I’m always on the lookout for pretty places to add to my bucket list, and I loved reading everyone’s favorite picks from my last Pretty Places post, so I’m thinking of making this a regular fortnightly series. (Please shout at me in the comments if you hate the idea!)
I’ve started making tentative plans to travel from Asia back towards Europe this coming spring, and these are a few pretty places I would absolutely love to add to my itinerary:
1. Pretty mountains outside of Kabul, Afghanistan
I loved visiting the Afghan border market between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, but I was frustrated to have to return to Tajikistan after just a couple of hours. What a tease! Since then Afghanistan has held one of the top spots on my travel bucket list. Paul’s beautiful post about visiting the country has me crossing my fingers that I can visit soon!
2. Pretty mosque in Lahore, Pakistan
Speaking of frustrating border trips, after watching the famous flag ceremony at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan during my semester in India several years ago, Pakistan has also been high on my bucket list. Those mosques! And mountains!
3. Pretty Belarus
Kami has impeccable travel taste, and I basically use her blog as my own personal bucket list. Her latest post about Belarus had me sighing out loud. Kami, will you please take me on your next trip there?
4. Oh so pretty Balkan town
This summer I fell in love with Albania, Serbia and Macedonia, so I definitely want to revisit the Balkans on my way back from Asia. Franca’s post about visiting recently war-torn Mostar in Bosnia was fascinating. Mostar might have suffered a tragic past, but now the town just oozes charm. Oh how I would love to see that iconic bridge in person!
5. Prettiest road in Ireland 
I’ve held a soft spot for Ireland ever since spending a summer there studying Ancient Greek. I mean, just looking at photos from Satu’s epic bicycle trip through Ireland is enough to make anyone want to curl up with a mug of Barry’s tea, a copy of Hesiod’s Theogony and a Greek dictionary, am I right?
Have a favorite? Which place would you add to your itinerary?
kami says
of course I will take you, we just have to wait for another event to grant us a visa-free entry 😉 but seriously, I’d love to explore more of Belarus and when that happens you’re very welcome to join me! 🙂
Silvia says
Yay, I’m already daydreaming about it!
Justine says
I would love to visit any one of these places. I have ALWAYS wanted to visit Pakistan, so I’m super pleased to see it on this list. It seems like such a beautiful and amazing country. I love to see such off-the-beaten-path places on your bucket list!
Silvia says
Right? I’ve heard so many amazing things about Pakistan, so I can’t wait to go! I actually searched for ages looking for good blog posts about the country but couldn’t find much… maybe it will become more popular in the future.
Franca says
Thank you so much for including Mostar on this list, it really is a lovely place to go. It has been too long since we visited, it’s probably time to go back there again! 😉
Silvia says
Your post definitely intrigued me – I hope I can make there in the spring!
Miriam of Adventurous Miriam says
Fierce list, Silvia! I like the fact that these places are so off the beaten path. I’ll look forward to following your adventures!
Silvia says
Thanks, Miriam! I would love if I could actually go to all these places, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fingers crossed things are stable there!
jennifer says
I have just started planning a trip to India next year and I absolutely want to take a side trip to Lahore, if I can get a visa. So far, I have two blogs bookmarked. Agness’s and Tim’s, you can find both here:
http://etramping.com/lahore-pakistan-for-less-than-25-dollars-a-day/
Silvia says
Thanks, Jennifer, I’ll have to check those articles out! Hopefully we can both make our Pakistan dreams happen 🙂
Camels & Chocolate says
I would like to go to all these places, please! Have you read The Zahir by Paulo Coehlo? If not, it will totally fuel your desire to visit Afghanistan. I’ve wanted to make it there since reading that book nearly a decade ago.
Silvia says
I haven’t read it, thanks so much for the tip! I just finished Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns, which was amazing and also made me want to book a trip to Afghanistan immediately!
Steve says
I’ve been fortunate to visit the Balkans. I loved Mostar, it had the best ice cream I’ve visited. The places I would love to add to the bucket list.
Silvia says
The best ice cream? Now I have to go there!
Steve says
Palma Ice Cream Parlour, Santiceva, 88000 Mostar. It is great value.
Corinne says
Some pretty shots. I would love to do more of Central Asia. I just visited Mostar for the first time last spring and loved it, too.
Silvia says
That’s so wonderful! Mostar is definitely on my list for the spring.
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
Oh yes! Ireland because of the nostalgic nature of green fields on a lonely lane. The last time I was there, I went to a place called Aran Island where no cars are allowed, and have to be kept at the dock. Anyway, a highlight of our trip was a horse and buggy trip around the island and a cow that woke me up in the morning by sticking it’s head through our window. Happy Days!
Silvia says
What, that sounds amaazing! I definitely need to make to to Aran Island next time I’m in Ireland.
Lily Lau says
Those Irish roads… I always smile when I see them in the movies, so rainy, green and definitely romantic! Nice post, girl! 🙂
Silvia says
Super romantic! I can’t wait to go back to Ireland.