Planning your big trip to Europe? This fantastic continent has so many amazing places that its hard to know where to start. To help you out we have listed some of our favourite places in Europe to visit.
1. Athens, Greece
Europe has so many amazing places that its hard to know where to start. To help you out we have listed some of our favourite places in Europe to visit!
Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece with a population of over 3 million people. It’s also considered to be the historic capital of Europe, with its history dating back to 3000 BC. Athens offers something for everyone! You can explore the ancient ruins, visit museums or relax on the beautiful beaches. There are also many traditional Greek markets aplenty – if you feel like shopping with the locals!
Athens experiences warm weather throughout the year. Because of its amazing location, there are more than 250 days of sunshine. The best time to travel is spring and autumn when the temperature is milder and the crowds have thinned out. On tour with us you will take a guided tour of the city to explore the ruins. Also make a point to visit the temple of Athena, Nike and the Parthenon.
2. Cinque Terre, Italy
Cinque Terre, comprises of five small coastal villages; Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza & Monterosso. The name directly translates to “Five Lands” in English. The five villages, the coastline and surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park. It was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Cars and motorbikes were banned over 10 years ago and the only way to reach the villages are by boat, foot or train. Cinque Terre has some of the most beautiful scenery you will ever see in your life. Definitely try some of the local produce, such as the fresh locally caught seafood, when there.
Summer is the most popular time to visit Cinque Terre. If you are planning on walking some of the trails avoid doing so in the middle of the day. Instead plan to do this in the early morning or late evening when it is cooler, you may even catch one of the stunning sunrises or sunsets!
Related: Visit the Cinque Terre on one of our guided coach tours to Italy. We explore the famous Cinque Terre region using La Spezia as our base.
3. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 and a national nature reserve in 1987, it’s one of North Ireland’s most popular tour attractions. Each year it attracts three quarters of a million visitors.
The sunset in spring and autumn make for beautiful photos, but the Giants Causeway is a great place to visit anytime of the year. Make sure to take a warm jacket as the weather is quite unpredictable.
Related: Join us on the Best of UK & Ireland tour that also visit England, Wales and Scotland.
4. Berlin, Germany
The capital of Germany, Berlin, iocated in north-eastern Germany on the banks of River Spree. It’s home to more than 3.5 million people. Around one third of the city’s area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes. With over 175 museums history buffs will be kept entertained for weeks! If museums aren’t your thing then Berlin still has you covered, there are over 50 theatres and 300 cinemas. The nightlife is amazing! Berlin is also home to the largest department store in continental Europe – Kaufhaus des Westens. We hope you are ready to shop till you drop!
Berlin has a moderately cool and humid climate and is generally comfortable to visit any time of year. Winter does get very chilly as the winds pick up so make sure you bring a warm coat. We have a couple tours that visit Berlin including our longest tour the Ultimate Europe and the very popular Northern Explorer tour.
5. Barcelona, Spain
Spain’s second largest city, Barcelona is also the capital of the Catalan region. It has a population of over 1.6 million people and a unique culture not to be missed! Sun, beaches, football, siestas…the list goes on! Visit Barcelona is one of the world’s leading tourist, economic and cultural centres. There is no greater joy than enjoying tapas in a café on Las Ramblas and watching the world go by!
With its Mediterranean climate Barcelona enjoys mild winters and warm dry summers. May and June are the ideal times to visit, the spring weather is nice and warm and you will avoid the summertime tourist rush.
Still can’t decide which of these stunning places to see in Europe? Head over to our multi-country tour page to see what’s on offer!