Country List
close X
Austria
<b>Austria</b> is epitomized by green glacial valleys and snow-capped peaks - and the wooden picture postcard chalets. Nonetheless, visitors have much to explore from the stylish capital, Vienna, to the baroque splendor of Salzburg. Austria's mountain landscape is undoubtedly its biggest draw for tourists. Although a year-round destination, there is a definite seasonal split in visitors. Summer is best for exploring the countryside on the many mountain trails that snake through the Austrian Alps and the lowlands, while the ski season kicks off in December, attracting winter sports fans from all over the world.
close X
Denmark
Warm-hearted, fun loving and free-spirited, <b>Denmark</b> is a traveler's delight. The smallest and most southern of the Scandinavian countries, Denmark offers an interesting mix of lively cities and rural countryside. Ancient castles, ring forts, jazz festivals, the sleekest modern design you'll ever see and the people who invented Lego. Denmark's ancient past almost tells its own story with its barrows, country manors, churches, well-preserved market towns and modern architecture. In Denmark you will find that the distances are short and this makes it possible to combine it all.
close X
England
American travelers cannot get enough of England, and to this day it consistently ranks in the three most popular European countries in terms of visitors per year. Nearly everyone visits London, one of the world`s most important cities and the epicenter of what was once a vast world empire, but England should definitely be explored in-depth, from the charm of the Cotswolds to the seaside resorts on the English Channel and the Irish Sea to the beautiful landscapes of the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the Westcountry. England is a country where the present day and over a millennia of history routinely intersect.
close X
France
<b>France</b> remains one of the worlds most talked-about and written-about destinations. Whether the romance of Paris sweeps you off your feet or you fall gently for the relaxed life of Provence, France is a place for lovers, and will leave you spellbound. Paris is undoubtedly one of the world's great cities, with enough monuments, museums, restaurants, theatres and shows to last a lifetime. The northern provinces of Normandy and Brittany are steeped in history while the Loire Valley is world famous for its châteaux. And there is more to explore.
close X
Germany
<b>Germany</b>'s landscape is straight from the Fairy tales: castles, deep dark forests and mythical rivers. The German landscapes are extraordinarily diverse, with graceful big-city appeal, small picture-postcard towns, pagan-inspired harvest festivals, a wealth of art and culture, and the perennial pleasures of huge tracts of forest, delightful castles and fine wine and beer. From Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire to the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other nation has molded Europe the way Germany has - for better or worse.
close X
Ireland
Ireland, `the Emerald Isle`, offers some of the most beautiful landscapes and views in the entire world, from castles in ruins in verdant valleys to rocky cliffsides overlooking the Atlantic. It is a country that is fiercely proud of its native language and culture, and venturing outside the major cities, you will be able to view a more rural experience. This is most popularly achieved by driving the 111-mile Ring of Kerry in the western part of the country, or visiting the charming Gaeltacht where Irish is only spoken. But definitely do not discount the cities, home to charm, history, and great landmarks, such as the cosmpolitan capital of Dublin, and large cities such as Limerick and Cork.
close X
Italy
For centuries <b>Italy</b> has drawn foreign visitors - mostly for its architectural, artistic, and scenic splendors. Italy can truly be all things to all people. From the passion and excitement of noisy urban crowds to the quiet, rural idyll where the traditional life can be experienced. Italy's great cities are replete with rich attractions and culture alongside some of the most pristine beaches and spectacular mountains in the world.
close X
Netherlands
<b>The Netherlands</b> (or Holland) may be a small country, but it`s filled with world-famous icons. This country is famous for its bulb fields, windmills, cheese markets, wooden shoes, canals of Amsterdam, masterpieces of Old Masters, Delft Blue earthenware, innovative water management, and millions of bicycles. As you explore the Netherlands you`ll find photogenic spots at every nook and cranny, a hipster coffee scene, an up and coming food scene, and loads of wonderful museums. While its most well-known city is Amsterdam, there are plenty of other beautiful cities that you will want to explore as well.
close X
Poland
<b>Poland</b> is a country that offers so many fun experiences for the traveler, from the cities to the countryside. Warsaw and Krakow are crossroad cities, where history and innovative progress coexist beautifully side-by-side, showcasing the nation`s past and future. The Tatra Mountains in the south are a picture-perfect wonderland in the wintertime, and is a popular ski resort area. The Baltic coastline of Pomerania offers respite to crowds in the summer wishing to escape the cities. Historic sites such as castles, palaces, and cathedrals can be found in all corners of Poland -- you really cannot go wrong no matter where you go.
close X
Scotland
A vacation to the isle of Britain would be incomplete without stopping in Scotland. Edinburgh and Glasgow are some of the most cosmopolitan cities in the United Kingdom, set in an urban landscape with many historic buildings dating from the Victorian era and even earlier, impressive considering Scotland was not spared from the Blitz of World War II. Further afield, rivers flow through beautiful valleys that reach the peaks of the Highlands, an area with its own authentic cultural traditions. Whether you are in mainland Scotland or on one of the offshore islands, this nation offers so many charming experiences for the traveler, from fairytale castles to abbeys in ruins to picturesque villages.
close X
Spain
<b>Spain</b> is one of the most popular countries in the world for tourists, and the experiences you can have while on vacation here can be just as varied as you are. The best way to experience Spanish life today is to visit one of its largest cities, such as Madrid, the country`s capital; Barcelona, its second city; and provincial capitals such as Seville and Valencia. Andalucia, the epicenter of Moorish rule in Spain, is known for its beautiful landmarks such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra. The north of the country features such varying experiences as Catholic pilgrimages in Galicia, skiing in the Pyrenees, and immersing yourself in the culture of the gorgeous Basque Country. For beach vacations, Spain is tops, from the Costa del Sol to the Balearic islands of Ibiza and Mallorca to the Canary Islands.
close X
Sweden
The third largest country in Western Europe, <b>Sweden</b> presents visitors with countless lakes and waterways, surrounded by vast pine and spruce forests in the north, mixed with romantic oak, birch and other leafy forests further south. The country offers blood-boiling rapids, soothing streams and wakeboarding waves. And there is so much more - from the Höganäs ceramics of western Skåne in the south, to the finely carved wood, bone and textile handicrafts of the Sami people in northern Lapland - and all the provinces in between, with their countless workshops full of weavers and spinners, gold and silver smiths, stonemasons, woodcarvers and much more.