There are many wonderful destinations on our doorstep making it almost impossible to choose where to go! Low cost flights, a good rail network and car hire are available everywhere. Visit a new and exciting city for a weekend, or make it a starting point for a longer holiday.
In France explore the Bordeaux vineyards, visit the Chateaux of the Loire, see the medieval villages of Provence surrounded by fields of fragrant lavender, and hike in the Alps.
Italy is world famous for its wonderful food, beautiful landscapes, unique art treasures and passionate opera. See the beautiful lakes of northern Italy with a back drop of the Dolomites, explore the Amalfi Coast, and walk amongst the ancient ruins of Sicily.
Romania has medieval towns, traditional villages, the romantic Danube Delta, fairy-tale castles, the Black Sea resorts, and the majestic Carpathian Mountains.
Turkey is a fascinating country to explore. Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents, and over the years was capital to the East Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. The Aegean coast has many beach resorts and also some of the most extensive and best preserved Roman and Greek ruins anywhere, including the ruins at Pergamon and Ephesus.
Iceland is a land of startling natural beauty. The landscape is a hotbed of volcanic activity, interspersed with gushing waterfalls and lush green plains. The most northerly capital in the world, Reykjavik sits at the south-west extreme of Iceland.
Malta is a tiny island in the Mediterranean and was home to the Knights of Malta. The walled capital Valletta was established by the pope as tribute to the courage of the knights. The megalithic temples that are scattered around the island – particularly those at Hagar Qim and Ggantija – are fabulous examples of simple architecture, predating the pyramids by up to 1,000 years.
Portugal is known for lovely beaches, but also has many UNESCO world heritage sites including Porto, the city that provided a nation with a name and a fortified wine known world-wide: port. Lisbon is a capital city with a magnificent history, mainly drawn from its nautical heritage. With a range of museums, monuments and architecture it’s an easy place to spend a few days exploring.
In the Czech Republic, Prague is an important European cultural centre and there are numerous theatres, museums, galleries and significant architectural buildings.
In Denmark Copenhagen is one of Europe’s oldest capitals – the Danish monarchy being the oldest in the world! There are canals, lakes, parks, castles, palaces and over fifty museums of all sorts, and many outdoor activities.
Spain is a country just waiting to be explored. Try sherry tasting in Jerez, tour the Moorish cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada, taste the finest olive oils and hams, soar over medieval villages by balloon in the north of Catalunya, and enjoy the fantastic art galleries everywhere.