Southern Europe

Southern Europe, as diverse as it is spectacular, is about much more than its dazzling beaches. Once you’ve had your fill of its warm, soft sands, head inland to discover ancient monuments, snow-clad mountains, rushes of green forests and some of the most delicious food you’re likely to try on your travels.

Spain
There’s a reason why fiesta is the most widely-known Spanish word in the global vocabulary. In Spain, life is a fiesta. However, a little exploration will take you beyond the stereotypes of sexy dancing and bullrings.

In Barcelona, take a journey through architectural history simply by walking the city’s streets, before wiggling your toes in the sand and grabbing a snack at a beachside chiringuito.

Madrid is all art and beauty, a city that seems to pull art-lovers into its embrace with an almost magnetic force. Likewise, Malaga, the birthplace of Picasso but an oft forgotten little port city that floors visitors with the sheer volume of art it holds within its borders.

On the sister islands of Ibiza and Formentera, one almost an antidote to the other, night-long parties and sunbathing are par for the course, and luxury living with gorgeous sunset vistas are the cherry on top.

Seducing you with its intensity, Seville is a romantic mix of the here and now and the past. Gothic architecture, Mudéjar palaces and medieval alleys rub shoulders with buzzing bars and plazas, where sevillanos spill out to make the most of their gorgeous city.

Basque is as much about its jaw-dropping scenery as it is about its food. Towering mountains, pristine rivers, sandy beaches and rolling green plains form the backdrop for unbelievable gastronomia, cooked with fresh, seasonal produce that tastes as good as it looks.

Italy
A cultural heavyweight, Italy is the star student of the European class. There are plenty of heavy hitters, like Rome, the capital that’s bubbling over with Roman architecture, inspiring art and a palpable electric pulse - the perfect Italian teaser of things to come.

Chic, romantic Amalfi seems to ooze fashionistas, muscular men and pastel-coloured houses. But beyond the yachts and mansions, there’s a rustic, rural side of farms, fishing villages and quaint little homes with lemon trees out front.

No holiday will ever be long enough to take in the many, many delights of Tuscany. Drive through the countryside, taking in the sights of cypress trees and Tuscan ochre houses that always seem to be bathed in an ethereal yellow glow, or wander through the streets once graced by Michelangelo and Botticelli.

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is synonymous with beautiful things - art, architecture and fashion. As you marvel at its palazzi (palaces), medieval chapels, and churches with glorious frescoes you’ll come to realise why the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

In Emilia-Romagna release your inner culinary aficionado and take a cooking class to learn the secrets of Italian gastronomy.

Sardinia playfully juxtaposes a wild hinterland with sunny beaches, switching between the two quite suddenly. Explore its forests and white beaches but take time out to visit its Bronze Age architecture and other historical remnants.

Malta and its sister island Gozo pack a formidable punch, managing to cram pre-history, glorious Mediterranean beaches and even an underground necropolis into a tiny archipelago.

Greece
A treasure chest of impossibly white houses against a piercing blue sky, food with a passionate edge, and more natural beauty than you can shake a stick at, Greece is a masterclass in all things sublime.

With the magnificent 5th-century Acropolis at its heart, Athens continually throws up its rich and varied past, with Byzantine churches and mosaics also making frequent appearances. The city is also perfect for a crash course on Grecian culture, tavernas and all.

Remember to write your hotel address on the palm of your hand before you head out for the night in Mykonos, because chances are, by sun-up, you’re going to need it. A hedonistic party island, this is where the rich and famous come to let their hair down.

The gem of the Cyclades, Santorini’s whitewashed houses almost seem to glitter atop its craggy cliffs. Sunsets are a delight here, best viewed from a quiet clifftop, a glass of wine in hand.

The lesser known, almost secret island of Paros has a rustic vibe that’s far removed from the glossy exteriors of some of its more popular cousins - the perfect place to escape the throng of fashionistas looking for their next profile picture.

France
France exudes an air of sophistication - chic boulangeries, art nouveau cafes, and impeccably dressed men and women who wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of a magazine. Like most of Europe however, it’s also so, so much more.  

There’s Paris where the Eiffel Tower seemingly casts a watchful gaze over the entire city, its leafy avenues and cobblestone streets dotted with architectural marvels and fromageries. Take special time out for the Louvre, that repository of art which boasts some of the greatest works known to man; and afterwards, find a quiet spot in a park to settle down with a gourmet picnic basket.

Nice, the perfect hybrid of French and Italian culture, is a seaside location that’s hard to compete with. A city of artists, it has drawn the likes of Matisse, Picasso and Chagall into its soft, sunlit embrace. In the Cote d'Azur, European icons like Monte Carlo with its casinos and St-Tropez with its yacht lined harbour, beckon travellers looking to indulge, while belle époque villas and pristine beaches offer the chance to unwind, with nothing to worry about but where you’re going next.

The lavender fields of Provence aren’t its only offering. Waving meadows, cypress groves, colourful markets and vineyards await, all coming together in an irresistible bundle.

In Corsica, with its astounding geographical diversity, it’s impossible to get bored of the landscape, which regularly changes from shimmering bays and beaches to jagged mountains, lush forests and little villages upon the hills.

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