Brittany and Normandy’s wild coast
MEET two neighbours linked by history, a dramatic coastline and some of France’s gastronomic champions.
Europe
English town that inspired modern Olympic Games
A DOCTOR from an English rural market town dreamt of an international sporting competition after forming the Wenlock Games in 1850. Angela Saurine follows the historic trail.
‘Parrot fever’ and other bizarre travel illnesses
AUSSIES flocking to Europe are being warned to beware of “parrot fever”, caused by being defecated on by birds.
Santorini: Island of the Gods
SANTORINI’s incredible history teaches Bettany Hughes about its fragility, but she finds the Greek Island urges visitors to live in the present.
The reader’s guide to London
THE best tips from readers on where to stay and eat in this world-class city, as well as what to do ahead of the Olympics next week.
Happy as a frog in mud at French music festival
WHO’S going to let a little bit of mud stop you having fun? Certainly not these music lovers who got down and dirty at a rock festival in France.
Discovering Rome in 48 hours
FROM churches to food and fountains, the Italian capital is a religious experience, writes Jodi Harris Ambrosi.
All aboard for a flawless break
FOR crime writer Kathryn Fox, a cruise ship provides for a great plot. It’s also the perfect base for a family-friendly holiday
All aboard the Orient Express
A ROMANTIC and dreamy rail journey harking back to the golden age of travel convinces Shaney Hudson it is the travelling – not the destination – that matters.
Taste of the good life in Ireland
KISSING the famous Blarney Stone at the castle, tucking into Irish Oysters and exploring the coastline in a boat is all part of a fun trip for Chanel Parratt in Kinsale.
Take me away to Marseilles
BRIAN Crisp takes in the Mediterranean coastline that has inspired painters for centuries while he gets high on the music of The Angels.
The charm of the south of France
THE south of France is a vision as much as it is a place, of a coast that inspired generations of artists, and villages under the sun.
Shoring up tradition in Italy
THE glitzy Italian lake district welcomes celebrities such as George Clooney, but there are also artisans who are preserving their trades after many centuries.
Diamond year for London
THIS is the year to visit London, with pomp, celebration, culture and history galore, writes Angela Saurine.
Discovering hidden Edinburgh
EDINBURGH is mythical and mystical and has plenty of stories to tell, writes Sarah Nicholson.
Wander the streets of Stockholm
STOCKHOLM is at the forefront of European design, style and fashion, writes Oliver Berry during a culture-filled trip to Sweden.
Pleasures of Spain in Catalonia
TASTE tapas in Barcelona, explore hidden beaches and the coastline that inspired Salvador Dali, writes Anthony Ham.
Spellbinding Harry Potter tour
THE boy wizard’s world has been opened up with a studio tour that will be on fans’ wishlists, writes Angela Saurine.
Reunited blends old and new
THE dynamic German capital, Berlin, has fully re-emerged as a world-class city for visitors.
Lonely Planet’s Greek Islands
THE Greek Islands have been a good place to escape the doom and gloom that has beset Greece.
Elle Macpherson hits the spa
‘THE Body’, supermodel Elle Macpherson, reveals the ins and outs of her VIP tune-up in the Italian Dolomites.
Five things to do when in Paris
TRAVEL editor Brian Crisp finds five great things to do in the most romantic city in the world.
Paris- remedy for broken hearts
IF PARIS doesn’t sweep you off your feet, Provence in the south of the country will, writes Susann Kovacs.
Magic views at Club Valmorel
NESTLED in the French Alps Club Med’s new resort and skiing there is just magnificent, writes Sarah Nicholson.
Get into the spirit of the Games for free
THERE are plenty of ways to enjoy the London 2012 Olympic Games without having tickets to events, writes Sylvia Hui.
World’s biggest airport to cost $77bn
PLANS to build a 24-hour, four-runway airport in London have been unveiled – and it’ll cost a whopping $77 billion.
There’s a bear in there – amazing up-close snaps
FEARLESS photographer snaps amazing close up shots of inquisitive Kamchatka brown bear.
