my tips and how my life experience will go. 





As for travelling, I came back to Australia to visit what I haven’t seen yet and to experience working on the farms, so I can learn more about agriculture and get more connection with the earth. 





I am sure this experience will allow me to appreciate more what we call “the little things”. Gestures, actions, looks, natures, flavours, and smiles. In short words: small things that nurture and sustain you in life.





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Wallaman falls – Queensland





This, readers, is just the (second) starting point of my Australian path and so expect to read more about how the trip is going. I might have some good tips for you and, if you are a young person who would love to do the same experience, with the opportunity to have a working and holiday visa and travel around this awesome country, wait for the new post so you can get more motivated on visiting here. As well if you are keen to visit Australia as a tourist these articles will help you to plan an unforgettable road trip experience.

			

		
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three weeks in Cuba – Itinerary for a wild and chill travel
		

			
		

					

				

Some good Salsa music, a couple of Mojito gone already, people enjoying the vibes and I’m looking at a blue and white stripes flag with a star in a red triangle. Yes, exactly, the Cuban flag. But wait I’m not yet there… I am just in a very central Casino in London and it’s nearly winter, my shift finished not long ago and I and my friends reach the only open place to have a drink at this time. -Chef life, it’s funny and your working hours are tricky sometimes that the pubs might be all closed for an easy pint with colleagues and friends.-





Having a little chat I can’t think of anything but Cuba, one of the places I would have liked to go since I was a child; so in the middle of a conversation, I interrupt my two friends. -Every time I come here, listening to this music and staring at this flag I see myself in a little village close to the beach dancing Salsa not too far from Havana.- 





Apparently, I wasn’t the only one having this feeling, the same night we booked our tickets and so the days after I started to plan the trip. Three weeks in Cuba itinerary was our time to spend on this beautiful Caribbean Island.





As many of us experienced or might think before going to another place to visit, better not to put so many sights to see and cities, especially when is a country where public transport are not the best and you don’t know how moving around can be.





In this post, I will share with you, reader, my unforgettable three weeks experience in this stunning country, where culture and traditions meet happiness and beautiful people. 





If you’re planning a three-week visit to Cuba or even less, this is the right place to collect some ideas and read some funny stories about the country I had the pleasure to explore.







Three weeks in Cuba Itinerary and adventure





3 days in Havana 





L’Avana, Cuba’s capital city founded by the Spanish in the 16th century. Colourful, vibrant, cheerful and many other ways to describe this beautiful city. With lot of culture, arts and historic sites; squares and neighbourhoods, Old Havana claims to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site for nearly 40 years.





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For our three days in Havana, we stayed in an uncle’s friend’s house, who travelled in and out of Cuba for 25 years, and he now lives in Havana for 10years. The sites we visit at first were just a few steps from the house and so luckily the ocean was just clearing my mind from the busy traffic and grey sky from London. Cojimar is a Havana district just 7km far from the old town, you can see “El Castillo de Cojimar” and in a bright blue colour a circular columns structure where is situated an Ernest Hemingway statue. The American novelist was very connected to this city due it’s love for fishing and cocktails and to the ispirations for “the old and the sea” novel. 





The rest of the day we spent it into the Habana Vieja and got lost through the colorful and photogenic streets. And WOW, the vibes of this city are just amazing, the Jazz playing from the cocktail Bar, the live band performing Salsa and Mambo music for the happy dancers, and people smoking cigars on the edge of the road. Most of the day has gone in Habana, but before to leave the centre we stopped in a Bar knwon to be the birthplace of the Mojito cocktail (the same I was sipping in  London when I booked the ticket to this paradise). La Bodeguita del medio, it’s room with walls covered with writing and signature of the pasts castomers, famous and not, is the setting of this beautiful first day in Cuba.





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The next day in Havana we started it quite early (as still, the jetlag can be a sleeping problem) and the plan it is to visit some of the main Cultural Highlights. We reached again the centre and we walked by “Capitolio National” a building reminescent the White House in Washington; got in the “Museo de la Revolucion”, three floors museum where you learn more about the revolutionary period. The are many highlights to be vist or simply to be walked past. As the sun goes down we moved to Malecon, the eight-km esplanade, where we chill with a cold Cristal beer bought from a vendor and beautiful sunsets happening in front of me.





The nice thing about the old town is that can easly take 1 day to see all around, and in my opinion walking was the best way, but you have many spots where to drive around in a typical Chevrolet car from the 60s.





The third morning in Havana was quite funny and tricky as we went to buy a ticket for the next stop in Playa Giron. Viazul is the biggest bus company in Cuba territory, BUT.. for the tourist incresing in the Country I experienced the bus service is not able to support the number of people who wants to move around.





