books on europe travel

The Travel Runner

6 best travel guidebooks for europe [plan your perfect trip].

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Find the best travel guidebooks for Europe. Discover the top picks, including Rick Steves’ guides and Lonely Planet, and plan your perfect trip!

There’s no better companion on a European trip than a travel book for Europe.

They give you information, tips, tricks, and advice on navigating the area. And, as I’ve learned, it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned traveler. A guidebook helps.

And Europe has plenty of travel books to help you sightsee — from Lonely Planet to Fodor’s.

So, let’s dive into the best books so you don’t miss a thing on your next trip to Europe.

How to choose the best travel guidebooks for Europe

Guidebooks are a great way to get to know a city in a deeper way.

When choosing the best travel guidebooks for Europe, it’s important to consider your personal preferences and the activities you enjoy.

1. Think about the guidebook style you prefer.

Some people prefer straightforward and to-the-point guides, while others enjoy more detailed and immersive ones. Also, think about the type that works best for you. Do you prefer a physical book or an eBook?

Also, how specific do you want to be?

For example, if you’re only visiting Italy, getting a more specific guidebook may be worthwhile.

The most popular guidebooks are for:

2. Jot down what you want to do on your trip.

Are you a hiker or more of a city-goer? If I had to look for you in a foreign city, would I find you wandering the local forests, or would I have to pull you from a nearby museum?

Find the guidebooks that share your interests, and keep on using them as long as you find value in them! That’s why I like to try a variety of different ones until I find what I like (right now that’s Lonely Planet).

3. Look for reputable authors (I’ve got you covered with the books below 😉).

Especially as people use AI more to generate content, it’s important to find experts and experienced travelers who have been to the destination.

So, with that out of the way, let’s dive into the best books for European travel.

1. Lonely Planet Europe

Lonely Planet is one of the most trusted names in travel.

And that’s reflected in the Lonely Planet books with top tips, to-dos, and travel experiences.

What makes Lonely Planet great is they provide different itineraries based on budget. So, if you’re looking for luxury, Lonely Planet will have you in the finest hotels and restaurants.

If you want to travel Europe on a budget, you’ll find hostels and hotels to keep money in your pocket for other activities.

From off-the-beaten-path to the must-see sights, Lonely Planet will show you how to do it and do it right.

Note: If you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you get access to a few of the European travel guidebooks included in your subscription!

• Pages: 1248 pages
• Countries included: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium & Luxembourg, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Britain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine
• Formats: Paperback and eBook
• Amazon Rating: 4.3 stars
• Extras: 190+ maps, tons of experiences, and more

2. Rick Steves Best of Europe

Rick Steves’ travel books are gospels in the travel game.

Honestly, I don’t know if there is someone who has covered Europe more and in a better way than Rick.

So that’s why Rick’s Best of Europe is a must-have when traveling to Europe. From itineraries to maps, Rick and his team wrote down their travel tips for all the major cities across Europe.

So, if you’re looking for the best travel guide for Europe, it’s hard to go wrong with anything Rick Steves creates.

• Pages: 1024 pages
• Countries included: England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland
• Amazon Rating: 4.6 stars
• Extras: 100+ full-color maps and photos, self-guided tours and walks, and more

3. DK Eyewitness Europe

The DK Eyewitness travel guide for Europe is slightly lesser-known than Lonely Planet and Rick Steves’, but it’s still a great option if you’re looking for Europe travel books.

The book is packed with guides and information on all the big attractions. And stunning photography dots the pages to give you a visual (and help with your daydreaming adventures). And the recommendations for cities, major attractions, and restaurants are spot-on for all ranges of interests. However, some buyers have noted that the Rick Steves travel book is a better choice if you’re looking for more in-depth info.

But, overall, you can’t go wrong with the DK Eyewitness Europe guide to start planning.

• Pages: 760 pages
• Countries included: Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands
• Formats : Paperback and eBook
• Extras: 3D cutaways of important sights, floor plans for major museums, hand-drawn illustrations, and more

4. The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget

Budget travelers, rejoice!

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler looking for some tips, a tourist visiting Europe for the first time, or a gap year student looking to make the most of your time — Rough Guides Europe is for you.

This book has everything from practical tips to time (and money) saving itineraries to maps. Plus, it offers budget itineraries no matter your travel style. If you’re looking for restaurants and music, it’s got it. Hiking and outdoors? It’s got that, too.

So, if you want to save a buck and see Europe, here’s the book for your trip planning.

• Pages: 1272 pages
• Countries included: Albania, Austria, Belgium & Luxembourg, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey
• Amazon Rating: 4.2 stars

5. Fodor’s Essential Europe

Fodor’s Travel has been helping people find the best ways to travel Europe longer than most of us have been alive.

Beginning in 1936, Eugene Fodor began publishing the top books to read when planning a trip to Europe. And it’s continued on to today.

And with Fodor’s Essential Europe, you have everything you need to start your planning:

• Where to travel — Western Europe and Eastern Europe
• What time to travel to avoid crowds
• Where to go and what to see
• The ins and outs of the major sights, along with some hidden gems

Plus, with its itineraries, you have everything you need to make the most of your European adventure. After all, it covers 25 countries in Europe!

• Countries included: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia and the Baltic States, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom
• Amazon Rating: 4.4 stars
• Extras: Multiple itineraries for different travel types, 16-page color insert of top attractions, and more

6. Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door

I told you he was reliable.

If you need to know something about forming the perfect European trip, Rick Steves is the man to ask. And if you only have one trip, this is the one book to have.

This book includes tons of tips and a unique look into how to travel Europe in this edition:

• Cultural insights
• Useful phrases
• A bit of history and culture
• What to do when you’re looking to plan your trip

Less about things to see and top destinations and more about how to experience Europe’s best. An excellent companion.

• Pages: 824 pages
• Amazon Rating: 4.7 stars
• Extras: More tips and tricks to get you around Europe than Rick can give in a lifetime

What do you think are the best travel books for Europe?

No matter which you choose, you can’t go wrong with this list of the best European travel guides.

But I’m curious to hear from those of you who are headed to Europe for the first time  and seasoned vets. What do YOU think is the best travel guidebook out there?

Let me know in the comments below!

And, if you’re looking for more adventure before your trip, check out the best books to read before traveling to Europe.

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Best books to get you dreaming of European travel

Mar 27, 2020 • 12 min read

Wandering the streets of great European cities one row of typeset print at a time is a centuries old tradition – one that still allows readers to travel not only through countries and across the continents, but in and out of time as well.

There's never been a better time to tuck into literary visions of storied streets, from Vienna to Višegrad, Seville to Oslo, London to Istanbul.

These novels (and the occasional work of nonfiction) will carry you to the diverse suburbs of post-colonial Britain, back to the heady days of the Prague Spring in 1960s Czechoslovakia, across Icelandic lava fields, high into the Alps, and through the plazas of Paris – with plenty of insight into the human condition to consider along the way. You won't need your passport, but you may need a bookmark or two.

Our editors independently select the best products to help you have amazing travel experiences. If you purchase through links on our site, Lonely Planet may earn a commission from the retailer.

Flights by Olga Tokarczuk Polish author Olga Tokarczuk  won both the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Man Booker International, but don't expect a straightforward novel when you tuck into Flights . Instead, you'll find a work that   is impressionist and postmodern, taking the form of interwoven vignettes that add up to a larger whole: a meditation on the nature of travel and the experiences to be found in airports and hotel lobbies, zinging from museums to cruise ships to  St. Vitus Cathedral , f​​​​​rom Prague to Vienna to Warsaw , while darting through the ouvres of great European writers and artists through the ages (Chopin in particular). It's a wholly unique style the  New Yorker  attempted to pin down as "flâneurial essayism" and sure enough, by the end you'll feel as you've been on a truly epic stroll through Europe.

Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland by Sarah Moss It's a common enough experience to fantasize about living in another country, but not everyone actually makes the leap. Sarah Moss falls into the latter group, moving her small family from Kent in the UK to  Reykjavík . She finds herself immersed not only in a completely different language and landscape, but a disorienting mix of stark reality and folkloric fantasy, catching the tail end of Iceland 's economic depression and the recent eruption Eyjafjallajokull in an otherworldly place that still believes in elves.

Bosnia & Hercegovina

The Bridge on the Drina   by Ivo Andrić Using the titular 300-year-old bridge as an anchor, Andrić dips as far back in the history of what is now Bosnia & Hercegovina as the 16th century and brings the reader up to World War I, tracing the lives of ordinary people over three centuries as they crisscross the Drina River. From the days of the Ottoman Empire to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, Andrić manages to blend history and fiction in compelling ways. You'll definitely want to add the bridge (now a UNESCO World Heritage site) to your bucket list after reading, along with the  Museum of Ivo Andric  in Višegrad.

City of the Mind by Penelope Lively An architect contemplates past and present in London , a city that reflects both history and modernity in its face, from the new project he's working on in the Docklands to the remnants of the Blitz – and centuries past – scattered throughout the streets of England 's capital. The intimacy and specificity of this novel is palpable, and you'll swiftly find that, like the protagonist, "the city [has you] in its current."

