Heidi Fuller-Love

Europe is not lacking in jaw-dropping beauty, but how do you choose its top spots? Its home to seven Wonders of the World, for one thing, as well as 34 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and even that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of the incredible things you can find across the continent.  But even if we can’t list every single one, we can list our favourites. To put together this list, we asked our editorial staff team and travel writers based in Sweden, Greece and more for the most beautiful things they’d ever seen in Europe. The result? Stories of taking boats out on Germany’s hidden lakes, climbing up to vast sand dunes in France and afternoons spent strolling Art Nouveau streets in Latvia. From solitary islands to packed ski resorts, here are the most beautiful places in Europe, picked by us. RECOMMENDED:🌤️ The most beautiful places in the world🌃 The best city breaks in Europe🏖️ The best beaches in Europe🌊 The best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe Ella Doyle is Time Out’s guides editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

La Riviera Francesa podría ser la capital internacional de los viajes de lujo, pero no tienes que ser súper rico para disfrutar de un poco de diversión en el paraíso. Es fácil disfrutar del sol en una playa fantástica sin gastar ni un solo euro y hay una montaña de pueblos bonitos para presupuestos ajustados -solo hay que saber dónde ir-. Atreveos a recorrer las estrechas y, a veces, empinadas calles de Eze y maravillaos con las vistas panorámicas desde el pueblo en la ladera de la montaña. O combinad vuestros modelitos con los edificios emblemáticos del casco antiguo medieval de Menton. Incluso si es solo para un día, abrazad la vida de lujo y regresad a casa con suficientes recuerdos como para fantasear con ellos. ¿La mejor manera de hacerlo? Alquilar un coche y tachar cada uno de la lista en un viaje colosal por carretera. ¿Suena bien? La verdad es que sí. Aquí están los mejores lugares para visitar en la Riviera Francesa. ¿Cuál es el mejor momento para viajar? Al planificar vuestro viaje a la Riviera Francesa, apuntad a la primavera o finales del verano, y si podéis evitar las multitudes, septiembre es el mejor mes, también cuando se trata de buscar las mejores gangas para el hospedaje en el sur. RECOMENDADO:🏘 ¿Os apetece explorar los pueblos con más encanto del sur Francia?🏖 Descubrid qué visitar en Francia🗼 ¿Pasáis por la capital? No os perdáis las mejores cosas que hacer en Paris🏡 Perdeos entre los pueblos con más encanto de Francia🏰 Pasad la noche en un Airbnb d

A Francia, su fama le precede. De ella, conocemos París, sus pintorescos pueblos rurales o su gastronomía, con esos quesos y el rosado en abundancia. De lo que quizá hablamos menos cuando nos referimos al país vecino es de sus playas. Craso error porque hay playas en Francia que pueden competir de tú a tú con algunas de las mejores del mundo, lugares espectaculares en los que hospedarse. Tienen mucho que ver en ello sus aguas cristalinas, sus arenas blancas o sus imponentes atardeceres. Desde pequeñas calas escondidas hasta grandes arenales, hemos recopilados las mejores para que las añadas a tu lista de deseos viajeros. RECOMENDADO:🏘 ¿Os apetece explorar los pueblos con más encanto del sur Francia?🏖 Descubrid qué visitar en Francia🗼 ¿Pasáis por la capital? No os perdáis las mejores cosas que hacer en Paris🏡 Perdeos entre los pueblos con más encanto de Francia🏰 Pasad la noche en un Airbnb de Niza

