Europe is home to 63 of the top 100 city destinations in the world, according to a new ranking.
25.11.2023 - 17:43 / lonelyplanet.com
France consistently tops the list as the world’s most visited destination – and it doesn’t take much imagination to see why.
Its winning formula of captivating cities, awe-inspiring landscapes – including the Alps and the Pyrenees – an enviable coastline and some of the world’s best food and wine is hard to resist. Affordable public transportation and a sprawling network of motorways mean you can cover a lot of ground if you want to visit more than one region. But it’s just as tempting to stick to one place and enjoy the country's seductive lifestyle.
Wondering where to go in France? Have a look at these top destinations for some inspiration.
Much as you’d like to tick the main sights of Paris off your list – world-class art at the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur – make time for some of its lesser-known attractions. Wander the atmospheric streets of the Marais – popping into the free Musée Carnavalet as well as Musée Picasso – before checking out the vintage shops of the 10th arrondissement. Make your way over to buzzing Belleville and take in fabulous views of Paris from Parc de Belleville. For full-on greenery in the city, follow the footpaths around the elegant 19th-century Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Local tip: For authentic local dining experiences, avoid restaurants that tout a menu touristique, or display a sample meal of plastic food on the pavement outside.
At some point, you’ll want to be on two wheels as you explore the gently rolling landscapes of the Loire Valley – especially as cycling is made so much easier thanks to the extensive Vélo Verte network of bike routes. Combine visiting vineyards with glimpses into lavish Renaissance life in the 42 sumptuous chateaux, particularly the fantastically elaborate Chateau de Chenonceau and the more intimate and romantic Chateau d’Azay-le-Rideau on its own island on the Indre tributary.
Local tip: Don't leave your bicycle locked up outside on the street overnight if you want to see it (or at least most of its parts) again. Some hotels offer enclosed bicycle parking.
Normandy’s long coastline is packed with historical landmarks, the D-Day beaches being the most striking. It’s impossible not to be moved by the many poignant memorials, including the American cemetery at Omaha Beach and the Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer. Head further east, and you end up in a 19th-century time capsule in the alluring resorts of Cabourg, Deauville, Trouville and Honfleur.
Strasbourg is half-timbered heaven, with an outrageously picturesque old town set on its own island on the River Ill. Wander round its imposing Cathédrale Notre-Dame before relaxing on one of the cafe terraces in little Place du Marché Gayot just behind. The city is an
Europe is home to 63 of the top 100 city destinations in the world, according to a new ranking.
Be it hammering down heart-thumping blacks in the ice-blue shadow of Mont Blanc, ski-touring beneath glistening saw-chiseled peaks or tree skiing through picture-book forests, France sports an unrivaled variety of skiing – for all abilities, styles and budgets.
Skipping the buzz—and the calories – has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity. My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made – some start with fermented grapes – actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine – mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.
No country has it all, but the Swiss are justified in feeling pretty smug about their lot.
Travelers often overlook Belgium in favor of neighbors like France and the Netherlands, but it’s one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Because of its history, Belgium is linguistically and culturally diverse; it’s also small and compact, so visitors can travel to multiple destinations with ease.
As options for the traditional chalet ski break have dwindled and prices risen, venturing to Europe’s far corners and beyond for a ski break can reap rewards. Costs are often lower, while luxury accommodation can be similarly priced to budget options in mainstream European ski resorts. As well as being potentially cheaper, skiing in territory off the beaten track can offer a rich cultural experience, plus better flight routes, less crowded slopes, sunnier days and a friendlier welcome.
In Britain, the Sunday roast is sacrosanct. Gathering together around a beautifully cooked joint of meat, with lashings of gravy, vegetables and billowing Yorkshire puddings, is, for many, the weekend’s social highlight. And where better to do to this than the pub? Not only do you avoid the washing-up but, centuries after the French dubbed Brits les rosbifs, you get to enjoy the roast at its most modern. In recent decades, Britain’s best pub chefs have, by focusing on seasonal ingredients, rare-breed meats and painstaking preparations of roast potatoes or root vegetables, brought a fresh glamour to this Sunday afternoon ritual.
Of the key Alpine ski destinations, Italy offers the best value for money. Here, an espresso can cost €1.50 (£1.30) a shot, and a piste-side plate of pasta €10-15 (£9-13), items that are often 70-100% dearer in the A-list ski areas of France. And a peak-week, February half-term holiday in a three-star hotel can come in less than €1,745 (£1,500) per person half board, including flights and transfers. And that’s not taking some back-of-beyond resort as a point of comparison, either: all these prices are available in or around Canazei in Val di Fassa, part of the vast Dolomiti Superski area. On its doorstep, more than 300 miles of perfectly groomed pistes spin off the central Sella Ronda circuit; explore the area’s outer limits and that total hits 745 miles.
Whether you’re a dedicated bargain hunter, passionate about interiors, a spa-o-holic, an obsessive foodie, love exploring places brimming with history and atmosphere, or adore contemporary art, then you’ve come to the right place. Few places on Earth do any of these things quite like Marrakesh.
Montpellier – nicknamed the surdouée, the wonder child – is a city that buzzes with life and Mediterranean light.
You can't just say you've surfed Indonesia – it's like saying you've hiked the Himalayas.
All-in-one online travel platform, branded “BusinessToGo,” to meet corporate travel demand from small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) businesses in the UK and France.