The Way of St. James’, most commonly known as the Camino de Santiago, has captivated adventurers for over a thousand years. It allows you to experience Spain and other European countries through a completely different lens, often bringing meaningful rewards. But, like any journey, it has its own disadvantages too. Here are the pros and cons you should know about before your Camino. 

The rewarding side of the Camino

Walking the Camino allows you to explore Spain in its most authentic form, far removed from the typical tourist paths. Instead of just visiting popular attractions, you are traversing through ancient forests, rolling countryside, medieval villages and small communities. Pilgrims experience a cultural immersion that standard holidays rarely provide, including local customs preserved over centuries. 

Moreover, the human connections made along the Camino is one of its greatest treasures. The sense of community here is incredible, as shared experiences and common challenges seamlessly create bonds between strangers. If you’re doing one of the most popular routes, such as Camino Francés from Sarria, you will cross paths with people from all walks of life. Believe it or not, these trails are where hundreds of lifelong friendships were born!

What’s more, the very nature of this trip involves minimal daily spendings, with limited transportation costs or expenses on tourist activities (these are usually down to you). Food and drink in local cafes is not only delicious, but generally affordable too. And, if you want to be even more budget-friendly, you can bring shop-bought snacks with you. 

Limitations and challenges

One of the major limitations of the Camino is, of course, how slow paced it is. While some people see it as an advantage, others prefer to fit as many attractions in a single day as possible. If you worry about missing out on other destinations outside of your route, you could plan some extra holiday time in Spain before or after your pilgrimage.

Furthermore, the physical demands of this experience cannot be understated. The Camino de Santiago involves daily walking of 20-30-kilometer distances, for a week or longer. Depending on your chosen route, you may have to tackle challenging terrain, with steep inclines. Blisters and fatigue are common companions during the Camino, whilst unpredictable weather (storms or heat waves) can put a downer on motivation. You must be realistic about this journey, preparing for it to be difficult at times. The rewards, however, are worth it in the end.  

Lastly, with Camino’s popularity surging each year, popular routes like Camino Francés are getting busier, particularly during the peak walking season (late spring and summer). What was once a peaceful, quiet journey, can now feel a lot less private. If this is something you wish to avoid, simply plan your holiday during the quieter period (shoulder seasons).

Every year, thousands of pilgrims lace up their boots to walk the storied paths of the Portuguese Camino. This route, less trodden than its Spanish counterpart, offers a unique blend of beautiful landscapes, rich history, and profound spiritual experiences. But what exactly makes the Portuguese Camino pilgrimage a journey worth taking? Here are the top reasons that compel adventurers to embark on this inspiring trek.

7 Reasons to Walk the Portuguese Camino Pilgrimage

1. Rich Historical Tapestry

The Portuguese Camino, with routes dating back to the Middle Ages, is steeped in history. As you walk from Lisbon or Porto towards Santiago de Compostela, you’re literally tracing the steps of countless pilgrims who have come before you. Each town along the way has its own stories and historical sites, from ancient Roman roads to centuries-old churches, offering a deep dive into the past.

2. Diverse Scenic Beauty

What sets the Portuguese route apart is its incredibly diverse scenery. One day you might be walking through lush, vineyard-covered hills, and the next, you’re exploring the rugged coastline with the Atlantic Ocean as your backdrop. This constant change of scenery keeps the journey visually stimulating and physically refreshing.

3. Cultural Immersion

Walking the Portuguese Camino means experiencing the warm hospitality of Portugal and Spain. You’ll have the chance to engage with locals in small villages, sample regional cuisines, and immerse yourself in the Iberian Peninsula’s rich cultures. Each region along the path offers unique culinary delights and artisanal crafts, allowing for a deeper understanding of the local way of life.

4. Spiritual Renewal

Many embark on the Camino for spiritual reasons, and the Portuguese route provides a perfect setting for reflection and renewal. The quieter paths allow for introspection and a sense of peace, away from the bustling crowds of more popular routes. Whether you’re looking for answers, healing, or simply time away from the chaos of modern life, the Camino offers a sanctum for your spiritual journey.

5. Physical Challenge and Achievement

Walking the entire Portuguese Camino is no small feat and presents a robust physical challenge that many are eager to conquer. Completing the pilgrimage gives a profound sense of accomplishment and the physical benefits of long-distance walking, such as improved fitness and endurance.

6. A Sense of Community

The Camino is also about the people you meet along the way. The shared experience of the pilgrimage creates a bond among walkers. Friendships formed on the Camino often last a lifetime, and the sense of camaraderie on the trail is something that past pilgrims frequently cite as one of the highlights of their journey.

7. Accessibility

Compared to other long-distance treks, the Portuguese Camino is relatively accessible. With well-marked paths, plentiful accommodations, and easy-to-navigate terrain, it’s suitable for novice hikers and seasoned trekkers alike. This accessibility makes it an inviting option for those who might feel daunted by more gruelling routes.

From its rich history and stunning landscapes to the physical and spiritual rewards it offers, the Portuguese Camino pilgrimage is an enriching journey that beckons to be experienced. Whether you’re seeking a deeper connection with yourself, a test of your physical limits, or a memorable adventure, walking the Portuguese Camino can be a transformative experience that stays with you long after you’ve reached Santiago de Compostela.

Other than different types of sausage Berlin is not really known for its food. This has changed over the last few years with street food now becoming a big tourist draw. In fact, you could say it is thriving and now cuisine from all around the world can be had in Berlin.

Before you Pack

Before you head off to Berlin to make your mouth water you may well need a visa to get into the country.

In 2021 this will be very easy if you are from a Schengen member state. The ETIAS for Germany allows you to apply for a visa onlineand will make the process very simple and straightforward. This follows many other kind of eVisa systems and you apply with passport details and a passport photo of you, answer a few questions and you will receive your visa by email.

Countries include all European Union countries but many from around the world. At the moment, you can apply for a visa relevant to your country.

Now that you have the information to go in Germany, let’s look at the best street food Berlin has to offer:

Chai Wallahs

Chai Wallahs have become an instant hit in the German capital thanks to the fact that they bring the vibrance of South Asian cookery to life treating diners to exploding flavors, brilliant colors, and that magic that is Indian cuisine which was lacking before they exploded onto the street scene.

Now, locals and tourists flock to get their daily chicken tikka dishes, spicy lentil samosas, and so much more.

Try Street Food Thursday

Although Kreuzberg market hall has closed down it is reborn on Thursdays as a street food delight. Take a trek over and you will encounter chefs eager to serve up their culinary offerings which come from all over the world.

Favorites include spicy Mexican dishes, British pies, Thai dumplings and Peruvian ceviche. It has become a great night out for Berliners and a great place to visit on your Berlin trip.

Street Food Thursday won the Gastronomischer Innovator 2013 award from the city of Berlin.

Burgers & Hip Hop

If you love hip hop and love burgers then there is only one place for you to go. This open air event at Prinzenstrasse 85F, Kreuzberg starts in the afternoon and goes on into the night. Dotted throughout the food halls are DJ booths that pump out hip hop.

The food stalls themselves make global burgers using all kinds of recipes that elevates the humble burger into something more. You might even think some of the creations are outlandish.

Chakalaka Tuesdays

Hot on the heels of Indian food success, South African food has also take no a presence in the great city. Every Tuesday head over to Pannierstrasse 12 at 7pm and and treat yourself to some of the best flavors from South Africa.

The food is spicy and features an array of rice based dishes, and various meats and breads. The food is popular all year around but this is especially popular in the colder months.

Next time you’re in Berlin you really should try out the street food.

Book flight reservation for visa application or get valid flight itinerary with a unique booking code verifiable on airline website without paying flight ticket.

Don’t make the expensive mistake of paying for a full price airline ticket WITHOUT your visa. Get your flight reservation online easily and then print it for your visa application.

If you’re applying for a Schengen visa (or US visa, UK Visa, Thailand visa, Canadian visa or any kind of visa for that matter), most of the time the embassy requires you to submit a flight reservation for Schengen visa, flight booking or dummy flight ticket itinerary and you wonder what exactly that is.

In this post I explain and help you on how to get a flight itinerary or flight reservation for visa application without payment of the actual plane ticket with a unique booking code which you can verify at the airline website (if you want to skip this part, check the end of the post how!).

This post applies to ALL KINDS of visa application, NOT just for Schengen visa.

Here’s what the embassies require from their official websites:

Details regarding the means of travel for the outward – and return journey (details regarding the airline), proof of reservation of a roundtrip ticket – German Embassy

Roundtrip flight booking (please do not purchase your ticket unless your visa is granted) – French Embassy

Copy of the roundtrip airline reservation with Passenger Registration Number (or reservation number) and travel itinerary. The reservation should prove that the stay in the Schengen area does not exceed 90 days. It is recommended not to buy the ticket until the visa is granted. – Dutch Embassy

Copy of your confirmed flight reservation – Belgian Embassy

What is a roundtrip flight itinerary, flight confirmation or flight reservation for visa application?

I know a lot of you are confused about this. I was too! Some questions that ran in my mind were: Do I really need to book a flight? What if my visa is denied? Where can I get this flight confirmation or flight itinerary for visa application? How do I get a confirmed flight reservation? Do I have to pay for the flight now? Do they need to see itineraries from Skycanner or something but they don’t need to see that I’ve actually booked and paid for those flights? How does one get a confirmed airline reservation without buying a plane ticket?

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!?

Please stop banging your head against the wall. It’s actually VERY EASY.

A flight reservation or flight itinerary or whatever they call it is basically the same. It’s a booking reservation that shows your flight itinerary which you can easily get from online or from a travel agency. A travel agency has access to flights via their Amadeus booking system and can make the flight reservation for all kinds of visa application. Most of them charge differently for this. Not all travel agencies issue this though so it does take time to find a travel agency that will book you one. But you can easily get it online. More details below if you continue reading.

In short, it’s basically just a formality for visa application purposes.

Below is a sample of a flight reservation so you can imagine how it looks like. Note that the travel agency only “reserves” the flight for you so you don’t actually pay for the flight ticket. It is recommended even by the embassies themselves that you only book your actual flight AFTER your visa is approved. Don’t make the huge mistake of buying a flight ticket without your visa! You can book your flight on your own or via the same travel agency AFTER you get your visa. It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to actually take this flight. And you don’t need to cancel it after or anything like that. It will be automatically cancelled by the airline or travel agency. It’s just for the embassy visa requirements.

Why do you have to get it from a travel agency instead of directly from airlines? Most airlines don’t offer flight reservation. Only a few does. And if you do get a flight reservation from them, it will only be valid for 24 hours or less and you still have to cancel it yourself. Some airlines also charge for this service and some airlines require you to pay for the flight and then they will refund your money if you cancel it. And that refund process takes a while. Who wants to go through all that trouble?

Meanwhile with a travel agency, they can create flight reservation for almost all airlines around the world. And the best thing is that this flight reservation lasts way longer from 2-3 weeks validity. This is perfect for your visa application because you might be denied if the embassy checks your flight reservation online and it’s not there anymore.

