Craft Your Bucket List Around Beauty
If you’re looking for a beautiful travel destination, look no further. I’ve got you covered with seven of the most beautiful places in Europe, from hidden gems to well-known locales.
Whether you’re looking for a city break or a beach getaway, this list has a little something for everyone.
1. Szeged, Hungary
Szeged, pronounced CEE-ged, is a hidden Hungarian gem. Tucked away near the Romanian and Serbian borders, Szeged is about a three-hour train ride from Budapest. Although not a well-known city to those outside of Hungary, it is known within the country for its university and vibrant cultural life.
With most of the city’s buildings bathed in yellow, it is a surprisingly colourful place. Additionally, architecture fiends will enjoy the beautiful sites of the old synagogue and the dual clock tower Votive cathedral. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy Turkish baths and the city’s very own water park at Napfenyfurdo Aquapolis.
The university even houses its own botanical gardens for some nature in the city.
2. Santorini, Greece
Do you dream of whitewashed villages perched atop crystal clear lakes and white sandy beaches? Then Santorini might be your dream location. An island on the Aegean Sea, Santorini is the perfect beach bum getaway if you’re also looking for a little bit of culture to go with it.
There are plenty of things to do in Santorini — you can spend your days lazily eating Greek food and swimming in the turquoise waters, tanning by the pool of your hotel or going on boating tours.
But the cultural connoisseur can also enjoy trips to local wineries, the theatre and even local archaeological sites. In the 17th century BC, the city of Akrotiri was covered in volcanic ash due to an eruption and is preserved much like the city of Pompeii. Santorini is not only gorgeous, but truly has something for everyone.
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3. Isle of Skye, Scotland
Located at the tippy top of Scotland, the Isle of Skye has scenery to take your breath away. The Isle of Skye — and the Scotland Highlands more broadly — is perfect for the nature buff and all outdoorsy types as there are tons of hiking trails, wildlife tours and even mountain climbing excursions that can be booked.
Real adventurers can choose to see the island by Seaplane, taking off on the ocean and then viewing the beauty of the island.
Especially not to miss are the Fairy Pools, which offer a magical and memorable experience. You can even take a dip in the pools, but since it is Scotland, it is rarely warm enough to don a bathing suit and swim. As such, bringing a wetsuit is advisable. The Isle of Skye is also perfect for those looking to take scenic photographs and up their photography game.
4. Amalfi Coast, Italy
Similar to Santorini, the Amalfi coast features winding roads and rugged cliffs with villages perched atop them. However, the Amalfi Coast differs from Santorini in that the buildings are not bathed in white, but splashed with a sea of colors.
Located in the Campania region of Italy, the Amalfi Coast stretches along 50-kilometers of pristine beaches and rugged coastlines. Dotted along the way are beaches, fishing villages, wine vineyards and lemon groves.
On your trip to the gorgeous Amalfi Coast, you can dine on local Italian cuisine (which includes quite a bit of seafood), explore tiny Italian villages, laze around on the beach, take boat tours and even go on hiking tours. The Amalfi Coast truly has something for everyone.
5. White Cliffs of Dover
Located in the city of Dover, United Kingdom, the breathtaking white cliffs are not to be missed. Wildlife enthusiasts can take tours to spot the locals of the animal variety and the visitor centre offers great homemade English food.
History lovers will be delighted to learn that the White Cliffs of Dover are home to the Fan Bay Deep Shelter, a series of tunnels and shelters purpose built for World War II. They are now open for touring.
If you’re not sure you have time to make a trip out for the White Cliffs of Dover, don’t worry — you can simply catch a ferry from France, or catch a train from the heart of London in just over an hour.
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6. Interlaken, Switzerland
Tucked away in the Swiss Alps, Interlaken is the perfect destination for fans of snow sports. Not only will you find amazing views, world class dining and cute little Swiss chalets, but in the winter you can also fulfil all of your snow activity urges with sledding, toboggan rides, skiing and snowboarding.
In the summer, you can channel your inner Heidi and hike in the Alps to take in even more of the spectacular scenery.
If you’re seeking a bit of a thrill, you can also book yourself a place hanggliding from the Alps — which is probably the best way to take in the fantastic view. When you’re not busy with your adventures, you can go into town and shop for watches, something the Swiss are quite known for.
7. Alsace, France
Situated on the border of Germany, Alsace has some heavy Germanic influences that you’ll see in the towns right away. But aside from that, Alsace (the capital being Strasbourg) is one of the best places to visit if you’re looking for that quaint medieval European feel.
Strasbourg itself is home to a gorgeous cathedral and has most of the amenities you’d be looking for in a city. But venture out into the nearby villages for some truly marvellous old-world views and the charm of small-town French life.
Architecture history buffs will not only be satisfied by the gorgeous old world homes with timber accents, but they will be pleased to know that there is a castle right in their midst. Chateau de Haut-Koenisbourg, located atop a hill, offers gorgeous views of the region in addition to hands on lessons in the medieval era.
Alsace, being the smallest region in France, means that it is pretty easy to hit all of the areas you’ll want to see in just a short amount of time.