Not all travel has to be daring or far-flung. No sir, not when Europe offers such a medley of hotspots between its borders, going from the sun-splashed beaches of the Grecian seas to the exotic volcanos of Madeira and the Asian-influenced towns of southern Turkey. Check out this list of some of the continent’s biggest draws this year, complete with oodles of sunbathing opportunities, olive-eating, hiking and just a hint of Game of Thrones!
Crete, Greece
Old Venetian harbour in Chania. Crete, Greece
A rugged slice of the Mediterranean Sea that rises almost equidistance between mainland Greece and North Africa, Crete is unlike any of the other places in the Aegean or Ionian. Proudly touting its own unique character, a wealth of Venetian architecture in towns like Chania and Rethymno, the enthralling ruins of the great Knossos Palace (taking travellers back to the centuries of mythical, heroic Greece) and a unique smorgasbord of Cretan foods – think stewed highland greens and uber-fresh red snapper – it’s hardly surprising that so many travellers opt to come here every summer!
Madeira, Portugal
Soaring like bulwarks of rock in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean more than 500 kilometers from the coast of sun-baked North Africa, Madeira and Porto Santo form one of the most beautiful island destinations in the world – at least if the regular awards and traveller accolades are to be believed! Actually the tip of a colossal shield volcano, and a part of Portugal, the archipelago has been attacked by Barbary pirates, settled by English invaders and sheltered deposed Austro-Hungarian emperors in its time. Today, people flock to see the verdant, volcanic backcountry, kick back in the bars of Funchal and scale the heights of Pico Ruivo to name just three of the draws. (Mozzies have been known to be a problem in these parts, so be sure to take all the proper repellents and precautions!)
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Hit the Game of Thrones trail this summer and head for the medieval fortifications of breathtaking Dubrovnik; a town of Byzantine-style churches and colossal keeps that once balanced on the very edge of the Ottoman and Venetian Renaissance super-powers. The town is awash with sun-splashed piazzas and fascinating sights, peppered with the likes of Big Onofrio's Fountain from the 15th century and set just on the side of the beautiful Lapad Peninsula. On the coast to the north and south are countless hidden coves and pebble beaches too, where the rollers of the Adriatic lap the shore and the rugged mountains of inland Dalmatia rise to a palisade in the east. Truly beautiful.
Valetta, Malta
Once the homeland of the legendary Knights Hospitaller, UNESCO-attested Valetta rises almost vertically from the waters of the Mediterranean; a mass of medieval bulwarks and colossal church domes that rarely fails to draw a gasp. A veritable palimpsest of history, the town hosts the gorgeous Co-Cathedral of Saint John, complete with the trademark dramatics of Baroque design and one mind-blowing interior that’s imbued with works by Caravaggio no less! Breaking away from the city will afford travellers a chance to see Malta Island and even far-flung Gozo too, where rugged cliffs meet pre-historic megalith temples in the wilds.
Porquerolles, France
Shimmering and glimmering just a stone’s throw from the French Riviera, picture-perfect Île de Porquerolles remains a truly beautiful and more secluded section of the uber-popular Côte d'Azur (state ownership means this one’s not become overdeveloped like other spots in the region). It comes complete with a medley of pine-backed beaches and coves, where the occasional sunbather lounges between limestone promontories and brilliant white yachts bob on the lapping waves. Others head for the sunflower fields and maize meadows that dominate the backcountry, cycling through the undulating hills and atop the salt-sprayed cliffs of the south coast in complete solitude. It’s paradisiacal stuff!
Fethiye, Turkey
Despite being one of the few countries on the continent still not officially entirely free of malaria, Turkey continues to entice thousands of travellers to its shores. And why not? Take Fethiye, a town imbued with unrivalled stretches of Aegean coastline, complete with shimmering inlets and turquoise waters peppered with millionaire yachts (this is actually hailed as the yachting capital of the Turkish coast!). And the draws don’t stop there either. Fethiye is also the starting point of the legendary Lycian Way, passing ancient rock tombs, shimmering beaches at Ölüdeniz, and the mountains around Kozağaç as it weaves deep into Antalya. And then there are the awesome ruins at Telmessos, along with Roman amphitheatres to boot!