Sample Flight Reservation for your Visa Application

So how does a dummy flight reservation look like? It looks like a flight ticket. Here’s a sample of an actual flight reservation. Feel free to check the PDF copies of two other flight reservations here and here. Note that a real flight reservation has a 6 digit booking code or reservation ID. Some websites offer fake flight reservation without a booking code and you can’t check them on the airline website. Beware of those! Here is what an actual flight reservation looks like:

How can I find a travel agency that can issue me a flight reservation/Confirmation/Itinerary?

Well you have to know a travel agency near you and ask. Repeat process until you find one which can create a flight reservation for you. Each travel agency charge differently for a flight reservation.

There are many websites offering this service as well but be careful because some of them are not real travel agencies and will give you fake flight reservation and your visa could be denied. Check the actual reviews from people like the one you can see at the bottom of this post before you trust anymore.

Obviously I am going to say you should order below directly because I receive many messages from people who ordered from these other websites only to be scammed by them. They got fake flight reservation that can’t be verified on the airline website. And now they want to use our service instead. I feel bad when I read these messages because applying for a visa is stressful and when people try to cheat others like this and get their visa denied, it’s heartbreaking.

How to get a flight reservation for visa application without payment of the full ticket price

I HATE EMBASSIES AND VISA APPLICATIONS like you do so my goal in life is to make it less stressful and easier for you, me and everyone of us.

In the last 5 years I partnered and have been using the services of a website aptly called Flight Reservation for Visa run by an authorised accredited travel agency which can book your flight reservation with a valid PNR booking code which you can verify on airline website and email it to you within a few hours. There are many fake websites out there so be careful!

You don’t have to waste $1000 for a flight booking without your visa and you don’t have to waste time looking for a travel agency to book it for you. All you have to do is order it online below and print it! Voila! Hassle-free. You will receive a flight reservation similar to the sample flight reservation I showed above.

This service is available to everyone around the world who needs to apply for a Schengen visa or any kind of visa. US Visa, Japan visa, Chinese visa, Brazilian visa, Canada visa, UK visa. You name it. You can use this.

Why should you order from them? They are the first to offer this service online since 2014 and they are the legit and have the best customer service. They provide confirmed flight tickets that are real and verifiable on airline website. There are many copycat scam websites out there who give fake flight reservation without a unique booking code. Beware of them as I get so many emails from readers who got burned by them already.

They have been providing quality and on-time service since 2014 and have helped hundreds of happy travellers with their visa application. Their customer service is also available 24/7. You can email them at flights.ph@gmail.com and they will reply to you within 24 hours.

Feel free to read all the genuine messages and feedback from happy travellers who have also used the service in the comments below.

What more? Your money is safe with their money-back guarantee. The payment system is secure and handled by Paypal which means you’re protected by Paypal buyer protection if you don’t receive the flight reservation from them.

It’s super easy to get it and you’ll have it in your inbox in as fast as 3 hours or less!

1. Order The Service. Choose which package is right for you here.

2. Submit Your Flight Details. After paying, answer the Flight Reservation Form so we could book your flights.

3. Receive Your Flight Booking. The travel agency will email your flight reservation direct to your inbox ready for printing!

Step 1: Order The Service

Order the service that fits your needs. Note that we offer Regular, Rush and Critical service depending on how fast you need the flight reservation or how many flights you need to reserve. Regular order is sent within 18 hours (we usually send it earlier than that) while Critical is sent as fast as less than 3 hours if you really need it ASAP! We also offer 25% off group discount if there are 4 or more of you in one flight reservation. Kids below 5 years old are FREE! Just email us.

The flights are valid up to 3 weeks depending on the airline. And the travel agency is open even on weekends and holidays!

BE CAREFUL: There are many cheap copycat websites out there who give fake flight reservation without a unique booking code or PNR number. You should not pay for those fake tickets. They should be free. They are not real travel agencies. They are just a bunch of kids with photoshop skills. We provide confirmed flight tickets that are real and verifiable on airline website. If you submit fake documents your visa will be denied.

RELATED: Flights + Hotel Reservation for visa application

Note: You don’t need a Paypal account to pay. Just click Check Out Pay without a Paypal account at the bottom right of the page and enter your credit or debit card details to pay. If you’re Filipino, it’s also possible to pay via bank deposit to BDO or BPI or Western Union transfer. Just email flights.ph@gmail.com for bank details or Western Union info.

Step 2: Submit Your Flight Details

After ordering, you will be redirected to the Flight Reservation Form where you need to fill out the form to send us your flight details. Please fill out the form completely and click Submit. You can also access the Flight Reservation Form directly here.

Step 3: Receive Your Flight Booking

You will receive a PDF copy of your flight reservation via email ready for printing. The travel agency will process your flight reservation depending on what you ordered. But they usually send reservations earlier than this. If you have more questions, check the FAQ below or post on the comments and I’ll answer it.

Confirmed Hotel Reservation for visa application

Need confirmed hotel reservation for your visa application as well?  We also provide this and book your hotels with your flights. We can reserve any kind of hotel. Check our Flights + Hotels packages below. If you need hotel reservation only, please email us at flights.ph@gmail.com for more info.

Feedback and Testimonials

Here are some feedback from happy travellers who have used the service. Please check the comments section below for more genuine testimonials.

I didn’t want to write my comment too early because I wanted to wait until my visa application is approved and I actually got my visa. I did get my visa couple days ago without any problem. They are extremely helpful. I have some errors in my first flight reservation, and they even worked on the weekend to get a new one for me for my interview on Monday. I really appreciate their help and their patience. Thank you so much! – Suchang Du, China

Great post and great service. DJ Yabis helped me get 2 flight reservations, in one day, not two, and this helped my Chinese friend get approved for his American tourist visa. I just ordered another resrvation for one of my students here in China, and plan to more reservations for my other Chinese students in the future! He also pointed me to a website for making cancellable hotel reservations, without having to pay for the reservation or pay a deposit for the reservation..this was a life saver! Thanks DJ Yabis!!! You rock! – Courtney Watkins, USA

I really want to appreciate you guys for the wonderful service. I was really cynical about it at first, it got worse when I didn’t get it in time (or so I thought) but I am glad I was wrong. I was also quick to recommend you guys to a few friends. I won’t hesitate to use this service again. – Ojo Isaac, Nigeria

I made the payment and received the flight reservation just hours later! Super fast! I have my appointment for the French embassy in two days, I’m absolutely sure it will work! Thanks! – Santiago Perdomo, Colombia

Received my ticket this morning and I love the fact that this was so easy. I didn’t have to go through the hassle of finding a travel agent and checking if they would be willing to make a dummy booking for me. The team is very responsive and so quick, I got my confirmation and ticket within 24 hours. Lovely guys. Thanks a bunch. – Pooja Dhiman, India

Just received the ticket reservation for my brother that he will need tomorrow. And i just ordered it last night. Thanks so much! – Gaudiosa Gan, Philippines

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this only for Schengen visa? No. You can use it for any kind of visa application.

When do I have to order the service? My visa interview is in a month or so. You can order it as soon as you want and you can schedule when we will book your flights or order it 3-5 days before your scheduled interview. The flight reservation will still be valid.

How can I check if this is real? Each flight reservation has a unique booking code or PNR number. You can simply verify your flight details on the respective airline websites using the unique booking code and your last name.

I am from Botswana, can I get a flight reservation? Yes of course! It’s for everyone worldwide, no matter where you are from. That’s the beauty of the internet! You will receive your flight reservation via email.

Do I have to cancel the flight? Cancellation is FREE. You don’t need to do anything. It will be automatically cancelled by us.

Is it refundable if my visa is denied? No. Payment is not refundable if your visa application is denied. The result of your application does not change the fact that you used the service.

Can you give me a sample flight reservation? Sure you can easily download them here and here.

I have more than 2 flights. Can you book them all for me? Sure. Just choose which package works best for you. We even offer unlimited flight reservation.

What if there are 2 or more of us? If there are 2 or more of you just order the service for each one and follow the instructions above. You only have to email once and attach everyone’s details in the email. The travel agency will create unique flight reservations with a unique booking code for each one of you.

What if we have the same itinerary? Same thing applies. The travel agency still needs to create a unique flight reservation for each one of you. Just order the service for each one of you.

Do I pay for the full price of the flight? No. If you actually read the post, this is just a flight reservation so you’re not paying for the full price of the flight. You only need to pay the flight reservation fee.

Can I have it in less than 24 hours? Of course! We now offer critical processing and we can book your flights within 3 hours. Please see details here.

There’s a mistake in my flight reservation. No problem. Just email us and we will send you a new flight reservation FREE of charge.

I need to talk to someone. Our customer service is 24/7 even on holidays. Just email us at flights.ph at gmail dot com

——————————–

Related Posts:

How to apply for a Schengen Visa at the German, Dutch or French embassy.

How to plan your eurotrip itinerary

Schengen Visa Application Requirements

An in-depth 7-day Iceland Itinerary for a summer road trip with travel tips on where to go, what to see and where to stay. Self-drive around this magical moonscape!

Ever since I watched the film Heima in 2007 I couldn’t stop obsessing over Iceland. Heima (Icelandic for “at home” or “homeland”) is an inspirational documentary film about one of my favorite Icelandic bands, Sigur Rós, when they undertook a series of free, unannounced concerts for 2 weeks around Iceland, their home country.

It is an alternative primer for Iceland as a desolate, magical land where Nature is king. It is perfectly soundtracked by the ethereal music of Sigur Rós. Very very powerful film and music. It fuelled my growing obsession with Scandinavia and the Nordic region, probably my favorite region on Earth.

When I slept I dreamt of Iceland. That was in 2007.

In the summer of 2011 I finally made my dreams happen and gifted myself a trip to Iceland. It was my graduation gift for successfully finishing my 2-year Erasmus Mundus Masters in Europe. My Iceland trip was everything I ever dreamed of and more!

Me in Iceland in 2011. Throwback Thursday y’all!

I absolutely love Iceland with its dramatic landscapes and stunning natural beauty. It’s home to gorgeous glacier lagoons, wild waterfalls, moody moonscapes and healing hot springs. It’s one of the most magical places I have visited to date. It’s totally a #DreamEuroTrip destination. Have you always wanted to visit?

Like most places with four seasons, Iceland is very different depending on when you’re visiting. But to be honest Iceland only has two seasons: summer and winter. You don’t really notice spring or fall because there are not many trees in Iceland! It’s all about dramatic rocky landscapes that look like you’re on the moon. So basically winter slowly turns to summer and summer slowly turns to winter.

Summer season usually starts around March or April although you will probably still see some snow because summer hasn’t fully arrived yet! Winter season is around September or October when it starts to snow and the magical Northern Lights appear in the sky. Please don’t expect to see Northern Lights if you’re planning a trip in the summer.

