Seeing Europe: A cheat sheet to top regions
You want to go to Europe, but don’t know where to start your travel research. Whether you want to do a multi-country trip or stick to a fan favourite, read on and start planning your getaway.
France
Romantic, picturesque and packed with tourist-friendly cities, France is the mostvisited country, not only in Europe, but the whole world. While most first-time visitors head straight to Paris, there’s much more to see than the City of Light. Île de France is a north-central region that’s home to Paris and Versailles, an easily navigable area with famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and 18th-century Palace of Versailles, plus gourmet dining, expansive parks and great shopping. France is wellregarded for its excellent wine, and oenophiles can pick a region based off their favourite variety: Champagne offers tasty bubbly, historic cathedrals and hilly countrysides; Burgundy is packed with the region’s oxblood-coloured reds, plus foodies can sample beef bourguignon and traditional mustard in Dijon; and Bordeaux presents the quintessential French wine getaway with gardens along the Garonne River, and a look at wine production dating back to the days of ancient Rome. Lyon and the Rhône Valley, where a bustling metropolis with historic sights, Michelin-starred dining and hundreds of wineries await, are also worth a visit.
Travellers more interested in beaches than wine tastings can explore a few coastal areas — most notably, the southeastern French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur. Top cities here include Cannes, where celebs can be spotted during the famous film festival, Nice, which has long attracted artist types and well-heeled French locals in the winter, and Marseilles, a family-friendly destination with a charming Old Port.
Spain
One of Europe’s warmest countries, Spain attracts travellers year-round with its sunny beaches, vibrant nightlife, laidback siesta culture and striking architecture. Tourists short on time will likely visit Madrid and Barcelona, two very different cities. The former has a nearly dead-centre location in Spain and acts as the official residence to the Spanish royal family. The capital city is a gorgeous melding of centuries-old attractions and modern-day living, featuring world-class museums like the Prado, urban parks and popular tapas bars. Meanwhile, Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city on the northeastern coast, where beautiful Gothic architecture, sandy beaches and nightlife that begins after midnight somehow work together. South along the coast, Valencia offers futuristic buildings, famous paella and a ton of scienceand art-centric attractions.
Travellers more interested in clubbing should head east to the island of Ibiza, where beachfront hotels consistently have renowned DJs. Calmer waterfront options include the island of Majorca to the east, northeastern Costa Brava and the southern Costa del Sol, which is lined with resorts ranging from luxury to budget.
Although landlocked, Seville is a charming city that’s the capital of the southern Andalusia region. It’s famous for flamenco dancing, an astonishingly well-preserved historic quarter, and the beautiful Alcazar of Seville. For more Moorish design, drive three hours east to Granada, where the Alhambra fortress takes the top spot for must-visit attractions. Finally, all the way up to the northern coast is Basque Country, which includes San Sebastian — a foodie destination — and Bilbao — known for its Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum.
Italy
From the boot-shaped mainland to the Mediterranean islands, there’s a ton to see throughout the diverse country of Italy. Travellers could pick their city by favourite Italian food, artwork or wine varietal. For history and art aficionados, there’s perhaps no better destination than Rome, located in the central Lazio region. Ancient ruins, iconic art such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, Renaissance architecture and plenty of gelato shops make this one of Italy’s most alluring spots. A few hours north is the Tuscany region, home to charming Florence. To the west is Pisa, famous for its leaning tower of the same name. Numerous wineries — try Chiantis here — also dot the area’s rolling hillsides. To the north is the fashion and design capital of Milan, and the charming city of Turin in the Piedmont region, which has lovely squares, a fun live music scene and baroque architecture. Due east is the coastal city of Venice, which is famous for its network of canals.
Charming cities with delicious food are found throughout, including Parma and Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region. The southwestern city of Naples is famed for its Neapolitan pizza and its gateway to ancient Pompeii — home to Mount Vesuvius. There’s also the Amalfi Coast, a spectacular collection of cliffside towns with colourful buildings overlooking the Mediterranean. Another top coastal destination is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cinque Terre (north of Pisa), a string of five fishing villages on the rugged Italian Riviera that are connected via hiking trails. Travellers who want to swap seaside spots for lakefront options can head to the Lombardy region, set against the foothills of the Alps.
