Europe

Austria mixes imperial grandeur with Alpine scenery and exceptional music, culture and hospitality. Vienna and Salzburg are ideal city destinations, while the lakes and mountains provide superb summer retreats and winter skiing.

Best time: Year-round; May–September for countryside and December–March for winter travel.
Perfect for: Culture, classical music, skiing, Christmas and romantic escapes.
Interesting fact: Vienna was the centre of the vast Habsburg Empire for centuries.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Pair Vienna with Salzburg and a few days in the Austrian Alps.

Prague is the natural starting point, with Gothic spires, baroque palaces, cobbled streets and a beautifully preserved historic centre. Beyond the capital are castles, spa towns and peaceful countryside.

Best time: April–June and September–December.
Perfect for: City breaks, history, architecture and romantic weekends.
Interesting fact: Prague's astronomical clock has been marking time since the early 15th century.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Allow enough time to enjoy Prague beyond its main landmarks and discover its quieter neighbourhoods.

Cyprus combines Mediterranean beaches with mountain villages, ancient ruins and a wonderfully relaxed pace of life. Paphos and Limassol provide sophisticated resorts and dining, while the Troodos Mountains and traditional inland villages reveal another side of the island.

Best time: April–June and September–October; summer is excellent for beach holidays.
Perfect for: Couples, families, beaches, villas and sunshine.
Interesting fact: Cyprus has been associated with Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, for thousands of years.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine a luxury coastal stay with a few days exploring the quieter interior.

Croatia's Adriatic coastline brings together historic walled cities, clear water and an extraordinary collection of islands. Dubrovnik and Split provide culture and atmosphere, while Hvar, Brač and the surrounding islands lend themselves beautifully to sailing and relaxed coastal travel.

Best time: May–June and September; July and August for peak summer atmosphere.
Perfect for: Sailing, couples, families, culture and island hopping.
Interesting fact: Croatia's coastline contains more than a thousand islands, islets and reefs.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Dubrovnik with a private yacht or island-hopping itinerary.

Denmark blends sophisticated design, outstanding dining and an effortless quality of life. Copenhagen is the principal draw, while coastal towns, islands and countryside make it easy to extend a Scandinavian city break.

Best time: May–September and December for festive Copenhagen.
Perfect for: Food, design, families, city breaks and culture.
Interesting fact: Denmark consists of the Jutland peninsula and hundreds of islands.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Give Copenhagen several unhurried days rather than treating it as a fleeting city break.

Finland is a land of forests, lakes and vast northern wilderness. Helsinki brings contemporary Nordic design and food, while Finnish Lapland offers snow-covered landscapes, wilderness lodges and unforgettable winter experiences.

Best time: June–August for summer; December–March for Lapland and winter experiences.
Perfect for: Families, wilderness, Northern Lights, design and wellness.
Interesting fact: Finland is known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes — although it actually has vastly more than that.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Consider a private cabin or wilderness lodge for a more intimate Lapland experience.

Few countries offer the range of France: Parisian culture and fashion, Provence's lavender landscapes, Bordeaux and Burgundy's vineyards, the Riviera's glamour and the magnificent scenery of the Alps.

It works just as beautifully for a romantic weekend as it does for a leisurely road trip, family villa holiday or gastronomic journey.

Best time: April–June and September–October; winter for Alpine skiing.
Perfect for: Food and wine, romance, art, skiing, coast and countryside.
Interesting fact: The Louvre began life as a medieval fortress before becoming a royal palace and eventually a museum.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Pair Paris with Provence, Champagne, Bordeaux or the Côte d'Azur.

Germany combines dynamic cities with fairy-tale towns, forests, vineyards and Alpine scenery. Berlin offers history and contemporary culture, Munich provides a gateway to Bavaria and the Rhine and Moselle valleys are excellent for slower-paced exploration.

Best time: May–September and December for festive markets.
Perfect for: Cities, road trips, history, Christmas markets and food.
Interesting fact: Munich's Oktoberfest began in 1810 as part of celebrations for a royal wedding.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine one of Germany's major cities with its smaller towns and countryside.