Summer is a great time to visit Iceland because you can do a lot of things outside and you’re not freezing to death. You can road trip around Iceland’s famous Ring Road, hike to various waterfalls and experience the midnight sun. The days are loooooong in the summer. They are almost as long as 22 hours!

Deciding where to go in Iceland in the summer

Iceland is huge and there are so many amazing places to explore in the country easily accessible via the Ring Road. Iceland’s Ring Road encircles the entire country covering over 1,332 kilometers. You could of course drive the entire Ring Road in 24 hours or less but you won’t.

Because you’ll be stopping every 10 minutes or so to take a picture!

Iceland is so picturesque. It’s a photographer’s dreamland. You’ll be snapping every random nook and cranny of the country in no time. Include the time spent exploring waterfalls or walking on glaciers then you’ll need plenty of weeks to explore the highlights of the country. If you do decide to drive the entire Ring Road, know that you’ll be driving around 4 hours or more each day and you won’t have much time to relax and enjoy the scenery. Because Iceland is all about the scenery of course.

If you want to have more time to relax and enjoy each place, my advice is to choose an area to explore in Iceland. You can either explore the south or the north. If it’s your first time in Iceland (and I’m guessing it is) then you will want to explore the south more as it packs most of the best natural attractions in the country.

7 Day Itinerary in Iceland

You’ll be adventuring around this area in 7 days

Let me guide you with this suggested 7-day road trip itinerary in the south of Iceland in the summer including tips on where to go, what to see and where to stay. You can of course DIY your own itinerary from the list of destinations below if you are traveling Iceland for 3, 4, 5 or 6 days!

Day 1 – Welcome to Colorful Reykjavik

Panoramic view of Reykjavik from Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik is the capital and the largest city in Iceland. It’s tucked into a bay in southwest Iceland with dramatic views of mountains across the water. There are many things to see and do in the city but on your first day in Reykjavik, I suggest exploring the city center and grabbing lunch on the go from Pylsuhusid, a kiosk serving hot dogs, Iceland’s favourite fast food. If you prefer to sit down on a sunny terrace then order a seafood dish from local favorite, Uno restaurant.

Harpa, Reykjavik

Since Iceland is out of this world, walk to the spaceship aka Hallgrímskirkja church and marvel at its commanding contours. Go up the church tower so you can have a panoramic view of Reykjavik with its colorful houses. In the evening you can walk over to the harbour and check out Harpa, a vast concert hall which is home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera. It’s a beautiful, Instagram-perfect piece of architecture.

Feel free to stalk Björk but I heard she hates it when fans knock at her door.

There’s more to see and do in the city but let’s save it for your last day!

Where to sleep: Reykjavik

Day 2 – The Quintessential Golden Circle

The Golden Circle makes up Iceland’s three most popular natural attractions: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss. It is an all-in-one loop where you can see one meeting point of the Earth’s continental plates (Þingvellir), a spouting hot spring (Geysir) and an impressive roaring waterfall (Gullfoss). A lot of the things you’ve learned in your Earth Science classes in high school will all come to life! It’s quite mind-blowing.

Þingvellir

Þingvellir National Park

Iceland is still volcanically active and you can easily see rifts and fissures in many areas of the country. Iceland is literally drifting apart. The nearest site to see these rifts and fissures up close is found in Þingvellir National Park. At Þingvellir you will clearly see the continental drift between the North American and Eurasian plates. The biggest crack is called Almannagjá and you can walk through it. This means that you will be walking between two continents. How awesome is that?

Geysir

the original geyser

Next is a geothermal magic pit stop at Geysir (the original “geyser” in the world) and it’s more active neighbor, Strokkur, which spouts boiling water up to 20 m (66 ft) high every ten minutes or so. If this doesn’t amaze you. Then maybe the next one will.

Gullfoss Waterfalls

Gullfoss waterfalls

Gullfoss, or Golden Waterfall, is the most popular waterfalls in Iceland. It offers a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of untouched nature. There’s a walkway so you can get nearer to the waterfall and feel the power of nature up close. Shimmering rainbow can be seen over the falls on a sunny day.

Where to sleep: You can spend the night in Arborg or the iconic Ion Hotel in Þingvellir.

Day 3 – Do Go Chase Waterfalls (and Black Sand Beaches!)

Explore the jewels of the south coast and DO go chase waterfalls as there are plenty of them here.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

First stop: Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It’s best to go at sunrise to take photos of this place so better wake up early. You can hike behind the waterfalls and climb up at the top to get better views. You can get wet so make sure you’re wearing waterproof jackets and protect your camera.

Skógafoss

Skógafoss waterfalls

Your next stop, Skógafoss waterfall, is only 20 minutes away from Seljalandsfoss waterfall. On your way to this waterfall you’ll pass by the Eyjafjallajökul glacier volcano, famous for its vicious volcanic spews of ash in 2010, which brought Iceland to the tourism map again! Strange, I know. But what isn’t in Iceland?

Skógafoss is much wider and more powerful than Seljalandsfoss. It probably rivals Gullfoss as Iceland’s most famous waterfall. And when it’s sunny, you’re guaranteed rainbows for your Instagram photo. It’s definitely one of the most accessible waterfalls in Iceland. There’s also a wooden stairway that brings you to a viewing platform on the top.

Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

Sólheimasandur plane crash

On your way to the famous black sand beach, do a quick pit stop at the Sólheimasandur Plane Crash, another iconic photography spot in Iceland. In 1973 a United States Navy DC plane ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Sólheimasandur beach and luckily everyone in that plane survived. Now the abandoned plane is still on the sand very close to the sea. Be careful driving there though as you might get lost and get stuck in the black sand.

Reynisfjara Beach

Reynisfjara black sand beach

Finally, head more south to the famous black sand beach called Reynisfjara. I know it sounds like everything on this post is famous this or famous that. Because they are! Anyway, Reynisfjara beach is a geologist’s wet dream with an array of incredible rock formations and features. You can find amazing cliffs formed of tubular basalt columns, known as Gardar, rising up out of the sand. Magical stairway to Saturn, maybe?

Where to sleep: Vik is very close to Reynisfjara so it makes sense to sleep here.

Day 4 – Tropicool Icy Iceland

Yep that’s a reference to Tropical Iceland, one of my favorite songs from The Fiery Furnaces. Why? Because the fourth day is all about incredible icy landscapes! It’s your day on ice.

Sólheimajökull glacier

Sólheimajökull glacier

There are no words to describe the feeling of walking on a glacier. One of the best ways to experience a glacier up close and personal in Iceland is to explore the Sólheimajökull glacier that sticks out of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Sólheimajökull glacier has an awesome otherworldly landscape typical of Iceland.  It has a unique terrain full of ice ridges, sinkholes and crevasses.

NEVER go there alone. You need proper equipment and an experienced guide to join you because it is dangerous if you haven’t hiked a glacier before. Book a glacier walk in advance and meet your guide at the meeting point.

Jökulsárlón Ice Lagoon

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

Drive to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon which streams from the glacier tongue of Breiðamerkurjökull.  This is where the huge icebergs break and crumble into massive, floating bricks of ice in the dark water. Just across the road is Diamond Beach where the icebergs have broken up and spread out over the coast on a a black sand expanse. They call it Diamond Beach because the ice chunks lying on it resemble diamonds glistening in the sun. There are boat tours on the lagoon during summer season. Check out all the Jökulsárlón ice lagoon tours.

Where to sleep: Drive back to Reykjavik and spend the day night there so you can explore the southwest side the next day.

Day 5 – Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Snæfellsnes peninsula is located in the west of Iceland. Explore this microcosm of Iceland in at least a day.

Kirkjufell mountain and waterfalls

Kirkjufell mountain

Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in Iceland just west of the town of Grundarfjörður. Just look at that! It’s a beautifully shaped and symmetric mountain. Its name means ‘Church Mountain’. There are also three small waterfalls which people love to photograph along with the mountain. You can hike up the mountain for 1.5 hours if you have more time.

Snæfellsjökull glacier

Snæfellsjökull glacier

This is undoubtedly the biggest attraction in the peninsula. Snæfellsjökull is an active volcano and a huge glacier that stands 1,446 meters high. It is said to be one of the seven greatest energy centers on earth. The glacier is also believed to have mysterious powers and is the setting for Jules Vernes’ famous novel ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’. As with Sólheimajökull glacier, you need to book an experienced guide to join you explore it.

Landbrotalaug hot spring

Landbrotalaug hot springs with a view

You can’t really travel in Iceland and not find your own natural hot springs, right? Well, after exploring the Snæfellsnes peninsula you can end your day by relaxing in one. Ahhh…to be completely naked in nature and dipping into a perfectly heated natural pool in the middle of nowhere in Iceland! Dreams are made of this.

Check out Landbrotalaug hot spring. It is a bit tiny but what it lacks in size it makes it up in beauty. It has an awesome view of ice-capped Icelandic mountains and lakes. And it is perfectly hot. The best time to go is early in the morning or later in the afternoon because it tends to get busy during the day. You can find it here on Google Maps. You’re welcome.

Where to sleep: You can either sleep in Snæfellsnes so you don’t feel rushed (I prefer this) or drive back to Reykjavik and spend the night there.

Day 6 – Pamper yourself at the Blue Lagoon

Blue lagoon

After all that driving and exploration in the last 5 days, it’s time to truly pamper your body. Spend a day at the Blue Lagoon. You deserve it. Need I say more? Just don’t forget to make a reservation in advance!

Where to sleep: Reykjavik

Day 7 – Last Day in Reykjavik

Sólfarið or the Sun Voyager

On your last day explore the rest of the city with its many colorful and great street art. Enjoy snapping them! There are many cute, cozy cafes and restaurants in the city as well as nice parks where you can have a picnic under the sun. I also loved walking by the sea overlooking the mountains in the north.

And if you’re like me who loves to shop local clothes (or food) when you travel, grab an Icelandic wool sweater with its iconic colorful Icelandic sweater patterns. Maybe you’ll use it for your next trip to Iceland in winter! *wink wink*

Any other destinations I should add in this list?

Photo credits: Some of the photos are shot by Johannes Martin, Neil MacWilliams, Leroy Chew, Dconvertini, Marco Nürnberger, Moyan Brenn, Arian Swegers, Moonjazz, Fran, Adam Friedman, McKay Savage, Jim Kelly

What are the list of requirements for a Schengen visa application? What documents do I need to submit to the embassy? And what do these documents mean? While each country and embassy may have slightly different requirements, the following is a list of standard documents you will need to provide. You should bring the original as well as at least one copy or multiple copies when applicable.

I wrote a very detailed guide with a lot of tips and tricks so bookmark it for your visa application.

General Requirements for Schengen Visa Application

Read each section carefully for tips and tricks on how to fulfill each Schengen visa requirement. Note that the list below is applicable for 90-day short-stay Schengen visa application only. If you’re moving to Europe to work or study, the list will be different!

