How Can Embassy and European Union Day Help You Plan Your Next Trip?
Have you ever wanted to travel to Germany or Thailand, or even both on the same day but couldn’t because you lacked money, time off, etc.? Well, my friend, I have good news. You can travel to 5 or 6 different countries in one day without even experiencing any jet lag!
How is this possible, you ask?
Come and experience the Embassy and EU Days!
Embassy Day
Embassies open their doors to visitors usually on the first Saturday in May for free-to-sample traditional food and drinks, to learn Indigenous dances, and to take part in family-friendly activities like:
Thai kickboxing
Waffles
Painting
Henna
Salsa dancing
If you plan to attend, the most important thing is to plan which countries you want to visit. The nation’s diplomatic core extends from DuPont Circle to National Cathedral, with some embassies sprawling deep into Tenleytown. That is a lot of ground to cover!
Trust me, I was zealous to fit in as many embassies as possible in my first year, and I only got 5 of them. Why, you ask? I learned that popular embassies like England, Germany, etc., had long lines.
The smaller, less popular countries are the best way to see more in one day!
I use this tool to help me plan which embassies I want to attend and see how close or far away they are.
Also, when you are on the grounds of an embassy, you are technically on international ground. How awesome is that? And you don’t even need a passport!
EU Day
EU Day is the first Saturday after Embassy Day, generally on or around 9 May. This date marks the signing of the Schuman Declaration, which established the European Coal and Steel Community, a multinational entity that would eventually become the European Union as we know it.
Like Embassy Day, the European Union and its embassies open their doors to the public for a free day of culture, food, music, and more—even live animals!
I am super excited to attend EU Day this year since I plan to head to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest in a few weeks. I have already planned what I want to see and do, but I am using this experience to get a first-hand experience of these places before I go.
Finland Trip Plan!
My friend went to Finland because of the inspiration of EU Day. Below is her take on EU Day and her trip:
One of the things I like most about the embassy visit days is how each country takes a slightly different approach to opening its doors to the community. Some emphasize food and drink, and others highlight cultural traditions or innovations. Some countries focus on challenging preconceived notions or stereotypes. Others try to introduce you to their country and culture, possibly for the first time. And, of course, some mix and match their approaches.
When I entered the Finnish Embassy in 2018, I didn’t expect to exit with a vacation plan the following year! The embassy staff and volunteers showed off different parts of the country and engaged visitors with statements like, “What kinds of things do you like? Oh – that’s convenient! We have that in Finland. Food, drink, nature, history, art, entertainment, and relaxation are here. You should visit!” I told them I would.
My friend laughed, thinking I was just humoring the staff, and then laughed again one year later when I said, “I just booked a trip to Finland.”
Finland was one of my favorite trips I’ve ever taken. I explored Helsinki and hiked through Nuuksio National Park (and fed reindeer!). I also discovered some history and natural beauty at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna, relaxed at the famous Löyly Sauna, and even made an exceptionally entertaining day trip across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, Estonia.
Overall, I experienced a lot in 9 days, and there’s still a lot more I’d like to go back and see someday. But it was all thanks to the embassy open houses; I added Finland to my travel wish list and decided, thanks to a very opportune flight sale from Scandinavian Airlines, to bump it to the top of my travel list—and I’m very, very glad I did!
I can’t wait to share my EU Day experience with you and how it helped with my birthday trip! I hope you get a chance to experience this truly cool experience in DC next year.