Things To Do in Gouda, Holland (The Netherlands)
That's why I was so excited when Gouda, a city in the Netherlands, made its way onto my family's radar during our Europe trip. I made sure we put it on the itinerary because I just had to see where the famous cheese hailed from. There are a few things to do if you're visiting Gouda, Holland.
The city of Gouda is a Dutch cheese town. While Gouda is world-famous for its cheese, it's also recognized for smoking pipes & stroopwafels — a waffle sandwich made from two extremely thin layers of baked batter with a caramel syrup filling in the middle aka a gift from the heavens. Stroopwafels were invented in Gouda! How cool is that?! Side note: I ate soooo0oo many stroopwafels on my trip; they're incredible. If you have access to an international market, keep your eyes out for them. Or you can buy stroopwafels online.
The Gouda market square has a gorgeous gothic city hall that's hard to miss & beautiful to photograph. You can explore the town, the Gouda market, the shops, & everything in between in a day. Gouda is a relatively small place but there's still plenty of things to do in town. You can appreciate it for a few hours or stay overnight.
Munching on local delicacies is one of my favorite things to do in Europe. The Netherlands is particularly known for their apple tarts so I recommend eating them as often as possible. While I was there, the indulgence was real. The apple tart in Gouda had giant chunks of apple. Soft on the outside with a slightly crispy interior. An absolute delight.
What is Gouda?
Since Gouda cheese hails from Gouda, Netherlands (duh), you have the opportunity to sample product like you're the queen (or king) of the world. Coconut gouda, pesto gouda, paprika gouda, fenugreek gouda. All the gouda cheese flavors of the rainbow. It's something I still dream about. I tell you what: there's no gouda like the gouda from Gouda. Say that fast 10 times!If you make it out to the Dutch cheese town of Gouda, be sure to take the time to eat any of the local food. I drooled at every bakery & cafe & restaurant I walked by. One of the best parts of traveling is tasting various types of cuisine. Eating out can get expensive so it's important to understand how to eat on a budget while traveling abroad. How cute are these fruit-inspired gummy candies?!?
Looking for a hotel in Gouda, Netherlands? Here are some options - just put in your check-in & check-out dates to see what's available:
Booking.com
The canals of Holland are magnificent. Each one has its own personality & ranges in every city. Back in the day, the canals were used for water management, transportation, & defense purposes. As the times changed, the canals are normally utilized for recreational activities like canal tours. Gouda continues to use the tradition of canals with some unique cheese-inspired decorations.
My experience in Gouda, Netherlands was delicious but brief. Take a look at the town center or the local shops, & make sure you stop to enjoy a pastry & some cheese. Walk around the Gouda market square. Grab a wheel of gouda cheese to go as your own edible souvenir. Gouda is an old town with a lot of character. It remains fondly in my heart.
Veggie Meal Alert! Thrill Grill in Haarlem, Netherlands
I still dream about the Veggie Falafel Thriller, made with homemade falafel, tomato, pickled cucumber, red onion, & bell pepper hummus served on a toasted organic bun. It was so hearty, filling, & huge. It's not your average falafel either; it's incomparable to any type of falafel I've ever had. Pure delight for vegetarians & non-veggies alike.
Ask for Thrill Grill's herb fries, made with homemade, fresh-cut fries & mixed with tarragon & chervil, a relative to parsley. Pure greasy perfection that's best washed down with a glass of Heineken, the famous pale lager beer brewed in the nearby city of Amsterdam. I tell you what, Heineken tastes best when you drink it locally.
Sit outside. You won't regret the marvelous views & the immense amount of people-watching potential. Haarlem has a lot of character with its cobblestone streets, gabled houses, & narrow alleys. Thrill Grill is centrally located in the market square with a perfect glimpse of the Grote of St. Bavokerk, an important landmark & church within Haarlem.
My Thrill Grill falafel burger remains one of the top meals during my month-long trip to Europe last year. Perhaps it was the superb taste or even the inspiring views, but the verdict is the same: amazing. Homemade, home cut fries paired with a non-conventional burger & a cold glass of Heineken mesh together to create a pleasant & harmonious meal. Ah, the memories.
