What to do in each destination, organised by what you feel like.
This limestone massif between Asturias, Cantabria and León has routes for every level. The best known are the Cares gorge trail, cut into the rock high above the river, and the Lakes of Covadonga above the sanctuary.
Read guide: Spain →Levadas are old irrigation channels that run through Madeira's mountains, and the paths beside them cross laurel forest, tunnels and ravines. Caldeirão Verde and the 25 Fontes trail are among the best-known walks on the island.
Read guide: Portugal →In upper Provence, the Verdon river has carved a deep limestone canyon of turquoise water. Drive the rim roads for viewpoints, hike the Sentier Blanc-Martel along the bottom, or rent a pedal boat or kayak on the Lac de Sainte-Croix at the canyon's mouth.
Read guide: France →Five colourful villages cling to the Ligurian cliffs between vineyards and the sea. Footpaths link Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, while the train and boats connect them when legs get tired. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking.
Read guide: Italy →Crete's Samaria Gorge is a long downhill hike through the White Mountains that ends at the sea in Agia Roumeli, where boats carry you along the coast. It takes a full day, so start early, carry plenty of water and wear sturdy shoes.
Read guide: Greece →Krka National Park near Šibenik follows a river through travertine falls such as Skradinski Buk, with walkways and boat trips to the island monastery of Visovac. For a wilder day, hike the canyons of Paklenica in the Velebit mountains.
Read guide: Croatia →Near Dresden, Saxon Switzerland National Park offers dramatic sandstone formations above the River Elbe. The Bastei Bridge and its viewpoints are the best known, but there are many waymarked trails suited to every level.
Read guide: Germany →Off the coast of Galway, Inis Mór is easy to explore by bike among dry-stone walls, beaches and Irish-speaking villages. The highlight is Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fort perched on the edge of a cliff.
Read guide: Ireland →In spring, the fields around Lisse, Hillegom and Noordwijkerhout turn into stripes of colour. Keukenhof gardens display millions of flowering bulbs, but cycling the local lanes between the fields is just as memorable.
Read guide: Netherlands →The Glacier Express links Zermatt and St. Moritz over passes and viaducts, while the Bernina Express descends from the Engadine glaciers to Tirano in Italy. Even regional trains offer superb views of mountains and lakes.
Read guide: Switzerland →Austria's alpine clubs maintain a dense network of marked trails and mountain huts. A day hike to a hut for Kaspressknödel or Kaiserschmarrn is a classic, and multi-day routes in the Zillertal, the Hohe Tauern or the Dachstein let you sleep high in the mountains.
Read guide: Austria →Český ráj, north-east of Prague, is a protected area of rock towns, sandstone towers and ruined castles such as Trosky. Waymarked trails between Prachovské skály and Hrubá Skála make a satisfying day's walk.
Read guide: Czech Republic →On the border with Belarus, the Białowieża Forest is one of the last remnants of Europe's primeval lowland forest. Its national park protects the European bison, seen in the show reserve or, with luck and a guide, at dawn.
Read guide: Poland →A boat trip on the Nærøyfjord brings waterfalls, cliffs and tiny villages close. Combine it with the Flåm Railway, which climbs from the fjord to the mountain station of Myrdal through tunnels and past the Kjosfossen waterfall, on the route known as Norway in a Nutshell.
Read guide: Norway →The Stockholm archipelago stretches far out into the Baltic with countless islands. Take a public ferry to Vaxholm, Grinda or Sandhamn, swim from smooth rocks, walk through pine forest and stay overnight in a cabin or guesthouse.
Read guide: Sweden →The Dingli Cliffs drop steeply into the sea on Malta's west coast, and Gozo has walking paths between Dwejra, Xlendi and the salt pans of Xwejni. Spring is the greenest time, with wildflowers covering the fields and terraces.
