Europe's most liked

With so many Instagrammable destinations within driving distance of Calais, it’s time to reconsider those long-haul flights. Here, team Cosmopolitan share the stories behind their favourite European snaps. Road trip, here we come…

WHO? CYAN TURAN, SENIOR EDITOR

WHERE? SAINT-EMILION

A trip to the beautiful SaintEmilion, a dinky town in the south-west of France, is really all about one thing: wine. My husband and I nipped over to France in the car via Eurotunnel, which was super-easy. Eight hours later we were exploring the vineyards of Clos des Menuts and Château Villemaurine.

In the centre of town, we got lost on the cobbled pathways and climbed up its steep staircases, stopping to admire the 12th-century monolithic church looming above Place du Clocher. After refuelling with delicious macarons at local institution Mouliérac, we then drove out of town to rooftop restaurant Château La Dominique for dinner and dreamy sundowners, along with the most stunning views.

WHO? AMY GRIER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

WHERE? TUSCANY

Near Volterra, in the heart of the Tuscan hills, sits a very special hotel – well, more of an estate – called Borgo Pignano. Last summer, my best friend and I enjoyed a much-needed off-grid weekend there, spending our time hiking, horseriding and doing laps of the clifftop infinity pool. When the rain came down, we retreated to the cave-like spa and ate our body weight in pasta and Florentine steak.

The hustle of Pisa was only a few hours away, but with surroundings as beautiful as this, sometimes it’s nice to disconnect from city life and take a deep breath of lavender-scented country air.

MAKE SURE YOU… enjoy a meal at the hotel’s communal table. You’ll meet so many interesting people!