For most North American travelers, the first real international travel experience is usually to Europe. There’s something about the continent that draws Americans. The majority of Americans can trace their roots back to European immigrants. For those without European ancestry, the people from across the Atlantic Ocean have shaped their lives. It certainly helps that most Europeans speak English easily and fluently, and the food closely resembles what we’re accustomed to in North America. For the majority of Americans, it can be reached in less than 8 hours of flying, which makes it an extremely accessible travel destination.
There’s so much to see, do and love in Europe. For history buffs, there are battlegrounds, monuments and museums. For cultural explorers, there are castles, markets, and immersive experiences. For foodies, there are Michelin-starred restaurants, cooking classes, and food markets. For outdoor and nature enthusiasts there are mountains and fjords to explore. Europe has it all. And we love it all. From the food markets of Provence to the wineries of Tuscany, Europe is delicious. From Ireland’s green rolling hills to the pristine beaches of Albania, it is beautiful. From the couture capital of Paris to the hot springs scene of Budapest, Europe is a cultural playground. Here are the best European experiences!
Decked out in twinkling lights, sprinkled with Christmas trees, and punctuated with delicious food and beverages to keep you warm, visiting the Belgian Christmas markets is a perfect way to celebrate the season.
Visiting Mount Teide, an active volcano in the Canary Islands, offers one of the most impressive views we’ve ever seen. And it should – this is one of the world’s tallest mountains.
San Sebastian is full of good eats.
In the winter, it feels like the entire old town of Luxembourg City becomes a Christmas market.
There’s just something about windmills. Graceful, serene, evoking thoughts of another time, watching the sails spin is like watching the waves in the ocean. You can’t go to the Netherlands without glimpsing just a few.
The Christmas markets in Brussels attract 2.5 million visitors each year. They start at Grand Place and meander for over a mile, the whole area merging into one giant celebration.
Dotted with medieval churches, laced together with half-timbered buildings, and punctuated by a castle from the early days of the Holy Roman Empire, Nuremberg, Germany, is bursting at the seams with history.
The first thing you see in Gouda isn’t a surprise—it’s cheese. It hangs above the streets and floats in the canals. And, Thursday mornings, it’s neatly stacked in the middle of the town square for the Gouda Cheese Market.
With lots of fresh vegetables, seafood, cheeses, and bread, Maltese cuisine has some of the best flavors in the Mediterranean. From street food to sweets, there is a wide array of choices.
Exquisite architecture, fresh seafood, a vibrant city with an historic core, and some of the best wine in the world—in a nutshell, this is Bordeaux, France.
