5 ways to choose your own great Europe getaway
Explore Worldwide helps you experience the real Europe. (Image: Sean Pavone)
| THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Explore Worldwide |
Taste local truffles and oysters, cycle along ancient byways and fall asleep to the sounds of the Aegean Sea with Explore Worldwide.
With towering cathedrals, storybook villages, sun-drenched Mediterranean islands and Nordic frozen lakes, Europe remains one of the most intriguing places in the world.
It’s also a microcosm of thousands upon thousands of years of gastronomic and cultural history. However, with over 800 cities, 50 countries and 24 official languages all squeezed into an area roughly the size of Australia, it can be challenging to explore Europe without the crowds.
One surefire way of ensuring you experience Europe like a local (instead of like a tourist) is to travel with Explore Worldwide.
Experience Europe like a local. (Image: Spooh/Getty)
What is Explore Worldwide?
As a global leader in small group tours, this B Corp-certified company has been guiding tourists to remote locations for truly unique experiences for over 42 years.
Explore Worldwide prides itself on leading authentic, personal adventures with expert guides for small groups of 11 to 16 people. This means you can get to the heart of your European getaway with like-minded people on an adventure you will never forget.
Knowing you can feel good about your travel, all that’s left is to choose your own adventure.
Follow experienced guides with Explore Worldwide.
1. Travel through Central Europe by train
One of the most romantic ways to travel through Europe is undoubtedly by rail. Not only can you sit back and enjoy the changing scenery at a leisurely pace (with a snack in your hands), but you’re also able to explore away from the well-beaten tourist trails.
To delve into the culture and landscapes of Central Europe, Explore Worldwide’s 15-day London to Istanbul Rail Adventure not only takes you to the heady cities of Venice, Zagreb and Belgrade, but it also delivers a one-of-a-kind adventure to the rural Balkans. You’ll be able to sip at one of Serbia’s countryside wineries, relax in the university town of Nis and experience Croatia’s Baroque town of Varaždin, a Habsburg stronghold against the Ottomans.
This tour also allows you to experience the sheer beauty of the Serbian mountains on narrow-gauge trains. You’ll end your adventure by going to sleep in Bulgaria and waking up in Türkiye, where you can feast on kahvalti, the traditional local breakfast.
Enjoy a traditional breakfast in Türkiye. (Image: Vladimir Mironov)
2. Hike along the Amalfi Coast
Nothing quite beats the reflection of the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea on the colourful buildings perched along the Amalfi Coast. With honey-coloured sunsets, terraced hills and fresh pasta-serving cafes, it’s no surprise that celebrities and travellers alike fill this part of Italy every summer.
Offering a different side to one of Italy’s most visited destinations, the seven-night Amalfi Coast Walking – Agriturismo tour allows you to experience local life by hiking along ancient paths and stairways as you travel from town to town.
You’ll also sleep at a working farm stay perched 600 metres above the shoreline, where rustic homecooked food is served alongside sunburned smiles. When you’re not swimming in the cool Mediterranean waters you can learn new skills with locally led mozzarella, pizza and pasta-making classes.
Experience life like a
local on the gorgeous Amalfi Coast. (Image: Sean Pavone)
3. Cycle along Croatia’s stunning coastline
To really immerse yourself in Europe’s vibrant culture and intriguing heritage, you can’t go past a holiday on two wheels. Not only do bicycles allow you to travel on forgotten country roads, through medieval towns and along ancient coastlines, but they also make it easy to stop and appreciate the journey.
On the seven-night Cycle The Dalmatian Coast tour, you will make your way from Split to Dubrovnik, enjoying the region’s most beautiful villages and coastlines along the way. You’ll glide past ancient olive groves, hillside wineries, tolling churches and old city walls on your human-powered or electric bike. On this tour you’ll also set sail to scenic Hvar and Korčula islands in the Adriatic Sea, with their classically beautiful beaches, fresh seafood and historic architecture silhouetted against impossibly blue skies.
Cycle the Dalmatian Coast. (Image: unit-d/Getty)
4. Test your tastebuds in southern France
When it comes to gastronomy, France may just hold a monopoly on indulgence. Whether it’s crisp white wines, creamy regional cheese, fresh truffles or tangy mushrooms, Southern France in particular delivers every time.
To treat your palette, join the A Taste of Southern France – Bordeaux to Toulouse tour for unique local experiences that will shock and delight your tastebuds. Over eight flavoursome days you’ll join truffle hunters looking for edible treasure, taste some of the most acclaimed wine from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion, try the famous oysters from Bassin d’Arcachon and devour fresh cannelé pastries that crumble in your mouth. This part of France is a must for foodies, wine lovers and anyone who wants to experience France’s culinary culture at its best.
Try local oysters in Bassin d’Arcachon. (Image: Maxim Fesenko)
5. Soak in the culture of Greece’s sun-drenched islands
With a history full of mythical tales, Greece’s islands prop themselves out of the sparkling Aegean Sea to meet thousands of visitors every summer – and they have done for a millennium or two. The sheer beauty of this region, mixed with the fresh seafood and friendly locals, makes it an obvious choice for a holiday.
Avoid the crowds with the epic two-week Greek Island Wanderer tour, which takes you from the crowded city streets of Athens to the blue domes of Santorini, the seaside taverns of Syros, along the ancient Byzantine roads of Paros and through the old town of Naxos, where the god Dionysus is believed to have lived.
See Greece from the other side of the tourism prism when you walk the ancient backroads, visit small farming villages, and learn about the currency of olive oil and how important it is to the history of this region.
Wander far from the common tourist trails in Greece. (Image: Charalambos Andronos/Getty)
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