Read guide: Malta →Walking to the estanys is the classic summer activity: the Tristaina lakes from Arcalís, Engolasters near Escaldes, or the Juclar lakes from the Incles valley. There are half-day walks suitable for most people and longer hut-to-hut routes for experienced hikers.
Read guide: Andorra →Zion has red-walled canyons and trails along the Virgin River, Bryce Canyon its rock spires called hoodoos, and Arches more than a thousand stone arches. Starting early avoids the heat and the busiest hours in summer.
Read guide: United States →In Yukon and the Northwest Territories, around Whitehorse or Yellowknife, the long dark nights of winter and late summer give good chances of seeing the aurora. Lodges away from town lights improve the view considerably.
Read guide: Canada →Where the Saguenay Fjord meets the St Lawrence in Quebec, cold waters draw belugas, minke and other whales in summer and autumn. You can watch from boats, zodiacs or kayaks, or even from viewpoints along the shore.
Read guide: Canada →In winter, gray whales come to the San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre lagoons in Baja California Sur to give birth. From small boats with local guides, you can often see them up close, sometimes alongside their calves.
Read guide: Mexico →On Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Tortuguero National Park is a key nesting area for green turtles. With licensed guides you can watch them at night in season, and by day you explore its canals by boat or canoe.
Read guide: Caribbean and Central America →Hearing cante and watching dance in a tablao or peña in Seville, Jerez or Granada is one of the most intense experiences in the south. In Granada's Sacromonte, flamenco is performed in caves dug into the hillside facing the Alhambra.
Read guide: Spain →Fado, a slow, melancholic song accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, is heard in small houses in Alfama, Mouraria and the Bairro Alto in Lisbon. Coimbra has its own tradition, sung by men and closely linked to university life.
Read guide: Portugal →The Louvre deserves at least half a day, the Musée d'Orsay holds the great Impressionist collection in a former railway station, and the Orangerie displays Monet's Water Lilies in two oval rooms. Smaller museums such as the Musée Rodin and its garden are calmer.
Read guide: France →Buried by Vesuvius in the year 79, Pompeii preserves the streets, houses, frescoes and forum of a whole Roman town. Herculaneum is smaller but better preserved, with wooden structures and upper floors. Both are easy day trips from Naples or Sorrento.
Read guide: Italy →Delphi, on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, was the sanctuary of Apollo's oracle and still sits in a dramatic mountain setting. Add the theatre at Epidaurus, famous for its acoustics, and the stadium at Olympia, where the ancient Games were held.
Read guide: Greece →A full loop of the walls takes you past towers and forts with views over the old town and the Adriatic. Go early or late to avoid the strongest sun, then visit the Franciscan monastery, the Rector's Palace and the quieter lanes away from the Stradun.
Read guide: Croatia →During Advent, cities such as Nuremberg, Dresden, Cologne and Munich fill their squares with wooden stalls selling crafts, mulled wine, grilled sausages and gingerbread. It is one of the most loved traditions of the German winter.
Read guide: Germany →This classic route links Würzburg with Füssen, passing walled medieval towns such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbühl. It is best driven over several days, with stops in Franconian wine country and an ending at the foot of the Alps.
Read guide: Germany →In many pubs, local musicians gather informally to play fiddle, flute, bodhrán and uilleann pipes. Galway, Doolin, Dingle and Dublin are good places to catch a session, ideally with a pint of stout in hand.
Read guide: Ireland →North of Dublin, Newgrange is a Neolithic passage tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids, its entrance aligned with the winter solstice sunrise. The surrounding Boyne Valley holds several other prehistoric monuments worth visiting.
Read guide: Ireland →The Rijksmuseum holds Rembrandt's The Night Watch, the Van Gogh Museum a wide survey of the painter's work, and The Hague's Mauritshuis Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. Three essential visits for Dutch art.
Read guide: Netherlands →Near Rotterdam, the windmills of Kinderdijk form a historic landscape of water management. North of Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans brings together windmills, green wooden houses and traditional cheese and clog workshops.
