Experiencing a sun-drenched Euro summer is a travel rite of passage for many people. From sipping Aperols in Rome to picnicking in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, it’s what fuels every Aussie’s wanderlust during the winter months. But, why does it kinda feel like everyone has the availability (and a flexible working arrangement) to go away for months on end? And is it even possible to do a proper European vacay – you know, with all the swimming, eating, drinking and shopping – if you only have a couple of weeks or less up your sleeve? Based on my own experience, I say absolutely yes – and you can even include a cheeky stopover, just to make that long-haul flight a little more bearable.
Earlier this year, I had my very own mini Euro summer, travelling from Sydney to Nice and Paris via Doha. In total, I was only away for nine nights – and yes, I came back feeling like I’d just spent a month doing nothing but lying on the beach. The most important factor? A scheduled layover. I flew in the Qsuite with Qatar Airways (their new partnership with Virgin Australia has made this route possible), which made Doha a no-brainer when it came to a pitstop destination. So much more than its bougie international airport, the Qatari capital is a delightfully surprising city where tradition meets modernity, and the vast desert gives way to space-age skyscrapers.
Stop 1: Qatar
I stayed at the gorgeous InterContinental Doha Beach and Spa, which makes for a great base. Pro tip: the arvo flight from Sydney will see you land in Doha in the late evening, which means you can go straight to bed and wake up refreshed and ready to explore. Two days is an ideal amount of time to tick off heaps of local attractions, starting with the National Museum of Qatar. A breathtaking feat of design by French architect Jean Nouvel (the building is meant to represent a desert rose), it’s home to various exhibitions that celebrate Qatar’s rich history while also looking to its future. And if you can squeeze it in, the Museum of Islamic Art and pastel-coloured Mina Port are also well worth a visit.
Another must-do: the Souq Waqif, which comes alive as the sun starts to set and the temperatures drop (slightly). A dizzying feast for the senses, you can browse stalls selling everything from spices to gold; visit the falcon hospital; see the famous ‘Golden Thumb Statue’; and sample local delicacies like kunafa from Al Aker Sweets.
But to really get a sense of Qatar, you need to escape the city limits – and the best way to do this is via an early-morning four-wheel driving tour into the dunes of Khor Al Adaid, where you can swim in an inland sea as dawn breaks.
Stop 2: Nice
With the first leg complete, it’s onto Europe. And the key to maximising your summer vibes on a tight itinerary is choosing the perfect destination. Enter: France. Specifically, Paris and Nice – aka the best of both worlds, where you can get your fix of city culture with a side of sun, surf and sea. Qatar flies direct from Doha to Paris and Nice, and it’s the latter I head to first.
A glistening jewel in the Côte d'Azur’s crown of gorgeous beach towns, Nice is the accessible, approachable sibling to swanky holiday hotspots like Cannes and St Tropez. With a sweeping promenade that’s abuzz at all hours with pedestrians; a chessboard-like main square surrounded by restaurants, bars and shops; and a historic Old Town where you can get lost in a maze of narrow streets or stock up on fresh local produce at the Cours Saleya market; it’s a lively hub that offers something for every kind of traveller.
I’m spending three nights here, staying at the grand Anantara Plaza Nice, which is conveniently located between the beach and Place Masséna. This timeframe allows me to explore all of the above, but also venture a little further inland to discover another side of the French Riviera’s cultural capital. In the pretty-as-a-postcard town of Saint-Paul de Vence you can visit Fondation Maeght, an independently run modern art gallery that boasts works by a truly legendary line-up of acclaimed contemporary artists, including Joan Miró, Wassily Kandinsky, Pierre Bonnard and Marc Chagall (many of whom were close friends of the visionary couple who established the site). You can see more works by Chagall – an early modernist best known for his colourful, heavily symbolic dream-like creations – at the Musée National Marc Chagall. As someone who drew inspiration from Chagall’s figurative illustrations for my year 12 art studies, going on a private tour of the gallery is an experience I won’t forget.
Tick off a meal at the gorgeous Le Patio Restaurant and Terrasse at Hôtel La Pérouse – a leafy courtyard hidden beneath century-old lemon trees, where the Spritzes are the size of your head – and consider your Nice bucket list officially complete.
Stop 3: Paris
If you assumed the holiday deadline calls for a quick flight onwards to Paris, think again – even the most jam-packed journey allows for a more scenic route, and so I head to the City of Love aboard the high-speed SNCF. Trust me, you’ll want your phone charged for this part of the trip, in order to capture the landscape as it changes from the glittering waters of the Med to lavender fields, rolling hills, verdant farmland and finally the edgy outer ‘burbs of Paris.
It’s not my first time to the French capital, and with only two nights, my hit list is targeted – a mix of shopping, eating and key attractions. I check in to the newish La Fondation – a super cool, design-forward boutique hotel with a killer rooftop. Galeries Lafayette is the obvious scene of some damage to my credit card (hot tip: head to the rooftop bar for a mid-spree cocktail and panoramic views), and I jump on a Lime bike to cycle over to Notre Dame, which has been recently restored to its original glory after major fire damage (while bookings are advised, I rocked up at around 6.30pm and only have to wait 15 minutes to get inside).
A long, luxurious lunch should be the centrepiece of any good holiday, and one of the most gorgeous restaurants in Paris to indulge is Margaux. This charming French bistro – where the walls are lined to the ceiling with wine bottles, and the food is served on a colourful medley of mismatched vintage plates – is located near the Pont de l'Alma, with views of the Eiffel Tower. If there’s one thing you eat here, make sure it’s the chocolate mousse with cream and fresh berries. That dish will live rent free in my brain for as long as I live.
My other recommendations include an eco-friendly boat ride along the Seine with Green River Cruises; eating as many pastries as humanly possible (my fave spot was The French Bastards on Rue de Levis); and going for an early morning walk to Sacre Coeur before the crowds hit.
Phew! And there it is: a bona fide Euro summer getaway, completed in just ten days with a stopover. Yes, it does require a bit of stamina. But is it absolutely worth it for the plot and travel mems? You bet. Consider this your sign (and your holiday blueprint) that it can be done – you can thank me when you get back with all those remaining annual leave hours still in your pocket.
To find out more and to book your own Qsuite experience with Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, head to the website.
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