I LOVE Christmas. I don’t just love it. I am obsessed with the holiday. Everything from the sparkling decorations, too hot chocolate by the fire, there isn’t a time of year that beats it in terms of coziness.

When I moved to Washington, I couldn’t contain the excitement I felt when I realized I was only 2 hours away from one of America’s BEST Christmas Towns. I am talking about Leavenworth, Washington.

It’s a town that makes you feel like a protagonist in a Hallmark Christmas movie (they were even filming one when I was visiting!). It’s a cute town year-round, but during the holidays it is absolutely magical.

If I convinced you to visit thus far, let me take it a step further and say, Leavenworth is a Bavarian-themed town nestled in the scenic cascade mountains, and during Christmas, they go all out with thousands of sparkling Christmas lights, plump German sausages spiced mulled wine, and non-stop Christmas festivities that would get even the Grinch into the Christmas spirit.

As someone who loves European villages and Christmas markets, Leavenworth does an absolutely amazing job depicting a typical Bavarian village during Christmas.

That being said, I created this guide which is really the only guide to Leavenworth Christmas magic you need! Although I can’t guarantee you’ll fall in love with Leavenworth, I can say with 99% certainty that you’ll fall in love with Leavenworth. It’s hard not to, especially during Christmas.

Are you looking for more Washington State Travel Inspo?

Gifts Made in Washington State: A Local Shopping Guide
12 Epic Things to Do On Whidbey Island, Washington: A Perfect Weekend Getaway
11 Beautiful Mt Rainier Tours from Seattle
7 Amazing Snoqualmie Falls Tours from Seattle
30 Magical Things to do for Christmas in Seattle 

How to get to Leavenworth

It depends on what you want to do in Leavenworth and if you want to explore the surrounding area. Driving will be the easiest way to get there, but depending on the weather it can also be the most dangerous, so make sure you check the weather before you leave.

You will have to drive over the Snoqualmie pass to get to Leavenworth, and if it snows heavily, the pass closes, and if that happens, you will be stuck. You can check the Snoqualmie Pass weather conditions here.

Driving will allow you more flexibility to explore the surrounding area. For instance, Wenatchee is beautiful during the winter, and about a 30-minute drive from Leavenworth and Icicle Ridge Winery (I talk more about later) is a 15-minute drive.

If you don’t drive or don’t want to there is an Amtrak train that leaves from Seattle, but just know that the train leaves once a day, and if you get the train back to Seattle from Leavenworth, you’ll have to catch it at 6 am (That is the ONLY train).

Greyhound also goes to Leavenworth. There is one bus and costs about $40, but I wouldn’t take the bus in the snow. I did it once, and it was pretty terrifying. I don’t think the bus driver knew how to drive in the snow.

If you do decide to take the train or bus, you can get a taxi from Leavenworth Shuttle & Taxi LLC to get around. I believe Uber is also running in Leavenworth, but I haven’t tried it so not sure how reliable it is.

Things to do in Leavenworth during winter

Visit a reindeer farm

Leavenworth Reindeer Farm | Address: 10395 Chumstick Hwy, Leavenworth, WA 98826 | Cost: $25

Leavenworth has a reindeer farm that is an absolute must if you visit! It’s about a 5-minute drive from downtown Leavenworth, and if you don’t have a car, you can get a taxi, or it’s about a 20-minute walk from downtown.,

The farm itself is cute. As soon as you enter, you’ll be directed to an area where a reindeer specialist will give you the low down on all things reindeer. You will learn about all the reindeer’s that live on the farm; how the reindeer are cared for; and you even get to hold a pair of antlers. You will also get a tiny cup of food to feed the reindeer, so prepare to be pushed and prodded.

I have never been this close to reindeer before, so it was a lot of fun – plus, you get a free hot chocolate! There is also a shop that sells local items, so if you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet, this is a great place to do it. I bought a candle made by one of the employee’s sisters.

You HAVE to buy tickets online, and you should do so in advance because they sell out. I was lucky to get tickets two weeks in advance, but I wouldn’t risk it. If you know your dates, get your tickets!

Get Acquainted with Krampus

If you have never heard of Krampus boy, are you in for a treat! Krampus is a Bavarian folkloric half-demon, half-goat creature that punishes bad children.

 Bavaria takes getting a bag of coal to a whole new level. 

I recommend watching the movie “Krampus” to get an idea of who he is. It’s a silly movie, but Adam Scott is in it, so it can’t be too bad, right? Anyway, Leavenworth celebrates this terrifying horned creature by hosting a pub crawl!

