Hey, thank you for being here!
I’m Olivia Ellis, a Europe travel expert, travel writer, and content creator, and the founder of Urban & Beyond, a travel blog shaped by my love of slow, thoughtful travel and in-depth research.
Over the years, I’ve lived in Rome, worked as an English teacher and au pair, and grown up between cultures, experiences that deeply shaped how I see the world and how I write about it.
Now based in Athens with my partner, Maria, I spend much of my time travelling across Europe, researching destinations beyond the surface, and sharing guides designed to help people experience places more meaningfully.
Urban & Beyond is where my research-driven approach meets storytelling. Here, you’ll find practical, experience-led travel guides that blend culture, food, and history, with a focus on choosing well rather than doing more.
I’m drawn to the kind of travel that isn’t about ticking off landmarks, but about connection, with nature, with local communities, and with the layers of history that shape a place today.
My writing has been featured in Thrillist and The World Was Here First, and I continue to seek out ways to combine storytelling with useful, honest recommendations.
When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me outdoors, in the kitchen cooking, or curled up with a good book.
read my story
My story
from a young age I had the travel bug
Born into the richness of two cultures, American and British, I had the privilege of dipping my feet into different parts of the world from the start. Growing up, my childhood home became my imagined airplane, transporting me to destinations that only existed in my dreams. Travel was never just a concept, it was a feeling, a calling.
As I grew older, my passions deepened and evolved into a love for the nuances of travel and culture. I became bewitched by food and cooking, drawn to the flavours of international cuisine, enchanted by time spent in nature, and forever curious about the lesser-travelled paths of different cultures. While my high school classmates prepared for university ventures, I had only one answer when asked about my future: I was going to travel the world.
At nineteen, I moved to Rome as an au pair, immersing myself in Italian life and beginning a journey that took me across Europe. Each new place only deepened my love for the continent. Now that i’m based here full time at 30, life here has its challenges, as it does anywhere, but I wouldn’t trade it. I love living in Europe and exploring as many places as I can.
“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Olivia and Maria
partners in life and adventure
We’re Olivia and Maria, a couple who love travel, nature, good food, and storytelling.
Urban & Beyond started as a shared project. Maria captures the feel of the places we visit through photo and video on our YouTube channel. Olivia writes for the blog and Instagram, sharing practical tips, personal stories, and the little details that make a trip memorable. We both show up on camera, bringing you along for the ride.
We believe in slow, intentional travel. Taking the time to connect with where you are and notice what most people miss. We also value both adventure and rest. Some days it’s a tough hike with a great view. Other days it’s doing nothing in a beautiful spot. The best trips have room for both.
Here you’ll find practical tips, honest reviews, and destination guides that help you get more out of your time without overpacking it. No fluff. Just what’s useful.
Olivia and Maria
Fun facts
get to know me better!
What can’t you live without?
Access to a good book, chapstick, my dog Orion, movement, and time outdoors
What are your favourite travel destinations?
I love cities with green spaces, urban buzz, and a student feel, but I’m just as drawn to the wild coasts of Ireland and the UK.
