

Austria: The Capital city of Vienna is rich in culture and chock full of museums, art galleries, and classical architecture with magnificent palaces and cathedrals. Mozart's home
of Salzburg is a storybook Austria, set on the banks of the Salzach river. It hosts the renowned UNESCO Altstadt, which is filled with Baroque churches and colonial squares with burgeoning arts and a music scene that'll leave you breathless. Tyro's capital of Innsbruck is a fairy tale city set in the shadow of the Alps and an adventure playground that offers access to thousands of skiing/snowboarding trails with an Olympic-size ski jump, bungee jumping, paragliding, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and a spectacular scenic funicular in the Nordkettenbahnen that takes you from the city center to the top of the Alps for a 360-degree view of Europe.
Belgium: With an amazing cultural history and over sixty UNESCO World Heritage Sites with state-of-the-art galleries and museums that'll rival any European city, every cafe's
under-the-radar casualness that defines Belgium's esteem is palatable. The Grand Palace in Brussels is the beating heart of the country and a massive complex strewn with guildhalls and pathways leading to the Spiegelrei Canal that lets you pub hop from one unique Belgium brewery to another. The Waterloo battlefield is interesting where you can walk on the grounds and see the memorials of Napoleon's defeat in 1815 at the main battlefield site of Lion Hamlet. Oval is the most famous of all Belgium's 'beer abbeys' is the picturesque Abbaye Notre Dame, a Cistercian monastery originally built in 1132 that has fantastic Trappist brews.
Croatia: Mediterranean villages perched on seaside cliffs over sapphire waters complimented with hundreds of deserted islands, alpine peaks, and a non-stop party
atmosphere make Croatia a top European destination with a ton to offer. Most people stick to the coast and start at Cres's intoxicating and alluring island, where dense primeval forests dominate the interior with craggy cliffs and hidden coves surrounding the coastline. The desert island getaway of Spiaza on Susak Island is spectacular and has a shallow bay that allows you to walk nearly a half-mile out to sea. Nin is another beach destination outside of Zadar, a historic town of Roman ruins and an important transfer hub to the outlying islands and Italy. Just inland from here is the towering peaks of Paklenica National Park, with superb hiking and climbing in and around its two main gorges, Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica.
Czech Republic: With historical architecture dating back centuries, the castles and chateaux around Prague alone could be explored for years, trying to unravel the
Bohemian and Moravian history of the region. The traveler's scene here is enormous, with countless bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes, restaurants, clubs, and theaters tucked between the ancient landmarks. Cesky Krumlov is a quaint town crowned by a fairy tale castle and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic that's a virtual theme park of culture filled with Baroque buildings and architecture that straddle the Vltava river. Brno is an elegant city in the southern region near the border with Austria and the capital of Moravia. It hosts the 13th-century Špilberk Castle as well as world-class galleries, cathedrals, churches, monasteries, and a ton of vineyards.
Denmark: Constantly topping the list as one of the best places to live in the world with the highest quality of life index, the Danish have it good. The cosmopolitan and
friendly capital of Copenhagen flows along the banks of old-world canals that connect the two islands. The capital city is located with a beautiful opera house and the famous Amalienborg Castle – seat of the Danish royal family since the 18th century. Elsinore hosts 'Hamlet’s Castle’ in Kronborg, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site with soaring towers, ancient baroque architecture, and an excellent history used by the Renaissance kings. Denmark's oldest town is the quaint city of Ribe, which dating back to 869, is magnificently preserved with cobblestone streets with museums, cathedrals, and churches about Ribe's Vikings steeped in medieval history.
England: The capital of London is one of the most touristed cities in the world, and it's a picture-perfect melting pot of cultures with a neighborhood or borough
representing nearly every country. The London Bridge, Big Ben, West End, Thames River, and Oxford Street, among countless other attractions, are best observed hopping from one gastronomic pub experience to another to sample the vast array of culinary opportunities that abound in this great city. Windsor is home to the oldest and largest occupied castle globally and the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. Oxford is a wonderful old university town. Nearby, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. To the south is the hip and trendy Brighton Beach, where the hedonistic vibe feeds off the bright and colorful city where non-stop beach parties are the norm.
