Leprechauns, Guinness, shamrocks… Yes, everyone’s heard the clichés but there are plenty of other reasons to head to Ireland. One of the main ones you’ll discover soon after arrival is the locals’ ability to have a good time. You will too, whether it’s enjoying its many pubs, the live music scene or soaking up the atmosphere at the soccer.
Once you’ve pub crawled through the literary trail in Dublin, following in the footsteps of Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan and James Joyce, other cities such as Cork, Derry and Belfast offer cultural treats and political monuments.
The Irish countryside is nothing short of stunning and days can be spent wandering between castle remains, rolling hills, lakeside retreats, monasteries and rugged coastline. Excitement complements country tranquility in events like the annual Galway Races that take place at the end of July each year.
With their charming accents and all, you might decide you’d like to end up with a local sweetheart. If so, the annual matchmaking festival in the spa town of Lisdoonvarna may be able to help you. Sure enough, though, wherever you go in Ireland it’ll be good craic.
Other than liking its music stars Björk and Sigur Rós, until quite recently a lot of people hadn’t heard much about Iceland. But visitors to the country have almost tripled since 2000 and we’re a bit sad that the cat’s out of the bag. With its storybook charm and otherworldly landscapes – glaciers, Europe’s largest waterfall, the oldest known geyser – it’s certainly worthy of exploration.
The capital, Reykjavík, is an incubation centre of creative types and has a thriving music scene. Iceland Airwaves, held annually, is a music festival not to be missed. The bohemian village of Seyðisfjörður, set among mountains and fjords, is laden with hippies and charm. And you’d be crazy to come this far and not sink into the warm waters of Grjótagjá, the same hot spring cave where Jon Snow locked lips with Ygritte. In between you’ll find quaint fishing towns and rural houses covered in turf due to the lack of native trees. Wanting wildlife? Be rewarded in places like Husavik, a world-class locale to spy spouting whales and droves of fluttering puffins. Or test your mettle snorkelling or diving between the continental plates at the Silfra fissure in the Thingvellir National Park.
While most of Iceland’s food is fish, lamb or dairy, the traditional cuisine may make you wince: súrir hrútspungar (preserved ram’s testicles), svið (sheep’s head), hákarl (fermented shark) and hvalspik (whale blubber) are just some of the stomach-churning offerings probably best avoided.
For a quirky take on a European adventure set your sights on Hungary. It’s in the middle of everything – Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia – yet is a complete individual. The scenery, architecture, food and culture all bow to local tradition, providing endless tastes and sounds to enjoy in this exciting part of the continent.
From Roman ruins to Art Nouveau, the architecture here is a scenery in itself. Walk or ride through picturesque villages lined with sights and history to explore. Don’t forget the capital Budapest, where you can experience the wonders of the Basilica and the views of Gellért Hill. In the Castle District, check out the Royal Palace and other historic sites, before sinking your travel-weary bones into one of the city’s many thermal baths. Don’t forget to check out Ecseri piac, the huge flea market on the edge of Budapest.
If you fancy some fun in the sun, the town of Siófok, on the shores of Balaton, Europe’s largest lake, is like a freshwater version of Ibiza, with hordes of beautiful people and parties going strong all night.
Excuse the pun, but you better be hungry! There is more to Budapest than just goulash. Meat, cheese, pastry, they love it all, plus the country produces from great wine, including aszú, a sweet drop from the famous region of Tokaj.
Oh, it’s just an island covered in ice some people will tell you. Do not – we repeat, do not – believe them. Its national park alone, the largest in the world, is the nearly as big as France and Spain combined. It covers 18,000 kilometres of coastline, parts of the ice cap and the world’s northernmost area of land. Inuit cultures have lived here for thousands of years (and they’re the only people who now have regular access to the park) and polar bears, seals and other Arctic animals still do.
Head to the north of the country to experience the land of the midnight sun. Here, it’s possible to go dog sledding and explore giant icebergs calved from one of the world’s fastest flowing glaciers.
Nuuk might be Greenland’s capital but it still has the vibe of a far smaller destination (it’s home to only 17,000 people or so). It’s the kind of place where you can go whale watching, explore street art and try out backcountry skiing during the day, but chill out with the northern lights and taste Nordic flavours at restaurants like Sarfalik in the evening.
But for an adventure that looks hard to beat, experienced scuba divers can swim the frigid depths exploring shipwrecks and icebergs and meeting the strange creatures that call these very cold waters home.
There are the images of whitewashed houses and blue shutters overlooking emerald seas. Then there are the stories of masses of sunburned vacationers on package holidays looking for cheap lagers at night and a full English in the morning. Luckily, the former can be found in abundance and the latter mostly avoided.
While it may be prudent to avoid the peak (aka chokers) summer season from July to August, it is still possible to find idyllic enclaves replete with taverns serving fresh-from-the-ocean seafood and enough ouzo or retsina to leave you stumbling home. After all, there are 3500 islands dotting the Aegean Sea. Try Folegandros or Syros if you want to avoid the vast majority of summer holidaymakers. Out of season, head to Santorini and make sure you take in the iconic view of the sun setting over the caldera at Oia. Yes, everyone does it, but there’s a reason for that.
Don’t let the islands distract all of your attention, though: olive orchards, wineries, rural villages and mountainous terrain shouldn’t be neglected. Nor should the country’s history: head north to Thessaloniki, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, or gawp at the gravity-defying monasteries perched on natural sandstone pillars at Meteora. Then, of course, there’s Athens, with 4000 years of history. No doubt, its museums and sights like the magnificent Acropolis are top notch, but there’s also fun to be had in the city’s lively districts, like Gazi, with its street art, cool cafes, cinemas and music venues.
