Europe packs in many flavors, traditions, religions and colors. The continent tops the list for those who love history, culture, shopping, wining and dining. Nature is never far away, if you need to unwind.
Whether you picture yourself skiing in the Alps, getting happily lost in cobblestoned old towns, getting pampered in Icelandic hotsprings and Scandinavian saunas, or lazing on a Mediterranean beach, Europe makes many daydreams come true.
Of course, visiting Europe is also about seeing some of the world’s most famous landmarks. Whether you fly, train or bus it, it can take as little as a week to visit Big Ben and Tower Bridge in London, the canal district of Amsterdam and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Make it a fortnight and you can also take in Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in France, the Roman Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the Sagrada Familia in Spain and the Acropolis in Greece.
Don’t forget to also enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle by kicking back on Europe’s southern beaches and sampling its olives, cheeses and seafood and wines. Or how about a river cruise?
If you’ve done all that already, set out to find Europe’s less famous man-made wonders. The striking Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest, the wonderful churches of St. Petersburg, the romantic Charles Bridge in Prague in the Czech Republic and the sparkling Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul are some of the other architectural marvels of Europe’s mixed heritage.
Southeastern Europe is making a name for itself as a summer hotspot now too. Hike through the Accursed Mountains in Albania or the Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria, swim in the idyllic bays of Montenegro, party the night away by Lake Ohrid in Macedonia and enjoy an al fresco meal in the maze-like Old Town of Dubrovnik in Croatia.
Or why not start small? Europe is home to some of the tiniest countries in the world and visiting Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City can take no time at all, but will instantly show you what Europe is all about.