“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel next, to find ourselves.
Pico Iyer
There are so many places to visit, food to try or things to do and it is always hard to include everything in one trip. People been traveling since the ancients times including Europe and that is why there are so many UNESCO sites or World’s famous and historical places to visit. There is a list of Top 14 destinations in Europe which you should add to your traveling list.
France
Well know for its capital, Paris, France is one of the most visited countries in the world with the land area of 547,557 km² which makes it one of the biggest countries in Europe. P.s. Did you know that croissant was actually invented in Austria?
Portugal
Country full of small surprises will impress you with colorful cities, tastiest traditional pastries such as barrigas de freira (Nun’s belly), papos de anjo (Angel’s double chin) or toucinho do céu (Fat from heaven). And especially with the capital, Lisbon, which has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years.
Spain
The country of the sun has 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which you can visit during your next journey. Moreover, Spanish people do love to chill out, that is why it is a country of fiestas, with hundreds of festivals taking place throughout the year. If you think this is country for your soul then this could be place for you!
Turkey
The Republic of Turkey was formed in 1923 from the former Ottoman Empire and is a bridge between Europe and Asia. There are over 30 languages spoken in the country and therefor a vast mixture of culture that will make your trip very special. The beautiful Istanbul full of various activities and places to visit. There are many more touristic places such as Antalya, Dalaman, Ankara or Izmir.
Germany
If you love to eat and drink a beer a lot, Germany is the country for it! There are 1,000 kinds of sausages and 300 different kinds of bread all around the country and the biggest Beer Festival in the world is Oktoberfest. It’s held in Munich, Bavaria, where the size of the beer glass is not 500ml but a whole liter! The funny fact is that beer is considered a food in Bavaria officially.
Poland
Poland is well know for a Home cooking. Because of that, you can taste Polish home cuisine at many places such as restaurants and on the streets. Also, it is famous for its winter resort in Zakopane where tourists can stay at traditional wooden villas and shop for handmade or craft items.
Norway
This country is full of beautiful sights- it has a volcano, modern and ancient skiing were invented there and Europe’s biggest herd of wild reindeer lives here (around 25,000 animals). Moreover, if you love fish and seafood this country will be the right place to visit. The funny fact, is that Norway was the one who introduced salmon sushi in Japan.
Hungary
due to an abundance of natural hot springs, Hungary is home to around 450 public spas and bathhouses. A culture of bathing has existed since Roman times. Locals believe, that it is the best cure for a hangover – or “cat’s wail” as the Hungarian term macskajaj translates.
Croatia
Tourism is one of the main economic sectors resulting in almost 20% of Republic of Croatia’s income. The vibrant capital, Zagreb, is home to some of the country’s best museums, galleries, restaurants, and shopping. Also, Croatia is home to the Guinness World Records smallest town, which is called Hum and is located in northwestern Croatia and is home to 17 people.
Finland
“The land of thousands of lakes” has 187,888 lakes in total and more Saunas then cars in country. If you stay in Helsinki, the capital, you can enjoy its sea-facing landscape, diverse architecture, world-famous design, and Nordic cuisine. Moreover, you have an opportunity to try unique sport events such as mobile phone throwing, Wife-carrying championship or Air Guitar.
Greece
The country’s real name is the Hellenic Republic, and also Hellas. The country with the ancient history will amaze you with the richest varieties of stories and legends as well as ruins and places to visit such as Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) or Mount Olympus which ancient Greeks believed that the mountain was the home of the Gods.
Austria
Austria is sharing a boarder with 8 different countries and will impress you with it’s nature – rivers, valleys, lakes and especially Alps. Austrian culture is a part of Germanic culture that is shared with Germany and Switzerland but what has made it essentially Austrian, are the Hapsburg empire and the Christian church.
United Kingdom
People from all over the word have made UK their home and it includes four separate countries. There a lot of places to visit – London, Loch Ness, Stonehenge, Edinburgh, Belfast, Windsor and much more. If you are interested in UK’s rich history you definitely should visit Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick or Bath.
Italy
If you like to spend your holidays in constant move Italy is perfect destination for you. There are so many places to visit and it is impossible to do it per one trip. In Rome there are hundreds of fountains and in Milan you can visit largest Opera House in Europe. Also, Italian cuisine is one of the most popular in the world and you can always find fresh made pasta or pizza all over the country.