While there are few sights more kitsch than seeing a grown man in lederhosen belt out some tunes, there are few cooler than the hipsters who populate the streets of Berlin.
The madder-than-mad Love Parade may have grown too big for its boots, but electronic music has long had a home in Germany, meaning the country has its share of rocking clubs and pumping festivals.
As an antidote to the debauchery take stock of the many remnants of the past: in Bavaria explore castles, including the country’s most famous, Neuschwanstein, built by Ludwig II as an homage to Wagner; take a harbour tour to get the best outlook on the historic port of Hamburg; and check out one of the most impressive architectural achievements from the Middle Ages, the Cologne Cathedral, set on the Rhine. Along the way, you’ll be tempted to down pilsners and wurst by the bucketload, but don’t worry: there’s the opportunity to detox on a walk through the Black Forest or swishing down the slopes in the Fichtelgebirge.
It appears so often in the movies, is referenced in thousands of fashion mags, is revered on the art scene and its cuisine has become so influential, it’s hard to believe there’s much about France we don’t know about before we go. Au contraire!
Despite the stereotype of the snooty Parisian you want to bash with a baguette, France is a destination steeped in history, beauty, art, architecture, music and design. After all so many famous people have lived, died and drunk in Paris, it must be cool. Then there are the North African influences in areas like Goutte-d’Or that mix it up, making these parts of the city colourful, a different kind of tasty and great-sounding (their drumbeats).
As well as sashaying on the Riviera in the south, cycling through the vineyards and villages of Bordeaux or checking out chateaus in the Loire Valley, don’t neglect the quintessential French experience: hanging out and drinking too much wine and eating too much cheese in any or all of these places.
Are you a metalhead with a taste for the wild? Then pack your Doc Martens and pocketknife, and hop on a boat to Finland. This Nordic country, bordered by Sweden, Norway and Russia, embraces quirky culture and natural living. Eccentric events like the Wife Carrying World Championships and the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships are hugely popular, as are heavy metal music and the computer-gaming scene – the Finns even invented Angry Birds.
But Finland’s most exciting attractions lie outside of Helsinki. In the far north a summer’s day can last two months and it’s when Finns take to the wilderness for a spot of cottage living. So pull together a picnic, jump on a kayak and take your feast and to one of the country’s 70,000 islands before camping out in an abandoned lighthouse.
When winter hits Finland it can last for seven months. Thankfully, the rural Finns can navigate the snow with their husky-drawn sleighs and the bright lights of the aurora borealis. Do as they do and forget your winter blues by plunging naked into a hole in the ice and digging into some moose meatballs.
We could start off with pints, pies, mushy peas and limited sunshine, but there’s far more to England than these age-old stereotypes. That London is often the first port of call for all types of travellers – from straight-out-of-school teens to cashed-up baby boomers and everyone in between – speaks volumes. With a little ingenuity (a wallet full of cash does make it all a lot easier), you can find and do just about anything here, from watching riveting theatre at Shakespeare’s Globe to lining up with the hordes to wander through the overblown decor of Buckingham Palace. Really, though, a couple of days here should be more than enough – those pints are expensive and the Tube is enough to make even the most committed traveller question the meaning of life.
Instead, get out of town. The Scilly Isles in the far southwest captures a way of life most of us thought disappeared many years ago (residents still leave their doors unlocked). The Peak District, with its rolling hills and jagged escarpments, is as beautiful as any mountain scenery. In the Yorkshire Dales, hop from one village to the next and discover these tiny towns are all they’re cracked up to be on the postcards.
Brighton is a notable party town, but opt for the scene in Bristol instead. Revisit the rave in its spiritual home of Manchester, or grab a board and head south. If you’re a master on the waves, head to St Agnes or Praa Sands; beginners might want to try Gwithian or Harlyn Bay.
Summer sees the festival season kick off and, if getting drunk in a paddock sounds like your jam, you can catch the best bands going around as they hop from one spot to the next on a never-ending circuit. Oh, we hear there’s a bit of history and architecture going around, too…
There’s a reason Prague is one of Europe’s most-visited cities. Its cobbled streets lined with centuries of history are just the ticket for hours of unruffled roaming peppered with stops at hidden churches and parks and bars serving local beer (according to some, the world’s best). Not to be missed is the fourteenth-century Charles Bridge – although in the summer it can be overrun with visitors from around the world.
The charming capital shouldn’t be the only destination on an itinerary of the Czech Republic, though. Just beyond Prague is Central Bohemia, with forests, valleys and castles to inspire. Drop by Konopiste Chateau, a player in some significant moments in modern history – it was Franz Ferdinand’s residence before he was assassinated, and the SS headquarters during World War II. Alternatively, wander through the mazes at Loucen Chateau.
At Olomouc, in the country’s east, paddle along the Morava River for some superb views. Take a riding lesson at Kladruby Stud Farm, near Pardubice, the oldest breeding farm in the world. When the weather gets colder, strap on some skates in Lipno and take on the longest skating track on earth. The ski resort here has downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as snow park for the boarders.
If time isn’t on your side, there’s one other must-do spot nearby: Cesky Krumlov. This enchanting city, with a spectacular castle overseeing all that happens within it, feels a bit like Prague in miniature. Again, it’s best avoided in high summer when visitors come not only from other parts of Europe and around the world, but also from Prague, although a visit during warmer weather ensures you’ll be able to partake in the time-honoured traveller tradition of floating down the Vltava River. Some people do it in canoes or on rafts, others borrow an inner tube. Just make sure you get it done.
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