An ode to a beautiful continent
Forget Europe’s slight annoyances, there is more than enough reasons to visit.
My esteemed Fairfax colleague recently had the cheek to bag some of what he thought were downsides of travelling throughout Europe. You know the line: the crowds, and too much to do, the costs – things usually associated with a destination’s popularity.
Some were spot-on but given Europe is now home, I feel compelled to argue that for every slight annoyance about this continent, there is an even better reason to keep your Euro-trip travel dreams alive.
The crowds
Yep, that’s right. Think you can have a Flamenco party alone? Would the latenight revelry in Naples be as fun if it was just you and a Chianti above some Roman ruins? The positives of higher population density are easy to see – the boisterous town centres, bustling market squares and efficient transport systems.
But solace is easy to find
No, not by the Eiffel Tower. Travellers may put emphasis on the continent’s cities but there is gorgeous, sparsely populated pieces of country side, barely touched fjords and wilderness within a couple of hours from airports. From tracking brown bears in northern Greece to spotting the northern lights in Stornaway, you can leave the crowds behind. at worst a monopoly.
A new culture, only 150km away
Vienna not hitting the right notes for you? Then follow the Danube 80km to Bratislava and chill with some Slovaks. Ditch Munich for Salzburg or Antwerp for Amsterdam. The distinctions – from food, to traditions, to dialect – change drastically across a small geography.
Any season is good
Europe may be best served in summer (preferably with some sangria on the side). But, certain places are better visited out of season. Think spring tulips in Holland, St Patrick’s day in Dublin, Christmas markets in Vienna or cosying to enjoy some hygge in Copenhagen. From Alp ski breaks or autumn rambles in the Cotswolds, any time is a good time to be here.
Top travel tech
A large population helps build the ‘‘critical mass’’ of users needed for start-up technology and phone apps to succeed, from ride-sharing app BlaBlaCar to bed-finder AirBnB. This plugged-in population means finding a rideshare from London to Cornwall is more accessible and easier than a trip from Wellington to New Plymouth.