A woman embarked on a whirlwind adventure to Sweden, spending just 12 hours in the country to savour Swedish meatballs, all at a cost of £44. Adelina Popa, 28, dubbed as an “extreme day-tripper,” frequently undertakes expeditions to different European cities in a single day with no fixed plan or lodging. Her recent escapade led her to Malmö, a city in southern Sweden, on September 23, 2024. Popa took a £44 return flight from Bristol Airport to Copenhagen at 8:40 am, followed by a 25-minute train journey across the border to Malmö, which cost £20 return. During her brief sojourn, she immersed herself in Swedish delicacies, explored the castle gardens and local parks, and even lounged on a beach for a few hours. She managed to return to the UK by 11 pm, just in time for work the next day.
As a customer service representative hailing from Bristol, Popa shared her enthusiasm for Malmö, describing it as her favourite city thus far. She values the spontaneity and ease of these day trips, highlighting the lack of structured plans or the need for accommodation, enabling her to venture out for the day without taking extensive time off. Her interest in extreme day trips sparked in summer 2023, leading her to solo outings across Europe to destinations like Copenhagen, Malaga, Monaco, Dublin, and Edinburgh, all accomplished for under £100 per trip.
Popa’s meticulous planning for the Swedish jaunt included landing in Copenhagen by 11:40 am, boarding a train to Malmö, and embarking on a discovery tour that accumulated 23,700 steps. She explored parks, visited a food market, soaked up the sun on the beach, and relished the renowned Swedish meatballs. Her exploration also encompassed the castle gardens, city squares, and the local library before concluding with a meatball meal at Spoonery. Following her return to Copenhagen Airport at 7:30 pm, she caught the 9:50 pm flight back to Bristol, touching down at 11 pm.
The breakdown of Popa’s journey included £44 for flights, £20 for train travel, and £16 for meals, totalling £80 for the entire adventure. Popa’s enthusiasm for rapid, budget-friendly travels exemplifies the allure of spontaneous day trips, offering a unique and affordable way to explore diverse European locales.