It’s self-guided, and each place participating creates a drink. My favorites were the cranberry margarita from South and a hot chocolate with pecan-infused rum from La Javelina. The pub crawl only happens the first weekend in December, but I hope they change it to every day because the drinks are good, and the pub crawl is just a fun thing to do. They also have Krampus characters out and about for all the photo ops.

Krampus is hosted by a group of cosplayers who haunt Seattlites at holiday events every year. You can check them out here. They post the events they will be attending, so if you miss them at Leavenworth, you can catch them elsewhere.

Eat Traditional German Food

Andreas Keller Restaurant | Address: 829 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This is by far one of the BEST German restaurants in Leavenworth. Massive portions of traditional hearty Bavarian food are served by waiters who wear traditional Bavarian attire (Dirndls and Lederhosen) and it wouldn’t be a proper German restaurant without endless choices of beer to wash all that food down with. If you have never had German food, you are in for a treat. Among some of the items they offer are sausages, schnitzel, and a pork hock which is what we got. It was as big as my head.

The inside of the restaurant was beautiful. There have painted murals on the walls and wooden tables and chairs. It was a cozy retreat from the cold outside. They did a really good job depicting a Bavarian restaurant. In the evenings, especially weekends, they get pretty crowded and don’t take reservations, so wait times can vary and could be up to an hour or more, so plan accordingly.

Mozarts Steakhouse | Address: 829 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

By far, one of the more expensive options is Mozart Steak house. I wanted to eat here because they had fondue, and I have been craving fondue for some weird reason. Anyway, The fondue was a puddle of gooey and cheesy goodness, and I ordered the Schnitzel, which had a delectable mushroom gravy poured on top. I recommend ordering both. If you want to have a nice dinner, this place is a fantastic option. I would suggest sitting by the window for a fantastic view of downtown.

Rhein Haus | Address: 707 US-2 unit f, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This was one of my favorite places to eat. I love their patio, which has roaring fires on every table, and there is a lovely view of downtown Leavenworth. Their menu has a bit of everything, so if you are sick of sausages and schnitzel they have an extensive list of dishes. For instance, my mom got a kebab and loved it, but since I am in a Bavarian town, I went with the currywurst and giant pretzel. Leavenworth surprisingly has the best pretzels. They were even better than the ones I had in Germany, so definitely get a pretzel during your visit.

Baren Haus | Address: 901 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

We went to this place on our last day, and funnily enough, I liked what my mom ordered, and my mom liked what I ordered, so we switched. I got the Schnitzel and my mom got Sauerbraten which is a century-old method of slow cooking beef. It was incredibly tender and served with a sweet and tangy gravy which my mom didn’t like, but I loved! They also had a German Chocolate Cake shot that was the perfect finish to the meal.

Leavenworth Sausage Garten | Address: 636 Front St #G, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Leavenworth has two sausage gardens. This one is newer, and it’s connected to Visconti, a delicious Italian restaurant. They make all their sausages in-house. They only have outdoor seating, but they do have heaters. I thought the Bratwurst and potato salad was exceptional. I would absolutely recommend coming here for your German sausage cravings.

München House | Address: 709 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This is the other sausage garden, and it’s been around for a long time, so the line is usually a mile long, but I have to say the bratwurst is worth it. Their outdoor patio is really cozy; they have fires going on some of the tables and pretty murals on the walls.

Old World Pub | Address: 900 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

A little sketchy on the outside, but super cozy inside, Old World Pub has delicious food and a cozy atmosphere that made it an ideal spot to end our busy day. They had a creative menu with dishes, like pork belly lettuce wraps and bison burgers. My mom is the ultimate foodie and super picky loved it, so if my mom loved it, you know it’s good!

La Javelina | Address: 285 US-2, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Okay, so La Javelina does not serve German food, but I had to share it with you guys because they serve some of the best breakfast tacos I have ever had and incredible coffee drinks. They are a bit outside of downtown but walkable. It’s the perfect place for breakfast before exploring the town, and the employees are really friendly. I didn’t get to try any of the pastries, but they looked incredible. I have to make sure I save room for my next trip!

