10 Best travel destinations in europe – An Overview With Top Tips
Do you have plans to travel to Europe?
You may be looking for an urban escape, some days of adventure, or a full relaxation in the wilderness. We’ve got your back. These are the 10 best destinations in Europe where you can enjoy interesting excursions with great food and natural beauty.
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Svalbard, Norway
Even if you’re someone who enjoys a winter getaway, you most likely have yet to travel as the north of Svalbard is an archipelago comprising nine islands between the mainland of Norway and the North Pole. If you’ve always dreamed about travelling to the Arctic, visiting Svalbard can be your desirable destination.
A quick journey between Tromso and Oslo will lead you to Longyearbyen, the biggest city in Svalbard, where your Arctic adventures begin. Visitors from all over the world visit the area to experience the area’s natural beauty and go for an ethical wildlife watch to observe whales, polar bears, and walruses. They also hike. There’s always an opportunity to grab refreshing ice-cold drinks at the most northern brewery anywhere globally. From stunning mountains covered in snow and breathtaking Fjords to creepy former Soviet mining towns and spooky mining towns – Svalbard is one of the most intriguing locations on Earth, Not only in Europe.
If you’re considering travelling to Svalbard, check out Secret Atlas’s Expedition Micro Cruises. With a maximum of 12 guests aboard our vessels and a small number of guests onboard, we provide an intimate, original, eco-friendly way for you to experience the remote and unexplored area.
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Azores Islands, Portugal
While officially part of Portugal, Although technically part of Portugal, the Azores islands appear to be an entire world away from the mainland. The isolated archipelago of volcanic islands is located in the middle of the Atlantic and is often called “the “Hawaii of Europe”. With its rugged terrain and deep blue water, It’s not difficult to understand why, even though the temperatures are subtropical and a little cooler. This is perfect for those who want to escape the city’s heat in summertime. The Azores are a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and is the home of two of Portugal’s fifteen Unesco World Heritage Sites, including the town of Angra do Heroismo on the island of Terceira and the vineyards of the past of Pico.
If you’re in a hurry and need to figure out where to begin, Sao Miguel is the biggest and easiest among the islands. Sao Miguel is full of stunning volcanoes, hot springs, lakes, and hiking trails and is the most popular place for whale and dolphin viewing in Europe.
After a long day of exploring, enjoy a meal of cheap pestiscos, Portuguese tapas, and Portuguese pestiscos. Fish and meat are usually featured in many places. However, vegans and vegetables are advised to try the plant-based Rotas of Ilha Verde. Are you looking for additional reasons to travel? Why not visit the Azores? Azores are the only archipelago that has received the EarthCheck certification for sustainable development. The Azores are ranked 2nd in our list of the 50 excellent European destinations you can visit.
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Lofoten Islands, Norway
In terms of the beauty and natural beauty of Europe, Norway delivers. Along with Svalbard, Norway hosts the breathtaking Lofoten Islands – an archipelago of seven islands. Lofoten is a sustainable certified tourist destination worth a trip to because of Viking culture, stunning landscapes, observation of the Northern Lights, and even surfing.
It has a more temperate climate than other locations at the same altitude due to the warmness that comes from the Gulf Stream, and if you go there during summer, you’ll be able to enjoy the midnight sun. A must-visit for those who enjoy the outdoors. Lofoten is a paradise for climbing, hiking and kayaking, cycling, and skiing.
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Westfjords, Iceland
To be truthful, we could mention Iceland and leave it at that. It’s all pretty amazing. If you’re looking for alternatives to popular tourist places like the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon, you should consider the trip to Westfjords. They’re not as well-known or visited as other country areas because they’re huge and away from most popular destinations, such as the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Lake Myvatn (yes, in Game of Thrones) and the famous Golden Circle.
Why do we go to Westfjords? It’s because it’s a small, isolated area, has a remote location, and is home to diverse landscapes compared to Iceland. It’s rough and breathtaking, and you’ll require an automobile to travel around; however, it’s worth it as it’s 107 miles from Reykjavik. When you arrive, you’ll be able to explore the lesser-known Dynjandi waterfall, the pink sand beach Raudasandur, and Puffins on the cliffs at Latrabjarg. It’s also an excellent spot to watch the Arctic Fox, whale watching, and seal watching. Strategy your visit with care because heavy snowfall means it’s difficult to access during the winter months, which is why the perfect time to visit is from May through October.
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Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is a gorgeous city with a rich history, nestled within the soaring mountain ranges that make up Serra de Sintra in Portugal. Sintra is just a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon, making it an easy day trip when you’re in Lisbon, the capital city, too. Sintra is the perfect place to get away if you’re short on time. It is a great place to explore beautiful forests, colourful palaces, ruins of the Moorish castle, and old wells.
It’s worth making a trip during midweek to avoid crowds, especially at the vibrantly coloured and enormous Palacio De Pena, the most popular tourist attraction. One of Sinatra’s most regal structures is located in the ruin of Castelo Dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors) in Sintra, where you can stroll the old ramparts situated high above Sintra to enjoy some stunning views.