France: Paris is an iconic Europe reached with only a short train ride from London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Zurich, and most of Western Europe. It's the queen of international
cities with architecture, museums, cathedrals, churches, and cobblestone streets that'll rival any capital. The wine region of Bordeaux is magnificent, Nice hosts the best beaches in the country, and Cannes is a global hub of art, culture, and expression. The southern region shares the Pyrenees Mountain range with Spain, which offers world-class climbing and hiking opportunities. The western town of Chamonix is the gateway to the Alps, with a picture-perfect French village and gondolas to the tops of the surrounding peaks. No proper European trip ignores France and whatever suits your fancy, the gorgeous country has something to offer.
Germany: A tightly run ship with a strong nationalism and magnificent cities, Germany is a wonderful destination set smack-dab in the middle of Europe with many
unique regions and cultures. Munich is the gastronomic hub with hundreds of pubs and restaurants and the center of the famed Octoberfest festival. It's also the gateway to the Alps with the Austrian border a short train ride south. With Roman heritage and Galic charm, Trier is a classical city near the border with Luxembourg that's overloaded with historical highlights. South from there outside of Stuttgart is the incredible Hohenzollern Castle that dominates the landscape from its hilltop perch and is the ancestral home of the eponymous family, which became Kings of Prussia and then German Emperors. Berchtesgaden National Park and Lake Königsee - a pristine fjord-like lake in the Bavarian Alps, provide an outdoor playground for tramping adventures.
Greece: This is a country that's a world of its own with religious theology and bleached ancient ruins that date back thousands of years, the landscape exudes history.
Home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum, Athens is dominated by two UNESCO World Heritage Sites the iconic Acropolis and the medieval Daphni Monastery. One of the world's oldest cities, recorded history here dates back 3,400 years. On the northeast coast is the wonderful island of Corfu in the Ionian Sea, where mountains dominate the northern half, which spills into a fertile countryside and dramatic coastline of turquoise blue waters and craggy cliffs. The south Aegean Sea provides an archipelago of hundreds of picturesque islands, with the top four most spectacular being Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, and Santorini, all unique in their perfection.
Holland: Everyone's heard of the liberal freedoms of Amsterdam, scattered with weed coffee shops and a progressive 'red-light' district that's a must-walkthrough.
The Dutch are very health conscious and bike nearly everywhere, and Amsterdam probably has more urban bike trails and paths than any city on earth. The Rijksmuseum is located here, as is the Anne Frank house, the Van Gogh museum, and countless windmills, canals, castles, squares, and monuments. Rotterdam is a young and dynamic city to the south internationally known for its modern architecture and design, trendy nightlife, and hip, contemporary art scene. The Hague is situated on the beautiful North Sea coastline and known as the 'Royal City by the Sea,' which has market squares with great restaurants, eateries, coffee houses, nightclubs, and a historic city center.
Ireland: An ageless landscape of fascinating people with a phenomenal coastline, Ireland is a land of lore, where castles and chateaux dominate a countryside
caressed in Gaelic traditions. The famously warm and welcoming people make a trip to this enchanting country alone to visit. Still, the dramatic geology and ecology of the unique wilderness offer a magical environment that begs to be saturated. With a reputation that precedes itself, you will never want to leave the pubs of Dublin and talk of its rich history over a Guinness at their 250-year-old brewery. In Northern Ireland, Belfast is a bewitchingly vibrant city to have a pint on the way to the walled city of Derry/Londonderry, where the road kisses the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO-listed geological wonder formed 60 million years ago by cooling lava with 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns that jut out into the sea. Spectacular!
Iceland: This enchanting volcanic island has a palpable energy that seeps through its fissures in dramatic contrasts where dark winters are offset with the summer's midnight
sun in a magnificent spectacle. The warmly disarming Icelanders live in a perilous balance, engulfed by an extraordinarily powerful geothermal region woven together in a symphony of elements providing a natural opulence of unimaginable attraction. The Bárðarbunga volcanic system North of the Vatnajökull Glacier is a spectacular wildland of fire and ice with lava flowing onto glaciers that you can boat and snowmobile on, and the capital city of Reykjavik is a cosmopolitan playground surrounded by other-worldly nature in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pingvellir National Park, which is a dramatic landscape surrounded by a ring of mountains, lava fields, grassy valleys, geysers, hot springs, and the queen of Iceland's waterfalls, Gullfoss Falls.