Read guide: Netherlands →Ghent and Bruges were centres of fifteenth-century Flemish painting. Beyond the Van Eyck altarpiece in Ghent, the Groeninge Museum and St John's Hospital, with works by Memling, showcase this art in Bruges.
Read guide: Belgium →In Vienna, the coffee house is a living room for the whole city. Order a Melange, read the newspapers on their wooden holders and take your time; Café Central, Café Sperl and Café Hawelka each show a different side of a tradition that is more about lingering than about coffee.
Read guide: Austria →Under an hour from Prague by train, this Gothic castle built for Charles IV rises above a village in the Berounka valley. The walk up and the guided tours of its halls make it a simple, rewarding day out.
Read guide: Czech Republic →Near Kraków, this mine worked for centuries hides galleries, underground lakes and chapels carved from salt, including the Chapel of St Kinga. Guided tours descend several levels, so bring comfortable shoes and an extra layer.
Read guide: Poland →South of Gdańsk, the vast brick fortress of the Teutonic Order rises beside the Nogat River and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its courtyards, walls and Gothic halls make an easy day trip from the coast with an audio guide.
Read guide: Poland →At the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde you can see original ships raised from the fjord and watch traditional boatbuilding. The royal burial mounds and rune stones at Jelling, along with reconstructed Viking settlements, bring the period to life.
Read guide: Denmark →Norway's stave churches are medieval wooden buildings carved with dragon heads and intricate ornament. Urnes, on the Lustrafjord, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Borgund in Lærdal and Heddal in Telemark are easy to include on a road trip.
Read guide: Norway →Midsummer is one of Sweden's great celebrations: in June people raise a pole decorated with flowers, dance around it, wear flower crowns and eat pickled herring, new potatoes and strawberries. Dalarna and the archipelago are classic places to join in.
Read guide: Sweden →Malta's megalithic temples were built thousands of years before the Egyptian pyramids. Ġgantija on Gozo, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra on the south coast, and the underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, which must be booked well in advance, reveal a remarkably early island culture.
Read guide: Malta →Andorra keeps small Romanesque churches in almost every parish. Highlights include Santa Coloma with its round bell tower, Sant Joan de Caselles in Canillo and Sant Climent de Pal, all built in stone with Lombard-style bell towers in mountain settings.
Read guide: Andorra →In Washington, D.C., the National Mall links the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial and Smithsonian museums such as the National Air and Space Museum and the Museum of Natural History. The city is easy to cover on foot or by metro.
Read guide: United States →An hour from Mexico City, the ancient city of Teotihuacan preserves the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Arrive early, bring a hat and water, and consider a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the site.
Read guide: Mexico →Every autumn, families build altars with marigolds, pan de muerto and photos of their loved ones, and visit the cemeteries. Oaxaca, Michoacán around Lake Pátzcuaro, and Mexico City are places where the tradition is lived most intensely.
Read guide: Mexico →In Guatemala's Petén jungle, Tikal's temples rise above the treetops among howler monkeys and toucans. Arriving early or staying nearby lets you see the site more calmly and in the soft light of early morning.
Read guide: Caribbean and Central America →Across Spain people eat by sharing small plates at the bar: jamón ibérico, tortilla de patatas, croquetas, pimientos de Padrón. In Granada a tapa often comes with your drink, in the Basque Country they are pintxos, and in Galicia pulpo á feira rules.
Read guide: Spain →Food is simple and generous: grilled sardines, bacalhau à brás, seafood rice, caldo verde and pastéis de nata, best warm from the oven in Belém. In Porto, try a francesinha; in the Alentejo, pork with clams and bread with olive oil.
Read guide: Portugal →Lyon is the place for traditional French cooking: bouchons serving quenelles, saucisson brioché and cervelle de canut, the covered market Les Halles Paul Bocuse, and wine from nearby Beaujolais and the Rhône. Elsewhere, look for the local cheese, bread and pastry of each region.
