There’s no such thing as the perfect time to visit Iceland as the weather is notoriously whimsical and the best season for your trip depends entirely on what you want to experience.
21.07.2023 - 08:37 / roughguides.com
Europeans love a carnival like nothing else; it’s a time to dress up, drink up and get legitimately weird on the streets. Many carnivals take place during Mardi Gras, when Roman Catholics traditionally feast and sing for the last time before Lent’s abstinence begins.
Also known as Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras might for some be more associated with pancakes than partying, but its origins remain primarily the same: to indulge before the fallow times kick in. Here’s our guide to Europe’s strangest, and most fun, carnivals.
Recognized in 2008 by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”, the highlight of Binche’s carnival is the 1000-strong march of the Gilles. Starting at 4am, males from the Hainaut province town – donning elaborate outfits and nightmarish wax masks – march the streets until dusk.
A word of warning: it’s considered a colossal faux pas to throw back the oranges that the Gilles toss into the watching crowds.
February11–13
Planning your visit to Carnaval de Binche also read our guide to the best things to do in Belgium.
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Many establishments stay open 24 hours during Basel’s Fasnacht, lending proceedings an infamously wobbly atmosphere. Masks are common but should only be donned by members of the performing Cliques – groups that march through the streets playing piccolos, drums and other instruments.
The carnival's highlight is the Morgenstreich: as Basel turns its streetlights off at 4am, the Cliques strike up a tune and process through the town in total darkness.
February 19–21
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Up Helly Aa – Europe’s biggest fire festival – is a celebration of Scotland’s Norse heritage. Timed to celebrate the passing of midwinter’s gloomiest days (a sentiment not be sniffed at in the Shetland Islands), the centrepiece is a replica Viking ship that is pulled through Lerwick’s streets by the island’s sturdiest menfolk.
Eventually the ship is set alight, and the whole town erupts for an all-night ceilidh, fuelled by peaty whisky and embellished with fancy dress.
January 30
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Dating back to 1676, Dunkirk’s carnival started life as a final soirée for the town’s fishermen before they left for six months of perilous sailing around Iceland.
Surreal highlights include the entire fancy-dressed carnival joining hands to sing the anthem Cantate à Jean Bart – in honour of the town’s naval hero, Jean Bart – and the mayor dropping 500kg of herring onto the gathering crowds outside the town hall.
January 6–April 8
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For one week each year, Sitges – a small village 40km south of Barcelona – becomes the heart of Europe's LGBT+ scene. Around 250,000 revellers descend for seven days of parades,
There’s no such thing as the perfect time to visit Iceland as the weather is notoriously whimsical and the best season for your trip depends entirely on what you want to experience.
There are so many majestic landscapes to view and things to do in Scotland that it can be hard to narrow down where to visit. So why not choose your hotels as a starting point? Scotland is known for its inclement weather, so choosing a hotel with spa facilities can be an excellent backup for something to do if the weather is terrible. It can also be a great way to soothe weary muscles and feet after all the hiking and sightseeing.
Northern Ireland's second city and Ireland's northern-most county sit rather snug together in the corner of the island of Ireland. But many are yet to discover the two make a fantastic combination for a twin break. Blending thought-provoking history, striking landmarks and an incredible natural world, Derry~Londonderry and County Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula offer everything you could wish for in a short, action-packed getaway.
Iceland's incredible landscape is an endless source of wonder no matter your age and exploring it with the family will create memories that will last a lifetime.
On a Saturday morning in the Lake District, perhaps at the base of a popular fell or along the shores of a placid lake, you might think you were at a countryside Crufts. The region’s footpaths are bustling with spaniels, labradors and golden retrievers – and the ubiquitous cockapoo, of course – all in procession, dragging their owners up hills or along forested trails, tongues out, tails wagging, noses poised to sniff the behind of anything they might pass.
North American travelers looking for bargain transatlantic fares will have lots more options this summer, as European-based low-fare lines expand their reach. Three lines have announced aggressive moves:
One of last week’s biggest travel stories was Norwegian Air’s plans to sell New York-Edinburgh tickets for $69 each way. That stunningly low price will, to be sure, be an introductory fare, to promote the launch of the new service, available for a limited time. And in any case, the $69 flights won’t be available until sometime after the airline begins receiving its new B737MAX long-distance planes in April.
Editor’s Note: WOW Air shut down in March 2019.
Travel to Europe is going to get slightly more complicated in 2021. Starting that year, visitors from the U.S. will need to get an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) approval before entering countries in the Schengen zone. According to the delegation of the European Union to the U.S., the measure is not a Europe visa, but an authorization that “will enable us to get more comprehensive information from travelers coming from visa-exempt, third-country [nations] arriving at the Schengen external borders.”
Calling Europe a “hot” destination this year has little to do with trends; when Paris hit 109 degrees in July, it marked the city’s hottest day on record—shattering the previous record by five degrees. And the worst may not be over: August could be even hotter, and heat waves in Europe, where fewer than five percent of homes have air conditioning, seem to be getting more common overall.
Traveling to Europe is often as easy as simply booking a plane ticket but starting next year, a fee and a visa will be required to visit.
Experienced travelers know that transportation is not just about getting from point A to B — the journey must be savored. And what better way to enjoy the ride than spending the night in a moving train? Sleeper trains in Europe may not be as ubiquitous as they once were, but there are still enough of them out there to take you on a grand tour of Europe, from the wilds of Scotland to London, Istanbul, and even all way across the Arctic Circle.