Italy: Epicenter of the Roman Empire and the birthplace of the Renaissance, Italy's four great cities of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan showcase the expansive
history of this great land and have transformed their city centers into modern works of art. With an eclectic culinary soul accentuated by a diverse social culture, the Italians always have something to celebrate, and each region does so in a uniquely spectacular fashion. The magnificent trek of Cinque Terre is a gorgeous seaside tramp from one coastal cliffside fishing village to another that affords panoramic views across five picturesque towns dating back to AD 643. The remarkably well-preserved ruins of Pompei are a magical look back in time, and the Lake Como region is excellent for nature hikes, climbing, and boating.
Portugal: The land of ancient medieval castles, magnificent seaside towns, and a never-ending Atlantic coastline that provides a springboard for exploring its
seventeen UNESCO sites, Europe's oldest and most often overlooked country has a ton to offer. The vibrant cosmopolitan capital of Lisbon is chock full of Gothic museums, ancient monasteries, music venues, nightclubs, classical churches, and steep hillsides that shadow the majestic Rio Tejo below. In the northern region, Alto Douro has gorgeous rolling hills of wineries and the lays claim to the oldest vineyards. Finally, the Beira Litoral region in the middle of the country is littered with picturesque mountain villages, with the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela offering wicked climbing, hiking, and camping opportunities.
Spain: The ancient conquistadors of Spain spread the Latin seed across the globe, pillaging the riches of distant lands and creating a prosperous and passionate society
that is just as unique and diversified internally as it is internationally. Each region has its customs, cultures, culinary delights, and traditions that provide an envious display of the Spanish lifestyle. Barcelona is a must-see with endless beachfront clubs, bars, restaurants, and shops that stretch from the sand up La Rambla to the city's heart, where the magnificent neo-Gothic displays of Gaudi's architectural artwork can be experienced. Heading down the coast, Valencia (home of sangria and paella) is an excellent place to enjoy some tapas at a cafe overlooking the Balearic Sea south to spectacular Granada, which lays claim to the UNESCO Site of the Alhambra and is a fantastic walking city. Seville is another city in the south bursting with antique charm, and of course, the islands of Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza are idealistic beach party paradises.
Switzerland: The neutral Swiss are so diversified geographically and linguistically due to the influence of their four neighbors (France, Italy, Austria, and Germany)
that there are four official national languages. Coming from France, Geneva is a cosmopolitan city set on the beautiful lake of the same name and headquarters of over 200 governmental and non-governmental organizations. Zurich is another fantastic city and Switzerland's biggest, offering a plethora of activities, including Europe's largest street party and gateway to the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps. Straddling the shores of the crystal clear turquoise Lakes Thun and Brienz, Interlaken is the official adventure capital of Europe, sitting in the shadows of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, activities here include whitewater rafting, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, abseiling, bungee jumping, hang gliding and anything else involving the Swiss Alps and raging rivers.
Turkey: The land bridge between the western world and Asia is a richly historical land filled with ancient mosques, bustling bazaars, epicurean cuisine, volcanic gorges,
underground cities, Aegean highlands, and some of the most surreal landscapes on earth in Cappadocia and Ephesus. Explore former Byzantium and Constantinople (Istanbul) with its magnificent temples and palaces, then head south to Antalya, the gateway to the Turkish riviera and its largest city on the Mediterranean with a Roman-era harbor beautifully restored Ottoman houses. The Turquoise Coast offers the mesmerizing beach enclaves of Patara and Çırali, as well as the magnificent island of Bozcaada, as the top three destinations for sun worshiping. Trabzon is a fantastic city on the Black Sea coast and a jumping-off point for the cliff-face Sumela Monastery trips.