Europe Destination A to Z

Albania
Hikers will love the Albanian Alps, cyclists will enjoy Albania's ancient tracks, archaeology and history buffs can explore significant sites and castles galore

Andorra
Detractors will tell you that Andorra is all about skiing and shopping, but beyond the slopes and duty-free stores there's plenty of year-round fresh air and fun to be had

Armenia
As the world's oldest Christian nation, Armenia has a fascinating history and numerous crumbling churches to explore. The welcoming Armenians will delight in revealing more about their artistic and spiritual heritage

Austria
Fresh air, fresh air and more fresh air – Austria is the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts

Azores
The islands of the Azores, marooned out in the Atlantic Ocean, are a haven for volcano walking, spectacular flowers and some of the world's best whale watching

Belarus
Enjoy picturesque Belarus with its unique spirit and rich history. Indulge in the city's bars and restaurants or visit the majestic castles and museums for a real insight into Belarus life

Belgium
Often overlooked, Belgium offers an interesting mix of languages, cultures, fine cycling, big bird flocks and, yes, mouthwatering beer and chocolate!

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Not that long ago the only foreigners who visited Bosnia and Herzegovina were aid workers. Slowly travellers are discovering the country’s charms

Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a bold and beautiful place with scenic mountains, golden beaches and spectacular ski resorts

Canary Islands
Tenerife, Lanzarote and co. may be a byword for package tourism, but beyond the black sand beaches lie great walks, local culture and Spain's highest mountain, volcanic Mt Teide

Croatia
Croatia is best known for its spectacular coastline and more than 1,000 islands, but is home to many other charms from lakes, waterfalls and wildlife to cafés, culture and castles

Cyprus
Sun, sand, sea, seriously ancient ruins and unspoiled mountains, Cyprus is a beach destination with a whole lot of history

Czech Republic
Prague is undoubtedly the jewel in the Czech Republic’s crown. With its wonderful array of Gothic, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Cubist buildings, who could blame the millions of visitors who flock there each year?

Denmark
Denmark is a tranquil place with an abundance of picturesque villages and towns, historic castles and monuments, and a coastline that varies from broad sandy beaches to small coves and gentle fjords

Estonia
Estonia has become the hottest new discovery of Eastern Europe. With its gorgeous medieval capital Tallinn, its enormous forests, beautiful wetlands and remote offshore islands, Estonia is fast becoming a fascinating destination

Faroe Islands
Halfway between Iceland and Norway, to the north of Scotland, the Faroe Islands are a jigsaw puzzle of 18 volcanic islands, lying far off the tourist radar.

Finland
Finland is the down-to-earth sibling of the Nordic countries. It has a natural purity with idyllic scenery, beautiful architecture and most of all warm hearted people, making it an exceptionally rewarding place to visit.

France
Renowned the world over for its culture and its cuisine, France is also a land of spectacular and greatly diverse landscapes

Georgia
Georgia is a land blessed with striking beauty and varied landscapes. From enclosed high valleys to vine-draped courtyards, and winding streets, Georgia has stunning scenery accompanied with a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Germany
With fairytale castles such as Neuschwanstein, timber-framed medieval towns like Münster and outstanding areas of natural beauty, Germany is a romantic’s dream.

Gibraltar
Welcome to Little Britain, where bobbies walk the beat, ladies buy their smalls in Marks and Spencer and pubs serve real ale with the scampi in a basket

Greece
Greece is where classical civilisation meets sunloungers – where the myth-shrouded landscapes of Mount Olympus and the Peloponnese compete with equally legendary beaches and turquoise seas

Greenland
Cut off from the rest of the world for eight months of the year when the fjords freeze over and lying mostly within the Arctic Circle, Greenland is way off the beaten track

Hungary
Hungary is home to historic urban centres and evocative landscapes, not to mention quality wines, rejuvenating thermal springs, and a thriving arts and music scene

Iceland
It’s truly cool, but Iceland is not really that icy – well, except for a handful of truly massive glaciers

Ireland
Think of Ireland and the stereotypical image of Guinness and Leprechauns tend to spring to mind, but Ireland has much much more to offer

