Do you fancy travelling to Europe but are confused by the variety it offers?
Then take a leaf out of the book from 22-year-old German professional juggler, social media star and world traveller since the age of 15, Luca Pferdmenges.
He can save you days, possibly weeks, of Googling, because he has been to every nation on the continent and here he has revealed his five best and five worst nations.
Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Luca said: “It’s very difficult for me to pick five favourites to visit, but I would stick with Portugal, CyprusSpain, Austriaand Croatia.
“They are famous tourist destinations, but I think they are famous for good reasons.”
German professional juggler, social media star and world traveller since the age of 15, Luca Pferdmenges, has been to every country in Europe and has revealed his five favourite and five worst countries on the continent. Pictured above, he is in his favourite city, Lisbon.
Explaining her fondness for Cyprus and Spain, she says: ‘I’m more of a fan of warm places than cold ones, so I prefer spending time in southern Europe in general.
‘All Mediterranean countries have the best climate, in my opinion, and I love Mediterranean cuisine in general, lots of olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh vegetables.
‘I love the relaxed atmosphere of the Mediterranean and Cyprus is one of my favourite countries because its people are some of the warmest in the world.’
“I like the relaxed atmosphere of the Mediterranean,” says Luca. “I prefer spending time in southern Europe.” The picture shows the old town of his favourite city, the capital of Portugal.
Luca at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, a city that impressed him
However, Croatia, says Luca, has a very high standard of beaches, and Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, is his favourite city.
He continues: “I like big cities with lots of things to do, but I prefer them to be warm.”
In addition to his top five list, Luca is keen to point out to travellers Europe’s ‘hidden gems’.
He says: “There are hidden gems everywhere.”
‘The Montenegrin coast, for example, is incredible and I love North Macedonia. Lake Ohrid is absolutely gorgeous and the capital, Skopje, makes you feel like you’re walking through an open-air museum. It’s known as the city of statues.
Luca describes Albania as an “underrated gem”. Above is the coastline near Ksamil in southern Albania
Luca comments that Lake Ohrid in Macedonia (above) is “absolutely beautiful”
‘Slovenia is a fantastic country for mountains and hiking, and certainly a cheaper alternative to Switzerland or Austria.
‘If you want to feel the medieval atmosphere, I recommend visiting Tallinn in Estonia. It is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, but the old town feels like a medieval market town. I love it. The daily market in Riga, Latvia, right next door, is also amazing.
‘Also give places like Romania or Bulgaria a chance. They have stunning beaches, great people, fascinating cities, amazing food and are often more affordable.
‘Albania, Kosovo and Serbia are also underrated gems. Oh, and visit Sarajevo (the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina) to learn all about its history. All of these places are very affordable.’
The five worst
On Luca’s list of least favourite destinations is the microstate of San Marino (above). “It’s very difficult to get to and there’s nothing to do,” says the traveller.
Luca enjoyed his time in Finland (above), but said it was one of his least favorite European places because it’s not “cheap.”
So, your to-do list is up to date. But what things need to be eliminated?
Deciding which are his five least favourite nations was difficult for globetrotter Luca.
He says: ‘Europe is my favourite continent to visit and live in. Choosing a least favourite country is very difficult for me.
‘But my least favorite list includes disappointing movies. San MarinoThe microstate (in north-central Italy) is very difficult to reach and there is nothing to do. You can see everything in a matter of hours.
“The view is great and the architecture is impressive, but it is not a country to spend a holiday in. If you are in Rimini, Italy, you can see San Marino in one day and then come back.”
Continues: ‘Belgium It is too grey and cold in winter, although my mother, Saskia Pferdmenges, disagrees and loves it.
‘Belarus. I had a great time in Minsk, but it’s a very difficult country to reach and it’s the only truly isolated country on the continent.
Luca doesn’t like “grey and cold” Belgium. In the photo above he is seen at the Atomium in Brussels.
‘Liechtenstein It is very isolated and expensive, although it is great if you can afford it, and the Nordic They are some of the most stunning countries in the world, but they are very expensive. They are not suitable for travellers on a budget. A short taxi ride in Finland can quickly cost between 30 and 40 euros (£25.30 and £33.75 / $33.12 and $44.16).
She adds: “If you’re on a tight budget, avoid not only Finland, but also Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Switzerland and Ireland are equally expensive.”
After covering the disappointing, is there any country that you found overwhelming?
He replied: “Turkey or Belarus, because they are very different from most European countries. The closest thing to a “culture shock” you can experience in Europe.”
And which countries receive the award for the worst climate?
“The worst weather is in the UK,” says Luca. “My ex-girlfriend is from the UK so I spent a lot of time there for almost four years. I love the UK and I miss supermarkets like Morrison’s, but the weather isn’t exactly like that.”
Luca has spent a lot of time in the UK, where he is pictured above, but although he “loves” the country, he says the weather is the worst in Europe.