Read guide: France →Every region eats differently: carbonara and cacio e pepe in Rome, pizza in Naples, tortellini, ragù and Parmigiano in Emilia-Romagna, pesto in Liguria, arancine and cannoli in Sicily. Eat where locals do, in trattorias and osterias, and follow the season.
Read guide: Italy →Greek meals are made for sharing. Order meze such as tzatziki, fava and grilled octopus, a horiatiki salad with feta, and mains like moussaka, souvlaki or the day's fish. On the islands, ask for local cheese and wine; in Crete, try dakos and snails cooked with rosemary.
Read guide: Greece →Konobas are traditional taverns serving local dishes. Order peka, meat or octopus slow-cooked under an iron bell covered in embers, often on advance request, along with black risotto, grilled fish, Pag cheese and Dalmatian pršut, with wines such as Plavac Mali or Malvazija.
Read guide: Croatia →Try pork knuckle, white sausage and pretzels in Bavaria, currywurst in Berlin, fish sandwiches in Hamburg and Flammkuchen in the south-west. Beer gardens, with long shared tables under chestnut trees, are part of everyday local life.
Read guide: Germany →The pub is the heart of British social life. Try fish and chips, a steak pie or a Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and gravy. In Scotland, haggis and a whisky tasting round off the experience nicely.
Read guide: United Kingdom →Try Irish stew, soda bread, seafood chowder and Galway oysters, along with smoked salmon and farmhouse cheeses. A full Irish breakfast is a solid start to a day on the road, especially before a long coastal drive.
Read guide: Ireland →Try raw herring with onions at a street stall, bitterballen with mustard, poffertjes and freshly made stroopwafels. The cheese markets of Alkmaar and Gouda, and an Indonesian rijsttafel, round out the experience.
Read guide: Netherlands →Belgium has a deep brewing tradition: Trappist and abbey beers, lambics and krieks from around Brussels and seasonal brews. Each is usually served in its own glass, and many cafés offer long beer lists to explore at a relaxed pace.
Read guide: Belgium →Order fries from a friterie with mayonnaise or another sauce, try mussels with fries, a caramelised Liège waffle and pralines from artisan chocolatiers. Carbonade flamande, a beef and beer stew, is another classic worth seeking out.
Read guide: Belgium →Share a cheese fondue or raclette in a mountain restaurant, try rösti and cheeses such as Gruyère and Emmental. In Gruyères you can visit a cheese dairy and the medieval village with its castle.
Read guide: Switzerland →A Heuriger is a wine tavern where winemakers serve their own young wine with a cold buffet of cured meats, cheeses, spreads such as Liptauer and dark rye bread. Find them in Grinzing, Stammersdorf or Nussdorf in Vienna, and throughout Lower Austria and Styria.
Read guide: Austria →Czech pubs serve svíčková with cream sauce, goulash with dumplings, fried cheese and roast pork knuckle, all with draught beer. In Plzeň, birthplace of pilsner-style lager, you can tour the historic Pilsner Urquell brewery.
Read guide: Czech Republic →Milk bars, or bar mleczny, are simple canteens serving home-style food: pierogi filled with potato and cheese, sour żurek soup, bigos stew and potato pancakes. Bakeries sell pączki doughnuts, and Kraków street stalls sell obwarzanek bread rings.
Read guide: Poland →Open sandwiches on rye bread, topped with pickled herring, roast pork, shrimp or egg, are the classic Danish lunch. Add a hot dog from a pølsevogn, a cinnamon pastry from a bakery and, for a special evening, a restaurant built around seasonal Nordic produce.
Read guide: Denmark →Norwegian food is built on the sea and the mountains. Try fresh shrimp at the harbour in Bergen or Oslo, cod and stockfish in Lofoten, cured lamb, sweet brown cheese (brunost) on waffles and the cinnamon buns sold at every bakery.
