Beyond Türkiye: Some of My Favorite Places Around the World

From Brussels and Montreal to Dakar, Lisbon, Paris, and beyond, a few places I've enjoyed living in and exploring.

Having lived in several countries and travelled to quite a few others, I've been lucky enough to experience different cities, cultures, and ways of life.

Some places I remember from childhood, while others are connected to my education, family, or holidays. There are also places I've returned to years later and appreciated much more than I did the first time.

After writing about some of my favorite places in Türkiye, I thought I'd share a few recommendations from other countries I've lived in or visited.

This isn't a complete travel guide, just a collection of places I've personally enjoyed.

Belgium — Back to Where It All Started

Belgium is a particularly meaningful country for me because I was born in Uccle, Brussels.

Although I don't remember everything from my earliest years there, I've had the chance to return and explore parts of the city again.

I particularly enjoyed visiting the area around my childhood home. There's something interesting about returning to a place that was once part of your life, especially when you only have a few memories of it.

I also really like central Brussels. It's a lovely city to walk around, with its historic architecture, squares, cafés, and different neighborhoods.

I'd definitely recommend spending some time exploring the city center rather than just visiting the main attractions.

Canada — From Ottawa to Montreal and Beyond

Canada is another country that has played a big part in my life, having spent around eight years there.

One city I particularly like is Ottawa. I enjoy its greenery and the areas around the city. I've also visited places such as Lac Leamy and Niagara Falls, which was especially impressive to see in person.

Later, I moved to Montreal, where I studied at McGill University. I really enjoyed living there, and some of my favorite areas are around the university, particularly the streets near Sherbrooke and Sainte-Catherine.

I also like Old Montreal and the Old Port. They're great areas for walking around, especially if you're visiting the city for the first time.

Another place I enjoyed visiting was Quebec City. It has a very different atmosphere from Montreal, particularly around its historic center. Even though the winters can be extremely cold, I think both cities are well worth visiting.

I've also been to Toronto, although I remember it less clearly since my visits were relatively short.

Canada is a country I'd happily return to, particularly Montreal and Ottawa.

France — Exploring Paris

I spent around two years in France, and Paris is one of the cities I remember most.

Some of the places I particularly enjoyed visiting include the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Eiffel Tower.

I also remember visiting several palaces and museums, as well as taking a boat tour along the Seine.

Paris is one of those cities where walking around is part of the experience. There are so many historic buildings, streets, and places to explore.

I haven't been back to every place I remember from my earlier years, so I'd definitely like to revisit the city and discover more of it.

Senegal — Life in Dakar

Senegal is probably one of the more unusual places I've had the opportunity to live, and I have some really good memories from my time in Dakar.

I particularly liked the area around my school and the neighborhood where we lived, not far from the embassies.

We used to spend time around Radisson Blu, and I also remember visiting Lac Rose, or the Pink Lake, which is one of Senegal's best-known natural attractions.

Another memorable experience was visiting Accrobaobab, an adventure park built around baobab trees.

I also visited Île de Gorée, which was a particularly interesting experience. The island has an important place in Senegal's history, especially in relation to the Atlantic slave trade.

Dakar was quite different from the other cities I'd lived in, and I'm glad I had the chance to experience life there.

Portugal — Lisbon, Cascais, and Sintra

I spent around two years living in Portugal, and I have very good memories of Lisbon and the surrounding areas.

Lisbon is a city I really enjoyed, particularly its older neighborhoods and historic center. I like the architecture, the streets, and the general atmosphere of the city.

I also spent time in Cascais, which is a lovely coastal town not far from Lisbon. It's a nice place to walk around and enjoy the sea.

Another place I'd recommend is Sintra, especially if you're interested in palaces, gardens, and historic architecture.

Portugal is somewhere I'd definitely like to spend more time again. Lisbon, Cascais, and Sintra are all places I remember fondly.

The Netherlands — Maastricht, Amsterdam, and Utrecht

The Netherlands is one of the most recent countries I've lived in, having moved there to complete my master's degree at Maastricht University.

I really enjoyed living in Maastricht. It's a relatively small city, but it has a lot of character, and I particularly like the historic center and the area around the university.

I stayed at The Social Hub, and I also enjoyed spending time around the surrounding neighborhood, including the area near Lumière Cinema.

During my time in the Netherlands, I also visited Utrecht and Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is definitely worth exploring, and one thing I'd particularly recommend is taking a canal cruise. It's a nice way to see the city's architecture and historic buildings from a different perspective.

I also enjoyed Utrecht, which has a beautiful historic center and canals of its own.

Maastricht will always have a special place in my memories because of the people I met and the experiences I had during my master's year.

Brazil — Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Iguaçu Falls

Brazil was another memorable country to visit, and one of the highlights was definitely Iguaçu Falls.

We stayed at a Belmond hotel near the waterfalls, which remains one of my favorite hotel experiences.

The waterfalls themselves were incredible. It's difficult to appreciate their scale until you're actually there.

I also really enjoyed Rio de Janeiro, particularly the areas around Copacabana and Ipanema. The beaches and the atmosphere around those neighborhoods were among my favorite parts of the city.

Another interesting experience was visiting Brasília, Brazil's capital.

I found the architecture particularly fascinating, especially the buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The city looks quite different from many other capitals, and I enjoyed exploring the areas around the embassies.

Brazil is definitely somewhere I'd like to visit again, particularly Rio.

The United States — From New York to California

I've also had the opportunity to visit several parts of the United States.

One city I particularly enjoyed was Boston. I liked the area around Tufts University, where my sister studied, and also spent time near MIT.

I've visited New York City as well, including trips to see my grandparents. We did some of the classic tourist activities, such as visiting the Empire State Building and taking a ferry.

I also enjoyed spending time around Manhattan, particularly the Kips Bay area, where my grandparents lived near the United Nations.

I've also been to Austin, Texas, which I liked, and San Francisco, where I visited the Golden Gate Bridge and explored parts of the Bay Area, including Berkeley.

The United States is such a large country that every city I've visited has felt quite different.

Greece — The Islands and the Aegean Sea

Greece is another country I really enjoy visiting, particularly its islands.

Some of the places I've been to include Kos, Rhodes, and Symi.

I really like the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines, so it's probably not surprising that I enjoy these destinations.

The islands have beautiful coastal scenery, and I particularly like spending time by the sea and exploring the different towns.

If you're visiting the Turkish Aegean coast, some of the nearby Greek islands are also worth considering.

A Few Other Places I've Enjoyed

I've also visited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which was an interesting experience and quite different from many of the European cities I've spent time in.

In Germany, I visited Düsseldorf, which I found pleasant, particularly its architecture and European city atmosphere.

There are still plenty of places I'd like to explore, including returning to some of the cities I've already visited.

Looking Back

One of the things I've enjoyed most about living in different countries is getting to experience places beyond the usual tourist attractions.

Sometimes my favorite memories are of famous landmarks, like Iguaçu Falls or the Eiffel Tower. Other times, they're much more ordinary, like walking around a neighborhood in Montreal, spending an afternoon in Maastricht, or returning to a familiar street in Brussels.

I think both kinds of experiences are worth remembering.

There are still many countries and cities I'd like to visit, and I'm sure my list of favorite places will continue to change.

For now, these are some of the places that have stayed with me, and a few I'd happily recommend to anyone planning their next trip.