 So we reached the Viazul Terminal with a Taxi and once there we crash into this crowded place, as starting to queue for the ticket counter we can see around us two diffrent services offered in the same place. A bus service with a “fixed” schedule daily and a Taxi Colectivo service (share Taxi). The decision was obvious only after having queued under the hot sun for more than an hour – Cuba is famous for its EASY life, the people are very relaxed and chilled, everyone takes their time to do anything, so make sure you’ll go there with the same mind set. – A taxi driver approches us and so we make a deal, the day after he would have pick us up and driven to Playa Giron for only 10CUC (againts the 6CUC for the bus)





So make sure you plan your transport ahead as can be unconforable if there will is no available bus or no taxi that drives you to your next stop. 





 





2 days in Cienaga de Zapata (Playa Giron)





After a two or three hours of journey, sitting at the back of a turquoise 60s Mercury car, we reach our final destination, Playa Giron. The “collectivo” left us on the main road (maybe the only road) and around us an only a couple of restaurant-bar, two museums and a few “Casa Particular”. We looked for one to stay in, we left our luggage and straight to the beach, into the crystal clear turquoise water. -If you decide to spend even one day in this area make sure you try “El cocodrilo” restaurant, the food is fresh and tasty and prices are low. – 







The next day we booked a visit to “Cienaga de Zapata National Park”, so we drove with a guide inside the park, on our way to see Flamingos, Cuban tocororo (Cuba’s national bird), parrots, pelicans and other birds in their natural environment.





The activity inside the  Cienaga de Zapata National Park are many, from birds watching to snorkling in the sea or just enjoying the beach.









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3 days in Cienfuegos





Cubans are really helpful and happy people, you will realise once you’ll meet them. If you need to book your next move or need advice about a nice restaurant in the area they will be giving you tips. This is how we could move to our next destination on day 6th of the three weeks in Cuba. 





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View from the “casa particolar”





Only one hour drive from Playa Giron (and a little more than 3h from Havana), you can find Cienfuegos. -The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South)-. With his French and Caribbean style architecture it will capture you within the first buildings. Leave your luggage and let the vibes take you for a walk. Palacio del Valle, Palacio de Governo, Parque Jose Martí, Teatro Tomás Terry, Berry Moore statue and other more site to see in the city by walking, ferry or even with a Taxi-bike service.





Two days can easly pass like this, eat in one of the many restaurants with terraces on the main road (Paseo el Prado), watch an art gallery and enjoy the many bars with live Jazz and Salsa music.





Day three in Cienfuengos region was planned to visit the stunning waterfall – El Nicho – situated just outside Topes de Collantes  National Park. The location can be a day trip from either city, Cienfuegos or Trinidad. The visit to the waterfalls allows you to have a little swim in the cold, but amaizing, natural pool, only after a short hike trail into this peaceful forest that ends with a panoramic landscape. 





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El Nicho Waterfall – Cienfuegos





3 days in Trinidad





Only in 90 minutes rides from Cienfuegos, you will be in Trinidad. Leaving early the Casa you can have a whole day in the city, getting lost trought the colourful streets, visit the famous historic centre where all the buildings are well preserved trought the years and other main sites, such as Plaza Mayor, Palacio Cantero, Museo Romantico… 





Trinidad is another UNESCO World Heritage site and the second oldest city of the island. Very close to the city there are sites in nature to visit for a hiking day; our day 2 was spent in Topes de Collantes, the Salto de Caburni is 7 km round-trip not too easy but not impossible either. But it pays you off, the waterfall is a 60mt high and the natural pool is good to cool off after the walk. 





The way back to the Casa was before sunset, so we got ready for dinner and a night out. The restaurant name is “Guitarra Mia”, after a little queue to go in we finnally had our tastefull dinner that I still have it in my mind.  The rooms of the restaurant are filled of signatures of the previous customers , pictures of musicians, diffrents guitars and many clocks. So make sure, in Trinidad you’ll go to eat in this restaurant.





The more days you spend in Cuba, the more you will get into their culture and the more you will love this country. 





On day three, after the lovely breakfast from the Casa Particular, we reach the bus terminal to book our ticket for the next stop, Santiago de Cuba. Yes exactly, we planned for the following day to travel with the bus during the night, so we could be in the second-largest city in Cuba by the morning on day 13th of the holiday. Plans not often goes well.. On the counter for the Viazul tickets the lady tell us there are no bus the next two days from Trinidad to Santiago and of course, without reason why. So our options was to reach Santa Clara by the same evening and jump on the bus from there wich was leaving at 10.30 pm, or wait some more days in Trinidad and plan for another destination. By the time me and my friends were discussing about it (in italian), a Taxi Collectivo driver got into the conversation saying he could have driven us the morning after, we tought about but we were at that point sure to catch the night bus from Santa Clara, so we could be in Santiago in the morning after. Apparently not many Taxi Collectivo drives after the sunset, so finding one collegue, who could bring us to the city, for him was a struggle too. We start to follow him trought the busy streets of the morning, – crossing bread vendors, people who are just opening their shop and children going to school- and he started to speak with this tall man about our need. Finally after talking with more then ten Taxi driver, we found one person who could drive us at 6.30pm for a two hours journey. So as the day was now shoertened, by only trying to book a bus ticket, we make a deal with the guy to take us for some hours at the beach, just for some nice relax. Playa Ancon is a white sand beach with bright light blue sea, only 15 minutes drive from Trinidad centre. We search for our shade tree and we chill with some food and drink. After sneaking a resort’s outdoor shower (as we wouldn’t have time to do it in Casa before to leave it) our driver was ready to brigh us back to Trinidad to pick up our bags and then GO..