Read guide: Norway →Fika is the Swedish coffee break, a daily ritual of coffee with something sweet, often a cinnamon or cardamom bun. Try it in a Stockholm konditori, a garden café in the archipelago or a bakery in Gothenburg's Haga district.
Read guide: Sweden →Try pastizzi filled with ricotta or peas, ftira bread with tuna, capers and tomatoes, stuffat tal-fenek rabbit stew, fresh fish in Marsaxlokk and Gozo's small ġbejniet cheeses. Lampuki pie is the autumn speciality, when the fish is in season.
Read guide: Malta →Bordas, old stone barns converted into restaurants, serve the local mountain cooking: trinxat of cabbage and potato with bacon, escudella stew, cargols a la llauna, wild mushrooms in season and grilled meats. They are the classic end to a day outdoors.
Read guide: Andorra →Each region has its own style: Texas smoked brisket, Memphis ribs, Carolina pulled pork or Kansas City burnt ends. Eating at a local barbecue joint is one of the most direct ways to understand American regional cooking.
Read guide: United States →In spring, Quebec's sugar shacks serve hearty meals of ham, beans and omelette, all doused in maple syrup, followed by maple taffy set on snow. The rest of the year, poutine is the quintessential Quebec dish to try.
Read guide: Canada →Tacos al pastor in the capital, cochinita pibil in the Yucatán, black mole and tlayudas in Oaxaca, tamales and elotes on almost every corner. Local markets and fondas are the best way to taste Mexican cuisine, recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage.
Read guide: Mexico →Jerk chicken in Jamaica, mofongo in Puerto Rico, ropa vieja and moros y cristianos in Cuba, gallo pinto in Costa Rica and pepián in Guatemala. Tropical fruit, rum and highland coffee accompany almost every stop.
Read guide: Caribbean and Central America →Beyond the big resort beaches, the Costa Brava hides pine-fringed coves around Begur and Cadaqués, Menorca has Macarella and Cala Turqueta, and Almería keeps a wild, undeveloped coast inside the Cabo de Gata natural park.
Read guide: Spain →Between the Alentejo and the western Algarve, a natural park protects a coast of cliffs and almost undeveloped beaches: Odeceixe, Amado, Arrifana and Bordeira. The water is cold and the sea can be rough, but the scenery is worth it.
Read guide: Portugal →Corsica combines mountains and sea: the fine sand and turquoise water of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia near Porto-Vecchio, the citadel of Calvi above its bay, and the red cliffs of the Calanques de Piana. Inland, villages and maquis-covered hills invite hiking.
Read guide: France →Sardinia has clear water and very varied beaches: the granite coves of the Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena archipelago, the white sand of La Pelosa near Stintino, and the cliffs and coves of the Gulf of Orosei, reached by boat or on foot.
Read guide: Italy →Greek beaches range from sandy bays to pebble coves with clear water. Try Plaka and Agios Prokopios on Naxos, the white volcanic rock of Sarakiniko on Milos, Elafonisi in Crete, or Myrtos on the Ionian coast of Kefalonia.
Read guide: Greece →Most Croatian beaches are pebble or rock, which keeps the water remarkably clear. Try Zlatni Rat on Brač, Stiniva cove on Vis, the beaches of the Makarska Riviera below Biokovo mountain and the rocky coves of Lokrum.
Read guide: Croatia →In the far south-west, Cornwall offers sandy coves, dramatic cliffs and fishing towns such as St Ives and Padstow. The South West Coast Path links beach after beach, and a freshly baked pasty is part of the ritual.
Read guide: United Kingdom →A tram runs along almost the entire Belgian coast, from Knokke to De Panne, letting you hop between wide beaches, dunes and towns such as Ostend and De Haan, with its Belle Époque villas.
