What can I do in my free time abroad?
Many choose to work abroad to both earn money and have some great experiences while they’re away. But what can you do when you have time off?
There are a plethora of options and it’s really only your imagination that sets the limits. Many countries and cities have their own unique experiences and cool places to see and explore.
We recommend that you combine inspiration from here with your own research. That way, you won’t miss out on the special attractions that exist right where you live.
Most people we talk to have roughly the same idea of what’s exciting to see while they’re away. It should be fun, different, and there should be opportunities to take some great photos.
In this guide, you can see some of the things our travelers typically love to experience – or want to see, after having traveled.
15 great experiences for your trip:
Vi har lavet en guide til dig, som leder efter inspiration og ideer til oplevelser i udlandet. Du kan enten bruge guiden til at planlægge din rejse, lave din “bucket list” eller få inspiration efter du er rejst:
1. Hit the beach
If you’re living in a warm country by the sea, spending some time on the beach is a must. It’s a great way to get to know your new friends, meet new people, and relax.
There are many great beaches around, and after you’ve lived in the country for a while, you’ll likely know both the typical tourist beaches and the more “secret” beaches that locals go to. Both are worth experiencing.
Whether you love swimming or just want to soak up the sun, it’s highly recommended to explore various beaches in your area. Who can say no to a cold drink in the sun?
Bring along a portable speaker, cooler, and sunglasses from home. It’s a good and inexpensive way to enjoy living abroad – but remember the sunscreen!
2. Diving
Many places in Southern Europe offer various opportunities for diving. For example, Malta is among the best places to dive you can find. Diving enthusiasts often rank the country in the top 3 worldwide.
Depending on the location, you might see coral reefs, shipwrecks, and lots of colorful fish in the Mediterranean. It varies greatly what you can see, and we recommend finding a dive club with an instructor to accompany you.
This way, you can be safe with a professional by your side underwater and ensure you see all the best spots.
If you haven’t tried diving yet, we strongly recommend exploring the opportunity in your country. There are plenty of options, and it’s worth trying out a few different locations.
Moreover, it’s often much cheaper to get a diving certification in Southern Europe than in the North. If you haven’t gotten your certificate yet, we recommend waiting until after you’ve traveled.
3. Sightseeing
You’re undoubtedly traveling to see a variety of things, and we recommend getting out and seeing some places while you travel. The great thing about sightseeing is that you can pick and choose what excites you.
Whether you want to see the country’s capital, are more interested in tourist attractions, or just want to take a long walk in an area you find exciting, there is undoubtedly a lot to see.
There’s a guarantee of great pictures for your social media or blog. And trust us, your family and friends back home will definitely find it interesting to follow along on your journey.
You can’t see it all in one day, so pick an area to visit and spend the day there. Next weekend, you can move on to the next location, and in this way, you will see a lot of things – which you will surely remember when you return home.
4. Culture and beautiful architecture
Each area has different things to offer.
Whether you’re into beautiful medieval architecture, magnificent churches, aquariums, or exciting museums, you can satisfy your curiosity and learn a lot during your trip.
Many attractions are free to visit, and you can enjoy a day outdoors while experiencing new things.
Places like aquariums and museums usually charge an entry fee, but you can buy a ticket and spend as much time as you want there.
It varies greatly what you can see and what is most exciting depends on what interests you. Some attractions you can check out on Google beforehand, but others you’ll discover only after you’ve traveled.
If your parents visit you during your trip, they are guaranteed to also be interested in experiencing some culture while they are there. It’s a great activity to do together and a unique experience specific to the place you live.
5. Taste the country
Who doesn’t like delicious food? We haven’t yet met anyone who doesn’t think it’s worth experiencing. And there’s something for every taste.
Each country has its national dishes, and we recommend that you taste different delicious foods while you’re away.
Some cities and areas have their specialties, made exactly where you are. You get to try different food and expand your taste palate.