The Quinta Da Regaleira Palace and Gardens is an expansive private estate with the largest gothic mansion. However, if you have the time to go to one area, take it to The Initiation Well. The 88ft long spiralling Initiation Well is a descender to an underground system used to hold the Masonic initiation ceremony. Sintra is ranked 5th in our list of the 50 perfect destinations in Europe.
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Santorini, Greece
Many know of blue domes and vibrant, whitewashed homes hang over Santorini’s blue oceans. However, there’s plenty to discover within this Greek island, including an area thought to be the lost city of Atlantis. Three thousand years ago, an immense volcanic eruption destroyed Santorini. The island’s middle disappeared into the sea, leaving a huge caldera (crater) within the cliffs. Make an excursion to the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri and then travel west to the Akrotiri Lighthouse to enjoy the stunning views. If you’re visiting for a few days and brought good hiking shoes, then it’s worth the short trip to Nea Kameni island to experience breathtaking walks through stunning volcanic landscapes.
However, excursions to the Greek Islands are a mix of culture, history and, of course, food and drink. Explore the charming roads that run through Fira as well as Oia to enjoy Saganaki (fried cheese made of filo pastry and dipped with honey), Moussaka, Spanakopita and a glass of local wine or beer while the sun sets on the Aegean sea.
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Faroe Islands
It’s no surprise that we enjoy islands in the area. The Faroe Islands are one of the places that Secret Atlas guests would have an enjoyable time exploring. It is technically part of Denmark. However, it is self-governing. It’s an archipelago of 18 islands located in the Atlantic Ocean that sit between Scotland, Norway and Iceland. It can be reached by plane from Edinburgh, Reykjavik, or Bergen in Norway. This trip will require better planning and preparation than enough European holidays, particularly since there are a handful of B&Bs, hotels and private rental properties to pick from.
The Faroe Islands are for adventurous travellers. The weather patterns can change significantly (due to the warmth of the Gulf Stream and the cold Arctic seas). Like Svalbard, It is a must-visit to experience the rugged, unspoiled natural beauty, stunning hiking trails, massive mountains, soaring bird cliffs, and black beaches. It is possible to kayak towards the magnificent Draganir sea stacks, see Puffins in Mykines and enjoy a ride on horses in the capital city of Torshavn. If you’re exhausted from all the exploration and relaxing, why not relax at the Heimablidni or a Heimablidni, which is Faroese for home-cooked hospitality? This means you can indulge in a warm fish and chip meal in a remote 19th-century residence. Faroe Islands come in at 7 of our excellent destinations in Europe to explore.
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Isle of Skye, Scotland
Do you have plans to travel to Europe? You may be looking for an urban escape, so we’ve got your back for my days of adventure or complete relaxation in the wilderness. These are the 50 desirable places to go in Europe for fascinating excursions, delicious food, and natural beauty.
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Svalbard, Norway
Visitors on fast ice during the Fjords in Svalbard photo tour
Suppose you’re a person who enjoys a winter getaway. In that case, you’ve likely never travelled as deep north as Svalbard, an archipelago comprising nine islands between continental Norway and the North Pole. If you’ve always dreamed about travelling to the Arctic, Then you should consider that a trip to Svalbard is your perfect location.
A quick journey to Tromso and Oslo will bring you to Longyearbyen, the largest town on Svalbard and where your Arctic adventures begin. Visitors from all over the globe visit to enjoy the area’s natural beauty and go for an ethical wildlife watch to observe whales, polar bears, and walruses. They also take a hike. There’s always an opportunity to grab refreshing ice-cold drinks at the most northern brewery anywhere globally. From stunning snow-capped mountains to breathtaking Fjords to the spooky old Soviet mining towns and spooky mining towns, Svalbard is one of the most intriguing locations on Earth, not only in Europe.
If you’re considering travelling to Svalbard, look into Secret Atlas’s Expedition Micro Cruises. With a maximum of 12 guests aboard our vessels, We deliver one of the few original and sustainable methods to experience this remote and wild area.
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Azores Islands, Portugal
While technically a part of Portugal, While technically part of Portugal, the Azores Islands appear to be an entire world away from the mainland. The remote archipelago of volcanic islands is located in the mid-Atlantic region and is often called “the “Hawaii of Europe”. With its rugged landscapes and deep blue waters, It’s not difficult to understand why, even though the temperatures are subtropical and cooler. This is perfect for those who want to escape the city heat in summertime. The Azores are a great destination to get away from the world’s nature, and it’s the home of two of Portugal’s fifteen Unesco World Heritage Sites, including the historical town of Angra do Heroismo on the island of Terceira and the old wineries of Pico.
If you’re in a hurry and don’t know where to start, the largest island with the most accessibility can be found in Sao Miguel. It is awash with stunning volcanoes and hot springs, gorgeous lakes, and hiking trails and is the top place to go whale and dolphin viewing in Europe.
After a long day of exploring, enjoy a meal of cheap petiscos and Portuguese tapas. Fish and meat are usually featured in many places. However, vegans and vegetables are advised to try the vegan Rotas of Ilha Verde. Want to know more reasons to visit? Why not visit the Azores? Azores was the first island archipelago to receive the EarthCheck sustainable development certificate. The Azores are ranked 2nd in our list of the 50 accurate destinations in Europe.