1. Passport

Obviously you can’t apply for any kind of visa without a passport! You need a valid passport that has two blank pages for the embassy to affix the visa. It should also be at least 6 months valid after your final day in the Schengen country. For example, if you are flying back from Europe on September 30, 2017 then your passport should be valid until March 30, 2018 which is 6 months after your arrival date.

Some European embassies are fine with 3 months validity though. But the longer the passport validity, the better. For example, the German embassy requires at least 6 months validity while the French embassy requires more than 3 months validity. Important note: The remaining validity of the passport is counted from the day the applicant intends to leave the Schengen area.

If you’re applying for a new passport, make sure that you have organized getting it before scheduling your Schengen visa interview. It could mess up your application if your new passport doesn’t arrive on time before your visa interview.

2. Visa Photos

There are certain guidelines you need to follow about the visa photo. They are super strict with requirements so make sure you follow it or else they will not accept your application. Make sure to bring extra photos just in case they need more than one.

Below is a common rule for the photo:

• Coloured photo taken against a white or neutral grey background
• Size: 35mm x 45mm, maximum head length: 25mm
• Head must not be tilted; look directly into the camera with a neutral expression and without smiling
• Absolutely no eyewear and headgear in any form
• Image must not have been altered or photoshopped
• Image must be clear; it must not have kinks, scratches or stains

For more information, here are photo samples and specification guideline from the embassy.

Click the image to download Schengen Visa Application Form

3. Application Form

There is a standard Schengen Visa Application Form which you have to fill out completely. Some embassies allow you to do it online ready for printing while others require you to download the form and fill it out manually by hand. You have to make sure all information are correct and that all information on your other documents match what you’ve written on your application form.

For example, the date of your flight and hotel reservation should match and the length of your travel insurance should cover your entire trip. If there are information discrepancies between your application form and required documents your visa could be denied! I suggest you quadruple check everything before submitting your visa application.

Important note: The application form is completely FREE. If someone ever offers it to you for a fee, RUN!

4. Confirmed Flight Reservation

Confirmed flight reservation is basically a flight reservation that looks like a real flight ticket except it is not yet paid in full and shows your travel itinerary. It should be a return ticket with a PNR (Passenger Registration Number) or booking code. One-way or open-ended tickets are not acceptable and can lead to visa rejection. This is also sometimes called as confirmed flight itinerary, roundtrip airline reservation or dummy flight booking as well.

Embassies ONLY require flight reservation and NOT a fully paid flight ticket unless stated otherwise. Why? Because your Schengen visa might be denied so what will you do with that $1000 flight to Paris? Flush it down the toilet that’s what!

I wrote a detailed guide on how to book a flight reservation for visa application. Read it and don’t book your flights until you get your visa approved!

I get so many emails from readers who are so stupid or misinformed they buy expensive flight tickets and book hotels and tours without their visas and then come crying to me after their visa rejection telling me they have spent so much money on a flight leaving next week what will I do huhuhu. Cry me a river. Don’t be stupid. Don’t be one of them.

You can easily get a flight reservation for your visa application online. Make sure you buy one with a unique booking code which you can verify on the airline website. And make sure your flight dates and application form details match or your visa will be denied! After you get your visa approved then you can book your actual flight tickets.

Sample flight reservation. Click the image to learn how to get one for your visa application.

5. Hotel Reservation or Proof of Accommodation

This document proves where you will be staying during your visit to a Schengen country. There are different ways to show proof of lodging or accommodation depending on your reasons for visiting the Schengen zone:

a. For tourism, you must submit a confirmed hotel reservation. There are many ways to get a hotel reservation or hotel voucher. You can reserve either a hotel or hostel as proof. Yes you can definitely reserve hostels as well if you’re a budget traveller. You can reserve your hotels or hostels online via Booking.com, Hostelworld, directly via the hotel/hostel website or let a travel agency book the hotel reservation for you. Whatever you choose to do, the most important thing is to have an official confirmed hotel reservation reflecting the dates of your trip and the total cost of your accommodation. If your travel dates and reservations don’t match, your visa could be denied! 

b. For visiting family or friends, you must submit a document from your family or friends proving that they live in the area. Usually if you’re applying to visit family and friends, they can get an Official Invitation from the City Hall which also proves their address and that they are a resident in the area (please see requirement 7b below for more info about this). If they are not getting this document, you can submit a copy of their passport and residency ID/permit which usually shows their current address.

c. For business travel, you must provide a letter of invitation from the company in the Schengen country, certificate of employment as well as hotel reservations under your name.

6. Travel Insurance

The international travel insurance has 3 basic requirements:

• covers the entire period of the person’s intended length of stay in the Schengen zone
• must be valid for all Schengen countries
• must have a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros

There are many travel insurance options out there that covers all the listed basic requirement above. Depending on what kind of travel insurance coverage you need and your budget, I highly recommend two companies.

Affordable and good coverage: Care Discover from Care Concept is one of the best and cheapest travel insurance that I always use for my Schengen visa application.It covers the requirements above, it’s refundable if your visa gets denied plus you can easily order it online and have it within minutes. It’s perfect for Schengen visa application. Me, my friends and family have been using it for the last 7 years or so. Best of all, it’s really affordable! For example, 10 days insurance only costs 17 euros and 30 days insurance only costs 45 euros. Click here to check full coverage and cost.

Premium and more extensive coverage: WorldNomads has a great travel insurance and accident coverage. It is highly recommended by companies like Lonely Planet, Eurail and Hostelworld. It’s definitely more expensive than Care Discover but that’s because it covers more things like missed flights, stolen electronics, lost luggage, pre-trip cancellation etc. Click here to check full coverage and cost. Or feel free to get a quote from the widget below:

7. Bank Statement or Proof of Financial Capability

This document is required to prove that you can afford a trip to Europe. It is preferably issued within the last month. The more recent, the better. There are 2 ways to do this. You are either self-funded or have a European sponsor. You need to submit different documents depending on your situation as listed below:

a. If you are self-funded, this means that you will pay your European trip on your own (wow yayamanin!), you must submit an official bank statement from the last 6 months. You can get this from your bank. Your bank statement should show sufficient amount of money to cover your expected expenses during the trip. “Sufficient amount” is debatable. You might have read other websites or blogs telling you that you need a lot of money to have your visa approved. It’s NOT true. You do not need 1 million pesos or 20,000 euros in your bank account to guarantee visa approval.

Each European embassy has a different requirement for the total amount you need for your visit. For example, German embassy requires 45 euros per day while Netherlands embassy requires 34 euros per day. Please check the embassy website for the most current daily budget requirement.

b. If you have a sponsor, you have to submit an Official Invitation Letter or an Official Sponsorship Certificate from your sponsor. It is called by different names for each embassy but it’s the same document. For example, in German embassy they call it Verpflichtungserklärung and in French embassy they call it Attestation d’accueil.

Usually your sponsor can easily apply for this document at the City Hall where he/she lives. He/She can get it within the same day for a small fee depending on the city and country. Your sponsor needs to send you the original copy before your visa interview. Send it express via FedEx or DHL so you can get it ASAP. Other embassies also require you to submit a birth certificate or marriage certificate etc to prove the identity of your sponsor.

Important note: if you have a sponsor, you DO NOT need to submit your bank statement. The sponsorship is already enough to prove your financial capability.

Can my European friend’s/boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s mother or father sponsor me? Yes that’s possible. If your European friend/lover is still a student or has no full-time job, his or her parent can be your sponsor as long as you can prove that he/she is the parent and that you have corresponded with them via email or Skype etc before.

8. Occupation or Proof of Rootedness

These documents are required to prove that you will come back and have no plans to be an illegal immigrant. This is probably one of the most important requirements for Schengen visa application. A lot of visa applicants get denied because of failing to submit the proper documents for this requirement.

There are different ways to prove this depending on your current situation. You are either employed by a company, own a business, studying as a student or you’re a minor. You need to submit different documents depending on your situation as enumerated below:

a. If you’re employed:

• Certificate of Employment – you can get this from your HR office. It should be official with your company logo. It usually states your position in the company as well as your salary per month.
• Income Tax Return or Pay Slips – you can get this from the tax office in your country. It is usually processed by HR as well if you work for a company. If you are new to the job and don’t have an ITR yet you can ask HR to provide you with monthly pay slips and show this as proof instead.
• Authorised Leave of Absence – this MUST be signed by your boss or HR and should officially come from your office. I’m pretty sure your company has a template for this document as it is usually needed by employees. If not, you can create one yourself with your company logo and ask your boss to sign it. Note that the embassy can call your company to confirm your leave. And it is very important that this document is SIGNED by someone in your company to confirm that you are allowed to go on a leave. Failure to provide a signed leave of absence can lead to visa rejection.

b. If you own a business:

• Business registration and permits – to show proof that your business exists; example documents are DTI permit, Mayor’s Permit, SEC or BIR registration etc whichever is applicable in your home country
• Income Tax Return – to show proof of the commercial activity of your business
• Business Financial Statements – to show proof of your business earnings and cashflow

c. If you’re a student:

• Certificate of Enrolment – your enrolment form which you usually have if you’re a student
• School or university certificate – you can get this from your school or university registrar
• Letter of exemption from studies or leave of absence IF you are traveling during the school year – you can request this from your College or Registrar as well

d. If you’re a minor:

• Certified birth certificate of the minor
• Affidavit of Support and Consent of parents or legal guardian
• Copy of passport of parents or legal guardian
• Proof of economic means of parents or legal guardian

e. Additional/optional documents

Here are some additional documents you can submit which some European embassies accept as proof of rootedness

• Copy of real estate property – title deed if relevant; this is to prove that you own a house, land or property in your home country
• Copy of marriage certificate – this is to prove that you are married or have family ties in your home country

9. Schengen Visa Fee

The appropriate fees payable in the form preferred by the embassy at which you apply. At the time of writing, the visa fee for adults is 60 euros or converted to your local currency at the current exchange rate. This is usually paid in cash and it is not refundable even if your visa is denied. It’s like a service fee for processing your visa. Please check the embassy website for the current visa fee cost and payment method. Sample visa fees varies depending on your age:

• Children up to 6 years no fee
• Children from 6 to 12 years € 35
• Applicants older than 12 years € 60

Additional Visa Requirements

As I’ve said in the beginning, the requirements for Schengen visa application is pretty standard but may have slightly different requirements.

10. Cover letter

Cover letter is one of those additional requirements. Some embassies like the French embassy requires it. A cover letter is a letter addressed to the embassy that summarises the purpose of your trip and includes the dates of your trip, the cities or countries you are visiting as well as your corresponding plans for accommodation and transportation. This should be short and concise because the visa agent does not have all the time in the world to read a novel about your travel plans. They just want to know your general travel plans and purposes for visiting.

11. Travel Itinerary

When required the embassy usually wants to see a detailed day-to-day itinerary for your entire trip. This is usually included with the cover letter as well. You can easily create a tabulated day-to-day itinerary showing the dates of travel, location and tourist spots or travel plans that day. The clearer your itinerary is, the better. Don’t make it too complicated. Not only Schengen embassies require this though.

