Long have been Europe’s majestic landscapes, iconic landmarks, rich history, and culture the favorite travel destination in the entire world. Over 700 million international visitors travel across this region every year.
Boasting incredible diversity across its 50 unique countries, a European holiday promises adventure, discovery, and wonder around every corner. Here are eight compelling reasons why Europe should be at the top of your travel bucket list:
1. Glorious Landscapes
Europe is blessed with phenomenally diverse natural scenery across its territories. From dramatic coastlines to vast lakes, soaring mountains, and fertile valleys, the landscapes here will take your breath away.
It may start with country-specific tour packages for instance, Turkey tour packages to understand the land and its surrounding area. The specially crafted tour packages for Portugal and Spain would also be worth trying.
Some of Europe’s Most Spectacular Scenery Includes:
- Norwegian Fjords: Deep blue waterways flanked by towering cliffs and waterfalls.
- Iceland’s Volcanic Landscapes: Otherworldly lava fields, steaming geysers, black sand beaches, and glacier lagoons.
- The Swiss Alps: Snow-capped Alpine peaks, quaint mountain villages, and turquoise lakes.
- Scotland’s Highlands & Islands: Rugged, remote landscapes with moody skies and sheep-dotted hills.
- The Mediterranean Coastline: Postcard-perfect beaches, hidden coves and coastal villages lining turquoise waters.
2. Majestic Castles
Some of the world’s most spectacular castles are located in Europe, catapulting visitors into medieval and Renaissance times when kings and queens walked their stone halls.
Famous European Castles Include:
- Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany: Fairytale-like 19th-century castle that inspired Disneyland.
- Edinburgh Castle, Scotland: Dominates the Edinburgh skyline as a mighty 11th-century fortress.
- Bran Castle, Romania: Famous for being ‘Dracula’s Castle’, dramatically situated against the Carpathians.
- Alcázar of Segovia, Spain: Storybook medieval castle dominating Segovia’s old town.
- Eltz Castle, Germany: Impressive medieval castle belonging to the same noble family since 850 years.
3. Rich History
As one of the oldest civilisations in the world – Europe is steeped in fascinating history dating as far back as 4800 BC; visiting European places will uncover ancient structures of the Roman Empire, fossils of medieval knights and kings and sites of WWII.
Must-see Historical Attractions Include:
- Colosseum & Roman Forum, Italy: An artifact of ancient Rome of around 70-80 AD.
- Stonehenge, England: The mystifying circle of standing stones 5000 years old.
- Anne Frank House, Amsterdam: The secret place of the Frank family during WWII.
- Normandy Beaches, France: A very somber visit to the D-Day landing sites.
- Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Poland: A very chilling reminder of the atrocities suffered by Holocaust victims.
4. Culinary Delights
Europe is heaven for foodies. With its fantastic culinary variety, each destination promises a flavor, ingredient, or culture of dining that one may have never experienced.
Foodie Highlights Across Europe’s Cities Include:
- Pizza in Naples, Italy: Birthplace of the world’s best pizza with over 3000 pizzerias!
- Pintxos in San Sebastian, Spain: Mouthwatering Basque-style tapas to sample across countless bars.
- Smorrebrod in Copenhagen, Denmark: Open-face sandwiches with Nordic-style toppings.
- Goulash in Budapest, Hungary: A hearty paprika-infused stew that’s a Hungarian specialty.
- Apple strudel in Vienna, Austria: Flaky pastry packed with sweet apple filling.
5. Festivals & Events
From beer festivals in Germany to tomato fights in Spain – Europe hosts an endless calendar of exciting cultural events and festivals across its cities.
Top Festivals Across Europe Include:
La Tomatina, Spain: The world’s biggest food fight, with over 150,000 tomatoes tossed every August.
- Oktoberfest, Germany: Massive beer festival in Munich, complete with oompah bands, lederhosen, and liter-sized beers!
- Carnival in Venice, Italy: Intricate masks and costumes cover the city of Venice each year.
- Running of the Bulls, Spain: Hundreds dash in front of bulls at this thrill-seeking event in Pamplona.
- Edinburgh Festivals, Scotland: The world’s largest annual arts festival overhauls Edinburgh each August.
6. World Class Cities
Europe is home to an unbelievable number of cosmopolitan cities that would top most travelers‘ lists. Cities such as Paris, London, Barcelona, and Rome do not really need an introduction because each of them is quite popular for landmarks, culture, food, and history.
Some of Europe’s Most Spectacular Cities Include:
- Paris, France: The City of Light captivates with the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and cafes and patisseries.
- Venice, Italy: Romantic canalside city with gondola rides, Carnivale masks, and Byzantine architecture.
- Edinburgh, Scotland: Charming town with the medieval Old Town and iconic Edinburgh Castle.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: Picturesque canal city known for cycling, art, and liberal attitudes.
- Dubrovnik, Croatia: A walled coastal city with red-tiled roofs, a mountainous backdrop, and the bluest Adriatic waters.
7. Connectivity & Accessibility
It is easy to travel across Europe due to its excellent transport network and integrated borders. High-speed rail connects the major cities of the continent, while budget airlines connect every corner of Europe.
Some Highlights Include:
- Seamless border crossings between 26 ‘Schengen Area’ countries
- High-speed Eurostar train connecting London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam
- Efficient highways allowing self-drive holidays across different countries
- Short 1-3 hour flights between cities with budget airlines
- Accessible rivers like the Danube, Rhine and Seine for pleasure cruising
8. The People
Europeans are friendly and have welcomed millions of visitors to the continent every year. Be it any language, the locals will go to any extent to help the visitors and spill the beans about their cities.
Standout-Friendly Destinations Include:
- Ireland: Known for the Irish’ gift of the gab’ and fun-loving nature.
- Greece: Known for excellent Greek hospitality for thousands of years.
- Spain: Easy-going locals enjoy good food and wine and discussing it with visitors.
- Sweden: Though a reserved nation, Swedes are polite, friendly, and speak perfect English.
- Slovenia: The friendliest country in Europe, according to travelers.
Conclusion
So there you have it – 8 compelling reasons why Europe remains the world’s most captivating and sought-after travel destination. Offering spectacular scenery, iconic landmarks, rich culture, and history, an epic journey across Europe is sure to be a trip of a lifetime.
To save for that traveler in a hurry, all-inclusive Europe trip packages will serve up ready-to-go itineraries that are going to experience the most vibrant cities and landscapes of this continent in style.
Imagine endless ‘wow’ moments, discoveries around every corner, and welcoming hospitality at their fullest. It is one destination that you will want to keep coming back again and again to.
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