Culture, cuisine, history and monuments

Europe is an extraordinary blend of languages, stories, peoples and parties. There are time-tested favourite cities with their blend of living large and historic tales: London, Paris, Rome. If you're a first-time traveller, try getting into the European swing in France, Germany, Britain and Spain. Been there done that? How about seeing the birthplace of democracy in Athens, cruising the canals in Venice or tripping across the Bosphorus in Istanbul?

Europe: TuscanyTuscany, Italy

Design aficionados will enjoy the funky verve of Copenhagen and Stockholm. If majestic landscapes make you tingle, remember the Swiss Alps, Scottish Highlands and Norwegian fjords. Island hoppers should keep Greece and Croatia on the list. There are deserted beaches to be found in Albania and Bulgaria and the hot spots fringe France's Cote d'Azure, Portugal's Algarve and Spain's Costa Brava. While in Spain – well, off-shore Spain – get your party pants and dancing shoes on if you swing over to Ibiza. Of course this is just the merest dusting of the geographical and cultural treats here. A holiday in Europe can offer these and ample helpings more.

Europe: SwitzerlandWinter Wonderland in Switzerland