12. Marriage contract and birth certificates

If you are traveling as a family with your spouse and/or children you need to submit these as well to show proof that you are indeed related.

Note: Check the embassy website where you are planning to apply for the most specific list of requirements.

If you have any questions, please comment below. Good luck on your visa application!

The ultimate nightlife and party guide picking only the best of Belgrade’s bar and party scene!

Mikser Garden, Belgrade

“Sweet dreams are made of this…Everybody is looking for something.”

It’s Saturday night in Belgrade and we’re drinking cocktails to 80’s beats at Mikser Garden. It’s a mix crowd of young and old. But one thing is for sure, the fashionable and the beautiful crowd is here. Some of the women look like models for Vogue. The men are stylish and confident. And Marija, the female DJ spinning the best of the 80’s, is drop-dead gorgeous.

It’s our second night in Mikser Garden, a summer al fresco bar that just opened this summer. It’s located right in the middle of Savamala, the cultural and creative center of the city. The “garden” is almost like an oasis in the urban jungle of Belgrade.

“The music is pretty loud here. Aren’t people complaining about the noise?”, I wondered.

Ever since I wrote about the top 13 Party Cities in Europe last year, a lot of people who read the piece have commented, messaged and tweeted telling me to check out Belgrade.

“They have epic parties in Belgrade!” “No Belgrade? Dude this list is rubbish,” they said.

This got me curious of course. And so when me and my friends, MM and Zan, planned our 3-week Balkans trip this summer we decided to fly to Belgrade as our first stop.

Our itinerary? Party all weekend.

Marija spinning at Mikser Garden

Seriously, we didn’t do much else. I decided that from now on I will only do things that interests me when I travel. So no stupid sightseeing for me although we hanged out around the Old Town a lot and the 2 girls joined a free walking tour (I obviously skipped it).

So what do I like to do on this trip? Mostly eat, check out a dozen bookstores and meet locals and party at night. And that was what we did.

Below are my top recommendations for the best bars and clubs in Belgrade. Apparently there are two kinds of clubs in Belgrade: summer and winter clubs. This I learned as we partied around town for 3 days with Marko, who runs Belgrade at Night, a nightlife company that offers tons of free information about Belgrade clubs and Belgrade nightlife happenings.

What’s the difference between the two?

Summer clubs are “floating river clubs” that are only open in spring/summer and they are mostly located on the river. They are clubs literally floating on the Sava river which is why they are called floating river clubs. This somehow makes clubbing in Belgrade unique in the world. In the winter, almost all the clubs by the river are closed and the clubs in the centre of Belgrade are more active although some are also by the river.

Like in most cities in the world, some clubs in Belgrade are best on certain days of the weeks. Some clubs are best for certain kinds of music as well. So depending on your interests, there’s something for you in Belgrade.

Now for list of best bars and clubs in Belgrade plus a bonus section about the best party hostels in the city!

Top 4 Bars in Belgrade

1. Mikser Garden

This new summer alfresco bar is probably my favorite bar in Belgrade. It’s located in Mikser House which used to be a warehouse that was turned into a high-concept enterprise, industrial music space and gallery for art installations. This has made it the centre of creativity in Savamala.  Mikser Garden is outside the Mikser House. It is surrounded by beautiful buildings which is saying a lot in Belgrade where most buildings looks decrepit and gritty. You can see old trams pass by as you dance to 80’s hits on Fridays and Saturdays. They also play other music on other nights. I love the vibe and the crowd.

Location: Karadjordjeva 46, Belgrade  Website Facebook Instagram

2. Manufaktura

If you’re looking for a bar in the Old Town, this would be the perfect place. It is not strictly a bar though. It’s a restaurant with a nice terrace under a canopy of umbrellas. We spent the afternoon here drinking local beers and eating all kinds of cevapis. We didn’t understand a word of Serbian so we let the waiter choose cevapis for us. They were so delicious. They serve all kinds of local Serbian beers and wine. And lots of delicious and affordable food.

Location: Kralja Petra 13-15, Belgrade  Facebook

3. Toro Latin GastroBar

This hip and trendy gastrobar offers small plates of Pan Latin styles and flavors designed for sharing which are obviously perfect plates for drinking. The interior is beautiful and the music is quite good. It is located in Beton Hala (or Concrete Hall), a hotspot for trendy restaurants and bars, along the Sava river. It’s also a great location for pre-game before you head across the river for the floating river clubs of Belgrade.

Location: Karađorđeva 2-4 Website

4. Jazz Basta

We stumbled upon this jazz bar while snapping pics of graffiti art on our way back to the center. I fell in love immediately! Tucked away in a quiet residential area, Jazz Basta is a magical little hideout for music fans and café-lovers alike. If you don’t know it, you might miss it as it is quite hidden. The sight of the beautiful contrast of white chairs on exposed gray cement made me curious about the place. We walked in and we were blown away. It was such a cozy courtyard that looks more Parisian than Balkan.

They host live jazz and blues performers, usually from Thursday to Sunday, when the weather is warm. Although the music sometimes varies and is not strictly jazz. Go during the day or go before 9PM at night to get a seat. It gets packed fast.

Location: Male Stepenice 1A, Belgrade (near Dorm One Hostel) Website

Top 4 Summer Clubs in Belgrade

Note: All these summer clubs below are located on the riverbank of the river Sava.

1. Club Lasta

One of the best clubs for electronic and house music in Belgrade. This is one of the floating river clubs that really looks like a club inside. The crowd is young and well-dressed and I really love the interiors because it doesn’t look cheap. I also love that you can go out and watch the river sparkling from the light reflected from bridge. It’s quite magical! It’s open 4 days a week from Thursday to Sundays. On Thursdays they play Hip-hop and all other days are House music.

2. Club 94

What I love about Club 94 is that it has a spacious dance floor considering it’s also a floating river club. The normal tables are downstairs and the VIP tables are on an elevated platform on the club. They were playing RnB when we came here and Zan and MM loved it. The crowd is young and game for dancing. On Thursdays and Saturdays they play electro house and Fridays is for RnB.

3. Hot Mess

This place wins for best lounge bar look and best club name. I mean it has a freakin swimming pool in the center. It makes you feel like you’re in a luxurious pool party somewhere in the tropics with its design. It’s the perfect place if you want to chill out and socialise. Apparently lots of local celebrities hangout here and international DJ’s perform here too.

4. Freestyler

This is an icon of nightlife in Belgrade. It has been called as one of the biggest and most popular clubs in Belgrade. Located along the Sava river like all the others, this club is known for its House, Disco, Hip-hop and R’n’B parties. The best time to go? Tuesday when they play 90’s music. The tables get fully booked fast so book in advance.

Top 4 Winter Clubs in Belgrade

As for the best clubs during fall and winter, I asked Marko from Belgrade at Night for recommendations since he is the local expert for Belgrade nightlife.

1. Dragstor Play Club

This is one of the most popular winter clubs in Belgrade. They mostly play mainstream music. It is a lounge bar during the week and hosts wild parties on Fridays and Saturdays.

Location: Usce bb, kod muzeja Savremene Umetnosti Facebook

2. 20/44 Club

What is Belgrade party scene without 20/44? This club is a former strip joint in a rickety ship on the Sava river. What makes it so important? It’s the first club that was completely independent. No sponsors, no patrons. It’s one of the clubs that’s open all year and it’s one of the best clubs in the winter. The atmosphere? Sexy with red lights, velvet and lots of smoke.

Location: Savski kej BB, 11070, New Belgrade

3. The Tube Club

One of the best clubs located in the centre of the city. The interior is beautiful and minimalistic designed by Dorde Gec. They play electronic music and hosts many important electric music artists in the world. They play tech house on Fridays and Saturdays .

Location: Simina 21, Dorćol, 11000 Begrade

4. Tilt Club

Located in Beton Hala (Concrete Hall), this is one of the best clubs with really cool interiors and light effects. This is the winter counterpart of Freestyler Club. It’s open from Tuesday to Saturday playing mostly house and disco music.

Location: Bulevar Vojvode Bojovica 30, Belgrade Facebook

Best party hostels in Belgrade

Hedonist Hostel -This hostel has been awarded as best hostel in Serbia and one of the 10 best small hostels worldwide by Hostelword users. This is one of the top party hostels in Belgrade. It sits in a quiet one-way street but a few walks away to the city’s vibrant Old Town where the nice bars are. Enjoy sightseeing by day and making friends till late night. Click here to see the latest prices.

ArkaBarka Floating Hostel – If the uniqueness of this floating hostel on the river Danube right by one of Belgrade’s most beautiful central park is not a great bonus to this party hostel then I don’t know what is. Most of the parties in Belgrade is by the river so staying here means you’re only a short walk from all the fun. Click here to see the latest prices.

Other Important Info About Nightlife in Belgrade

1. Dress code: Like in most clubs in the world, you can’t go in wearing shorts or sports clothes. Wear pants and shoes. Dress properly or risk being shooed away at the door.

2. Safety: Be careful of taxi scams in Belgrade. There are some illegal taxis waiting for you juts outside the clubs. I should know because we had a bad experience with one. Only take the yellow, blue or pink taxis. Read our experience on the link.

3. Entrance Fees and Table Reservations: There is no entrance fees but reservation is necessary for all mainstream clubs. Alternative clubs do not have reservations but sometimes they charge several euros for entry fee.

4. Beautiful people: I know you’re gonna ask where to find the most beautiful girls or boys in Belgrade so I’ll say this now: You’ll find them in all these clubs. So just choose which type of music or club fits you best.

How to get there

There are many cheap flights within Europe via WizzAir or other airlines. Check TripScan for other alternatives on how to get to Belgrade by air, land or water.

What’s your favorite bar or club in Belgrade?

The best nightlife in Europe guide showing you the 13 best party cities from Amsterdam to Stockholm including tips on the best clubs, bars and party hostels in each city.

C is for Clubbing! For some of you guys, traveling is a non-stop party. I should know: almost 20% of my email subscribers answered they are going on a euro party trip on my eurotrip calculator, that nifty little thing. I also receive a lot of emails asking where is the best places to party in Europe or even where to score some joints or meet some prostitutes (!!!). I know I have a good web of connections all over the world but seriously, do I look like a drug dealer or a pimp? #emailsbloggersreceive

I digress.

I’ve created this list with a ready-made itinerary if you want to follow a 2-month euro party trip in Europe to finally answer this question. Of course you’re free to include Ibiza and London but here are the 13 best clubbing capitals that are definitely more interesting and mostly less expensive (except for Stockholm, Paris and Mykonos).

Note: This post is part of The A to Z of European Travel series. Don’t miss any post by subscribing to my newsletter on the sidebar.

