Us Brits needn’t venture far to experience some of the world’s most spectacular destinations. With a plethora of European hotspots reachable in under two hours from the UK, the hardest part is choosing where to go. Europe offers everything from otherworldly nature to ancient sites, buzzing cities and remote wilderness. Skiing? Tick. Safari? Tick. World-class diving? Tick. Culture? Tick. In short, it’s a continent that’s got the lot, and it's right on our doorstep. Discover our roundup of the best places to visit in Europe for every type of traveller…
1. The best places for skiing
2. The best places for beaches
3. The best places for culture
4. The best places for adventure
5. The best places for wildlife
6. The best places for diving
The best places for skiing
The obvious answer would be the Alps, but where exactly within the range depends on what you're looking for. Families with beginners in tow should head to the likes of Lech in Austria for the finest facilities and ski schools. Skiers whose lunch is as important as skiing (no judgment here) could do a lot worse than Zermatt in Switzerland. For skiing on a serious scale, the Three Valleys in France together constitute the largest connected ski area in the world. And then there’s Italy's Dolomites (technically part of the Alps), which are ideal for ski touring and staying overnight in rifugios (ski refuges) that serve exceptional Italian food. Away from the Alps, head to Sweden, where Åre is akin to a North American ski resort, while Riksgransen is the world's most northern ski resort, where you can ski under the midnight sun in May. To call these places ‘cool’ doesn't come close.
Image by Faustine Poidevin
The best places for beaches
Greece has one of the longest coastlines in the world, mainly made up of gorgeous beach-rimmed islands. Take your pick from the islands of the Aegean or the Ionian, and if you walk towards the sea, you'll likely arrive at a beautiful beach. Elsewhere, of the best places to visit in Europe, Sardinia's beaches are sensational, especially those in the Maddalena Islands between the island and Corsica. Take a boat out for the day and explore - you'd be forgiven for thinking you were in the Caribbean. Check out our round-up of the best beaches in Europe for more.
Image by Lucian Bolca/stock.adobe.com
The best places for culture
Where to start? Where to end, for that matter. The holy trinity of Rome, Paris and Istanbul are quite simply must-visits for culture vultures. Elsewhere, the Scandinavian capitals of Stockholm and Copenhagen are elegant distillations of all that make these such civilised countries, and Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon vie for cultural supremacy in the Iberian Peninsula. In Andalucia, the many beautiful examples of Moorish design (in Seville, Cordoba and Granada, in particular) add another distinct aesthetic. And Europe's captivating cultures extend far beyond its cities (although if you want to read more about our favourite cultural city breaks in Europe, be our guest). In Romania's Transylvania, you can experience a rural way of life seemingly unchanged in centuries, while the Sami people are still semi-nomadic across the borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland in Lapland.
Image by Virginia Marinova Unsplash
The best places for adventure
Adventurers, listen up for the best places to visit in Europe to play out your wildest escapades. Let’s begin in Swedish Lapland; mushing your own team of huskies dog-sledging through snowy forests. Other wintry adventures include snowshoeing and spotting the remarkable phenomenon of the Northern Lights. The aurora borealis is also visible in other northern European countries, such as Norway, where you can kayak or trek through staggering fjord land scenery. In Iceland, an outdoor adventure playground of a country, spot the Northern Lights while on snowmobile glacier tours or monster truck road trips across the lunar-like volcanic landscapes. Enjoy riding safaris through the wetlands of Spain's Donana National Park or France's Camargue for a more sedate and non-motorised journey. Our final inclusion is kayaking the crystalline waters of Croatia's Elaphiti Islands, mooring up on deserted beaches for a swim and eating delicious fresh fish from local tavernas. Bliss.
Image by Gunnar Knechtel/LAIF-REA
The best places for wildlife
There’s a common misconception that Europe is devoid of big beasts. We beg to differ. We’ve even come up with our own list of the ‘European Big Five’ to prove it. Norway's Svalbard archipelago, deep in the Arctic Circle, is one of the finest places in the world for seeing polar bears in the wild, while Transylvania is home to bears, wolves and lynx. Another of the best places to visit in Europe for wildlife is the dramatic Picos de Europa mountains in northern Spain, where bears freely roam. Venture into the wilderness with a knowledgeable guide to enhance your chances of seeing Europe's big game. All of this before you even get into the smaller critters and countless bird species…
Image by Planet Pix/Zuma-Rea
The best places for diving
Concluding our list are the best places to visit in Europe for diving. Staying on the subject of big game, many of Europe's mightiest creatures are found beneath the waves. Head to Portugal’s Azores Islands in the Atlantic, and depending on the season, you can dive with manta rays and blue, fin, humpback and sperm whales, as well as five species of dolphins. Back in the Mediterranean, Gozo is the place to learn to dive, with exceptional visibility and wrecks, albeit no big fish. Make sure to spend a day or two in neighbouring Malta, whose elegant capital, Valetta, would easily warrant a spot in the culture list above. Not sure where’s right for you? Our experts over at Original Diving are here to help. Or, if you’d rather stay closer to the surface, check out our round-up of the best places to snorkel in Europe.
Image by Daniel Espirito Santo
Header image by Aliosha Boy
