Spoilt for choice!
Right on our doorstep and over flowing with wonderful holidays ideas, Europe is so diverse. The region offers scenic beauty, iconic buildings, centuries of history, stunning culture and an amazing smorgasbord of food and drink.
Whether you’re in search of sunshine, a city break, a cultural weekend or a family holiday, a European holiday could be just the ticket. And being so close to home and so easy to travel to, one visit is never enough.
Europe encompasses an area of 10,180,000km², stretching from Asia to the Atlantic, and from Africa to the Arctic. European countries welcome more than 480 million international visitors per year, which is more than half of the global market. Seven of the ten most visited countries in the world are European.
Although Europe is the world’s smallest continent in land surface area, there are profound differences between the cultures and ways of life in its countries. This makes it easy to see why it is such a draw for travellers.
Discover an astonishing wealth of history heritage and art. Move easily from country to country – it is rare to have to travel more than a few hours before you can immerse yourself in a new culture, and open a different phrasebook. Explore different sceneries and landscapes, from snow capped mountains, to rolling hills, deep valleys, wide rivers and beautiful coastlines. The same diversity applies to food and drink which changes as you move across Europe.
And with wonderful contrasts between seasons, Europe is an all-year-round destination where you can ski, snowboard and sunbathe over the course of a year.
Map of Europe
European regions
With so many countries to choose from, Europe is a diverse and colourful destination to visit. And with such diversity, there’s scope of holiday after holiday each offering an opportunity to experience something new.
Here’s a quick overview of the many regions of Europe which helps to break this busy continent down into manageable chunks.
The Balkans. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, (partly) Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Kosovo and Serbia. This region is rich in history, charming multicultural towns, impressive monasteries and citadels dotting hillsides. It is a beautiful area with mountains, beautiful forests, pleasant lakes, and stunning beaches.
Baltic states. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. Three fascinating states with glorious beaches along an extensive coastline, medieval old towns, and beautiful natural scenery. Estonia has linguistic and cultural ties with Finland.
Benelux. Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands. The Netherlands is known for its clogs, cheese, tulips and windmills, and for its liberal attitudes and painters. Belgium is a multilingual country with beautiful historic cities, bordering Luxembourg at the rolling hills of the Ardennes.
Britain and Ireland. The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, United Kingdom and Ireland. A diverse patchwork of native and immigrant cultures, Britain is a blend of fascinating history and dynamic modern culture. Ireland’s rolling landscapes, stunning coastline, folklore, traditions and friendly welcome make for wonderful holidays.
Central Europe. Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland. A region where Germanic culture meets Slavic culture. Home to innumerable historic towns, fairy-tale castles, beer, forests, unspoiled farmland, and plenty of mountain ranges, including the mighty Alps and Carpathians.
France and Monaco. France is well-known for its gastronomy, history, culture and fashion. There is such a wide choice of areas to visit including Paris, the French Riviera, the Atlantic beaches, the Alps, castles of the Loire Valley, Brittany, Normandy and Provence. Monaco is a beautiful, ultra-wealthy principality overlooking the Mediterranean.
Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. Steep with history and tradition and rich in sunshine, this south-eastern area of Europe is a haven for beach-goers, party-people and cultural enthusiasts alike.
Caucasus. Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan. This far eastern region of Europe offers a remarkable mix of landscapes, ranging from high mountain peaks and wine-growing valleys to lush Black Sea resorts. Like the Balkans, Caucasus is at the meeting of Christian and Islamic cultures which brings its own unique and exotic character.
Iberia. Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. All great destinations for their rich and unique cultures, lively cities, beautiful countryside, sun-drenched beaches and friendly inhabitants.
Italy. Italy, Malta, San Marino and Vatican City. Rome, Florence, Venice and Pisa are on many travellers’ itineraries, but these are just a few of Italy’s destinations. Italy has more history and culture packed into it than many other countries combined.
Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Russia is a country of vast, empty expanses that span all the way east to the Pacific Ocean. Ukraine is a diverse country that has a lot to offer, from the beach resorts of the Black Sea to the beautiful cities Odessa, Lviv and Kiev. North of Ukraine lies Belarus, a country unlike anywhere else in Europe.
Scandinavia. Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and the Faroe Islands. This northern area of Europe boasts spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes, glaciers, geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes. Enjoy the contrast of cosmopolitan cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm. You will find that Finland is culturally distinct with a unique language unlike the other Scandinavian languages.
And with plenty of first-hand travel experience to call on, we’ll be happy to advise or inspire you with ideas of where in Europe you might like to travel to next. Call us on 01923 284148 or send an email to info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk. We’ll be delighted to be of service.
