Choosing just one country to visit can be tough. But what if we told you that you don’t have to pick—why not experience both?
You can experience two countries without doubling your budget! The trick is to visit one of the many border towns around the world, where you can immerse yourself in two different cultures at the price of one. Here are five of the best border towns to explore this unique opportunity.
Bratislava (above image)
Bratislava, the charming capital of Slovakia, offers a wealth of experiences for travelers. From picturesque vineyards and scenic hiking trails to serene blue waters, there’s something for every adventurer. As a classic European city, it also delights architecture enthusiasts. What makes it even more special is its proximity to Hungary, so you’ll likely encounter Hungarian restaurants and souvenirs as you explore this beautiful destination!
Vientiane
Vientiane is a Laotian town on the Thai border. It’s not often that you find a city with as many cultural influences as Vientiane. It’s been inspired by Thai, Laotian and French culture. When you walk down the main street, you will see beautiful Buddhist temples like the Pha That Luang, traditional Asian monuments, and stately French buildings, all competing for your attention in the same place. Make sure you visit the Laotian noodle shops, and enjoy shopping for Thai trinkets in the street market!
Recommended Tours in Vientiane:
Malmö
There is a running joke in Malmo, a city in Sweden, that the town is more Danish than it is Swedish. After all, it lies on the Danish border, and is closer to the Danish capital than the Swedish! The city is incredibly laid back, so you will definitely want to relax. Observe the city’s unique architectural style (definitely influenced by Denmark). Walk up to Lilla Torg square, and enjoy a traditional Swedish or Danish meal- depending on what tickles those taste buds. After all, you’re in the city that unites both countries!
Baarle Hertog/ Baarle Nassau
Thanks to the EU, most of the European countries enjoy free borders, with people from all countries freely mingling with each other. This is most obvious in Baarle Hertog, which is a Dutch town at the Belgian border. Due to a long, complicated historical battle, a number of Belgian enclaves ended up within town. These Belgian enclaves form Baarle Nassau. If you want to have the pleasure of having visited both Belgium and Netherlands, this is definitely where you should head to! Moreover, it’s a geographical anomaly, and a funny one at that. Who wouldn’t want to see it?
Melilla
Melilla is a quintessential Spanish town, full of beautiful buildings and the blue, blue sea. However, that is not what makes Melilla so popular. It’s the fact that when you’re in Melilla, you get to experience the culture of not one, but two countries. Melilla is on Spain’s border with Morocco (which is on a whole other continent, remember). You can enjoy the best of Moroccan cuisines and Spanish cuisines and a deep history in this beautiful town. There is not much to do in the form of sightseeing, but you should definitely stay for a few days, and just soak in the culture (and of course, the delicious food).
So, what other cities do you think offer you the best of two worlds, instead of one?