Welcome to
The Crowded Planet!

We are Margherita and Nick, a nature
and adventure-loving couple.

marghe nick panorama lake como

About us

We are Margherita and Nick, a writer and photographer from Italy and Australia, long-term travellers and lovers of nature, wildlife and the outdoors.

We created this blog in 2014 to share our passions for nature, adventure, and sustainable travel. To date, our journeys have taken us to over 85 countries – it’s very hard to pick a favourite, but Malaysia, Japan, Iran, South Africa and Mexico will always have a special place in our hearts. 

Over time, our hobbies and travelling style changed. We still love jetting around for months, but we tend to travel for shorter periods of time, and we like to explore Italy, our country, on foot and by bicycle. Our favourite destinations are Trentino, the Italian Lakes, and Emilia-Romagna.

We are also very (un)successful triathletes and marathon runners, and our other passions (in no particular order) include hiking, craft beer, Asian food and our cat Tappo.

Ecotourism

cycling in venice

Cycling in Venice – 5 Best Bike Rides

Have you ever considered cycling in Venice? I know, it sounds kind of hard with all those bridges – but luckily, the Venice Lagoon and islands offer plenty of fun … Read more
snow in Joshua Tree

What To Do in Joshua Tree in Winter

Welcome to another post from our National Parks in Winter series! This guest post about Joshua Tree in Winter is by Mimi McFadden from The Atlas Heart, a California travel … Read more
death valley in winter

What to do in Death Valley in Winter

Welcome to Death Valley, one of the largest, most varied and craziest national parks to visit in the US! Winter is actually the best time to be there – so … Read more

Latest Posts

15 Fun Day Trips from Milan

One of the best things about my hometown Milan is that it’s a great base to explore more of Northern Italy and even Switzerland! Find out how on these fun … Read more
man walking by duomo florence

2 Days in Florence: Itinerary for First-Timers

Are you visiting Florence for the first time? This 2 days in Florence itinerary covers all the main sights, making it ideal for first-time visitors. Includes practical info to help … Read more
things to do in Modena

18 Best Things to do in Modena

Planning to visit Modena? What a brilliant idea, it’s definitely one of the coolest towns in Emilia-Romagna, with great places to eat, to go shopping, and even a UNESCO-heritage site. … Read more

Mondays In Milan

15 Fun Day Trips from Milan

One of the best things about my hometown Milan is that it’s a great base to explore more of Northern Italy and even Switzerland! Find out how on these fun … Read more
milan duomo side

How to Get Tickets to the Milan Duomo

After the Last Supper, here is another of Milan’s great sights – the wonderful Duomo! Here’s all you need to know about the Milan Duomo, including how to get skip-the-line … Read more
milan museum pinacoteca brera

The 20 Best Milan Museums

Welcome to another #MondaysinMilan post – today we’ll tell you all about Milan museums! Including the Last Supper Museum, Leonardo Da Vinci Museum, Prada Museum and more! When I first … Read more