Western Europe Travel Guide

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Charm, fascination, pleasure, wonderment just a few of the emotions youll feel in Europe, the continent with the most of everything travellers want.

Grand Place (), Brussels
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You havent been anywhere until youve been to Europe and this means the countries at its core: Western Europe. There is no other place on Earth with so many different nations so close together, with so much history connecting them all touring this patchwork quilt of tiny dots has enthralled travellers for generations.

Europe is easy; its as simple as that. Its the perfect reason to get your passport, book your flight and go. Paris, Rome and London are just the start. You could wash up on a rocky Mediterranean beach with little more than a credit card and some cash and enjoy yourself quite nicely. Yes, it can be expensive, but probably not much more than youre used to paying at home. And home was never like this.

Think back to your first thoughts of Europe. Was it building the Leaning Tower of Pisa out of Lego blocks? Or wondering why the best toast was called French? Or quaffing a Heineken behind the neighbours shed? Try to remember all the impressions and thoughts you had about Europe before you ever set foot on the continent Good luck!

For a place thats not very big, the range and breadth of Europes impact is extraordinary. Western Europe occupies less than one-third the space of the US or Australia and yet has still managed to produce Plato, da Vinci and Churchill.

Nowhere else has Europes variety of cultures, places and experiences all crammed together in such a tight space. Fast trains mean you can wake up on the Mediterranean coast, have lunch in Paris and see a show that night in London. Have a dab of this and a dab of that as it suits your mood.

Market shopping in Provence ()
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Whether this is your fifth trip to Western Europe or a first-time dream come true or even if you live there surprises await. Feel the chill on your spine when you see that iconic work of art. Find yourself standing right on the spot where that happened. Or catch yourself on a beach or on a glacier, at a cafe or in a club thinking, These people really know how to live.

Sure, the continent is experiencing challenges to the monumental effort of coexistence called the EU. But compared to the events of the 20th century, the Western Europe of today couldnt be more peaceful and prosperous, with old-world manners that visitors are always charmed to discover and which will charm you long after your trip.

So grab that passport. Go. Enjoy. Love every minute.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower () annually, but few disagree that each visit is unique. From an evening ascent amid twinkling lights to lunch in the company of a staggering city panorama, there are 101 ways to do it. Pedal beneath it, skip the lift and hike up, buy a crpe from a stand or a key ring from the street, snap yourself in front of it, visit at night or even our favourite experience the lucky chance to see all 324m of it glow in a different colour for a light show on a special occasion.

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London

Can you hear that, music lovers? Thats London (), an East End singalong around a pub piano, a classic musical in the West End, a superstar DJ set at Fabric or a floppy-fringed guitar band at a Hoxton boozer.

BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
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Ancient Rome

Romes famous seven hills (there are really nine) offer superb vantage points. The Palatino () is a gorgeous green expanse of evocative ruins, towering pines and unforgettable views over the Roman Forum. This is where Romulus supposedly founded the city, where ancient Roman emperors lived in unimaginable luxury. As you walk the gravel paths you can almost sense the ghosts in the air.

Roman Forum
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Gaping at the Matterhorn

Sure, it graces Toblerone packages and evokes stereotypical Heidi scenes, but nothing prepares you for the allure of the Matterhorn (). As soon as you step into the timber-chalet-filled village of Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, this loner looms above you, mesmerising you with its chiselled, majestic peak. Gaze at it from a tranquil sidewalk cafe, hike in its shadow along the tangle of alpine paths above town with cowbells clinking in the distance, or pause on a ski slope and admire its magnetic stance.

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Venice

Theres something magical about Venice (), the latter of which houses works by many of the giants of 20th-century art.

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Tuscany

Dont dismiss a travel clich out of hand without investigating fully; for example, the gently rolling hills of Tuscany (), bathed in golden light and dotted with ancient vineyards. Battalions of books, postcards and lifestyle TV shows try to do this magical region justice, but nothing really succeeds like a visit. Here, picture-perfect towns full of Renaissance treasures vie with magnificent scenery and Italys best food and wine. Once youve had a taste of Tuscany, every clich will ring absolutely true.