Hi, fellow city lover!
We’re Viola & Sebastian, the creators behind the urban travel blog ‘Away to the City’. Born and raised in Germany, our passion for culture, history, architecture, photography, and design inspired us to launch Away to the City in August 2023.
Travelling globally and living abroad have broadened our perspectives on life and culture. Now, based in London, we’re on a mission to help you explore the most exciting cities and guide you towards the landmarks and experiences that truly matter.
53
Countries Visited
400+
Cities Visited
3
Countries Lived
5
Continents Visited
About Viola
Viola loves writing and taking photos. When she’s not planning the next adventure, you might find her enjoying bubble tea or matcha. She’s passionate about musical theatre and dedicated to learning Ballroom and Latin dancing.
About Sebastian
Sebastian is an industrial designer with a passion for photography and illustration. He’s into all things futuristic and practices martial arts. Always seeking fresh experiences, Sebastian is also a devoted Star Wars fan.
Away to the City: A City Travel Blog
How It All Began…
The idea for Away to the City sparked during a trip to Japan in April 2023. Sitting at a restaurant in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, we excitedly recounted our adventures from the past two weeks. One of us joked, “We could easily fill a blog with all these stories and the photos we’ve taken!”.
Back home, colleagues bombarded us with requests for travel recommendations and tips for Japan. What started as a light-hearted comment in Japan now seemed entirely plausible. Having shared our travel stories and photos for years, this encouragement was the final push to launch Away to the City in August 2023.
Our Focus on Cities
Sure, we appreciate the jaw-dropping beauty of serene countryside and natural wonders. But we truly come alive in the energy and excitement of bustling cities.
We love meeting people from all walks of life and experiencing different cultures and countries. There’s something special about exploring the unknown, getting lost in busy streets, and finding hidden gems.
Our Mission
With ‘Away to the City’, we’re on a mission to ignite your wanderlust and empower you to explore the world’s most captivating cities. We craft city itineraries, provide in-depth cultural insights and rigorously tested recommendations so you get the most value for your time and money. This way, you avoid tourist traps and get authentic, unique experiences, broadening your horizons and fostering a deeper understanding of the world.
Our Favourite Travel Memories
We’ve been fortunate enough to explore a diverse range of cities around the world. Here are our top 20 favourite travel experiences:
1. Marvelled at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.
2. Journeyed through centuries at the Tower of London.
3. Witnessed the cherry blossoms in Tokyo.
4. Wandered through the medieval architecture of Bruges.
5. Explored the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.
6. Toured the Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest.
7. Witnessed the Northern Lights near Reykjavik.
8. Strolled along the scenic Chicago Riverwalk.
9. Marvelled at Hong Kong‘s cityscape set against green mountains.
10. Embarked on a culinary adventure in Taipei.
11. Immersed ourselves in the lively music scene of New Orleans.
12. Strolled along the fortified walls of Old Quebec City.
13. Fed the bowing deer in Nara.
14. Discovered Rotterdam‘s modern architecture.
15. Relaxed on the beautiful Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.
16. Admired Seville‘s Moorish architecture.
17. Discovered quirky-themed cafés in Seoul.
18. Stepped into the world of Hobbiton in New Zealand.
19. Experienced Melbourne‘s street art and coffee culture.
20. Explored the green oasis of Balboa Park in San Diego.
Awards & Recognition
We’re thrilled to be one of the winners in the Self-Creators category at the 2023 Bluehost Creators Awards. This recognition of our hard work in creating Away to the City motivates us to continue inspiring travellers worldwide.
We’ve explored over 50 countries in the past 17 years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge in city travel, destination advice, travel logistics, and navigating cultural nuances.
Our advice in these areas has been featured in various publications, including Yahoo, GOBankingRates, and EuroNewsweek.
How We Travel
Here are the core principles that guide our travel experiences:
- Exploring on Foot & Public Transport: We walk as much as possible (it’s the best way to find hidden gems!). But if a city is too vast or an attraction too far away, we use public transport.
- Balancing Comfort & Value: We’re mid-range travellers, so we steer away from low-budget accommodations like hostels. However, we don’t opt for full-blown luxury hotels either. You can typically find us in comfortable 3-4* hotels in central locations.
- Safety First: We choose reputable hotels in safe areas and never travel without travel insurance.
- Strategic Exploration: We maximise our time at each city through thorough research, strategic planning, and booking attractions in advance to avoid long queues.
8 Fun Facts About Us
We walk up to 35k steps a day when exploring new cities.
We got married in Las Vegas, surrounded by neon lights and the buzz of the city.
We’re both history buffs and love exploring ancient ruins and historical landmarks.
We once took a career break and embarked on a 5-month adventure through Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
We’re tech geeks who love exploring the latest gadgets and futuristic cities.
We’ve been living abroad for more than 12 years.
We’re passionate foodies who love trying new and exciting dishes.
We excel at packing light and have learned to master the art of strategic suitcase organisation.
Our Bucket List
We’ve experienced incredible destinations over the years, but there’s so much more to explore. Here are some bucket list items we want to hit over the next few years:
- Explore the ancient wonders of Machu Picchu, Peru.
- Walk along the majestic Great Wall of China.
- Discover the Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx in Cairo, Egypt.
- Wander through the ancient Medina of Marrakech, Morocco.
- See Aztec ruins alongside colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers in Mexico City, Mexico.
FAQ
From time to time, we receive questions from our readers, so we put together this list of the most frequent ones:
Why is your blog called Away to the City?
We named our blog ‘Away to the City’ because we love exploring cities! It goes against the typical idea of holidays as relaxation outside the city. Cities are full of unique cultures, history, and amazing things to see and do. It’s like an adventure every time we visit a new one!
Why aren’t there more pictures of you on the blog?
We believe the focus should be on the city itself and the experiences it offers. While we do include some personal photos occasionally, we prioritise showcasing the beauty and culture of the destinations we visit.
Do you travel full-time?
We both have full-time jobs, but we’re passionate about travel and prioritise exploring new cities whenever possible. We utilise our time off at work to squeeze in around 12 trips per year.
Do you create your illustrations on your own?
Absolutely! We take pride in creating all the illustrations ourselves. We believe they add a unique visual element to our blog and enhance the storytelling.
Have you really been to all of the destinations on your blog?
Yes, we’ve personally visited every single city we recommend on our blog. We believe in providing firsthand experiences and insights to our readers.
How do you edit your travel pictures?
We primarily use Adobe Lightroom for editing, with occasional touches in Adobe Photoshop. We prioritise natural-looking edits that enhance the colours and details captured in our photos. Here are simple editing tips to improve your travel pictures.
What kind of camera equipment do you use?
Our primary camera is the Panasonic LUMIX S5 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera, which offers excellent image quality and versatility. We also use our smartphones (iPhone 14 Pro and Pixel 7) for quick captures.
Let’s Connect!
The best way to follow along is to subscribe to our newsletter:
We always love to hear from our readers, so say “hello” on our Contact Us page (we read every email!).
You can also check out our Pinterest account to pin stunning photos and city guides to conveniently access your travel plans later.
Or, follow us on Instagram, where we occasionally post about our trips.
So, dear wanderer, we can’t wait to inspire and empower you to explore the world, one incredible city at a time.
Happy travels!