Even from a distance, Santorini is a sight to behold. Surrounded by the azure Aegean Sea and home to its famous flooded caldera, it’s a true gem of the Cyclades. This is the Greece that attracts tourists from all across the globe: the sugar cube-like houses glinting in the sunlight (almost good enough to eat) and the domes of Orthodox churches sending flashes of blue through the landscape. The island is almost too attractive. On the days when a cruise ship has docked, Santorini’s largest towns, like Fira and Oia, become packed with friendly visitors. But don’t let that put you off. If you know where to look, there are plenty of lesser-known, picture-perfect spots to stay away from the hustle and bustle. Start your holiday here. And now, relax... RECOMMENDED:🇬🇷 New to Greece? Here's where to stay in Santorini☀️ Check out the best spots to visit in Greece  Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Does anything conjure up an image of beach bliss quite like the Med? Surrounded by 22 countries and bordered by three continents, the Mediterranean Sea boasts miles and miles of coastline – not to mention hundreds of islands. And while there are certain seaside spots where you’ll need to fight for space on the sand (we’re looking at you, Barceloneta), there are plenty of other secluded stretches of coastline across the Med. Our selection of alternative beach spots, chosen by Mediterranean-based travel writers, takes you beyond Europe to North Africa and the Middle East. From wild, flamingo-frequented beaches in Spain to a culture-packed port city in France, this is where to find the Mediterranean’s best alternative (and affordable) beach breaks. There’s plenty of room to lay out your towel here. Grace Beard is Time Out’s deputy travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts. RECOMMENDED:🗺 Europe’s most underrated destinations🌆 The best European city breaks🚫 The travel destinations that want tourists to stay away

Mykonos is the “Greek Ibiza”, and the club scene is spectacular. But, in common with the Spanish party paradise, it’s also an island with far more on offer than the chance to stay up dancing until 4am. The “other” Mykonos is chilled-out, classy and jaw-droppingly beautiful. But before you start exploring the bougainvillaea-adorned streets and take a dip in the clear ocean, you’ll need to book somewhere to stay among all the limestone buildings. We’ve compiled a list of the best hotels in Mykonos – and there's something for everyone.  Updated August 2024: We may have found the most luxurious resort in Mykonos, and it sits at No.19 in this list.  RECOMMENDED:🇬🇷 Discover the best of Mykonos🌞 Where to next? Here are the best Greek Islands to visit🍦 Check out the best things to do in Mykonos Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The largest of the Balearic Islands is a hugely underrated spot. Majorca seems to have earned a bit of a reputation for ‘Brits abroad’, but if you know the right spots, you’ll see a different side of it entirely.  Home to some of the best beaches you’ll ever see, you’ll spend your days strolling quaint old towns, taking dazzling hikes, studying ancient ruins and tasting the very best sobrasada, fresh fish and coca de trempó Majorca has to offer. From flea markets to hidden coves, here are the best things to do in Majorca.  RECOMMENDED:🏨 The best hotels in Majorca📍 The best places to visit in Spain🇪🇸 Our ultimate guide to Spain Mary-Ann Gallagher is a travel writer and guidebook author. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have 

Greece might be the birthplace of democracy but it also has Europe’s longest coastline, which is probably why most travellers vote with their feet and head for the beaches. You might like your beaches buzzy, golden and packed with beachy cafés. Or perhaps you’d like yours served up in the shape of a secret pirate’s hideaway. Perhaps you’re after aesthetically pleasing spots that will look great on your Instagram feed. Whatever you’re looking for, here are the most mouth-watering beach treats in Greece. Happy chilling.  RECOMMENDED:🇬🇷 The best places to visit in Greece🏝️ The most beautiful Greek islands🏨 The best hotels in Greece🏖️ The best beaches in Europe Heidi Fuller-Love is a Greece expert based in Crete. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  

Mykonos has gained a bit of a reputation for being one of Europe’s victims of overtourism. And it’s true – much of this beautiful island has become lined with tourist trap restaurants, naff souvenir shops and beaches full of commercial sunbeds.  But if you know where to look, Mykonos’s magic is still very much alive. On any given week in Mykonos, you can party all night to famous DJs, have dinner overlooking a crystal-blue sea, stroll through its old town and head out on a day trip by boat. Your best bet might just be heading there in the quieter months to avoid the crowds. Here are the best things to do on Mykonos. RECOMMENDED:🧿 The best hotels in Mykonos🏝️ The best Greek islands to visit🇬🇷 The best places to visit in Greece🏖️ The best beaches in Europe Marissa Tejada and Heidi Fuller-Love are writers based in Greece. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  