Greece combines ancient history with some of Europe's most beautiful islands. Athens provides an extraordinary introduction to the classical world before Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Corfu and countless smaller islands offer everything from glamorous hotels to secluded retreats.

Best time: May–June and September–October; July and August for classic island holidays.
Perfect for: Island hopping, honeymoons, families, sailing and history.
Interesting fact: Greece contains thousands of islands and islets, although only a relatively small number are inhabited.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Athens with two contrasting islands rather than trying to see too many.

Budapest is one of Europe's most atmospheric capitals, divided by the Danube and known for grand architecture, café culture and historic thermal baths. Beyond the city, wine regions and Lake Balaton provide a different pace.

Best time: April–June and September–December.
Perfect for: City breaks, wellness, food, architecture and couples.
Interesting fact: Budapest sits above a remarkable network of natural thermal springs.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Build time into a Budapest stay for one of the city's historic thermal baths.

Iceland feels unlike almost anywhere else in Europe, with volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, geothermal pools and vast open landscapes. Reykjavík provides a lively starting point before road journeys reveal the country's extraordinary natural drama.

Best time: June–September for long days and road trips; winter for Northern Lights.
Perfect for: Adventure, landscapes, photography and couples.
Interesting fact: Geothermal energy provides heating for much of Iceland.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Venture beyond the busiest routes and include a remote luxury lodge.

Ireland combines striking landscapes, historic estates, characterful cities and famously warm hospitality. Dublin provides culture and dining, while the west coast delivers dramatic scenery, small villages and some wonderful country hotels.

Best time: May–September.
Perfect for: Road trips, golf, history, scenery and family heritage journeys.
Interesting fact: Ireland's Atlantic coastline is shaped by countless bays, peninsulas and offshore islands.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Self-drive or use a private driver and allow plenty of time for spontaneous stops.

Italy effortlessly combines magnificent cities, beautiful countryside, glamorous coastlines and exceptional food. Explore Rome, discover Renaissance Florence, travel through Tuscany or escape to Lake Como, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily or Sardinia.

Every region has its own identity, cuisine and traditions, making Italy equally suited to romantic escapes, family adventures and memorable multi-centre journeys.

Best time: April–June and September–October; summer for beaches and islands.
Perfect for: Couples, families, culture, food and wine and celebrations.
Interesting fact: Vatican City lies entirely within Rome, allowing visitors to experience two countries during one city stay.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine a cultural city stay with Tuscany, the lakes or the coast.

Malta packs remarkable history, architecture and Mediterranean scenery into a small archipelago. Valletta's honey-coloured streets contrast beautifully with harbour towns, hidden coves and the quieter islands of Gozo and Comino.

Best time: April–June and September–October; July and August for guaranteed summer heat.
Perfect for: Short breaks, history, couples, diving and sunshine.
Interesting fact: Malta contains prehistoric stone temples that pre-date both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Stay in or near Valletta before slowing the pace for a few days on Gozo.

Tiny Monaco delivers Riviera glamour on an extraordinary scale, with superyachts, Michelin-starred dining, legendary hotels and the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo.

Its location also makes it an excellent base for exploring neighbouring France and Italy.

Best time: April–June and September–October.
Perfect for: Glamour, celebrations, Formula 1, dining and short breaks.
Interesting fact: Monaco is the world's second-smallest independent country after Vatican City.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Incorporate Monaco into a wider French Riviera itinerary.

Montenegro combines dramatic mountains, historic towns and a spectacular Adriatic coastline. Around the Bay of Kotor, medieval settlements sit beneath towering mountains while stylish coastal resorts provide an increasingly sophisticated alternative to better-known Mediterranean destinations.

Best time: May–June and September.
Perfect for: Couples, scenery, sailing, road trips and boutique hotels.
Interesting fact: The spectacular Bay of Kotor is often described as a fjord, although geographically it is a submerged river valley.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Kotor with several relaxing days along the Adriatic coast.

Norway's fjords, mountains and Arctic landscapes make it one of Europe's great scenic destinations. Oslo and Bergen are natural gateways to spectacular rail journeys, coastal voyages and remote wilderness stays.

