Our Best Photos Of 2020

At the end of each year, we publish a post about our best travel moments and also our best photos of the year. While the post about travel moments is a personal one with pictures that awaken warm feelings in us, this photo collection is focused on (surprise!) photography.

I collect the best photos I’ve taken throughout the year, and I compare it to the collections from the previous years. While I’ve improved quite significantly since 2015-2016, the progress considerably slowed down in the past years. 2018-2019 looks similar to this year which means I probably reached whatever level can be reached with amateur experiments (and with my mirrorless Nikon camera). I’m actually happy with my pictures – and I’m satisfied with my photography skills for now.

Or to be more precise, I prioritize other areas of improvement (like writing or marketing) over photography for now. No travel blogger can live without photography, but that’s not the only important skill. Also, I’ve made peace with the fact that I’m not that person who gets up to catch the sunrise or stand still for two hours to create the perfect shot. I’m not that much into photography. I like experimenting with angles and settings, and I usually happily take thousands of pictures on any trip, but still I prioritize the travel experiences over creating the perfect shots.

With that said, here are the 18 best photos I’ve taken in 2020, and I hope you enjoy them. (Also, get inspired to visit Central Europe, because they were all taken here in Hungary and in our neighboring countries.)

Nature

Best beach photo

Plovanije Beach in Cape Kamenjak Nature Park, Croatia

Best mountain photo

View in Weisssee Glacier World, Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria

Best coastline photo

Coastal trail in Cape Kamenjak Nature Park (this nature park is by far the most scenic place we’ve found in Istria, with great beaches and snorkeling opportunities)

Best waterfall photo

Some of the many small waterfalls of Šunik Water Grove, Soča Valley, Slovenia

Best river photo

Instead of very famous (and truly magical) Soča River, I chose a photo of a lesser known but quite special river in Croatia: Kupa river in Risnjak National Park

Best canyon photo

Mostnica Gorge near Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Best forest photo

Foggy forest in the Northern Velebit National Park, Croatia

Best sunset photo

The iconic tree of Punta Rata Beach, Brela, Croatia

Best colorful photo

A lonely tree on the coast at Makarska, Croatia

Best reflection photo

Velické pleso in the High Tatras, Slovakia

Best macro photo

After a particularly rainy week in Velence Hills, Hungary

Seasons

Best wildflower blooming photo

Again, Velické pleso of the High Tatras where we enjoyed the peak of the Tatras’ blooming this summer

Best summer photo

Brseč Beach, Istria, Croatia

Best autumn photo

Beginning of November in the Kőszeg Mountains, Hungary

Best Christmas photo

National Christmas tree at the Hungarian Parliament

Cities & towns

Best street photo

Rovinj, Croatia (I’m in love with those cobbled streets with hanging laundy!)

Best park scene

Autumn in a small village in Kőszeg Mountains, Hungary

Best restaurant scene

Seaside restaurant in Tučepi, Croatia