Europe with its varied cultural, historical and regional flavours rustles up a delectable menu of countries. The Continent can be experienced in many ways – get a taste of the most popular countries, visit historical cities around the continent or head to unusual destinations across Europe.
You could even do something creative like festival hop or simply max out your Schengen visa backpacking around the place! If you’ve never made a trip to Europe before, here is where you could start. Skyscanner discusses the best countries to visit in Europe.
Since going to Europe from India is not exactly a ‘hopping across’ kind of thing, it is a good idea to plan your trip in advance. The number crunchers at Skyscanner put their heads together to dig out some ‘Best Time to Book’ data which will help you score reasonable tickets. Take a look.
| Destination Airport | BTTB from New Delhi | BTTB from Mumbai |
| Paris, France | 7 weeks | 7 weeks |
| Madrid, Spain | 2 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Frankfurt, Germany | 5 weeks | 4 weeks |
| London, England | 4 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Zurich, Switzerland | 6 weeks | 7 weeks |
Let us tempt you some more. France, Spain, Germany, England and Switzerland are some classic European destinations. Any trip to The Continent is incomplete without this staple diet of countries.
Read on for a little peek into some of what each of them has on offer.
France, with its charming landscapes, iconic structures, museums, palaces, shopping streets, menus and of course, a calling card in the capital city of Paris, is as much an item on a trip to Europe as it is a destination in itself. From sunsets that involve the Eiffel Tower to lavender fields that extend to nothingness, France offers sights that will be etched in your travel memories forever. To add to this is a menu created from a grand culinary history, streets that talk of an ancient culture, and museums that are stocked with proof of the same. Get a dose of art, indulge your taste buds, feast your eyes, or stuff your shopping bags – it’s all there for the taking.
Read more: French Visa For Indians: A Quick Guide
2. Spain
Spain is one of those countries that matches its clichéd description, in a good way. The very mention of the name brings to mind a drawn-out holiday with food, wine, dancing, beaches and quaint villages. An old world charm extends around the experience, highlighted by castles, architectural delights, old streets and traditional recipes. So many things in the country are about ‘flavour’ that it even applies to the national sporting obsession of football. Being a pivotal part of Europe’s history, the country is dotted with marks of great civilisations that arrived, stayed and left, leaving their ‘flavour’ to live on in art and architecture.
3. Germany
Germany is all big cities juxtaposed with dramatic sceneries painted with mountains, vineyards, forests and valleys. If you haven’t got drawn in by the glamour and the beauty, there is always the beer guzzling Oktober Fest to tempt you. Or you could choose to delve into the countries exciting automobile-ing history and zip down the fancy autobahns for good measure. There is a large serving of history on the menu, all the way from castles from medieval times to the more recent remains of the Berlin Wall. Talking of menus, the culinary experience in Germany is as rich as the ingredients that it involves – keep some space for local recipes. The arts and architecture are always around the corner, with the country being home to everyone from big name music composers to ideological masters.
Read more: Germany Visa: How To Apply For A Visa To Germany
4. England
England – a country of contradictions. Where medieval and countryside pop up as often as modern and big city; where castles and palaces are as commonplace as the house next door; and where unique is as regular as commercial. Dive into the streets of spectacular capital city London, or hubs like Manchester and Newcastle; skip away for a break to the pretty English countryside, visit a beach that is lined with cliffs, or spend your days soaking in the museums, art and theatre. England will not disappoint, anyone. This city along the Thames is a testament to the modern world, and is as old as history itself.
5. Switzerland
Switzerland, the land of chocolates and honeymoons. Cheesy terms aside, this is actually an apt description. A treat to the eyes, the landscapes and scenery in its many cities are a sight for sore eyes, as are the chocolates a delight for connoisseurs of the sweet stuff. But there is more to Switzerland than just the beautiful and the tasty. There is winter sports and mountain climbing to be done in the gorgeous Alps; the urban centres of its big cities to be explored; a wonderful culinary tradition to be sampled; and a culture showcased in galleries and museums to be experienced. If you can get over the sights and the chocolate, Switzerland will surprise you some more.
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