We’re visiting the best places to see in Europe. They’re some of the best known places in Europe, but that’s because they have so much to offer tourists!

1. London, England

   Visiting a capital city doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Some of the best, free attractions are available here, and there are inexpensive hotels right in the heart of the city. Try the Science Museum; Lady Diana’s park; the Natural History Museum and the British History Museum. Or just have a gander at Buckingham Palace and then enjoy a picnic across the road in the park. It’s rather hard to want to stay in London for more than a few days at a time, because it’s so busy and stressful, but the transport links are good and you can get to see most of what you’d want to in a short time if you plan it right.

2. Paris, France

   Again, a capital city so potentially expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. A walk along the River Seine, and a look around Notre Dame is free, as are the many gardens that surround the Eiffel Tower. It would be a shame to miss out on the Louvre, though in Summer you may have to queue for quite some time. If you want something a bit different then head off for a tour of the catacombs under the city streets.

3. oOFlorence, Italy

   This is perhaps the most touristy city in Italy, so avoid the prime months of July and August if you want to see actual Italians rather than streets filled with people like you, holding cameras. The sculptures in Florence are amazing and worth a visit. In the square that holds the famous statue of David are many other inspirational sculptures that are equally worthy of your attention. Or have a wander along the Ponte Vecchio to shop for gold over the famous bridge.

4. Madrid, Spain

   Head here if you like art (the Prado is magnificent) but whilst you’re there you can enjoy the night-life or the daytime café culture too. Dig into tapas or enjoy a fuller meal at any one of several fine restaurants along the Hemingway Trail. Remember that here they have a siesta, so very little is open in the early afternoon when you might be ready for your lunch, and the night-time scene gets going rather later than you’d expect at home.

There are loads of people for whom travelling abroad means going to Europe and no further. Why go further afield when there is so much cultural, historical and geographical diversity right here on our doorstep, not to mention the vast array of climates.

But where should you choose when you’re spoilt for choice?

It rather depends on what you want out of the holiday, of course – a beach holiday (head for Spain or Portugal, or Greece); a city break (Paris, Rome, Athens, etc etc etc), a romantic getaway (Venice for starters) or a tour of historical sites (anywhere in Eastern Europe, or of course Italy or Greece). It also depends on what sort of climate you’re after, which can vary dramatically from country to country and even from the North of one country to the South of the same country.

Here are our favourite destinations, in no particular order (part 1 – more next week).

1.Amsterdam, Holland
Excellent choice for art-lovers, and for people who don’t do hills. Biking around the city along the canals is arguably one of the most relaxing experiences possible. It’s climate is a bit like the UK’s, so take an umbrella and wear lots of layers that can be peeled on and off easily.

2.Venice, Italy
If there is a more romantic city in Europe we haven’t heard of it. Paris is a close second, but nowhere tops the canals of Venice, or wandering round San Marco’s square (or wading through it, depending on the time of year). No cars, no background noise other than other people enjoying the views and beautiful architecture. Take a boat trip to nearby Murano (and buy some glasses) or Burano (and take some pictures of the pastel houses), and if you visit in February you can see the Carnevale.

3.Rome, Italy
This is history come to life. Walk around any corner and see a pretty spectacular relic from when the Romans ruled the world. Unlike Greece, which is obviously more ancient and has seen its share of earthquakes etc, the relics and monuments in Rome are still sufficiently intact that not much of a stretch of the imagination is required to see how glorious they once must have been. It’s a noisy city, and very, very hot in the height of summer, plus if you want to go into St Peter’s, or into the Vatican you’ll need your knees and shoulders to be covered, which can be rather sweaty.

More next week!

Bulgaria is often overlooked as a holiday destination but actually it has a lot to offer. From top ski resorts with slopes for beginners up to experienced skiers, to stretches of near-deserted beaches along the Black Sea, and all for the fraction of the cost of some of its neighbouring countries, Bulgaria is definitely a country you should consider visiting.

The people are friendly, the wine is good (if a bit strong) and the country is filled with remnants of its considerable history. It borders Greece, Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia and Macedonia, and is itself part of the Balkan Peninsula, meaning that it possesses beautiful mountainous vistas and plenty of hiking opportunities. If you prefer a lazy holiday on a beach, then look no further than Bulgaria’s soft sandy beaches on the Black Sea coast with warm water and warm climate. The bigger coastal resorts can get a bit busy in high season, because so many Europeans visit to take advantage of the lower prices, but it’s still possible to find areas that are less touristy and more authentically Bulgarian.

Another reason that people visit Bulgaria is the natural spas, fed by natural springs that range from 20C to 60C. These aren’t over-developed, although there is plenty of room for commercialisation.

