For 3 weeks the Airbnb team flew by plane, cruised by boat, and to finish the Airbnb 9 city European tour, drove through the the hills of Italy by… Fiat. A warm summer breeze, breath taking sunsets, and a cornucopia of Haribo snacks accompanied us as we journeyed from Florence to Milan. To take full advantage of your own trip through the heart of Italy reference our tips below!

A treat to eat: Fresh Figs

Yes, those fruits that look like they walked out of George Lucas’s next sci-fi film don’t have to be baked in a tart to be edible. We were fortunate to indulge in a gluttonous devouring of nature’s candy thanks to our generous Airbnb hosts who collect a daily supply from their backyard. And in a four course Italian lunch we guarantee you will eagerly welcome these healthy, fiber-packed sweets.

A sight to see: Italy. From a car.

While the big cities are an obvious destination in Italy, rent a car and discover the smaller towns that bejewel the lush landscape of Tuscany. Stop off in a small town to catch the sunset and sample some homemade garganelli with the locals at a nearby ristorante. Or simply sit back in the comfort of your vehicle and watch as ancient cities float by.

A host to meet: Adela, Giacomo, & Alessandro

We were fortunate to befriend our hosts and recommend you carve out time in your busy lives to meet them all! Adela and her husband found 11th century ruins atop a hill overlooking waves of vineyards and spent years rebuilding with such success the original architects would be proud. As a photographer for Unicef, Giacomo has had the opportunity to collect art from around the world – it proudly adorns the walls, bookshelves, and well, everything. You will be hard-pressed to find a comparable place. Finally, stay in the center of Milan with host Alessandro around the corner working away on his next award winning film. We were fortunate to catch a private screening of Porte Aperte.

Thanks for following along on our adventures and if you missed anything check out airbnb.com/eurotour and AirTV every Thursday for a tour of the listings we stayed in.

Airbnb allowed us to meet some of the most remarkable people on our trip- photographers, lawyers, actors, teachers, families, and can’t wait to meet more of our community. Thanks for inspiring us! Keep following our blog, twitter, and facebook- perhaps our next tour will be coming to a city near you…

You know what they say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” And our Airbnb hosts in Rome paved the way for us to do just that. Until you can stay with a host of your own in Rome catch a glimpse of our local experience. In the meantime get out your piggy banks, start counting, and take a trip around Rome with the Airbnb team!

A treat to eat: Taverna Di Repetta

You won’t find a website for this friendly local restaurant, but you will be rewarded with a tasty fusion of Italian and Arab culture and spices.  We were cautioned not to pass on the speghetti al pesto siciliano and we’re going to relay that advice onto you. Seriously, try it. Looking for a more exotic dish? Let me introduce you to “cous cous con melanzane”.

A sight to see: Cine Caffe

By day, Villa Borghese is a park that boasts 148 relaxing acres of historical fountains, museums, and statues. However, by night it evolves into an outdoor cinematic treat. There is something wholly gratifying about drinking a bold Tuscan red wine and eating homemade cannoli while viewing a modern Italian flick in an ancient park.

A host to meet: Emanuela

Talk about going above and beyond! Not only is there a private steam shower in each of Emanuela’s two rooms, but there is also an espresso machine to quench your latte thirst all day long. Yes – with Emanuela it is possible to get a latte after 11am in Italy! If this isn’t your cup of tea, or espresso, Emanuela has mapped out all the nearby eateries, attractions, and rated them for you to find what you’re after.

Check out all our adventures in Europe at airbnb.com/eurotour and stay tuned every Thursday for a new episode of AirTV to meet the amazing hosts we have on Airbnb around the world!

The Airbnb team departed from the serene Inveresk House in Edinburgh and soon arrived on the doorstep of a modernly renovated Irish hunting lodge in Dublin. Our days were limited but the weather cooperated and we quickly felt as lucky as the Irish do. For a wee bit of advice on the “what to do’s” of Dublin check out our recap below!

A treat to eat: Anything from Queen of Tarts 

If you have been watching our EuroTour videos on airbnb.com/eurotour you may have noticed Lisa’s fondness of sweets. She was not exaggerating when she exclaimed, “this is heaven!” While everything was delicious (and we sampled A LOT), our favorite savoury tart flavor was oven roasted tomato and goat cheese. Since skipping dessert is blasphemous, we suggest you indulge in the chocolate, almond, and pear tart!

A sight to see: Devitts

Guinness, toasted sandwiches (grilled cheese and ham), and live Irish folk music take center stage at this traditional Irish pub. Despite a growing club scene in Dublin, there remains a young demographic keen on keeping Irish history alive and here you can stomp to the beat right along with them.

A host to meet: Louise and Mark (and Anna)

Louise has been hosting travelers in various apartments for years and her hospitality is second to none. Tea and shortbread cookies welcomed us after an early morning flight from Edinburgh. Her 6 year old daughter gave us the grand tour while Louise and her husband directed us towards town and gave us tips on where to eat. Keep watching AirTV for their upcoming episode and others from around the world!

When traveling through Europe stop over in Dublin to sample authentic hospitality, a bit of history, and, of course, a Guinness. Keep up with our European Tour at airbnb.com/eurotour and see if we are coming to a city near you! 

We packed our bags and left Kevin’s modern, Amsterdam apartment only to arrive in a historic 16th century mansion just outside of Edinburgh. Working from Alice and John’s drawing room adorned with natural light and paintings created by Alice herself provided a picturesque stop on this European tour. Take a page from our book and experience the real Edinburgh!

A Treat to Eat: Fish and Chips

While typically an English masterpiece, La’Alba D’oro clearly indicates the Scottish know what they’re doing as well. Two local Airbnb users grabbed us and we weaved between old churches and side streets until we arrived at this acclaimed spot. The fish was light and tender and the chips were crispy and flavorful- for a healthier version with herbs and spices try it “alla Romana”.

A Sight to See: Musselburgh 

Here you’ll find an undiscovered town in Scotland just outside Edinburgh that has housed various significant historical figures. It is hard to walk through town without thinking of the history that has transpired on the same stones in centuries past. Check out the local museum for history from the past 2,000 years! 

A Host to Meet: Alice and Johnny

Sure, they provide a traditional Scottish breakfast and beautiful mansion with so much history it could make the Statue of Liberty blush, but what made our stay truly special at the Inveresk house was their devotion to comfort. There was never a cup of tea out of reach or a pillow unfluffed. We felt like we were a part of the family with their daughter’s music playing during breakfast and the hours of stories we laughed about.

Make Edinburgh a stop on your next trip and find history oozing between the streets of a flourishing modern town. Castles, churches, and fortresses watch over a welcoming town filled with families, students, and young professionals. And don’t forget to play a round of golf in the place where it all started!

We filmed another great AirTV episode at the Inveresk house we can’t wait for you to check out! Tune in every Thursday for new episodes here and be sure to follow our European tour at airbnb.com/eurotour for daily updates and coupons!

Indtil vi ses igen! The Airbnb team says goodbye to Copenhagen and hello to Amsterdam! We’ve only just begun our second European Tour and we’re already overwhelmed with the local hospitality and a growing hunger for travel. We discovered so much in so little time, but here’s our simple recipe to help you discover Copenhagen!

1. A treat to eat: Soft Ice

This stuff is amazing and the Danish aren’t kidding when it comes to the cream in their Ice Cream. As if it weren’t already a cone of perfection they then top it off by rolling it in your choice of topping (try cacao powder!). Feeling dangerous? Put it on a belgian waffle. We dare you.