Luxury with a side of Northern Lights? Stay in a glass igloo at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in northern Finland, where during the winter months you can search for the elusive Arora Borealis without leaving your bed.

 

If warmer weather and sunshine is more your style, why not spend some time in a luxurious Greek villa? Or maybe you’d prefer to travel from London to Venice aboard the Orient Express, one of the most famous and glamorous train journeys in the world.

 

Art lovers will fall head over heels with art institutions all over Europe. In Paris, the Louvre, the Musee D’Orsay and the Paris Opera (look at the ceiling!) are absolute musts. Not to mention the elegant Palace of Versailles just outside the city. In London, you’ll want to make time for the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Tate Modern. Shakespeare lovers can also enjoy a theatre performance at Shakespeare’s Globe.

 

Or, if you prefer the outdoors, wander around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dubrovnik Old Town, visit the Acropolis in Athens, or uncover ancient Rome in the Italian capital.

 

Looking for the most eco-friendly destinations in Europe? Try taking a solar-powered boat trip around Ibiza, sailing the Galician coast, or going bear watching in the Wild Taiga forests of Finland.

 

For something more relaxing, you can swim in thermal waters in Laško, a unique eco-destination in Slovenia. Keen to hit the road? Switzerland’s “grand electric road trip” route covers 1970km over alpine passes, past vineyards and lakes, and is equipped with 300 charging stations.
 

Big experiences on small budgets? Walking tours are a great way to explore, and in many cities they’re free! Street food is another great way to immerse yourself in a new culture without Michelin-star meal pricing. Think tapas in Spain, souvlaki in Greece or waffles in Belgium.

 

Budget travellers keen to hit the slopes should try swapping ski resorts in Switzerland or France for Poland or Slovenia to save some pennies.

 

Keen to visit places no one back home has heard of? Trade tourist hotspots like La Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell in Barcelona for hiking the UNESCO World Heritage-listed El Camino de Santiago, stopping for pintxos in San Sebastian of course.

 

Further north you can explore the wild, remote vistas of the Lofoten Islands in Norway, hike the sweeping green landscapes of the Faroe Islands, or go dog sledding in Lapland, Santa’s hometown in Finland.

 

Pintxos in northern Spain, pierogi in Poland, saganaki in Greece, and hot dogs in Denmark (yes really) – Europe and the UK are filled with delicious destinations and dishes.

 

Treat yourself to a high tea in England, go truffle hunting in Tuscany, explore caves where blue cheese is aged in southern France, and wander fresh food markets like the Quadrilatero market in Bologna. Go hungry and prepare to be satisfied with incredible flavours and full stomachs.

 

If fancy fashion designers are your thing, make a beeline for the Galeries Lafayette in Paris (and finish with a glass of champagne in the rooftop restaurant). The Harrods department store in London and Via Monte Napoleone shopping street in Milan are also luxury destinations.

 

If you’re travelling to find something a little different, try weekend markets all over the UK and Europe. The best of them all? Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar - the perfect place to fill up your suitcase!