If you want to see some of Bulgaria’s natural beauty, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you consider the three national parks, ten nature parks and dozens of nature reserves. There is an amazing abundance of flora natural to this diverse country, with an estimated 3,800 species of plants, 170 of which are endemic to the country.
You may want to have a look at the local wildlife, and you won’t have to look too far since so much of Bulgaria is still so rich and diverse in its native species. Deer, otter, red foxes, badgers, jackals and wildcats are just some of the native animals. If you’re really lucky, you might even catch sight of a wolf from the Eastern Rhodopes Mountains – there are excursions and courses available locally to show you how to track and spot (or at least listen out for) these elusive creatures. If you’re a birdwatcher, you may catch sight of vultures, eagle owls, eagles (white-tailed, golden or Eastern Imperial), buzzards, and woodpeckers.

Or take a trip to the Sakar Mountains to see the ancient dolmens, the Holy Trinity monastery and the natural springs there.

Bulgaria has a temperate climate – hot and sunny in summer, cold, wet and snowy in winter. Now is the time to visit if you want to ski, otherwise September is perhaps the most beautiful time of year to visit, whilst spring is probably best for an all-round holiday that isn’t too busy.

Albania was once the destination of choice for only those who wanted to do something a bit different and ‘brave’, or for backpackers seeking adventure.
Albania has glorious beaches, azure seashores, fabulous local food and wealth of heritage sites. And it is now is one of the top places to visit in Europe for those who want all these things at a fraction of the price to be found elsewhere and without too much ‘tourism’.
Albania is a small Balkan state just north of Greece. It is a mountainous terrain dotted with charming, old-style villages but also several young, vibrant cities. Its historical skirmishes with neighbouring Greece (usually in the form of bandits rowing across the water to rob the shores of Corfu) and their past impoverished status make them an unlikely choice for a holiday spot, but the country is taking great strides to welcome tourists and improve its international image. Its communist history seems rather far in the past to anyone who strolls around Tirana, the capital, which has mastered the café culture rather well.
If you do choose to visit, remember that whilst Albania is part of NATO and is seeking EU status, it is not currently in the Euro zone and does not have the Euro as its currency – the local currency is the lek and the exchange rate is fantastic. You can get a beautiful, large, en suite room facing the ocean for about £10 a night.
Avoid the beaches closest to the coastal cities like Saranda, as they can be a bit dirty and over-used, but you won’t be short of choice for beaches elsewhere with around 300km of sandy beaches to choose from along the Adriatic or Ionian Seas. They’re all easy to reach by taxi, or the bus system is very user-friendly, safe and cheap if you’d prefer. Or hire a car and explore some of the more remote parts of the coastline with coves and caves to explore.
Pizza and pasta and fresh fish feature highly on any menu in Albania, since it is situated quite close to Italy, and you won’t be disappointed at the quality – or the price.

One of the most relaxing yet entertaining holidays that I have ever had with my husband and young son was to a mobile home in Wales. Not the most glamorous destination or accommodation, granted, but those two weeks were utterly fantastic. The camp site was quiet but had a nice play park for the early evenings (still sunny in Summer) and there were loads of attractions nearby to keep us entertained (from beaches and castles to amusement parks and little trains). Plus, having a mobile home was preferable to a hotel because we could get up when we wanted (or rather, when our son wanted, which was usually at the crack of dawn) and have breakfast when we wanted, and we didn’t need to worry about waking everyone up or keeping them awake when our son had night terrors.

Wales is a beautiful part of the UK, with mountains and valleys as far as the eye can see, more castles and forts than you can shake a stick at, and plenty of pretty, empty beaches to enjoy. There are fewer people living in Wales than there are in England, so it always feels rather deserted, which is rather nice when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of it all. The further North you are, the less friendly the welcome from Welsh people unfortunately (they’re very protective of their culture and boundaries) but in the South people are generally welcoming of English tourists.

It rains a fair amount, but that’s what makes it such a lush, green land, and the rain also provides beautiful waterfalls amongst the forest walks to enjoy.

Although many of the castles and forts are there following relatively recent history between the English and Welsh, there are also monuments dating back to the Celts in Anglesey, and there are plenty of Roman fortresses too.

Welsh is the main language in most parts of the country, with road signs and street signs compulsorily written in both English and Welsh; Welsh is also a compulsory language in schools. It’s worth taking a phrase book if you want to impress the locals and make that effort to be polite and respectful.

One place you should visit if you’re in the north is the GreenWood Forest Park, which is at the foot of Snowdonia and is a family “eco-attraction”. I’ve never been anywhere quite like it and it really is worth a day’s visit. There’s a people-powered roller coaster; the world’s longest sledge-run, tree-top walkways and climbing frames, boats and a ‘bare foot trail’. The bare foot trail is as it sounds – you have to take your shoes and socks off, and walk bare foot along a trail, which is paved with all sorts of different textures and materials (from squelchy mud to pebbles and sand). There are feet-washing facilities at the end, but we went around it several times at the insistence of our son who thought it was the best thing since Ben 10.

Wales has a lot to offer and it’s there on the doorstep, so why not visit?