Shop for Christmas Gifts

Kris Kringl | Address: 907 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

If Christmas threw up, you would get Kris Kringl. This fun shop has everything you could want or need for the holidays. I spent a lot of time in Kris Kringl gawking at how beautiful it was and the detail that went into decorating it. They even hung a giant Santa sleigh above the shop. If you can’t make it to Leavenworth in the winter, you can still enjoy it year-round, although it probably won’t have the same magic it has during the holidays. I should also add that this store gets super busy, especially on weekends, so if you can, visit right when it opens to avoid long lines.

The Wood Shop | Address: 719 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This was a cute toy store. They had modern toys and old-fashioned toys that I remember playing with when I was a kid. It’s a building you can’t miss quite literally. On the building, there is a massive painting of a skier jumping off a mountain and it’s one of my favorite murals in Leavenworth. It’s also next to a hat shop which is worth checking out as well.

The Oil & Vinegar Cellar | Address: 633 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

I bet you can guess what Oil & Vinegar sells. If you guessed Oil & Vinegar you would be correct. If not, well… I really don’t know what to say. I will say that Oil & Vinegar has some delicious products. You can taste different ones, and they even offer bread to try with the oils. I am not a huge vinegar person, so I didn’t try any, but I am sure they are just as good. They have over 15 flavors of olive oil and vinegar, so if you are indecisive you may have some trouble. I purchased the garlic & mushroom-infused oil and tried oregano-infused oil, which was equally as delicious.

Cheesemonger | Address: 819 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Cheese. Must I say more? This shop is quite small, but if you love cheese as much as I do, you will want to buy out their entire stock. They have cheese’s from all over the world, and some are a bit more unique than others, like Irish Whisky Cheddar, Buffalo Wing (Which I got!), lavender honey goat cheese, and of course if you want something a bit more generic, they have a double cream brie that’s to die for. I also got a truffle cheddar cheese which, if I am being honest, did not last very long. If I haven’t convinced you, here is an excellent article about the cheese shop. They list some of the best cheeses to get, but I would recommend going in and trying a bunch.

Cup and Kettle | Address: 819 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This was one of my favorite shops. They sell 150 varieties of tea and spices from all over the world, and I personally bought enough tea and spices to last the year.

Krampus Kave | Address: 900 Front St o, Leavenworth, WA 98826

If you are into comic books, board games, and really anything nerdy, you’ll love Krampus Kave. I especially loved them because they required masks and enforced that rule, but I also love comic books. They had a lot of fun knick-knacks that would make perfect Christmas presents or stocking stuffers!

Leavenworth Boutique | Address: 707-715 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Ahhh, I LOVED Leavenworth Boutique. It’s actually five shops in one building:

• Pine Hill Mercantile
• JT Blue
• Copper Creek
• Paprika
• Mountain Modern Supply

Each one sells slightly different things, but there is one checkout counter so you can browse each store freely. I think what stood out the most was the fact that they color coordinate all their items. It was glorious and made shopping so much fun. They sell the cutest clothes, books, household items, candles, jewelry, and really anything you could possibly want. I bought an adorable narwhal mug that I shall cherish forever.

A Book for All Seasons | Address: 707 US-2 STE B, Leavenworth, WA 98826

I love exploring independent bookstores and supporting them when I can. This is a cute shop that has a wide array of books. I love reading so if it were up to me I would spend hours browsing all the books.

Candle Connection | Address: 725 Front St # C, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Is there a shop that smells better than Candle Connection? Well, Maybe the bakery down the street, but Candle Connection smells pretty darn good! If you are in the market for a specific candle brand or scent, they will probably sell it, or if you are looking to make a candle yourself, they sell everything you need to make that happen. Moral of the story: Candle Connection has pretty much everything your little candle-loving heart would desire.

Stuff Yourself Silly with Sweet Treats

Bavarian Bakery | Address: 1330 US-2, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This bakery is about a 15-minute walk from downtown but worth it! They sell some of the best Bavarian pastries in town. I went here twice during my trip and would have gone a third time, but there were so many other bakeries to try. They had these tiny biscotti-like cookies by the register that I recommend getting. They were some of the best cookies I have ever had! The Bee Sting cake, which is a traditional Bavarian dessert is also good. It’s made with Brioche dough, pastry cream and topped with a honey-almond mixture. Bavarian pastries are really something, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Danish Bakery | Address: 731 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

The Swedish in me was so happy there was a Danish Bakery. Many of the pastries they served were familiar to me, but I was feeling basic, so I went with a danish filled with cream and jam. It was so good, I still dream about it.