Oude Groenmarkt 26, 2011 HL
Haarlem, Netherlands
Visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
The Overall Experience
The Anne Frank House is a place to learn & understand the history & horror of the past. It's not a palace with enormous chandeliers & gold covered ceilings. But it most certainly is grand. It's magical. It's thought provoking. You will leave the Annex feeling changed, feeling inspired, possibly even feeling somber but grateful. If you make it to the Netherlands & Amsterdam, absolutely take the time to go to the Anne Frank House. I recommend it to anyone.
Have you been to the Anne Frank House? Have you read her diary? I'd love to learn about your journey too! :]
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Best Places to Stay in Porto, Portugal
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The view of Porto, Portugal & the Douro Valley. Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel is the yellow building. This is one of the best places to stay in Porto as far as location! |
About Carmen
Planning Your Trip to Porto
If you’re considering where to stay in Porto, Portugal, first ponder about what you want to do while you’re visiting. Porto tourism continues to grow, so there may be some crowds depending on the time of year.Create a list of 10 or more things to do in Porto. How far are you from those things? Ideally, I try to be within a 30-minute transportation ride away from the bulk of my to-do list/what I want to do; the occasional outlier is fine. Ultimately, you don’t want to be commuting for an hour each way every day- that’s a waste of precious time.
What Are Some of the Best Places to Stay in Porto?
Decide if you’re more of a hotel person or an Airbnb person. Porto tourism means there are plenty of choices. I have options for both, so read them all or scroll down to find what you’re looking for. Based on actual reviews, these are some of the top-rated, best places to stay in Porto.![]() |
Homes with a view of the Douro River. |
Best Hotels to Stay in Porto
InterContinental Porto - Palacio das Cardosas – Stare at the beautifully restored interiors. InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas overlooks Liberdade Square. You can find the famous Livraria Lello bookstore & São Bento station within a close walk of the hotel.
Pestana Palácio do Freixo, Pousada & National Monument – Pestana Palácio do Freixo has gorgeous views overlooking the Douro River. The 18th-century palace was built by Nicolau Nasoni. Pestana Palácio do Freixo is part of the "The Leading Hotels of the World." This is easily one of the best places to stay in Porto.
Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa – Reviews show that past Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa guests appreciate the hospitality, the rooms, & the amenities (sauna, fitness center, Wi-Fi) but felt as though it might be out of the way for the average tourist. It's modern decor & facilities make it a popular choice.
Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel – Eat breakfast with waterfront views of the Douro River at Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel - World Heritage Site. The Pestana hotel building & location date back to the 16th century. This is a seriously stunning area if you're wondering where to stay in Porto, Portugal!
Infante Sagres – The Hotel Infante Sagres is a historic luxury hotel. It underwent renovation & reopened in April 2018. Notable decorative features of the Infante Sagres include ironwork, carved wood detail, & stained glass panels.
Spot Apartments Porto – The hip, cool rooms at Spot Apartments Porto feel homey, unlike your a boring, sterile hotel room. Spot Apartments Porto guests seem to love the location, clean and spacious apartment, & the friendly staff.
There are so many hotels & accommodations in the area. Scroll down to search the map to find where to stay in Porto, Portugal.
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Blue & white azulejo tiles in Porto - if you look closely, these are all individually painted tiles! |
Search for Hotels in Porto
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Best places to stay in Porto, Portugal - Hotels, Airbnbs, & other accommodations. |
Airbnb Accommodations
Sign up for Airbnb with my link & get $40 off your booking. That could be a free night's stay somewhere! I stayed in Airbnbs in Amsterdam, Netherlands; Oslo, Norway; Tijuana, Mexico, & manyyyyy more cities/countries.Other Sources of Information on Porto
Visit Portugal - Information on Porto tourism & Portugal.Visit Porto & the North - News, events, things to do, & information on Porto & the area north of Porto.
Visit Porto - Information on Porto Card transportation, trip planning, entertainment in Porto.