Reader’s guide to Paris
ESCAPE readers reveal their world-city travel secrets in this monthly Doc Holiday guide compiled by Anthony Dennis.
Pleasure at heart of the alps
AUSTRIA is home to the jaw-dropping town of Innsbruck, an urban/alpine mix unlike anywhere in Europe with some of the world’s best skiing.
Basque in the glory
NO Bull! There’s plenty of tapas, museums and beaches in Spain, with not a cow-pat in sight and no running needed.
Train station installs giant slide
GIANT adult slide labelled the “transfer accelerator” installed at Dutch train station to help commuters get to their train quicker.
Namesakes make a luxe voyage
IN COLOGNE I bought cologne, in Frankfurt I ate a frankfurt, in Mainz a mainz course, but Cochem had me stumped. The quest for eponymous souvenirs is tough.
Englishmen do battle at Chap Olympiad
BUTLER baiting and moustache wrestling among list of quirky events during the annual summer bash for chaps and chapettes.
Follow in the footsteps of The Beatles
WEBCAM in London offers unique opportunity to recreate one of the world’s most recognised album covers and share it with your friends.
Riding the other Tour de France
THE French town of Loire offers an exhilarating challenge through green hills and along lonely country roads.
24 hours in Madrid
MY WHIRLWIND itinerary brings me to Spain’s capital on the final day of the Fiesta San Isidro, a week-long citywide jubilee celebrating the city’s patron saint.
Monte Carlo comes to life
IT’S Monday night in Monaco and two perverts are out on the prowl. One is my wife, I’m the other one, and we’re watching burlesque for the first time.
The bold and beautiful Monte Carlo
HOME to the rich and famous, Monte Carlo simply oozes money, riches and beautiful topless dancers – writes Brian Crisp.
Bookshop with volumes of history
AS a book lover, no e-reader will ever replace the satisfaction of holding a book in my hands – especially when it’s from Paris’ Shakespeare and Co store.
How to get tickets to Wimbledon
THE 2011 Championships may be in full swing but here’s how you could be sucking strawberries and sipping champers court-side.
Another Belfast rises
WHO would have thought that Belfast could rise gracefully from the ashes? A decade of growth has transformed this Irish city into a luxury destination.
Bobbing along on a Danube delight
THE German city of Passau is one of Bavaria’s oldest cities, sitting 4km from the Austrian border and ideally visited on a luxury cruise boat.
Uncovering Valletta’s glory
“THAT splendid town, quite like a dream,” was how Sir Walter Scott described Valletta in the 1800’s, and the good news is, it’s just as splendid today.
Cardiff: Doctor Who’s new home
FROM taking on the Daleks to finding fine art – here’s the pick of the best things to do in the bright and busy Welsh capital.
Hotel offers ‘better sex’
SWEDISH hotel offers guests some unique services including sexy lessons and erotic gifts.
Unrivalled beauty and Nordic charm
NORWAY is a once-in-a-lifetime destination and the essence of its appeal is simple: this is one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
Visit Winnie the Pooh Country
DISCOVER the magical woodlands and rivers that inspired author A.A. Milne to write the beloved children’s classic, Winnie the Pooh.
Turkey’s bazaar love affair
ISTANBUL, where East meets West, truly is a place where museums, palaces, mosques and restaurants magically meet together.
Dublin’s best food and wine in 24 hours
FROM delicious gourmet secrets to where to get the best pint of Guinness – discover the best treats in the Emerald Isle.
Five of the best European adventures
FROM gourmet delights in the City of Love to finding leprechauns in Dublin – sample the best Euro delights with these destination tips.
The locals know best in Trogir
THE guide books are no match for this eccentric guide, who whizzes in and out of the World Heritage Listed streets of Trogir…sans underpants.
It’s all downhill from here
THINK you’re a master of the slopes? Just wait till you’re standing at the starting gate of the Hahnenkamm racecourse in Austria for the first time.
Discover Lisbon the local way
HANG on to your seats and experience the steep streets of Lisbon the way the locals do – onboard an ancient tram.