The drive was fun and long, the Taxi was from the early 50s, with a little fan on the dashboard, the noise from the car sometimes let us thought we wouldn’t have reach Santa Clara 🙂 By 9.30pm we were there, at the terminal, full of other Taxis waiting their next customers, some backpackers for the same reason as our and locals sitted in the wainting room. And here we are waiting the bus for Santiago de Cuba, a bus that came with an hour and half delay and took 14 hours to reach the final stop. Aww, Cuba, the country that takes it easy.







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3 days in Santiago de Cuba





Nothing but the flight was booked in advance for this trip, we decide it to take it easy and wild, what would have been we just go with the flow, a wise decision? I’m not sure but I loved it how it was. By the way, the trip with the bus was a kind of nightmare, unconfortable seats, close to the toilet and engine, each of the bus stop was way to long and many in the middle of nothing, just like he has to drop someone home or go to take some food in his house and last but no least.. FREEZING COLD. So prefer the Taxi when possibile, or bring a jumper or, anyway dress proprer, not as you were in Cuba with 30°c. 





When we reached Santiago we looked for a specific Casa Particular that shows on Lonley Planet guide (who was with us the entire trip) “Casa Yoyi”, the hall was full of plants everywhere and the host offers us a coffee, so we seated on the terrace and enjoy the chat with the family. After having our energies back we walked towards the city. My first impression about Santiago was unexpected, as during the days in Cuba some people told us wasn’t worth the visit, but we liked it so much. It is very similar to Havana but with a sparkle that I’m not able to describe. The main square is Plaza de Dolores, all around you can see colonial and eclectic buildings that makes you fell stuck in time. As the time goes fast the sunset is close to happen we move just two blocks, reaching another famous square. Céspedes Park and from there to the Hotel Casa Granda’s terrace where you can have your Daiquiri overlooking at sunset falling behind the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.





The second day was spent between Cementery de Santa Ifigenia, where Fidel Castro and others notable Cubans, who make some how history for their country, the Bacardy Rum Factory and Don Diego Velázquez’ Home (worth the visit and the woman who takes care are so proud to tell you some history background). Walking the streets in Santiago you will be amused by the many bar and restaurants with live music and full dance floor, so make sure you enter one of them and enjoy their contagious happy mood.





On the third day we had a quick visit to the “Castillo del Moro” and some more time to chill in these beautiful city street before our second night bus experience. 





Santiago de Cuba is surrounded by other beautiful sites, unfortunately we couldn't visit due the short time there, but if you get the chance hike in Pico Tarquinio National Park and Parque National de la Gran Piedra, visit Bayamo and Guantanamo City.







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3 days in Cayo Coco





After 10 hours spent in the night bus, around 7 am we reached Ciego de Avila and we run into a old couple in their house’s terrace preparing food and coffee to sell for breakfast to the early people going to work, and to us. You will find some people who does that, and trust me is a must try to add to the cuban experience, they always been so nice, smiling, good and the prices are perfect (pan con tortilla is just 1CUC). Walking in the little city we could easly come across many “Taxi collectivo”, we had a deal with the driver and for 110CUC he drove us to the resort and return.





“unfortunately” we had to book a resort for this staying as this part of Cuba has no Casa Particular but only Hotels and Resorts. The prices were still affordable as february is low season in Cuba. 





The first day in Cayo Coco was spent between the swimming pool and the ocean situated just in front of our room, as the resort was all-inclusive rate we had couple of Cuba libre under the warm sun with some chill cuban Jazz played live before sunset. 





The next day we had a fresh breakfast and went to the reception to book our “Hop on Hop off” bus service, basically a bus that stops by all the resorts from Cayo Coco to Cayo Guillermo, the last stop is the best beach of this archipelago – Playa Pillar. Surrended by dunes, this beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Cuba and Caribbean. The white sand and the turquoise and calm water makes you fell you want to stay there forever. When I was there it wasn’t busy at all, we almost have the whole beach for us. On the way back to the resort we stopped by the mall “La Gaviota” to see what it was like, but honeslty I don’t recommend, for the high prices and it’s a proper turist trap. The night in the resort was fun, we had the chance to see the show and talk with this cuban rock group of very young and talented guys. 





Third and last day of the island we spent it between the beaches close to the resort, Playa Larga and Playa las Colorada. In the late evening we took, the last night bus of this unforgettable trip, to Viñales





3 days in Viñales





Day 18th of my three weeks itinerary in Cuba , switched completely landscape. From crystal clear ocean, white sands and only resort area, we arrived in Viñales where you will be surrended by this green nature that almost hugs you and makes you feel loved. – On my experience, even if there are lots of tourists, still there aren’t excuses not to visit this area.- It is not a coincidence that Viñales Valley was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

			

		
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