Start Holidays (2024)

07/01/2022

Slovenia has benefitted not only from tourists being pulled north and south to its busier neighbours but also from a boom in the foodie culture within the country, which is placing it front and centre on many gastronomy enthusiasts’ radar.

It’s not just the views and food that are beckoning visitors from across the globe, Slovenia is home to a raft of activities and unique experiences, none more so than acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant Pikol’s floating glamping hotel: Pikol Lake Village, located among the vineyards of Vipava Valley, where you can enjoy the best Slovenia has to offer and sleep under the stars to cap it all off.

Don’t Miss: Lake Bled remains the most popular destination but for good reason. Take a boat or paddle board out and enjoy the serenity and the scenery.

Where to stay: Hotel Grad Otočec with its castle turrets set on a small islet in the Krka River is a magical, romantic getaway.

07/01/2022

The rise in popularity of the Adriatic regions of Europe has been widely acknowledged and for years, the default trip was to either Italy or, perhaps more recently, Croatia – with its rich history and stunning Dalmatian coast beaches. However, travellers are starting to realise that maybe there are other wonders to enjoy in the area and that the crowded streets of Dubrovnik can be replaced with something new, but equally as beautiful. Step forward Slovenia.

Bordering both Italy and Croatia but leading the way in the area with sustainable tourism, Slovenia is now rivalling places like Costa Rica with its green initiatives. The capital, Ljubljana, is not only a blend of brightly coloured buildings and history, but it’s also known as Europe’s Green Capital. The rest of the country is visually akin to walking around in a postcard, with snow-capped peaks footed by brilliant turquoise rivers and lakes which are flanked by verdant green fields. Nowhere is this more evident than Lake Bled, where a picturesque red-topped church sits on a small island in the middle of one of the most peaceful and picturesque bodies of water in Europe.

04/01/2022

Often referred to as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik, Croatia is a traveller’s dream. The city sits on the coast of the Adriatic Sea in southern Croatia with a population that exceeds just over 40,000.

The city has become a summer hotspot for tourists, but it’s easy to see why it has become one of the best places to visit in Europe. The city’s Old Town is impressively preserved and sits protected by its high surrounding walls, which visitors can walk atop of for stellar views of the city and the turquoise sea. A number of islands are within reach for an easy one-day boat trip, or you can spend the day lounging on one of Dubrovnik’s picturesque beaches.

04/01/2022

Veliko Tarnovo is certainly one of the less known most beautiful cities in Europe. It has rich history – being a capital of Bulgaria in the period XII – XIV c., beautiful location – houses perched on hills and the Yantra River meandering through the city, and quite specific architecture, characteristic of the Bulgarian XIX c. Revival.

The most famous attractions in Veliko Tarnovo include: Tsarevets (the ruins of the fortress, the king’s palace and the church from the once glorious capital of Bulgaria); Gurko street; Samovodska charshia (a famous street with small shops selling antiques, crafts and souvenirs); the Multimedia Visitor Centre (a historical wax figure museum); the Archeological Museum.

04/01/2022

Hallstatt is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most beautiful towns in Austria. It is the perfect place for both adventure seekers and people looking for some relaxing down time.

Sitting right beside the most romantic lake in Austria, Hallstatt is home to about 900 residents. You can easily spend a day or two canoeing on the lake, biking around town and hiking to nearby mountains and glaciers. This little town can be crisscrossed on foot in 20-30 minutes while enjoying lakeside restaurants, street food kiosks, and many art and souvenir shops.

Also, when in the area, visit the oldest salt mine in the world called Salzwelten, which apparently has been in use since 70BC. A funicular railway takes you up the nearby mountain where you can explore this underground salt mine. Here you can take a guided tour to learn about the history, geology and process of salt mining.

There is also a lookout point in Salzwelten which has amazing views of the lake, surrounding mountains and the town of Hallstatt.

04/01/2022

Perched on the border of Germany, Salzburg is literally a tale of two cities. Separated by the Salzach River, on one side you’ll find the Old Town, an UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its medieval buildings, and on the other you’ll love discovering the bustling New City and all there is to do.

Music lovers definitely need to have Salzburg on their list of the best places to visit in Europe because not only is it the birthplace of Mozart, but it’s also where The Sound of Music was filmed. If it’s possible to ever get tired of music, you’ll be happy to know that Salzburg is more than just music, as it has everything you need for an amazing vacation.

