01 · Western Europe
France
Grand boulevards, world-class art and a coastline that shifts from Normandy's tides to the glamour of the Riviera. France rewards both first-timers and returning travellers.
Read the landmarks guide →
The complete Europe travel guide
Europe, seen through softer light.
Ten countries, fifty unforgettable places and every practical detail in between — from the Eiffel Tower at dusk to the silent fjords of Norway and the island light of Santorini.
10
Countries, from the Atlantic to the Arctic
50
Cities, coastlines, alpine valleys and islands
16
Chapters of practical planning advice
Explore Europe
A continent best travelled slowly, one extraordinary place at a time.
Europe packs more variety into a few hours of train travel than almost anywhere on earth. In a single trip you can stand beneath the Colosseum in the morning heat, sleep in a Swiss valley framed by glaciers and wake to the tram bells of Vienna. This guide is built to help you choose well rather than rush.
We cover ten countries — France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway and Croatia — and the fifty places within them that most reward a visit. Every chapter pairs inspiration with practical detail: when to go, how to move between places, where to stay and what to eat.
City culture
Museums, palaces and café terraces in Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna and Amsterdam.
Wild landscapes
The Swiss Alps, the Norwegian Fjords, the Lofoten Islands and the lakes of Plitvice.
Sun and sea
Santorini, the Amalfi Coast, the Algarve, Hvar and the long curve of the Dalmatian Coast.
Countries
Ten countries, fifty places worth the journey
Select a country from the vertical index to see its five essential destinations.
02 · Southern Europe
Italy
Two thousand years of history layered into cities you can walk end to end, plus one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic coastlines.
Read the landmarks guide →
03 · Iberian Peninsula
Spain
Gaudí's Barcelona, the grand museums of Madrid, orange-scented Seville and the sunny beaches of Andalusia — Spain lives late and generously.
Read the cities guide →
04 · Aegean
Greece
The birthplace of democracy and a scattering of islands, each with its own character, from cosmopolitan Mykonos to the mountains and gorges of Crete.
Read the islands guide →
05 · The Alps
Switzerland
Precision trains, glacier-fed lakes and mountain panoramas that feel almost unreal. Compact enough to cross in a few hours, rich enough for weeks.
Read the nature guide →
06 · Central Europe
Austria
Imperial Vienna, musical Salzburg and alpine Innsbruck, with fairy-tale Hallstatt tucked between lake and mountain.
Read the cities guide →
07 · Atlantic Coast
Portugal
Hilly, tiled Lisbon, riverside Porto, the golden cliffs of the Algarve, romantic Sintra and the evergreen Atlantic island of Madeira.
Read the coast guide →
08 · Low Countries
Netherlands
Canals, cycling and Golden Age masterpieces, balanced by bold modern architecture and a spring flower season unlike anywhere else.
Read the experiences guide →
09 · Scandinavia
Norway
Fjords carved by ice, Arctic light that swings from midnight sun to northern lights, and design-forward cities on the water.
Read the nature guide →
10 · Adriatic
Croatia
Walled Dubrovnik, Roman Split, island-hopping to Hvar and the turquoise waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes along a sparkling Adriatic shoreline.
Read the coast guide →The guides
Five chapters to plan every part of your journey
From famous landmarks to the last train of the night, each guide goes deep on one part of travelling in Europe.
Places to Visit · Famous Landmarks · Cities
The great places and landmarks of Europe
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Sagrada Família and the Acropolis — plus a city-by-city comparison to help you choose your bases.
Read the guide →
Nature & Landscapes · Beaches & Islands
Mountains, fjords, coastlines and islands
From Interlaken and Hallstatt to the Lofoten Islands, Plitvice Lakes, Santorini, Crete and the Algarve — how to see Europe's wild side well.
Read the guide →
Things to Do · Food
Experiences and flavours worth travelling for
Canal cruises, scenic railways, flamenco and fado, then pastel de nata, Wiener Schnitzel, fondue and fresh Dalmatian seafood.
Read the guide →
Hotels · Transportation
Where to stay and how to get around
Hotel styles compared, the best neighbourhoods in major cities, high-speed rail, rail passes, ferries, budget flights and when a hire car makes sense.
Read the guide →
Itineraries · Best Time · Tips · FAQ
Plan the trip: routes, seasons and smart advice
Suggested itineraries from one to two weeks, month-by-month timing, entry and money tips, and answers to the questions travellers ask most.
Read the guide →