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The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by José Saramago Set against the backdrop of the rise of fascism in 1930s Portugal , the titular Doctor Reis returns from Brazil and finds himself in a state of aimlessness. He roams from ship to tram to city, street by winding street, contemplating (and attempting to write) poetry and losing his time in the company of women, all the while drenching the reader in the sights, sounds, and details of  Lisbon  as he experiences and recalls hem. 

The Museum of Abandoned Secrets by Oksana Zabuzhko Protagonist Daryna Goschynka is a television journalist who uncovers secrets both historic and immediate as she researches a Soviet-era woman named Olena Dovganina and investigates the sudden death of her friend, a contemporary female painter. Along the twists and turns of this plot, Zabuzhko blends genres and evokes the great Russian novelists in her expansive style, giving readers a crash course in the history of Ukraine from World War II to the Orange Revolution, not to mention a stunning tour of  Kyiv  and Lviv.

The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk A lawyer named Galip becomes obsessed with his wife's disappearance, even to the point of losing his identity. He combs the city of Istanbul for clues, from Aladdin's shop and the Palace Theater to the banks of the Bosporus. The level of detail Pamuk conjures up is intense and captivating, with such memorable imagery as sunken submarines rusting off the decrepit Shore Road and the wrecks of old Cadillacs driven off cliffs by gangsters who could easily inhabit a Bruce Springsteen song. The effect of all that maximalism and mystery is a dizzying effect not unlike wandering Istanbul yourself for the first time. No wonder The Black Book  is hailed as a Turkish cult classic.

The South   by Colm Tóibín A tale of Irish émigrés in Barcelona a decade after the Spanish Civil War, Tóibín's stunning novel is full of rich descriptions that put you amidst Spain's hard light, its plazas and midday heat, on train excursions to San Sebastian , trips to the Pyrenees , and dining at the Hotel Colon across from the famed La Catedral.  The main character is an aspiring painter who's drawn to both an Irishman and a Spanish anarchist who fought in the war – relationships that illuminate how places and people evolve, and what it means to from somewhere.

Petersburg by Andrei Bely There is no shortage of great literature to come out of Russia, but this is one of the lesser-known and more accessible works. Rather than a sprawling multi-family epic like  War and Peace  (which is having a moment during the pandemic thanks to the #TolstoyTogether digital book club), Bely's  Petersburg  operates as a political thriller – a race against a bomb going off in a city on the verge of revolution. This puts the reader right in the heart of St. Petersburg at its most frenetic, with lively modernist descriptions of the city from St. Isaac's Cathedral to the "blackish grey cubes of houses" to the statue of Peter the Great, the Bronze Horseman .

Czech Republic

Time's Magpie: A Walk in Prague   by Myla Goldberg A travelogue as eclectic as Prague itself,  Time's Magpie  examines the city like an artifact in a museum, in all of its contours, crevices, and cracked fragmentations. Myla Goldberg touches on pivotal moments in Prague' long history that have reshaped the streets you might walk today, from Westernization in the 1990s to natural disasters in the 2000s to our continued fascination with and appreciation for the romantic old architecture that endures. By the end you'll feel you've strolled Prague's streets and seen corners of the city you might never have noticed before.

Midsummer Night by Uwe Timm A sensory, mad-cap tragicomedy about a writer struggling to complete an article on – of all things – potatoes sends both protagonist and reader from Milan to colorful post-reunification Berlin . Along the way, the narrator meets an array of former East and West Berliners struggling to make sense of how the city is changing – and how their own identities and sense of purpose have shifted, too. 

A Separation by Katie Kitamura  After her ex-husband goes missing in southern Greece , a young woman settles into a rural luxury hotel there to contemplate the end of their marriage and his disappearance. She is drawn into life in the rugged fishing village, and into contemplations of presence and translation that will be familiar to anyone who has found themselves far from the familiarity of home. Compared by some to Elena Ferrante, author of the beloved Neopolitan novels, Kitamura packs her unfurling noir with a firm sense of place that grounds the narrator's introspection. 

Waiting for Sunrise   by William Boyd William Boyd came up with the idea for  Waiting for Sunrise after a visit to the Freud Museum , located in the famous doctor's old apartment at Berggasse 19. He set out to evoke Vienna just before World War I forever altered Europe with this story of an English actor drawn into a spy caper while trying to seek psychoanalysis abroad. Though the story moves at times to London, France, and Geneva , its heart is in The City of Dreams. 

Eggshells by Caitriona Lally There are many books by great Irish authors that feature Dublin such that it almost becomes a character in its own right – most notably James Joyce's  Ulysses.  But Lally manages something a little different in Eggshells , though, like Leopold Bloom, her protagonist spends a great deal of time roaming Dublin's neighborhoods – in this case, to assuage her loneliness. Dublin becomes the friend Lally lacks, a kind of constant companion, in this psycho-geographic novel that shows how place can become an extension of self, a map of the city standing in for a map of the heart.

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The Ice Palace by Terjei Vesaas The Ice Palace  is not a long novel, but it is lyrical and lovely in is depiction of the rural Norwegian landscape, all icy waterfalls and frozen fjords, a secret kingdom where two young friends grapple with their coming of age. You'll quickly see why this has become a classic in Norway since it was first published in the 1960s, full of beauty, wonder, and danger.

Switzerland

We're Flying by Peter Stamm This collection of stories moves through Switzerland from its mountain hotels to its forests, Lake Constance to alpine villages, train lines and the homes of ordinary Swiss people living their lives – falling in love, going to school, and even visiting IKEA. The vignettes offer psychological and existential insight, but also deem the Swiss landscape equally worthy of linger attention and consideration. 

Prague   by Arthur Phillips Contrary to its title, this novel takes place in Budapest , where five American expats contemplate their ideas about Prague and post-Cold War Europe in the early 1990s. Along they way they drift between nightclubs and cafes, coffee houses and streetscapes, stumbling across so much of what makes Budapest lively and unique even as they battle a case of the "anywhere-but-here's." Phillips manages to depict not only the look of Hungary 's capital, but its mood and culture too, evoking a freshly independent Budapest as new and uncertain as the characters themselves.

Valley at the Centre of the World by Malachy Tallack Set not in the curving medieval streets of Edinburgh , but instead the rural wilds of Shetland , Malachy Tallack's novel is evocative and organic, portraying the lives of Scottish crofters and an outsider meeting them for the first time. The dialogue is even carefully written in Shaetlan, the local dialect, bringing the characters' voices to life much as Tallack's prose does the rugged landscape.

The Lying Life of Adults  by Elena Ferrante Few writers are as committed as Elena Ferrante to capturing the spirit of Naples in all of its contradictions, foibles, and details through the eyes of its citizens. She brought the historic city to life in her beloved Neopolitan quartet (now also a TV show ), but here in her latest work, she examines class and privilege in a more recent period – the early 1990s. As is often the case in Ferrante's work, this is a bildungsroman that is rooted in a young girl's negotiation of adolescence, mixed with acute descriptions of everyday Italy. 

Life Begins on Friday   by Ioana Parvulescu It's a pleasure to dive into this well-researched historic fiction set in Belle Epoch Bucharest  over just thirteen days as 1897 draws to a close. There are elements of science fiction and fantasy here, with the plot being set off by the mysterious appearance of a time-traveling journalist whose sudden arrival contrasts the daily lives of the other characters, their quotidian business interrupted by the strange event. But the various threads of plot and character are so firmly centered in bustling Bucharest that you feel that you are there – and that the city is a character in and of itself. 

The Netherlands

Last Call  by Harry Mulisch 1970s and '80s Amsterdam comes to life in Mulisch's tale of an aging actor who is tapped to play one last leading role, pulling him out of a stultifying suburban existence and back into the vibrant Amsterdam theater scene. It's a novel haunted – like the Netherlands itself – by the Holocaust, and one with many layers (as one might expect from a novel with a play at its heart), making this a compelling way to peel back your assumptions and associations about The Venice of the North as you follow the protagonist back into the city's heart.

Paris to the Moon  by Adam Gopnik Americans in particular have a unique obsession with France, both real and imagined, and New Yorker  veteran Adam Gopnik taps into that Francophilia in his memoir of moving to Paris in the mid 1990s with his young family. He conjures up Jardin du Luxembourg , the famed Left Bank , the Jardin des Tuileries , Musée d'Orsay , and endless bistros as he examines the expat experience, and what makes the City of Light so endlessly special.

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Bruges-La-Morte by Georges Rodenbac A moody, sometimes brooding, yet beautifully rendered novel captures late 19th-century Bruges . In Rodenbac's time, the city struggled with a sense of faded glory after the River Zwijn filled with sand and ceased to connect the Bruges' canals to the North Sea. The novel's protagonist meditates on the losses that haunt him much as Bruges is haunted by its own Golden Era, even as the city inspires a new generation of French and Belgian artists and composers.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks Brooks captures Europe's long, tangled history in a glittering novel that follows a rare illuminated manuscript – the Sarajevo Haggadah – across the continent and through the centuries. After the Haggadah is saved from shelling during the Bosnian war, the protagonist begins to study it, tracing its history to fin-de-siècle Vienna, Renaissance era Venice, Barcelona at the dawn of the colonial era, and medieval Seville. It's a story made all the more remarkable by its real-life, true-story roots, and by Brooks' splendid prose.