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rule #1: Avoid the coffee shops and you will find a vibrant, varied and wild clubbing scene of the city. Netherlands produced the likes of Tiësto and Armin van Buuren so expect trance to be massive here, but you’ll also hear plenty of techno, deep house, hip-hop and your sugary kind of pop. Check out Amsterdam Dance Event featuring over 2,000 DJ’s in 5 days this coming October. Read my Amsterdam City Guide.

Best party hostels in Amsterdam:

Flying Pig Downtown – This is one of the most famous party hostels in the world. Located right next to Amsterdam’s Central Station, the Flying Pig Downtown’s bar features DJs from all over the world three times a week, giving you a reason to ditch your bed and just dance until the sun rises. It’s always fully-booked so you better book your bed way in advance! Click here to see the latest prices. 

St. Christopher’s Inn at Winston – St. Christopher’s Inn at Winston is a multi-awarded hostel and its not hard to see why. It is excellently located right next to the Red Light District with a bar serving good food, cheap drinks, and great music. It’s pretty much the perfect hostel to start your party trip in Amsterdam. Click here to see the latest prices.

2. Berlin, Germany

Berlin is the epicenter of techno in the world. But not just that, you can pretty much find any kind of party/music in this city that never stops partying. The beer is cheap and the guys and girls are hot. The party scene here is pretty young and international as the city attracts a lot of party tourists. If you’re feeling adventurous head over to Berghain, Berlin’s most exclusive night club. And then take a swim at possibly the coolest pool in Europe after all the hardcore partying. Berlin also has loads of open-air parties in the summer which I have enjoyed immensely. Follow Open Air Berlin for updated info on where the parties are.

Best party hostels in Berlin:

The Circus Hostel – Located in one of the best areas in Berlin, Rosenthaler Platz, the Circus Hostel has its own microbewwery at the basement of the hostel. How cool is that? Plus it has free weekly tours and great events to entertain you like featured film nights, history talks, live music, and more. Click here to see the latest prices.

Wombats City Hostel – Award-winning hostel located near Alexanderplatz, Museum Island and Prenzlauer Berg which means very very central in Berlin! You can make your way up to the Wombats City Hostel’s rooftop bar and balcony for a happy hour while enjoying the great panoramic views of the city. Click here to see the latest prices.

3. Budapest, Hungary

This city is never usually in the radar for best places to party but my god, one word: Sparties! The ridiculously lavish  Szechenyi Bath pools turn into summer night bath parties from June to September.It’s wiiiiiiiillllld! Note that the sparties are usually on Saturdays so make sure you time your trip on a weekend.  They also have a great ruin bar scene. My favorite ruin bar is Szimpla Kert which is probably one of the most unique bars I’ve ever been to.

Best party hostels in Budapest:

Retox Party Hostel – Definitely not the place for those who want a good night’s sleep, Retox Party Hostel gives you a straightforward crazy party experience right in their bar that offers events such as boat party, spa party, or the classic pub crawl. Click here to see the latest prices.

Grandio Party Hostel – Grandio Party Hostel has the Grandio Bar, a tree and plant-filled favorite among the other kerts (ruin bars) in Budapest offering events such as spa raves, ruin bar crawls, boat parties, and more that you can forget about your needed sleep. Click here to see the latest prices.

4. Belgrade, Serbia

Mikser Garden, Belgrade

I went to the Balkans for the first time this summer and, wow, do they know how to party! Check out the unique floating clubs in Belgrade in the summer. The parties are pretty epic. Here is my round-up of the 12 best bars and clubs in Belgrade. The best thing? It’s cheap and the locals are surprisingly very friendly.

Best party hostels in Belgrade:

Hedonist Hostel – This hostel has been awarded as best hostel in Serbia and one of the 10 best small hostels worldwide by Hostelword users. This is one of the top party hostels in Belgrade. Feel at home in Hedonist Hostel as you stay in a house with a garden where you can chill, have a barbecue party, or watch live sports events. The location is convenient too as it sits in a quiet one-way street but a few walks away to the city’s vibrant Old Town where the nice bars are. Enjoy sightseeing by day and making friends till late night. Click here to see the latest prices.

ArkaBarka Floating Hostel – If the uniqueness of this floating hostel on the river Danube right by one of Belgrade’s most beautiful central park is not a great bonus to this party hostel then I don’t know what is. Most of the parties in Belgrade is by the river so staying here means you’re only a short walk from all the fun. Click here to see the latest prices.

5. Stockholm, Sweden

The capital of Scandinavia is probably your best choice if you want to be surrounded by ridiculously beautiful blondes. OK, it’s not all blondes but the people here are gorgeous no matter where they came from. Partying here is expensive though but you can always get drunk in your hotel room first or at your friend’s place before heading out. That’s what locals do. The best places to find the hip, the young and the beautiful Swedish crowd are in Södermalm and Stureplan. The only downside? The establishments close at 3 AM. A great alternative to Stockholm is Copenhagen (sometimes I think the Danes are better at this).

Best party hostels in Stockholm:

City Hostel Central Station – City Hostel is located right by the Central Station which means everything is walking distance or can be easily accessed through Stockholm’s beautiful metro. You can easily walk to the closest pubs, nightclubs, and restaurants at Gamla Stan (Old Town) and the trendy hipster neighbourhood, Sodermalm, is just 2 stops away by train. Click here to see the latest prices.

2kronor Hostel – A charming spacious home, the 2kronor Hostel give you the chance to stay in the lovely area of Vasastan filled with bars and small specialty shops. Click here to see the latest prices.

6. Warsaw, Poland

If you can’t afford Stockholm, then consider Warsaw. It’s super cheap relative to Scandinavia and the girls are equally gorgeous but the guys not so much. A glass of beer can be as cheap as 0.50 euro cent and vodka shots only cost a euro. Don’t EVER try to outdrink the Poles though because they chug vodka like water here. My favorite bar is Przekąski Zakąski in the Old Town but apparently they moved location to the city center last August. I also recommend Makulatura as an alternative. Shots are less than a euro! These places should be your first stop before heading anywhere in Warsaw.

Best party hostels in Warsaw:

Oki Doki Hostel – This hostel is an institution in Warsaw. Located in central Warsaw, Oki Doki Hostel boasts for having the cheapest beer and for being right at a convenient spot just a few crawls away to the city’s best pubs. Click here to see the latest prices.

Patchwork Design Hostel – Funky and cool hostel located right smack in the middle of the parties in the Old Town. The famous “Pawilony” is just a minute away from Patchwork. It is surrounded by bars as well as bistros and restaurants with cuisines from all around the world. Click here to see the latest prices.

7. Prague, Czech Republic

Like Warsaw, Prague is very affordable and the city is ridiculously gorgeous. Drinks are cheap and, unlike Stockholm, the nights are long. The DJs are also top class. Czech Republic also boasts of over a hundred variety of good beers you can sample all night. Beer garden with the most spectacular views? That would be Letná Beer Garden located inside the beautiful Letná Park along the bank of the Vltava river overlooking the old town of Prague.

Best party hostels in Prague:

Czech Inn – The ideal location for those who want to feel Prague and the Czech culture away from the touristy areas, the Czech Inn Hostel is also the place where you’ll find the Basement Bar where several events happen from quiz nights to live performances. Click here to see the latest prices.

The Madhouse Prague – In the Madhouse Prague, there’s free beer upon check in and if you want more, you can participate in the hostel’s beer pong activity, hostel dinners, or tours to the city’s beer gardens. Click here to see the latest prices.

8. Mykonos Island, Greece

Talking about wild, Mykonos is definitely wilder. The parties here never stops all summer long. People are already dancing and drinking long before noon. It’s crazy. Just see the video above shot at Super Paradise Beach for reference. I love the vibe of the island and it’s very gay-friendly as well. Check out Paradise Beach or the Pinky Beach at Super Paradise Beach. A great alternative to Mykonos is Ios island.

Best party hostel in Mykonos:

Paradise Beach Resort Mykonos – Located in the famous Paradise Beach in Mykonos, Paradise Beach Resort opens from the beginning of April until mid-October to accommodate partyphiles who’re warming up for the big events of Mykonos from July to August. Before the main events begin, you can start by hitting up the resort’s two beach bars. Click here to see the latest prices.

9. Hvar Island, Croatia

Hvar is another favorite in the Med (short for Mediterranean). The crowd here is mostly young people taking cruise trips around the Med. The center is beautiful, some of the bars and clubs are right by the water and they have drinking parties by the beach starting at noon. Check out the beach parties at Carpe Diem Beach or Hula Hula, the best beach bar in Hvar where you can drink while watching the sun sink into the Adriatic Sea (see photo above).

Best party hostels in Hvar:

Hvar Out Hostel – Hvar Out Hostel boasts the BEST LOCATION of any hostel in Hvar. It is literally a few steps away from the famous Carpe Diem night club and near popular beaches and bars. It has a great rooftop terrace area where you can meet lots of people, have drinks, and just chill before heading out. Click here to see the latest prices.

Hostel Villa Skansi – This hostel is one of Hvar’s most hedonistic backpacker’s place in town. Enjoy Villa Skansi’s expansive bar & dining patio on one of its sunset BBQs, drinking while sitting on comfy lounge beds, watching the sun set and waiting until the night gives you the go signal for the hostel’s pub crawl. Click here to see the latest prices.

10. Madrid, Spain

Sorry Barcelona but I had more fun going out in Madrid. Barcelona used to be one of the best places to party but I’ve been visiting since 2010 and I’ve never really had one great party night out in the city. Meanwhile, Madrid IS EVERYTHING. You can check out this great google maps of bars in La Latina neighborhood, the best barrio for bars. For the gay traveller, one word: Chueca. My friends Auston and David at Two Bad Tourists, who are currently based in Madrid, have a great list of the best gay bars and clubs in Madrid. Note that parties start really late in Spain in general so you better be a night owl. Also: bar-hopping is a thing.

Best party hostels in Madrid:

Living Cat’s Hostel – Cat’s Hostel is a restored 17^th century palace close to the excellent tapas bars and sights of central Madrid but what makes it cooler is the underground Cave Bar running theme parties and activity daily. Click here to see the latest prices.

Mad Hostel – Mad Hostel has the Rooftop Bar, a beach terrace offering refreshing drinks, excellent cocktails, and fun events such as barbecues, open air movies, pub crawls, and more. In the day, you can head to the rooftop’s solarium to soak that body under the sun. Click here to see the latest prices.

11. Lagos, Portugal

This is the premier partying place in Portugal in the summer. It has some of the best beaches and cheap drinks. Although this place is a bit overrun by heavy-drinking Australians and Brits (I mean you’ll most likely find them in all the cities listed above anyway), you will love the wild atmosphere of Lagos. It’s more bar scene here than clubbing though.

Best party hostel in Lagos:

Rising Cock Party Hostel – Be ready to party non-stop as the Rising Cock Party Hostel takes you on a booze cruise during the day and pub crawls every night. When you wake up, you’ll have a great breakfast served to cure your hangovers away. This is it. Click here to see the latest prices.

