Natural Beauty Trips in Europe

Many people come to Turkey to see the stunning ruins, while others are drawn by the siren call of the beaches. This itinerary, starting and ending in Istanbul, will satisfy both, and you'll see some of the greatest preserved ancient sites in Turkey. Some happen to be nestled along beaches, and others are just a short detour from a boat ride and sunshine.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Archaeology
• Beaches
• Architecture
• History
• Natural Beauty

On this itinerary, you'll take in some of the top destinations in France. It's a perfect trip for first time visitors or those who want to sample the country. You'll spend time in big cities like Paris and Lyon, before heading south to soak up the sunshine of Provence and the Riviera.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Food and Wine
• Art and Culture
• Architecture

Take in the best of Greece and Turkey by following this classic route. Beginning at, well, the beginning—antiquity, that is—you'll explore Athens's classic monuments. From there, traverse the Greek Islands, with stops in picturesque Santorini and glitzy Rhodes, before heading for Turkey's mainland. Ancient ruins and stunning views abound in Antalya and Cappadoccia and lead to your final stop, Istanbul.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Archaeology
• History
• Natural Beauty
• Museums

If there's one thing that England does best, it's splendid homes and the gardens that surround them. This itinerary starts in London's parks and palaces, moves through the suburb of Royal Tunbridge Wells for nearby treasure houses, heads to the cathedral of Salisbury and the magnificent manors of the Cotswolds, before finishing in the grand gardens and estates of the Peak District.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Architecture
• Natural Beauty
• Great Drive

The Italian Renaissance, a golden age of art and culture, celebrated beauty, innovation, and mathematical proportion. You can read it in Dante, see it in Michelangelo, and be engulfed by it when you walk into a Renaissance church. This tour highlights key Renaissance sites and masterpieces in eight different locales, including the major cities of Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome, as well some more remote, less frenetic destinations.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Food and Wine
• Art and Culture
• Shopping
• Nightlife

Scotland's beauty can be rugged, mysterious, and sometimes stark, thanks to the country's famous lochs, craggy moors, and castles—all of which you'll experience on this comprehensive journey. Start in history-rich Edinburgh and head north to the St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf. Then take in the dramatic landscapes near Inverness and on the enchanting Isle of Skye. End on a high note with an invigorating walk around Loch Lomond before exploring the lively city of Glasgow.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Art and Culture
• History
• Natural Beauty
• Architecture
• Shopping

This trip, true to its moniker, gives you all the best of the Netherlands and Belgium. Start among Amsterdam's canals, see the seaside by The Hague, and check out Rotterdam's busy nightlife. In Belgium, you'll see Brugge's medieval splendor, the artistry of Ghent, and the street life of Brussels before heading home.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• History
• Food and Wine
• Natural Beauty
• Nightlife
• Architecture

Traveling Ireland by rail is one of the best ways to tour the country. There are no white-knuckle rides as you face large tour buses on narrow, winding roads (and not to mention the stress of driving on the left). You can just sit back, relax, and take in the brazenly scenic landscape while enjoying a picnic lunch on the train. Starting from Shannon, this itinerary hits some of the most popular sites in Ireland, from Limerick and Blarney Castle to the famed Ring of Kerry and Kilkenny, before ending your trip in Dublin.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Food and Wine
• Natural Beauty
• Art and Culture
• Architecture

Why choose between visiting France or Spain? On this trip you'll hit the big cities like Madrid and Toulouse as well as spend time in each country's lesser known towns, like Zaragoza and St-Jean-Pied-de-Port. You'll go through mountains, vineyards and little coastal villages while exploring outstanding museums and churches.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Food and Wine
• Nightlife
• Shopping

Starting in Barcelona and gently curving east, this itinerary showcases the highlights of northern Spain, along with Madrid. You'll explore fishing villages in San Sebastián and rocky beaches along the Basque Coast before hitting the museums of Bilbao. The trip winds down in Madrid, where you can tour the Prado and dance the night away.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Food and Wine
• Museums
• Architecture
• Art and Culture

This itinerary goes up Norway's famed west coast, all the way to the Europe's northernmost point. Fjords, bears, sea eagles, arctic cathedrals, and shipbuilding—you'll find it all on this wild voyage.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Architecture
• History

What's better than a road trip to explore a country? In this itinerary, you'll be road-tripping around Greece and criss-crossing from Attica to the Peloponnese to explore some its top ancient sites. You'll see the ruins of sacred Delphi, where the Oracle once uttered its prophesies, the ancient theater at Epidauros that had room for over 14,000 people, and the city which was given to Achilles as a gift.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Archaeology
• Food and Wine
• History
• Natural Beauty

Try the Switzerland Sampler for a taste of this tiny country's wares. From cosmopolitan Zurich and Geneva to the quaint charms of Luzern and Zermatt to Bern's sleepy appeal, this itinerary gives you a good sense of what's to be seen here.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Shopping
• Architecture

This itinerary hits Scandinavia's top towns. Start in cosmopolitan Stockholm, then explore the folklore-heavy region of Dalarna. Finish the trip in Göteborg and Oslo, two of Scandinavia's prettiest coastal towns.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Architecture
• Shopping
• Art and Culture

No one has mastered the art of living well as successfully as the Italians. This itinerary highlights locales in northern Italy that are dedicated to pleasure, from a luxurious lakeside getaway to gorgeous wine country to a cliff-lined seacoast. The trip is proof that you can have a wonderful Italian vacation without seeing one Renaissance masterpiece or setting foot in a cathedral—though there are plenty of opportunities to do both if you want to.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Art and Culture
• Food and Wine
• Natural Beauty
• Shopping

This itinerary will take you to great heights. From Mount Pilatus near Luzern to the Matterhorn, the Grindelwald, Mürren and Mont Blanc, this trip aims to be tip-top. Don't be afraid to slow down and enjoy the scenery as you travel from point to point, especially when moving from Lauterbrunnen to Zermatt and between Lausanne and Geneva.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• History
• Museums

This itinerary covers the best of the Istrian region. Start in majestic Venice, then thread your way along the coast, seeing Roman ruins and soaring churches in the Croatian towns of Pula and Rovinj. This trip is easily done by ferry.

This Trip's Top Experiences:

• Natural Beauty
• Architecture
• History
• Art and Culture