Europe is perfect for a short break; minimal travelling time and some wonderful destinations to choose from. Rome, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam are probably on most people's radar for mini-breaks. But there is so much more to explore. Here are some of our favourites:
- Rotterdam - Conde Nast recently declared Rotterdam one of their coolest tips for '23 and we'd agree. It's a stylish city with a bit of an edge, great architecture, art, food and a chic vibe. And if you really want you can hop on the train to Amsterdam or further afield.
- Madrid – what can we say? Stylish, elegant, artsy. Indulge in a bit of art and culture; the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza are two of our favourites (and we can definitely recommend a cake and coffee at the Prado – the pastries are almost as beautiful as the art!)
- Naples – ciao bella! Thronging with history, culture, fashion, va va voom and the best pizza ever! Take a wander round Pompei or Herculaneum. And if you want to stretch your wings a bit further hop on a ferry and head across the bay to Sorrento or Capri.
- Iceland – in the summer, it’s the land of the midnight sun; in the winter it’s the Northern Lights! All year round its geothermal pools, glaciers, waterfalls, black sand beaches, Bjork and Icelandic Ponies!! What’s not to love?
- Lisbon – Lovely Lisbon, a great city to visit in any season. Welcoming, friendly, fun, laid-back. Great cuisine. Wonderful wines.
- Vienna – packed with exquisite architecture, baronial castles and gardens. Don’t miss - the Klimt paintings, the Spanish Riding School and, in Autumnn and Winter, the Christmas markets.
- Helsinki – the Finnish capital is charming and perfect for a mini-break; great for foodies, classical music fiends, lovers of the fresh clean outdoors. (one of our favourite restaurants is in Helsinki - ask us and we'll point you in the right direction!)
- Palma De Mallorca – a great place for a mini-break; Palma is small enough that you can explore on foot quite easily, there are great restaurants and bars, good shopping and museums aplenty.
Europe has some fantastic opportunities for summer holidays, it obviously lends itself beautifully to multi-destination if that's your holiday heaven.
Here are some of our favourite ideas:
rail travel - there's something very nostalgic and romantic about a great rail journey and some of the world's finest are across Europe. The Orient Express is an obvious one - but how about The Golden Eagle Danube Express, this spectacular train runs on several routes including between Prague and Budapest and Venice and Istanbul. You can expect fine dining and a full butler service on board. A shorter route, but no less luxurious, awaits onboard The Glacier Express, travel from Zermatt to St Moritz and enjoy a fine dining experience whilst your breath is taken away by the spectacular views from her panoramic cars. Or closer to home, you could take a few days in the Scottish Highlands on the Jacobite Steam Train. Whichever train journey you decide we can build a holiday around your rail journey including air transfers and/or connecting rail links.
Villa rental - if you prefer to self-cater then we can find the perfect villa location for you. Villa holidays are also great for large groups of friends, or family reunions. Our villas can be as rustic or as grand as you prefer some properties come with pools, hot tubs and staff.
fly (or ferry) drive - we can help you plan your itinerary for touring Europe including travel to/from the continent and accommodation along the way. From grand chateaux to intimate hideaways, we can find the very best places for you to stay.
Europe is great for snow-sport fiends, and it's so close that it's possible to visit some of the main resorts for several short breaks across the season. Of course, we're equally happy to book your villa for the entirety!
Whatever your winter sport passion, there's a European resort that fullfills it. Away from the traditional skiing slopes of the Alps and Pyrenees why not visit the Nordic countries for some cross-country skiing, ice fishing and dog sledding? Or spend some time in one of Finland's amazing glass-igloos where you can wonder at the Northern Lights?
And of course, the ultimate European winter break, a visit to Santa Claus in Lapland. We've visited him there ourselves and there really is something very magical in the air up there!
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