Italy
Italy - beautiful landscapes, beautiful buildings, beautiful people. From Roman Empire ruins to the art of the high Renaissance, Italy is a travel classic

Kosovo
In world terms, Kosovo is a little baby. Long a part of the Ottoman Empire, then an autonomous region of Serbia, it was only in 2008 – following bitter battles

Latvia
Located on the Baltic sea, Latvia is a small country with ancient history and traditions. Fabulous architectural monuments, nature parks, lakes and beautiful forests make up this splendid destination

Liechtenstein
Little Liechtenstein is a curious enclave of princely castles, hearty cuisines and a whole lot of mountains

Lithuania
One of Europe's most enchanting countries, Lithuania is a land of castles, lakes and forests, consisting of vast plains parted by hills and sand dunes along the Baltic shore

Luxembourg
Luxembourg is an attractive country with a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and valleys, forests, vineyards and striking sandstone rock formations

Macedonia
Off-the-beaten track Macedonia offers an Eastern European enclave of lakes, mountains and traditional merry-making

Malta
Don’t let the tiny islands of Malta and Gozo fool you. With more historical monuments per square kilometre than anywhere else, history buffs will be in heaven

Moldova
Moldova, in the far east of Europe, is home to fine wine, ancient monasteries and a rather curious breakaway republic

Monaco
Glam up for a mini-break in Monaco – peruse classic cars, posh yachts and a few hidden green corners for a slice of the European high life

Montenegro
Montenegro is Europe's hidden gem – compact, yet bursting with gorgeous Adriatic beaches, some of Europe's finest mountains and activities aplenty

Netherlands
There's much more to the Netherlands than capital Amsterdam: hire a bike and discover tranquil islands, pretty canals, bustling cities and great beer and cheese

North Cyprus
Quiet beaches, Crusader castles and nesting turtles: Cyprus' less-visited half deserves greater recognition – in every sense

Norway
Think Norway and images of fresh air, dramatic fjords and untamed wilderness spring to mind. And quite right too: Norway is a geographical stunner

Poland
Right in the heart of Europe, travellers to Poland can find both pristine beaches and snow-covered mountains. Bask in the sun on the Baltic coast, explore the vibrant streets of Gdansk, and come face to face with the native European Bison in Bialowieza, Poland’s first National Park

Portugal
One of Europe's most laid-back nations boasts a strollable capital, rugged interior and rich cultural history

Romania
Forget the Dracula clichés, and get your teeth stuck into the wild landscapes and medieval villages of the Carpathians

Russia
Russia, the world’s biggest country, is huge. Spanning 11 times zones, it can take days to travel from one city to another. Don’t even think about tackling it all at once unless you’ve got a serious amount of time on your hands

San Marino
Diminutive San Marino is the world's oldest country, and a surprising pocket of alleyways and villages perched on the picturesque Italian hills

Serbia
Serbia is emerging as one of Southern Europe’s newest and most popular tourist destinations. Despite its recent history, the country has an amazing variety of historical and cultural attractions, this on top its stunning natural beauty

Slovakia
Slovakia is full of little-known delights – country villages, lakes perfect for swimming, extensive national parks and period architecture

Slovenia
Lovely little Slovenia packs a lot of mountain, cave, river and adventure into its small proportions

Spain
Britain's most popular holiday destination has enough culture, energy and sheer geographic diversity to last a lifetime

Svalbard (Spitsbergen)
Svalbard is the archipelago haven of the Arctic. This polar region has a range of arctic wildlife including polar bears, seals, reindeer and more

Sweden
Stretching from the high Arctic to sunny southern island beaches, Sweden offers outdoor activities and cosmopolitan cities for every taste

Switzerland
Switzerland is only about a sixth in size of the UK, but with its German, French and Italian parts it is one of Europe’s most diverse countries

Turkey
Turkey is where Europe and Asia collide, where secular modernisation meets ancient Muslim traditions

Ukraine
Ukraine's chequered history has seen its people weather occupation, corruption and financial paralysis, the Orange Revolution has been the catalyst for a renaissance

United Kingdom
Four countries in one, the UK is a land of stately palaces and soaring cathedrals, mellow cities and rural landscapes of vivid green. Add a vibrant modern culture and you have it all