The 7 most beautiful destinations in Europe

No desire for long flights? There are plenty of gems to discover in Europe.

1. Hallstatt in Austria
If China takes the trouble to recreate your village, you can assume you have something special. The lake, the church tower, the picturesque houses, Hallstatt is a picture. Unfortunately, the whole world knows this, as the village is flooded with tourists. If you go, go very early in the morning or just in the evening and buy from the locals. That way, the village and the locals really benefit from your visit.

2. Costa de la Luz
The piece of Spain where the sun (almost) always shines. In Andalusia, you will find the Costa de la Luz, where you can experience the original Spain by the Atlantic Ocean in summer and winter. Mezquita in Cordoba is nearby and is said to be the most beautiful spot in Europe according to our Lot, a little extra tip.

3. Croatia
Here I would just take the car and tick everything off one by one, because you want to go to Plitvice for nature, to Dubrovnik for Game of Thrones, to Zlatni Rat for the unique beach, and to Hvar because you feel like you are on a tropical island. It is also said that the further south you go in Croatia, the more subtropical it feels, I have heard from a Croatia recidivist.

4. Ameland
This island is proof that you don't have to leave the country for a beach. With the mudflats on one side and the sea on the other, you will find peace, space, and kilometers of sandy beach on Ameland. To walk on or to lie on in the summer, it's up to you.

5. Symi
If you have ever walked over the roofs of white houses in Oia on Santorini (incredible) and then choose another Greek island as the most beautiful, then you mean business. Symi is for me the prettiest girl in the class https://amayzine.com/nl/2019/must-visit-het-eiland-symi-in-griekenland/ and also sweet. Stay until the rest of the tourists are gone, as they leave around four, and you have the island with the colored houses to yourself and only have to share with the locals.

6. Santa Maria dell’Isola
A magical place in Italy, where life seems to breathe dolce vita. Enclosed by rocks, under the watchful eye of the monastery lies one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Especially the combination of nature and city is said to be phenomenal. Well, that seems to me enough superlatives to go, right?

7. The Azores
It officially falls under Portugal, but the Azores are a standalone concept for enthusiasts. The archipelago, because that is what it is, lies in the Atlantic Ocean and is the wet dream for nature lovers. From hot springs to splash in to the greenest mountains you have ever seen rise out of the sea.

P.S.: Afraid you won't get home if there is suddenly another lockdown? If you book through a travel agency, they always have the obligation to bring you back home, nice to know.

P.P.S.: Of course, Europe has much more to offer. Think: France, Malta, Switzerland. Email me your favorites at adeline@amayzine.com and I will write a sequel.