Travel to Europe for vacation

History lovers head to Greece, the birthplace of many civilizations. Visit the ancient sites of the Minoan, Mycenaean and Classical Greek civilization. With 166 inhabited islands and a landscape that ranges from the Mediterranean to the Balkans, Greece has a variety of experiences to offer to travelers. Modern Greece is an amalgam of influences - Romans, Arabs, French, Venetians, Slavs, Turks, Italians and the Byzantines.

The Byzantines have left churches and monasteries and ghost towns like Mystra. The Venetians have some strong fortifications at Nafplio in the Peloponnese, the Franks in crag-top castles. Traveling through Greece, one must not miss the museums, buildings, monasteries, castles and the great Minoan, Mycenaean and Classical Greek sites. Go island hopping, to Mykonos, Delos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. Mykonos is popular with tourists. It has a shoreline of over 80 kms and is named after the god Mykonos. The simple hedonist pleasures of its landscapes and its climate and food makes Greece popular with tourists.

Scandinavia is a magical land of fjords and the Vikings. Tourists can explore the diversity of Europe’s Nordic countries- from agricultural Denmark to industrial Sweden to fjord-covered Norway. Denmark is the easiest Scandinavian country to travel the landscape is the least dramatic large farmlands interrupted by numerous pretty villages. Three main landmasses make up the country - Zealand, Funen, and Jut land. Copenhagen, the capital city, is in Zealand and is a beautiful old center with museums and a rocking nightlife. Jutland has a diverse landscape of soft green hills in some places and desolate heathlands in others.

Sweden is large, remote country. The South and Southwest are flat, holiday lands with a host of historic ports like Gothenburg and Malmo. Off the Southeast are the popular Baltic Island resorts of Oland and Gotland which support a lazy beach life. Stockholm, the capital, is the country’s biggest attraction, a bundle of islands which houses stupendous architecture, fine museums and the country’s most active nightlife. Sweden also has great swathes of forests, around 96,000 lakes, and some of the best wilderness hiking in Europe.

Norway is still a mysterious land, the home of the Vikings and also of latter day adventurers like Amundsen and Heyerdahl and men of letters like Ibsen and Munch. Beyond Oslo, one of the prettiest capitals of the world, the other cities of interest are medieval Trondheim, Bergen. In the heart of the fjords and hilly northern Tromse. The biggest attractions are the Western fjords - every bit as amazing as they are reputed to be. Spot the ‘Same tribes’ and their herds of reindeer while on a trip to the North Cape (Nordkapp), which is the northernmost accessible point of mainland Europe.

The Benelux group of countries comprises neighbours - Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg. A high-speed train ride gives a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape of the region. Lodgings are available as home stays on farms.The cities are interesting and full of the Old Masters. Antwerp in Belgium is an amazing city. Peter Paul Reuben’s house makes a nice trip as well as the ‘ Railway Cathedral’, which is Antwerp’s main train station.

Eastern Europe, since the demise of communism, has become much more tourist friendly and attractive. It has become a traveler’s delight with low prices, friendly locals, lively squares, breathtaking sights and fascinating history. Eastern Europe’s six most attractive countries are the Czech republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia.

Recently recovered from an ethnic conflict, Croatia is emerging as one of the top summer fun destinations of Europe. Discover the underrated capital, Zagreb and the waterfall wonderland of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Set sail for the Dalmatian coast, the main attraction of the country, the Roman-villa-turned-bustling-city called Split, the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik and some pretty-as-postcard villages. Croatia’s northern neighbour, Slovenia, has gorgeous Alpine scenery and a laid-back Adriatic café culture.

Prague in the Czech Republic has an immense pulse on history. Relatively undamaged from the 2nd World War, it has managed to preserve its old charm and beauty. Scattered throughout the city are pubs for young adults, trendy cafés, traditional restaurants, winding cobblestone pathways and romantic parks and gardens. Some of the attractions are the Hradeany Museum, the Old Jewish Quarter (Josefoy), the Old Town Square and Petrin Hill.

Budapest, capital of Hungary, is said to be the nightlife capital of Europe. It has a many-splendoured and embittered history, incredible architecture and rich cultural life. Hence it is sometimes described as the Paris of Eastern Europe. The River Danube winds through the city center and provides great views for parks and gardens. Budapest rests on hot springs and cool mineral springs, so it has a number of old-fashioned bathhouses and spas.

After France has dazzled you, the ruins of Rome have intrigued you and the museums of England have educated you, it is time to hit the beaches of Europe. The top beaches of Europe are Cadiz (Spain), Marbella (Spain), Kefalonia (Greece), Brighton (England), St. Tropez (France), Cannes (France), Tarifa (Spain), Ibiza(Spain) and Biarritz (France). These are the playground of the young, the old, the ordinary and the glitterati.

This year, Europe is undergoing a renaissance with the formation of the European Union, a strong Euro and booming tourist inflow. It has the best to offer the world, be it history, art, culture, or sports, and at all times, in summer, spring, fall or winter.