100+ Things to Do on a Rainy Day for Adults
There are so many things to do on a rainy day. When we see rainy days in film, we often watch characters cuddling under a cozy blanket and giggling romantically with a partner; you can do that and so much more!
These rainy day activities include some low-key options as well as some fun things to do outside of the house. These great ideas will keep you entertained through all seasons where you find a bit of rain. If you have kids, there are a lot of things on this list you can do with kids too.
Whether you opt to stay inside or outside, these 100+ things will keep you busy in the pouring rain. No need to stay bored!
100+ Fun Rainy Day Activities
- Host an indoor picnic
- Pick up beers from a local brewery and have an at-home taste test
- Go to a winery for a glass of wine
- Do an at home beer tasting with a few different beers.
- Have a video game tournament
- Eat hot dogs or hamburgers
- Sip on hot chocolate
- Have tea or coffee at a coffee shop
- Eat a meal at a fancy restaurant
- Make the first recipe you see on TikTok, Instagram Reels, etc.
- Make a fancy mocktail with whatever you have at home (sparkling water, soda, juice, fruits, syrups, cinnamon, etc.)
- Bake dessert (chocolate chip cookies, cake, bread, loaf, muffins, etc)
- Make kombucha. Here are 85+ flavor ideas if you need inspiration.
- Make yourself a solo meal and then do 3 things on this list
- Go grocery shopping
- Meal plan and come up with meal ideas for the next few days.
- Head to the local pub, sometimes they have karaoke, dancing, line dancing, etc
- Take cooking classes or do an online cooking lesson. A cooking class not only gives you additional life skills but it's fun and tastes good too.
- Invite a friend or sibling or bestie over for a sleepover. 100+ Things to Do at a Sleepover.
- Buy a book from a local bookstore and spend the day reading
- Read a short story
- Go roller skating at an indoor rink
- Golf at an indoor driving range
- Create a super fun indoor obstacle course
- Go window shopping at your local mall
- Go people-watching somewhere popular (the mall, downtown, etc)
- Spend the day binge watching tv. Some streaming services have access to live tv or local channels if you don't have cable.
- Invite friends over for a movie marathon. Take turns watching movies that each person recommends or you can pick one series and watch each film.
- Spend the afternoon learning magic tricks
- Take turns recommending a YouTube video to watch with your friends, family, partner, roommate, etc.
- Start embroidering. You can get an embroidery kit from Amazon and jazz up old tote bags, jeans, etc.
- Do an art project. Whether you use items you already have at home or you have to make a Michael's run, there are so many crafts, projects, and fun things to create.
- Go to an art gallery
- Go to a museum
- Go bowling
- Go to an aquarium
- Play laser tag. They also have laser tag kits on Amazon if you want them delivered to you.
- Go ax throwing
- Watch a movie in the movie theatre
- Watch a play or live performance
- Sign up for a library card
- Go to the library and check out a book or two
- Host a trivia night. You can pick a theme and make it up yourself. or play something like Ultimate Trivia, Volume 1: 800 + Fun and Challenging Trivia Questions. View it on Amazon here.
- Try to make your way out of an escape room
- Plan out your dream vacation
- Plan a scavenger hunt indoors
- Jump the day away at an indoor trampoline park
- Let your creative juices flow and make a vision board
- Do an indoor treasure hunt. This is perfect for adults and anyone who needs entertainment.
- Sign up at your local gym
- Take a workout glass or exercise class
- Spend a few hours learning a new language. You can communicate with more people and challenge your brain too.
- Buy a sudoku book and do as many sudoku puzzles as you can.
- Buy a newspaper and read the whole thing
- Do a crossword puzzle
- Play charades
- Play card games. You could go for Go Fish, Solitaire, Old Maid, etc. You can play a few rounds. Play cards!
- Play board games. Play a board game or two with friends, family, or roommates (Monopoly, Clue, Catan, Candy Land, Sorry!, etc.)
- Can't pick just one game? How about a game night where you play card games, board games, and play video games like Mario Kart. Play games all day.
