5 WAYS TO WANDER: Venetian Secrets, Kissing Etiquette, & Overrated Cities

17 January, 2025 | Welcome to 5 Ways to Wander. Here are five fresh ideas to inspire your next adventure!

#1 This Week’s Travel Hack:

Take a Water Bus in Venice Instead of Gondolas. Instead of spending a small fortune (~$100) on a traditional gondola ride in Venice, opt for the Vaporetto, the public water bus system.

The Vaporetto operates along the Grand Canal and other scenic routes, providing stunning views of Venice’s iconic landmarks and canals at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it’s the regular mode of transportation for locals, making it a more authentic way to see the city.

[You Might Like: 10 Most Romantic Things to Do in Venice]

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#2 Destination of the Week:

Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik is cozy but cool. It’s the kind of place where you can casually stroll into a cafe for a chat with locals and accidentally walk out having booked a glacier hike.

The compact city, the world’s northernmost capital, is the perfect blend of Nordic minimalism and otherworldly landscapes. The spaceship-like Hallgrimskirkja church, and the Sun Voyager sculpture gracing Reykjavik’s waterfront are a gleaming ode to Iceland’s Viking soul.

The real feast, though, lies beyond the city. Just outside Reykjavik, the Golden Circle serves up volcanic craters, erupting geysers, thundering waterfalls, and parks where you literally walk between tectonic plates. Head to Iceland in fall/winter, and the Northern Lights might just give you the best show of your life.

DID YOU KNOW: Reykjavik has heated streets. What even is this sorcery!

[You Might Like: 10 Mistakes to Avoid on Your First Visit To Iceland]

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#3 Cultural Insight:

The French Bise (Cheek Kisses). In France, a greeting isn’t complete without a kiss on each cheek – though don’t get too comfortable with the number, as it changes depending on the region. In Paris, it’s two quick pecks. Head south, and you might find yourself doing three or even four. The bise is how they say “hello,” “goodbye,” or “Let’s get this over with.”

So if you’re greeting a French person and you’re ever left in a slightly awkward dance over which cheek to go for first, just follow their lead and you’ll fit right in.

[You Might Like: The Complete Guide to Visiting Paris Solo]

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#4 Travel Quote to Ponder:

“I’d rather look back at my life, saying ‘I can’t believe I did that’ instead of ‘if only I had’.”

― Florine Bos

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#5 Question for You:

Name a European city you think is overrated and why.

Let’s hear those hot takes!

[You Might Like: 15 Cheap European Cities to Visit in 2025]

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