Fancy a trip to Europe, but are you overwhelmed by the wide range of options on offer?
Then listen to the advice of 22-year-old German Luca Pferdmenges, professional juggler, social media star and world traveler since he was 15.
He can save you days, if not weeks, of Googling, because he’s been to every country on the continent and here he’s revealed his top five and worst five countries.
Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Luca commented: ‘It’s really hard for me to pick five favourite places to visit, but I would go for Portugal, CyprusSpain, AustriaAnd Croatia.
“They are well-known tourist destinations, but I think they are famous for good reasons.”
Germany’s Luca Pferdmenges, a professional juggler, social media star and world traveler since he was 15, has been to every country in Europe – and has revealed his top five and bottom five countries on the continent. He is pictured above in his favourite city, Lisbon
About his love for Cyprus and Spain he says: ‘I like warm places more than cold ones, so I prefer to spend time in Southern Europe.’
‘For me, all the Mediterranean countries have the best climate and I love the Mediterranean cuisine, with 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 the people there are some of the warmest in the world.’
“I love the relaxed atmosphere of the Mediterranean,” says Luca. “I prefer to spend time in southern Europe.” Here’s the old city center of his favorite city, the capital of Portugal.
Luca in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn – a city that made an impression on him
But according to Luca, Croatia has a very high standard of beaches and the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, is his favourite city.
He continues: ‘I like big cities with lots to do, but I prefer it to be warm.’
In addition to his top five list, Luca also likes to point out the ‘hidden gems’ of Europe to travelers.
He says, “There are hidden gems everywhere.
‘For example, the Montenegrin coast is amazing and I really love North Macedonia – Lake Ohrid is absolutely beautiful and the capital Skopje makes you feel like you’re walking into an open-air museum. It’s known as the city of statues.
Luca describes Albania as an ‘underrated gem’. Above the coast near Ksamil in southern Albania
Luca notes that Lake Ohrid in Macedonia (above) is ‘absolutely beautiful’
‘Slovenia is great for mountains and hiking – and certainly a cheaper alternative to Switzerland or Austria.
‘If you want a medieval atmosphere, I recommend visiting Tallinn in Estonia. It is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, but the old town looks like a medieval market town. I love it. The daily market in Riga, Latvia, just around the corner, is also great.
‘Also give places like Romania or Bulgaria a try. They have beautiful beaches, great people, exciting cities, great food and they 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 history. All those places are super affordable.’
The worst five
On Luca’s least favorite list is the microstate of San Marino (above). ‘It’s very difficult to get to and there’s nothing to do,’ says the traveler
Luca enjoyed his time in Finland (above), but said it was one of his least favorite European places because it’s not “budget friendly”
So, that’s the bucket list updated. But what needs to be crossed off?
Choosing his five least favorite countries was difficult for globetrotter Luca.
He says: ‘Europe is my favourite continent to visit and live in. It is very difficult for me to choose a country that I like the least.
But my least favorite list contains disappointing San MarinoThe microstate [within north-central Italy] is very hard to reach and there is nothing to do. You can see everything in a few hours.
‘The views are 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 a day and then come back.’
He continues: ‘Belgium is too grey and cold in winter, although my mother, Saskia Pferdmenges, absolutely disagrees and actually loves it!
‘Belarus – I had a great time in Minsk, but it is very difficult to get to and it is the only truly isolated country on the continent.
Luca is not a fan of ‘grey and cold’ Belgium. He is pictured above at the Atomium in Brussels
‘Liechtenstein is very isolated and expensive, although it’s great if you can afford it, and the Nordic countries are some of the most stunning countries in the world, but just so expensive. They are not for the budget traveler. A short taxi ride in Finland can easily cost 30-40 euros [£25.30 – £33.75 / $33.12 – $44.16].
He adds: ‘If you are on a budget, avoid not only Finland but also Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Switzerland and Ireland are just as expensive.’
Now that he’s dealt with the disappointing reviews, are there any countries he found overwhelming?
He replied: ‘Turkey or Belarus, because they are very different from most European countries. The closest you can get to a “culture shock” in Europe.’
And which countries get the award for the worst weather?
‘The worst weather has to be in the UK,’ Luca explains. ‘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 the supermarkets like Morrison’s – but the weather is not it.’
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