From the volcanic majesty of Santorini to the culinary charms of Sifnos, Greece’s islands are the country at its absolute best. No country in Europe is better suited for island-hopping, whether you’re driving or catching a couple of ferries.  Greece may have myriad brilliant things to do, but what can beat pure, unadulterated beachside bliss? That’s right, nothing. So we’ve rounded up the very best Greek islands to visit, and the best things to do while you’re there. Whatever the holiday you’re after, here are the best islands in Greece.  RECOMMENDED:🇬🇷 The best places to visit in Greece🏨 The best hotels in Greece🧿 The ultimate guide to Athens🏖️ The best beaches in Europe Heidi Fuller-Love is a travel writer and Greece expert based in Crete. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  

‘Overtourism’. It’s more than a buzzword – in the world’s most popular destinations, it’s a problem that affects almost every aspect of local life, from the environment to the cost of renting, transport and eating out. And when a place is overwhelmed by people, it’s not only locals’ quality of life that suffers; the quality of your holiday does, too.  But, with baby steps, it looks like things could be changing. Destinations like Italy and Japan are coming up with ways to redistribute tourism from densely crowded hotspots to lesser-visited regions. Among travellers, overtourism has given rise to the ‘destination dupes’ trend, where overrun holiday destinations are swapped out for less crowded, less expensive, but just-as-good alternatives.  On our newly updated list of the world’s most underrated travel destinations, you won’t find your Bangkoks or your Balis, your Amalfis or your Amsterdams. What you will find is a Yosemite dupe, Morocco’s overlooked neighbour, a place where penguins outnumber people, and plenty more travel inspo where that came from.Chosen by our network of expert editors and globetrotting travel writers, these overlooked spots offer great (or quiet) alternatives to the classics. And in many cases, they’re places that actually really want visitors. In other words, travelling to any of these 24 criminally overlooked destinations is a win-win situation. See you out there? RECOMMENDED: 🏰 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe🚞 12 ways to be a bett

The French Riviera might be the international capital of luxury travel, but you don’t have to be super rich and wealthy to enjoy some fun in paradise. You can easily bask in the sun on a beautiful beach and not spend a single euro, and if you know the right spots, there are most certainly good towns for a budget. Brave the narrow, and sometimes steep, streets of Eze and marvel at the panoramic views from the mountainside village. Or coordinate your outfits with the bright and vibrant buildings in the medieval old town of Menton. Even if just for a day, embrace the life of luxury and leave with enough to fantasise about when you’re back at home. The best way to do it? Rent a car and tick each of them off on a colossal road trip. Sound good? We agree. Here are the best places to visit on the French Riviera.  When is the best time to visit? When planning your trip to the French Riviera, aim for spring or late summer, particularly September if you can avoid the crowds. RECOMMENDED:🏨 The best hotels in the South of France🇫🇷 The best places to visit in France🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Nice🏰 The prettiest villages in France This guide was last updated by Chloe Braithwaite, a writer based in Nice in the South of France. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more informatio

It’s hard not to make jokes about having to build your own bed when you stay in the world’s only IKEA Hotell, but I resisted the temptation when I checked into this unique property in Älmhult: the remote, lake-studded region of southern Sweden where IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kamprad grew up.  I reached the flatpack furniture giant’s only hotel after a two-hour train ride from Copenhagen. With that iconic blue and yellow sign outside, it was hard to miss. The 254 rooms – which range from cabins with bunks beds and shared bathrooms to doubles with plump queen beds – stay true to IKEA’s budget-friendly ethos, with one-night stays coming in well under €100. And – as you’d expect — they’re all furnished with some of IKEA’s most iconic products: Lisabo tables, Poang easy chairs, Boomerang coat hangers. It’s a bit like walking into one of those staged sets you find in an IKEA warehouse, only with a shower tacked on.  Photograph: Booking.com Although the rooms are Scandi-style bland, with blonde parquet floors, beige walls and white cotton curtains, there are excellent IKEA-style add-ons that travellers and digital nomads (like me) will love. Included is a free-to-use communal lounge area complete with fridge, sink and dishwasher, plus a laundry room – also free – where you can put a wash on before heading down to IKEA Hotell’s gleaming restaurant for a fika (that’s Swedish for snack) or – you guessed it – lingonberry-smothered meatballs. Photograph: Booking.com IKEA was founded by I