Read guide: Belgium →Poland's coast has long white-sand beaches and dunes, including the shifting dunes of Słowiński National Park near Łeba. The narrow Hel Peninsula, between the bay and the open sea, is popular for cycling and kitesurfing.
Read guide: Poland →Jutland's west coast has wide sandy beaches backed by dunes, from Blåvand to Løkken. Swim in sheltered spots and calm weather; the steady wind also makes it a favourite for kitesurfing. Families often prefer the shallow beaches on the Kattegat side.
Read guide: Denmark →Much of the coast is rocky, with swimming from ladders and flat rocks, but the north-west has sandy bays: Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa, backed by cliffs, and the wide, shallow Mellieħa Bay, popular with families.
Read guide: Malta →The Overseas Highway links Miami to Key West across islands and long bridges over the sea. Along the way there are beaches, snorkelling reefs at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and sunsets at Key West's Mallory Square.
Read guide: United States →Bacalar Lagoon, known for its many shades of blue, invites gentle swimming and kayaking. Car-free Holbox Island, with sandy streets, offers quiet beaches, sunsets over the water and a whale shark season in summer.
Read guide: Mexico →The San Blas archipelago on Panama's Caribbean coast is the territory of the Guna people, who manage tourism with simple lodges and their own boats. Its sandy, palm-fringed islets are ideal for switching off and snorkelling.
Read guide: Caribbean and Central America →The British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern and the Natural History Museum hold collections of global reach. Combine them with walks along the South Bank and views over the Thames from its bridges.
Read guide: United Kingdom →Brussels is the home of Belgian comics, from Tintin to Spirou and the Smurfs. Dozens of murals of comic characters are scattered around the city for you to spot on foot, and the Belgian Comic Strip Center occupies a Horta building.
Read guide: Belgium →Beyond the centre, Vinohrady and Žižkov have cafés, leafy squares and local bars, while Letná Park has a beer garden overlooking the bridges. At sunset, Vyšehrad fortress is calmer than the castle and has wide views over the river.
Read guide: Czech Republic →Copenhagen is built for bikes, with wide lanes and bridges reserved for cyclists. Rent one or use the city's shared bikes, ride along the harbour, cross to Christianshavn and loop round the lakes, following the local habit of signalling before you turn or stop.
Read guide: Denmark →Take the lift from the Upper Barrakka Gardens down to the water and cross to the Three Cities by ferry or dgħajsa. Harbour cruises pass the bastions of Valletta, Fort St Angelo and the creeks of Senglea, best in the late afternoon light.
Read guide: Malta →In Panama City, the Miraflores Locks let you watch large ships pass through the canal. Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combines colonial squares, rooftop terraces and views of the skyscrapers across the bay.
Read guide: Caribbean and Central America →You do not need to walk all of it. The last stretch of the Camino Francés, from Sarria, takes five or six days on foot, sleeping in pilgrim hostels and small villages before you reach the Praza do Obradoiro.
Read guide: Spain →The west coast gets waves almost all year. Ericeira and Peniche have surf schools for beginners and breaks for experienced surfers, the Costa Vicentina is wilder, and in winter you can watch the giant waves of Nazaré from the lighthouse.
Read guide: Portugal →From Chamonix, the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi brings you face to face with Mont Blanc and its glaciers. In summer, trails lead to the Lac Blanc and along the balconies of the valley, and experienced hikers take on sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Read guide: France →The pale, jagged peaks of the Dolomites offer spectacular trails, from the loop around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the Alpe di Siusi meadows and the via ferrata routes of Alta Badia. Mountain huts serve hearty food along the way.
Read guide: Italy →Travelling between islands by ferry is part of the experience. Combine nearby islands in the same group, such as Naxos, Paros and Santorini in the Cyclades or Rhodes and Symi in the Dodecanese, rather than zigzagging across the Aegean, and keep a spare day for weather delays.
