Europe has so much to offer, with so many diverse places to see and experience. Whether you’re a first time visitor or you’re a local EU citizen, we’ve selected four fantastic cities for you to visit to cure some of that wanderlust. All that’s left now is to pick your favourite, pack your bags and make sure you’ve made the necessary preparations for a safe trip.
Glasgow, Scotland
You may have watched our video on the beautiful city of Edinburgh, but Scotland’s biggest city is just as worthy of a visit. Glasgow is an incredible reflection of modern Scotland, culturally rich, good-humoured and packed full of exciting things to see. The West End is the artistic side of the city, with stunning architecture and fabulous places to eat – including the Ubiquitous Chip and Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery. Here you’ll also find the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery, or head into the city centre for fantastic shopping options. For some of those beautiful and historic buildings Scotland is famous for, head to Merchant City and marvel away.
Paris, France
If you know where to go, what to see and where to eat, it is impossible not to fall in love with Paris. The Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe are on top of everyone’s lists, of course. But do them quickly and then discover the real Paris, because that is where the magic lies. The fashionable Marais district is an assault on the senses, but it has wonderful cafes and places to eat and drink on almost every corner. The Louvre is worth a visit (but make sure you get there early to avoid the lines), as is romantic Montmartre, if only for the breathtaking views back across the city. For a fantastic meal, try Foyer de la Madeleine – you will not be disappointed. And, for our final tip: rather than booking a hotel, try to find an apartment. Live as the locals do, get up early and buy fresh bread. This is a city worth immersing yourself in. You won’t regret it.
Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal seems to be on everyone’s travel hitlist in 2019, and for a good reason. Our pick of Portugal would have to be Lisbon, known for its impossibly cool youth culture, steep flights of stairs and tiny alleyways crisscrossing with those iconic trams. The Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s historic quarter and is full of quaint streets winding their way up and down hills. To truly take in Lisbon, find an empty table on one of the terraces high above the city, grab a bottle of the local rosé, and sit to watch the sun go down over the Tagus river. The very best terrace is the Memmo Alfama – a truly wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Lisbon sits on seven hills, so you’ve got to be prepared to walk – but that is part of the charm, after all.
London, England
Where we’re currently based and have truly fallen in love with, London remains the definitive European city. The famous Samuel Johnson phrase, ‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’ still holds true to this day – there is something here for everyone and the sights and sounds remain as rich and familiar as ever. London is full of everything you could ever want, from global foods to an immeasurable number of shops and something exciting happening every night of the week. From a cultural standpoint, the theatre and arts scene is world-leading; with particular highlights including the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery. There are many magnificent museums; with the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the British Museum (of course!) all at the top of the list. There is fantastic shopping to be had at world-famous Harrods, while Bond Street has all the designer stores and Oxford Street has everything else. At night, London goes to a whole new level with fantastic food and drink and some wonderful nightlife. For kitschy bars and grungy parties head east to Shoreditch and Dalston, or for upmarket clubs that kick on until the early morning, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are your go-to.
Images sourced from: Evening Standard, New Europe Tours
