Masters Tom - Lonely Planet Europe on a shoestring

Europe is a patchwork of more than 40 compulsively individualistic countries and is a dazzling and spectacular place to explore. Jump in almost anywhere and join the party.

Amsterdams Canal Belt ( ), the Netherlands
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Overwhelming it can be, confusing for sure just perusing a map of the crowded Old World will reveal cities, mountain ranges, seas and even countries you may never have even heard of. But the good news is that whatever you decide to do here, youll leave blown away by the sights, sounds, tastes and other sensations youll experience: there simply is no way to tour Europe and not be awestruck.

First timers might try a sprinkling of the classics (Britain, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain) and spice it up with a dash of something classical (Italy, Greece, Turkey), while those who have covered the essentials might try lesser-explored destinations (the Balkans, Scandinavia, Portugal or Poland, for example). Those wanting to explore Europes extremes can head to challenging Russia, fabulous Albania or surprising Romania theres literally no end to the options.

Europes almost unmanageable wealth of attractions is its single biggest draw. Among its astonishing cultural heritage youll fi nd everything from the birthplace of democracy in Athens, the Renaissance art of Florence, the graceful canals of Venice and the Napoleonic splendour of Paris, to less obvious attractions such as the Moorish palaces of Andaluca, the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World in Turkey, and the majesty of a second Venice in Russias former capital, St Petersburg.

Youll also fi nd glorious scenery (try the Scottish Highlands, the Swiss Alps or Norways fjords), world-leading architecture, art, design, fashion and music (see London, Berlin, Paris, Antwerp and Copenhagen) and some of the best nightlife in the world (as well as London, Berlin and Paris, dont miss Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest and Madrid).

Geirangerfjorden ( ), Norway
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A trip around Europes patchwork of nations will inevitably make you rethink what you thought you knew about the place. As with any form of travel, surprises await: nationalities about which you know little beyond lazy clichs will become familiar friends, both complex and contradictory; you will feel the chill on your spine when you see that iconic work of art in the flesh or find yourself standing right where that happened. You will at least once find yourself on a beach, up a mountain, at a cafe or in a club thinking these people know how to live.

Yes, Europe has and offers it all. So dont delay get planning your own European odyssey as soon as you can. With so many extraordinary destinations offering incredible things to see and do, your only problem will be where to begin

Londons Nightlife, Britain

Can you hear that, music lovers? Thats London calling from the numerous theatres, concert halls, nightclubs, pubs and even tube stations, where on any given night hundreds, if not thousands, of performers are taking to the stage. Search for your own iconic London experience, whether its the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall ( ).

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Eiffel Tower, France

Seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower ( ) annually and most agree 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 the stairs, buy a crpe from a stand or a key ring from the street, snap yourself in front of it, visit it at night or our favourite experience the odd special occasion when all 324m of it glows a different colour.

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Venice, Italy

Theres something magical about Venice on a sunny winters day. With far fewer tourists around and the light sharp and clear, its the perfect time to lap up the citys unique and magical atmosphere. Ditch your map and wander Dorsoduros shadowy backlines ( ), which houses works by many of the giants of 20th-century art.

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Remembering the Berlin Wall, Germany

Even after more than 20 years, the disbelief that the Berlin Wall ( ) or learning about its history at the Documentation Centre: the path brings it all into context. Its heartbreaking and hopeful and sombre, but integral in trying to understand Germanys capital.

East Side Gallery
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Santorini, Greece

On first view, startling Santorini ( ) grabs your attention and doesnt let it go. The submerged caldera, surrounded by lava-layered cliffs topped by villages that look like a sprinkling of icing sugar, is one of natures great wonders, and is best experienced by a walk along the clifftops from the main town of Fira to the northern village of Oia. The precariousness and impermanence of the place is breathtaking. Recover from your efforts with an ice-cold Mythos beer in Oia as you wait for the towns famed picture-perfect sunset.

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St Petersburg, Russia

Marvel at how many masterpieces there are in the Hermitage ( ); have a banquet fit for a tsar then dance till dawn at a dive bar in a crumbling ruin Russias imperial capital is a visual stunner and hedonists delight, best visited at the height of summer when the White Nights see the city party around the clock.