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Books about European Travel: The Best Books Set in Europe

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (for which I am deeply grateful) at no additional cost to you.

Looking for books about European travel? You have come to the right place. In this post, you will find a list, including the best books set in Europe.

A trip to Europe – anywhere in Europe – is steeped in history and culture. While you may not be able to travel to your dream country in Europe, you can certainly experience a different kind of visit between the pages of a book.

While I’ve traveled all over the world on my sailboat , there are so many places I haven’t been to, and since getting to Europe isn’t in my short-term plans, I have to adventure there in a book. But the great news is that I’ve read almost a thousand books in my lifetime, and I have ten incredible books of modern fiction set in various countries in Europe that I recommend. 

No matter your genre, no matter your location, here are ten books that can have you exploring the European country of your choice in minutes.

European Travel Books: The Best Books Set In Europe

1. england travel: the royal we by heather cocks and jessica morgan.

When one thinks of England, one tends to think of the royal family. Millions tune in to watch royal weddings, especially when a royal prince marries a commoner. It’s a real-life fairy tale.

That’s what we get in this romance novel inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton. Bex, an American student at Oxford, meets Nick living down the hall. But Nick isn’t just any bloke, he’s heir to the throne of England. 

The book imagines what it must be like to be thrust in the not-so-very-kind spotlight, perhaps something becoming even more topical in today’s British media than it was when the book was published! 

Visiting Buckingham Palace and spotting royals aren’t the only unforgettable things you can do in London .

“ Hysterical ” — Entertainment Weekly

“Full of love and humor, and delicious in too many ways.”—Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author

“ Engrossing and deeply satisfying. “—Jen Doll, author of Save the Date

2. France Travel: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

In France, we venture back in time to a historical fiction about World War II. Vianne and  Isabelle are two sisters trying to survive as Germany occupies their country. The sisters take two different paths – Vianne must protect her family while Isabelle chooses rebellion. 

It’s a tragic story, a look into the life of the women left behind while their men are out at war. I cried while reading it, and came to love the two sisters, despite their different ways.

“A heart-pounding story.” ―USA Today

“An enormous story. Richly satisfying. I loved it.” ―Anne Rice

“A respectful and absorbing page-turner.” ―Kirkus Reviews

3. Germany Travel: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Moving to Germany , we will stay in the time of World War II. This young adult novel brings to life an unexpected character – Death.

Liesel and her adopted family live in Germany as Hilter is waging war. They are poor, doing their best to get by, and Liesel starts stealing books – the first one left by the wayside but growing to acts of defiance. She steals books put aside for burning, she steals books from the mayor’s wife.

Then Max arrives, a Jew who needs to hide.

Zusak’s writing and imagery helps us look beyond what’s really happening – small defiances against the Nazis – and look at the humans, for all their flaws.

“Elegant, philosophical and moving…Beautiful and important.” ―Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“This hefty volume is an achievement…a challenging book in both length and subject…”  ―Publisher’s Weekly, Starred 

“One of the most highly anticipated young-adult books in years.” ―The Wall Street Journal

4. Italy Travel: Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Keeping in young adult fiction, we move to the present, where Lina’s in Tuscany fulfilling the wish of her late mother: to get to know her father. As Lina explores the new relationship with her father during trips to Florence, she also gets to know the boy next door, Lorenzo. 

Amid reading her mother’s journals, she discovers clues to her own heritage that she never expected, making every relationship left in her life more complicated.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age story about finding out who your family is and reconnecting with the past. Lorenzo welcomes Lina into a wholesome but different European-teenage culture and, of course, the love of gelato.

“Seasoned with luscious descriptions of Renaissance architecture and Italian food, a sure bet for fans of romance fiction and armchair travel.” ―Kirkus

5. Montenegro Travel: The Second Chance in the Mediterranean by Liz Alden

This is the third romance novel in my Love and Wanderlust series. It starts in Tivat, Montenegro, but sails around to Croatia, Greece, Malta, and Spain. 

Marcella is a chef looking for her dream job – the chance to make gourmet food while traveling the world. When she arrives aboard the superyacht Themis, she’s shocked to find a former crewmate – and lover – also working on the ship.

While Marcella settles into her job, she struggles to keep old feelings about Seb from surfacing. The story will make you itch to take your own cruise and explore the best Mediterranean port cities .

6. Russia Travel: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

A bold historical fantasy, The Bear and the Nightingale centers on Vasilisa, a girl raised deep in the forests of Russia. She hides her magical abilities as Christianity moves in, ignoring the local traditions. As crops fail and demons invade, Vasilisa does whatever she can to protect her family, even if it means striking a bargain with the winter king himself.

This is the first book in a stunning trilogy. The author studied Russian in college, and as her author’s note states, the books are heavily steeped in Russian mythology and history.

I highly recommend the whole series, even if the romance is a little light for my taste! 

“Arden’s debut novel has the cadence of a beautiful fairy tale but is darker and more lyrical.”—The Washington Post

“Vasya [is] a clever, stalwart girl determined to forge her own path in a time when women had few choices.”—The Christian Science Monitor

“Stunning . . . will enchant readers from the first page. . . . with an irresistible heroine who wants only to be free of the bonds placed on her gender and claim her own fate.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

7. Scotland Travel: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

For an even subtler magic, we turn to the beloved Outlander series, a time travel historical romance. Set in Scotland, Claire stumbles upon an ancient circle of stones that transports her back to the 18th century, where she must escape the clutches of her modern-day husband’s ancestor and falls into the protection of Jamie Fraser. 

Claire and Jamie’s romance spans centuries and continents through the nine-book series. The books have been made into a Starz series of the same name.

Readers should be aware that there is a lot of violence in this series.

“Marvelous and fantastic adventures, romance, sex . . . perfect escape reading.”—San Francisco Chronicle, on Outlander

“History comes deliciously alive on the page.”—New York Daily News, on Outlander

“Gabaldon is a born storyteller. . . . The pages practically turn themselves.”—The Arizona Republic, on Dragonfly in Amber

8. Spain Travel: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

In a post-civil war Barcelona , Daniel, the son of an antique bookseller, discovers a book called The Shadow of the Wind . The mysterious book appears to be the only copy of any book by the author – the rest have been systematically destroyed. In Daniel’s quest to find the author, he is led down a rabbit hole with secret libraries, blackmail, and murder.

This story had me hooked on its beautiful writing and dedication to books of all kinds. I wish I could visit a library like the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

“Gabriel Garcia Marquez meets Umberto Eco meets Jorge Luis Borges for a sprawling magic show.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Wonderous . . . masterful . . . The Shadow of the Wind is ultimately a love letter to literature, intended for readers as passionate about storytelling as its young hero.” —Entertainment Weekly (Editor’s Choice)

“One gorgeous read.” —Stephen King

9. Sweden Travel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Back to modern times we visit Sweden in this trilogy by Stieg Larsson and the posthumous continuation by David Lagercrantz. Investigative journalist Mikael teams up with Lisbeth , a young hacker prodigy, to track down a heiress who disappeared over forty years ago.

The original trilogy is steeped in intrigue and action, but the third book – The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest – is the ultimate vindication against the forces that have worked against Lisbeth her whole life, and winter in Sweden is the perfect snowy backdrop for this thriller.

The trilogy was made into movies, both Swedish and English, but the books are addictive and hard to put down. The series is one of the best-selling book series ever, having sold over 100 million copies.

“Wildly suspenseful . . . an intelligent, ingeniously plotted, utterly engrossing thriller.”—The Washington Post“

Mesmerizing. . . . Imagine the movies of Ingmar Bergman crossed with Thomas Harris’s novel The Silence of the Lambs.”—USA Today

“Unique and fascinating. . . . It’s like a blast of cold, fresh air to read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”—Chicago Tribune

10. Turkey Travel: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

Finally, we travel to ancient Troy, what is now modern-day Turkey. A visit to Turkey is full of culture, natural beauty, and history.

In her debut novel, Miller tells us a spin on the tragic story of Achilles and Patroclus. These two lovers, as Greek tragedies go, are fated for disaster.

This one guarantees a sob fest, but is so tragically beautiful. It’s accessible and sticks close to the classic mythologies.

“Talk about updating the classics.”—Time magazine

“[Miller] injects a newfound sense of suspense into a story with an ending that has already been determined.”—Wall Street Journal

“Powerful, inventive, passionate, and beautifully written. ”—Boston Globe

Liz Alden writes romance novels based on her own travel adventures. Her debut novel, The Hitchhiker in Panama , follows Lila as she hitchhikes through the Panama Canal on a sailboat and finds an unexpected adventure along the way. Liz also posts book news and reviews of romance novels on Facebook , and Instagram .