This tip can easily be combined with many others in the guide, so you don’t need to carry around a packed lunch.
If you’re not in the capital at the most visited restaurant, you can expect that the food and especially the drinks are much cheaper than you are used to in Northern Europe.
You can check food reviews in advance, for example on TripAdvisor, and see which restaurants are the best and what you should try from the menu.
Pro tip: For the obligatory Instagram photo, you can also look at pictures of other customers’ dishes in advance, and see how the food is presented and arranged. Guaranteed Kodak moment for your feed.
6. Spend time with colleagues
It may seem obvious, but it’s definitely something you should prioritize.
You’ll meet a lot of new colleagues in your new job, and we recommend that you get to know them outside of work and share some experiences together.
The best way to get to know your colleagues better is by doing something fun together outside of work.
You’ll find that you likely share many of the same interests, and maybe you can show each other new things. They’re probably also keen to experience a lot.
If they’ve already been in the country for a while, they probably know a lot of the cool locations. Maybe you can cross something off your bucket list together?
7. Meet the locals (where they are)
Unlike a typical beach vacation, a longer stay abroad gives you the chance to get to know some of the locals in the country.
You can best do this by hanging out in places where the locals like to be. These are typically outside the tourist areas, and this way, you get to experience something fun and different – they can probably show you a lot you didn’t know about.
Many locals also find it exciting to get to know you as a foreign “tourist” and to talk to people other than those they are used to.
You will find that they are not much different from yourself and get a real insight into their culture and way of life. And they can quickly introduce you to a whole new circle of friends, whom you otherwise would not have met.
8. Explore the nature
While you’re away, we definitely recommend that you see some of the nature around you. Nature is one of the things that is often very different from what you are used to in back home.
Palm trees, cliffs, and beautiful areas are some of the things that you can experience for yourself. You can explore it yourself by going hiking, or go with a group to an exciting place with lots of nature.
Most places are proud of their beautiful nature, and it’s not hard to find. Remember to set aside some time to see the natural part of the country and area you are going to. There is also a lot of gold for your photo album.
Some locations also have a guided tour, where you can join a local guide to the most beautiful areas. It can be worth booking such a tour if you appreciate seeing another side of the country.
9. Hop-on hop-off bus
Perhaps a bit of an alternative tip, but nonetheless, hop-on buses are an excellent way to see a lot of different things.
You might know them from many tourist locations. The buses run around the most popular locations and have various stops right at the entrance to the places.
The good thing about this kind of sightseeing is that you are driven around to all the places – and you can get on and off as you wish.
In most buses, you can either sit inside and look out the windows, or choose seats on top of the buses (without a roof, so you feel the sun while you drive).
The buses arrive at each stop about every hour, and some places every half hour. So you have time to see what you want before you hop on to the next. If you need more time, just catch the next bus.
It typically works so that you buy a day ticket and then you can experience things all day.
In many buses, you are given a headset that you can connect to the seat on the bus. Then you can hear a voice telling you the most interesting and exciting things about each location while you drive there.
It’s a super effective way to see a lot of different things, and not too expensive. You have the freedom to do it exactly as you want and get off when you come to a place that you find interesting.
10. Pub crawls/going out
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. We can’t ignore that most people want to experience the nightlife in the city and see what the clubs and bars abroad have to offer.
Cute guys or pretty girls? Whatever you’re into, there are plenty of other young people to meet and party with.
In many countries, you’ll meet both others who are also working abroad, tourists, language school students – and, of course, always a lot of young people from the country you live in.
It’s a great way to go out with your new colleagues and friends. You also meet a lot of new people and get to try a night out in a different country than you’re used to.
You’ll quickly learn which clubs are good and less good. And find your own favorite place to party.
It’s typically much cheaper to go out in foreign countries than it is in Denmark. If you’ve been on vacation in Southern Europe before, you’ve probably experienced how much further your money goes.