Read guide: Greece →Paddling around Dubrovnik's walls or among the Pakleni islands off Hvar shows the coast from the water, and many towns offer guided kayak trips. Sailing with a skipper between Split, Hvar, Vis and Korčula is a popular way to see several islands.
Read guide: Croatia →This Roman wall crosses northern England from coast to coast. A national trail follows it past forts, hills and farms; you can walk a section in a day or complete the whole route over several stages.
Read guide: United Kingdom →This signposted coastal route follows the entire Atlantic seaboard, from Donegal to Cork. There is no need to drive it all: choose a stretch, such as Connemara or the Dingle Peninsula, and take your time at beaches, lighthouses and viewpoints.
Read guide: Ireland →Rent a bike and ride from Amsterdam into Waterland, with wooden villages such as Marken and Monnickendam, or cross De Hoge Veluwe National Park through heathland and forest. Cycle paths are well signposted throughout the country.
Read guide: Netherlands →In the Ardennes, paddling down the Lesse between cliffs and forests near Dinant is a classic outing. The region also offers caves such as those at Han-sur-Lesse and waymarked trails for hiking or mountain biking.
Read guide: Belgium →Switzerland has a well-signposted trail network, with walking times at every junction. Try the Five Lakes Walk at Zermatt, the paths above Lauterbrunnen or a night in a mountain hut with a shared dinner.
Read guide: Switzerland →Winter sports are part of Austrian identity. The Arlberg around St. Anton and Lech, Kitzbühel, Ischgl, Saalbach and Schladming offer large linked ski areas, ski schools for every level and a lively après-ski scene, while smaller family resorts are quieter and gentler on beginners.
Read guide: Austria →The stretch of the Vltava around Český Krumlov is a classic Czech summer trip: rented canoes and rafts, small weirs, riverside campsites and villages where you stop for lunch. It is easy going and suitable for beginners.
Read guide: Czech Republic →The Tatras have routes for every level, from the long walk to Morskie Oko to demanding chained ridges such as Orla Perć. Mountain weather changes quickly, so start early and pack layers and rain gear.
Read guide: Poland →In the dark season, the aurora borealis can appear over northern Norway on clear nights. Head away from city lights around Tromsø, Senja, Alta or Lofoten, dress for serious cold and give yourself several nights to improve your chances.
Read guide: Norway →Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, above the Lysefjord, Trolltunga near Odda and Reinebringen in Lofoten are well-known hikes. Some are long and demanding, so check the route, start early, carry layers and food, and skip them in poor weather.
Read guide: Norway →Sweden's lakes and rivers are made for paddling. In Värmland you can canoe or float down the Klarälven river on a timber raft, and in Dalsland a network of lakes and canals suits multi-day canoe trips, camping on the shore under the right of public access.
Read guide: Sweden →Clear water and good visibility make the islands a diving destination for every level. Popular sites include the caves and arches around Dwejra, the reefs off Comino and several wrecks deliberately sunk as artificial reefs. Many centres offer beginner courses.
Read guide: Malta →Andorra has two large ski areas: Grandvalira, linking Pas de la Casa, Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp, and Pal Arinsal in La Massana, smaller and comfortable for families. Ordino Arcalís, quieter and more open, completes the picture.
Read guide: Andorra →Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles follows cliffs, beaches and coastal towns such as Carmel. The Big Sur stretch, with Bixby Creek Bridge, is the most famous; take it slowly and stop at viewpoints and state parks.
Read guide: United States →In Ontario, this park of lakes and forests is a classic canoe destination, with day trips or multi-day routes camping on islands. In autumn its maples turn the landscape red, and moose sightings are common.
Read guide: Canada →Two hours from Vancouver along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Whistler Blackcomb is a vast ski area in winter and, in summer, a hub for mountain biking, hiking and gondola rides with views over the Coast Mountains.
