The Parthenon, Athens - from Will Venn
Europe Destination Guide
by Jonathan Milligan
Summary
Enjoy every possible type of holiday on this vast continent. Choose from historic cities, sun-soaked Mediterranean resorts, snow-covered Alpine villages or miles and miles of stunning countryside. Enjoy fantastic theatre in London, sprawling art galleries in Paris or classic opera in Milan and Verona. Sample pickled herring in Scandinavia, apple strudel in Vienna or lamb kebabs in Turkey and sip Champagne in France, beer in Munich or a hearty Rioja in Spain. If you're looking for honeymoon packages or luxury family holidays, you'll be spoilt for choice so get going.
Getting there, getting around Europe
In addition to scheduled airlines, budget carriers now fly to destinations all over the continent and if you're flexible with your times and dates, you can take advantage of low fares. The Eurostar train whisks you to Paris from London in under three hours. You could even travel in style aboard the world-famous Orient Express.
Cruises are popular in the Med and Scandinavia and the efficient ferry service in Greece means island-hopping is easy. If you have more time, consider a coach tour, hiring a car or whizzing around on a motorbike.
Quick facts
Currency: Most EU member countries now use the euro, which makes travelling between them much easier
Language: English is spoken in most places but try to learn a few local phrases
Flight time: From London it's one hour to Paris, two hours to Rome and three to four hours to Greece
GMT: Varies. France and Italy are one hour ahead of GMT, Greece is two hours ahead in winter, three in summer
Weather: The Mediterranean has the warmest climate with good winter sunshine, warm springs and milder autumns. The Canary Islands, being close to Africa, are the best bet for year-round good temperatures. Scandinavia and the Baltic states have much colder winters than the UK.
Dialling code: France 00 33 1, Italy 00 39, Greece 00 30
Electricity: 220 volts with two-pin plugs though some smaller and older places may use the old 125v system, so check with your hotel first
Barcelona - from Spanish Tourism Office
Beaches in Europe
Beach-lovers are truly spoilt for choice. In France, sunbathe next to the stars along the Cote d'Azur or get surfing around Biarritz. In Spain, join the hordes of Brits on the Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca, or enjoy more solitude along the lesser-known Costa de la Luz. Or head to neighbouring Portugal for the superb beaches of the Algarve, another British favourite.
In Turkey and Greece, enjoy the wonderful, sandy spots along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and in Italy, sample the vibrant nightlife before recovering on the beach at Rimini. There are also the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, home to the celebrity-rich Costa Smerelda. Or stay in the UK and sample the delights of the English Riviera - Torbay, Torquay, Paignton, Brixham and Devon.
Sightseeing in Europe
In the Greek capital, Athens, take in the ancient Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum, home to the world's finest collection of Greek antiquities. Paris has great art and architecture and you should allow several days to stroll the hallowed halls of the Louvre and the equally impressive Musee d' Orsay. Italy is a dream destination for culture vultures and the streets of Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance, are lined with many stunning buildings and museums.
Prague is often used as a film location thanks to its atmospheric streets and beautiful palaces, churches and museums. In Spain, check out the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and don't miss Barcelona, where you can enjoy the heady mix of Picasso's art and Antoni Gaudi's architecture. For natural wonders, head to great mountain ranges such as the Alps, Pyrenees or Dolomites, take in the Italian Lakes or hike in the stunning Scottish Highlands.
Family attractions in Europe
Disneyland Resort Paris is probably the most popular family attraction in Europe and is easily reached from the UK on the Eurostar. The park is just like its American counterparts, except it's cooler and the French employees don't seem to smile quite as much.
Elsewhere, Alton Towers and Legoland are both worth visiting in the UK, as is Port Aventura near Salou in Spain and Europa Park on the German, Swiss and French borders. Throughout Europe, you'll find lots of water parks with slides and other rides but most are only open in the summer months.
Day trips around Europe
Europe's a compact continent so there are plenty of opportunities for two-country holidays. If you're soaking up the rays on a Greek island, why not hop on a hydrofoil to Turkey for the day. Kos is just a 20-minute ride from Bodrum and Rhodes is only two hours away.
While hiking in the Pyrenees, you can weave your way between French and Spanish towns. Both Austria and Hungary are a short border-hop away from Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, and who could visit Rome without a trip into the sovereign state of the Vatican City.
Colosseum, Rome - from Will Venn
Eating out in Europe
Try paella and tapas in Spain, goulash in Hungary, moussaka in Greece, pizza, pasta and ice-cream in Italy, a Sunday roast in the UK, haggis in Scotland, frogs legs and snails in France, meatballs in Sweden, cheese or meat fondue in Switzerland and Black Forest Gateau in Germany.
Whether you snack at roadside cafes and stalls, or dine out in style at a Michelin-star chef's restaurant, Europe is a food-lover's delight.
Shopping in Europe
Buy chocolates for your loved one in Belgium, or even better, a newly-cut diamond from the Diamond Quarter in Antwerp. Scottish shortbread always makes a welcome gift or you could buy an ornate cuckoo clock in Switzerland.
If you love fashion, Milan is great for designer labels, or you could splash out on some Parisian haute couture. If you want to relive fun holiday memories, a bottle of the local tipple is always a good buy.
Nightlife in Europe
If you enjoy dancing the night away, then Ibiza is Europe's clubbing capital and home to 'superclubs' such as Space and Pacha. Berlin also has a thriving club scene and you'll find crowded discos in many Mediterranean resorts, such as Bodrum in Turkey, Ayia Napa in Cyprus and Kavos in Corfu.
If you prefer a cultural evening, take in an opera at La Scala in Milan, or watch the latest theatre production in London's West End. Finally, if you're the gambling sort, there's only one place for a flutter - magnificent Monte Carlo. Make like 007 and don your tuxedo for a visit.
Related destinations
If you're interested in Europe you may also like to look at these related destinations:
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