Gingerbread Factory | Address: 829 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

This is by far the most popular bakery in Leavenworth. On the weekends the line is out the door. Although the pastries are amazing, My favorite part about Gingerbread factory is the decor. It genuinely feels like a fairytale. There is a giant tree smack in the middle with sparkly lights wrapped around the branches and the facade of a tiny cottage with cute little windows. In terms of pastries, I loved the cheesecakes and cookies. You literally can’t go wrong.

Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co. | Address: 707 US-2 suite c, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Who eats ice cream in the winter? I’ll tell you who. This girl does! I wasn’t surprised Whistlepunk had great ice cream. I mean, first off, all their ice cream is made in-house, and the ingredients they use are sourced locally. They create incredible seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice, eggnog, and peppermint. Also, not sure if they hand make their cones, but they tasted handmade, so if you get ice cream, you have to get it in a cone. Finally, I’ve never had a hot chocolate float before visiting Whistlepunk, and now I am determined to recreate it at home.

Schocolat | Address: 843 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Schocolat is a must-stop for every chocolate lover out there. They sell heavenly Belgian chocolate truffles that just melt in your mouth. The workers are so friendly and will even offer free samples. I think I got one of every truffle, plus they have fun Christmas chocolates shaped like a wreath, a stocking (stuffed with peppermint bark), and even Santa.

Icicle Coffee & Chocolates | Address: 900 Front St Suite e, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Fudge, truffles, and coffee are what you will find at Icicle Coffee & Chocolates. They had tons of interesting coffee drinks named after, I assume people who work there, for instance, they would have a drink called “Jacks Drink.” They had a large variety of truffle flavors, with each flavor having a white, milk, or dark chocolate version, and it’s the first place I have ever been to where they sell biscoff fudge.

Warm Up With a Drink

Stein | Address: 801 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Stein is the perfect place to go for that European beer hall experience. They have long wooden tables great for chatting to your neighbors over a pint of beer and a pretzel, and they have over 50 beers and ciders on tap. If you are in the mood for something a bit more festive, I would suggest ordering one of their seasonal cocktails. Since it was cold I got an Irish hot chocolate which was a nice twist on the traditional Irish coffee.

Blue Spirits Distilling | Address: 1310 US-2, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Blue Distilling is such a gem! It’s about a 15-minute walk from downtown. They have a wide selection of whiskeys, rums, tequilas, vodkas, and gin. If you are looking for something more unconventional, they have infused options like mango, espresso, pepper, and even pickle. They also make some pretty killer cocktails. Whenever I visit a distillery, I always have to buy at least one bottle, so I bought two! Their seating area is super cozy, so I suggest getting a drink or two and finding a seat inside or outside if they have the heaters going.

Bushel and Bee Taproom | Address: 900 Front St suite c, Leavenworth, WA 98826

A place with a K-9 ambassador is always high up on my list, especially when said ambassador is at the establishment walking laps around the place, ready to greet every patron who walks through the door. Reason #2 I loved this place is because it’s a cidery. I prefer cider over beer, and they had an excellent selection of ciders on tap. If you decide to sit outside and get cold, they have blankets you can borrow.

Goose Ridge Wine & Cider | Address: 920 Front St B3, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Goose ridge winery has cute tasting rooms throughout Washington State. Their tasting room in Leavenworth was adorable. The inside looked like it was decorated for a Christmas hallmark movie, but because of worldly viral reasons, we sat outside. It was a really cozy place to grab a drink. They had Glüwein that hit the spot and good wine that we, of course, had to buy! I absolutely recommend getting a drink here because it’s also at the end of the main street, so it’s not as crowded as some of the other tasting rooms.

Icicle Ridge Winery  | Address: 821 Front St # B, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Icicle Ridge Winery is actually about a 10-minute drive from Leavenworth, and we found out about it from the tasting room in Leavenworth, so of course, we had to drive out there and check it out. It just started snowing the morning we went, and I kid you not, the winery looked like a snow globe or one of those Christmas cabins you see in Christmas movies. You know, the ones that look too good to be true. This winery was started by a retired couple who turned their home into a winery because why not! The inside of the winery was decorated to the brim for Christmas, and they had a fire going.

I bought a fruity raspberry wine I tried at the tasting room in Leavenworth. It was one of the best wines I have had. I love sweet and fruity, so it was right up my alley. If you want to get away from Leavenworth for a couple of hours, I recommend visiting this winery. It’s gorgeous.

