The Art of the "In-Between": Why Your Next Trip Should Be About the Journey

The Tyranny of the Tourist Checklist

We’ve all been there: you spend months planning a trip to Paris, only to spend the whole time in lines at the Louvre. This is the tyranny of the tourist checklist. A focus on consumption over discovery.

At ViaVia, we are obsessed with the Art of the "In-Between." These are the smaller cities, the unexpected stops, and the quiet moments that connect the major capitals. This is where the real Europe lives, and this is where the modern explorer finds fulfillment.

Discovery Over Consumption: The Explorer's Code

Why rush from Rome to Florence when you could spend a night in Orvieto, a stunning hilltop town in Umbria, on your way? Why fly from Amsterdam to Berlin when you could take the train and stop for a day in the vibrant, underrated city of Cologne?

The "in-between" is where you find:

• Authenticity: Local restaurants that haven't been reviewed by a thousand travel bloggers.

• Serendipity: The unexpected street festival or the hidden café you stumble upon.

• Connection: The feeling of truly understanding the geography and culture of the continent.

Three ViaVia-Approved "In-Between" Routes

1. The Iberian Loop (Spain & Portugal): Instead of flying directly from Madrid to Lisbon, take a scenic train and break the journey in Salamanca, Spain. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage city with a stunning university and a fraction of the crowds.

2. The Alpine Connection (Switzerland & Austria): When traveling between Zurich and Vienna, stop in Innsbruck, Austria. Nestled in the Alps, it offers a perfect blend of urban life and immediate access to nature.

3. The Nordic Path (Scandinavia): Break the journey between Copenhagen and Oslo with a stop in Gothenburg, Sweden. It’s a charming, water-front city with a relaxed, explorer-friendly vibe.

Life is short, and Europe is wide. It’s time to stop rushing to the destination and start enjoying the journey.