12. Paris, France

The last time I was in Paris I ended up in Raidd Bar in Le Marais staring at a hot, naked guy soaping himself in a shower. On a platform. With a hard-on. I don’t know how I ended up in this place. Well okay. I sort of know. I was in a private rooftop party with friends and then some of us decided to go to Le Marais for some more drinks in one of the clubs there. I don’t even remember the name (I googled that’s how I remember Raidd’s name). And then I think the other people wanted to move and the next thing I know I was watching this particular shower show. It was my first time to see a live show like that. Thanks Paris!

Best party hostels in Paris:

St. Christopher’s Inn Gare du Nord – St. Christopher’s Inn is the home of the biggest international bar Belushi’s where you will meet other travelers and have a taste of their classic food and drinks while enjoying live music. Click here to see the latest prices.

Peace and Love Hostel – Peace and Love Hostel is definitely the place for the young ones who just want to make noise all night long. Cheap beer and cocktails are all available in Peace and Love’s bar which is open until 2am. Click here to see the latest prices.

13. Antwerp, Belgium

I love Belgian cities specially Antwerp and Ghent. Between the two, Antwerp has a livelier night scene. It has lots of cool bars in the center and it has the biggest gay and lesbian club in the Benelux region (that’s short for Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg). Yes it beats Amsterdam! Check out Red and Blue Club if you’re heading to Antwerp.

Best party hostels in Antwerp:

Antwerp Central Youth Hostel – Before going out to check Antwerp’s large collection of pubs, you can stay in Antwerp Central Youth Hostel’s bar as your party starter. The hostel is located in the old city center and walking distance to all the bars and clubs. Click here to see the latest prices.

Antwerp Student Hostel – Also located in the city center, the Antwerp Student Hostel offers its guests large communal areas for socializing such as its private garden and it’s amazing game room which is perfect for meeting new friends. Click here to see the latest prices.

Did I miss any place? Where is your favorite place to party in Europe?

This post is part of The A to Z of European Travel series. Don’t miss any post by subscribing to my newsletter (it’s on the sidebar on the right). Remember that you can participate by sharing on social media, commenting or emailing your eurotrip questions.

P.S. You can also check out my post on how to get your flight reservation for your Schengen visa application.

Photo credits: 1. Amsterdam Dance Event 2. Allnighters 3. Berlin Getaway 4. Visit Stockholm 5. Slawek Skrzeczynski 6. ClubbingBreak.com 7. Sandor Fegyverneky 9. Hula Hula Hvar 10. Versilia Today 11. Daisy 12. Richard from Richarding 13. Ken from That’s Me

Did you know that having a Schengen visa allows you to go and travel to a number of European countries that are not part of the European Union nor the Schengen area and also to other countries in the world visa-free? Yes, you heard me right, you can visit VISA-FREE simply by showing your Schengen Visa! You do NOT need an extra tourist visa issued from these countries to enter, transit and stay in their territory. Some even allow up to 90 days free stay! Amazing, right?

beautiful Croatia! One of the countries you can visit with your Schengen visa

That means you can book flights spontaneously to these countries when the travel itch hits you. Or you can prolong your stay in Europe after your Schengen visa expires! And if you’re a Philippine-passport holder like me who knows how hard it is to get a Schengen visa, this is a huge bonus!

This post is for you if you’re wondering whether a Schengen visa is valid for Croatia/Serbia/ Bulgaria or not. Or asking questions like: Can I go to Romania, Bosnia or Montenegro with a Schengen visa?

Quick tip: When applying for a Schengen visa, DO NOT buy your flights tickets until you get your visa. You should only get a flight reservation for visa application, read my post so you don’t lose hundreds of dollars if your visa is rejected! You’re welcome.

List of Non-EU Countries You Can Go With a Schengen Visa

Below is the list of countries where Schengen Visa can be used as a substitute to their national tourist visa. I’ve also included the maximum number of days or length of stay allowed in each country. Let me know in the comments if there are other countries I can include in the list. Happy travels everyone!

Albania

All foreigners who are holding a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, that such visa is previously used in one of the countries of Schengen Area, or have a valid stay permission in one of the countries of Schengen area do not need a visa to visit Albania for up to 90 days. For updated information click here.

Andorra

The Andorran government imposes no visa requirements on its visitors and only requires a passport or European Union national identity card for entrance. However, since the country is only accessible via the Schengen countries Spain or France, entrance is not possible without entering the Schengen area first and the Schengen visa rules can therefore be regarded to apply de facto. Because Andorra is not part of the Schengen area, a two- or multiple-entry Schengen visa is required to re-enter the Schengen area when leaving Andorra. This also means that you can stay in Andorra up to 3 months, the maximum length of a Schengen visa. For updated information, click here.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Valid multiple entry Schengen visa holders and residents of the European Union can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa for a maximum stay of up to 15 days with the condition that the visa should be valid at least 15 days longer when entering the country. They must arrive from one of the European Union and Schengen Area member states or Monaco. For updated information, click here.

Bulgaria

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, the country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than 3 months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on January 31, 2012. For updated information, click here.

Croatia

All foreigners who are holders of valid two-entry or multiple-entry Schengen visas, as well as national visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania do not require an additional visa for Croatia for a transit or stay not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. I highly recommend visiting Croatia. It is super beautiful and one of my favorite summer destinations in Europe! For updated information, click here.

Cyprus

Holders of valid double or multiple-entry Schengen visa, as well as residence permits issued by Schengen Member States, are not required to hold a short-stay visa to enter the Republic of Cyprus for a time period not exceeding 90 days in any 180 day period. This provision doesn’t apply to Citizens of Turkey and Azerbaijan who have to follow the regular visa issuance procedure. For updated information, click here.

Georgia

Kosovo

Foreigners who hold a multi-entry Schengen Visa or a valid residence permit issued by one of the Schengen member states are exempt from Kosovo visa to enter, transit, or stay in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo for up to 15 days. For updated information, click here.

Macedonia

Third countries with multiple-entry short-stay Schengen Visa valid at least 5 days beyond the intended stay in the Republic of Macedonia may stay in the Republic of Macedonia for up to 15 days upon every entry to the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, and the total amount of the subsequent stays in the Republic of Macedonia must not be longer than 3 months within a 6-month period, starting from the date of the first entry. For updated information, click here.

Montenegro

Nationals of any country may visit Montenegro without a visa for up to 30 days if they hold a visa issued by a Schengen Area member state, the United Kingdom or the United States or Ireland or if they are permanent residents of those countries. I also highly recommend Montenegro. It’s a very beautiful country, very affordable and very easy to travel because it is small! For updated information, click here.

Romania

According to Emergency Government Ordinance no. 109/2013, as of February 1st 2014, the bearers of Schengen visas (with 2 or multiple entries), long-term visas, as well as residence permits issued by Schengen Member States shall no longer be required to hold a short-stay visa to enter the territory of Romania for a time period that may not exceed 90 days in any 180 day period.
In order for the bearers of the aforementioned documents to benefit from the facility of entering Romania without holding a Romanian visa, the number of entries as well as the right of stay established as per the Schengen visas, must not have been exhausted. For updated information, click here.

Serbia

At its meeting of 30 October 2014, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Decision on visa free entry to the Republic of Serbia for holders of foreign passports having a valid Schengen, UK and other Member States’ visa, or visa of the United States of America, and for holders of foreign passports having residence permit in the countries of the Schengen area, EU or the United States of America. They may enter, transit or stay in the Republic of Serbia up to 90 days during a six-month period, but not exceeding the expiring date of the said visas or residence permits.  For updated information, click here.

Turkey

Nationals of the following countries holding a valid Schengen Visa are allowed to enter and transit in Turkey up to 30 days: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe

All you need to do is get a single-entry Turkish e-Visa online valid for 1 month. It’s very easy and you get the visa on your email immediately. For updated information, click here.

Read Next:
How to apply for a Schengen visa at German embassy
How to apply for a Schengen visa at Netherlands embassy
How to apply for a Schengen visa at French embassy

Learn how to apply for a tourist Schengen visa at the German embassy in Manila for Philippine passport holders. It includes a comprehensive and detailed post about Schengen visa requirements and everything you need to submit to get your visa approved.

Last updated: September 29, 2017

This is Part 1 of How to Plan a Euro Trip series which covers the essential details on how to apply for the seemingly elusive and dreaded Schengen visa and get it in 7 days. This article answers the following questions:

What is a Schengen visa?
What are the types of Schengen visa?
When can I apply?
Which embassy is easy on the visa?
Where can I apply?
How can I apply for a Schengen visa at the German Embassy?
What are the Schengen visa application requirements?
What is a flight reservation or flight itinerary?
How much is the Schengen visa processing fee?
What should I wear to the interview?
How is the interview like?
Are the interviewers really scary?
How long does it take for the Schengen visa to be released?
What if I get denied? What can I do next?

Please note that this is based from my own experience applying for a 3-month Schengen visa in the German Embassy in Manila. Schengen visa application is pretty standard so you can learn a thing or two here if you’re applying for one soon.

Are you applying for a Schengen visa in another embassy? Check these other articles:

How to apply for a Schengen visa at the French Embassy and get it in 5 days

How to apply for a Schengen visa at the Dutch Embassy and get it in 2 weeks

IMPORTANT REMINDER: As much as I want to help all of you, please remember that I am NOT an embassy. Please don’t comment, email or message me on Facebook asking if your visa application will be approved. I DON’T KNOW. I would approve all visa applications if I work at an embassy because I want all of you to travel!

So let’s talk.

Have you been dreaming of going to Europe? Have you saved for it, started planning your itinerary and can’t wait to fly to your dream European city and experience the trip of a lifetime? You’re about to make your dream a reality (that’s very exciting!) but first, you have to nail that Schengen visa application.

What is a Schengen Visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen zone countries that include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

For citizens of unfortunate countries, like the Philippines, we are required to apply for a Schengen visa for short stays in the Schengen zone. But even after you’ve fulfilled all the requirements, you might still not be granted a visa.

With a Schengen visa, we are allowed entry into the zone up to 90 days within a 180 day period. These days don’t need to be consecutive. This means that you can leave the zone to go to other neighboring countries and then come back again and the counting continues. The total is cumulative. Once Day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

If you’re from another country, you can find the specific rules regarding your country at this European Commission website.

If you’re going to study or work in Europe or getting married to a European, you can’t apply for a Schengen visa. Let me repeat it: It’s just for short stays up to 90 days. Please check the relevant embassy for more information on the type of visa and requirements.

What are the types of Schengen visa?

There is only one type of Schengen visa which is – tada! – Schengen visa but there are different reasons for applying for one which determines the requirements you need to submit. Some of the common reasons for applying for a Schengen visa are: tourism, business, visiting family and/or friends, attending a fair or participation in a language course lasting no longer than 3 months.

When can I apply?