Milan’s hotel to the stars
MILAN’S most exclusive address is a palace fit for a celebrity, as Maddy, George and Becks can attest. Brian Crisp lives the dream.
Walk in the footsteps of Wills and Kate
NOT invited to Kate and William’s wedding? London company now offering a walking tour of the sites close to the couple’s heart.
Budapest shines as the city of light
WITH food, art and a light show that rivals Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations – Budapest deserves its tag as the Paris of the East.
Shop like a true fashion icon
INDULGE your inner fashionista in Paris, where bargains abound and hotels offer treatments to ease leg fatigue – a condition caused by too much shopping.
Live like a Viking in Norway
WHETHER it’s looking for trolls or hunting a mysterious moose, Norway is the perfect place for imagination and adventure.
Surviving London with kids
SIX museums, three days, no tantrums. Here’s the secret to making the most of London’s sights with kids in tow.
Picasso adds culture to Malaga
Full of history, Malaga is more than just a place to stop on the way to the beach and the sun, writes Kevin Pilley
Celebs and sunburn cruising the Med
DISCOVER the delights of Greece and Turkey in just eight days, on board the Star Clipper.
Athens ticks all the travelling boxes
THINK outside the box and experience new and old around every corner in the delightful Greek capital – and now is the best time for Aussies to visit.
Paris battles ‘boring’ image
PARIS battles to restore “fun” reputation after the closure of many of the city’s nightspots led to it becoming known as the “City of Lights Out.”
Czech it out: the highlight of Prague
Experience one of Europe’s best views from the top of this historically spectacular delight in Prague.
Discovering Europe by train
FIND out how to stay in boutique hotels as you pass through Rome, Venice and Florence on Europe’s high-speed rail network.
Mr Best and The Beatles in Liverpool
BEATLEMANIA is big business, but if you want to chase after an original – and discover things you didn’t know existed – you can’t go past this tour.
Guide yourself through Berlin
HERE are four easy steps to take you around all the must-see sights in Berlin without having to set foot on a tour bus.
Best of Paris on any budget
FROM the best shops to the hottest entertainment – these tips will help you discover all the charms of Paris in style.
Australian hurt in running of the bulls
AN Australian has been injured on the second day of the San Fermin bull festival in Pamplona, Spain.
Is this the scariest viewing platform?
WITH its 13m platform the only thing between you and a 1000m drop to the bottom of the German Alps, the new AlpspiX viewing tower is not for the faint hearted.
Poland votes after president’s death
POLES voted today in an election forced by the air-crash death of conservative president Lech Kaczynski, in what looks to be a tight race between his bereaved twin and the governing liberals’ candidate.
Style in the City of Love
DISCOVER the latest in hotel concept rooms in Paris, where the boundaries of typical luxury rooms have been erased.
Resort job to rub sun lotion on guests
A RESORT in France is offering to pay two lucky candidates $1250 a week to rub sun cream on tourists.
Coast of the rich and famous
BEHIND the yachts and glitz, the Cote d’Azur is a real charmer, as Hollywood-inspired glamour and traditional French charm blend seamlessly together.
Ibiza ‘sand, sea, sound and sex’
A MAN wearing a horse’s head is being led through a semi-naked crowd by another wearing leather chaps.
‘Crazy’ upside-down house
A BIZARRE upside-down house in Germany is set to open its doors to tourists for the first time.
Malta is full of delicious delights
FROM its art to its national dish, one is constantly reminded of Malta’s colourful past.
Tiny island seeks caretaker who loves Puffins
WANTED: enthusiastic person to share outdoor office with a colleague, thousands of day trippers and vast colonies of seabirds. Must love puffins.
In the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes
AS the world is gripped in Sherlock Holmes-mania, go back in time on the streets of London to get the real story on the super sleuth.
Twilight star sinks teeth into Spain
ROBERT Pattinson ventures in to the sunlight to take us on a tour of his favourite Mediterranean seaside village.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/europe/page/23