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10+ Travel Books That Take Your Heart to Europe

By: Author Mihaela Lica Butler

10 Travel Books that take your heart to Europe

Choosing the best travel books that take your heart to Europe is not an easy task. Some of the most inspiring manuscripts that capture the spirit of the old continent are not available in English. And yet, authors around the world write volumes about this part of our blue planet and their imagination is often the magic wand that inspires the journey. Here are 10 great travel books that take place in Europe and will inspire your next trip to the continent. 

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson relates the tale of an American from Iowa who is both frustrated and fascinated by Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other alluring British destinations. From Cornish fishing villages to more touristy spots, the author relates his trips with flair and humor: here a country pub where everybody knows your name, there a sanatorium turned residential complex, and in-between a whole cast of heritage sites and countryside treasures.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is one of those iconic travel books that take your heart to Europe – this time from Paris in France, to Pamplona in Spain, for the July fiesta, which culminates with a bull fight. It’s a literary gem in Hemingway’s iconic style, and it relates the travels and love story of U.S. journalist Jake Barnes and British Lady Brett Ashle y.

Watermark by Joseph Brodsky

Watermark by Joseph Brodsky is a poetic masterpiece that paints Venice with the brushes of a thousand poets. Suddenly, carnivals and postcard images become obsolete as you live and breathe the rhythm of a real, vibrant city, destroyed by the tourist hype. Brodsky’s Venice is at its best off-season when the peace of the streets reverberates the bang of the church bells like a symphony.

Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis

When it comes to “philoxenia” (love of strangers), there’s no place like Crete, the birthplace of Zeus. Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis contributed significantly to tourism growth after the 1960s, even more than the famous Cretan diet – which on Crete is frowned upon by many, because Cretans love meat more than they love veggies, fish, and legumes. Granted, I spent more than three months on the island, and I have never encountered a cow, but the goats are omnipresent: they lure from the branches of an olive tree, which stretches its shadow over a winding mountain road, they explore the shores of the Cretan Sea, or they appear out of nowhere when your drive against the clock, just to slow you down. They also show up as metaphors and witty literary license comparisons in Zorba the Greek.

A Year in Provence  by Peter Mayle

If you are anything like Peter Mayle, you will love spending A Year in Provence . This is one of the 10 travel books that take your heart to Europe I love the most because it is so close to home. Granted, I’d drive more than 8 hours to Lubéron, but Marseille , which is the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône in Provence, is just a stone’s throw away from Mayle’s 200-year-old stone farmhouse that is the setting of this fascinating story. The area has not changed much since the novel had its first edition in 1989: goats still roam freely on the main streets of the village, and ladder snakes are right at home.

Postcards from Europe  by Rick Steves

Beyond the hype, Rick Steves’ Postcards from Europe takes you “from the Netherlands through Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, with a grand Parisian finale,” and it’s the perfect journey. Rick tends to write like a travel guide, but he has a way with words that inspires impromptu voyages: “But it’s the same Europe, as well. Dolphins playfully race Aegean ferries into the sunset. Oslo’s fjord weary fishermen still peddle tins of shrimp from their boats.” In Postcards from Europe, the author shares some of his favorite travel destinations and moments, but they soon become yours.

For a list of all Rick Steves’ Guide Books for your next adventure in Europe.

The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us  by Francis Tapon

Francis Tapon is an intriguing world explorer. His The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us is one of those rare books that challenge stereotypes albeit from a strongly biased perspective which doesn’t bother at all because the voice of the author is honest and the experience is genuine. This is Tapon’s personal journey and view, so take his tales with the necessary grain of salt.

Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes

Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean by John Keahey’s

For a book that reveals the fascinating history and paths of Regione Siciliana, you can always count on John Keahey’s Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean .  From tourist spots like La Terra Trema’s trendy Aci Trezza resort to remote destinations, this is a tome that will inspire your thirst for knowledge and wanderlust.  

Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life by Daniel Klein

Finally, Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life by Daniel Klein is all about Greek lifestyle experiences. The title is self-explanatory, and the read meets the promise. In fact, “fulfilling” is an understatement for life on Hydra, which turns to be anything but the mythological serpentine water monster of Lerna.

Do you have any other favorite travel books that take your heart to Europe? Let us know in the comments!

Written by and photos by Mihaela Lica Butler  for EuropeUpClose.com

3 Beautiful Travel Books that Take You To France

Written by Jen Westmoreland Bouchard for EuropeUpClose.com

Best Travel Books that take place in Europe –  Pin for later:

Sunday 25th of June 2017

I'll check some of these out:) I have Under the Tuscan Sun and read a few books by Bryson but not the one you mention:)

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Best travel books for Europe on a budget

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

If you are looking for the best travel books for Europe on a budget then we have put together the best list that will help you travel Europe cheaper and smarter. These Europe travel guides will provide you with everything from, tips, best things to do, where to eat, transport, culture, history, best beaches and so much more.

There are so many beautiful places in Europe and it would be a shame to miss out by not planning your trip properly in advance. From the beauty of Paris and the Amalfi Coast to the stunning beaches of Greece and the history of Rome. Every destination is unique and hold its own charms, so it’s important to plan your trip to its full potential and make the most out of your European adventure.

We have hand picked and reviewed our 10 best travel books for Europe on a budget, enjoy!

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Here are our top 3 best travel books for Europe on a budget, if you don't have time to read the whole post:

Lonely Planet Europe Travel Guide

• Lonely Planet - Europe on a shoe string

Rick Steves Best of Europe

Our 10 best travel books for europe on a budget.

If you are looking for the best travel books for Europe on a budget, then we have hand picked and reviewed the best Europe travel guides to buy for 2018.

Simply click on the product for more information and to check prices below:

Europe Travel Book Reviews

If you are still unsure of what are the best travel books for Europe on a budget, then carry on reading our Europe travel book review and buyers guide. We have hand picked and selected the best travel book for Europe out there. Simply click on the links below for more information and latest prices:

DK Eyewitness Europe Travel Guide

The DK Eyewitness Europe travel guide will lead you straight to the best attractions and give you the best itinerary for each country so you can get the very best out of your trip. The book is packed with stunning photography, detailed maps and illustrations providing you with all the information you need. You will be sure to find insider tips for the best places to eat, how to get there, what to see and essential information saving you money, time and effort. So travel Europe the easy way with the detailed travel guide, from the stunning Roman architecture, beautiful blue beaches of Greece to the never ending green landscapes of Ireland.

You can count on Rick Steves to give you the very best travel information and how to experience the best of Europe. Rick spends about 4 months a year traveling through Europe, so you are guaranteed to be getting the very best and latest tips. In his guide Rick covers the best of England, France, Germany, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. He covers best things to do, places to eat, transport, plotting maps and routes so you are fully organised to see the best things in the time you have saving you money in the process. Check out this book on Amazon for more information and read over 158 reviews.

The Lonely Planet Europe Travel Guide is your one way ticket to the most relevant, up-to-date travel information for Europe. This is Lonely Planets most comprehensive guide to Europe, perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. It features colourful maps and images throughout the book, highlights and itineraries to help you plan trips to your personal needs and interests. This book has insider tips and ticks to save money and explore countries in Europe like the locals, avoiding crowds and trouble areas. You have everything at your finger tips from phone numbers, help lines, websites, prices and honest reviews for all budgets. This includes, places to eat, where to stay, shopping and sight seeing. So if you’re looking for one of the best travel books for Europe on a budget then this should be high up on your list!

Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door

Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door tells you exactly what you need to know when traveling through Europe, including how to plan your itinerary and maximise your time, packing tips, finding good hotels and places to eat, all of which helps you save money and travel correctly seeing the best things in the time you have. This book also features money saving tips for transport by train, bus, car and plane which is really important especially if you are hopping to different countries on your travels. Rick also tackles language barriers, cultural differences, how to avoid scams and all the crowds. With this guidebook, you’ll experience the culture like a local, spend less money and most importantly have so much more fun!

Let’s Go Europe 2018: The Student Travel Guide

The Let’s Go Europe Student Travel Guide has been quoted by the New York Times as  “The granddaddy of budget guides” and  “The Bible of the budget traveler”  by the Boston Globe. So it’s safe to say this guide is pretty awesome, especially if you are seriously budgeting. Learn how to travel through Europe cheap, saving money on accommodation, eating, transport and so much more. However, this is a ‘students’ guide so it may not be for everyone. Personally sleeping on someones floor to save some money isn’t for me. However there are lots of great tips in this book that will save you money so it’s still worth a read as there maybe some hidden gems in there that other travel guides may not have covered or even considered.

Fodor’s Essential Europe Top 25

Fodor’s Essential Europe Travel Guide features the top 25 essential countries to visit in Europe. Fodor’s travel guides are written by locals offering first hand experience and expert advice for all budgets, ages and tastes for more than 80 years. This book features lots of details maps and stunning photography that captures the top experiences and attractions throughout Europe. There are hundreds of recommendations for hotels and restaurants  complete with the ‘top picks’ saving you the hard work of trying to narrow it down. Fodor’s have put together multiple itineraries to explore the top attractions in 25 countries and what’s off the beaten path, allowing you to explore for less and avoid the crowds.

Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring Travel Guide

The Lonely Planet Europe on a Shoestring Travel Guide is one of the best travel books for Europe on a budget if not the best. It is purely budget-oriented featuring recommendations with honest reviews for eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping and hidden gems that most guidebooks simply don’t cover. It features insider tips to save you time and money, and get around like a local avoiding the crowds, troublesome spots and scams. This book provides highlights and itineraries which help you tailor your trip to your needs and your budget. So, if you’re after saving money when traveling Europe then Lonely Planet are the best travel books for Europe on a budget.

Savvy Backpackers Guide to Europe on a Budget

The Guide to Europe on a Budget by the Savvy Backpacker pretty much covers everything you need to know about planning a trip to Europe. This guide is for people wanting to travel Europe on a budget and contains a lot of information about saving money. However with that in mind, it isn’t exclusively focused on doing everything as cheap as possible, it also concentrates on getting the most value for money as well. This book features great money saving tips on accommodation, hostels, transportation, budget airlines, solo travel, itinerary tips, packing lists, travel strategies, eating on the cheap and a lot more.

Lonely Planet Western Europe Travel Guide

If you are looking to explore Western Europe then you should check out Lonely Planet Western Europe Travel Guide . The New York Times describes their guides as  ‘Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.’   It features insider tips to save money on accommodation, transport and activities. How explore like a local, save time and plan itineraries for your trip to get the very best experience at the best value. Lonely Planet is your passport to the most relevant and up-to-date advice and tips. This guide also features detailed colourful maps and photography. Get to the heart of Western Europe   and begin your journey now with Lonely Planet.

Rick Steves Eastern Europe

Explore Eastern Europe’s top cities with Rick Steves Eastern Europe Travel Guide , covering the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. Rick’s candid, humorous advice will guide you to get best value hotels and restaurants. This book will provide you with all the information you need to see all the sights saving you money and time. It covers everything from transportation, culture, history, places to eat, best things to do and more. This book is more than just reviews and directions, it is the ultimate Eastern Europe tour guide in your pocket.

Best Travel Book for Europe on a Budget

Recommended Europe Travel Guide …

Thanks for reading our guide on the best travel books for Europe on a budget. We hope you find the ideal European travel guide which will save you money, travel smarter and enable you to make the most our of your travels in Europe.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

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The Best Books of 2023

A Smithsonian magazine special report

The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2023

Take a trip without leaving home with these adventurous reads from this year

Laura Kiniry

Travel Correspondent

It’s often said that travel is all about the journey, whether it’s planning a remote island holiday or setting out on the adventure of a lifetime across the Arctic Ocean. But it can be almost as thrilling to roam the world from the comfort of our homes. Just take our pick of 2023 travel books, which include everything from humor-fueled essay collections and thought-provoking narratives to tomes brimming with full-page colorful photographs and tips on finding the most welcoming LGBTQ+ spots around the globe. They all share the uncanny ability to transport readers through time and space without ever having to open the front door.

Whether it’s a deep delve into a Balkan landscape of healing plants and foraging, or a more than 2,000-mile road trip through America’s racial history, here are ten travel books that are more than worthy of this year’s holiday wish lists.

Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance by Alvin Hall

From 1936 to 1967, the Green Book served as an annual travel guide for African Americans, helping them to identify welcoming hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses across the United States during the Jim Crow era. Compiled by Black New York City postman Victor Hugo Green , this essential reference publication included places like Manhattan’s Hotel Theresa , once considered the “Waldorf of Harlem,” and the Moulin Rouge Hotel in Las Vegas, frequented by celebrities like Harry Belafonte and Ella Fitzgerald during its five-month stint in 1955.

Award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall first learned about the Green Book in 2015, and he was immediately intrigued. Several years later, he and a friend, activist Janée Woods Weber , set out on a 2,000-plus-mile cross-country road trip from Detroit to New Orleans, visiting many of the establishments once featured in the guide’s pages. (Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has a nearly complete collection of the Green Book , which Hall utilized.) Along the way, Hall also gathered memories from some of the guide’s last surviving users.

The result, Driving the Green Book: a Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance , is a poignant 288-page journey along America’s open roads, delving into the country’s racial past, detailing the Green Book ’s life-saving history and bringing it all together in one remarkable read.

Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance

Join award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall on a journey through America’s haunted racial past, with the legendary Green Book as your guide.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-Mile Horseback Journey Into the Old West by Will Grant

In 2019, American journalist Will Grant embarked on a five-month, 2,000 mile journey on horseback from Missouri to California. His goal: to follow the historic route of the Pony Express , a legendary frontier mail system operating between April 1860 and October 1861, which used a series of horse-mounted riders and relay stations to deliver mail from one end to the other in just ten days. Although the express service went bankrupt after only 18 months, it remains an iconic symbol of America’s Old West.

Grant chronicles his 142-day adventure in The Last Ride of the Pony Express , a first-person narrative describing his trip across the Great Plains of Nebraska and the sagebrush steppe of Wyoming in the company of his two horses, Badger and Chicken Fry. While Grant reflects on the West’s modernization over time, it’s his vivid descriptions of the communities and local residents—including ranchers, farmers and migrant sheep herders—along the way that make the book a real page-turner.

The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West

The Last Ride of the Pony Express is a tale of adventure by a horseman who defies most modern conveniences, and is an unforgettable narrative that will forever change how you see the West, the Pony Express, and America as a whole.

Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the Joys of Slow Travel

The latest in the Unforgettable Journeys series by DK Eyewitness, a publisher of nonfiction books known for its visual travel guides, Unforgettable Journeys Europe highlights the notion that travel really is all about the “getting there.” This inspirational tome details 150 of Europe’s best slow adventures, such as kayaking through Lithuania and crossing the Arctic Circle by train.

The bucket list is organized by modes of transportation, with sections titled “By Bike” and “By Rail,” for example. Illustrations, photos, maps and plenty of practical information (including start and end points for trails, difficulty ratings and website links) are then spread throughout the text, making the book as much colorful reference as it is inspiring read. In the “On Foot” chapter, there’s a description of Scotland’s Fife Pilgrim Way , a 56-mile trek along an ancient pilgrim route with cathedral and countryside views. Along with details on what to see during the multiday hike, the book features a selection of highlighted tips, like what to do (pick wild berries while passing through Clatto Reservoir ) and how to splurge (dinner and an overnight stay at the cozy, Michelin-starred Peat Inn ) en route.

Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the Joys of Slow Travel (Dk Eyewitness)

Inspirational travel book covering 150 of Europe's most incredible journeys, including routes on foot and by bike, road, rail and water.

Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time by Kapka Kassabova

After a decade of living in the Scottish Highlands, native Bulgarian Kapka Kassabova returned to her roots in southwestern Bulgaria’s remote Mesta Valley, a rural region known for its array of wild crops and their vast medicinal properties. Over several seasons (Kassabova’s move occurred at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic), the poet and writer set out to study the deep relationship between the area’s people and plants, as well as with the land itself. Her resulting text—with chapters like “Pine Syrup,” “Honey Sellers” and “Shepherd’s Superfood”—is an autobiographical exploration of one of the globe’s lesser-known corners, one brimming with forages, healers and a wealth of folk traditions.

“ Elixir is the vibrant, beautiful story of a singular, remarkable place,” writes Foreword book reviewer Catherine Thureson. “It issues a call to reclaim the physical, emotional and spiritual connection between humanity and the natural world.”

Elixir: In the Valley at the End of Time

In Elixir , in a wild river valley and amid the three mountains that define it, Kapka Kassabova seeks out the deep connection between people, plants, and place.

The Life Cycle by Kate Rawles

British writer and cyclist Kate Rawles has a penchant for raising awareness about environmental challenges through her own adventures—and inspiring action in the process. In 2006, Rawles cycled 4,553 miles from Texas to Alaska , interviewing Americans about climate change along the way. Her latest endeavor—an 8,288-mile, 13-month journey across the length of the Andes Mountains on a self-built bamboo bicycle she nicknamed “Woody”—is the basis for her new book, The Life Cycle .

During this largely solo endeavor in 2017 and 2018, the author crossed some of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems, including South America’s Atacama Desert and the Bolivian salt flats. Simultaneously, she found herself witnessing the devastating effects of extreme biodiversity loss caused by industries such as logging and gold mining, and met with activists and communities working to regenerate these habitats—sharing their concerns and insight throughout the narrative.

The Life Cycle: 8,000 Miles in the Andes by Bamboo Bike

Pedalling hard for thirteen months, eco adventurer Kate Rawles cycled the length of the Andes on an eccentric bicycle she built herself. The Life Cycle charts her mission to find out why biodiversity is so important, what's happening to it, and what can be done to protect it.

Unravelling the Silk Road by Chris Aslan

An extremely well-researched story of three ancient trade routes that helped define a continent, Chris Aslan’s Unravelling the Silk Road “merges trauma with textiles to track the past and present experiences of the people of Central Asia,” writes author Clare Hunter . He explores the roles played by wool, a textile used by the region’s nomads for both yurts and clothing; silk, a commodity that was once more valuable than gold; and cotton, the cause of Russian and then Soviet colonization, since it provided cheap material for the global superpower.