Some places charge an entrance fee, but most do not and may even give free drink tickets at the entrance. Most countries we offer jobs in are so warm that you don’t need a jacket – and thus no coat check fee.
Beach clubs:
Something a little different we recommend is also going to a beach club. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s typically a fancy place by the water, or a large rooftop terrace with its own pools.
It’s more relaxed and lounge-like. Here it’s more about chilling and chatting than dancing on the tables. You pay an entrance fee to get in and it’s less crowded than nightclubs.
It’s a cool experience and especially in the afternoon, it’s lovely to sit in the sun at a beach club and drink an ice-cold drink.
They are not open at night, so it’s something you can do during the day on your days off. If you have a beach club nearby, experience it at least once during your trip.
11. Jet skiing
If you’re into the thrill of speed, then you definitely need to try renting a jet ski.
It’s one of those things you can’t do in many places in Northern Europe and it’s more fun while the sun is shining.
You can either rent one for yourself, or two of you can share the same water scooter. It’s both a cool experience and a different way to see the coast from the sea.
Be aware that they are typically faster than those back home, so drive carefully. It’s really fun.
12. Rent a scooter/quad bike
A cool way to see the country is by cruising on a scooter or a quad bike.
You definitely know what a scooter is, while a quad bike is simply a motorcycle with 4 wheels.
You can see a lot by renting a vehicle for a whole or half-day. It’s a different way to see areas because you can feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin while you drive.
You don’t necessarily need a plan – you can just ride around and see where the roads take you. Of course, you can also find a destination you want to see in advance and be your own driver.
Remember to check the local laws, often there is a requirement for a driver’s license to be able to rent. And remember to drive carefully on the roads.
13. Rent a cabin with friends
Want to go on a cozy trip with friends, or have a house to yourselves to party?
Then we recommend that you rent a cabin and go together to a nice place. There are plenty of options and you can, for example, look for a cabin/house on AirBnB.
The author has the best experience with renting the cabin a bit off the beaten path. Both because it’s cheaper, but also because you don’t disturb neighbors and don’t have the same rules for when the music should be turned off.
It can be a brilliant weekend trip and if, for example, 5-10 friends join together to rent, it’s not particularly expensive.
A cabin trip is good in the beginning when you’re getting to know your colleagues – a bit like a bonding trip in high school. But it can also especially be a cool trip when you have some good friends you know well.
14. Enjoy the Sun
It may go without saying, but it deserves a point of its own.
The weather is one of the loveliest things about living abroad and it’s important to enjoy it! The sun gives you renewed energy, a nice tan, and it just feels good.
It’s completely free to be outside in the sun. You can go for a walk, read a good book on a bench, or choose to sit outside at a café.
Make sure to spend some time outside and soak up the Vitamin D while doing something enjoyable.
And remember sunscreen! The sun can be quite strong, especially in the midday hours. Your skin will thank you.
15. Keep an eye on local concerts/events
A less talked about thing that you shouldn’t miss is attending some of the local events.
You’ll get some different experiences and it’s something you will look back on! Some events are unique to the area and part of the culture that you can only experience by trying it.
There are concerts, festivals, sports events, and local markets that can be fun to experience.
Especially during the summer period, there are many things to go to, but there is something happening all year round. We recommend keeping an eye on what’s happening around you and going there with some friends.
No matter what you’re into, there’s something for everyone.
Make your own bucket list
We hope that you have become more knowledgeable about what you can do in your free time while living abroad. If nothing else, you’ve gained some inspiration about the possibilities available.
The tips in this guide are just a small selection of what you can do while living abroad.
Perhaps you will try everything? Or you can add the most exciting activities to your own bucket list.
If you are spending a sabbatical year abroad, remember that the year will be over before you know it. You have the opportunity to do exactly what you want while you’re away.
A big part of the pleasure of working abroad is the experiences you take with you. So make sure to create some memorable experiences – you won’t regret it.