- Write a letter to your future self
- Write a letter to your past self
- Write a letter and sent it in the mail
- Spend the entire day doing, trying, eating things you've never tried before. Doesn't have to be fancy. If you've never tried sushi or eaten a fig or had a martini, today's a good day. If you've never worn overalls, go to a store and try one on in the dressing room. How does it look? You get the picture.
- Go to an ice skating rink
- Write a list of productive things you can accomplish this week
- Have a dance party. You can go by artist, album, playlist, vibe, genre, etc. There are so many options because there is so much music out there.
- Listen to records, CDs, Spotify, whatever music device you have
- Have a spa day or self-care day
- Hang up your laundry
- Organize the pictures on your phone. Delete, put them in albums, see what's there.
- Create a budget for the month
- Stay home and invite your friends over. Do as many things from this list as you can! 100+ Fun Things to Do at Home with Friends.
- Find a photo booth and take a photo! Perfect for a rainy day date!
- Call a friend or relative. Catch up, ask how their day was, and say that you were thinking of them.
- Turn off your phone, tablet, tv, and spend the day without social media or the internet.
- Organize your closet, garage, cabinet, under the sink, etc.
- Mend any clothes that need fixing. Sew on a fallen button, repair a hole, etc.
- Dress up in your finest clothes and just feel fancy for the night
- Pick out some items, books, clothes, dishes, etc. to donate.
- Journal, write in a diary, process your thoughts. If you need inspiration, 100+ Morning Journal Prompts: 100 Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery. Read here.
- Make a collage
- Do a DIY project
- Make your own candles with a DIY candle-making kit
- Rearrange the furniture
- Rotate your plants
- Take a bubble bath
- Buy some new plants
- Build an indoor fort
- Recycle your cans, glass, and aluminum. See if there's a recycling center near you where you can exchange the recyclables for a bit of cash.
- Delete and organize photos if you have any printed out
- Delete and organize your emails
- Organize that drawer in your home that has all the junk you don't know what to do with
- Practice learning an instrument
- Play in a puddle
- Dance in the rain
- Go on a rain walk
- Watch the rain from indoors
- Camp in your backyard
- Look up Halloween costume ideas such as Cher Horowitz or Laney Boggs from She's All That Prom Dress.
- Have a fancy date night with your partner or by yourself
- Have a personal favorite day where you do everything you love. Eat your favorite food, order your favorite drinks, go to your favorite spot in town.
- Try new cocktail recipes
- Play a drinking game
- Play poker
- Play Candy Crush
- Play truth or dare
- Start a scrapbook. Put photos, knickknacks, tickets, movie stubs, and other things you've collected into the scrapbook.
- Make a time capsule
- Relax, meditate, and let the rain act as a personal white noise machine.
- Take a nap
- Take photos of flowers
- Plan your next trip. Look up flights, train tickets, transportation, hotel, Airbnb, etc.
- Do 5 things on this list
- Do 10 things on this list
- Do as many things on this list as possible before midnight
- If it's rainy for a few days, see if you can cross off everything on this list of things to do on a rainy day for adults!
A List of Rainy Day Activities
Hopefully, this list gives you endless inspiration on how to make it through the rain. You can do these fun rainy day activities alone, you can do them with friends, you can spend time with the entire family, there's a lot of variety. You can customize it as needed.
In films, a rainy day seems so romantic. You always see the movies of people dancing in the rain and hugging and kissing and having a good time. The rain gives a different ambiance, a completely different atmosphere. There's the wetness and dampness, the clouds, the grey skies. If you’re looking for a great rainy day date idea to do with your partner or some things to do with friends, this list is for you. This list will get you through the rainy season. You can have so much fun whether it's just you stuck inside or whether you invite a family member over. You can spend the rainy day playing your favorite games, watching YouTube videos, and learning a new skill.
Rainy Day Date Ideas
There are heaps of things to do on a rainy day for adults! A rainy day for adults has so much more possibility than it does when you were a kid. Now you can do whatever you want. Consider this list if you need rainy day date ideas. From going to a brewery to working out to dancing in the rain, there are plenty of fun rainy day activities. You can customize this list to do with your partner for an unforgettable experience. Rainy day dates just got better!