Wine Girl Wines | Address: 217 8th St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Wine Girl s a women-run winery and a fun place to grab a drink. The lovely ladies working were dressed up in festive attire and seemed to genuinely love working there. They made sure we ordered a wine that we would like. I want to visit their actual winery in Lake Chelan.

Check out the worlds largest nutcracker collection

The Nutcracker Museum | Address: 735 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Did you know Leavenworth is home to the world’s largest nutcracker collection? It’s not located in Germany as you may expect. There are over 9,000 nutcrackers at The Nutcracker Museum. They have nutcrackers for all seasons, holidays, and even showcase what the very first nutcrackers look like, and they have modern nutcrackers that depict Disney and movie characters.

The museum was founded in 1995 as a non-profit by Arlene Wagner and her husband George. Arlene became obsessed with nutcrackers after she was in a ballet production of The Nutcracker. Soon after, she started collecting them. She was eventually given the nickname “Nutcracker Lady.” Arlene has been a guest and featured on multiple shows, including Conan where she gifted him with a nutcracker from her collection.

After a visit to The Nutcracker museum, I have learned that nutcrackers are not just a holiday decoration. There is a nutcracker for every day of the year, season, and holiday. If you want to take home a nutcracker of your own, there is a store. I have a million nutcrackers at home, so didn’t get one, but I enjoyed looking around. There was a lot to take in, in the museum and store.

This is a truly unique thing to do in Leavenworth.

Learn the history behind Leavenworth

Leavenworth History Museum | Address: 735 Front St 2nd Floor, Leavenworth, WA 98826

Did you know Leavenworth wasn’t originally settled by Germans? I had no clue. The cute Bavarian town we all know today was originally a booming mining town. People hungry for gold and timber settled in the area and by 1890 the town exploded with a rail line. Unfortunately, all good thing must come to an end and slowly but surely the town started to decline as timber and gold were harder to find. Leavenworth eventually became a ghost town and stayed that way for 30 years. Then one day a few of the towns folk came up with a brilliant idea.

Why not turn Leavenworth into a tourist destination by creating a theme? They saw the success of Solvang in California, and thought why not do the same thing in our measley town. So In 1960 the idea to create an Alpine Village town emerged. With the cascade mountains overlooking the town, it was the perfect place to create that Alpine experience.

I would say their little experiment worked.

Every year, Leavenworth brings in over 2 million visitors! The town thrives on tourism and wouldn’t be able to function without it.  If you want to learn more about Leavenworth’s beginnings check out the History Museum which is run by volunteers and chalk full of fascinating information about the town and surrounding areas.

Enjoy Christmas Town festivities

Leavenworth isn’t called Christmas Town for nothing. All month long, during December, Leavenworth holds festivities that make this town a truly magical place to visit during the holidays. Downtown Leavenworth has live music, festive characters available to take all the Christmas photos you could possibly want which include Santa, The Grinch, and a Snowman.

On the other hand, Leavenworth has a Festhalle event space that is chock-full of fun Christmas activities such as a Gingerbread Competition, an international Santa Clause exhibition, and a station where you or your children can write a letter to Santa. They have a fancy mailbox and everything.

There is nothing quite as magical as a letter-writing station dedicated to Santa

You can find the schedule for all the Christmas events here

Where to Stay in Leavenworth

Bavarian Ritz | Address: 633 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826 | Phone: (509) 548-5455

Bavarian Ritz is a simple and affordable hotel located in Downtown Leavenworth a minutes walk to most of the town’s attractions. The building itself is a gorgeous turn-of-the-century architectural gem. Although it’s a simple hotel, I really enjoyed my stay here.

Amenities:

• Free parking (which is HUGE in Leavenworth)
• pets allowed for $20 per night
• high-speed wi-fi
• coffee and tea in the room

For more accommodation choices in Leavenworth, search for hotels below!

Leavenworth FAQS

Should I book in Advance?

Christmas time is the busiest time to visit Leavenworth. Hotels get way more expensive, and the influx of people causes longer wait times for restaurants and experiences to sell out, so I would suggest booking your accommodation and experiences 4-6 months in advance. It is possible to book last-minute, and I only know that because that’s regrettably what I did, but I can guarantee you’ll be stressing a lot less if you book in advance and possibly paying a lot less too.

What is the Parking Situation?