Turkish-born Aslan interweaves his own personal experiences (the author once picked cotton with locals and worked with nomadic yak herders in Central Asia’s Pamir Mountains) with the history of each route and its impact on the lives of local residents ​​ —as well as the region itself. Aslan also examines how political and cultural changes are affecting new trade routes and the people who depend on them.

Unravelling the Silk Road: Travels and Textiles in Central Asia

Veteran traveler and textile expert Chris Aslan explores the Silk, Wool and Cotton Roads of Central Asia.

The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise​​ by Pico Iyer

British-born essayist and acclaimed writer Pico Iyer is no stranger to travel journalism. The author—whose childhood was divided among English, Indian and U.S. cultures—is known for works like 1989’s Video Night in Kathmandu , a stark look at modern Asia, and The Global Soul , a 2001 collection of essays on finding home in a world of international airports and shopping malls. For more than 40 years, Iyer has traveled the globe, reflecting on the planet and our role within it.

“After years of travel, I’d begun to wonder what kind of paradise can ever be found in a world of unceasing conflict,” writes Iyer in his latest book, The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise , “and whether the very search for it might not simply aggravate our differences.” The result is a retrospective look at his own travels and encounters—from North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang to Jerusalem’s Ethiopian chapels—through the idea of “paradise,” what it means and whether it exists.

The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise

Traveling from Iran to North Korea, from the Dalai Lama’s Himalayas to the ghostly temples of Japan, Pico Iyer brings together a lifetime of explorations to upend our ideas of utopia and ask how we might find peace in the midst of difficulty and suffering.

The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Queer Travelers by Maartje Hensen

Big, bold and colorful, The Pride Atlas is a valuable resource for LGBTQ+ folks and their allies, as well as a perfect coffee table topper. Compiled by queer author and photographer Maartje Hensen , its 400 pages are brimming with eye-catching photos and practical information, such as websites like Meetup and Couchsurfing that are useful for connecting with similarly minded locals and travelers, and resources regarding laws and cultural attitudes worldwide.

At the heart of the book are 500 destinations from around the globe, each one of them highlighting a way of engaging with LGBTQ+ culture. You’ll find drag shows, Pride parades, campsites, microbrew pubs and other places, from San Francisco’s Transgender District to Haircuts for Anyone , an inclusive and affirmative hair salon in Montreal that charges by sliding scale.

“Hopefully,” writes Hensen, “ The Pride Atlas expands your horizons and inspires you to go out into the world, to (un)learn from others … because, like gender, the world doesn’t fit into binary.” Indeed.

The Pride Atlas: 500 Iconic Destinations for Queer Travelers

Combining immersive photography with expertly researched travel writing, this is the ultimate guidebook for LGBTQ+ travelers—whether you're planning your next getaway, daydreaming from the comfort of your armchair, or seeking to learn about queer culture in other parts of the world.

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel by Shahnaz Habib

An enlightening and entertaining debut essay collection by a U.S.-based Indian Muslim author, Airplane Mode brings a unique and under-represented perspective to the world of travel. Shahnaz Habib approaches such topics as the origins of passports, colonial modes of thinking about travel—like safaris and pilgrimages—and terms like “pseudiscovery,” which she uses to describe an explorer’s claim of discovering something that’s existed for thousands of years, with both wit and curiosity, incorporating her own personal narratives to boot.

Perhaps Annabel Abbs, author of Windswept: Walking the Paths of Trailblazing Women , says it best in her praise for Airplane Mode, which has been long-listed for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence . She calls it “a fascinating, wide-ranging and insightful travelogue that poses some of the biggest questions of all: Who gets to travel, and what is it that makes us so keen to travel in the first place?”

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel

This witty personal and cultural history of travel from the perspective of a Third World-raised woman of color, Airplane Mode , asks: what does it mean to be a joyous traveler when we live in the ruins of colonialism, capitalism and climate change?

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures by Connie Wang

The closest Chinese expression to “Oh, my god” is wode ma ya , which literally translates to “Oh, my mother.” It’s a declaration of astonishment, as well as the title for journalist Connie Wang ’s humorous and heartfelt book, Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures . Wang details the complicated relationship between herself and her stubborn and “wildly opinionated” mother, Qing Li, across nine essays, taking readers from time-share properties in Cancun and Aruba to a Magic Mike strip show in Las Vegas. “This is our memoir—a long personal essay, if you will—and it was forged through shared fact-checking,” Wang writes in the book. “Qing was the first person to read each chapter as it was written, and she is this book’s first editor.” According to Kirkus Reviews , the author “drives to the heart of how a daughter comes to know her mother as someone with a life beyond motherhood.”

Oh My Mother!: A Memoir in Nine Adventures

A dazzling mother-daughter adventure around the world in pursuit of self-discovery, a family reckoning, and Asian American defiance

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Laura Kiniry | READ MORE

Laura Kiniry is a San Francisco-based freelance writer specializing in food, drink, and travel. She contributes to a variety of outlets including American Way , O-The Oprah Magazine , BBC.com , and numerous AAA pubs.

Welcome to Europe by Rail

Exploring Europe by train is easy, economical and enjoyable. Europe by Rail is a guidebook featuring fifty great routes, country information and off-beat diversions. It'll inspire you to explore Europe in a way you've probably never done before.

The 17th edition of Europe by Rail was published on 12 April 2022. The book was reprinted in September 2022 and July 2023.

What people have said about recent editions of the book

The continent of Europe is a vast land that is rich in diversity, history and culture. There are borders of course, yet Europe by Rail teaches us to see borders not as obstacles, but instead as open doors to new and different experiences.

Europe by Rail has been in existence for over a quarter of a century, but with each new edition Nicky and Susanne have continued to refine what is not only the finest guidebook to rail travel across this continent of ours, but also one of the best guides to travel in Europe full stop.

This guide most certainly lives up to its name: it is a most definitive guide, and is packed with all the information that you will need to plan your rail travel across the continent. Do not leave home without it.

Europe by Rail is a book of sheer possibility, a love letter to a continent that also tells you where to buy the ring and how to get to the jeweller's.

Whether you use it vicariously, imagining trips from the comfort of home, or as an essential part of your travelling kit, Europe by Rail is a wonderful publication, proving that we don't have to fly thousands of miles to find adventure when there's so much to see at our doorstep.

If you’re planning to travel by train in Europe, “Europe By Rail” is your one-stop-shop resource that’s filled with everything you need to know.

This fifteenth edition is not just a guide to European train journeys (50 of them) but it’s a cornucopia of useful information about rail travel in general. Even if you don’t intend to travel by rail regularly, there is plenty of in-depth writing to whet your appetite from your armchair.

Gardner and Kries have packed this new edition with invaluable information on European train travel. But they have also managed to capture the joy, excitement, and even romance of train travel in what could have been an otherwise dry reference guide.

If you love train travel as much as we do, this book is more than just a guide for your bookshelf. Snuggle down with it on the sofa, or pull it out of your bag on a crowded commute home–then promise yourself you’ll use it to discover just how magical train travel can be.

Whether you are planning on taking just one or two rail journeys in Europe or will be covering much of the continent onboard a train, Europe by Rail is a must-read. Both rail novices and experienced train travellers will appreciate the tips and information included in the book.

This new edition should appeal in particular to members of the engineering profession, always defined by the two parameters of precision and creativity (or passion if you wish). Europe by Rail is resplendent with both. While brimming with the latest thoroughly verified bits of information, it is written with genuine gusto by the people who are not only extremely fond of travelling, but also happen to be accomplished stylists and writers.

Can you lose yourself happily within the book’s pages, much in the same way that you would lose yourself in a town or a landscape that you are exploring for the first time? With Europe by Rail , the answer is a resounding yes: not only will you get new ideas of where to go, you will also find stuff to make you see familiar places in a fresh perspective.

For anyone planning to embark on a rail holiday in Europe, this guide is an invaluable companion. Even if you’ve travelled extensively by rail across the continent, things change regularly and it’s an easy way to bring yourself up to date. Don’t wait until you leave to buy it. The suggestions for stopovers and detours will help with your planning and you’ll have information at your fingertips about rail passes, supplements, connections and the like.

What comes across more than anything is a genuine love of Europe and a huge enthusiasm for exploring different countries and cultures. Living in Berlin, the authors are at the very heart of Europe, and the routes and diversions they suggest give everyone the chance to sample the excitement of having a whole continent spread out before us.

It’s a wonderful book – I love the idea of arranging a travel guide around rail journeys, rather than rail journeys merely being included as a means of getting from A to B. Over its 512 pages, it includes some 50 rail routes, which between them do an impressive job of covering the wealth of landscapes, cities, cultures and languages this continent has to offer.

Beautifully written, the book is both practical and inspirational.

The book is an alluring combination of evocative writing (“Speed soaks up detail as poppies in the fields of Flanders become a red haze”) and practical advice. Subtitled The Definitive Guide for Independent Travellers , it is also a history of Europe in 50 train routes.

Wenn es ein Buch in die 15. Auflage schafft, dann ist das schon ein großes Lob. Umso mehr, wenn es sich um einen Ratgeber handelt. Und ganz besonders, wenn der sich um etwas so – vermeintlich – Altmodisches wie Bahnreisen dreht.