England
Part of the United Kingdom, England is one of the top destinations in Europe, largely due to its capital London. The buzzing city is often referred to as a melting pot, thanks to the multitude of cultures that coexist with centuries-old sights (Big Ben, the Tower of London) and quintessential British traditions and the Royal Family. A diverse dining landscape, vibrant music and nightlife scene, and world-class museums make London a must-see while in the U.K. University-centric Oxford and Cambridge offer sights in addition to their schools, while the medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon draws Shakespeare enthusiasts looking to tour his childhood home or see one of his plays performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Football fans can visit the riverfront Liverpool, also known as the home of the Beatles, or drive east to Manchester and Leeds. For a mix of relaxation and history, head to the charming town of Bath, which is known for its natural hot springs and honey-coloured stone used throughout its architecture. The country is home to dozens of quaint, historic towns — some along the water — which vary in popularity.
Germany
The second-largest country in Europe by population, Germany typically attracts tourists to its two main cities: Berlin and Munich. The former has a documented history dating back to the 13th century, but it’s perhaps most well-known as Nazi Germany’s capital during the Second World War. From being bombed to hosting the Summer Olympics, the northeastern city has seen numerous highs and lows. Today, it’s considered one of the most cuttingedge cities in the world, with a prominent art scene, delicious food ranging from cheap street eats to Michelin-starred dining, and a vibrant underground nightlife with drug-fuelled dance parties to laidback jazz clubs. Munich sits near the southern border and lures visitors with its Oktoberfest, where tourists and locals dress in traditional lederhosen and dirndl dresses and fill tented, beer stein-slinging halls. Historic buildings, excellent museums, and urban parks are ideal for exploring.
Greece
Given that Greece is made up of thousands of islands and the mainland, choosing where to go can take some time. Travellers who want to visit the islands will first have to land in Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world and considered the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. At one point tacky and smog-filled, the city has had a re-emergence that has left it with amazing nightlife, well-maintained streets and public transportation, and tourist-friendly navigability. Ancient ruins such as the hilltop Acropolis and Parthenon, plus the Temple of Olympian Zeus, give travellers plenty to explore.
From there, it’s under an hour flight to the wildly popular island of Santorini. Known for its whitewashed architecture carved into the cliffs, the island overlooks the deep-blue Mediterranean Sea. Charming, albeit tourist-filled, towns here include Fira, the capital, and Imerovigli and Oia, which are both known for amazing sunset views. Santorini is best suited to couples, while young, party-minded travellers will likely enjoy Mykonos. Although it lacks the sensational vistas of Santorini, it’s popular for pretty stretches of sand, most of which host beach parties. Most visitors stick around Mykonos Town, which is packed with restaurants, bars and budget-friendly hotel options.
Portugal
The past few years have seen Portugal rise in popularity, thanks to its array of suitable travel spots, affordability, warm weather and long coastline. Its most-frequented city is its vibrant capital, Lisbon, located on steep hills that make for a good workout and gorgeous views. The wellpreserved city has traditional red claytiled roofs and striking historic architecture, plus sounds of fado music and people drinking in plazas. Rampant nightlife, markets selling produce and handicrafts, and delicious food such as pasteis de nata (egg tart) add to this city’s allure. During the winter, many U.K. travellers in particular head to the southern Algarve region, home to a stretch of towns that range from quiet, historic spots to tourist-packed resort areas with little authenticity left. The former includes places like Tavira, Ferragudo and Sagres, all of which have colourful pre-colonial buildings, loads of confeitarias (bakeries), and easy access to the beach. On the other hand, touristy spots like Albufeira and Portimao are packed with Irish- and British-style pubs, tacky souvenir stands and sunbathers on the beach
Ireland
West of England, Ireland is referred to as the Emerald Isle for its abundance of rolling hills and greenery. Most first-time visitors will stay for a few days in the capital of Dublin, situated on the eastern coast of the country. Historic attractions abound, such as the 13th-century Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. There are also excellent museums like the Dublin Writers Museum and National Museum of Ireland. Rampant pubs are found in the rowdy Temple Bar area and classier St. Stephen’s Green. Just over a two-hour drive west of Dublin is the charming harbourfront town of Galway. The city centres on Eyre Square, and rows of quaint. colourful houses line the bustling wharf. A burgeoning dining scene, great nightlife and friendly locals make this an excellent stop on an Ireland tour.
A 90-minute drive south leads to the Cliffs of Moher, a stretch of rugged crags that plummet 200 metres. O’Brien’s Tower observatory offers a great vantage point to take in majestic vistas, especially jawdropping at sunset on a clear day. Another top natural attraction is the Ring of Kerry, in the southwestern region of Ireland. It’s a circular route around Iveragh Peninsula, passing by charming villages, medieval ruins, and scenic areas that keep travellers pulling off to snap a photo.