Whether you’re exploring the city or taking a day trip to experience the surrounding beauty, getting around Salzburg is going to be a breeze because of their public transportation system.

04/01/2022

Also known as the ‘City of Music’ because of its musical history, Austria’s beautiful capital city is defined by stunning baroque architecture, cultural events, imperial traditions and an authentic coffeehouse culture experience.

Vienna’s musical and artistic legacy was shaped by famous intellectuals and composers, such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud, who made the city their home. Today, Vienna boasts a lot of concert halls that stage opera and jazz concerts and music festivals, providing tourists a pulsating experience. If you’re in the area, hear the music at the State Opera or Musikverein.

Aside from the buzzing musical scene, Vienna’s roads are punctuated with pretty prefectures. From royal-imperial palaces to world-renowned museums, from charming buildings to works of art, Vienna is indeed a pretty city!

The heart of the historic centre is the Ringstraße, a circular boulevard lined with Vienna’s best-known sights such as the Imperial Palace, the Natural History Museum, the Austrian Parliament Building, and the Rathaus, among others. It’s a leisurely walk that any first-time tourist should experience. Another important historical monument in Vienna is the Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial summer residence and one of Europe’s most breathtaking Baroque complexes.

29/12/2021

And you’ll want to explore on land: Known for its laid-back vibe and innate hospitality, Cape Verde is considered an LGBTQ+ oasis within Africa thanks to progressive laws. Mindelo, on the island São Vicente, hosts an annual Pride parade that will take place in the summer. As Cape Verde’s cultural capital, this colorful port city is a great place to catch performances of morna, a locally honed, melancholic music symbolizing longing for the African mainland, as well as the rousing tunes of accordion-based funaná. Listen from new Mansa Floating Hub, a futuristic-style floating music center that opened in August atop Mindelo’s Porto Grande Bay. —Laura Kiniry

29/12/2021

This year, Hurtigruten Expeditions will launch sailings to the island country, beginning with a 14-day journey aboard its 180-passenger MS Spitsbergen in November. The company is scheduled to be the only expedition cruise to visit Cape Verde this year—and it’s also their first-ever trip to Africa. The ship will make stops at some of the archipelago’s most notable islands (there are 10 in total, as well as several islets), including Santo Antão, with its hikable misty pine forests and steep-cliff canyons, and Fogo, home to the awe-inspiring (and still-active) 9,281-foot-tall Pico do Fogo volcano, western Africa’s highest peak. For those who aren’t on a cruise, an inter-island ferry system and relatively inexpensive domestic flights makes island-hopping doable, too.

29/12/2021

When the island reopens to fully vaccinated tourists in February, be the first to stay at the newly branded Nayara Hangaroa, where self-drive ATV tours allow guests to take in iconic attractions like the Ranu Kau crater, moai sites at Rano Raraku quarry and Ahu Tongariki, the Orongo ceremonial village, and Anakena beach at their own leisure. For a complete cultural immersion, tap Abercrombie & Kent for local guides, a traditional meal in a friendly home, and insider’s access to the two-week-long Tapati Festival held every February. —N.W.

29/12/2021

2022 marks 300 years since Dutch explorers arrived on Rapa Nui’s shores on Easter Day, which is how the 64-square-mile volcanic landmass acquired the appellation Easter Island. Locals, however, trace their lineage to a thriving Polynesian civilization dating back to the 4th century and take great pride in their native Rapa Nui language and culture, which has experienced a renaissance during the pandemic. And with less food being brought to the island, there was a boom in ancestral agriculture, yielding a bounty of guava and taro root. Some sustainability-oriented initiatives are in place as well, including proposals to limit the number of visitor arrivals to protect its cultural assets from erosion.

29/12/2021

Despite a slow two years during the pandemic and recent flooding, the city is growing as a tourist destination, with new hotels under construction that signal a wider opening to international travelers. One unique offering is already available to book: After sales fell because of COVID, a cheese factory outside of town kept its workers safely on the job by employing them to build the Hotel de Tierra: nine rammed-earth rooms, sustainably built from and on the soil of its adjacent vineyard, Tierra de Alonso. —Naomi Tomky

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