Best time: May–September; winter for Arctic experiences and Northern Lights.
Perfect for: Fjords, adventure, cruises, rail journeys and photography.
Interesting fact: The Nobel Peace Prize is presented in Oslo rather than Stockholm, where the other Nobel ceremonies take place.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Bergen with a fjord journey rather than staying solely in the cities.

Poland offers beautifully restored cities, important historical sites and impressive countryside. Kraków is particularly rewarding, while Warsaw, Gdańsk and the Tatra Mountains allow very different itineraries.

Best time: May–September and December for Christmas markets.
Perfect for: Culture, history, city breaks and value-conscious luxury.
Interesting fact: Wieliczka Salt Mine contains underground chambers and chapels carved almost entirely from salt.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Kraków with the surrounding countryside rather than treating it purely as a weekend city break.

Portugal offers elegant cities, beautiful beaches, vineyards and warm hospitality. Lisbon and Porto make superb city breaks, while the Douro Valley, Alentejo, Algarve and Atlantic islands extend the possibilities considerably.

Best time: April–June and September–October; summer for the Algarve.
Perfect for: Couples, families, food and wine, beaches and city breaks.
Interesting fact: Lisbon predates many other major European capitals and has a history stretching back thousands of years.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Lisbon with the Alentejo or Porto with a Douro Valley retreat.

Slovenia combines Alpine peaks, emerald rivers, vineyards, forests and a small stretch of Adriatic coastline. Ljubljana is relaxed and elegant, while Lake Bled, the Julian Alps and wine country are easily incorporated into one trip.

Best time: May–September; winter for skiing.
Perfect for: Active travel, scenery, couples, wellness and road trips.
Interesting fact: More than half of Slovenia is covered by forest.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Travel slowly by car, combining Ljubljana, the Julian Alps and wine country.

Spain changes character dramatically from region to region. Barcelona, Madrid and Seville provide art, architecture and exceptional dining, while Andalucía, Mallorca, Ibiza, the Canaries and the Mediterranean coastline offer completely different styles of escape.

Best time: April–June and September–October, although Spain works year-round depending on region.
Perfect for: Families, couples, gastronomy, beaches, nightlife and culture.
Interesting fact: Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, each with its own character and traditions.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Look beyond the obvious beach resorts and combine a city with countryside or coast.

Sweden offers stylish cities, forests, lakes and extensive archipelagos. Stockholm spreads across islands and combines historic architecture with exceptional design, dining and easy access to nature.

Best time: May–September; December–March for Lapland.
Perfect for: Design, families, cities, wilderness and winter experiences.
Interesting fact: Central Stockholm itself extends across 14 islands.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Add time in the Stockholm archipelago or Swedish Lapland to a city stay.

Switzerland is synonymous with spectacular Alpine landscapes, pristine lakes, legendary rail journeys and exceptional hotels. Zurich, Geneva and Lucerne provide elegant urban bases, while Zermatt, St Moritz and the Bernese Oberland deliver mountain drama.

Best time: Year-round; June–September for summer and December–March for skiing.
Perfect for: Luxury rail, skiing, wellness, scenery and families.
Interesting fact: Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Experience the country by rail, combining city, lake and mountain destinations.

Türkiye sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combining Istanbul's extraordinary history with the beaches of the Aegean and Mediterranean, Cappadocia's remarkable landscapes and sophisticated coastal resorts.

Best time: April–June and September–October; summer for coastal stays.
Perfect for: Culture, beaches, sailing, food and boutique travel.
Interesting fact: Istanbul is one of the few great cities in the world spanning two continents.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine Istanbul with Cappadocia or a luxury stay along the Turkish Riviera.

From London and Edinburgh to the Cotswolds, Highlands, Cornwall and countless historic estates, the United Kingdom contains extraordinary variety within a relatively compact area.

Best time: Year-round, with May–September generally offering the longest days.
Perfect for: Culture, theatre, countryside, history, sporting events and gastronomy.
Interesting fact: The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Velvet Hippo recommends: Combine a major city with a contrasting countryside or coastal stay.