Europe & UK

Europe

The old adage, good things come in small packages is Europe in a nutshell. Easily navigated, each country is a treasure trove of cultural attractions in places that look like movie sets – except they’re real. From strolling through the Louvre and admiring the view from the Eiffel Tower to appreciating Renaissance art in Florence, falling in love with Venice, reliving history in Great Britain and standing in awe the architectural masterpieces of Athens, the major cities hold the trump cards.

However, the rural gems are just as bucket list worthy. You could live like a king or queen in a castle in Scotland, schuss down kilometres of ski trails in the Swiss Alps, wine taste your way around Bordeaux, soak in a spa in Budapest – Hungary’s ‘city of baths’ or explore blue caves in Zakynthos, Greece. As one of the most photographed parts of Europe the Cinque Terre is a must do – but pick your time as it gets very crowded during summer. A lesser known walk is the Verdon Gorge close to the French Riviera.

And then there’s the European cruising scene. Dream it and it can happen – on a ship. There are speciality cruises based on themes like Star Trek, knitting, dancing, poker, cooking, wine tasting, Shakespeare, health and fitness. And with hundreds of inland waterways, river cruising is a relaxing way to take in the beauty of Europe. You could captain your own canal boat.