The most comprehensive European railway guide, this book serves two separate purposes: As an inspiring book to read before you leave on your travels - and an essential guide to constantly refer to when you are actually travelling on the most beautiful trains and railway lines that Europe has to offer.

Last month, Nicky and Susanne’s latest project hit the shelves: the 15th edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide . As both editors and now publishers of the guidebook, Nicky and Susanne have brought their trademark attention to detail to all aspects of the new publication, and as always it is an absolute pleasure to read.

Each chapter is peppered with insights into culture and heritage, and practical information for making the most out of a journey. [...] Europe by Rail is a guidebook that proves both inspirational and informative.

Inside the book

A detailed guide for planning your rail journeys

The guidebook is packed with information you’ll need for planning your train journeys around Europe – be it a meandering trip using Eurail or InterRail or a quick break to just one destination. Detailed route descriptions and tips on fares and ticketing help you navigate your way around Europe’s rail network.

Our passion for rail travel

The authors of Europe by Rail are travel writers and slow travel aficionados. And they are passionate about rail travel. The book captures the essence of each journey. You’ll find facts, ideas and inspiration aplenty in well-penned prose which invites you to hop aboard and discover another side of Europe.

A good read

Whether you are planning a long journey by rail or are an armchair traveller, Europe by Rail has something for everybody. The book records the sheer variety of European life and landscapes – join us as we watch lakes, mountains and townscapes slip by beyond the carriage window.

Take time to explore

Most journeys within Europe are of a length where flying hardly makes sense. Modern and efficient rail services criss-cross the continent. Take time to stop off and explore places along the way. Rediscover the joy of being flexible. If a station looks inviting, why not hop off the train and see what the town has to offer?

The authors

Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner know their way around Europe by train. The two women, both based in Berlin, are the editors of hidden europe magazine. In their work for Europe by Rail , Nicky and Susanne perpetuate a tradition of writing about rail travel which goes back to Victorian England and the work of Thomas Cook.

European Rail News

Keep up to date with new services with the latest edition of the European Rail Timetable . And see our own European Rail News & Notes, which highlights what’s new around the railways of Europe. European Rail News & Notes is published by the authors of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide .

Get occasional updates about the brand-new 16th edition of Europe by Rail which was published in mid-October 2019.

By registering you agree with our privacy policy . By default, our e-Newsletter is in html format. If you should prefer to receive a simple text version, just tick the box below.

Get updates on train services, the announcement of new routes and other rail travel related snippets in our European Rail News & Notes section.

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Traveling to Europe? Book one of these new train trips.

Europe is in the midst of a great rail revival. An increased awareness of environmental issues , the many hassles of air travel and the mental effort required to drive long distances are all reasons for people to get back onto trains. European passenger numbers are on the rise again, if not quite at pre-pandemic levels .

In response, operators across the continent are investing in new services, tracks and special offers. And it’s only going to get better: Dozens of projects are in motion from the Baltic states to Portugal, with the European Union aiming to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and supporting “10 pilot projects to establish new rail services or improve existing ones” right now .

My family’s summer will involve a train journey from Paris to Barcelona, down the Rhône valley and along the Mediterranean coast, but you don’t have to travel at 200 miles an hour to get the best out of Europe’s rail network.

From slow trains to high-speed bargains, there are plenty of options if you’re traveling in Europe in the next few months.

1. New sleepers from Belgium and Sweden

The sleeper train revival is picking up speed. They seemed to be on the way out in 2016, when the government of France, their last stronghold, decided to cut funding for a number of services. Happily, many of those have since been restored, and other countries around Europe — most notably Austria, under the brand name Nightjet — are investing heavily in night trains.

This summer sees the debut of a service between Brussels and Berlin, two key political centers, run by a new company called European Sleeper . Customers can leave Brussels at 7:22 p.m. (or Amsterdam at 10:34 p.m.) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and arrive in Berlin at 6:48 a.m. Return trips depart on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. There are three types of tickets, starting at $85: a seat, a bed in a six-berth compartment or a bed in a three-bed compartment.

Other night trains have also recently been introduced, such as Stockholm to Hamburg , which started in the fall, or Paris to Vienna , which began in 2021.

I’ve traveled on night trains from Paris to the south of France on a number of occasions. The experience is not luxurious, but it’s generally cheaper than the cost of a flight and a room — and the beds, while slim, are surprisingly comfortable. Be warned, though: The romance of trundling across Europe in the dead of night can make it hard to sleep.

2. German rail pass for $50 a month

Last summer Germany’s national rail company, Deutsche Bahn, offered monthly passes for the country’s huge network for under $10, a response to cost-of-living problems caused by a sharp rise in costs for electricity, food, heating and mobility. The success of that project has led to the introduction of the Deutschland-Ticket , which will cost around $50 a month and allow unlimited travel on all trains, buses and city subway services, with the exception of the most direct and speedy intercity services.

The possibilities are enticing. Beer lovers, for example, could travel from Düsseldorf to Cologne to Bamberg and onward to Munich, hopping off for distinctive local brews along the way. Those in search of scenery, meanwhile, might prefer the West Rhine Railway, stretching down the Rhine from Cologne in the north to Mainz.

One thing to remember: The Deutschland-Ticket is only available as a rolling, app-based subscription. British train expert Mark Smith, better known online as the Man in Seat 61, recommends canceling by the 10th of the month to avoid being charged for more than a month.

3. The first 100-mph locomotive, in the U.K.

Given locomotives are a British invention, the rail network in the United Kingdom can be a disappointment. Yes, it’ll get you where you need to go, eventually, but services are often late, and there’s only one high-speed line, used by Eurostar and domestic services, from London into the Kentish countryside. The current national debate over ongoing construction of HS2 (High Speed 2) offers a reason: NIMBY -ish attitudes tend to triumph over the greater good.

No wonder Britons are wont to retreat into the past for comfort. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the world’s first fully authenticated 100-mph passenger locomotive, the Flying Scotsman; as a result, a number of special excursions are planned. For those who can afford it, the Centenary Weekender looks like the most appealing trip, from London to York and then Edinburgh, followed by a jaunt up Scotland’s beautiful East Coast.

The Flying Scotsman may be unique, but Europe is full of historical interest. There’s another anniversary, too: The Wuppertal Schwebebahn , a remarkable suspension railway that continues to operate, was completed in 1903 . And then there’s the Beaux-Arts Canfranc Station, opened as the crossing point from Spain to France in 1928, which was revived as a hotel this year .

4. A $7 high-speed train in Spain

Budget services are increasingly common in Europe, but no one is moving so fast as Spain’s Avlo , which runs high-speed, low-cost trains between Madrid and Barcelona, with tickets starting around $7. The network is expanding: From the start of June , there’s a new route from the Spanish capital to Andalusia, taking in Cordoba, Seville and Malaga.

In France, there’s Ouigo , which provides high-speed and standard services from Paris to cities all around the country, including Bordeaux, Marseille and Strasbourg. The advantage of the standard service — which offers tickets starting around $11 — is that prices don’t change, so you can get a last-minute bargain. The U.K., too, has a low-cost service , from London to Edinburgh via Newcastle, although tickets are not always such good value.

5. New subway lines in Turkey and England

Few cities have seen such huge investment and rapid improvement in subway provision as Istanbul. Earlier this year, a line connecting Istanbul Airport to the city opened, while other new lines and extensions are entering service all the time. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a city that had virtually no underground transport until 1989.

It’s not the only capital to be investing in underground trains, though. The experience of visiting Copenhagen has been transformed by the 2019 opening of the City Circle Line . Since last summer, visitors arriving at London Heathrow can reach the city center, and much besides , far quicker courtesy of 2022’s Elizabeth Line.

Paris, meanwhile, is in the foothills of a significant expansion program, Grand Paris Express , which will provide new connections in the city’s long-neglected suburbs. You can expect to see those services start to come online next year, when Paris hosts the Olympics and when Metro Line 14 will be extended to Orly, Paris’s second-largest airport.

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Pictured: The best 25 beaches in Europe for 2024 according to Tripadvisor, from DORSET to Portugal via Cyprus. Which one would you put on your bucket (and spade) list? Vote in our poll...

• The ranking is based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings from Tripadvisor travellers for beaches
• Portugal, Italy and Spain emerge as the leaders in beach excellence, home to the top three
• Which one tickles your sunseeking fancy? Vote in our poll...  
• READ MORE:  The best places to stay in the WORLD - four UK B&Bs make the top 10 in 2024 Tripadvisor awards

By Laura Sharman and Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: 06:32 EDT, 28 April 2024 | Updated: 06:34 EDT, 28 April 2024

View comments

Brits don't have to book an expensive long-haul flight to enjoy a world-class beach.

As this Tripadvisor ranking of the top 25 beaches in Europe makes clear.

The list is drawn from the  2024 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Awards for Beaches . And sunseekers note, the top three spots - in Portugal, Italy and Spain - also rank as the top three beaches globally , beating strips of sand in Hawaii and the Caribbean.

The list has been created from the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings from Tripadvisor travellers for beaches worldwide between October 2022 and September 2023.

