Europe Travelers Recommend

Summer months may mean sweltering heat and unforgiving sun but that doesn’t mean travelers shouldn’t venture to the ancient city of Athens. This popular destination is a history lover’s dream and the perfect place for travelers to sample art, culture and cuisine. Take a tour of the Acropolis Museum, then spend a day touring sites like the iconic Parthenon or the original marathon route. Taste the flavors of Greece with a small-group food tour which hits local hot spots where visitors can sample traditional dishes and sip on regional wines. Or learn to cook these dishes at home during a small-group cooking class. Visitors can see the sights after dark or embark on a tour in which professional photographers detail the best ways to capture some of the world’s oldest architectural wonders. It’s even possible to relax on a catamaran cruise, complete with a traditional Greek meal. Travelers who prefer to go a bit further afield can venture out on day trips to nearby Delphi.

Paris is a dream destination for travelers around the world, and that popularity comes with some major crowds. Plan ahead to secure your spot at the very best sites—see below for our top picks and experiences you can't miss in the City of Light.

Day 1: See London Explore London on a hop-on hop-off bus tour or a private black cab experience, and be sure to visit St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, the South Bank, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. Day 2: London Shopping and Touring Harrod’s, Oxford Circus, and Piccadilly Circus are famous for their shops, but for a more local flavour, then visit Portobello Road for its antiques (Saturdays); Borough Market for the great food (Saturday); and Camden Markets with its alternative fashions and hand-made crafts. Don't miss the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the National Gallery, or the Victoria and Albert Museum. Day 3: Day Trips Beyond Head out of the city and explore Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath. Visit Stratford, birthplace of Shakespeare or the famous universities at Oxford and Cambridge. Go even further afield and try haggis in Edinburgh or snails in Paris.

Your first stop in Santorini will most likely be Fira, the island’s main town. Catch up on Cyclades culture at Fira’s folklore museum, or browse the string of goldsmiths’ shops lining the lagoon’s picturesque rim. Then follow the path north to Oia, a leisurely few hours’ cliff-top walk, and explore the village backstreets. Stay on to catch one of Oia’s legendary sunsets before heading back to Fira for a night of wining, dining and partying in the town’s clutch of tavernas, restaurants, bars and clubs. Choose your day trip destination to suit your mood. Will it be a lazy day at Kamari Beach, soaking up the sun, snacking at beach bars and diving into the sea for a snorkel? Or will it be a short sail to the island of Thirassia, to indulge in a long leisurely lunch at a local taverna? A more active and extended day trip takes you to the island of Ios, to explore the main town, Hora, and the island’s beaches, inland villages and Bronze Age ruins.

Warmer months mean the British can finally say goodbye to gloomy skies and hello to (at least) slightly warmer weather. There is an array of options available to dig into the culture and history of this iconic destination. One of the best ways for visitors to ensure they hit the sights is by taking a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour. It’s an easy-breezy way for travelers to customize a trip to their interests and to explore the streets of London without having to navigate city traffic and roundabouts. Whether you’re interested in seeing Windsor Castle, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace or a tour of the Tower of London and London Bridge, there are plenty of options for visitors looking for the royal treatment. Travelers who prefer to venture outside city limits and delve into England’s historic past can head to iconic Stonehenge or get real-life look at Downton Abbey via a stop at Highclere Castle outside of London.

As busy as you're likely to have been packing, planning your trip, checking luggage and that lot, why not ease into your vacation with a laid-back morning tour of Athens, which highlights modern marvels with the wonders of the ancients. From there, on to Athens' crown jewel, the towering Acropolis. Alternatively, walking and/or biking are great ways to see the city, and a private walking tour with the option to be a bit more photographic is always a nice introduction to the city. Cradled by Mount Parnassus, the modern, buslting town of Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and original resting place of the Delphic oracle - the most important oracle in ancient Greece and a major site for the worship of Apollo. Explore the Temple of Apollo and other famous sites on a day trip from Athens, or venture further on a multi-day Delphi tour. Complement your experience of classical Greece with a half-day visit to Cape Sounion.

Vibrant London is host to an array of world-class attractions, from storied museums and elegant cathedrals to opulent castles and UNESCO-listed landmarks. To help you make the most of your time in the British capital, here’s our list of unmissable London experiences and activities.