You can apply as early as 3 months before your expected departure date. For example: if you want to fly to Europe on June 30, you can apply as early as March 30. If you are super sure that you are going, I suggest you apply the earliest possible time because (1) there are many people who are applying for visas and you might not get your desired interview appointment date and (2) you can then book a cheaper roundtrip flight once your visa is approved versus applying last minute and, consequently, booking your flight last minute which makes it astronomically expensive.

Which embassy is easy on the visa?

According to this statistics published in The Economist, 1 in 17 applications to visit the Schengen area is rejected. But not all destinations are equal. In 2010 Belgium turned away almost one-fifth of applications for transit and short-stay visas, whereas Finland rejected only 1.3%. In 2010 Poland issued 7% of all Schengen visas, but as many as one-fifth of long-stay ones. France gave out 2.2 million visas, the most of any Schengen country, but many had only limited territorial validity. So I guess the answer to the question is French embassy.

Where can I apply?

You can apply to the embassies of any of the 26 countries listed above. If you’re visiting more than one country, you need to apply to the country where you will spend your time most. Or you can also apply to the country that you’re entering first. Some people apply to embassies which they have heard were more lenient. However, the requirements for the visa application remain almost the same, regardless of the embassy you choose. The application process might be slightly different but the requirements are pretty standard across all embassies.

I filed my visa application in the German Embassy in Manila because I will be mostly in Germany and I am visiting my friends there.

How do I apply for a Schengen visa at the German Embassy?

For application at the German Embassy in Manila, you must follow their new online Visa Appointment System. Just click continue under the Visa section and then click Schengen Visa so you can get the link for the online application form. Here is the link for the online application form.

Important tips:
1. A printout of the form is only possible if all the required mandatory fields have been completed. So make sure you fill out the form as much as possible.
2. Make sure you print it and bring it for your visa interview. This is a very important document. The most important part for the data processing is definitely the last page with the barcode.
3. Book early special during peak season between March and August! Schengen visa applications may be submitted three months before departure date. For example, if you’re planning to fly to Europe on July 1 , you can already apply for a Schengen visa as early as April 1. And since it’s peak season, you should already fill out the online application form so you can set a date for your visa interview as early as January or February to make sure you get the schedule you wanted.
4. Each applicant – including children – needs their own appointment.

You don’t want to do it online? Bring your passport and another I.D. (for the security guards) and head over to the German Embassy to set an appointment. But usually they have limited slots and the dates available are usually super late already. So it is better to do it online. Their address is:

25/F Tower 2 RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue, 1200 Makati City
Metro Manila, Philippines

Pause. Picture yourself here:

What are the requirements for a Schengen visa?

1. Your Identity

a. Passport, which must be valid for at least another 3 months upon the conclusion of the travel it must contain two empty pages, and one Xerox copy of the passport, and  further valid/invalid passports.

b. Two current biometric passport pictures, face recorded frontally, light background, to be submitted during the interview. Check this for the photograph specifications.

2. Application Form

a. One fully completed application form signed by your own hand.

b. One Security Questionnaire declaration signed by your own hand.

If you set your appointment through the Call Center, you don’t need to fill out the application form because you already did this through the phone. When you go to the embassy at your appointment time, the receptionist will give you your printed application form with all your info and you just have to check if all the info are correct and sign it. You then get a copy of the Security Questionnaire to fill out and sign. It’s free. You can also download it in advance here.

3. Purpose of travel

a. For those visiting for tourism, you need to submit your itinerary and reservation of a roundtrip ticket and confirmation of hotel/guest house that the accommodation has already been paid for.

Flight reservation: Note that the embassy DOESN’T NEED an actual flight booking, they just need details of your flights which you can show though a flight reservation. Read my detailed guide on how to book a flight reservation ASAP without leaving your house.

Hotel confirmation/reservation: You don’t need to pay for the full price of the hotel/hostel but you need to reserve them. You can book it online via Booking.com, Hostelworld or a travel agency can easily prepare your hotel reservation.

b. For those visiting family and/or friends (which is what I applied for), you need to submit proof of relationship, reservation of a roundtrip ticket and informal invitation by the host (if no Formal Obligation is submitted – see next requirement).

For the proof of relationship, you can use birth or marriage certificates, written correspondence between you and your sponsor, proof of telephone connections and other evidence of relationship between you and your sponsor.

I submitted an invitation letter even though I have a Formal Obligation. I printed email conversations and our flight bookings when we traveled together in Europe which shows that I really know this person.I also submitted a copy of my friend’s passport and Philippine stamps when he visited me in the Philippines. The interviewer even asked for photos but I thought you can’t show photos as evidence but apparently you can. So bring those photo albums!

The informal invitation is just a letter written and signed by your host/sponsor. There’s no specific format for this but I think it should state that he/she is inviting you, how you know each other, how long you are visiting and where you will be staying (their address).

4. Financial Capability

Regardless if you’re visiting for tourism or visiting family/friends, you can prove your financial capability by submitting any of the three:

a. submit xerox copies of your credit cards (no debit cards) and account statements for the previous six months or

b. statements of your bank account(s) for the previous six months, with a confirmation by the bank or

c. if you know a friend or have a family in Europe, then you can ask them to get you a Formal Obligation (or Verpflichtungserklärung in German). You have to know the person as they have to go to the city hall to get this paper for you and then they have to send the original copy to you which you will submit in the embassy. I did this for my application. Effort right? Are you still with me?

Do I still need proof of income if the one who invites me will shoulder all my expenses during my stay in their country?

No. The Formal Obligation covers this.

How much money should I have in my bank?

You must have at least 45 euros per day for your trip if you’re applying through the German Embassy. Other embassies have different monetary requirement.

Check the updated requirements here and here.

5. Travel Insurance

Valid travel health insurance for the full duration of stay for which the visa is applied for, with a minimum coverage sum of 30,000 Euros valid for all Schengen countries. There’s a list of accredited travel insurance companies in each embassy so check their website. But you can also buy insurance online.

I have been using Care Concept insurance for the last 5 years. It’s an affordable German travel insurance you can easily buy online within 5 minutes and you will receive your insurance documents via email. A 30-day Care Discover travel insurance would cost you only 45 euros. It fits the requirements of the embassies perfectly. The best part? You can get REFUNDED FULLY if your visa get denied. Most travel insurance companies don’t do this. Don’t forget to include the liability and accident insurance when filling up the form. Your other option is buying your travel insurance online easily via World Nomads, trusted by Lonely Planet and Hostelworld.

6. Proof that you will not run away and stay illegally in Europe

a. if you are employed: income tax return, certificate of employment (including name, complete address and telephone number of your employer with area code, details regarding your position or professional designation, income, duration of the working relationship, approved leave of absence signed by the employer)  OR

b. if you run your own company: proof of registration and commercial activity of the company in the Philippines (if self-employed: e.g. income tax returns, bank certificates, documents of the company accounts or other,  OR

c. if you are a student: School certificate (for pupils), University certificate: proof of enrollment (for students), if applicable a written exemption from studies by school or university,

d. if applicable, proof of real estate property.

If you are unemployed and would go back to work right after your trip, you can also show your Job Offer if you have one. Save your sanity and make sure you submit any of these documents that prove that you will come back to the Philippines. The people working in embassies are paranoid androids and they would deny you outright if you don’t submit a complete application. Heck, they wouldn’t even accept your application if its incomplete in the German embassy. Just please make sure you have all these documents before applying. Don’t even try if you are missing one. Don’t give them any chance to shatter your dreams!

God knows I die a little every time I hear of someone who just truly wants to travel to Europe or anywhere gets denied a visa.

And if you have intentions to stay illegally anywhere, please don’t! You’re killing yourself and the dreams of many people by doing this. Do you know what it’s like to be an illegal immigrant? It’s not fun that’s for sure. And you get jobs like cleaning toilets and mopping floors. Like in the dark. When no one can see you. Coz you don’t exist. So don’t. OK?

Lots of stuff to prepare right? Don’t get frustrated, imagine being here:

How much is the Schengen visa processing fee?

The visa processing fee is 60 euros and you pay in pesos depending on the day’s exchange rate. I paid Php 3,350. The Call Center normally advises you how much to prepare. Please try to bring the exact amount because the interviewer will eat you alive if you don’t.

What should I wear to the interview?

Most people probably don’t think of this but you should consider how you look when you go to the embassy for your interview. Please wear decent clothes and look respectable. Wear shoes and not slippers! For sure the interviewer is already judging you by how you look. So don’t give him/her the chance to think you’re someone who will stay illegally in Europe to clean toilets for a living. Look your best. Look your most fabulous.

How is the interview like?

The interviewer can ask you any question about your trip and your documents so be ready to answer him/her. Just relax and smile and say “Good morning!” when you get to the window. Don’t show her you’re nervous because you shouldn’t be. You’re great. You’re amazing and you want to go to Europe for an epic vacation. You’re not planning to stay illegally in Europe to mop floors – in the dark! – for a living, right? Right. So relax.

After the interview, they will ask for the visa application fee and your passport and give you a receipt.

Are the interviewers really scary?

Not really. They’re just humans who have a boring, repetitive job of interviewing people to check if you’re planning to stay illegally in Europe. So if you will talk to one who looks bored and can’t be bothered, just smile and be polite and answer the questions confidently. I find the Filipinos who are stationed by the interview windows in German Embassy a bit unfriendly and clueless (?). They don’t smile and they look mean and bored. And when I ask them valid questions which I couldn’t find in their website, they answer with a shrug and told me to check the website. BUT I CAN’T FIND IT IN THE WEBSITE that’s why I’m asking! Ugh. Never mind. Obviously I’m not a fan of front desk employees who give you the look like you owe them your life for being there.

How long does it take for the Schengen visa to be released?

It’s pretty fast these days. In the German Embassy, you will receive your Schengen visa in 7 days. They will send it through courier to your address. I paid the courier 160 pesos. I think you can pick it up at the embassy after 7 days too but you’ll have to talk to them how to do this. If you’re denied, they will send you passport back through courier too.

What if I get denied? What can I do next?

If you’re denied, you can file an appeal. The embassy is required by law to give you a valid reason for denying you and they are also required by law to give you an advice regarding the legal remedy on what you should do to get approved. But there’s no guarantee that you will get approved. They will check your application again including your appeal papers and this can take at least one month.

The deadline for filing an appeal is only 1 (one) month after receipt of the rejection. Example: On June 8th you received your passport and the letter of rejection of your visa application. On the letter of rejection the date of submission (June 8th 2012) is stamped. Your remonstration/appeal must therefore have been received by the German Embassy before or on July 7th 2012 at the latest.

More information about Schengen visa rejection and how to appeal here.

For those getting this rejection reason: your intention to leave the territory of member states before expiry of the visa could not be ascertained, you should send more proof that you are going back to the Philippines like a job or a job offer or proof of your own business.

P.S. I am not making fun of people who clean toilets and mop floors for a living. I respect them. I disapprove of illegal immigration. Just saying. OK.

Go chase your dreams!

Related Reading: List of Non-EU countries you can visit with your Schengen Visa

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