There simply is no way to tour Europe and not be awestruck by its scenic beauty, epic history and dazzling artistic and culinary diversity.
Cultural Heritage
Europe’s wealth of attractions is its biggest draw: Athens, the birthplace of democracy; Florence, for its Renaissance art; Venice and its graceful canals; Paris for its Napoleonic splendour; and of course, London, that multilayered historical and cultural canvas. Less obvious but just as impressive are the Moorish palaces in Andalucía, the fascinating East-meets-West brew of İstanbul in Turkey, the majesty of meticulously restored imperial palaces in Russia's former capital St Petersburg and the continuing project of Gaudí's La Sagrada Família in Barcelona.
Glorious Scenery
Europe has a huge diversity of natural scenery: from the rugged Scottish Highlands with glens and lochs; Norway's fabulous fjords, seemingly chipped to jagged perfection by giants; the vine-raked valleys of the Loire; and the steppe-like plains of central Spain. As for beaches, a circuit of the Mediterranean's northern coast reveals gem upon gem. Then there are the lesser known, beautiful coastal regions such as the Baltic and Black Seas. Mountain lovers should head to the Alps: they march across central Europe taking in France, Switzerland, Austria, northern Italy and tiny Liechtenstein.
Raise a Glass
Europe has some great nightlife, with globally famous DJs driving the clubs in London, Berlin and Paris, all of which also offer top-class entertainment, especially theatre and live music. Other key locations for high-energy nightlife include Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest and Madrid, while those hankering for something cosier can add Dublin's pubs or Vienna's cafes to their itinerary. The party continues on the continent's streets at a multiplicity of festivals and celebrations, from city parades attended by hundreds of thousands to intimate concerts in an ancient amphitheatre.
Magnificent Menus
After the great museums, panoramic vistas and energetic nightlife, what's left? Well, nothing less than a culinary adventure to beat all others! How about pizza in Naples, souvlaki in Santorini or haggis in Scotland? Britain also has some of the best Indian restaurants in the world and Turkey's doner kebab is a key part of contemporary German food culture. In the Netherlands, you can gorge on an Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table). There’s no doubt - Europe's diversity and global reach is its trump card.
Title Image Credit: Marco Verch (Image Cropped)