If you plan on driving just be aware parking is a b*tch (excuse my language!). If you are staying in Leavenworth, some of the hotels will have parking included with your room price or for an extra charge, but if you are coming for the day then be prepared to pay about $30 for parking. I would suggest getting to Leavenworth early. I would say between 8 am-10 am. I am a morning person, so that is the ideal time for me, but everyone is different. If you want to visit on the later side just be prepared to spend time looking for a parking spot.

Are weekends a good time to visit?

To be honest, I would avoid the weekends like the plague. I know that isn’t feasible for everyone because of work and weekly responsibilities, but if you can visit on the weekdays, it’s a much more enjoyable experience. Hotels are much cheaper on the weekdays, and there is less waiting for restaurants. I was there for about four days, and one of the days was a Saturday, and I vowed I would never go back on a Saturday.

Can I bring my furry friend?

Yes! Leavenworth is incredibly dog-friendly. We brought our dog, and he was welcome pretty much everywhere. I guess it depends on the size because we were able to hold him when we needed to. He was allowed in restaurants with patios (that were heated!), and he was welcome in all the shops. Some hotels also allow dogs, but usually with a fee, so just check the website or call before booking.

Do the accept euros?

I put this as a joke because my 90-year-old grandmother came with us, and she was confused as to where we were and thought we were in Germany. She asked if they accepted US dollars, and I thought it was the cutest thing. I am putting that question here because I am sure that other 90-year-old grandmas have had the same question. Unfortunately, they do not accept euros.

Is it a feasible day trip from Seattle?

It’s definitely possible, but I would not recommend it. Seattle is about a 2-hour drive, and when it snows, it can be dangerous. I once went for a day, and as we were driving back, we saw about three accidents. Luckily nothing too bad, but the towing companies were busy that night. It helps to have someone that knows how to drive in the snow, but regardless going for a day would not be fun. Plus, Leavenworth is beautiful at night, so you will want to enjoy it! If Leavenworth hotels are too expensive Wenatchee is only a 30-minute drive and has way more affordable options.

Are you looking for more Washington State Travel Inspo?

Gifts Made in Washington State: A Local Shopping Guide
12 Epic Things to Do On Whidbey Island, Washington: A Perfect Weekend Getaway
11 Beautiful Mt Rainier Tours from Seattle
7 Amazing Snoqualmie Falls Tours from Seattle
30 Magical Things to do for Christmas in Seattle 

Was this article helpful to you? Well, go ahead and save it by pinning it so you can reference it later on.

Helpful Travel Resources

First off, if you want to browse all my favorite travel resources check out my Travel Resources page.

Trip Planning: I have put together the ultimate trip planning guide that will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip.

Book your Flight: Check out Skyscanner and Momondo! They can have great deals. Airfarewatchdog is also a favorite of mine. I get notified by email every time there is a good deal from my local airport.

Book your Transportation: Wanderu is usually where I check first. They check hundreds of different transportation companies all over the world and find you either the best bus or train deal. Flixbus is one of my favorite cheap options for Europe. The buses generally aren’t too bad and they go to most countries around Europe. It’s the perfect option for short distances. Train travel is my favorite mode of transportation and I always use Rail Europe to book my tickets. The Eurail pass makes Europe train travel super affordable.

Book your Accommodation: On a budget and looking for cheap accommodation? Hostelworld is my preferred site to book cheap and reliable hostels. Hotels Combined compares hundreds of sites to give you the cheapest hotel deal. If I know the hotel I want to stay at, This is the site I generally use. Hotwire has a fun mystery to it. It’s a great site to use for last-minute bookings. They don’t actually tell you the name of the hotel when you are browsing. You will just get the area of the city it’s in, the price, and how many stars it has. I love the surprise aspect of it!

Book your Travel Insurance: Getting travel insurance is such a crucial part of preparing for a trip. You never know what could happen and why take the risk? Before I travel anywhere I always book my insurance through World Nomads.

Book your Activities: Now, you have planned all the logistics time to think about what you will do once you get to your destination! These are a few of my favorite trip planning sites. I always use Viator when I am looking for tours. I have booked cooking classes, day tours and so much more through them and absolutely love the immense selection they offer in cities all over the world! Pinterest is great to get travel inspiration and plan an upcoming trip or share inspo with friends and family. I use Trip Advisor to plan itineraries for what I want to see & do in each city. I also use them to read reviews on restaurants and hotels too.

Store Your Luggage: Do you have a long layover or a late flight and need to store your luggage? Luggage Hero has got you covered. You can book luggage storage in more than 35 cities worldwide for as little as $1 an hour or $8 for the day.