Read guide: Canada →Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes in the limestone, open, semi-open or inside caves. Around Valladolid, Tulum and Homún there are many for swimming or snorkelling; you are asked to shower first and skip sunscreen.
Read guide: Mexico →Belize has one of the hemisphere's great reef systems, with cayes such as Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye as bases. Snorkel with turtles and rays at Hol Chan or, for experienced divers, explore the Great Blue Hole.
Read guide: Caribbean and Central America →The City of Arts and Sciences and its aquarium, the old Turia riverbed turned into a long park, and Malvarrosa beach make Valencia an easy city with kids. It is also the place to try a proper paella valenciana.
Read guide: Spain →The Oceanário in Parque das Nações, the cable car along the river, the yellow trams and the gardens of Belém make Lisbon an easy city for families. For beach time, the Cascais train line stops at calm sandy beaches close to town.
Read guide: Portugal →The Dordogne valley suits families: castles like Beynac and Castelnaud, canoeing down the river past cliff-top villages, and Lascaux IV, where a faithful replica shows the prehistoric cave paintings. Sarlat's old town and its markets complete the trip.
Read guide: France →Regular boats sail on Lake Lucerne, Lake Geneva, Lake Brienz and others, some of them historic paddle steamers. They are a relaxed way to link villages, children love them and they connect easily with trains and cable cars.
Read guide: Switzerland →Families can combine the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen with Legoland in Billund, next to the LEGO House. Both suit young children well, and Billund pairs easily with a few beach days on Jutland's west coast.
Read guide: Denmark →In Sant Julià de Lòria, Naturlandia combines a Pyrenean wildlife park, adventure activities and the Tobotronc, a long mountain toboggan on rails through the forest. In winter the same area is used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Read guide: Andorra →Orlando, Florida, is home to theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld. With children, plan one park per day, alternate with pool time, and consider a trip to the Kennedy Space Center on the coast.
Read guide: United States →Southern Tuscany is dotted with natural thermal waters: the cascading pools of Saturnia, the medieval square of Bagno Vignoni with its steaming basin, and the white travertine terraces of Bagni San Filippo. They pair well with a trip through the Val d'Orcia.
Read guide: Italy →This elegant spa town on the edge of the Black Forest has a long bathing tradition. Its historic and modern thermal baths invite a slow afternoon, followed by a stroll along the leafy Lichtentaler Allee.
Read guide: Germany →Bath preserves remarkable Roman baths and honey-coloured Georgian architecture, with the Royal Crescent as its emblem. Today you can bathe in its natural thermal waters at a modern spa with a rooftop pool.
Read guide: United Kingdom →In Valais, Leukerbad is a spa village surrounded by towering rock walls. Its outdoor hot-water pools let you bathe with mountain views even in winter, ideal after a day of skiing or hiking.
Read guide: Switzerland →Eastern Styria has a cluster of thermal spas built over warm springs, such as Bad Blumau with its Hundertwasser architecture, and Loipersdorf. Combine a day in the pools with the region's pumpkin seed oil, orchards and wine roads winding through the hills near Slovenia.
Read guide: Austria →In Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně, you stroll from spring to spring, tasting mineral water at different temperatures. Many spa hotels offer treatments, baths and thermal pools, ideal for a slow few days.
Read guide: Czech Republic →Saunas are part of life across Sweden, from lakeside cabins to floating saunas in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Alternate the heat with a quick swim in a lake or the sea, in winter even through a hole in the ice, then relax by the water.
Read guide: Sweden →Escaldes-Engordany takes its name from its hot springs, which feed Caldea, a large spa complex with a glass spire. After a day of skiing or hiking, its indoor and outdoor lagoons with mountain views are the usual way to unwind.
Read guide: Andorra →Outdoor Nordic spas are popular in Quebec and Ontario: circuits of hot pools, cold plunges and rest among the trees, even in the snow. In the Rockies, the Banff Upper Hot Springs offer a soak with mountain views.
Read guide: Canada →