Scroll down to gaze upon pictures that provide eye-catching supporting evidence for the results, with Brits keen on a seaside staycation advised to linger on the two UK entries.

Which one do you want to visit for some much-needed vitamin sea? 

25. Kicking off the Tripadvisor ranking of Europe's best beaches for 2024 is Mellieha Beach in Malta. Ranked 25th, visitors praise its 'warm sea' and 'unbelievably crystal clear' waters in reviews on the travel site

24. This striking landscape is part of Praia dos Tres Irmaos, in Portugal's Algarve region, which features in 24th place. In a Tripadvisor review, 'S2917YPdebbiem' said: 'You must visit this beach if you are staying in the Algarve. Clean, [and] well-equipped with sunbeds, lifeguard station, cafes, restaurants, massage tent and boardwalk'

23. Lido Marakaibbo, on the island of Sicily in Italy, is the 23rd best beach in Europe according to the review data. Tripadvisor says: 'Lido Marakaibbo is a favourite hangout for both locals and in-the-know visitors. Comfortable lounge chairs and food and drinks served beachside make it a perfect spot to kick back and relax'

22. Nazare beach draws crowds of surfers keen to ride its sometimes enormous waves, but it also boasts a vast stretch of 'golden sand'. It ranks 22nd in the European ranking. Tripadvisor adds: 'Take a walk along the shore or on the boardwalk lined with cafes and bars serving good food and cheap drinks'

21. Konyaalti Beach in Turkey ranks 21st in the European ranking. Reviewer 'KarinLachner' remarked on the 'amazingly beautiful landscape over the mountains' and the 'clean water'

20. The UK's Bournemouth Beach comes 20th, described in Tripadvisor reviews as 'a wonderful beach' with 'lovely golden sands and great walks along the seafront'

19. Weymouth Beach on Dorset's Jurassic Coast is the UK's top-ranking beach, ranking 19th in Europe. Of 6,000 reviews, 4,287 carry an 'excellent' rating. Tripadvisor says: 'It's easy to get to and even has colourful changing huts. Try some water sports (it's a great place for children to swim) or go crabbing during the day, then check out the promenade or stop for a bite at a nearby cafe or restaurant'

18. Makronissos Beach in Aiya Napa, Cyprus, is 18th. Visitors describe it as 'fabulous' with 'mesmerising beauty'

17. In 17th place it's Cala Mariolu in Italy, described by visitors as 'simply magical'. Writing on Tripadvisor, 'Gianluca E' said: 'Never seen such a blue sea in my life'

16. Behold spectacular Iztuzu Beach in 16th position. This Turkish gem boasts 'calm waters and fine sand', says Tripadvisor, which adds that it's a nesting area for loggerhead turtles and is closed to visitors during the nesting season

15. Fig Tree Bay in Cyprus is described by visitors as 'a gem' with 'beautiful, crystal-clear warm water' and 'golden sand'

14. Visitors praise the 'great tavernas' and 'breathtaking views' from Matala Beach, Greece, which finishes in 14th position. The spot also entices with an 'inspiring' history -  at one end are 62 chambers cut into a limestone cliff that served as a Roman cemetery

13. In 13th place - and taking the top spot for France - it's the 'gorgeous' Plage de Palombaggia on the island of Corsica. Tripadvisor adds: 'The calm water is perfect for swimming and snorkelling, and there's tons of space to sunbathe on the huge, sandy shore' 

12. Feast your eyes on Anthony Quinn Bay, a sight to behold on the island of Rhodes, Greece, with cinematic allure - it was a filming location for The Guns of Navarone. The verdict from Tripadvisor reviewers? They're hugely impressed. Its overall score is 4.5 out of five from nearly 7,000 reviews

11. Dazzling Playa de Muro Beach on the Spanish island of Majorca is 11th in the ranking. Tripadvisor says: 'Playa de Muro Beach is an accessible, family-friendly spot with long stretches of golden sand and turquoise-blue water. You could easily spend an entire day here: Go on a walk, sunbathe, snorkel, paddleboard, or swim in the warm sea'

10. Standing out among a long list of white and golden beaches is Vik Black Sand Beach in Iceland. Ranking tenth, visitors describe it as an 'otherworldly' place with 'impressive' rock formations and 'arches in the ocean'

9. Coming in ninth, it's Playa de Maspalomas on Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands. Visitors hail its 'nice clean beach' and 'stunning dunes' on Tripadvisor

8. Myrtos Beach on the island of Kefalonia, Greece, ranks eighth in Europe and 23rd in the world. 'Surrounded by tall marble cliffs and looking out onto the azure waters of the Myrtos Gulf, this stunning beach makes for a dramatically breathtaking sight,' says Tripadvisor

7. This stunning picture of the turquoise waters and white sands of Nissi Beach in Cyprus demonstrates its appeal as the seventh-best beach in Europe. Tripadvisor says: 'Nissi Beach is a beautiful sandy cove with powdery white sand, bright blue water, and a lively party vibe. There are lots of amenities, like sun loungers, restrooms, and free parking. Children can splash around in the shallow surf, and adults can go jet-skiing or paddling'

6. Falassarna Beach on the island of Crete, Greece, is sixth in the European ranking and 19th in the global chart. Tripadvisor says: 'Pink sand, blue waters, stunning mountains, incredible sunsets - Falassarna Beach is all about the view. Once you take it all in, go swimming, snorkelling, or relax in the soft sand, then grab a bite at a nearby bar or coffee shop'

5. Playa de las Canteras in Gran Canaria, Spain, comes fifth in the European ranking and 16th in the world. Tripadvisor says: 'Stretching three kilometres, Playa de Las Canteras is an accessible, family-friendly beach with dedicated areas for surfing and bodyboarding, and lots of marine life (perfect for snorkelling!). Check out the giant sand sculptures on the shore, or stroll along the lively promenade lined with shops, bars, and restaurants'

4. Just missing out on a medal position is the 'stunning' Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland. It ranks fourth in Europe and 13th in the world. In the middle of the image is the dramatic Arnardrangur 'Eagle Rock'. Tripadvisor describes the beach as 'all drama', with visiticeland.com warning swimmers to be wary of dangerous 'sneaker waves' - powerful waves that can appear in a train of smaller waves

3. La Concha Beach, in San Sebastian, Spain, is awarded the bronze medal as the third-best beach in Europe - and in the world. Visitors describe it as 'beautiful' and 'accessible' on Tripadvisor. 'Antonia-Maria Stoian' wrote: 'The beach has a phenomenal promenade. At any hour of any day, it is gorgeous'

2. Italy's Spiaggia dei Conigli on Lampedusa island in Sicily wins the silver medal for both the European and global ranking. Visitors praise its 'clean environment' and unforgettable 'great views' on Tripadvisor

1. The number one beach to add to your European bucket (and spade) list is Praia da Falesia in Portugal's Algarve, according to Tripadvisor. It also wins the global ranking, knocking six-time champion Baia do Sancho in Brazil off the top spot. Tripadvisor says: 'Praia da Falésia is known for its dramatic cliffs, golden sands, and sparkling blue waters. Sunbathe on the huge shore, go swimming or body surfing in the waves, or stroll along the scenic footpath on top of the cliffs and check out the incredible views'

TRIPADVISOR'S BEST BEACHES IN EUROPE 2024

1. Praia da Falésia, Portugal

2. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Italy

3. La Concha Beach, Spain

4. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

5. Playa de Las Canteras, Spain

6. Falassarna Beach, Greece

7. Nissi Beach, Cyrpus

8. Myrtos Beach, Greece

9. Playa de Maspalomas, Spain

10. Black Sand Beach, Iceland

11. Playa de Muro Beach, Spain

12. Anthony Quinn Bay, Greece

13. Plage de Palombaggia, France

14. Matala Beach, Greece

15. Fig Tree Bay, Cyprus

16. Iztuzu Beach, Türkiye

17. Cala Mariolu, Italy

18. Makronissos Beach, Cyprus

19. Weymouth Beach, UK

20. Bournemouth Beach, UK

21. Konyaalti Beach, Türkiye

22. Praia da Nazare, Portugal

23. Lido Marakaibbo, Italy

24. Praia dos Três Irmãos, Portugal

25. Mellieha Beach, Malta

Source: Tripadvisor 

• www.tripadvisor....
• Warning: Reynisfjara black sand beach is dangerous

Share or comment on this article: Pictured: The best 25 beaches in Europe for 2024 according to Tripadvisor, from DORSET to Portugal via Cyprus. Which one would you put on your bucket (and spade) list? Vote in our poll...

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Inspired by Europe’s residential-style properties, where home comforts blend seamlessly with luxury, 850 SVB presents a new kind of LA experience. This is an intimate retreat, with old and new coming together to create an elegant, lived-in timelessness in West Hollywood. The building's bungalow facade dates to 1918, while a new addition makes the two structures feel as if they were always one. Well-known English interior designer, Rita Konig uses original artwork, hardwood floors, luxury linens, and marble bathrooms as a canvas upon which to create her “undone” yet chic look. The living room is perfect for relaxing or working. The al fresco roof deck awes with stunning city views.

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